Daniels v. Hughes

The Seventh Circuit considered an interlocutory appeal in a case that began nearly two decades ago involving a class action lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Corrections and a resulting settlement agreement with a provision allowing for judicial enforcement of the agreement. At issue in the current appeal was the propriety of an injunction entered by the district court requiring the defendants to address five areas of non-compliance and a related payment of attorney fees by the defendant to the plaintiffs. The court also considered questions of subject-matter jurisdiction and mootness. The Seventh Circuit found that the resolution of the issues hinged on whether the claims were moot under the settlement agreement and vacated and remanded for the district court to resolve the mootness question. The Seventh Circuit further held that its decision to vacate the district court’s injunction did not require plaintiff’s counsel to return the payment of attorneys fees. (ROVNER and BRENNAN, concurring)