Case: Wilson v. Attaway

3:80-cv-00024 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Filed Date: June 16, 1980

Closed Date: July 9, 1985

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In the spring of 1980, several protesters were arrested following racially motivated riots in Wrightsville, Georgia and filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia against various city and county officials. Plaintiffs alleged unconstitutional arrests and unconstitutional jail conditions in violation of a prior consent decree. The earlier consent decree resulted from a class action by jail detainees and enjoined the sheriff of Johnson County, wit…

In the spring of 1980, several protesters were arrested following racially motivated riots in Wrightsville, Georgia and filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia against various city and county officials. Plaintiffs alleged unconstitutional arrests and unconstitutional jail conditions in violation of a prior consent decree. The earlier consent decree resulted from a class action by jail detainees and enjoined the sheriff of Johnson County, without a showing of good cause, from failing to provide detainees with medical treatment, blankets, clothes, food, and access to attorneys. Three of protesters' actions were consolidated in the present case, before trial.

At the trial, the jury found for defendants on all issues. District court Judge Dudley Bowen denied plaintiffs' motion for judgment to overturn the jury's verdict. Plaintiff's appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. On April 16, 1985, the appellate court (Judge Godbold) affirmed the district court's ruling on the issue of jail conditions, holding that defendants had shown good cause to violate the consent decree due to exigent circumstances surrounding the riots. The court reversed in part and remanded in part with respect to other issues. Wilson v. Attaway, 757 F.2d 1227 (11th Cir. 1985).

Plaintiffs petitioned for a rehearing en banc. On July 9, 1985, the Eleventh Circuit denied plaintiffs' petition. Wilson v. Attaway, 764 F.2d 1411 (11th Cir. 1985).

The docket for this case is unavailable, so our information ends with the last reported decision in 1985.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/23/2005)

Richard Jolly (10/26/2014)

People


Judge(s)

Godbold, John Cooper (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Carroll, John (Alabama)

Goldberg, Ralph S. (Georgia)

Mincey, Floyd (Alabama)

Attorney for Defendant

Larsen, W. W. (Georgia)

Judge(s)

Godbold, John Cooper (Louisiana)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

83-08237

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

April 16, 1985

April 16, 1985

Order/Opinion

757 F.2d 757

83-08237

On Petition for Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

July 9, 1985

July 9, 1985

Order/Opinion

764 F.2d 764

Docket

Last updated March 26, 2024, 3:05 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 16, 1980

Closing Date: July 9, 1985

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

People who were allegedly unconstitutionally arrested and exposed to unconstitutional conditions in county jail

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Johnson County Jail (Johnson), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Unreasonable search and seizure

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Conditions of confinement

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Sanitation / living conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run