Mufti Abdul El-Malik-Bey Ali v. Dennis Mygrant, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana grants defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment based on the prisoner-plaintiff’s failure to exhaust available administrative remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act. The court enters judgment for defendants on four Eighth and First Amendment claims concerning exposure to bleach, medical treatment, special-diet meals, and alleged retaliation involving medical equipment. One First Amendment retaliation claim against Officer Dennis Mygrant remains pending.

Holdings

1. Ali failed to exhaust available administrative remedies because he submitted his purported Level I appeal before the grievance office denied Grievance 131181 and never submitted a proper Level I appeal after the denial.
2. Ali failed to exhaust the special-diet claim because he did not file a Level I appeal after the grievance office denied Grievance 135083.
3. Ali failed to exhaust both medical-treatment claims against Lapoint.
4. Ali failed to exhaust the First Amendment retaliation claim against Lapoint and Sykes because the grievance office received no grievance or written notice concerning that claim.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Ali exhausted available administrative remedies concerning Officer Mygrant's alleged bleach incident and denial of medical treatment.
2. Whether Ali exhausted available administrative remedies concerning Officer Mygrant's alleged denial of special-diet meals.
3. Whether Ali exhausted available administrative remedies concerning Nurse Practitioner Lapoint's alleged denial of eye treatment and provision of improper eye drops.
4. Whether Ali exhausted available administrative remedies concerning the alleged First Amendment retaliation by Nurse Practitioner Lapoint and Officer Sykes.
5. Whether the prison grievance process was unavailable because the grievance specialist rejected the emergency designation or failed to respond to other alleged grievances.

Disposition

other