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Pro Bono Opportunities for Attorneys

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has pro bono opportunities available in a number of areas, including prisoner and non-prisoner civil rights cases, Title VII cases, and other discrimination cases.  The court also recruits attorneys for the limited purpose of representing civil pro se litigants in mediations, as well as other limited-scope representations.

The court is currently looking for pro bono volunteers for the following cases:

  • Motley v. Roeker, 18-cv-033-PP. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that defendant correctional officers ignored his threat of self-harm and failed to get him medical help for his self-inflicted wound. The plaintiff’s claim survived summary judgment. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at mediation or trial, depending on the agreements of the parties. If you want more information about this case, please email Allison Cimpl-Wiemer at Allison_Cimpl-Wiemer@wied.uscourts.gov

 

  • Franklin v. Smith, 19-cv-075-WED. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that defendant mailroom officers at the correctional institution violated his First Amendment right when they opened his legal mail. The lawyer would conduct discovery as needed, draft/respond to dispositive motions, and pursue settlement. If you want more information about this case, please email Allison Cimpl-Wiemer at Allison_Cimpl-Wiemer@wied.uscourts.gov

 

  • Williams v. Van Buren, 18-cv-1663-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that a psychologist at Waupun Correctional Institution was deliberately indifferent to his serious mental health needs when she failed to stop the plaintiff from injuring himself. The defendant did not seek summary judgment. Discovery is closed and will not be reopened. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. If you want more information about this case, email Katina Austin at Katina_Austin@wied.uscourts.gov.

 

  • Keys v. Schend, 18-cv-924-LA-WED. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that correctional officers at the Winnebago County Jail were deliberately indifferent to his safety when they failed to secure his seatbelt in a van during a ride to the Jail. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff in his response to summary judgment and, if necessary, at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. Discovery is closed; however, the court would consider reopening discovery at the request of the lawyer. If you want more information about this case, email Katina Austin at Katina_Austin@wied.uscourts.gov.

 

  • Rivers v. Johnson, 17-cv-1496-PP. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that a correctional officer at Waupun Correctional Institution was deliberately indifferent to his serious mental health needs when he failed to request mental-health assistance to stop the plaintiff from injuring himself. Summary judgment was granted for one corrections officer but denied against the other. The lawyer would represent the plaintiff at trial or mediation, depending on the agreement of the parties. If you want more information about this case, email Katina Austin at Katina_Austin@wied.uscourts.gov.

 

  • Pennewell v. Parish, 17-cv-213-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a blind prisoner plaintiff who seeks to bring Eighth Amendment claims against correctional officers and medical staff at the Dodge Correctional Institution and the John Burke Correctional Center that failed to treat and/or provide accommodations for his serious medical condition. The lawyer would amend the complaint, conduct discovery as needed, and draft/respond to dispositive motions.  If you want more information about this case, email Katina Austin at Katina_Austin@wied.uscourts.gov. 

 

  • Arroyo v. Maher, 17-cv-1561-PP-WED. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who alleges that defendant correctional officers were deliberately indifferent to his serious mental health needs when they failed to stop him from severely injuring himself. The lawyer would conduct discovery as needed, draft/respond to dispositive motions, and pursue settlement. Please see the screening order and the decision to recruit a lawyer. If you want more information about this case, email Katina Austin at Katina_Austin@wied.uscourts.gov.

 

  • Ashley v. Jones, 17-cv-1785-WCG. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner plaintiff who is alleging that a correctional officer at the Milwaukee County Jail failed to intervene in a fight between him and a cellmate in violation of his constitutional rights. The lawyer would assist with discovery and responses to dispositive motions.  If you want more information about this case, email Allison Cimpl-Wiemer at Allison_Cimpl-Wiemer@wied.uscourts.gov.

  • Daniels v. Pohl, 17-cv-1701-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges that he experienced deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs when he threatened self-harm. Three of the four defendants in the case were entitled to summary judgment. However, one defendant remains because the record did not establish a lack of objective harm. The attorney would represent the plaintiff at mediation or trial, depending on the agreement of the parties. If you want more information about this case, please email Taylor Barnes-Gilbert at Taylor_BarnesGilbert@wied.uscourts.gov

  • King v. Ankarlo, 17-cv-201-LA. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges the defendants violated his rights by failing to protect him from self-harm and by providing inadequate medical care. The court will re-open discovery if necessary. The attorney would represent the plaintiff in conducting discovery, responding to a motion for summary judgment, pursuing settlement, and at trial, if necessary. If you want more information about this case, please email Taylor Barnes-Gilbert at Taylor_BarnesGilbert@wied.uscourts.gov.

  • Reifschneider v. Grossman, 18-cv-146-WCG. Section 1983 claim. The court is looking for a lawyer to represent a prisoner who alleges the defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs. The attorney would represent the plaintiff in conducting discovery, responding to a motion for summary judgment, pursuing settlement, and at trial, if necessary. If you want more information about this case, please email Taylor Barnes-Gilbert at Taylor_BarnesGilbert@wied.uscourts.gov.