Case: U.S. v. Columbus Consolidated City/County Government (Muscogee County)

4:99-cv-00132 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Filed Date: Sept. 23, 1999

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 1994, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice notified Muscogee County, Georgia that it intended to investigate conditions in the county jail. In 1995, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the Chairman of the Muscogee County Commission of its findings and made recommendations regarding staffing and supervision, grievance system, exercise, access to reading materials, medical and mental healthcare, dental care, suicide prevention, general sanitation, fire safety,…

In 1994, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice notified Muscogee County, Georgia that it intended to investigate conditions in the county jail. In 1995, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the Chairman of the Muscogee County Commission of its findings and made recommendations regarding staffing and supervision, grievance system, exercise, access to reading materials, medical and mental healthcare, dental care, suicide prevention, general sanitation, fire safety, plumbing, ventilation, overcrowding, food services, lighting, pest control, and construction of a new jail. Apparently after negotiation, the Attorney General on 9/23/1999 simultaneously filed an action under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C section 1997 et seq., against the jail and a motion for conditional dismissal. A week later, the District Court for the Middle District of Georgia approved the conditional dismissal, which laid out steps the county must take to improve issues discussed in the DOJ letter of findings and recommendations. In addition, the county agreed not to seek to terminate the agreement until after January 1, 2000.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/25/2005)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/10918741/parties/united-states-v-cols-consol-city/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Abbate, Julie K. (District of Columbia)

Cheng, Christopher N. (District of Columbia)

Deutsch, David (District of Columbia)

Gupta, Vanita (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Fay, Clifton C. (Georgia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Findings Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of Muscogee County Jail

CRIPA Investigation

No Court

June 1, 1995

June 1, 1995

Findings Letter/Report
1

4:99-cv-00132

Complaint

U.S. v. Columbus Consolidated City/County Government

Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

Complaint

4:99-cv-00132

Settlement Agreement

CRIPA Investigation

Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

Settlement Agreement

Memorandum of Agreement Between the United States Department of Justice and the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia Regarding the Muscogee County Jail

[No case name]

No Court

Jan. 16, 2015

Jan. 16, 2015

Settlement Agreement

4:99-cv-00132

Mental Health Monitoring Report

CRIPA Investigation of Muscogee County Jail

June 26, 2015

June 26, 2015

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report

4:99-cv-00132

Mental Health Monitoring Report November 2015 Tour

U.S. v. Columbus Consolidated City/County Government

March 2, 2016

March 2, 2016

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report

4:99-cv-00132

Mental Health Monitoring Report April 2016 Tour

U.S. v. Columbus Consolidated City/County Government

May 16, 2016

May 16, 2016

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/10918741/united-states-v-cols-consol-city/

Last updated Jan. 25, 2024, 3:17 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed (cmf) (tlf). (Entered: 09/27/1999)

Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

PACER
2

JOINT MOTION by United States, Cols. Consol. City, Ralph Johnson, Bobby G. Peters for conditional Dismissal (cmf) (tlf). (Entered: 09/27/1999)

Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

PACER
3

Agreement between all parties concerning Muscogee Jail filed by United States, Cols. Consol. City, Ralph Johnson, Bobby G. Peters and signed by Judge Hugh Lawson (cmf) (tlf). (Entered: 09/30/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

PACER
4

ORDER granting [2-1] joint motion for conditional Dismissal ( signed by Judge Hugh Lawson ) [EOD Date 10/1/99] (cmf) (tlf). (Entered: 10/01/1999)

Sept. 29, 1999

Sept. 29, 1999

PACER

Case Closed (cmf)

Oct. 1, 1999

Oct. 1, 1999

PACER
5

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by MARLYSHA MYRTHIS on behalf of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Attorney MARLYSHA MYRTHIS added to party UNITED STATES OF AMERICA(pty:pla) (MYRTHIS, MARLYSHA) (Entered: 07/01/2019)

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

PACER
6

JOINT MOTION to Dismiss Case by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA filed by MARLYSHA MYRTHIS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - 2015 Memorandum of Agreement)(MYRTHIS, MARLYSHA) (Entered: 07/01/2019)

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

PACER

US DISTRICT JUDGE CLAY D LAND added. U.S. District Judge HUGH LAWSON no longer assigned to case. (tlp)

July 2, 2019

July 2, 2019

PACER
7

Order on Motion to Dismiss

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

PACER
7

Order on Motion to Dismiss

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

PACER
7

Order on Motion to Dismiss

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

PACER
7

ORDER granting 6 Motion to Dismiss. Ordered by US DISTRICT JUDGE CLAY D LAND on 7/3/2019 (tlp) (Entered: 07/03/2019)

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

PACER
8

JUDGMENT dismissing the case (tlf). (Entered: 07/08/2019)

July 8, 2019

July 8, 2019

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 23, 1999

Closing Date: Oct. 1, 1999

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Muscogee County Jail, County

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

Conditional Dismissal

Order Duration: 1999 - None

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Counseling

Disciplinary procedures

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Suicide prevention

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Administrative segregation

Law library access

Library (non-law) access

Crowding / caseload

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run