Torruella-Torres v. FCI Fort Dix et al

Filing 7

MEMORANDUM. Signed by Judge Sue L. Robinson on 11/22/16. (lmm)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

ENRIQUE TORRUELLA-TORRES,
Plaintiff,

v.
FCI FORT DIX, et aI.,
Defendants.

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) Civ. No. 16-920-SLR
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MEMORANDUM
1. Introduction. Plaintiff Enrique Torruella-Torres ("plaintiff'), an inmate at the
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, Wilmington, Delaware, proceeds pro se and
has been granted in forma pauperis status. He filed this Bivens action claiming
violations of his constitutional rights. 1 (0.1. 3)
2. Standard of Review. 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."

1"A 'Bivens action' is a commonly used phrase for describing a judicially created
remedy allowing individuals to seek damages for unconstitutional conduct by federal
officials." Banks v. Roberts, 251 F. App'x 774, 775 (3d Cir. 2007) (unpublished).
Where a litigant sue federal actors for damages on constitutional grounds, the claim is
governed by Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics,
403 U.S. 388, 389 (1971). In Bivens, the Supreme Court created a federal tort
counterpart to the remedy created by 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as it applies to federal officers.
To state a claim under Bivens, a claimant must show: (1) a deprivation of a right
secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States; and (2) that the deprivation
of the right was caused by an official acting under color of federal law. See Mahoney v.
NationalOrg. for Women, 681 F. Supp. 129, 132 (D. Conn.1987) (citing Flagg Brothers,
Inc. v. Brooks, 436 U.S. 149, 155-56 (1978)).

Ball v. Famiglio, 726 F.3d 448, 452 (3d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) (in
forma pauperis actions); 28 U.S.C. § 1915A (actions in which prisoner seeks redress
from a governmental defendant); 42 U.S.C. § 1997e (prisoner actions brought with
respect to prison conditions). The court must accept all factual allegations in a
complaint as true and take them in the light most favorable to a pro se plaintiff. Phillips
v. County of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 229 (3d Cir. 2008); Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S.
89, 93 (2007). Because plaintiff proceeds pro se, his pleading is liberally construed and
his complaint, "however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than
formal pleadings drafted by lawyers." Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. at 94 (citations
omitted).
3. 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; Wilson v. Rackmill, 878 F.2d 772,774 (3d Cir.
1989); see, e.g., 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).
4. 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 ruling on Rule 12(b)(6) motions. Tourscherv. McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 240 (3d
Cir. 1999) (applying Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) standard to dismissal for failure to state a

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claim under § 1915(e)(2)(8)). 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 plaintiff leave to
amend his complaint unless amendment would be inequitable or futile. See Grayson v.
Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 114 (3d Cir. 2002).
5. A well-pleaded complaint must contain more than mere labels and
conclusions. See Ashcroft V. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009); Bell At!. Corp.

V.

Twombly.

550 U.S. 544 (2007). A plaintiff must plead facts sufficient to show that a claim has
substantive plausibility. See Johnson

V.

City of Shelby, _U.S._. 135 S. Ct. 346, 347

(2014). A complaint may not dismissed, however, for imperfect statements of the legal
theory supporting the claim asserted. See id. at 346.
6. Under the pleading regime established by Twombly 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 rise to an entitlement to relief.
Connelly V. Lane Const. Corp., 809 F.3d 780, 787 (3d Cir. 2016) (internal citations and
quotations omitted). Elements are sufficiently alleged when the facts in the complaint
"show" that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (quoting 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.

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7. Discussion. In 2006, plaintiff cooperated in a criminal case and, as part of
the agreement, was given "the warranty safety" that he would: (1) never have contact
with his co-defendant; (2) be protected; and (3) be relocated to another state. In March
2009, plaintiff traveled to Wilmington, Delaware as part of the relocation process.
Plaintiff engaged in criminal activity in 2014 and, on April 4, 2014, his supervised
release was revoked.
8. Plaintiff was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment. During the sentencing
hearing, he requested that he serve his time at FCI-Fort Dix in New Jersey. When
plaintiff made the request he was unaware that his co-defendant was housed there.
Plaintiff was transferred to FCI-Fort Dix on May 6,2014. He notified the R&D C/O
custody officer of the details of his case, including his cooperation and status of
separation from any co-defendant. On May 15, 2015, as he was returning to his unit,
he was assaulted by several inmates, one of whom was his co-defendant. He was
taken to a hospital for treatment and, upon his return, placed in "SHU" (i.e., special
housing unit) where he remained for 149 days. Plaintiff alleges that during this time his
"federal inmate benefits" were cancelled. He was told by a prison officer that he was
placed in SHU for his safety and protection. Plaintiff alleges that he received the
punishment of SHU "like other inmates who were housed there due to other problems."
9. An investigation revealed that plaintiff was assaulted by his co-defendant. He
was told that the responsibility for the assault fell on him because he made the request
to be housed at FCI-Fort Dix. Plaintiff alleges that his Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") file
should have contained written details of his cooperation and no contact with his co­

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defendant. Plaintiff alleges that, as a result of the May 15, 2014 assault, he sustained
several injuries. He seeks compensatory damages.
10. Limitations Period. In Bivens actions, the rules for determining the
limitation period are the same as those used in 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions. See Napier
v. Thirty or More Unidentified Fed. Agents, 855 F.2d 1080, 1087 (3d Cir. 1988). The

court looks "to the general, residual statute of limitations for personal injury actions"
from the state where the federal court sits2 unless the state limitations period is
inconsistent with the Constitution or federal law. Lake v. Arnold, 232 F.3d 360,368 (3d
Cir. 2000). The court must also account for the state's tolling rules. Id. In both
Delaware and New Jersey, Bivens actions are subject to a two-year limitations period. 3
See 10 Del. C. § 8119; N.J.S.A. 2: 14-2; McGill v. John Does A-Z, 541 F. App'x 225,

227 (3d Cir. 2013) (unpublished). Bivens claims accrue "when the plaintiff knew or
should have known of the injury upon which [his] action is based." Sameric Corp. v.
City of Philadelphia, 142 F.3d 582, 599 (3d Cir. 1998).

11. The statute of limitations is an affirmative defense that generally must be
raised by the defendant, and it is waived if not properly raised. See Benak ex reI.
Alliance Premier Growth Fund v. Alliance Capital Mgmt. L.P., 435 F.3d 396, 400 n.14

(3d Cir. 2006); Fassett v. Delta Kappa Epsilon, 807 F.2d 1150, 1167 (3d Cir. 1986).
U[W]here the statute of limitations defense is obvious from the face of the complaint and

2Because the alleged assault occurred in New Jersey, it appears that venue may
be more appropriate in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
3The allegations indicate that the acts complained may have occurred in both
Delaware and New Jersey and, therefore, the court considers the limitations period for
each state.

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no development of the factual record is required to determine whether dismissal is
appropriate, sua sponte dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 is permissible." Davis v.
Gauby, 408 F. App'x 524,526 (3d Cir. 2010) (unpublished) (quoting Fogle v. Pierson,

435 F.3d 1252, 1258 (10 th Cir. 2006».
12. Plaintiff complains of acts occurring on or before May 15, 2014 and, in
particular, the assault he suffered at the hands of his co-defendant occurred as a result
of alleged wrongdoing by defendants. Plaintiff did not file his complaint until October 3,
2016, some five months after the expiration of the two-year period. 4 It is evident from
the face of the complaint that his claims are barred by the two-year limitations period.
8ecause plaintiffs allegations are time-barred, the court will dismiss the complaint as
legally frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(8)(i) and § 1915A(b)(1).
13. Conclusion. For the above reasons, the court will dismiss the complaint as
legally frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b)(i) and § 1915A(b)(1).
Amendment is futile. A separate order shall issue.

Dated: November

JJ.

,2016

4The computation of time for complaints filed by pro se inmates is determined
according to the "mailbox rule" that holds a complaint is deemed filed as of the date it
was delivered to prison officials for mailing to the court. See Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S.
266 (1988); Burns v. Morlon, 134 F.3d 109, 112 (3d Cir. 1998); Gibbs v. Decker, 234 F.
Supp. 2d 458, 463 (D. Del. 2002). Plaintiffs complaint was signed on October 3,2016.
Therefore, plaintiff's complaint was delivered to prison authorities for mailing on or after
October 3,2016. Giving plaintiff the benefit, the court concludes that plaintiffs
complaint was filed on October 3,2016, the date it was signed, and the earliest date
possible that it could have been delivered to prison officials in Delaware for mailing.

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