Thursday's decision in Dotson v. Faulkner (Judge Frank Easterbrook, joined by Judges Michael Brennan and Doris Pryor) stems from a lawsuit by a woman who was forced into sex (and at one point choked unconscious) by a prison guard. The guard (Faulkner) was sentenced to prison, and the woman (Dotson) sued the guard and prison officials. "The district court granted summary judgment in favor of [the officials], ruling that none of them knew or had reason to suspect that Faulkner posed a danger to prisoners," and Dotson didn't appeal that; but here's what happened with the lawsuit against Faulkner:

Faulkner did not answer the complaint. The district court entered a default and held a hearing to determine damages. Dotson contended that the assaults reduced her expected income and would require

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