Case: Cooper v. Noble

3:78-cv-00207 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Filed Date: May 12, 1978

Closed Date: March 14, 1996

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Case Summary

In 1978, a group of Madison County inmates filed a section 1983 class action suit against Madison County officials in the District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The inmates challenged nearly every aspect of jail conditions. In 1980 or 1981, the district court accepted an interim consent agreement reached by the parties and entered an interim judgment. The consent agreement concerned issues such as nutrition, visitation, disciplinary rules, medical attention, and access to a…

One year later, the district court referred the case to a United States Magistrate Judge for entry of judgment. The Magistrate Judge entered a final judgment.

In 1989, the Madison County officials filed a motion for relief from the original consent agreement because the County had built a new jail, altering the conditions and procedures of the jail. In response, the plaintiffs not only opposed the motion, but also moved to hold the officials in contempt of court for violating the decree. The Magistrate Judge held that the Madison County officials were in contempt of court and denied their motion for relief from judgment. The officials appealed.

In 1994, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the Magistrate Judge's decision. Cooper v. Noble, 33 F.3d 540 (5th Cir. 1994). Two months after the decision, the Fifth Circuit supplemented its earlier decision, holding that the Violent Crime Control Act of 1994 does not apply to Defendants' appeal. Cooper v. Noble, 41 F.3d 212 (5th Cir. 1994).

Plaintiffs' counsel then sought attorney's fees. The court determined the proper amount of attorney's fees and the attorneys appealed the decision. Cooper v. Hopkins, 945 F. Supp. 940 (S.D. Miss. 1995). The Fifth Circuit heard the appeal and affirmed the decision of the District Court. Cooper v. Pentecost, 77 F.3d 829 (5th Cir. 1996).

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Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/19/2005)

People

Judge(s)

Duhe, John Malcolm Jr. (Louisiana)

Garza, Emilio M. (Texas)

Higginbotham, Aloyisus Leon Jr. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hinds, Lennox S. (Mississippi)

Attorney for Defendant

Cowan, Rebecca Barge (Mississippi)

Judge(s)

Duhe, John Malcolm Jr. (Louisiana)

Garza, Emilio M. (Texas)

Higginbotham, Aloyisus Leon Jr. (Pennsylvania)

Wingate, Henry Travillion (Mississippi)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hinds, Lennox S. (Mississippi)

Welch, Ronald R. (Mississippi)

Attorney for Defendant

Cowan, Rebecca Barge (Mississippi)

Montgomery, Carl Robert (Mississippi)

Robinson, Lindia Pilcher (Mississippi)

Walker, Tara Bryant (Mississippi)

Wallace, Terry (Mississippi)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
93-07678	Reported Opinion U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit	Oct. 5, 1994	Oct. 5, 1994 Order/Opinion 33 F.3d 33
93-07678	Reported Opinion U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit	Dec. 15, 1994	Dec. 15, 1994 Order/Opinion 41 F.3d 41
3:78-cv-00207	Memorandum Opinion and Order Cooper v. Hopkins	March 3, 1995	March 3, 1995 Order/Opinion 945 F.Supp. 945
95-60260	Reported Opinion Cooper v. Pentecost U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit	March 14, 1996	March 14, 1996 Order/Opinion 77 F.3d 77