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Case Name
Joslyn v. Armstrong
PC-CT-0001
Docket / Court
01-198 ( D. Conn. )
State/Territory
Connecticut
Case Type(s)
Prison Conditions
Special Collection
Solitary confinement
Case Summary
On February 7, 2001, prisoners at the Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Connecticut Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiffs were Connecticut citizens, convicted ...
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On February 7, 2001, prisoners at the Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Connecticut Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiffs were Connecticut citizens, convicted and sentenced to the custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections by Connecticut state courts. They were placed at Wallens Ridge State Prison (a supermax facility in Virginia) pursuant to an Interstate Corrections Compact between the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU National Prison Project and the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by the defendant's use of excessive force against them, specifically through the use of five-point restraints and electric shock devices as summary punishment for trivial offenses.
On May 16, 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (Judge Christopher Droney) denied the plaintiffs' motion to transfer the case to the Western District of Virginia. Joslyn v. Armstrong, 2001 WL 1464780 (D.Conn. May 16, 2001). On September 27, 2001, the court (Judge Droney) adopted the parties' settlement agreement, and closed the case. The settlement is not part of the record, so we don't know the terms.
Kristen Sagar - 03/31/2006
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Affected Gender
Male
Constitutional Clause
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
General
Assault/abuse by staff
Disciplinary procedures
Personal injury
Restraints : physical
Solitary confinement/Supermax (conditions or process)
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Connecticut Department of Corrections
Plaintiff Description
All Connecticut state prisoners who are now, or who will in the future be, confined at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, or at Red Onion State Prison in Pound, Virginia
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
Unknown
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Private Settlement Agreement
Order Duration
2001 - n/a
Filed
02/07/2001
Case Closing Year
2001
Case Ongoing
No
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
D. Conn.
10/17/2001
01-198
PC-CT-0001-9000.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
D. Conn.
02/07/2001
Class Action Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
PC-CT-0001-0001.pdf
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Detail
D. Conn.
02/07/2001
ACLU Sues CT Corrections Chief over Abuse of Prisoners Housed at Notorious Virginia "Supermax"
PC-CT-0001-0002.pdf
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External Link
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Detail
D. Conn.
05/16/2001
Ruling on Motion to Transfer
(2001 WL 1464780)
PC-CT-0001-0003.pdf
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WESTLAW
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Detail
People
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Judges
Droney, Christopher Fitzgerald
(D. Conn., Second Circuit)
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PC-CT-0001-0003 | PC-CT-0001-9000
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Fathi, David Cyrus
(District of Columbia)
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PC-CT-0001-0001 | PC-CT-0001-0002 | PC-CT-0001-0003 | PC-CT-0001-9000
Graham, Toya Alek
(Connecticut)
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PC-CT-0001-0001 | PC-CT-0001-0002 | PC-CT-0001-0003 | PC-CT-0001-9000
Neigher, Alan
(Connecticut)
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PC-CT-0001-0001 | PC-CT-0001-0003 | PC-CT-0001-9000
Tegeler, Philip D.
(Connecticut)
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PC-CT-0001-9000
Defendant's Lawyers
Strom, Steven R.
(Connecticut)
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PC-CT-0001-0003 | PC-CT-0001-9000
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