Allsup v. Shelton et al
Filing
6
MERIT REVIEW OPINION: Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the Court finds that Plaintiff states the following claims: Eighth Amendment claim for deliberate indifference to Plaintiff's serious mental healt h needs against Defendant Shelton; First Amendment retaliation claim against Defendants Shelton and Gruel; Eighth Amendment claims for sexual assault and harassment against Defendants Pyle and Wilson; and First Amendment retaliation claim against Def endant Pyle. The clerk is directed to enter the standard order granting Plaintiff's in forma pauperis petition and assessing an initial partial filing fee, if not already done, and to attempt service on Defendants pursuant to the standard procedures. The Clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. SEE WRITTEN OPINION. Entered by Judge Sue E. Myerscough on 6/5/2017. (MJC, ilcd)
E-FILED
Monday, 05 June, 2017 02:14:45 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
BRANDON ALLSUP,
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Plaintiff,
v.
C/O
C/O
C/O
C/O
A. SHELTON,
PYLE,
GRUEL,
WILSON,
Defendants.
17-CV-1207
MERIT REVIEW OPINION
SUE E. MYERSCOUGH, U.S. District Judge.
Plaintiff proceeds pro se from his incarceration in the Pontiac
Correctional Center. His Complaint is before the Court for a merit
review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. This section requires the
Court to identify cognizable claims stated by the Complaint or
dismiss claims that are not cognizable.1 In reviewing the complaint,
the Court accepts the factual allegations as true, liberally
construing them in Plaintiff's favor and taking Plaintiff’s pro se
1
A prisoner who has had three prior actions dismissed for failure to state a claim or as frivolous or malicious can
no longer proceed in forma pauperis unless the prisoner is under “imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28
U.S.C. § 1915(g).
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status into account. Turley v. Rednour, 729 F.3d 645, 649 (7th Cir.
2013). However, conclusory statements and labels are insufficient.
Enough facts must be provided to "'state a claim for relief that is
plausible on its face.'" Alexander v. U.S., 721 F.3d 418, 422 (7th
Cir. 2013)(quoted cite omitted).
Plaintiff alleges that, on April 11, 2016, he told Officer Shelton
repeatedly that Plaintiff intended to kill himself. Officer Shelton
responded with indifference, telling Plaintiff to go ahead. Plaintiff
then overdosed on medication and cut his upper arm. He awoke to
unidentified officers kicking him and was taken to the infirmary to
have his stomach pumped. He filed a grievance about this incident
which led to retaliation by Officer Gruel in the form of taking
Plaintiff’s property.
On a separate incident against different officers, Plaintiff
alleges that Officers Pyle and Wilson have been sexually harassing
and sexually assaulting Plaintiff. In the Fall of 2016, Officer Wilson
allegedly fondled Plaintiff’s private area. On November 21, 2016,
Officer Pyle told Plaintiff that Plaintiff would have to “suck [Pyle’s]
dick” to receive a dinner tray. Days later Officer Pyle told Plaintiff
that Plaintiff would have to perform a strip tease dance to receive a
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dinner tray. Plaintiff filed a grievance against Officer Pyle, which
allegedly led to Officer Pyle retaliating against Plaintiff by destroying
Plaintiff’s mail.
With regard to the first incident, Plaintiff states a plausible
Eighth Amendment claim against Defendant Shelton for deliberate
indifference to Plaintiff’s serious mental health needs. Plaintiff also
states a First Amendment retaliation claim against Defendants
Shelton and Gruel for filing a grievance on this incident.
With regard to the second incident, Plaintiff states Eighth
Amendment claims for sexual assault and harassment against
Defendants Pyle and Wilson. Plaintiff also states a retaliation claim
against Defendant Pyle.
The two incidents are not related and are against different
defendants, so the claims arising from the two incidents are not
properly joined in one action. However, given the seriousness of the
allegations, the complaint will be sent for service as is. Defendants
may move to sever the claims after they have been served. If the
claims are severed, Plaintiff will be assessed another filing fee in the
severed case.
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:
1)
Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28
U.S.C. § 1915A, the Court finds that Plaintiff states the following
claims: Eighth Amendment claim for deliberate indifference to
Plaintiff’s serious mental health needs against Defendant Shelton;
First Amendment retaliation claim against Defendants Shelton and
Gruel; Eighth Amendment claims for sexual assault and
harassment against Defendants Pyle and Wilson; and First
Amendment retaliation claim against Defendant Pyle. This case
proceeds solely on the claims identified in this paragraph. Any
additional claims shall not be included in the case, except at the
Court’s discretion on motion by a party for good cause shown or
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15.
2)
This case is now in the process of service. Plaintiff is
advised to wait until counsel has appeared for Defendants before
filing any motions, in order to give Defendants notice and an
opportunity to respond to those motions. Motions filed before
Defendants' counsel has filed an appearance will generally be
denied as premature. Plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the
Court at this time, unless otherwise directed by the Court.
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3)
The Court will attempt service on Defendants by mailing
each Defendant a waiver of service. Defendants have 60 days from
the date the waiver is sent to file an Answer. If Defendants have not
filed Answers or appeared through counsel within 90 days of the
entry of this order, Plaintiff may file a motion requesting the status
of service. After Defendants have been served, the Court will enter
an order setting discovery and dispositive motion deadlines.
4)
With respect to a Defendant who no longer works at the
address provided by Plaintiff, the entity for whom that Defendant
worked while at that address shall provide to the Clerk said
Defendant's current work address, or, if not known, said
Defendant's forwarding address. This information shall be used
only for effectuating service. Documentation of forwarding
addresses shall be retained only by the Clerk and shall not be
maintained in the public docket nor disclosed by the Clerk.
5)
Defendants shall file an answer within 60 days of the
date the waiver is sent by the Clerk. A motion to dismiss is not an
answer. The answer should include all defenses appropriate under
the Federal Rules. The answer and subsequent pleadings shall be
to the issues and claims stated in this Opinion. In general, an
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answer sets forth Defendants' positions. The Court does not rule
on the merits of those positions unless and until a motion is filed by
Defendants. Therefore, no response to the answer is necessary or
will be considered.
6)
This District uses electronic filing, which means that,
after Defense counsel has filed an appearance, Defense counsel will
automatically receive electronic notice of any motion or other paper
filed by Plaintiff with the Clerk. Plaintiff does not need to mail to
Defense counsel copies of motions and other papers that Plaintiff
has filed with the Clerk. However, this does not apply to discovery
requests and responses. Discovery requests and responses are not
filed with the Clerk. Plaintiff must mail his discovery requests and
responses directly to Defendants' counsel. Discovery requests or
responses sent to the Clerk will be returned unfiled, unless they are
attached to and the subject of a motion to compel. Discovery does
not begin until Defense counsel has filed an appearance and the
Court has entered a scheduling order, which will explain the
discovery process in more detail.
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7)
Counsel for Defendants is hereby granted leave to depose
Plaintiff at his place of confinement. Counsel for Defendants shall
arrange the time for the deposition.
8)
Plaintiff shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, of
any change in his mailing address and telephone number.
Plaintiff's failure to notify the Court of a change in mailing address
or phone number will result in dismissal of this lawsuit, with
prejudice.
9)
If a Defendants fails to sign and return a waiver of service
to the clerk within 30 days after the waiver is sent, the Court will
take appropriate steps to effect formal service through the U.S.
Marshal's service on that Defendant and will require that Defendant
to pay the full costs of formal service pursuant to Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 4(d)(2).
10)
Within 10 days of receiving from Defendants' counsel an
authorization to release medical records, Plaintiff is directed to sign
and return the authorization to Defendants' counsel.
11)
The clerk is directed to enter the standard order
granting Plaintiff's in forma pauperis petition and assessing an
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initial partial filing fee, if not already done, and to attempt
service on Defendants pursuant to the standard procedures.
12)
The Clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified
protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act.
ENTERED: June 5, 2017
FOR THE COURT:
Sue E. Myerscough
SUE E. MYERSCOUGH
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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