Federal Judge's Restraining Order: Metro West Detention Facility

Case 1:20-cv-21457-KMW Document 25 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2020 Page 1 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No.: 1:20-cv-21457-KMW
ANTHONY SWAIN, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
DANIEL JUNIOR, et al.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFFS’ EMERGENCY MOTION FOR A
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Temporary Restraining
Order (DE 3). Defendants oppose the motion. To obtain either a temporary injunction or a
preliminary injunction, a party must demonstrate that: “(1) it has a substantial likelihood of
success on the merits; (2) irreparable injury will be suffered unless the injunction issues;
(3) the threatened injury to the movant outweighs whatever damage the proposed
injunction may cause the opposing party; and (4) if issued, the injunction would not be
adverse to the public interest.” Wreal, LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc., 840 F.3d 1244, 1247
(11th Cir. 2016). Based on the Court’s review of the record, relevant case law, and the
Parties’ representations during the telephonic status conferences held April 6, 2020 and
April 7, 2020, Plaintiffs have met that standard.
Accordingly, after consultation with the Parties, and for the reasons cited at the
telephonic status conferences held April 6, 2020 and April 7, 2020 with all Parties present,
it is ORDERED and ADJUDGED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order
(DE 3) is GRANTED IN PART as follows:
1
1. It is ORDERED that by April 9, 2020, Defendants shall file under seal a list
of all individuals who are currently detained at Metro West Detention Facility and who meet
any of the criteria in paragraph three. This list shall be filed under seal to protect the
confidential health information of those individuals and shall remain under seal pending
further order by this Court.
2. It is further ORDERED that by April 9, 2020, Defendants shall file a notice
describing the particular measures being employed to protect these individuals from the
risk of COVID-19.1
3. The list of individuals shall include all of those currently detained at Metro
West Detention Facility who meet any of the following criteria:
• Are 60 years of age or older;
• Have chronic respiratory disease, including lung disease, moderate to
severe asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (e.g. bronchitis or
emphysema);
• Have heart disease, such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart
failure, or coronary artery disease;
• Have chronic liver or kidney disease (including hepatitis and conditions
requiring dialysis);
• Have diabetes;
• Have epilepsy;
• Have diagnosed hypertension;
1 One of the lists required under Paragraph 1 or 2 shall be filed with the Court by 6:00 PM on April
9, 2020 and the other shall be filed by midnight on April 9, 2020.
2
• Have a compromised immune system (such as from cancer, HIV, receipt of
an organ or bone marrow transplant, as a side effect of medication, or other
autoimmune disease);
• Have sickle cell disease; and/or
• Are or have been pregnant within the last two weeks.
4. It is further ORDERED that Defendants shall take the following actions at the
Metro West Detention Center:
• Effectively communicate to all people incarcerated at Metro West Detention
Center, including low-literacy and non-English-speaking people, sufficient
information about COVID-19, measures taken to reduce the risk of
transmission, and any changes in policies or practices to reasonably ensure
that individuals are able to take precautions to prevent infection;
• To the maximum extent possible considering Metro West Detention Center’s
current population level, provide adequate spacing of six feet or more
between people incarcerated at Metro West so that social distancing can be
accomplished;
• Ensure that each incarcerated person receives, free of charge: (1) an
individual supply of soap, preferably liquid as recommended by the CDC,
sufficient to allow frequent hand washing each day, (2) hand drying
machines, or disposable paper towels as recommended by the CDC, and
individual towels, sufficient for daily use (3) an adequate supply of
disinfectant products effective against the virus that causes COVID-19 for
daily cleanings; and (4) an adequate supply of toilet paper sufficient for daily
3
use;
• Provide reasonable access to showers and to clean laundry;
• Require that all MDCR staff wear personal protective equipment, including
masks, and gloves when physically interacting with any person and require
that, absent extraordinary or unusual circumstances, a new pair of gloves is
worn each time MDCR staff touch a different person; and require all inmate
workers who are cleaning facilities or preparing food to follow this same
protocol;
• Require that all MDCR staff regularly wash their hands with soap and water
or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol;
• Ensure access to proper testing for anyone displaying known symptoms of
COVID-19 in accordance with CDC guidelines;
• Ensure that individuals identified as having COVID-19 or having been
exposed to COVID-19 receive adequate medical care and are properly
quarantined, with continued access to showers, mental health services,
phone calling with family, and communications with counsel; individuals
identified as having COVID-19 or having been exposed to COVID-19 shall
not be placed in cells normally used for disciplinary confinement absent
emergency circumstances;
• Respond to all emergency (as defined by the medical community) requests
for medical attention as soon as possible;
• Provide sufficient disinfecting supplies consistent with CDC
recommendations in each housing unit, free of charge, so incarcerated
4
people can clean high-touch areas or any other items in the unit between
each use;
• Waive all medical co-pays for those experiencing COVID-19-related
symptoms; and
• Waive all charges for medical grievances during this health crisis.
5. This Temporary Order is valid for a limited period of 14 days or until further
order of this Court, or until Defendants demonstrate that they have substantially complied
with this Order. The Court’s ruling is subject to change based on a more fully developed
record at preliminary injunction proceedings.
6. For purposes of this Order, the Court accepted the allegations in the
Complaint and its attachments as true without briefing or evidentiary submissions by
Defendants; this Order does not make a finding of wrongdoing on the part of any defendant
and no defendant has waived any defenses to this action.
7. If Defendants have not yet been served in accordance with Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 4, Plaintiffs shall immediately provide a copy of this Order to Defendants.
8. A telephonic hearing on Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion (DE 3) for Preliminary
Injunction is SET for April 21, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
9. Defendants shall file a response (not exceeding 35 pages) to Plaintiff’s
Emergency Motion (DE 3) by April 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Defendants need not file
responses to any other pleading or motions until further order of the Court. Plaintiffs may
file a reply by April 20, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.
5
DONE AND ORDERED in chambers in Miami, Florida, this 7th day of April, 2020.

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Case 1:20-cv-21457-KMW Document 25 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/07/2020 Page 1 of 6

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

April 7, 2020, Plaintiffs have met that standard.

(DE 3) is GRANTED IN PART as follows:

further order by this Court.

2. It is further ORDERED that by April 9, 2020, Defendants shall file a notice

West Detention Facility who meet any of the following criteria:

• Are 60 years of age or older;

• Have chronic respiratory disease, including lung disease, moderate to

severe asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (e.g. bronchitis or

• Have heart disease, such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart

failure, or coronary artery disease;

• Have chronic liver or kidney disease (including hepatitis and conditions

• Have diagnosed hypertension;

• Have a compromised immune system (such as from cancer, HIV, receipt of

an organ or bone marrow transplant, as a side effect of medication, or other

• Have sickle cell disease; and/or

• Are or have been pregnant within the last two weeks.

Metro West Detention Center:

• Effectively communicate to all people incarcerated at Metro West Detention

Center, including low-literacy and non-English-speaking people, sufficient

information about COVID-19, measures taken to reduce the risk of

transmission, and any changes in policies or practices to reasonably ensure

that individuals are able to take precautions to prevent infection;

• To the maximum extent possible considering Metro West Detention Center’s

current population level, provide adequate spacing of six feet or more

between people incarcerated at Metro West so that social distancing can be

• Ensure that each incarcerated person receives, free of charge: (1) an

individual supply of soap, preferably liquid as recommended by the CDC,

machines, or disposable paper towels as recommended by the CDC, and

individual towels, sufficient for daily use (3) an adequate supply of

• Provide reasonable access to showers and to clean laundry;

that, absent extraordinary or unusual circumstances, a new pair of gloves is

or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol;

• Ensure access to proper testing for anyone displaying known symptoms of

COVID-19 in accordance with CDC guidelines;

• Ensure that individuals identified as having COVID-19 or having been

exposed to COVID-19 receive adequate medical care and are properly

quarantined, with continued access to showers, mental health services,

phone calling with family, and communications with counsel; individuals

identified as having COVID-19 or having been exposed to COVID-19 shall

not be placed in cells normally used for disciplinary confinement absent

• Respond to all emergency (as defined by the medical community) requests

for medical attention as soon as possible;

• Provide sufficient disinfecting supplies consistent with CDC

recommendations in each housing unit, free of charge, so incarcerated

• Waive all medical co-pays for those experiencing COVID-19-related

record at preliminary injunction proceedings.

Complaint and its attachments as true without briefing or evidentiary submissions by

and no defendant has waived any defenses to this action.

8. A telephonic hearing on Plaintiff’s Emergency Motion (DE 3) for Preliminary

Injunction is SET for April 21, 2020 at 1:00 PM.

9. Defendants shall file a response (not exceeding 35 pages) to Plaintiff’s

file a reply by April 20, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.

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