Trueblood, et al v. Washington State Department of Health and Human Services et al

Filing 416

ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING by Judge Marsha J. Pechman. The next status review hearing will occur by conference call and will be held on August 11, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. (see order for details) (PM)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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CASSIE CORDELL TRUEBLOOD, et
al.,

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Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. C14-1178 MJP
ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS
HEARING

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v.
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WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND
HEALTH SERVICES, et al.,

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Defendants.
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Representatives of the parties attended a status conference in courtroom of the Honorable
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Marsha J. Pechman on June 5, 2017. In the course of the discussion updating various aspects of
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the parties’ efforts to implement the Court’s orders in this matter, the Court ordered the
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following:
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ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING - 1

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

Expansion (opening new facilities)
o F3 and S4: DSHS should be ready to post and recruit for new staff

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immediately upon receipt of CMS certification, with a plan for these

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facilities to be ready to receive 45 additional patients by mid-October.

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This assumes CMS certification by June 10, 2017. If certification is

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delayed, the date of occupancy will be delayed accordingly.

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o Building 27: The Court Monitor is to hire an expert to evaluate what

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construction is necessary to convert the building from current

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programming to accepting class members. The expert’s evaluation report

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should include a timetable for licensure and construction; DSHS is to

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continue to plan for increased staffing levels in the building based on that

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timetable, with the goal being that occupancy can occur upon completion

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of any renovations necessary.

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o Eastern State Hospital: DSHS is to explore whether the former

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contractor and architect who previously did work on the facility can be

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engaged to perform a modification of the structure. By mid-August 2017,

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there should be plans in place for (1) licensure and construction and (2)

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hiring of new staff.

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o Building 29: DSHS is to share with the Court Monitor and Plaintiffs

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plans for accelerating the timetable for civil patients vacating the facility

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so that additional beds can be used by class members. The plan should be

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ready for the next exchange of documents for the August 2017 review.

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ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING - 2

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

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Bed flow analysis: The Court Monitor is ordered to contract for the preparation
of this report and may use funds from the contempt fines for that purpose.

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In-jail evaluations: By the next hearing, a report must be submitted which

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covers in-jail evaluations, including (1) the use of evaluators to come into

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compliance with the Court’s orders, and (2) pinpointing barriers to compliance

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and solutions for coming into compliance.

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The Court reminds that parties that the vacating of the Maple Lane and Yakima facilities

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is still contemplated and remains dependent on the parties’ good faith and concrete progress

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towards the opening of Buildings F3, S4 and 27, as well as Eastern State Hospital.

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Triage and fund expenditures for Phases I and II will also be on the Court’s August

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agenda. The next status review hearing will occur by conference call and will be held on August

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11, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. The Court’s deputy clerk will distribute contact information for the

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conference call in advance of the review hearing.

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The clerk is ordered to provide copies of this order to all counsel.

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Dated June 5, 2017.

A

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Marsha J. Pechman
United States District Judge

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ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING - 3