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.

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)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

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	Date	Description	Link
1	May 30, 2000	COMPLAINT filed; FILING FEE $ 150.00 RECEIPT # 44912 (McCabe, F) (Entered: 05/30/2000)	PACER
	May 30, 2000	CASE assigned to Judge Mary M. Lisi . Assigned to Magistrate Judge Martin (McCabe, F) (Entered: 05/30/2000)	PACER
2	June 9, 2000	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)	PACER
3	June 9, 2000	ENTRY of appearance for State of Rhode by James R. Lee, Rebecca Tedford Partington (Delano, D) (Entered: 06/12/2000)	PACER
4	June 12, 2000	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)	PACER
5	June 12, 2000	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)	PACER
6	June 12, 2000	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)	PACER
7	June 14, 2000	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)	PACER
8	June 21, 2000	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)	PACER
	June 27, 2000	Motion(s) referred to Judge: [5-1] motion for Sanctions, [4-1] motion to Dismiss (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 06/27/2000)	PACER
10	July 20, 2000	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)	PACER
11	July 28, 2000	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)	PACER
12	Aug. 8, 2000	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)	PACER
13	Aug. 9, 2000	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)	PACER
14	Aug. 18, 2000	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)	PACER
	Aug. 22, 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)	PACER
15	Sept. 13, 2000	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)	PACER
16	Sept. 13, 2000	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)	PACER
	Sept. 14, 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)	PACER
17	Sept. 19, 2000	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)	PACER
19	Sept. 20, 2000	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)	PACER
20	Sept. 28, 2000	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)	PACER
21	Sept. 29, 2000	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)	PACER
	Oct. 2, 2000	Motion(s) referred to Judge Lisi: [18-1] motion to Certify Class (Brunelle, E) (Entered: 10/02/2000)	PACER
22	March 15, 2001	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)	PACER
23	March 15, 2001	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)	PACER
24	March 29, 2001	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)	PACER
25	April 11, 2001	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)	PACER
	April 11, 2001	Motion(s) referred to Judge: [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment (Delano, D) (Entered: 04/11/2001)	PACER
	April 26, 2001	Motion hearing re: [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment at 11:00 5/10/01 (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/26/2001)	PACER
27	May 14, 2001	ENTRY of appearance for Lisa Ronci by Edward C. Roy Jr. (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/17/2001)	PACER
26	May 15, 2001	Minute entry: Defts' M/SJ hearing (Barletta, B) (Entered: 05/15/2001)	PACER
	May 15, 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)	PACER
28	Aug. 27, 2001	NOTICE of Name Change by Atty Gregory A. Bolzle: last name spelling changed to "Belzley" (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 08/27/2001)	PACER
29	April 12, 2002	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)	PACER
30	April 12, 2002	MEMORANDUM and ORDER granting [22-1] motion for Summary Judgment ( signed by Judge Mary M. Lisi ) (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/12/2002)	PACER
31	April 12, 2002	MOTION by Angela Savard for a status conference (Barletta, B) (Entered: 04/15/2002)	PACER
32	April 12, 2002	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)	PACER
33	May 2, 2002	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)	PACER
34	May 8, 2002	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)	PACER
	May 8, 2002	Case closed (Barletta, B) (Entered: 05/08/2002)	PACER
35	May 13, 2002	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)	PACER
36	May 13, 2002	CERTIFICATE of Clerk as to Record on Appeal (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/13/2002)	PACER
	May 13, 2002	USCA appeal fees received $ 105.00 Receipt# 50979 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/13/2002)	PACER
	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)	PACER
37	May 23, 2002	NOTICE of Docketing ROA from USCA Re: [35-1] appeal USCA Number: 02-1568 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/23/2002)	PACER
	May 23, 2002	USCA Case Number Re: [35-1] appeal USCA Number: 02-1568 (Duhamel, J) (Entered: 05/23/2002)	PACER
38	Feb. 13, 2003	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)	PACER
39	Aug. 6, 2003	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)	PACER
40	Aug. 29, 2003	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)	PACER
	Sept. 11, 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)	PACER

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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

Rhode Island Department of Corrections

State of Rhode Island

Facility Type(s):

Government-run