Case: Costello v. Wainwright

3:72-cv-00109 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Filed Date: Feb. 9, 1972

Closed Date: 1993

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 9, 1972, prisoners of the state of Florida filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Florida Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiffs, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequate medical care, insufficient staffing, overcrowding, and poor sanitation, asked the court for an injunction closing Florida's prison system to additional entrants and requiring the defendants to …

On February 9, 1972, prisoners of the state of Florida filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Florida Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The plaintiffs, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequate medical care, insufficient staffing, overcrowding, and poor sanitation, asked the court for an injunction closing Florida's prison system to additional entrants and requiring the defendants to reduce the current inmate population to levels consistent with constitutional standards.

On May 22, 1975, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Judge Charles R. Scott) denied the defendants' request for a three-judge court and granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction, holding that the conditions in question violated the plaintiffs' constitutional rights. Costello v. Wainwright, 397 F.Supp. 20 (M.D.Fl. 1975). The court ordered the defendants to reduce the state's inmate population to "emergency capacity" (as defined by a 1972 report prepared for the Florida Division of Corrections by the American Justice Institute) within one year, and to reduce that population to "normal capacity" by December 1, 1976. The court ordered the defendants to give each inmate his or her own bed upon which to sleep. The defendants appealed.

On July 25, 1975, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the defendants a temporary stay of the district court's order pending appeal. On January 15, 1976, the Fifth Circuit (Judge Elbert Parr Tuttle) vacated the stay and affirmed the district court's decision. Costello v. Wainwright, 525 F.2d 1239 (5th Cir. 1976). The defendants requested a rehearing en banc. On March 3, 1976, the Fifth Circuit agreed to hear the case en banc. Costello v. Wainwright, 528 F.2d (5th Cir. 1976).

On September 27, 1976, the en banc Fifth Circuit (Judge Paul Hitch Roney) vacated the district court's decision and set the case for reconsideration by a three-judge panel. The court held that the district court's order requiring the defendants to lower inmate population levels was beyond the power of a single federal judge because the relief granted stretched beyond the legal ability of the defendants to comply. Costello v. Wainwright, 539 F.2d 547 (5th Cir. 1976). The plaintiffs filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.

On March 21, 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a per curiam opinion reversing the en banc judgment of the Fifth Circuit and remanding the case for reconsideration. The Court held that a three-judge panel was not required at the district court level, thus the Fifth Circuit could hear the appeal on the merits of the case. Costello v. Wainwright, 430 U.S. 325 (1977).

On May 31, 1977, the en banc Fifth Circuit declined to hear the appeal on the merits of the case and reinstated the Fifth Circuit panel's January 15, 1976 affirmation of the district court's original decision. Costello v. Wainwright, 553 F.2d 506 (5th Cir. 1977).

On October 23, 1979, the parties entered into a settlement agreement regarding the issues related to overcrowding. The agreement established a formula for determining the state prison system's maximum capacity and provided that the population of the system would never exceed that maximum capacity. On February 11, 1980, the district court (Judge Scott) approved the agreement as a consent decree. Costello v. Wainwright, 489 F.Supp. 1100 (M.D.Fla. 1980).

According to later opinions, the parties entered into additional consent decrees on July 27, 1981, regarding the issues of food service, overcrowding, and health care. Several years later, the plaintiffs asked the district court to hold the defendants in contempt for failure to honor the agreement relating to health care. On August 22, 1985, the district court (Judge Susan Harrell Black) appointed a special master (Joseph R. Julin from the University of Florida College of Law) to survey the medical situation in the prison system.

On December 18, 1987, the district court (Judge Black) entered yet another consent decree in the case. The decree held Richard L. Dugger, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections, in civil contempt of the court's earlier orders and enjoined him from failing to comply with the court's further orders. The decree enjoined the defendants' use of inmates in the provision of healthcare in prisons and ordered the defendants to make over-the-counter medications available to the general population in all housing units. The decree further required the defendants to transfer inmates requiring emergency care to an appropriate community hospital, to furnish x-rays within a reasonable amount of time, to provide necessary nursing care, to have each inmate in the prison system medically evaluated, and to properly educate and train their medical staff.

On October 9, 1992, the special master filed a report recommending that the district court close the case. On March 30, 1993, the district court (Judge Black) adopted the special master's recommendation and closed the case. Celestineo v. Singletary, 147 F.R.D. 258 (M.D.Fla. 1993).

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (6/26/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Ainsworth, Robert Andrew Jr. (Louisiana)

Black, Susan Harrell (Florida)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Brown, Sharon Jacobs (Florida)

Attorney for Defendant

Barley, John A. (Florida)

Butterworth, Robert A. (Florida)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other
Judge(s)

Ainsworth, Robert Andrew Jr. (Louisiana)

Black, Susan Harrell (Florida)

Corrigan, Timothy J. (Florida)

Dyer, David William (Georgia)

Gee, Thomas Gibbs (Louisiana)

Gewin, Walter Pettus (Alabama)

Godbold, John Cooper (Louisiana)

Roney, Paul Hitch (Florida)

Scott, Charles Ray (Florida)

Thornberry, William Homer (Texas)

Tjoflat, Gerald Bard (Florida)

Tuttle, Arthur J. (Michigan)

Wisdom, John Minor (Louisiana)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:72-cv-00109

Docket (PACER)

Costello v. Dugger

Feb. 28, 2005

Feb. 28, 2005

Docket

3:72-cv-00109

3:72-cv-00094

Order and Preliminary Injunction and Opinion

May 22, 1975

May 22, 1975

Order/Opinion

397 F.Supp. 397

75-02392

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Jan. 15, 1976

Jan. 15, 1976

Order/Opinion

525 F.2d 525

75-02392

On Petition for Rehearsing and Petition for Rehearsing En Banc

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

March 3, 1976

March 3, 1976

Order/Opinion

528 F.2d 528

75-02392

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Sept. 27, 1976

Sept. 27, 1976

Order/Opinion

539 F.2d 539

76-05920

Reported Opinion

Supreme Court of the United States

March 21, 1977

March 21, 1977

Order/Opinion

430 U.S. 430

75-02392

Memorandum Decision

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

March 31, 1977

March 31, 1977

Order/Opinion

553 F.2d 553

3:72-cv-00109

3:72-cv-00094

Settlement Agreement

Oct. 23, 1979

Oct. 23, 1979

Settlement Agreement

3:72-cv-00109

3:72-cv-00094

Consent Order and Judgment, and Stipulation of Dismissal

Oct. 23, 1979

Oct. 23, 1979

Settlement Agreement

3:72-cv-00109

3:72-cv-00094

Objections to Proposed Settlement (edited version)

Jan. 1, 1980

Jan. 1, 1980

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Resources

Docket

Last updated Jan. 25, 2024, 3:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

CASE CLOSED. (slc) (Entered: 04/01/1993)

March 30, 1993

March 30, 1993

1

NOTICE to Federal Monitor Robert Collin by Michael Scott Warren (sms) Modified on 02/25/1998 (Entered: 02/25/1998)

Feb. 25, 1998

Feb. 25, 1998

2

ORDER striking [1-1] notice to Federal Monitor Robert Collin; the Clerk shall send plaintiff a civil rights complaint form and affidavit of indigency ( Signed by Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger on 2/27/98) ctc (sms) (Entered: 03/02/1998)

March 2, 1998

March 2, 1998

SEE PAPER DOCKET FOR ALL PLEADINGS DATED PRIOR TO 2/25/98 (previous documents not numbered) (sms) Modified on 10/18/1999 (Entered: 10/12/1999)

Oct. 12, 1999

Oct. 12, 1999

3

MOTION by Michael A Sanders for declaratory statement , or in the alternative for writ of scire facias referred to Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger STRICKEN and returned per order #4 (sms) Modified on 10/18/1999 (Entered: 10/13/1999)

Oct. 12, 1999

Oct. 12, 1999

4

ORDER striking [3-1] motion for declaratory statement, [3-2] motion for writ of scire facias; all pro se pleadings must be submitted through class counsel, William J. Sheppard; the clerk is directed to return the pleading ( Signed by Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger ) ctc (seg) (Entered: 10/18/1999)

Oct. 15, 1999

Oct. 15, 1999

5

AFFIDAVIT of Indigency filed by Michael Sanders (seg) Modified on 10/22/1999 (Entered: 10/22/1999)

Oct. 22, 1999

Oct. 22, 1999

6

EMERGENCY MOTION by Richard E. Gourley with memorandum in support for temporary restraining order Rule 65(b) pending the entry of a preliminary injunction pursuant to Rule 65 (a) Fed.R.Civ.P. referred to Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger (stricken per order #7 and returned to pro se party) (ejw) Modified on 06/12/2000 (Entered: 06/06/2000)

June 6, 2000

June 6, 2000

7

ORDER striking [6-1] motion for temporary restraining order Rule 65(b) pending the entry of a preliminary injunction pursuant to Rule 65 (a) Fed.R.Civ.P., as all pro se pleadings must be submitted through class counsel, William J. Sheppard; and the clerk shall return this document to Mr. Gourley ( Signed by Judge Ralph W. Nimmons Jr. ) ctc (slc) (Entered: 06/12/2000)

June 9, 2000

June 9, 2000

8

EMERGENCY MOTION by Lynn E. Young for temporary restraining order pursuant to Rule 65(b) , and to enforce health care settlement agreement approved 11/02/81 and of May, 1991 referred to Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger (STRICKEN by Order #11) (lss) Modified on 06/28/2000 (Entered: 06/19/2000)

June 19, 2000

June 19, 2000

10

MOTION by Richard E. Gourley for relief from judgment , and to recall Order pursuant to Rule 60(B), Fed. R. Civ. P. (ls) (Entered: 06/27/2000)

June 26, 2000

June 26, 2000

11

ORDER striking [8-2] motion to enforce health care settlement agreement approved 11/02/81 and of May, 1991, striking [8-1] motion for temporary restraining order pursuant to Rule 65(b), striking [9-2] motion to enforce health care settlement agreement approved 11/02/81 and May, 1991, striking [9-1] motion for temporary restraining order pursuant to Rule 65(b); directing the Clerk to return said documents to Lynn E. Young and Walter Thompkins ( Signed by Judge Ralph W. Nimmons Jr. ) ctc (ls) (Entered: 06/28/2000)

June 26, 2000

June 26, 2000

MOTION(S) referred: [10-1] motion for relief from judgment referred to Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger, [10-2] motion to recall Order pursuant to Rule 60(B), Fed. R. Civ. P. referred to Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger (ls) (Entered: 08/21/2000)

Aug. 21, 2000

Aug. 21, 2000

12

ORDER denying [10-1] motion for relief from judgment, denying [10-2] motion to recall Order pursuant to Rule 60(B), Fed. R. Civ. P. ( Signed by Judge Ralph W. Nimmons Jr. ) ctc (ls) (Entered: 08/31/2000)

Aug. 30, 2000

Aug. 30, 2000

FRC record data: accession # 021-96-0160; agency box # 1-18 (pleadings/depositions), 19 (depositions/exhibits), 20-39 (exhibits), 40 (exhibits/5 vol. final survey), 41 (1990 final medical survey), 42-48 (transcripts); location # J0190754; perm record. (mk) (Entered: 12/05/2000)

Dec. 5, 2000

Dec. 5, 2000

13

MOTION by Michael Scott Warren dissolution tampercy PLRA notice for requested investigation STRICKEN Per Order (Doc. 17) (lrb) Modified on 03/19/2003 (Entered: 02/13/2003)

Feb. 10, 2003

Feb. 10, 2003

14

MOTION by Jorge F. Llerena, Mark Torres, Rodolfo G. Ortiz to reinstate clas action due to defendants' breach of teh overcrowding settlement agreement and contempt to court order ; STRICKEN Per Order (Doc. #17) (lrb) Modified on 03/19/2003 (Entered: 03/04/2003)

March 4, 2003

March 4, 2003

15

ORDER of recusal ( signed by Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger ) ctc (lrb) (Entered: 03/14/2003)

March 14, 2003

March 14, 2003

16

NOTICE OF CASE REASSIGNMENT to the Honorable Sr. Judge John H. Moore II . ctc (lrb) (Entered: 03/14/2003)

March 14, 2003

March 14, 2003

17

ORDER striking [13-1] motion dissolution tampercy PLRA notice for requested investigation, striking [14-1] motion to reinstate class action due to defendants' breach of the overcrowding settlement agreement and contempt to court order ( Signed by Sr. Judge John H. Moore II ) ctc (lrb) Modified on 04/03/2003 (Entered: 03/19/2003)

March 19, 2003

March 19, 2003

18

MOTION by former counsel for Michael V. Costello for relief from order entered 3/18/03 (lrb) (Entered: 04/25/2003)

April 24, 2003

April 24, 2003

20

MOTION by Jorge F. Llerena, Mark Torres, Rodolfo G. Ortiz to strike [17-1] order , and reinstate all pleadings filed in this case ; STRICKEN Per Order (Doc. #27) (lrb) Modified on 05/14/2004 (Entered: 05/06/2003)

May 6, 2003

May 6, 2003

21

Notice of Inquiry by Michael V. Costello; Clerk responded (pwd) (Entered: 07/14/2003)

July 11, 2003

July 11, 2003

22

INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE of by Rodolfo G. Ortiz (lrb) (Entered: 09/30/2003)

Sept. 29, 2003

Sept. 29, 2003

23

MOTION by Rodolfo G. Ortiz for hearing on several motions , and to rule on several motions ; STRICKEN Per Order (Doc. #27) (lrb) Modified on 05/14/2004 (Entered: 09/30/2003)

Sept. 29, 2003

Sept. 29, 2003

CLERK responded to inquiry from Rodolfo Ortiz (lrb) (Entered: 02/02/2004)

Feb. 2, 2004

Feb. 2, 2004

24

ORDER of recusal the undersigned hereby recuses himself and this case is returned to the Clerk of Court for reassignment in accordance with established procedures ( signed by Sr. Judge John H. Moore II ) ctc (lrb) (Entered: 04/06/2004)

April 6, 2004

April 6, 2004

25

NOTICE OF CASE REASSIGNMENT to the Honorable Judge Timothy J. Corrigan . ctc (lrb) (Entered: 04/06/2004)

April 6, 2004

April 6, 2004

MAGISTRATE JUDGE CASE ASSIGNMENT Magistrate assigned: Howard T. Snyder (lrb) (Entered: 04/26/2004)

April 26, 2004

April 26, 2004

26

NOTICE of tampering and retaliation by Michael Scott Warren (lrb) (Entered: 04/26/2004)

April 26, 2004

April 26, 2004

27

ORDER granting [18-1] motion for relief from order entered 3/18/03 and William J. Sheppard, Esq. is relieved from any further obligation in this case; the Clerk is directed to strike all pro se pleadings not previously stricken that have been filed since the entry of this Court's las order 3/19/03; the Clerk is directed to strike all pro se pleadings that may be filed in the future and return them ( Signed by Magistrate Judge Howard T. Snyder ) ctc (lrb) (Entered: 05/14/2004)

May 13, 2004

May 13, 2004

28

MOTION for joinder as a party plaintiff and substitution of defendant for a superseding cause of action for order to show cause by Marzuq Al-Hakim. (LRB) Modified on 3/1/2005 STRICKEN and returned per Order, [Doc. 27], documents sent as directed in Order, [Doc. 27] (LRB). (Entered: 02/28/2005)

Feb. 28, 2005

Feb. 28, 2005

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 9, 1972

Closing Date: 1993

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

all prisoners in Florida

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Florida Department of Corrections, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

U.S. Supreme Court merits opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1980 - 1993

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Issues

General:

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Pre-PLRA Population Cap

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Male

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run