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

Filing 418

ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING; Status Review Hearing set for 8/11/2017 before Judge Marsha J. Pechman by Judge Marsha J. Pechman. (RS)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

8
9
10

CASSIE CORDELL TRUEBLOOD, et
al.,

11
Plaintiffs,

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

12
v.
13
14

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

15
Defendants.
16
17
Representatives of the parties attended a status conference in courtroom of the Honorable
18
Marsha J. Pechman on June 5, 2017. In the course of the discussion updating various aspects of
19
the parties’ efforts to implement the Court’s orders in this matter, the Court ordered the
20
following:
21
22
23
24

ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING - 1

1
2



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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

delayed, the date of occupancy will be delayed accordingly.

7

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

8

construction is necessary to convert the building from current

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

of any renovations necessary.

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

hiring of new staff.

19

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

20

plans for accelerating the timetable for civil patients vacating the facility

21

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

22

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

23
24

ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING - 2

1



2
3

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.



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

4

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

5

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

6

and solutions for coming into compliance.

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

conference call in advance of the review hearing.

14
15

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

16

Dated June 5, 2017.

A

17
18

Marsha J. Pechman
United States District Judge

19
20
21
22
23
24

ORDER RE: JUNE 2017 STATUS HEARING - 3