Case: Patton v. Fitzhugh

3:23-cv-00637 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Filed Date: June 22, 2023

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case further.] This case is a challenge to a Tennessee state law that requires pre-trial detainees to prove in a hearing before a state court that any bail funds equal to or exceeding $75,000 were not derived from criminal activities. On June 22, 2023, the plaintiff filed a putative class action, alleging that the state law violated his substantive and procedural due process rights and seeking injunctive and declaratory relief. 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67520984/parties/patton-v-fitzhugh/


Judge(s)

Campbell, William Lynn (Tennessee)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Justice, Drew (Tennessee)

Justice, Paul Andrew

Attorney for Defendant

Christiansen, Nick C.

Donica, Eric

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:23-cv-00637

Class Action Complaint

June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023

Complaint
12

3:23-cv-00637

Order

July 21, 2023

July 21, 2023

Order/Opinion
15

3:23-cv-00637

Motion to Dismiss of Defendants James Turner, Barry Tidwell, and Howard Wilson

Sept. 6, 2023

Sept. 6, 2023

Pleading / Motion / Brief
16

3:23-cv-00637

Motion to Dismiss by Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and Circuit Court Clerk Melissa Harrell

Sept. 8, 2023

Sept. 8, 2023

Pleading / Motion / Brief
26

3:23-cv-00637

Joint Motion to Stay Discovery and Disclosures

Nov. 13, 2023

Nov. 13, 2023

Pleading / Motion / Brief
29

3:23-cv-00637

Order

Nov. 16, 2023

Nov. 16, 2023

Order/Opinion
20

24-5639

Correspondence

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 27, 2024

Correspondence

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67520984/patton-v-fitzhugh/

Last updated Jan. 5, 2026, 4:47 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Mike Fitzhugh, Melissa Harrell, Barry Tidwell, James Turner, Howard Wilson (Filing fee $402, Receipt number ATNMDC-3851199), filed by Bradley Patton. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment - Civil Cover Sheet)(ad) (Entered: 06/22/2023)

1 Attachment - Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE/INFORMATION regarding Consent of the Parties to the Magistrate Judge. (ad) (Entered: 06/22/2023)

June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023

3

NOTICE of Initial Case Management Conference by Telephone set for 10/5/2023 at 09:00 AM before Magistrate Judge Jeffery S. Frensley. (ad) (Entered: 06/22/2023)

June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023

4

NOTICE of Summons to be Issued as to Mike Fitzhugh and four others. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Summons to issue (HARRELL), # 2 Attachment Summons to issue (TURNER), # 3 Attachment Summons to issue (TIDWELL), # 4 Attachment Summons to issue (WILSON))(Justice, Drew) (Entered: 06/22/2023)

June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023

TN State Bar status verified as active for Drew Justice admitted to this court. (ad)

June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023

5

Summons issued as to Mike Fitzhugh, Melissa Harrell, Barry Tidwell, James Turner, Howard Wilson. (af) (Entered: 06/23/2023)

June 23, 2023

June 23, 2023

8

Extension of Time to File Answer

July 17, 2023

July 17, 2023

9

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

July 18, 2023

July 18, 2023

11

Extension of Time to File Answer

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

12

Order of Recusal

July 21, 2023

July 21, 2023

RECAP
13

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

July 24, 2023

July 24, 2023

15

Dismiss

Sept. 6, 2023

Sept. 6, 2023

RECAP
16

Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim AND Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction

Sept. 8, 2023

Sept. 8, 2023

RECAP
18

Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Sept. 20, 2023

Sept. 20, 2023

19

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Sept. 21, 2023

Sept. 21, 2023

21

Continue AND Extension of Time to File Answer

Sept. 29, 2023

Sept. 29, 2023

22

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Order on Motion to Continue

Oct. 2, 2023

Oct. 2, 2023

23

Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction

Nov. 3, 2023

Nov. 3, 2023

RECAP
24

Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim AND Dismiss/Lack of Jurisdiction

Nov. 3, 2023

Nov. 3, 2023

RECAP
26

Stay

Nov. 13, 2023

Nov. 13, 2023

RECAP
29

Order on Motion to Stay

Nov. 16, 2023

Nov. 16, 2023

RECAP
30

Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Nov. 17, 2023

Nov. 17, 2023

31

Case Management Order

Nov. 17, 2023

Nov. 17, 2023

32

Order AND ~Util - Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

Nov. 20, 2023

Nov. 20, 2023

34

Leave

Dec. 4, 2023

Dec. 4, 2023

36

Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Dec. 5, 2023

Dec. 5, 2023

37

Order on Motion for Leave

Dec. 6, 2023

Dec. 6, 2023

38

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Dec. 6, 2023

Dec. 6, 2023

40

File Excess Pages

Dec. 21, 2023

Dec. 21, 2023

42

Order on Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages

Jan. 3, 2024

Jan. 3, 2024

46

Order to Show Cause

Feb. 23, 2024

Feb. 23, 2024

48

Order

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

RECAP
49

Order AND ~Util - Set Hearings

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

50

Attorney Fees

March 26, 2024

March 26, 2024

51

Attorney Fees

March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024

52

Case Management Order

April 12, 2024

April 12, 2024

53

Order on Motion for Attorney Fees AND Order on Motion for Attorney Fees

April 15, 2024

April 15, 2024

55

Miscellaneous Relief

May 1, 2024

May 1, 2024

56

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

May 7, 2024

May 7, 2024

58

MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT. Signed by Chief Judge William L. Campbell, Jr on 7/9/2024. (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(am)

July 9, 2024

July 9, 2024

RECAP
59

Order Dismissing Case

July 9, 2024

July 9, 2024

64

Order AND ~Util - Set Hearings

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

65

Stay

May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

66

1 - Terminate Hearings AND Order Staying Case AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

69

Miscellaneous Relief

Dec. 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

Tennessee

Case Type(s):

Criminal Justice (Other)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 22, 2023

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is a formerly incarcerated person whose bail was set above $75,000.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

Sheriff of Rutherford County, County

Circuit judges of the Sixteenth Judicial District, Regional

Circuit Court Clerk, County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Other Dockets:

Middle District of Tennessee 3:23-cv-00637

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 24-5639

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Conditions of confinement

Fines/Fees/Bail/Bond