Abuse of Discretion De Novo Review.

Byline: Derek Hawkins

7th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Matthew LaBrec v. Lindsay Walker, et al.,

Case No.: 18-1682

Officials: FLAUM, ROVNER, and SCUDDER, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Abuse of Discretion De Novo Review

Matthew LaBrec brought an action under 42 U.S.C. 1983 against a number of Wisconsin Department of Corrections employees, alleging that they violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.Specifically, LaBrec, who is an inmate, alleged that the defendants were aware that his cellmate posed a danger to him and that they failed to protect him from that cellmate. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants and declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state claims that LaBrec also brought. LaBrec now appeals that grant of summary judgment. He also appeals the district court's denial of his request for appointed counsel. We review the court's grant of summary judgment de novo. Sinn v. Lemmon, 911 F.3d 412, 419 (7th Cir. 2018). As for the denial of the request for counsel, we review the court's decision only for abuse of discretion. Olson v. Morgan, 750 F.3d 708, 711 (7th Cir. 2014).

Accordingly, the...