Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-2_14-cv-00002/USCOURTS-ared-2_14-cv-00002-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

EASTERN DIVISION 

JAMES SPEARS, JR 

v. No. 2:14-cv-2-DPM 

JEFFREY HUGHES, Sergeant, East Arkansas 

Regional Unit; MITCHELL SPARKMAN, Corporal, 

East Arkansas Regional Unit; RODNEY MERRELL, 

Corporal, East Arkansas Regional Unit; RENAE 

MAYO, Corporal, East Arkansas Regional Unit; 

PINKIE HILL, Sergeant, East Arkansas Regional 

Unit; and CHRISTOPHER SPEED, Corporal, 

PLAINTIFF 

East Arkansas Regional Unit DEFENDANTS 

JUDGMENT 

1. Before trial, the Court dismissed with prejudice Spears' s claims 

against Sparkman, Merrell, Mayo, Hill, and Speed, pursuant to their 

settlement agreement. NQ 132. 

2. In February 2016, Spears served Hughes with the summons, 

complaint, and amended complaint. NQ 140 & 143. Hughes didn't answer or 

file a Rule 12 motion. On Spears' s motion, the Court therefore directed the 

Clerk to enter a Clerk's default. NQ 146 & 147. The Court set a damages trial 

and directed Spears to send a copy of the Order setting the trial to Hughes' s 

last known address. NQ 147. Spears did. NQ 152. 

Case 2:14-cv-00002-DPM Document 163 Filed 03/03/17 Page 1 of 2
3. Spears asked that the damages issues be tried to the bench. N2 154 

& 155. The Court convened the damages hearing on 27 February 2017. 

Hughes did not appear. 

At the start of trial, to clarify the issues, the Court dismissed all Spears' s 

claims against Hughes - except the excessive-force claim - without prejudice. 

For the reasons stated at the end of the trial,. the Court found in favor of 

Spears on his excessive-force claim against Hughes and awarded 

compensatory damages of $10,000 and punitive damages of $5,000. 

4. Spears' s appointed lawyer is also entitled to a reasonable attorney's 

fee. 42 U.S.C. §§ 1988(b) & 1997e(d); FED. R. Crv. P. 54(d)(2). And Spears is 

entitled to costs, as allowed by law. FED. R. Crv. P. 54(d)(l). Any motion for 

fees and costs due by 17 March 2017. 

5. James Spears, Jr., shall have judgment against Jeffrey Hughes for 

$15,000, and this judgment shall bear interest at 0.81 % per annum until paid 

in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1961 (a)-(b). 

D .P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

3 tv'J(Ml'j_ ).0/7 

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