Jarvis v. Illinois River Correctional Center et al

Filing 7

MERIT REVIEW OPINION Entered by Judge Harold A. Baker on 4/9/2018. See written Order. Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the court finds that the plaintiff states an Eighth Amendment claim for conditions of c onfinement against Defendants Bailey and Curtis. This case is now in the process of service. The clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The clerk is d irected to terminate Illinois River Correctional Center, Justin Hammers, Brad Johnson, Burner, M. Stein, Thousand, Lonn Howarter, Stufflebean, S. Harrison, A. Brooks and Robbie Johnson as defendants. The clerk is directed to attempt service on Defendants Matthew Curtis and Bailey pursuant to the standard procedures. Plaintiffs motion for counsel 5 is denied, with leave to renew upon demonstrating that he made attempts to hire his own counsel.(ED, ilcd)

E-FILED

Monday, 09 April, 2018 03:57:15 PM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
DELANEY JARVIS,
Plaintiff,
v.
ILLINOIS RIVER
CORRECTIONAL CENTER,
et al.,
Defendants.

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18-CV-1059

MERIT REVIEW AND CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER
The plaintiff, proceeding pro se, and currently incarcerated at
Illinois River Correctional Center, was granted leave to proceed in
forma pauperis. The case is now before the court for a merit review
of plaintiff’s claims. The court is required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A to
“screen” the plaintiff’s complaint, and through such process to
identify and dismiss any legally insufficient claim, or the entire
action if warranted. A claim is legally insufficient if it “(1) is
frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may
be granted; or (2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is
immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
In reviewing the complaint, the court accepts the factual
allegations as true, liberally construing them in the plaintiff's favor.
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)(citation
omitted). The court has reviewed the complaint and has also held a
merit review hearing in order to give the plaintiff a chance to
personally explain his claims to the court.
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
alleging that he was never informed of his right to call witnesses at
a disciplinary hearing for an alleged fight that Plaintiff claims he
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was not involved in. Therefore, he was denied such right at his
disciplinary hearing. Plaintiff also alleges that he was housed for
31 days in a segregation cell that had feces smeared on the walls
and smelled like urine. Plaintiff alleges Officer Bailey put Plaintiff
in that cell. Plaintiff also alleges that he spoke to Correctional
Officer Curtis about the cell, and that Officer Curtis said he would
send someone to clean up the cell or provide Plaintiff with some
cleaning supplies, but neither of those ever happened.
Plaintiff states an Eighth Amendment conditions-ofconfinement claim for the alleged conditions he endured in his
segregation cell against Defendants Bailey and Curtis. Wilson v.
Seiter, 501 U.S. 294 (1991). Plaintiff cannot sue the warden just
because the warden is in charge. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,
676 (2009), and the correctional facility is not a person amenable to
suit under §1983. See Powell v. Cook County Jail, 814 F. Supp.
757, 758 (N.D. Ill. 1993) (holding the Cook County Jail was not a
person under Section 1983). Defendants Illinois River Correctional
Center and Warden Justin Hammers will be dismissed.
Plaintiff does not state claim for not being able to call
witnesses at his disciplinary hearing. The due process protections
outlined in Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974) are triggered
only if plaintiff suffered an “atypical and significant hardship” in
relation to ordinary prison life. Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472,
484 (1995) (30 days in segregation was not a sufficient deprivation).
In addition, the Court is aware from other cases that the notice of
hearing form typically provided to inmates within the Illinois
Department of Corrections includes a section for an inmate to list
witnesses. Plaintiff provides no allegations to this effect, and,
therefore, the Court will dismiss the due process claim without
prejudice to amendment.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:
1.
Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28
U.S.C. § 1915A, the court finds that the plaintiff states an Eighth
Amendment claim for conditions of confinement against Defendants
Bailey and Curtis. Any additional claims shall not be included in
the case, except at the court’s discretion on motion by a party for
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good cause shown or pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
15.
2.
This case is now in the process of service. The plaintiff is
advised to wait until counsel has appeared for the defendants
before filing any motions, in order to give the 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. The plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the
court at this time, unless otherwise directed by the court.
3.
The court will attempt service on the defendants by
mailing each defendant a waiver of service. The defendants have 60
days from the date the waiver is sent to file an answer. If the
defendants have not filed answers or appeared through counsel
within 90 days of the entry of this order, the plaintiff may file a
motion requesting the status of service. After the 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 the 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.
The 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
answer sets forth the defendants' positions. The court does not rule
on the merits of those positions unless and until a motion is filed by
the 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
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filed by the plaintiff with the clerk. The plaintiff does not need to
mail to defense counsel copies of motions and other papers that the
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. The 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.
7.
Counsel for the defendants is hereby granted leave to
depose the plaintiff at his place of confinement. Counsel for the
defendants shall arrange the time for the deposition.
8.
The plaintiff shall immediately notify the court, in
writing, of any change in his mailing address and telephone
number. The 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 defendant 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.
Marshals 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. The clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified
protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act.
11. The clerk is directed to terminate Illinois River
Correctional Center, Justin Hammers, Brad Johnson, Burner, M.
Stein, Thousand, Lonn Howarter, Stufflebean, S. Harrison, A.
Brooks and Robbie Johnson as defendants.
12. The clerk is directed to attempt service on Defendants
Matthew Curtis and Bailey pursuant to the standard procedures.
13. Plaintiff’s motion for counsel [5] is denied, with leave to
renew upon demonstrating that he made attempts to hire his own
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counsel. Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007). This
typically requires writing to several lawyers and attaching the
responses. If Plaintiff renews his motion, he should set forth how
far he has gone in school, any jobs he has held inside and outside
of prison, any classes he has taken in prison, and any prior
litigation experience he has.
Entered this 9th day of April, 2018
/s/Harold A. Baker
___________________________________________
HAROLD A. BAKER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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