Published on: Sunday, March 5, 2023
Allegation: Inmate at Rush City, Minn. correctional facility is attacked with a shank when he declines to pay off his cellmate's drug debt. He (and his family) repeatedly asked the prison for a transfer to another facility, but officials decline (in part because the assailant attests "the issue was dead.") The assailant attacks again the first chance he gets by throwing a heated liquid in his face and striking him in the head and face, causing serious injuries. District court: Things happen. Summary judgment for prison officials. Eighth Circuit: We agree. Prison sucks, man. What do you want us to do about it?
The case is Hodges v. Minnesota Dept. Corrections, No. 21-3891 (8th Cir. Mar. 3, 2023).