Case: McDonald v. Armontrout

2:85-cv-04422 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Filed Date: Aug. 19, 1985

Closed Date: 1997

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 19, 1985, death row inmates in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri (MSP), filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against MSP, Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC), and the State of Missouri, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Central Division. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the condi…

On August 19, 1985, death row inmates in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri (MSP), filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against MSP, Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC), and the State of Missouri, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Central Division. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions of confinement at MSP were intolerable and unlawful in violation of the plaintiffs' First, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Specifically, the plaintiffs contended that they were confined to their cells for 23 hours per day, permitted only three outdoor recreation periods per week, not afforded sufficient use of weight machines, often denied showers and access to common areas, afforded a total floor space of 20 square feet and no windows, provided grossly inadequate sanitation, ventilation, lighting, bedding and drinking water, disciplined unreasonably harshly by seclusion, harassed by guards, denied group dining and frequent meals, denied group religious services, denied access to the law and prison library as well as unfettered access to lawyers, denied adequate medical, mental and dental care, denied employment and education, denied telephone and mail access, and provided with unreasonably hazardous facilities.

On January 15, 1986, the District Court (Judge Scott O. Wright) certified a class comprised of all inmates who were or would be confined under sentence of death by the Missouri Department of Corrections and Human Resources.

The parties apparently began negotiating a settlement agreement shortly after the class was certified, and on January 7, 1987, the District Court (Judge Wright) approved a consent decree. Under the consent decree, DOC agreed to refrain from reading or otherwise mishandling inmates' legal mail and materials, provide a privacy room for religious services, provide a telephone jack between cells and allow use of them, provide medical and mental health services, classify inmates by behavior, expand the staff and improve staff training at the prison, expand recreation time and provide better equipped space, improve plumbing, lighting, bedding, showers, sanitation, ventilation, education, and fire safety conditions, increase visitation privileges, and improve food service. Further, under the consent decree, the plaintiffs retained the right to seek other and further relief from the Court as might be necessary to remedy deficient conditions at the prison.

Thereafter, there was some litigation concerning attorneys' fees. McDonald v. Armontrout, 860 F.2d 1456 (8th Cir. 1988).

On March 13, 1989, the District Court (Judge Wright) allowed DOC to move the capital punishment unit for men from MSP to the Potosi Correctional Center (PCC). On May 10, 1989, the District Court (Judge Wright) modified and approved the defendants' plan to implement the consent decree at PCC. McDonald v. Armontrout, No. 85-4422CVC5, 1989 WL 1128973 (W.D. Mo. May 10, 1989). The plaintiffs appealed.

On July 16, 1990, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Pasco Middleton Bowman II) affirmed the District Court's March 13, 1989, ruling. McDonald v. Armontrout, 908 F.2d 388 (8th Cir. 1990). The Court held that DOC's decision to move the capital punishment unit from MSP to PCC constituted a change in circumstance that warranted a modification of the consent decree and that the modifications sufficiently satisfied constitutional requirements.

In 1992, negotiations between the parties resumed through which the state allowed all death row inmates, exclusive of those with conduct violation problems, to be released into the general population at PCC. The state subsequently sought to have the consent decree dismissed, claiming that the changes nullified any need for the Court to continue to police the enforcement of the consent decree.

On September 18, 1995, the District Court (Judge Edward L. Filippine) granted the defendants' motion to vacate, terminating the modified consent decree and the Court's jurisdiction over the matter. McDonald v. Bowersox, No. 89-1086 C(2), 1995 WL 17013058 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 18, 1995). The plaintiffs appealed.

On April 2, 1997, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Bowman) affirmed the District Court's September 18, 1995, decision to terminate the lawsuit. McDonald v. Carnahan, 109 F.3d 1319 (8th Cir. 1997). The Court held that the District Court did not abuse its discretion, reasoning that, "once the decree had accomplished its purpose, remedying any conditions of death row that may have fallen short of constitutional standards, the District Court properly could vacate it and bring this case to a close."

On September 17, 1997, one named plaintiff filed a pro se civil rights action challenging provisions of the Missouri Prison Litigation Reform Act and prison locker policy. On September 19, 1997, the District Court (Judge Catherine D. Perry) dismissed the claims as speculative and frivolous, denying the inmate's request for a stay of execution. On appeal, on September 22, 1997, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (per curiam) dismissed the appeal, affirming the District Court's ruling that the lawsuit was frivolous. McDonald v. Carnahan, 125 F.3d 652 (8th Cir. 1997).

We have no more information on this file.

Summary Authors

Josh Altman (6/21/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Bowman, Pasco Middleton II (Missouri)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Berger, Joel (New York)

Chambers, Julius LeVonne (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Boresi, Susan D. (Missouri)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Elvin, Jan (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Bowman, Pasco Middleton II (Missouri)

Filippine, Edward Louis (Missouri)

Jones, John Bailey (South Dakota)

Magill, Frank J. (North Dakota)

McMillian, Theodore (Missouri)

Murphy, Diana E. (Minnesota)

Wollman, Roger Leland (South Dakota)

Wright, Scott Olin (Missouri)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:89-cv-01086

Docket (PACER)

McDonald v. Delo

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

May 30, 1997

May 30, 1997

Docket

2:85-cv-04422

Docket (PACER)

Nov. 30, 2001

Nov. 30, 2001

Docket

2:85-cv-04422

Complaint

Aug. 19, 1985

Aug. 19, 1985

Complaint

2:85-cv-04422

Consent Decree

May 22, 1986

May 22, 1986

Settlement Agreement

87-02145

87-02200

Reported Opinion

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Nov. 9, 1988

Nov. 9, 1988

Order/Opinion
293

2:85-cv-04422

Order, Judgment

May 10, 1989

May 10, 1989

Order/Opinion
294

2:85-cv-04422

Judgment Transferring to Missouri, E.D.

May 11, 1989

May 11, 1989

Order/Opinion

89-02152

Reported Opinion

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

July 16, 1990

July 16, 1990

Order/Opinion

2:85-cv-04422

Correspondence

July 14, 1992

July 14, 1992

Correspondence

4:89-cv-01086

Order

McDonald v. Bowersox

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Sept. 18, 1995

Sept. 18, 1995

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 20, 2024, 3:06 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

ORIGINAL file, certified copy of transfer order and docket sheet received from The Western District of MO with document numbers 1 thru 302 (Western District of MO case #85-4422-CV-5) (GLF) (Entered: 03/12/1997)

June 8, 1989

June 8, 1989

2

ORDER by Honorable Edward L. Filippine dismissing case With Prejudice (cc: all counsel) (GLF) (Entered: 03/12/1997)

Sept. 18, 1995

Sept. 18, 1995

3

NOTICE OF APPEAL filed by plaintiff Alan Bannister re: the District Court decision; [2-2] (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

Oct. 20, 1995

Oct. 20, 1995

4

NOTICE OF APPEAL filed by plaintiff Samuel L. McDonald re: the District Court decision ; [2-2] (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

Oct. 24, 1995

Oct. 24, 1995

DELIVERED TO USCA - 1 Civil Appeal Cover Sheet, 2 Certified Copies of Notice of Appeal, 2 Certified Copies of Clerk's Docket entries, and 2 Certified Copies of the order for both Bannister and McDonald (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

Nov. 14, 1995

Nov. 14, 1995

5

ORDER FROM USCA copy filed terminating attorney Richard H. Sindel for Alan Bannister USCA number: 95-3843 (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

March 6, 1996

March 6, 1996

6

NOTIFICATION AND BRIEFING SCHEDULE (USCA) FILED, USCA #: 95-3845 and 95-3843 Clk's Rec due: 4/19/96 Transcript Due: 4/19/96 Designations Due: 04/01/96 Briefs Due: 05/29/96 (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

March 6, 1996

March 6, 1996

7

DESIGNATION OF RECORD ON APPEAL requested by plaintiff Samuel L. McDonald, plaintiff Alan Bannister to be forwarded to the USCA and pltfs' attorney. (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

March 29, 1996

March 29, 1996

DESIGNATED RECORD ON APPEAL DELIVERED TO (USCA), Letter and copy of Index sent to attorneys of record. (GLF) (Entered: 03/13/1997)

May 6, 1996

May 6, 1996

8

Opinion from USCA on USCA number 95-3843EMSL Opinion of USCA: affirmed (FCE) (Entered: 04/07/1997)

April 2, 1997

April 2, 1997

9

ORDER FROM USCA copy filed USCA number: 95-3843 EMSL; The suggestion for rehearing en banc is denied; The petition for rehearing by the panel is also denied (FCE) (Entered: 05/14/1997)

May 12, 1997

May 12, 1997

10

MANDATE W/OPINION ATTACHED from (USCA) affirming the decision of the District Court [4-1], affirming the decision of the District Court [3-1] (cc: all counsel) (MCB) (Entered: 06/04/1997)

May 30, 1997

May 30, 1997

Case Details

State / Territory: Missouri

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 19, 1985

Closing Date: 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All inmates who were or woud be confined under sentence of death by the Missouri Department of Corrections and Human Resources.

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Missouri State Penitentiary (Mineral Point), State

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)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1987 - 1997

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Bathing and hygiene

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Phone

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Sanitation / living conditions

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Library (non-law) access

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run