Topic
Every decision we've filed under Eighth Amendment - Cruel & Unusual.
The Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court's ruling on the constitutionality of Alabama's nitrogen hypoxia execution protocol. The court found that the protocol presents a substantial risk of serious harm.
The Tenth Circuit denied a certificate of appealability because the petitioner failed to allege specific, credible constitutional violations in his habeas petition. The court dismissed the appeal, finding the petitioner's claims were delusional and factually frivolous under the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment on a prisoner's claim regarding inadequate nutrition but reversed the ruling on unsanitary toilet and shower conditions. The court held that a reasonable jury could find prison officials acted with deliberate indifference to the Eighth Amendment regarding the facilities, remanding the case for trial on that specific claim.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a federal inmate's Bivens action alleging inadequate medical care and excessive force, holding that no implied private right of action exists for these claims against federal prison officials. The court ruled that the plaintiff's allegations presented a new context distinct from Supreme Court precedent and that special factors counseled against extending Bivens remedies in this domain.
The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment medical care claims, holding that the lower court erred by applying a pleading standard to a statute of limitations defense that requires factual development. The court clarified that accrual of a deliberate indifference claim depends on when a plaintiff knew or should have known of the defendant's subjective state of mind, a determination inappropriate for resolution on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for a jail mental-health official who ordered a compromise placement for a suicidal detainee. The court held that no clearly established law prohibited her decision to balance suicide prevention with the need to reduce the detainee's mental distress.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a prison nurse, ruling that her management of an inmate's irritable bowel syndrome did not constitute deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment. The court held that the record demonstrated consistent medical evaluation and treatment, distinguishing a disagreement over care from constitutional violation.
The Tenth Circuit dismissed Kevin Tamar Davis's appeal because his appellate brief failed to comply with federal procedural rules. Despite the dismissal, the court granted his motion to proceed in forma pauperis while warning him about the consequences of a third strike under the PLRA.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed $125,000 fines imposed on two physicians, ruling that their appellate waivers barred challenges to the reasonableness of the sentences. The court further held that even if the Eighth Amendment challenge were considered, the fines were not grossly disproportional given the defendants' admitted conduct involving thousands of fraudulent claims.
The Second Circuit vacated the dismissal of a pretrial detainee's Fourteenth Amendment claims regarding unsanitary conditions and segregation without a hearing. The court also reversed summary judgment on a failure-to-protect claim, finding a factual dispute over whether the plaintiff exhausted administrative remedies under the PLRA.