On January 2, 1987, plaintiffs filed a civil rights lawsuit in the Superior Court of Orange County, California, challenging conditions of confinement at the Orange County Juvenile Hall (OCJH). The lawsuit was a continuation of the litigation begun in Matt X. v Orange County. Case no. CV 86-5693 (U.S. District Court, Central District of California). Plaintiffs sought injunctive and declaratory relief.

On August 13, 1987, the Court certified this lawsuit as a class action comprised of all minors who were, or would be during the pendency of the lawsuit, confined in Orange County Juvenile Hall.

The case proceeded to trial on April 16, 1990 on the allegations raised in plaintiffs' Third Amended Complaint, as amended. The evidence presented at trial focused on the use of restraint practices at the OCJH, a fully locked juvenile detention facility. During trial, defendants agreed to eliminate use of the soft-ties to restrain minors to a bed. Following the trial, on July 27, 1990, the Superior Court Linda Hodge McLaughlin) issued its order and findings. The Court held that the defendants' use of soft-tie restraints and practice of placing minors in a rubber/safety room were unconstitutional. The Court issued an injunction to enjoin those practices. Plaintiffs were awarded attorneys' fees and costs.

We have no further information on this matter.

Dan Dalton - 02/21/2007


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