Case: U.S. v. Robertson County (TN)

3:13-cv-00392 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Filed Date: April 26, 2013

Closed Date: 2018

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On July 13, 2010, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division notified Robertson County of its intent to open an investigation of conditions at the Robertson County Detention Center ("RCDF"). On August 26, 2011, the DOJ issued a letter finding that Robertson County failed to protect prisoners from harm due to inadequate suicide prevention measures and inadequate mental health services. According to the DOJ, the County did not take adequate measures to remedy the unconstitutional conditions …

On July 13, 2010, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division notified Robertson County of its intent to open an investigation of conditions at the Robertson County Detention Center ("RCDF"). On August 26, 2011, the DOJ issued a letter finding that Robertson County failed to protect prisoners from harm due to inadequate suicide prevention measures and inadequate mental health services.

According to the DOJ, the County did not take adequate measures to remedy the unconstitutional conditions at RCDF, and so on April 26, 2013, the Attorney General filed this lawsuit on behalf of the United States in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The U.S. sued Robertson County, the County Mayor, the Robertson County Commissioners, and the Sheriff as the principal agents responsible for the conditions at RCDF under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. §1997. The plaintiff alleged that the RCDF violated prisoners’ Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments rights by exhibiting deliberate indifference to inmates’ health and safety by not implementing adequate suicide prevention tactics and lacking an overall strategy to assist inmates with mental health illnesses.

On April 30, 2013, the parties entered into a settlement agreement that stipulated that prisoners were to have timely access to a qualified mental health professional (QMHP) and that the QMHPs were to work as part of an interdisciplinary team to maintain a risk profile for each individual. It further outlined that RCDF would develop and implement policies to provide adequate mental health services to inmates as well as a training program for staff.

In the ninth and final compliance report, the United States reported that Robertson County had maintained substantial compliance with all of the 48 provisions in the agreement and had operated a substantially adequate mental health care system for a sufficient period of time to warrant completion of the settlement agreement. As such, the parties jointly moved to dismiss the case and to terminate the settlement agreement and the order that enforced it. On March 30, 2018, District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr. granted the motion and dismissed the case with prejudice. There are no other entries apparent on the docket and the case is presumably closed.

Summary Authors

Nichollas Dawson (11/27/2017)

Jake Parker (6/29/2018)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6922052/parties/united-states-v-robertson-county/


Judge(s)

Campbell, William Lynn Jr. (Tennessee)

Griffin, Juliet E. (Tennessee)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Abbate, Julie K. (District of Columbia)

Austin, Roy L. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Hayes, Lindsay M. (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:13-cv-00392

Docket [PACER]

United States of America v. Robertson County

May 30, 2018

May 30, 2018

Docket

3:13-cv-00392

Re: Investigation of Robertson County Detention Facility

U.S. CRIPA Investigation of Robertson County (TN) Detention Center

No Court

Aug. 26, 2011

Aug. 26, 2011

Findings Letter/Report
1

3:13-cv-00392

Complaint

U.S. v. Robertson County

April 26, 2013

April 26, 2013

Complaint
4

3:13-cv-00392

Settlement Agreement

U.S. v. Robertson County

April 30, 2013

April 30, 2013

Settlement Agreement
7-1

3:13-cv-00392

3rd Monitoring Report [as Part of the Settlement Agreement Between the U.S. Department of Justice and Robertson County, Tennessee]

U.S. v. Robertson County

Jan. 29, 2015

Jan. 29, 2015

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report
12

3:13-cv-00392

Compliance Report

United States of America v. Robertson County

Sept. 25, 2017

Sept. 25, 2017

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report
13

3:13-cv-00392

Compliance Report - 9th and Final Monitoring Report

United States of America v. Robertson County

March 14, 2018

March 14, 2018

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6922052/united-states-v-robertson-county/

Last updated Feb. 12, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Howard Bradley, Bill Holt, Robertson County, Robertson County Commissioners, filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(dt) (Entered: 04/26/2013)

April 26, 2013

April 26, 2013

2

JOINT MOTION to Enter Settlement Agreement by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Settlement Agreement)(dt) (Entered: 04/26/2013)

April 26, 2013

April 26, 2013

Bar status for attorney William Maddox of DC verified as active this date. (dt) (Entered: 04/26/2013)

April 26, 2013

April 26, 2013

4

ORDER: The parties stipulate that this Agreement complies in all respects with the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3626(a). The parties further stipulate and agree and the Court finds that the prospective relief in this Agreement is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violations of federal rights as alleged by the United States in its Complaint and Findings Letter, is the least instrusive means necessary to correct these violations, and will not have an adverse impace on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system. Accordingly, the parties agree and represent tht the Agreement complies in all respects with the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3626(a). Signed by District Judge Kevin H. Sharp on 4/30/13. (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY−ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(afs) (Entered: 04/30/2013)

April 30, 2013

April 30, 2013

5

STATUS REPORT First Status Report 4.30.2013 by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Status Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 07/01/2013)

July 1, 2013

July 1, 2013

6

STATUS REPORT Second Status Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment 2nd Status Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 03/06/2014)

March 6, 2014

March 6, 2014

7

STATUS REPORT Third Status Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Third Status Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 01/29/2015)

Jan. 29, 2015

Jan. 29, 2015

8

STATUS REPORT Fourth Status Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Fourth Status Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 04/16/2015)

April 16, 2015

April 16, 2015

9

STATUS REPORT Fifth Compliance Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Fifth Compliance Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 11/30/2015)

Nov. 30, 2015

Nov. 30, 2015

10

STATUS REPORT Sixth Status Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Sixth Status Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 12/12/2016)

Dec. 12, 2016

Dec. 12, 2016

11

STATUS REPORT Seventh Monitoring Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Seventh Monitoring Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 03/31/2017)

March 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

12

STATUS REPORT Eighth Status Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Eighth Monitoring Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 09/25/2017)

Sept. 25, 2017

Sept. 25, 2017

13

STATUS REPORT 9th and Final Monitor's Report by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 9th and Final Monitor's Report)(Maddox, William) (Entered: 03/14/2018)

March 14, 2018

March 14, 2018

14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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May 25, 2018

May 25, 2018

PACER
14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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May 25, 2018

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

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1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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14

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion for Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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May 30, 2018

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

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1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

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1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

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1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

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1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

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1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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May 30, 2018

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

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1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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15

Dismiss

1 Attachment Joint Motion For Final Dismissal and Proposed Order

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Order

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Case Details

State / Territory: Tennessee

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Post-PLRA enforceable consent decrees

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 26, 2013

Closing Date: 2018

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Attorney General of the United States

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Robertson County (Robertson), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

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: 2013 - 2018

Content of Injunction:

Hire

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Training

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Confidentiality

Counseling

Failure to supervise

Failure to train

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Record-keeping

Records Disclosure

Restraints : physical

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Suicide prevention

Medical/Mental Health:

Intellectual/Developmental Disability

Intellectual disability/mental illness dual diagnosis

Medical care, general

Medication, administration of

Mental health care, general

Self-injurious behaviors

Type of Facility:

Government-run