Smith v. Knox County Jail

Dist. Ct. erred in dismissing for failure to state valid cause of action plaintiff-prisoner’s section 1983 action alleging that certain prison officials were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs after he sustained injuries during attack by another prisoner. Plaintiff’s allegations, that he sustained injuries to his body and eye that caused him to endure severe pain for five days while guards merely looked on, were sufficient to state 8th Amendment violation. Moreover, plaintiff should be given opportunity on remand to amend his complaint to specifically name said prison officials/guards as defendants.