Case: Dorsey v. Adams

S03C1680 | Georgia state trial court

Filed Date: 1998

Closed Date: Nov. 10, 2003

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Inmates in the DeKalb County Jail brought suit in Georgia state court against the county, the sheriff, and others alleging inadequate medical care at the jail. Plaintiffs were represented by the Southern Center for Human Rights. The parties settled; in 2001, the Georgia Superior Court in DeKalb County (Judge Fuller) entered a consent decree. Later that year, plaintiffs moved for a contempt judgment, and court granted the motion. The county appealed, and the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed…

Inmates in the DeKalb County Jail brought suit in Georgia state court against the county, the sheriff, and others alleging inadequate medical care at the jail. Plaintiffs were represented by the Southern Center for Human Rights. The parties settled; in 2001, the Georgia Superior Court in DeKalb County (Judge Fuller) entered a consent decree.

Later that year, plaintiffs moved for a contempt judgment, and court granted the motion. The county appealed, and the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed. Dorsey v. Adams, 564 S.E.2d 847 (Ga. App. 2002). Plaintiffs later moved again for a contempt judgment because the county fired the monitor when the settlement agreement expired, even though the contempt sanction remained. The Superior Court (Judge Hilton Fuller) granted plaintiffs' motion holding that the county had failed to purge itself of civil contempt. Defendants appealed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. DeKalb County v. Adams, 585 S.E.2d 178 (Ga. App. 2003) (cert. denied).

There was subsequent litigation concerning attorney's fees. DeKalb County v. Adams, 587 S.E.2d 302 (Ga. App. 2003). The trial court docket for this case is not available on PACER because this was a state court case, and therefore our information ends with the last reported decision in 2003.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/20/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Fuller, Hilton (Georgia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Fortson, Xernia L. (Georgia)

Attorney for Defendant

Gignilliat, Richard R. (Georgia)

Idalski, Annette A. (Georgia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Hicks, Charles George (Georgia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

A02A1075

Reported Opinion

Georgia state appellate court

May 3, 2002

May 3, 2002

Order/Opinion

564 S.E.2d 564

A03A0954

Reported Opinion

DeKalb County v. Adams

Georgia state appellate court

July 9, 2003

July 9, 2003

Order/Opinion

585 S.E.2d 585

A03A1557

Reported Opinion

DeKalb County v. Adams

Georgia state appellate court

Sept. 12, 2003

Sept. 12, 2003

Order/Opinion

587 S.E.2d 587

S03C1680

Opinion

DeKalb County v. Adams

Georgia state supreme court

Nov. 10, 2003

Nov. 10, 2003

Order/Opinion

2003 Ga.LEXIS 2003

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:45 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: 1998

Closing Date: Nov. 10, 2003

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates in DeKalb County, Georgia, alleging insufficient medical care in the prison

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR)

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

DeKalb County Jail (De Kalb), 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: 2001 - None

Issues

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run