Case: Taylor v. Sterrett

1:71-05220 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Filed Date: Oct. 26, 1971

Closed Date: 1979

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Case Summary

In 1971, four inmates of the Dallas County Jail filed a class action suit under section 1983 against jail officials alleging that they were being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. In 1972, after a trial on the merits, the district court for the Northern District of Texas (Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes) enjoined defendants from violating Texas state law, censoring inmates' mail, allowing overcrowded conditions, using inmates as corridor bosses, and destroying reading materials and instru…

In 1971, four inmates of the Dallas County Jail filed a class action suit under section 1983 against jail officials alleging that they were being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. In 1972, after a trial on the merits, the district court for the Northern District of Texas (Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes) enjoined defendants from violating Texas state law, censoring inmates' mail, allowing overcrowded conditions, using inmates as corridor bosses, and destroying reading materials and instructed defendants to provide an outdoor area for exercise, provide sufficient security, implement policies and procedures regarding inmate conduct, change visitation policies, and create a classification system. Taylor v. Sterrett, 344 F. Supp. 411 (N.D. Tex. 1972). Defendants appealed and in 1974 the Fifth Circuit affirmed most of the district court's holdings but vacated and remanded the trial court's order regarding visitation and inmates as corridor bosses. Taylor v. Sterrett, 499 F.2d 367 (5th Cir. 1974). Subsequently, the district court ordered defendants to provide the court with written progress reports; defendants appealed, and the Fifth Circuit dismissed the appeal in a per curium opinion. Taylor v. Sterrett, 527 F.2d 856 (5th Cir. 1976).

Over the next several years, the district court vigilantly monitored jail conditions and progress. In 1979, the Fifth Circuit ordered the district court to stop exercising jurisdiction and to dismiss the case, finding that the jail was in compliance with previous court orders. Taylor v. Sterrett, 600 F.2d 1135 (5th Cir. 1979). In 1981, litigation continued over attorney's fees. Taylor v. Sterrett, 640 F.2d 663 (5th Cir. 1981). The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the last reported decision in 1981.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/26/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Ainsworth, Robert Andrew Jr. (Louisiana)

Brown, Paul Neeley (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bass, Stanley A. (New York)

Berger, Joel (New York)

Byrd, Robert L. (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant
Judge(s)

Ainsworth, Robert Andrew Jr. (Louisiana)

Brown, Paul Neeley (Texas)

Coleman, James Plemon (Louisiana)

Gee, Thomas Gibbs (Louisiana)

Gewin, Walter Pettus (Alabama)

Hughes, Lynn Nettleton (Texas)

Roney, Paul Hitch (Florida)

Wisdom, John Minor (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:71-05220

73-04138

Reported opinion

June 5, 1972

June 5, 1972

Order/Opinion

344 F.Supp. 344

72-02443

72-03689

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Aug. 19, 1974

Aug. 19, 1974

Order/Opinion

499 F.2d 499

74-00576

Memorandum Decision

Supreme Court of the United States

May 12, 1975

May 12, 1975

Order/Opinion

420 U.S. 420

74-00576

Memorandum Decision

Supreme Court of the United States

May 12, 1975

May 12, 1975

Order/Opinion

421 U.S. 421

74-03507

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Feb. 25, 1976

Feb. 25, 1976

Order/Opinion

527 F.2d 527

77-02241

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Aug. 16, 1979

Aug. 16, 1979

Order/Opinion

600 F.2d 600

79-03851

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

March 25, 1981

March 25, 1981

Order/Opinion

640 F.2d 640

Docket

Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 26, 1971

Closing Date: 1979

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

inmates of the Dallas County Jail

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Dallas County Jail (Dallas), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1972 - 1979

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Disciplinary procedures

Recreation / Exercise

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Library (non-law) access

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run