Case: Hunt v. County of Los Angeles

C-5474-83 | California state trial court

Filed Date: May 4, 1985

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On May 4, 1985, a taxpayer in Los Angeles County, California filed a lawsuit pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 526(a) against the County of Los Angeles in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. The plaintiff, who was represented by the Public Justice Foundation and the Youth Law Center, asked for injunctive relief, alleging that the detainment of minors in a Los Angeles adult jail facilities violated the guarantee of due process and the prohibition of cru…

On May 4, 1985, a taxpayer in Los Angeles County, California filed a lawsuit pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 526(a) against the County of Los Angeles in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. The plaintiff, who was represented by the Public Justice Foundation and the Youth Law Center, asked for injunctive relief, alleging that the detainment of minors in a Los Angeles adult jail facilities violated the guarantee of due process and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment under the United States and California Constitutions, as well as the California Welfare and Institutions Code. In Los Angeles County, there were practices of detaining minors without prior judicial determination that there was no other proper or adequate facility available, and of detaining minors in areas that allowed them to communicate with adult detainees.

On June 10, 1986, the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles (Judge Norman Dowds) granted the plaintiff's request for a permanent injunction and enjoined the jail from confining or detaining juveniles in any locked room prior to a judicial determination, confining or detaining juveniles in a cellblock where there were cells reserved for adults, and confining or detaining juveniles where there was opportunity for communication with adult prisoners, finding that the jail's policies violated several provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. The court retained jurisdiction over the case to determine whether the revised policies and procedures were consistent with the terms and provisions of the court's decision and injunction in addition to the California Welfare and Institutions Code, and to determine the plaintiff's costs and attorney's fees. The court awarded the plaintiff costs and attorney's fees, the amount of which were appealed. On June 30, 1988, the California Court of Appeal (Presiding Judge Spencer) affirmed the Superior Court's determination as to the amount of costs and attorney's fees. A. Thomas Hunt v. County of Los Angeles, 249 Cal. Rptr. 660 (Ct. App. 1988).

Summary Authors

Kaitlin Corkran (6/12/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Dowds, Norman R. (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Gephart, Randall L. (California)

McFlynn, Timothy (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Bennett, Frederick R. (California)

Clinton, DeWitt W. (California)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

C-5474-83

Second Amended Complaint for Injunctive Relief

June 13, 1985

June 13, 1985

Complaint

C-5474-83

Statement of Decision

June 10, 1986

June 10, 1986

Order/Opinion

C-5474-83

Permanent Injunction

June 10, 1986

June 10, 1986

Order/Opinion

C-5474-83

Reported Opinion

California state appellate court

June 30, 1988

June 30, 1988

Order/Opinion

249 Cal.Rptr. 249

1985-S006794

Opinion

California state supreme court

Sept. 29, 1988

Sept. 29, 1988

Order/Opinion

1988 Cal.LEXIS 1988

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:38 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 4, 1985

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A taxpayer petitioning against county's practice of detaining juveniles for significant periods of time in facility where they came and remained in contact with adult detainees and prisoners

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Youth Law Center

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Los Angeles County, County

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lennox Substation (Los Angeles), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1986 - 0

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Over/Unlawful Detention

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Youth / Adult separation

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male

Type of Facility:

Government-run