Nye v. Riley et al.

On October 4, 2018, inmate Eric Nye was allegedly subjected to excessive force by Corrections Officer Michael Riley and other staff at Five Points Correctional Facility in New York. Nye claimed that officers assaulted him without provocation, causing physical injuries including fractures and lacerations. He subsequently filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of his Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. The defendants denied the allegations, asserting that force was necessary to restore order. The case raised significant questions about the use of force protocols in correctional settings.

The District Court denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment in part, finding genuine issues of material fact regarding the excessive force claim. The case ultimately settled before trial for a confidential amount.

Whether Defendant Riley and other correctional officers used excessive and unjustified force against Plaintiff Eric Nye, thereby violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, and whether the officers were entitled to qualified immunity.

The case drew attention to ongoing allegations of staff-on-inmate violence in New York prisons and fueled advocacy for independent oversight and body camera mandates. It was cited in subsequent prisoner rights litigation challenging qualified immunity barriers.