McCoy (ID 76894) v. Aramark Correctional Services et al
Filing
190
ORDER granting 176 Motion for Summary Judgment. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of Defendants and against Plaintiff. The case is closed. Signed by District Judge Holly L. Teeter on 10/2/2020. Mailed to pro se party DeRon McCoy, Jr. by regular mail. (jal)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
DERON MCCOY, JR.,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 5:16-CV-03027-HLT
ARAMARK CORRECTIONAL SERVICES,
LLC, et al.,
Defendants.
ORDER
Plaintiff inmate DeRon McCoy, Jr. filed this lawsuit against Aramark Correctional
Services (“Aramark”) and multiple Aramark and Kansas Department of Corrections (“KDOC”)
personnel alleging First Amendment free exercise violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and
violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C.
§§ 2000cc et seq. Doc. 56. The crux of his complaint is that Defendants have failed to provide him
with a Kosher diet in accordance with his Jewish faith.1
The Court recently granted in part and denied in part a motion for summary judgment filed
by the KDOC Defendants. As a result of that ruling, the Court determined that the following claims
remained for resolution: (1) official capacity claims for prospective relief against Defendant
Patricia Berry under § 1983 and RLUIPA based on the Certified Religious Diet (“CRD”) policy;2
(2) claims for prospective relief against Defendants Aramark, Paul Church (official capacity), and
1
The Court recognizes that Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and therefore “review[s] his pleadings and other papers
liberally and hold[s] them to a less stringent standard than those drafted by attorneys.” Trackwell v. United States,
472 F.3d 1242, 1243 (10th Cir. 2007).
2
For ease of reference, the Court uses the terminology “CRD policy” throughout this order. This is a bit of a
misnomer. In using this descriptor, the Court uses it in its general sense and refers to the official CRD menu itself,
as well as Aramark standards for CRD food preparation.
Julie Dockendorff (official capacity) under § 1983 and RLUIPA3 based on the CRD policy and
meal preparation at three prison facilities; and (3) claims for damages against Defendants Aramark,
Church (individual capacity) and Dockendorff (individual capacity) under § 1983 based on the
CRD policy and on CRD meal preparation at the same three facilities.
Defendants Aramark, Church, and Dockendorff moved for summary judgment on the
remaining claims (Doc. 176) and the Court allowed Defendant Berry to belatedly join their motion
(Docs. 182 & 183).
As discussed below, the Court finds that it lacks jurisdiction over all Plaintiff’s claims for
prospective relief. Plaintiff failed to exhaust his claims for meal preparation at HCF and EDCF.
Plaintiff’s remaining claims—for damages against Defendants Aramark, Church (individual
capacity), and Dockendorff (individual capacity) under § 1983 based on meal preparation at LCF
and the CRD policy—lack the factual support needed to survive a summary judgment challenge.
Accordingly, the Court grants Defendants’ motion for summary judgment.
I.
BACKGROUND4
KDOC contracts with Aramark for meal services at various sites, including Lansing
Correctional Facility (“LCF”), El Dorado Correctional Facility (“EDCF”), and Hutchinson
Correctional Facility (“HCF”). At all relevant times, Defendant Berry was the Contract Manager
for KDOC, including for the Aramark contract. Defendant Church is a District Manager for
Aramark and Defendant Dockendorff was a dietician for Aramark during the relevant times of this
3
Only equitable relief is available against any party under RLUIPA—not damages. See Hendricks v. Aramark Inc.,
2015 WL 1809361, at *4 (S.D. Ohio 2015) (citing Sossamon v. Texas, 563 U.S. 277, 293 (2011) (“We conclude
that States, in accepting federal funding, do not consent to waive their sovereign immunity to private suits for
money damages under RLUIPA because no statute expressly and unequivocally includes such a waiver.”); Colvin
v. Caruso, 605 F.3d 282, 289 (6th Cir. 2010) (“[M]onetary damages are not available under RLUIPA.”); and
Grayson v. Schuler, 666 F.3d 450, 451 (7th Cir. 2012) (“[RLUIPA] does not create a cause of action against state
employees in their personal capacity.”)).
4
The following facts are either uncontroverted or viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff.
2
action. Plaintiff has been in KDOC custody since 2012. He is presently incarcerated at EDCF. In
2014, while incarcerated at LCF, Plaintiff changed his religious preference to a sect of the Jewish
faith and was placed on the facility’s roster to receive a Certified Religious Diet (“CRD”). He is
dissatisfied with the CRD at all three KDOC facilities and believes that the diet does not provide
Kosher food in conformity with his religious beliefs. Plaintiff was not placed on the roster to
receive a CRD at HCF because Plaintiff was on a medical diet when he was housed there. He is
currently not on the CRD roster at EDCF5 because Plaintiff has not requested to be on the religious
diet since he was most recently transferred to EDCF.
A.
The CRD
The agreement between KDOC and Aramark grants Aramark the exclusive right to
perform all food service, including non-inmate labor, at KDOC facilities. Aramark’s obligations
include providing various special diets other than the common fare, including medical diets and
the CRD. Aramark develops and implements menus for the foods served to inmates, but KDOC
must agree to and approve the menus. Aramark must obtain review of the CRD by an appropriate
religious advisor to ensure that the CRD meets the requirements of a certified religious diet.
Aramark has policies to ensure that the CRD is implemented correctly. Aramark’s religious
authority, Rabbi Fellig, reviews and approves these policies. Aramark’s meal preparation
procedures require that Kosher products contain a certifying symbol and be stored separately from
common fare. Doc. 133-1 at 48-50. The procedures also provide for a Kosher preparation area,
separate utensils and cookware, and for separate cleaning areas. Id.
5
It appears that Plaintiff did request the religious diet at EDCF during a previous stay, which would have been
effective for about one month before Plaintiff was transferred out of EDCF.
3
At LCF, Evan Hitchcock works for Aramark as the General Manager/Regional Safety
Leader. His job duties include training, managing performance, and directing and overseeing
operations related to food service. In an affidavit attached to a previous summary judgment motion
(incorporated in Defendants’ present motion by reference), Hitchcock described procedures
followed at LCF for preparation of CRD meals. Doc. 133-2. The Court declines to exhaustively
explain those procedures here but provides the following summary:
•
Aramark procures food for the CRD menu from manufacturers that use Kosher
manufacturing processes.
•
Aramark maintains certificates for this food showing it is Kosher-certified.
•
After staff portion entrée items used for the CRD menu out of bulk boxes, the entrée
items are stored separately from non-CRD food.
•
Sliced bread and milk do not have Kosher symbols on the individual packaging, but
Aramark maintains certificates showing they are Kosher.
•
LCF uses a locked, CRD-designated room for preparation, service, and cleaning of
CRD menu items. It contains its own sink for sanitation. After meals, dirty CRD trays
are collected in one tub. These trays are designated by color. Disposable utensils
(sporks) are discarded.
•
LCF uses a steam kettle and oven to prepare warm CRD food—not stovetops.
•
LCF uses separate CRD-designated serving utensils and cookware, which are kept
apart from non-CRD utensils and cookware. They are not used to prepare regular meal
items.
•
CRD food does not come into contact with non-CRD food.
•
Inmate workers who prepare CRD food are trained and must sign a training document,
along with the Aramark trainer.
Rabbi Ben Friedman, a rabbinical authority, provides consultation to KDOC about Jewish
religious issues, including Kosher dietary requirements. His work with KDOC includes ongoing
compliance review and monitoring of Aramark’s administration of the CRD. This may include
monitoring kitchen operations; reviewing policies, procedures, and food labels; and providing
4
advice to KDOC and Aramark on how to comply with Jewish dietary law. As explained in this
Court’s most recent Order (Doc. 175), Rabbi Friedman attests that he has reviewed “the
procedures, menus, and food labels for all items on the CRD,” and that “[i]t is completely
permissible for inmates wishing to observe Jewish dietary laws to eat all of the items on the CRD
menu, including inmates wishing to meet strict Kosher laws under Orthodox Judaism.” Doc. 1333 at 2. Rabbi Friedman explained that the procedures used by Defendants for preparation, storage,
cleaning, and disposal of CRD food, utensils, and dishes were not a violation of Kosher dietary
laws—even the specific processes that Plaintiff complains about, such as having some CRD menu
items in the same room as non-CRD items, using the same sink for washing cooking utensils at
EDCF, or placing CRD trays in the common tray slot after use.6
B.
Plaintiff’s Grievance and Allegations
Plaintiff began the grievance process in 2014, while incarcerated at LCF. He stated that
CRD meal preparation at LCF resulted in the food, utensils, and dishes being contaminated by
non-Kosher contact, and requested the remedy of packaged Kosher meals. His request and appeal
were denied, and he commenced this suit. Although his allegations regarding the Kosher status of
the CRD have remained consistent, his concerns regarding each facility’s meal preparation vary
in both their nature and support.
Plaintiff relies on his own investigations and firsthand knowledge, as well as statements of
other inmates. From personal experience, Plaintiff states that he has not observed Kosher markings
on any food items other than condiments while in KDOC custody. He also discusses his
observations of CRD meal preparation and delivery (as well as details others have allegedly shared
with him). From fellow inmates, Plaintiff provides affidavits by cooks at HCF and EDCF, who
6
For a more specific discussion of Rabbi Friedman’s affidavit, see Doc. 175 at 4-5.
5
discuss their observations about preparation of CRD meals at those facilities. Plaintiff has not
offered testimony of a rabbi or an expert on Jewish dietary practices to support his claims that the
processes utilized by Aramark violate Kosher dietary laws. Nor is Plaintiff himself a rabbi, and he
has offered no evidence that he or anyone providing an affidavit on his behalf has rabbinical
training.
C.
The Lawsuit
Plaintiff filed suit while incarcerated at LCF. He was later transferred to EDCF, HCF,
EDCF, LCF, and back to EDCF. He filed his third amended complaint while at HCF. As stated
above, Plaintiff’s third amended complaint asserts § 1983 and RLUIPA claims against Defendants.
He alleges that Defendants created and enforced the policy and procedure by which the CRD meals
are prepared and food is handled in the facilities where Plaintiff has been housed. Plaintiff seeks
$200 in damages, $77,000 in punitive damages, costs of this suit, a declaratory judgment that
Defendants are violating his rights, and a permanent injunction directing Defendants to provide
Kosher meals conforming with Jewish dietary laws. Plaintiff wants his meals served still sealed
(like “TV dinners”), pre-packaged, and visibly marked Kosher. Alternatively, the Kosher meals
should be prepared in a separate room, and any utensils or tools used to prepare them must be kept
and cleaned separately.
The Court dismissed Plaintiff’s RLUIPA claims against Defendants in their individual
capacities because RLUIPA does not create a cause of action for individual-capacity claims. Doc.
90 at 13. The Court found that, to the extent Plaintiff seeks money damages or a declaration from
the Court that Defendant Berry violated his rights in the past (in her official capacity), relief is
barred by the Eleventh Amendment. Id. at 8. The Court dismissed Plaintiff’s claims for failure to
6
supervise subordinates. Id. His claims remain that Defendants intentionally created, promulgated,
implemented, or were otherwise responsible for the CRD menu and its food preparation. Id. at 10.
II.
STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate where the moving party demonstrates that “there is no
genuine dispute as to any material fact” and it is “entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R.
CIV. P. 56(a). In applying this standard, courts must view the facts and any reasonable inferences
that might be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Henderson v.
Inter-Chem Coal Co., 41 F.3d 567, 569 (10th Cir. 1994). “There is no genuine issue of material
fact unless the evidence, construed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, is such
that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” Bones v. Honeywell Int’l,
Inc., 366 F.3d 869, 875 (10th Cir. 2004) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242,
248 (1986)).
III.
ANALYSIS
As discussed above, Defendants seek summary judgment on each of the remaining claims
asserted against them. Doc. 176. The Court determines that:
•
The Court lacks jurisdiction for all claims seeking prospective relief;
•
Plaintiff failed to exhaust his claims for damages at HCF and EDCF; and
•
Plaintiff fails to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact with respect to his § 1983
claim for damages against Defendants Aramark, Church, and Dockendorff, based on
meal preparation at LCF and the CRD policy.
A.
Jurisdiction (Standing and Mootness)
The first issue the Court addresses is its jurisdiction over all remaining claims for
prospective relief. In this Court’s Order dated May 12, 2020, the Court noted that it initially
appeared that Plaintiff was no longer requesting or receiving meals under the CRD. But, contrary
7
to this fact propounded by Defendants, Plaintiff filed a document suggesting that he had, indeed,
requested meals under the CRD at his current correctional facility (at the time, EDCF).
Now, Defendants have adduced additional evidence showing that Plaintiff was transferred
from EDCF after last requesting meals under the CRD. Although he now resides at EDCF again,
this time, Plaintiff has not requested a religious diet. KDOC policy requires that a prisoner renew
a request to be placed on a religious diet at each new facility. IMPP 10-110D, § V.2. The Court
therefore turns again to its jurisdiction to offer prospective relief.
Article III of the Constitution specifically limits the jurisdiction of federal courts to cases
and controversies. See Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992). “The case or
controversy limitation requires that a plaintiff have standing.” United States v. Colo. Sup. Ct., 87
F.3d 1161, 1164 (10th Cir. 1996); see also Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence v.
Brownback, 110 F. Supp. 3d 1086, 1091 (D. Kan. 2015) (“One of several doctrines reflecting
Article III’s case-or-controversy limitation on the judicial power is the doctrine of standing.”). But
standing is determined “as of the commencement of suit . . . .” Lujan, 504 U.S. at 570 n.5; Nova
Health Sys. v. Gandy, 416 F.3d 1149, 1154-55 (10th Cir. 2005). This is not to say that the case-orcontroversy requirement ends after commencement; a plaintiff must establish that he has suffered
an injury-in-fact throughout the litigation. Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 7 (1998) (citations
omitted). If subsequent events impact whether an actual controversy remains, courts evaluate their
continuing jurisdiction under mootness principles. Prior v. Steed, 456 F.3d 1209, 1212 (10th Cir.
2006). Either way, the question is one of a court’s jurisdiction.
In this case, Plaintiff filed his original complaint on January 26, 2016. At that time, Plaintiff
was housed at LCF, had applied to receive the CRD at LCF, and brought claims about the CRD at
LCF. Doc. 1. At commencement, Plaintiff had standing to bring his claims.
8
The current operative complaint, however, is Plaintiff’s third amended complaint. Doc. 56.
Plaintiff filed this complaint on June 14, 2017. Before filing, Plaintiff had been moved to EDCF
and to HCF (but not yet back to his current location, EDCF). He was at HCF when he filed the
third amended complaint and alleged constitutional and RLUIPA violations at all three facilities.
The question, then, becomes one of mootness: Did Plaintiff’s transfers and his actions or inaction
after those transfers remove the actual controversy before the Court?7 For some of Plaintiff’s
claims, the answer is yes.
Against the backdrop of these well-established legal principles, the Court has reviewed the
record presented by the parties. These facts are uncontroverted:
•
•
Plaintiff was housed at EDCF from June 16, 2016 until his transfer to HCF on March
22, 2017. Plaintiff has not pointed to any evidence in the record indicating that he
requested to receive the CRD during this time at EDCF or that Plaintiff ate CRD meals
during this time.
•
Plaintiff was housed at HCF from March 22, 2017 to January 29, 2018. While at HCF,
Plaintiff applied for a religious diet. His request was initially granted, but then denied.
Plaintiff was not eligible to receive the CRD while at HCF because he was on a medical
diet. Plaintiff does not allege that he consumed any CRD meals while at HCF.
•
7
Plaintiff was housed at LCF when he filed this lawsuit and remained there until his
transfer to EDCF on June 16, 2016. While at LCF, Plaintiff applied for and was
approved to receive CRD meals.
Plaintiff was housed at EDCF from January 29, 2018 to May 16, 2019. During that
time, on April 11, 2019, plaintiff was apparently approved for the CRD at EDCF.
As the Court noted in its Order entered May 12, 2020, it is at least arguable that the Court should consider Plaintiff’s
standing to bring new claims in the third amended complaint instead of the original complaint—particularly when
one of the questions is whether Plaintiff has suffered injury-in-fact from a new claim, not whether he continues to
suffer injury-in-fact from an old claim. Compare Schreiber Foods, Inc. v. Beatrice Cheese, Inc., 402 F.3d 1198,
1203 n.3 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (“The initial standing of the original plaintiff is assessed at the time of the original
complaint, even if the complaint is later amended.”), with In re Atlas Van Lines, Inc., 209 F.3d 1064, 1067 (8th
Cir. 2000) (“[I]n cases where a plaintiff has filed an amended complaint, federal courts must resolve questions of
subject matter jurisdiction by examining the face of the amended complaint.”). But again, while this dichotomy
raises an interesting question, ultimately, the central question is whether this Court has jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s
claims. And, once again, the Court believes it can answer that question without expounding at length on whether
standing or mootness is the appropriate doctrine to apply here.
9
•
From May 16, 2019 to June 18, 2019, Plaintiff was housed at LCF. There is no evidence
that he applied for a religious diet while there.
•
Plaintiff is currently housed at EDCF and has been since June 18, 2019. Plaintiff has
not applied for the religious diet since being returned to EDCF.8
•
Requests for religious diets are handled on a facility-by-facility basis. IMPP 10-110D,
Section V.B.2. provides, “Even if the particular request for accommodation has been
previously approved within KDOC, the request for accommodation shall be forwarded
to the Religious Programs Coordinator for review, who shall, at a minimum, confirm
that the particular request has been previously accommodated at another facility within
KDOC, and in what manner and under what circumstances.” Doc. 56 at 50.
Based on these facts, Plaintiff lacks standing to sue for prospective relief about the CRD
(either its composition or its execution) because he is no longer under the CRD. Because Plaintiff
is no longer subjected to the policies of the CRD, there is no case or controversy for this Court to
decide, other than Plaintiff’s request for damages for past wrongs. Plaintiff is no longer suffering
an injury-in-fact,9 and the Court lacks jurisdiction over all claims for prospective relief.
B.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
The Prison Reform Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) prohibits prisoners from bringing a
suit regarding prison conditions until administrative remedies are exhausted.10 42 U.S.C.
8
Plaintiff attempts to controvert this fact by stating that he requested Kosher meals and was placed on the CRD.
Plaintiff has, at times, requested Kosher meals and been placed on the CRD. But the evidence Plaintiff cites does
not indicate that, during this stay at EDCF, Plaintiff requested to be placed on a religious diet. Instead, he has been
receiving non-Kosher, regular menu items at EDCF.
9
Plaintiff never was under the CRD at HCF, so he has not suffered injury-in-fact there at all.
10
The exhaustion requirement applies to both claims against prison-parties, as well as claims against prisoncontractor parties. Bradley v. Crowther, 2017 WL 4325804, at *5, n.36 (D. Utah 2017) (citing Fontenot v. Glob.
Expertise In Outsourcing, 232 F. App’x 393, 394 (5th Cir. 2007); Martinez v. Guadalupe Cty., 200 F. Supp. 3d
1216, 1261 (D.N.M. 2016); Chandler v. C.C.S. Med. Servs., 2016 WL 8453025, at *2 (D. Vt. 2016), report and
recommendation adopted, 2016 WL 4491763 (D. Vt. 2016) (“First, it is well established that the PLRA applies to
prison contractors like CCS.”) (collecting cases)); see, e.g., Smart v. Dep’t of Corr. for Queen Anne’s Cty., 2019
WL 3997128, at *5 (D. Md. 2019) (dismissing Aramark for failure to exhaust). The requirement is that the suit be
related to prison conditions—not that the defendants be the correctional facility or its employees.
10
§ 1997e(a). In a functioning grievance process, there is no exception for alleged futility. See Booth
v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741 n.6 (2001).11
The documentation for Plaintiff’s grievance process in this case can be found in the
Martinez report. See Doc. 41-7. When read liberally, as required, Plaintiff’s administrative claim
concerns the meal service at LCF and includes the Kosher status of CRD meal items. See id. at 34. Plaintiff has not pursued the grievance process at HCF or EDCF, explaining “To require the
plaintiff to file three different grievances then exhaust administrative remedies and then file three
separate civil actions for the same exact violations of his right to religious practice would be highly
prejudicial, would cause an undue burden upon him financially as each lawsuit cost $350.00 . . . .”
Doc. 185 at 17. To the extent Plaintiff bases his claims on the method of meal service at HCF and
EDCF, rather than Aramark policies relevant to the CRD, he must first give Aramark the
opportunity to address his new grievances.12
Plaintiff’s claims regarding the meal service and kitchen conditions at HCF and EDCF are
unexhausted, and the Court dismisses them without prejudice.13 See Gallagher v. Shelton, 587 F.3d
1063, 1068 (10th Cir. 2009) (noting that dismissal of claims based on failure to exhaust should
normally be without prejudice).
C.
Remaining Claims: § 1983 Claims for Damages Against Defendants
Aramark, Dockendorff (Individual Capacity), and Church (Individual
Capacity) Based on Meal Preparation at LCF and the CRD Policy
11
Although the Supreme Court has identified rare exceptions to statutory exhaustion, none apply here. See Ross v.
Blake, 136 S. Ct. 1850, 1858 (2016).
12
Plaintiff states in his response brief that he “would like to clarify to the court that he is only bringing claims against
the policy and procedure for the (CRD) and the policy makers of the (CRD).” Doc. 185 at 16. Yet, Plaintiff still
details his observations at each facility individually. It is somewhat unclear to the Court whether Plaintiff still
intends to challenge meal preparation at each facility, but to the extent that he still mounts this challenge, he may
not do so without exhausting his claims.
13
Of course, the Court has already dismissed some of these claims based on jurisdiction, but failure to exhaust serves
as an alternative basis for dismissal.
11
To show that Defendants violated Plaintiff’s constitutional right to free exercise, Plaintiff
must show a substantial burden on his exercise of a sincerely-held religious belief. Id. at 1069-70.
The Tenth Circuit has repeatedly “recognized that an inmate’s right to free exercise of religion
includes the right to a diet that conforms with their religious beliefs.” Id. at 1070. And Plaintiff
must show that Defendants’ actions constituted conscious14 or intentional interference with his
free exercise rights; isolated acts of negligence are insufficient. Id.
Plaintiff has submitted countless conclusory allegations about what he believes is required
for a Kosher diet and how Defendants have failed to provide it to him. In many instances, Plaintiff
neglected to provide any citation to the record.15 In other instances, Plaintiff provided a citation
that is lengthy and broad—not a reference to a particular part of the record materials.16 Rule 56(c)
requires citation to “particular parts of materials in the record.” And Plaintiff also cites to
inadmissible hearsay for much of his evidence about how CRD meals were prepared at LCF—
relying on out-of-court conversations with other inmates.17 None of this is proper for the Court to
consider on a motion for summary judgment.
In contrast, Defendants submitted their policies and procedures and accompanying
evidence from rabbinical authority explaining why the policies and procedures comply with Jewish
dietary law. The evidence shows that if there were times at LCF that the CRD meal was not Kosher,
it was the result of incidental negligence and not conscious or intentional interference with
14
Note that use of the “conscious interference” has been called into question by the Tenth Circuit. Ralston v. Cannon,
884 F.3d 1060, 1063 n.3 (10th Cir. 2018). The Court need not address whether “conscious interference” is enough
to show a constitutional deprivation because Plaintiff fails to produce any admissible evidence that would suggest
any interference by Defendants was conscious or intentional. At most, Plaintiff has provided evidence of isolated
negligent acts.
15
Examples include Doc. 185 at 3 ¶ ¶ 7 & 20; 4 ¶ 23; 5 ¶ 66.
16
Examples include Doc. 185 at 3 ¶¶ 4, 12, 15, & 18; 4 ¶¶ 31-32 & 37-41. These paragraphs, as well as others, cite
the entirety of multiple exhibits.
17
Examples include Doc. 185 at 9 ¶¶ 19-20; 10 ¶ 47; 11 ¶ 60.
12
Plaintiff’s right to the free exercise of his religion. And by seeking rabbinical review and approval
of CRD menus and procedures in advance, Defendants have further demonstrated that any
interference was neither conscious nor intentional. Moreover, importantly for claims against
Aramark and its employees, it was KDOC and Rabbi Friedman who were responsible for
approving the CRD menus and denying any request by Plaintiff for a “TV dinner” as his Kosher
meal. For liability under § 1983, it must be a defendant’s own action, policy, or custom that violates
a plaintiff’s rights. Aramark and its employees provided Plaintiff CRD meals as specified in its
contract with KDOC. They could not have consciously or intentionally interfered with Plaintiff’s
right to free exercise when they were acting pursuant to contract and lacked the authority to alter
Plaintiff’s meal plan.
Courts that have permitted prison meal-related free exercise claims to proceed have done
so when the prison or contractor has (1) charged a fee to inmates for Kosher meals;18 (2) provided
one Kosher meal per day, but only allowed potentially non-Kosher “vegetarian or pork-free meals”
for the other two meals;19 or (3) failed to contract with approved halal vendors from which it would
purchase conforming food for Muslims inmates.20
These situations are a far cry from the admissible evidence the Court has before it about
Defendants’ actions. The uncontroverted evidence shows that Defendants offer Kosher meals to
inmates without charge. It further shows that Defendants have procedures in place to ensure that
CRD meals are prepared in accord with Jewish dietary practices. Plaintiff’s personal
“investigation” into Defendants’ preparation practices does not reveal any conscious or intentional
interference with Plaintiff’s right to receive Kosher meals if he properly requests them following
18
See, e.g., Beerheide v. Suthers, 286 F.3d 1179, 1192 (10th Cir. 2002).
19
See, e.g., Ashelman v. Wawrzaszek, 111 F.3d 674, 676, 678 (9th Cir. 1997).
20
See, e.g., Abdulhaseeb v. Calbone, 600 F.3d 1301, 1317-18 (10th Cir. 2010).
13
KDOC policy. At most, the admissible evidence may show isolated acts of negligence by workers
at LCF. But even if the Court accepts Plaintiff’s personal observations of alleged violations as true
(for example, on one occasion, he saw cockroaches on a “steam well” that was used to serve the
CRD at LCF), the violations do not show that Defendants—who were not present at the time—
exhibited a conscious or intentional interference with Plaintiff’s free exercise of religion. No
reasonable jury could conclude otherwise, so summary judgment is appropriate.
IV.
CONCLUSION
As a result of the rulings in this Order, Plaintiff has no viable claims remaining against any
Defendants in this case. The Court lacks jurisdiction over some of Plaintiff’s claims, some must
be dismissed without prejudice for failure to exhaust, and others lack evidentiary support. Plaintiff
is not entitled to “TV dinners” from KDOC or Aramark and is not entitled to compensation for
Defendants’ use of the CRD menu to provide Kosher meals for inmates following Jewish dietary
laws.
THE COURT THEREFORE ORDERS that Defendants’ motion for summary judgment
(Doc. 176) is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of Defendants
and against Plaintiff. The case is closed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 2, 2020
/s/ Holly L. Teeter
HOLLY L. TEETER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
14
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