Filed Date: July 13, 1984
Closed Date: Feb. 25, 2002
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on July 13, 1984, inmates at the Middle Georgia Correctional Complex filed a class action lawsuit under 42 USC Sec. 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. A class was certified of all male and female inmates presently or in the future housed at the facility. The inmates, represented in part by Georgia Legal Services, sought injunctive relief to address an array of alleged unconstitutional conditions. Specifically, they cited sexual abuse and harassment of female inmates, inadequate classification systems, excessive force, violence and verbal abuse, stripping and restraints on mentally ill inmates, illegal stripping of inmates, inadequate staffing, poor structural and physical plant conditions, poor medical, dental and mental health service, deficient food service, inadequate access to the courts, unlawful visitation, mail and telephone practices, inadequate fire, occupational and health safety, insufficient vocational programs, lack of exercise and recreation, personal property regulations, racial and religious discrimination, inadequate disciplinary and grievance procedures, overcrowding, among other complaints. Several other cases were consolidated into this case, including Aziz et al v. Whitworth et al., No. 88-00291, and Spivey et al v. Dept. of Corrections, No. 91-00028. The case was resolved through a series of consent decrees designed to remedy the unconstitutional conditions. Fourteen consent decrees were entered beginning in 1990 and ending in 1996.
On November 12, 1998, prison officials filed a motion to vacate and terminate all remaining consent decrees given the enactment of the Prison Litigation Reform Act, which requires courts to terminate prospective relief upon defendants' motion under certain conditions. The district court (Judge Claude W. Hicks, Jr.) in 1999 partially granted the motion to terminate as it pertained to enforcement of the existing decree, and denied the inmates' motion to amend their compliant. On appeal, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Edward Earl Carnes) vacated the district court's ruling as to termination of the decree, and ordered an evidentiary hearing, remanding the case back to the district court to more fully determine the provisions of the decree that were to be terminated. Cason v. Seckinger, 231 F.3d 777 (11th Cir. 2000). Following motions, on February 25, 2002, the district court (Judge Hicks) entered a final judgment terminating the case. A subsequent motion for contempt was denied in 2003, and a later claim for relief by a pro se class member was also denied and appeal rejected in 2004 due to a lack of filing fee.
Summary Authors
Denise Lieberman (10/23/2005)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5122787/parties/cason-v-seckinger/
Barkett, Rosemary (Florida)
Burnette, Lisa Boardman (Georgia)
Amideo, William F. (Georgia)
Baker, Thurbert E. (Georgia)
Basurto, Mark A. (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5122787/cason-v-seckinger/
Last updated Aug. 17, 2025, 10:40 p.m.
State / Territory: Georgia
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 13, 1984
Closing Date: Feb. 25, 2002
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
all male and female inmates presently or in the future housed at the Middle Georgia Correctional Complex
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Georgia Department of Corrections, State
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
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: 1990 - 1996
Issues
General/Misc.:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Discrimination Basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Sex w/ staff; sexual harassment by staff
Medical/Mental Health Care: