Case: Lightfoot v. Goodlander

1:80-00283 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Feb. 5, 1980

Closed Date: 1997

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 1980, inmates of the Maryland Correctional Training Center, represented by private counsel, filed a Section 1983 class action suit in federal district court for the District of Maryland against the officials for the Maryland Division of Correction. The plaintiffs complained of unconstitutional conditions of confinement including overcrowding and a lack of educational and work activities.In July 1983, the District Court (Judge Norman P. Ramsey) entered a stipulated agreement which required d…

In 1980, inmates of the Maryland Correctional Training Center, represented by private counsel, filed a Section 1983 class action suit in federal district court for the District of Maryland against the officials for the Maryland Division of Correction. The plaintiffs complained of unconstitutional conditions of confinement including overcrowding and a lack of educational and work activities.

In July 1983, the District Court (Judge Norman P. Ramsey) entered a stipulated agreement which required defendants to improve educational and work activities, expand housing to decrease overcrowding, and limit the practice of double-celling. The agreement also required defendants to submit monthly reports to the court updating the implementation of the terms of the agreement. The agreement did not specify the duration required for the submission of monthly reports. There were no complaints or motions filed following the agreement until 1997.

In 1997, defendants moved for termination of the stipulation pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The District Court (Judge Benson Everett Legg) granted defendants motion for termination of the stipulation in January 1997. The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the last reported decision in 1997.

Summary Authors

Eoghan Keenan (5/27/2005)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Adkins, E. Dale III (Maryland)

Bekman, Paul D. (Maryland)

Attorney for Defendant

Andrews, Phillip M. (Maryland)

Caplis, Stephen B. (Maryland)

Cuzmanes, Paul (Maryland)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other
Judge(s)

Nickerson, William M. (Maryland)

Ramsey, Norman Park (Maryland)

Thomsen, Roszel Cathcart (Maryland)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:78-01730

Reported Opinion

Washington v. Keller

Nov. 14, 1979

Nov. 14, 1979

Order/Opinion

479 F.Supp. 479

1:80-00283

Stipulation

Dec. 14, 1982

Dec. 14, 1982

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

Last updated March 18, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Maryland

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 5, 1980

Closing Date: 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

inmates of the Maryland Correctional Training Center

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Maryland Correctional Training Center (Hagerstown), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1983 - 1997

Issues

General:

Education

Recreation / Exercise

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run