Case: McDonald v. Fair

Civil Action No. 80352 | Massachusetts state trial court

Filed Date: Jan. 21, 1986

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Case Summary

On January 21, 1986, pregnant inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, Massachusetts filed a class-action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by poor medical care during their pregnancies. Specifically, they com…

On January 21, 1986, pregnant inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, Massachusetts filed a class-action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by poor medical care during their pregnancies. Specifically, they complained about nutritional inadequacies, exposure to infectious disease, lack of treatment for drug addictions, and lack of exercise.

On April 7, 1992, the parties reached a settlement in the case. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Walter Jay Skinner) approved the settlement on June 24, 1992. Under the agreement, pregnant inmates were to be provided with a physician-approved pregnancy diet, one hour of exercise per day, prenatal counseling and education, maternity clothing, separation from inmates with communicable diseases, and regular medical examinations. In addition, the settlement agreement stated that pregnant inmates would not be put in waist chains during their third trimester of pregnancy.

We have only the complaint and settlement agreement, thus we have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (5/10/2006)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Barkow, Barry (Massachusetts)

Braudy, Anne (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Kaczynski, Michelle (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Civil Action No. 80352

Complaint

Dec. 20, 1985

Dec. 20, 1985

Complaint

Civil Action No. 80352

Agreement

April 7, 1992

April 7, 1992

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:30 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 21, 1986

Case Ongoing: Unknown

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Pregnant inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, Massachusetts

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Massachusetts Department of Corrections, State

Massachusetts Correctional Institution (Farmingham), State

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)

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: 1992 - 0

Issues

Reproductive rights:

Reproductive health care (including birth control, abortion, and others)

General:

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Personal injury

Recreation / Exercise

Restraints : physical

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run