Case: Heitman v. Gabriel

5:79-cv-06056 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Filed Date: Sept. 10, 1979

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Case Summary

Inmates at the Buchanan County Jail in St. Joseph, Missouri, filed a pro se class-action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of the county in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, alleging that their 8th Amendment rights and due process rights had been violated by inadequacies at the jail in the areas of overcrowding, physical environment, religious exercise, medical care, recreational facilities, reading materials, legal materials, sanitation, fire sa…

Inmates at the Buchanan County Jail in St. Joseph, Missouri, filed a pro se class-action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of the county in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, alleging that their 8th Amendment rights and due process rights had been violated by inadequacies at the jail in the areas of overcrowding, physical environment, religious exercise, medical care, recreational facilities, reading materials, legal materials, sanitation, fire safety, inmate supplies, grievance procedures, disciplinary procedures, overheating, showering, and visitation. On October 20, 1981, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri (Judge Howard F. Sachs) held that, under a totality of conditions test, conditions at the county jail violated the 8th Amendment rights of convicted prisoners and the due process rights of the pretrial detainees. Heitman v. Gabriel, 524 F.Supp. 622 (W.D.Mo. 1981). Rather than ordering specific measures to fix the problems, the court ordered the parties to propose remedial measures to take care of the problems in the county jail so that the court could consider them. We have no further information on the facts of this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (3/9/2006)

People

Judge(s)

Sachs, Howard Frederic (Missouri)

Attorney for Plaintiff

York, Claudia J. (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

Bradley, Suzanne B. (Missouri)

Marquart, Keith B. (Missouri)

Judge(s)

Sachs, Howard Frederic (Missouri)

Attorney for Plaintiff

York, Claudia J. (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

Bradley, Suzanne B. (Missouri)

Marquart, Keith B. (Missouri)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

5:79-cv-06056

Memorandum Opinion and Initial Remedial Order

Oct. 20, 1981

Oct. 20, 1981

Order/Opinion

524 F.Supp. 524

Docket

Last updated April 4, 2024, 3:01 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Missouri

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 10, 1979

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

inmates at the Buchanan County Jail in St. Joseph, Missouri

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Buchanan County (St. Joeseph, Buchanan), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1981 - None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Disciplinary procedures

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Loss or damage to property

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Sanitation / living conditions

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Library (non-law) access

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run