Case: Vega v. Ward

1:82-cv-06475 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 1982

Closed Date: 1997

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 29, 1982, incarcerated individuals at the Rikers Island Hospital in New York filed a pro se class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of the Rikers Island Jails in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by poor healthcare and other unspecified conditions of confinement. Our docket has a gap between 1983 a…

On September 29, 1982, incarcerated individuals at the Rikers Island Hospital in New York filed a pro se class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of the Rikers Island Jails in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by poor healthcare and other unspecified conditions of confinement.

Our docket has a gap between 1983 and 1988, but on September 27, 1988, the parties reached a partial stipulation that incorporated terms from the agreement reached in Benjamin v. Horn. The stipulation made some additional, specific provisions beyond that of the Benjamin agreement. Specifically, the agreement provided for changes in the areas of sanitation, handicap-accessible bathroom facilities, disposition of infectious waste, replacement of the roof, kitchen, and windows, heating, ventilation, and treatment of persons with AIDS.

On July 20, 1990, the parties entered into a further stipulation regarding healthcare. Specifically, it provided for new standards in the areas of specialty clinics, medical records, test results, holding areas, transportation, renal dialysis, physical therapy, and patient grievance procedures.

On October 15, 1990, the court closed the case. On October 22, 1990, the court reopened the case.

After a series of delays in the construction of a contagious diseases facility, the court on January 24, 1992, ordered that the defendants submit to the New York City comptroller an application for a declaration of emergency to expedite construction that would fulfill its obligations, dating back to the September 1988 settlement agreement. On May 8, 1992, the court formalized its earlier order, setting dates for the completion of the construction project as well as a specific requirement as to the number of contagious disease units. The order included an attached series of findings about the risk of transmission of tuberculosis in tight spaces like prisons and jails.

On March 24, 1997, the court again administratively closed the case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (10/20/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Gershon, Nina (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Boston, John (New York)

Dohrn, Beatrice (New York)

Katz, Theodore H. (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Daly, Robert (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:82-cv-06475

Docket [PACER]

April 18, 1997

April 18, 1997

Docket

1:82-cv-06475

[Letter]

Vega v. Koehler

May 11, 1988

May 11, 1988

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:82-cv-06475

Stipulation and Order

Vega v. Koehler

May 12, 1988

May 12, 1988

Settlement Agreement

1:82-cv-06475

Stipulation and Order

Vega v. Koehler

Sept. 27, 1988

Sept. 27, 1988

Order/Opinion

1:82-cv-06475

[Opinion]

Vega v. Sielaff

May 8, 1990

May 8, 1990

Order/Opinion

1:82-cv-06475

Decision of the Court

Vega v. Sielaff

May 22, 1990

May 22, 1990

Order/Opinion

1:82-cv-06475

Stipulation and Order

Vega v. Sielaff

July 20, 1990

July 20, 1990

Order/Opinion

1:82-cv-06475

Stipulation and Order

Vega v. Sielaff

July 20, 1990

July 20, 1990

Settlement Agreement

1:82-cv-06475

Order

Vega v. Sielaff

July 20, 1990

July 20, 1990

Order/Opinion

1:82-cv-06475

Opinion

Vega v. Sielaff

Nov. 20, 1991

Nov. 20, 1991

Order/Opinion

1991 WL 1991

Resources

Docket

Last updated Feb. 14, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
2

COMPLAINT filed; Summons issued and Notice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 636(c); FILING FEE (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

Sept. 29, 1982

Sept. 29, 1982

1

Order endorsed on declaration and support of request to proceed in forma pauperis, granted ; (signed by Judge Palmieri ) (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

Sept. 29, 1982

Sept. 29, 1982

3

Notice of asgnm.. _ to Judge Morris E. Lasker Copy of notice and judge's rules mailed to Attorney(s) of record: . (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

Oct. 7, 1982

Oct. 7, 1982

7

ANSWER to Complaint by Benjamin Ward (Attorney Frederick A.O. Schwartz Jr.), ; Firm of: Frederick A.O. Schwartz by attorney Frederick A.O. Schwartz Jr. for defendant Benjamin Ward (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

Jan. 11, 1983

Jan. 11, 1983

NOTICE OF CASE ASSIGNMENT to Magistrate Judge Nina Gershon , endorsed on order of reference to Magistrate Judge. ; Copies mailed. (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

July 18, 1988

July 18, 1988

38

ORDER that case be referred to Case Processing Assistant for Assignment of a Magistrate Judge for discv & trial preparation ( signed by Judge Morris E. Lasker ) (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

July 18, 1988

July 18, 1988

44

Notice of reasgn. _ to Judge Morris E. Lasker Copy of notice and judge's rules mailed to Attorney(s) of record: Frederick A.O. Schwartz Jr.. (sc) (Entered: 06/22/1992)

May 26, 1989

May 26, 1989

Case closed (ln) (Entered: 10/30/1990)

Oct. 15, 1990

Oct. 15, 1990

Case reopened (pa) (Entered: 01/17/1991)

Oct. 22, 1990

Oct. 22, 1990

**Related case. (dcap) (Entered: 10/18/1991)

Oct. 18, 1991

Oct. 18, 1991

Transcript of record of proceedings filed for dates of April 9, 1992. (jr) (Entered: 06/18/1992)

June 16, 1992

June 16, 1992

68

Letter filed by Eric Vega, James Turner, Noah Mitchell, Milton McGuire, Kinley Lawrence, Walter Friday, Arthur Coleman dated July 6, 1992 re status of April 30, 1992 request for testing information and data concerning the West Facility contagious disease units. (jr) (Entered: 08/17/1992)

Aug. 11, 1992

Aug. 11, 1992

67

Letter filed by Eric Vega, James Turner, Noah Mitchell, Milton McGuire, Kinley Lawrence, Walter Friday, Arthur Coleman dated June 26 1992 re Rikers Island Contagious Disease units. (jr) (Entered: 08/17/1992)

Aug. 11, 1992

Aug. 11, 1992

66

Letter filed by Eric Vega, James Turner, Noah Mitchell, Milton McGuire, Kinley Lawrence, Walter Friday, Arthur Coleman dated June 26, 1992 re Site visits to Bellevue, Kings County and Elmhurst Hospitals on June 18 and 19, 1992. (jr) (Entered: 08/17/1992)

Aug. 11, 1992

Aug. 11, 1992

65

Letter filed by Eric Vega, James Turner, Noah Mitchell, Milton McGuire, Kinley Lawrence, Walter Friday, Arthur Coleman dated June 26, 1992 re Respiratory isolation in the Health and Hospitals Corporation facilities. (jr) (Entered: 08/17/1992)

Aug. 11, 1992

Aug. 11, 1992

64

Transcript of record of proceedings filed for dates of 6/3/92 (sc) (Entered: 08/17/1992)

Aug. 17, 1992

Aug. 17, 1992

69

Filed Memo-Endorsement on letter from Mary Jo Mullan dated November 30, 1992, extending time to register a contract with an outside vendor to provide services to implement an automated food inventory system to December 18, 1992. ( signed by Judge Morris E. Lasker ) (jr) (Entered: 12/02/1992)

Dec. 1, 1992

Dec. 1, 1992

70

Notice of reasgmnt _ to Judge Shira A. Scheindlin Copy of notice and judge's rules mailed to Attorney(s) of record: Frederick A.O. Schwartz Jr.. (dg) (Entered: 11/28/1994)

Nov. 28, 1994

Nov. 28, 1994

Pre-trial conference held (cd) (Entered: 01/17/1996)

Jan. 4, 1996

Jan. 4, 1996

71

Filed Memo_Endorsement on letter by Julie E. O'Neill to Judge Scheindlin dated 2/2/96, The request set forth in this letter is GRANTED. The City is allowed until 2/13/96 to respond to the plaintiffs and that the plaintiffs have at least until 2/20/96 to make a motion should the City be unable to consent. SO ORDERED: ( signed by Judge Shira A. Scheindlin ) (ae) (Entered: 02/07/1996)

Feb. 6, 1996

Feb. 6, 1996

72

Filed Memo_Endorsement on letter to Judge Scheindlin from Milton Zelermyer dated 2/16/96, reset motion filing deadline for 3/8/96...THE TIME TO SERVE ANY MOTION IS AGAIN EXTENDED -- THIS TIME UNTIL 3/8/96. BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE CASE THESE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD EITHER PRODUCE A FRUITFUL RESULT OR TERMINATE ACCORDINGLY. THE COURT WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FURTHER ADJOURNMENTS, EXCEPT ON A SHOWING OF EXTRAORDINARY GOOD CAUSE...SO ORDERED... ( signed by Judge Shira A. Scheindlin ) (ls) (Entered: 02/26/1996)

Feb. 22, 1996

Feb. 22, 1996

Pre-trial conference held (rag) (Entered: 10/02/1996)

Sept. 27, 1996

Sept. 27, 1996

73

Transcript of record of proceedings filed for dates of 12/4/96 before Judge Shira A. Scheindlin (pl) (Entered: 02/06/1997)

Feb. 5, 1997

Feb. 5, 1997

74

DUPLICATE ORIGINAL Case closed administratively Pursuant to Memorandum From the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Dated June 15th, 1973. SO ORDERED CHIEF GRIESA. (kg) (Entered: 04/11/1997)

March 24, 1997

March 24, 1997

Pre-trial conference held before Judge Scheindlin. (rag) (Entered: 04/18/1997)

April 17, 1997

April 17, 1997

75

Letter filed by Milton Zelermyer, Legal Aid counsel for pltffs Arthur Coleman, Walter Friday, Kinley Lawrence, Milton McGuire, Noah Mitchell, James Turner, Eric Vega, Benjamin Ward, Eddie Washington dated 4/15/97 re "defts now appear to have reached substantial compliance with the 1990 order concerning medical care and specialty clinic care, and pltffs do not seek to extend the period of active monitoring prescribed by that order. Motion practice on this subject will not be necessary. With respect to the 1992 order concerning contagious disease isolation facilities, those facilities are operational. However, as to the 1988 order concerning environmental and sanitary conditions and the treatment of HIV patients, there remain substantial envionmental health deficiencies in some housing areas' bathroom and shower facilities."........ (lam) (Entered: 04/24/1997)

April 18, 1997

April 18, 1997

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 29, 1982

Closing Date: 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

inmates at the Rikers Island Jails

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

New York City Department of Corrections (New York, New York), City

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

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: 1988 - 1997

Content of Injunction:

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

Issues

General:

Bathing and hygiene

Classification / placement

Conditions of confinement

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Sanitation / living conditions

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Confinement/isolation

Medical/Mental Health:

HIV/AIDS

Medical care, general

Tuberculosis

Type of Facility:

Government-run