Civil Rights Defense Litigation Group Prevails on Summary Judgment

July 15, 2019

Today, the Civil Rights Defense Litigation Group, led by Steven M. Oxenhandler and Michael J. O’Shee, prevailed on a summary judgment in federal district court on behalf of the Winn Parish Police Jury.  On August 20, 2017, Lane Carter, an inmate incarcerated at the Winn Parish Jail, decided to use plastic milk as a make-shift shower floor.  Inmates cut and strapped the plastic milk crates together without the knowledge of the Winn Parish Police Jury.  While taking a shower on the make-shift shower floor, Carter got one of his flip-flops caught in a cut in the plastic milk crates, fell backward out of the shower, and sustained injuries.  In 2018, Carter, Pro Se, sued the Police Jury, the Winn Parish Sheriff, and a subsequent prison later occupied by Carter after being transferred out of the Winn Parish Jail.  After depositions, the Winn Parish Police Jury filed a motion for summary judgment on the issue of premises liability and federal claims, which the Magistrate Judge dismissed, with prejudice.  The other two (2) defendants remain in the case.  Carter failed to object to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation.  Accordingly, today, the Court issued a Judgment adopting the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation.