Filed Date: Sept. 13, 1990
Closed Date: 1995
Clearinghouse coding complete
On January 23, 1985, four patients at the Napa State Hospital (NSH) in Napa Valley, California filed a lawsuit against the hospital and the Department of Mental Health for the State of California (DMH) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by conditions at the hospital. This lawsuit drew the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, who initiated an investigation into the conditions at the hospital on June 25, 1985, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA).
On September, 13, 1990, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the State of California in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The DOJ alleged that the defendants had violated the constitutional rights of NSH patients by failing to provide adequate medical and psychiatric care, inadequate staffing levels and staff training, inadequate status review for patients, inadequate record-keeping, inadequate procedures for administration of medicine, and misuse of bodily restraints.
On September 17, 1990, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Judge Eugene F. Lynch) issued a consent decree in the case. We have no information on the content of this decree. On June 2, 1995, the defendants asked the court to find them compliant with the court's orders and terminate the consent decree. The plaintiffs did not object to this motion, and on June 8, 1995, the court (Judge Lynch) terminated the decree and dismissed the case with prejudice.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (7/18/2006)
U.S. v. California, Central District of California (2006)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/9235321/parties/united-states-v-state-of-ca/
Deutsch, David (District of Columbia)
Dunne, John R. (District of Columbia)
Corcoran, Maureen (District of Columbia)
Dunst, Isabel (District of Columbia)
Johnson, Ralph M. (California)
Deutsch, David (District of Columbia)
Dunne, John R. (District of Columbia)
McGivern, William T. (California)
Peabody, Arthur E. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Reynolds, William Bradford (District of Columbia)
Schoen, Benjamin P. (District of Columbia)
Stern, Robert H. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/9235321/united-states-v-state-of-ca/
Last updated Feb. 2, 2025, 5:30 a.m.
State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Intellectual Disability (Facility)
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 13, 1990
Closing Date: 1995
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Napa State Hospital (Imola), State
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
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: 1990 - 1995
Issues
General/Misc.:
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Disability and Disability Rights:
Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Medical/Mental Health Care: