Case: Kersh v. Board of County Commissioners

2:89-01027 | U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming

Filed Date: May 18, 1989

Closed Date: March 7, 1994

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Case Summary

In 1989, plaintiffs filed suit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from unconstitutional conditions of confinement in the Natrona County Jail. In 1990, the district court for the District of Wyoming (Judge Alan B. Johnson) entered a consent decree, enjoining defendants from violating inmates' rights under the Eighth Amendment with respect to overcrowding, staffing, and recreation. In 1992, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking to hold the county in contempt of the consent decree, which resu…

In 1989, plaintiffs filed suit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from unconstitutional conditions of confinement in the Natrona County Jail. In 1990, the district court for the District of Wyoming (Judge Alan B. Johnson) entered a consent decree, enjoining defendants from violating inmates' rights under the Eighth Amendment with respect to overcrowding, staffing, and recreation. In 1992, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking to hold the county in contempt of the consent decree, which resulted in a settlement. One year later, plaintiffs filed another contempt motion, and plaintiffs prevailed. Litigation concerning plaintiffs' attorney's fees continued in 1994, whereby plaintiffs' counsel, attorneys from the ACLU, were awarded over $40,000 in attorney's fees. Kersh v. Bd. of Co. Comm'rs of Natrona Co., 851 F. Supp. 1541 (D. Wyo. 1994). The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and the only reported decision we have on file concerns attorney's fees rather than the substantive terms of the consent decree.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/26/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Johnson, Alan Bond (Wyoming)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Blythe, Daniel G. (Wyoming)

Pevar, Stephen L. (Colorado)

Attorney for Defendant

Easton, Eric (Wyoming)

Rochelle, Ann (Wyoming)

Judge(s)

Johnson, Alan Bond (Wyoming)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:89-00127

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Order

March 7, 1994

March 7, 1994

Order/Opinion

851 F.Supp. 851

Docket

Last updated Jan. 24, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Wyoming

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 18, 1989

Closing Date: March 7, 1994

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates alleging unconstitutional conditions of confinement in the Natrona County Jail

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Natrona County Jail (Natrona), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

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: 1990 - None

Issues

General:

Recreation / Exercise

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run