Case: Black v. Ricketts

2:84-cv-00111 | U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Filed Date: Jan. 24, 1984

Closed Date: Feb. 4, 1988

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 1984, prisoners of Cellblock 6 who were confined to administrative segregation of the Arizona State Prison filed suit under 42 USC 1983 against the prison and its employees. The plaintiffs were represented by the ACLU National Prison Project and private counsel. There is no docket available for the case, and it is unclear when the original complaint was filed. The first amended complaint, filed March 8, 1984, focused on administrative segregation procedures and conditions. Plaintiffs alleged…

In 1984, prisoners of Cellblock 6 who were confined to administrative segregation of the Arizona State Prison filed suit under 42 USC 1983 against the prison and its employees. The plaintiffs were represented by the ACLU National Prison Project and private counsel.

There is no docket available for the case, and it is unclear when the original complaint was filed. The first amended complaint, filed March 8, 1984, focused on administrative segregation procedures and conditions. Plaintiffs alleged many problems with the disciplinary program, including arbitrary assignment of levels, penalties that were degrading and dehumanizing, denial of access to courts, denial of freedom to exercise religious beliefs, and lack of procedural due process. The second amended complaint, filed on May 7, 1984, added a number of general allegations about the totality of conditions in the prison. The ACLU National Prison Project came on the case as counsel for the plaintiffs at this time.

Class certification was granted on May 25, 1984 to include all prisoners classified to Administrative Segregation at the Arizona State Prison.

A stipulated partial settlement agreement was submitted to the District Court of Arizona (Judge Carl A. Muecke) for review and approval on October 26, 1984. In it, the parties agreed to the appointment of Allen Breed as monitor to observe and report to the court on the progress of compliance with the partial settlement. The court heard oral testimony and evidence between February and April of 1985, and a Stipulated Settlement Agreement was filed May 8, 1985. On May 16, 1985, a notice to the class of the proposed partial settlement was filed, and plaintiff inmates filed two sets of objections to it.

Judge Muecke approved the agreement on June 17,1985, noting its provision for an independent monitor to observe the implementation and operation of the policies and practices set forth in the agreement. The court also set deadlines for the resolution of the issues of fees and costs.

The settlement agreement was in three parts. The first part provided for structural and operational agreements governing the execution of the settlement agreement. The second part set out the principles governing the operation and conditions of the administrative segregation unit. The third part of the agreement set forth the present policies and procedures of the Arizona Department of Corrections, including policies on: use of force; use of chemical agents; regulations on mail, telephone, and visitation; safety and emergency procedures; food services, sanitation and hygiene; and administrative segregation. The agreement mandated that these policies be consistent with the first and second parts of the settlement agreement.

Defendants moved to dismiss the case on December 2, 1987. Judge Muecke found that the Monitor's Fourth Report and the Addendum Thereto provided certification that the defendants were in full compliance with the requirements of the agreement, and the case was dismissed on February 4, 1988.

Summary Authors

Theresa Spaulding (6/4/2005)

Related Cases

Wilkinson v. MacDougall, District of Arizona (1981)

People


Judge(s)

Muecke, Charles Andrew (Arizona)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bendheim, Alice L. (Arizona)

Attorney for Defendant

Corbin, Robert K. (Arizona)

Prose, Thomas (Arizona)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Breed, Allen F. (California)

Judge(s)

Muecke, Charles Andrew (Arizona)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

81-01397

Order

Wilkinson v. MacDougall

Jan. 5, 1984

Jan. 5, 1984

Order/Opinion

2:84-00011

Amended Complaint

Bishop v. Ricketts

March 8, 1984

March 8, 1984

Complaint

2:84-00011

Second Amended Complaint

May 7, 1984

May 7, 1984

Complaint

2:84-00011

Stipulated Partial Settlement Agreement (Class Action)

Oct. 26, 1984

Oct. 26, 1984

Settlement Agreement

2:84-00011

Notice to Class of Proposed Partial Settlement (Class Action)

Feb. 19, 1985

Feb. 19, 1985

Settlement Agreement

2:84-00011

Order

June 18, 1985

June 18, 1985

Order/Opinion

2:84-00011

Order

Dec. 12, 1985

Dec. 12, 1985

Order/Opinion

2:84-00011

Stipulated Settlement Agreement; Order

Feb. 4, 1988

Feb. 4, 1988

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 26, 2024, 3:11 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Arizona

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 24, 1984

Closing Date: Feb. 4, 1988

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Arizona State Prison Cellblock 6 inmates who are classified to administratiev segregation

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Arizona State Prison (Florence), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Unreasonable search and seizure

Free Exercise Clause

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

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: 1985 - 1988

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Classification / placement

Counseling

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Phone

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Sanitation / living conditions

Search policies

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Suicide prevention

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Administrative segregation

Law library access

Library (non-law) access

Visiting

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)