256 F.R.D. 479 | D.N.J. | 2009
OPINION
This suit is a proposed class action challenging the Gloucester County Department of Corrections’ policies and practices regarding the delousing and supervised showers of newly admitted pretrial detainees. Presently before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion to Certify the Class pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3), or alternatively, 23(b)(2).
I.
The written policies at issue provide:
The rules of strip searches2 for new admission have been changed by law. The explanation is as follows: Indictables and non-indictables. EXPLANATION: In-dictables (felonies) will be showered and searched as past practice____Nonindicta-bles will be patted down, and given a supervised shower. There will be an officer present throughout the shower and he/she will not leave until the shower has been completed. A non-indietable will not spread his cheeks, open his mouth, lift up his testicles, etc., however in all cases, all inmate’s [sic] clothing will be searched as always.... Very close attention must be paid to charges upon admission. This rule does not apply to persons already incarcerated in the jail____
[After basic booking procedures, including photographing and fingerprinting] [t]he Processing Officer will then escort the in*483 mate to the appropriate strip search / shower room.
a) If the inmate’s charge is an indictable, the officer will conduct a thorough strip search ...
b) If the inmate’s charge is a non-indictable, the officer will conduct a supervised shower, checking the inmate’s clothing.
Prior to the shower the inmate will be deloused by the Processing Officer. The inmate will be sprayed over the entire body concentrating on the hairy body areas. The inmate will then sit on the shower room bench for a period of five minutes, then the inmate may take a shower.... If any foreign object is observed or exposed from any body orifice it will not be removed by the officer. The Processing Officer will notify the Booking Sergeant who will notify the medic for action to be taken.
(Madden Cert. Ex. 2 — -General Orders, Chapter 72, Section 8, “Search Procedures”; Madden Cert. Ex. 3 — General Orders, Chapter 72, Section 54, “Booking and Processing of Inmates”)(caps in original).
While Defendant Balicki, Gloucester County’s Director of Correctional Services, testified that the practices at the Gloucester County Jail varied somewhat from the written policy — for example, he stated that a corrections officer does not watch pretrial detainees shower (Balicki Dep. at p. 138-39) — it is undisputed that all pretrial detainees are required to completely disrobe before a corrections officer of the same sex and the officer visually observes the detainee completely naked, at least during the officer’s application of the debusing spray to the detainee’s body.
Plaintiffs contend that the debusing and supervised showering of all inmates — -which undisputedly includes those admitted to the Gloucester County Jail
All persons who have been or will be placed into the custody of the Gloucester County Jail after being charged with non-indictable offenses (such as disorderly persons offenses, traffic infractions, and/or civil commitments) and were or will be strip searched upon their entry into the Gloucester County Jail pursuant to the policy, custom and practice of the Gloucester County Sheriffs Department and the County of Gloucester. The class period commences on March 22, 2004 and extends to the date on which the Gloucester County Sheriffs Department and/or the County of Gloucester are enjoined from, or otherwise cease, enforcing their unconstitutional policy, practice and custom of conducting strip searches absent reasonable suspicion. Specifically excluded from the class are Defendants and any and all of their respective affiliates, legal representatives, heirs, successors, employees or assignees.
(Amend.ComplY 17)
The named Plaintiffs are Sandra King Wilson and Joseph DePietro.
Wilson has been admitted to the Gloucester County Jail two times during the proposed class period.
On September 26, 2005, Wilson was arrested in the Deptford Mall on suspicion of shoplifting merchandise worth less than $200.00. (Wilson Cert. ¶ 1) She was taken to the Gloucester County Jail and “strip searched” upon arrival. (Wilson Cert. If 2; Wilson Dep. at p. 112) Wilson testified that during her 2005 admission, she reported that she was currently taking Methadone and “anti-depression pills,” although she states she gave that information after she was searched. (Wilson Dep. at p. 131-34) Wilson stated that in connection with the 2005 arrest, she pleaded guilty to a violation of probation. (Id. at p. 113)
In August, 2006, Wilson was arrested in Mount Ephraim, Camden County. At the Mount Ephraim police station, Wilson was subjected to a pat search, during which she gave the searching officer the crack cocaine she possessed. (Wilson Dep. at p. 115) As a result, Wilson was charged with possession of a controlled substance. (Id.) According to Wilson, she was transported from the police station to the Camden County Jail. After serving seven days in Camden County Jail, she was then transported to Gloucester County Jail because she had outstanding warrants in Gloucester County.
Wilson testified that each of the times she was admitted to the Gloucester County Jail, the searches were “substantially similar” with “no remarkable differences” (Wilson Dep. at p. 140):
[T]he female officer took me into the ... laundry room____ They have you completely strip. They take each item of your clothes, shake it out, and then they tell you to lift up your head, shake it, lift up your arms, lift up each breast, bend over, cough____ They sprayed me with bug spray, put me in the shower, and gave me my clothes to get ready to go out into the population____[The female officer] leaves when you are ready to take a shower.
(Wilson Dep. at p. 72; see also Id. at p. 96)
Joseph DePietro
DePietro testified that he has been admitted to the Gloucester County Jail about a dozen times. (DePietro Dep. at 39) He only has a specific memory of one admission to the jail within the proposed class period.
In 2006, he was advised by letter that a warrant had been issued for his arrest for failure to pay child support. (Id. at p. 36) DePietro voluntarily contacted the detective assigned to his case and arranged to surrender himself. (Id. at p. 37)
Upon surrendering at Woodbury Sheriffs Department, the detective escorted DePietro to the Gloucester County Jail where DePie-tro was booked and searched. He testified that after a pat-down search with his clothes on, a male officer led him into a small room with a bench and a shower. (DePietro Dep. at p. 47) He followed the officer’s order to strip and placed all of his clothes on the floor. (Id. at p. 48) He was then ordered to open his mouth and then “bend over and spread them,” which he also did. (Id. at p. 48, 63) Lastly, he took a shower and dressed himself in the orange prison outfit given to him. (Id. at p. 63) Nothing in the record indicates whether the male officer watched DePietro shower.
The instant Amended Class Action Complaint asserts: a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim for violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and a corresponding claim under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act of 2004, N.J.S.A. § 10:6-2(c),
II.
The issue raised by a Rule 23 motion is whether a class action is an appropriate litigation vehicle, and not the merits of the claims asserted. Eisen v. Carlisle & Jacquelin, 417 U.S. 156, 178, 94 S.Ct. 2140, 40 L.Ed.2d 732 (1974); Chiang v. Veneman, 385 F.3d 256, 269-70 (3d Cir.2004). However, the Court may need “to analyze the elements of the parties’ substantive claims and review facts revealed in discovery in order to evaluate whether the requirements of Rule 23 have been satisfied.” In re Ford Motor Co. Ignition Switch Prods. Liab. Litig., 174 F.R.D. 332, 339 (D.N.J.1997); see also In re: Hydrogen Peroxide Antitrust Litig., 552 F.3d 305, 307 (3d Cir.2008) (“[T]he court must resolve all factual or legal disputes relevant to class certification, even if they overlap with the merits.”).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 creates a two-prong standard for class certification. Rule 23(a) sets forth the four “threshold requirements for all class actions,” In re Mercedes-Benz Antitrust Litig., 213 F.R.D. 180, 183 (D.N.J.2003), which may be summarized as “numerosity, commonality, typicality, adequacy of representation.” Gen. Telephone Co. of Sw. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 156, 102 S.Ct. 2364, 72 L.Ed.2d 740 (1982); see Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a).
As noted previously, Plaintiffs seek certification under Rule 23(b)(3) and alternatively 23(b)(2). Rule 23(b)(3) provides that a class action may be maintained if, in addition to meeting the Rule 23(a) factors,
the court finds that the questions of law or fact common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3). “The twin requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) are known as predominance and superiority.” In re: Hydrogen Peroxide Antitrust Litig., 552 F.3d at 310.
A class may be certified under 23(b)(2) if [t]he party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate respecting the class as a whole.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2).
“The trial court, well-positioned to decide which facts and legal arguments are most important to each Rule 23 requirement, possesses broad discretion to control proceedings and frame issues for consideration under Rule 23.” In re: Hydrogen Peroxide Antitrust Litig., 552 F.3d at 310.
III.
A. The Rule 23(a) Requirements
Numerosity
Plaintiffs estimate, based on the booking records from the Gloucester County
Commonality
To satisfy the commonality requirement, Plaintiffs must put forth at least one common issue of law or fact. Stewart v. Abraham, 275 F.3d 220, 227 (3d Cir.2001); Baby Neal v. Casey, 43 F.3d 48, 56 (3d Cir.1994).
Plaintiffs have put forth a legitimate question of law common to all proposed class members: whether requiring all newly admitted pretrial detainees to completely disrobe before a corrections officer — either during a supervised shower or application of delousing spray — -violates federal or state law.
A common question of fact also exists: what is the purpose (or purposes) of the supervised shower / delousing policies and practices? Defendants assert that the goal of the policies and practices is the promotion of health and hygiene among the jail population.
Accordingly, the Court concludes that the proposed action raises common issues of law and fact subject to class-wide resolution.
Typicality
“The typicality inquiry centers on whether the interests of the named plaintiffs align with the interests of the absent members.” Stewart v. Abraham, 275 F.3d 220, 227 (3d Cir.2001). The proposed class representatives must “possess the same interest and suffer the same injury as the class members,” Falcon, 457 U.S. at 156, 102 S.Ct. 2364; “factual differences will not render a claim atypical if the claim arises from the same event or practice or course of conduct that gives rise to the claims of the class members, and if it is based on the same legal theory.” Baby Neal, 43 F.3d at 58. “[T]he threshold for satisfying the typicality prong is a low one.” Weisfeld v. Sun Chem. Corp., 210 F.R.D. 136, 140 (D.N.J.2002).
Guided by the Court’s identification of the common issues of law and fact discussed supra,
Wilson’s arrest for shoplifting on September 26, 2005 was not for an indictable offense under New Jersey law. The shoplifting offense defined in N.J.S.A. § 2C:20-11 carries different offense gradations depending on the retail value of the merchandise. See N.J.S.A. § 2C:20-llc. “If the full retail value of the merchandise is less than $200.00,” “shoplifting is a disorderly persons offense.” Id. “Disorderly persons offenses ... are not crimes within the meaning of the [New Jersey State Constitution],” and there is “no right to indictment by a grand jury nor any right to trial by jury on such offenses.” N.J.S.A. § 2C:l-4b. Defendants’ challenge to typicality fails on this point.
Defendants also assert that Wilson’s claim, based on her September 26, 2005 arrest, is not typical of the class because corrections officers had reasonable suspicion to search Wilson. Whether or not reasonable suspicion existed, this argument cannot defeat certification because it is undisputed that Wilson would have been subjected to a nude visual observation regardless of whether any officer had reasonable suspicion to suspect that she was concealing contraband. The challenged policies and practices with regard to supervised showers and delousing apply to all newly admitted pretrial detainees without regard to reasonable suspicion. As noted above, “factual differences will not render a claim atypical if the claim arises from the same event or practice or course of conduct that gives rise to the claims of the class members, and if it is based on the same legal theory.” Baby Neal, 43 F.3d at 58.
Defendant’s challenge to the typicality of DePietro’s claim fails for the same reasons. Defendants assert that under Gloucester County Jail’s written policies, DePietro should not have been strip searched, even though he testified that he was. Thus, Defendants reason, DePietro was not subject to the blanket policy challenged in this suit. The Court disagrees.
DePietro was subject to the blanket policy of nude visual observation of all newly admitted pretrial detainees which does not depend on the crime charged or reasonable suspicion. DePietro may have an independent claim that, in his particular case, Defendants violated their own policy and are liable to him on that separate basis. However, the fact that DePietro may assert an additional claim on his own behalf does not render his other claim atypical of the class. Separate claims by named plaintiffs may be litigated in conjunction with class claims. See Falcon, 457 U.S. at 157-58, 102 S.Ct. 2364; see generally Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(4)(“When appropriate, an action may be brought or maintained as a class action with respect to particular issues.”).
Accordingly, the Court concludes that Wilson’s claim based on her September 26, 2005 arrest, and DePietro’s claim based on his arrest in 2006, are typical of the proposed class members’ claims.
Adequacy of Representation
The Third Circuit has adopted a two-pronged test for determinating the adequacy of representation by the named plaintiffs and their counsel: “(a) the plaintiffs attorney must be qualified, experienced, and generally able to conduct the proposed litigation, and (b) the plaintiff must not have interests antagonistic to those of the class.” Wetzel v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 508 F.2d 239, 247 (3d Cir.1975). “A party challenging the class’ representation has the burden to prove that the representation is not adequate.” Varacallo v. Mass. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 226 F.R.D. 207, 233 (D.N.J.2005); see also In re
Defendants do not challenge the first prong of the adequacy inquiry. Moreover, after considering the submissions in support of the instant motion, the Court has concluded that the proposed class counsel is indeed “qualified, experienced, and generally able to conduct” this litigation. Id.
As to the second prong, Defendants assert that Wilson’s and DePietro’s interests are antagonistic to those of the proposed class because their claims are atypical of the class. However, for the reasons explained supra, the named Plaintiffs’ claims are not atypical. Defendants have failed to put forth any meritorious reason why the named plaintiffs’ interests will be antagonistic to the interests of the proposed class members, and the Court finds none. Accordingly, the Court concludes that Wilson and DePietro adequately represent the interests of the proposed class.
B. The 23(b)(3) requirements
Predominance
With regard to predominance, the Third Circuit has recently explained,
Predominance tests whether proposed classes are sufficiently cohesive to warrant adjudication by representation, a standard far more demanding than the commonality requirement of Rule 23(a), requiring more than a common claim. Issues common to the class must predominate over individual issues. Because the nature of the evidence that will suffice to resolve a question determines whether the question is common or individual, a district court must formulate some prediction as to how specific issues will play out in order to determine whether common or individual issues predominate in a given ease. If proof of the essential elements of the cause of action requires individual treatment, then class certification is unsuitable.
In re: Hydrogen Peroxide Antitrust Litig., 552 F.3d at 310-11 (internal citations and quotations omitted). Thus, the Court must “examine the elements of plaintiffs’ claim through the prism of Rule 23” to determine whether predominance is established. Id. at 311. Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the elements of their case are “capable of proof at trial through evidence that is common to the class rather than individual to its members.” Id.
Turning to the elements of Plaintiffs’ claims, the Court begins with the basic premise that “[t]he Fourth Amendment prohibits only unreasonable searches.” Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 558, 99 S.Ct. 1861, 60 L.Ed.2d 447 (1979). Thus, generally speaking, at the merits stage, Plaintiffs will have to prove that (1) they were the subject of a search; and (2) said search was unreasonable.
The main focus of this lawsuit is the visual observation of nude pretrial detainees pursuant to the blanket policies and practices of delousing and supervised showering. The manner in which that observation is carried out is basically the same each time because the observation is done pursuant to the blanket policy and practices adopted by Defendants.
Whether those policies and practices violated class members’ state or federal rights is also subject to common determination insofar as the asserted invasion of privacy is the same: the class members’ privacy interest in keeping private their nude body and maintaining their personal dignity. Cf. Bell, 441 U.S. at 559, 99 S.Ct. 1861 (the test for reasonableness “requires a balancing of the need for the particular search against the invasion of personal rights that the search entails” considering “the scope of the particular intrusion, the manner in which it is conducted, the justification for initiating it, and the place in which it is conducted.”).
More importantly, however, Plaintiffs assert a facial attack on the policies and practices of delousing and supervised showering. Thus, if the policy is unconstitutional as to any member of the class, Plaintiffs will be entitled to at least some form of relief, even if the policies and practices, as applied, are determined not to violate the constitutional rights of some of the class members. Accordingly, the Court is not persuaded that individual determinations of reasonable suspicion will overshadow the common issues to be litigated on a class-wide basis, namely the constitutionality of the Gloucester County Jail’s delousing and supervised shower policies and practices.
Plaintiffs second argument against predominance — that individual damages determinations preclude certification — also fails. At oral argument, Defendants predicted thousands of damages mini-trials would be necessary if Defendants are found liable; thus reasoning that individual damages issues would predominate.
Lastly, Defendants argue that this Court will need to determine whether individual class members are barred from pursuing their claims under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) (“PLRA”), for failure to exhaust their administrative remedies. Assuming without deciding that „the instant suit challenges “prison conditions,”
In summary, the Court finds unpersuasive Defendants’ arguments against predominance and concludes that common issues predominate.
Superiority
Defendants make no independent arguments for why a class action would not be the superior method of adjudication in this case. For the following reasons, the Court concludes that the class action device is superior than litigation by individual class members.
Several factors inform the superiority analysis:
(A) the class members’ interests in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions;
(B) the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already begun by or against class members;
(C) the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum; and
(D) the likely difficulties in managing a class action.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3). All four support certification of the proposed class. The Court discusses each in turn.
Plaintiffs emphasize factor (A), suggesting that individual recoveries by each member would likely be small, thus providing little incentive for any one person to file suit challenging the policies and practices at issue. Indeed, another court in this district has held as such in a similar “strip search” ease. See Florence I, 2008 WL 800970, at *14 (“Given the relatively small economic stake that any one class member has in this case, the Court concludes that the first [23(b)(3) ] factor favors class treatment.”). The Court agrees that the nature of the claim asserted suggests that most individual litigants would not independently pursue their claims.
The parties have not identified any other pre-existing litigation involving the Gloucester County Jail policies and practices at issue in this case. Therefore the second superiority factor is a non-issue in this case.
Because the Court has concluded that common issues predominate this litigation, interests of economy and efficiency render class certification desirable. Indeed, the class action vehicle is particularly suitable when, as here, Plaintiffs seek institutional reform. Moreover, no other litigation exists involving these parties or policies, and the Court sees no reason why litigating the case in this forum would be undesirable. Thus, the third superiority factor is satisfied.
As to the fourth and last superiority factor, the Court concludes that there are no practical difficulties in managing this class action. Alternatively, to the extent management difficulties may exist, they are adequately remedied by the Court’s separate certification of the liability and damages issues. See infra Section C.
Thus, the class action is the superior method of litigating this case.
C. The 23(b)(2) requirements
For the reasons just articulated, this entire suit could be certified under Rule 23(b)(3). However, Plaintiffs have also raised the possibility of certifying the class under Rule 23(b)(2).
The Third Circuit has observed, “an action maintainable under both (b)(2) and (b)(3) should be treated under (b)(2) to enjoy its superior res judicata effect and to eliminate the procedural complications of (b)(3) which serve no useful purpose under (b)(2). This principle has been widely adopted in the federal courts.” Kyriazi v. W. Elec. Co., 647 F.2d 388, 393 (3d Cir.1981). However, this entire suit is not maintainable under (b)(2) because Plaintiffs seek individual compensatory damages and punitive damages, see Barnes v. The Am. Tobacco Co., 161 F.3d 127, 142 (3d Cir.1998),
On the other hand, the portion of this suit seeking an order enjoining the Defendants from following those policies and practices, is particularly well-suited for certification under (b)(2). See Barnes, 161 F.3d at 142 (“The (b)(2) class serves most frequently as the vehicle for civil rights actions and other institutional reform cases that receive class action treatment.”)(internal citation and quotation to Baby Neal omitted).
Fortunately, Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(4) allows this Court to separately certify the liability and damages portions of this suit:
[certification on a claim-by-claim, rather than holistic, basis is necessary to preserve the efficiencies of the class action device without sacrificing the procedural protections it affords to unnamed class members. In a case ... where claims for injunctive relief intermingle with claims for damages, certification of a (b)(2) class without individual treatment of the claims may deny unnamed class members the notice and opt-out protections of Rule 23(b)(3). On the other hand, denying certification or certifying under (b)(3) when (b)(2) certification is appropriate for part of the class eliminates the efficiencies in adjudication that Rule 23, and specifically (b)(2), create. Rule 23(e)(4) explicitly recognizes the flexibility that courts need in class certification by allowing certification “with respect to particular issues” and division of the class into subclasses.
Bolin v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 231 F.3d 970, 976 (5th Cir.2000) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(4)).
In short, certifying the equitable portion of this suit under (b)(2), and the damages portion under (b)(3), allows for the best of both worlds. Certifying the injunctive relief portion of this suit pursuant to (b)(2) best ensures the efficient litigation of the issue central to the parties’ dispute: whether the Gloucester County Jail’s delousing and supervised showering practices and procedures violate the federal or state law. Yet certifying the damages portion of the suit, pursuant to (b)(3), ensures notice to all class members in the event a constitutional violation is held
Accordingly, the Court will certify the portion of this suit seeking injunctive relief under Rule 23(b)(2) and certify the damages portion of this suit under Rule 23(b)(3).
IV.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will certify the class and appoint Plaintiffs’ attorneys as class counsel. An appropriate Order will be issued in accordance with Fed. R.Civ.P. 23(c) and (g).
ORDER CERTIFYING A PLAINTIFF CLASS AND APPOINTING LEAD PLAINTIFFS AND CLASS COUNSEL
This matter appeared before the Court on Plaintiffs’ Motion to Certify a Class. (Docket No. 30). The Court having considered the submissions of the parties, heard oral argument, and for the reasons set forth in this Court’s Opinion issued on even date herewith, and for good cause appearing;
IT IS on this 30th day of March, 2009, ORDERED THAT:
1. Plaintiffs’ Motion to Certify a Class (Docket No. 30) is hereby GRANTED. The class shall be defined as:
All persons who have been or will be placed into the custody of the Gloucester County Jail after being charged with non-indictable offenses (such as disorderly persons offenses, traffic infractions, and/or civil commitments) and were or will be strip searched upon their entry into the Gloucester County Jail pursuant to the policy, custom and practice of the Gloucester County Sheriffs Department and the County of Gloucester. The class period commences on March 22, 2004 and extends to the date on which the Gloucester County Sheriffs Department and/or the County of Gloucester are enjoined from, or otherwise cease, enforcing their unconstitutional policy, practice and custom of conducting strip searches absent reasonable suspicion. Specifically excluded from the class are Defendants and any and all of their respective affiliates, legal representatives, heirs, successors, employees or assignees.
2. Sandra King Wilson and Joseph De-Pietro are hereby APPOINTED as the lead plaintiffs; Plaintiffs’ counsel are hereby APPOINTED as the class counsel pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(g)(1).
3. The Court hereby certifies the liability portion of this suit (i.e., whether the challenged policies are facially unconstitutional under federal or New Jersey law), and the issue of injunctive relief, pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2). The Court hereby certifies the compensatory and punitive damages portion of this suit pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3).
4. Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(1)(C), the Court may change this Order at any time prior to the final judgment.
5. All issues relating to Class Notice pursuant Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(2)(B) shall be deferred pending resolution of the liability portion of this suit.
. This Court has federal question subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
. The policy defines three types of searches: "[1] Pat search: A search of an inmate or visitor in which the inmate’s or visitor’s clothing is not removed; [2] Strip search: A search of an inmate which requires that all clothing is removed during the search; [3] Body cavity search: A visual inspection or manual search of a person's anal or vaginal cavity." (Madden Cert. Ex. 2)
. These written policies were very recently changed. The new policy’s effect on the instant Motion will be discussed infra at note 5.
. The Gloucester County Jail houses male inmates while the Female Offender Unit houses female inmates. Both facilities are part of the Gloucester County Department of Correctional Services, and the parties apparently do not dispute that the written policy applies to both facilities. For convenience, the Court will use "Gloucester County Jail” to collectively refer to both the male and female facilities.
. At oral argument on this Motion, Defendants informed the Court that in early to mid-February, 2009, the written policies were changed so as to eliminate any nude observation of detainees admitted only on non-indictable offenses, except upon a determination of reasonable suspicion, or when approved by the Shift Commander or Booking Sergeant. (Madden Supp. Cert. Exs. 22-23) Thus, the new written policy apparently eliminates the blanket policy of supervised showering and debusing of all newly admitted detainees.
Plaintiffs have asked the Court to refrain from making “any factual or legal determinations” related to the new policy until they have had time to conduct discovery. As Plaintiffs are the moving party here, they may limit their Motion’s scope. Moreover, their request is reasonable and practical under the circumstances, and Defendants have not expressed any objection to such a limitation. Accordingly, this Opinion only addresses the policies and practices in place at the time this Motion was fully briefed. To the extent modifications to the certified class may be required after the parties have engaged in discovery related to the new policy, those issues will be separately addressed at a later time.
. At her deposition, Wilson testified that she had been admitted to the Gloucester County Jail a total of seven times, however, most of those admissions occurred before March 22, 2004 (the first day of the proposed class period).
. Wilson testified that at the time of her arrest in Mount Ephraim, she had outstanding warrants in four different counties: Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, and Atlantic. (Wilson Dep. at p. 114)
. After oral argument on this Motion, the Court understands Plaintiffs' claim to be somewhat broader than just a Fourth Amendment violation. Plaintiffs generally assert an invasion of the right of privacy, which of course is protected by the Fourth Amendment, see Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 560, 99 S.Ct. 1861, 60 L.Ed.2d 447 (1979) (“We do not underestimate the degree to which these [strip] searches may invade the personal privacy of inmates.''), but is also an independent right with other constitutional underpinnings. See Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 485, 85 S.Ct. 1678, 14 L.Ed.2d 510 (1965) (recognizing the "penumbral rights of privacy and repose.”). The Amended Complaint, however,
. “(1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, (2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class, (3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a).
. Defendants' counsel acknowledged at oral argument, however, that visual observation of a nude pretrial detainee would allow the corrections officer to observe whether the detainee concealed contraband or anything else under their clothes or affixed to their body.
Additionally, Plaintiffs' counsel asserted at oral argument that Plaintiffs have evidence suggesting that the purpose of the supervised shower was to detect contraband, and not for health and hygiene. To be clear, the Court need not, and does not, make any factual determination as to the purpose (or purposes) of the policies at this stage of the litigation.
. See Falcon, 457 U.S. at 157 n. 13, 102 S.Ct. 2364 ("The commonality and typicality requirements of Rule 23(a) tend to merge. Both serve as guideposts for determining whether ... the named plaintiff's claim and the class claims are so interrelated that the interests of the class members will be fairly and adequately protected in their absence.”).
. See also discussion infra at p. 488-89.
. Under both § 1983 and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, plaintiffs must also prove that Defendants are state actors. However, that issue does not appear to be contested in this case.
The Court also notes that the New Jersey Civil Rights Act states that a person's rights must be "interfered with or attempted to be interfered with, by threats, intimidation or coercion.” N.J.S.A. § 10:6-2(c) (emphasis added). However, this potential difference between Plaintiffs' state law claim and their § 1983 claim does not alter the Court's analysis as to class certification.
. As the Court noted at oral argument, Defendants' point cuts both ways. While individual damages determinations may be necessary and time-consuming, the very fact that thousands of proposed class members have been affected by the same policies and practices also suggests that certification is appropriate.
. See also 2 Newberg on Class Actions § 4:25 ("failure to certify an action under Rule 23(b)(3) on the sole ground that it would be unmanageable [because of the necessity for individualized damages determinations] is disfavored and should be the exception rather than the rule.... There are a number of management tools available to a district court to address any individualized damages issues ... including: (1) bifurcating liability and damage trials ...; (2) appointing a magistrate judge or special master to preside over individual damages proceedings; (3) decertifying the class after the liability trial ...; (4) creating subclasses; or (5) altering or amending the class.”).
. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) ("No action shall be brought with respect 16 to prison conditions ... by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility ...”). Defendants have not cited, and the Court has not found, any cases addressing whether pre-admission procedures are prison conditions.
. The Court notes that the single case Defendants cite in support their PLRA argument actually undermines their position. In Black v. Franklin County, the court reaffirmed its prior holding that “the PLRA does not apply to any of the Plaintiffs who were no longer prisoners at the time they filed their claim in federal court.” 2006 WL 2849863 at *3, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 73554 at *9 (E.D.Ky. Sept. 28, 2006).
. See also Advisory Committee Notes, Rule 23(b)(2) (Rule 23(b)(2) "does not extend to cases
. ”[W]hether damages are incidental depends on: (1) whether such damages are of a kind to which class members would be automatically entitled; (2) whether damages can be computed by objective standards and not standards reliant upon the intangible, subjective differences of each class members’ circumstances; and (3) whether such damages would require additional hearings to determine.” Barabin, 2003 WL 355417, at *1-2, 2003 U.S.App. LEXIS, at *5-6 (quoting Allison; internal citation and quotations omitted).
All of these factors support the conclusion that the damages sought are not incidental to the equitable relief sought. Defendants convincingly argue that even if the Court ultimately holds that the delousing and supervised showering policies and practices are facially unconstitutional, in order to calculate damages, individual inquiries will still be necessary to determine whether each search was nonetheless justified.
. See also 5-23 Moore's Federal Practice — Civil § 23.43[l][c] ("A class action seeking injunctive relief to redress a systematic violation of prisoners’ rights may be certified under Rule 23(b)(2).”).
. See also Robinson v. Metro-North Commuter R.R., 267 F.3d 147, 167 (2d Cir.2001) (suggesting separate certification of liability and damages issues, explaining, "[district courts should take full advantage of [23(c)(4)] to certify separate issues in order to reduce the range of disputed issues in complex litigation and achieve judicial efficiencies.”)(internal citations and quotations omitted); Lemon v. Int’l Union of Operating Eng'rs, Local No. 139, 216 F.3d 577, 581 (7th Cir.2000) (“The district court could certify a Rule 23(b)(2) class for the portion of the case addressing equitable relief and a Rule 23(b)(3) class for the portion of the case addressing damages. This avoids the due process problems of certifying the entire case under Rule 23(b)(2) by introducing the Rule 23(b)(3) protections of personal notice and opportunity to opt out for the damages claims.”); Eubanks v. Billington, 110 F.3d 87, 96 (D.C.Cir.1997)(“when a (b)(2) class seeks monetaiy as well as injunctive or declaratory relief the district court ... may adopt a 'hybrid' approach, certifying a (b)(2) class as to the claims for declaratory or injunctive relief, and a (b)(3) class as to the claims for monetary relief.”).
