Perttu v. Richards

Summary

The Court held that when a Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) exhaustion issue is intertwined with the merits of a claim that falls under the Seventh Amendment, the party is entitled to a jury trial on the exhaustion issue. The decision affirms the Sixth Circuit and resolves a split among circuits on this question. The Court based its holding on the usual practice under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and precedent such as Beacon Theatres.