Hensley et al. v. Eckerhart et al. (461 U.S. 424)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided May 16, 1983 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 461 U.S. 424 · 103 S. Ct. 1933
- Decided
- May 16, 1983
- Term
- October Term 1982
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority author
- Justice Powell
- Issue area
- Attorneys
- Disposition
- Vacated and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Justice Powell delivered the opinion of the Court. Title 42 U. S. C. § 1988 provides that in federal civil rights actions “the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the costs.” The issue in this case is whether a partially prevailing plaintiff may recover an attorney’s fee for legal services on unsuccessful claims. I — I A Respondents brought this lawsuit on behalf of all persons involuntarily confined at the Forensic Unit of the Fulton State Hospital in Fulton, Mo. The Forensic Unit consists of two residential buildings for housing patients who are dangerous to themselves or others. Maximum-security patients are housed in the Marion 0. Biggs Building for the Criminally Insane. The rest of the patients reside in the less restrictive Rehabilitation Unit. In 1972 respondents filed a three-count complaint in the District Court for the Western District of Missouri against petitioners, who are officials at the Forensic Unit and members of the Missouri Mental Health Commission. Count I challenged the constitutionality of treatment and conditions at the Forensic Unit. Count II challenged the placement of patients in the Biggs Building without procedural due process. Count III sought compensation for patients who performed institution-maintaining labor. Count II was resolved by a consent decree…
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