Plaintiff Anthony Heard, Jr. was granted leave to proceed on claims that prison medical staff at WSPF delayed in treating his severe leg swelling, exacerbating the problem and caused him pain. Heard is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, which while not part of the case, is limiting his ability to litigate it. Currently pending are defendants motions for summary judgment. The court will reset the case schedule, including briefing deadlines after counsel has been recruited. Attached are the complaint, screening order and order granting recruitment of counsel.
Available Pro Bono Cases
Wisconsin SCR 31.05(7) states that an attorney may claim one CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono work, up to six credits per reporting period. The Western District of Wisconsin is looking for attorneys to volunteer to assist pro se parties with legal services on a pro bono basis. If an attorney, or firm, would like to volunteer legal services, but these cases are not a good fit, the Court will keep your name, or the name of your firm, on a list to contact about future representation.
These cases have passed screening, and the Court is requesting volunteers to represent on a limited or full-case basis, as identified. Please contact Melissa Hardin at 608-261-5718 with interest or questions.
-
Anthony Heard Jr.
20-cv-548-jdp -
Patrick S. Tate
20-cv-704-jdpPlaintiff Patrick Tate was allowed to proceed on claims relating to his allegation that when he was incarcerated at Fox Lake Correctional Institution, he was drugged and sexually assaulted by an as-yet-unidentified correctional office, then later physically assaulted by another inmate after he complained about the sexual assault. The court stayed the case before the scheduling conference and to recruit counsel for the limited purpose of identifying the Doe defendant. Attached is the order for recruitment of counsel.
-
Meng Xiong
22-cv-348-jdpPlaintiff Meng Xiong alleges the U.S. Marshals and jail staff delayed needed treatment for his only working eye and a doctor botched surgery on that eye has left him blind. He has been allowed to proceed on (1) a Federal Tort Act claim against the United States, and (2) a 14th Amendment and Wisconsin law negligence claim against officials in the Dane, Marathon and Columbia County Jails. The case was stayed pending appointment of counsel. The next step is setting a schedule for motions practice and possible trial. Attached are the court’s order for recruitment of counsel and complaint.
-
Paulo Cruz Gonzalez
20-cv-635-jdpPaulo Cruz Gonzalez is a prisoner at the Wisconsin Resource Center. Gonzalez asserts due process and negligence claims based on the allegation that defendants overcharged him for international phone calls. Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment; the court seeks counsel to represent Gonzalez at the summary judgment stage and if necessary at trial. Gonzalez appears to have limitations communicating in English, so a Spanish-speaking attorney would be helpful. Relevant documents include orders screening Gonzalez’s complaint, granting partial summary judgment to defendants on exhaustion grounds, and granting recruitment of counsel.
-
Ulices Guerrero
19-cv-578-wmcPlaintiff Ulices Guerrero is proceeding to trial on his Eighth Amendment claim that a Stanley Corrections Officer conducted a pat search with the intention to harass or humiliate him. Plaintiff cannot speak, read or write English well enough to represent himself at trial, so the court stayed the trial date and agreed to recruit counsel. Attached is the court’s summary judgment decision.
-
Carl Gilbert
20-cv-194-jdpPlaintiff Carl C. Gilbert II is a civil detainee confined at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center. Gilbert alleges that state officials and private providers failed to provide him with adequate medical care for an injury to his right knee. Attached are two orders screening Gilbert’s claims and the order granting his motion to recruit counsel.