A federal appeals court has reopened a civil case that accuses two Orange County detention officers of dragging their feet on getting medical help for an inmate who later died, allegedly so they would not have to deal with extra paperwork. Maurice King, 34, was found badly beaten inside a cell at the Orange County Detention Center on March 4, 2020, and died that night at Duke University Hospital.
Appeals Court Clears Path To Jury Trial
A three-judge panel ruled last Thursday that Officers William D. Berry Jr. and Thomas E. Linster III are not entitled to qualified immunity and can be tried before a jury. The panel accepted the district court’s factual findings that a jury could conclude they “intentionally delayed checking on Mr. King for some twenty minutes in order to avoid extra paperwork,” according to Justia. The court affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for that period of inaction and dismissed the officers’ other appellate arguments for lack of jurisdiction.
Video, A Covered Window And A Long Wait
Surveillance footage and court filings show King was assaulted in his cell while officers twice walked past the door without looking in. Later, another inmate pulled a towel over the cell window so no one could see inside. As reported by The News & Observer, officers listened over the intercom, heard what one described as a “moan or groan,” then waited about 20 to 23 minutes before finally checking the cell. When they went in, they found King soaked, badly bruised, unable to speak and struggling to breathe.
Inspectors Had Already Warned The Jail
State jail inspectors had previously cited the Orange County facility for supervision problems, including times when towels and sheets were left covering cell windows and rounds were not done as required. Local reporting and a state compliance report that documented those recurring failures were reviewed by The Assembly, which noted that inspectors flagged “non-quality rounds” in the period around King’s death.
What The Officers Said About The Delay
According to the appeals opinion, Officer Berry told investigators that the delay was tied to the jail’s round-logging system. He said, “if you go in 1 minute early you got to fill out that damn paper,” referring to a wall-mounted sensor that officers punch to document their rounds. The court also highlighted inconsistencies between the officers’ written and recorded accounts and the surveillance video, and said a jury could reasonably infer that the delays were intentional rather than simply careless.
Why The Ruling Is A Big Deal
The Fourth Circuit’s decision states that intentionally delaying medical attention for the sake of convenience or paperwork can defeat qualified immunity in Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claims. The opinion draws a line between routine missed checks and an officer’s intentional choice not to respond once there is reason to suspect an assault. Legal analysis of the ruling says it could influence how detention facilities are held to account when video evidence clashes with officers’ post-incident statements, and it also narrows what appellate courts can review about municipal (Monell) and bond claims at this early stage, according to CaseMine.
What Comes Next For King’s Family And The County
King’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2021. A district court later dismissed claims against Orange County and seven sheriff’s office officials in 2025, while allowing claims against Sheriff Charles Blackwood and the two officers to move forward. With the appeals court now sustaining the section 1983 individual-capacity claims against Berry and Linster, those claims move closer to a jury trial or potential settlement, according to reporting by The News & Observer.
