Source: http://il.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20110510_0000794.SIL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-04-25 18:35:10
Document Index: 136241793

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', 'art, 633']

| Frank Taylor v. John Guthurter
Frank Taylor v. John Guthurter
FRANK TAYLOR,PLAINTIFF,v.JOHN GUTHURTER, ET AL., DEFENDANTS.
#R-29532,
Plaintiff Frank Taylor, an inmate in Menard Correctional Center, brings this action for deprivations of his constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is serving an 18 year sentence for attempt aggravated criminal sexual assault, 5 years for aggravated battery, and 3 years for aggravated battery on a peace officer. This case is now before the Court for a preliminary review of the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, which provides:
28U.S.C. § 1915A.
Upon careful review of the complaint, the Court finds it appropriate to exercise its authority under § 1915A and dismiss this action.
Initially, the Court notes that Plaintiff failed to disclose three of his previously-filed lawsuits in his complaint. One of the omitted cases was a "strike," Taylor v. Mangram, No. 03-cv-50131 (N.D. Ill.), which was dismissed April 22, 2003, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. This omission alone would be grounds for dismissal of the instant complaint. The Court relies on a party's litigation history listed in his or her complaint to adhere to the three-strike requirement of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), and thus there is a need for reliable information about prior litigation. As a result, where a party fails to provide accurate litigation history, the Court may appropriately dismiss the action for providing fraudulent information to the Court. Hoskins v. Dart, 633 F.3d 541, 543 (7th Cir. 2011) (dismissal appropriate where Court-issued complaint form clearly warned Plaintiff that failure to provide litigation history would result in dismissal). In this case, however, the Court finds it more appropriate to address the merits of the complaint.
The events leading up to Plaintiff's complaint began in the Shawnee Correctional Center, where Plaintiff was issued a disciplinary ticket on October 14, 2010, after a confrontation with prison staff in the food service area. According to the disciplinary report, a correctional officer saw Plaintiff throw some food from his tray back into the serving line. He told Plaintiff to pick up the food, Plaintiff refused, and a verbal altercation ensued. The officer told Plaintiff to leave the area, after which Plaintiff hit the officer in the head with a food tray (Doc. 1, p. 12). Another responding officer sprayed Plaintiff in the face with two bursts of pepper spray after he refused to cuff up (Doc. 1, p. 11).
Plaintiff was apparently transferred to Menard Correctional Center on the same day after this incident. Plaintiff's primary claim is that Defendant Guthurter, a guard at Menard, threatened Plaintiff's life, "terrorizing" Plaintiff while he was in restraints in his cell.
Plaintiff's disciplinary hearing over the food service incident took place at Menard after Plaintiff's transfer. Plaintiff claims he requested staff assistance and extra time to prepare his defense, but was denied both. He asserts that this denial violated his right to due process. At the hearing, Plaintiff admitted throwing food on the officer, but denied hitting the officer with his tray (Doc. 1, p. 9). Discipline was imposed on Plaintiff, consisting of 9 months segregation, C grade, and commissary restriction; 6 months contact visit restriction; and revocation of 2 months of good conduct credit (Doc. 1, p. 9).
Plaintiff also claims that the conditions of his confinement violate his rights in several ways. He was denied a shower for eight days after being sprayed with pepper spray. His prescribed medications were taken away after his transfer from Shawnee Correctional Center. He suffered sleep deprivation. In his cell, which has poor air circulation, he has been exposed to rust particles, sewage fumes, asbestos, lead paint, and excessive cold. In addition, he complains that he was not given cleaning supplies, a ...