Brown v. Stacy et al
Filing
7
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER: 1) Pla Brown's Eighth Amendment claims alleging Defendant CO William Wells applied excessive force are DISMISSED. William Wells is terminated as dft; 2) Brown's Eighth Amendment claims alleging that EKCC CO Ryan Stacy, Conner Hall, and Aaron Potter and EKCC Sergeant Jonathon Dingus a;;lied excessive force SHALL PROCEED and THESE FOUR dfts MUST RESPOND to Brown's claims; 3) Brown's claims alleging denial of clothes, soap, toothpast, eating utensils , sleeping mat, blankets, pens, paper, pencils, and denied access to prison recreational activities; his First Amendment claims alleging denied access to the prison mail system; Eighth Amendment claims alleging the denial of medical treatment and his Fourteenth Amendment due process against the five named dfts are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE; 4) Deputy Clerk in London shall prepare service packet for Officers Ryan Stacy, Conner Hall, Aaron Potter, and Sergeant Jonathon Dingus at EKCC in West Libert y KY. Service packet shall include: a) Completed summons form; b) Complaint; c) this MOO; and d) Completed USM 285 form; 5) Deputy Clerk shall send the packets to USM in Lexington; 6) ISMS is responsible for ensuring the dfts are served w/process; 7) Within 40 days of the DOE of this order, the USMS office shall send a service report to the London Clerk's Office, which the Deputy Clerk shall file in the record; 8) Brown keep the court informed of his current mailing address; 9) With every notice or motion filed w/the Court, Brown must mail a copy to each dft or his/her atty; and at the end of the notice or motion certify that he mailed a copy to each dft. The court will disregard any notice or motion which does not include this certification. Signed by Judge David L. Bunning on 07/26/2016.(MRS)cc: COR, pro se filer
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
SOUTHERN DIVISION
AT LONDON
NATHANIAL BROWN,
Plaintiff,
v.
RYAN STACY, Correctional Officer, et
al.,
Defendants.
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Civil Action No. 16-91-DLB
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
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Plaintiff Nathanial Brown is an inmate currently confined by the Kentucky
Department of Corrections (“KDOC”) at the Bell County Forestry Camp, located in
Pineville, Kentucky. Brown has filed a pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint [R.
1] in which he asserts various constitutional claims against five officials employed by the
Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (“EKCC”),1 located in West Liberty, Kentucky.
Brown’s claims arise from a series of events which allegedly transpired between
September 13, 2015, and November 25, 2015, while Brown was confined at the EKCC.
Because Brown asserts claims against government officials, and because he
has been granted pauper status, the Court must conduct a preliminary review of his
complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A(a). These statutes require
that the Court dismiss any action which: (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a
claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant
Brown names as defendants the following EKCC Correctional Officers (“CO”): (1) Ryan
Stacy; (2) William Wells; (3) Sergeant Jonathon Dingus; (4) Conner Hall; and (5) Aaron Potter.
1
who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii); 1915A(b)(1)-(2).2 As
explained below, Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims alleging excessive force against
CO William Wells will be dismissed without prejudice, because a ruling in Brown’s favor
on that claim in this § 1983 civil rights action would necessarily imply the invalidity of
Brown’s prison disciplinary conviction for assaulting Wells, which resulted in Brown
forfeiting 720 days of his good-time credits. Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims alleging
excessive force asserted against Defendants Ryan Stacy, Jonathan Dingus, Conner
Hall, and Aaron Potter will be allowed to proceed. Brown’s various other constitutional
claims will be dismissed with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief can
be granted.
ALLEGATIONS OF THE COMPLAINT
Brown alleges that on September 13, 2015, he was in the EKCC dining hall, near
the exit, having a conversation with Defendants William Wells, Jonathon Dingus, and
Ryan Stacy. [R. 1, p. 2, ¶ 1] Brown asked Wells why he removed a food tray which
Jeffery Hunter, another inmate, had given him. [R. 1, p. 2, ¶ 1] The conversation
deteriorated, and below is Brown’s version of the ensuing events:
2. Wells pointed his finger in Browns [sic] face and exclaimed “‘Your [sic]
an inmate, you have no rights!’” Wells then grabbed Browns [sic] left arm
and rotated it behind his back before lifting him off the ground and
slamming him up against the window pane near the exit of the dining
hall….
3. Dingus and Stacy then handcuff Brown while Wells drops him to the
ground. Brown is then forced in to [sic] what is commonly referred to as a
‘chicken-wing restraint’ where his arms were held behind his back over his
Because Brown is proceeding pro se, the Court liberally construes his claims and accepts his
factual allegations as true. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007); Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555-56 (2007).
2
2
head which caused his torso to be parallel to the ground and his knees to
bend.
4. Dingus and Stacy escort Brown out of the dining hall.
5. While being escorted, Dingus and Stacy shoved Brown face down on
the ground. While on the ground, Stacy used his knee to strike Browns
[sic] head multiple times….
6. Seconds later, defendant Conner Hall arrives and places leg shackles
on Brown. Brown is now hogtied. Dingus, Stacy, and Hall then lift Brown
off the ground and start to carry him to the segregation dorm.
7. On the way to segregation, Stacy, Dingus, and Hall intentionally crash
Browns [sic] head into every door and door frame between the prisons
[sic] basement A.K.A. ‘Phase 1 pill call’ and the segregation dorm.
8. At this point, Brown feels severe pain in his head and vision is very
hazy. Brown is then slammed head first into both of the entry doors of the
segregation dorm.
9. Brown was met by defendant Aaron Potter and Lt. Kevin Dennis, both
of whom took control of the escort. Potter and Dennis rush Brown into an
empty shower stall located in one of the segregation wings.
10. While in the shower stall, Browns [sic] face was jammed into a corner,
at the same time Potter squeezed Browns handcuffs extremely tight and
twisted Browns wrist until he squealed in pain. Potters [sic] action caused
bruising around Browns [sic] wrist that lasted several days.
11. Several minutes later, Nurse Johnna Lewis enters the shower and
immediately notices the deep cut on top of Browns bleeding head and
says ‘he might need stitches.’ Nurse Lewis also noted the bruising around
Browns wrist….
12. Brown is then placed in a restraint chair and wheeled to the front
entrance of segregation where he was surrounded by numerous
correctional officers, including the defendants, Nurse Lewis, and an
unidentified female nurse.
[Id., pp. 2-5, ¶¶ 2-12]
3
Brown thus alleges that during the September 13, 2015, incident in the EKCC
dining hall and his escort to the segregation unit, all five EKCC defendants applied
excessive force to him in violation of his right to remain free from cruel and unusual
punishment, which is guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Brown alleges that as a result of the five defendants’ use of excessive force, he
sustained serious bodily injuries which required medical treatment and which have
caused him to suffer physical pain and suffering. In support of his version of events,
Brown attaches the statements of several other inmates who support his version of the
encounter with the EKCC defendants.
But the story does not end there; as a result of the September 13, 2015, incident
in the EKCC dining hall, Brown received four (4) separate Disciplinary Reports (“DR”)
charging him with violating various KDOC disciplinary rules.
The four disciplinary
charges, and their dispositions, are summarized below.
1. First Disciplinary Charge
In DR# EKCC-2015-04608, CO William Wells charged Brown with “7-01,
Physical Action against an Employee or Non-Inmate,” which the DRF identifies as a
“Major” category offense. In the “Description of Incident” section, Wells stated that
when he questioned Brown about receiving a second tray of food from another inmate,
Brown slammed down his food tray and took an aggressive stance. [R. 1-1, p. 18]
Wells further described the incident:
At that time myself, C/O Ryan Stacy #558, and Sgt. Jonathan Dingus
#204 then went to restrian [sic] Inmate Brown, and at that time punched
me in the ribs. Myself and C/O Stacy then got him in handcuffs and C/O
Stacy and Sgt. Dingus escorted him out of the Dining Room.
4
[Id.]
The investigating officer interviewed Brown, who denied hitting CO William Wells,
and CO Ryan Stacy and Sergeant Dingus, both of whom stated that Brown slammed
down his food tray, took and aggressive stance toward CO William Wells, and that when
they tried to restrain Brown, he punched CO William Wells in the ribs. [Id., “Report of
Investigating Officer”] The investigating officer also interviewed Lieutenant Sarah Prater,
who reviewed surveillance tape but determined that the incident took place out of
camera range. [Id.]
The disciplinary hearing transpired on September 30, 2015.
Based on the
Officer’s Report and the Occurrence Report, Hearing Officer Michael H. Smith found
Brown guilty of the offense of “7-01, Physical Action against an Employee or NonInmate.”
[Id., pp. 27-28]3
Hearing Officer Smith imposed two sanctions:
(1)
confinement in the Disciplinary Segregation Unit (“DSU”) for 180 days and, (2) forfeiture
of 720 days of Brown’s non-restorable good-time credit (“NRGTC”). [Id., p. 27, ¶6; ¶8]
Brown appealed, but on October 26, 2015, EKCC Warden Kathy Litteral concurred with
Hearing Officer Smith’s decision, which she determined was supported by the evidence.
[Id., p. 28 (“Warden’s Review”)]
3
Hearing Officer Smith’s conclusions were as follows:
The Hearing Officer finds you guilty based on the Officer’s Report, Occurrence
Reports indicating you struck the Officer while in the Dining Room, medical
EOR indicating a red mark was documented on staff after this incident, review of
the video which shows you being restrained before going out of view and the
reporting Employee’s telephone testimony indicating the correct date for the
report should be 09-13-15 as well as he was hit while you was being restrained in
the Dining Room….
[Id., p. 27 (“Findings”)]
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2. The Second Disciplinary Charge
In DR# EKCC-2015-04609, Sergeant Dingus charged Brown with “7-01, Physical
Action against an Employee or Non-Inmate,” which, again, is identified as a “Major”
category offense. [Id., p. 22] In the “Description of Incident” section, Sergeant Dingus
stated that on September 13, 2015, he and CO Ryan Stacy were escorting Brown out of
Dining Room 1 to Dorm 5 “due to assualting [sic] staff.” [Id.] When they arrived at the
door entering the basement, Brown pushed him (Dingus) into the door frame, causing
his (Dingus’s) left arm to “hurt and swell.” [Id.] Dingus stated, “At that time myself and
C/O Stacy placed Inmate Brown on the ground to gain control, and C/O Conner Hall
#478 placed leg shackles on Inmate Brown. Also while placing Inmate Brown on the
ground I recieved [sic] a cut on my right wrist.” [Id.]
The disciplinary hearing transpired on September 30, 2015. [Id., p. 35] Based
on the Officer’s Report and the Occurrence Report, Hearing Officer Michael H. Smith
found Brown guilty of the offense of “7-01, Physical Action against an Employee or NonInmate.” [Id., pp. 35-36] Hearing Officer Smith again imposed two sanctions: (1)
confinement in the DSU for 180 days and, (2) forfeiture of 360 days of Brown’s NRGTC.
[Id., p. 35, ¶ 6; ¶8] Brown successfully appealed; on October 29, 2015, Warden Litteral
dismissed the charge against Brown and “voided” the incident. See id., p. 36 (“Action
Taken: Void Incident (Dismiss). Reason: This Report is voided.)
3. The Third Disciplinary Charge
In DR# EKCC-2015-04612, CO Ryan Stacy charged Brown with “4-19, Making
Threatening or Intimidating Statements,” a major category offense, in connection with
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the events in the EKCC dining hall on September 13, 2015. [Id., pp. 24-25]. The
disciplinary hearing transpired on September 30, 2015.
[Id., p. 30]
Based on CO
Ryan’s Report, Hearing Officer Michael H. Smith found Brown guilty of a another
offense, “3-20, Disrespectful Language/Gestures/Actions against a non-inmate.” [Id.
(“Findings”)] Whether Hearing Officer Smith’s revoked any of Brown’s GTC is unclear,
as he stated “The Hearing Officer issues revokes 30 days GTL suspended on 04-0815.” [Id.] The Hearing Officer’s Report, at ¶ 6 and ¶ 8, does not reflect that Brown lost
any GTC, or NRGTC, as a result of the “3-20” disciplinary conviction. [Id.] Brown again
successfully appealed; on November 3, 2015, Warden Litteral dismissed the charge
against Brown, and “voided” the incident. See id., p. 31 (“Action Taken: Void Incident
(Dismiss). Reason: This Report is voided.”)
4. The Fourth Disciplinary Charge
In DR# EKCC-2015-04614, CO Ryan Stacy charged Brown with “7-01, Physical
Action against an Employee or Non-Inmate.” [Id., p. 20] In the “Description of Incident”
section, CO Stacy stated that on September 13, 2015, he and CO Jonathan Dingus
were escorting Brown, who was wearing wrist restraints, to Dorm 5, and that “When we
entered the phase-1 pill call area Inmate Brown was combative and began to kick his
legs striking me in the legs multiple times, at this time myself and Sgt. Dingus placed
him on the ground till further assistance arrived with leg restraints.
Inmate Brown
continued to resist and making racial statements towards staff the entire way to dorm5.” [Id.]
7
The disciplinary hearing transpired on September 30, 2015. [Id., p. 33] Hearing
Officer Michael H. Smith found Brown guilty of the offense of “7-01, Physical Action
against an Employee or Non-Inmate.” [Id. (“Findings”)] Smith based his finding of guilt
on “…the Officer’s Report, medical EOR indicating Officer Stacy had redness
documented on his right thigh, review of the video which shows you [Brown] being
restrained before going out of view in the Dining Room and the fact you had to be
further restrained before going on to Dorm 5.” [Id.] Hearing Officer Smith imposed two
sanctions: (1) confinement in the DSU for 180 days and, (2) forfeiture of 360 days of
Brown’s NRGTC. [Id., ¶6; ¶8] Brown again appealed, and on October 29, 2015, EKCC
Warden Kathy Litteral dismissed the charge against Brown, and voided the incident.
See id., p. 34 (“Action Taken: Void Incident (Dismiss). Reason: This Report is voided.”)
Given the dismissal of three of the four disciplinary charges, Brown currently
stands convicted only the First Disciplinary Conviction, DR# EKCC-2015-04608, in
which he was convicted of “7-01, Physical Action against an Employee or Non-Inmate”
(CO William Wells), and Brown currently faces the forfeiture of 720 days of his NRGTC.
However, in his § 1983 complaint, Brown alleges that “All of the disciplinary reports
were dismissed when Brown appealed them to the Warden of the prison.
The
dismissed reports are attached as Exhibit F.” [R. 1, p. 8, ¶ 20] But contrary to Brown’s
assertion, it does not appear that EKCC Warden Kathy Litteral dismissed the charges
contained in DR# EKCC-2015-04608, or that she voided Brown’s conviction for
assaulting CO William Wells. In fact, the disciplinary records which Brown attached to
his § 1983 complaint reflect that Warden Litteral affirmed his disciplinary conviction
8
(identified as DR# EKCC-2015-04608) for assaulting CO William Wells, based on the
fact that Hearing Officer Michael H. Smith’s decision was “supported by the evidence.”
See R. 1-1, p. 28 (“Warden’s Review”). Again, that disciplinary conviction carried with it
the forfeiture of 720 days of Brown’s NRGTC.
Brown further alleges that between September 13, 2015, and November 25,
2015, he was denied medical treatment at the EKCC in violation of his Eighth
Amendment rights, and that he was denied other necessary items and services, such as
pens, paper, access to recreational activities, hygiene items, and access to the prison’s
mail system, in violation of his right of access to the courts guaranteed by the First
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Finally, Brown alleges that EKCC officials wrongly
denied several administrative grievances which he filed against the EKCC defendants,
all in violation of his right to due process, guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of
the U.S. Constitution. Brown sues each defendant in his individual capacity, and seeks
substantial compensatory and punitive damages from them, jointly and severally. [Id.,
R. 1, p. 15]
DISCUSSION
1. Eighth Amendment Claims Against CO William Wells
In his § 1983 complaint, Brown alleges that on September 13, 2015, CO William
Wells applied excessive force to him in the EKCC dining hall, causing him to sustain
various bodily injuries.
However, as discussed, on September 30, 2015, at the
conclusion of a due process disciplinary hearing, Hearing Officer Michael H. Smith
found Brown guilty of the offense of “7-01, Physical Action against an Employee or Non-
9
Inmate” based on the same underlying events of September 13, 2015, and imposed
sanctions consisting of a 180-day confinement in the DSU and forfeiture of 720 days of
Brown’s NRGTC. Put another way, the same facts which form the basis of Brown’s
Eighth Amendment excessive force claim against CO William Wells are the same facts
under which Hearing officer Michael H. Smith found Brown guilty of a Major category
disciplinary offense, “Physical Action against an Employee or Non-Inmate.” If this Court
entertained Brown’s Eighth Amendment excessive force claim against CO William Wells
based on the events of September 13, 2015, and/or subsequently ruled in Brown’s favor
on that excessive force claim, it would lead to patently inconsistent results stemming
from the same set of underlying facts. Therefore, Brown cannot use a § 1983 civil rights
action to assert an Eighth Amendment excessive force claim against Wells based on
the events which transpired in the EKCC dining hall on September 13, 2015, unless
and until he can demonstrate a favorable termination of his disciplinary conviction (DR#
EKCC-2015-04608) stemming from those same events.
In Heck v. Humphrey, the Supreme Court established the so-called “favorable
termination rule.” 512 U.S. 477, 114 S.Ct. 2364 (1994).4 The Supreme Court has held
that any claim for damages that, if successful, would “necessarily imply” the “invalidity of
4
The Court explained that rule as follows:
[T]o recover damages for allegedly unconstitutional conviction or imprisonment,
or for other harm caused by actions whose unlawfulness would render a
conviction or sentence invalid, a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the conviction or
sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order,
declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such a determination, or
called into question by a federal court's issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, 28
U.S.C. § 2254.
Id., at 486-87.
10
any outstanding criminal judgment against the plaintiff” is not cognizable in a civil rights
action unless the plaintiff demonstrates that judgment's prior invalidation. Id., at 487
This rule promotes the finality of and consistency in judicial resolutions by limiting
opportunities for collateral attack and averting the “creation of two conflicting resolutions
arising out of the same or identical transaction.” See id., at 484-485. In Edwards v.
Balisok, the Supreme Court later extended the “favorable termination rule” to a prison
disciplinary hearing resulting in the deprivation of good-time credits, where the
prisoner’s civil rights action alleging the denial of his due process rights would
“necessarily imply” the invalidity of the deprivation of good-time credits. 520 U.S. 641,
646 (1997).
The Supreme Court has subsequently clarified that a prisoner must show a
favorable termination of his disciplinary proceeding before filing a civil action in cases
where the duration of his sentence has been affected. See Muhammad v. Close, 540
U.S. 749 (2004).
Thus, a prisoner found guilty in a prison disciplinary hearing cannot
use either 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or Bivens to collaterally attack the hearing’s validity or the
conduct underlying the disciplinary conviction. See Lanier v. Bryant, 332 F.3d 999,
1005 (6th Cir. 2003) (extending Heck to Bivens claims); Johnston v. Sanders, 86 F.
App’x 909, 910 (6th Cir. 2004) (“[Petitioner] cannot challenge a disciplinary proceeding
resulting in a loss of good-time credits in a Bivens action [when] his disciplinary
conviction has not been reversed.”); Denham v. Shroad, 56 F. App'x 692, 693 (6th Cir.
2003); Lewis v. Pendell, 90 F. App’x 882, 883 (6th Cir. 2004) (prisoner was precluded
from collaterally attacking prison misconduct hearing or conduct underlying disciplinary
11
conviction by alleging retaliation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, where favorable ruling on his
retaliation claim would imply invalidity of disciplinary conviction); Denham v. Shroad, 56
F. App’x 692, 693 (6th Cir. 2003) (“Because a favorable ruling on Denham’s Eighth
Amendment claim [alleging excessive use of force by prison officials] would imply the
invalidity of his disciplinary conviction, this claim is not cognizable.”); Huey v. Stine, 230
F.3d 226, 230-31 (6th Cir. 2000).5
Again, to establish a favorable termination, Brown must first successfully
challenge the validity of his disciplinary conviction by filing of writ of habeas corpus
pursuant to 28 US.C. § 2254. If, and only if, Brown’s prison disciplinary conviction
identified as DR# EKCC-2015-04608 is invalidated during that process, may he then
bring a civil claim against CO William Wells alleging excessive force with respect to the
events in the EKCC dining hall on September 13, 2015, which resulted in his
disciplinary conviction and the loss of 720 days of his NRGTC.
Brown’s Eighth
Amendment excessive force claim against CO William Wells will therefore be dismissed
without prejudice to Brown’s obtaining a favorable termination of his disciplinary
conviction identified as DR# EKCC-2015-04608.
See also Lockett v. Suardini, No. 2:05-CV-187, 2006 WL 2521621, at *5 (Aug. 30, 2006)
(dismissing the prisoner-plaintiff's excessive force claims against two prison officials based on
the “favorable termination” requirement” set forth in Balisok and Heck, where the prisoner had
previously been found guilty in a prison disciplinary proceeding of assaulting the defendant
prison officials during the same encounter which formed the basis of the prisoner’s Eighth
Amendment excessive force claim, concluding that “… the Hearing Officer’s finding in this case
directly contradicts Plaintiff's claim of excessive force. Accordingly, Plaintiff's claim remains
noncognizable under § 1983 because a ruling on the claim would, if established, necessarily
imply the invalidity of his disciplinary conviction.”); Drummer v. Luttrell, 75 F. Supp. 2d 796,
802-03 (W.D. Tenn. Nov. 22, 1999) (holding that under Heck and Baliosk, the prisonerplaintiff’s Eighth Amendment excessive force claims were barred because her disciplinary
conviction and loss of GTC had not been set aside or reversed, and that if she prevailed on her
Eighth Amendment excessive force claim, it would “necessarily imply the invalidity of the
punishment imposed.”).
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5
2. Eighth Amendment Claims Against CO Ryan Stacy,
Sergeant Jonathan Dingus, CO Conner Hall, and CO Aaron Potter
As discussed, Warden Kathy Litteral dismissed and/or “voided” Brown’s three
other disciplinary convictions pursuant to which he had been found guilty of assaulting
and/or taking aggressive action against CO Ryan Stacy and Sergeant Jonathan Dingus
in the EKKC dining hall on September 13, 2015. Thus, Brown has already obtained
favorable terminations of those disciplinary convictions.
Further, Brown’s Eighth
Amendment excessive force claims against CO Conner Hall and CO Aaron Potter stem
from alleged events which transpired after the specific encounter in EKCC dining hall,
while Potter and Hall were escorting Brown from the dining hall area to the DSU. Brown
claims that during this journey, Hall and Potter repeatedly used excessive and
unnecessary force on him.
The Court will require CO Ryan Stacy, Sergeant Jonathan Dingus, CO Conner
Hall, and CO Aaron Potter to respond to Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims alleging
excessive force on September 13, 2015, either as to the alleged events in the EKCC
dining hall, or while Brown was being escorted from the EKCC dining hall area to the
DSU. The London Clerk’s Office will be directed to issue summons for CO Ryan Stacy,
Sergeant Jonathan Dingus, CO Conner Hall, and CO Aaron Potter. Because Brown
has been granted pauper status, the United States Marshals Service (“USMS”) will
serve the summons and complaint on his behalf. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3); 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(d).
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3. Brown’s Other Constitutional Claims
Brown further alleges that between September 13, 2015, and November 25,
2015, he was denied medical treatment at the EKCC in violation of his Eighth
Amendment rights; that his requests for medical attention were “ignored,” and that he
was denied other necessary items such as clean clothes, soap, toothpaste, eating
utensils, sleeping mat, blankets, pens, paper, recreational activities and access to the
prison’s mail system, in violation of his First Amendment right of access to the courts.
[R. 1, pp. 6-9]
Brown also alleges that EKCC officials wrongly denied several
administrative grievances which he filed against the five EKCC defendants, in violation
of his right to due process guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution. For various reasons, these claims must be dismissed.
First, Brown broadly alleges that he was denied medical treatment, various types
of hygiene items, access to the prison mail system and the recreational facilities, pens,
paper, pencils, but he does not identify the EKCC officials who were allegedly
responsible for the denial of medical treatment and the other complained-of
deprivations.
Brown names five defendants (CO William Wells, CO Ryan Stacy,
Sergeant Jonathan Dingus, CO Conner Hall, and CO Aaron Potter), but the claims
which Brown asserts against these five defendants allege excessive force, and pertain
specifically to the alleged events of September 13, 2015, in the EKCC dining hall and
soon thereafter while Brown was being escorted to the DSU.
Brown alleges no facts
indicating or suggesting that any of the named defendants denied him medical
treatment; denied him access to the prison mail system, thus impairing his right of
14
access to the courts, or that they were responsible for other deprivations about which
he complains. Brown does allege, however, that on September 13, 2015, EKCC Nurse
Johnna Lewis examined him and treated his wounds. [R. 1, p. 5, ¶ 11; p. 6, ¶ 13]
To state a cognizable Section 1983 claim, the plaintiff must allege some personal
involvement by the each of the named defendants. See Salehphour v. Univ. of Tenn.,
159 F.3d 199, 206 (6th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1115, 119 S.Ct. 1763, 143
L.Ed.2d 793 (1999); Copeland v. Machulis, 57 F.3d 476, 481 (6th Cir. 1995) (personal
involvement by the defendant is an essential element in a § 1983 cause of action
asserting a constitutional deprivation). Brown does not allege facts indicating that the
five named defendants, whom Brown identifies as EKCC correctional officers, were
involved in decisions related to his medical treatment at the EKCC, either on September
13, 2015, or on any other date, nor does Brown allege that any of the five named
defendants possess medical training and expertise that enable or qualify them to make
decisions about his medical treatment. Brown also does not allege that the named
EKCC defendants were personally responsible for denying him hygiene items, pens,
paper, and pencils, or that they impaired his right of access to the courts.
Brown also broadly alleges that he tried to grieve his complaints about the five
named defendants through the prison’s administrative remedy process, but that his
grievances were either denied or rejected as untimely. R. 1, p. 9, ¶¶ 24-25; see also,
“Returned Grievance” [R. 1-1, p. 38 (Oct. 15, 2015); R. 1-1, p. 46 (Dec. 23, 2015).
Again, Brown names no specific defendant in connection with this particular claim, but
to the extent that he could be broadly asserting claims against EKCC Grievance
15
Coordinator Sarah Potter and/or EKCC Warden Kathy Litteral, his construed § 1983
claims against them cannot proceed, because a plaintiff cannot maintain a § 1983 claim
against prison officials based solely on the denial of a prisoner’s grievance. “The ‘denial
of administrative grievances or the failure to act’ by prison officials does not subject
supervisors to liability under § 1983.” Grinter v. Knight, 532 F.3d 567, 576 (6th Cir.
2008) (quoting Shehee v. Luttrell, 199 F.3d at 300).
The mere denial of prisoner
grievances by supervisory or higher-ranking administrative officials is insufficient
personal involvement for imposing constitutional liability, under § 1983. See Johnson v.
Aramark, 482 F. App’x 992, 993 (6th Cir. 2012); Alder v. Corr. Med. Servs., 73 F. App’x
839, 841 (6th Cir. 2003). A plaintiff’s claim is against the subjects of his grievances, not
the individuals who merely decided whether to grant or deny the grievances.
See
Skinner v. Govorchin, 463 F.3d 518, 525 (6th Cir. 2006).
Further, there is “no constitutionally protected due process interest in unfettered
access to a prison grievance procedure,” Walker v. Mich. Dep’t of Corr., 128 F. App’x
441, 445 (6th Cir. 2005); and likewise, there is “no inherent constitutional right to an
effective prison grievance procedure.” Argue v. Hoffmeyer, 80 F. App’x 427, 430 (6th
Cir. 2003) (citing Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 467 (1983); Antonelli v. Sheahan, 81
F.3d 1422, 1430 (7th Cir. 1996); Adams v. Rice, 40 F.3d 72, 75 (4th Cir. 1994); Flick v.
Alba, 932 F.2d 728, 729 (8th Cir. 1991)). Thus, to the extent that Brown contends that
he is, and was, dissatisfied with the structure of the EKCC”S administrative remedy
process itself, or with the outcome of that administrative remedy process, he states no
claim for relief under § 1983.
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Finally, Brown alleges that for nine days (between September 13, 2015, and
September 22, 2015) that he was denied certain items such as clean clothes (except for
boxer shorts), soap, toothpaste, eating utensils, sleeping mat, blankets, pens, paper,
and access to recreational activities, and claims that he “…had to eat all his meals like a
dog.” [R. 1, pp. 6-7, ¶ 16] Even assuming that Brown’s allegation on these issues are
true, such temporary conditions and deprivations, while no doubt unpleasant and/or
uncomfortable, do not amount to Eighth Amendment violations.
The Eighth Amendment prohibits a punishment that violates civilized standards
of decency or reflects unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain. Estelle v. Gamble, 429
U.S. 97, 102–03 (1976) A viable Eighth Amendment claim has both an objective and a
subjective component, Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994), and the objective
component requires that the pain be sufficiently serious within the context of
“contemporary standards of decency.”
Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 8 (1992)
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted) The subjective component requires a
plaintiff to show that the defendant acted with deliberate indifference to the inmate's
health or safety, i.e., the plaintiff must show that prison officials had a “sufficiently
culpable state of mind,” where the officials were aware of and disregarded an excessive
risk to an inmate's health or safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834.
The long-term denial of basic hygiene items may give rise to an Eighth
Amendment claim, but a short-term denial of such items usually typically does not
qualify as an Eight Amendment violation. See, e.g., Flanory v. Bonn, 604 F.3d 249, 254
(6th Cir. 2010) (“Courts have not found the objective component satisfied where the
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deprivation of hygiene items was temporary.”); Matthews v. Murphy, No. 90-35458,
1992 WL 33902, at *4 (9th Cir. Feb. 25, 1992) (noting that while “it has been held that
‘the Eighth Aamendment forbids deprivation of the basic elements of hygiene,’” the
deprivation of a towel, toothbrush, toothpowder, comb, soap, and other personal
hygiene items for approximately 34 days did not rise to the level of an Eighth
Amendment violation); Crump v. Janz, No. 1:10-CV-583, 2010 WL 2854266, at *4 (W.D.
Mich. July 19, 2010) (holding complaint failed to plead an Eighth Amendment violation
where inmate asserted “lack of deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, postage, typing
and carbon paper, and legal envelopes for 35 days”); Gilland v. Owens, 718 F. Supp.
665, 685 (W.D. Tenn.1989) (“Short term deprivations of toilet paper, towels, sheets,
blankets, mattresses, toothpaste, toothbrushes and the like do not rise to the level of a
constitutional violation.”). Further, Brown alleges no actual harm stemming from the
alleged temporary denial of hygiene items. See Argue v. Hofmeyer, 80 F. App’x at 430
(holding that a prisoner had failed to state an Eighth Amendment claim because he did
not allege a complete denial of hygiene products, or that the deprivation occurred out of
indifference to his hygiene needs, or that he suffered any harm because of the alleged
denial). Thus, as to Brown’s allegation that he was denied the above-listed items on a
temporary basis, he fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under the
Eighth Amendment, and these claims will be dismissed for that reason.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing analysis and discussion, it is hereby ORDERED as
follows:
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(1)
Plaintiff Nathanial Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims alleging that
Defendant Correctional Officer William Wells applied excessive force to him on
September 13, 2015, are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The Clerk of the Court
shall NOTE the termination of Defendant CO William Wells on the CM/ECF cover sheet.
(2)
Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims alleging that EKCC Correctional
Officers Ryan Stacy, Conner Hall, and Aaron Potter, and EKCC Sergeant Jonathon
Dingus applied excessive force to him on September 13, 2015, SHALL PROCEED, and
these four defendants MUST RESPOND to Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims against
them.
(3)
Brown’s Eighth Amendment claims alleging the denial of clean clothes
soap, toothpaste, eating utensils, sleeping mat, blankets, pens, paper, pencils, and
denied access to prison recreational activities; his First Amendment claims alleging
denied access to the prison mail system; his Eighth Amendment claims alleging the
denial of medical treatment/deliberate indifference to his medical needs; and his
Fourteenth Amendment due process claims challenging the EKCC grievance process,
including the denial of his administrative grievances filed against the five named
defendants, are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE for failure to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted.
(4)
A Deputy Clerk in the London Clerk’s Office shall prepare a “Service
Packet” for Defendants Correctional Officers Ryan Stacy, Conner Hall, Aaron Potter,
and EKCC Sergeant Jonathon Dingus, at the EKCC, in West Liberty Kentucky. The
Service Packet shall include:
19
(a)
(b)
the complaint [R. 1] and all attachments thereto;
(c)
a copy of the this Memorandum Opinion and Order; and
(d)
(5)
a completed summons form;
a completed USM Form 285.
The London Deputy Clerk shall send the Service Packets to the USMS
located in Lexington, Kentucky.
(6)
The USMS is responsible for ensuring that Defendants EKCC Correctional
Officers Ryan Stacy, Conner Hall, Aaron Potter, and EKCC Sergeant Jonathon Dingus
are successfully served with process. In the event that an attempt at service upon any
of these defendants is unsuccessful, the USMS shall make further attempts and shall
ascertain such information as is necessary to ensure successful service.
(7)
Within 40 days of the date of entry of this Order, the USMS Office shall
send a Service Report to the London Clerk’s Office, which the Deputy Clerk shall file in
the record, which states whether service was accomplished with respect to the four
defendants identified above.
(a)
If any or all of the four defendants identified above are served by
certified mail, the Service Report shall include:
(1)
A copy of the green card showing proof of service; or
(2)
A statement that the green card was not returned from the
U.S. Postmaster, along with a “Track-and-Confirm” report from the U.S. Postal
Service showing that a proof of delivery does not exist.
(b)
If any or all of the four defendants identified above are personally
served, the Service Report shall indicate:
20
(1)
that
the
defendant(s)
were
successfully
served
(2).
a statement explaining that the defendant(s) could not be
personally, or
served and what efforts are being taken to locate the defendant(s) and accomplish
personal service.
(8)
Brown must keep the Clerk of the Court informed of his current mailing
address. Failure to notify the Clerk of any change of address may result in dismissal of
this case.
(9) With every notice or motion filed with the Court, Brown must (a) mail a
copy to each defendant (or his or her attorney); and (b) at the end of the notice or
motion, certify that he has mailed a copy to each defendant (or his or her
attorney) and the date on which this was done. The Court will disregard any
notice or motion which does not include this certification.
This 26th day of July, 2016.
K:\DATA\ORDERS\London\2016\16-cv-91 Order CKS.doc
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