Opinion ID: 451739
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Prima Facie Case Against Rowe

Text: 57 Rowe, the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, contends that Smith did not make out a prima facie case against him. He claims that Smith failed to show his personal involvement. Based on this contention he moved for a Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict. The district court denied his motion. 58 This court, in Crowder v. Lash, 687 F.2d 996, 1005 (7th Cir.1982), explained the personal involvement requirements of a section 1983 action: 59 To recover for damages under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983, a plaintiff must establish defendant's personal responsibility for the claimed deprivation of a constitutional right. Duncan v. Duckworth, 644 F.2d 653, 655 (7th Cir.1981). However, a defendant's direct participation in the deprivation is not required. An official satisfies the personal responsibility requirement of section 1983 if she acts or fails to act with a deliberate or reckless disregard of plaintiff's constitutional rights, or if the conduct causing the constitutional deprivation occurs at her direction or with her knowledge and consent. 60 In Wolf-Lillie v. Sonquist, 699 F.2d 864 (7th Cir.1983), the court considered the section 1983 liability of a sheriff for the damages caused by the execution by his deputies of an outdated writ of restitution. We began our analysis by noting that in order for a supervisory official to be found liable there must be [a] causal connection, or an affirmative link, between the misconduct complained of and the official sued.... Id. at 869. (citing Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371, 96 S.Ct. 598, 604, 46 L.Ed.2d 561 (1976)). The evidence revealed that the sheriff's department made it a common practice to execute outdated writs of restitution. In a two year period over half of the writs executed were outdated. The record showed that the sheriff was aware of this policy. We concluded that the requisite affirmative link was present and found the sheriff liable. Id. at 870. 61 We now review the evidence in this case in the light of Crowder and Wolf-Lillie to determine whether there is support for a finding of an affirmative link between Rowe and Smith's continued punitive segregation. The chief civilian librarian of the law library wrote to Rowe informing him of Smith's case in great detail and urged that he intervene to remedy Smith's mistreatment. Rowe did nothing. United States Congressman Ralph H. Metcalf wrote to Rowe asking him to intervene. Rowe wrote a detailed response which revealed an intimate knowledge of the case. In the letter he ratified and adopted the actions of his subordinates. 62 Rowe testified in a deposition that he had discussed Smith's situation with Warden Sutliff-Nesbitt on a number of occasions. Warden Sutliff-Nesbitt indicated that she did not intend to reassign Smith to the law library. Rowe concurred each time in the warden's intended actions. Rowe also admitted that refusal of a work assignment was a relatively minor offense which usually carried a maximum sentence of 15 days of segregation. 63 Like the sheriff in Wolf-Lillie, Rowe knew of the actions of his subordinates which resulted in a constitutional violation. Also, both failed to take any preventive action. We are satisfied that there is the requisite affirmative link between Rowe and Smith's continued segregation. We conclude that Smith made out a prima facie case, and the district court did not err in denying Rowe's JNOV motion.