Case: Beale v. District of Columbia

1:04-cv-00959 | U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Filed Date: June 10, 2004

Closed Date: 2008

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On June 10, 2004, the estate of a deceased former inmate of the District of Columbia jail filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia against the D. C. Department of Corrections. On November 18, 2004, another former inmate of the Jail, who had similarly suffered a stabbing attack, joined the suit through the Amended Complaint. The plaintiffs, represented by public interest counsel, asked the court for damages resulting from claims of wrongful death, unsafe jail con…

On June 10, 2004, the estate of a deceased former inmate of the District of Columbia jail filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia against the D. C. Department of Corrections. On November 18, 2004, another former inmate of the Jail, who had similarly suffered a stabbing attack, joined the suit through the Amended Complaint. The plaintiffs, represented by public interest counsel, asked the court for damages resulting from claims of wrongful death, unsafe jail conditions, due process violations, and cruel and unusual punishment violations. Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that due to the increased population in the D.C. Jail, which was not accompanied by an increase in corrections personnel, jail conditions created a substantial risk that plaintiffs would be exposed to physical harm and that the defendants were aware of the increased risk and did nothing to mitigate that risk.

On December 11, 2002, the original plaintiff was stabbed and killed by a fellow inmate while in pretrial detention at the D.C. Jail. The additional plaintiff was stabbed two days later. Plaintiffs claimed the stabbings were only possible because the cell block in which Plaintiffs were housed was overcrowded and understaffed by security personnel. Shortly before Mr. Pendleton's death, the D.C. jail was relieved of court-imposed population cap and the population had risen by nearly 40%. The plaintiffs argued that the defendants had been well informed of the situation in the jail but had not resolved the safety concerns at the time of the incident.

The case was heard in District Court (Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, replaced by Judge Ricardo M. Urbina). Defendants moved for summary judgment on June 30, 2005, which was denied October 18, 2005. Concurrently, the parties participated in sealed settlement proceedings before a District of Columbia Magistrate Court (Judge John M. Facciola, replaced by Judge Alan Kay). After discovery was closed but before the case had come before open court, a private settlement was reached, at which point the case was voluntarily dismissed by Plaintiffs on November 18, 2008. According to Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, this case secured "the largest settlement ever in an inmate wrongful death suit against the District of Columbia."

Summary Authors

Jesse Stricklan (3/10/2014)

Daniel Fryer (2/1/2016)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4756858/parties/beale-v-the-district-of-columbia/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Adams, C. (Corliss) Vaughn (District of Columbia)

Ellickson, Jenny C. (District of Columbia)

Finkenstadt, Ivy (Virginia)

Fornaci, Phillip Jerome (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Gainey, Shameka (District of Columbia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:04-cv-00959

Docket [PACER]

Beale v. D.C.

Nov. 18, 2008

Nov. 18, 2008

Docket
1

1:04-cv-00959

Complaint

Beale v. D.C.

June 10, 2004

June 10, 2004

Complaint
14

1:04-cv-00959

First Amended Complaint

Beale v. D.C.

Nov. 8, 2004

Nov. 8, 2004

Complaint
103

1:04-cv-00959

Memorandum Opinion [Denying the Plaintiffs' Appeal of Magistrate Judge's Orders Regarding Reopening of Discovery and Briefing Schedule for Dispositive Motions]

Beale v. D.C.

March 31, 2008

March 31, 2008

Order/Opinion

545 F.Supp.2d 545

107

1:04-cv-00959

Praecipe of Dismissal

Beale v. D.C.

Nov. 18, 2008

Nov. 18, 2008

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4756858/beale-v-the-district-of-columbia/

Last updated Feb. 22, 2024, 3:02 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Summons Issued

June 10, 2004

June 10, 2004

PACER
1

Complaint

June 10, 2004

June 10, 2004

PACER
2

Notice of Related Case

June 10, 2004

June 10, 2004

PACER

Summons Issued

June 21, 2004

June 21, 2004

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

June 22, 2004

June 22, 2004

PACER
3

Summons Returned Executed

June 24, 2004

June 24, 2004

PACER
4

Summons Returned Executed

June 24, 2004

June 24, 2004

PACER
5

Answer to Complaint

July 12, 2004

July 12, 2004

PACER
6

Attorney Appearance

July 13, 2004

July 13, 2004

PACER
7

Notice of Appearance

July 13, 2004

July 13, 2004

PACER

Notice of Hearing

July 29, 2004

July 29, 2004

PACER
8

Order

July 29, 2004

July 29, 2004

PACER
9

Motion for Leave to File

Oct. 13, 2004

Oct. 13, 2004

PACER
10

Memorandum in Opposition

Oct. 27, 2004

Oct. 27, 2004

PACER
11

Meet and Confer Statement

Oct. 29, 2004

Oct. 29, 2004

PACER
12

Reply to opposition to Motion

Nov. 3, 2004

Nov. 3, 2004

PACER

Order

Nov. 5, 2004

Nov. 5, 2004

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

Nov. 5, 2004

Nov. 5, 2004

PACER

Order

Nov. 11, 2004

Nov. 11, 2004

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

Nov. 11, 2004

Nov. 11, 2004

PACER
13

Order on Motion for Leave to File

Nov. 18, 2004

Nov. 18, 2004

PACER
14

Amended Complaint

Nov. 18, 2004

Nov. 18, 2004

PACER

Scheduling Conference

Nov. 23, 2004

Nov. 23, 2004

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

Nov. 23, 2004

Nov. 23, 2004

PACER
15

Order

Nov. 23, 2004

Nov. 23, 2004

PACER

Summons Issued

Nov. 30, 2004

Nov. 30, 2004

PACER
16

Summons Returned Executed

Nov. 30, 2004

Nov. 30, 2004

PACER
17

Summons Returned Executed

Nov. 30, 2004

Nov. 30, 2004

PACER
18

Summons Returned Executed

Nov. 30, 2004

Nov. 30, 2004

PACER
19

Notice of Appearance

Dec. 1, 2004

Dec. 1, 2004

PACER
20

Notice of Appearance

Dec. 8, 2004

Dec. 8, 2004

PACER

Summons Issued

Dec. 16, 2004

Dec. 16, 2004

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

Dec. 16, 2004

Dec. 16, 2004

PACER
21

Order

Dec. 16, 2004

Dec. 16, 2004

PACER
22

Order

Dec. 16, 2004

Dec. 16, 2004

PACER
23

Motion for Extension of Time to

Dec. 21, 2004

Dec. 21, 2004

PACER

Case Referred to Magistrate Judge

Dec. 23, 2004

Dec. 23, 2004

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to

Jan. 3, 2005

Jan. 3, 2005

PACER
24

Summons Returned Executed

Jan. 6, 2005

Jan. 6, 2005

PACER
25

Answer to Amended Complaint

Jan. 24, 2005

Jan. 24, 2005

PACER
26

Notice of Appearance

Jan. 26, 2005

Jan. 26, 2005

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

March 22, 2005

March 22, 2005

PACER
27

Motion for Extension of Time to

May 20, 2005

May 20, 2005

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

May 31, 2005

May 31, 2005

PACER
28

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to

May 31, 2005

May 31, 2005

PACER
29

Notice of Appearance

June 21, 2005

June 21, 2005

PACER
30

Motion for Summary Judgment

June 30, 2005

June 30, 2005

PACER
31

Motion for Summary Judgment

June 30, 2005

June 30, 2005

PACER
32

Motion to Stay

July 6, 2005

July 6, 2005

PACER
33

Motion to Stay

July 15, 2005

July 15, 2005

PACER

Order on Motion to Stay

July 18, 2005

July 18, 2005

PACER
34

Motion for Protective Order

Aug. 16, 2005

Aug. 16, 2005

PACER
35

Memorandum in Opposition

Aug. 29, 2005

Aug. 29, 2005

PACER

Order

Sept. 7, 2005

Sept. 7, 2005

PACER
36

Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

Sept. 8, 2005

Sept. 8, 2005

PACER
37

Notice of Appearance

Sept. 8, 2005

Sept. 8, 2005

PACER

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

Sept. 9, 2005

Sept. 9, 2005

PACER
38

Order on Motion for Protective Order

Sept. 30, 2005

Sept. 30, 2005

PACER
39

Motion for Discovery

Oct. 17, 2005

Oct. 17, 2005

PACER

Order on Motion for Discovery

Oct. 18, 2005

Oct. 18, 2005

PACER

Order on Motion to Stay

Oct. 18, 2005

Oct. 18, 2005

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

Oct. 18, 2005

Oct. 18, 2005

PACER
40

Motion to Enforce

Nov. 21, 2005

Nov. 21, 2005

PACER
41

Memorandum in Opposition

Dec. 7, 2005

Dec. 7, 2005

PACER
42

Reply to opposition to Motion

Dec. 15, 2005

Dec. 15, 2005

PACER
43

Motion to Enforce

Dec. 15, 2005

Dec. 15, 2005

PACER

Case Referred to Magistrate Judge

Dec. 19, 2005

Dec. 19, 2005

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

Dec. 20, 2005

Dec. 20, 2005

PACER

Order

Dec. 20, 2005

Dec. 20, 2005

PACER
44

Order

Dec. 20, 2005

Dec. 20, 2005

PACER
45

Memorandum in Opposition

Dec. 23, 2005

Dec. 23, 2005

PACER

Order

Jan. 4, 2006

Jan. 4, 2006

PACER
46

Reply to opposition to Motion

Jan. 4, 2006

Jan. 4, 2006

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

Jan. 18, 2006

Jan. 18, 2006

PACER
47

Motion for Protective Order

Feb. 1, 2006

Feb. 1, 2006

PACER
48

Order on Motion for Protective Order

Feb. 1, 2006

Feb. 1, 2006

PACER

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

Feb. 6, 2006

Feb. 6, 2006

PACER
49

Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

Feb. 6, 2006

Feb. 6, 2006

PACER

Set/Reset Hearings

March 13, 2006

March 13, 2006

PACER
50

Motion for Sanctions

March 27, 2006

March 27, 2006

PACER
51

Notice (Other)

March 27, 2006

March 27, 2006

PACER

Settlement Conference

March 30, 2006

March 30, 2006

PACER
52

Order Referring Motion

March 31, 2006

March 31, 2006

PACER

Case Referred to Magistrate Judge

April 10, 2006

April 10, 2006

PACER
53

Motion for Extension of Time to

April 12, 2006

April 12, 2006

PACER
54

Memorandum in Opposition

April 17, 2006

April 17, 2006

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines

April 18, 2006

April 18, 2006

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings

April 18, 2006

April 18, 2006

PACER
55

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to

April 18, 2006

April 18, 2006

PACER
56

Memorandum in Opposition

April 21, 2006

April 21, 2006

PACER
57

Motion for Protective Order

April 21, 2006

April 21, 2006

PACER
58

Motion for Protective Order

April 21, 2006

April 21, 2006

PACER
59

Notice (Other)

April 24, 2006

April 24, 2006

PACER
60

Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

April 26, 2006

April 26, 2006

PACER

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

April 27, 2006

April 27, 2006

PACER

Set/Reset Deadlines

April 28, 2006

April 28, 2006

PACER
61

Notice (Other)

May 12, 2006

May 12, 2006

PACER
62

Reply to opposition to Motion

May 15, 2006

May 15, 2006

PACER
63

Notice (Other)

May 24, 2006

May 24, 2006

PACER
64

Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

May 30, 2006

May 30, 2006

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 10, 2004

Closing Date: 2008

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Estate of an inmate killed by another inmate in the D.C. Jail.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Washington Lawyers' Committee

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

District of Columbia (District of Columbia), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Failure to supervise

Failure to train

Personal injury

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Type of Facility:

Government-run