Hughes v. Durrent et al
Filing
120
MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order. The IDOC Defendants' motion for summary judgment 95 is granted in part and denied in part. Hughes' claim for failure to intervene against Officer Dobkowski is dismissed with prejudice. Officer Dobkowski is di smissed and terminated. The motion is otherwise denied. Hughes may proceed on his claims, consistent with the accompanying opinion, for excessive force against Sgt. Durrett and for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need against Lt. Brown. Dr. Obaisi's motion for summary judgment 68 is granted in its entirety. Dr. Obaisi is dismissed and terminated. The Clerk of Court is directed to correct the spelling of Defendant Durrett's name in the caption. A status hearing is set for September 28, 2017 at 10:15 a.m. to discuss the next steps in the case. Defendants' counsel shall arrange for Plaintiff to be present by telephone at the next status hearing. Signed by the Honorable Jorge L. Alonso on 9/11/2017. Notice mailed by judge's staff (ntf, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
CAVINAUGH L. HUGHES (M-18138),
Plaintiff,
No. 15 C 6432
v.
Judge Jorge L. Alonso
SARGENT DURRENT, et al.
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Cavinaugh L. Hughes, an Illinois state prisoner, has brought this pro se civil
rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Hughes claims that Defendants, correctional officials
and health care providers who work at the Stateville Correctional Center, violated his
constitutional rights by engaging in excessive force against him and acting with deliberate
indifference to his medical needs.
More specifically, Hughes contends that Defendants
unjustifiably sprayed him with OC pepper spray and then denied him follow-up medical care.
All of the Defendants, both Dr. Saleh Obaisi, a medical professional employed by
Wexford Health Sources Inc. (hereafter “ Dr. Obaisi”), and the correctional staff (hereafter “the
IDOC Defendants”), have filed motions for summary judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
For the following reasons, the Court grants Dr. Obaisi’s motion [68] in its entirety and grants in
part and denies in part the IDOC Defendants’ motion [95].
I.
A.
Legal Standard
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a), this Court “shall grant summary
judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the
movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
To establish that a material fact is
undisputed, a party “must support the assertion by . . . citing to particular parts of materials in the
record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or
declarations, stipulations . . . admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials.”
Rule
56(c)(1). “The court need consider only the cited materials, but it may consider other materials
in the record.” Rule 56(c)(3). Courts must “construe all facts and draw all reasonable inferences
in favor of the nonmoving party.” Van den Bosch v. Raemisch, 658 F.3d 778, 785 (7th Cir.
2011), citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986).
Once the party moving for summary judgment demonstrates the absence of a disputed
issue of material fact, “the burden shifts to the non-moving party to provide evidence of specific
facts creating a genuine dispute.” Carroll v. Lynch, 698 F.3d 561, 564 (7th Cir. 2012). The nonmovant must go beyond the allegations of his complaint and “set forth specific facts showing
that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Hannemann v. Southern Door County School Dist., 673
F.3d 746, 751 (7th Cir. 2012). A genuine issue of material fact exists only if there is evidence
“to permit a jury to return a verdict for” the nonmoving party. Egonmwan v. Cook County
Sheriff's Dept., 602 F.3d 845, 849 (7th Cir. 2010); Carroll, 698 F.3d at 564 (“[m]ere
metaphysical doubt” about material facts is not enough).
B.
Northern District of Illinois Local Rule 56.1
Local Rule 56.1 “is designed, in part, to aid the district court, ‘which does not have the
advantage of the parties’ familiarity with the record and often cannot afford to spend the time
combing the record to locate the relevant information,’ in determining whether a trial is
necessary.” Delapaz v. Richardson, 634 F.3d 895, 899 (7th Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). Under
Local Rule 56.1(a)(3), the moving party must provide “a statement of material facts as to which
2
the moving party contends there is no genuine issue.” Ammons v. Aramark Unif. Servs., Inc.,
368 F.3d 809, 817 (7th Cir. 2004) (quoting N.D. Ill. L.R. 56.1(a)); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).
The opposing party must then “file ‘a response to each numbered paragraph in the moving
party’s statement, including, in the case of any disagreement, specific references to the affidavits,
parts of the record, and other supporting materials relied upon.’” Cracco v. Vitran, Exp., Inc.,
559 F.3d 625, 632 (7th Cir. 2009) (quoting N.D. Ill. L.R. 56.1(b)(3)(B)). The opposing party
may also present a separate statement of additional facts that requires the denial of summary
judgment. See Ciomber v. Coop. Plus, Inc., 527 F.3d 635, 643 (7th Cir. 2008) (citing N.D. Ill.
L.R. 56.1(b)(3)(C)). A court may consider true any uncontested fact in the movant’s Rule 56.1
Statement that is supported by the record and is not addressed by the opposing party. Raymond
v. Ameritech Corp., 442 F.3d 600, 608 (7th Cir. 2006); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2); Local
Rule 56.1(b)(3)(C).
“District courts are entitled to expect strict compliance with Rule 56.1.” Ciomber, 527
F.3d at 643 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). A plaintiff’s pro se status does not
excuse him from complying with these rules. Greer v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Chicago, 267
F.3d 723, 727 (7th Cir. 2001); Cady v. Sheahan, 467 F.3d 1057, 1061 (7th Cir. 2006)
(“even pro se litigants must follow rules of civil procedure”).
As contemplated by Local Rule 56.1, Dr. Obaisi and the IDOC Defendants each filed a
statement of uncontested material facts supporting summary judgment in their favor. (Obaisi.
Stmt. of Fact, Doc. 69 (“Obaisi SOF”); IDOC Defs. Stmt. of Fact, Doc. 97 (“IDOC SOF”).) All
Defendants also filed and served on Hughes a Local Rule 56.2 Notice, which explains in detail
the requirements of Local Rule 56.1. (Docs. 72, 98.)
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Hughes filed several documents, which consist of multiple sub-parts, in response to
Defendants’ motions. As is relevant here, Hughes filed responses to both sets of Defendants’
statements of uncontested fact. (“Pl’s Resp. to Obaisi’s Undisputed Material Facts,” Doc. 106 at
1-13 (“Pl. Resp. Obaisi SOF”); “Pl.’s Resp. to Defs.’ Material Facts [as to IDOC Defendants]”,
Doc. 103 at 2-14 (“Pl. Resp. IDOC SOF”).) Hughes also submitted statements of additional
facts. (“Pl. Set of Additional Material Facts for Trial [as to Obaisi].” Doc. 106 at 13-15 (“Pl.
Obaisi SOAF”); “Pl. Set of Additional Material Genuine Facts for Trial [as to IDOC
Defendants],” Doc. 103 at 14-15 (“Pl. IDOC SOAF”).) Additionally, Hughes submitted two
declarations, one in support of his claim against Dr. Obaisi (Doc. 108 at 1-3, (“Pl. Dec.
(Obaisi)”)), and one regarding his claims against the IDOC Defendants (Doc. 103 at 16-18, (“Pl.
Dec. (IDOC)”)), and approximately 20 pages of exhibits in support of his claim against Dr.
Obaisi (Doc. 108 at 5-25) and approximately 25 pages of exhibits in support of his claims against
the IDOC Defendants (Doc. 103 at 21-55).
Where Hughes has pointed to evidence contrary to Defendants’ statements of fact in his
responses to those statements, the Court will consider that evidence. The Court will, in general,
incorporate Hughes’ factual assertions to the extent they provide additional facts relevant to the
Court’s analysis, are supported by record evidence, or are such that Hughes’ properly could
testify as to them at trial. The Court further will rely upon Hughes’ references to exhibits where
they are relevant to the Court’s analysis and may be admissible at trial. But the Court will not
dig through the record to identify disputed issues of fact. See Hemsworth v. Quotesmith.com,
Inc., 476 F.3d 487, 490 (7th Cir. 2007) (“In considering a motion for summary judgment, the
district court is not required to scour the record in search of evidence to defeat the motion; the
4
nonmoving party must identify with reasonable particularity the evidence upon which the party
relies.”).
Hughes, however, cannot create genuine issues of material fact by relying upon legal
arguments, conclusions, or suppositions, which do not constitute “facts.” See Judson Atkinson
Candies, Inc. v. Latini-Hohberger Dhimantec, 529 F.3d 371, 382 n.2 (7th Cir. 2008); see also
Almy v. Kickert Sch. Bus Line, Inc., No. 08-cv-2902, 2013 WL 80367, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 7,
2013) (“[C]ourts are not required to ‘wade through improper denials and legal arguments in
search of a genuinely disputed fact’”) (quoting Bordelon v. Chi. Sch. Reform Bd. of Trs., 233
F.3d 524, 529 (7th Cir. 2000)). Nor may Hughes, without demonstrating some source of
contrary evidence or personal knowledge of the events, counter Defendants’ uncontested facts
within their knowledge. See Fed. R. Evid. 602. Hughes cannot, for example, counter Dr.
Obaisi’s statement that other than via the Offender Injury Report, he was never notified/informed
by any person that Hughes had requested an appointment with him, or Dr. Obaisi’s statement
that he interpreted the Report’s notation that Hughes was “standing in the shower” to mean his
eyes were being flushed, unless Hughes has an evidentiary foundation for disputing those
representations. (Pl. Resp. Obaisi SOF ¶ 40, 37.)
Finally, the Court will not consider Hughes’ statements of additional facts because they
are not factual assertions but rather consist of a series of open-ended legal questions beginning in
“whether,” e.g., “Whether Dr. Obaisi had the subjective knowledge which condoned his
deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s medical needs”; . . . “Whether Defendant Durrett used
excessive force when he used OC spray on Plaintiff while he was handcuffed in good faith or
bad faith.” (Pl. Obaisi SOAF ¶ 2; Pl. IDOC SOAF ¶ 1.)
5
With these guidelines established, the Court turns to the facts of this case.
II.
A.
Factual Background
Parties
Plaintiff Hughes is an IDOC inmate who was incarcerated at Stateville Correctional
Center (“Stateville”) in August 2014 and is presently incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center
(“Pontiac”). (IDOC SOF ¶ 1.) In August 2014, Hughes was incarcerated in segregation at
Stateville and was participating in the “weapons violator/staff assaulter program” as discipline
for possessing a shank in IDOC custody. (Id. ¶ 5.)
IDOC Defendants Sergeant Durrett, Officer Dobkowski, and Lieutenant Brown all
worked in F-House at Stateville during August 2014. (Id. ¶¶ 2-4.) Defendant Dr. Obaisi is
currently, and was in August 2014, the medical director at Stateville. (Obaisi SOF ¶ 2.)
B.
Hughes’ Version of Events
On August 5, 2014 at 8:51 a.m., Hughes was in a chow line that had stalled and backed
up on the stairs. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 1.) Correctional Officer Moldovan ordered Hughes to keep
moving; in response, Hughes attempted to explain that the line had backed up and he could not
move. (Id.) Officer Moldovan called Hughes a “striper” (a term for inmates in the “weapons
violator program”) and became aggressive. (Id.) Officer Moldovan grabbed Hughes’ collar and
snatched his I.D. card. (Id. ¶ 2.) Hughes reached back for his I.D., making contact with Officer
Moldovan’s hand. (Id.; Pl.’s Dep. at 15: L 13-16.) Hughes never closed his fist to strike Officer
Moldovan and never touched Moldovan’s face. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 2; Pl.’s Dep. at 26: L 8-14.)
A “10-10” (officer in distress call) issued, and the responding officers immediately subdued,
handcuffed, and then placed Hughes on the ground. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 3.) Hughes never
6
resisted. (Id. ¶¶ 3-4.)
Hughes agrees that the use of force up to this point was reasonable, as
was handcuffing him. (IDOC SOF ¶ 30.)
Several minutes later, Defendant Sgt. Durrett, shouting expletives, approached the second
gallery landing where Hughes lay handcuffed on the ground. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 4.) He came
from two flights of stairs down, and as he was coming to the top of the stairs at the second
gallery, he pulled out his OC pepper spray and sprayed Hughes 3-5 times in rapid succession on
the exposed side of his face. (Id.; Pl.’s Dep. at 21-22.) Sgt. Durrett gave no directives prior to
spraying Hughes. (Pl.’s Dep. at 22: L. 8-14.) None of the officers present attempted to stop Sgt.
Durrett from using his OC pepper spray. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 5.) Hughes does not know how
long each burst lasted. (IDOC SOF ¶ 28.)
Hughes was then taken to a non-working shower on the first gallery of F-House. (Pl’s
Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 5.) It is an unofficial practice at Stateville to use this area of showers as a waiting
room for prisoners who have just committed a disciplinary infraction. (Pl.’s Dep. at 97-99: L. 824, 1-6.) A medical technician, Shanal Barnett, then arrived to examine Hughes and document
his complaints. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 6.) Hughes informed CMT Barnett that he coincidentally
had a healthcare appointment scheduled with Dr. Obaisi that day for an unrelated issue. (Pl.’s
Dec. (Obaisi) ¶ 4.) Barnett’s examination lasted about five minutes. (Pl.’s Dep. at 98-99.)
Hughes had not rinsed off the chemical residue at this point. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 6.)
CMT Barnett then told the F-House Lieutenant, Defendant Lt. Brown, that Hughes
needed to have his eyes flushed out and needed to go to the healthcare unit. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶
6; Pl.’s Dep. at 98-99: L. 22-24, 1-9.) Lt. Brown responded, “we’ll get him up there”.
(Pl’s
Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 6.) Lt. Brown then had Hughes moved to the F-House holding facility, which is
7
about a one minute walk from the shower area. (Id.; Pl.’s Dep. at 100-101.) There, Hughes and
Lt. Brown talked for about five minutes, during which time Hughes described the altercation
with Officer Moldovan, asked why he was sprayed when he was already handcuffed, and asked
why it was taking so long to get to the healthcare unit while the OC pepper spray continued to set
in. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC) ¶ 6; Pl.’s Dep. at 101.)
Lt. Brown left, went into F-House, and returned with another officer. (Pl’s Dec. (IDOC)
¶ 7.) Hughes was ordered to “cuff up”, and Lt. Brown instructed the other officer to escort
Hughes to Internal Affairs. (Id.) Hughes asked Lt. Brown when he would go to the healthcare
unit, and Lt. Brown again said “we’ll get you up there”. (Id. ¶ 8.) Hughes then sat through the
entire internal affairs investigation, which lasted until about 4:00 or 4:30 that day, with OC
pepper spray residue in his eyes, face, and clothing. (Id.)
At about 4:00 or 4:30, Hughes was taken to the healthcare unit and placed in a strip cell
with no working toilet or sink. (Pl.’s Dec. (Obaisi) ¶ 3.) Hughes still had OC pepper spray on
his face, skin, hair, and clothing. (Id.) As soon as Hughes arrived at the healthcare unit, he
repeatedly requested to be seen by any medical staff due his exposure to OC pepper spray. (Id. ¶
4.) Hughes showed the visible orange stains on his clothing left by the OC to every member of
the medical staff that walked by. (Id. ¶ 5.) He also told them that he already coincidentally had
an appointment with Dr. Obaisi that day, so he should be seen for that in any event. (Id.)
Hughes was not, however, seen; instead, he remained covered in OC pepper spray
throughout the night of August 5, 2014 through 12:00 p.m. August 6, 2014, when he was
transferred to Pontiac. (Id. ¶ 6.) There he was examined by a physician and prescribed over-thecounter Visine. (Id.; Obaisi SOF ¶ 26.)
8
C.
IDOC Defendants’ Version of Events
At approximately 8:51 a.m. on August 5, 2014, while officers were opening cells for
weapons violators/staff assaulters chow, Hughes along with a group of inmates gathered on the
bottom of the stairs on the second gallery of F-House. (IDOC SOF ¶ 8.) Officer Moldovan gave
Hughes three orders to go down the stairs, all of which Hughes disobeyed. (Id. ¶¶ 9–15.)
Moldovan then instructed Hughes to hand him his inmate I.D. and report to his cell, but instead,
Hughes responded, “I am not doing anything you tell me.” (Id. ¶¶ 15-16.) Moldovan removed
Hughes’ I.D. Card that was clipped on his jumpsuit. (Id. ¶ 17.) In response, Hughes began
yelling at Moldovan and approached him. (Id. ¶ 18.)
Moldovan backed away, but Hughes pursued and pushed him up against the wall. (Id. ¶¶
18–19.) Hughes became aggressive and started striking Moldovan in the face with a closed fist
several times.
(Id. ¶ 20.)
Moldovan immediately covered to protect himself as Hughes
continued throwing multiple closed fists. (Id. ¶ 21.) Defendant Officer Dobkowski and another
officer, Officer Gutierrez, responded and pulled Hughes off of Moldovan in an attempt to secure
him. (Id. ¶ 22.) But Hughes resisted, despite Gutierrez giving Hughes direct orders to stop and
cuff up. (Id. ¶ 23.)
Defendant Sgt. Durrett heard the commotion, responded, and observed Moldovan and
Gutierrez attempting to restrain Hughes. (Id. ¶¶ 24–25.) Durrett radioed the 10-10 (officer
distress call) to alert other officers. (Id. ¶ 25.) While Hughes resisted being secured, Durrett
administrated a one-second burst of OC pepper spray to Hughes’ facial area. (Id. ¶¶ 26–27.)
The OC pepper spray was sprayed on the responding officers as well as Hughes. (Id. ¶¶ 40–41.)
9
After Durrett sprayed OC, Dobkowski and two other officers took Hughes to the ground,
and two officers cuffed him. (Id. ¶¶ 31–32.) In accordance with IDOC policy, Hughes was
escorted to the first gallery shower in F-House where he stood underneath the shower to wash off
the OC spray. (Id. ¶¶ 33–34, 46.) Durrett, Dobkowski, Moldovan, and Gutierrez went to the
healthcare unit for OC exposure. (Id. ¶¶ 40-41.)
At approximately 9:20 a.m., CMT Barnett visited Hughes in the F-House shower for
treatment. (Id. ¶¶ 42–43.) Lt. Brown also saw Hughes in the first gallery F-House shower,
which was operational at the time. (Id. ¶¶ 44-45.)
In accordance with IDOC policy, CMT
Barnett documented her examination in an “Offender Injury Report” and provided it to the
healthcare unit to be reviewed by a physician. (Id. ¶ 52.) The report says that Hughes was
“standing in the shower in F-House” at the time of the examination. (Obaisi SOF ¶ 34.) The
report states that Hughes was sprayed with a chemical agent. (Id. ¶ 33.) The report notes that
Hughes told CMT Barnett, “this shit burns,” but states that Hughes’ vital signs were normal and
notes no distress. (Id.) CMT Barnett’s “objective findings” written in the report were that
Hughes had a swollen right eye with no further injuries. (Id.) Hughes already coincidentally had
a healthcare appointment scheduled that day for an unrelated matter, and CMT Barnett wrote in
the report that Hughes “will f/u [follow up] with MD @ that time”. (Id. ¶ 36; IDOC SOF ¶ 50.)
After Barnett treated Hughes in the first gallery F-House shower, Hughes was taken to
the holding cell outside F-House. (IDOC SOF ¶ 53.) Lt. Brown did not escort Hughes to this
holding cell, nor did he instruct anyone to escort Hughes anywhere after seeing him in the first
gallery shower in F-House. (Id. ¶ 54.) No one instructed Brown to escort Hughes to the
healthcare unit or to wash Hughes’ eyes out. (Id. ¶ 51.) Brown did not see Hughes after seeing
10
him in the first gallery shower in F-House. (Id. ¶ 55.) Hughes sat in the holding cell for about
five minutes, and then he was taken to the internal affairs unit for investigation of the incident.
(Id. ¶ 56.)
D.
The Internal Affairs Investigation
At the Internal Affairs Office, Investigator Clements interviewed Hughes. (IDOC SOF ¶
57.) During this interview, Hughes stated the CO grabbed the middle of his jumpsuit and
snatched his I.D. Card, and then Hughes tried to grab his I.D. back from the CO. (Id. ¶ 58.)
Hughes further testified, “there was some shoving and the rest is a blur.” (Id. ¶ 59.) Once the
interview concluded, Hughes waited for a transfer to another facility, but due to an issue with the
transfer, it did not occur until the next day. (Id. ¶ 61.) Until then, Hughes waited in the
healthcare unit at Stateville. (Id. ¶¶ 61–62.) The next day, on August 6, 2014, at approximately
1:00 p.m., the tactical officers from Pontiac arrived to transfer Hughes. (Id. ¶ 63.)
At 2:00 p.m., before leaving for Pontiac, Hughes appeared before the Adjustment
Committee for a hearing of a disciplinary ticket, issued by Officer Dobkowski, for the assault of
Moldovan. (Id. ¶ 64.) Dobkowski cited Hughes for Offense DR. 504.100, Violent Assault of
Any Person, for striking Moldovan several times in the face and head with a closed fist. (Id.
¶65.) Hughes pleaded not guilty, and claimed an officer grabbed his I.D. card off his collar; he
further claimed he did not strike the officer, but admits they had a scuffle. (Id. ¶ 67.) The
Committee found that Hughes struck Moldovan several times in the face and head with a closed
fist, stating that the basis for the decision was both Dobkowski’s observation of the assault and
medical records that showed Moldovan sustained swelling to the right and left side of his head as
well as a cut on the inside of his lip. (Id. ¶ 68.) Accordingly, the Committee found Hughes
11
guilty of violently assaulting Moldovan and revoked one year of his good conduct credit,
assigned him to one year of C grade, indeterminate segregation, one year commissary restriction,
six months of contact visits restriction, and transferred him to a different facility. (Id. ¶ 69.)
After the hearing, Hughes was transferred to Pontiac. (Id. ¶ 70.)
E.
Dr. Obaisi
Dr. Obaisi was not present when Durrett sprayed Hughes with OC pepper spray. (Obaisi
SOF ¶ 15.) Dr. Obaisi has no memory of CMT Barnett ever orally discussing with him her
examination and assessment of Hughes or the facts surrounding her evaluation of Hughes. (Id.
¶¶ 27-28.)
It is Dr. Obaisi’s practice to see patients or engage in administrative duties from
approximately 9:00 a.m. until between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. each day. (Id. ¶ 29.) Between 4:00
and 5:00 p.m., in addition to other charting duties, Dr. Obaisi reviews Offender Injury Reports,
which are provided to him for approval. (Id. ¶ 30.) Thus, although he does not remember doing
so, it would have been his custom and practice to have reviewed the Offender Injury Report
prepared by CMT Barnett between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. on August 5, 2014. (Id. ¶ 31.) Dr. Obaisi
in fact signed the report that day. (Id.)
Prior to reviewing the report at this time, Dr. Obaisi did not know that Hughes had been
exposed to OC pepper spray. (Id. ¶ 39.) He also had not seen Hughes in the healthcare unit that
day. (Id.) On August 5-6, 2014, other than via CMT Barnett’s Offender Injury Report, Dr.
Obaisi was never informed or notified by any member of the health care unit, correctional
officer, IDOC staff, or any other person that Hughes was requesting to be seen by him or any
other medical doctor. (Id. ¶ 39.)
12
Dr. Obaisi is trained in the medical management of individuals sprayed with chemical
agents such as OC pepper spray. (Id. ¶ 46.) The standard medical treatment for a person who
has been exposed to OC pepper spray is to rinse the eyes with water. (Id. ¶ 48.) This can be
performed by a person without medical training. (Id.) There is no requirement that an individual
exposed to a chemical agent such as OC pepper spray must be evaluated by a medical doctor
immediately or otherwise. (Id. ¶ 38.)
Dr. Obaisi interpreted CMT Barnett’s notation on the Offender Injury Report that Hughes
“was standing in the shower” to mean that he had his eyes flushed with water at that time. (Id. ¶
35.) Dr. Obaisi’s interpretation of CMT Barnett’s plan was that Hughes could present for
evaluation, if required, at the coincidentally pre-scheduled appointment that day. (Id. ¶ 37.)
Having so interpreted the report, Dr. Obaisi applied his medical judgment based upon his
education, training, and experience as a medical doctor and past experience with individuals who
were exposed in the eyes with OC pepper spray, and decided, consistent with the applicable
standard of care, to sign off on the report by checking the box that Hughes could see him on an
p.r.n. (as needed) basis if he had any residual complaints. (Id. ¶ 41.) Dr. Obaisi never personally
talked with Hughes or examined him regarding the August 5, 2014 incident. (Id. ¶ 42.)
III.
A.
Analysis
Excessive Force (Sgt. Durrett)
Based solely on the allegations in Hughes’ complaint, the Court allowed Hughes to
proceed on a claim that Durrett’s use of OC pepper spray constituted excessive force. Durrett
now argues that summary judgment should be granted in his favor because Hughes’ excessive
13
force claim is Heck-barred and/or the evidence establishes that he deployed the OC pepper spray
in a good faith effort to restore order. (Doc. 96, IDOC Defs.’ Mem., 7-8, 13-14.)
The Court first addresses Durrett’s argument that Hughes’ excessive force claim is Heckbarred. Under Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), a § 1983 plaintiff may not proceed with
a claim, if a favorable ruling “would necessarily imply the invalidity of his conviction or
sentence” unless and until “the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal,
expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such
determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.”
Heck, 512 U.S. at 486-87. “[F]or this purpose the ruling in a prison disciplinary proceeding is a
conviction.” Moore v. Mahone, 652 F.3d 722, 723 (7th Cir. 2011) (citing Edwards v. Balisok,
520 U.S. 641 (1997)); see Gilbert v. Cook, 512 F.3d 899, 900 (7th Cir. 2008) (“[Edwards]
extends this doctrine to the decisions of prison disciplinary tribunals”). To properly apply Heck
and Edwards, a district court must analyze the relationship between the plaintiff’s § 1983 claim
and the charge on which he was convicted. VanGilder v. Baker, 435 F.3d 689, 691 (7th Cir.
2006). Here, Durrett argues that Hughes’ excessive force claim is Heck-barred because it
challenges the Disciplinary Committee’s finding of guilt on the assault charge. According to
Durrett, Hughes “is effectively challenging the Committee’s finding that he struck Moldovan to
recover damages in this action”. (Doc. 96, IDOC Defs.’ Mem. at 13.)
The Seventh Circuit has held that a plaintiff’s conviction for assaulting a correctional
officer does not “necessarily imply” that the officer used appropriate force after the assault.
Gilbert, 512 F.3d at 901. The court held “that Heck and Edwards do not affect litigation about
what happens after the crime is completed. Public officials who use force reasonably necessary
14
to subdue an aggressor are not liable on the merits; but whether the force was reasonable is a
question that may be litigated without transgressing Heck or Edwards.” Id. (emphasis in
original). A claim of excessive force subsequent to officer assault may, however, imply the
invalidity of a conviction if the plaintiff attempts to testify in a way that contradicts the
conviction's factual basis. Viramontes v. City of Chicago, 840 F.3d 423, 427–28 (7th Cir. 2016).
To balance this tension, the Seventh Circuit has repeatedly explained that the district court
should implement Heck and Edwards not by barring an excessive force claim in its entirety, but
should instead limit the claim by instructing the jury that it must take as true the facts proved at
the earlier criminal or disciplinary proceeding. Viramontes, 840 F.3d at 427–28; Moore, 652
F.3d at 722; see Gilbert, 512 F.3d at 902 (in presenting excessive force claim at trial, plaintiff did
not have to confess to assault in order to comply with Heck, but jury should have been instructed
that plaintiff struck a guard through a chuckhole, as found by disciplinary committee).
Here, Hughes has testified that he never touched Moldovan’s face and never closed his
face.
This depiction is irreconcilably inconsistent with his conviction by the Disciplinary
Committee for assaulting Moldovan, where the Committee found that Hughes struck Moldovan
“several times in the face and head with a closed fist”.
See, e.g., Moore, 652 F.3d at 724-25
(explaining that a Heck-barred denial of facts related to underlying offense includes plaintiff
portraying himself “as a lamb—the victim of a gratuitous, brutal attack,” in order to “strengthen
[his] claim of excessive force”); Teague v. Armstead, 82 F. Supp. 3d 817, 827 (N.D. Ill. 2015)
(“The factual basis for the relief [the plaintiff] seeks is, given Heck, implausible, for it is that the
plaintiff was the victim of an utterly unprovoked assault, and while that conceivably is true, it is
barred by Heck.”).
15
Thus, although the Court will allow Hughes to proceed on his excessive force claim
given that, as explained below, disputed issues of fact exist regarding the constitutionality of
Durrett’s response to the assault on Moldovan, Hughes will be barred from presenting to the jury
any evidence that contradicts his assault conviction’s factual basis. Accordingly, the Court will
instruct the jury that Hughes struck Moldovan several times in the face and head with a closed
fist during the altercation, that any statements to the contrary by Hughes or any other witness
must be ignored, and that what the jurors need to determine is whether Durrett used more force
than was reasonably necessary to subdue Hughes after the assault. See Gilbert, 512 F.3d at 902.
With this limitation in place, Hughes’ excessive force claim survives summary judgment because
he has otherwise raised disputed issues of fact.
“After incarceration, only the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain constitutes cruel
and unusual punishment forbidden by the Eighth Amendment.” Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312,
318-19 (1986) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); accord Kingsley v. Hendrickson,
135 S. Ct. 2466, 2475 (2015). The core inquiry in any excessive force case involving prisoners
is whether force was applied in a good faith effort to maintain or restore order, or, rather,
maliciously and sadistically to cause harm to the inmate. Guitron v. Paul, 675 F.3d 1044, 104546 (7th Cir. 2012) (quoting Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 7 (1992)). In many circumstances,
especially when faced with aggression or physical threat, valid penological justification may
exist for the use of OC pepper spray. Lewis v. Downey, 581 F.3d 467, 476–78 (7th Cir. 2009).
What must be decided in each case is whether the facts surrounding the spray’s deployment
demonstrated actual malice or sadistic purpose on the part of the user. Id. Factors relevant to the
inquiry include whether correctional officers perceived a threat to their safety or to that of other
16
inmates, whether there was a need for the application of force, whether the force used was
commensurate with the need for force, efforts made to temper the severity of force used, and the
extent of any injury suffered by the prisoner. Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321; Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7.
Notably, “summary judgment is often inappropriate in excessive force cases because the
evidence surrounding the officer's use of force is often susceptible of different interpretations.”
Cyrus v. Town of Mukwonago, 624 F.3d 856, 862 (7th Cir. 2010) (citing Catlin v. City of
Wheaton, 574 F.3d 361, 367 (7th Cir. 2009)).
Here, the Court cannot hold as a matter of law that Durrett acted in good faith and not
maliciously or wantonly. See Hudson, 503 U.S. at 5. Hughes testified that following the
altercation with Moldovan, the other officers handcuffed and subdued him without any resistance
on his part, and that several minutes later, Durrett approached him while he was on the ground
and deployed the OC pepper spray. If the Court accepts this version of events as to what
followed Hughes’ assault of Moldovan (while accepting the findings of the Disciplinary
Committee regarding the assault itself) and draws all reasonable inferences in Hughes’ favor as it
must at this stage, he has raised genuine issues of material facts regarding Durrett’s state of mind
when he deployed the OC spray. See Lewis, 581 F.3d at 477-78 (reversing district court's grant
of summary judgment on Eighth Amendment claim because there was a genuine issue of
material fact about the defendant's state of mind when he deployed taser gun); Hope v. Pelzer,
536 U.S. 730, 738 (2002) (reasoning that shackling inmate to hitching post was “obvious” Eighth
Amendment violation if, as inmate alleged, his threat to guards’ safety had abated after he was
subdued, handcuffed, and placed in leg irons); Mitchell v. Krueger, 594 F. App'x 874, 877 (7th
Cir. 2014)
(reversing grant of summary judgment on excessive force claim where guard
17
slammed prisoner on table after prisoner was restrained and had agreed to comply with orders).
Durrett’s state of mind on the facts of this case is an appropriate issue for a jury and cannot be
resolved at the summary judgment phase.
In support of summary judgment, Durrett simply ignores Hughes’ version of events and
instead premises the constitutionality of his actions upon his own contrary version of the facts.
(Doc. 96, IDOC Defs.’ Mem., 7-9.) In his reply brief, Durrett does acknowledge Hughes’
account, but contends that it is incredible, especially the notion that several minutes elapsed
between Hughes being taken to the ground and Durrett arriving on the scene. (Doc. 114, IDOC
Defs.’ Reply, 2-3.) These lines of argument are plainly inappropriate at this stage: at summary
judgment the Court must credit Hughes’ version of events. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255 (“The
evidence of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his
favor.”). The court’s job as to “a summary judgment motion is not to weigh evidence, make
credibility determinations, resolve factual disputes and swearing contest, or decide which
inferences to draw from the facts.” Miller v. Gonzalez, 761 F.3d 822, 827 (7th Cir. 2014).
Accordingly, the Court denies Durrett’s summary judgment on Hughes’ excessive force
claim. As explained, however, Plaintiff will be limited in the presentation of his claim at trial in
that he will be barred from presenting to the jury any evidence that contradicts his assault
conviction’s factual basis.
B.
Failure to Intervene (Officer Dobkowski)
Based on the allegations in the complaint, the Court also allowed Hughes to proceed on a
claim against Officer Dobkowski for failure to intervene. The Seventh Circuit recognizes the
“failure to intervene” basis for a constitutional violation under the Eighth Amendment. See
18
Harper v. Albert, 400 F.3d 1052, 1064 (7th Cir. 2005) (citing Fillmore v. Page, 358 F.3d 496,
506 (7th Cir. 2004); Crowder v. Lash, 687 F.2d 996, 1005 (7th Cir. 1982). Under this theory, a
defendant can be held liable for a constitution violation under § 1983 only if the plaintiff can
demonstrate that the defendant “(1) had reason to know that a fellow officer was using excessive
force or committing a constitutional violation, and (2) had a realistic opportunity to intervene to
prevent the act from occurring.” Lewis, 581 F.3d at 472 (citing Chavez v. Ill. State Police, 251
F.3d 612, 652 (7th Cir. 2001)); Harper, 400 F.3d at 1064; see also Miller v. Smith, 220 F.3d 491,
495 (7th Cir. 2000) (citing Yang v. Hardin, 37 F.3d 282, 285 (7th Cir. 1994)). Here, Dobkowski
argues that he is entitled to summary judgment because the evidence demonstrates that he did not
have a realistic opportunity to prevent Durrett’s use of pepper spray.
The Court agrees. Hughes’ own version of events depicts that Durrett deployed his
pepper spray suddenly and without warning, and that Dobkowski was merely an unsuspecting
bystander. Hughes testified that Durrett sprayed him immediately as soon as Durrett reached the
stair landing where he lay. Hughes depicts Durrett’s action as spontaneous: he testified that
Durrett did not first issue any verbal or physical warnings. Notably, not even Dobkowski had
time to evade being sprayed. It is undisputed that the bursts hit Dobkowski, too. On those facts,
no reasonable jury could find that Dobkowski had any forewarning of Durrett’s intent to use
pepper spray. Dobkowski thus did not have a realistic opportunity to stop Durrett, where the act
of pepper spraying is completed so quickly. See, e.g., Lewis, 581 F.3d at 472 (granting summary
judgment on failure to intervene claim where the use of pepper spray was spontaneous and thus
completed before bystander prison guards could prevent it); Cintora v. Downey, No. 08-CV-
19
2298, 2010 WL 786014, at *4 (C.D. Ill. Mar. 4, 2010) (same); Peacher v. Travis, No. 3:11CV80,
2013 WL 1069495, at *3 (N.D. Ind. Mar. 12, 2013) (same).
Summary judgment is therefore granted in favor of Officer Dobkowski on Hughes’ claim
for failure to intervene.
C.
Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs (Dr. Obaisi and Lt. Brown)
Based on the allegations of the complaint, the Court lastly allowed Hughes to proceed on
a claim that Dr. Obaisi and Lt. Brown were deliberately indifferent to a serious medical need.
“A prison official may be found in violation of an inmate’s Eighth Amendment right to be free
from cruel and unusual punishment if she acts (or fails to act) with ‘deliberate indifference to
[the inmate’s] serious medical needs.’” Conley v. Birch, 796 F.3d 742, 746 (7th Cir. 2015)
(quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)); see also Petties v. Carter, 836 F.3d 722,
727 (7th Cir. 2016) (en banc). Deliberate indifference claims contain both an objective and a
subjective component: the inmate must have an objectively serious medical condition and the
defendant must be subjectively aware of and consciously disregard the inmate’s serious medical
need. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994).
Invoking the above standard, Defendants Dr. Obaisi and Lt. Brown both argue that they
are entitled to summary judgment because Hugh’s exposure to OC pepper spray did not
constitute a serious medical need. Alternatively, they argue that, in any case, Hughes has not
demonstrated that they were deliberately indifferent. As set forth below, the Court grants Dr.
Obaisi’s motion for summary judgment, but finds that disputed issues of fact preclude summary
judgment in favor of Lt. Brown.
20
1.
Dr. Obaisi
First, as an initial matter, Hughes’ claim against Dr. Obaisi must necessarily be a narrow
one because it is undisputed that Dr. Obaisi had limited knowledge about Hughes’ exposure to
the OC pepper spray. “The standard [for deliberate indifference] is actual knowledge.” Doe v.
Galster, 768 F.3d 611, 617-18 (7th Cir. 2014). An official must both “be aware of facts from
which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must
also draw the inference. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. “The requirement of subjective awareness
stems from the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment; ‘an
inadvertent failure to provide medical care cannot be said to constitute “an unnecessary and
wanton infliction of pain.”’” Zaya v. Sood, 836 F.3d 800, 804-05 (7th Cir. 2016) (emphasis in
original) (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105).
Based upon the record, there is no evidence that Dr. Obaisi knew that Hughes’ eyes were
not flushed or he was experiencing any pain as a result. Dr. Obaisi’s evidence establishes that
his only knowledge of Hughes’ condition came from his review of Barnett’s offender report
between 4 and 5 p.m. on the day of the incident. Dr. Obaisi testified that prior to reviewing the
report at this time, he did not know that Hughes had been exposed to OC pepper spray. Dr.
Obaisi further testified that, other than via CMT Barnett’s Offender Injury Report, he was never
informed or notified by any member of the health care unit, correctional officer, IDOC staff, or
any other person that Hughes was requesting to be seen by him or any other medical doctor. He
lastly explained that he had not personally seen Hughes in the healthcare unit while he was
awaiting transfer. Hughes, having conducted discovery and developed the record, points to no
evidence that disputes this evidence. At this stage of the case, Hughes must “marshal and
21
present the court with the evidence []he contends will prove h[is] case.” Porter v. City of
Chicago, 700 F.3d 944, 956 (7th Cir. 2012) (the summary judgment stage is often referred to as
the “put up or shut up” moment of the case) (citing Payne v. Pauley, 337 F.3d 767, 772–73 (7th
Cir. 2003).
Nothing in the offender report would have alerted Dr. Obaisi that Hughes’ eyes had not
been flushed. Although Barnett noted that Hughes said “this shit burns,” she also stated that she
observed Hughes “standing in the shower in F-House.” Dr. Obaisi testified that he interpreted
Barnett’s notations to mean that Hughes was having his eyes flushed at that time in the shower in
which he stood. This interpretation is eminently reasonable and does not reflect deliberate
indifference. See Adams v. Ingram, No. 12-cv-162-JPG-SCW, 2015 WL 1256442, *4 (S.D. Ill.
Mar. 17, 2015) (“No reasonable jury could find [defendant doctor] was deliberately indifferent to
[plaintiff’s] serious medical needs,” where doctor reviewed nurse’s report cataloguing symptoms
and incorrectly diagnosing sprain, resulting in delay of over one month before doctor’s in-person
examination and diagnosis of ruptured tendon); Holmes v. Overall, No. 13-cv-290-JPG-PMF,
2016 WL 893380, at *4 (S.D. Ill. Mar. 9, 2016) (rejecting plaintiff’s assertion that dentist was
deliberately indifferent in failing to “prescribe him more medication when she was unable to see
him” for appointment as scheduled, “but there is no evidence she was even aware he continued
to be in pain after [] course of antibiotic treatment” prescribed by another provider); see also
generally Galster, 768 F.3d at 617-18 (although officials “cannot escape liability by putting their
heads in the sand, ... where there is no evidence that an[ ] official willfully avoided learning of” a
serious condition, deliberate indifference could not be established).
22
Thus, the question is whether Dr. Obaisi violated the Eighth Amendment by signing off
on the offender report – reasonably believing Hughes’ eyes had already been flushed – even
though Hughes had not presented at his unrelated appointment earlier that day. As explained
below, Dr. Obaisi’s actions cannot support a deliberate indifference claim.
First, Hughes’ condition, as understood by Dr. Obaisi, was not an “objectively serious
medical need” that could implicate the Eighth Amendment.
“Not ‘every ache or pain or
medically recognized condition’ constitutes a serious medical need.” Gutierrez v. Peters, 111
F.3d 1364, 1372 (7th Cir. 2008); see also Cooper v. Casey, 97 F.3d 914, 916 (7th Cir. 1996)
(explaining that “minor aches and pains” do not rise to the level of a serious medical condition”).
“A serious medical condition is one that has been diagnosed by a physician as mandating
treatment or one that is so obvious that even a lay person would perceive the need for a doctor’s
attention.” Hayes v. Snyder, 546 F.3d 516, 522-23 (7th Cir. 2008) (quoting Greeno v. Daley, 414
F.3d 645, 652 (7th Cir. 2005)). A condition also may be objectively serious if a “failure to treat
it could result in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” Id.
Numerous courts in this circuit have specifically held that exposure to pepper spray or
similar chemical agents does not create lingering effects that are objectively serious medical
conditions for the purposes of the Eighth Amendment. See, e.g., Boyce v. McKnight, No. 14 C
0418, 2015 WL 8778330, *10-11 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 15, 2015) (collecting cases); Rivera v.
MacAdory, No. 96 C 4674, 1997 WL 17811, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 16, 1997) (explaining that
“lingering unpleasant effects of the mace” after washing eyes and face do not amount to a
“serious medical need”); Foote v. Houi, No. 03 C 50001, 2004 WL 2901039 at *2 (N.D. Ill. Dec.
14, 2004) (“While [plaintiff] experienced some obvious discomfort from coming in contact with
23
pepper spray, he has not identified any serious medical condition that was either caused, or
aggravated, by the spray.”); Bonnin v. Eau Claire County, No. 03-C-0065-C, 2004 WL 67478 at
*4 (W.D. Wis. Jan. 13, 2004) (“Exposure to pepper spray is not a serious medical need”); Trotter
v. Kingston, No. 05-C-1032, 2007 WL 984089, at *6 (E.D. Wis. Mar. 27, 2007) (finding on
summary judgment that “the injuries of which [plaintiff] complains in the wake of [being
indirectly exposed to pepper spray]-shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, nausea, and
tightness in the chest-are, objectively speaking, relatively minor” and not constitutionally
actionable). Courts outside this circuit have routinely concluded the same. See, e.g., Blond v.
City of Schenectady, No. 10–CV–0598, 2010 WL 4316810, at *5 (N.D. N.Y. Oct. 25, 2010)
(residual effects of chemical agent do not constitute serious medical need); Strassner v. O'Flynn,
No, 04–CV–6021CJS, 2006 WL 839411, at *8 (W.D. N.Y. Mar. 27, 2006) (exposure to
temporary discomfort of pepper spray is not serious medical need); Hixon v. City of Golden
Valley, No. CIVA 06-1548, 2007 WL 1655831, at *8 (D. Minn. June 7, 2007) (“Indeed,
breathing problems are to be expected after pepper spray is applied, and generally those
problems are only temporary. Accordingly, there does not appear to be any reason for officers
using pepper spray to assume that the breathing difficulties caused thereby require immediate
medical care.”); Censke v. Unknown Ekdahl, No. 2:08–CV–283, 2009 WL 1393320 (W.D. Mich.
May 18, 2009) (plaintiff's complaints of “burning in his nose, lungs, eyes, and skin after being
sprayed with chemical agent” do not constitute a serious medical need for purposes of the Eighth
Amendment, warranting dismissal); Britton v. Lowndes County Sheriff's Dept., No. 1:04CV160P-D, 2005 WL 3115525 at *3 (N.D. Miss. Nov. 21, 2005) (“[P]epper spray is specifically
designed to prevent serious or permanent injury.”). Dr. Obaisi also testified that the standard
24
care for exposure to OC pepper spray is to flush out the eyes, which can be done by non-medical
personnel.
Thus, it is well-settled that the mere fact that Hughes had been exposed to pepper spray
did not thereby create a lingering serious medical condition that necessitated care by a physician.
Nor did Barnett’s report contain any notations that should have indicated to Dr. Obaisi that
Hughes’ situation was somehow unique and did require follow-up care. Not only did her report
give the impression that Hughes’ eyes had been flushed, but she also wrote that his vitals were
normal, and noted that other than some eye swelling, Hughes had no distress or injuries. She did
not recommend nor schedule an appointment for Hughes; instead, she merely noted that he could
follow-up at his coincidental pre-existing appointment.
In sum, no reasonable jury could conclude that the offender report indicated to Dr. Obaisi
that Hughes had an objectively serious medical need that Dr. Obaisi disregarded. “A prison’s
medical staff that refuses to dispense bromides for the sniffles or minor aches and pains or a tiny
scratch or a mild headache or minor fatigue—the sorts of ailments for which many people who
are not in prison do not seek medical attention—does not by its refusal violate the Constitution.”
Gutierrez, 111 F.3d at 1372 (internal quotations omitted). “[Inmates] are not entitled to receive
‘unqualified access to healthcare.’” Burton v. Downey, 805 F.3d 776, 785 (7th Cir. 2015)
(quoting Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992)).
Moreover, even assuming for the sake of argument that Hughes’ condition was a serious
medical need, he has presented no evidence from which a reasonable jury could find Dr. Obaisi
was subjectively deliberately indifferent. The evidence undisputedly shows that Hughes missed
his appointment because it conflicted with the internal affairs investigation, not because Dr.
25
Obaisi refused to treat him or denied him care. Dr. Obaisi, despite his role as medical director,
cannot be held liable because other prison staff prevented Hughes’ attendance at a medical
appointment by detaining him on a disciplinary matter. See Perez v. Fenoglio, 792 F.3d 768,
779 (7th Cir. 2015) (“recogniz[ing]” that deliberate indifference might not be found where
“someone [other than defendant] was responsible for the alleged delays”); Walker v. Benjamin,
293 F.3d 1030, 1038 (7th Cir. 2002) (emphasizing that plaintiff has presented no evidence that
“delay between the initial visit, the diagnosis, and the visit to the specialist were within
[defendant’s] control”); see also generally Holmes, 2016 WL 893380, at *4 (“the doctrine of
respondeat superior is not applicable to § 1983 actions.”) (citing Sanville v. McCaughtry, 266
F.3d 724, 740 (7th Cir. 2001)). Nor does the fact that Dr. Obaisi did not inquire into Hughes’
absence rise to the level of deliberate indifference, given that deliberate indifference is not
synonymous with negligence. See Cesal, 851 F.3d at 724; King v. Kramer, 680 F.3d 1013,
1018-19 (7th Cir. 2012); Dobbey v. Carter, No. 12-cv-9223, 2017 WL 2573210, at *6 (N.D. Ill.
June 14, 2017) (“[t]here is no evidence indicating that Dr. Carter should have checked Plaintiff’s
medical file on February 14, 2012 to ensure that the nursing staff had carried out their duties in
scheduling a follow-up appointment for plaintiff or that any failure to do so would rise to the
level of deliberate indifference.”).
For all these reasons, Dr. Obaisi is entitled to judgment in his favor, and his summary
judgment motion (Doc. 68) is granted.
2.
Lt. Brown
Hughes has, however, created a disputed issue of material fact as to whether Lt. Brown
was deliberately indifferent to a serious medical need. Prison officials may exhibit deliberate
26
indifference to a known condition through inaction, Gayton v. McCoy, 593 F.3d 610, 623-24 (7th
Cir. 2010), or by delaying necessary treatment and thus aggravating an injury or needlessly
prolonging an inmate’s pain, Gomez v. Randle, 680 F.3d 859, 865-66 (7th Cir. 2012); Smith v.
Knox Cty. Jail, 666 F.3d 1037, 1040 (7th Cir. 2012). Here, Plaintiff testified that (1) his eyes
were not flushed immediately following the altercation because the showers to which he was
escorted were not operational, but routinely used as a holding area instead; (2) that Hughes heard
Barnett (a medical technician) tell Lt. Brown following her examination that Hughes needed to
have his eyes flushed out; and (3) that Hughes and Lt. Brown then talked for five minutes during
which time Hughes told Lt. Brown that the OC spray was continuing to set in and asked Lt.
Brown why it was taking so long to get to the healthcare unit. Instead of taking Hughes to the
healthcare unit or otherwise facilitating him to flush out his eyes, however, Lt. Brown stepped
away and when he returned, he instructed a different correctional officer to escort Hughes to the
Internal Affairs Unit, where Hughes remained all day without flushing the OC pepper spray out
of his eyes. This account, if believed by a jury, demonstrates deliberate indifference in that Lt.
Brown knowingly denied Hughes the opportunity to flush his eyes of the OC pepper spray,
contrary to the direction of a medical technician, and thereby prolonged his pain. See Kervin v.
Barnes, 144 F. App’x 551, 552 (7th Cir. 2005) (“detaining an inmate for eight hours after using
chemical agents without allowing him to wash his face amounts to the wanton infliction of pain
and suffering”) (citing Williams v. Benjamin, 77 F.3d 756, 764-65 (4th Cir. 1996)); see also
Board v. Farnham, 394 F.3d 469, 485 (7th Cir. 2005) (guards could be held liable for their
deliberate indifference by failing to give inmate his inhaler, even though guards knew the inmate
suffered from asthma); Ralston v. McGovern, 167 F.3d 1160, 1162 (7th Cir. 1999) (prison
27
guard's “deliberate refusal” to provide pain medicine prescribed by prison physician put forth an
Eighth Amendment claim).
In support of summary judgment, Lt. Brown altogether ignores Plaintiff’s version of
events and instead premises his various arguments that he was not deliberately indifferent upon
his own contrary version. (Doc. 96, IDOC Defs.’ Mem., 11-12.) As the Court explained earlier
with respect to Sgt. Durrett, argument in this vein is plainly inappropriate at summary judgment
where the Court must credit Hughes’ version of events. See Miller, 761 F.3d at 827.
Lt. Brown also contends that Hughes did not have an objectively serious medical need.
In support, he incorporates Dr. Obaisi’s argument on this point. But the caselaw that Dr. Obaisi
cited, and that is discussed above (see Section 1), holds that exposure to OC pepper spray does
not create a lingering condition that requires medical care. The Seventh Circuit has, to the
contrary, found that the need to initially flush out a prisoner’s eyes after OC spray exposure and
the resultant pain of failing to do so, are serious conditions that can implicate the Eighth
Amendment. See Kervin, 144 F. App’x at 552.
Ultimately, resolution of Hughes’ claim against Lt. Brown will boil down to a credibility
contest between Hughes and the Defendants. Summary judgment is inappropriate under such
circumstances. See Higginson v. Farley, 83 F.3d 807, 810–11 (7th Cir.1996) (where record is a
“swearing contest,” summary judgment is inappropriate). Summary judgment in favor of Lt.
Brown is therefore denied.
28
IV.
Conclusion
The IDOC Defendants’ motion for summary judgment [95] is granted in part and denied
in part. Hughes’ claim for failure to intervene against Officer Dobkowski is dismissed with
prejudice. Officer Dobkowski is dismissed and terminated. The motion is otherwise denied.
Hughes may proceed on his claims, consistent with the accompanying opinion, for excessive
force against Sgt. Durrett and for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need against Lt.
Brown. Dr. Obaisi’s motion for summary judgment [68] is granted in its entirety. Dr. Obaisi is
dismissed and terminated. The Clerk of Court is directed to correct the spelling of Defendant
Durrett’s name in the caption. A status hearing is set for September 28, 2017 at 10:15 a.m. to
discuss the next steps in the case. Defendants’ counsel shall arrange for Plaintiff to be present by
telephone at the next status hearing.
SO ORDERED.
ENTERED: September 11, 2017
______________________
HON. JORGE ALONSO
United States District Judge
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