Native American Faith Group of the Nebraska State Penitentiary, et al v. Frakes, et al
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER that Plaintiff's claims for prospective injunctive relief may proceed and service is now warranted against the following Defendants in their official capacities; To obtain service of process on Defendants, Plaintiff must complete and return the summons forms which the Clerk of the Court will provide. Plaintiff shall, as soon as possible, complete the forms and send the completed forms back to the Clerk of the Court. In the absence of the forms, service of process cannot occur. Upon receipt of the completed forms, the Clerk of the Court will sign the summons forms, to be forwarded with copies of the Complaint to the U.S. Marshal for service of process. The Marshal shall serve the summons and Complaint withou t payment of costs or fees. Plaintiff is hereby notified that failure to obtain service of process on a Defendant within 90 days of the date of this order may result in dismissal of this matter without further notice as to such Defendant. Once serv ice of process has been completed, the court will schedule a hearing on Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary Injunction (Filing 5 ). Ordered by Senior Judge Richard G. Kopf. (Copies and forms mailed as directed)(SLP)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
MICHAEL JOSEPH SIMS,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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SCOTT R. FRAKES, Director of
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Corrections; DIANE SABATKE)
RHINE, Deputy Director; MICHAEL )
ROTHWELL, Deputy Director;
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SHARON PETTID, Deputy Director; )
RICHARD CRUICKSHANK,
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Warden @ NSP; RANDY
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BARTELT, Religious Coor. @ NSP; )
TIMOTHY KRAMER, Religious
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Coor. @ NSP; and RELIGIOUS
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STUDY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, )
et al, NDCS (multiple committee
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members unknown),
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Defendants.
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8:16CV326
MEMORANDUM
AND ORDER
Plaintiff, Michael Joseph Sims, filed this case on July 5, 2016. He has been
granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The court now conducts an initial review
of Sims’ Complaint (Filing No. 1) to determine whether summary dismissal is
appropriate under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A.
I. SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT
Sims is an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (“NSP”), and apparently
is a member of the Native American Faith Group Practitioners (“NAFGP”) at NSP.
Suing several prison officials, Sims claims Defendants have impinged upon his First
Amendment right to free exercise of religion in several ways: (1) As of July 1, 2016,
the time allowed for NAFGP to conduct a weekly sweatlodge ceremony was reduced
from 2 hours to 1 hour, even though at least 2 hours allegedly is required to conduct
the ceremony; NAFGP was informed it could conduct a biweekly 2-hour sweatlodge
ceremony as an alternative, but other religious groups are allowed to worship on a
weekly basis (Complaint, ¶¶ 1-9).1 (2) The sweatlodge ceremonies are not permitted
to conclude with the burning of tobacco prayer flags and ties (Complaint, ¶¶ 10-13).2
(3) Sims cannot have more than 10 eagle feathers, but an eagle dance bustle which is
used during ceremonial dance at Pow Wow allegedly requires 28 wing feathers and
a tail feather (Complaint, ¶¶ 14-16).3 (4) Only dues-paying members of a Native
1
Sim alleges: “All defendants either alone or while in concert with another
enacted a new administrative regulation 208.01, which precludes the Native American
Faith Practitioners from conducting a weekly sweatlodge worship, while allowing
every other faith group weekly worship.” (Complaint, ¶ 4.) Sims further alleges: “It
is the sincerely held religious belief that Native American Faith Practitioners must
pray and purify in these conditions [exposed to impurities, mentally sick, spiritually
sick, trauma, and witnessing acts of violence] as frequently as one can, daily if
possible. Our weekly worships must continue or our spiritual balance will drastically
decline and our ability to pray will be weakened and/or ineffective.” (Complaint, ¶ 6.)
2
Sims alleges: “All defendants either alone or in concert with another either
enacted or enforced policy, prohibiting the use of tobacco for native american faith
worship either for making ceremonial prayer ties, flags, and/or offerings by the sacred
pipe smoke. It is my sincerely held religious belief and the Native American Faith
practitioners, that tobacco be offered with our prayers to the spirit or spirits called
upon for help. The smoke then carries. prayers to the spirit(s) and the creator. Without
the tobacco ties, flags, and smoke offering through the sacred pipe my prayers are not
making the connection with the creator.” (Complaint, ¶¶ 10, 11.)
3
Sims alleges that Defendants allegedly have refused to recognize the religious
nature of the Pow Wow (Complaint, ¶ 23). He further alleges: “All defendants either
alone or in concert with another either enacted or enforced policy restricting Native
American Faith practitioners to the limit of 10 eagle feathers .... It is my sincerely held
religious belief and the Native American Faith practitioners, that an eagle feather
dance bustle is to be worn during ceremonial dance, at Pow Wow, to fulfill
commitment to the creator, dance in honor of another, or to fulfill a vision. The
ceremonial dance bustle is to emulate the images that is gifted by the creator.... My
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American club are permitted to attend the Pow Wow (Complaint, ¶ 17-18).4 (5) A
ceremonial meal is not permitted at the Pow Wow (Complaint, ¶¶ 19-21).5 (6) The
Pow Wow is limited to 2 hours, while Sims claims that 8 hours on a weekend is
required (Complaint, ¶¶ 24-27).6 Sims alleges that he has “made several attempts
belief is that I must make the eagle feather ceremonial dance bustle to dance for the
health and good help of my family & love ones, to help heal all those in attendance
of the ceremonial dance and fulfill my obligations to the creator. The eagle feathers
will make my prayers strong and loud and project the prayer to the creator in a
harmony & balance.” (Complaint, ¶¶ 14-16.)
4
Sims alleges: “All defendants either alone or in concert with another either
enacted or enforced policy restricting Native American Faith practitioners from
attending spiritual ceremony, aka Pow Wow, requiring them to pay monthly due
payments, and be a member of a [N]ative [A]merican club. It is my sincerely held
religious belief and the Native American Faith practitioners, that all practitioners
should be at the ceremonial dance, that those in need of a blessing of good health and
good help should be allowed to attend and join in the prayers. Attendance should be
available to anyone.” (Complaint, ¶¶ 17-18.)
5
Sims alleges: “All defendants either alone or in concert with another either
enacted or enforced policy restricting Native American Faith practitioners to
ceremonial meal as listed and approved on a 5 week cycle menu, no exceptions or
special substitutions for the specific needs of the faith group. It is my sincerely held
religious belief that a ceremonial meal is shared with everyone in attendance during
ceremonial dance, aka Pow Wow, and that the meal is chosen by the faith
practititioners [sic] reflecting the needs of the community and the season the
ceremony is offered. It is my sincerely held religious belief and the Native American
Faith practitioners that ceremonial foods include Buffalo meat [[N]orth [A]merican
bison/buffalo not water buffalo], Elk, Venison [Deer], Wasna [dried meat pounded &
mixed with berries], corn, squash, wild rice, berries, beans, breads, and potatos. The
meal is served and shared with everyone in attendance at the ceremonial gathering,
aka Pow Wow.” (Complaint, ¶¶ 19-21.)
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Sims alleges: “The defendants either alone or in concert with another either
enacted or enforced policy that limits [N]ative [A]merican club to two hour segments,
which is referred to as Pow Wow. It is my sincerely held religious belief and the
Native American Faith practitioners that ceremonial dance include prayers and
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through interview requests, the grievance procedures, letters to the director’s office,
and numerous proposals to the warden(s), religious study committee members,
religious coordinator(s), and the NSP staff,” but that “[t]he defendants have not
accommodated any requests” (Complaint, ¶ 22).
Sims brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and seeks only injunctive relief,
although he purports to sue all Defendants in their individual and official capacities.
He has requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to allow the
continuation of a weekly 2-hour sweatlodge ceremony (Filing No. 5).
II. STANDARDS ON INITIAL REVIEW
The court is required to review in forma pauperis complaints to determine
whether summary dismissal is appropriate. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). The court must
dismiss a complaint or any portion of it that states a frivolous or malicious claim, that
fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seeks monetary relief
from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
Pro se plaintiffs must set forth enough factual allegations to “nudge[] their
claims across the line from conceivable to plausible,” or “their complaint must be
dismissed.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 569-70 (2007); see also
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (“A claim has facial plausibility when the
plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference
blessing by spiritual elder or medicine man, sharing of ceremonial songs, dances,
honoring of those who made achievements, sharing of ceremonial meal, the give-away
[honoring & gifting all those in attendance with small gifts of appreciation, and
prayers with songs for a safe journey home [for our guests]. Currently, two hours is
not sufficient to conduct these segments of our ceremony. Ceremonial Dances span
days, due to the smaller community within this prison we require from 12:00 p.m.
until 8 p.m. on a weekend, this would allow us to begin the day with a sweatlodge
ceremony, invite guests to our dance and share in prayer, dancing, singing, meal,
give-away, and farewell without any worry of being cut short.” (Complaint, ¶¶ 24-26.)
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that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”). “The essential function of
a complaint under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is to give the opposing party
‘fair notice of the nature and basis or grounds for a claim, and a general indication of
the type of litigation involved.’” Topchian v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 760 F.3d
843, 848 (8th Cir. 2014) (quoting Hopkins v. Saunders, 199 F.3d 968, 973 (8th Cir.
1999)). However, “[a] pro se complaint must be liberally construed, and pro se
litigants are held to a lesser pleading standard than other parties.” Topchian, 760 F.3d
at 849 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
III. ANALYSIS
Although pleaded as a Section 1983 action to enforce rights arising under the
Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, this action may also be maintainable
under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), which
provides, in part:
No government shall impose a substantial burden on the religious
exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution, as defined
in [42 U.S.C. § 1997], even if the burden results from a rule of general
applicability, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the
burden on that person—
(1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
governmental interest.
42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1(a). A jail, prison, or other correctional facility which is owned,
operated, or managed by, or provides services on behalf of any State or political
subdivision of a State, is an “institution.” See 42 U.S.C. § 1997(1). RLUIPA defines
“religious exercise” broadly as including “any exercise of religion, whether or not
compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-5(7)(A).
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“It is well-accepted that ‘[p]rison inmates retain constitutional rights protected
by the First Amendment, including the right to free exercise of religion.’” Native Am.
Council of Tribes v. Weber, 750 F.3d 742, 748-49 (8th Cir. 2014) (quoting Fegans v.
Norris, 537 F.3d 897, 902 (8th Cir. 2008). “Despite this promise, the prison context
is one ‘where it is so easy for governmental officials with so much power over
inmates' lives to deny capriciously one more liberty to those who have already
forfeited so many others.’” Id. (quoting Yellowbear v. Lampert, 741 F.3d 48, 53 (10th
Cir .2014)). Consequently, “Congress granted additional protection for religious
exercise by institutionalized persons through the enactment of RLUIPA.” Id.
Inmates retain a private cause of action to enforce RLUIPA protections. See 42
U.S.C. § 2000cc-2(a) (explaining that “[a] person may assert a violation of [RLUIPA]
as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against a
government”). To succeed on such a claim, an inmate must initially produce “prima
facie evidence” that the challenged government practice “substantially burdens [his]
exercise of religion.” Native Am. Council of Tribes, 750 F.3d at 49 (quoting 42 U.S.C.
§ 2000cc-2(b)). “If the inmate produces such evidence, the burden shifts to the
government to prove every other element of the claim (i.e. that its practice furthers a
compelling government interest and there are no less restrictive means of furthering
that interest).” Id.
“[T]he existence of a sincerely held tenet or belief that is central or fundamental
to an individual’s religion is a prerequisite to a ‘substantially burdened’ claim under
RLUIPA.” Murphy v. Mo. Dep’t of Corr., 506 F.3d 1111, 1115 (8th Cir.2007). “In
order for a government practice to substantially burden a religious exercise, it must
significantly inhibit or constrain conduct or expression that manifests some central
tenet of a person's individual religious beliefs; must meaningfully curtail a person’s
ability to express adherence to his or her faith; or must deny a person reasonable
opportunities to engage in those activities that are fundamental to a person's religion.”
Patel v. U.S. Bureau of Prisons, 515 F.3d 807, 813 (8th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted)
(internal quotation marks omitted).
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For purposes of initial review, and without prejudice to Defendants’ ability to
assert that the Complaint (Filing No. 1) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted, the court finds Sims’ allegations are sufficient to nudge his First Amendment
official-capacity claims for prospective injunctive relief across the “plausibility” line.
However, Sims has not alleged an actionable claim against any Defendant in his or her
individual capacity—it is only alleged in general terms that Defendants enacted or
enforced various regulations and policies. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED:
1.
Plaintiff’s claims for prospective injunctive relief may proceed and
service is now warranted against the following Defendants in their official capacities
only: (1) Scott R. Frakes, Director of Corrections; (2) Diane Sabatke-Rhine, Deputy
Director; (3) Michael Rothwell, Deputy Director; (4) Sharon Pettid, Deputy Director;
(5) Richard Cruickshank, Warden at Nebraska State Penitentiary; (6) Randy Bartelt,
Religious Coordinator at NSP; and (7) Timothy Kramer, Religious Coordinator at
NSP.
2.
To obtain service of process on Defendants, Plaintiff must complete and
return the summons forms which the Clerk of the Court will provide. The Clerk of
the Court shall send SEVEN (7) summons forms and SEVEN (7) USM-285 forms (for
service on Defendants in their official capacities only) to Plaintiff together with a copy
of this Memorandum and Order. Plaintiff shall, as soon as possible, complete the
forms and send the completed forms back to the Clerk of the Court. In the absence
of the forms, service of process cannot occur.
3.
Upon receipt of the completed forms, the Clerk of the Court will sign the
summons forms, to be forwarded with copies of the Complaint to the U.S. Marshal
for service of process. The Marshal shall serve the summons and Complaint without
payment of costs or fees. Service may be by certified mail pursuant to Federal Rule
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of Civil Procedure 4 and Nebraska law in the discretion of the Marshal. The Clerk of
the court will copy the Complaint, and Plaintiff does not need to do so.
4.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 requires service of a complaint on a
defendant within 90 days of filing the complaint. However, because in this order
Plaintiff is informed for the first time of these requirements, Plaintiff is granted, on
the court’s own motion, an extension of time until 90 days from the date of this order
to complete service of process.
5.
Plaintiff is hereby notified that failure to obtain service of process on a
Defendant within 90 days of the date of this order may result in dismissal of this
matter without further notice as to such Defendant. A Defendant has twenty-one (21)
days after receipt of the summons to answer or otherwise respond to a complaint.
6.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to set a pro se case management
deadline in this case with the following text: “December 19, 2016: Check for
completion of service of summons.”
7.
The parties are bound by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and by the
Local Rules of this court. Plaintiff shall keep the court informed of his current address
at all times while this case is pending. Failure to do so may result in dismissal.
8.
Once service of process has been completed, the court will schedule a
hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary
Injunction (Filing No. 5).
DATED this 19th day of September, 2016.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Richard G. Kopf
Senior United States District Judge
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