Terrance Collier v. Buzzard, McGillem, M Contrell, Thornberry, Farrell, and Molanski

Summary

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana dismissed Terrance Collier’s prisoner complaint for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. The court held that the alleged segregation placement and denial of visitation did not establish a protected liberty interest, granted leave to amend by April 22, 2026, and required submission of a trust account ledger for in forma pauperis status.

Holdings

1. The complaint failed to state a due-process claim because the Constitution does not create a liberty interest in avoiding transfer within a correctional facility or remaining in the general prison population absent restrictive conditions that impose an atypical and significant hardship in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.
2. Because Collier might be able to state a claim consistent with the events alleged, the court granted him leave to file an amended complaint rather than immediately dismissing the action.
3. Collier was required to file his prisoner trust-account ledger if he wished to proceed in forma pauperis.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Collier's allegations of placement in segregation and denial of visitation after he was found not guilty of a disciplinary charge stated a due-process claim under the Fourteenth Amendment.
2. Whether the complaint should be dismissed at screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A or whether Collier should be given leave to amend.
3. Whether Collier was required to submit his prisoner trust-account ledger to proceed in forma pauperis.

Disposition

other