The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
DEMETRIUS BELL,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No. 24-cv-2587-NJR
SGT. BRIDWELL and LAWRENCE
CORRECTIONAL CENTER,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
ROSENSTENGEL, Chief Judge:
This matter is before the Court on a letter submitted by Demetrius Bell. Bell, who
is an inmate of the Illinois Department of Corrections and currently incarcerated at
Lawrence Correctional Center, initially filed his letter with the United States District
Court for the Central District of Illinois. The letter was labeled a Complaint and
transferred to this Court.1
Bell’s letter indicates that he is currently on suicide watch under conditions that
Bell believes are impacting his mental health and increasing his suicidal thoughts and
tendencies. Bell notes that he has been on suicide watch for two weeks but has not been
evaluated by mental health staff due to limited staff at the prison. He is on medication,
but he does not believe the medication is helping his condition. He also fears for his life
1 The letter was filed under seal due to allegations that appear unrelated to the main focus
of Bell’s letter.
from correctional officers who have sprayed him with mace on several occasions (Id.).
Bell specifically references one correctional officer, Sergeant Bridwell, who has sprayed
Bell and other inmates in the unit with mace. He also alleges that Bridwell has made
several sexual slurs towards Bell. He claims that the emergency button in his cell does
not work, and officers do not make their required rounds. Nor have they reported his
hunger strike. He also has a broken nose and a previous spinal injury that are not being
properly treated (Id. at p. 2). Most concerning is Bell’s claim that the suicide cell he is
currently housed in poses risks to his safety. He notes that there is exposed metal and
concrete in his cell that he has contemplated using to commit suicide. He requests help,
a mental health evaluation, and a transfer to a mental health facility (Id. at p. 2). Bell notes
that he does not feel safe at Lawrence.
Although labeled as a Complaint on the docket, Bell’s filing is merely a letter to
the Court requesting help. His filing does not meet the requirements of Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 8. Rule 8(a) requires a complaint to contain “a short and plain statement
…showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a). Rule 8(d) requires
“simple, concise, and direct” allegations to give defendants notice of the claims against
them. See FED. R. CIV. P. 8(d); Stanard v. Nygren, 658 F.3d 792, 797 (7th Cir. 2011). A
successful complaint generally alleges “the who, what, when, where, and how…” See
DiLeo v. Ernst & Young, 901 F.2d 624, 627 (7th Cir. 1990). Bell notes the conditions he is
experiencing on suicide watch but fails to tie those allegations to a named defendant. He
merely informs the Court of the issues with his suicide cell and his inability to obtain
proper mental healthcare but fails to allege who he sought care from, when, and their
response, if any. He indicates that the warden is “allowing these incidents to happen” but
fails to allege that he has spoken or written to the warden. Bell notes that he and the other
inmates on the gallery have been sprayed with mace by Sergeant Bridwell, but he fails to
indicate when this occurred or the circumstances surrounding the use of mace. Even if
his filing was construed as a Complaint, his allegations simply do not state a viable claim.
The Court is concerned, however, by the allegations in Bell’s filing, particularly as
it relates to his conditions on suicide watch and the status of his mental health. Bell notes
that he is suicidal, his mental health is deteriorating, and he is not receiving adequate
treatment. He also notes that he has contemplated suicide and has items at his disposal
that could be used in a suicide attempt. Given the concerning allegations, the Court will
construe Bell’s filing as a request for injunctive relief in which he requests a transfer to
another facility and adequate treatment for his mental state (Doc. 1, p. 2).
Accordingly, the Court DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to refile Bell’s Complaint as
a Motion for Preliminary Injunction. The motion shall remain under seal. The Court
ADDS the current warden of Lawrence Correctional Center, Jeremiah Brown, to the case
as a defendant in his official capacity only, for the purpose of responding to the motion.
Brown is DIRECTED to respond to Bell’s motion by January 3, 2025. Brown is
DIRECTED to provide the Court with Bell’s current status, including his current location
and whether he has been seen recently by mental health staff.
To the extent Bell wishes to proceed on the potential claims in his motion, he is
GRANTED leave to file a formal Complaint. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send
Bell a Section 1983 Complaint form. Bell has until January 28, 2025 to file a formal
Complaint or face possible dismissal of his claims.
Finally, the Clerk of Court shall prepare for Jeremiah Brown (official capacity
only): (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 Bell’s motion, and this Memorandum and Order to Defendant Brown at
Lawrence Correctional Center. If Defendant Brown 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 defendant, and the
Court will require defendant to pay the full costs of formal service, to the extent
authorized by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: December 11, 2024 T|
AM osnttigl
NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL
Chief U.S. District Judge