Russell v. Pallito et al

Filing 211

ORDER Withdrawing 206 Final Judgment Order. Case reopened. Signed by Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford on 10/26/2020. (esb)

Case 5:15-cv-00126-gwc-jmc Document 211 Filed 10/26/20 Page 1 of 2

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
DISTRICT OF VERMONT

2121 OCT 26 ,.M I: ZS
CLER/\

JUSTIN RUSSELL,

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Plaintiff,
V.

ANDREW PALLITO, CYNTHIA MASON,
RICHARD BILODEAU, LISA MENARD,
ROBERT ARNELL and MICHAEL
TOUCHETTE,
Defendants.

BY_

f/rw

Case No. 5:15-cv-126

DfFLJT~i' CLEf~K

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ORDER WITHDRAWING FINAL JUDGMENT
This long-running case concerns plaintiffs claims that his right to follow the dictates of
his Muslim faith were violated by Vermont Department of Corrections personnel who provided
kosher meals instead of Halal meals.
In February 2020, Mr. Russell was released from Department of Corrections custody.
In May 2020, the court accepted the Report and Recommendation filed by Magistrate
Judge Conroy recommending that Plaintiffs Renewed Motion to Certify Class Action be
DENIED as MOOT.
In September 2020, the District Court issued a final judgment order dismissing the case
without prejudice on grounds that since plaintiff was no longer incarcerated, he lacked standing
to seek injunctive relief concerning the provision of kosher meals to Muslim prisoners. This was
a mistake. The court overlooked its own ruling in 2017 that plaintiff had a potential claim for
compensatory relief. (Doc. 69).

Case 5:15-cv-00126-gwc-jmc Document 211 Filed 10/26/20 Page 2 of 2

The court withdraws the final judgment order and will schedule a pre-trial conference to
determine how the parties wish to proceed with the remaining section 1983 claim for nominal
damages or for other damages responsive to plaintiffs claim of spiritual injury.
Dated at Burlington, in the District of Vermont, this 26th day of October, 2020.

Geoffrey W ~ e f Judge
United States District Court

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