On September 14, 1989, prisoners at the Ross Correctional Institute in Ohio filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Ohio against prison officials. The plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that defendants interfered with the delivery of plaintiffs' legal mail, and that the law library at Ross Correctional Institute was inadequate, thereby denying the prisoners access to the courts.

The parties filed a consent decree with the court on June 2, 1993. After a fairness hearing, the District Court (Judge John D. Holschuh) approved the consent decree on March 30, 1994. The court provided that the consent decree would have the effect of a court order.

The defendants moved for summary judgment on July 14, 1994. The District Court (Judge Holschuh) granted the defendants' motion on February 1, 1995. On October 18, 1995, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (per curiam) affirmed the judgment of the District Court. Howell v. Wilson, 70 F.3d 115 (6th Cir. 1995).

The defendants moved to vacate the consent decree on March 21, 1997. The District Court (Judge Holschuh) granted the defendants' motion on March 27, 1998. The case is closed.

We have no information about the contents of the consent decree. The only documents we have are the docket and the Sixth Circuit's opinion.

Kaitlin Corkran - 06/12/2006


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