Filed Date: Dec. 15, 1977
Closed Date: Sept. 18, 1978
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Inmates of the Wayne County Prison in Honesdale, Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs, represented by Northern Pennsylvania Legal Services, asked the court for injunctive relief and damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by conditions at the prison. Specifically, the plaintiffs complained about deficiencies in the areas of mail delivery, the law library, exercise, hygienic products, maintenance of the commissary, medical care, recreational equipment, and grievance procedures.
On June 7, 1978, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (Judge Malcom Muir) declined to certify the plaintiffs as a class. On September 18, 1978, the court approved a settlement agreement, which addressed all issues except the payment of attorneys' fees. Under the agreement, the defendants were to pay each of the plaintiffs damages in the amount of $550.
On October 3, 1978, the court (Judge Muir) held that the plaintiffs should be awarded attorneys' fees, and ordered the defendants to pay the fees in the amount of $6820. The court then held that no award of other costs or extraordinary expenses would be awarded. Barrett v. Kalinowski, 458 F.Supp. 689 (M.D.Penn. 1978).
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (4/29/2006)
Bianco, David F. (Pennsylvania)
Bragg, O. Randolph (Pennsylvania)
Fields, Robert J. (Pennsylvania)
Hamill, Raymond L. (Indiana)
Hock, Jered L. (Pennsylvania)
Muir, Malcolm (Pennsylvania)
Last updated March 25, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 15, 1977
Closing Date: Sept. 18, 1978
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Present and former inmates alleging violations of their constitutional rights
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Denied
Defendants
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (Honesdale), State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
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: 1978 - None
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Sanitation / living conditions
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: