Wilkerson, et al v. Stalder, et al
Filing
663
RULING granting in part and denying in part 623 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge James J. Brady on 08/03/2015. (NLT)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
ROBERT KING WILKERSON, ET AL.
CIVIL ACTION NO.
00-304-JJB-RLB
VERSUS
RICHARD STALDER, ET AL.
RULING ON MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Defendants move for this Court to grant a partial summary judgment in its favor
dismissing, with prejudice, all of Plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive and declaratory relief as moot,
all claims against Secretary James LeBlanc, and all claims for damages, except those based upon
alleged due process violations (doc. 623, at 1).
I.
BACKGROUND
The three original Plaintiffs, Robert King Wilkerson, Albert Woodfox, and Herman
Wallace, initially brought this action in March 2000 claiming that their continued confinement in
extended lockdown at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana (“LSP”) violated
their rights under (1) the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution (cruel and unusual
punishment) and Article I, Section 20 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 (right to humane
treatment) and (2) the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution (due process)
and Article I, Section 20 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 (due process of law). Eleven of
the sixteen remaining defendants move for this partial summary judgment including: James M.
LeBlanc, Secretary of Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections; the LSP
Defendants, which includes Warden Burl Cain; Deputy Warden Richard Peabody; former Major
Robert Rachal; Major Paul J. Myers; and Former Classification Officier Tom Norris; and the
Wade Defendants, which includes Jerry Goodwin, James Arnold, Lonnie Nail, Chris Evans, and
Mark Hunter.
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Throughout the fifteen years since Plaintiffs instituted this case, there have been four
amended complaints and two Joint Stipulations. The first two amended complaints added no new
claims or defenses. The first amended complaint was filed in September 2000 (doc. 20) and the
second in January 2001 (doc. 36). The first Joint Stipulation occurred in 2007. This Joint
Stipulation dismissed the claim filed under the Eighth Amendment of the United States
Constitution and Article I, Section 20 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. It was dismissed
with prejudice. The due process claim under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States
Constitution and Article I, Section 2 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 was preserved (doc.
248-1, at 1).
In April 2009, Plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint asserting new claims against (1)
Defendant LeBlanc, in his official capacity, (2) all Defendants for alleged violations of
Plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection
Clause of the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution of
1974, and (3) all Defendants for alleged violations of Plaintiffs’ Fourteenth Amendment right
under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 3 of
the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 (doc. 289, at 2). Defendants asserted the defense of qualified
immunity to these new claims (doc. 623-1, at 2).
In July 2009, the parties entered into the second Joint Stipulation. In this Stipulation,
Plaintiffs dismissed their claims for damages (compensatory and punitive) in connection with all
claims asserted under the First Amendment, Eighth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment Equal
Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, and under Article I, Section 3 and 20 of the
Louisiana Constitution of 1974 (doc. 300). Plaintiffs stipulated that the “only request for
monetary damages (compensatory and punitive) currently pending in this case” includes their
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Fourteenth Amendment claim under the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution
and Article I, Section 2 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Id. at 2.
In April 2013, Plaintiffs filed the Fourth Amended Complaint adding ten officials of
Elayn Hunt Correction Center (“Hunt”) and David Wade Correction Center (“Wade”). Plaintiffs
explained the Fourth Amended Complaint was filed only to add the ten officials (doc. 457 at 1).
The Fourth Amended Complaint asserts claims that have been dismissed (as did the Third
Amended Complaint), and those assertions do not supersede the orders and rulings that have
already dismissed such claims (doc. 482, at 6).
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
A motion for summary judgment should be granted when the pleadings, depositions,
answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, show that there is
no genuine dispute of material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A factual dispute is genuine when “the evidence is such that a reasonable
jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. 477 U.S.
242, 248 (1986). The admissibility of evidence for summary judgment purposes conforms to the
rules of admissibility at trial. Pegram v. Honeywell, Inc., 361 F.3d 272, 285 (5th Cir. 2004)
(citations omitted). Material facts are those “that might affect the outcome of the suit under the
governing law.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. Whether a fact is material will depend on the
substantive law. Id. When addressing a summary judgment motion, the court must make
reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmovant. Evans v. City of Bishop, 238 F.3d 586, 589 (5th
Cir. 2000). If the movant meets his initial burden of showing the absence of a genuine dispute of
material fact, the burden shifts to the nonmovant to identify or produce evidence that establishes
a genuine dispute of material fact. Allen v. Rapides Parish Sch. Bd., 204 F.3d 619, 621 (5th Cir.
2000). Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure mandates the granting of summary
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judgment in any case where a party fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence
of an element essential to that party’s case and on which that party will bear the burden of proof
at trial. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986).
III.
ARGUMENTS
a. DISMISSAL OF ALL CLAIMS FOR ANY FORM
DECLARATORY RELIEF
OF
INJUNCTIVE
AND
Plaintiffs’ original complaint sought injunctive relief prohibiting Defendants from
continuing to hold Plaintiffs in extended lockdown, ordering Plaintiffs placement into the general
population of the prison, and enjoining Defendants from taking other adverse actions against
Plaintiffs because of their race, political ideology or affiliation, or in retaliation. Defendants
assert each claim is now moot (doc. 623-1, at 6). The claims for equitable relief asserted by Mr.
Wilkerson and Mr. Wallace have been dismissed. Mr. Wilkerson’s claims were dismissed
because he was released from prison in 2001(doc. 41). In 2013, Mr. Wallace passed away and his
claims were dismissed (doc. 587).
Mr. Woodfox was transferred to the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center on February
12, 2015 pursuant to the West Feliciana Parish arrest warrant and indictment. Defendants argue
Mr. Woodfox is in the custody of the Sheriff of West Feliciana Parish. Defendants conclude they
are not in the position to grant injunctive relief to Mr. Woodfox because he is no longer in state
custody (doc. 623-1, at 6). Defendants argue “the mootness doctrine requires that the controversy
posed by the plaintiff’s complaint be live not only at the time of the filing of the plaintiff’s
complaint but also throughout the entire litigation process.” Id. Defendants argue under Oliver v.
Scott, in the context of prison litigation, a prisoner’s release from or transfer out of a prison
system “consistently” will render the inmate’s claims for injunctive relief moot. 276 F.3d 736,
741 (5th Cir. 2002). Defendants argue it is Mr. Woodfox’s burden to prove “demonstrated
probability” or “reasonable expectation” that Mr. Woodfox will be transferred back into state
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custody and reclassified to CCR upon conviction. Id. Defendants conclude, because Mr.
Woodfox is unable to satisfy this burden, he is unable to maintain his claim for injunctive relief
rendering the claim moot (doc. 623-1, at 7). Defendants argue that once the claims for injunctive
relief are dismissed there is no longer a claim for the corresponding declaratory relief.
Defendants further assert Mr. Woodfox’s transfer out of state custody render the declaratory
relief moot. Id. at 8.
Mr. Woodfox argues Defendants motion should be denied because Defendants fail to
satisfy the requirements of mootness (doc. 628, at 10-11). Mr. Woodfox argues that the mootness
doctrine is not intended to be applied rigidly or mechanically, but flexible weighing
“practicalities and prudential considerations.” US Parole Commission v. Geraghty, 445 U.S. at
388, 404 n.11 (1980). Mr. Woodfox argues under Tex. Office of Pub. Util. Counsel v. F.C.C.,
that the Court must reject mootness if there is reasonable expectation the litigant may face the
same alleged action. 183 F.3d 393, 414 n.17 (5th Cir. 1999). Mr. Woodfox argues the United
States Supreme Court has issued a higher standard for state defendants seeking to dismiss
prisoners claims as moot by requiring “lower courts to reject a mootness application unless it is
‘absolutely clear’ that the inmate will not be subjected to complained of violations again even
without an injunction.” Vitek v. Jones, 445 U.S. 480, 487 (1980).
Mr. Woodfox argues that Defendants are taking advantage of its own transfer in order to
claim Mr. Woodfox’s injunctive and declaratory relief claim as moot. Mr. Woodfox argues that
Defendants sought this same relief by summary judgment motion in 2008, and the motion was
denied (doc. 628, at 14). Mr. Woodfox asserts he remains subject to the State’s incarceration
powers even though he is currently incarcerated in the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center.
Mr. Woodfox argues under State v. Brady, that a detained individual in Louisiana is within the
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State’s custody whether or not that individual is incarcerated in prison or jail. 131 So. 3d 166,
171 (La. Ct. App. 2013). Mr. Woodfox argues he was not formally discharged from Wade, nor
did he receive release papers. Mr. Woodfox concludes Defendants could transfer him back to any
state facility at any time (doc. 628, at 15 n.18). Mr. Woodfox asserts there is substantial evidence
to demonstrate that he will likely be subjected to continued and indefinite solitary confinement.
Id. at 16. Mr. Woodfox argues that the motions for declaratory and injunctive relief should be
considered independently because each is analyzed differently. Mr. Woodfox argues declaratory
relief is a milder alternative to the injunctive remedy. In Steffel, the United State Supreme Court
held that declaratory relief remains if the threat of ongoing or future violations are more likely
than not. Steffel v. Thompson, 415 U.S. 452 (1974).
b. DISMISSAL OF ALL CLAIMS AGAINST DEFENDANT JAMES LEBLANC
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants argue all injunctive and declaratory claims are
moot against all Defendants, including Secretary Leblanc. Secretary LeBlanc was sued only in
his official capacity (doc. 623-1, at 9). Therefore, any claims against Secretary Leblanc in his
official capacity are barred by sovereign immunity. Will v. Michigan Dept. of State Police, 491
U.S. 58, 71 (1989).
For the reasons given above, Mr. Woodfox asserts that Defendants arguments to declare
the injunctive and declaratory claims as moot are erroneous. Mr. Woodfox argues that
Defendants have not set forth any independent basis for dismissing claims against Secretary
LeBlanc. Furthermore, Mr. Woodfox argues “evidence suggest that LeBlanc was personally
involved in the actions challenged in this suit such that claims against him in his individual
capacity may prove appropriate once this round of discovery is completed” (doc. 628, at 20). Mr.
Woodfox asks this Court to postpone review of this motion until the collateral matter of the
unconditional writ is decided first. Id. at 21.
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c. DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE OF ALL CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST ALL
DEFENDANTS OTHER THAN DUE PROCESS CLAIMS
Defendants assert Plaintiffs have previously dismissed all claims for damages in the two
Joint Stipulations, except for due process claims. Therefore, Defendants request a judgment
recognizing the only remaining claim for damages (compensatory or punitive) are based on
alleged due process violations (doc. 623-1, at 10). Plaintiffs do not contest the two Joint
Stipulations referred to by Defendants, nor do they provide argument for not granting the
summary judgment as to the claims for damages, except due process claims.
IV.
CONCLUSION
Motion for Partial Summary Judgment to dismiss claims for injunctive and declaratory
relief, as well as claims against Secretary James LeBlanc is DENIED as there remains a
reasonable expectation that Mr. Woodfox could again return to state custody.
Motion for Partial Summary Judgment to dismiss all claims for damages, except due
process claims, is unopposed and is in accordance with previously filed Joint Stipulations.
Therefore, the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is GRANTED insofar as it dismisses all
claims for damages, except due process claims, as was previously stipulated to.
Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on August 3, 2015.
JUDGE JAMES J. BRADY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
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