Morgan v. Green et al

On July 17, 2024, inmate Morgan filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Correctional Officer Green and other unknown officers at an Alabama prison. Morgan alleged that Green and the John Doe defendants used excessive physical force during a cell extraction, slamming him to the ground and punching him while he was restrained, resulting in a fractured rib and facial lacerations. The complaint stated the assault violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Video evidence was partially recovered but disputed. The defendants moved for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. The court examined whether the force was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain discipline or inflicted maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.

The district court denied in part the motion for summary judgment, holding that genuine disputes of material fact existed regarding the extent of the force used and whether it was applied maliciously. The case proceeded to discovery.

Whether the correctional officers' use of force against inmate Morgan constituted excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment, and whether the officers were entitled to qualified immunity.

The case drew renewed attention to conditions and use-of-force practices in Alabama prisons, contributing to ongoing federal oversight and debates over prison reform. Civil rights organizations cited the case as an example of systemic problems within the correctional system.