Napper v. County of Sacramento - Class action suit filed to stop Sacramento County
Class action suit filed to stop Sacramento County from closing outpatient mental health services
“I have been a patient at Northgate for 8 years…used to think a lot about killing myself, but my condition has improved…they know I need more than medication…like crisis skills. I am very worried any new place will not have the same services; plus continuity is important to me. I live with and look out for my dad; if I fall apart and end up in a hospital or facility, I don’t know what he will do.” –Leslie Napper, 41
Several heavily used mental health outpatient clinics in Sacramento, according to county officials, will be closed due to budget cuts. The plan is to drop the contracted services known as regional support teams by June 30, and to open other services for the estimated 5000 mental health clients by July 1, using county staff.
Because of concern for Leslie Napper and thousands in similar situations, Disability Rights California, the Western Center on Law and Poverty and Cooley LLP jointly announced May 6 the filing of a class action law suit to enjoin closure of these services.
Read more about this case:
Press Releases
- July 21, 2010 press release: Court issues injunction to assure continuity of care for Sacramento County mental health clients - On July 21, Federal District Judge John Mendez granted a preliminary injunction stopping the county from implementing and enforcing its hybrid plan until the court determines that mental health recipients will continue to receive integrated services to avoid institutionalization. The County's plan would have closed centers that are now providing lifelines for an estimated 5000 people with psychiatric disabilities, placing mental health consumers’ health and safety at risk.
- July 20, 2010 press advisory
- June 9, 2010 press release
- May 5, 2010 press release
Pleadings
Related news articles
- Mental health care on edge, Sacramento Business Journal, 8/27/10
- Viewpoints: County must fix plan for mentally ill, Sacramento Bee, 8/23/10
- Editorial: Court tells county: These cuts are crazy, Sacramento Bee, 8/23/10
- Advocates Ask Judge to Stop Sacramento County from Closing Mental Health Clinics - Disability Rights California, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Cooley LLP filed a motion on June 9 asking the court for a preliminary injunction to stop the County’s plan to terminate its community-based mental health outpatient services. Read more here.
- Federal Judge Thwarts Sacramento County's Mental Health Plans, California Healthline, 7/22/10
- Sacramento County mental health cuts blocked by federal judge, Sacramento Bee, 7/22/10
- County mental health treatment centers to stay open while court reviews new wellness-center plan, California Business Journal, 7/21/10
- Advocates Ask Judge to Stop Sacramento County from Closing Mental Health Clinics - Disability Rights California, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and Cooley LLP filed a motion on June 9 asking the court for a preliminary injunction to stop the County’s plan to terminate its community-based mental health outpatient services. Read more here.
- Disability rights groups file law suit against Sacramento County, Examiner, 6/11/10
- Group seeks injunction to stop Sacramento County mental health cuts, Sacramento Business Journal, 6/9/10
- State warns Sacramento County budget cuts could forfeit funding: Sacramento County's idea to scrimp on mental health services doesn't just threaten vulnerable patients. It turns out the plan may well be illegal and end up costing the county more than it would save. Read the rest of the Sacramento Bee Editorial, County must rethink cuts to mental health.
- Advocates sue Sacramento County over termination of services, Mental Health Weekly, 5/24/10
- Sacramento: May Revise would add $24 million to local mental health shortfall, Capitol Weekly, 5/18/10
- Disability groups sue Sacramento County over proposed mental health cuts, Sacramento Bee, 5/7/10
- Groups sue Sacramento County to halt mental health cuts, Sacramento Bee, 5/7/10
- Disability advocates sue Sacramento County to block cuts to outpatient mental health services, California Business Journal, 5/7/10
- Sacramento County sued over mental health cuts, Associated Press, 5/7/10
- Sacramento County Sued Over Mental Health Cuts Group Says Cuts Violate Federal, State Mandates, KCRA.com, 5/7/10
- Sacramento County Sued Over Planned Mental Health Care Cuts, California Healthline, 5/7/10
- Suit Targets Sacramento Health Cuts, Daily Journal, 5/7/10
- Sacramento County sued for ending outpatient mental health services, CVBT, 5/5/10