This is one of a collection of § 1983 inmate cases filed in Louisiana federal courts to challenge the operation and conditions of confinement in the Louisiana prison system and in parish and city jails through Louisiana. These cases have worked their way through the federal courts over the last four decades and are part of this collection, located at PC-LA, JC-LA and JI-LA.

In this case, private plaintiffs filed a civil rights class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana to challenge conditions of confinement at the Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth (Tallulah). Plaintiffs were represented by the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Youth Law Center. The Amended Complaint, filed in October 1998, alleged claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"), 20 U.S.C. § 1401 et. Seq. ; the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131- 12133; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794 and Louisiana state law.

The case was initially styled Brian B. by and through Robshaw v. Stalder, No. 3:98-cv-00886-JJB-SCR and was consolidated with U.S. v. Louisiana Civ. No. 98-947-B-1 [JI-LA-1 of this collection] and Williams v. Edwards, [PC-LA-1].

In November 1999, the parties reached an agreement to resolve the education claims in the consolidated cases. The District Court (Judge Frank J. Polozola) approved the settlement and conditionally dismissed the education claims. (Final dismissal came in January 2003 when full compliance was achieved).

In August 2000, the parties entered into the "2000 Settlement Agreement" which resolved the issues of juvenile justice; medical, dental, mental health and rehabilitative services; and access to the courts. The District Court approved the 2000 Settlement Agreement and conditionally dismissed those claims in October 2000.

In January 2003, the parties entered into the "2003 Settlement Agreement," which dismissed and/or modified various provisions of the 2000 Settlement Agreement. It also provided for the appointment of an Independent Expert to monitor compliance.

Dan Dalton - 02/23/2007


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