Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se litigant seeking in forma pauperis status. The court found the appellant's arguments conclusory and patently meritless, ruling that the appeal was frivolous.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison guards, ruling that a prisoner's failure to use established religious accommodation procedures precluded a finding of liability for refusing to hire him. The court further held that a guard's offhand comment calling a prisoner a snitch did not violate clearly established First Amendment law, shielding the officer from liability.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se prisoner's civil rights complaint for failure to comply with a specific district court filing injunction. The court rejected the appellant's argument that the injunction was an impermissible universal injunction under recent Supreme Court precedent.
The D.C. Circuit affirmed the Navy's decision to deny Lieutenant Mitchell a promotion and remove him from the promotion list after he left his post as Command Duty Officer without authorization. The court held that the military's finding of substandard performance was reasonable and not arbitrary or capricious under administrative review standards.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit against a Louisiana prison warden, ruling that issuing padlocks to inmates was a reasonable security measure that did not violate the Eighth Amendment. The court held that the low frequency of padlock-related assaults and the necessity of securing inmate property failed to establish the deliberate indifference required for liability.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed a petition for a writ of mandamus as moot. The court found that a subsequent district court ruling eliminated the petitioner's personal stake in the outcome.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds for prison officers accused of excessive force. The court held that if a prisoner proves they were beaten while handcuffed and subdued, the officers violated clearly established law.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit dismissed this appeal due to a lack of prosecution by the appellant. The court issued an order stating that no further action would be taken on the case.
The Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison officials against an inmate's Eighth Amendment claim regarding his placement on the Restricted Release List. The court held that the inmate's documented history of violence and ongoing misconduct provided a legitimate penological justification for his continued restricted housing.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied a pro se petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Jarek Huss. The court held that the appropriate remedy for the district court's dismissal was an appeal, not an extraordinary writ.