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Pro Bono Opportunity in 5:19-cv-00114-MCR-MJF

Friday, June 10, 2022

This is notice of an opportunity to provide pro bono representation in the case of Jackson v. Lanier, et al., Case No. 5:19cv114-MCR-MJF.

Plaintiff is a prisoner in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections. He asserts that four Defendants violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

In short, Plaintiff alleges that one Defendant (a correctional officer) arranged for inmates to assault him as punishment for Plaintiff refusing to show this Defendant his genitals. Plaintiff alleges that two other Defendants (correctional officers) knew of the planned inmate assaults but failed to protect Plaintiff and, additionally, that one of these Defendants ignored Plaintiff’s psychological emergency, his threat of self-harm, and his attempt at self-harm. Plaintiff alleges that the fourth Defendant (a prison nurse) ignored his psychological emergency, his threat of self-harm, and his attempt at self-harm.

Plaintiff’s case has survived the Defendants’ motions for summary judgment. The parties have been ordered to submit pretrial statements of fact, exhibit lists and witness lists. A trial date has not been set, but soon will be scheduled.

Public funds are not available for payment of attorney’s fees. Fees may be recoverable under applicable law if Plaintiff prevails. See 42 U.S.C. § 1988(b); World Outreach Conf. Ctr. v. City of Chicago, 234 F. Supp. 3d 904 (N.D. Ill. 2017). Limited funds sometimes are available from the District’s Bench and Bar Fund for the payment of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by an attorney providing representation of this type.

Members of the District’s bar will be afforded access to the electronic docket without charge for the purpose of considering whether to undertake the representation. An attorney who wishes to provide representation may contact Plaintiff directly and may enter the case by filing a notice of appearance. Plaintiff currently is confined at Lake Correctional Institution in Clermont, Florida.