Case: Miller v. Commissioner of Correction

92-P-665 | Massachusetts state trial court

Filed Date: April 9, 1984

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Case Summary

On April 9, 1984, a patient at the Massachusetts Treatment Center for Sexually Dangerous Persons filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Robert E. Keeton). The plaintiff alleged that the Department of Corrections had violated his civil rights by depriving him of his rights to reasonable telephone access, unopened privileged mail, and treatment for his mental problems due …

On April 9, 1984, a patient at the Massachusetts Treatment Center for Sexually Dangerous Persons filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Robert E. Keeton). The plaintiff alleged that the Department of Corrections had violated his civil rights by depriving him of his rights to reasonable telephone access, unopened privileged mail, and treatment for his mental problems due to changed classification, and he asked for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as monetary damages. On December 6, 1990, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Keeton) held that the defendants could not abridge the patient's rights to privileged mail, telephone access, or treatment. The court granted declaratory and injunctive relief, but declined to award damages or attorneys' fees.

The plaintiff appealed the denial of attorneys' fees in the Superior Court of Massachusetts, and the court (Judge John D. Sheehan) ruled that no attorneys' fees were due the plaintiff. That decision was appealed to the Appeals Court of Massachusetts (Judge Dreben), and that court reversed, ruling that the plaintiff was entitled to attorneys' fees. Miller v. Commissioner of Correction, 629 N.E.2d 315 (Mass.App.Ct. 1994). The defendants appealed this decision to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (Judge Sherman), and that court declined to hear the appeal. Miller v. Commissioner of Correction, 635 N.E.2d 253 (Mass. 1994). We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

 

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (3/13/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Dreben, Raya S. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Geary, Nancy W. (Massachusetts)

Mullen, Timothy A. (Massachusetts)

Judge(s)

Dreben, Raya S. (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

92-P-665

Reported Opinion

Massachusetts state appellate court

April 26, 1994

April 26, 1994

Order/Opinion

629 N.E.2d 629

Opinion

Massachusetts state supreme court

April 26, 1994

April 26, 1994

Order/Opinion

635 N.E.2d 635

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 3:28 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 9, 1984

Case Ongoing: Unknown

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Patient at treatment center for sexually dangerous persons

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Massachusetts Department of Corrections (Bridgewater ), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1990 - 0

Issues

General:

Mail

Phone

Rehabilitation

Sanitation / living conditions

Medical/Mental Health:

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run