Desmond et al v. Phelps et al

Filing 283

MEMORANDUM Signed by Judge Sue L. Robinson on 2/13/2017. (lmm)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
CHRISTOPHER DESMOND , et al. ,
Plaintiffs,
v.
PERRY PHELPS , et al. ,
Defendants.

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MEMORANDUM
1. Introduction and Background . Plaintiff Christopher Desmond ("plaintiff'),
an inmate at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center ("VCC"), Smyrna , Delaware ,
filed a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking an order for his release from alleged
"unlawful conditions of confinement. " (D.I. 282) The gist of the petition is that, following
the recent February 2017 prison riot and hostage situation at the VCC that resulted in
the death of Sgt. Steven R. Floyd , prison officials placed all inmates on emergency
lockdown. Published accounts indicate that the riot occurred in the C-Building at the
VCC and , it appears that at the time of the riot, plaintiff was housed there. Plaintiff
complains that he is improperly housed in solitary confinement because "all known
participants" have been identified. The court notes that the issues raised by plaintiff in
his petition are unrelated to the issues raised in the instant action .
2. Discussion. Under the All Writs Act, a federal court has jurisdiction to issue
a writ of mandamus only "in aid of' its jurisdiction . 28 U.S.C . § 1651 (a). Federal courts
have jurisdiction "in the nature of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the
United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to plaintiff." 28 U.S.C. §

1361 .1 Plaintiff does not allege any action or omission by a federal officer, employee, or
agency that this court might have mandamus jurisdiction to address in the first instance.
Instead , he asks this court to exercise mandamus jurisdiction over two State officials,
Delaware Department of Correction Commissioner Perry Phelps and VCC Warden
David Pierce , and order them to release plaintiff from solitary confinement.
3. This court does not have jurisdiction to grant the request. See In re Wallace ,
438 F. App 'x 135 (3d Cir. 2011) (unpublished) (federal court lacked jurisdiction to
compel state court to dismiss criminal charges against petitioner). See also In re
Wolenski, 324 F.2d 309 , 309 (3d Cir. 1963) (per curiam) (explaining that District Court

"had no jurisd iction " to "issue a writ of mandamus compelling action by a state official");
Cochran v. Municipal Court of City of Barberton, Summit Cnty. , 91 F. App 'x 365 (6 1h Cir.

2003) (unpublished) (federal district court could not compel state officials to follow state
law andi thus, federal district court properly dismissed citizen's civil rights claim for writ
of mandamus in which citizen sought to compel state court to render decisions on
citizen 's post-conviction motions in citizen 's littering conviction) .
4. Plaintiff has much experience filing cases . He has available to him the option
of commencing a new action in an attempt to obtain the relief he seeks . Plaintiff is

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To be eligible for mandamus relief under 28 U.S.C . § 1361, a petitioner must
satisfy three conditions . First, the party seeking issuance of a writ must demonstrate
that he has "no other adequate means to attain the relief he desires." Cheney v. United
States Dist. Court, 542 U.S . 367 , 380 (2004) (citation omitted). Next, he must carry the
burden of showing that "his right to the issuance of the writ is clear and indisputable."
Id. at 381 (citations omitted). Finally, "the issuing court . . . must be satisfied that the
writ is appropriate under the circumstances ." Id.

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placed on notice that future filings in this case raising issues related to the February
2017 riot will be docketed , but not considered.
5. Conclusion. For the above reasons the court will deny the petition for writ of
mandamus. A separate order shall issue.

Dated : February J,L, 2017

uNffEDST ESDiSTRICT JUDGE

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