Murphy v. Baldwin et al

Filing 143

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART 136 MOTION for Partial Summary Judgment filed by David Mitchell, Bart Lind, Daniel Porter. Signed by Magistrate Judge Reona J. Daly on 3/23/2021. (nmf)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JAMELL A. MURPHY,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
DAVID MITCHELL, DANIEL PORTER, and)
BART LIND,
)
)
Defendants.
)

Case No. 17-cv-1154-RJD

ORDER
DALY, Magistrate Judge:
Plaintiff Jamell Murphy, an inmate in the custody of the Illinois Department of
Corrections (“IDOC”), filed this lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging his constitutional
rights were violated while he was incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center (“Menard”).
Plaintiff is proceeding on an Eighth Amendment excessive force claim against Defendants David
Mitchell, Daniel Porter, and Bart Lind for allegedly assaulting him on June 16, 2017.
This matter is now before the Court on Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
(Doc. 136). For the reasons set forth below, the Motion is GRANTED IN PART AND
DENIED IN PART.
Background
Plaintiff’s claims arise from an incident that occurred at Menard on June 16, 2017
(Deposition of Jamell Murphy, Doc. 137-1 at 14). On this date, Plaintiff was housed in Gallery 8,
a gallery for high aggression inmates, including weapons violators and those who have been found
guilty of assaulting staff (Id.). Plaintiff’s gallery had gym on June 16, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until
around 11:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. (Id. at 9). Plaintiff had been playing basketball in the gym for an
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hour or so when he and the other inmates were ordered to line up and exit the gym area due to a
staff assault that occurred elsewhere in the prison (Id. at 14).
In accordance with staff orders, Plaintiff lined up with other inmates from Gallery 8 for a
“pat down” search by officers (Doc. 137-1 at 14). Before being searched, an incident between
staff and inmates broke out in the line ahead of Plaintiff (Id. at 15). Plaintiff heard warning shots
and Defendant Lt. Mitchell and Lt. Ellis ordered inmates to get on the ground and put their heads
on the ground (Id.). Plaintiff went to the ground as ordered, but did not put his head on the ground
(Id.). The inmate next to Plaintiff became involved in an altercation with staff and, at one point,
staff or the inmate rolled over Plaintiff (Id.). During the incident, Plaintiff was kicked in the face,
and Defendant Mitchell instructed Defendant Officer Porter and Officer Doe to “come in there”
and they began stepping on Plaintiff’s face and neck (Id.). Plaintiff testified he could not breathe
and complained to Defendant Mitchell, telling Mitchell the officers were choking him (Doc. 137-1
at 15). Mitchell did not take any action (Doc. 137-1 at 12, 15). Plaintiff was cuffed by Porter
and Doe while he was on the ground and escorted outside the yard gate to segregation (Id. at 15,
18). Plaintiff was escorted at the direction of Mitchell (Id. at 15). While he was being escorted,
Plaintiff was trying to stretch his lungs to breathe, and Porter and Doe began punching him and
kneeing him (Id.). Plaintiff recalls that Porter punched him from the right and Doe punched him
from the left (Id.).
Many of the events testified to by Plaintiff and set forth above are disputed by Defendant
Mitchell. According to Mitchell, while he was attempting to control inmate movement exiting
the gym, another inmate, Inmate McCoy, refused to comply with orders to get on the ground
(Declaration David Mitchell, Doc. 137-7 at ¶¶ 3-5). Mitchell attests that he ordered McCoy three
times to get on the ground, but he refused (Id. at ¶ 5). McCoy then refused three orders to “cuff
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up” (Id. at ¶ 6). Mitchell attests that as he attempted to place handcuffs on McCoy, he struck
Mitchell on the left side of his face (Id. at ¶ 7). Mitchell received assistance from Lt. Mennerich
and Officer Maze, and placed restraints on McCoy (Doc. 137-7 at ¶ 8). Major Hughes instructed
Mitchell to go the healthcare unit for evaluation of his injuries, and he was there no more than 10
minutes before returning back to the North Upper cell house (Doc. 137-7 at ¶¶ 9-10). Mitchell
attests that he did not tell any correctional staff to beat an inmate or direct them to move to any
particular location to do so (Doc. 137-7 at ¶ 12). Mitchell has no specific recollection of Plaintiff
(Id.).
Once escorted to segregation, Plaintiff was interviewed by internal affairs (Doc. 137-1 at
19). Plaintiff was subsequently seen by medical staff, and he told them he had a headache, ear
pain, ringing in his ear, and a lacerated and swollen lip (Id. at 20). Plaintiff’s medical records
indicate that Plaintiff was seen at 11:00 a.m. and document that Plaintiff had an abrasion on his
right check and a cut on his lower lip (Doc. 137-2). His other complaints were not recorded in his
medical records. Plaintiff testified he suffers from migraine headaches, dizziness, and panic
attacks since the incident (Doc. 137-1 at 21). Plaintiff also testified he stills coughs up blood
(Id.). Plaintiff testified he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following
the incident (Id. at 5).
Identification of Officer John Doe
On June 23, 2020, Plaintiff moved to substitute Officer Bart Lind in place of Defendant
John Doe (Doc. 126). Plaintiff moved for said substitution after identifying Lind from an array of
photographs provided by the IDOC. Lind asserts that on June 16, 2017 he was scheduled to work
security at Pinckneyville Correctional Center (“Pinckneyville”) during the 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
shift (Declaration of Bart Lind, Doc. 137-6 at ¶ 4; see Doc. 137-3). Lind started his shift at
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Pinckneyville, however, he went to Menard that day to assist the Menard Intelligence Unit by
taking statements for an investigation into an incident that occurred at Menard earlier that day (Id.
at ¶¶ 4, 6). Lind went to Menard on June 16, 2017 and signed in at 1:15 p.m. and signed out at
5:15 p.m. (Id. at ¶ 7; see Doc. 137-4).
Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is appropriate only if the moving party can demonstrate “that there is
no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322(1986); see also
Ruffin-Thompkins v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc., 422 F.3d 603, 607 (7th Cir. 2005).
The moving party bears the initial burden of demonstrating the lack of any genuine issue of
material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. Once a properly supported motion for summary
judgment is made, the adverse party “must set forth specific facts showing there is a genuine issue
for trial.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250 (1986). A genuine issue of
material fact exists when “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the
nonmoving party.” Estate of Simpson v. Gorbett, 863 F.3d 740, 745 (7th Cir. 2017) (quoting
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248). In assessing a summary judgment motion, the district court views the
facts in the light most favorable to, and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving
party. Apex Digital, Inc. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 735 F.3d 962, 965 (7th Cir. 2013) (citation
omitted).
Discussion
Plaintiff is proceeding in this action on an Eighth Amendment claim against Defendants
Mitchell, Lind, and Porter for applying excessive, objectively unreasonable force that caused him
injury on June 16, 2017. Defendants characterize Plaintiff’s allegations of force into two separate
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incidents.

Because Plaintiff has not disputed this characterization, the Court will accept

Defendants’ characterization. First, Plaintiff alleges excessive force was used when he was
outside the gym and was handcuffed while on the ground. Second, Plaintiff alleges excessive
force was used while being escorted from the gym to the segregation unit.
The Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause prohibits the
“unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain” on prisoners. Outlaw v. Newkirk, 259 F.3d 833, 837
(7th Cir. 2001) (quoting Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 5 (1992)). “In cases involving the
claimed use of excessive force, ‘the core judicial inquiry’ is ‘whether force was applied in a
good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm’.”
Outlaw, 259 F.3d at 837 (quoting Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7). “In conducting this inquiry, a court
must examine a variety of factors, including ‘the need for an application of force, the relationship
between that need and the force applied, the threat reasonably perceived by the responsible
officers, the efforts made to temper the severity of the force employed, and the extent of the injury
suffered by the prisoner.’” Id. With regard to the last factor, a plaintiff need not demonstrate a
significant injury to state a claim for excessive force; however, “a claim ordinarily cannot be
predicated on a de minimis use of physical force.” DeWalt v. Carter, 224 F.3d 607, 620 (7th Cir.
2000) (emphasis added) (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 5).
Defendant Bart Lind
Defendant Lind asserts he does not work at Menard and was not present at the time the
alleged use of excessive force occurred. Therefore, Lind asserts he is entitled to summary
judgment because he had no personal responsibility for any claimed constitutional violation.
Plaintiff explains that in an effort to identify Lind as a defendant in this case, Plaintiff was
provided photographs of IDOC personnel on three different occasions with the names withheld.
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Lind’s photograph was provided in two of these showings and was twice identified as the John
Doe Defendant by Plaintiff. Plaintiff further argues that while documentation has been provided
showing Lind’s presence at Menard at 1:15 p.m. on June 16, 2017, there is no indication in the
record as to when Lind departed Pinckneyville for Menard.
In this instance, even when viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the
Court cannot find that Lind was personally involved in the incidents at issue that took place on
June 16, 2017. While the Court recognizes the efforts Plaintiff and counsel went through to
correctly identify the John Doe defendant, such efforts and photographs are not evidence and this
appears to be an instance of mistaken identity. The evidence before the Court establishes that
Lind began his 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. shift on June 16, 2017 at Pinckneyville. Lind subsequently
traveled to Menard and signed in at 1:15 p.m. According to Plaintiff’s testimony, the incidents at
issue occurred prior to this time. Indeed, Plaintiff was seen in the healthcare unit at 11:00 a.m.
Even if Plaintiff had testified or otherwise submitted evidence that Lind was involved in the
alleged acts of excessive force, the Court finds it would be unable to credit Plaintiff’s testimony.
Indeed, courts have indicated that “even on summary judgment the district court should not credit
testimony that is inherently incredible,” Simms v. Reiner, 419 F.Supp. 468, 475 (N.D. Ill. 1976), or
“irrefutably contradicted by documentary evidence,” Stewart v. RCA Corp., 790 F.2d 624, 628
(7th Cir. 1986), which has occurred in this instance.
The Court finds sufficient evidence in the record that Lind was not present at Menard
during the time Plaintiff alleges he was assaulted. Therefore, Lind was not personally responsible
for any purported constitutional violation and is entitled to summary judgment1.

1

The Court need not consider the argument of qualified immunity as to Defendant Lind because it finds that Lind did
not violate Plaintiff’s constitutional rights.

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Defendant Daniel Porter
Defendant Porter does not set forth any argument that he is entitled to summary judgment
as to Plaintiff’s claim that Porter used excessive force while escorting Plaintiff from the gym to
segregation on June 16, 2017. Thus, this claim will proceed in this case.
Defendant Porter, however, asserts he is entitled to summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s
claim that excessive force was used while Plaintiff was outside the gym. Porter contends he is
entitled to summary judgment as to this claim because Plaintiff had been given numerous orders to
put his head on the ground, but refused to do so. Porter argues Plaintiff’s failure to follow this
order and lack of serious injury demonstrate the force used was not excessive.
The central inquiry in claims of excessive force is whether the force was applied in a
good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.
See Outlaw v. Newkirk, 259 F.3d 833, 837 (7th Cir. 2001). The Court cannot find as a matter of
law that the force employed by Defendant Porter was applied in good faith and not for purposes of
causing harm. Although it appears Plaintiff may have failed to adhere to an order to put his head
on the ground, the Court cannot find that stepping on Plaintiff’s face and neck and causing him to
have difficulty breathing was an appropriate use of force, in consideration of the Fillmore factors,
cited above. The Court also disagrees with Defendant’s characterization that the force applied
was minimal because Plaintiff suffered only a cut to his lip and an abrasion to his cheek. Plaintiff
testified he has enduring medical issues from the incident, including headaches, dizziness, and
panic attacks
For these reasons, the Court finds a reasonable jury could find Defendant Porter used
excessive force against Plaintiff on June 16, 2017 both outside the gym and while Plaintiff was
being escorted to segregation, and Defendant Porter is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
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Porter is not entitled to qualified immunity as it was clearly established at the time of the
events in question that applying force in a manner inconsistent with maintaining or restoring
discipline implicates an inmate’s constitutional rights.
Defendant David Mitchell
Defendant Mitchell asserts he is entitled to summary judgment because there is no
evidence he attacked Plaintiff at any time and failure to protect was not a claim brought in this suit.
Mitchell also argues summary judgment in his favor is appropriate because Plaintiff refused
several orders to keep his head on the ground and the officers were required to restrain Plaintiff
outside of the gym. Mitchell further notes that he was not present while Plaintiff was being
escorted from the gym to segregation.
As to Defendant Mitchell’s argument that he was not involved in the alleged attack and
Plaintiff did not plead a failure to protect claim, the Court notes that liability under § 1983 is
predicated on a defendant’s personal involvement in the alleged constitutional violation. Palmer
v. Marion County, 327 F.3d 588, 594 (7th Cir. 2003) (citations omitted). To be personally
responsible, an official “must know about the conduct and facilitate it, approve it, condone it, or
turn a blind eye.” Knight v. Wiseman, 590 F.3d 458, 463 (7th Cir. 2009) (quoting Johnson v.
Snyder, 444 F.3d 579, 583 (7th Cir. 2006) (citing Gentry v. Duckworth, 65 F.3d 555, 561 (7th Cir.
1995)).

Thus, Plaintiff’s failure to plead a failure to protect claim is not fatal to his case against

Defendant Mitchell.

Plaintiff’s excessive force claim is premised on Mitchell’s direction,

facilitation and approval of the attacks that purportedly took place on June 16, 2017. This is
sufficient to state a claim.
Next, the Court considers Defendant Mitchell’s argument that summary judgment is
warranted because the force used outside of the gym was appropriate given the circumstances.
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Similar to the Court’s analysis with regard to Defendant Porter, the Court finds that although
Plaintiff may have failed to adhere to an order to put his head on the ground, a reasonable jury
could find that the force employed by Porter and the unknown officer was excessive given the
circumstances.

With regard to Defendant Mitchell, there is evidence that he directed and

observed the attacks, and ignored Plaintiff’s requests for help when Plaintiff told him he could not
breathe. Given the circumstances, the Court cannot find, as a matter of law, that the force applied
was reasonable or that Defendant Mitchell’s failure to act was appropriate. Plaintiff shall proceed
on his excessive force claim against Defendant Mitchell related to the events that occurred outside
of the gym on June 16, 2017. Mitchell is not entitled to qualified immunity on this claim as it was
clearly established at the time of the events in question that the failure to act when force is being
applied in a manner inconsistent with maintaining or restoring discipline implicates an inmate’s
constitutional rights.
Plaintiff shall not proceed on a claim against Defendant Mitchell related to the use of force
while he was being escorted from the gym to segregation. The evidence is insufficient to
establish that Mitchell directed or was aware of any attack, or ignored any calls for help during this
alleged attack.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 136) is
GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter
judgment in favor of Defendant Bart Lind and against Plaintiff Jamell Murphy at the close of this
case.
Plaintiff shall proceed in this matter on an Eighth Amendment excessive force claim
against Defendants David Mitchell and Daniel Porter related to incidents that occurred on June 16,
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2017, as fully set forth in this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: March 23, 2021
s/ Reona J. Daly
Hon. Reona J. Daly
United States Magistrate Judge

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