Bootchee v. Galloway

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedJune 23, 2025
Docket3:25-cv-00794
StatusUnknown

This text of Bootchee v. Galloway (Bootchee v. Galloway) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bootchee v. Galloway, (S.D. Ill. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

ROMONDO BOOTCHEE, #Y26954,

Plaintiff, Case No. 25-cv-00794-SPM

v.

WARDEN GALLOWAY, SGT GRIM, SGT GOINES, C/O COULSON, LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN, LIEUTENANT BANKS, LIEUTENANT HORN, C/O JOHN DOE #1, MOORE, NURSE ROBIN, and NURSE HEATHER,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

MCGLYNN, District Judge: Plaintiff Romondo Bootchee, an inmate of the Illinois Department of Corrections who is currently incarcerated at the Western Illinois Correctional Center, brings this civil action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of his constitutional rights. Plaintiff claims that while housed at Shawnee Correctional Center1 he was subjected to excessive force and received inadequate treatment. He seeks monetary damages.

1 Although Plaintiff refers to this correctional institution as “Shawnee Correctional Facility,” (Doc. 1, pg. 3), the Court will refer to the institution by its official name, Shawnee Correctional Center (Shawnee). The Complaint is now before the Court for preliminary review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Under Section 1915A, any portion of a complaint is legally frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or requests

monetary damages from a defendant who by law is immune from such relief must be dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). At this juncture, the factual allegations of the pro se complaint are to be liberally construed. Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Serv., 577 F.3d 816, 821 (7th Cir. 2009). The Complaint Plaintiff alleges the following: On or about January 20, 2024, while housed in

the restricted housing unit at Shawnee, breakfast trays were being passed out by Sergeant Grim, who was cursing at inmates and closing chuckholes too fast for inmates to receive their breakfast trays. (Doc. 1, p. 3). When Plaintiff was retrieving his breakfast tray from Grim, Grim stated, “You are not quick enough,” and purposely slammed the chuck hole on Plaintiff’s finger. Plaintiff experienced “excruciating” pain, lightheadedness, and bleeding. Plaintiff asked Grim for medical attention, and Grim only laughed. Lieutenant Sullivan and Correctional Officer John Doe #1 also

laughed and ignored Plaintiff’s injuries. (Id.). The following day, Plaintiff asked various correctional staff for assistance but was again refused medical attention. (Id. at p. 4). Because they did not want to “go[] against a colleague” or “help[] someone who has a problem with a friend,” staff refused to give Plaintiff aid. (Id.). On January 23, 2024, Nurse Robin treated Plaintiff’s finger while she was making rounds to each cell. (Doc. 1, p. 4). Nurse Robin gave Plaintiff ibuprofen and wrapped and taped Plaintiff’s injured fingers together. (Id.).

On January24, 2024, Plaintiff requested medical attention because he was experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. (Doc. 1, p. 4). In response, a Code 3 medical emergency was initiated. While Plaintiff was being escorted to healthcare, Goines and Coulson threatened Plaintiff, stating, “We should break your other hand,” “Just beat the fuck out of you, for filing a Grievance on our Colleague [sic],” and “If you stay in Shawnee We Will Get the Chance [sic].” (Id.).

At healthcare, Plaintiff informed Nurses Robin and Heather that he was experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. (Doc. 1, p. 4). The nurses did not treat Plaintiff in anyway and failed to check his blood pressure, conduct an EKG, or administer breathing exercises. Nurses Robin and Heather told Goines and Coulson that there was “nothing wrong with him.” They ridiculed Plaintiff, stating that he was “just being a baby because he has a boo boo.” (Id.). They also instructed Goines and Coulson to take from Plaintiff the ibuprofen that had previously been dispensed

for his finger. (Id. at p. 4, 6). Following the appointment with Robin and Heather, Goines and Coulson escorted Plaintiff back to his cell in restrictive housing. (Doc. 1, p. 5). On the way, while Plaintiff was handcuffed, they slammed Plaintiff’s head into the door, scrapped his face against the walls, and slammed him to the ground. They then grabbed, bent and squeezed his fingers. Goines and Coulson also began to put their knees into Plaintiff’s neck and back, saying, “[y]ou are going to wish you were dead when we finish with you.” Plaintiff was screaming and an unnamed lieutenant ordered them to stop. Goines and Coulson stopped, and at the previous instruction of Nurses Robin

and Heather, Grim took away Plaintiff’s ibuprofen. Goines and Coulson claimed, “This is what happens when someone messes with one of us, filing a grievance huh.” Plaintiff was then placed back into his cell. (Id.). On or about January 25, 2024, Plaintiff received x-rays on his fingers. (Doc. 1, p. 5). After returning to his cell, he yelled for emergency medical attention because his fingers were hurting him. Sergeant Marriman came to his cell and placed Plaintiff

in a holding cell to wait for a nurse, but a nurse did not come. Sergeant Marriman “took it upon himself to help [Plaintiff] to get some pain medication.” (Id.). On January 26, 2024, Plaintiff was released from restrictive housing. (Doc. 1, p. 6). Plaintiff telephoned his mother and told her about what had happened during his time in restrictive housing. That evening, he went to healthcare to retrieve the ibuprofen that had previously been confiscated from his cell by Goines, Coulson, and Grim. While there, he tried to report about the events that had transpired while he

was in restrictive housing to Lieutenant Horn. Horn dismissed his complaints as being unserious. Plaintiff returned to his cell, and around 10:45 p.m., unknown correctional officers “shookdown” Plaintiff’s cell and took the ibuprofen. (Id.). On January 27, 2025, Plaintiff was called to healthcare, where Internal Affairs Officer Moore took pictures of Plaintiff’s injuries and told Plaintiff that an investigation had been initiated after his mom had called the facility and expressed her anger. (Doc. 1, p. 6). Plaintiff was seen by Nurses Mandy and Hilary, who told Plaintiff that they were unable to treat him at the facility. Plaintiff was taken to the hospital, where he received surgery on his finger due to a “severe” infection. (Id.).

PRELIMINARY DISMISSAL All intended claims against Warden Galloway are dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff does not assert any allegations against this individual in the Complaint, and merely invoking the name of a potential defendant is not sufficient to state a claim against that individual. See Collins v. Kibort, 143 F.3d 331, 334 (7th Cir. 1998). Warden Galloway also cannot be held liable under Section 1983 solely because he

holds a supervisory position. See Sanville v. McCaughtry, 266 F.3d 724, 740 (7th Cir. 2001). Discussion

Based on the allegations in the Complaint, the Court finds it convenient to designate the following counts: Count 1: Eighth Amendment claim against Grim, John Doe #1, and Sullivan for the use of excessive force against Plaintiff on January 20, 2024.

Count 2: Eighth Amendment claim against Grim, John Doe #1, Sullivan, Nurse Robin, Nurse Heather, Horn, Coulson, and Goines for deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s finger injury.

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Bootchee v. Galloway, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bootchee-v-galloway-ilsd-2025.