Case: Stewart v. Walter

2:97-cv-00281 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Filed Date: July 18, 1997

Closed Date: 1999

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On July 18, 1997, a Washington state inmate brought a pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, alleging that defendants violated his First Amendment rights when they refused to allow him to receive two books sent directly from the publisher and paid for by his sister. The inmate sought injunctive relief and monetary damages.On June 30, 1998, the District Court (Judge Fred Van Sickle) granted defendant's motion fo…

On July 18, 1997, a Washington state inmate brought a pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, alleging that defendants violated his First Amendment rights when they refused to allow him to receive two books sent directly from the publisher and paid for by his sister. The inmate sought injunctive relief and monetary damages.

On June 30, 1998, the District Court (Judge Fred Van Sickle) granted defendant's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case. The inmate appealed pro se.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Circuit Judge Schroeder) reversed in part and affirmed in part. The Court cited the opinion in Crofton v. Roe, 170 F.3d 957, 959-61 (9th Cir.1999) [PC-WA-5 of this collection] in holding that the prison policy at issue violated the First Amendment and that the District Court erred in granting summary judgment on that issue. The Appeals Court affirmed on the issue of dismissal of plaintiff's damage claim. Stewart v. Walter, 188 F.3d 515(9th Cir. 1999). On remand, the District Court entered an injunction in accordance with the Ninth Circuit's opinion.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/17/2007)

Related Cases

Crofton v. Roe, Eastern District of Washington (1995)

People


Judge(s)

Choy, Herbert Young Cho (Hawaii)

Skopil, Otto Richard Jr. (Oregon)

Van Sickle, Frederick L. (Washington)

Wiggins, Charles Edward (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Mentzer, Eric (Washington)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2:97-cv-00281

Docket (PACER)

Oct. 13, 1999

Oct. 13, 1999

Docket

98-35804

Memorandum

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Aug. 12, 1999

Aug. 12, 1999

Order/Opinion

188 F.3d 515

Docket

Last updated March 23, 2025, 9:24 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
July 18, 1997

COMPLAINT (Summons) Fee-status: ifp Receipt #: ifp (FmrEmp) (Entered: 07/18/1997)

PACER
1 Aug. 29, 1997

COMPLAINT (Summons(es) issued) Fee-status: ifp Receipt #: ifp (FmrEmp) (Entered: 08/29/1997)

PACER
2 Aug. 29, 1997

ORDER TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, DISMISSING COMPLAINT IN PART WITH PREJUDICE, AND DIRECTING SERVICE (by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle); USM directed to serve dft; response due 10/14/97; IT IS ORDERED Pltff's application to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED and the District Court Executive is DIRECTED to file the Complaint; IT IS ORDERED Pltff's claims against the State of Washington and the Department of Corrections are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE as they have not basis in law or fact; Defendants Department of Corrections and State of Washington are DISMISSED. The District Court Executive is DIRECTED to terminate these two Defendants from this action and remove their names from the caption of the complaint. (cc: counsel) (FmrEmp) (Entered: 08/29/1997)

PACER
Aug. 29, 1997

Text not available. (Entered: 08/29/1997)

PACER
3 Sept. 15, 1997

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE for defendant Kay Walter, defendant Tom Rolfs, defendant McKee ; Atty Eric Andrew Mentzer appearing (PW) (Entered: 09/15/1997)

PACER
Sept. 17, 1997

Law Clerk assigned to case is 02 (CR) (Entered: 09/17/1997)

PACER
4 Sept. 25, 1997

SUMMONS/RETURN OF SERVICE executed upon defendant Kay Walter, defendant Tom Rolfs, defendant Ronald N McKee (PW) (Entered: 09/26/1997)

PACER
5 Oct. 20, 1997

MOTION by plaintiff for appointment of counsel (PW) (Entered: 10/20/1997)

PACER
6 Oct. 20, 1997

Notice by plaintiff Tommie L Stewart of hearing setting motion for appointment of counsel [5-1] (w/o oral argument 11/28/97 ) (PW) (Entered: 10/20/1997)

PACER
7 Oct. 20, 1997

Proof of service by plaintiff of: #5 & 6 (PW) (Entered: 10/20/1997)

PACER
8 Oct. 30, 1997

Defendants' Written Status Report And ... (ECH) (Entered: 10/31/1997)

PACER
8 Oct. 30, 1997

...Discovery Plan pur. to FRCP 26(F) (ECH) (Entered: 10/31/1997)

PACER
9 Oct. 31, 1997

MOTION by defendants for summary judgment (LE) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

PACER
10 Oct. 31, 1997

Memorandum by defendants in support of motion for summary judgment [9-1] (LE) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

PACER
11 Oct. 31, 1997

Statement of Material Fact by defendant in support of motion for summary judgment [9-1] (LE) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

PACER
12 Oct. 31, 1997

Notice by defendants setting hearing on motion for summary judgment [9-1] (w/o oral argument 12/22/97 ) (LE) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

PACER
13 Oct. 31, 1997

Proof of service by defendant of: #9-#12 & Proposed Order (LE) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

PACER
Oct. 31, 1997

Proposed Order Granting Defendants' Motion for summary judgment [9- 1] submitted by defendant (LE) (Entered: 11/03/1997)

PACER
14 Nov. 6, 1997

Letter to court from plaintiff (LE) (Entered: 11/06/1997)

PACER
Nov. 13, 1997

TELEPHONIC SCHEDULING CONFERENCE HELD : S/FVS; no court reporter (PW) (Entered: 11/14/1997)

PACER
15 Nov. 14, 1997

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle denying motion for appointment of counsel [5-1] striking hearing on [9-1] motion for summary judgment ; Telephone status conf set 8:45 12/17/97 Spokane, WA , deft to initiate the call (cc: all counsel) (PW) (Entered: 11/14/1997)

PACER
16 Nov. 24, 1997

MOTION by plaintiff for sanctions (PW) (Entered: 11/24/1997)

PACER
17 Nov. 24, 1997

Notice by plaintiff of hearing setting motion for sanctions [16-1] (w/o oral argument 12/23/97 ) (PW) (Entered: 11/24/1997)

PACER
18 Nov. 24, 1997

Proof of service by plaintiff of: #16 & 17 (PW) (Entered: 11/24/1997)

PACER
Nov. 24, 1997

Proposed order re: motion for sanctions [16-1] (PW) (Entered: 11/24/1997)

PACER
19 Nov. 26, 1997

Proof of service by plaintiff of: letter to Clerk (PW) (Entered: 11/26/1997)

PACER
20 Nov. 28, 1997

Response by defendants to motion for sanctions [16-1] (PW) (Entered: 12/01/1997)

PACER
21 Dec. 5, 1997

Proof of service by plaintiff of: letter re legal property (PW) (Entered: 12/08/1997)

PACER
Dec. 17, 1997

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE HELD : S/FVS; no court reporter (PW) (Entered: 12/17/1997)

PACER
22 Dec. 18, 1997

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle denying motion for sanctions [16- 1] Pltf's response to motion for SJ to be filed and served on or before 1/20/98; reply by 1/28/98 (cc: all counsel) (PW) (Entered: 12/18/1997)

PACER
23 Dec. 29, 1997

AMENDED CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT (PW) (Entered: 12/29/1997)

PACER
24 Dec. 29, 1997

MOTION by plaintiff to file amended complaint and notice of motion (PW) (Entered: 12/29/1997)

PACER
25 Dec. 29, 1997

Proof of service by plaintiff of: #23 & 24 (PW) (Entered: 12/29/1997)

PACER
27 April 7, 1998

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle Ruling on motion for summary judgment [9-1] is reserved denying motion to file amended complaint [24-1] (cc: all counsel) (PW) (Entered: 04/07/1998)

PACER
28 May 5, 1998

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle denying defendant's motion for summary judgment with leave to renew [9-1] (cc: all counsel) (PW) (Entered: 05/06/1998)

PACER
29 May 6, 1998

Reply by defendants re motion for summary judgment [9-1] (PW) (Entered: 05/06/1998)

PACER
30 May 13, 1998

Renoted motion for summary judgment by defendants [9-1] (PW) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

PACER
31 May 13, 1998

ReNotice by defendant of hearing setting motion for summary judgment [9-1] (w/o oral argument 7/6/98 ) (PW) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

PACER
32 May 13, 1998

Proof of service by defendants of: #30,31 (PW) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

PACER
33 May 22, 1998

Reply by plaintiff to defendants' renotice of hearing [31-1] (PW) (Entered: 05/22/1998)

PACER
34 June 30, 1998

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle granting defendant's motion for summary judgment [9-1] terminating case COB: 159-87 (cc: all counsel) (PW) (Entered: 06/30/1998)

PACER
35 June 30, 1998

JUDGMENT:, (cc: all counsel) COB: 159-88 (PW) (Entered: 06/30/1998)

PACER
36 July 10, 1998

MOTION by defendants to publish (PW) (Entered: 07/10/1998)

PACER
37 July 10, 1998

Memorandum by defendant in support of motion to publish [36-1] (PW) (Entered: 07/10/1998)

PACER
38 July 10, 1998

Notice by defendant of hearing setting motion to publish [36-1] (w/o oral argument 8/11/98 ) (PW) (Entered: 07/10/1998)

PACER
39 July 10, 1998

Proof of service by defendants of: #36-38 (PW) (Entered: 07/10/1998)

PACER
July 10, 1998

Proposed order re: motion to publish [36-1] submitted by defendants (PW) (Entered: 07/10/1998)

PACER
40 July 23, 1998

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle denying motion to publish [36-1] (cc: pro se plaintiff & all counsel) (LE) (Entered: 07/23/1998)

PACER
43 July 27, 1998

Notice of appeal by plaintiff from Dist. Court decision Final Judgment dated 6/30/98 [34-2] (cc: all counsel and 9CCA) (KH) (Entered: 08/21/1998)

PACER
41 July 29, 1998

Memorandum by plaintiff in opposition to defendant's motion to publish (PW) Modified on 08/02/1998 (Entered: 07/30/1998)

PACER
44 Aug. 21, 1998

Copy 9CCA Docket Fee Payment Notification form. Original Fee Payment form, case information sheet and copy of docket entries forwarded to 9CCA. (KH) (Entered: 08/21/1998)

PACER
45 Aug. 21, 1998

Copy 9CCA certificate of record, no reported recorded hearings - Original forwarded to 9CCA (KH) (Entered: 08/21/1998)

PACER
46 Aug. 26, 1998

PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFCATE OF PROBABLE CAUSE IN APPEAL by plaintiff Tommie L Stewart Certificate of Appealibity. (KH) (Entered: 08/27/1998)

PACER
47 Aug. 31, 1998

Notification by Circuit Court of Appellate Docket Number [43-1] 9CCA Number: 98-35804 Date appeal filed: 7/27/98 (KH) (Entered: 08/31/1998)

PACER
48 Aug. 31, 1998

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle, Plaintiff's petition for a certificate of probable cause is denied as moot. DCE shall enter this order and furnish copies to Pltf and to counsel for the defense (cc: all counsel) (KH) (Entered: 08/31/1998)

PACER
49 Oct. 6, 1998

ORDER by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle (This appeal has been taken in good faith) (cc: all counsel) (KH) (Entered: 10/06/1998)

PACER
50 Dec. 7, 1998

COPY of 9CCA Order. (IFP has been granted, The appropriate agency or prison authority shall calculate, collect and forward the appeal payments to the District Court) 9CCA: 98-35804 (KH) (Entered: 12/07/1998)

PACER
Sept. 15, 1999

Appeal record returned from 9CCA. 9CCA: 98-35804 (KH) (Entered: 09/15/1999)

PACER
51 Sept. 23, 1999

Mandate from 9CCA. 9CCA: 98-35804 reversing in part, affirmed in part and remanded - defs are entitled to quanlfied immunity from Stewart's claim for damages;Stewart is entitled on remand to injunctive relief; Each side will bear its own costs [Appeal [43-1] (cc: all counsel) (VR) (Entered: 09/27/1999)

PACER
52 Oct. 13, 1999

ORDER of injunction by Judge Fred L. Van Sickle (cc: all counsel) (VR) (Entered: 10/14/1999)

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory:

Washington

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 18, 1997

Closing Date: 1999

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A Washington State prisoner alleging that defendants violated his First Amendment rights when they refused to allow him to possess two books sent directly from the publisher and paid for by his sister

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State

Washington Department of Corrections

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Washington 2:97-cv-00281

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 98-35804

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Issues

General/Misc.:

Failure to supervise

Loss or damage to property

Mail

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Library (non-law) access

Recommended Citation