Myers v. Washington County Jail

Filing 8

OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes, III on August 10, 2017. (tg)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

STEVEN MYERS
v.

PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 5:17-cv-05106

SHERIFF TIM HELDER

DEFENDANT
OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff, Steven Myers, filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983. He proceeds pro
se and in forma pauperis. The case is before the Court for preservice screening under the
provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the
Court has the obligation to screen any complaint in which a prisoner seeks redress from a
governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a).
I.

BACKGROUND
According to the allegations of the amended complaint (Doc. 6), Plaintiff was being held

at the Washington County Detention Center on a parole hold and a pending criminal charge.
Plaintiff alleges his parole officer faxed paperwork to the detention center in September of 2016
lifting the parole hold.
Due to the paperwork being lost and the computer still showing the hold as active, Plaintiff
alleges he could not post bond. Plaintiff remained incarcerated from September of 2016 until
January 3, 2017. Plaintiff states he “could have paid for bond” and been released during this
period of time.
II.

LEGAL STANDARD
Under the PLRA, the Court is obligated to screen the case prior to service of process being

issued. The Court must dismiss a complaint, or any portion of it, if it contains claims that: (1)
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are frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or, (2) seeks
monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).
A claim is frivolous if “it lacks an arguable basis either in law or fact.” Neitzke v. Williams,
490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). A claim fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted if it
does not allege “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic
Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “In evaluating whether a pro se plaintiff has
asserted sufficient facts to state a claim, we hold ‘a pro se complaint, however inartfully pleaded
... to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Jackson v. Nixon, 747
F.3d 537, 541 (8th Cir. 2014) (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007)).
III. DISCUSSION
While false imprisonment is ordinarily a tort claim left to state law, Baker v. McCollan,
443 U.S. 137, 146 (1979)(“false imprisonment does not become a violation of the Fourteenth
Amendment merely because the defendant is a state official”), there are circumstances when a
liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is at issue.
For instance, in Davis v. Hall, 375 F.3d 703, 717 (8th Cir. 2004), the Eighth Circuit held that
there is a “protected liberty interest in being free from wrongful, prolonged incarceration.” In
Davis, Plaintiff was detained for fifty-seven days after a judge ordered his release. In Dahl v.
Weber, 580 F.3d 730, 733 (8th Cir. 2009), the Eighth Circuit noted that there was also a liberty
interest in being released after a prison sentence has been served. To be applicable, the Plaintiff
must show a right to release. Golberg v. Hennepin Cty., 417 F.3d 808, 811-12 (8th Cir. 2005).
We will assume that Plaintiff had a right to be released on bail when the hold was lifted.
However, something more is needed before a plausible claim is stated under 42 U.S.C. §
1983. Liability under § 1983 is personal. Doran v. Eckold, 409 F.3d 958, 965 (8th Cir. 2005).

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“To recover § 1983 damages from [Sheriff Helder] individually, [Plaintiff] must establish that
[Sheriff Helder] was personally involved in, or directly responsible for, [Plaintiff’s] prolonged
incarceration and that [Sheriff Helder] was deliberately indifferent to [Plaintiff’s] plight.” Dahl,
580 F.3d at 733 (internal citations omitted). General responsibility over a detention facility is
“insufficient to establish personal involvement.” Ouzts v. Cummins, 825 F.2d 1276, 1277 (8th
Cir. 1987).
Plaintiff has not alleged deliberate indifference on the part of any person. Rather, he
alleges the faxed document was lost. Further, Plaintiff has not alleged any personal involvement
on the part of Sheriff Helder. Thus, there is no basis for finding Sheriff Helder individually
liable. Finally, Plaintiff has not alleged a custom or policy of Washington County was the
moving force behind his prolonged detention. Thus, there is no basis for official capacity
liability.

Monell v. Dept. of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978)(no vicarious liability for

governmental entities--liability must be based on custom or policy).
IV.

CONCLUSION
No plausible claim is stated. The Complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. See

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) (in forma pauperis action, or any portion of it, may be dismissed at
any time for failure to state a claim).
IT IS SO ORDERED on this 10th day of August, 2017.

/s/P.K. Holmes,III
P. K. HOLMES, III
CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

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