Black v. Crain et al

Filing 12

Order for Service of Process upon Willis, Angela Crain, Kim Martin, and Gutenslaw. Signed by Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel on 5/9/2022. (anp)

Case 3:21-cv-01650-NJR Document 12 Filed 05/09/22 Page 1 of 5 Page ID #60

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
RODNEY BLACK,
Plaintiff,
vs.
ANGELA CRAIN, KIM MARTIN, C/O
WILLIS, and SGT. GUTENSLAW,
Defendants.

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Case No. 21-cv-1650-NJR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
ROSENSTENGEL, Chief Judge:
Plaintiff Rodney Black, an inmate of the Illinois Department of Corrections
(“IDOC”) who is currently incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center, brings this action
for deprivations of his constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December
10, 2021, Black filed his original Complaint alleging deliberate indifference to the
conditions of his confinement (Doc. 1). That Complaint was dismissed for failure to state
a claim, and Black was granted leave to amend his Complaint (Doc. 9). In the Amended
Complaint (Doc. 10), 1 Black alleges that he lacked access to a toilet and shower while in
the healthcare unit in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
This case is now before the Court for preliminary review of the Amended
Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Under Section 1915A, the Court is required to

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Black attaches a supplemental exhibit at Doc. 11.

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screen prisoner complaints to filter out non-meritorious claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a).
Any portion of a complaint that is legally frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon
which relief may be granted, or asks for money damages from a defendant who by law
is immune from such relief must be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).
The Amended Complaint
In his Amended Complaint (Doc. 10), Black makes the following allegations: On
October 1, 2021, he was placed in cell HCU-324 in the healthcare unit (Id. at p. 7). He
informed Correctional Officer Willis that the cell did not have a toilet or sink and asked
to move to another cell. Instead, Willis provided Black a urinal. He was also told to knock
on the door if he needed the restroom (Id. at p. 10). Black also informed Angela Crain,
Kim Martin, and Sergeant Gutenslaw about the lack of toilet, but they did nothing to
remedy the situation (Id. at pp. 7-9). Black alleges that he has an enlarged prostate and he
would fill his urinal up often but would have to wait until he was escorted to the
bathroom down the hall to empty it (Id. at p. 9). On many occasions while housed in the
cell, he would have to wait hours to use the restroom (Id. at p. 10). He also went 25 days
without a shower because the prison went on Covid-19 quarantine (Id. at pp. 10-11). He
was forced to eat his meals without being able to wash his hands after using the urinal
(Id. at p. 11). He had to eat around two-day old urine. He sometimes urinated on himself
when the urinal was full and he could not get to the bathroom (Id.). He was housed in the
cell for 30 days while having his heart monitored and left the healthcare unit on
November 1, 2021 (Id.).

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Discussion
Based on the allegations in the Amended Complaint, the Court finds it convenient
to designate the following count:
Count 1:

Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against
Willis, Angela Crain, Kim Martin, and Gutenslaw for
housing Black in a cell without a sink or toilet and no access
to a shower.

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. Any other claim that is
mentioned in the Amended Complaint but not addressed in this Order should be
considered dismissed without prejudice as inadequately pled under the Twombly
pleading standard. 2
At this stage, Black states a viable claim for deliberate indifference to his conditions
of confinement in Count 1. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994); Riccardo v. Rausch,
375 F.3d 521, 526 (7th Cir. 2004). Because Black only seeks monetary damages, his official
capacity claims against Defendants are DISMISSED without prejudice.
Disposition
For the reasons stated above, Count 1 shall proceed against Willis, Angela Crain,
Kim Martin, and Gutenslaw.
The Clerk of Court shall prepare for Defendants Willis, Angela Crain, Kim Martin,
and Gutenslaw: (1) Form 5 (Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a

See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007) (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”).
2

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Summons), and (2) Form 6 (Waiver of Service of Summons). The Clerk is DIRECTED to
mail these forms, a copy of the Amended Complaint, and this Memorandum and Order
to the defendants’ place of employment as identified by Black. 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.
If a defendant can no longer be found at the work address provided by Black, the
employer shall furnish the Clerk with the defendant’s current work address, or, if not
known, 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.
Defendants are ORDERED to timely file an appropriate responsive pleading to
the Amended Complaint and shall not waive filing a reply pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section
1997e(g). Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 244, Defendants need only respond to
the issues stated in this Merit Review Order.
If judgment is rendered against Black, and the judgment includes the payment of
costs under Section 1915, he will be required to pay the full amount of the costs, regardless
of whether his application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(f)(2)(A).

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Finally, Black 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 seven 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.
DATED: May 9, 2022
____________________________
NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL
Chief U.S. District Judge

Notice to Plaintiff
The Court will take the necessary steps to notify the appropriate defendants of
your lawsuit and serve them with a copy of your Amended Complaint. After service has
been achieved, the defendants will enter their appearance and file an Answer to your
Amended Complaint. It will likely take at least 60 days from the date of this Order to
receive the defendants’ Answer, but it is entirely possible that it will take 90 days or more.
When all the defendants have filed Answers, the Court will enter a Scheduling Order
containing important information on deadlines, discovery, and procedures. Plaintiff is
advised to wait until counsel has appeared for the defendants before filing any motions,
to give the defendants notice and an opportunity to respond to those motions. Motions
filed before defendants’ counsel has filed an appearance will generally be denied as
premature. Plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the Court at this time, unless
specifically directed to do so.

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