Case: Brunner v. Carter

2:77-04286 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: Dec. 16, 1977

Closed Date: 1981

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Case Summary

On December 16, 1977, a juvenile at the Montgomery County Youth Center filed a class action lawsuit against the county and the State of Pennsylvania in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiffs, represented by the Juvenile Law Center of Philadelphia, sought declaratory and injunctive relief and damages alleging that defendants' use of isolation as a form of punishment violated the juveniles' constitutional rights. Specif…

On December 16, 1977, a juvenile at the Montgomery County Youth Center filed a class action lawsuit against the county and the State of Pennsylvania in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiffs, represented by the Juvenile Law Center of Philadelphia, sought declaratory and injunctive relief and damages alleging that defendants' use of isolation as a form of punishment violated the juveniles' constitutional rights. Specifically, plaintiffs alleged that there were no guidelines or limits on the use of isolation, isolation was punitive and anti-therapeutic, and defendants' failure to provide a hearing either before or after isolation violated the juveniles' rights to due process. Plaintiff also challenged other restrictions imposed on juveniles residing at the Youth Center including mail censorship, denial of education programming, and intercom monitoring.

On June 21, 1978, the district court (Judge John B. Hannum) denied defendants' motion to dismiss and certified plaintiffs' class to include all past, present, and future residents of the Montgomery County Youth Center. On February 1, 1981, the plaintiffs and the county defendants entered into a consent decree where the parties agreed that defendants would limit the use of punitive isolation; train staff in alternative methods of controlling juveniles' behavior; and provide juveniles with a handbook detailing their rights, the Youth Center's expectations, and grievance procedures. The parties further agreed to allow juveniles access to mail services and not to read the juveniles' incoming mail. The parties also agreed that defendants would inform the juveniles about the intercom system and not secretly monitor them. In March of 1981, plaintiffs and the state defendants entered into a voluntary stipulation of dismissal. Defendants had promulgated new rules and also agreed to provide attorneys for plaintiffs with records and documents detention center regulations since the complaint was filed, and defendants concerning the use of punitive isolation in the Youth Center.

On March 25, 1981, the parties entered a joint memorandum in support of the proposed settlement. On March 27, 1981 the district court (Judge Hannum) approved both the consent decree and the stipulation for voluntary dismissal. We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Emilee Baker (5/24/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Hannum, John Berne (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Levick, Marsha (District of Columbia)

Palamarchuk, Alexander J. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

Gallagher, John J. (Pennsylvania)

McAllister, John (Pennsylvania)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:77-04286

Plaintiffs' and Defendants' Joint Memorandum of Law in Support of Proposed Settlement

March 25, 1981

March 25, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

2:77-04286

Consent Decree in Partial Settlement of this Action

March 27, 1981

March 27, 1981

Order/Opinion

2:77-04286

Stipulation in Partial Settlement

March 27, 1981

March 27, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

2:77-04286

Memorandum of Approval

March 30, 1981

March 30, 1981

Order/Opinion

2:77-04286

Stipulation for Voluntary Dismissal of Defendant Helen O'Bannon

March 30, 1981

March 30, 1981

Pleading / Motion / Brief

2:77-04286

Complaint

None

None

Complaint

Docket

Last updated March 17, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Pennsylvania

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 16, 1977

Closing Date: 1981

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All past, present, and future residents of the Montgomery County Youth Center

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Montgomery County, County

State of Pennsylvania, State

Montgomery Youth Center, County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1981 - 1981

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Mail

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Disciplinary segregation

Type of Facility:

Government-run