Wilburn v. State of Indiana et al

Filing 145

OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART 118 MOTION for Summary Judgment by Defendants. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Officer Willie Parnell and against Plaintiff Eric Wilburn. However, in all other respects, the Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment 118 is DENIED. Signed by Chief Judge Jon E DeGuilio on 6/9/2020. (lhc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
SOUTH BEND DIVISION
ERIC WILBURN,
Plaintiff,
v.
STATE OF INDIANA and OFFICER
WILLIE PARNELL,

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Case No. 3:17-cv-059 JD

Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER
On August 2, 2017, the Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint [DE 34] against the State
of Indiana and Officer Willie Parnell. Due to events arising during his period of incarceration at
the Indiana Department of Corrections, the Plaintiff brought claims for disability discrimination
pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (Count 1); constitutional claims pursuant to the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment and the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment (Count
2); and negligent infliction of emotional distress (Count 3). See Am. Compl., pp. 10–12, DE 34.
On September 17, 2019, the State of Indiana and Officer Parnell filed the instant Motion
for Summary Judgment [DE 118]. The Defendants raise several objections to the Plaintiff’s
designated evidence. The Defendants also argue that they are entitled to summary judgment
because (1) the Plaintiff is not disabled; (2) the Plaintiff’s equal protection claim fails as a matter
of law; (3) the Plaintiff’s cruel and unusual punishment claim is barred by the Heck doctrine; (4)
the Plaintiff’s claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress fails because the Plaintiff did
not suffer a direct physical impact; (5) Officer Parnell is entitled to qualified immunity; and (6)
the state-law claims against Officer Parnell are barred by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. The Court

agrees with the fifth and sixth arguments. However, in all other respects, the Defendants’ Motion
for Summary Judgement is denied.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The Indiana Department of Corrections established an “Offender Urinalysis Program” to
randomly select inmates for illegal drug use. See Offender Urinalysis Program, p. 3, DE 120-1. A
prisoner who was selected for testing would be “expected to provide a urine specimen within two
(2) hours of the request. To assist the offender in providing the specimen, staff shall offer the
offender no more than eight (8) ounces of water at the beginning of the two-hour time period, if
requested.” Id. at 6. “Refusal to submit a urine specimen is considered the same as receiving a
positive test result and shall subject the offender to disciplinary action under the appropriate
disciplinary process.” Id. at 5. However, the Offender Urinalysis Program did not provide an
exception for disabled prisoners to participate by alternative methods such as catheterization or
blood analysis. See id. at 5–9.
In January 2016, the Plaintiff was a prisoner in the Indiana Department of Corrections.
See Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶ 3, DE 139-2. Prior to his incarceration, the Plaintiff had been in a
serious car crash which resulted in significant injuries to his hip, pelvis, and spine. See Dep. of
Dr. Bryon Holm, p. 5, DE 120-6. 1 As a result of the accident, the Plaintiff had great difficulty
initiating urination upon command. Id. at 10. In fact, on May 12, 2005, Dr. Byron M. Holm
concluded that “due to the patient’s medical history he will need to have his blood drawn for all
drug screen testing.” Ex. 8, Letter from Dr. Byron Holm, p. 1, DE 120-8. Dr. Holm would later
conclude that “due to the above patient’s medical history he will need to have his blood drawn
for all drug screen testing.” Ex. 9, Letter from Dr. Byron Holm, p. 1, DE 120-9. Finally, based

1

The Court will cite to the CM/ECF electronic page header rather than the page number listed on the actual
document.

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upon the Plaintiff’s injuries resulting from the car crash, Dr. Holm concluded that “it would be in
patient’s best interest if he had a blood draw or urine cath when it comes time for a drug screen
as patient is unable to urinate at the time of the screening.” Ex. 10, Letter from Dr. Byron Holm,
p. 1, DE 120-10.
On January 5, 2016, the Plaintiff was selected for a drug test and “was ordered to urinate
on demand.” Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶ 3, DE 139-2. The Plaintiff told Officer Willie Parnell that he
needed a blood draw or a catheter because he could not urinate. Id. ¶ 4. The Plaintiff explained
that he could not urinate on demand despite being given an abundance of water to drink. Id. ¶ 5.
Due to his physical condition, the Plaintiff “suffered significant pain and suffering because [he]
was unable to urinate, and [he] requested a catheter.” Id. ¶ 5. The Defendants refused his request
for a blood draw or a catheter. Id. ¶¶ 5, 7. Due to his inability to urinate, the Plaintiff was
disciplined for failing to submit to the drug test. See Report of Disciplinary Hr’g, p. 1, DE 12020.
Following his failure to complete the drug test, the Plaintiff complained of nausea and
dizziness. See Report of Conduct, p. 1, DE 120-15. Due to his symptoms, the Plaintiff was
observed by a nurse. Id. However, the Plaintiff refused to obey commands and got down on the
floor. See Mem. to Captain Calloway, p. 1, DE 120-16. The Plaintiff was so disruptive that he
was placed in a holding cell. See Report of Conduct, p. 1, DE 120-15. Due to this, the Plaintiff
was also punished for disorderly conduct. See Report of Disciplinary Hr’g, p. 1, DE 120-21.
However, as to the disciplinary case for failure to submit to a drug examination, the
Indiana Department of Corrections would later dismiss the disciplinary case, dismiss the
sanctions, and expunge the matter from the Plaintiff’s record. See Letter from Appeal Review

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Officer, p. 1, DE 120-14. However, the reprimand for disorderly conduct was not reversed. See
id.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
A court must 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.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56(a). A “material” fact is one identified by the substantive law as affecting the outcome
of the suit. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A “genuine issue” exists
with respect to any material fact when “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a
verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. Where a factual record taken as a whole could not lead a
rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial, and
summary judgment should be granted. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475
U.S. 574, 587 (1986). In determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, courts must
construe all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable and
justifiable inferences in that party’s favor. Jackson v. Kotter, 541 F.3d 688, 697 (7th Cir. 2008);
King v. Preferred Tech. Grp., 166 F.3d 887, 890 (7th Cir. 1999). However, the non-moving party
cannot simply rest on its pleadings but must present evidence sufficient to show the existence of
each element of its case on which it will bear the burden at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 317, 322–23 (1986); Robin v. Espo Eng’g Corp., 200 F.3d 1081, 1088 (7th Cir. 2000).
III. DISCUSSION
The Defendants raise several objections to the Plaintiff’s designated evidence. The
Defendants also argue that they are entitled to summary judgment because (1) the Plaintiff is not
disabled; (2) the Plaintiff’s equal protection claim fails as a matter of law; (3) the Plaintiff’s cruel
and unusual punishment claim is barred by the Heck doctrine; (4) the Plaintiff’s claim for
negligent infliction of emotional distress fails because the Plaintiff did not suffer a direct
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physical impact; (5) Officer Parnell is entitled to qualified immunity because there is no clearly
established right to receive drug screenings by alternative methods; and (6) the state-law claims
against Officer Parnell are barred by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. The Court agrees with the fifth
and sixth arguments. However, in all other respects, the Defendants’ Motion for Summary
Judgement is denied.
A.

The Objections to the Plaintiff’s Designated Evidence
The Defendants object to the Plaintiff’s designated evidence. In response to his statement

that he could not participate in the Offender Uranalysis Program, the Defendants argue that
“[t]he undisputed medical expert testimony is that Mr. Wilburn did not require a catheterization
or blood draw to participate in the urinalysis program.” Reply in Supp. of Defs.’ Mot. for Summ.
J., pp. 1–2, DE 142. The Court disagrees. Namely, Dr. Holm testified that the Plaintiff “always
had trouble initiating the urination.” Dep. of Dr. Bryon Holm, p. 10, DE 120-6. Although Dr.
Holm stated that the “main reason” he recommended a blood draw or catheterization was due to
convenience of the Plaintiff, he never testified that a blood draw or catheterization was not
medically necessary. See id. at 11. Instead, Dr. Holm concluded that “due to the above patient’s
medical history he will need to have his blood drawn for all drug screen testing.” Ex. 9, Letter
from Dr. Byron Holm, p. 1, DE 120-9. Moreover, even Dr. Steven Kim, who is the Defendants’
medical expert, conceded that the Plaintiff’s pelvic crush injury could cause difficulty initiating
urination. Aff. of Dr. Steven Kim ¶ 8, DE 120-12. Thus, this argument is without merit.
In response to his request for drug screening by catheterization or a blood draw, the
Defendants argue that the Plaintiff “is not a qualified expert to testify about the necessity of an
accommodation.” Reply in Supp. of Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J., pp. 1–2, DE 142 (citing FED. R.
EVID. 702). Rule of Evidence 702 regulates the testimony of expert witnesses. See FED. R. EVID.

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702; see also Lees v. Carthage Coll., 714 F.3d 516, 521–22 (7th Cir. 2013). Expert testimony is
based upon “scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge [that] will help the trier of fact
to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue.” FED. R. EVID. 702(a). “[T]he
distinction between lay and expert witness testimony is that lay testimony ‘results from a process
of reasoning familiar in everyday life,’ while expert testimony ‘results from a process of
reasoning which can be mastered only by specialists in the field.’” FED. R. EVID. 701 advisory
committee’s note (quoting State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530, 549 (Tenn. 1992)); see also United
States v. Christian, 673 F.3d 702, 709 (7th Cir. 2012). “Lay testimony is based upon one’s own
observations, with the classic example being testimony as to one’s sensory observations.” United
States v. Jones, 739 F.3d 364, 369 (7th Cir. 2014) (citing United States v. Mendiola, 707 F.3d
735, 741 (7th Cir. 2013)). Lay opinion is permissible when it is (1) rationally based on the
witness’s perception, (2) helpful to understanding the witness’s testimony or determining a fact
in issue, and (3) not based on specialized knowledge. United States v. Bowling, 952 F.3d 861,
868 (7th Cir. 2020) (citing FED. R. EVID. 701; United States v. Hilliard, 851 F.3d 768, 779–80
(7th Cir. 2017)). “A witness’s informal use of a term that may also be legal in character does not
inexorably turn that testimony into improper lay testimony.” Id. at 869.
In this case, the Plaintiff states that he could not participate in the Offender Urinalysis
Program because he could not urinate upon demand. Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶ 2, DE 139-2. The
Plaintiff requested catheterization or blood drawing due to his inability to urinate. Id. ¶ 4. Such
statements are clearly based upon the Plaintiff’s personal observations and a process of reasoning
familiar in everyday life. Thus, such statements are lay testimony rather than expert testimony.
See Christian, 673 F.3d at 709. To the extent that the Plaintiff is offering an opinion regarding
the need for catheterization or a blood draw, the Court concludes that it is rationally based on his

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perception, is helpful to determining a fact in issue, and is not based on specialized knowledge.
Bowling, 952 F.3d at 868. Thus, to the extent that the Plaintiff is offering an opinion, it qualifies
as lay witness opinion under Rule of Evidence 701. Therefore, the Defendants’ reliance upon
Rule of Evidence 702 is entirely misplaced.
The Defendants argue that the Plaintiff has no personal knowledge to support his
assertion that the Defendants had knowledge of his disability. Rule of Evidence 602 provides
that “[a] witness may testify to a matter only if evidence is introduced sufficient to support a
finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal
knowledge may consist of the witness’s own testimony.” FED. R. EVID. 602. The Plaintiff stated
that he told Defendant Willie Parnell that he could not urinate on demand. Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶
4, DE 139-2. This assertion is also supported by documentary evidence in the record. See, e.g.,
Report of Disciplinary Hr’g, p. 1, DE 120-20. Thus, this argument is without merit. Accordingly,
the Defendants’ objections to the Plaintiff’s designated evidence are overruled. 2
B.

The Disability Discrimination Claims
The Defendants argue that the Plaintiff’s claims under the ADA and the Rehabilitation

Act fail because he is not disabled. The Court concludes that whether the Plaintiff is disabled is a
disputed issue of material fact. As such, summary judgment is not appropriate as to these claims.
“Both Title II of the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibit
discrimination against disabled individuals.” P.F. by A.F. v. Taylor, 914 F.3d 467, 471 (7th Cir.
2019). “To establish a violation of Title II of the ADA, ‘the plaintiff must prove that he is a
qualified individual with a disability, that he was denied the benefits of the services, programs, or
activities of a public entity or otherwise subjected to discrimination by such an entity, and that

2

The Defendants also raise an objection regarding the expungement of the Plaintiff’s disciplinary record. The Court
need not address this dispute because it is not necessary for the resolution of this Opinion and Order.

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the denial or discrimination was by reason of his disability.’” Wagoner v. Lemmon, 778 F.3d
586, 592 (7th Cir. 2015) (quoting Love v. Westville Corr. Ctr., 103 F.3d 558, 560 (7th Cir.
1996)); see also 42 U.S.C. § 12132. To establish a violation of the Rehabilitation Act, the
Plaintiff must demonstrate “that (1) he is a qualified person (2) with a disability and (3) the
[Indiana] Department of Corrections denied him access to a program or activity because of his
disability.” Jaros v. Ill. Dep’t of Corr., 684 F.3d 667, 672 (7th Cir. 2012) (citing 29 U.S.C. §
705(2)(B); Wis. Cmty. Servs., Inc. v. City of Milwaukee, 465 F.3d 737, 476 (7th Cir. 2006); Foley
v. City of Lafayette, 359 F.3d 925, 928 (7th Cir. 2004); Grzan v. Charter Hosp. of Nw. Ind., 104
F.3d 116, 119 (7th Cir. 1997)). 3 Under the Rehabilitation Act, refusing to make a reasonable
accommodation is tantamount to denying access. Id. (citing Wis. Cmty. Servs. Inc., 465 F.3d at
747; Alexander v. Choate, 469 U.S. 287, 300–01 (1985)).
In this case, the Defendants argue that the Plaintiff is not disabled. They rely upon the
conclusions of Dr. Steven Kim and inconsistencies during Dr. Holm’s deposition. See Aff. of Dr.
Steven Kim ¶ 5, DE 120-12 (“It is my opinion to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that a
catheter was not medically necessary for Mr. Eric Wilburn to produce urine in order to comply
with urinalysis drug screenings from January 5, 2016 through July 3, 2016.”); Dep. of Dr. Bryon
Holm, pp. 10–11, DE 120-6 (stating that the “main reason” he recommended blood testing was
because of “the convenience of—so you didn’t have to wait for the urine, and he did have the
problems of initiating urinalysis—urine on demand all the time.”). The Defendants also rely
upon various evidence that tends to demonstrate that the Plaintiff can urinate on command. See,
e.g., Health Assessment, DE 120-5 (omitting any reference to incontinence).

3

It is not in dispute that the Indiana Department of Corrections receives federal funds. See Wagoner, 778 F.3d at
592 (citing Jaros, 684 F.3d at 671).

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However, at summary judgment, the Court must view the record in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. Kotter, 541 F.3d at 697. It is undisputed that the Plaintiff
suffered significant injuries to his hip, pelvis, and spine as a result of a car crash. See Dep. of Dr.
Bryon Holm, p. 5, DE 120-6. Further, Dr. Holm concluded that “due to the patient’s medical
history he will need to have his blood drawn for all drug screen testing.” Ex. 8, Letter from Dr.
Byron Holm, p. 1, DE 120-8. Based upon the Plaintiff’s physical injuries from the car crash, Dr.
Holm concluded that “it would be in patient’s best interest if he had a blood draw or urine cath
when it comes time for a drug screen as patient is unable to urinate at the time of the screening.”
Ex. 10, Letter from Dr. Byron Holm, p. 1, DE 120-10. Further, the Plaintiff stated that he
“needed a blood draw or a catheterization . . . because I could not urinate on demand.” Aff. of
Eric Wilburn ¶ 4, DE 139-2. Finally, even Dr. Kim conceded that “a pelvic crush injury of the
type Mr. Wilburn suffered can cause difficulty initiating urination . . . .” Aff. of Dr. Steven Kim
¶ 8, DE 120-12 (emphasis added). When the record is so viewed, a trier of fact could reasonably
find that the Defendants discriminated against the Plaintiff due to his disability.4 Namely, due to
the Plaintiff’s medical condition, he was unable to urinate upon command. Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶
4, 139-2. The Offender Urinalysis Program required a prisoner to urinate within a two-hour time
period. Offender Urinalysis Program, p. 6, DE 120. Further, the Offender Urinalysis Program did
not allow for alternative drug screening methods such as blood draws or catherization. See id. at
5–13. Moreover, the Defendants punished the Plaintiff because he was physically unable to
urinate upon command. See Report of Disciplinary Hr’g, p. 1, DE 120-20. As such, the
Plaintiff’s claims under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act survive summary judgment.

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Based upon the assumption that the Plaintiff is not disabled, the Defendants cite numerous cases which stand for
the proposition that a plaintiff cannot maintain a disability claim based upon some quality that they share with the
general public. See, e.g., Wis. Cmty. Servs., Inc., 465 F.3d at 748. Because the existence of the Plaintiff’s disability
is a disputed issue of material fact, the Court need not address these cases.

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C.

The Equal Protection Claim
The Defendants argue that the Plaintiff’s equal protection claim fails as a matter of law.

The Court disagrees.
“The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment states that ‘[n]o State shall .
. . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.’” Platt v. Brown,
872 F.3d 848, 851 (7th Cir. 2017) (quoting U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1). “In a protected-class
equal protection analysis, a plaintiff must show that ‘defendants acted with a nefarious
discriminatory purpose and discriminated against him based on his membership in a definable
class.’” Word v. City of Chicago, 946 F.3d 391, 396 (7th Cir. 2020) (quoting Nabozny v.
Podlesny, 92 F.3d 446, 453 (7th Cir. 1996)). “Under traditional equal protection analysis, it is a
violation of the Fourteenth Amendment for the State to discriminate against disabled persons in
an irrational manner or for an illegitimate reason.” Stevens v. Ill. Dep’t of Transp., 210 F.3d 732,
738 (7th Cir. 2000) (citing City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 446–47
(1985)); see also Bd. of Trs. of the Univ. of Ala. v. Garrett, 531 U.S. 356, 367–68 (2001) (“States
are not required by the Fourteenth Amendment to make special accommodations for the
disabled, so long as their actions toward such individuals are rational.”). “However, the
Fourteenth Amendment allows the State to single out the disabled for different treatment so long
as it has a rational or legitimate purpose.” Stevens, 210 F.3d at 738 (citing Cleburne, 473 U.S. at
446–47). “Furthermore, it is presumed that distinctions made by the State that are based on
disability are rational and legitimate.” Id. (citing Kimel v. Fla. Bd. of Regents, 120 S. Ct. 631,
646 (2000); Cleburne, 473 U.S. at 441). “The burden rests on the individual to demonstrate that
the government’s claimed purpose is illegitimate or that the means used to achieve that purpose
are irrational.” Id. (citing Kimel, 120 S. Ct. at 646).

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The Defendants argue that the Offender Urinalysis Program does not discriminate on the
basis of disability and is rationally related to a legitimate penological interest. However, the
Plaintiff argues that the Defendants’ actions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment. See Pl.’s Resp. in Opp. To Defs.’ Mot for Summ. J., p. 6, DE 139; Am.
Compl. ¶¶ 41–44, DE 34. The Plaintiff does not argue that the Offender Uranalysis Program
explicitly discriminates on the basis of disability. Further, the Plaintiff does not challenge the
State of Indiana’s legitimate interest in screening inmates for illicit substances. See Whitman v.
Nesic, 368 F.3d 931, 935–36 (7th Cir. 2004). Instead, the Plaintiff argues that punishing him
based upon his physical inability to urinate on command was irrational and violated the Equal
Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
When the facts are viewed in the light most favorable to him, the Plaintiff was disabled
and could not urinate on command. See Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶¶ 2, 4–5, DE 139-2. Because of his
inability to urinate on command, the Plaintiff could not complete his drug testing within the
mandatory two-hour time requirement. Id. ¶ 5. However, the Plaintiff requested that he be able to
complete the drug test using a blood draw or a catheter. Id. ¶ 4. The Defendants refused this
request and punished him for his failure to complete the drug test. See Report of Disciplinary
Hr’g, p. 1, DE 120-20. If the Plaintiff could not complete the drug test due to a physical
disability, it was irrational for the Defendants to punish the Plaintiff based upon this disability.
See United States v. Harris, 197 F.3d 870, 876 (7th Cir. 1999) (“If the government had struck
Ms. Wilson because of an irrational animosity toward or fear of disabled people, this would not
be a legitimate reason for excluding her from the jury.”). Accordingly, a reasonable jury could
find that the Defendants discriminated against a disabled person in an irrational manner. See
Stevens, 210 F.3d at 738.

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D.

The Cruel and Unusual Punishment Claim
The Defendants argue that the Plaintiff’s cruel and unusual punishment claim is barred by

the Heck doctrine. The Court disagrees.
Under the Heck doctrine, “a civil rights suit cannot be maintained by a prisoner if a
judgment in his favor would ‘necessarily imply’ that his conviction had been invalid, and for this
purpose the ruling in a prison disciplinary proceeding is a conviction.” Moore v. Mahone, 652
F.3d 722, 723 (7th Cir. 2011) (quoting Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 487 (1994); citing
Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641 (1997); Gilbert v. Cook, 512 F.3d 899, 900 (7th Cir. 2008)).
“The Heck rule is analogous to collateral estoppel: an issue determined with finality in a full and
fair adjudicative proceeding (and essential to the decision in that proceeding) cannot be reopened
in a subsequent case.” Id. (citing Gilbert, 512 F.3d at 901; Ballard v. Burton, 444 F.3d 391, 397
(5th Cir. 2006)). Therefore, “Heck forbids a prisoner in his civil rights case to challenge a finding
in his criminal or prison-discipline case that was essential to the decision in that case; if he
insists on doing that, the civil rights case must be dismissed.” Id. (citing Okoro v. Callaghan, 324
F.3d 488, 490 (7th Cir. 2003) (emphasis added)).
In this case, due to his inability to urinate on command, the Plaintiff was unable to
complete a drug test within the mandatory time requirement. See Aff. of Eric Wilburn ¶¶ 3–7,
DE 139-2. Because of his inability to urinate, the Plaintiff was disciplined for failing to submit to
the drug test. See Report of Disciplinary Hr’g, p. 1, DE 120-20. Following his failure to complete
the drug test, the Plaintiff complained of nausea and dizziness and was observed by a nurse. See
Report of Conduct, p. 1, DE 120-15. However, the Plaintiff refused to respond to commands and
got down on the floor. See Mem. to Captain Calloway, p. 1, DE 120-16. The Plaintiff was so
disruptive that he was placed in a holding cell. See Report of Conduct, p. 1, DE 120-15. Due to

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this, the Plaintiff was punished for disorderly conduct. See Report of Disciplinary Hr’g, p. 1, DE
120-21. However, as to the punishment for failure to submit to a drug examination, the Indiana
Department of Corrections would later dismiss the disciplinary case, dismiss the sanctions, and
expunge the matter from the Plaintiff’s record. See Letter from Appeal Review Officer, p. 1, DE
120-14. However, the reprimand for disorderly conduct was not reversed. See id.
The Defendants argue that the “Court cannot grant relief in Mr. Wilburn’s 8th
Amendment claim without necessarily implying that Mr. Wilburn’s conviction for disorderly
conduct was invalid.” Br. in Supp. of Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J., p. 18, DE 119. 5 The Court
disagrees. Namely, the Plaintiff’s punishment for failing to submit to a drug examination was
vacated by the Indiana Department of Corrections. See Letter from Appeal Review Officer, p. 1,
DE 120-14. The Plaintiff’s punishment for disorderly conduct was not based upon the Plaintiff’s
failure to complete the drug examination. Rather, the Plaintiff’s punishment for disorderly
conduct was based upon unrelated conduct that occurred after the Plaintiff was unable to
complete his drug test. Thus, a judgment in the Plaintiff’s favor would not necessarily imply that
his conviction for disorderly conduct was invalid. Therefore, the Heck rule does not prohibit the
Plaintiff’s cruel and unusual punishment claim.
E.

The Claim for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
The Defendants argue that the Plaintiff’s claim for negligent infliction of emotional

distress fails because the Plaintiff did not suffer a direct physical impact. The Court disagrees.
“To establish a claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress, a plaintiff must satisfy
the requirements of either the modified impact rule or the bystander rule.” Neff v. Wal-Mart

5

The Court emphasizes that the Defendants only argue that the Heck rule prohibits the Plaintiff’s Eighth
Amendment claim. As such, the Court need not address whether the Plaintiff was subjected to cruel and unusual
punishment.

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Stores East, LP, 113 N.E.3d 666, 673 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018) (citing Atl. Coast Airlines v. Cook,
857 N.E.2d 989, 998 (Ind. 2006)). “The modified impact rule maintains the requirement of a
direct physical impact. However, the impact need not cause a physical injury to the plaintiff and
the emotional trauma suffered by the plaintiff need not result from a physical injury caused by
the impact.” Spangler v. Bechtel, 958 N.E.2d 458, 464 (Ind. 2011) (quoting Conder v. Wood, 716
N.E.2d 432, 434 (Ind. 1999)); see also Perkins v. Stesiak, 968 N.E.2d 319, 322 (Ind. Ct. App.
2012) (quoting Atl. Coast Airlines, 857 N.E.2d at 996). Furthermore, “it matters little how the
physical impact occurs, so long as that impact arises from the plaintiff’s direct involvement in
the tortfeasor’s negligent conduct.” Conder, 716 N.E.2d at 435.
In this case, the Plaintiff was required to submit to a urinalysis test even though he could
not urinate on demand. The Plaintiff “explained that [he] could still not urinate despite being
given an abundance of water, and that [he] suffered significant pain and suffering because [he]
was unable to urinate . . . .” Aff. of Eric Wilburn, ¶ 5, DE 139-2 (emphasis added). Based upon
this, there is a dispute of material fact regarding whether the Plaintiff suffered a physical impact.
See, e.g., Bader v. Johnson, 732 N.E.2d 1212, 1222 (Ind. 2000) (concluding that a mother’s
“continued pregnancy and the physical transformation her body underwent as a result, satisfy the
direct impact requirement of our modified impact rule.”); Alexander v. Scheid, 726 N.E.2d 272,
283–84 (Ind. 2000) (“JoAnn has satisfied the elements of negligent infliction of emotional
distress under the modified impact rule. The impact does not consist, as Scheid and Orthopaedics
allege, of the failure to diagnose cancer. Rather, allegedly as a result of the defendants’
negligence, JoAnn suffered the destruction of healthy lung tissue by a cancerous tumor.”).
Accordingly, summary judgment is not appropriate as to the Plaintiff’s claim for negligent
infliction of emotional distress.

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F.

Officer Parnell’s Liability
Officer Parnell argues that the Plaintiff’s federal claims are barred by qualified immunity

and the Plaintiff’s state-law claims are barred by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. The Court agrees.
“Qualified immunity shields public officials from liability when they act in a manner that
they reasonably believe to be lawful.” Gonzalez v. City of Elgin, 578 F.3d 526, 540 (7th Cir.
2009). “Qualified immunity is ‘an immunity from suit rather than a mere defense to liability.’”
Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 237 (2009) (quoting Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 526
(1985)). “The plaintiff carries the burden of defeating the qualified immunity defense.”
Chasensky v. Walker, 740 F.3d 1088, 1095 (7th Cir. 2014). “To overcome a defendant’s
invocation of qualified immunity, a plaintiff must show (1) that the official violated a statutory or
constitutional right, and (2) that the right was clearly established at the time of the challenged
conduct.” Green v. Newport, 868 F.3d 629, 633 (7th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks
omitted). A right is clearly established when “there is ‘a clearly analogous case establishing a
right to be free from the specific conduct at issue’ or that ‘the conduct is so egregious that no
reasonable person could have believed that it would not violate clearly established rights.’”
Gonzalez, 578 F.3d at 540 (quoting Smith v. City of Chicago, 242 F.3d 737, 742 (7th Cir. 2001));
see also Chasensky, 740 F.3d at 1094. “If either inquiry is answered in the negative, the
defendant official is entitled to summary judgment.” Gibbs v. Lomas, 755 F.3d 529, 537 (7th Cir.
2014) (emphasis in original).
In response to Officer Parnell’s invocation of qualified immunity, the Plaintiff only
argues that “[t]he ADA/Rehabilitation Act make it clear that, as a disabled individual, Wilburn’s
request for reasonable accommodations (receive drug screes [sic] by blood draw or
catheterization) should have been granted. Accordingly, as this was clearly established law, there

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can be no qualified immunity.” Pl.’s Resp. in Opp. To Defs.’ Mot. for Summ. J., p. 7, DE 139.
The Plaintiff fails to provide any further context or analysis. Critically, the Plaintiff fails to
identify any caselaw holding that it was clearly established that a government official must
administer a drug test by alternative methods to a disabled individual. See United States v.
Collins, 796 F.3d 829, 836 (7th Cir. 2015) (“The parties—not the courts—must research and
construct available legal arguments.”). Accordingly, the Plaintiff fails to overcome the second
prong of qualified immunity. Newport, 868 F.3d at 633.
As to the Plaintiff’s state law claims, Officer Parnell is entitled to immunity under the
Indiana Tort Claims Act. The Act provides that “[a] lawsuit alleging that an employee acted
within the scope of the employee’s employment bars an action by the claimant against the
employee personally.” Ind. Code § 34-13-3-5(b). “The party seeking immunity has the burden of
establishing that its conduct comes within the provisions of the ITCA.” Jurich v. Ind. Dep’t of
Transp., 126 N.E.3d 846, 857 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019) (citing Murray v. Indianapolis Pub. Sch., 116
N.E.3d 525, 532 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018)). Here, the Plaintiff sued Officer Parnell in his individual
capacity. Am. Compl. ¶ 6, DE 34. The Plaintiff alleged that Officer Parnell acted “within the
scope of [his] employment for purposes of [the Plaintiff’s] tort claims.” Id. The Plaintiff further
alleged that the State of Indiana is “liable for the torts of their employees who were acting within
the scope of employment.” Id. ¶ 51. Critically, the Plaintiff fails to respond to Officer Parnell’s
invocation of the Indiana Tort Claims Act. See Collins, 796 F.3d at 836 (the parties, rather than
the court, must research and construct available legal arguments); Puffer v. Allstate Ins. Co., 675
F.3d 709, 718 (7th Cir. 2012) (arguments not raised to the district court are waived). As such,
Officer Parnell is entitled to immunity as to the Plaintiff’s negligence claim.

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IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 118] is
GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment in
favor of Defendant Officer Willie Parnell and against Plaintiff Eric Wilburn. However, in all
other respects, the Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 118] is DENIED.
SO ORDERED.
ENTERED: June 9, 2020
/s/ JON E. DEGUILIO
Chief Judge
United States District Court

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