Matthews v. Butler et al
Filing
8
ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson. Signed by Judge David R. Herndon on 5/23/2017. (tjk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JEREL MATTHEWS,
#K71403,
Plaintiff,
–00366 DRH
vs.
KIM BUTLER,
DR. TROST,
GAIL WALLS,
LT. JOHN DOE,
C/O JOHN DOE, and
UNKNOWN JOHN AND JANE DOES,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
HERNDON
Plaintiff Jerel Matthews, an inmate who is currently incarcerated at Menard
Correctional Center (“Menard”), brings this civil rights action pro se pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc. 1). Plaintiff alleges that he was attacked and injured by
his cellmate on February 24, 2016.
(Doc. 1, pp. 6-8).
According to the
Complaint, the attack could have been avoided or stopped, if the defendants
responded to the complaints and warnings of Plaintiff and other inmates.
Id.
Because they did not, Plaintiff allegedly sustained severe injuries that were
inadequately treated by Doctor Trost and Nurse Walls. Id. Plaintiff now sues all
of the defendants for violating his right to be free from cruel and unusual
punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Id. He seeks monetary relief and a
prison transfer. (Doc. 1, p. 9).
Page 1 of 15
The Complaint is now subject to preliminary review under 28 U.S.C. §
1915A, which provides:
(a)
– The court shall review, before docketing, if
feasible or, in any event, as soon as practicable after docketing, a
complaint in a civil action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a
governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity.
(b)
– On review, the court shall identify
cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the
complaint, if the complaint–
(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim on
which relief may be granted; or
(2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is
immune from such relief.
An action or claim is frivolous if “it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in
fact.”
Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989).
Frivolousness is an
objective standard that refers to a claim that any reasonable person would find
meritless. Lee v. Clinton, 209 F.3d 1025, 1026-27 (7th Cir. 2000). An action
fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it does not plead “enough
facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The claim of entitlement to relief must cross
“the line between possibility and plausibility.” Id. at 557. At this juncture, the
factual allegations of the pro se complaint are to be liberally construed.
See
Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Serv., 577 F.3d 816, 821 (7th Cir. 2009). The
Complaint survives screening under this standard and shall receive further
review.
Page 2 of 15
On February 24, 2016, Plaintiff was attacked by his cellmate in Gallery 5 of
Menard’s North Cell House. (Doc. 1, p. 6). As Plaintiff was using the sink, his
cellmate approached him from behind and beat Plaintiff in the head, face, and
eyes with an unidentified object. Id. Plaintiff lost consciousness. Id.
Inmates in Galleries 5 and 7 began screaming for help and shaking their
cell bars. (Doc. 1, p. 6). This went on for approximately twenty minutes, but no
one responded. Id. Eventually, an inmate worker ran downstairs and summoned
a correctional officer to the area. Id.
By the time prison officials arrived, Plaintiff was seriously injured. (Doc. 1,
pp. 6-8). He was sent to Chester Memorial Hospital for immediate treatment. Id.
His face was badly swollen, and he required twenty-five stitches on his face and
head.
Id.
Plaintiff’s treating physician sent him back to the prison with
instructions for close monitoring. Id.
Doctor Trost and Nurse Walls were responsible for Plaintiff’s care and
treatment at Menard following the attack, and they allegedly failed to ensure that
his injuries were properly diagnosed and treated. (Doc. 1, p. 8). Plaintiff was
instead locked in a room in the prison’s infirmary, where he was ignored by the
prison’s medical staff. Id. He was administered pain killers and berated by the
correctional officer who worked on the third floor of the infirmary.
Id.
The
correctional officer referred to Plaintiff as “pumpkin head.” Id. He made fun of
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Plaintiff’s injuries in front of the nurses. Id. At times, the nurses joined in the
teasing. Id.
Plaintiff did not see a prison doctor until one day before he returned to the
general population. (Doc. 1, p. 8). On that date, the doctor removed Plaintiff’s
stitches. Id. At no point was Plaintiff examined by a doctor. Id.
Plaintiff asserts that he suffered from an undiagnosed and untreated
concussion that impacted his vision and motor skills. (Doc. 1, p. 8). He suffered
from “constant” headaches.
Id.
He also felt like everything around him was
spinning or moving. Id. These symptoms did not resolve until almost a year after
the attack.
Id.
Plaintiff’s vision is now normal, and his headaches occur
approximately once each month. Id. He filed at least one emergency grievance
with the warden seeking further medical treatment, but Warden Butler denied it.
(Doc. 1, p. 11).
Plaintiff claims that the attack could have been avoided altogether if Warden
Butler addressed the general conditions of Menard’s North Cell House. (Doc. 1,
p. 7). Unlike other areas of the prison, the North Cell House has no towers or
catwalks available for armed guards to monitor inmates.
Id.
There are not
enough correctional officers to monitor inmate activity. Id. The North Cell House
also has no panic buttons available to inmates in need of immediate assistance
from staff. Id. In addition, correctional officers did not make enough rounds to
monitor inmate activity in that area of the prison. Id. Plaintiff was aware of four
or five other inmates who lost their lives because of attacks by fellow inmates at
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Menard. Id. He claims that “the warden is and has been aware of this and has
done nothing to rectify these conditions even after people have been killed.” Id.
Prior to his attack, Plaintiff submitted several verbal and written
complaints about his cellmate to the unknown gallery correctional officer (“C/O
John Doe”), cell house sergeant (“Sergeant John Doe”), and cell house lieutenant
(“Lieutenant John Doe”). (Doc. 1, pp. 6, 19-20). He pointed out his cellmate’s
history of untreated mental illness and aggression toward other inmates.
Id.
Plaintiff explained that his cellmate’s behavior was increasingly erratic, and he did
not feel comfortable sleeping in the same cell with him. Id. Plaintiff requested a
different cellmate. Id. These defendants ignored or denied his requests for a new
cellmate. Id. Soon thereafter, Plaintiff was attacked. Id.
To facilitate the orderly management of future proceedings in this case, and
in accordance with the objectives of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8(e) and
10(b), the Court deems it appropriate to organize the claims in Plaintiff’s pro se
Complaint (Doc. 1) into the following counts:
-
Eighth Amendment claim against C/O John Doe, Sergeant
John Doe, and Lieutenant John Doe for failing to protect
Plaintiff from the risk of attack by his cellmate.
-
Eighth Amendment claim against Warden Butler for failing to
protect Plaintiff from conditions of confinement that exposed
him to an excessive risk of attack by his cellmate.
-
Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference to medical needs
claim against Doctor Trost, Nurse Walls, and Warden Butler
for denying Plaintiff adequate medical care for the injuries he
sustained during the attack on February 24, 2016.
Page 5 of 15
The parties and the Court will use these designations in all future pleadings and
orders, unless otherwise directed by a judicial officer of this Court.
The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners against cruel and unusual
punishment. U.S. CONST. amend. VIII. Prison officials have a duty under the
Eighth Amendment to ensure that inmates receive “adequate food, clothing,
shelter, and medical care.” Haywood v. Hathaway, 842 F.3d 1026, 1030-31 (7th
Cir. 2016) (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994)). They also
have a duty to protect prisoners from violence at the hands of other prisoners.
See id. (citing Farmer, 511 U.S. at 833). See also Pinkston v. Madry, 440 F.3d
879, 889 (7th Cir. 2006).
When considering whether a plaintiff has alleged a violation of his Eighth
Amendment rights, the Court examines the alleged violation objectively and
subjectively. Haywood, 842 F.3d at 1030. The objective component of all Eighth
Amendment claims requires a plaintiff to establish a sufficiently serious
deprivation. Id. The subjective component requires the plaintiff to show that
each defendant acted with deliberate indifference to inmate health or safety. Id. at
1030-31. This second element is satisfied where the official is both “aware of
facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious
harm exists, and he . . . also draw[s] the inference.”
Page 6 of 15
Estate of Miller ex rel.
Bertram v. Tobiasz, 680 F.3d 984, 989 (7th Cir. 2012) (quoting Sanville v.
McCaughtry, 266 F.3d 724, 733 (7th Cir. 2001)).
The objective component of all three claims is satisfied for screening
purposes. The conditions Plaintiff describes, including his housing arrangement
and his medical needs, are sufficiently serious to support an Eighth Amendment
claim in all three counts. But the Court’s analysis does not end there. Plaintiff
must also demonstrate deliberate indifference on the part of all involved prison
officials.
With regard to Count 1, Plaintiff alleges that he specifically complained
about the behavior of his mentally ill cellmate and his history of aggression to C/O
Doe, Sergeant Doe, and Lieutenant Doe in the weeks preceding the attack. (Doc.
1, pp. 6-8, 19, 20). He made complaints to these defendants verbally and/or in
writing. Id. He expressed fear for his safety and requested a different cellmate.
Id. However, the defendants either ignored or denied his complaints. Id. He was
later attacked. Id. These allegations suggest that the three defendants were aware
of and disregarded a known risk of harm to Plaintiff.
Count 1 shall proceed
against C/O Doe, Sergeant Doe, and Lieutenant Doe.
In contrast, the allegations suggest that Warden Butler was aware that the
prison conditions in Menard’s North Cell House posed a generalized risk to
inmate safety. (Doc. 1, pp. 6-8). However, a generalized risk of violence without
more usually does not give rise to an Eighth Amendment claim. After all, prisons
are inherently dangerous places. See Wilson v. Ryker, 451 F. App’x 588, 589 (7th
Page 7 of 15
Cir. 2012) (“generalized risk of violence” is generally not enough) (citing Brown v.
Budz, 398 F.3d 904, 909, 913 (7th Cir. 2005); Riccardo v. Rausch, 375 F.3d 521,
525 (7th Cir. 2004)).
The allegations make it clear that the warden lacked
specific knowledge of Plaintiff’s placement in the North Cell House, let alone with
a mentally ill cellmate who had a history of violence.
To state a claim, the
allegations must suggest that Warden Butler was aware of a “tangible threat to his
safety or well-being.” Grieveson v. Anderson, 538 F.3d 763, 777 (7th Cir. 2008);
Billman v. Indiana Dep’t of Corr., 56 F.3d 785, 788 (7th Cir. 1995) (noting
distinction between actual and feared exposure). The threat must amount to a
substantial risk of future harm, one that is “so great” that it is “almost certain to
materialize if nothing is done.” Brown, 398 F.3d 911.
Plaintiff alleges no such thing in connection with Count 2 against Warden
Butler. The allegations do not suggest that the warden knew of a particular threat
of harm posed by his cellmate prior to the attack. (Doc. 1). Plaintiff does not
allege that he made a verbal or written complaint to the warden. Id. He does not
attach a copy of a grievance to this effect that predates the attack. Id. And the
warden’s general awareness of problems posed by the lack of catwalks, towers,
and panic buttons is not enough to support an Eighth Amendment claim.
Moreover, Plaintiff does not allege that Warden Butler knew of or directed
decisions regarding staffing or rounds in Menard’s North Cell House. See Wilson,
451 F. App’x at 589 (inmate failed to state a failure-to-protect claim against prison
officials who lacked particular knowledge of tangible threat to inmate but knew
Page 8 of 15
that he was assigned to live with inmates of other races and gang affiliations and
ignored his requests for help when he used the panic button). The Complaint
falls short of stating a claim against Warden Butler in Count 2, and this claim
shall be dismissed without prejudice.
However, Count 3 shall receive further review against Doctor Trost, Nurse
Walls, and Warden Butler. According to the Complaint, both medical providers
ignored specific instructions from outside physicians to closely monitor Plaintiff
after the attack. He was allegedly denied a medical examination and diagnostic
testing, even after submitting an emergency grievance requesting further treatment
to the warden, in the weeks following his attack.
By all indications, these
defendants knew that Plaintiff was in need of further medical care, but exhibited
deliberate indifference toward his medical needs. Count 3 shall receive further
review against Doctor Trost, Nurse Walls, and Warden Butler.
All three claims should be considered dismissed without prejudice against
any defendants who are not named in connection with each claim above. The
allegations of constitutional wrongdoing are not sufficiently tied to any other
defendants. Although Plaintiff named other “Unknown John and Jane Does, et
al.” as defendants in the case caption of his Complaint, he does not mention them
in his statement of claim. Merely invoking the name of a potential defendant in
the case caption is not sufficient to state a claim against that individual.
See
Collins v. Kibort, 143 F.3d 331, 334 (7th Cir. 1998) (“A plaintiff cannot state a
claim against a defendant by including the defendant’s name in the caption.”).
Page 9 of 15
Plaintiff mentions other individuals in his statement of claim, particularly
in connection with his time spent in the prison’s infirmary, but does not identify
them in the caption of his Complaint. The Court cannot assume even at this early
stage that he intended to name every one of these individual as defendants in this
action, absent Plaintiff’s clear indication to this effect. When parties are not listed
in the caption, this Court will not treat them as defendants, and any claims
against them should be considered dismissed without prejudice. See FED. R. CIV.
P. 10(a) (noting that the title of the complaint “must name all the parties”); Myles
v. United States, 416 F.3d 551, 551-52 (7th Cir. 2005) (holding that to be
properly considered a party, a defendant must be “specif[ied] in the caption”).
Plaintiff shall be allowed to proceed with Count 1 against C/O John Doe,
Sergeant John Doe, and Lieutenant John Doe, all of whom are currently unknown
and worked in Gallery 5 of the North Cell House on or around February 24, 2016.
However, these defendants must be identified with particularity before service of
the Complaint can be made on them.
Where a prisoner’s Complaint states
specific allegations describing conduct of individual prison staff members
sufficient to raise a constitutional claim, but the names of those defendants are
not known, the prisoner should have the opportunity to engage in limited
discovery to ascertain the identity of those defendants. Rodriguez v. Plymouth
Ambulance Serv., 577 F.3d 816, 832 (7th Cir. 2009). In this case, Warden Butler
is already named as a defendant and shall be responsible for responding to
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discovery aimed at identifying these unknown defendants.
Guidelines for
discovery will be set by the United States Magistrate Judge. Once the names of
Defendants John Doe, Sergeant John Doe, and Lieutenant John Doe are
discovered, Plaintiff shall file a motion to substitute each newly identified
defendant in place of the generic designations in the case caption and throughout
the Complaint.
In his request for relief, Plaintiff seeks a prison transfer. (Doc. 1, p. 9). His
request must be denied at this time.
“[P]risoners possess neither liberty nor
property in their classifications and prison assignments. States may move their
charges to any prison in the system.” DeTomaso v. McGinnis, 970 F.2d 211, 212
(7th Cir. 1992) (citing Montanye v. Haymes, 427 U.S. 236 (1976)).
See also
Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 224 (1976) (the Constitution does not guarantee
placement in a particular prison).
In the Complaint, Plaintiff offers no reason why he made this request.
(Doc. 1, pp. 6-8). Plaintiff does not indicate that he is currently housed with the
cellmate who attacked him or anyone else who poses a serious risk of harm to
him.
Id.
He alleges that all lingering symptoms from his prior attack have
resolved, with the exception of an occasional headache. Id.
Beyond this, Plaintiff has not filed a separate motion requesting a
temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction pursuant to Rule 65 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. He does not seek relief under Rule 65 in his
Page 11 of 15
Complaint.
His Complaint conveys no urgency, beyond his mere desire to
transfer.
Further, Plaintiff describes no recent conduct that would support such a
request. He does not complain about recent threats by fellow inmates or prison
officials, recent deprivations of his constitutional rights, or problems with his
current conditions of confinement. Under the circumstances, his request for a
prison transfer is DENIED without prejudice. Plaintiff may renew his request by
filing a motion pursuant to Rule 65 at any time he deems it necessary to do so
during the pending action.
The Clerk is directed to SUBSTITUTE the “UNKNOWN JOHN AND JANE
DOES, ET AL.” with “SERGEANT JOHN DOE” as a defendant in CM/ECF.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that COUNT 1 is subject to further review
against
Defendants
C/O
JOHN
DOE,
SERGEANT
JOHN
DOE,
and
LIEUTENANT JOHN DOE, and COUNT 3 shall receive further review against
Defendants DOCTOR TROST, GAIL WALLS, and KIM BUTLER.
IT IS ORDERED that COUNT 2 is DISMISSED without prejudice against
Defendant KIM BUTLER for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be
granted.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that COUNTS 1, 2, and 3 are DISMISSED without
prejudice against those defendants who are not named in connection with each
claim herein, all for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
Page 12 of 15
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as to COUNTS 1 and 3, the Clerk of
Court shall prepare for Defendants C/O
JOHN
DOE
(once identified),
SERGEANT JOHN DOE (once identified), LIEUTENANT JOHN DOE (once
identified), DOCTOR TROST, GAIL WALLS, and KIM BUTLER: (1) Form 5
(Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons), and (2) Form 6
(Waiver of Service of Summons). The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail these forms, a
copy of the Complaint (Doc. 1), and this Memorandum and Order to each
Defendant’s place of employment as identified by Plaintiff. If a Defendant fails to
sign and return the Waiver of Service of Summons (Form 6) to the Clerk within
30 days from the date the forms were sent, the Clerk shall take appropriate steps
to effect formal service on that Defendant, and the Court will require that
Defendant to pay the full costs of formal service, to the extent authorized by the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
With respect to a Defendant who no longer can be found at the work
address provided by Plaintiff, the employer shall furnish the Clerk with the
Defendant’s current work address, or, if not known, the Defendant’s last-known
address. This information shall be used only for sending the forms as directed
above or for formally effecting service. Any documentation of the address shall be
retained only by the Clerk. Address information shall not be maintained in the
court file or disclosed by the Clerk.
Service shall not be made on Defendants C/O JOHN DOE, SERGEANT
JOHN DOE, and LIEUTENANT JOHN DOE until such time as Plaintiff has
Page 13 of 15
identified them by name in a properly filed Motion for Substitution of Parties.
Plaintiff is ADVISED that it is his responsibility to provide the Court with the
names and service addresses for these individuals.
Plaintiff shall serve upon Defendants (or upon defense counsel once an
appearance is entered), a copy of every pleading or other document submitted for
consideration by the Court. Plaintiff shall include with the original paper to be
filed a certificate stating the date on which a true and correct copy of the
document was served on Defendants or counsel. Any paper received by a district
judge or magistrate judge that has not been filed with the Clerk or that fails to
include a certificate of service will be disregarded by the Court.
Defendants are ORDERED to timely file an appropriate responsive pleading
to the Complaint and shall not waive filing a reply pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
1997e(g).
Pursuant to Local Rule 72.1(a)(2), this action is REFERRED to a United
for further pre-trial proceedings, including a plan for
discovery aimed at identifying the unknown defendants with particularity.
Further, this entire matter shall be REFERRED to a
for disposition, pursuant to Local Rule 72.2(b)(2) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c),
if all parties consent to such a referral.
If judgment is rendered against Plaintiff, and the judgment includes the
payment of costs under § 1915, Plaintiff will be required to pay the full amount of
the costs, regardless of the fact that his application to proceed in forma pauperis
Page 14 of 15
has been granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(A).
Plaintiff is ADVISED that at the time application was made under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915 for leave to commence this civil action without being required to prepay
fees and costs or give security for the same, the applicant and his or her attorney
were deemed to have entered into a stipulation that the recovery, if any, secured
in the action shall be paid to the Clerk of the Court, who shall pay therefrom all
unpaid costs taxed against plaintiff and remit the balance to plaintiff. Local Rule
3.1(c)(1).
Finally, Plaintiff is ADVISED that he is under a continuing obligation to
keep the Clerk of Court and each opposing party informed of any change in his
address; the Court will not independently investigate his whereabouts. This shall
be done in writing and not later than 7 days after a transfer or other change in
address occurs.
Failure to comply with this order will cause a delay in the
transmission of court documents and may result in dismissal of this action for
want of prosecution. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
rd
day of May, 2017.
Digitally signed by Judge
David R. Herndon
Date: 2017.05.23 14:26:26
-05'00'
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