Evenson Childs et al. v. Ravalli County et al.
The Ravalli County justice system operates a wealth-based discrimination scheme that imposes exorbitant fees on individuals in the pretrial system—that is, individuals who have yet to be tried for any crime, let alone convicted. After arrested individuals post bail, the Sheriff's Office's pretrial services division requires them to pay additional fees associated with a variety of supervision tools, including ankle monitoring, alcohol breathalyzers, twice-daily in-person drug tests, and any administrative costs of supervision. The result is an extreme burden on pretrial supervisees, the majority of whom are indigent.
Upper Seven Law has partnered as local co-counsel with fellow nonprofit law firm, Equal Justice Under Law, to bring this case.
Filings / Press
Amended Complaint (November 16, 2021)
Martin Kidston, Lawsuit: Ravalli County runs ‘debt-induced poverty’ scheme with high pretrial fees, Missoula Current (Sept. 2, 2021)
Perry Backus, Ravalli County’s first treatment court aims to break cycle of addiction, crime, Montana Standard (Oct. 24, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Preliminary Injunction Motion and Brief (November 18, 2021)
County Defendants' Response (December 16, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support (December 22, 2021)
County Defendants' Motion to Dismiss and Brief (December 14, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Response (December 22, 2021)
County Defendants' Reply in Support (January 7, 2022)
District Court Judges Defendants' Motion to Dismiss and Brief (December 16, 2021)
Plaintiffs' Response (January 6, 2022)
District Court Judges Defendants' Reply in Support (January 19, 2022)
Order Denying PI, Partially Granting Motions to Dismiss (January 23, 2023)
Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification and Brief (April 8, 2022)
District Court Judges Defendants' Response (May 6, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support (May 31, 2022)
County Defendants' Response (May 9, 2022)
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support (May 31, 2022)
Order Partially Granting Motion for Class Certification (January 13, 2023)