Mitchell v. Newryder.

• Position: Violation of civil rights - Brief Article

U.S. District Court

TOILETS

Mitchell v. Newryder, 245 F.Supp.2d 200 (D.Me. 2003). A detainee brought a [section] 1983 action against a county jail officer, alleging permanent traumatization as a result of being made to sit in his feces for five hours after his repeated requests to use a toilet were denied by the officer. The district court denied the officer's motion to dismiss. The court found that the detainee sufficiently alleged that he was denied a minimum civilized measure of life's necessity and that the officer had a culpable state of mind. The court held that the detainee could not seek compensatory damages absent an actual physical injury. The court agreed to consider the detainee's request for injunctive relief, barring further interference with his rights by the officer. The detainee alleged that the officer refused to...