Case: Carver v. Knox County

3:86-cv-00299 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

Filed Date: April 25, 1986

Closed Date: 1990

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Case Summary

On April 25, 1986, a jail inmate filed a pro se lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee under 42 USC §1983 against Knox County and Tennessee officials regarding conditions at the Knox County Jail. A magistrate judge grated the inmate counsel and the case was eventually certified as a class action. Plaintiffs were represented by the University of Tennessee Legal Clinic. On January 25, 1989, the district court (Judge James H. Jarvis) found serious overcrowding at two of the three Knox County facilities. Carver v. Knox County, 753 F.Supp 1370 (E.D. Tenn. 1989). The court held that this overcrowding led to unconstitutional conditions and ordered the county and state to reduce the prison populations. The state defendants filed a motion for change of venue to consolidate this action with Grubbs v. Reynolds, a class action lawsuit concerning conditions within the state prison system, that was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The motion was denied.

Judge Jarvis issued another opinion regarding the overcrowded conditions on March 17, 1989, after hearing further evidence from the parties. Carver v. Knox County, 753 F.Supp. 1394 (E.D. Tenn 1989). The court ordered the removal of more state prisoners from the jail. Judge Jarvis noted that the overcrowded conditions were a result of the 1985 order by Judge Thomas A. Higgins in the Grubbs litigation in the Middle District of Tennessee, which limited the number of inmates who could be accommodated within the Tennessee State Prison System, slowing down the movement of inmates from county to state facilities.

On appeal, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Pierce Lively) noted that there were conflicting goals between this Carver case and the Grubbs litigation. Carver v. Knox County, 887 F.2d 1287 (6th Cir. 1989). The Sixth Circuit ordered the district court to sever the claims against the state defendants and transfer them to the Middle District of Tennessee. It also found that the district court's conclusion that all of the unconstitutional conditions at the Knox County facilities were a result of inmates from the state system was not supported by the evidence. The claims against the county defendants were remanded to the district court. The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on April 30, 1990. Knox County v. McWherter, 495 U.S. 919 (1990)

On remand, Judge Jarvis adopted his previous opinions except as they discussed the cause of the unconstitutional conditions. Carver v. Knox County, 753 F.Supp. 1398 (E.D. Tenn. 1990). Judge Jarvis wrote that "the court concludes that it has already accomplished precisely what the Sixth Circuit now orders on remand."

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (6/13/2007)

Richard Jolly (11/4/2014)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8631030/parties/carver-v-knox-county-tennessee/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eldridge, John E. (Tennessee)

Attorney for Defendant

Beeler, Richard T. (Tennessee)

Burson, Charles W. (Tennessee)

Buuck, David L (Tennessee)

Duffey, John (Tennessee)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Judge(s)

Jarvis, James Howard II (Tennessee)

Lively, Pierce (Kentucky)

Mattice, Harry Sandlin (Tennessee)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eldridge, John E. (Tennessee)

Rivkin, Dean (Tennessee)

Attorney for Defendant

Beeler, Richard T. (Tennessee)

Burson, Charles W. (Tennessee)

Buuck, David L (Tennessee)

Duffey, John (Tennessee)

Himmelreich, Davis (Tennessee)

Jr, Richard Bernard (Tennessee)

Spann, Kimbra Rowlette (Tennessee)

Watson, Robert H. Sr. (Tennessee)

Willcox, Edith Slafka (Tennessee)

Workman, Dale C. (Tennessee)

Other

Jr, Charles C (Tennessee)

Jr, Robert B (Tennessee)

Swanson, Charles W (Tennessee)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

3:86-cv-00299	Order Carver v. Knox County Tennessee	Jan. 25, 1989	Jan. 25, 1989 Order/Opinion 753 F.Supp. 1370
3:86-cv-00299	Memorandum Opinion Carver v. Knox County Tennessee	March 17, 1989	March 17, 1989 Order/Opinion 753 F.Supp. 1394
89-05341 89-05369	Order Carver v. Knox County Tennessee U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit	Oct. 6, 1989	Oct. 6, 1989 Order/Opinion 887 F.2d 1287
3:86-cv-00299	Memorandum Opinion Carver v. Knox County Tennessee	March 19, 1990	March 19, 1990 Order/Opinion 753 F.Supp. 1398
89-01440	Cert Denial Knox County Tennessee v. McWherter Supreme Court of the United States	April 30, 1990	April 30, 1990 Order/Opinion 495 U.S. 919

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8631030/carver-v-knox-county-tennessee/

Last updated Oct. 6, 2026, 10:20 p.m.

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Docket for: Carver v. Knox County, Tennessee

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
373	Dec. 8, 2008	HARD DOCKET listing document #'s 1 - 372. All future documents to be filed electronically. (KMK) Modified on 12/8/2008 (KMK): to change document number to 373. (Entered: 12/08/2008)	RECAP
374	Dec. 15, 2008	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Justice Committee Minutes 12-1-08, # 2 Jail Status 12-14-08)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 12/15/2008)	RECAP
375	Dec. 30, 2008	NOTICE of Hearing: Status Conference set for 1/13/2009 at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (AYB) (Entered: 12/30/2008)	RECAP
376	Jan. 13, 2009	STATUS REPORT (Interim) by Knox County, Tennessee. (Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 01/13/2009)	RECAP
377	Jan. 13, 2009	Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Thomas W Phillips: Status Conference held on 1/13/2009. Counsel for the defendant advises the court as to the status of this matter. A Status Conference is set for 6/11/2009 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (Court Reporter Netta Kocuba) (RLK) (Entered: 01/13/2009)	RECAP
378	Jan. 14, 2009	STATUS REPORT (Monthly) by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ten-year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 01/14/2009)	RECAP
379	Feb. 12, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 02/12/2009)	RECAP
380	March 13, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Policy & Procedures, # 2 Exhibit Jail Population Report)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 03/13/2009)	RECAP
381	April 14, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 04/14/2009)	RECAP
382	May 15, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 05/15/2009)	RECAP
	June 5, 2009	NOTICE of Hearing: Status Conference reset from 6/11/2009 to 9/17/2009 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville, before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (RLK)
	June 5, 2009	NOTICE of Hearing: Status Conference reset from 9/17/2009 to 9/23/2009 at 1:00 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville, before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (RLK)
	June 10, 2009	NOTICE of Hearing: Status Conference set from 9/23/2009 to 10/9/2009 at 2:00 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville, before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (RLK)
383	June 15, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 06/15/2009)	RECAP
384	July 15, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 07/15/2009)	RECAP
385	Aug. 12, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 08/12/2009)	RECAP
386	Sept. 15, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 09/15/2009)	RECAP
388	Oct. 9, 2009	Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Thomas W Phillips: Status Conference held on 10/9/2009. Counsel for the defendant advises the court as to the status of this matter. The court states that the parties shall submit a quarterly report instead of a month status report. A status conference will be scheduled at a later time. (Court Reporter Agina Graham, Miller and Miller Court Reporting) (RLK) (Entered: 10/13/2009)	RECAP
387	Oct. 13, 2009	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 10/13/2009)	RECAP
389	Oct. 14, 2009	STATUS REPORT (Addendum to Interim Report) by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 10/14/2009)	RECAP
390	Jan. 15, 2010	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 01/15/2010)	RECAP
391	Feb. 10, 2010	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 02/10/2010)	RECAP
392	April 29, 2010	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 04/29/2010)	RECAP
	June 3, 2010	NOTICE of Hearing: Status Conference set for 8/12/2010 at 1:30 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (AYB)
393	Aug. 12, 2010	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 08/12/2010)	RECAP
394	Aug. 12, 2010	Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Thomas W Phillips: Quarterly Status Conference held on 8/12/2010. Status of matter discussed. Next quarterly status conference to be set at a later date.(Court Reporter Kristin Schultz (Miller/Miller)) (MGM) (Entered: 08/12/2010)	RECAP
395	Aug. 18, 2010	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 08/18/2010)	RECAP
396	Nov. 24, 2010	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 11/24/2010)	RECAP
397	Feb. 10, 2011	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 02/10/2011)	RECAP
398	May 17, 2011	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 05/17/2011)	RECAP
399	Aug. 22, 2011	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 08/22/2011)	RECAP
400	Nov. 18, 2011	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Inmate Programs Attended, # 2 Exhibit Comm. Serv. Data, # 3 Exhibit Worker Elig. Status)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 11/18/2011)	RECAP
401	Feb. 13, 2012	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, B and C)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 02/13/2012)	RECAP
402	May 15, 2012	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Jarret, Joseph) (Entered: 05/15/2012)	RECAP
403	Aug. 21, 2012	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Buuck, David) (Entered: 08/21/2012)	RECAP
404	Sept. 5, 2012	NOTICE by Knox County, Tennessee of Substitution of Counsel (Buuck, David) (Entered: 09/05/2012)	RECAP
405	Nov. 14, 2012	STATUS REPORT Quarterly Report by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Buuck, David) (Entered: 11/14/2012)	RECAP
406	Feb. 15, 2013	STATUS REPORT for February, 2013 by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Buuck, David) (Entered: 02/15/2013)	RECAP
407	May 13, 2013	ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING; Status Conference set for 6/7/2013 at 3:00 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. Signed by District Judge Thomas W Phillips on 5/13/13. (c/m: Knoxville City Mayor Madeline Rogero; Knoxville City Law Director Charles W. Swanson; Knoxville Vice-Mayor Nick Pavlis; and Knoxville City Council Members George C. Wallace, Marshall Stair, Finbarr Saunders, Duane Grieve, Brenda Palmer, Nick Della Volpe, Mark Carpen, and Daniel T. Brown.)(ADA) (Entered: 05/13/2013)	RECAP
408	May 14, 2013	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Buuck, David) (Entered: 05/14/2013)	RECAP
409	May 30, 2013	NOTICE of Appearance by Robert B Frost, Jr on behalf of City of Knoxville, Tennessee (Frost, Robert) (Entered: 05/30/2013)	RECAP
	June 4, 2013	NOTICE of Status Conference : reset TIME CHANGE ONLY for 6/7/2013 at 1:30 PM in Courtroom 4 - Knoxville before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. (ADA)
410	June 7, 2013	Minute Entry for Status Conference held on 6/7/2013 before District Judge Thomas W Phillips. The Court orders a status report to be filed on or before September 15, 2013.(Court Reporter Netta Kocuba) (ADA) (Entered: 06/07/2013)	RECAP
411	Aug. 6, 2013	ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. District Judge Thomas W Phillips no longer assigned to case Case reassigned to District Judge Harry S Mattice, Jr for all further proceedings. Signed by Chief District Judge Thomas A Varlan on 8/6/13. (ABF) (Entered: 08/06/2013)	RECAP
412	Aug. 15, 2013	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Inmate Program Attended, # 2 Exhibit B - Report reflecting Inmate Worker Credit Eligibility, # 3 Exhibit C - Community Service, # 4 Exhibit D - Bracelet Program)(Buuck, David) (Entered: 08/15/2013)	RECAP
413	Nov. 15, 2013	STATUS REPORT by Knox County, Tennessee. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, Inmate Programs Attended, # 2 Exhibit B, Report Reflecting Inmate Worker Credit Eligibility, # 3 Exhibit C, Community Service Data, # 4 Exhibit D, Current Bracelet Program)(Buuck, David) (Entered: 11/15/2013)	RECAP