Long, Peter v. Steger, Mario et al

Filing 54

ORDER that plaintiff's motion for reconsideration (dkt. 43 ) is DENIED. Defendant's motion for sanctions (dkt. 47 ) is DENIED. Plaintiff's "motion to deny the state's motion for sanctions" (dkt. 50 ) and "motion to allow plaintiff to stand on his motion for reconsideration" (dkt. 51 ) are both DENIED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker on 8/18/2021. (lam),(ps)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

PETER J. LONG,
v.

Plaintiff,

OPINION AND ORDER
17-cv-295-slc

MARIO L. STEGER,
Defendant.

In this case, pro se plaintiff Peter Long claimed that Correctional Officer Mario Steger
violated state and federal law when Steger handcuffed Long with a single set of handcuffs
behind his back. Steger moved for summary judgment, to which plaintiff failed to respond
despite being granted two extensions to do so. While recognizing that plaintiff’s lack of a
response did not automatically result in a favorable decision for Steger, I ultimately
concluded that no reasonable jury could find in favor of plaintiff and granted defendant’s
summary judgment motion. Two weeks after judgment was entered, plaintiff moved for
reconsideration of the court’s opinion. Dkt. 43. Defendant has countered with a motion
for sanctions, arguing that plaintiff’s reconsideration motion is frivolous. Dkt. 47.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e), a party may seek to “alter or amend a
judgment.” To prevail on a motion brought under this rule, the movant must “demonstrate
a manifest error of law or present newly discovered evidence.” Seng-Tiong Ho v. Taflove, 648
F.3d 489, 505 (7th Cir. 2011) (quoting Obriecht v. Raemisch, 517 F.3d 489, 494 (7th Cir.
2008)). Here, plaintiff has shown neither. Although his motion points to various pieces of
evidence -- including statements made in his verified complaint, two declarations signed in
2016, and two Heath Services Unit exhibits also from 2016 -- he makes no effort to show
that any of this evidence was “newly discovered.” As to legal errors, plaintiff complains that

the court did not acknowledge his verified complaint and the exhibits he attached to it. But
a court is only bound to consider at summary judgment those factual assertions in a verified
complaint that are based on the affiant’s personal knowledge, Ford v. Wilson, 90 F.3d 245,
247 (7th Cir. 1996), I did that here. See dkt. 40. Accordingly, I will deny plaintiff’s motion
for reconsideration.
That said, I do not agree with defendant that plaintiff’s motion warrants sanctions.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b) authorizes sanctions where a party presents the court
with a pleading or other paper “that to the best of the person's knowledge, information, and
belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances,” is not “warranted by
existing law” or is lacking in evidentiary support. Moreover, in considering whether to
impose sanctions, “courts may consider whether the improper conduct was ‘willful or
negligent,’ whether the responsible person is ‘trained in the law,’ and the responsible person's
financial resources.” Mortle v. United Parcel Serv., 247 F. App'x 820, 823 (7th Cir. 2007).
Here, plaintiff’s position appears to have been formed after reasonable inquiry, and
especially in light of his pro se status and lack of formal legal training, I find that sanctions
are not warranted.
Finally, I will deny plaintiff’s “motion to deny the state’s motion for sanctions,” dkt.
50, as improperly brought, as well as his “motion to allow plaintiff to stand on his motion
for reconsideration,” dkt. 51, which is essentially a reiteration of his original motion for
reconsideration.

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ORDER
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
(1) Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration (dkt. 43) is DENIED.
(2) Defendant’s motion for sanctions (dkt. 47) is DENIED.
(3) Plaintiff’s “motion to deny the state’s motion for sanctions” (dkt. 50) and
“motion to allow plaintiff to stand on his motion for reconsideration” (dkt. 51)
are both DENIED.

Entered this 18th day of August, 2021.

BY THE COURT:
/s/
STEPHEN L. CROCKER
Magistrate Judge

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