Case: United States v. Colorado

1:86-cv-01470 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: July 10, 1986

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On July 10, 1986, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Colorado under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The government asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions of confinement at Wheat Ridge Regional Center, a mental institution in Denver, Colorado, violated the residents' constitutional rights. Specifically, the State failed to provide re…

On July 10, 1986, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Colorado under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The government asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions of confinement at Wheat Ridge Regional Center, a mental institution in Denver, Colorado, violated the residents' constitutional rights. Specifically, the State failed to provide residents with adequate medical care and to protect their personal safety. The defendants also failed to employ a sufficient number of trained staff, and the staff failed to ensure that restraints were used only when necessary.

The government's Complaint was prompted by its investigation, summarized in a report sent to the State on December 12, 1984, in which the conditions of the facility were found to violate the residents' constitutional rights, particularly in the areas of medical care, medication practices, neglect, and staff training.

On July 23, 1986, the parties entered into a Consent Decree, which the court (Judge Sherman G. Finesilver) approved the same day. The parties agreed to ensure that the residents' rights to personal safety were protected, including threats from staff and unnecessary physical restraints; that residents would receive proper medical treatment and medication; and that the facility would maintain a sufficient number of trained staff who would outline treatment plans for the residents.

According to the PACER docket, the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated the district court's Judgment, entered on June 25, 1991, regarding a Stipulation between the parties. The docket also shows that the parties filed Joint Notice of Agreement to Dismiss on September 20, 1991.

We have only part of the docket and thus have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Laura Uberti (7/17/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Finesilver, Sherman Glenn (Colorado)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bowers, Susan (District of Columbia)

Cage, James R. (Colorado)

Meese, Edwin III (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Decator, Eric R. (Colorado)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:86-cv-01470

Docket

U.S. v. Colorado

Oct. 26, 2005

Oct. 26, 2005

Docket

1:86-cv-01470

Findings Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of Wheat Ridge Regional Center, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1997(b)(a)(1)

U.S. v. Colorado

No Court

Dec. 7, 1984

Dec. 7, 1984

Findings Letter/Report

1:86-cv-01470

Complaint

U.S. v. Colorado

June 30, 1986

June 30, 1986

Complaint

1:86-cv-01470

Summons

U.S. v. Colorado

July 10, 1986

July 10, 1986

Other

1:86-cv-01470

Consent Decree

U.S. v. Colorado

July 23, 1986

July 23, 1986

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Jan. 24, 2024, 3 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

ORDER by Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver ; Discovery ddl 9/24/91 ; pto ddl 9/24/91 ; Pretrial Conference set 8:30 9/24/91 ; Trial to court set 9:00 11/4/91 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/1/91 (gms) (Entered: 08/01/1991)

July 31, 1991

July 31, 1991

2

Motion by defendants to dismiss with prejudice before Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver (gms) (Entered: 08/02/1991)

Aug. 1, 1991

Aug. 1, 1991

3

MINUTE ORDER : by Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver. Pltf has to 8/20/91 to respond to defts' motion to dismiss [2-1]. Defts have to 8/30/91 to reply. (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/5/91 (gms) (Entered: 08/05/1991)

Aug. 2, 1991

Aug. 2, 1991

4

MANDATE from the Court of Appeals; CA # 90-1307; Dt issued 8/12/91; JUDGMENT dated 6/25/91...Judgment of the district court is VACATED. Cause is REMANDED to District Court to consider whether to approve or disapprove of the stipulation as agreed upon by the parties. (gms) (Entered: 08/13/1991)

Aug. 13, 1991

Aug. 13, 1991

5

MOTION by plaintiff USA to vacate orders of 7/31/91 and 8/2/91 (lam) (Entered: 08/16/1991)

Aug. 15, 1991

Aug. 15, 1991

6

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff USA in support of motion to vacate orders of 7/31/91 and 8/2/91 [5-1] (lam) (Entered: 08/16/1991)

Aug. 15, 1991

Aug. 15, 1991

7

RESPONSE and or/Objection by plaintiff USA to motion to dismiss with prejudice before Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver [2-1] (lam) (Entered: 08/16/1991)

Aug. 15, 1991

Aug. 15, 1991

8

MINUTE ORDER : by Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver re [5-1] dfts have up to and including 8/26/91 to respond to to mtn to vacate, pla has up to and including 8/30/91 to reply (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/21/91 (lam) (Entered: 08/21/1991)

Aug. 20, 1991

Aug. 20, 1991

9

RESPONSE by defendants to motion to vacate orders of 7/31/91 and 8/2/91 [5-1] (lam) (Entered: 08/27/1991)

Aug. 26, 1991

Aug. 26, 1991

10

REPLY by defendants to response and/or obj to motion to dismiss with prejudice before Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver [2-1] (lam) (Entered: 08/28/1991)

Aug. 28, 1991

Aug. 28, 1991

11

Unopposed MOTION by plaintiff USA for an extension of time to respond to defts' lst req. for admiss. and 1st set of interr. and request for prod. to 9/23/91 (gms) (Entered: 08/30/1991)

Aug. 29, 1991

Aug. 29, 1991

12

REPLY by plaintiff USA to response to motion to vacate orders of 7/31/91 and 8/2/91 [5-1] (gms) (Entered: 08/30/1991)

Aug. 30, 1991

Aug. 30, 1991

13

ORDER by Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver granting Pltf's motion for an extension of time to respond to defts' lst req. for admiss. and 1st set of interr. and request for prod. to 9/23/91 [11-1] (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 8/30/91 (gms) (Entered: 08/30/1991)

Aug. 30, 1991

Aug. 30, 1991

14

RESPONSE by defendant to motion for an extension of time to respond to defts' lst req. for admiss. and 1st set of interr. and request for prod. to 9/23/91 [11-1] (former empl) (Entered: 09/05/1991)

Sept. 3, 1991

Sept. 3, 1991

15

ORDER by Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver finding the motion to vacate orders of 7/31/91 and 8/2/91 [5-1] moot. re [2-1] any objs to dfts' mtn to dismiss are to be filed by 9/20/91 (cc: all counsel) ; entry date : 9/9/91 (lam) (Entered: 09/09/1991)

Sept. 5, 1991

Sept. 5, 1991

16

MOTION by plaintiff, defendants to stay discovery and responses to mtns (lam) (Entered: 09/23/1991)

Sept. 20, 1991

Sept. 20, 1991

17

MEMORANDUM of points and authorities by plaintiff, defendants in support of joint motion to stay discovery and responses to mtns [16-1] (lam) (Entered: 09/23/1991)

Sept. 20, 1991

Sept. 20, 1991

18

Joint NOTICE of agreement to dismiss and terminate court jurisdiction by plaintiff, defendants (lam) (Entered: 09/23/1991)

Sept. 20, 1991

Sept. 20, 1991

19

MOTION by plaintiff USA to withdraw objections to motion to dismiss w/ prejudice , to dismiss the action (former empl) (Entered: 09/25/1991)

Sept. 24, 1991

Sept. 24, 1991

20

COURTROOM MINUTES by Chief Judge Sherman G. Finesilver ; Pretrial Conference 8:30 9/24/91 held. ; Dismissal papers ddl 5:00 9/24/91 ; entry date : 9/25/91 (former empl) (Entered: 09/25/1991)

Sept. 24, 1991

Sept. 24, 1991

Case Details

State / Territory: Colorado

Case Type(s):

Intellectual Disability (Facility)

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 10, 1986

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Colorado Department of Institutions, State

Wheat Ridge Regional Center (Denver), Regional

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Issues

General:

Neglect by staff

Restraints : chemical

Restraints : physical

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Medication, administration of

Type of Facility:

Government-run