On May 3, 1984 juveniles filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et. seq., and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, challenging their conditions of confinement at the Spofford Juvenile Center (Spofford). Plaintiffs were represented by the New York Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Division and sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

Class certification was granted by the District Court on February 26, 1985. After years of discovery, the parties settled the case. On September 10, 1990, the District Court (Judge David N. Edelstein) approved and entered a Stipulation and Order of Settlement. The Stipulation set forth agreed reforms to be implemented in the following areas: assessment, evaluation and placement of juveniles; education; staffing requirements; procedural safeguards; and special education and regulations relating to handicapped children. The Stipulation provided for a monitoring period of three years.

By separate order dated December 26, 1990, plaintiffs were awarded attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $135,000.

According to the PACER docket, the case was administratively closed on August 6, 1991. We have no further information on the case.

Dan Dalton - 02/26/2007


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