AJiel atv.

SlateofOregonel at
United StatesDistrict Court, CaseNo. 3;16-w-01895-ry
im'ERTLISETTLEitlSKTAfiKE^W&iT

K4TRODUCTJON
1.

Theparties wishto enter into aninterim settlement in A. R. el alv. State ofOregon

etal(the "Action"). PlaintiffiincludetheptrtativeclassandCASAforChilAien,
Inc. Defeadants are the State of Oregon, a\d state officbls named in AeiroiBcia]

capacity,namelytheDirectorofthe OregonDepartmentofHumanSuviccs
C'DIiS"),currently ClydeSaiki,andtheDqsutyDirectorofDHS,currently,
Reginatd C. Richardson,

2.

ThisAgreementC'Agruement"or "InterimAgreement")is only aninterim

settlement, as described in more detail bslow. This Agreement does not resolve

all claims uid ail^garion^fcntheAcdonunderthePourfcenthA-mendmentto Ac

United Stales Constitution

(substantivi i

due

process),

the Americans with

DisabilitiKi Act ("ADA"), the Rch^f'Iitalion Act of 1973 C'Rehabilitation Act"),

and ORS 659A. 142. This Agreement

concerns

emergk incy conditions

as

described below.

3.

Defendants dispiiiepjaintifi6'allegations. This Agreement is not anadmissianof

liability, anddefendantsdenythatthey areinviolationoftheFourtccntii
Amendment, theADA,the RehabilitationAd, ORS659A.142, or anyothertews
orregulations.

4.

The panies represent and Bcknowledge that this Agreement is the result of
extensh^, thorough, and good fiaith negotiations, 'llie paitites further represent

andacknowledgethatthe terms ofthisAgreemeuthavebeenvoluntarily

accepted,afterconsultationwithcounsel, forAe purposeofmakingthis interira
setaemcnt-

' f
i

5.

TheCourthssjurisdictionoverthisActionpursuantto 28U.S.C. 1331;

28U.S.C. 1345;42U.S.C. 12131-12132;and28U.S.C 1367. Vtinwis

properin thisdistrictpursuantto 28 U.S.C. 1391(b).

6.

ThisAgreement will be interpreted in accordance with federal law andthe laws of

theStateofOregon. Thevenueforall legal actionsconcerningthisAgreement
riiall be in the Umted Statey Didtrict Court for the District of Oregon (tte

"Court").

Page 1 of 6

n.

DEpiwmoNs

For the purposes ofthis Agreement only, thefollowing tenns havethe following mcnnings:
I.

"Faster child" is a child oryoung adult in the legal custody of(lie Department of
Humati Services who is in substitute care.

2.

An"appropriateplacement*'isa homeorinstitudonliccnset!tocareforfoster
children in Oregon, cs well as psychiatric orotiierresidential medical ftcitities
w;icre medically necessary for (he fosterchild's physical or mental health.

3.

"Unplaced," "unplacement," "nonplacement"or"temporaryemergencylodging"

or"temporarilylodged"rcierato a chiidinDHScustodyspaidingthi.nightin a
hotel,

raotet,

an

office,

hospt lal w otter

medica}

facility despite

readiness for

medical discharge,ajuvt-niledetentionfacilitydespiteIhenfascnceoi'any

criminalcharge,oranyotherfacilitynotlicensedasa fosterhomeor"child
caring agency" by DHS.

'1.

"Oregon"or:ThcStads"ro>-anst!icStaleofOregon,includingDHS.

5.

"DHS oRice" means anyoffice or any other facility not licepsed as a foster home
or "chiid caring agency" by DHS, other than a hotel, a hrepita) or other medical
facility, or a juvenile di-lention facility.

IS.

HflN2L^EMBlsrTSH'EM70!lAIlY]SM3RGBr:CYLODGCT'3

1.

Orjgonwill iramcftiateiyCGKSall nonplaccmenls/tcmporarycnKrgcneylodging

except to the <jxtent permiUed ;n this Agreement

?.,

Defendtuils agreethat DHSwill not seekto have chiidrm in DHS custody

tanporarify lodged in detention

witiiout

charge.

Defeiidants also agree tlii. l DHS

will notseektohavechildrenremainin hospitalsv/itfioutmedicalpurposeunless

there is a safetyrisk to the child.

3.

EfFcctivc Decerobcr 31, 2016, Defendants agree thatDHS will not temporarily
lodgu children in its custody overnight inDHS ofBccs, unless there is no available
&nd safe hotel wiihin 30 miics/30 minutes of the DHS office where DHS
ttaiiporarily 'adges th2 cbUd. Prior to December 31, 2016, DHS wiSI not

temporarilylodgea childin'tiscustodyformorethantwoni^its ina DHSoffice.

4.

Children in DHS custody will betemporarily lodged in hotels oiily inemcrg-ncy

circumstances v.'hore there is no safe or appropriafc csrtiSed foster home or
licensed residential placement avaiiable.

5,

Ifs.childistemporarilylodgedin a DHSofficeorhotel,heorshemustbet3ken
to the school or daycare where that the child is enrolled or, if the child is not
Uirolled in anyschool, to a school wherethe child is eligible to be enroilui.

NothinginthisAgn.^ment,however,requiresDHSto takea childioa schoolor

Page2 oi'6

daycareiftheschool or daycarehasdetcnninedttiat thechildmay notattend fhat

school or day care.

6.

Forevery fosterchild in "nonplacemenf'/ti.mporary emergencyiodgingstatus,

DHSwill providuto plainlifis' counsei,on B weekly basis,thechild'sage,county
ofwardsisipaiid unique, confidentialidentifier, (lietypeoffocationwhcnsthe
child slept, the dates that the child stayed in the location, and whether taid whcrt:

tlicchild is attendingtheschool ordaycarc. Thereportingdescribedin this

paragraphwill beprovidedto piaintiffe'counsel. Ill ac'dition,DHSwill provide
thatportionoftlu reportingdescribedin thisparagraphthat isspecificto each
cTiildto thatchiid'srespectivecourtappointedattorneyandassignedCASA
advocateifanywithinonebusinussdayoftheunpiaccmcnfc/temporcryemergency
lodging,
TV

STAY. EFFECTrVEPSmOD,TF31MIWATJON,ANtt PKSSBRVATIONOF

m

1.

The parties will propose to tfti Court a stay ofull proceedings in the Action For
thetime this Agrccnientis in eJTectso they can focus ona comprehensive
siittlcmunt ttet v/lll result in a final settlement of all issu-s.

2,

This Agrccmeiit shall be in effect only so lor. g as the parties continue confidential

discussionsaspart ofan ongoingsettlenenlconference. Eitherpartymay

terroJnatethisAgreement iTniacdiniolyupon (TJiBgwrittennoticeto ai! ptirties and
theCourt. Upon tennin&tionof(hisAgTeement, Plaintiffsinsyseek preliminary
injunctivcrelieffrom theCourtandmayseekto huvethatdecidedonan
expedited basis.
3.

PlainUBs and defendants preserve all n^its to seek or opposu a more

comprehensive scttiement. Nothing in this Agreement ends or prejudices a party's

ri^it to assertotfierpositions,assertanyclaunordciens<i,orto seekoroppose

additionalreliefinsritlemcntnegotiationsorin theAction, includingattorney
feesandcosts. Plaintiffspreserveail rightstoseekcmurg3ncyreliefin any
individualsituation, includinginslate court-providcdtlwlPldntifisegreethat
whilethisAgreementis in cf&ct PlaintifiSswitl notrenewtheirmolion ibr
preliminary injunction or seek temporary or preliminary injunction for any afttic
reasons described in PIaintifis'Motion for Prelimir.aryInjunction in a'ly other
court. Spccificaliy, plainlifls priiscrve the contuition that housing children in a
hotel is an impermissiblc unonplacemi :nt" and that this Agreement merely makes

sucha useofhotelsanexceptionto impennissiblcpracticesfor tlie timecovered

by the Agreement. The Slate does not waive and specifically preserves all
urguments, defensesand counlerclaims,
V.

ENFORCEMENTAM MODIFICATION
I.

Pggc 3 of6

Jiidge iMichae] McSbane shall retain ancillary jurisdicdon to resolve disputes

regarding compliance with the Interim Asrcement in summary fashion. Both

partieswaiveanyandall ri^it to appca]anyorderissuedbyJudgeMcShane

regarding the enforccmcrrt ofthis Agreement.

2.

In any enforcement proceeding under thisAgreement, plaintiffl will bear the

bunien ofproving a violation. Any enforcement action will be governed by (tie
eppficabic standani in the District of Oregon.

3.

The Court may modify ttiis Agreemcirt consistent with FicL R. Civ. P. 60(a) or
upon agreement ofail parties.

4.

Anyagreed-tomodificationofthisAgreemoitwillbeexecutedinwritingbythe
parties, will befiled with the Court, andwill not be effective until the Court enters
ihe modified agreement and retains jurisdictjon to enfwce it.

VI.

GENE1AL PROVISIONS

I.

Thepartieswill takeall appropriateandnecessarystapstoustabijahJudge

McShane'sandHaryjurisdictionoverthisInterimAgrfcemeat,Th's:BQ'ectiveDate
of the Agreement shall be November 17, 2016.

2.

ThisAgreementIsbindmguponthpartifts,byandthrough<hcirofficials,
employees, andsuccessorsfortheterm ofthisAgreement. IfDHSenters into
written contracts with outside providers -foranyoftheservices provided in this
Agreemeiit, DHSwill Jncoaporate theprovisions ofthis Ag^ement that directly
relate to those services in such contracts.

3.

Failure by anypsty to emwcs this entire Agreement or anyFovision thereof

withnspecttoanyprovisionhereinwillnotbeconsimedssa wah'er,ineludmg
theparty's rightto enforceotherprovisionsofthisAyeement
4.

ThepartieswUlpromptlynotify eachotherofany courtoradministrative

challengeto this Agreementor anyportionthereof.

5,

NothmginIhisAgreementreqidresOrcjgonto tekeactionsinconsistentwith
fedtral law or federal fundmg Kqmrements,

6.

Subjectto Kmitetjonsin ORS192.410to 505,andotherslateandfederaj laws

imposingconfidentialityrcquircantBits,FIaiDtiiS'coiroscl '.ahflltlaavereasonable
accesstodocuments,records, andmaterialsAatarewithinthecontrol and

custodyoftheStateandarenecessarytoassusstheState'ssubstantialcomplisace
witht?usAgreement Any access imder this section shall be iuniled to the extent
necessaryto minimizeundueburdenandcostto theState.
7

The signatares betow ofoJIBciais and uttomcys ropreseirting theptaintifFs and

defendmte sigmfythatAese paties have given their final approval to this

Agreement. BachpartysigningtfaisAgreiementi-epresentsandwarrantsthatheor
sheis dulyauthorizedto enterintothisAgreementandto hindthatparty on
behalfofwhichheor shesignedto thetermsandconditionsoftMs Agreement,
Page 4 of 6

8.

ThisAgreefperssar.d my t..ocuttici!tuicc'jposiitedby i-efei-jaceconstituteihe

eniis'e ategrated Agreement oft&c c3iti'-3, No priot' or contempirsneoas
nicimutiications, oral or written, or prior drafts will be rcicv^iit or admsssiyc for
purposes ofde*Bmi!mns &e meaning ofany provisions herein in any llti^li'on or
any atbvr proceeding.

9.

Tiiis Agreemsnt may b i exi-cuted m counterpj rts, e'lch ofwMch . s deemed to be

an original, and the counti. iparte to^Aher constitute one sna' tL'i same Agreement,

notwithsiandingthaieachparty isnota signatosyto thetfrjgin.'1?o." 'th&saa-w

Kiunterpart. AI! n ferenca to signatr-s orsxe&utioa oftfa^ AgsKCTient will te

cejcnl^tedfrom tke effcctjveds.le ofthsAgrceraent.

Richard Vangeiisti, jn his capacity as

Date

gu-. rfian ad iitsm for PlMndfis A.R. and B. C.

CASAFORCfflLDF.EN.WC.,

^^'^'Cfe'0-"!

llLfS/lk-

TMe;^A4d-Mj^^A
STATE OFOREC%)N, by sna fe-oagh i-is
Dpartmmt ofMuman Sen/icei

Dates

"(jj^
11
Clyde^d, intuscipac{iyasDirectorof
ti-AOt^goB Depi -i$iient of Human

^ ^

rw

~A^(^^. ^A

Date

Sesv'wss

^js^^
.

llfiginaid C. RichsKisoR, ui his capacity as

DeputyDirectoriff&dOugoaDqisrtmartof
Humati Seryices

Page 5 of 6

^ll-^X-5

Date '' /

'y--

lmo^^^e^. _^rf^^

/J}PRO;

vwf^^ESf&-^ "

OREGONDEPAR'TME'TTOFJUSTICE

^^. ^s-&

Name:

\ )n

i f^

Date

GfAttorneys for All Defendants

Fano 6 of 6