Opinion ID: 2972579
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Captain Bigcraft

Text: Construing the facts in the light most favorable to Cook, the district court held that Cook had established that Captain Bigcraft “recognized [Cook’s] need [for medical attention], but failed to act in a timely or appropriate fashion.” J.A. at 559. Captain Bigcraft contests the holding of the district court on the theory that he acted reasonably by summoning Nurse Gilbert, relying on her medical training and expertise, and having Cook transferred to the prison hospital. Although Captain Bigcraft alleges that he took these actions “in a timely fashion,” the facts alleged by Cook contradict Bigcraft’s representation of timeliness. When MDOC officers first escorted Cook to Captain Bigcraft, Captain Bigcraft quickly noted that Cook’s behavior was peculiar, and that Cook appeared dizzy, weak, and disoriented. In fact, during this first encounter, Captain Bigcraft so appreciated Cook’s obviously unhealthy condition that he saw a need to stand behind Cook to keep Cook from falling. Captain Bigcraft further recorded in his report that in response to his commands Cook gave affirmative answers to commands, followed immediately by irrational responses. Although Captain Bigcraft summoned Nurse Gilbert on the basis of Cook’s actions, he simultaneous ordered other officers to shackle Cook, to strap him into a restraining chair, 14 No. 03-2446 / 03-2461 and to mask him. While Captain Bigcraft contends that the restraining chair and mask resulted from Cook’s attempt to “escape” and his spitting at the officers, the district court, after viewing the videotape, came to a different conclusion. Upon observing the tape, the district court opined that a reasonable jury could conclude that Cook’s need for serious medical treatment was obvious and that his attempt to run out of the door was related to his clearly disoriented state. Further, the district court observed from the videotape that Cook was not attempting to spit on the officers because Cook spat primarily in a forward motion, yet the officers were mainly positioned behind him. Captain Bigcraft also acknowledges that Cook became immediately unresponsive once he was placed in the restraining chair. Despite Cook’s obvious unresponsive state, Captain Bigcraft delayed for several hours before taking any steps to have Cook transported to DWH. The district court concluded that “reasonable jurors could find that Bigcraft’s claim that he did not believe that [Cook] was in need of medial attention until he had been strapped in the chair for several hours is contrary to his admitted observations of [Cook].” J.A. at 561. We agree. Viewing all of the above evidence in the light most favorable to Cook, we conclude that a reasonable jury could find that Cook has demonstrated that Captain Bigcraft was deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs and that Captain Bigcraft’s responses were objectively unreasonable under these circumstances.