Filed Date: July 29, 1974
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In 1974, inmates at the Webb County jail filed a section 1983 action against Webb County officials, alleging intolerable living conditions at the jail. After two years of litigation, the district court for the Southern District of Texas (Judge Robert O'Connor) entered a consent decree but denied plaintiffs' motion for attorney's fees. A few months later, Congress passed the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Award Act, and plaintiffs moved for reconsideration of their request for attorney's fees. The district court granted attorney's fees, but the Fifth Circuit reversed the decision in 1979. Escamilla v. Santos, 591 F. 3d 1086 (5th Cir. 1979). The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and the only reported decision we have on file concerns attorney's fees rather than the substantive terms of the consent decree.
Summary Authors
Lauren Cutson (5/26/2005)
Godbold, John Cooper (Louisiana)
Rubin, Alvin Benjamin (Louisiana)
De Anda, Ricardo E. (Nevada)
Rich, Paul D. (Texas)
Morales, Richard G. Sr. (Texas)
Godbold, John Cooper (Louisiana)
Rubin, Alvin Benjamin (Louisiana)
Thornberry, William Homer (Texas)
Last updated April 15, 2024, 3:13 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Texas
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 29, 1974
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Prisoners of the Webb County jail alleging intolerable living conditions in the Webb County jail in violation of the eighth amendment
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Webb County Jail (Webb), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1976 - None
Issues
General:
Sanitation / living conditions
Type of Facility: