On February 11, 2000, plaintiffs, a group of individuals with diabetes who were allegedly denied proper medical care and diet while in police custody, filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the City of Philadelphia under 42 U.S.C. §1983. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys' fees. Plaintiffs alleged the City of Philadelphia failed to ensure that individuals with diabetes who were detained or arrested by police received adequate treatment.

On March 6, 2001, the District Court (Judge Petrese B. Tucker) certified both an injunctive class, including all those who are or will be in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department, and a damages class, consisting of all those with diabetes who were denied timely and adequate medical care and diet while in the custody of the Philadelphia Police Department.

On March 13, 2003, the parties reached a settlement agreement providing for: (1) centralized processing and medical services for all adult detainees with diabetes, (2) a "source of sugar" available in all police districts and units, (3) monitoring of compliance by plaintiffs' counsel and the American Diabetes Association for 18 months following approval of the settlement agreement, (4) training videos on the needs of people with diabetes in custody incorporated into police training and diabetes posters placed in each area where prisoners are detained, (5) compensation for the damages class, and (6) attorneys' fees. The settlement agreement was approved by the District Court (Judge Petrese B. Tucker) on October 16, 2003.

Following the final monitoring report, on July 2, 2007, the District Court (Judge Petrese B. Tucker) dismissed the case.

Kristen Sagar - 04/12/2009
Brendan Brown - 10/15/2014


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