Briscoe v. Klaus, et al

Filing 278

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - IT IS ORDERED that the defendants motions 262 & 265 to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) are GRANTED. This case is dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b). The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case file. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Andrew Smyser on 10/05/09. (rc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA ORLAND BRISCOE, Plaintiff v. : : : : : : : : : : CIVIL NO. 3:01-CV-01253

Magistrate Judge Smyser

KENNETH KLAUS, ET AL, Defendants

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Based on the plaintiff's willful failure to attend the pretrial conference on May 20, 2009 and his history of dilatoriness, we will dismiss the instant case pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b).

I. Background and Procedural History.

The plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, commenced this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action by filing a complaint on July 6, 2001. By an Order dated July 12, 2001, the plaintiff

was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

On October 26, 2001, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint. By an Order dated June 21, 2002, defendant The other defendants

Dragovich was dismissed from the case. filed answers to the amended complaint.

In July of 2002, the plaintiff did not attend his scheduled deposition and the defendants filed motions requesting that the action be dismissed. Based on the

plaintiff's explanation that he had been precluded from attending the deposition because prison officials had confiscated his legal materials and his clothing, the motions requesting dismissal were denied.

After the completion of discovery, summary judgment motions were filed. The following claims survived summary

judgment: 1) the plaintiff's claims against defendants Miller, Leggore, Moore, Alianiello, Prave and Zihmer based on a December 17, 1999 alleged excessive use of force in an infirmary cell at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill (SCI-Camp Hill); 2) the plaintiff's claims against defendants Smith and Klaus based on an April 12, 2000 alleged 2

excessive use of force during the course of a strip search at SCI-Camp Hill; and 3) the plaintiff's claims against defendants Stender and Smith based on an April 12, 2000 alleged excessive use of force while transporting the plaintiff from SCI-Camp Hill to the State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh.

By an Order dated August 5, 2004, a final pretrial conference was scheduled for September 9, 2004 and jury selection and trial were scheduled to begin on September 27, 2004. After prison officials notified the court that the

plaintiff had refused to be transported to the final pretrial conference, Judge Munley entered an order on September 8, 2004, which provided that the "Plaintiff's refusal to appear at the Final Pretrial Conference in this matter could be construed as a failure to prosecute the action, as well as a failure to comply with the rules of court and will result in an involuntary dismissal of the action, on the merits, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b)." The Order further directed the Clerk of

Court to serve the order on the plaintiff's custodian via facsimile. The Order directed the plaintiff's custodian to

serve the order on the plaintiff forthwith and to notify the 3

court of the plaintiff's status by 3:00 p.m. on that date. Prison officials then notified the court that the plaintiff had continued to refuse to be transported. By a second order

entered on September 8, 2004, Judge Munley cancelled the September 9, 2004 pretrial conference. By an Order dated

September 10, 2004, after considering the factors set forth in Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 747 F.2d 863 (3d Cir. 1984), Judge Munley dismissed the case pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b).

The plaintiff appealed the dismissal of the case.

The

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that the Court had abused its discretion in dismissing the case sua sponte without providing the plaintiff with a full and fair opportunity to be heard regarding the reason(s) he had failed to attend the pretrial conference. Briscoe v. Klaus, 538 F.3d 252, 255 (3d Cir. 2008). The Third Circuit vacated the Order

dismissing the case and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings. Id. at 264.

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After remand from the Court of Appeals, Judge Munley held a hearing. Judge Munley found that the plaintiff had

refused to be transferred to the final pretrial conference and that his refusal was willful. Judge Munley also found that the

defendants had not demonstrated that the plaintiff's conduct had impeded their ability to effectively prepare for trial, that there was no history of dilatoriness on the part of the plaintiff and that the plaintiff's claims have merit. Memorandum and Order dated March 27, 2009, Judge Munley concluded that dismissal of the action was not warranted. the Order of March 27, 2009, Judge Munley cautioned the plaintiff that non-compliance with future court orders would not be tolerated. By By a

The parties consented to proceed before a magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), and, on March 31, 2009, the case was reassigned to the undersigned.

Finding the plaintiff's unique handwriting style very difficult to read, by an Order dated April 16, 2009, the court ordered the plaintiff to file, on or before May 6, 2009, a 5

legible copy of his amended complaint. comply with the Order.

The plaintiff did not

By a separate Order dated April 16, 2009, trial of the remaining claims was scheduled to commence with jury selection on June 22, 2009 and a pretrial conference was scheduled for May 20, 2009. Each party was ordered to file a pretrial A writ of habeas corpus

memorandum on or before May 13, 2009.

ad testificandum was issued to secure the plaintiff's presence at the pretrial conference.

The defendants filed pretrial memoranda. did not file a pretrial memorandum.

The plaintiff

On May 20, 2009, defense counsel contacted chambers and informed chambers that the plaintiff was refusing to be transported to the pretrial conference and that the plaintiff had stated that he wants to dismiss the case. Counsel asked

whether corrections staff were authorized to forcibly remove the plaintiff from his cell to come to court. We responded

that the court was not authorizing force to be used to move the 6

plaintiff.

We further responded that, if the plaintiff was

expressing that he wanted to dismiss the case, defense counsel should present a stipulation of dismissal for the plaintiff to sign. We informed counsel that if the plaintiff were to sign a

stipulation of dismissal the pretrial conference would be canceled and that otherwise the conference would not be canceled.

Shortly before the time of the pretrial conference on May 20, 2009, the defendants filed a "Motion for Release from Writ." Defense counsel stated in that motion that earlier in

the day he had met with the plaintiff pursuant to the court's order and that the plaintiff had indicated among other things that the case should be dismissed. Defense counsel further

stated that Department of Corrections staff had later attempted to transport the plaintiff to court but that the plaintiff refused to leave his cell to attend the pretrial conference. Defense counsel stated that he returned to the plaintiff's cell with a stipulation for voluntary dismissal and that the plaintiff had refused to sign the stipulation. Defense counsel

stated that Department of Corrections personnel are unable to 7

produce the plaintiff pursuant to the writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum without the use of force.

Defense counsel appeared at the pretrial conference. However, the plaintiff did not appear at the pretrial conference on May 20, 2009.

By an Order dated May 20, 2009, following the pretrial conference, we granted the motion to release the Department of Corrections from the writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum directing that the plaintiff be produced at the pretrial conference. We also ordered the plaintiff to show cause,

within twenty days, why the case should not be dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41 based on the defendants' assertion that the plaintiff had refused to leave his cell to attend the pretrial conference. The pretrial conference and trial were

continued, to a date to be set later if appropriate.

The plaintiff did not file a response to the show cause order of May 20, 2009 within the twenty days specified in the

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order.1

However, on June 15, 2009, the plaintiff did file a It is not clear

response (doc. 267) to the show cause order.

when the plaintiff gave his response to prison officials for mailing. Given the prison mailbox rule, we can not tell We will accept the

whether the response was timely filed. response as timely filed.

In his response to the show cause order, the plaintiff states that he did not receive notice that there was a pretrial

The plaintiff did file two documents (docs. 260 & 261) within twenty days of the May 20th Order. However, neither of those documents were in response to the May 20th Order. One (doc. 260) of the documents was dated May 9, 2009 and postmarked May 18, 2009. That document does not address the issue of the plaintiff's appearance at the pretrial conference. The other (doc. 261) is dated May 20, 2009 and postmarked May 22, 2009. That document is a request for a permanent injunction. In that document that plaintiff states that on May 18, 2009 while at SCI-Graterford he was assaulted, injured and placed on a transport van. He asserts that he was transported to SCI-Camp Hill and refused medical treatment. He asserts that it was claimed that he was at SCI-Camp Hill for a pretrial conference. He asserts, however, that he was not scheduled for a pretrial conference until July or August. He asserts that on May 20, 2009 he was told he had to go to a pretrial conference in this case but that he was refused his legal property and refused a shower and a shave. He asserts that corrections staff told him that they were going to lie and say that he refused to go to the pretrial conference. He asserts that he asked to attend the pretrial conference but that he was denied transport. By an Order dated July 29, 2009, the plaintiff's motion for a permanent injunction was deemed withdrawn based on the plaintiff's failure to file a brief in support of that motion.
1.

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conference scheduled for May 20, 2009.

He states that on May

18, 2009, eight corrections officers entered his cell at SCIGraterford and assaulted him. killed. He states that he was almost

He states he was then transported to SCI-Camp Hill and He states that corrections officers

refused medical treatment.

at SCI-Camp Hill told him that they were not going to take him to the pretrial conference and that they were going to tell the judge that he refused to go to the conference. He states that

on May 20, 2009 he told the corrections officers that he wanted to go to the pretrial conference but they said "no." He states

that he then pleaded for them to please take him to the conference and they said "no, nigger." He also states that the

corrections officers refused to allow him to shower, refused to inventory and forward his legal property, denied him footwear and underclothes and placed him in a hard cell with 24 hour lighting.

The plaintiff attaches to his response a document entitled "Sworn Statement of Inmate." This appears to be a

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statement2 by an inmate Carter.

Inmate Carter states that he

heard and witnessed corrections officers tell the plaintiff that they were not going to take him to the pretrial conference and that they were going to tell the judge that he refused. also states that he heard the plaintiff pleading to go to the conference and the officers responding "no, nigger." He

On June 10, 2009, defendants Miller, Leggore, Moore, Alianiello, Prave, Zihmer, Stender and Smith filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) and a brief and documents in support of that motion. On June 12, 2009,

defendant Klaus filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) and a brief in support of that motion. The

defendants contend that the case should be dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) based on the plaintiff's refusal to attend the pretrial conference and other dilatory conduct on the part of the plaintiff.

The statement is not sworn to nor is there any notation on the statement indicating that it was made under penalty of perjury.
2.

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The defendants submitted a declaration from Chris Chambers, the Unit Manager for the Restricted Housing Unit at SCI-Camp Hill. Chambers states that he was present on the

morning of May 20, 2009 when defense counsel and another attorney met with the plaintiff at his cell to discuss the case. Chambers states that the plaintiff did not cooperate and

participate in a mutual conversation about the proceeding but that the plaintiff made comments about various matters and at one point said something to the effect that the court can dismiss his case. Chambers states that staff attempted to

transport the plaintiff to the courthouse but the plaintiff did not want to leave his cell to attend the court proceeding. Chambers states that the plaintiff refused to obey commands and/or follow procedure which prevented staff from securing the plaintiff in order to remove him from his cell and transport him to the court. Chambers states that the incident was Chambers states

videotaped and provided to defense counsel.

that defense counsel returned to the plaintiff's cell with a form for the plaintiff to sign if he wanted his case dismissed but that the plaintiff refused to sign the form. Chambers

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states that the plaintiff was transported back to SCIGraterford on May 22, 2009.

The defendants also submitted a DVD.

The DVD is

presented to show the plaintiff refusing to attend the pretrial conference at about 11:00 a.m. on May 20, 2009. The DVD

appears to show the plaintiff stating that he does not want to go to the conference. He states that he does not have any of

his legal paper work, that he is not supposed to be down here, that he is not scheduled for court today and that he has no business being down here. He states that he was assaulted

prior to coming here and words to the effect of let the judge know - dismiss the case. The DVD shows that, when asked if he

is refusing to go to court, the plaintiff again states that he was sent down here without his legal property, that he was assaulted at Graterford and that he is not even scheduled for court today.

After requesting and receiving an extension of time, on August 3, 2009, the plaintiff filed a brief in opposition to the defendants' motions to dismiss. 13 The plaintiff contends

that dismissal is not warranted and he again contends that officers refused to transport him to the pretrial conference.3

II.

Discussion.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) provides that "[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may move to dismiss the action or any claim against it." Although dismissal is an

available sanction, it is a drastic sanction which "should be reserved for those cases where there is a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff." Donnelly v. JohnsManville Sales Corp., 677 F.2d 339, 342 (3d Cir. 1982). In

deciding whether to dismiss an action pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b), the court must balance the factors set forth in Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 747 F.2d 863, 868 (3d Cir. 1984). The Poulis factors the court should consider are:

In his brief in opposition, the plaintiff also complains about the conditions he was subject to at SCI-Camp Hill in May of 2009 and he seeks damages for those conditions. It is not appropriate to seek damages for the conditions at SCI-Camp Hill in the instant action.
3.

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(1) the extent of the party's personal responsibility; (2) the prejudice to the adversary caused by the failure to meet scheduling orders and respond to discovery; (3) a history of dilatoriness; (4) whether the conduct of the party or the attorney was willful or in bad faith; (5) the effectiveness of sanctions other than dismissal, which entails an analysis of alternative sanctions; and (6) the meritoriousness of the claim or defense. Id. No single factor is dispositive. Briscoe, supra, 538 F.3d Each factor need not be satisfied for the court to

at 263.

dismiss an action. Ware v. Rodale Press, Inc., 322 F.3d 218, 221 (3d Cir. 2003).

The first Poulis factor is the extent of the party's personal responsibility. proceeding pro se. In this instant case the plaintiff is

A pro se litigant is responsible for Thus, if the

failure to comply with the court's orders.

plaintiff refused to attend the pretrial conference, he failed to comply with the Order scheduling the conference. The

plaintiff denies that he refused to attend the pretrial conference. Rather, the plaintiff contends that corrections

officials refused to transport him to the pretrial conference.

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In light of the DVD submitted by the defendants, we find that the plaintiff's contention (and the statement of inmate Carter) that he did not refuse to attend the pretrial conference is not credible. Although we recognize that the video was not made

under judicially controlled or verifiably reliable conditions, we find it to be adequately reliable for the purposes here. do not have another basis, unless we go to interview the plaintiff in prison or order the use of force to bring him here, to have more information. We find that the plaintiff We

refused to attend the pretrial conference, and we conclude that the plaintiff was personally responsible for failing to attend the pretrial conference scheduled by the court.

The second Poulis factor is prejudice to the adversary. Examples of prejudice are "the irretrievable loss of evidence, the inevitable dimming of witnesses' memories, or the excessive and possibly irremediable burdens or costs imposed on the opposing party." Scarborough v. Eubanks, 747 F.2d 871, 876 (3d Cir. 1984). Prejudice for purposes of the Poulis analysis does

not mean irremediable harm. Ware, supra, 322 F.3d at 222. "[T]he burden imposed by impeding a party's ability to prepare 16

effectively a full and complete trial strategy is sufficiently prejudicial." Id.

At the pretrial conference, the court formulates a trial plan. Briscoe, supra, 538 F.3d at 260. The failure of a

party to disclose its evidence prior to trial or to attend the pretrial conference, stymies the court's ability to properly formulate a trial plan, thereby prejudicing the defendants in their trial preparations. Id. We conclude that the defendants

were prejudiced by the plaintiff's refusal to attend the pretrial conference because they could not properly prepare for trial. The impact of such prejudice could be minimized if the

plaintiff were to attend a subsequent pretrial conference. However, given that the plaintiff has twice now refused to attend the pretrial conference, we do not think it reasonable to conclude that the plaintiff would attend another scheduled pretrial conference, or if he did attend such conference, that he would attend subsequent proceedings scheduled by the court.

Additionally, the plaintiff's refusal to attend the pretrial conference served to delay this case. 17 Defendant Klaus

argues that since the complaint was filed eight years ago, witnesses have relocated and memories of the incident have faded. Defendant Klaus, however, has not presented any

evidence that witnesses have relocated since the time that the plaintiff failed to attend the pretrial conference on May 20, 2009 or even the pretrial conference in 2004. Nevertheless, it

is of course true that delay causes witnesses' memories to fade.

Further, because of the plaintiff's refusal to attend the pretrial conference, the defendants incurred costs associated with preparing and filing motions to dismiss.

We conclude that the plaintiff's conduct has prejudiced the defendants.

The third Poulis factor is a history of dilatoriness. A "party's problematic acts must be evaluated in light of its behavior over the life of the case." Adams v. Trustees, N.J. Brewery Trust Fund, 29 F.3d 863, 875 (3d Cir. 1994). "[C]onduct

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that occurs one or two times is insufficient to demonstrate a `history of dilatoriness.'" Briscoe, supra, 538 F.3d at 261.

In addition to refusing to attend the pretrial conference on May 20, 2009, the plaintiff refused to attend the pretrial conference in 2004. Further, the plaintiff failed to

comply with the Order directing him to file a legible copy of his amended complaint and with the Order directing him to file a pretrial memorandum. Although the plaintiff did not engage

in dilatory actions during the first years of litigating this case, we conclude that he has a history of dilatoriness based on his refusal twice to attend a pretrial conference and his recent failures to comply with court orders.

The fourth Poulis factor is whether the conduct was willful or in bad faith. "Willfulness involves intentional or After

self-serving behavior." Adams, supra, 29 F.3d at 875. viewing the DVD submitted by the defendants, where the

plaintiff is shown refusing to attend the pretrial conference, we conclude that the plaintiff acted willfully in refusing to attend the pretrial conference on May 20, 2009. 19 As indicated

above, after the case was remanded from the Court of Appeals, Judge Munley held a hearing after which he concluded that the plaintiff's refusal to attend the pretrial conference in 2004 was willful. Although it is not clear what the plaintiff hopes

to achieve by refusing to attend court proceedings, a review of the testimony presented at the hearing before Judge Munley reveals that the plaintiff has a habit of refusing to leave his cell to be transported to court proceedings.

The fifth Poulis factor is the effectiveness of alternate sanctions. Dismissal is a sanction of last resort. It is incumbent upon the court

Poulis, supra, 747 F.2d at 869.

to explore the effectiveness of lesser sanctions before ordering dismissal. Id. at 868. Since the plaintiff is

proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis and is incarcerated, there is no basis to reasonably conclude that he would be able to pay monetary sanctions. Therefore, monetary sanctions,

including attorney's fees and costs, would not be an effective sanction for the plaintiff's repeated willful refusal to attend pretrial conferences. In the instant case, no sanction short

of dismissal would be effective. 20

The sixth Poulis factor is the meritoriousness of the claim or defense. In this inquiry, a claim will be deemed

meritorious when the allegations of the complaint, if established at trial, would support recovery. Poulis, supra, 747 F.2d at 870. judgment. fact. The remaining claims have survived summary

Thus, those claims have arguable merit in law and

The fact that the plaintiff's claims have arguable merit support not dismissing this case. However, the other The plaintiff

Poulis factors support dismissing this case.

willfully refused to attend the pretrial conference for a second time. He is personally responsible for his refusal and

his refusal caused significant delay in this case and caused prejudice to the defendants. In addition to refusing to attend

the pretrial conference, the plaintiff failed to comply with other court orders. this case. Other sanctions would not be effective in

After weighing the Poulis factors we conclude that

this case should be dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b).

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III.

Order.

IT IS ORDERED that the defendants' motions (docs. 262 & 265) to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) are GRANTED. This case is dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b). Clerk of Court is directed to close the case file. The

/s/ J. Andrew Smyser J. Andrew Smyser Magistrate Judge

Dated: October 5, 2009.

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