Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-02427/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-02427-36/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO DIVISION

DENNIS G. CLAIBORNE,

Plaintiff,

v.

BLAUSER, ET AL.,

Defendants. ________________________

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. 2:10-cv-02427-VAP 

Final Judgment

TO ALL PARTIES AND THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD:

This action came on regularly for trial on October 20,

2015, in Courtroom 4 of the above entitled Court, the

Honorable Virginia A. Phillips, United States District Judge

presiding. Plaintiff Dennis Claiborne represented himself in

this action, and Defendants J. Blauser and G. Martin appeared

by their attorneys Timothy H. Delgado and Kelly A. Samson,

Deputy Attorney Generals of California. 

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 1 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

A jury of seven persons was regularly impaneled and sworn

to try the action. Witnesses were sworn and testified. 

On October 22, 2015, after hearing the evidence, the

arguments of counsel, and the instructions given to the jury

on excessive force and deliberate indifference under the

Eighth Amendment, the jury retired to consider its verdict,

and on October 22, 2015, returned its verdict as to both

claims raised against each defendant by way of answers to the

questions propounded to it, as follows:

8th Amendment -- Excessive Force

Question 1: Did Defendant Blauser use excessive and

unnecessary force on Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: No

If you answered “yes” to Question 1, please proceed to

Question 2. If you answered “no” to Question 1, please skip

Questions 2 and 3, and proceed directly to Question 4.

Question 2: Did Defendant Blauser act maliciously and

sadistically for the purpose of causing harm?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: __________

If you answered “yes” to Question 2, please proceed to

Question 3. If you answered “no” to Question 2, please skip

Question 3, and proceed directly to Question 4.

2

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 2 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Question 3: Did Defendant Blauser’s acts cause harm to

Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: __________

Please proceed to answer Question 4.

Eighth Amendment -- Deliberate Indifference 

to Serious Medical Needs

Question 4: Did Plaintiff face a substantial risk of

serious harm when Defendant Blauser secured Plaintiff’s cane

or handcuffed him behind his back?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: No

If you answered “yes” to Question 4, please proceed to

Question 5. If you answered “no” to Question 4, please skip

Questions 5 and 6, and proceed directly to Question 7.

Question 5: If you find that Plaintiff faced a

substantial risk of serious harm, did Defendant Blauser know

about and disregard it by failing to take reasonable measures

to address it?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: __________

If you answered “yes” to Question 5, please proceed to

Question 6. If you answered “no” to Question 5, please skip

Question 6, and proceed directly to Question 7.

3

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 3 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Question 6: Did Defendant Blauser’s actions in securing

Plaintiff’s cane or handcuffing him behind his back cause

harm to Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: __________

If you answered “yes” to Questions 1, 2, and 3, or “yes”

to Questions 4, 5, and 6, or “yes” to Questions 1 through 6,

please answer Question 7.

Question 7: If you found that Defendant Blauser violated

Plaintiff’s rights on either of his Eighth Amendment claims,

what is the amount of compensatory damages you award

Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Blauser: __________

STOP HERE. The jury foreperson shall sign and date this

verdict form and return it to the Court. 

Dated: October 22, 2015 By: ________/s/________

 JURY FOREPERSON

8th Amendment -- Excessive Force

Question 1: Did Defendant Martin use excessive and

unnecessary force on Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: No

If you answered “yes” to Question 1, please proceed to

Question 2. If you answered “no” to Question 1, please skip

Questions 2 and 3, and proceed directly to Question 4.

4

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 4 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Question 2: Did Defendant Martin act maliciously and

sadistically for the purpose of causing harm?

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: __________

If you answered “yes” to Question 2, please proceed to

Question 3. If you answered “no” to Question 2, please skip

Question 3, and proceed directly to Question 4.

Question 3: Did Defendant Martin’s acts cause harm to

Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: __________

Please proceed to answer Question 4.

Eighth Amendment -- Deliberate Indifference 

to Serious Medical Needs

Question 4: Did Plaintiff face a substantial risk of

serious harm when Defendant Martin secured Plaintiff’s cane

or handcuffed him behind his back?

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: No

If you answered “yes” to Question 4, please proceed to

Question 5. If you answered “no” to Question 4, please skip

Questions 5 and 6, and proceed directly to Question 7.

Question 5: If you find that Plaintiff faced a

substantial risk of serious harm, did Defendant Martin know

about and disregard it by failing to take reasonable measures

to address it?

5

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 5 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: __________

If you answered “yes” to Question 5, please proceed to

Question 6. If you answered “no” to Question 5, please skip

Question 6, and proceed directly to Question 7.

Question 6: Did Defendant Martin’s actions in securing

Plaintiff’s cane or handcuffing him behind his back cause

harm to Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: __________

If you answered “yes” to Questions 1, 2, and 3, or “yes”

to Questions 4, 5, and 6, or “yes” to Questions 1 through 6,

please answer Question 7.

Question 7: If you found that Defendant Martin violated

Plaintiff’s rights on either of his Eighth Amendment claims,

what is the amount of compensatory damages you award

Plaintiff?

(Answer yes or no)

Martin: __________

STOP HERE. The jury foreperson shall sign and date this

verdict form and return it to the Court. 

###

The foreperson shall sign and date this verdict form and

return it to the Court

Dated: October 22, 2015 By: ________/s/________

 JURY FOREPERSON

6

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 6 of 7
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

The Court orders that such judgment be entered.

Dated: 10/26/15 

 VIRGINIA A. PHILLIPS 

 United States District Judge

7

Case 2:10-cv-02427-VAP Document 188 Filed 10/29/15 Page 7 of 7