Case: Jackson v. County of Isabella
2:12-cv-14807 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Filed Date: Oct. 30, 2012
Closed Date: 2013
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
On October 30, 2012, five prisoners at the Isabella County Correctional Facility in Mount Pleasant, MI filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Michigan against the County of Isabella, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU of Michigan, asked the court for declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief, alleging that the facility's lack of exercise time violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. Additionally, the two female prisoners brought a claim under the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause, alleging that the facility's unwillingness to allow females to serve as "trustees" or participate in community service programs constituted a violation, since participation in those programs led to early release.
The case was settled on August 23, 2013, following limited litigation. The settlement, in the form of a stipulated order of dismissal, called for the Court to maintain jurisdiction over the case until August 15, 2018. The order called for a new policy allowing recreation time for all prisoners for at least one hour a day, five days a week. Additionally, the parties agreed to a new policy allowing both male and female prisoners to participate in the "trustee" and community service programs, with efforts to maintain a ratio consistent with the population at the facility. The settlement also called for an award of $3,000 for each of the female plaintiffs and $60,000 in attorneys' fees.
Summary Authors
Jonathan Forman (11/10/2013)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12997053/parties/jackson-v-isabella-county-of/
Lawson, David M. (Michigan)
Majzoub, Mona K. (Michigan)
Korobkin, Daniel S. (Michigan)
Gray, Todd A. (Ohio)
Gutkoski, Joseph H. (Ohio)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12997053/jackson-v-isabella-county-of/
Last updated March 29, 2026, 4:20 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 30, 2012
Closing Date: 2013
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Prisoners at the Isabella County Correctional Facility who were denied exercise and recreation time, and female prisoners at the same facility who were denied equal opportunity to leadership opportunities and community service within the prison
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Denied
Defendants
County
County of Isabella
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Michigan 2:12-cv-14807
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Amount Defendant Pays: $66,000
Order Duration: 2012 - 2018
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Case Summary of Jackson v. County of Isabella, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/13019/ (last updated 11/10/2013).