ROCHESTER STATE HOSPITAL:

An Inventory of Its Class Action Suit Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Government Records

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Rochester State Hospital (Minn.).
	Title:	Class Action Suit Records.
	Dates:	1971-1981.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Copies of court documents, correspondence, departmental memos, clippings, and other records relating to court cases with which medical director Dr. Francis A. Tyce was concerned. They include cases in which he served as an expert witness or consultant; cases in which he and Rochester State Hospital were named as defendants; and cases whose outcome was likely to affect policy and practice at Minnesota's state hospitals for the mentally ill or institutions for care of the mentally retarded. Not all were actually class action suits.
	Quantity:	0.9 cubic feet (15 folders).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

The subjects of the cases included: the right of mentally ill or retarded patients to adequate treatment; "institutional peonage" or compulsory and involuntary servitude; involuntary custodial confinement; involuntary commitment; revocation of provisional discharge; "deprogramming" of a religious sect member; nonconsensual treatment; electroshock treatment; and supervision of persons considered "mentally ill and dangerous."

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions:

Includes private information about individuals. Records with private information are closed for 75 years from date of last entry in the record. Researchers must apply for permission to use these records. Please consult library staff for more information.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Rochester State Hospital (Minn.). Class Action Suit Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 983-23

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 001704567

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location
114.B.11.3B	Class Action Suits: Miscellaneous, 1972.
		Clippings and a North Carolina Policy on Patients' Rights with proposed legislation.


		Alabama Class Action Suit: Wyatt v Stickney, 1972. 2 folders.
			The suit concerned the right of mentally ill and retarded patients to adequate treatment. Dr. Francis A. Tyce apparently visited Alabama as a consultant hired by Charles Halpern of the Center for Law and Social Policy, co-counsel for the amici curiae in the case. Includes copies of court documents (briefs, orders, agreements), correspondence between Tyce and Halpern, newspaper clippings, and various publications in which the case is summarized.


		Townsend, et al, v Treachway, et al., in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, No. 6500, 1972.
			The complaint charged that patients were subjected to compulsory and involuntary servitude ("institutional peonage"). Tyce was asked by one of the attorneys for advice or references to literature. Includes letters and copies of complaint.


		O'Connor v Donaldson, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 74-8, 1975.
			Case in which it was decided that state hospitals' involuntary custodial confinement, without treatment, of a mental patient who was not dangerous to himself or others violates patient's constitutional right to liberty. Copy of court opinion and Public Welfare Department memo regarding the points of the case considered most pertinent with respect to the Minnesota state hospitals.


		Alexander, et al., v Hall, et al., in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, No. 72-209, 1973-1975.
			A case challenging involuntary commitment procedures. Tyce apparently served as an expert for the United States. Includes copies of complaint and depositions, and correspondence.


		Nancy Lofgren Reek v Charles von Wald, et al. [in U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 4th Division, No. 4-77-Civil 115], 1976-1980. 2 folders.
			Case involving deprogramming of Lofgren (Reek), member of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ (a religious group), led by Brother Rama Behera. Tyce was involved as a co-defendant. Includes court documents (complaint, interrogatories and answers, judgment and order), correspondence with attorneys, newspaper clippings, and related material.


		Julie Everson v Arthur Noot [in Olmsted County District Court, No. 42683], 1981. 4 folders.
			Case involving charges against an employee of Rochester State Hospital's Chemical Dependency Unit, Andrew DuShane. The state successfully obtained a summary judgment; the complaint against Arthur Noot, Commissioner of Public Welfare, and Dr. Francis Tyce, as medical director of Rochester State Hospital, (as co-defendants) was dismissed. Includes copies of court documents (complaint, depositions, order), correspondence with the attorney general's office, Everson's Rochester case file, and other materials relating to the case.


		Jean Priebe v Tyce, in Olmsted County District Court, 1976.
			An action involving electroshock treatment, apparently dismissed after summons and complaint only.


		Anthony Lausche v Commissioner of Public Welfare, [in Probate Court Appeal Panel of Minnesota Supreme Court, No. 149], 1974.
			A case involving treatment by supervision of patients considered mentally ill and dangerous. Did not directly involve either Rochester State Hospital or Dr. Tyce.


		Ruby C. Anderson v Likins in U.S. District Court, Minnesota District 4th Division, No. 4-72-Civil 422, 1972; Beatrice Hunter v Likins, in U.S. District Court, Minnesota District 3rd Division, No. 3-72-Civil 237, 1972; and Mary Anderson v Likins, in U.S. District Court, Minnesota District 3rd Division, No. 3-73-Civil 79, 1973.
			Three cases challenging the constitutionality of the authority of mental hospitals to revoke a patient's provisional discharge. Tyce was named as a co-defendant. Includes copies of court documents (complaints, stipulation agreements), correspondence, and a Public Welfare Department policy bulletin.


		Welsch v Likins [in U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 4th Division, No. 4-72-Civil 451], 1974-1977.
			A class action suit concerning treatment of mentally retarded residents at several Minnesota state institutions. Includes copies of court documents (findings and orders) and correspondence.


		Welsch v Dirkswager, 1978.
			Memos regarding compliance with the consent decree from a case concerning facilities for care of the mentally retarded.


		Price v Sheppard in Ramsey County District Court [appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court], 1972-1976.
			Case involving electroshock treatments given to an unconsenting minor, but with implications for all types of involuntary or intrusive treatment. Includes copies of court documents (order, opinion) and correspondence and departmental memos regarding policies for nonconsensual treatment.


		June F. Thompson v Archie Edgar Rice, in Renville County District Court, 1976.
			Tyce was asked for an opinion in this personal injury case.


		Ammanuel Amboye Psychiatric Report, 1974.
			A report by Dr. Tyce and other materials relating to psychiatric evaluation of a murder suspect in Hennepin County.


		Lawrence Ferguson, Paul Bengtsonand Lonnie Buss, undated, 1970, 1972.
			Discharge summaries and medical report, all relating to criminal cases.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Dangerously mentally ill -- Minnesota.; Deprogramming -- Minnesota.; Electroconvulsive therapy.; Institutional care -- Laws and legislation -- Minnesota.; Medicine -- Minnesota.; Mental health laws -- Minnesota.; Mentally ill -- Minnesota.; People with mental disabilities -- Minnesota -- Abuse of.; People with mental disabilities -- Institutional care -- Minnesota.; Psychiatric hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- Minnesota.; State hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- Minnesota.

Persons:: Tyce, Francis A.

Places:: Rochester (Minn.)

Document Types:: Clippings (information artifacts)

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ROCHESTER STATE HOSPITAL:

OVERVIEW

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

CATALOG HEADINGS