Filed Date: Nov. 9, 1978
Closed Date: April 21, 1989
Clearinghouse coding complete
In November 1978, inmates confined at the Luzerne County Prison, a jail, filed a Section 1983 class action suit, pro se, in the Middle District of Pennsylvania against county officials. Plaintiffs alleged that certain conditions of confinement were substandard and in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Specifically, plaintiffs complained of: inadequate access to courts, medical care, exercise, supplies, and mail; supervision of inmates by other inmates; denial of due process prior to punishment; racial segregation; overcrowding; and denial of access to the commissary. The district court (Judge Richard Paul Conaboy) appointed Northern Pennsylvania Legal Services to represent plaintiffs and certified the class. Mawson v. Wideman, 84 F.R.D. 116 (M.D. Pa. 1979).
The parties reached an agreement, which was approved by the court in December 1981. In 1985 the court determined that defendants had not adequately complied with the terms of the consent decree and appointed Major John D. Case to act as a Master for the purpose of investigating conditions at the prison and reporting to the court.
In October 1987, defendants filed a motion to terminate the 1981 consent decree and to close the case. Following several hearings the court granted defendants motion to terminate the order and closed the case in April 1989. Mawson v. Dorris, 1989 WL 132157 (M.D. Pa. April 12, 1989).
The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the most recent decision, dated April 21, 1989.
Summary Authors
Eoghan Keenan (6/10/2005)
Conaboy, Richard Paul (Pennsylvania)
Muir, Malcolm (Pennsylvania)
Bragg, O. Randolph (Pennsylvania)
Meek, Robert W. (Pennsylvania)
Gill, Thomas F. (Pennsylvania)
Conaboy, Richard Paul (Pennsylvania)
Muir, Malcolm (Pennsylvania)
Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:12 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 9, 1978
Closing Date: April 21, 1989
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
inmates confined at the Luzerne County Prison
Attorney Organizations:
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Luzerne County Prison (Luzerne), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available 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: 1981 - 1989
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Discrimination-basis:
Type of Facility: