Filed Date: Feb. 21, 1974
Closed Date: 1977
Clearinghouse coding complete
On February 21, 1974, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The plaintiff asked the district court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the defendants had violated the constitutional rights of patients at the Rosewood State Hospital (RSH) in Owings Mill, Maryland. RSH was a facility where citizens with intellectual disabilities were confined for the purpose of treatment, and the plaintiff alleged that the defendants had unconstitutionally failed to provide such treatment. The complaint also alleged that the RSH patients were unconstitutionally subjected to insufficient staffing, lack of security (which allowed residents to inflict physical harm on themselves or each other), lack of care for personal hygiene, use of isolation rooms, insufficient sleeping space, lack of sanitation in living/sleeping areas, unpleasant odors, and unsanitary kitchen and laundry facilities.
The defendants made no reply to the plaintiff's complaint, but on April 27, 1976, the defendants asked the district court to dismiss the complaint. On July 8, 1976, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Judge Edward Skottowe Northrop) dismissed the case, holding that the plaintiff had no authority to bring the lawsuit. U.S. v. Solomon, 419 F.Supp. 358 (D.Md. 1976). The plaintiff appealed.
On October 12, 1977, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Judge Harrison Lee Winter) affirmed the district court's decision to dismiss the case, holding that the plaintiff had no authority to bring the lawsuit. U.S. v. Solomon, 563 F.2d 1121 (4th Cir. 1977).
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (7/21/2006)
Allen, Frank D. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Burch, Francis B. (Maryland)
Ajello, Carl R. (Connecticut)
Blewitt, J. Justin (Pennsylvania)
Choate, Thomas W. (Texas)
Northrop, Edward Skottowe (Maryland)
Winter, Harrison Lee (Maryland)
Allen, Frank D. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Landsberg, Brian K. (District of Columbia)
Lentz, Susan (District of Columbia)
Levi, Edward H. (District of Columbia)
Lottman, Michael S. (New York)
Pottinger, J. Stanley (District of Columbia)
Queen, Jesse H. (District of Columbia)
Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:07 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Maryland
Case Type(s):
Intellectual Disability (Facility)
Key Dates
Filing Date: Feb. 21, 1974
Closing Date: 1977
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
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Owings Mill), State
Case Details
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Disability and Disability Rights:
Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified
Medical/Mental Health:
Intellectual disability/mental illness dual diagnosis
Type of Facility: