Case: Craig v. Hocker

3:72-cv-02662 | U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada

Filed Date: May 1, 1972

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Case Summary

In 1972, inmates at the Nevada State Prison filed a Section 1983 class action suit in the District of Nevada, pro se, against officials of the Nevada State Prisons. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants violated the Fourteenth Amendments' due process clause be denying them the right to call witnesses, produce evidence or obtain legal counsel during disciplinary proceedings within the prison. Plaintiffs also complained of denial of adequate medical care, mail privileges, and visiting privileges. …

In 1972, inmates at the Nevada State Prison filed a Section 1983 class action suit in the District of Nevada, pro se, against officials of the Nevada State Prisons. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants violated the Fourteenth Amendments' due process clause be denying them the right to call witnesses, produce evidence or obtain legal counsel during disciplinary proceedings within the prison. Plaintiffs also complained of denial of adequate medical care, mail privileges, and visiting privileges. Charles Zeh, Washington County Legal Aid Society, was appointed to represent the plaintiffs.

Following trial in April 1974, the District Court (Judge Bruce R. Thompson) held that prisoners who were subject to disciplinary proceedings were entitled to certain due process rights including the right to legal counsel. Judge Thompson also held that plaintiffs were not being denied adequate medical care and treatment. Craig v. Hocker, 405 F. Supp. 656 (D. Nev. 1975).

In July 1980, the parties filed a consent decree that required defendants to improve the living conditions of the prison, reform administrative segregation and classification procedures, reform mail regulations, and improve access to judicial process. As part of the consent decree, defendants also agreed to submit to the court, within 60 days, a plan for implementing the agreed changes.

The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the consent decree, dated July 18, 1980.

Summary Authors

Eoghan Keenan (6/10/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Hall, Cynthia Holcomb (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Lamboley, Paul (Nevada)

Attorney for Defendant

Adler, Ernest E. (Nevada)

Bryan, Richard (Nevada)

List, Robert (Nevada)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

00792

Memorandum Decision

Supreme Court of the United States

Dec. 9, 1968

Dec. 9, 1968

Order/Opinion

393 U.S. 393

3:72-cv-02662

Complaint

April 26, 1972

April 26, 1972

Complaint

3:72-cv-02662

Memorandum Opinion

Feb. 20, 1975

Feb. 20, 1975

Order/Opinion

405 F.Supp. 405

77-02992

Table Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

March 25, 1980

March 25, 1980

Order/Opinion

618 F.2d 618

3:72-cv-02662

Consent Decree

July 18, 1980

July 18, 1980

Settlement Agreement

88-01575

Order

Smith v. Sumner

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

June 1, 1993

June 1, 1993

Order/Opinion

994 F.2d 994

Docket

Last updated March 19, 2024, 3:02 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Nevada

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 1, 1972

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

inmates at the Nevada State Prison

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Nevada State Prison (Carson City), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1980 - None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Classification / placement

Disciplinary procedures

Mail

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Administrative segregation

Disciplinary segregation

Law library access

Library (non-law) access

Visiting

Type of Facility:

Government-run