Broaddus v. Pyle et al, No. 1:2014cv01299 - Document 10 (C.D. Ill. 2014)
Court Description: MERIT REVIEW OPINION entered by Judge Sue E. Myerscough on 11/4/2014. Plaintiff's motions for the appointment of counsel are denied 3 and 8 . This case is now in the process of service. Rule 16 Deadline 1/3/2015. (SEE WRITTEN OPINION) (MAS, ilcd)
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Broaddus v. Pyle et al Doc. 10 E-FILED Tuesday, 04 November, 2014 09:09:50 AM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS SHAWN E. BROADDUS, Plaintiff, v. C/O PYLE, et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 14-CV-1299 MERIT REVIEW OPINION SUE E. MYERSCOUGH, U.S. District Judge. Plaintiff, proceeding pro se and incarcerated in Pontiac Correctional center, seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The case is before the Court for a merit review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. In reviewing the Complaint, the Court accepts the factual allegations as true, liberally construing them in Plaintiff's favor. Turley v. Rednour, 729 F.3d 645, 649 (7th Cir. 2013). Plaintiff alleges that the “Orange Crush,” the prison tactical team, used excessive force on him on April 14, 2014, during a cell extraction. In particular, they wrenched his arms when cuffing him, slammed him to the concrete floor and into a wall, punched and kicked him, suffocated him with a wet jumpsuit, and fractured Page 1 of 6 Dockets.Justia.com his wrist. Officer Pyle allegedly kept ordering Plaintiff to stop resisting, even though Plaintiff was not resisting. The Court concludes that Plaintiff states an Eighth Amendment claim for excessive force. Whether he has exhausted his administrative remedies will be an issue, but that determination better awaits a motion by Defendants. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED: 1) Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the Court finds that Plaintiff states an Eighth Amendment claim for the alleged refusal to provide Plaintiff his meal trays. This case proceeds solely on the claim identified in this paragraph. 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. Plaintiff is advised to wait until counsel has appeared for Defendants before filing any motions, in order to give Defendants notice and an opportunity to respond to those motions. Motions filed before Defendants' counsel has filed an appearance will generally be Page 2 of 6 denied as premature. 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 Defendants by mailing each Defendant a waiver of service. Defendants have 60 days from the date the waiver is sent to file an Answer. If Defendants have not filed Answers or appeared through counsel within 90 days of the entry of this order, Plaintiff may file a motion requesting the status of service. After 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 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) 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 Page 3 of 6 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 Defendants' positions. The Court does not rule on the merits of those positions unless and until a motion is filed by 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 Plaintiff with the Clerk. Plaintiff does not need to mail to Defense counsel copies of motions and other papers that 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. 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. Page 4 of 6 7) Counsel for Defendants is hereby granted leave to depose Plaintiff at his place of confinement. Counsel for Defendants shall arrange the time for the deposition. 8) Plaintiff shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, of any change in his mailing address and telephone number. 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 Defendants 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. Marshal's 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) Within 10 days of receiving from Defendants' counsel an authorization to release medical records, Plaintiff is directed to sign and return the authorization to Defendants' counsel. 11) The clerk is directed to enter the standard order granting Plaintiff's in forma pauperis petition and assessing an Page 5 of 6 initial partial filing fee, if not already done, and to attempt service on Defendants pursuant to the standard procedures. 12) The Clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. 13) Plaintiff’s motions for the appointment of counsel are denied (3, 8), with leave to renew upon attaching the responses he received from the attorneys he contacted in an attempt to obtain his own lawyer. If Plaintiff renews his motion for counsel, Plaintiff should set forth his educational level, any classes he has taken in college, jobs he has held inside and outside of college, and litigation experience in state and federal court. ENTERED: November 4, 2014 FOR THE COURT: s/Sue E. Myerscough SUE E. MYERSCOUGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Page 6 of 6
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