Case Explained: Non-Argument Calendar AKEEM MUHAMMAD v. SECRETARY, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BOYCE TURNER Correctional Officer

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Filed: 2026-07-01 Docket: 4:22-cv-00467-WS-MAF The eleventh-circuit reversed the district court’s grant of summary judgment to correctional officer Boyce Turner and remanded the case for further proceedings. The court held that genuine issues of material fact exist regarding whether Officer Turner violated Akeem Muhammad’s Eighth Amendment right to be free from unnecessary and excessive force during a May 9, 2019 incident at a Florida prison. The court applied the standard that summary judgment is inappropriate when video evidence does not “clearly or blatantly” contradict a plaintiff’s version of events, requiring facts to be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. The court found the security camera footage ambiguous due to obstructed views and poor audio, meaning it did not disprove Muhammad’s account that he was handcuffed, non-resistant, and subjected to a violent takedown followed by pain-compliance techniques while pinned on the floor. Under the *Skrtich* test for excessive force claims, the court determined a reasonable jury could find the force was applied maliciously and sadistically rather than in good faith to maintain discipline, particularly given Turner’s alleged threat that Muhammad would “pay” for filing a grievance and his statement that the pain on the floor was “only the beginning.” Additionally, the court ruled that Turner is not entitled to qualified immunity because the right to be free from gratuitous force against a subdued prisoner was clearly established at the time of the incident. The practical consequence is that the case proceeds to trial, where a jury will determine whether Officer Turner used excessive force in violation of the Constitution and whether he is liable for damages. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.