Filed Date: Sept. 20, 2005
Closed Date: 2012
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Nine Muslim prisoners at the Westchester County Jail filed a civil rights lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against the Westchester County Department of Corrections. The lawsuits were filed between August 11, 2005 and April 21, 2006; four of the cases were consolidated on November 29, 2005. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought monetary and injunctive relief based on alleged violations of their First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the jail failed to serve Halal or Kosher diets to Muslim prisoners who requested the meals in compliance with their religious dietary restrictions.
On April 30, 2007, Judge Richard Berman granted the defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs' causes of action based on alleged violations of the First and Eighth Amendments. The parties then entered into settlement talks on the remaining Fourteenth Amendment claim. On March 12, 2008, after the defendant investigated the availability and possibility of procuring appropriate foods, the parties entered into a settlement agreement, under which the jail agreed to serve Halal meat four times or four meals per week.
On July 22, 2008, the court (Judge Berman) awarded the plaintiffs $99,658 in attorney's fees. The defendant appealed the order for attorney's fees, and the court (Judge Berman) stayed the order pending appeal. On March 9, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Judge Guido Calabresi) affirmed the judgment and remanded the case for the awarding of attorney's fees consistent with the opinion (USCA case number 08-4245/08-4300). On remand, the court (Judge Berman) awarded the plaintiffs $42,000 plus post-judgment interest. The judgment was satisfied on October 27, 2010.
Summary Authors
Priyah Kaul (10/14/2014)
Berman, Richard M. (New York)
Freeman, Debra Carol (New York)
Cohen, Richard B. (New York)
Felix, Jane Hogan (New York)
Calabresi, Guido (Connecticut)
Berman, Richard M. (New York)
Freeman, Debra Carol (New York)
Last updated Jan. 26, 2024, 3:01 a.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 20, 2005
Closing Date: 2012
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Muslim inmates seeking meals prepared in accordance with Islamic law
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Westchester County Department of Corrections (Westchester), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Religious Freedom Rest. Act/Religious Land Use and Inst. Persons Act (RFRA/RLUIPA)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Sex or Gender:
Type of Facility: