On July 19, 2017, death-row inmates in Florida filed this lawsuit alleging that the practice of placing death-row inmates in solitary confinement indefinitely violated their Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Specifically, they claimed that the permanent solitary confinement posed a serious risk of harm to the health and safety of the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against employees of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiffs, represented by themselves, sought injunctive and monetary relief. Lastly, they sought to represent a class of all Florida inmates on death row and in FDOC custody at one of two state correctional facilities. The case was assigned to Judge Marcia Morales Howard.
The defendants moved to dismiss the claim on October 6, 2017. They alleged that the plaintiffs had failed to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and for lack of jurisdiction. On October 25, 2017, the case was referred to mediation.
On November 17, 2017, the Florida DOC filed initial discovery disclosures.
On September 10, 2018, parties stipulated to both a protective order and a confidentiality order.
On March 28, 2018, the complaint was amended.
On April 23, 2018, the motion to certify the class was denied as moot.
On December 5, 2018, a memorandum denying the presence of a third-party observer at mental health examinations was filed stating that the presence of a third party is not necessary or proper.
On May 28, 2019, both parties filed a joint status report to schedule mediation before Senior United States District Judge Harvey Schlesinger and stipulating to a non-jury trial.
On June 12, 2019, Judge Howard issued an order setting the terms of the settlement proceedings in front of Judge Schlesinger. The court directed the clerk to administratively close the case, to be reopened when the settlement efforts have concluded. Judge Howard directed the clerk to open a new case,
In re: Davis v. Inch
Settlement Conference, Case No. 3:19-mc-17, and assign it to Judge Schlesinger. On October 30, 2019, the parties notified the court that discussions are continuing and the parties request more time for mediation. A mediation session was held in January 2020 and is ongoing as of May 11, 2020.
Nora Baty - 09/22/2019
Kat Zhao - 02/14/2020
compress summary
