Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_06-cv-00307/USCOURTS-almd-2_06-cv-00307-3/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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The one respect in which this Court will not adopt the Recommendation is that the 1

undersigned will conduct a bench trial on the surviving claims rather than referring the case to a

Magistrate Judge for an evidentiary hearing. While this Court is mindful that such a referral is

legally permissible, it is inclined in this case to promote judicial efficiency by conducting a bench

trial. 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

NORTHERN DIVISION

JOSEPH BENNEFIELD, #235865, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:06cv307-MEF

) (WO)

BULLOCK STATE PRISON, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

ORDER

There being no objections filed to the Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (Doc.

# 17) filed herein on February 4, 2009, said Recommendation is hereby ADOPTED in all

material respects, and it is the 1

ORDER, JUDGMENT and DECREE of the Court that:

1. To the extent the plaintiff asserts claims against defendants O’Hara and Morris

in their official capacities, the motion for summary judgment (Doc. # 10) is

GRANTED and those claims are DISMISSED with prejudice as the

defendants are entitled to absolute immunity on these claims. 

Case 2:06-cv-00307-MEF-SRW Document 20 Filed 03/12/09 Page 1 of 2
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2. To the extent that O’Hara and Morris also seek summary judgment on the

excessive force claims against them in their individual capacities, the motion

for summary judgment (Doc. # 10) is DENIED.

3. The plaintiff’s excessive force claim against defendants O’Hara and Morris in

their individual capacities arising from the February 5, 2006 physical

altercation shall be set for a bench trial before the undersigned by a separate

scheduling order.

Done this the 12 day of March, 2009. th

 /s/ Mark E. Fuller 

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-00307-MEF-SRW Document 20 Filed 03/12/09 Page 2 of 2