Case: Valentine v. Beyer

3:85-cv-04401 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Filed Date: Sept. 9, 1985

Closed Date: 1994

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Case Summary

On Sept. 9, 1985, inmates at the Trenton State Prison in New Jersey filed this lawsuit, pro se, under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the New Jersey Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiffs asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the prison's legal assistance program was inadequate and denied them access to the courts. The district court (Judge Robert E. Cowen) granted injunctive relief to the plaintiffs, and the defendants app…

On Sept. 9, 1985, inmates at the Trenton State Prison in New Jersey filed this lawsuit, pro se, under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the New Jersey Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The plaintiffs asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the prison's legal assistance program was inadequate and denied them access to the courts.

The district court (Judge Robert E. Cowen) granted injunctive relief to the plaintiffs, and the defendants appealed. On June 20, 1988, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Judge Carol Los Mansmann) affirmed the district court's decision. Valentine v. Beyer, 850 F.2d 951 (3rd Cir. 1988). On October 4, 2006, the Executive Director of the Inmate Legal Association moved, on behalf of the certified class, to enforce and modify judgments and settlement agreement and to hold defendants in contempt of court, and requested money damages. On April 8, 2008, the court ruled that the action to enforce the settlement agreement was a separate contract dispute, and the proper forum to enforce it was in New Jersey state court, absent an independent basis for federal jurisdiction. The court also stated that likely the proper vehicle to enforce the settlement agreement would be to file a separate action, as opposed to a motion in this closed case.

On October 20, 2009 the Inmate Legal Association did file in state court; the resulting opinion is posted here, and also at Justia.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (2/16/2007)

Abigail DeHart (3/17/2017)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5740260/parties/emmitt-valentine-v-howard-l-beyer/


Judge(s)

Cooper, Mary Little (New Jersey)

Mansmann, Carol Los (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

Campbell, Sarah Brie (New Jersey)

Kahn, Michael E. (New Jersey)

Long, Janine L. (New Jersey)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
235

3:85-cv-04401

Docket

Valentine v. Howard

Jan. 20, 1998

Jan. 20, 1998

Docket

3:85-cv-04401

Docket

April 8, 2008

April 8, 2008

Docket

87-05606

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

June 20, 1988

June 20, 1988

Order/Opinion

850 F.2d 951

236

3:85-cv-04401

Notice of Motion to Enforce and Modify Judgments and Settlement Agreement, and Hold Defendants in Contempt of Court

Sept. 27, 2006

Sept. 27, 2006

Pleading / Motion / Brief
236-2

3:85-cv-04401

Judgment and Settlement Agreement

Oct. 4, 2006

Oct. 4, 2006

Settlement Agreement
247

3:85-cv-04401

Memorandum Opinion

April 8, 2008

April 8, 2008

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5740260/emmitt-valentine-v-howard-l-beyer/

Last updated June 6, 2025, 1 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
247

MEMORANDUM OPINION FILED. Signed by Judge Mary L. Cooper on 4/8/2008. (tp )

April 8, 2008

April 8, 2008

RECAP

Case Details