Pascoe v. Scarborough et al
Filing
19
MEMORANDUM OPINION by Judge Claria Horn Boom on 5/22/23: For the reasons set forth, the Court will dismiss this action by separate Order.cc: Plaintiff(pro se) (DJT)
Case 3:23-cv-00004-CHB Document 19 Filed 05/22/23 Page 1 of 5 PageID #: 145
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE DIVISION
CHRISTOPHER PASCOE
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Plaintiff,
v.
J.J. SCARBOROUGH, et al.
Defendants.
Civil Action No. 3:23-CV-P004-CHB
MEMORANDUM OPINION
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This matter is before the Court on initial review of Plaintiff Christopher Pascoe’s pro se,
in forma pauperis Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). For the reasons set forth below,
the Court will dismiss this action.
I.
On January 2, 2023, Plaintiff initiated this pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil-rights action.
[R. 1]. Plaintiff sues the following Defendants in their official capacities: Meade County Jailer J.J.
Scarborough; Meade County Deputy Jailer Janet Kaufman; Chief Deputy of the Meade County
Detention Center (“MCDC”) Ernest Eugene Rutherford, Jr.; and Kyle T. Henderson, who Plaintiff fails
to otherwise identify. He alleges constitutional violations occurring during his incarceration at MCDC
beginning April 1, 2016, and for 27 months thereafter. Id.
Plaintiff states that while incarcerated at MCDC, he was denied water and covered in “fox
spray” by Deputy Kaufman. He claims that Henderson observed the conduct by Kaufman. Plaintiff
further alleges that Jailer Scarborough and Chief Deputy Rutherford covered up the misconduct
by the deputies when the Department of Corrections “showed up.” Id. at 4. Plaintiff states that his
transportation order was lost after the Department of Corrections came to investigate jail
Case 3:23-cv-00004-CHB Document 19 Filed 05/22/23 Page 2 of 5 PageID #: 146
complaints he made to the Governor’s Office. Id. He also asserts that while he was on suicide
watch, Deputy Kaufman took his mat after the nurse threatened him into eating in front of
Henderson. Id. at 5. Plaintiff claims that Jailer Scarborough would also walk down a hallway
hoping “to get a rise ‘to test out a new toy’ Chemical/electrical [weapon].” Id. Finally, Plaintiff
alleges he was tortured and “then tormented for 27 months of my life.” Id.
Based on the allegations that occurred between April 1, 2016, and the 27 months
thereafter—June 2018,1 Plaintiff now brings claims against the Defendants for violations of the
Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and “article 3 of The human Rights act
violations 35.” R. 1 at 3. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and both
Scarborough and Kaufman’s “badges.” Id. at 5.
II.
Because Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court must review the Complaint
under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 608–09 (6th Cir. 1997),
overruled on other grounds by Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199 (2007). On review, a district court
must dismiss a case at any time if it determines that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to
state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is
immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
Although courts are to hold pro se pleadings “to less stringent standards than formal
pleadings drafted by lawyers,” Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519 (1972), this duty to be less stringent
“does not require [the Court] to conjure up unpled allegations,” McDonald v. Hall, 610 F.2d 16,
1
In addition to his Complaint, Plaintiff attaches an affidavit that addresses a variety of claims that are unrelated to the
allegations contained in his Complaint. [R. 1-1]. Plaintiff currently has four other civil-rights cases pending in the
Western District of Kentucky, and many of the additional averments relate to those actions. See Pascoe v. Casey, 3:23CV-00003-RGJ, Pascoe v. Young, 3:23-CV-00005-RGJ, Pascoe v. Brinkley, 3:23-CV-00006-DJH, Pascoe v.
Cabressa, 3:23-CV-00007-RGJ. In fact, it appears that Plaintiff utilized the same affidavit in each civil action. As a
result, the Court will not consider those additional “claims” in the present action.
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19 (1st Cir. 1979), or to create a claim for a plaintiff. Clark v. Nat’l Travelers Life Ins. Co., 518
F.2d 1167, 1169 (6th Cir. 1975). To command otherwise would require courts “to explore
exhaustively all potential claims of a pro se plaintiff, [and] would also transform the district court
from its legitimate advisory role to the improper role of an advocate seeking out the strongest
arguments and most successful strategies for a party.” Beaudett v. City of Hampton, 775 F.2d 1274,
1278 (4th Cir. 1985).
In order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, “a complaint must contain
sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’”
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,
570 (2007)). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows
the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “[A] district court must (1) view the complaint in the light
most favorable to the plaintiff and (2) take all well-pleaded factual allegations as true.” Tackett v.
M & G Polymers, USA, LLC, 561 F.3d 478, 488 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing Gunasekera v. Irwin, 551
F.3d 461, 466 (6th Cir. 2009) (citations omitted)). “A pleading that offers ‘labels and conclusions’
or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.’ Nor does a complaint
suffice if it tenders ‘naked assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S.
at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 557).
III.
A. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Claims
Because Section 1983 does not provide a statute of limitations, federal courts borrow the
forum state’s statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261,
275–80 (1985). Thus, in Kentucky, Section 1983 actions are limited by the one-year statute of
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limitations found in KRS § 413.140(1)(a). Collard v. Ky. Bd. of Nursing, 896 F.2d 179, 182 (6th
Cir. 1990). “[T]he statute of limitations begins to run when the plaintiff knows or has reason to
know of the injury which is the basis of his action and that a plaintiff has reason to know of his
injury when he should have discovered it through the exercise of reasonable diligence.” Id. at 183.
Though the statute of limitations is an affirmative defense, a court may raise the issue sua sponte
if the defense is obvious from the face of the complaint. Fields v. Campbell, 39 F. App’x 221, 223
(6th Cir. 2002) (citing Haskell v. Washington Twp., 864 F.2d 1266, 1273 (6th Cir. 1988)).
Here, Plaintiff specifically states that the events giving rise to these claims occurred from
April 1, 2016, and for the next 27 months. Plaintiff’s claims, therefore, are barred by the statute of
limitations since it is clear that Plaintiff knew of the alleged injuries more than one year before the
instant action was initiated on January 2, 2023. For this reason, this action must be dismissed for
failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See, e.g., Cataldo v. U.S. Steel Corp.,
676 F.3d 542, 547 (6th Cir. 2012) (citing Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. at 215) (“If the allegations . . .
show that relief is barred by the applicable statute of limitations, the complaint is subject to
dismissal for failure to state a claim[.]”).
B. Article 3 of the Human Rights Act
To the extent Plaintiff seeks damages for a violation of Article 3 of the Human Rights Act,
the only reference to this “statute” the Court can discern from the case law is Article 3 of the
European Convention on Human Rights or the United Kingdom Human Rights Act of 1998,
Article 3 “Freedom from Torture, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment.” See Swanson v. Hedrick
Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP, No. 7:19-CV-241-FL, 2020 WL 762834, at *2 (E.D.N.C.
Jan. 27, 2020). Plaintiff’s reference to a foreign statute is insufficient to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted against these Defendants.
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Furthermore, in the event, “Article 3 of the Human Rights Act” is a reference to a United
States federal or state statute, this citation is insufficient to clarify the grounds for any potential
claim. A plaintiff must do more than list the causes of action he seeks to pursue against a defendant.
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
IV.
For the reasons set forth above, the Court will dismiss this action by separate Order.
This the 22nd day of May, 2023.
cc:
Plaintiff, pro se
A958.014
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