While incarcerated at FCI-Talladega in Alabama, prison guards ignored Trevis Caldwell’s concerns for his safety and returned him to share a cell with his violent cellmate who had threatened to kill Caldwell and set fire to their cell. The cellmate subsequently took Caldwell hostage for 90 minutes, during which he stabbed and beat Caldwell to the point of unconsciousness.
Caldwell brought a pro se Bivens action against three federal prison officials for deliberate indifference to the substantial risk of serious harm posed by Caldwell’s cellmate. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants, dismissing Caldwell’s complaint on the grounds that the alleged facts did not show that the guards could have been aware of and indifferent to his cellmate’s threats. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed, holding in a published opinion that the guards had violated Caldwell’s 8th Amendment rights.
Bradley attorneys represented Caldwell on appeal as counsel appointed by the Eleventh Circuit. After winning the appeal, Bradley represented Caldwell in additional proceedings in the district court and ultimately resolved the case through a significant monetary settlement.
