Case: Langton v. Berman

1:78-00578 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: March 10, 1978

Closed Date: Feb. 13, 1981

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Case Summary

William Langton, a Massachusetts State Prisoner, filed a pro se 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 plaintiff argued that his constitutional rights had been violated by the defendant's conduct at a prison disciplinary hearing at which he was found guilty of planning to escape. Particularly, he complained about not being allowed to call certain witnesses and not being able to use in…

William Langton, a Massachusetts State Prisoner, filed a pro se 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 plaintiff argued that his constitutional rights had been violated by the defendant's conduct at a prison disciplinary hearing at which he was found guilty of planning to escape. Particularly, he complained about not being allowed to call certain witnesses and not being able to use informer reports in order to defend himself in the hearing.

The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Rya W. Zobel) dismissed complaint, and plaintiff appealed. On February 13, 1981, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Judge Frank Coffin) affirmed the dismissal, holding that the plaintiff was not deprived of his right to due process at the disciplinary hearing. Langton v. Berman, 667 F.2d 231 (1st Cir. 1981). We have no further information on the proceedings.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (3/28/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Coffin, Frank Morey (Maine)

Attorney for Defendant

Donahue, Michael C. (Massachusetts)

Meyers, Judy (Massachusetts)

Judge(s)

Coffin, Frank Morey (Maine)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

80-01565

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Dec. 29, 1981

Dec. 29, 1981

Order/Opinion

667 F.2d 667

Docket

Last updated Feb. 14, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 10, 1978

Closing Date: Feb. 13, 1981

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Massachusetts state prisoner alleging that Department of Corrections personnel's conduct of disciplinary hearing at which he was found guilty of planning to escape violated his constitutional rights

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Massachusetts Department of Corrections , State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Disciplinary procedures

Type of Facility:

Government-run