Midgett v. Head Chaplain et al

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM & ORDER granting in part and denying in part 12 Motion to Amend/Correct Discovery due by 12/26/2012. Dispositive Motions due by 2/25/2013. Plaintiff's Pre-trial Memorandum due by 1/25/2013. Defendant's Pre-trial Memorandum due by 2/25/2013.Signed by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on 10/31/2012. cc:counsel (KJA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
AT PADUCAH
EDWARD HARRISON MIDGETT
v.

PLAINTIFF
CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:11-CV-P132-R

KSP HEAD CHAPLAIN et al.

DEFENDANTS

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Tyree’s motion to alter, amend, or vacate
two orders of the Court (DN 12). Plaintiff did not file a response.
(1) Motion to alter, amend, or vacate a portion of this Court’s Memorandum and
Order entered September 17, 2012.
By Memorandum and Order entered September 17, 2012, the Court granted in part and
denied in part Defendants’1 motion to dismiss. In denying the motion, the Court allowed the
First Amendment claim that Officer Tyree (Officer Tyre Boyd)2 illegally confiscated Plaintiff’s
religious material in June 2011 to continue against that Defendant in his individual capacity for
damages and injunctive relief and in his official capacity for injunctive relief. In reaching that
conclusion, the Court disagreed with several of Defendants’ arguments, but particular to the
pending motion to alter, amend, or vacate, the Court disagreed with Defendants’ argument that
Plaintiff had insufficiently identified Officer Tyree. The Court found it unlikely that there are
multiple Officer Tyree’s working at KSP and added that Plaintiff had provided a last name,

1

Defendants Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP) Head Chaplain and KSP Officer Tyree
filed the motion to dismiss. The Court granted the motion to dismiss as to the claims against the
Head Chaplain.
2

In the complaint, Plaintiff identified Officer Tyree as a Defendant, and in his response to
the motion to dismiss, Plaintiff identified that Defendant as Officer Tyre Boyd.

Boyd, in his response. The Court further denied Defendants’ motion for a more definite
statement and directed Defendant Officer Tyree to file an answer within 14 days.
Instead of filing the answer, counsel for Defendant filed the instant motion to alter,
amend, or vacate this Court’s Memorandum and Order to the extent it determined that Plaintiff
has sufficiently identified Officer Tyree. Counsel states:
[T]he undersigned counsel has attempted to comply with this Court’s Order and
identify any Kentucky State Penitentiary (“KSP”) correctional officer named
“Officer Tyree” or “Officer Tyree Boyd,” yet the undersigned has been unable to
identify any present or former correctional officer who worked at KSP during the
relevant time frame with either of those names. While there is a correctional officer
named Kelly Tyree, CO Tyree has been stationed at the Northpoint Training Center
for many years and there is no indication, either in the Plaintiff’s Complaint or DOC
records, that CO Tyree and the Plaintiff ever crossed paths at KSP. Moreover, while
there are a number of correctional officers employed or formerly employed by KSP
with names that appear to be reasonable permutations of the names “Tyree” and
“Boyd,” there are no correctional officers stationed at KSP with either the first or last
name “Tyree” or the first or last name “Boyd.”
Upon consideration, the Court concludes that Plaintiff should have the opportunity to use
the discovery period to pursue this issue. Likely, a report of some sort was made with respect to
the incident in question and/or a grievance was filed as to this matter. Moreover, counsel’s
findings are not supported by certified copies of Department of Corrections’ records and/or
affidavits, and since supporting documentation is required, the argument would need to be raised
in a motion for summary judgment. Finally, counsel entered an appearance on behalf of
Defendant by filing the motion to dismiss on behalf of “insufficiently identified Officer Tyree.”
The Court sees no reason counsel could not file an answer as well.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the motion to alter, amend, or vacate a portion of
this Court’s September 17, 2012, Memorandum and Order (DN 12) is DENIED.

2

Defendant Officer Tyree (Officer Tyre Boyd) must file an answer within 14 days of entry
of this Order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4).
(2) Motion to alter, amend, or vacate the Court’s Amended Scheduling Order entered
September 28, 2012.
In the Amended Scheduling Order, the Court mistakenly referred to individuals who are
not parties to this action. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant’s motion to alter,
amend, or vacate the Court’s September 28, 2012, Amended Scheduling Order (DN 12) is
GRANTED and that the September 28, 2012, Amended Scheduling Order (DN 11) is
VACATED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court’s original Scheduling Order (DN 6) is
AMENDED as follows:
(1)

The parties shall complete all pretrial discovery herein no later than

December 26, 2012. As a requirement of discovery, Defendant’s counsel shall produce to
Plaintiff all records or documentation which are relevant to the remaining claims. Counsel shall
certify that the production is complete and shall file the certification with the Court.
Within the same time, Plaintiff shall provide counsel for Defendant any records or
documentation relevant to his remaining claims. Plaintiff shall certify that production is
complete and shall file the certification with the Court. A party who wishes to file discovery
material with the Court must comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(d). See Fed. R. Civ.
P. 5(d)(1) (“[T]he following discovery requests and responses must not be filed until they are
used in the proceeding or the court orders filing: depositions, interrogatories, requests for
documents . . ., and requests for admission.”) (emphasis added).

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(2)

No later than January 25, 2013, Plaintiff shall file a pretrial memorandum setting

forth in detail all facts upon which he bases his claims in this matter against Defendant.
(3)

No later than February 25, 2013, Defendant shall file a pretrial memorandum. In

lieu thereof, or if Plaintiff fails to file the required pretrial memorandum, Defendant may file any
dispositive motions, including motions for summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 56.
(4)

Either party may file dispositive motions at any time after providing the discovery

required above or after providing sufficient reason why discovery is unnecessary for resolution
of the pending motion. All dispositive motions shall be filed no later than February 25, 2013.
(5)

If any party wishes additional time to complete any of the actions directed above,

a motion requesting any such extension must be filed with the Court before any such deadline
expires. Any such motion to extend any time should indicate the reasons for extension. The
Court will not grant an extension unless good cause is shown.
Plaintiff is REMINDED of his continuing obligation to keep the Court informed of any
address change.
Date:

October 31, 2012

cc:

Plaintiff, pro se
Counsel of Record
4413.005

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