Case: Savard v. Rhode Island

1:00-cv-00261 | U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Filed Date: May 30, 2000

Closed Date: 2004

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Case Summary

This lawsuit was filed on the heels of a separate case, Roberts v. Rhode Island. In Roberts, the Rhode Island District Court enjoined as unconstitutional the enforcement of a written strip and body cavity search policy then in effect at the Adult Correctional Institution (ACI) in Cranston, Rhode Island. See Roberts v. Rhode Island, 175 F.Supp.2d 176, 183 (D.R.I. 2000), affirmed by Roberts v. Rhode Island, 239 F.3d 107, 113 (1st Cir. 2001). On May 17, 2000 (the day the District Court issued its injunctive order in the Roberts case), Rhode Island abandoned the challenged policy. Thereafter, on May 30, 2000, the plaintiffs in this case, a group of individuals who had been arrested for non-violent, non-drug related misdemeanors and had been subjected to the proscribed strip and body cavity search policy before its abolition on May 17, 2000, filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Plaintiffs alleged that their Fourth Amendment rights were violated when they were subjected to the ACI's pre-May 17, 2000 blanket policy of conducting strip and body cavity searches of all new entrants to the facility (including misdemeanant arrestees), despite the absence of reasonable suspicion. Plaintiffs claimed that, as a result of the constitutional violations, they were entitled to monetary damages.

Interestingly, Craig L. Roberts, Sr., the plaintiff in the Roberts case, was also among the plaintiffs seeking monetary damages in this subsequently filed lawsuit. The District Court, at the request of Defendants, dismissed Roberts's claim on grounds of res judicata. The defendant jail officials then moved for summary judgment against the remaining plaintiffs on the ground that they were entitled to qualified immunity because, prior to the Roberts decision, it was not clearly established that the ACI policy violated the Constitution. The District Court (Judge Mary M. Lisi) agreed and granted summary judgment in favor of Defendants. The plaintiffs appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Initially, a First Circuit panel reversed the District Court's judgment. Savard v. Rhode Island, 320 F.3d 34 (1st Cir. 2003). Upon granting rehearing en banc, however, a divided First Circuit reversed the panel decision and affirmed the District Court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Defendants. The en banc Court reasoned that the jail officials were entitled to qualified immunity since, at the time the searches were conducted (prior to the Roberts decision), it was not yet clearly established that the blanket strip search policy at issue was unconstitutional. Savard v. Rhode Island, 338 F.3d 23 (1st Cir.2003).

Plaintiffs subsequently sought but were denied Certiorari by the United States Supreme Court. Savard v. Rhode Island, 540 U.S. 1109 (2004). The case now appears to be closed.

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Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/12/2008)

People

Judge(s)

Boudin, Michael (Massachusetts)

Bownes, Hugh Henry (New Hampshire)

Coffin, Frank Morey (Maine)

Howard, Jeffrey R. (New Hampshire)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Belzley, Gregory A. (Kentucky)

Attorney for Defendant

Judge(s)

Boudin, Michael (Massachusetts)

Bownes, Hugh Henry (New Hampshire)

Coffin, Frank Morey (Maine)

Howard, Jeffrey R. (New Hampshire)

Lipez, Kermit Victor (Maine)

Lisi, Mary M. (Rhode Island)

Lynch, Sandra Lea (Massachusetts)

Selya, Bruce Marshall (Rhode Island)

Torruella, Juan R. (Puerto Rico)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Belzley, Gregory A. (Kentucky)

Kelly, Thomas W. (Rhode Island)

Roy, Edward C. Jr. (Rhode Island)

Attorney for Defendant

Lee, James R. (Rhode Island)

Partington, Rebecca Tedford (Rhode Island)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1:00-cv-00261	Docket [PACER] Savard, et al v. State of Rhode Island, et al	Sept. 11, 2003	Sept. 11, 2003 Docket
02-01568	Opinion Savard v. Rhode Island U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit	Feb. 11, 2003	Feb. 11, 2003 Order/Opinion 320 F.3d 34
02-01568	Judgment and Opinions En Banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit	Aug. 4, 2003	Aug. 4, 2003 Order/Opinion 338 F.3d 23
03-00683	[Cert. denied] Supreme Court of the United States	Jan. 12, 2004	Jan. 12, 2004 Order/Opinion 540 U.S. 1109

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Docket

Last updated March 23, 2025, 9:25 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT filed; FILING FEE $ 150.00 RECEIPT # 44912 (McCabe, F) (Entered: 05/30/2000)	May 30, 2000	May 30, 2000
	CASE assigned to Judge Mary M. Lisi . Assigned to Magistrate Judge Martin (McCabe, F) (Entered: 05/30/2000)	May 30, 2000	May 30, 2000
2	NOTICE of Pendency of other action or proceedings by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/12/2000)	June 9, 2000	June 9, 2000
3	ENTRY of appearance for State of Rhode by James R. Lee, Rebecca Tedford Partington (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/12/2000)	June 9, 2000	June 9, 2000
4	MOTION by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy to Dismiss (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/14/2000)	June 12, 2000	June 12, 2000
5	MOTION by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy for Sanctions (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/14/2000)	June 12, 2000	June 12, 2000
6	ANSWER to Complaint by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy (Attorney Rebecca Tedford Partington), (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/14/2000)	June 12, 2000	June 12, 2000
7	RETURN OF SERVICE executed as to State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy 6/2/00 Answer due on 6/22/00 for State of Rhode, for George Vose, for A. T. Wall, for William Cudworth, for Albert Gardiner, for Roberta Richman, for Paul M. Kennedy (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/15/2000)	June 14, 2000	June 14, 2000
8	OBJECTION by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri to [5-1] motion for Sanctions (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/23/2000)	June 21, 2000	June 21, 2000
	Motion(s) referred to Judge: [5-1] motion for Sanctions, [4-1] motion to Dismiss (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 06/27/2000)	June 27, 2000	June 27, 2000
10	MEMORANDUM and ORDER denying [5-1] motion for Sanctions and granting [4-1] motion to Dismiss ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 07/20/2000)	July 20, 2000	July 20, 2000
11	MOTION by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri to Enlarge Time by 180 days to file class determination (Webb, J) Modified on 07/28/2000 (Entered: 07/28/2000)	July 28, 2000	July 28, 2000
12	Stipulation: The time for the plaintiffs to answer the Interrogatories and for the production of documents may be enlarged to September 30, 2000. (Delano, D) (Entered: 08/11/2000)	Aug. 8, 2000	Aug. 8, 2000
13	OBJECTION by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy to [11-1] motion to Enlarge Time by 180 days to file class determination (Delano, D) (Entered: 08/15/2000)	Aug. 9, 2000	Aug. 9, 2000
14	ORDER denying [11-1] motion to Enlarge Time by 180 days to file class determination ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 08/18/2000)	Aug. 18, 2000	Aug. 18, 2000
	Rule 16 Conference set 9:15 9/14/00 Before Judge Mary M. Lisi. notices mailed to all parties (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 08/22/2000)	Aug. 22, 2000	Aug. 22, 2000
15	MOTION by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri for Gregory Bolzlw to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Delano, D) (Entered: 09/14/2000)	Sept. 13, 2000	Sept. 13, 2000
16	AFFIDAVIT by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri Re: [15-1] motion for Gregory Bolzlw to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Delano, D) (Entered: 09/14/2000)	Sept. 13, 2000	Sept. 13, 2000
	Rule 16 Conference held. Thomas Kelly, Gregory Bolzle, Rebecca Partington and Kevin Aucoin for the parties. This case will be held in abeyance until after the Court of appeals issues a decision in the "Roberts" case. (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 09/21/2000)	Sept. 14, 2000	Sept. 14, 2000
17	ORDER granting [15-1] motion for Gregory Bolzle to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 09/19/2000)	Sept. 19, 2000	Sept. 19, 2000
19	RETURN OF SERVICE executed as to George Vose 9/15/00 Answer due on 10/5/00 for George Vose (Delano, D) (Entered: 09/21/2000)	Sept. 20, 2000	Sept. 20, 2000
20	OBJECTION by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy to [18-1] motion to Certify Class (Delano, D) (Entered: 10/02/2000)	Sept. 28, 2000	Sept. 28, 2000
21	Stipulation: The Answer filed by the State of RI shall be considered the Answer of defendants, Vose, Wall, Cudsworth, Gardiner, Richman and Kennedy. No additional Answer is required of these defendants and the Answer is considered timely on behalf of these defendants. (Delano, D) (Entered: 10/03/2000)	Sept. 29, 2000	Sept. 29, 2000
	Motion(s) referred to Judge Lisi: [18-1] motion to Certify Class (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 10/02/2000)	Oct. 2, 2000	Oct. 2, 2000
22	MOTION by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy for Summary Judgment (Delano, D) (Entered: 03/16/2001)	March 15, 2001	March 15, 2001
23	Statement Of Undisputed Fact by State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy RE: [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment (Delano, D) (Entered: 03/16/2001)	March 15, 2001	March 15, 2001
24	ORDER extending the time to and including April 11, 2001 in which plaintiffs' may respond to defendants' motion for summary judgment (signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi) (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 03/29/2001)	March 29, 2001	March 29, 2001
25	OBJECTION by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri to [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 04/11/2001)	April 11, 2001	April 11, 2001
	Motion(s) referred to Judge: [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment (Delano, D) (Entered: 04/11/2001)	April 11, 2001	April 11, 2001
	Motion hearing re: [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment at 11:00 5/10/01 (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/26/2001)	April 26, 2001	April 26, 2001
27	ENTRY of appearance for Lisa Ronci by Edward C. Roy Jr. (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/17/2001)	May 14, 2001	May 14, 2001
	Motion hearing re: [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment Motion hearing held. Crtrpt: N. O'Rourke. Gregory A. Bolzle and Thomas Kelly for pltf; Rebecca Partington for defendants. Counsel argue motion. Court takes motion under advisement. (Barletta, B) (Entered: 05/15/2001)	May 15, 2001	May 15, 2001
26	Minute entry: Defts' M/SJ hearing (Barletta, B) (Entered: 05/15/2001)	May 15, 2001	May 15, 2001
28	NOTICE of Name Change by Atty Gregory A. Bolzle: last name spelling changed to "Belzley" (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 08/27/2001)	Aug. 27, 2001	Aug. 27, 2001
29	Stipulation that prior to 3/24/00 after a woman was strip searched at the ACI she was placed in the general population in either a sentenced population or an awaiting trial population. (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/12/2002)	April 12, 2002	April 12, 2002
30	MEMORANDUM and ORDER granting [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/12/2002)	April 12, 2002	April 12, 2002
31	MOTION by Angela Savard for a status conference (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/15/2002)	April 12, 2002	April 12, 2002
32	ORDER granting in part, denying in part [31-1] motion for a status conference; status conference held on 4/10/02 ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/15/2002)	April 12, 2002	April 12, 2002
33	JOINT MOTION by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri, State of Rhode, George Vose, A. T. Wall, William Cudworth, Albert Gardiner, Roberta Richman, Paul M. Kennedy for Entry of Judgment Pursuant to Rule 54 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/03/2002)	May 2, 2002	May 2, 2002
34	JUDGMENT for George Vose, A. T. Wall against Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Barletta, B) (Entered: 05/08/2002)	May 8, 2002	May 8, 2002
	Case closed (Barletta, B) (Entered: 05/08/2002)	May 8, 2002	May 8, 2002
35	NOTICE OF APPEAL by Angela Savard, Lisa Ronci, Priscilla Harris, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Rebecca Dorsey, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Robert Dull, Stephanie Clarke, Misty Tolleson, George Barber, William Carcieri, Rebecca Dorsey, Sammy Farland, Steven Fusco, Jeffrey Larisa, Charles Sanchez, Richard Squires, Anita Tarczuk, Nabbil Rashid, Kevin Mancieri . Fee Status: $105.00 paidi. Appeal record due on 6/12/02 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/13/2002)	May 13, 2002	May 13, 2002
	USCA appeal fees received $ 105.00 Receipt# 50979 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/13/2002)	May 13, 2002	May 13, 2002
	"Transcript Order/Report" attached to pltfs' Notice of Appeal, indicating that "Transcript is unnecessary for appeal purposes" (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/13/2002)	May 13, 2002	May 13, 2002
36	CERTIFICATE of Clerk as to Record on Appeal (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/13/2002)	May 13, 2002	May 13, 2002
37	NOTICE of Docketing ROA from USCA Re: [35-1] appeal USCA Number: 02-1568 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/23/2002)	May 23, 2002	May 23, 2002
	USCA Case Number Re: [35-1] appeal USCA Number: 02-1568 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/23/2002)	May 23, 2002	May 23, 2002
38	SLIP OPINION from USCA (2/11/2003): "The district court's decision granting qualified immunity to the defendants-appellees is REVERSED and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Costs on appeal are awarded to plaintiff-appellants." (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 02/18/2003)	Feb. 13, 2003	Feb. 13, 2003
39	SLIP OPINION from USCA (August 4, 2003): "...the judgment of the district court is affirmed by an equally divided court." (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 08/11/2003)	Aug. 6, 2003	Aug. 6, 2003
40	MANDATE OF USCA (certified copy -- Judgment & Opinions En Banc -- 8/4/03) Re: [35-1] appeal by Kevin Mancieri, Nabbil Rashid, Anita Tarczuk, Richard Squires, Charles Sanchez, Jeffrey Larisa, Steven Fusco, Sammy Farland, Rebecca Dorsey, William Carcieri, George Barber, Misty Tolleson, Stephanie Clarke, Robert Dull, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Rebecca Dorsey, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Priscilla Harris, Lisa Ronci, Angela Savard affirming judgment of the district court (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 08/29/2003)	Aug. 29, 2003	Aug. 29, 2003
	Record on appeal returned from U.S. Court of Appeals: [35-1] appeal by Kevin Mancieri, Nabbil Rashid, Anita Tarczuk, Richard Squires, Charles Sanchez, Jeffrey Larisa, Steven Fusco, Sammy Farland, Rebecca Dorsey, William Carcieri, George Barber, Misty Tolleson, Stephanie Clarke, Robert Dull, Kenneth Lowe Jr., Rebecca Dorsey, Craig L. Roberts Sr., Priscilla Harris, Lisa Ronci, Angela Savard (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 09/11/2003)	Sept. 11, 2003	Sept. 11, 2003

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Case Details

State / Territory: Rhode Island

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Strip Search Cases

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 30, 2000

Closing Date: 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The arrestees were detained for non-violent, non-drug related minor offenses and, prior to being commingled with the general prison population, were subjected to strip and visual body cavity searches.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Denied

Defendants

State of Rhode Island, State

Rhode Island Department of Corrections (Cranston), State

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details