Supreme Court Signals Limits on Inmate Medical-Neglect Suits Under 1980 Precedent
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Nov 9
Supreme Court Signals Limits on Inmate Medical-Neglect Suits Under 1980 Precedent
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Nov 9
Summary
Several justices in the court’s 6-3 conservative majority indicated they would block federal inmates from suing individual prison officials over denied medical care, putting a 1980 precedent at risk.
The case stems from Kekai Watanabe’s claim that a Honolulu prison nurse denied treatment after a 2021 gang-riot beating; he was later diagnosed with a fractured coccyx and bone chips.
Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh said inmates already have other remedies, especially the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows suits against the government but limits damages and does not target individual officials.
The justices appeared less willing to overturn the 1971 Bivens decision outright, instead favoring a narrower ruling that could effectively nullify Carlson v. Green for prison medical-neglect claims.
A ruling against Watanabe would extend the court’s recent retreat from Bivens actions after its 2022 Border Patrol decision, which a 2023 NBC News investigation linked to 195 dismissed cases.