U.S. appeals court: harassment.

• Position: Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Johnson v. Unknown Dellatifa, 357 F.3d 539 (6th Cir. 2004). A pro se state prisoner brought separate [section] 1983 actions against various prison officials and staff. The district court dismissed the actions and the prisoner appealed. The appeals court consolidated the cases, and affirmed. The court held that the prisoner's allegations of harassment by a corrections officer, if true, "demonstrated shameful and utterly unprofessional behavior" but did not violate the Eighth Amendment. The prisoner alleged that the officer banged...