Rasha Talafhah v. Robert Allison — 7th Cir. (Sep 24, 2026)
The Seventh Circuit hears Rasha Talafhah's appeal. At Illinois's Logan Correctional Center, she says officers held her down while medical provider Robert Allison searched her genitals for contraband without her consent. She sued over the search, bringing constitutional and Illinois medical-battery claims. After a jury trial, this appeal focuses on medical battery; the constitutional claims are no longer at issue. The lawyers will dispute whether the contact was harmful or offensive, and whether an Illinois medical-emergency exception could justify the lack of consent.
Rasha Talafhah v. Robert Allison (No. 25-1520) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 24, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/ef.25-1520.25-1520_09_24_2026.mp3
Argument listing — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29
Talafhah initial merit-review order — Central District of Illinois:https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/illinois/ilcdce/3:2017cv03194/70783/9/0.pdf
Talafhah jury-trial notice — Florida Supreme Court filing:https://acis-api.flcourts.gov/courts/68f021c4-6a44-4735-9a76-5360b2e8af13/cms/case/8fcfc9c4-8ac0-495a-86df-db0224af0278/docketentrydocuments/bcd699a2-b8e2-47f3-ab77-afd8abca76a6
Talafhah jury-trial confirmation — Central District of Illinois filing:https://trellis.law/doc/district/12371408/andrews-v-rauner
Illinois Pattern Civil Jury Instruction 105.07:https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/b6021d1e-d1fb-4c90-b4b7-48bbb0251570/IL_IPI_Civil.pdf
Moriarity v. Rockford Health Systems — Illinois appellate court:https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/d83814fb-e9b4-4854-8b73-a73cf2a8f26a/2041205.pdf
Curtis v. Jaskey — Illinois appellate court:https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/il-court-of-appeals/1193712.html
- 0:00Introduction
- 6:43The medical-emergency exception