Clark v. Price et al

Filing 43

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER For the reasons outlined within, the defendants' objection based on their argument that the plaintiff's claims are subject to dismissal under the PLRA is OVERRULED. The court ADOPTS the magistrate judge's r eport and ACCEPTS his recommendation. The court ORDERS that the defendants' motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment excessive force claims against them in their official capacities for monetary relief is GRANTED. The court further ORDERS that the defendants' motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment excessive force claims against them in their individual capacities is DENIED because genuine issues of material fact exist. Addition ally, the court ORDERS that the defendants' motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment excessive force claims on the basis of qualified immunity is DENIED. The court ORDERS the defendants to file a formal answer to th e plaintiff's amended complaint within twenty days of the entry of this Order. This matter is REFERRED to the magistrate judge for further proceedings. Signed by Chief Judge Karon O Bowdre on 1/4/18. (SAC ) *Memo Op and Order placed in first class mail to pro se Plaintiff.

FILED
2018 Jan-04 PM 04:23
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
DANIEL B. CLARK,

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) Case No. 2:16-cv-00919-KOB-TMP
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Plaintiff,
v.
CODY PRICE, et al.,
Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
The magistrate judge filed a report on November 13, 2017, recommending the
defendants= motion for summary judgment be granted in part and denied in part.
(Doc. 38). Specifically, the magistrate judge recommended that the defendants’
motion for summary judgment be granted on the plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment
excessive force claims against them in their official capacities for monetary relief.
(Id.). The magistrate judge further recommended that the defendants= motion for
summary judgment on the plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment excessive force claims
against them in their individual capacities be denied. (Id.). The defendants filed
objections to the report and recommendation on November 27, 2017. (Doc. 40).

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A.

Scott v. Harris
The defendants first argue that the magistrate judge did not apply Scott v.

Harris, 550 U.S. 372 (2007), to the summary judgment facts. (Doc. 40 at 2-12).
The defendants contend that the evidence blatantly contradicts the plaintiff=s version
of events and the court should not credit the plaintiff=s version of events under Scott.
(Id.).
In Scott, a video recorded a high speed chase between a police officer and a
' 1983 plaintiff and contradicted the plaintiff=s version of events. Id. at 374-75,
378-81. The Supreme Court held that the plaintiff=s version of events was Aso
utterly discredited by the record,@ it would view the Afacts in the light depicted by the
videotape.@ Id. at 380-81. The Court explained that A[w]hen opposing parties tell
two different stories, one of which is blatantly contradicted by the record, so that no
reasonable jury could believe it, a court should not adopt that version of the facts for
purposes of ruling on a motion for summary judgment.@ Id. at 380.
In contrast to Scott, the record here does not contain a video of the encounter
between Mr. Clark and defendants on April 13, 2016. The Eleventh Circuit has
since analyzed the holding in Scott in cases that do not involve video evidence. See
Morton v. Kirkwood, 707 F.3d 1276, 1284-85 (11th Cir. 2013); Joassin v. Murphy,
661 Fed. App=x 558, 559-60 (11th Cir. 2016).

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Mr. Clark alleges that on April 13, 2016, he was handcuffed behind his back
during a medical examination in the Health Care Unit. (Doc. 33 at 19, Clark Aff.).
He claims that during the examination, Officer Nathan Johnson accused the plaintiff
of looking at him. (Id.). Mr. Clark states that he looked away from Officer Nathan
Johnson, but Johnson walked into his view and accused the plaintiff of Aeyeballing@
him. (Id.). Mr. Clark responded that no rule prevented the plaintiff from looking
at Nathan Johnson. (Id.).
Mr. Clark alleges that Sergeant Cody Price placed his right hand on the
plaintiff=s left shoulder and told him to Astop smarting off at his [o]fficers.@ (Doc.
33 at 20, Clark Aff.). Thereafter, he claims Sergeant Price Aeased his thumb over
my windpipe and was pressing them together.@ (Doc. 33 at 20, Clark Aff.). Mr.
Clark alleges he could not move his head or neck and that Price pressed on his
windpipe until he started Apassing out.@

(Id.).

He states that Sergeant Clint

Johnson threw him head first onto the floor. (Doc. 33 at 20, Clark Aff.). He
contends Sergeant Clint Johnson, Sergeant Price, and Correctional Officer Nathan
Johnson began to assault him while he was still handcuffed behind his back. (Doc.
7 at 4; Doc. 33 at 3). Specifically, Mr. Clark alleges Nathan Johnson Acame down@
on his back and twisted his arm while Clint Johnson kneed him in the back and hit
him on his thighs. (Doc. 33 at 20, Clark Aff.). He claims Sergeant Price had his

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left hand pressed on the right side of the plaintiff=s face, pushing the plaintiff=s face
against the floor. (Id.). Mr. Clark alleges Sergeant Price took his right hand and
continued to squeeze the plaintiff=s windpipe, stating, A>Bitch[,] I will kill you!
Bitch[,] this [is] how you choke a mutherfucker [sic]!=@ (Id.).
Mr. Clark contends that when the officers saw that he was not fighting back,
they stopped assaulting him and told him to get into a seated position. (Doc. 33 at
20, Clark Aff.). He argues that he posed no threat to himself, security staff, or
medical staff and did not exhibit any aggressive behavior before officers assaulted
him.

(Doc. 33 at 11, 15-16).
Nurse Peoples conducted a APost Use of Force@ examination of the plaintiff.

(Doc. 24-8 at 9-10). She noted that the plaintiff=s eyes were red, but that he had no
head or other injuries A[at] this time.@ (Id. at 9). Peoples advised the plaintiff that
if he had any changes in his medical condition to notify medical staff as soon as
possible. (Id. at 10).
On April 19, 2016, Mr. Clark submitted a sick call request in which he stated
that he sustained a severe concussion three to four weeks prior and that he was
experiencing similar symptoms as a result of Sergeant Price, Sergeant Clint Johnson,
and Officer Nathan Johnson Aslamm[ing]@ him on his head on April 13, 2016.
(Doc. 24-8 at 11). On April 20, 2016, medical staff examined the plaintiff for

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complaints of headache, blurred vision, and dizziness and prescribed him pain
medication. (Doc. 24-8 at 12-13). Mr. Clark states he was already prescribed
medication for dizziness and Athere was nothing more [medical staff] could do.@
(Doc. 33 at 12).
The plaintiff and the defendants have submitted the photographs taken of him
shortly after the use of force on April 13, 2016. (Doc. 24-1 at 4; Doc. 34 at 18).
Both the plaintiff and the defendants argue that the photographs support their
version of events. Mr. Clark contends the photographs show swelling to the left
side of his face as a result of the defendants throwing him to the ground and Sergeant
Price holding his head down on the floor. (Doc. 34 at 18). The defendants argue
the photographs do not show any injury to the plaintiff and contradict his claims.
(Doc. 40 at 6). However, the court cannot tell definitively from the black and white
photographs whether Mr. Clark=s face is swollen, the condition of his neck, or
whether he incurred any bruising as a result of the defendants allegedly throwing
him down, choking him, kneeing him in the back, and hitting him on his thighs.
(Doc. 24-1 at 4; Doc. 34 at 18). Thus, viewing the photographs in a light most
favorable to the plaintiff, they do not rule out his claims.
The defendants also note that Mr. Clark was involved in an altercation at
Staton Correctional Facility on May 9, 2016, and beaten severely. (Doc. 40 at 9;

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Doc. 24-1 at 10; Doc. 24-8 at 15-21). They argue that Mr. Clark made no mention
of the injuries he sustained after the April 13, 2016 assault in the medical records
compiled after his May 9, 2016 assault. (Doc. 40 at 9-12). However, Mr. Clark=s
failure to reference an injury he sustained nearly a month before in an unrelated
incident at a different facility does not, by itself, discredit his claims in the present
action.
Based on the foregoing, this situation is not one where the record contains
evidence that so blatantly contradicts the plaintiff=s testimony as to render it utterly
discredited and to preclude the existence of a genuine dispute of material fact. See
Joassin v. Murphy, 661 Fed. App=x 558, 559-60 (11th Cir. 2016) (finding prison
investigator and prison nurse=s declarations and records of the inmate=s medical
treatment did not blatantly contradict and utterly discredit the plaintiff=s testimony
under Scott where the prison investigator and prison nurse were merely interested
witnesses) (citing Jackson v. West, 787 F.3d 1345, 1357 n.6 (11th Cir. 2015) (AOne
cannot >refute= a witness=s statements using another witness=s statements at summary
judgment; such a swearing contest is one for the jury to resolve.@)); Pearson v.
Taylor, 665 Fed. App=x 858, 865 (11th Cir. 2016) (finding that the medical records
refuted the inmate=s allegations only as to the severity or existence of his injuries and
noting that Aour inquiry is not whether [the plaintiff] met a certain arbitrary injury

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requirement,@ but whether force was applied to maintain or restore discipline or
maliciously and sadistically to cause harm) (citation omitted). Moreover, Mr.
Clark=s allegations that the defendants used excessive force against him cannot be
discredited simply because he did not have a serious injury. The fact that a prisoner
has escaped serious injury does not mean he has not been subjected to
unconstitutionally excessive force. Wilkins v. Gaddy, 559 U.S. 34, 38-39 (2010).
Drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff=s favor, his sworn
statements create a genuine issue of material fact as to Awhether force was applied in
a good faith effort to maintain or restore discipline or maliciously and sadistically
for the very purpose of causing harm.@ Whitley Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 320-21
(1986) (citation omitted). The record does not blatantly contradict the plaintiff’s
version.

Therefore, the defendants= objection based on the magistrate judge=s

failure to discredit the plaintiff=s version of the events under Scott is
OVERRULED.
B.

Officer Rice=s Statements
Next, the defendants argue that the court should not consider the plaintiff=s

claims regarding Correctional Officer Jeremy Rice=s alleged out-of-court statements
on April 13, 2016, because they constitute inadmissible hearsay. (Doc. 40 at
12-13).

The defendants contend that the hearsay statements do not fit any

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exception because Officer Rice is not a party and has submitted an affidavit that
contradicts the hearsay statements. (Id. at 13).
The magistrate judge noted Mr. Clark=s claim in his affidavit that, during the
assault, Officer Rice stated that the defendants Awere going [too] far.@ (Doc. 38 at
6-7). The magistrate judge further noted the plaintiff=s claim in his affidavit that
when Lieutenant Copeland interviewed Rice about the alleged assault, Rice stated,
A>Damn right [ya=ll] did that. It was unnecessary, shouldn=t have done it[.] I ain=t
gone [sic] lie!=@ (Id. at 9). Officer Rice submitted an affidavit in support of the
defendants= Special Report in which he denies the plaintiff=s allegations that the
defendants used excessive force against him on April 13, 2016. (Doc. 24-5, Rice
Aff. at 1-2).
AThe general rule is that inadmissible hearsay cannot be considered on a
motion for summary judgment.@ Macuba v. Deboer, 193 F.3d 1316, 1322 (11th
Cir. 1999) (footnote omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). Nevertheless, Aa
district court may consider a hearsay statement in passing on a motion for summary
judgment if the statement could be reduced to admissible evidence at trial or reduced
to admissible form.=@ Id. at 1323 (internal quotation marks omitted). Although
hearsay testimony can be reduced to admissible form if the hearsay declarant
testifies directly to the matter at trial, Pritchard v. S. Co. Servs., 92 F.3d 1130, 1135

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(11th Cir. 1996), Aif . . . the declarant has given sworn testimony during the course of
discovery that contradicts the hearsay statement,@ the district court may not consider
the hearsay statement at the summary judgment phase. Jones v. UPS Ground
Freight, 683 F.3d 1283, 1294 (11th Cir. 2012).
Based on the foregoing, Mr. Clark=s affidavit concerning Officer Rice=s
alleged out of court statements constitutes hearsay and the defendants= objection is
SUSTAINED. However, the magistrate judge set forth in the summary judgment
facts that Officer Rice submitted an affidavit refuting these alleged out of court
statements. (Doc. 38 at 9, n.6). Moreover, the magistrate judge does not appear to
have relied on any of Rice=s alleged out-of-court statements in recommending that
the defendants= motion for summary judgment be denied. (Id. at 12-19). Indeed,
the magistrate judge did not expressly reference any of Rice=s alleged out of court
statements in his analysis of the plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment excessive force
claims. (Id.). The plaintiff=s sworn amended complaint and affidavit, to the extent
they set forth his firsthand account of the alleged events, create a genuine dispute of
material fact to defeat summary judgment. Thus, disregarding Mr. Clark=s claims
concerning Rice=s alleged out-of-court statements does not alter the magistrate
judge=s conclusion on this basis.

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C.

Excessive Force
The defendants further argue that they did not use excessive force against the

plaintiff on April 13, 2016, but rather used only the amount of force necessary in a
good faith effort to correct the plaintiff=s disruptive behavior and maintain order and
discipline. (Doc. 40 at 14-17). They reason that the plaintiff=s lack of significant
injury supports a finding that the defendants= use of force was de minimis. (Id.).
Taking the plaintiff=s version of events as true, which the court must do at this
state, Sergeant Price choked him and Sergeant Clint Johnson threw him on the
ground head first where Price continued to choke him and Clint Johnson and Nathan
Johnson held him down and struck him. (Doc. 7 at 3-5; Doc. 33 at 19-20, Clark
Aff.).

Mr. Clark clearly disputes the defendants= account that he was being

disruptive and posed a threat to staff. (Doc. 33 at 7, 11-12, 13, 15). Additionally,
Mr. Clark has stated both in his sworn amended complaint and affidavit that he was
already handcuffed behind his back when officers allegedly assaulted him. (Doc. 7
at 3-4; Doc. 33 at 11, 15-16). Thus, the plaintiff has submitted sufficient evidence
that the defendants= use of force was excessive. See Feliciano v. City of Miami
Beach, 707 F.3d 1244, 1253 (11th Cir. 2013)(the plaintiff’s self-serving can be
sufficient to defeat summary judgment).
The defendants argue that the plaintiff did not suffer a serious injury because

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of the use of force. (Doc. 40 at 16-17). However, the extent of injury presents
only one factor in determining whether an inmate was subjected to excessive force.
Indeed, in the context of an Eighth Amendment excessive force claim, the Supreme
Court has recognized that A[a]n inmate who is gratuitously beaten by guards does not
lose his ability to pursue an excessive force claim merely because he has the good
fortune to escape without serious injury.@ Wilkins v. Gaddy, 559 U.S. 34, 38-39
(2010) (explaining that the Acore judicial inquiry@ for an excessive force claim under
the Eighth Amendment is not based on the extent of the plaintiff=s injury, but rather
on Athe nature of the force@ used; i.e., Awhether [the force] was nontrivial and >was
applied . . . maliciously and sadistically to cause harm=@) (citation omitted).
Even if Mr. Clark did not suffer serious injury, his claims that the defendants,
without justification, choked him, threw him on the floor head first, and struck him
while he was handcuffed behind his back, if proven, fall within the category of
conduct A>repugnant to the conscience of mankind.=@ Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S.
1, 9 (1992) (citation omitted). In the absence of a good faith need to restore or
maintain order and discipline, officers have no license to choke or strike inmates.
Even if the defendants= alleged actions did not cause serious injury, choking and
striking plainly inflict pain that, under the circumstances presented by the plaintiff=s
evidence, was entirely unnecessary and malicious.

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Moreover, Mr. Clark has submitted a sick call slip in which he complains of
dizziness and visual disturbances a few days after the alleged assault. (Doc. 34 at
24). He also submitted pictures taken after the alleged assault that he claims show
swelling to his face. (Doc. 24-1 at 4; Doc. 34 at 18).
Based on the foregoing, sufficient evidence in the record creates a genuine
issue of fact concerning whether the defendants used excessive force against the
plaintiff. The court must accept as true the plaintiff=s testimony that force was used
against him, the lack of justification for the force, and the extent of force used. The
court may not disregard that direct testimony merely because the defendants deny
that it happened and no medical evidence shows a significant injury. The court may
not assess the credibility of the plaintiff=s testimony. See Feliciano v. City of Miami
Beach, 707 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2013). Therefore, the defendants= objection that
the evidence supports a finding that the force used was not excessive is
OVERRULED.
D.

Prison Litigation Reform Act
The defendants assert that the magistrate judge did not properly address their

argument that the plaintiff=s claims are subject to dismissal under the Prison
Litigation Reform Act (APLRA@) because he did not show that he suffered more than
de minimis injury. (Doc. 40 at 17-21). Title 42 U.S.C. ' 1997e(e), which is a

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limitation on the recovery an inmate may have, provides: ANo Federal civil action
may be brought by a prisoner confined in a jail, prison, or other correctional facility,
for mental or emotional injury suffered while in custody without a prior showing of
physical injury. . . .@ The Eleventh Circuit has held that A[u]nder the statute and our
caselaw, an incarcerated plaintiff cannot recover either compensatory or punitive
damages for constitutional violations unless he can demonstrate a (more than de
minimis) physical injury.@ Brooks v. Warden, 800 F.3d 1295, 1307 (11th Cir.
2015).
Mr. Clark alleges that he suffered a concussion three or four weeks prior and
experienced similar symptoms after the alleged assault on April 13, 2016. (Doc.
24-8 at 11). Nurse Peoples conducted a APost Use of Force@ examination of the
plaintiff shortly after the alleged assault on April 13, 2016, and noted that his eyes
were red but did not find any injuries to his head or otherwise. (Doc. 24-8 at 9-10).
However, Mr. Clark alleges that photographs taken of him shortly after the assault
show swelling to his face. (Doc. 24-1 at 4; Doc. 34 at 18). Additionally, he later
complained of a headache, blurred vision, and dizziness which, he claims, were a
reoccurrence of symptoms associated with a prior concussion. (Doc. 24-8 at 11-12).
He contends he was already taking medication for dizziness and, therefore, medical
staff only provided him with pain medication. (Doc. 24-8 at 12-13; Doc. 33 at 12).

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As stated previously, the court cannot discern whether the black and white
photographs taken shortly after the use of force on April 13, 2016, depict swelling or
bruising to Mr. Clark=s face, neck, or extremities, especially because the court has no
basis for knowing his appearance prior to the alleged assault. The court cannot say,
however, that Mr. Clark did not incur such injuries. While Mr. Clark does not
appear to have received any medical care after the staff prescribed him pain
medication on April 20, 2016, nothing in the record rules out that Mr. Clark suffered
dizziness and visual disturbances suggesting a head injury after the alleged assault.
Whether the alleged assault actually happened at all is a question for the jury.
Further, the pain associated with the assault itself is more than a de minimis injury.
Mr. Clark claims that one officer used his thumb to clamp shut his windpipe, while
other others crashed his face to the floor. Certainly, the pain associated with these
actions would be more than de minimis. Although a close call, if the jury finds that
the unprovoked assault happened as the plaintiff claims it did, a reasonable jury
could also conclude that the plaintiff=s injuries rose above the de minimis level.
Additionally, a plaintiff claiming violation of his constitutional rights is
entitled to nominal damages even if he suffered no compensable injury. See Brooks
v. Warden, 800 F.3d 1295, 1307-08 (11th Cir. 2015) (holding that nothing in '
1997e(e) prevents a prisoner from recovering nominal damages for a constitutional

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violation without a showing of physical injury); Hughes v. Lott, 350 F.3d 1157, 1162
(11th Cir. 2003) (ANominal damages are appropriate if a plaintiff establishes a
violation of a fundamental constitutional right, even if he cannot prove actual injury
sufficient to entitle him to compensatory damages.@).

Indeed, the defendants

concede the magistrate judge=s point that a nominal damages award is appropriate
even without injury following an Eighth Amendment violation. (Doc. 40 at 19).
However, the defendants argue that the plaintiff has not specifically requested
nominal damages. (Id. at 20).
For relief, Mr. Clark requests A$500,000 compensatory damages@ and A$2.5
million dollars punitive damages@ from the defendants, (doc. 7 at 4), which appears
inconsistent with a request for nominal damages. See Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S.
247, 266-67 (1978) (holding if plaintiffs were entitled to nominal damages for the
mere violation, the damages should not exceed one dollar); Kyle v. Patterson, 196
F.3d 695, 697 (7th Cir.1999) (A[N]ominal damages, of which $1 is the norm, are an
appropriate means of vindicating rights whose deprivation has not caused actual,
provable injury.@). However, the Eleventh Circuit has held that even when a pro se
plaintiff has not requested nominal damages specifically in his complaint, in light of
the liberal construction afforded pro se pleadings, a district court should consider
whether such damages are recoverable before dismissing a complaint.

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See

Magwood v. Sec=y, Florida Dep=t of Corr., 652 Fed. App=x 841, 845 (11th Cir. 2016)
(citing Hughes v. Lott, 350 F.3d 1157, 1162-63 (11th Cir. 2003)). In other words,
the failure to specifically request nominal damages as an alternative measure of
recovery does not doom Mr. Clark’s Complaint.
A genuine dispute of material fact exists as to whether the defendants= use of
force against Mr. Clark on April 13, 2016, was applied maliciously and sadistically
to cause harm or in a good faith effort to maintain or restore discipline. Because the
PLRA does not preclude nominal damages and Aare appropriate if a plaintiff
establishes a violation of a fundamental constitutional right, even if he cannot prove
[an] actual injury sufficient to entitle him to compensatory damages,@ Mr. Clark may
be entitled to nominal damages for his excessive force claims against the defendants
should a jury determine that he suffered no physical injury. See Hughes v. Lott, 350
F.3d 1157, 1162 (11th Cir. 2003); Slicker v. Johnson, 215 F.3d 1225, 1231-32 (11th
Cir. 2000) (finding that even if the plaintiff was unable to demonstrate that he
suffered an actual injury, Aunder controlling case law the district court erred in not
allowing Slicker to seek nominal damages@). Therefore, the defendants= objection
based on their argument that the plaintiff=s claims are subject to dismissal under the
PLRA is OVERRULED.
Having carefully reviewed and considered de novo all the materials in the

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court file, including the report and recommendation, and the defendants’ objections,
the court ADOPTS the magistrate judge=s report and ACCEPTS his
recommendation. Accordingly, the court ORDERS that the defendants= motion for
summary judgment on the plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment excessive force claims
against them in their official capacities for monetary relief is GRANTED. The
court further ORDERS that the defendants= motion for summary judgment on the
plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment excessive force claims against them in their
individual capacities is DENIED because genuine issues of material fact exist.
Additionally, the court ORDERS that the defendants= motion for summary
judgment on the plaintiff=s Eighth Amendment excessive force claims on the basis of
qualified immunity is DENIED.
The court ORDERS the defendants to file a formal answer to the plaintiff=s
amended complaint within twenty days of the entry of this Order. This matter is
REFERRED to the magistrate judge for further proceedings.
DONE and ORDERED this 4th day of January, 2018.

____________________________________
KARON OWEN BOWDRE
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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