Case: Todaro v. Ward

1:74-04581 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: Oct. 18, 1974

Closed Date: 2004

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Case Summary

In 1974, female inmates at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the New York State Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs, represented by the Legal Aid Society, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequate medical care at the prison. On April 25, 1977, the U.S. District…

In 1974, female inmates at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the New York State Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs, represented by the Legal Aid Society, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequate medical care at the prison.

On April 25, 1977, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Judge Robert J. Ward) granted declaratory and injunctive relief to the plaintiffs, holding that the medical care at the prison was constitutionally inadequate. Todaro v. Ward, 431 F.Supp. 1129 (S.D.N.Y. 1977). The defendants appealed. On October 31, 1977, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Judge Irving R. Kaufman) affirmed the district court's judgment. Todaro v. Ward, 565 F.2d 48 (2nd Cir. 1977).

In 1980, following the plaintiffs' filing of motions for contempt for noncompliance with the judgment, the District Court appointed Dr. Frank Rundle, a physician and psychiatrist, to monitor the defendants' compliance. His appointment was affirmed by the Second Circuit on February 20, 1981. Todaro v. Coughlin, No. 81-2001, 652 F.2d 54 (2nd Cir. 1981).

On September 14, 1988, the plaintiffs asked the District Court to hold the defendants in contempt of the judgment and to modify the judgment to ensure that the defendants complied with it. On August 18, 1989, the District Court modified the judgment pursuant to an agreement reached between the parties. On October 1, 1993, the parties stipulated to further modifications to the judgment, making changes in the areas of sick call, physical referral procedures, implementation and tracking of physician orders, specialty care, chronically ill care, staffing, record keeping, aids care procedures, and restraints during medical trips.

On October 1, 2002, the District Court (Judge Ward) entered a stipulated judgment which specified that monitoring of the prisons would end on September 1, 2004. We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (11/10/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Gurfein, Murray Irwin (New York)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Freeman, Lisa (New York)

Greenberg, Daniel L. (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Abrams, Robert W. (New York)

Dell, Lisa R. (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:74-04581

Opinion

April 25, 1977

April 25, 1977

Order/Opinion

431 F.Supp. 431

77-02095

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Oct. 31, 1977

Oct. 31, 1977

Order/Opinion

565 F.2d 565

81-02001

Opinion

Todaro v. Coughlin

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Feb. 20, 1981

Feb. 20, 1981

Order/Opinion

652 F.2d 652

1:74-04581

Stipulation and Order: Second Modified Judgment

Todaro v. Coughlin

Oct. 1, 1993

Oct. 1, 1993

Order/Opinion

1:74-04581

Stipulation and Order

Todaro v. Goord

Oct. 1, 2002

Oct. 1, 2002

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:31 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 18, 1974

Closing Date: 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

New York State Department of Correctional Services (Bedford, Westchester), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Confession of Judgment

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1977 - 2004

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Medical Exam / Inquiry

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Medical care, unspecified

Type of Facility:

Government-run