Case: R.W.T. v. Dalton

4:78-00930 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

Filed Date: Sept. 6, 1978

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

A class of juveniles represented by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit in 1978 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, against state judges, state juvenile officers, and county sheriffs, alleging unconstitutional conditions of confinement in the St. Charles, Pike, and Lincoln County jails and denial of their constitutional rights when they were confined without probable cause hearings. The issue of conditions of confinement was se…

A class of juveniles represented by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit in 1978 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, against state judges, state juvenile officers, and county sheriffs, alleging unconstitutional conditions of confinement in the St. Charles, Pike, and Lincoln County jails and denial of their constitutional rights when they were confined without probable cause hearings. The issue of conditions of confinement was settled by the parties in a consent decree entered by the court on July 31, 1980, which barred the incarceration of juveniles in the St. Charles or Pike County jails. The court found for the juveniles on the probable cause issue. On June 17, 1982, in a hearing on a motion to reconsider on the issue of attorney's fees, the court (Judge Edward L. Filippine) held that fees assessed against state defendants could be paid from state funds; judicial immunity did not bar an award of fees against state judges; and that the county sheriff was not liable for fees. R.W.T. v. Dalton, 540 F. Supp. 772 (E.D.Mo. 1982).

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (Judge Richard Sheppard Arnold) affirmed in part and reversed in part, finding that juveniles are entitled under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to probable cause hearings, regardless of whether the juvenile is a criminal or non-criminal, status offender; the judges were not proper defendants in the suit; juvenile officers are not immune from suit; injunctive relief was not improper; and that the state was liable for one half of juveniles' attorney fees. R.W.T. v. Dalton, 712 F.2d 1225 (8th Cir. 1983). On December 5, 1983, the United Stated Supreme Court denied certiorari. Dalton v. R.W.T., 104 S.Ct. 527 (1983).

Summary Authors

Megan Raynor (3/25/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Arnold, Richard Sheppard (Arkansas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ashcroft, John (District of Columbia)

Cohn, Kenneth A. (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

Davis, E. Darrell Jr. (Missouri)

Dietrich, Thomas W. (Missouri)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:78-00930

Order

June 17, 1982

June 17, 1982

Order/Opinion

82-01745

82-01793

Reported Opinion

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

July 21, 1983

July 21, 1983

Order/Opinion

83-00591

Memorandum Decision

Dalton v. R.W.T.

Supreme Court of the United States

Dec. 5, 1983

Dec. 5, 1983

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 28, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Missouri

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 6, 1978

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Juveniles who have been, are, or may be detained in jails or detention centers by juvenile authorities in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri (St. Charles, Lincoln, Pike Counties)

Attorney Organizations:

NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Judges and Associate Judges of Eleventh Judicial Circuit of State of Missouir, State

Judges of County Court for St. Charles County, County

Sheriffs of St. Charles, Lincoln, and Pike Counties, County

Juvenile Office and Deputy Juvenile Officer of Eleventh Judicial Circuit of State of Missouri, State

Pike County Jail (Pike), County

St. Charles County Jai (St. Charles, St. Charles), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Unreasonable search and seizure

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1980 - None

Issues

General:

Over/Unlawful Detention

Sanitation / living conditions

Type of Facility:

Government-run