A former pretrial detainee is accusing local county officials and staff of violating his constitutional rights during his time in jail, citing claims that include the enforcement of an allegedly void communication ban, denial of necessary medical care, and retaliatory punishment. The complaint was filed by Gregg Shiver in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on March 4, 2026, naming Assistant District Attorney Laura Lee Clark, Officer Douglas Bagaro, Judge Michael Schumacher, Kassie M. Beebe, Trish Lambert (Nursing Staff/Mental Health Providers), Julie M. Zwiers, Ellen Silverling, Kelsy Mae Silverling, Jaclene Elizabeth Newell, and several jail supervisors as defendants.
According to the filing, Shiver was incarcerated at the Eau Claire County Jail from July 18, 2022 to March 6, 2023 as a pretrial detainee who had not been convicted of any crime. The complaint alleges that on July 26, 2022 during a court hearing before Judge Michael Schumacher, prosecutor Laura Lee Clark proposed a motion to ban Shiver from all communications due to alleged court order violations. The judge reportedly denied this motion in open court with the statement: “I’m not going to do that,” laughing as he rejected it.
Despite this denial in court, Shiver states that on July 27 jail staff presented him with a signed order enforcing the communication ban. When he protested that Judge Schumacher had denied such an order, jailers allegedly laughed and told him they would enforce it regardless. Shiver claims this resulted in immediate deprivation of his liberty interests and hindered his ability to defend himself against criminal charges pending in Eau Claire County.
The complaint further outlines allegations of deliberate indifference to serious medical needs by nursing staff and mental health providers. Shiver reports suffering from seizures and various mental health conditions requiring daily medication. He asserts that both he and his wife notified jail medical personnel about his need for medication upon intake but were told treatment could not be provided due to an ‘expired’ status or lack of proper release forms. According to Shiver’s account and supporting documentation referenced in the filing, records from Prevea Health were available by August 5 but were not uploaded into the system until August 18 or officially updated until September 9—delays which he argues demonstrate reckless disregard for his health.
Shiver alleges that he received none of his required medications until 2023 despite repeated grievances and written complaints to various supervisory staff members. He also claims that after notifying court clerks about the discrepancy between Judge Schumacher’s oral ruling and the enforced order on July 29-31—and after filing at least ten formal grievances—he faced retaliation from jail staff including harassment and three months’ punitive isolation immediately following these actions.
The complaint describes further incidents during confinement: On August 30, 2022 Shiver was involved in a physical altercation which he attributes directly to psychological distress caused by untreated medical conditions. Afterward he was placed in solitary confinement for approximately three months where he developed a severe MRSA infection; according to the suit, requests for treatment were ignored by both nursing staff and jail personnel.
Shiver’s legal arguments are structured around several counts: unconstitutional conditions of confinement under the Fourteenth Amendment; procedural due process violations relating to enforcement of an allegedly void communication ban; retaliation infringing on First Amendment rights; and denial of access to courts through actions taken by clerical staff despite receiving notice of alleged constitutional violations.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for physical injuries (including seizures and MRSA infection), emotional distress, pain and suffering; punitive damages against all defendants individually for what is described as malicious or reckless disregard; costs associated with filing suit; as well as jury consideration for all claims presented.
The case is identified as Case No.: 3:26-cv-00185-jdp. Gregg Shiver is representing himself (pro se) in this matter. No attorney names or judge assignments beyond those listed among defendants are specified within the initial filing.
Source: 326cv00185_Shiver_v_Eau_Claire_County_Complaint_Western_District_Wisconsin.pdf
