holding that an official who is not “aware of the facts” underlying a claim does not act with deliberate indifference
How later courts described this case
- holding that an official who is not “aware of the facts” underlying a claim does not act with deliberate indifference
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
JAMAINE BROWN,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No. 24-cv-0660-bhl
ROBERT RYMARKIEWICZ,
Defendant.
DECISION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Jamaine Brown, who is incarcerated at Waupun Correctional Institution and
representing himself, is proceeding on an Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claim
against Defendant Robert Rymarkiewicz, whom Brown alleges was responsible for a lack of
running water in Brown’s cell. Rymarkiewicz filed a motion for summary judgment on May 7,
2025. Dkt. No. 20. In a notice and order, the Court reminded Brown that under Civil L. R. 56(b)(2)
his response materials were due June 6, 2025. Dkt. No. 27. The Court warned Brown that, if he
failed to respond to the motion by the deadline, the Court would accept all facts asserted by
Rymarkiewicz as undisputed, which would likely result in summary judgment being granted in
Rymarkiewicz’s favor and the case being dismissed. At Brown’s request, the Court extended his
deadline to respond to July 7, 2025. Dkt. No. 29. The extended deadline has passed, and Brown
has not responded to the motion.
The Court has reviewed Rymarkiewicz’s motion, brief in support, and the undisputed facts,
see Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2), and concludes that he is entitled to summary judgment. See Fed. R.
Civ. P. 56(e)(3). Based on the proposed findings of fact submitted by Rymarkiewicz and deemed
true as a result of Brown’s failure to respond, the Court finds that Rymarkiewicz was on extended
medical leave during the time Brown contends he was confined in the cell without running water
and, Rymarkiewicz had no knowledge of or responsibility for Brown’s cell assignment.
Accordingly, no jury could reasonably conclude that Rymarkiewicz was deliberately indifferent
to the conditions in which Brown was confined. See Riccardo v. Rausch, 375 F.3d 521, 525-56
(7th Cir. 2004) (holding that an official who is not “aware of the facts” underlying a claim does
not act with deliberate indifference) (citations omitted).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant Robert Rymarkiewicz’s motion for
summary judgment (Dkt. No. 20) is GRANTED and this case is DISMISSED. The Clerk of
Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly.
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 17, 2025.
s/ Brett H. Ludwig
BRETT H. LUDWIG
United States District Judge
This order and the judgment to follow are final. Plaintiff may appeal this Court’s decision to the Court
of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit by filing in this Court a notice of appeal within 30 days of the entry
of judgment. See Fed. R. App. P. 3, 4. This Court may extend this deadline if a party timely requests
an extension and shows good cause or excusable neglect for not being able to meet the 30-day deadline.
See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(A). If Plaintiff appeals, he will be liable for the $605.00 appellate filing fee
regardless of the appeal’s outcome. If Plaintiff seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal, he
must file a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis with this Court. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1).
Plaintiff may be assessed another “strike” by the Court of Appeals if his appeal is found to be non-
meritorious. See 28 U.S.C. §1915(g). If Plaintiff accumulates three strikes, he will not be able to file
an action in federal court (except as a petition for habeas corpus relief) without prepaying the filing fee
unless he demonstrates that he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. Id.
Under certain circumstances, a party may ask this Court to alter or amend its judgment under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) or ask for relief from judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
60(b). Any motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) must be filed within 28 days of the
entry of judgment. Any motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) must be filed within a
reasonable time, generally no more than one year after the entry of judgment. The Court cannot extend
these deadlines. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b)(2).
A party is expected to closely review all applicable rules and determine, what, if any, further action is
appropriate in a case.