Case: Ortiz v. Turner

4:77-02099 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Sept. 15, 1977

Closed Date: Jan. 8, 1987

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Case Summary

Inmates in Illinois filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois alleging that prison officials failed to keep Alexander County Jail to minimum standards. Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance and Saint Louis University Law School represented the plaintiffs. Citing Bush v. Viterna, 795 F.2d 1203 (5th Cir. 1986), Illinois Department of Corrections officials filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. In a January 8, 1987 order, the court (Chief Judge James L. Foreman) granted the motion. Ortiz v. Turner, 651 F. Supp. 309 (S.D. Ill. 1987). The court held that Illinois law does not obligate the Department of Corrections to enforce jail standards. To hold so, the court reasoned, would be to make the State officials vicariously liable for the acts (or failures of action) of county officials, upon whom Illinois law places the responsibility for maintaining the jails.

 

Summary Authors

Ben Kelly (3/5/2006)

Related Cases

Morgan v. City of Houston, Southern District of Texas (1976)

People


Judge(s)

Foreman, James L. (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Chase, Richard D. (Illinois)

Eastman, Herbert A. (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

Schmidt, Thomas (Illinois)

Judge(s)

Foreman, James L. (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:77-02099

Memorandum and Order

Jan. 8, 1987

Jan. 8, 1987

Order/Opinion

651 F.Supp. 651

Docket

Last updated Feb. 14, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 15, 1977

Closing Date: Jan. 8, 1987

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates in Alexander County Jail in Illinois

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Turner (Alexander County Jail, Alexander), County

Case Details

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Totality of conditions

Type of Facility:

Government-run