Opinion
18-CV-1059
04-09-2018
DELANEY JARVIS, Plaintiff, v. ILLINOIS RIVER CORRECTIONAL CENTER, et al., Defendants.
MERIT REVIEW AND CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER
The plaintiff, proceeding pro se, and currently incarcerated at Illinois River Correctional Center, was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The case is now before the court for a merit review of plaintiff's claims. The court is required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A to "screen" the plaintiff's complaint, and through such process to identify and dismiss any legally insufficient claim, or the entire action if warranted. A claim is legally insufficient if it "(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
In reviewing the complaint, the court accepts the factual allegations as true, liberally construing them in the plaintiff's favor. Turley v. Rednour, 729 F.3d 645, 649 (7th Cir. 2013). However, conclusory statements and labels are insufficient. Enough facts must be provided to "state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Alexander v. U.S., 721 F.3d 418, 422 (7th Cir. 2013)(citation omitted). The court has reviewed the complaint and has also held a merit review hearing in order to give the plaintiff a chance to personally explain his claims to the court.
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that he was never informed of his right to call witnesses at a disciplinary hearing for an alleged fight that Plaintiff claims he was not involved in. Therefore, he was denied such right at his disciplinary hearing. Plaintiff also alleges that he was housed for 31 days in a segregation cell that had feces smeared on the walls and smelled like urine. Plaintiff alleges Officer Bailey put Plaintiff in that cell. Plaintiff also alleges that he spoke to Correctional Officer Curtis about the cell, and that Officer Curtis said he would send someone to clean up the cell or provide Plaintiff with some cleaning supplies, but neither of those ever happened.
Plaintiff states an Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claim for the alleged conditions he endured in his segregation cell against Defendants Bailey and Curtis. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294 (1991). Plaintiff cannot sue the warden just because the warden is in charge. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009), and the correctional facility is not a person amenable to suit under §1983. See Powell v. Cook County Jail, 814 F. Supp. 757, 758 (N.D. Ill. 1993) (holding the Cook County Jail was not a person under Section 1983). Defendants Illinois River Correctional Center and Warden Justin Hammers will be dismissed.
Plaintiff does not state claim for not being able to call witnesses at his disciplinary hearing. The due process protections outlined in Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974) are triggered only if plaintiff suffered an "atypical and significant hardship" in relation to ordinary prison life. Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484 (1995) (30 days in segregation was not a sufficient deprivation). In addition, the Court is aware from other cases that the notice of hearing form typically provided to inmates within the Illinois Department of Corrections includes a section for an inmate to list witnesses. Plaintiff provides no allegations to this effect, and, therefore, the Court will dismiss the due process claim without prejudice to amendment. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:
1. Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the court finds that the plaintiff states an Eighth Amendment claim for conditions of confinement against Defendants Bailey and Curtis. Any additional claims shall not be included in the case, except at the court's discretion on motion by a party for good cause shown or pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15.
2. This case is now in the process of service. The plaintiff is advised to wait until counsel has appeared for the defendants before filing any motions, in order 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. The plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the court at this time, unless otherwise directed by the court.
3. The court will attempt service on the defendants by mailing each defendant a waiver of service. The defendants have 60 days from the date the waiver is sent to file an answer. If the defendants have not filed answers or appeared through counsel within 90 days of the entry of this order, the plaintiff may file a motion requesting the status of service. After the defendants have been served, the court will enter an order setting discovery and dispositive motion deadlines.
4. With respect to a defendant who no longer works at the address provided by the plaintiff, the entity for whom that defendant worked while at that address shall provide to the clerk said defendant's current work address, or, if not known, said defendant's forwarding address. This information shall be used only for effectuating service. Documentation of forwarding addresses shall be retained only by the clerk and shall not be maintained in the public docket nor disclosed by the clerk.
5. The defendants shall file an answer within 60 days of the date the waiver is sent by the clerk. A motion to dismiss is not an answer. The answer should include all defenses appropriate under the Federal Rules. The answer and subsequent pleadings shall be to the issues and claims stated in this opinion. In general, an answer sets forth the defendants' positions. The court does not rule on the merits of those positions unless and until a motion is filed by the defendants. Therefore, no response to the answer is necessary or will be considered.
6. This district uses electronic filing, which means that, after defense counsel has filed an appearance, defense counsel will automatically receive electronic notice of any motion or other paper filed by the plaintiff with the clerk. The plaintiff does not need to mail to defense counsel copies of motions and other papers that the plaintiff has filed with the clerk. However, this does not apply to discovery requests and responses. Discovery requests and responses are not filed with the clerk. The plaintiff must mail his discovery requests and responses directly to defendants' counsel. Discovery requests or responses sent to the clerk will be returned unfiled, unless they are attached to and the subject of a motion to compel. Discovery does not begin until defense counsel has filed an appearance and the court has entered a scheduling order, which will explain the discovery process in more detail.
7. Counsel for the defendants is hereby granted leave to depose the plaintiff at his place of confinement. Counsel for the defendants shall arrange the time for the deposition.
8. The plaintiff shall immediately notify the court, in writing, of any change in his mailing address and telephone number. The plaintiff's failure to notify the court of a change in mailing address or phone number will result in dismissal of this lawsuit, with prejudice.
9. If a defendant fails to sign and return a waiver of service to the clerk within 30 days after the waiver is sent, the court will take appropriate steps to effect formal service through the U.S. Marshals service on that defendant and will require that defendant to pay the full costs of formal service pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)(2).
10. The clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
11. The clerk is directed to terminate Illinois River Correctional Center, Justin Hammers, Brad Johnson, Burner, M. Stein, Thousand, Lonn Howarter, Stufflebean, S. Harrison, A. Brooks and Robbie Johnson as defendants.
12. The clerk is directed to attempt service on Defendants Matthew Curtis and Bailey pursuant to the standard procedures.
13. Plaintiff's motion for counsel [5] is denied, with leave to renew upon demonstrating that he made attempts to hire his own counsel. Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007). This typically requires writing to several lawyers and attaching the responses. If Plaintiff renews his motion, he should set forth how far he has gone in school, any jobs he has held inside and outside of prison, any classes he has taken in prison, and any prior litigation experience he has.
Entered this 9th day of April, 2018
/s/Harold A. Baker
HAROLD A. BAKER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE