Opinion ID: 782298
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Applicability of Administrative Remedies

Text: 14 No action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under § 1983 of this title, or any other Federal law by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted. 15 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). 16 A natural reading of the statute suggests that its application requires consideration of three simple questions. First, is plaintiff a prisoner confined in [a] jail, prison, or other correctional facility? If not, the statute is inapplicable. If so, a second question must be considered: Is the plaintiff suing under § 1983 respecting prison conditions? If not, the statute is inapplicable. If so, a third question must be considered: Did plaintiff exhaust such administrative remedies as [were] available before plaintiff brought his action? If question three is answered in the negative, plaintiff is in violation of the statute and the court is required to dismiss plaintiff's suit. 17 In the instant case, when plaintiff brought his case he was undisputably a prisoner. 1 Also, given the expansive reading of the term prison conditions by both the United States Supreme Court and this court, see, e.g. Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 122 S.Ct. 983, 152 L.Ed.2d 12 (2002)([W]e hold that the PLRA's exhaustion requirement applies to all inmate suits about prison life, whether they involve general circumstances or particular episodes, and whether they allege excessive force or some other wrong.); Freeman v. Francis, 196 F.3d 641, 643-45, (6th Cir.1999)(holding that the statute applies to specific acts such as excessive force claims and assaults, and stating that [a] broad exhaustion requirement that includes excessive force claims effectuates [the statutory purpose] and maximizes the benefits of requiring prisoners to use prison grievance procedures before coming to federal court), there can be no question but that plaintiff's suit concerns prison conditions. Because (1) plaintiff was a prisoner when he brought his suit, and (2) plaintiff's suit implicates prison conditions, § 1997e(a) applies and plaintiff was required to exhaust any available administrative remedies before he filed suit. He failed to do so, 2 however, and consequently his suit must be dismissed.