Case: Gray v. Ferrell

1:81-cv-00018 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

Filed Date: June 2, 1981

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On June 2, 1981, inmates at the Scott County Jail in Benton County, Missouri, filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of Benton County in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequacies in the areas of overcrowding, fire safety, mail delivery, food storage and preparation, sanitati…

On June 2, 1981, inmates at the Scott County Jail in Benton County, Missouri, filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of Benton County in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequacies in the areas of overcrowding, fire safety, mail delivery, food storage and preparation, sanitation, hygiene, visitation procedures, dental care, mental health care, medical care, telephone usage, recreation, security, and abuse by staff.

On October 25, 1982, the parties entered into a Consent Decree in the case. The Decree provided for changes in the areas of inmate safety, sanitation, lighting, heating, plumbing, cooling, ventilation, extermination of vermin, staff training, fire safety, laundering of clothing, recreation, library materials, medical care, dental care, visitation, mail, disciplinary procedures, grievance procedures, and attorneys' fees.

We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

However, it should be noted that according to public information, Scott County built a new jail facility some time subsequent to this litigation.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (1/18/2007)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Fuchs, Robert B. (Missouri)

Goldstein, Richard (Missouri)

Payne, J. Michael (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

Gilmore, Thomas R. (Missouri)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Hirschowitz, Louis (Missouri)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:81-cv-00026

Rules for Prisoners Incarcerated in the Scott County Jail

Jan. 10, 1977

Jan. 10, 1977

Statute/Ordinance/Regulation

1:81-cv-00018

First Amended Complaint

June 2, 1981

June 2, 1981

Complaint

1:81-cv-00018

Answer

June 12, 1981

June 12, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:81-cv-00018

Answers to Interrogatories

July 17, 1981

July 17, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:81-cv-00018

Plaintiffs' Motion to Appoint Experts

Gray v. Patterson

Sept. 11, 1981

Sept. 11, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:81-cv-00018

Motion for Class Certification and to Consolidate

Sept. 14, 1981

Sept. 14, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:81-cv-00018

Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgment, Injunctive Relief, and Other Appropriate Relief

Dec. 21, 1981

Dec. 21, 1981

Complaint

1:81-cv-00018

1:81-cv-00026

Motion for Order that Facts be Taken as Established

Feb. 5, 1982

Feb. 5, 1982

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:81-cv-00018

1:81-cv-00026

Affidavit in Support of Motion for Order that Facts be Taken as Established

Feb. 9, 1982

Feb. 9, 1982

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:81-cv-00018

1:81-cv-00026

Consent Judgment

Oct. 25, 1982

Oct. 25, 1982

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:01 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Missouri

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 2, 1981

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates at the Scott County Jail in Benton County, Missouri.

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Scott County Jail (Scott County), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

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: 1982 - 0

Issues

General:

Bathing and hygiene

Counseling

Disciplinary procedures

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Phone

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Library (non-law) access

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run