On February 23, 2012, five Maryland state prisoners who are deaf filed a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and other state entities under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Represented by private counsel, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, plaintiffs alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants refused to provide the proper interpretive services, videophones, and other hearing devices. Plaintiffs sought injunctive relief and damages.

On March 13, 2013, Judge Ellen Hollander issued an opinion and an order denying the defendants' motion to dismiss or for summary judgment. Judge Hollander also denied the defendants' motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Jarboe v. Maryland Dep't of Pub. Safety & Corr. Servs., 2013 WL 1010357 (D. Md. Mar. 13, 2013).

The parties entered into settlement talks and had several settlement conferences. Subsequently, the parties reached a tentative agreement. On February 20, 2015, Judge Hollander dismissed the case without prejudice to the parties' rights to reopen the case if the settlement agreement is not consummated.

Jessica Kincaid - 03/15/2015


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