Case: Rivera v. Rowland

95-cv-545929 | Connecticut state trial court

Filed Date: Jan. 5, 1995

Closed Date: 1999

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On January 5, 1995, a group of indigent criminal defendants filed a class action lawsuit against the State of Connecticut and its Public Defender Services Commission under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, the state constitution, and a state statute (C.G.S. 51-289 et seq.), in the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Hartford-New Britain, at Hartford. The plaintiffs alleged that the State did not provide minimally adequate legal representation to indigent de…

On January 5, 1995, a group of indigent criminal defendants filed a class action lawsuit against the State of Connecticut and its Public Defender Services Commission under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, the state constitution, and a state statute (C.G.S. 51-289 et seq.), in the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Hartford-New Britain, at Hartford. The plaintiffs alleged that the State did not provide minimally adequate legal representation to indigent defendants in criminal cases in the geographical area (G.A.) courts, the judicial district (J.D.) courts, and the juvenile courts due to high caseloads and a lack of sufficient resources. The plaintiffs, represented by attorneys for the ACLU and the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

On November 1, 1996, the Superior Court (Judge Douglas Lavine) granted four motions to intervene in the lawsuit by individuals who had been convicted of crimes and had filed habeas corpus petitions which were pending at the time. The inclusion of these plaintiffs expanded the proposed class to include indigent criminal defendants in habeas corpus proceedings. Judge Lavine also certified the case as a class action, defining the class as consisting of all indigent persons who are or will be represented by public defenders or special public defenders in the geographic area (G.A.) courts, the judicial district (J.D.) courts, juvenile courts and in criminal habeas proceedings.

We don't have much information about what happened next, but litigation continued until 1999 when the parties reached a private settlement of the case. We do not have copies of the settlement documents and the details are therefore unknown.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Alison Curran (7/13/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Lavine, Douglas (Connecticut)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dahlberg, Robin L. (New York)

Parrent, Ann M. (Connecticut)

Attorney for Defendant

D'Auria, Gregory T. (Connecticut)

Querijero, Carolyn (Connecticut)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

CV95 545629

Memorandum of Decision on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss

Oct. 23, 1996

Oct. 23, 1996

Order/Opinion

1996 Conn.Super.LEXIS 1996

CV95 545629

Memorandum of Decision on Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification

Rivera v. Rowland

Nov. 1, 1996

Nov. 1, 1996

Order/Opinion

1996 WL 1996

CV95 545629

Opinion [Decision on Defendants' Request to Revise]

Dec. 13, 1996

Dec. 13, 1996

Order/Opinion

1996 Conn.Super.LEXIS 1996

CV95 545629

First Protective Order

Dec. 17, 1996

Dec. 17, 1996

Order/Opinion

1996 WL 1996

CV95 545629

Memorandum of Decision on Defendants' Motion for Protective Order Dated September 13, 1996

Dec. 17, 1996

Dec. 17, 1996

Order/Opinion

1996 WL 1996

CV95 545629

Second Class Action Complaint

Jan. 22, 1997

Jan. 22, 1997

Complaint

CV95 545629

Ruling on Discovery Disputes

July 3, 1997

July 3, 1997

Order/Opinion

1997 WL 1997

CV95 545629

Order

Jan. 23, 1998

Jan. 23, 1998

Order/Opinion

1998 WL 1998

CV95 545629

Order

Feb. 20, 1998

Feb. 20, 1998

Order/Opinion

1998 WL 1998

CV95 545629

Notice of Settlement (with attached Joint Motion for Withdrawl of Action)

July 2, 1999

July 2, 1999

Notice Letter

Resources

Docket

Last updated Feb. 7, 2024, 3:09 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Connecticut

Case Type(s):

Indigent Defense

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 5, 1995

Closing Date: 1999

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Indigent defendants whose cases have been brought in the Geographical Area (G.A.) courts, the Judicial District (J.D.) courts, the juvenile courts, and on behalf of convicted prisoners who have filed habeas corpus claims.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

State of Connecticut, State

Public Defender Services Commission, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

State law

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Issues

Reproductive rights:

Fetus Identity

General:

Funding

Quality of representation

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload