Filed Date: Sept. 29, 1982
Closed Date: 1997
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On September 29, 1982, inmates at the Rikers Island Hospital in New York filed a pro se class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of the Rikers Island Jails in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by poor healthcare and other unspecified conditions of confinement.
Our docket has a gap between 1983 and 1988, but on September 27, 1988, the parties entered into a settlement agreement. The agreement provided for changes in the areas of sanitation, handicap-accessible bathroom facilities, disposition of infectious waste, replacement of the roof, kitchen, and windows, heating, ventilation, and treatment of inmates with AIDS.
On July 20, 1990, the parties entered into a further stipulation regarding healthcare of inmates. Specifically, it provided for new standards in the areas of specialty clinics, medical records, test results, holding areas, transportation, renal dialysis, physical therapy, and patient grievance procedures.
On October 15, 1990, the court closed the case. On October 22, 1990, the court reopened the case. On March 24, 1997, the court again administratively closed the case.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (10/20/2006)
Gershon, Nina (New York)
Lasker, Morris Edward (Massachusetts)
Scheindlin, Shira A. (New York)
Boston, John (New York)
Dohrn, Beatrice (New York)
Katz, Theodore H. (New York)
Levy, Marcia (New York)
Lewis, David A. (New York)
Weinstein, Philip L. (New York)
Wilker, Dale A. (New York)
Gershon, Nina (New York)
Lasker, Morris Edward (Massachusetts)
Scheindlin, Shira A. (New York)
Boston, John (New York)
Dohrn, Beatrice (New York)
Katz, Theodore H. (New York)
Levy, Marcia (New York)
Lewis, David A. (New York)
Weinstein, Philip L. (New York)
Wilker, Dale A. (New York)
Daly, Robert (New York)
Koerner, Leonard J. (New York)
Kovner, Victor A. (New York)
O'Neill, Julie E. (New York)
Orsland, Chlarens (New York)
Schwarz, Frederick A.O. Jr. (New York)
Tranfo, Joseph A. (New York)
Turbow, Daniel (New York)
Zimroth, Peter L. (New York)
Last updated May 12, 2022, 8 p.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 29, 1982
Closing Date: 1997
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
inmates at the Rikers Island Jails
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Riker's Island Jails , Private Entity/Person
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Availably Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1988 - 1997
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: