Latest Proceedings in Federal Courts to Prevent COVID-19 Outbreaks in California State Prisons – Court Docs Available Here

RBGG and the Prison Law Office are litigating COVID-19 issues before the federal judges in the class actions about medical care (Plata v. Newsom) and mental health care (Coleman v. Newson).  Below are recent briefs, declarations, and court orders.  On September 27, 2021, in response to new outbreaks in the prisons, the Plata Court ordered that CDCR implement a mandatory vaccination policy for prison staff.  CDCR and the custody officer’s union appeal the order, and on November 26, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal stopped the mandatory staff vaccination order from taking effect until the appeal is briefed and argued, which is likely to be in March 2022.  

 Outside experts have prepared a vaccine information sheet in English and Spanish.   These information sheets were updated on November 11, 2021 to provide information about booster shots.  Amend at UCSF issue new information sheets on January 10, 2022 regarding the Omicron variant:  English / Spanish.   

Recent court orders, and filings of both parties in both cases are available below.  RBGG’s Michael Bien has provided extensive commentary to the media on legal efforts to reduce overcrowding in California’s state prisons and protect prisoners and prison staff from COVID-19. Some of the more significant articles are linked here.

Case Topic Filing or Order Date
Plata Medical  Case Management Statement

02/14/2022
Plata Medical Case Management Statement

01/19/2022
Plata Medical  Case Management Statement

12/14/2021
Plata Medical 9th Circuit Order Stopping Staff Vaccine Mandate

11/26/2021
Plata Medical ORDER Denying Motions to Stay COVID Vax Mandate Pending Appeal

11/18/2021
Plata Medical Receiver Surreply Re Staff Vaccination Mandate

11/16/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Reply Re Motion to Stay

11/11/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Reply Re Motion to Stay

11/11/2021
Plata Medical Plaintiff Opposition to Motion to Stay

11/08/2021
Plata  Medical Receiver Opp to Motion to Stay

11/08/2021
Plata Medical  SEIU Response to CCPOA Stay Motion

11/08/2021
Plata  Medical CCPOA Motion to Stay Vaccination Order

10/27/2021
Plata Medical Order Setting Deadline for Staff Vaccination

10/27/2021
Plata Medical  Receiver Response re Vaccine Mandate

10/27/2021
Plata Medical Case Management Statement

10/26/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Intervention Complaint

10/26/2021
Plata Medical Plaintiffs Response to Receivers Report

10/25/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Resp to Receivers Report

10/25/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Response to Receiver Report

10/25/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Motion to Stay Vaccine Order

10/25/2021
Plata Medical ORDER re Receivers Report re Mandatory COVID Vax

10/20/2021
Plata Medical Receiver Report on Vaccination Order

10/20/2021
Plata Medical ORDER re Defs Request For Clarification re COVID Vax Mandate

10/15/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Request for Clarification of C19 Vax Mandate

10/15/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Plan for Staff Vaccination

10/12/2021
Plata Medical Order re Mandatory Staff Vaccination

09/27/2021
Plata Medical Plaintiffs Opposition to CCPOA Motion to Intervene

09/13/2021
Plata Medical Plaintiffs Reply Re Mandatory Staff Vaccinations

09/10/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Reply Re Mandatory Staff Vaccinations

09/10/2021
Plata Medical Receiver Reply Re Mandatory Staff Vaccinations

09/10/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Reply Brief Re Staff Vaccination Mandate

09/13/2021
Plata Medical Mental Health Professionals Friend of the Court Brief on Mandatory Vaccinations

8/30/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Briefing on Mandatory Vaccination

8/30/2021
Plata  Medical CDCR Briefing on Mandatory Vaccinations

8/30/2021
Plata  Medical Plata Plaintiffs Briefing on Mandatory Vaccinations

8/30/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Response re Vaccine Mandate

8/26/2021
Plata Medical SEIU Amicus Re Vaccine Mandate

8/23/2021
Plata Medical Order Modifying Schedule for Briefing Vaccine Mandate

8/20/2021
Plata Medical CDCR Supplemental Declaration Re Covid-19 and Vaccination Mandate

8/20/2021
Plata Medical Health Care Receiver Report on Mandatory Vaccines for Staff

8/04/2021
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

7/27/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Friend of the Court Statement Re Vaccination 

7/27/2021
Coleman  Mental Health Plaintiffs Response to Lessons Learned Statement

7/19/2021
Coleman  Mental Health Joint Statement re Departures from Mental Health Program Guide

7/15/2021
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

6/29/2021
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Statement of Lessons Learned During Pandemic

6/14/2021
Plata Medical Order re Staff Non Compliance

6/9/2021
Plata Medical Joint Statement and Exhibits

5/25/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Statement Re Vaccines

5/24/2021
Coleman Mental Health Joint Report re Departures

5/18/2021
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Reply to Plaintiffs’ Response to Roadmap to Reopening

5/10/2021
Coleman Mental Health Order Denying Request for Extension of Time on Lessons Learned

5/10/2021
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Request for Extension of Time Re Lessons Learned During Pandemic

5/7/2021
Coleman Mental Health Joint Report of Covid-19 Task Force

 

5/7/2021
Coleman Mental Health  Plaintiff Response to Roadmap for Reopening

4/29/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Statement on Covid-19 Mitigation

4/27/2021
Plata Medical  Joint Case Management Statement With Roadmap to Reopening, OIG Reports

4/27/2021
Coleman Mental Health Joint Report re Mental Health Care

4/21/2021
Coleman  Mental Health Joint Report re Covid Task Force

4/16/2021
Plata Medical CCPOA Update

3/25/2021
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

3/24/2021
Coleman Mental Health Covid Task Force Report

3/19/2021
Coleman Mental Health  Report on Program Guide Departures

3/15/2021
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

3/03/2021
Coleman  Mental Health Joint Report re Departures from Mental Health Program Guides

2/16/2021
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

02/12/2021
Plata Medical  Joint Case Management Statement

01/26/2021
Coleman Mental Health Covid-19 Update

01/22/2021
Coleman Mental Health Quarantine and Isolation in Mental Health Programs

01/22/2021
Coleman Mental Health Joint Statement on Mental Health Program Changes Due to Covid 19

01/15/2021
Plata Medical Revised Proposed Order on Quarantine and Isolation Space

01/13/2021
Plata Medical Joint Statement

01/13/2021
Plata Medical  Order Re Quarantine Space

12/23/2020
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

12/22/2020
Plata Medical Joint Briefing on Quarantine and Isolation Space

12/9/2020
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

12/9/2020
Coleman Inpatient Defendants Brief on Harms of Inpatient Transfer Delays

12/7/2020
Coleman  Inpatient Plaintiffs Brief on Harms of Inpatient Transfer Delays

12/7/2020
Plata Medical Order on Briefing Schedule Re Quarantine Set-Aside Space

11/30/2020
Plata  Medical Plaintiffs Declaration Re Briefing Schedule for Quarantine Policies

11/30/2020
Plata Medical Plaintiff Opposition To Motion Re Briefing Schedule on Quarantine and Isolation

11/30/2020
Plata  Medical CDCR Declaration Re Briefing Schedule

11/27/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Motion to Modify Briefing Schedule on Quarantine and Isolation Space

11/27/2020
Coleman  Inpatient CDCR Rebuttal Brief on Hospital Access

11/18/2020
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

11/18/2020
Coleman  Inpatient CDCR Post-Trial Brief on Access to Hospital Care

11/13/2020
Coleman Inpatient Declaration of Pablo Stewart

11/13/2020
Coleman Inpatient Plaintiffs’ Post-Trial Brief on Hospital Access

11/13/2020
Plata Medical  Joint Case Management Statement

11/4/2020
Plata Medical Joint Status Conference Statement

10/20/2020
Plata Medical Joint Case Management Statement

10/6/2020
Coleman Mental Health Plaintiffs Withdrawal of Motion Re Quarantine and Isolation Space

9/30/2020
Coleman  Mental Health CDCR Opposition to Motion re Quarantine and Isolation Space

9/29/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order Denying Motion to Modify Re Inpatient Care

9/25/2020
Coleman  Mental Health Plaintiffs Motion Re Quarantine and Isolation Space

9/25/2020
Plata Medical Order on Deadlines to Set Aside Quarantine and Isolation Space 9/22/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Submission of Maps of Mental Health Programs As Impacted by Pandemic 9/16/2020
Plata Medical  Joint Case Management Statement 9/16/2020
Plata Medical Receiver Timeline for Quarantine and Isolation Space 9/16/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiffs Opposition to State Motion to Modify Orders Re Inpatient Transfers During Pandemic.pdf 9/10/2020
Plata Medical Order Re Deadline to Set Aside Quarantine and Isolation Space 9/10/2020
Plata Medical Plaintiff Opposition to Request for More Time to Set Aside Quarantine and Isolation Space 9/10/2020
Plata Medical  CDCR Motion for More Time to Activate Quarantine and Isolation Space 9/2/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient State Motion to Modify Orders Re Inpatient Transfers During Pandemic 8/31/2020
Plata Medical Joint Status Report 8/31/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order Continuing Staffing Hearing 8/26/2020
Coleman Mental Health Plaintiff Opposition to Delay 8/23/2020
Coleman  Mental Health CDCR Motion to Delay Staffing Hearing 8/21/2020
Coleman Mental Health Joint Statement Re Program Guide Departures 8/21/2020
Plata Medical

Joint Status Report

 8/20/2020
Coleman Mental Health 

CDCR Maps and Data Submission

 8/17/2020
Plata Medical

CDCR Additional Opposition Re Staff Testing

 8/17/2020
Plata Medical

CDCR Response Re Staff Testing

 8/14/2020
Plata Medical

Defendant’s Response to Court’s 08.12.20 Questions re CDCR Staff Testing Plan

 8/13/20
Coleman Mental Health

Joint Update On Work of COVID-19 Task Force

 8/12/20
Plata Medical

Joint Case Management Conference Statement

 8/11/2020
Plata Medical

Order re Oral Argument on Pls Mtn re COVID-19 Staff Testing Plan

 8/9/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient

Order Continuing Inpatient Hearing

 8/3/2020
Plata Medical

Plaintiffs Reply Re Staff Testing

 8/3/2020
Plata Medical 

CDCR Response to Motion re Staff Testing

 7/31/2020
Coleman  Mental Health

CDCR Statement re Isolation and Quarantine Space

 7/31/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient

CDCR Response to Motion to Continue Evidentiary Hearing

 7/31/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient

Motion to Continue Evidentiary Hearing

 7/30/2020
Coleman  Mental Health

Order for Briefing on Population Reduction and Mental Health Staffing

 7/30/2020
Coleman Mental Health 

Order Re Mental Health Care Standards, and Isolation/Quarantine

 7/28/2020
Plata Medical

Joint Statement

 7/27/2020
Plata Medical 

Plaintiffs Motion to Modify Staff Testing Order

 7/24/2020
Plata Medical

Order to Set Aside Isolation and Quarantine Space

 7/22/2020
Plata Medical

CDCR Response Re Isolation and Quarantine

 7/20/2020
Plata Medical

Plaintiff Response Re Quarantine/Isolation Practices

 7/20/2020
Coleman Mental Health

Bien Declaration Part 1

Part 2

 7/15/2020
Coleman Mental Health Plaintiff Statement Re Overcrowding 7/15/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Statement Re Overcrowding 7/15/2020
Coleman Mental Health Joint Update on COVID-19 Task Force 7/15/2020
Coleman Mental Health Joint Statement re Covid-19 Impact on Mental Health Program 7/15/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Statement re Isolation and Quarantine 7/15/2020
Plata Medical Plaintiff Statement re Isolation and Quarantine Plan 7/15/2020
Plata Medical  Joint Statement 7/15/2020
Plata Medical Order re Isolation + Quarantine Space 7/7/2020
Plata Medical Order Re Emergency Hearing 7/5/2020
Coleman Mental Health Plaintiff Briefing and Evidence On Mental Health Related Covid-19 7/2/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order for Briefing re Mental Health Program and Population 7/2/2020
Plata Medical Plaintiff Statement re Staff Testing and Outbreaks 7/2/2020
Plata  Medical Joint Statement 7/1/2020
Plata Medical  Order re Baseline Staff Testing 7/1/2020
Plata Medical CCPOA Response Re Testing 6/30/2020
Plata Medical  CDCR Response Re Testing 6/30/2020
Plata Medical Testing Order 6/28/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order Continuing Inpatient Hearing 6/23/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Joint Statement re Evidentiary Hearing 6/22/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Submission of Educational Materials 6/18/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement Re Covid-19 6/18/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order Resetting Evidentiary Hearing 6/17/2020
Coleman Mental Health Defendants’ Brief On 8th Amendment Limits to Pandemic Measures 6/16/2020
Coleman  Mental Health Plaintiffs’ Brief On 8th Amendment Limits to Pandemic Measures 6/16/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Joint Statement On Disputes Re Inpatient Care and Staffing 6/16/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Maps and Data 6/15/2020
Coleman Mental Health Joint Update Re Departures from Mental Health Program Guides 6/15/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiffs’ Status Report 6/11/2020
Plata Medical Order on Staff Testing 6/11/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order Re Institutional Maps 6/10/2020
Plata Medical Minute Order 6/09/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 6/08/2020
Coleman Mental Health Briefing Order Regarding Mental Health Care During Pandemic 6/02/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 5/27/2020
Plata Medical Declaration of Dr Reingold 5/27/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order Re Institution Maps 5/22/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 5/20/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order Re DSH Evidentiary Hearing 5/18/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 5/13/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order Re Covid-19 Plans 5/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration 5/7/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 5/6/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Response re Social Distancing 5/1/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 4/29/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order re COVID-19 Plans 4/28/2020
Coleman Mental Health Bien Declaration 4/24/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order re Inpatient Transfers 4/24/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Reply Gipson Declaration 4/22/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Reply re COVID-19 Plan 4/22/2020
Coleman Mental Health Plaintiff Response to COVID 19 Strategic Plan 04-20-2020 4/20/2020
Coleman Mental Health Bien Declaration 4/20/2020
Coleman Mental Health Galvan Declaration 4/20/2020
Plata Medical Joint Statement 4/20/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order re COVID-19 Strategic Plan 4/17/2020
Plata Medical Order Denying Emergency Motion 4/17/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Covid 19 Strategic Plan 4/16/2020
Coleman Mental Health CDCR Covid 19 Strategic Plan EXHIBITS 4/16/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiffs Opposition to DSH Mot for Reconsideration 4/16/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiffs Opposition to DSH Mot for Reconsideration, Dec of Fama 4/16/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient CDCR Motion for Reconsideration 4/15/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient CDCR Reconsideration Motion re DSH, HENDON Decl. 4/15/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiff Expert Designation for DSH Hearing 4/15/2020
Plata Medical Reply re COVID-19 Emergency Mtn 4/14/2020
Plata Medical Reply Bien Declaration 4/14/2020
Plata Medical Reply Fama Declaration 4/14/2020
Plata Medical Reply Hoffman Declaration 4/14/2020
Plata Medical Reply Austin Declaration 4/14/2020
Plata Medical Reply Booth Declaration 4/14/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Response Gipson Decl. 4/13/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Response to Emergency Motion 4/13/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Response Diaz Decl. 4/13/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Response Bick Decl. 4/13/2020
Plata Medical CDCR Response Wolff Decl. 4/13/2020
Coleman Mental Health Joint Report re Social Distancing 4/9/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of Michael Bien 4/9/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of Michael Bien – Exhibits 4/9/2020
Coleman Mental Health Plaintiffs Response 4/8/2020
Coleman Mental Health Defendants Response 4/8/2020
Coleman Mental Health Declaration of Dr Marc Stern 4/8/2020
Coleman Mental Health Declaration of Michael Bien 4/8/2020
Coleman Mental Health Declaration of Michael Bien, Exhibits 1-24  4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiffs Response re Inpatient Care 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of Trapani Re Inpatient Care 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Plaintiffs Response re DSH 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Defendants Response re DSH Access 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of J. Bick re DSH 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of K. Warburton re  DSH 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of M. Diciro re DSH 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Declaration of C. Hendon re DSH 4/8/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Request for Judicial Notice re DSH 4/8/2020
Plata Medical Emergency Motion for COVID 19 relief 4/8/2020
Plata Medical Proposed Order 4/8/2020
Plata Medical Declaration of Patrick Booth 4/8/2020
Plata Medical Declaration of Megan Lynch 4/8/2020
Plata Medical Declaration of Dr Marc Stern 4/8/2020
Coleman Mental Health Order re COVID-19 + Distancing, 4/6/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Order Denying Emergency Motion for Modification of Population Order 4/4/2020
Coleman MH Inpatient Order for Defendants to Show Cause re DSH Transfers 4/3/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Plaintiff Reply Re COVID 19 4/1/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Specter Supplemental Declaration 4/1/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of James Austin 4/1/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Supplemental Declaration of Marc Stern MD 4/1/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Supplemental Declaration of Thomas Hoffman 4/1/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Defendant’s Opposition to Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion to Modify Population Order 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Ralph Diaz 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Connie Gipson 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Joseph Bick MD 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Jeffrey Green 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Dr. Michael Golding 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Request for Judicial Notice 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Exhibit A – Executive Order N-33-20 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Exhibit B – Executive Order N-36-20 3/31/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Emergency Motion to Modify Population Cap 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Proposed Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Emergency Motion 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Dr. Marc Stern 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Michael Bien 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Bien Declaration Exhibits 1-16 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Bien Declaration Exhibits 17-47 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Craig Haney 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Thomas Hoffman 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Megan Lynch 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Lynch Declaration Exhibit A 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Lynch Declaration Exhibits B-D 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Michael Brodheim 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Declaration of Shira Teva 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Request for Judicial Notice of Emergency Measures In Other Jurisdictions 3/25/2020
3-Judge Court Releases Examples of Other Emergency Measures 3/25/2020