Case: Pearson v. Fair

1:81-cv-03219 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Dec. 21, 1981

Closed Date: Nov. 24, 1992

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Case Summary

In 1981, patients at a treatment center for sexually dangerous persons filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The plaintiffs asked the court to make the defendants comply with policies and procedures that had been adopted by the treatment center following settlement of earlier litigation. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Joseph L. Tauro) ordered the…

In 1981, patients at a treatment center for sexually dangerous persons filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The plaintiffs asked the court to make the defendants comply with policies and procedures that had been adopted by the treatment center following settlement of earlier litigation.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Joseph L. Tauro) ordered the defendants to comply with revised policies and procedures, and both parties appealed the court's decision. On December 31, 1986, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a per curiam opinion vacating the district court's order and remanding the case back to the district court because the order had been entered without evidentiary hearing or articulated findings of fact or conclusions of law. Pearson v. Fair, 808 F.2d 163 (1st Cir. 1986).

On remand, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge A. David Mazzone) entered a judgment for the defendants, but awarded the plaintiffs a fraction of their requested attorneys' fees. Both parties appealed the decision. On June 3, 1991, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Judge Ronald R. Lagueux) affirmed the lower court's decision on the merits but vacated the lower court's decision to award attorneys' fees, remanding to allow the district court to clarify how it arrived at the fee award. Pearson v. Fair, 935 F.2d 401 (1st Cir. 1991).

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Mazzone) again granted a limited award of attorneys' fees. On November 24, 1992, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Judge Juan R. Torruella) ruled that inmates would be awarded 15% of the requested attorneys' fees. Pearson v. Fair, 980 F.2d 37 (1st Cir. 1992). We have no further information on the proceedings of this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (3/13/2006)

Related Cases

King v. Greenblatt, District of Massachusetts (1972)

People


Judge(s)

Breyer, Stephen Gerald (District of Columbia)

Caffrey, Andrew Augustine (Massachusetts)

Campbell, Levin Hicks (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Geiger, David R. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Bellotti, Francis X. (Massachusetts)

Judge(s)

Breyer, Stephen Gerald (District of Columbia)

Caffrey, Andrew Augustine (Massachusetts)

Campbell, Levin Hicks (Massachusetts)

Lagueux, Ronald Rene (Rhode Island)

Selya, Bruce Marshall (Rhode Island)

Torruella, Juan R. (Puerto Rico)

Zobel, Rya Weickert (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

86-01463

86-01473

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Dec. 31, 1986

Dec. 31, 1986

Order/Opinion

808 F.2d 808

89-02051

90-01616

90-01272

90-01271

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

June 3, 1991

June 3, 1991

Order/Opinion

935 F.2d 935

92-01043

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Nov. 24, 1992

Nov. 24, 1992

Order/Opinion

980 F.2d 980

Docket

Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:17 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 21, 1981

Closing Date: Nov. 24, 1992

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Patients at treatment center for sexually dangerous persons

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Massachusetts Department of Corrections (Bridgewater, Plymouth), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1991 - None

Issues

Medical/Mental Health:

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run