Johnny Harper v. A.G. Thomas, J.M. Sikes, and Wilbur McRae Michael L. Shavers v. Lanson Newsome

ESCHBACH, Senior Circuit Judge.

These two cases before us on appeal, while distinct lawsuits, present similar legal issues, and they were heard together at oral argument. Therefore, we dispose of these cases in a single consolidated opinion.

Both Johnny Harper (Harper) and Michael Shavers (Shavers) are prisoners at the Georgia State Prison (GSP). They brought § 1983 claims against GSP officials in which they requested both injunc-tive relief and damages. In Harper’s case, injunctive relief was denied and the other claims dismissed. GSP is operating under a series of consent orders that govern…