Case: Gibson v. McEvers

3:79-03151 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

Filed Date: July 20, 1979

Closed Date: 1980

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On July 20, 1979, an inmate of the Logan Correction center in Lincoln, Illinois, filed a lawsuit pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the assistant warden, other prison officials, and members of the parole board in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. The complaint alleged that as a black inmate, he received unequal treatment in disciplinary proceedings in violation of his due process rights and that defendants prevented his use of the law library in violation of…

On July 20, 1979, an inmate of the Logan Correction center in Lincoln, Illinois, filed a lawsuit pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the assistant warden, other prison officials, and members of the parole board in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. The complaint alleged that as a black inmate, he received unequal treatment in disciplinary proceedings in violation of his due process rights and that defendants prevented his use of the law library in violation of his First Amendment rights. Five days later he amended his complaint to also allege race discrimination in job assignments. Approximately six weeks later, he amended his complain a third time, alleging that he was denied proper medical care for a cold. The suit sought injunctive relief and monetary damages.

On November 12, 1979, the district court (Judge James Waldo Ackerman) granted defendants' motion for summary judgment holding that prison officials had not inhibited plaintiff's access to the courts, were not deliberately indifferent to his medical needs, and that the general claims of racial discrimination were not subject to judicial scrutiny as alleged. In addition, he dismissed the complaint as malicious under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).

On September 23, 1980, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (Judge Walter Joseph Cummings) affirmed the district court's ruling after the plaintiff appealed. Gibson v. McEvers, 631 F.2d 95 (7th Cir. 1980) (originally reported without opinion at 636 F.2d 1221 (7th Cir. 1980)). After detailing its affirmance, the appellate court also noted that at that time, the Logan Correctional Center was subject to a consent decree entered between the state of Illinois and the Department of Justice to eliminate racial discrimination. The court found it significant that Judge Ackerman presided over that decree, and found no discrimination in this case.

The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the September 23, 1980 appellate court opinion.

Summary Authors

Sherrie Waldrup (3/30/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Cummings, Walter Joseph (Illinois)

Nichols, Philip Jr. (District of Columbia)

Pell, Wilbur Frank Jr. (Indiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Crutchfield, Charles F. (Indiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Moreth, Vincent (Illinois)

Judge(s)

Cummings, Walter Joseph (Illinois)

Nichols, Philip Jr. (District of Columbia)

Pell, Wilbur Frank Jr. (Indiana)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

79-02416

Reported Opinion

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Aug. 8, 1980

Aug. 8, 1980

Order/Opinion

79-02416

Opinion

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Sept. 23, 1980

Sept. 23, 1980

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:29 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 20, 1979

Closing Date: 1980

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmate at a state correctional facility alleging violations of constitutional rights

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Logan Correctional Center (Lincoln), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Issues

General:

Disciplinary procedures

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Discrimination-area:

Discipline

Medical Exam / Inquiry

Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run