TURNER v. JOHNSON et al

Filing 97

MEMORANDUM filed. Signed by Judge Peter G. Sheridan on 10/28/2020. (jdb)

Case 3:17-cv-00541-PGS-TJB Document 97 Filed 10/28/20 Page 1 of 16 PageID: 900

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
JUAN IBN-DON MUMIT TURNER,
Plaintiff,

Civ. No. 17-541 (PGS) (TJB)

v.
MEMORANDUM
STEVEN JOHNSON, et al.,
Defendants.

I.

INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff, Juan Ibn-Don Mumit Turner (“Plaintiff” or “Turner”) is a state inmate currently

incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison (“NJSP”) in Trenton, New Jersey. He is proceeding
pro se in this civil action pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§

1983. Presently pending before this Court is

Plaintiff’s proposed amended complaint. (See ECF 91). Also pending before this Court is
Defendants Gerard Doran and Steven Johnson’s (collectively the “Moving Defendants”) motion
to dismiss the amended complaint. (See ECF 92). Furthermore, Plaintiff has filed a motion for
partial summary judgment against Moving Defendants. (See ECF 93).
For the following reasons, the second amended complaint will be permitted to proceed in
part. Moving Defendants motion to dismiss is denied. Finally, Plaintiff’s motion for partial
summary judgment is denied without prejudice.
II.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed his initial complaint in January, 2017. (See ECF 1). The original complaint

asserted an access to courts claim against the Moving Defendants which was permitted to

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proceed past screening.’ At the time, this Court noted “[tjhe allegations of the Complaint center
around Plaintiffs assertions that the prison’s delay in delivering his legal mail, which included
an order denying his federal habeas petition, resulted in his loss of opportunity to appeal the
habeas denial.” (See id. at 2).
On December 31, 2017, Moving Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint. (See ECF
28). Plaintiff then filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss as well as a cross-motion to amend
his complaint. (See ECF 31). In the cross-motion to amend, Plaintiff asserted claims against
more defendants as well as a claim for retaliation. This Court heard argument on these two
motions on April 30, 2018. (See ECF 39 & 40). Ultimately, this Court denied Moving
Defendants motion to dismiss, granted Plaintiffs cross-motion to amend, but only permitted
Plaintiffs access to courts claim to proceed against the Moving Defendants. (See ECF 45). Thus,
only the Moving Defendants remained as Defendants in this case at that time.
On July 3, 2018, Moving Defendants answered the amended complaint. (See ECF 52).
The matter than moved into discovery before Magistrate Judge Bongiovanni. On May 31, 2019,
Plaintiff filed a motion to amend his amended complaint. (See ECF 74). The motion was referred
to Magistrate Judge Bongiovanni who granted the motion, giving Plaintiff additional time to file
a second amended complaint. (See ECF 82).
On February 18, 2020, this Court received Plaintiffs second amended complaint. (See
ECF 91). In addition to naming the Moving Defendants, the second amended complaint names
several other corrections officials as defendants. In addition to asserting an access to court claim,
the second amended complaint raises claims of retaliation, confiscation of property, opening

The original complaint also sought to bring an access to courts claim against the Clerk of the
Third Circuit at the time, Marcia Waidron. However, the access to courts claim against her was
dismissed. (See ECF 3 at 2).
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legal mail and equal protection. Additionally, the second amended complaint appears to assert
state law claims related to violations of the New Jersey Administrative Code.
Moving Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint that Plaintiff
opposes. (See ECF 92 & 95). Additionally, Plaintiff filed a motion for partial summary judgment
on his claim that Moving Defendants are liable to him on his access to courts claim that Moving
Defendants oppose. (See ECF 93 & 96).
III.

LEGAL STANDARDS

A. Screening Second Amended Compint and Motion to Dismiss
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Pub.L. 104-134,

§

801-810, 110 Stat. 1321-66

to 1321-77 (Apr. 26, 1996) (“PLRA”), district courts must review complaints in those civil
actions in which a prisoner is proceeding informapauperis, see 28 U.S.C.
seeks redress against a governmental employee or entity, see 28 U.S.C.
claim with respect to prison conditions, see 42 U.S.C.

§

§

§

1915(e)(2)(B),

1915A(b), or brings a

1997e. The PLRA directs district courts

to sua sponte dismiss any claim that is frivolous, is 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. See 28 U.S.C.

§

1915(e)(2)(B).

“The legal standard for dismissing a complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28
U.S.C.

§

1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) is the same as that for dismissing a complaint pursuant to Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).” Schreane v. Seana, 506 F. App’x 120, 122 (3d Cir. 2012)
(citing Allah v. Seiverling, 229 F.3d 220, 223 (3d Cir. 2000)); Mitchell v. Beard, 492 F. App’x
230, 232 (3d Cir. 2012) (discussing 42 U.S.C.

§

1997e(c)(l)); Courteau v. United States, 287 F.

App’x 159, 162 (3d Cir. 2008) (discussing 28 U.S.C.

§

1915A(b)). That standard is set forth in

AshcroJi v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009) and Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007),

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as explicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. To survive the court’s
screening for failure to state a claim, the complaint must allege ‘sufficient factual matter’ to
show that the claim is facially plausible. See Fowler v. UPMC Shadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d
Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). “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.” Fair Wind Sailing, Inc. v. Dempster, 764 F.3d 303, 308 n.3 (3d Cir. 2014)
(quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678). “[A] pleading that offers ‘labels or conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic
recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).

Pro se pleadings, as always, will be liberally construed.2 See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S.
519 (1972). Nevertheless, “pro se litigants still must allege sufficient facts in their complaints to

support a claim.” Mala v. Crown Bay Marina, Inc., 704 F.3d 239, 245 (3d Cir. 2013) (citation
omitted).
A plaintiff may have a cause of action under 42 U.S.C.

§

1983 for certain violations of

constitutional rights. Section 1983 provides in relevant part:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance,
regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the
District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any
citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction
thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immUnities
secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party
injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper
proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a
judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s
judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a
declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was
unavailable.

2

While plaintiff is now proceeding through counsel, given that this Court is reviewing his
complaints which he filed pro se, they will be liberally construed.
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Thus, to state a claim for relief under

§ 1983, a plaintiff must allege first, the violation of

a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and second, that the alleged
deprivation was committed or caused by a person acting under color of state law. See Harvey v.
Plains Twp. Police Dep’t, 635 F.3d 606, 609 (3d Cir. 2011) (citations omitted); see also West v.
Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
B. Summary Judgment Standard
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5 6(a) provides that summary judgment should be granted
“if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see also Anderson v. Liberty
Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); Kreschollekv. S. Stevedoring Co., 223 F.3d 202, 204 (3d
Cir. 2000). In deciding a motion for summary judgment, a court must construe all facts and
inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See Boyle v. Cnty. ofAllegheny
Pa., 139 F.3d 386, 393 (3d Cir. 1998). The moving party bears the burden of establishing that no
genuine issue of material fact remains. See Celotex Corp. v. Catreit, 477 U.S. 317, 322—23
(1986). “[W]ith respect to an issue on which the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof
the burden on the moving party may be discharged by ‘showing’—that is, pointing out to the
district court—that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Id. at
325.
If the moving party meets its threshold burden, the opposing party must present actual
evidence that creates a genuine issue as to a material fact for trial. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at
248; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) (setting forth types of evidence on which nonmoving party
must rely to support its assertion that genuine issues of material fact exist). “[U]nsupported
allegations

...

and pleadings are insufficient to repel summary judgment.” Schoch v. First Fid.

5

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Bancorporation, 912 F.2d 654, 657 (3d Cir. 1990); see also Scheidemantle v. Slippery Rock
Univ. State Sys. ofHigher Educ., 470 F.3d 535, 538 (3d Cir. 2006) (“To prevail on a motion for
summary judgment, the nonmoving party needs to show specific facts such that a reasonable jury
could find in that party’s favor, thereby establishing a genuine issue of fact for trial.”).
IV.

DISCUSSION

A. Screening Second Amended Complaint
Prior to analyzing the two pending motions, this Court must first screen the second
amended complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
i.

§

1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A.

Violation ofNew Jersey Administrative Code Title ]OA

Plaintiff alludes to violations of New Jersey’s Administrative Code Title 1 OA in his
second amended complaint against numerous defendants. Nevertheless, as this Court noted in
screening Plaintiff’s previous amended complaint:
The portions of the administrative code cited by Plaintiff do not
explicitly provide for a private cause of action. When a statute does
not expressly provide a private right of action, New Jersey courts
“have been reluctant to infer” such a right. RI Gaydos Ins.
Agency, Inc. v. Nat ‘1 Consumer Ins. Co., 773 A.2d 1132, 1142
(N.J. 2001). The factors used by courts to determine whether a
statute confers an implied private right of action include whether:
“(1) plaintiff is a member of the class for whose special benefit the
statute was enacted; (2) there is any evidence that the Legislature
intended to create a private right of action under the statute; and (3)
it is consistent with the underlying purposes of the legislative
scheme to infer the existence of such a remedy.” Id. at 1143. While
courts give weight to all three factors, “the primary goal has almost
invariably been a search for the underlying legislative intent.” Ibid.
(quoting Jalowiecki v. Leuc, 440 A.2d 21, 26 (N.J. Super. Ct. App.
Div. 1981)). See also Ferraro v. City ofLong Branch, 714 A.2d
945, 955 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1998) (“[T]he breach of
administrative regulations does not of itself give rise to a private
cause of action.”).
Plaintiff would appear to be among the class of persons for whom
the code provision was intended to benefit, i.e., an inmate at a state
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prison. See, e.g., N.J. ADMIN. CODE § 1 OA:6—2. 1. (“Inmates
have a constitutional right of access to the courts. Correctional
facility authorities shall assist inmates in the preparation and filing
of meaningful legal papers by providing inmates with adequate law
libraries or adequate assistance from persons trained in the law.”).
There is no support that the Legislature intended these provisions
to provide a basis for a civil suit for damages, or authorized the
Commissioner of the Department of Corrections to create a basis
for state civil liability in the administrative code.
Turner v. Johnson, No. 17-0541, 2018 WL 2859678, at *6 (D.N.J. June 11, 2018). Accordingly,
this portion of the second amended complaint is dismissed with prejudice for failure to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted.

ii.

Access to Courts

—

Johnson and Doran

Johnson is the administrator of NJSP. Doran is a Sergeant at the NJSP. This Court
previously proceeded Plaintiff’s access to courts claim against Johnson and Doran and denied
Moving Defendants motion to dismiss this claim against him. Indeed, the claim has already had
extensive discovery before Magistrate Judge Bongiovanni.
The second amended complaint brings the access to court claim against Johnson and
Doran in both their official and individual capacities. However, Plaintiff cannot bring his access
to courts claim for monetary damages against these two defendants in their official capacities.
Indeed, a state official sued in his official capacity for monetary damages is not a “person” for
purposes of Section 1983. See House v. Fisher, No. 14-2133, 2016 WL 538648, at *7 (M.D. Pa.
Feb. 11, 2016) (citing Will v. Michigan Dep ‘t ofState Police, 491 U.S. 58, 63-7 1 (1989)); Goode

v. New Jersey Dep ‘t of Corr., No. 11-6960, 2015 WL 1924409, at * 10 (D.N.J. Apr. 28, 2015)
(state officials sued in official capacities for monetary damages are not “persons” within

meaning of Section 1983); Johnson v. Mondrosch, No. 13-3461, 2013 WL 12085239, at *3 (E.D.
To the extent that Plaintiff seeks monetary damages from all of the defendants named in the
complaint in their official capacities, such claims will also be dismissed with prejudice.
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Pa. Dec. 3, 2013) (same). Additionally, “[i]ndividual state employees sued in their official
capacity are also entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity because ‘official-capacity suits
generally represent only another way of pleading an action’ against the state.” Betts v. New
Castle Youth Dev. Ctr., 621 F.3d 249, 254 (3d Cir. 2010) (quoting Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21,
25 (1991)). Thus, this portion of the access to courts claim against these two defendants will be

dismissed with prejudice.
Nevertheless, for similar reasons discussed in this Court’s June 11, 2018 opinion,
Plaintiffs access to courts claim against Johnson and Doran to the extent it seeks injunctive
relief, as well as his claim against them in their individual capacities for monetary damages shall
be permitted to proceed.
iii.

Retaliation

—

Goodwin & Jovanovic

Plaintiff next alleges he was retaliated against by Senior Correctional Officers Goodwin
and Jovanovic because his filed this civil action. (See ECF 91 at 12-13). He states these two
officers retaliated against him by preventing him from showering for three days. (See id).
“A prisoner alleging retaliation must show (1) constitutionally protected conduct, (2) an
adverse action by prison officials sufficient to deter a person of ordinary firmness from
exercising his constitutional rights, and (3) a causal connection between the exercise of his
constitutional rights and the adverse action taken against him.” Mack v. Yost, 427 F. App’x 70,
72 (3d Cir. 2011) (quoting Mitchell v. Horn, 318 F.3d 523, 530 (3d Cir. 2003)). With respect to
the third element, the plaintiff must allege that the constitutionally protected conduct was a
substantial or motivating factor for the adverse action to sufficiently state a retaliation claim. See
Velasquez v. Diguglielmo, 516 F. Appx. 91, 95 (3d Cir. 2013) (citing Cater v. McGrady, 292

F.3d 152, 157, 158 (3d Cir. 2002)); Rauser [v. Horn, 241 F.3d [330,] 333 [(3d Cir. 2001)].

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Plaintiff fails to allege with facial plausibility a retaliation claim against Goodwin and
Jovanovic. To be considered adverse, the action must be more than de minitnus. See Watson v.
Rosum, 834 F.3d 417, 423 (3d Cir. 2016); McKee v. Hart, 436 F.3d 165, 170 (3d Cir. 2006).

Plaintiff’s s allegation that these two officers prevented him from showering for three days
insufficiently alleges an adverse action necessary to sustain a retaliation claim. See Purdie v.
Graham, No. 09-971, 2012 WL 1085817, at *7 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 29, 2012) (denial of showers for
a few days does not rise to level of adverse action), report and recommendation adopted in part
and denied in part, 2012 WL 1097321 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2012). Accordingly, this claim
against these two defendants is dismissed without prejudice. These two defendants will be
terminated from this action.
iv.

Withholding Mail

—

Kelly, Martin & Patterson

Plaintiff next argues mail from Florida, which included two boxes of legal material, was
impermissibly withheld fir two months. This purportedly placed Plaintiff at a disadvantage in
litigating this civil rights action. Defendants Kelly, Martin and Patterson were purportedly
involved in withholding this mail from Plaintiff.
Initially, Plaintiff may be asserting an access to courts claim against these three
Defendants. As this Court noted in a prior opinion in this case:
An access to the courts claim requires a plaintiff to plead facts
indicating “he has suffered an actual injury to his ability to present
a claim. A prisoner can show an actual injury only when a
nonfrivolous, arguable claim is lost.” Henry v. Moore, 500 F.
App’x 115, 117 (3d Cir. 2012) (citing Christopher v. 1-larbury, 536
U.S. 403, 415 (2002); Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 352—54
(1996)). Additionally, “the claim must relate to either a direct or
collateral challenge to the prisoner’s sentence or conditions of
confinement [and] a prisoner must demonstrate that no other
remedy will potentially compensate for the lost claim.” Ibid.
(internal citations omitted); see also Lewis, 518 U.S. at 355
(“impairment of any other litigating capacity is simply one-of-the
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incidental (and perfectly constitutional) consequences of
conviction and incarceration.”).
Turner, 2018 WL 2859678, at *4

Plaintiff fails to state an access to court claim against these three defendants for their
purported withholding of his mail as he fails to allege actual injury. Indeed, this case is ongoing.
While Plaintiff states that this property was withheld from him during the time he was deposed,
Plaintiff does not indicate what arguable claim(s) he has lost in this action by him being deprived
of documents for two months.
Additionally, the purported deprivation of Plaintiffs property for two months does not
state an independent constitutional claim in and of itself. Indeed:
An unauthorized deprivation of property by a state actor, whether
intentional or negligent, does not constitute a violation of the
procedural requirements of the Due Process Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment if a meaningful post-deprivation remedy
for the loss is available. Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 530—36
(1984); Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 543—44 (1981), overruled
in part on other grounds, Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 328
(1986). In Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 43 5—36

(1982), the Supreme Court explained, however, that postdeprivation remedies do not satisfy the Due Process Clause if the
deprivation of property is accomplished pursuant to established
state procedure rather than through random, unauthorized action.
Stokes v. Lanigan, No. 12—1478, 2012 WL 4662487, at *4 (D.N.J. Oct. 2, 2012). New Jersey

provides a post-deprivation remedy for unauthorized deprivation of property by public
employees through the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, N.J. Stat. Ann.

§

59:1—1, et seq. Because a

meaningful post-deprivation remedy is available, Plaintiff fails to state a due process claim with
respect to the purported withholding of his property. Therefore, Plaintiffs claims against Kelly,
Martin and Patterson are denied without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief
may be granted. Each will be terminated from this action as defendants.

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v.

Retaliation Removaifrom Prison Class
-

—

Merten

Plaintiff next complains that Defendant Merten improperly removed him from his college
correspondence course on December 18, 2019 in retaliation for Plaintiff filing this action.
Plaintiff though admits Administrator Emrich reassigned Plaintiff back to the college
correspondence program a few weeks later on January 8, 2020. (See ECF 91 at 26).
This Court finds that Petitioner’s removal from his college correspondence course
by Merten on one occasion

—

and one that Plaintiff admits he was subsequently reinstated to

-

fails to allege a sufficiently adverse action that is more than de minimus. See, e.g., Walker v.
Mathis, 665 F. App’x 140, 143 (3d Cir. 2016) (temporary removal from work assignment and
wages for two days insufficient to meet adverse action); Brightwell v. Lehman, 637 F.3d 187,
194 (3d Cir. 2011) (charging plaintiff with prison misconduct charge that is later dismissed does
not rise to the level of adverse action). Accordingly, Plaintiff’s retaliation claim against Merten
fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. The Clerk will be ordered to terminate
Merten as a defendant in this action.
vi.

Access to Courts/Retaliation

—

Preventing Law Library Time

—

Cox & Chavis

Plaintiff next asserts that his access to the courts was violated when he was prevented by
Defendants Cox and Chavis from visiting the law library on one occasion. This claim fails to
state an access to courts claim because Plaintiff fails to allege any actual injury

—

namely that he

was prevented from asserting a non-frivolous, arguable claim based on this one-day deprivation.
Accordingly’, this claim is dismissed without prejudice as to these two defendants.
Plaintiff also appears to assert that he was prevented from visiting the law library by
these two defendants one afternoon in retaliation for filing grievances/this lawsuit. However, this
Court finds that such an allegation fails to sufficiently allege an adverse action as it is de

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minimus. See Meeks v. Schofield, 625 F. App’x 697, 701-02 (6th Cir. 2015) (denial of access to
law library on one occasion was de minimus conduct that did not constitute an adverse action).
The clerk will be ordered to terminate defendant Cox from this action.4
vii.

Opening Legal Mail

—

Chavis

Next, Petitioner alleges he received legal mail on two occasions from Chavis that had
already been opened.
A

§

1983 plaintiff cannot rely solely on a respondeat superior theory to establish

liability. See Alexander v. Gennarini, 144 F. Appx. 924, 925 (3d Cir. 2005) (“Section 1983
liability cannot be found solely on the basis of respondeat superior”). Instead, a plaintiff must
allege that a supervisor had a personal involvement in the alleged wrongs. See Rode v.
Dellaciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir. 1988). “Personal involvement can be shown through
allegations of personal direction or of actual knowledge and acquiescence.” Evancho v. Fisher,
423 F.3d 347, 353 (3d Cir. 2005) (citation omitted).
A plaintiff may state a First Amendment claim against a defendant who read his legal
materials if he alleges that there was a pattern or practice of opening and reading his legal
materials outside of his presence. See Schreane v. Holt, 482 F. App’x 684, 676-77 (3d Cir. 2012)
(“Prisoners may establish a violation of the First Amendment without establishing actual injury
where there is a pattern and practice of opening properly marked incoming legal mail outside the
prisoner’s presence.”) (citing Jones v. Brown, 461 F.3d 353, 359 (3d Cir. 2006)); see also
Thompson v. Ilayman, No. 09-1833, 2011 WL 2652185, at *5 (D.N.J. July 6, 2011) (same).
However, absent a pattern or practice, a plaintiff fails to state a claim. Accord Orliz v. Prison Bd.
Members, No. 08-2 126, 2011 WL 776195, at *4 (M.D. Pa. Feb. 28, 2011) (finding amended

“For reasons described infra, Chavis shall also be terminated as a defendant.
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complaint failed to state First Amendment claim where there was no assertion that mail was
opened outside of his presence pursuant to any pattern, practice or policy); Hale v. Pennsylvania
Dep’t of Corr., No. 07-0345, 2010 WL 3791833, at *3 (M.D. Pa. Sept. 16, 2010) (“Isolated
incidents of opening legal mail outside of an inmate’s presence, without any evidence of
improper motive, is nothing more than an assertion of negligence, and is insufficient to establish
a constitutional violation.”) (citations omitted).
Based on the allegations of the second amended complaint, Plaintiff fails to state a claim
against Chavis. The second amended complaint does not even allege that Chavis was responsible
for opening his mail. Rather, it appears Chavis is only implicated as the individual who gave
Plaintiff his mail once it was already opened. As indicated above, Chavis cannot be held
responsible under a respondeat superior theory of liability. Plaintiff fails to allege the requisite
level of Chavis’ personal involvement in this claim to sustain in past screening. Accordingly, the
second amended complaint fails to state with any facial plausibility that Chavis is liable on this
claim. Accordingly, Chavis shall also be terminated as a defendant.
viii.

Equal Protection/Retaliation Preventing Family from In-Person Visitation
Orne & Emrich
-

—

Finally, Plaintiff alleges that defendants Orne and Emrich violated his constitutional
rights by “making up” a policy that prevents Plaintiff from receiving in-person visits if the visitor
is on the visiting list of any other inmate in the state. Plaintiff states this “made up” policy
violates his equal protection rights and was implemented to retaliate against him. Each of these
claims are considered in turn.
a. Equal Protection
“The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment commands that no State
shall ‘deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,’ which is

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essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike.” City of
Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985) (citing Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202,
216 (1982)). Thus, to state a claim under the Equal Protection Clause, a plaintiff must allege that:
(1) he is a member of a protected class; and (b) he was treated differently from similarly situated
inmates. See id. Where the plaintiff does not claim membership in a protected class, he must
allege arbitrary and intentional discrimination to state an equal protection claim. See Village of
Willowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000). Specifically, he must state facts showing that:
“(1) the defendant treated him differently from others similarly situated, (2) the defendant did so
intentionally, and (3) there was no rational basis for the difference in treatment.” Hill v. Borough
ofKutztown, 455 F.3d 225, 239 (3d Cir. 2006). Prison inmates though are not members of a
protected class. See Abdul—Akbar v. McKelvie, 239 F.3d 307, 317 (3d Cir. 2001) (stating that
prisoners are not a suspect class).
Plaintiff’s allegations do not state that he is a member of a protected class. Therefore, his
equal protection claim against them can only proceed if he has sufficiently alleged a “class of
one” equal protection theory. Plaintiff’s allegations fail to do so. Most notably, he fails to allege
that similarly situated inmates (i.e., inmates that had in-person visitors on other inmates’
visitation lists) were permitted to visit the prisoner. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to properly allege
an equal protection claim such that it will be dismissed without prejudice.
b. Retaliation
Next, Plaintiff alleges that this “made up” visitation policy was done in retaliation for
Plaintiff filing this lawsuit. Plaintiff alludes to an incident in January 2017 where his family
members were turned away. Additionally, Plaintiff alleges the limitation on his in-person
visitation has reoccurred since he returned from Florida in 2019.

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The filing of this lawsuit protected constitutional activity. See Mearin v. Vidonish, 450 F.
App’x 100, 102 (3d Cir. 2011). Additionally, this Court will presume at this screening stage,
without deciding, that restricting Plaintiffs ability to receive visitation from certain family
members could constitute an adverse action. Cf Rauser v. Horn, 241 F.3d 330, 333 (3d Cir.
2001) (transfer to prison where family could not visit could constitute adverse action). Finally,
this Court finds Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged a causal connection.
To establish the requisite causal connection for a retaliation claim
predicated on the First Amendment, the plaintiff (here, a prisoner)
usually has to prove one of two things: (1) an unusually suggestive
time proximity between the protected activity and the allegedly
retaliatory action; or (2) a pattern of antagonism coupled with
timing to establish a causal link. Lauren W. ex rel. Jean W. v.
DeFlaminis, 480 F.3d 259, 267 (3d Cir. 2007). If neither of these
showings is made, then the plaintiff must show that, from the
evidence in the record as a whole, the trier of fact should infer
causation.” Id
DeFranco v. Wolfe, 387 F. App’x 147, 154 (3d Cir. 2010). While certainly not conclusive,

Plaintiff alleges family members were prevented from visiting him starting in January, 2017.
Temporal proximity has been shown as this lawsuit was also filed in January, 2017. Accordingly,
Plaintiffs retaliation claim against Orne and Emrich will be permitted to proceed.5
B. Doran/Johnson’s Motion to Dismiss
Defendants Doran and Johnson have filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint.
(See ECF 91). Doran and Johnson’s first to two arguments for dismissal in their motion have

effectively been granted already. First, this Court has dismissed Plaintiffs claims for monetary
damages against them in their official capacities. Second, this Court has dismissed any claims
that Plaintiff is attempting to bring pursuant to Title 1OA of New Jersey’s Administrative Code.

There may in fact be a legitimate penological interest at issue when the prison implemented its
visitation policy. However, such analysis is not appropriate at this early screening stage.
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Case 3:17-cv-00541-PGS-TJB Document 97 Filed 10/28/20 Page 16 of 16 PageID: 915

Finally though, this Court has screened the second amended complaint pursuant to the Rule
12(b)(6) standard and determined that Plaintiff’s access to court claim against them for
injunctive relief as well as his access to courts claim against them in their individual capacities
shall proceed. Thus, Moving Defendants’ motion to dismiss is denied.
C. Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
Finally, Plaintiff brings a motion for partial summary judgment against Doran and
Johnson on his access to courts claim. Specifically, he seeks judgment against both Defendants
on liability as to this claim. (See ECF 93). The motion will be denied without prejudice at this
time. For instance, Plaintiff fails to show there is no genuine issue of material fact that he
suffered an actual injuiy, i.e., a nonfrivolous, arguable claim in his habeas case before Judge
Simandle that was lost by Doran and Johnson’s actions.
V.

CONCLUSION

For the frregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s amended complaint will proceed in part. Moving
Defendants’ motion to dismiss is denied. Plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment is
denied without prejudice. An appropriate order will be entered.

iDf/ 0

PETER G. SHERIDAN, U.S.D.J.

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