Opinion ID: 214470
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Jennings sued the following employees of Alger Maximum Correctional Facility: Corrections Officer Brent Bradley, Assistant Resident Unit Manager Thomas Salo, Resident Unit Manager Curt Rife, Sergeant Donald MacDonald, Deputy Warden Lloyd Rapelje, Corrections No. 09-1372 Jennings v. Bradley Page 2 Officer Gary Schertz, Corrections Officer Robert Wickstrom, Sergeant Kevin Taskila, Lieutenant Craig Taylor, and Lieutenant Jeffrey Stevens.1 Jennings alleged that they violated his Eighth Amendment rights by putting human feces in his food; smearing feces on him; using various forms of unwarranted or excessive force; forcing him to lie in his own waste; and denying him food, water, and restroom breaks. Jennings also alleged that the defendants violated his procedural due process rights and retaliated against him by placing him without notice on a “Cell Slot Management” program, which required him to move to the back of his cell and assume a certain position when receiving meals, mail, or medication. A full recounting of the factual background of this case is available in the magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation. Jennings filed two motions requesting that counsel be appointed to represent him and the district court denied both motions. Before trial, the defendants moved for summary judgment. After a de novo review of the magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation, the district court adopted it and granted summary judgment to all of the defendants except Bradley, who Jennings alleged had served him a sandwich containing feces and used a feces-smeared shield against him. After a two-day trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of Bradley. Jennings moved for a new trial, and the district court denied the motion. Jennings now appeals, challenging the district court’s denial of his motion for a new trial as well as several pre-trial and trial rulings. 1 The district court dismissed the claims against Taylor and Stevens because Jennings did not exhaust his administrative remedies against them. Jennings does not challenge this decision. No. 09-1372 Jennings v. Bradley Page 3