Filed Date: Oct. 27, 1977
Closed Date: 1992
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On October 27, 1977, Davis Gregory filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against the Louisiana Health and Human Resources Administration. The lawsuit challenged the conditions of confinement at the East Feliciana Forensic Facility and was brought as a class action lawsuit. Attorneys Lawrence R. Anderson, Jr. of Seale, Smith, Zuber & Barnette, Clay J. Calhoun, Jr., and R. James Kellogg represented the plaintiffs. Because the complaint is not available, there is little information about the specific conditions that were challenged.
At some time before the parties reached a settlement, the Attorney General of the United Stated intervened in this action. The District Court (Judge Frank Joseph Polozola) approved a Consent Decree on December 2, 1983. Davis v. Armistead, 575 F.Supp 695 (M.D. La. 1983). According to the Decree, a new facility, War Veterans Home (on the campus of East Louisiana State Hospital), was being built and would become a part of the East Feliciana Forensic Facility. The defendants agreed that within six months of the completion of the War Veteran Home, the facility would be in substantial compliance with the following: Louisiana State Rules, Regulations and Minimum Standards Governing Hospitals, including The Hospital Licensing Law; Standards of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Agency policies regarding the use of psychotropic medications, seclusion, and restraints; and the Louisiana statute enumerating mental health patients' rights (La. R.S. § 28:171).
According to the docket, the defendant was in compliance with the terms of the Consent Decree as of May 18, 1992 and the case was closed on July 7, 1992.
Summary Authors
Angela Heverling (3/4/2007)
Anderson, Lawrence R. Jr. (Louisiana)
Calhoun, Clay J. Jr. (Louisiana)
Certain, Christopher (Louisiana)
Castille, Charles F. (Louisiana)
Butler, Daniel P. (District of Columbia)
Polozola, Frank Joseph (Louisiana)
Last updated Jan. 28, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
State / Territory: Louisiana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 27, 1977
Closing Date: 1992
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Individuals confined at the East Feliciana Forensic Facility.
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Louisiana Health and Human Resources Administration (Jackson , East Feliciana), State
Feliciana State Hospital, State
East Louisiana State Hospital, State
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: 1983 - 1992
Issues
General:
Policing:
Improper treatment of mentally ill suspects
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Habilitation (training/treatment)
Medical/Mental Health:
Mental health care, unspecified
Type of Facility: