Dist. Ct. erred in dismissing plaintiff-prisoner’s section 1983 action, alleging that defendants-prison officials were deliberately indifferent to his back condition, and that defendants-prison doctor and prison nurse deprived him of due process by prescribing him psychiatric drugs without his permission, where Dist. Ct. based its dismissal on belief that plaintiff’s claims had been misjoined. Ct. of Appeals held that plaintiff had satisfied permissive joinder requirements set forth in Rule 20(a)(2), where: (1) both his claims related to series of events that concerned plaintiff’s back condition, his attempts to receive medical treatment, his appointment with prison nurse, his prescriptions written by prison doctor and his conflicts with correctional officers about taking prescribed psychiatric drugs; and (2) both claims presented common question regarding condition of plaintiff’s back. Dist. Ct. did not err, though, in denying defendant’s request for appointment of counsel at PLRA screening stage, where plaintiff claims were not complex, and plaintiff’s pleadings were cogent.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Prisoners