Hightower v. Thompson et al
Filing
30
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER: 1. Hightower's motion to supplement the complaint DE 21 is DENIED. 2. Hightower's motion to amend the complaint DE 22 is DENIED. 3. Hightower's motion to supplement the complaint DE 26 is DENIED. 4. Defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint DE 18 is GRANTED. 5. Hightower's motion for emergency injunctive relief DE 27 is DENIED. 6. Plf Hightower's complaint DE 1 is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 7. The Court will enter an appropriate judgment. 8. This matter is STRICKEN from the active docket. Signed by Judge Henry R. Wilhoit, Jr on 9/27/16.(KSS)cc: COR, Hightower (via US Mail)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
NORTHERN DIVISION at ASHLAND
JAMES HIGHTOWER,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
Civil No. 0: 15-93-HRW
)
v.
)
)
LADONNA THOMPSON, et al.,
)
)
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
)
*** *** *** ***
James Hightower is a prisoner confined at the Kentucky State Reformatory in
LaGrange, Kentucky. Hightower has filed a civil rights action pursuant 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 alleging that officials with the Kentucky Department of Corrections
("KDOC") transferred him to the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex
("EKCC") on September 16, 2014 even though they were aware that inmates at
EKCC had previously threatened his life. Hightower contends that as a result of
these officials' asserted deliberate indifference to his safety, he was attacked by
another inmate shortly after his arrival at EKCC. [D. E. No. 1]
This matter is now before the Court to address the defendants' motion to
dismiss the complaint [D. E. No. 18] which has been fully briefed by the parties. [D.
E. Nos. 20, 24]
In addition, Hightower has filed three motions to amend or
supplement his complaint [D. E. Nos. 21, 22, 26] which have also been fully briefed.
[D. E. Nos. 23, 25] Hightower has also filed a motion seeking injunctive relief [D.
E. No. 27], to which the defendants have responded and Hightower has replied [D.
E. Nos. 28, 29]. These motions are therefore ripe for decision.
I.
Background
Hightower's original complaint is difficult to follow in some respects, as
many of the dates he provides self-evidently conflict with one another and are
contradicted by documentation he has attached to his complaint. However, this
much is clear: on October 25, 2014 - one month after he was transferred to EK.CC
in September 2014 - another inmate entered his cell and attacked him while he slept,
resulting in serious injury. [D. E. No. 1 at p. 2]
Hightower indicates that he was previously confined at EK.CC in 2012 and
2013, and had been threatened on three occasions because he was a convicted sex
offender. In August 2013, he was transferred to the Kentucky State Penitentiary
("KSP"), where he was again placed in protective custody after an inmate attacked
him in January 2014. Hightower indicates that in July 2014 he met with KDOC
official James Sweat and several unidentified female staff members from KDOC's
central office in Frankfort, Kentucky. At that time, Hightower states that he told
these persons that he had been threatened at EKCC. Hightower, either directly or
through his mother, also sent letters to then-KDOC Commissioner LaDonna
2
Thompson and KSP warden Randy White explaining these prior incidents for
consideration regarding his approaching transfer. [D. E. No. 1 at pp. 3-4)
Hightower further alleges that while he was awaiting transfer to EKCC, KSP
Deputy Warden Joel Dunlap told him that he was being transferred because he was
filing grievances and writing letters to KDOC administration. In his complaint,
Hightower suggests that his claims also extend to James Erwin and Skyla Grief,
although he makes no factual allegations against either of those persons. Hightower
also alleges without explanation that EKCC warden Gary Beckstrom and EKCC
Deputy Warden Keith Helton "misrepresented" ce1iain unidentified facts regarding
his prior custody at EKCC, which resulted in his September 2014 transfer back to
that facility. [D. E. No. 1 at p. 5)
Hightower contends that these KDOC officials transferred him to EKCC with
knowledge that he had previously been threatened at that institution, both to retaliate
against him for filing grievances at KSP and with deliberate indifference to his safety
in violation of the First and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution of the United
States. [D. E. No. 1 at pp. 3-6) Hightower indicates that he did not file a grievance
regarding his transfer to EKCC because he believed that decision to constitute a
"classification decision" excepted from KDOC's grievance mechanism pursuant to
Corrections Policies and Procedures ("CPP") §§ 14.6(II)(C)(5), 18.l(II)(M)(1)(2).
Hightower also indicates that he made Sweat and KDOC Commissioner Thompson
3
aware of the situation through the letters sent by himself and his mother. [D. E. No.
1 at p. 6]
Hightower has named as defendants KDOC Commissioner LaDonna
Thompson, KDOC Deputy Commissioner James Erwin, KDOC Director of
Classification James Sweat, KSP Warden Randy White, KSP Deputy Warden of
Security Joel Dunlap, KSP Deputy Warden of Programs Skyla Grief, former EKCC
Warden Gary Beckstrom, and EKCC Deputy Warden of Security Keith Helton.
Hightower seeks compensatory and punitive damages against each of the
defendants. [D. E. No. 1 at p. 7-8]
II.
The Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Complaint.
The defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint is based upon two distinct
grounds. The defendants contend that Hightower failed to exhaust his administrative
remedies because he filed no inmate grievances regarding his transfer. They also
argue that Hightower's complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be
granted against them because he does not allege that any of them were personally
involved in the decision to transfer him to EKCC.
Arguments testing the sufficiency of a plaintiffs complaint are governed by
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Gardner v. Quicken Loans, Inc., 567 F. App'x 362, 364
(6th Cir. 2014). When addressing a motion to dismiss, the Court views the complaint
in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and accepts as true all 'well-pleaded facts'
4
in the complaint. D'Ambrosia v. Marino, 747 F.3d 378, 383 (6th Cir. 2014). Where
the plaintiff is proceeding without the benefit of an attorney, the Court reads his
complaint to include all fairly and reasonably inferred claims. Davis v. Prison
Health Servs., 679 F.3d 433, 437-38 (6th Cir. 2012). A complaint must contain
allegations, either expressly stated or necessarily inferred, with respect to every
material element necessary to sustain a recovery under some viable legal theory.
Philadelphia Indem. Ins. Co. v. Youth Alive, Inc., 732 F.3d 645, 649 (6th Cir. 2013).
But the complaint must be dismissed if it undoubtedly fails to allege facts sufficient
to state a facially-plausible claim. Republic Bank & Trust Co. v. Bear Stearns &
Co., Inc., 683 F.3d 239, 247 (6th Cir. 2012). A complaint may be dismissed for
failure to state a claim if '"it fails to give the defendant fair notice of what the ...
claim is and the grounds upon which it rests."' Bell Atlantic Cmp. v. Twombly, 550
U.S. 544, 555 (2007).
Because exhaustion is an affirmative defense that the defendants have the
burden of proving, Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199 (2007), and to the extent they have
attached and relied upon documents and declarations extrinsic to the pleadings in
support of any aspect of their motion to dismiss, the Court treats the motion as one
for summary judgment under Rule 56. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(d); Wysocki v. Int'! Bus.
Mach. Corp., 607 F. 3d 1102, 1104 (6th Cir. 2010). A motion under Rule 56
challenges the viability of the another party's claim by asserting that at least one
5
essential element of that claim is not supported by legally-sufficient evidence. Fed.
R. Civ. P. 56(a); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324-25 (1986). A party
moving for summary judgment must establish that even viewing the record in the
light most favorable to the nonmovant, there is no genuine dispute as to any material
fact and that she is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Loyd v. St. Joseph
Mercy Oakland, 766 F. 3d 580, 588 (6th Cir. 2014).
The moving party does not need her own evidence to support this asse1iion,
but need only point to the absence of evidence to support the claim. Turner v. City
of Taylor, 412 F. 3d 629, 638 (6th Cir. 2005). The responding party cannot rely
upon allegations in the pleadings, but must point to evidence of record in affidavits,
depositions, and written discovery which demonstrates that a factual question remain
for trial. Hunley v. DuPont Auto, 341 F. 3d 491, 496 (6th Cir. 2003); United States
v. WRW C01p., 986 F. 2d 138, 143 (6th Cir. 1993) ("A trial court is not required to
speculate on which portion of the record the non-moving pmiy relies, nor is there an
obligation to 'wade through' the record for specific facts.").
The comi reviews all of the evidence presented by the parties in a light most
favorable to the responding party, with the benefit of any reasonable factual
inferences which can be drawn in his favor. Harbin-Bey v. Rutter, 420 F. 3d 571,
575 (6th Cir. 2005). If the responding pmiy's allegations are so clearly contradicted
by the record that no reasonable jury could adopt them, the court need not accept
6
them when determining whether summary judgment is warranted. Scott v. Harris,
550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007). The comt must grant summary judgment ifthe evidence
would not supp01t a jury verdict for the responding party with respect to at least one
essential element of his claim. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 251
(1986). If the applicable substantive law requires the responding party to meet a
higher burden of proof, his evidence must be sufficient to sustain a jury's verdict in
his favor in light of that heightened burden of proof at trial. Harvey v. Hollenback,
113 F. 3d 639, 642 (6th Cir. 1997); Moore, Owen, Thomas & Co. v. Coffey, 992 F.
2d 1439, 1444 (6th Cir. 1993).
A.
Hightower Failed to Exhaust His Administrative Remedies.
The defendants argue that Hightower did not file any inmate grievances
regarding his claims, and therefore did not exhaust his administrative remedies as
required by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). While acknowledging that CPP 14.6(II)(C)(5)
states that classification decisions are not grievable under CPP 14.6's general
grievance procedure applicable to most inmate complaints, the defendants explain
that CPP 18.l (II)(M) provides a separate appeal procedure for classification
decisions, one Hightower admits that he did not pursue. [D. E. No. 18-1 at pp. 5-7]
In response, Hightower notes that the particular subdivision of CPP 18. l referred to
by the defendants became effective in July 2015, only after he was transferred in
September 2014. [D. E. No. 20 at p. 12-13] This is true, but immaterial: the
7
operative language found in the prior version of CPP 18.1 likewise permits - and
hence§ 1997e(a) requires - an appeal to the warden filed within five days after the
classification decision. [D. E. No. 20-19 at p. 5]
Federal law requires inmates to fully exhaust administrative remedies
available within the prison or jail prior to bringing suit with respect to prison
conditions. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). This requirement is mandatory, and claims that
have not been exhausted cannot be asserted in any court. Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S.
199, 211 (2007). Further, because "[p]roper exhaustion demands compliance with
an agency's deadlines and other critical procedural rules," the inmate must strictly
follow the jail's rules with respect to the timelines, form, and procedures for inmate
grievances. Woodfordv. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 90 (2004).
The Court has previously considered the interplay between KDOC's general
grievance procedure found in CPP 14.6 and the appeal procedure applicable to
formal decisions of the Classification Committee in Sublett v. Green, No. 0: l 4-CV32-HRW (E.D. Ky. Sept. 24, 2014), ajf'd, No. 14-06222 (6th Cir. July 14, 2015).
As noted in that decision, most inmate grievances regarding prison life must be
grieved following the procedure set forth in CPP 14.6, unless they are either
specifically identified as "non-grievable" matters or a provision like CPP 18.1
provides an independent appeal and review mechanism.
8
Here, Hightower's First Amendment claim that KSP and KDOC officials
retaliated against him for filing grievances regarding his Kosher diet was itself a
claim that he was required to exhaust by filing a "general" grievance under CPP
14.6, something he acknowledges he did not do.
In addition, the September 2014
decision of the Classification Committee to transfer him to EKCC was a decision
that was appealable to the warden under CPP 18.l(II)(M). Hightower having
admitted that he did not do so, he failed to invoke an available administrative appeal,
and his Eighth Amendment claim regarding his transfer remains unexhausted. Both
of these claims must therefore be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative
remedies under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Jones, 549 U.S. at 211; Grinter v. Knight,
532 F.3d 567, 577-78 (6th Cir. 2008).
B.
Hightower's Complaint does not Allege the Personal Involvement of
the Named Defendants.
In order to recover against a given defendant in a civil rights action under 42
U.S.C. § 1983, the plaintiff "must allege that the defendant [was] personally
involved in the alleged deprivation of federal rights." Nwaebo v. Hawk-Sawyer, 83
F. App'x 85, 86 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 373-77 (1976)).
The requirement of personal involvement does not mean that the particular
defendant actually committed the conduct complained of, but it does require a
supervisory official to have "at least implicitly authorized, approved, or knowingly
9
acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct." Hays v. Jefferson County, Kentucky,
668 F.2d 869, 874 (6th Cir. 1982). The mere fact of supervisory capacity is not
enough: respondeat superior is not an available theory of liability. Polk County v.
Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 325-26 (198.\ ).
Relying upon this authority, the defendants argue that Hightower does not
allege that any of them were personally involved in the decision to transfer him to
EKCC in September 2014, and that his complaint therefore fails to state a claim
against them because they cannot be held liable merely because they supervise those
persons who actually did make that decision. The defendants point to a Transfer
Request form dated September 11, 2014, that was issued by the Classification
Committee and approved by Classification Branch Manager Donna Reed, to transfer
Hightower to EKCC. [D. E. No. 18-2] Hightower did not name Reed as a defendant
in his complaint, and the defendants assert that none of those persons he did name
were involved in the decision to transfer him to EKCC. [D. E. No. 18-1 at pp. 2-4]
Hightower makes two, essentially factual, arguments in response. First, he
contends that the actual form used to approve his transfer was not the September 11,
2014 Transfer Request form provided by the defendants [D. E. No. 18-2], but was
instead a Department of Corrections Transfer Authorization Form recommending
his transfer to the Kentucky State Reformatory ("KSR"). [D. E. No 20-8] In this
form, both EKCC and Little Sandy Correctional Complex are listed as "additional,"
10
presumably alternative, destinations.
Classification/Treatment Officer Marshall
Peek initially filled out and signed the form, which Supervisor Adam Noles
approved and signed on September l 0, 2014. Classification Branch Manager Donna
Reed approved and signed the form on September 11, 2014. The form contains a
signature line for Skyla Griefs approval, but she did not sign it. Id. Hightower
states that this was the form used to effect his transfer to EKCC, notwithstanding the
indication on the form that he was being transferred to KSR. [D. E. No. 2 at pp. 67] Hightower's factual assertion in this regard suggests his belief that it was not
merely Donna Reed who made the decision to transfer him, but that Marshall Peek,
Adam Noles, and Skyla Grief were also involved. 1
Hightower also makes a second factual assertion. Hightower has previously
alleged that during a classification meeting in July 2014 he was told that he was
going to be transferred out of protective custody at KSP. In his original complaint,
Two months after the briefing on the defendants' motion to dismiss was completed,
Hightower filed a second motion to supplement his complaint. In that motion,
Hightower explains that as a result of open records requests he obtained a copy of a
"Request for Release from Protective Custody" form dated July 29, 2014 which he
suggests KSP staff used to seek his consent for the purpose of transferring him to
KSR, but which he refused to sign. [D. E. No. 26, 26-9] Supplementing the
complaint pursuant to Rule 15(d) is neither necessary or appropriate, as Hightower
seeks to rely upon the document to further respond to the defendants' dispositive
motion. The Court will therefore deny the motion to supplement the complaint, but
has considered that newly-obtained document as part of its evaluation of the
defendants' motion to dismiss.
1
11
Hightower stated that when he mentioned during this meeting that he had been
threatened by inmates at EKCC in the past, KDOC official James Sweat was present
along with several unidentified female staff members from KDOC's Frankfort
office. [D. E. No. 1 at p. 4] In his response, Hightower now alleges for the first time
that Donna Reed, Skyla Grief, and Adam Noles were also present at the meeting,
and were therefore aware of his concerns. [D. E. No. 20 at pp. 2-3]
In their reply, the defendants correctly note that the "Department of
Corrections Transfer Authorization Form" [D. E. No 20-8] relied upon by Hightower
does not evidence or suggest the personal involvement of the defendants Hightower
actually named in the complaint. The three persons who signed that document Marshall Peek, Adam Noles, and Donna Reed - are not named in the complaint and
are not defendants in this proceeding. While there is a signature line for Skyla Grief
(who is a named defendant), she did not sign the document nor is there any other
indication that she participated in or approved Hightower's transfer. The defendants
are therefore correct that the allegations Hightower actually made in his complaint ,
even when considered in conjunction with the KDOC Transfer Authorization Form,
do not demonstrate the personal involvement of any of the defendants, and this claim
must be dismissed. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677 (2009) ("[i]n a § 1983 suit
or a Bivens action - where masters do not answer for the torts of their servants - the
term 'supervisory liability' is a misnomer.")
12
III.
High tower's Amendments to his Complaint would be Futile.
Simultaneously with the filing of his response to the defendants' motion to
dismiss [D. E. No. 20], Hightower filed both a motion to supplement his complaint
and a motion to amend it. [D. E. Nos. 21, 22] Both motions were filed for the same
purpose: to add Marshall Peek, Adam Noles, and Donna Reed as defendants,
asse1iing Eighth Amendment claims against them based upon their involvement in
transfetTing him to EKCC notwithstanding their alleged prior knowledge of threats
against him at that institution. [D. E. No. 21 at pp. 1-2; D. E. No. 22 at pp 1-2] The
defendants respond that Hightower knew or should have known the individuals who
were involved in the decision to transfer him; that permitting amendment at this late
juncture would be prejudicial; and that permitting amendment would be futile in
light ofHightower's failure to exhaust his administrative remedies. [D. E. No. 23]
With respect to Hightower's first motion, the purpose of a motion to
supplement the complaint is to "[set] out any transaction, occurrence, or event that
happened after the date of the pleading to be supplemented." Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(d)
But the allegations Hightower wishes to add to his complaint relate to events
occurring long before he filed his complaint in this action, not after it. A motion to
supplement the complaint is therefore not proper, cf. Chicago Reg. Council of
Carpenters v. Village ofSchaumburg, 644 F. 3d 353, 356-57 (7th Cir. 2011), and the
motion will be denied.
13
A motion to amend the complaint pursuant to Rule 15(a)(2) is the proper
mechanism to include such pre-filing facts and new defendants. The defendants'
concerns regarding prejudice caused by the long delay in amendment since this case
was filed carry significant weight.
But more fundamentally, permitting the
amendment Hightower seeks would be futile.
A district court should deny a
requested amendment where the proposed amendment would be futile, as where the
newly-added claims are subject to dismissal. Kottmyer v. Maas, 436 F.3d 684, 692
(6th Cir. 2006). As previously noted, Hightower failed to properly exhaust his
administrative remedies with respect to any of his claims, a fundamental defect that
would apply with equal force to the claims he seeks to include against three newlyidentified defendants.
In addition, when a new party is sought to be added to a previously-filed
complaint after the applicable statute of limitations has run, the amendment must
"relate back" to the original filing date by satisfying all of the requirements of Rule
15(c)(1 )(C) in order to avoid the limitations bar. Brown v. Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 517
F. App'x 431, 433 (6th Cir. 2013); Smith v. City ofAkron, 476 F. App'x 67, 69 (6th
Cir. 2012). Hightower's civil rights claims accrued either on September 14, 2014
when he was transferred to EKCC, and ce1iainly no later than October 25, 2014,
when he was attacked by another inmate at that institution. Estate of Abdullah ex
rel. Carswell v. Arena, 601 F. App'x 389, 393-94 (6th Cir. 2015) ("Once the plaintiff
14
knows he has been hurt and who has inflicted the injury, the claim acc1ues.")
(internal quotation marks omitted) (citing United States v. Kubrick, 444 U.S. 111,
122 (1979)). He was therefore required to file suit upon his civil rights claims within
one year, no later than October 25, 2015. Hornback v. Lexington-Fayette Urban Co.
Gov't., 543 F. App'x 499, 501 (6th Cir. 2013); Mitchell v. Chapman, 343 F.3d 811,
825 (6th Cir. 2003). Hightower signed his complaint on September 28, 2015,
although it was not mailed until October 20, 2015, and received by the Court two
days later. Assuming that Hightower's complaint was initially filed within the
limitations period, that period expired shortly thereafter, and the amended complaint
he proposes in his May 2016 motion will certainly be deemed filed beyond the
limitations period absent relation back.
By its terms, Rule 15 permits an amendment which "changes the paity or the
naming of the party against whom a claim is asse1ted" to relate back only when three
conditions are met: the amendment must (1) assert a claim arising out of the same
conduct or events set forth in the original complaint, (2) the new party to be added
must have previously received notice of the action within 120 days after it was filed
so that it is not prejudiced in defending the merits of the claims, and (3) the new
paity knew or should have known that, but for plaintiff's mistake in identifying the
proper defendant, the plaintiff would have asse1ted the claim against it. Fed. R. Civ.
P. 15(c)(l)(C); Coons v. Indus. Knife Co., Inc., 620 F. 3d 38, 43 (1st Cir. 2010).
15
The Sixth Circuit and the other comis of appeal have consistently held that
"an amendment which adds a new patiy creates a new cause of action and there is
no relation back to the original filing for purposes of limitations." Asher v. Unarco
Material Handling, Inc., 596 F.3d 313, 318 (6th Cir. 2010). This rule does not apply
where the plaintiff merely changes the attribution of conduct to a patiy already
named as a defendant rather than adding a new defendant, Ham v. Sterling Emer.
Servs. Of the Midwest, Inc., 575 F. App'x 610, 615-16 (6th Cir. 2014), but a
plaintiffs mere failure to find out the identity of the correct patiy until after the suit
is filed does not constitute the sort of mistake in identity to permit an amendment to
relate back. Id. at 617 (citing Brown v. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 517 F. App'x 431,
433-34 (6th Cir. 2013) ("We have previously held that an absence of knowledge is
not a mistake as required by Rule 15(c)(l)(C)(ii).")); see also Smith v. City ofAkron,
476 F. App'x 67, 69 (6th Cir. 2012) ("Smith did not make a mistake about the
identity of the patiies he intended to sue; he did not know who they were and
apparently did not find out within the two-year limitations period. The relation-back
protections of Rule 15(c) were not designed to correct that kind of problem.").
These cases establish that Hightower's failure to discover until long after the
limitations period had expired that Marshall Peek, Adam Noles, and Donna Reed are
the persons he now believes responsible for his transfer is not a problem for which
Rule 15(c) provides a remedy.
Because any claims against the defendants
16
Hightower seeks to add by amendment would not relate back to the filing of the
original complaint, they are time-barred, and the Couti will deny as futile his motion
to amend his complaint to include them.
IV.
Hightower's Motion for Injunctive Relief
Finally, Hightower has recently filed a motion seeking injunctive relief,
stating that officials at KSR where he is now confined have recently advised inmates
that approximately one half of the prisoners at that facility will be transferred
elsewhere. Hightower states that he is "afraid that he will be transfe!Ted to an
institution where he has unknown enemies, and the Plaintiff has no way of knowing
who all the people are." He therefore requests an order compelling KDOC officials
not to transfer him away from KSR.
[D. E. No. 27] The defendants respond
primarily that Hightower's fear that he may be transferred is speculative. [D. E. No.
28]
A plaintiff must establish his entitlement to a preliminary injunction. See
Overstreet v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Gov 't, 305 F.3d 566, 573 (6th Cir.
2002) ("A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy which should be
granted only ifthe movant carries his or her burden of proving that the circumstances
clearly demand it."); see also Lemy v. Daeschner, 228 F.3d 729, 739 (6th Cir. 2000)
("[T]he proof required for the plaintiff to obtain a preliminary injunction is much
more stringent than the proof required to survive a summary judgment motion.").
17
In determining whether to grant injunctive relief, the Court considers (1)
whether the moving party has shown a substantial likelihood that she will succeed
on the merits; (2) whether the moving party would suffer irreparable harm if the
injunction is not granted; (3) whether granting the injunction will cause substantial
harm to others; and (4) whether the public would be served by the injunction. Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame v. Gentile Productions, 134 F.3d 749, 753 (6th Cir. 1998).
These elements are factors to be considered and balanced in each case, not rigid
requirements. In re Eagle-Pitcher Indus., Inc., 963 F.2d 855, 859 (6th Cir.1992).
While "no one factor is controlling, a finding that there is simply no likelihood of
success on the merits is usually fatal." Gonzales v. National Ed. of Med. Exam 'rs,
225 F.3d 620, 625 (6th Cir. 2000).
The Court must deny the requested injunction for three reasons. First, the
factual basis for the relief requested - KSR' s recent indication that it may transfer
some prisoners, including Hightower, to a new facility - is wholly unrelated to this
lawsuit. Hightower's claims in this action relate to a classification decision made
by KSP officials in 2014, not a recent decision by separate officials at a separate
prison in 2016.
Second, transfer decisions are made by the Classification Committee
members at each prison, and the KSR officials who may in the future decide to
transfer Hightower are not defendants in this action. Nor may the Court compel a
18
person to take or not take any action before it possesses personal jurisdiction over
them, a condition that cannot be satisfied until they are properly served with process.
Cf R.MS. Titanic, Inc. v. Haver, 171 F. 3d 943, 958 (4th Cir. 1999) (preliminary
injunction issued against defendant company was unenforceable because district
court did not obtain personal jurisdiction over company through valid service of
process); Schuh v. Michigan Dep't of Corrections, No. 1:09cv982, 2010 WL
3648876, at *2 (W.D. Mich. July 26, 2010) ("When a preliminary injunction is
sought under Rule 65(a), service of the summons and the complaint is required.");
Carty v. R.I. Dept. of Corrections, 198 F.R.D. 18, 20 (D.R.I. 2000) (same). The
Court therefore lacks personal jurisdiction over the persons necessary to grant the
relief requested.
Finally, the Court agrees that Hightower's concerns are, at this juncture,
wholly speculative. There is no evidence in the record at this point indicating that
he will be transferred at all, let alone to a prison that houses his enemies, whom he
admits are unknown to him. There is therefore no basis to grant the injunctive relief
requested.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:
1.
Hightower's motion to supplement the complaint [D. E. No. 21] is
DENIED.
19
2.
Hightower's motion to amend the complaint [D. E. No. 22) 1s
DENIED.
3.
Hightower's motion to supplement the complaint [D. E. No. 26) is
DENIED.
4.
Defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint [D. E. No. 18) 1s
GRANTED.
5.
Hightower's motion for emergency injunctive relief [D. E. No. 27) is
DENIED.
6.
Plaintiff James Hightower's complaint [D. E. No. 1) is DISMISSED
WITH PREJUDICE.
7.
The Cami will enter an appropriate judgment.
8.
This matter is STRICKEN from the active docket.
This 27th day of September, 2016.
20
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?