Shah v. Samuels et al
Filing
77
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 29 Motion to Dismiss, which this Court converted to a motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff's 1 complaint is DISMISSED with prejudice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney on 8/17/2015. (ks)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
VIVEK SHAH,
REG. #43205-424
PLAINTIFF
v.
4:15CV00046-JTK
CHARLES E. SAMUELS, JR., et al.
DEFENDANTS
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
I.
Introduction
Plaintiff Vivek Shah is a federal inmate incarcerated at the Lexington Federal Medical Center
(FMC), Lexington, Kentucky. While incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI),
Forrest City, Arkansas, he filed this action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403
U.S. 388 (1971), the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., and the Declaratory
Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 201, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief challenging his
classification. (Doc. No. 1) He names as Defendants the United States of America, and Charles
Samuels and Jose Santana, in their official capacities.
Pending before the Court is the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 29), which this
Court converted to a Motion for Summary Judgment by Order dated May 13, 2015 (Doc. No. 55).1
Following a short stay of these proceedings while Plaintiff was transported to the FMC, the parties
submitted additional briefs in support of their respective positions (Doc. Nos. 63, 76).
II.
Complaint
On September 11, 2013, Plaintiff was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment for transmitting
threats with intent to extort in interstate commerce, and mailing threatening communications,
1
Plaintiff filed a Response to the Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 37), Defendants filed a
Reply (Doc. No. 42), and Plaintiff filed a Sur-Reply (Doc. No. 51).
1
in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 875, 876. (Doc. No. 1, p. 3) He was transported to FCI, Forrest City,
where he underwent a custody/classification review. (Id.) At that review, Plaintiff was classified
as a low security risk due to his offense conduct, although according to the Bureau of Prison’s
(BOP) Program Statement P5100.08, he should have been classified as a minimum security risk.
(Id.) In classifying Plaintiff as a low security risk (higher than minimum) Plaintiff’s case manager,
Michael Danaher, applied for a Management Variable (MGTV), which allows staff to ensure an
inmate’s placement in the most appropriate level institution when placement is initially made at a
level inconsistent with the inmate’s security score. (Id., p. 4, citing P5100.08)
Danaher’s decision to apply for the MGTV in Plaintiff’s case was based on the fact that
Plaintiff’s offense involved mailing a series of threatening letters to various wealthy and prominent
individuals,which contained threats of death to a family member unless the recipient paid a sum of
money. (Id., p. 5) Although Plaintiff provided Danaher reliable sources of information that showed
he was not a greater security risk, together with the government’s statement in Plaintiff’s sentencing
memorandum that Plaintiff did not form the intent to physically harm or kill anyone, but intended
only to frighten his victims, Danaher applied for the MGTV. (Id.) Plaintiff complained about the
application of the variable by filing an administrative remedy (grievance)with the Warden, which
was rejected, as were his appeals to the regional and central offices of the BOP. (Id., p. 6)
Plaintiff claims that if the greater security MGTV is removed, he would be classified as
minimum security and as “out and community,” which would permit him to work outside of the
institution, in community-based programs, at off-site public works or volunteer community service
projects, and eligible for furloughs and other liberties. (Id., p. 7) Presently, however, Plaintiff is
classified as low security with a classification of “in.” (Id.)
Pursuant to the APA, Plaintiff challenges the application of the MGTV to raise his
2
classification levels, claiming the action was unjustified, unwarranted and unreasonable. (Id., p. 9)
He also claims the APA is unconstitutional and that the application of the MGTV violated his First
Amendment right to access to the courts, and the Tenth Amendment.
III.
Summary Judgment
Pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 56(a), summary judgment is appropriate if the record shows that
there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law. See Dulany v. Carnahan, 132 F.3d 1234, 1237 (8th Cir. 1997). “The moving party bears
the initial burden of identifying ‘those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes
demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.’” Webb v. Lawrence County, 144 F.3d
1131, 1134 (8th Cir. 1998) (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986) (other
citations omitted)). “Once the moving party has met this burden, the non-moving party cannot
simply rest on mere denials or allegations in the pleadings; rather, the non-movant ‘must set forth
specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Id. at 1135. Although the facts are
viewed in a light most favorable to the non-moving party, “in order to defeat a motion for summary
judgment, the non-movant cannot simply create a factual dispute; rather, there must be a genuine
dispute over those facts that could actually affect the outcome of the lawsuit.” Id.
A.
Declaratory Judgment Act/Bivens
Initially, the Court notes, and Plaintiff agreed in his Response to Defendants’ Motion to
Dismiss (Doc. No. 37), that the Declaratory Judgment Act does not confer subject matter jurisdiction
over Plaintiff’s complaint, and provides a remedy only where jurisdiction already exists. 28 U.S.C.
§§ 2201-2202; Missouri v. Cuffley, 112 F.3d 1332, 1334 (8th Cir. 1997). In addition, Plaintiff
cannot maintain a Bivens action in this case because a Bivens action cannot be brought against the
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United States, its agencies, or its government officials who are sued in their official capacities.
FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 484-6 (1994). In this case, Plaintiff sued Defendants Samuels and
Santana in their official capacities only. (Doc. No. 1, p. 2)
B.
APA
1.
Subject matter jurisdiction
The APA contains the government’s consent to suit for actions for relief other than money
damages, providing that “[a] person suffering legal wrong because of agency action, or adversely
affected or aggrieved by agency action within the meaning of a relevant statute, is entitled to judicial
review thereof.” 5 U.S.C. § 702. The APA precludes judicial review, however, “when review is
precluded by statute, or ‘committed to agency discretion by law.’” Heckler v. Chaney, 470 U.S. 821,
826 (1985).
Decisions made by the BOP concerning imprisonment of prisoners are made pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §§ 3621, which provides in part as follows:
(b) Place of imprisonment. - - The Bureau of Prisons shall designate the place of the
prisoner’s imprisonment. The Bureau may designate any available penal or
correctional facility that meets minimum standards of health and habitability
established by the Bureau, whether maintained by the Federal Government or
otherwise and whether within or without the judicial district in which the person was
convicted, that the Bureau determines to be appropriate and suitable, considering - (1) the resources of the facility contemplated;
(2) the nature and circumstances of the offense;
(3) the history and characteristics of the prisoner;
(4) any statement by the court that imposed the sentence - ...
(5) any pertinent policy statement issued by the Sentencing Commission ....
4
18 U.S.C. § 3621. However, judicial review of Bureau decisions made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§
3621-3624 are precluded by 18 U.S.C. § 3625, which provides, “[t]he provisions of sections 554 and
555 and 701 through 706 of title 5, United States Code [APA] do not apply to the making of any
determination, decision, or order under this subchapter.” Therefore, Defendants state that this Court
lacks jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s challenge to the decision to classify him as “low,” rather than
“minimum.”
However, Plaintiff claims that his classification actually was determined under 18 U.S.C. §
4081, which provides as follows:
The Federal penal and correctional institutions shall be so planned and limited in size
as to facilitate the development of an integrated system which will assure the proper
classification and segregation of Federal prisoners according to the nature of the
offenses committed, the character and mental condition of the prisoners, and such
other factors as should be considered in providing an individualized system of
discipline, care, and treatment of the persons committed to such institutions.
Plaintiff claims that 18 U.S.C. § 3625 does not apply to this section and that judicial review
therefore is appropriate.
Defendants counter that classification of inmates as to security and custody level is
interrelated with place-of-imprisonment decisions, and note that the BOP Inmate Security
Designation & Custody Classification which was used in this particular case, PS 5100.08,
specifically refers to 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b):
The classification of inmates is necessary to place each inmate in the most
appropriate security level institution that also meets their program needs and is
consistent with the Bureau’s mission to protect society ... The Bureau’s
classification, designation and redesignation procedures are consistent with the
statutory authority contained in 18 U.S.C. § 3621(b)....
PS 5100.08 (Doc. No. 76-1, p. 5) Defendants also rely on case law holding that judicial review of
security classifications of BOP inmates is barred by 18 U.S.C. § 3625. See Brown v. Holder, 770
5
F.Supp.2d 363, 365 (D.C.D.C. 2011); Miller v. Federal Bureau of Prisons, 703 F.Supp.2d 8, 16
(D.C.D.C. 2010); Perez v. Lappin, 672 F.Supp.2d 35, 40, 43-44 (D.C.D.C. 2009). Defendants also
rely on Aldaco v. Holder, where a MGTV was applied to an inmates’ security classification because
of his failure to appear for sentencing. 2011 WL 825624 (D.Minn. 2011). In addressing the
inmate’s challenge to the BOP decision, the court held that “[j]udicial review of agency actions
made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3621, including actions made under P.S. 5100.08, is foreclosed under
18 U.S.C. § 3625.” Id. *11.
Defendants further explain the classification decision at issue here, in the Declaration of
Michael Danaher, case manager at FCI, Forrest City. (Doc. No. 76-1, pp. 1-3)2 According to
Danaher, “a greater security management variable may be applied when there are ‘security concerns
which are not adequately reflected in the classification scheme,’ and when an inmate represents a
greater security risk than his assigned security level.” (Id., p. 2, quoting P.S. 5100.08) BOP
institutions are classified into five security levels – minimum, low, medium, high, and administrative
– based on the level of security and staff supervision provided by the institution. (Id.) In addition,
an inmate’s custody classification is determined by criminal history, institutional behavior, and
adjustment, and consists of four levels – community, out, in, and maximum. (Id.) Danaher stated
that Plaintiff’s original custody classification was “out,” but that he and other members of a “Unit
team” determined that Plaintiff’s offense (extortion letters)3 and prior history (battery/domestic
2
These facts are not disputed by Plaintiff.
3
See Doc. No. 76-2, pp. 66-73. These are examples of the “Extortion Notice(s)” Plaintiff
sent to numerous individuals. Each notice begins as follows: “[I]f you follow the instructions,
then you can take this notice lightly. If you don’t then expect at least one person dead in the next
one year. It could either be [specific names listed] or any other close relative.” The notice then
includes an amount of money sought, a deadline, and further instructions. It ends with the
following, “Good luck, and remember - rage is understandable, ignorance is not.”
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violence charge) warranted a MGTV (variable) because they suggested a threat of violence not
appropriately addressed by a classification of “minimum out.” (Id., pp. 3, 75) Danaher’s request
for the MGTV was approved by the Designation and Sentence Computation Center. (Id., p. 3)
In response, Plaintiff cites Royer v. Federal Bureau of Prisons, where the court held that an
inmate could challenge the constitutionality of his conditions of confinement based on the BOP’s
label of him as a “terrorist inmate” because the decision to classify him was made a least in part
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4081, and therefore, not precluded from review by 18 U.S.C. § 3625. 933
F.Supp.2d 170, 181 (D.D.C. 2013).
Having reviewed the parties’ arguments and submissions, and the statutory and case law set
forth therein, the Court finds as a matter of law that review of the decision to classify Plaintiff as a
“minimum” security inmate, including the application of the MGTV, is precluded by 18 U.S.C. §
3625. This case is quite similar to Aldaco v. Holder (noted above), where the inmate challenged the
application of a MGTV, which resulted in his placement in a higher security institution. 2011 WL
825624. The court noted that 18 U.S.C. §3621(b) “vests the BOP with broad discretionary authority
as to a prisoner’s classification,” and that PS 5100.08 requires the BOP to use “professional
judgment” when deciding security classifications, thus granting prison administrators wide
discretion “when classifying inmates.” Id. *6.
In citing several cases in support, the court in
Brown v. Holder stated that 18 U.S.C. § 3625 applies to “cases in which federal inmates are
challenging their security classifications and facility designations.” 770 F.Supp.2d 363, 365 (D.D.C.
2011)
This Court also finds the current case to be distinguishable from Royer, relied on by Plaintiff,
because the Court in Royer noted that the BOP admitted classifying Royer pursuant to18 U.S.C. §
4081, and because Royer did not appear to involve the application of a MGTV pursuant to BOP PS
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5100.08. 933 F.Supp.2d at 181. Therefore, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to review the
decision to classify Plaintiff.4
2.
Constitutionality/Ultra Vires
Defendants also ask the Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s allegations that 18 U.S.C. § 3625, which
precludes judicial review of BOP classification decisions, is unconstitutional as violative of his First
Amendment right to access to the courts, and the Tenth Amendment. Plaintiff in turns argues that
the variable is unconstitutional because it is not necessary and proper and is inconsistent with the
letter and spirit of the constitution. In addition, he claims 18 U.S.C. § 3625 is contrary to the
constitution because the government cannot exercise power not necessarily granted to it.
However, as noted by Defendants, Congress has the power to preclude judicial review of
agency decisions. Barlow v. Collins, 397 U.S. 159, 165-167 (1970); Holley v. U.S., 352 F.Supp.
175, 176 (1972). In addition, “[t]he federal courts have repeatedly stated that when Congress creates
new rights in an individual (as opposed to fundamental, Constitutional rights) it is under no
obligation to provide a remedy through the Courts, but may provide an administrative remedy.”
Taylor v. U.S., 379 F.Supp. 642, 649 (W.D. Ark. 1974). And, the court in Martin v. Gelinski noted
that “§ 3625 precludes judicial review of agency adjudicative decisions.” 133 F.3d 1076, 1079 (8th
Cir. 1998).
In this case, it is clear, and Plaintiff does not dispute, that he was provided an administrative
remedy to object to the application of the variable. (Doc. No. 76-2, pp. 82-84) In addition, he was
not denied his access to the court right because he was permitted to file this lawsuit challenging the
decision. The fact that he has not been successful does not mean he was denied the opportunity to
4
In light of such, the Court will not address Plaintiff’s arguments that the decision was
arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion.
8
litigate his claim. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343 (1996). Therefore, the Court finds no violation
of Plaintiff’s First Amendment right of access to the courts.
In addition, the Court finds no violation of the Tenth Amendment. Congress enacted 18
U.S.C. § 3621 and provided that persons convicted of federal crimes shall be committed to custody
of the BOP, which can designate the place of confinement. See also 28 C.F.R. § 0.96, which
provides that:
[t]he Director of the Bureau of Prisons is authorized to exercise or perform any of the
authority, functions, or duties conferred or imposed upon the Attorney General by
any law relating to the commitment, control, or treatment of persons ... charged with
or convicted of offenses against the United States, including the taking of final action
in the following-described matters:
....
(c) Designating places of imprisonment or confinement where the sentences of
prisoners shall be served and ordering transfers from one institution to another....
The only support Plaintiff provides for his argument that the BOP had no authority to apply the
MGTV in his case is his contention that he never intended to harm anyone and thus, there was no
security threat to support application of the variable. The Court finds this is insufficient to support
a finding that the application of the variable violates the Tenth Amendment. Finally, since this
Court finds no constitutional violation, the Court cannot find that Defendants’ actions in applying
the MGTV were ultra vires, or in violation of the constitution or federal law.
IV.
Conclusion
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1.
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, which this Court converted to a Motion for
Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 29), is GRANTED.
2.
Plaintiff’s complaint is DISMISSED with prejudice.
An appropriate Judgment shall accompany this Memorandum and Order.
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IT IS SO ORDERED this 17th day of August, 2015.
______________________________________
JEROME T. KEARNEY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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