Filed Date: Aug. 10, 1990
Closed Date: 1998
Clearinghouse coding complete
On August 10, 1990, juveniles filed a class action lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the King County Superior Court of the State of Washington, challenging the conditions of confinement at the King County Detention Facility (KCDF), including overcrowding and the lack of special education services. Plaintiffs were represented by Evergreen Legal Services, Institutional Legal Services Project and sought declaratory and equitable relief, as well as damages against the Seattle School District and King County. The Seattle School District filed a Third-Party Complaint against the State of Washington. Plaintiffs amended their complaint twice. The case was certified as a class action by order dated December 6, 1990.
Most of plaintiffs' claims were resolved by a Stipulation and Order dated November 26, 1990. The parties litigated the remaining claims. Following a non-jury trial, the Superior Court (Judge Robert E. Dixon) issued a Preliminary Injunction on August 30, 1991,, enjoying defendants from placing more than two youths in any sleeping cell in the King County Juvenile Detention Facility and allowing defendants to use the holding cells located behind the courtrooms only on an emergency basis for temporary residential purposes and not for any punitive measure. The parties entered a stipulation, agreeing that defendants would not appeal the Court's Preliminary Injunction. The only issue that remained was plaintiffs' education claim.
On October 27, 1993, the Superior Court entered the Stipulation and Consent Judgment on Remaining Education Claims, which resolved all remaining issues in the case. The 1993 Stipulation called for a five year monitoring period. According to the case docket, an addendum to the 1993 Stipulation and Consent Judgment was filed on May 24, 1995. No other case activity is noted after that date.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (2/26/2007)
Dixon, Robert E. (Washington)
Arthur, Patricia J. (Washington)
Burman, David J. (Washington)
Delmendo, Wendi J. (Washington)
Eikenberry, Kenneth O. (Washington)
Dixon, Robert E. (Washington)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:36 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Washington
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 10, 1990
Closing Date: 1998
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All individuals detained at the King County Juvenile Detention Facility.
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
King County Detention Facility (King), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1990 - 1998
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Policing:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Disability and Disability Rights:
Discrimination-basis:
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
Type of Facility: