BURNETT v. BYRD

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Indiana
DecidedMarch 27, 2025
Docket2:22-cv-00280
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
BURNETT v. BYRD, (S.D. Ind. 2025).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA TERRE HAUTE DIVISION

DARYL KEITH BURNETT, JR., ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 2:22-cv-00280-JPH-MG ) SAMUEL JONATHAN BYRD Dr., ) SARA BEDWELL, ) BUTLER Sgt., ) FOSTER C.O., ) TAYLOR Ms., Nurse, ) ADONIAH MUKONA Mr., ) A. JAMES Ms., ) DANA SKINNER, ) IVY Mr., ) WATTS Mr., ) ) Defendants. )

ORDER GRANTING IDOC DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Plaintiff Daryl Burnett Jr. is an Indiana Department of Correction ("IDOC") prisoner currently incarcerated at Miami Correctional Facility. Mr. Burnett filed this action alleging constitutional violations related to ongoing treatment for his osteoarthritis by IDOC staff while incarcerated at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Dkt. 10. He brings Eighth Amendment claims against IDOC defendants Butler, Foster, James, Skinner, Ivy, and Watts related to their delay or refusal of Mr. Burnett's access to medical assistance and therapy appointments, and a claim of First Amendment retaliation against Sgt. Butler for confiscating his crutches. Dkt. 18 at 4. Defendants Butler, Foster, James, Skinner, Ivy, and Watts have moved for summary judgment.1 Dkt. [104]. For the reasons below, that motion is GRANTED. I. Standard of Review A motion for summary judgment asks the Court to find that a trial is unnecessary because there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and, instead, the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). When reviewing a motion for summary judgment, the Court views the

record and draws all reasonable inferences from it in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Khungar v. Access Cmty. Health Network, 985 F.3d 565, 572–73 (7th Cir. 2021). It cannot weigh evidence or make credibility determinations on summary judgment because those tasks are left to the fact- finder. Miller v. Gonzalez, 761 F.3d 822, 827 (7th Cir. 2014). A court only has to consider the materials cited by the parties, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3); it need not "scour the record" for evidence that might be relevant. Grant v. Trs. of Ind. Univ., 870 F.3d 562, 573−74 (7th Cir. 2017) (cleaned up).

A party seeking summary judgment must inform the district court of the basis for its motion and identify the record evidence it contends demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). Whether a party asserts that a fact is undisputed or genuinely disputed, the party must support the asserted fact by citing to particular parts of the

1 Medical Defendants Bedwell, Byrd, Mukona, and Taylor also seek summary judgment. Dkt. 108. Their motion will be addressed by separate order. record, including depositions, documents, or affidavits. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). Failure to properly support a fact in opposition to a movant's factual assertion can result in the movant's fact being considered undisputed,

and potentially in the grant of summary judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). Mr. Burnett failed to respond to the summary judgment motion. Accordingly, facts alleged in the motion are "admitted without controversy" so long as support for them exists in the record. S.D. Ind. L.R. 56-1(f); see S.D. Ind. L.R. 56-1(b) (party opposing judgment must file response brief and identify disputed facts). "Even where a non-movant fails to respond to a motion for summary judgment, the movant still has to show that summary judgment is proper given the undisputed facts." Robinson v. Waterman, 1 F.4th 480, 483

(7th Cir. 2021) (cleaned up). II. Factual Background Because Defendants have moved for summary judgment under Rule 56(a), the Court views and recites the evidence in the light most favorable to Mr. Burnett and draws all reasonable inferences in his favor. Khungar, 985 F.3d at 572–73. A. The Parties During the time period at issue, Mr. Burnett was an inmate housed at Wabash Valley. Dkt. 105-1 at 10 (Burnett's Deposition). At all times relevant, Defendants Sgt. Butler, Officer Foster, Ms. Skinner, Officer James, Sgt. Ivy and Sgt. Watts were employed at Wabash Valley. Dkt. 10 at 4, 10. B. Burnett's Medical Conditions and Access to Therapy Mr. Burnett suffers from osteoarthritis and previously sustained a left hip injury. Dkt. 105-1 at 14-17. These conditions caused Mr. Burnett chronic

pain, difficulty walking and exercising, and reduced range of motion in his hip. Dkt. 105-2 at 6 (Burnett Medical Records); dkt. 105-1 at 14-15. At times, he required assistive devices for movement including crutches. Dkt. 105-1 at 16- 17. In February and March of 2022, medical personnel prescribed physical therapy and later Theraband therapy to alleviate his condition. Dkt. 105-1 at 17; dkt. 105-2 at 32-33. Therabands are resistance bands that are used for strengthening and stretching exercises to increase mobility. Dkt. 105-3 at 2.

Theraband appointments were usually conducted under the supervision of nursing staff. Id. Defendant Dr. Mukona facilitated Mr. Burnett's physical therapy appointments from February of 2022 to March 29, 2022, when he recommended transitioning to Theraband appointments. See dkt. 105-2 at 32– 44; dkt. 105-1 at 17. Medical staff would create "count letters" which would list the names of inmates who had medical appointments, including physical therapy and Theraband therapy appointments. Dkt. 105-3 at 2. Correctional staff would

then permit the inmates to access those appointment in accordance with the count letter. Id. The inmate was given prior notice of the appointment time, and he was responsible for walking to the building where the appointment was held at the correct time. Id. Mr. Burnett typically knew in advance the dates and times for his appointments. Dkt. 105-1 at 51. C. Allegations Related to Defendants' Interference with Therapy Attendance On April 18, 2022, Mr. Burnett filed a grievance alleging that he was scheduled for Theraband therapy, but was not called to attend for the last three to four weeks. Dkt. 10-7. Mr. Burnett received a response the next day that he was discharged from physical therapy, and there was no order for Theraband therapy. Id. By April 22, Mr. Burnett was scheduled for Theraband

appointments on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1:00 PM. Dkt. 10-3 at 4. On April 23, Sgt. Butler denied Mr. Burnett access to South OSB Building where his appointments were conducted. Dkt. 105-3 at 2; 10-3 at 2. On that day, Mr. Burnett showed up outside the building for his appointment, and Sgt. Butler called medical staff to confirm that he was on the list for that day. Dkt. 105-3 at 2–3. Medical staff told Sgt. Butler over the phone that Mr. Burnett was not to be allowed in the building, and Sgt. Butler denied Mr.

Burnett entry. Id. On April 25, Mr. Burnett submitted a grievance stating "On 4-23-2022 Officer Foster and Sgt. Butler lied to have me denied from my right to go to my physical therapy appt." Dkt. 10-3 at 2. Mr.

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BURNETT v. BYRD, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burnett-v-byrd-insd-2025.