Brady v. Hobbs et al
Filing
57
ORDER adopting 54 Report and Recommendations; further granting in part and denying in part 34 Motion for Summary Judgment. See Order for specifics. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on March 24, 2016. (hnc)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS DIVISION
ROBERT JEFFREY BRADY
VS.
PLAINTIFFS
CASE NO. 14-CV-6146
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER DEMPSEY
DEFENDANT
ORDER
Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation filed on January 5, 2016 by the
Honorable Barry A. Bryant, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas.
(ECF No. 54). Judge Bryant recommends that Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment
(ECF No. 34) be granted in part and denied in part. Defendant has filed objections to the Report
and Recommendation. (ECF No. 55). After reviewing the record de novo, the Court adopts
Judge Bryant’s Report and Recommendation as its own.
This civil rights action was filed by Plaintiff pursuant to the provisions of 42 U.S.C. §
1983. In his Amended Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant violated his constitutional
rights by failing to protect him from assault by another inmate, Harry Hamm, who Defendant
knew to be dangerous. In violation of Arkansas Department of Correction policy, Defendant left
Hamm unattended with Plaintiff, thereby giving Hamm the opportunity to assault Plaintiff.
Plaintiff alleges both official and individual capacity claims. Judge Bryant recommends that
summary judgment be granted in favor of Defendant as to Plaintiff’s official capacity claims.
Judge Bryant recommends that Defendant’s summary judgment motion be denied as to
Plaintiff’s individual capacity claims.
Defendant objects to Judge Bryant’s recommendation regarding the individual capacity
claims. Defendant essentially raises the same arguments made in its Motion for Summary
Judgment.
Defendant maintains that Plaintiff has failed to submit evidence showing that
Defendant was deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of harm to Plaintiff, as required to
sustain a failure to protect claim. See Young v. Selk, 508 F.3d 868, 873 (8th Cir. 2007).
Upon review of the evidence, Judge Bryant found that there were disputed material
questions of fact remaining as to Defendant’s knowledge of the risk to Plaintiff’s health and
safety. Specifically, Judge Bryant relied on Plaintiff’s testimony that there was a yellow sign on
Hamm’s cell door, indicating that he had a “punitive” classification which requires more
protective handling by officers when they are escorting an inmate. Plaintiff also testified that
Hamm had a well-known reputation for violence in the unit.
Upon review of the Report and Recommendations and Defendant’s objections, the Court
finds that Plaintiff has submitted sufficient evidence of Defendant’s knowledge of the risk of
harm to Plaintiff to withstand summary judgment. Accordingly, the Court overrules Defendant’s
objections and adopts Judge Bryant’s Report and Recommendation. (ECF No. 54). For the
reasons stated herein and above, as well as those contained in the Report and Recommendation,
Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 34) is hereby GRANTED in part and
DENIED in part. The motion is granted as to Plaintiff’s official capacity claims against
Defendant. The motion is denied as to Plaintiff’s individual capacity claims.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 24th day of March, 2016.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge
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