Allen v. Bradley et al

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Leonard P. Stark on 3/10/17. (nmg)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
JAl'vIES IRA ALLEN,
Plaintiff,
Civ. No. 16-251-LPS

v.

GEORGETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT,
et al.,
Defendants.

James Ira Allen, Sussex Correctional Institution, Georgetown, Delaware, Pro Se Plaintiff.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

March 10, 2017
Wilmington, Delaware

I.

INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff James Ira Allen ("Plaintiff''), filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging

violations of his constitutional rights. 1 (D.I. 2) Plaintiff was a pretrial detainee at the time he
commenced this action. He is cmrently incarcerated at the Sussex Correctional Institution in
Georgetown, Delaware. He appears pro se and has been granted leave to proceed in jorma pauperis.
(D.I. 6) The Court proceeds to review and screen the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)
and§ 1915A(a).

II.

BACKGROUND
Plaintiff was arrested on February 1, 2015, for being intimate with a fourteen year-old girl.

He alleges: (1) Defendants

Ge~rgetown

Police Department ("Georgetown PD") Detective Bradley

Cordrey ("Cordrey"), Sergeant Tyndall ("Tyndall"), and Corporal 3 Delaware State Police Troop 4
Mark Justice ("Justice") authored official police reports that contained errors regarding the race of
the victim, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and
supervisors Leslie A. Dick and Defendant Georgetown PD Lt. Lawrence Grose ("Grose") approved
the reports; (2) a search warrant for the vehicle Plaintiff used was not filled out correctly and was
overly broad, making the search and seizure unlawful and in violation of the Fourth Amendment;
(3) Grose slandered and defamed Plaintiff when a newspaper published an account in which Grose
said Plaintiff "may also face federal charges;"2 ( 4) Defendants Georgetown PD Cpl. Wilson

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Pursuant to 42 U .S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that some person has deprived him of a
federal right, and that the person who caused the deprivation acted under color of state law. See
West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
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Plaintiff was indicted in this Court on October 15, 2015 for violations of 18 U.S.C.
§§ 1467, 1470, 2253, 2422(b), 2428, 2251(a) and (e), 2252A(a)(2), (a)(5)(B), (b)(1), and (b)(2),
2256(2)(A) and (8)(A). See United States v. Allen, Crim. No. 15-052-RGA at D.I. 2 (D. Del.). The

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(''Wilson") and Tyndall took actions during their investigation that caused contamination of
evidence; (5) Defendants forensic analysts Sarah Lindauer ("Lindauer") and Kevin MacMillan
("MacMillan") examined the forensic evidence but did not send it to the FBI lab in Washington, DC
for proper testing; and (6) Defendants Georgetown PD, Delaware State Police Troop 4 ("State
Police"), and Division of Forensic Science ("DPS") did not follow proper procedures, conducted an
illegal search, did not properly handle evidence, lied on reports, and failed to properly test all the
evidence collected. Also named as defendants are the Department of Safety and Homeland Security
("DSHS"), the State of Delaware (the "State"), and Wilmington, Delaware.
Plaintiff seeks as relief the dismissal of all criminal charges, his return to Maine where he
resides, and $40 million in compensatory damages.

III.

LEGAL STANDARDS
A federal court may properly dismiss an action sua sponte under the screening provisions of

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and§ 1915A(b) if "the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim
upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from
such relief." Ball v. Famiglio, 726 F.3d 448, 452 (3d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) (informa

pauperis actions); 28 U.S.C. § 1915A (actions in which prisoner seeks redress from governmental
defendant); 42 U.S.C. § 1997e (prisoner actions brought with respect to prison conditions). The
Court must accept all factual allegations iri a complaint as true and take them in the light most
favorable to a prose plaintiff. See Phillips v. Counry ofAlleghe1ry, 515 F.3d 224, 229 (3d Cir. 2008);

Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007). Because Plaintiff proceeds prose, his pleading is liberally

federal case remains pending. An initial appearance is set for March 16, 2017. The claims in the
instant Complaint do not address the federal criminal case, other than their reference to Grose's
statement that Plaintiff may face federal charges.
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construed and his complaint, "however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards
than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers." Erickson, 551 U.S. at 94 (citations omitted).

An action is frivolous if it "lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v.
Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and§ 1915A(b)(1), a court
may dismiss a complaint as frivolous if it is "based on an indisputably meritless legal theory" or a
"clearly baseless" or "fantastic or delusional" factual scenario. Neitzke, 490 at 327-28; see also Wilson

v. Rackmill, 878 F.2d 772, 774 (3d Cir. 1989); Deutsch v. United States, 67 F.3d 1080, 1091-92 (3d
Cir. 1995) (holding frivolous a suit alleging that prison officials took an inmate's pen and refused to
. give it back).
The legal standard for dismissing a complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and§ 1915A(b)(1) is identical to the legal standard used when deciding Rule
12(b)(6) motions. See Tot1rscher v. McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 240 (3d Cir. 1999) (applying Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12(b)(6) standard to dismissal for failure to state claim under§ 1915(e)(2)(B)). However, before
dismissing a complaint or claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted
pursuant to the screening provisions of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915 and 1915A, the Court must grant a
plaintiff leave to amend his complaint, unless amendment would be inequitable or futile. See Grqyson

v. Mqyview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 114 (3d Cir. 2002).
A complaint may be dismissed only if, accepting the well-pleaded allegations in the
complaint as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, a court concludes
that those allegations "could not raise a claim of entitlement to relief." Bell At!. C01p. v. Twomb!J, 550
U.S. 544, 558 (2007). Though "detailed factual allegations" are not required, a complaint must do
more than simply provide "labels and conclusions" or "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a
cause of action." Davis v. Abington Mem'l Hosp., 765 F.3d 236, 241 (3d Cir. 2014) (internal quotation

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marks omitted). In addition, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to
state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. See Williams v. BASF Catafysts LLC, 765 F.3d 306,
315 (3d Cir. 2014) (citing Ashcrqft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) and Twombfy, 550 U.S. at 570).
Finally, a plaintiff must plead facts sufficient to show that a claim has substantive plausibility. See

Johnson v. Ciry ofShelf?y, _U.S._, 135 S.Ct. 346, 347 (2014). A complaint may not dismissed for
imperfect statements of the legal theory supporting the claim asserted. See id. at 346.
Under the pleading regime established by Twomb!J and Iqbal, a court reviewing the
sufficiency of a complaint must take three steps: (1) take note of the elements the plaintiff must
plead to state a claim; (2) identify allegations that, because they are no more than conclusions, are
not entitled to the assumption of truth; and (3) when there are well-pleaded factual allegations, the
court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give 11.se to an
entitlement to relief. See Connelfy v. Lane Const. Corp., 809 F.3d 780, 787 (3d Cir. 2016). Elements are
sufficiently alleged when the facts in the complaint "show" that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. See

Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)). Deciding whether a claim is plausible will be a
"context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and
common sense." Id.

IV.

DISCUSSION
A.

Eleventh Amendment

Plaintiff names as defendants the DSHS, the State, the DFS, and State Police. The Eleventh
Amendment of the United States Constitution protects an unconsenting state or state agency from a
suit brought in federal court by one of its own citizens, regardless of the relief sought. See Seminole

Tribe of Fla. v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44, 54 (1996); Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89
(1984); Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974). The State has not waived its immunity from suit in

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While a government policy is established by a "decisionmaker possessing final authority," a custom
arises from a "course of conduct ... so permanent and well settled a~ to vixtually constitute law." Id.
(citing Monell v. Department ef Social Services ef the Ciry efNe1v York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978)). Accordingly,
a plaintiff seeking to recover from a municipality must (1) identify an allegedly unconstitutional
policy or custom, (2) demonstrate that the municipality, truough its deliberate and culpable conduct,
was the "moving force" behind the injury alleged; and (3) demonstrate a direct causal link between
the municipal action and the alleged deprivation of federal rights. See Board ef the Counry Comm 'rs v.

Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 404 (1997).
Plaintiff has not pled that the municipal Defendants were the "moving force" behind any
alleged constitutional violations. Absent an allegation that a custom or policy established by the
municipal Defendants directly caused harm to Plaintiff, his § 1983 claim cannot stand. The claims
against the City of Wilmington and the Georgetown PD are frivolous and will dismissed pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and§ 1915A(b)(1).

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C.

Claims under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments

The remaining claims allege violations of the Fourteenth Amendment, when official police
reports contained errors regarding the race of the victim; violations of the Fourth Amendment for
unlawful search and seizure; and alleged wrongful actions taken during the investigation and
collection of evidence. The Court takes judicial notice that Plaintiff pled guilty to three counts of
third-degree rape and one count of sexual exploitation of a child and was sentenced to 18 years
imprisonment. Seehttps://vinelink.com/#/searchResults/1(Mar.10, 2017);
http:/ /www.delawareonline.com/ story /news/ crime/2017 /01/15/man-gets-prison-raping14-year-old-delaware-girl/96614034/ (Mar. 10, 2017).
Plaintiff has failed to state plausible claims, given that the allegations amount to attacks on
criminal charges to which he pled guilty. Under Heck v. Humphrry, 512 U.S. 4 77 (1994), a § 1983
action that impugns the validity of the plaintiffs underlying conviction cannot be maintained unless
the conviction has been reversed on direct appeal or impaired by collateral proceedings. See Gzlles v.

Davis, 427 F.3d 197, 208-09 (3d Cir. 2005); see also Heck, 512 U.S. at 486-87. A valid guilty plea is
"sufficient to bar a subsequent§ 1983 claim." Gilles v. Davis, 427 F.3d 197, 209 n.8 (3d Cir. 2005).
Plaintiffs claims, particularly his Fourth Amendment claim- on which success would require a
finding of no probable cause - would necessarily impugn the validity of his plea. See Walker v.

Clemfield Cnry. Dist. Attornry, 413 F. App'x 481, 483 (3d Cir. Jan. 24. 2011) ("[A] guilty plea - even
one for a lesser offense - does not permit a later assertion ofno probable cause.").
Plaintiff has not alleged nor proven that his conviction or sentence was reversed or
invalidated, as required by Heck. Moreover, his claims present the type of claims addressed in Heck:
that is, a finding that Plaintiffs conviction was procured by unconstitutional means would

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necessarily imply the invalidity of his conviction. Accordingly, the Court will dismiss the foregoing
claims as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and§ 1915A(b)(1).

D.

Defamation/Slander

Plaintiff alleges that he was defamed by Grose when Grose stated to the press that Plaintiff
"may also face federal charges." A statement is defamatory "if it tends to harm the reputation of
another as to lower him in the estimation of the community or to deter third persons from
associating or dealing with him." Spence v. Funk, 396 A.2d 967 (Del. 1978) (quoting Restatement
(First) of Torts§ 559 (1938)). To succeed in a claim for defamation,3 a plaintiff must show: "(1) the
defamatory character of the communication; (2) publication; (3) that the communication refers to
the plaintiff; (4) the third party's understanding of the communication's defamatory character; and
(5) injury." Holmes v. The News Journal Co., 2015 WL 1893150, at *2 (Del. Super. Apr. 20, 2015).
Truth is an absolute defense. See id. Where the alleged defamatory statement is shown not to be
false, it is unnecessary to delve into any of the additional factors. See DeBonaventura v. Nationwide Mut.

Ins. Co., 428 A.2d 1151, 1155 (Del. 1981).
The Court takes judicial notice that federal criminal charges were brought against Plaintiff in
this Court in October 2015. Grose's speculative comment that Plaintiff that might face federal
charges was not a false statement. The claim will be dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and§ 1915A(b)(1).

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"[D]efamation consists of the 'twin torts' of libel and slander . . . . In shortest terms, libel is
written defamation and slander is oral defamation. . " Spence v. Funk, 396 A.2d at 969 ..
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V.

CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, the Court will dismiss the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§§ 191S(e)(2)(B)(i) and (iii) and§§ 191SA(b)(1) and (2) as the claims are either frivolous or
Defendants are immune from suit. The Court finds amendment futile.
An appropriate Order follows.

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