WINDOM v. STAMPER et al
Filing
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Order Granting Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, Screening Complaint, And Directing Service of Process - granting #2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Although Mr. Windom is excused from pre-paying the full filing fee, he still must pay the three hundred and fifty dollar ($350.00) filing fee. The clerk is directed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) to issue process to defendants Stamper, Hammond, and Zatecky. The clerk is directed to serve the Indiana Department of Correction employees electronically. See Order. Copy to plaintiff via US Mail. Signed by Judge James Patrick Hanlon on 1/11/2022. (KAA)
Case 2:22-cv-00004-JPH-DLP Document 7 Filed 01/11/22 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 52
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
TERRE HAUTE DIVISION
AARON D. WINDOM,
Plaintiff,
v.
STAMPER,
HAMMOND,
ZATECKY,
Defendants.
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No. 2:22-cv-00004-JPH-DLP
Order Granting Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis,
Screening Complaint, And Directing Service of Process
Plaintiff Aaron Windom is a prisoner currently incarcerated at Wabash Valley Correctional
Facility. This action was opened after the Court screened Mr. Windom's civil rights complaint in
case number 2:21-cv-00304-JPH-MJD and severed misjoined claims against defendants Stamper,
Hammond, and Zatecky. The Court now addresses Mr. Windom's motion for leave to proceed in
forma pauperis and screens his complaint.
I. In Forma Pauperis Status
Mr. Windom's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, dkt. [2], is granted. Although
Mr. Windom is excused from pre-paying the full filing fee, he still must pay the three hundred and
fifty dollar ($350.00) filing fee pursuant to the statutory formula set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2)
when able. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) ("the prisoner shall be required to pay the full amount of a
filing fee.").
The assessment of even an initial partial filing fee is waived because the plaintiff has no
assets and no means by which to pay a partial filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). Accordingly, no
initial partial filing fee is due at this time.
Case 2:22-cv-00004-JPH-DLP Document 7 Filed 01/11/22 Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 53
II. Screening Standard
Because Mr. Windom is a "prisoner" as defined by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(c), this Court has
an obligation under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a) to screen his complaint before service on the defendants.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b), the Court must dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the
complaint, if it is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim for relief, or seeks monetary relief
against a defendant who is immune from such relief. In determining whether the complaint states
a claim, the Court applies the same standard as when addressing a motion to dismiss under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Cesal v. Moats, 851 F.3d 714, 720 (7th Cir. 2017). To survive
dismissal,
[the] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a
claim for relief that is plausible on its face. A claim has facial plausibility when the
plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable
inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Pro se complaints such as that filed by the plaintiff
are construed liberally and held to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by
lawyers. Cesal, 851 F.3d at 720 (citing Perez v. Fenoglio, 792 F.3d 768, 776 (7th Cir. 2015)).
III. The Complaint
The claims proceeding in this action relate to three defendants: Warden Dushan Zatecky,
Unit Team Manager Stamper, and Officer Hammond. Although Mr. Windom is now housed at
Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, the following allegations set forth in his complaint allegedly
occurred while he was housed at Pendleton Correctional Facility (Pendleton).
In February 2020, inmates at Pendleton began contracting COVID-19. A week after an
inmate in Mr. Windom's dorm tested positive for COVID-19, Mr. Windom and approximately 20
other inmates were moved to one-man cells because they were exhibiting symptoms of COVID-
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Case 2:22-cv-00004-JPH-DLP Document 7 Filed 01/11/22 Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 54
19. Mr. Windom and other inmates were soon moved to a gym that housed inmates from different
areas of the prison. On April 15, 2020, Indiana Health Department staff tested all inmates housed
in the gym and told Warden Zatecky, defendant Alsip, and unit team manager Stamper that no one
should be moved into or out of the gym until the test results were received within two to three
days.
On April 17, 2020, unit team manager Stamper and Lt. Jackson tried to place a COVID-19
positive inmate in the gym. Inmates housed in the gym demanded to speak with a supervisor. Unit
team manager Stamper then called a Signal-10. Sgt. Lunsford, Officer Hammond, James Walker,
and other staff responded to the signal. Mr. Windom was on the phone when Sgt. Lunsford and
Officer Hammond told him to hang up the phone and grabbed him by the arm. Officer Hammond
then tased Mr. Windom in the back at the same time that defendant Stamper sprayed O/C spray
near him. Officer Davis, who is not named as a defendant in the complaint, also sprayed
Mr. Windom with O/C spray, handcuffed him, and placed him in a dry cell for several hours. He
was not provided an opportunity to remove the O/C spray from his eyes and face.
During this time, Mr. Windom called for help to the prison staff nearby, but no one assisted
him. His hand was broken, and his face and eyes were burning and stinging. On April 21, 2021,
medical staff X-rayed Mr. Windom's hand and confirmed that it was broken. He seeks nominal,
compensatory, and punitive damages.
IV. Discussion of Claims
The following claims shall proceed in this action:
•
Eighth Amendment excessive force and deliberate indifference claims against defendants
Stamper and Hammond for their involvement in tasing the plaintiff, spraying him with
mace, and failing to provide him access to medical attention or facilities to decontaminate
himself with afterward; and
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A state law indemnification claim against defendant Zatecky.
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V. Service of Process
The clerk is directed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) to issue process to defendants
Stamper, Hammond, and Zatecky in the manner specified by Rule 4(d). Process shall consist of
the complaint, dkt. [1], applicable forms (Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service of
Summons and Waiver of Service of Summons), and this Order.
The clerk is directed to serve the Indiana Department of Correction employees
electronically.
SO ORDERED.
Date: 1/11/2022
Distribution:
AARON D. WINDOM
109441
WABASH VALLEY - CF
WABASH VALLEY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY - Inmate Mail/Parcels
6908 S. Old US Hwy 41
P.O. Box 1111
CARLISLE, IN 47838
Electronic service to Indiana Department of Correction:
Warden Dushan Zatecky
Unit Team Manager Stamper
Officer Hammond
(All at Pendleton Correctional Facility)
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