Case: People of the State of New York ex rel. Short v. Capra
54815/2020 | New York state trial court
Filed Date: May 6, 2020
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
On May 6, 2020, six inmates filed this action in the Westchester County Court. Represented by the Legal Aid Society and private counsel, the inmates petitioned for habeas corpus, naming the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the superintendents of Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Taconic Correctional Facility, and Bedford Hills Correctional Facility as respondents. The petitioners alleged that their continued incarceration was unconstitutional, violating the New York Constitution and the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and requested immediate release. Specifically, they argued that because preventative measures were effectively impossible in the prison setting, the respondents' failure to release medically vulnerable individuals constituted deliberate indifference. The case was assigned to Judge George E. Fufidio, Jr.
On May 14, the state filed a cross motion, asking the court to deny the petition and dismiss the case, arguing that the respondents had not been "indifferent" but had taken significant steps to minimize the risk of COVID-19.
On May 26, Judge Fufidio, Jr. entered an order dismissing the petition, finding that the petitioners had not successfully demonstrated deliberate indifference, as required for liability. Judge Fufidio Jr. also noted that even if the petitioners had demonstrated deliberate indifference, it was not clear that habeas release was the appropriate remedy.
Summary Authors
Caitlin Kierum (6/18/2020)
People
Abrams, David J. (New York)
Choi, Brian (New York)
Forster, Jill L. (New York)
Annucci, Anthony J. (New York)
Capra, Michael (New York)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
Last updated Feb. 14, 2024, 4:42 p.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 6, 2020
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmates in Westchester prisons
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
State
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Taconic Correctional Facility
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
New York state trial court 54815/2020
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Sanitation / living conditions
COVID-19:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Medical/Mental Health Care:
Case Summary of People of the State of New York ex rel. Short v. Capra, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/17554/ (last updated 6/18/2020).