Case: U.S. v. Morgan County, Tennessee

3:00-cv-00089 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

Filed Date: Feb. 10, 2000

Closed Date: July 20, 2006

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case about jail conditions in Morgan County, TN. On February 10, 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed this lawsuit against Morgan County, TN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which was assigned to Judge James H. Jarvis. The DOJ alleged that Morgan County “failed to provide [detainees] adequate security, medical and mental health care, fire safety, sanitation, or access to courts.” This lawsuit followed a 1997 investigation of Morgan County …

This is a case about jail conditions in Morgan County, TN. On February 10, 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed this lawsuit against Morgan County, TN, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which was assigned to Judge James H. Jarvis. The DOJ alleged that Morgan County “failed to provide [detainees] adequate security, medical and mental health care, fire safety, sanitation, or access to courts.” This lawsuit followed a 1997 investigation of Morgan County Jail that “found that the jail was unsanitary, dangerously understaffed, and lacked basic medical and mental health care systems,” and that there had been “escapes, suicide attempts, and sexual assault and harassment of female inmates by jail staff and inmates.” (Department of Justice Press Release, 2/10/2000).

The case was filed under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1997 et seq. It is unknown what sort of relief was sought, but it was likely injunctive or injunctive-like relief as authorized by § 1997a ordering Morgan County to improve the jail. Morgan County demanded a jury, but Judge Jarvis granted the DOJ’s motion to strike their jury demand. A trial date was set for April 9, 2001, but prior to trial, the DOJ and Morgan County filed a joint motion for conditional dismissal, and filed a settlement agreement on June 27, 2000.

The settlement “provided for renovation or construction of the Jail to eliminate suicide hazards, provide sufficient living space for inmates, and improve fire safety, general safety and sanitation; hiring and training of additional staff; maintenance of contracts to provide adequate medical, dental and mental health services; improvements in inmate access to legal materials, privacy and protections from harassment for female inmates, as well as new policies and procedures to prevent sexual misconduct by staff.”(CRIPA Activities in FY 2000).

On June 28, 2000, Judge Jarvis granted the motion for a dismissal conditioned on Morgan County’s compliance with the settlement. The case was moved to the inactive docket, although the Court retained jurisdiction.

On July 17, 2006, the DOJ moved to dismiss the case, stating in their motion that based on compliance reports, documents, and expert consultants, including on-site observations and interviews of incarcerated individuals, Morgan County was substantially complying with the terms of the settlement.

Judge Jarvis dismissed the case with prejudice on July 20, 2006. The CRIPA spreadsheet, which the Clearinghouse obtained through a FOIA request, says that the matter closed on July 28, 2006.

Summary Authors

Samuel Poortenga (2/8/2021)

People


Judge(s)

Jarvis, James Howard II (Tennessee)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Barrick, Andrew J. (District of Columbia)

Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)

Evans, Kelli M. (District of Columbia)

Gregg, Tammie (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:00-cv-00089

Docket

USA v. Morgan County, TN

July 31, 2006

July 31, 2006

Docket

CRIPA FOIA Report

United States of America v. Morgan County

No Court

May 30, 2003

May 30, 2003

Discovery Material/FOIA Release
14

3:00-cv-00089

Order of Dismissal

United States of America v. Morgan County, Tennessee

July 20, 2006

July 20, 2006

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Feb. 20, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT (Summons(es) issued) , Magistrate Judge Murrian designated (ADA) (Entered: 02/11/2000)

Feb. 10, 2000

Feb. 10, 2000

2

RETURN OF SERVICE executed upon defendant Morgan County, TN on 2/14/00 accepted by Joe Judkins w/ret recpt attch. (DHJ) (Entered: 02/17/2000)

Feb. 16, 2000

Feb. 16, 2000

3

RETURN OF SERVICE executed upon defendant Tommy Kilby on 2/14/00 accepted by Josiah Rickens w/ret recpt attch. (DHJ) (Entered: 02/17/2000)

Feb. 16, 2000

Feb. 16, 2000

4

RETURN OF SERVICE executed upon defendant Bobby Gibson on 2/14/00 accepted by Annette Patrick w/ret recpt attch. (DHJ) (Entered: 02/17/2000)

Feb. 16, 2000

Feb. 16, 2000

5

ANSWER by defendants to pla's complaint [1−1]; jury demand C/S (DJE) (Entered: 02/25/2000)

Feb. 24, 2000

Feb. 24, 2000

NOTICE of availability of Magistrate forms mailed to all counsel (DJE) (Entered: 02/25/2000)

Feb. 25, 2000

Feb. 25, 2000

NOTICE OF TRIAL before Judge James H Jarvis ; Jury trial set for 9:00 a.m. on 4/9/01 (cc: all counsel) (DJE) Modified on 06/13/2000 (Entered: 02/25/2000)

Feb. 25, 2000

Feb. 25, 2000

6

SCHEDULING ORDER by Honorable James H. Jarvis; jury trial set on 4/9/01 at 9:00 a.m. (cc: all counsel) (DJE) Modified on 06/13/2000 (Entered: 03/23/2000)

March 23, 2000

March 23, 2000

7

JOINT PROPOSED DISCOVERY ORDER by Honorable James H. Jarvis; more fully set out in this order (cc: all counsel) (DJE) (Entered: 04/27/2000)

April 27, 2000

April 27, 2000

8

MOTION by plaintiff USA for order to strike jury demand pursuant to rule 39(a) ; w/ a proposed order attached C/S (DJE) Modified on 05/18/2000 (Entered: 05/18/2000)

May 17, 2000

May 17, 2000

9

MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT by plaintiff USA of motion their for order to strike jury demand pursuant to rule 39(a) [8−1] C/S (DJE) (Entered: 05/18/2000)

May 17, 2000

May 17, 2000

10

ORDER by Honorable James H. Jarvis granting pla's motion for order to strike dft's jury demand pursuant to rule 39(a) [8−1] (cc: all counsel) (ANB) (Entered: 06/13/2000)

June 13, 2000

June 13, 2000

REVISED NOTICE OF NON−JURY TRIAL ; Trial set for 9:00 4/9/01 (cc: all counsel) (ANB) (Entered: 06/13/2000)

June 13, 2000

June 13, 2000

11

JOINT MOTION by plaintiff and defendants for conditional dismissal ; w/ exhibit A and proposed order attached C/S (DJE) (Entered: 06/27/2000)

June 27, 2000

June 27, 2000

12

ORDER by Honorable James H. Jarvis; granting joint motion for conditional dismissal [11−1]; this dismissal is conditioned w/ the defts compliance w/ the terms of this settlement; dismissing case ( OB 178 pg 93) (cc: all counsel) (DJE) Modified on

June 28, 2000

June 28, 2000

14

ORDER OF DISMISSAL of case with Prejudice signed by Judge James H Jarvis on 07/20/2006. [Cert. copy mailed to Andrew Barrick & Kelli Evans and forwarded to US Atty at Knoxville] (JDH) Text modified on 7/20/2006 (JDH). (Entered: 07/20/2006)

July 20, 2006

July 20, 2006

15

MAIL RETURNED as Undeliverable addressed to Kelli Evans noting "box closed" re 14 Order (AYB) (Entered: 08/02/2006)

July 31, 2006

July 31, 2006

Case Details

State / Territory: Tennessee

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 10, 2000

Closing Date: July 20, 2006

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Department of Justice.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Morgan County Sheriff (Morgan), State

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Conditional Dismissal

Order Duration: 2000 - 2006

Content of Injunction:

Hire

Reporting

Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)

Training

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Bathing and hygiene

Conditions of confinement

Fire safety

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Suicide prevention

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Sexual abuse by residents/inmates

Sex w/ staff; sexual harassment by staff

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run