Taurus Clyde Hill, II v. Co Acosta Miguel

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin dismissed Taurus Clyde Hill, II’s amended 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint at the screening stage for failure to state a claim. The court rejected claims based on allegedly false conduct reports, disciplinary proceedings, retaliation, and excessive force, concluding that the allegations did not establish a constitutional violation or were too vague and speculative. The court assessed a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) and directed the clerk to enter judgment.

Holdings

1. Allegations that prison officials filed false conduct reports do not, standing alone, state a constitutional claim.
2. Hill failed to state a due-process claim because he did not plausibly allege a constitutionally protected liberty interest or deficient procedures.
3. Hill failed to state a First Amendment retaliation claim because he did not plausibly allege that his prior lawsuits motivated the defendants' conduct reports.
4. Hill failed to state an excessive-force claim because his allegation that officers jumped him and placed him in a chokehold was too vague and speculative to support an inference that force was used maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.

Questions Presented

1. Whether allegations that prison officials filed false conduct reports state a constitutional claim.
2. Whether Hill stated a due-process claim based on disciplinary proceedings resulting in segregation.
3. Whether Hill stated a First Amendment retaliation claim based on conduct reports allegedly motivated by prior lawsuits.
4. Whether Hill stated an excessive-force claim based on officers allegedly jumping him and placing him in a chokehold.

Disposition

dismissed