Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se litigant. The court found the appeal duplicative because it sought to challenge an order already affirmed in a prior decision.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court judgment dismissing a prisoner civil rights action for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The court upheld summary judgment on First Amendment claims where the defendants demonstrated legitimate safety reasons for their actions.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a civil rights action brought by California state prisoners regarding good-time credits. The court held that the claims were barred under Heck v. Humphrey because success would necessarily imply the invalidity of the inmates' sentences.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for most defendants in a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim regarding pepper spray treatment but vacated the ruling for one officer. The court remanded the case to allow consideration of evidence that the officer was aware of the prisoner's ongoing burning and refused to provide basic hygiene items.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling denying a prison warden qualified immunity in a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim. The court held that the warden was not entitled to immunity because the prisoner's right to outdoor exercise was clearly established by 2020.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's access-to-courts claim but reversed the dismissal of his First Amendment legal mail claim. The court held that the plaintiff adequately alleged a free speech violation without needing to prove actual injury beyond the violation itself.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's access-to-courts claim but reversed the dismissal of his First Amendment legal mail claim. The court held that the prisoner adequately alleged a violation of his right to confidential communication with counsel.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's access-to-courts claim but reversed the dismissal of his First Amendment legal mail claim. The court held that while the plaintiff failed to show actual injury to a legal claim, his allegations of altered mail and interference with counsel were sufficient to state a free speech violation.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's access-to-courts claim but reversed the dismissal of his First Amendment legal mail claim. The court held that the plaintiff's allegations of altered and opened legal mail were sufficient to state a constitutional violation without proving actual injury beyond the free speech violation itself.
The Fifth Circuit reversed a district court order denying qualified immunity to two prison officers accused of excessive force. The court held that the plaintiff failed to show the officers violated clearly established law given the specific facts of the incident.