Neal v. Director, D.C. Dept of Corrections

Full title: BESSEYE NEAL, et al., Plaintiffs, v. DIRECTOR, D.C. DEPARTMENT OF…

Court: United States District Court, D. Columbia

Date published: Nov 22, 2005

400 F. Supp. 2d 134 (D.D.C. 2005)

Opinion

Civil Action No. 93-2420 (RCL).

November 22, 2005.

Ted Justice Williams, Avis E. Buchanan, DC, Public Defender Service, Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Sharon Bonds, Plaintiff.

Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Bessye Neal, Plaintiff.

Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Shivawn Newsome, Plaintiff.

Jeffrey Fred Liss, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Barbara Carter, Plaintiff.

Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Vera Brummell, Plaintiff.

Ted Justice Williams, Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Teresa Washington, Plaintiff.

Ted Justice Williams, Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Dudnick LLP, Rogewr Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Tyrone Posey, Plaintiff.

Ted Justice Williams, Jeffrey Jeffrey Fred Liss, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Roger Eugene Warin, Steptoe Johnson, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Essie Jones, Plaintiff.

Maria-Claudia T. Amato, Corporation Counsel, for the District of Columbia, William Johnson Earl, Jr., Office of Attorney General DC, Bruce Edward Brennan, Office of Corporation Counsel, D.C., Lisa Annette Bell, Office of the General Counsel, Washington, DC, Mark D. Back, Youth Services Administration, Laurel, MD, for District of Columbia.

Carol Elaine Burroughs, Office of the Attorney General DC, Lisa Annette Bell, Office of the General Counsel, Washington, DC, for Margaret A. Moore, Defendant.

Michael Kovaka, Dow, Lohnes Albertson, Washington, DC, for Renee M. Rawlings, Claimant.

Elizabeth Renee Dewey, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, Washington, DC, for Olivia London, Claimant.

David Edward Mills, Scott D. Dailard, DOW, Lohnes Albertson, Washington, DC, for Lt. James W. Clark, Claimant.

Judith A. Mather, DOW, Lohnes Albertson, Washington, DC, for Norma Rose Jackson, Claimant.

Robert D. Currie, Stafford, VA, for Robert D. Currie, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., James M. Loots, James M. Loots PC, Washington, DC, for Patricia Sneed, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohn, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Patricia Bush.

Benjamin S. Boyd, Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for M.D. Herman Edward Branson, Claimant.

Mark Gerald Davis, Melvin White, McDermott, Will Emery, Nathalie F.P. Gilfoyle, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, for Cora Black, Claimant.

Melvin White, Pamela S. Reiman, McDermott, Will Emery, Washington, DC, for Darnella Burrus.

Melissa Lynn Peppe, Melvin White, McDermott, Will Emery, Washington, DC, for Zina Hunter, Claimant.

Elvin Ned Sloan, Law Offices of Sloan Associates, P.C., Washington, DC, for Allan Lucas, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Wanda Craft-Battle, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Matthew J. McGrath, McGrath Barlow, LLP, Washington, DC, for Joan Farley, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Eva Hill, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Karen Porter-Wilson, Claimant.

James Derr, Alexandria, VA, Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for James Derr, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Sonja Hannibal, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Kris Anne Monteith, Federal Communications Commission, Melvin White, McDermott, Will Emery, Washington, DC, for Ethel M. Turner-El, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Yvonne Willis, Claimant.

John Quinn Rounsaville, Jr., Wilmer, Cutler Pickering Hale Dorr LLP, Washington, DC, for Vivian Woods, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Camilla Younger, Claimant.

Douglas B. Mishkin, Patton Boggs LLP, Washington, DC, for Lisa Brown-Grant, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Senora Atakulu, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Katherine Flemming, Claimant.

Tami Lyn Azorsky, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Tyrone Jenkins, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Carol Johnson, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Verona Lewis, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Marlene Morten, Claimant.

Victoria A. McEneney, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Evela Fisher, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Phoc Nguyen, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Lawrence Steven Ebner, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Theresa Savoy-Pollard, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Jacqueline West, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Gayle Adams.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Gloria Crump, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Robert Foye, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Nsedu Onyile, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Deeneen Outlaw, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Sylvia Young, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Jeff Farley, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Lisa Easley, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for William Johnson, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Alfreda Miller, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Paula Quarles, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., David Leonard Kelleher, Thelen, Reid Priest, LLP, David Clay Simmons, David C. Simmons Associates, P.C., Washington, DC, for Mona Wright, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Lysandra Burnside, Claimant.

Elvin Ned Sloan, Law Offices of Sloan Associates, P.C., James Arthur McCall, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Washington, DC, for Thyra Griffin, Claimant.

Elvin Ned Sloan, Law Offices of Sloan Associates, P.C., James Arthur McCall, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Washington, DC, for Edna McManus, Claimant.

James H. Hulme, Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin Kahn, Washington, DC, Timothy P. Branigan, Chapter 13 Trustee, Columbia, MD, for Darlene L. Samuel, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Iva Hinant, Claimant.

James Earl Coleman, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC, Margaret Lee Ackerley, World Wildlife Fund, Inc., Washington, DC, for Maria Russell, Claimant.

Christine E. Webber, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Jean Johnson, Claimant.

Christine E. Webber, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Nadeane J. Myrick, Claimant.

Christine E. Webber, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Ellamae Purcell-Bass, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., David Braxton Witherspoon, Securities Exchange Commission, Tami Lyn Azorsky, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Earnest Durant, Claimant.

Shawn Franklin Moore, Federal Public Defender for D.C., Washington, DC, for Renee Morgan, Claimant.

James Aloysius Treanor, III, Dow, Lohnes Albertson, Washington, DC, for Patricia Clark, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Geraldine Jackson, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., John J. Burke, Baker Hostetler, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Cleveland Williams, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Estine Hall, Claimant.

Bernard P. Bell, Swindler, Berlin, Shereff Friedman, L.L.P., Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Linda Tarpley Baker, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Tonya Williams, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., David Clay Simmons, David C. Simmons Associates, P.C., Washington, DC, for Denise Shelton, Claimant.

Benjamin S. Boyd, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for Deborah Byant, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Deborah Jones, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Tirzsha McKoy, Claimant.

Chales Henry Carpenter, Gregory Carroll Dorris, Pepper Hamilton, LLP, Washington, DC, for Lavern A. Bess.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Lachonne Stewart, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Michael Stripling, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Yvonne Brown, Claimant.

Charles Henry Carpenter, Gregory Carroll Dorris, Pepper Hamilton, LLP, Washington, DC, for Werner P. Luebke, Claimant.

Andrew L. Lipps, Swidler, Berlin, Shereff Friedman, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Gwendolyn Straughn, Claimant.

Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for Linda Wyatt-Hayes, Claimant.

Shirlene N. Countee, Washington, DC, for Shirlene N. Countee, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Anthony G. Brown, Gibbs Haller, Lanham, MD, Patrick Joseph Carome, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, Washington, DC, for Katherine Noury, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Jill T. Feeney, Arnold Porter, Washington, DC, for Judy Ann Brown, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., for Laurir McQueen, Claimant.

Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for Linda Roebuck, Claimant.

Warren Anthony Fitch, Swidler, Berlin, Shereff Friedman, Washington, DC, for Melva Thompson, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for David Rapelyea, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Lara Elizabeth Bowles, Arnold Porter, Washington, DC, for Renee Rivers Smith, Claimant.

Mary Elizabeth Gately, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for Jean Jones-Contee, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Allyza Doba Lewin, Lewin and Lewin, LLP, Washington, DC, Hampton Y. Dellinger, Raleigh, NC, Sara Elizabeth Emley, Buckey Kolar, LLP, Washington, DC, for Rachel Alaine Moseley, Claimant.

Stephen Charles Yohay, Arent Fox, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Denise L. Hessing, Claimant.

Barbara Rowland, U.S. Attorney's Office/PA, Philadelphia, PA, for Rose Omang.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Kaye Savage, Claimant.

Brenda C. Beeton, Woodbridge, VA, for Brenda C. Beeton, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Virginia King, Claimant.

Charles Henry Carpenter, Gregory Carroll Dorris, Pepper Hamilton, LLP, Harold David Kotz, Sheppard Mullin Richter Hamton LLP, Washington, DC, for Deborah Ogunnowo, Claimant.

Christine E. Webber, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Susan Lynn Launer, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, for Gloria Dabney, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Beatrice Jackson, Claimant.

Dennis J. Beeton, Woodbridge, VA, for Dennis J. Beeton.

Carla G. Pennington-Cross, Piper Rudnick, LLP, Washington, DC, for Dorothy L. Smith, Claimant.

Carla G. Pennington-Cross, Piper Rudnick, LLP, Washington, DC, for Jacqueline Thomas, Claimant.

Daniel Gordon Jarcho, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Winifred Pittman, Claimant.

David Clay Simmons, David C. Simmons Associates, P.C., Washington, DC, Eric S. Bord, Silver Spring, MD, Harold L. Levi, Rockville, MD, for Sylvia Cephas, Claimant.

Sean D. Hughto, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC, for Charlene Smith, Claimant.

Andrew L. Lipps, Swidler, Berlin, Shereff Friedman, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Sheila Williams, Claimant.

James Aloysius Treanor, III, Dow, Lohnes Albertson, Washington, DC, for Patricia E. Morgan, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Michael Sean Laane, Arnold Porter, Washington, DC, for Angela Hackney, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Paula Ware, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Thomas C. Papson, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Patricia Commer, Claimant.

Kimberly E. Wolod, Piper Rudnick, LLP, Washington, DC, for Charlene Weaver, Claimant.

June Blanchard Brown, McKenna Long Aldridge, LLP, Washington, DC, for Gail Martin-Kearney, Claimant.

Andrew Tanner Karron, Arnold Porter, Washington, DC, for Shirley Jones, Claimant.

Robert W. Ogren, Piper Rudnick, LLP, Washington, DC, for Lisa Oliver Wellington, Claimant.

Elvin Ned Sloan, Law Offices of Sloan Associates, P.C., Washington, DC, for Angelia Henderson, Claimant.

Helena M. Barch-Kuchta, Crowell Moring, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Michelle Shelly Chisholm, Claimant.

Barbara Rowland, U.S. Attorney's Office/PA, Philadelphia, PA, for Jeannette Wood, Claimant.

Robert W. Ogren, Piper Rudnick, LLP, Washington, DC, for Jackqueline Jennings, Claimant.

Jeffrey Fred Liss, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for Denise Braxton-Giles, Claimant.

Patrick Thomas Hand, Washington, DC, for Carl Dixon.

Richard Alan Feinstein, Boies, Schiller Flexner, LLP, Washington, DC, for Sharon Rozella Bryant, Claimant.

Carla G. Pennington-Cross, Piper Rudnick, LLP, Washington, DC, for Arletha Tyson, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Larry McGee, Claimant.

A. Baltazar Baca, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Emilia J. Del Arroyo, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Annemarie Scanlon Harthun, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC, for Marion Anderson, Claimant.

Thomas Mark Flanagan, Jr., McKenna Long Aldridge, LLP, Washington, DC, for Zyeanguelin Mealy, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., David Clay Simmons, David C. Simmons Associates, P.C., Washington, DC, Eric S. Bord, Silver Spring, MD, for Patricia Cooper, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, Howard Barry Possick, Ameritrade Holding Corporation, Columbia, MD, for Cornethia Williams, Claimant.

Dorothy Douglas, Washington, DC, for Dorothy Douglas, Claimant.

Robert E. Kohn, McDermott, Will Emery, Los Angeles, CA, for Dennis Lee Brummell, Claimant.

Georgia Mae Green, Annandale, VA, for Georgia Mae Green, Claimant.

Helen Gordon Kirsch, Reed Smith, Washington, DC, for Brocla Marshall, Claimant.

Jennifer Sarah Blank, Business Software Alliance, Washington, DC, for Melva O. Dutton, Claimant.

Eric Anthony Welter, Herdon, VA, John Richard Erickson, Reed Smith, LLP, Falls Church, VA, for William Dupree, Claimant.

Arthur Gerald Wyatt, Reed Smith, Washington, DC, for Rosamaria Chapa, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Debbie Wiggins, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Zina Anderson, Claimant.

Richard John Webber, Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin Kahn, Washington, DC, for Cheryl Fludd, Claimant.

Arthur Gerald Wyatt, Reed Smith, Washington, DC, for Carolyn Crawford, Claimant.

Daniel Edward Johnson, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Cikeithia Sellers, Claimant.

Ray Manuel Aragon, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Washington, DC, for Iva Ann Hinnant, Claimant.

Richard L. Jacobson, Fulbright Jaworski, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Ella Baskin, Claimant.

James Peter Mercurio, Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin Kahn, Washington, DC, for Mary Ann McLaurin, Claimant.

David Titus Dekker, Thelen Reid Priest, LLP, Washington, DC, for Sharon Troy, Claimant.

Gregory Thomas Jaeger, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Shirley Lee Leonard, Claimant.

Richard L. Jacobson, Fulbright Jaworski, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Shirley Brown, Claimant.

Jeffrey Fred Liss, Piper Rudnick LLP, Washington, DC, for Darlene Crawford, Claimant.

Joyce A. Booth, Silver Spring, MD, for Angelia R. Henderson, Claimant.

Robert Steven Holt, Clark Construction, Bethesda, MD, for Jeffrey Lee Griffin, Claimant.

Charles Austin Stewart, Orange, VA, for Julia M. Marshall, Claimant.

Anne H. S. Fraser, Anne H. S. Fraser, Washington, DC, for Tonda Ligon, Claimant.

Jane Carol Norman, Bond Norman, PLLC, Washington, DC, for Catherine Cooper-Wright, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Washington, DC, for Karen Dudley, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Christine E. Webber, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Warren K. Kaplan, Washington Lawyer's Committee for C Rights and Urban Affairs, Washington, DC, for Gregory Heard, Claimant.

Katherine Adora Samuels, New York City, for Katherine Adora Samuels M.D., Claimant.

Anne H. S. Fraser, Anne H. S. Fraser, PC, Washington, DC, for James K. Antwi, Claimant.

Joyce A. Booth, Silver Spring, MD, for Derevia Y. Gray, Claimant.

Joseph Marc Sellers, Christine E. Webber, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld Toll, P.L.L.C., Avis E. Buchanan, DC, Public Defender Service, Warren K. Kaplan, Washington Lawyer's Committee for C Rights and Urban Affairs, Washington, DC, for Deborah McNight, Claimant.

Robert Dolor L'Heureux, Alexandria, VA, for Ronald J. McClain, Claimant.

Michelle Hamilton Davy, Bowie, MD, for Henry S. Bush, Claimant.

Harold D. Martin, II, Robert A. Ades Assoc., P.C., Washington, DC, for Cheryl Salley, Movant.

Anne H. S. Fraser, Anne H. S. Fraser, PC, Washington, DC, for Joyce B. Webb, Claimant.

Anne H. S. Fraser, Anne H. S. Fraser, PC, Washington, DC, for Barbara Ann Johnson, Movant.

Daniel Brandeis Edelman, Yablonski, Both Edelman, Washington, DC, for Daniel B. Edelman Special Master, Movant.

Randy McRae, The McRaee Firm, Largo, MD, for Denise R. Thomas, Claimant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LAMBERTH, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on defendants' motion [2368] to reconsider and to amend the Court's Order [2367] filed October 5, 2005. Defendants argue (1) that this Court failed to define quasi-judicial immunity granted to the Office of the Special Inspector ("OSI") and (2) that the duration of quasi-judicial immunity granted OSI should be limited. Upon consideration of defendants' motion, the opposition thereto, the reply brief, the applicable law, and the record in this case, the Court will deny defendants' motion [2368] to reconsider and to amend the Court's Order.

BACKGROUND

Alan Balaran served as Special Inspector pursuant to the Court-approved Consent Decree, under which he enjoyed quasi-judicial immunity, until February 4, 2004. Upon expiration of the Consent Decree, Mr. Balaran entered into a contract with defendants pursuant to which he would remain in the role of Special Inspector. In the absence of the Consent Decree, however, he was no longer protected by quasi-judicial immunity. On July 6, 2005, plaintiffs filed a motion [2358] to extend the jurisdiction of the Court pursuant to the Consent Decree entered in this civil action for the sole purpose of granting quasi-judicial immunity to the OSI. On October 5, 2005, the Court granted plaintiffs' motion. The Court's Memorandum set forth the basis for the Court's Order.

In their present motion, defendants urge the Court, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e), to reconsider and amend the October 5, 2005 Order. Defendants insist that reconsideration is warranted because the Court failed to specify whether its grant of immunity is limited to civil actions and whether OSI's immunity will survive Mr. Balaran's tenure.

ANALYSIS

A. Standard of Review

A district court has considerable discretion in ruling on a Rule 59(e) motion. Piper v. DOJ, 312 F. Supp. 2d 17, 20 (D.D.C. 2004) (citing Rann v. Chao, 209 F. Supp. 2d 75, 78 (D.D.C. 2002)). The Court properly invokes its discretion to grant a Rule 59(e) motion if it finds there is (1) an intervening change in controlling law, (2) the availability of new evidence, or (3) the need to correct clear error or prevent manifest injustice.Id. at 21 (citing Anyanwutaku v. Moore, 151 F.3d 1053, 1057-58 (D.C. Cir. 1998)). The defendants do not present any putative change in controlling law or any new evidence. Reconsideration will only be granted, therefore, if it is necessary to correct clear error or prevent manifest injustice.

B. Jurisdiction of Quasi-Judicial Immunity

Defendants contend that "although the Court's Memorandum makes clear what the meaning of quasi-judicial immunity is, the Court's Order does not clearly define that term." (Defs.' Mot. 4.) Defendants' argument is not clear. This Court's October 5 Memorandum and Order clearly vests the office of the Special Inspector with the same limited liability that the Court's June 16, 2001 Order granted, namely "quasi-judicial immunity [against] all private damage suits against them arising out of official decisions and actions" for the Special Inspector and his agents (Mem. Order 2) (citing and discussing Mem. Order, June 16, 2001). As the Court explained, "[f]ailure to grant quasi-judicial immunity would not only subject the Special Inspector and his agents to frivolous litigation and complaints, but it would also divest the Special Inspector of the independence and impartiality necessary to perform his functions." Id. at 2-3. It could not be clearer that the Court limited its grant of "quasi-judicial immunity" to immunity against private damage suits against the Special Inspector and members of his office for actions and official decisions arising within the scope of their duties.

Not only is this what the Court intended but it is also what the law requires. First, as defendants know, courts have "no authority to grant immunity [from prosecution] or to demand that the government seek immunity." United States v. Berrigan, 482 F.2d 171, 190 (3d Cir. 1973) (citing Morrison v. United States, 365 F.2d 521 (D.C. Cir. 1966)). In the District of Columbia, the right to confer immunity from criminal "[p]rosecutions . . . relating to disorderly conduct, and for violations . . . relating to lewd, indecent, or obscene acts," D.C. Code § 23-101(b), rests exclusively in the Office of the Attorney General. See Jaggers v. United States, 482 A.2d 786, 797 (D.C. 1984) ("While the Office of the Corporation Counsel does not have statutory authority to grant immunity, its agreement not to prosecute is a fundamental equivalent thereof") (rev'd on other grounds),Carter v. United States, 684 A.2d 331, 334 (D.C. 1996) (a "grant of immunity is of course an executive not a judicial function") (emphasis added). With respect to "[a]ll other criminal prosecutions," D.C. Code § 23-101(c), the discretion to confer immunity rests squarely with the United States Attorney who, "with the approval of superior officials, [is] authorized to request an order granting immunity to a witness." Earl v. United States, 361 F.2d 531, 534 (D.C. Cir. 1966). In all instances, the right to confer immunity from criminal prosecution "is beyond the power of the courts." Id.

Second, defendants' request for reconsideration also ignores the well-settled proposition that judicial immunity does not exempt court officers from criminal liability even when the criminal act is committed behind the shield of judicial office. United States v. Craig, 528 F.2d 773, 783 (7^th Cir. 1976) (citingBraatelien v. United States, 147 F.2d 888, 895 (8^th Cir. 1945)). In effect, therefore, defendants ask the Court to clarify whether it intended to confer a benefit it is legally powerless to grant on a Special Inspector who is not legally entitled to benefit from it. Informing the defendants of the clear, controlling law is not necessary to correct clear error or prevent injustice, and thus is not a proper ground for reconsideration.

C. Duration of Quasi-Judicial Immunity

Defendants next ask this Court "to reconsider and amend its Order such that the grant of quasi-judicial immunity is limited to Mr. Balaran, as the Special Inspector. Defendants reason that, because Mr. Balaran will no longer serve as an independent contractor after a term of one year and because the grant of immunity in the October 5 Order was based on Mr. Balaran's "unique circumstances as a former Special Master and Special Inspector," the grant of immunity should not be "limitless." (Defs.' Mot. 5.) Defendants misunderstand the October 5 Order.

Defendants are correct that the Court recognized Special Inspector Balaran's "unique circumstances" as Special Master and Special Inspector. However, the Court conferred immunity on the Special Inspector not for Mr. Balaran's personal benefit, but to ensure "the independence and impartiality necessary to perform his duties." (Mem. Order 3). The Court recognized the need for a Special Inspector unburdened by gratuitous complaints and frivolous litigation when it first signed the Final Order on January 16, 2001, and again when it appointed Carolyn Lerner to the position of Special Inspector in April 2003. Notwithstanding defendants' attempt to cast the October 5 Order as one stemming solely from Mr. Balaran's "unique circumstances," the Court's Orders have consistently sought to secure the integrity of the Special Inspector's office — regardless of who holds the position of Special Inspector. The most rescent quasi-judicial immunity Order serves the same purpose. The defendants have not shown that the Court's decision not to limit the quasi-judicial immunity of the OSI to the term of Alan Balaran's tenure was clearly erroneous or would result in manifest injustice. Accordingly, reconsideration on this ground also will be denied.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, defendants' motion [2368] to reconsider and to amend the Court's Order [2367] issued October 5, 2005 will be DENIED.

A separate Order shall issue this date.

ORDER

Upon consideration of Defendants' motion [2368] to reconsider and to amend the Court's Order [2367] dated October 5, 2005, the opposition thereto, the reply, the applicable law, and the entire record herein, it is hereby

ORDERED that defendants' motion [2368] to reconsider and to amend the Court's Order is DENIED for the reasons set forth within an accompanying memorandum opinion.

SO ORDERED.