Case: Chapman v. Nichols

4:91-cv-00539 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma

Filed Date: July 24, 1991

Closed Date: 1993

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This 1991 strip search case was brought by four female detainees arrested for minor traffic offenses and held at the Creek County Jail in Sapulpa, Oklahoma where they were strip-searched notwithstanding the lack of reasonable suspicion to believe they were concealing weapons or contraband. They filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma where the judge (H. Dale Cook) held the sheriff was not entitled to qualified immunity because it was clearly established in 1991 and 1992 that blanket policy for strip searches of detainees was unconstitutional.

The sheriff appealed and on March 23, 1993, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals (Seymour, Anderson and Ebel, Circuit Judges) affirmed and remanded.

We have no further information about this case.

Summary Authors

Denise Heberle (8/7/2012)

People


Judge(s)

Anderson, Stephen Hale (Utah)

Cook, Harold Dale (Oklahoma)

Ebel, David M. (Colorado)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Collier, Ron (Oklahoma)

Attorney for Defendant

Harlan, John Lowell (Oklahoma)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

4:91-cv-00539

Docket [PACER]

Chapman v. Nichols, et al

June 15, 1993

June 15, 1993

Docket

92-05122

92-05178

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

March 23, 1993

March 23, 1993

Order/Opinion

989 F.2d 393

Docket

Last updated March 26, 2025, 8:15 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 July 24, 1991

COMPLAINT (Summons(es) issued); Consent form sent (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 10/22/1992)

PACER
7 Sept. 10, 1991

ANSWER by defendant Creek Cty BCC to [1-1] (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
15 Oct. 9, 1991

ANSWER by defendant Doug Nichols to [1-1] (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
32 Feb. 14, 1992

MOTION by defendant Doug Nichols, defendant Creek Cty BCC for summary judgment (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
40 Feb. 18, 1992

MOTION by plaintiff Julie Chapman for partial summary judgment (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
62 April 2, 1992

MOTION by plaintiff Julie Chapman to consolidate cases & brf/spprt w/92-109 o2j (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
63 April 14, 1992

RESPONSE by defendant Creek Cty BCC to motion to consolidate cases & brf/spprt w/92-109 o2j [62-1] (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
70 May 29, 1992

ORDER by Senior Judge H. D. Cook denying motion for partial summary judgment [40-1] (cc: all counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
71 May 29, 1992

ORDER by Senior Judge H. D. Cook denying motion for summary judgment [32-1] (cc: all counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
74 June 8, 1992

NOTICE OF APPEAL by defendant Doug Nichols from Dist. Court decision [71-1] (cc: all counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
80 June 22, 1992

ORDER by Senior Judge H. D. Cook granting motion to stay pend appeal [76-1] , CASE STAYED (cc: all counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
82 July 2, 1992

CERTIFIED COPY of Order from USCA re: juris issue, whether ntc/appeal was filed before rlg on pltf's mot (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/17/1993)

PACER
83 March 12, 1993

MOTION by plaintiff Julie Chapman to withdraw attorney Teresa Simmons o2j (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/15/1993)

PACER
84 March 19, 1993

ORDER by Senior Judge H. D. Cook granting motion to withdraw attorney Teresa Simmons o2j [83-1] for Julie Chapman (cc: mvt counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 03/22/1993)

PACER
85 April 16, 1993

CERTIFIED COPY of judgment from USCA; remanding the Decision of the District Court [Appeal [74-1] (cc: HDC) (agc, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 04/19/1993)

PACER
April 20, 1993

MINUTE ORDER: by H Dale Cook; pursuant to remand from 10th, pretrial conference set for 11:00 6/15/93 pretrial order ddl set for 6/7/93 (cc: all counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 04/21/1993)

PACER
April 27, 1993

NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT by defendant Doug Nichols, defendant Creek Cty BCC, by telephone. Papers wi/30 days. (fe, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 04/27/1993)

PACER
June 4, 1993

MINUTE ORDER: ; Pretrial conference stricken. Case set for hearing re settlement for 11:15 a.m., 6/15/93 (cc: all counsel) (fe, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 06/04/1993)

PACER
86 June 7, 1993

PRETRIAL MEMORANDUM/ Statement by plaintiff Julie Chapman, ptys settled, pprs at PT conf (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 06/08/1993)

PACER
87 June 14, 1993

STIPULATION of ptys for dism (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 06/16/1993)

PACER
88 June 14, 1993

NOTICE by plaintiff Julie Chapman of dism w/prej as to Nichols, individ (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 06/16/1993)

PACER
89 June 15, 1993

JOURNAL ENTRY OF JUDGMENT: by Senior Judge H. D. Cook terminating case for pltf agnst defts for $20,000 (cc: all counsel) (pll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 06/16/1993)

PACER
June 15, 1993

MINUTES: by Senior Judge H. D. Cook ; Case called for PT. Parties announce settlement as to all pltfs. Orders approved.(HDC-J)(ES-cr) (fe, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 06/15/1993)

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory:

Oklahoma

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Strip Search Cases

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 24, 1991

Closing Date: 1993

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Four women who were arrested for minor traffic violations, taken to the Creek County Jail in Sapulpa, OK, and subjected to strip searches notwithstanding the lack of reasonable suspicion to believe they were concealing weapons or contraband.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

County

Creek County, OK

Sherrif of Creek County

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Unreasonable search and seizure

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Oklahoma 4:91-cv-00539

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 92-05122

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 92-05178

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

General/Misc.:

Search policies

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Strip search policy (facilities)

Recommended Citation