Case Name: Kenneth L. Lamkey, Claimant, v. The State of Illinois, Department of Corrections et al., Respondents
Court: Illinois Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1997-11-13
Citations: 50 Ill. Ct. Cl. 315
Docket Number: No. 93-CC-1729
Parties: Kenneth L. Lamkey, Claimant, v. The State of Illinois, Department of Corrections et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 50
Pages: 315–316

Head Matter:
(No. 93-CC-1729
Kenneth L. Lamkey, Claimant, v. The State of Illinois, Department of Corrections et al., Respondents.
Order filed November 13, 1997.
Kenneth L. Lamkey, pro se, for Claimant.
James E. Ryan, Attorney General (Joel Cabrera, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent.

Opinion:
ORDER
Epstein, J.
This prisoners claim, brought as a tort claim for personal injuries suffered as a result of the Respondents alleged deprivation of Claimants special medically prescribed diet at the Sheridan Correctional Center, as required by Department of Corrections ("IDOC") regulations, is before the Court on the Respondents motion to dismiss, which has been briefed by the Respondent and to which the Claimant has replied.
The Respondents motion asserts res judicata on the basis of the adjudication of the United States District Court in Lamkey v. Roth (U.S.D.C., N.D. Ill., February 25, 1997), No. 93 C 7080. In the Federal Lamkey case, this Claimant sued the same individual defendants (other than former Director Peters), but not the State or IDOC, on an Eighth Amendment Constitutional claim. That Constitutional claim is not the same cause of action as the State tort claim advanced in this Court, and indeed imposes a higher standard of liability than the State claim, and thus the bar wing of the res judicata doctrine does not apply to bar this liability claim in this Court.
The collateral estoppel wing of the res judicata doctrine, however, is another matter. Our review of this claim against the decision of the District Court (Grady, J.) shows that both are suits on the identical underlying injury and both lawsuits are based on, and only on, the identical alleged wrongdoing — the dietary violations allegedly effected by the same persons. Thus the Federal Court adjudicated the identical claim of injury and damages as that asserted in this case.
Accordingly, the Federal Courts finding, in its summary judgment ruling against Mr. Lamlcey, that he (the Claimant here) had failed in that court to show evidence of a health injury flowing from the alleged acts of the defendants is a finding that we can, and should, recognize as a collateral estoppel against the Claimant on his respondeat superior claims against this Respondent for the same acts of tire same IDOC employees.
Claimant has had a full Federal bite at this apple, and should not be given a second bite merely because he can find another legal theory in another legal forum to sue on the same injury. Mr. Lamkey has now exhausted his remedies, and this claim will be dismissed.
This claim is dismissed as collaterally estopped.