Bradley v. Hankins et al

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER: 1) Bradley's excessive force claim against the Defs in their official capacities is DISMISSED; 2)The Clerk of Court shall send Bradley a form Civil Rights Complaint (EDKY Form 520) and an Affidavit of Assets/I n Forma Pauperis Application (Form AO-240) and a Certificate of Inmate Account (EDKY Form 523); 3)If Bradley would like to pursue an excessive force claim against one or more of the Defs in their individual capacity, he may do so. However, he must co mplete and file his complaint using the court-supplied complaint form. He must also either pay the $400.00 in required filing and administrative fees or (see 1- 3); 4) Bradley's second claim, that he is not permitted to receive any mail oth er than legal mail while held in segregation, which he also brings against the Defs in their official capacities, is SEVERED from this action. The Clerk of the Court shall OPEN a new civil action filed by Bradley regarding this claim. T he Clerk shall FILE Bradley's Complaint 3 as the initiating document in that action, along with a copy of this Order; 5) Bradley's third claim, that Officer Zavodny has prevented him from getting a prison job, which he brings again st Zavodny in her official capacity, is also SEVERED from this action. The Clerk of the Court shall OPEN a new civil action filed by Bradley regarding this claim. The Clerk shall FILE Bradley's complaint 3 as the initiati ng document in that action, along with a copy of this Order; 6) Both new civil actions set forth in paragraphs (4) and (5) herein shall be assigned by the Clerk to the undersigned judge; 7) This matter is STRICKEN from the active docket ; and 8) A Judgment shall be entered contemporaneously with this Order. Signed by Judge David L. Bunning on 4/23/2017.(ECO)cc: COR w/copy of this Order, EDKY Forms 520, 523, AO Form 240 mailed to Bryce Jacobs Bradley, pro se plf, at address listed on the docket sheet.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
NORTHERN DIVISION
AT COVINGTON
CIVIL ACTION NO. 17-21-DLB
BRYCE JACOBS BRADLEY

VS.

PLAINTIFF

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

JASON HANKINS, et al.

DEFENDANTS
*** *** *** ***

Inmate Bryce Jacobs Bradley, proceeding without an attorney, filed a civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc. # 3). In his complaint, Bradley indicates that
he is suing Defendants Jason Hankins, Christopher Hankins, and Sandra Zavodny, all
employees of the Grant County Jail, only in their official capacities. (Doc. # 3 at 2).
The Court preliminarily reviewed Bradley’s Complaint and recognized that he
appears to assert three distinct claims: (1) that Major Jason Hankins ordered two other
officers to use a Taser on him without justification, (2) that he is not permitted to receive
any mail other than legal mail while held in segregation, and (3) that Officer Zavodny
has prevented him from getting a prison job. (Doc. # 3 at 4-6). However, Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 20(a)(1) does not permit multiple defendants to be joined in a single
action where the claims against them are unrelated. Cf. Wheeler v. Wexford Health
Sources, Inc., 689 F. 3d 680, 683 (7th Cir. 2012). In light of this fact, the Court issued
an order directing Bradley to file a notice identifying the claim he wishes to pursue in
this action and indicating whether he wishes the remaining claims to be severed from
this action or dismissed without prejudice. (Doc. # 5).
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In response to the Court’s Order, Bradley filed a letter into the record saying,
among other things, that he wanted to proceed with the excessive force claim and have
the Court sever the unrelated claims into separate cases. (Doc. # 6). The Court will
permit Bradley to proceed in this fashion. Thus, the Court will screen his excessive
force claim in this action, and it will sever his second and third claims into separate
actions.
With respect to Bradley’s excessive force claim, it is significant that he is suing
the defendants only in their official capacities because that means his claim is
essentially against the Grant County Jail itself. Lambert v. Hartman, 517 F.3d 433, 43940 (6th Cir. 2008); Alkire v. Irving, 330 F.3d 802, 810 (6th Cir. 2003). However, the
Grant County Jail is not liable merely because it employs the defendants; instead, the
defendants’ actions must have been directly attributable to a policy or custom of their
employer. See Monell v. New York City Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691 n.55
(1978). Here, Bradley does not claim that any policy or custom of the Grant County Jail
prompted the defendants’ alleged action with respect to the Taser. Therefore, Bradley’s
excessive force claim against the defendants in their official capacities fails to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted. Accordingly, the Court will dismiss that claim.
That said, to the extent that Bradley would like to pursue an excessive force claim
against one or more of the defendants in their individual capacity, Bradley may do so by
filing a new complaint with this Court. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED as follows:
(1)

Bradley’s excessive force claim against the defendants in their official

capacities is DISMISSED;

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(2)

The Clerk of the Court shall send Bradley a form Civil Rights Complaint

[EDKY Form 520] and an Affidavit of Assets/In Forma Pauperis Application [Form AO240] and a Certificate of Inmate Account [EDKY Form 523];
(3)

If Bradley would like to pursue an excessive force claim against one or

more of the defendants in their individual capacity, he may do so. However, he must
complete and file his complaint using the court-supplied complaint form. He must also
either pay the $400.00 in required filing and administrative fees or (1) have the
Certificate of Inmate Account [EDKY Form 523] certified by prison staff, (2) complete
the Affidavit of Assets/In Forma Pauperis Application [Form AO-240], and (3) file both of
them with the Court;
(4)

Bradley’s second claim, that he is not permitted to receive any mail other

than legal mail while held in segregation, which he also brings against the defendants in
their official capacities, is SEVERED from this action. The Clerk of the Court shall
OPEN a new civil action filed by Bradley regarding this claim. The Clerk shall FILE
Bradley’s Complaint (Doc. # 3) as the initiating document in that action, along with a
copy of this Order;
(5)

Bradley’s third claim, that Officer Zavodny has prevented him from getting

a prison job, which he brings against Zavodny in her official capacity, is also SEVERED
from this action. The Clerk of the Court shall OPEN a new civil action filed by Bradley
regarding this claim.

The Clerk shall FILE Bradley’s Complaint (Doc. # 3) as the

initiating document in that action, along with a copy of this Order;
(6)

Both new civil actions set forth in paragraphs (4) and (5) herein shall be

assigned by the clerk to the undersigned judge;

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(7)

This matter is STRICKEN from the active docket; and

(8)

A Judgment shall be entered contemporaneously with this Order.

This 23rd day of April, 2017.

K:\DATA\ORDERS\ProSe\17-21 order to dismiss and sever.wpd

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