# Warren v. McQueen

> District Court, S.D. Illinois · June 28, 2021

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10153818

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, S.D. Illinois
- **Decided:** June 28, 2021
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

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- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10153818

## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

FREDERICK WARREN, #B58882, )
)
Plaintiff, )
vs. ) Case No. 3:21-cv-00575-SMY
)
MCQUEEN, )
)
Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

YANDLE, District Judge:
Plaintiff Frederick Warren, an inmate of the Illinois Department of Corrections currently
incarcerated at Lawrence Correctional Center, filed the instant lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
1983 for an alleged deprivation of his constitutional rights. This case is now before the Court for
preliminary review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Any portion of the Complaint that
is legally frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim for relief, or requests money damages from an
immune defendant must be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).
The Complaint
Plaintiff makes the following allegations in the Complaint (Doc. 1): During evening
medication distribution on November 14, 2019, Plaintiff did not receive his prescribed pain
medication. As he attempted to explain this issue to the nurse, Sgt. McQueen yelled at him that
he was taking too long at the window. Plaintiff then tried to explain the issue to Sgt. McQueen,
but he would not listen. Plaintiff asked to speak to the zone lieutenant because Sgt. McQueen was
interfering with the nurse giving him his medication. Sgt. McQueen responded that he would not
call the lieutenant and then attacked Plaintiff, grabbing him by the neck and choking him until he
became light-headed. Sgt. McQueen also kicked plaintiff in the left shin causing an abrasion.
Based on the allegations in the Complaint, the Court designates the following claim in this
pro se action:
Count 1: Eighth Amendment claim against McQueen for use of excessive
force on Plaintiff on November 14, 2019.

Any claim that is mentioned in the Complaint but not addressed in this Order is dismissed without
prejudice as inadequately pled under the Twombly pleading standard. See Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007) (an action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted if it does not plead “enough facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face.”).
Discussion
The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from being subjected to cruel and unusual
punishment. Brown v. Budz, 398 F.3d 904, 909 (7th Cir. 2005). “Correctional officers violate the
Eighth Amendment when they use force not in a good faith effort to maintain or restore discipline,
but maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm.” Wilborn v. Ealey, 881 F.3d
998, 1006 (7th Cir. 2018). The allegations in the Complaint are sufficient for Plaintiff to proceed
on the claim in Count 1 against McQueen.
Disposition
The Eighth Amendment use of excessive force claim in the Complaint (Doc. 1) will
proceed against Defendant McQueen.

The Clerk shall prepare for McQueen: (1) Form 5 (Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to
Waive Service of a Summons), and (2) Form 6 (Waiver of Service of Summons). The Clerk is
DIRECTED to mail these forms, a copy of the Complaint, and this Memorandum and Order to
Defendant’s place of employment as identified by Plaintiff. If Defendant fails to sign and return
the Waiver of Service of Summons (Form 6) to the Clerk within 30 days from the date the forms
were sent, the Clerk shall take appropriate steps to effect formal service on the Defendant, and the
Court will require the Defendant to pay the full costs of formal service, to the extent authorized by
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
If Defendant cannot be found at the work address provided by Plaintiff, the employer shall

furnish the Clerk with the Defendant’s current work address, or, if not known, the Defendant’s
last-known address. This information shall be used only for sending the forms as directed above
or for formally effecting service. Any documentation of the address shall be retained only by the
Clerk and shall not be maintained in the court file or disclosed by the Clerk.
Defendant is ORDERED to timely file an appropriate responsive pleading to the
Complaint and shall not waive filing a reply pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(g). Pursuant to
Administrative Order No. 244, Defendant need only respond to the issues stated in this Merit
Review Order.
Plaintiff is ADVISED that if judgment is rendered against him and the judgment includes
the payment of costs under 28 U.S.C. §1915, he will be required to pay the full amount of the

costs. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(A).
Plaintiff is further ADVISED that he is under a continuing obligation to keep the Clerk of
Court and the opposing party informed of any change in his address; the Court will not
independently investigate his whereabouts. This shall be done in writing and not later than 7 days
after a transfer or other change in address occurs. Failure to comply with this order will cause a
delay in the transmission of court documents and may result in dismissal of this action for want of
prosecution. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
Based on the allegations in the Complaint, the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to ENTER
the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: June 28, 2021

s/ Staci M. Yandle_____
STACI M. YANDLE
United States District Judge

Notice to Plaintiff
The Court will take the necessary steps to notify the Defendant of your lawsuit and serve
him with a copy of your Complaint. After service has been achieved, Defendant will enter an
appearance and file an Answer to your Complaint. It will likely take at least 60 days from the date
of this Order to receive the Defendant’s Answer, but it is entirely possible that it will take 90 days
or more. When Defendant has filed his Answer, the Court will enter a Scheduling Order containing
important information on deadlines, discovery, and procedures. Plaintiff is advised to wait until
counsel has appeared for Defendant before filing any motions, to give the Defendant notice and
an opportunity to respond to those motions. Motions filed before Defendant’s counsel has filed an
appearance will generally be denied as premature. Plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the
Court at this time, unless specifically directed to do so.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10153818. Public record. Not legal advice.
