Case: Estevez v. Foti

2:88-cv-01162 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: March 22, 1988

Closed Date: 2000

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On March 22, 1988, inmates in Orleans Parish, Louisiana filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the sheriff of Orleans Parish. The complaint was originally filed pro se and the Tulane Law Clinic was appointed to represent the plaintiffs. The ACLU National Prison Project and ACLU of Louisiana also joined as counsel for plaintiffs. In their complaint, the inmates, housed at the Orleans Parish Prison, the Community Correcti…

On March 22, 1988, inmates in Orleans Parish, Louisiana filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the sheriff of Orleans Parish. The complaint was originally filed pro se and the Tulane Law Clinic was appointed to represent the plaintiffs. The ACLU National Prison Project and ACLU of Louisiana also joined as counsel for plaintiffs. In their complaint, the inmates, housed at the Orleans Parish Prison, the Community Correctional Center, and the Emergency Housing Unit, alleged unconstitutional conditions of confinement and the denial of good time credits. Specifically, they claimed they were denied adequate sanitation facilities, medical care, dental care, mental health care, exercise opportunities, healthy food, educational and religious programming and access to lawyers. They also alleged that the correctional staff were not given proper training and the inmate disciplinary system was constitutionally deficient. The inmates sought declaratory and injunctive relief for the unconstitutional conditions and were granted class certification on behalf of all current and future inmates confined within the custody of the criminal sheriff of Orleans Parish.

The plaintiffs' claims were subsequently litigated in Robinson v. Phelps and ultimately formed the basis for re-opening Hamilton v. Morial, a longstanding case challenging conditions in the New Orleans Parish Prison, which was still being litigated as of May 9, 2006, after the date that Magistrate Judge Alma Chasez closed this case on September 1, 2000.

 

Summary Authors

Tom Madison (9/22/2006)

Related Cases

Hamilton v. Schriro, Eastern District of Louisiana (1969)

People


Judge(s)

Chasez, Alma L. (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bower, Karen A. (District of Columbia)

Johnson, Jane (Louisiana)

Jones, Mohamedu F. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Ieyoub, Richard P. (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:88-cv-01162

Docket (PACER)

Estevez v. Phelps

Sept. 1, 2000

Sept. 1, 2000

Docket

2:88-cv-01162

Amended Complaint

Jan. 1, 1988

Jan. 1, 1988

Complaint

2:88-cv-01162

Memorandum in Support of Motion to Amend Complaint and Motion to Dismiss State Defendants

March 21, 1989

March 21, 1989

Pleading / Motion / Brief

2:88-cv-01162

Notice of Hearing on Motion to Amend Complaint and Motion to Dismiss State Defendants

March 21, 1989

March 21, 1989

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

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

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Automatic Referral (Utility Event) to Magistrate Alma Chasez (js) (Entered: 09/25/1990)

March 22, 1988

March 22, 1988

48

ORDER that on or bfr 3/29/96 each pla to file written statement, etc as stip by Magistrate Alma Chasez Orig dktd 3/5/96 (kh) (Entered: 03/24/1997)

Feb. 28, 1996

Feb. 28, 1996

49

MINUTE ENTRY (8/30/00) Clerk is directed to administratively close case. by Magistrate Alma Chasez *****CLOSED***** (dno) (Entered: 09/06/2000)

Sept. 1, 2000

Sept. 1, 2000

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 22, 1988

Closing Date: 2000

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All persons who have been or will be confined within the custody of the criminal sheriff of Orleans Parish.

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU National (all projects)

ACLU National Prison Project

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Criminal Sheriff of Orleans Parish (Orleans), County

City of New Orleans (New Orleans, Orleans), City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Bathing and hygiene

Classification / placement

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Disciplinary segregation

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run