Munson v. Newbold
In Munson v. Newbold, the court (Sykes/Bauer/Rovner, with Sykes writing) affirmed summary judgment against a prison who raised an Eighth Amendment claim against the prison dentist over the delay in treatment for a dental issue. The court primarily addresses two issues: the dentist’s awareness of his dental pain through the letters he sent via the […]
Williams v. Rajoli
In Williams v. Rajoli, the court (Sykes/Easterbrook/Brennan, with Sykes writing) affirmed summary judgment against a prisoner for failing to exhaust his administrative remedies, as required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). Williams had begun the administrative remedy process, lodging an informal complaint as required. But when he received no response, he went no further. […]
Stockton v. Milwaukee County
In Stockton v. Milwaukee County, the court (Scudder/St. Eve/Kirsch, with St. Eve writing) partially reversed and partially affirmed summary judgment against an estate who had brought claims against staff at the Milwaukee County Jail over the death of Michael Madden, who had been brought to the jail following an arrest for an alleged probation violation. […]
Koch v. Village of Hartland
In Koch v. Village of Hartland, the court (St. Eve/Kirsch/Jackson-Akiwumi, with St. Eve writing and Kirsch concurring) addresses the application of laws and ordinances meant to exclude people convicted of sex crimes from various aspects of life. At issue in Koch was an ordinance prohibiting anyone convicted of a sex crime from residing within the […]
Stewardson v. Biggs
In Stewardson v. Biggs, the court (Ripple/Rovner/Jacson-Akiwumi, with Jackson-Akiwumi writing) dismissed a qualified immunity appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The facts of the case involve an excessive use of force in an Indiana jail, and the appeal arose from the district court’s denial of qualified immunity for one of the jail guards who failed to […]
Watts v. Kidman
In Watts v. Kidman, the court (Easterbrook/Wood/Scudder, with Scudder writing) holds that a district court may consider the relative strength of the plaintiff’s case when deciding whether to appoint counsel. In reaching its holding, the court thoroughly discusses its own precedents on appointing counsel, as well as the relevant caselaw in other circuits. It also […]
Jump v. Village of Shorewood
In Jump v. Village of Shorewood, the court (Ripple/Scudder/Kirsch, with Judge Kirsch writing and Ripple dissenting) affirmed summary judgment against the estate of a man who committed suicide at the local county jail. The estate brought a Fourth Amendment false arrest claim that was dismissed on probable cause and qualified immunity grounds (the specifics of […]
Miles v. Anton
In Miles v. Anton, the court (Easterbrook/Wood/Brennan, with Wood writing) reverses summary judgment against a prisoner for failure to exhaust the formal grievance process required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). The court found that, pursuant to the prison’s grievance rules, challenges to the loss of a job was not grievable regardless of the […]
Gonzalez v. McHenry County
In Gonzalez v. McHenry County, the court (Manion/Hamilton/Brennan, with Manion writing) affirmed summary judgment against the estate of a man who was detained at the McHenry County Jail after being admitted despite a panoply of serious medical issues. (The man died after leaving the Jail while in IDOC custody.) The estate had brought a Monell […]
Lane v. Person
In Lane v. Person, the court (Brennan/Scudder/Kirsch, per curiam) reduces the judgment of costs against Lane, finding that one of the charges—a $2,750 “witness fee” for the deposition of another doctor who treated the plaintiff—was improper because the U.S. Code sets the amount of costs chargeable to the losing party for a witness fee at […]
