Illinois Partner Appointed as Pro Bono Counsel in Federal Civil Rights Case

Illinois Partner Appointed as Pro Bono Counsel in Federal Civil Rights Case

Chicago Partner Cecil E. Porter has been appointed pro bono counsel by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to represent an incarcerated individual in a federal civil rights lawsuit.

The inmate, serving a life sentence, filed suit against the prison warden and medical staff, alleging deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. The complaint focuses on repeated failures by prison personnel to treat his ongoing back pain and the denial of medically prescribed hot showers following lumbar spine fusion surgery—measures intended to manage chronic pain.

Before Cecil Porter’s appointment, the trial court dismissed the lawsuit, finding that the inmate had not exhausted administrative remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). The inmate appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit that remanded the case for a Pavey evidentiary hearing to determine whether the inmate had been prevented from following institutional grievance procedures as required by the PLRA.

At this critical stage, the Court appointed Cecil to represent the inmate.

During the hearing, the inmate testified remotely from prison detailing how the prison staff thwarted his efforts to follow administrative rules and limited his access to the grievance process—particularly after his medically prescribed hot shower treatments were denied.

Cecil Porter vigorously advocated on the inmate’s behalf, presenting compelling evidence and arguments during the hearing. Following post-hearing briefing, the Court took the matter under advisement and later reversed its prior dismissal order, denied the motion to dismiss, and allowed the case to proceed against the prison wardens and medical personnel.

Cecil E. Porter is a seasoned litigator with more than 20 years of experience handling complex civil matters. His areas of focus include general liability, personal injury, construction site accidents, premises liability, motor vehicle claims, employers’ liability and workers’ compensation.