Facts

Quentin Hall, Shawn Gonzales, Robert Merryman, Dawn Singh, and Brian Murphy filed a class action complaint and declaratory and injunctive relief against the County of Fresno, concerning conditions at the County jail.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs, prisoners in the jail, alleged that the county failed to provide them and others similarly situated with minimally adequate care, including medical, dental, and mental health care. Plaintiffs also contended that the county failed to protect them from violence and injury from other prisoners or provide prisoners with disabilities with reasonable accommodation. Consequently, plaintiffs suffered harm, including unnecessary pain and injury as well as various violations of their rights as prisoners under the Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. Plaintiffs asserted claims for violation of the Eighth Amendment, violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, violation of the ADA, and violation of the Rehabilitation Act.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants denied the allegations and asserted various affirmative defenses.

Result

The parties reached a settlement in which the county agreed to implement a remedial plan that outlines the obligations it must make to improve the conditions in the county jail. Such changes include adding over 100 additional correctional officers to reduce inmate-on-inmate violence, providing the necessary medication to prisoners with chronic illnesses, providing prenatal and postpartum care as well as counseling and other obstetrical services to pregnant inmates, and housing disabled prisoners in appropriate housing.