TROTMAN v. SMITH
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION re 26 MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM filed by TIMOTHY SMITH. The Motion to Dismiss will be GRANTED. Order to follow. Signed by Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lanzillo on 7/16/2021. (dm)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
ENERVA W. TROTMAN
Plaintiff,
v.
TIMOTHY SMITH,
Defendant.
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Civil Action No. 1:20-68
MEMORANDUM OPINION
In this pro se civil rights lawsuit, Plaintiff Enerva W. Trotman (“Trotman”), an inmate at
the Federal Correctional Institution-McKean in Lewis Run, Pennsylvania, alleges that a Bureau of
Prisons (“BOP”) correctional officer, Defendant Timothy Smith (“Smith”), denied him an
approved transfer to another housing unit and filed a false misconduct charge against him in
retaliation for two prior lawsuits that Trotman had filed against Smith.
Smith has moved the Court to dismiss Trotman’s claims under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a cognizable claim for relief. 1 (ECF No. 26.) For the reasons
that follow, Smith’s motion will be granted. 2
1
Alternatively, Smith contends that he is entitled to summary judgment under Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 56 based on the doctrine of qualified immunity. Although, in an order dated
November 23, 2020, the Court advised the parties that it may convert the pending motion to one
for summary judgment (ECF No. 28), after further review the Court finds it unnecessary to do so
because it need not reach Smith’s qualified immunity argument.
2
The parties have consented to the jurisdiction of the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge
to conduct all proceedings in this case, including the entry of final judgment, as authorized by 28
U.S.C. § 636. (ECF Nos. 23, 24.)
I.
Factual Background 3
In 2017, Trotman filed two lawsuits that involved Smith. First, in a habeas petition,
Trotman asserted that his due process rights were violated when the BOP disallowed ten days of
good conduct time after Smith initiated a disciplinary action against him. Trotman v. Warden, FCI
McKean, No. 1:17-cv-235, (W.D. Pa. Oct. 25, 2018). This Court denied habeas relief based on its
determination that the BOP’s decision rested upon evidence sufficient to survive review by a
federal habeas court. See id. Second, in a separate civil rights lawsuit, Trotman alleged that Smith
engaged in racial discrimination, libel, slander, defamation of character, and religious
discrimination. Trotman v. Smith, No. 1:17-cv-285, 2019 WL 1359483, at *1 (W.D. Pa. March 26,
2019). This Court granted summary judgment in favor of Smith in that case because Trotman had
failed to comply with the four-step administrative remedy process required by the Federal Tort
Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a), and the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 42 U.S.C. §
1997e(a). Id. at *3.
3
To contextualize Trotman’s allegations, the Court takes judicial notice of the disposition of
Trotman’s prior lawsuits against Smith. See Southern Cross Overseas Agencies, Inc. v. Wah
Kwong Shipping Group Ltd., 181 F.3d 410, 426 (3d Cir. 1999) (“[A] court may properly look at
public records, including judicial proceedings, in addition to the allegations in the complaint” in
deciding a motion to dismiss.); McTernan v. City of York, 577 F.3d 521, 526 (3d Cir. 2009) (“[A]
court may take judicial notice of a prior judicial opinion.”). The Court also finds it appropriate to
consider the exhibits appended to the Complaint in resolving the pending motion. See Hartig Drug
Co. v. Senju Pharm. Co., 836 F.3d 261, 268 (3d Cir. 2016) (“In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion,
a court . . . consider[s] only the complaint, exhibits attached to the complaint, matters of public
record, as well as undisputedly authentic documents if the complainant’s claims are based upon
these documents.”); Schmidt v. Skolas, 770 F.3d 241, 249 (3d Cir. 2014) (“[T]he primary problem
raised by looking to documents outside the complaint—lack of notice to the plaintiff—is dissipated
where the plaintiff has actual notice . . . and has relied upon these documents in framing the
complaint.”). And although Trotman has filed an Amended Complaint (ECF No. 11), given his
pro se status, the Court construes this subsequent filing—which merely elaborates on the injuries
that he suffered—as a supplement to the Complaint. Accordingly, the original Complaint remains
the operative pleading in this lawsuit.
2
Trotman alleges that on March 28, 2019, he was called to the Lieutenant’s Office and asked
whether he was getting along with Smith. (ECF No. 11 (“Supp. Compl.”) ¶ 3; see ECF No. 5-1 at
6.) Apparently, this meeting occurred two days after the Court granted summary judgment in favor
of Smith in the second lawsuit Trotman had filed against him in 2017. A couple of weeks later, on
April 12, 2019, Trotman asked Smith for a cart to transport his property from one housing unit to
another. (Supp. Compl. ¶ 1; ECF No. 5-1 at 6, 9.) When Smith denied his request, Trotman asked
to be taken to Lieutenant’s Office so that he could seek permission to use the cart. (Supp. Compl.
¶ 1; ECF No. 5-1 at 6, 9.) Smith told Trotman that he could go to the Lieutenant’s Office when the
next controlled move started. (Supp. Compl. ¶ 1.)
According to Trotman, Smith then allowed other inmates to move but detained Trotman.
(Id.) While the move was still in progress, Smith radioed Lieutenant Thompson and then ordered
Trotman to go to the Lieutenant’s Office by stating “hey nigger go to the . . . office.” (Id.; ECF
No. 5 (“Compl.”) at 2.) Trotman alleges that, once in the Lieutenant’s Office, he was falsely
accused of threatening his unit counselor, a Mr. Haines, prompting an “in-house investigation.”
(Supp. Compl. ¶ 2; see ECF No. 5-1 at 9.) Two hours later, Trotman was placed in disciplinary
segregation for two weeks. (Compl. at 2; Supp. Compl. ¶ 2.)
Apparently, Smith had reported that he overheard Trotman say that “[t]his is retaliation, I
will let the courts get him. I am going to get Mr. Haines one way or another,” and that when Smith
asked Trotman about this statement, Trotman replied, “[t]his is not about you, I’m going to get
Haines!” (ECF No. 5-1 at 1.) Trotman maintains that he never made any threatening statements to
anyone and alleges that Mr. Haines—who is a “foe” of Trotman—colluded with Smith to frame
him. (Compl. at 2; ECF No. 5-1 at 6.)
3
A Disciplinary Hearing Officer (“DHO”) conducted a hearing on the misconduct charge
on June 4, 2019. (ECF No. 5-1 at 1.) Trotman called three witnesses. (Id. at 3.) One of those
witnesses stated that he did not observe any interaction between Trotman and Smith. (Id. at 4.) The
second witness testified that Trotman did not even speak to Smith. (Id.) And the third witness
claimed that he did not hear anything. (Id.) A few days after the hearing, on June 13, 2019, Trotman
sent a message to the warden’s office advising that one of his witnesses had informed him that
Smith was intimidating witnesses. (Id. at 11.) The warden acknowledged receipt of Trotman’s
message on June 17, 2019. (Id. at 10.)
The DHO issued his decision on June 24, 2019. (Id. at 2–5.) He determined that Trotman
had made the threatening statements and disallowed twenty-seven days of Trotman’s good conduct
time as a sanction. (Id. at 4–5; Supp. Compl. ¶ 2.) Trotman pursued an administrative appeal of
the DHO’s decision on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to support it. (ECF No. 5-1
at 6–9.) On October 4, 2019, Trotman’s appeal was granted because “[a] thorough review of the
record reveal[ed] questions concerning the disciplinary process.” (Id. at 8.) Based on this review,
the disciplinary action and the sanctions imposed were expunged from Trotman’s record. (Id.)
Trotman then filed this lawsuit in which he alleges that Smith had engaged in a “retaliatory
tactic” by falsely accusing him of threatening staff. (Supp. Compl. ¶ 3.) Trotman asserts that
Smith’s action constitutes a pattern because this was the second time that Smith had filed a false
incident report against Trotman that resulted in his being placed in disciplinary segregation—the
first being in 2015. (Id.; see ECF No. 5-1 at 6.) According to Trotman, the BOP’s imposed
punishments of disciplinary segregation and forfeiture of good conduct time were disproportionate
to the alleged offense and not supported by evidence. (Supp. Compl. ¶ 2.) Trotman alleges that his
injures include time spent in segregation, loss of commissary privileges, restricted showers,
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restricted phone calls, inability to buy hygiene products, mental anguish, and a “shot on record
[which] stops transfer/raises custody.” (Id. at 2.)
Based on the foregoing, Trotman contends that Smith violated his First Amendment, Fifth
Amendment, Eighth Amendment, and Fourteenth Amendment constitutional rights, as well as 28
C.F.R. § 7.12, (Compl. at 2, 4), and his right, under 28 C.F.R. § 541.12 “to expect that as a human
being [he] will be treated respectfully, impartially and fairly by all personnel.” 4 (Supp. Compl. ¶
3.) Trotman seeks injunctive relief, in form of a Court order compelling Smith to attend anger
management, as well as one million dollars in damages. (Compl. at 3; Supp. Compl. at 2.)
II.
Procedural History
Trotman initiated this lawsuit by filing a motion to proceed in forma pauperis which the
Court granted on April 23, 2020; the Complaint was docketed on April 27, 2021. (ECF Nos. 4, 5.)
Smith filed the currently pending motion with an accompanying brief to which Trotman has
responded. (ECF Nos. 26, 27, 31). Accordingly, the matter is ripe for consideration. 5
4
There is no Section 7.12 in the current version of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
And although Section 541.12 was in the 1989 version of Title 28 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, that section has been repealed. See Moses v. Ortiz, No. 18-12380(NLH), 2021 WL
268185, at *4 (D.N.J. Jan. 27, 2021) (noting that 28 C.F.R. 541.12 (1989) has been repealed).
Accordingly, this opinion focuses on whether Trotman has plausibly alleged any violations of his
constitutional rights.
5
Smith’s motion seeks dismissal of the Amended Complaint which the Court has construed as a
supplement to the Complaint. (See supra n.3.) While Smith’s motion is not directed at the operative
pleading in this lawsuit, the Court notes that, because Trotman is a prisoner who has been granted
in forma pauperis status, the screening provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”)
are applicable to this case. And the Court’s “obligation to dismiss a complaint under the PLRA is
not excused even after the defendants have filed a motion to dismiss if it appears that the complaint
fails to state a claim based upon grounds not raised by the defendants in their motion to dismiss.”
Dare v. United States, 2007 WL 1811198, at *4 (W.D. Pa. June 21, 2007) (citing Lopez v. Smith,
203 F.3d 1122, 1126 n.6 (9th Cir. 2000)). In screening complaints under the PLRA, courts utilize
the same standard applied to motions to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).
D’Agostino v. CECOM RDEC, 436 Fed. Appx. 70, 72 (3d Cir. 2011) (citing Tourscher v.
McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 240 (3d Cir. 1999)).
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III.
Standard of Review
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) provides for the dismissal of a complaint, in
whole or in part, for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
12(b)(6). In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the court must “accept all factual allegations as true,
construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and determine whether, under
any reasonable reading of the complaint, the plaintiff may be entitled to relief.” Fowler v. UPMC
Shadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir. 2009) (quoting Phillips v. Cnty. of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224,
233 (3d Cir. 2008)). While “accept[ing] all of the complaint’s well-pleaded facts as true,” the court
“may disregard any legal conclusions.” Id. at 210–11.
To survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must plead “enough facts to state a claim to
relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “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.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556
U.S. 662, 678 (2009). “Though ‘detailed factual allegations’ are not required, a complaint must do
more than simply provide ‘labels and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a
cause of action.’” Davis v. Abington Mem’l Hosp., 765 F.3d 236, 241 (3d Cir. 2014) (quoting
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). In sum, the plaintiff “must plead facts sufficient to show that her claim
has substantive plausibility.” Johnson v. City of Shelby, Miss., 574 U.S. 10 (2014).
To assess the sufficiency of a complaint, a court must take three steps: (1) outline the
elements the plaintiff must plead to state a claim for relief; (2) peel away those allegations that are
no more than conclusions and thus not entitled to the assumption of truth; (3) look for well-pled
factual allegations, assume their veracity, and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to
an entitlement to relief. Bistrian v. Levi, 696 F.3d 352, 365 (3d Cir. 2012). The court’s plausibility
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determination is “a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial
experience and common sense.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679.
“[P]ro se litigants are held to a lesser pleading standard than other parties.” Fed. Express
Corp. v. Holowecki, 552 U.S. 389, 402 (2008). “A document filed pro se is to be liberally construed
and a pro se complaint, however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than
formal pleadings drafted by lawyers[.]” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (internal
citation and quotation marks omitted); see also Higgs v. Att’y Gen., 655 F.3d 333, 339 (3d Cir.
2011) (“The obligation to liberally construe a pro se litigant’s pleadings is well-established.”).
Notwithstanding this liberality, pro se litigants are not relieved of their obligation to allege
sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal claim. Mala v. Crown Bay Marina, Inc., 704 F.3d
239, 245 (3d Cir. 2013) (citing Riddle v. Mondragon, 83 F.3d 1197, 1202 (10th Cir.1996)).
IV.
Discussion
Trotman claims that Smith violated his First Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and Eighth
Amendment constitutional rights. 6 The Court construes these claims as being brought against
Smith in his individual capacity because an official capacity lawsuit against a federal employee,
such as Smith, is “in all respects other than name, to be treated as a suit against the” United States,
Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165–66 (1985), and “[i]t is a fundamental principle of
sovereign immunity that federal courts do not have jurisdiction over suits against the United States
unless Congress, via a statute, expressly and unequivocally waives the United States’ immunity to
6
Trotman also alleges his Fourteenth Amendment right pertaining to equal protection of the laws
was violated. (Compl. at 4.) But because he is a federal prisoner, the applicable basis for his claim
is the equal protection principles read into the Fifth Amendment. See Davis v. Passman, 442 U.S.
228, 234 (1979) (The Fifth Amendment due process clause “forbids the Federal Government to
deny equal protection of the laws.”); Abdul-Akbar v. McKelvie, 239 F.3d 307, 317 (3d Cir. 2001)
(Noting that Supreme Court “has construed the Fifth Amendment to contain an equal protection
guarantee.”).
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suit.” United States v. Bein, 214 F.3d 408, 412 (3d Cir. 2000) (citing United States v. Mitchell, 463
U.S. 206, 212 (1983)).
To the extent that he seeks money damages, Trotman anchors his claims in Bivens v. Six
Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, which provides a direct cause of
action under the United States Constitution against federal officials for violation of federal
constitutional rights. 403 U.S. 388, 397 (1971). In seeking dismissal, Smith contends that Bivens
does not provide a damages remedy in this context, and even if a such a remedy exists, Trotman
has failed to allege a violation of his constitutional rights.
Because Trotman seeks injunctive relief as well as money damages, the Court finds it
appropriate to address Smith’s contentions in reverse order. See Hernandez v. Mesa, 137 S. Ct.
2003, 2007 (2017) (“This approach—disposing of a Bivens claim by resolving the constitutional
question, while assuming the existence of a Bivens remedy—is appropriate in many cases.”)
A.
First Amendment
It is well established that “[r]etaliating against a prisoner for the exercise of his
constitutional rights is unconstitutional,” Bistrian, 696 F.3d at 376, and “as a general matter the
First Amendment prohibits government officials from subjecting an individual to retaliatory
actions . . . for speaking out.” Hartman v. Moore, 547 U.S. 250, 256 (2006). A prisoner alleging
First Amendment retaliation “must show (1) constitutionally protected conduct, (2) an adverse
action taken by prison officials sufficient to deter a person of ordinary firmness from exercising
his constitutional rights, and (3) a causal link between the exercise of his constitutional rights and
the adverse action taken against him.” Mack v. Warden Loretto FCI, 839 F.3d 286, 297 (3d Cir.
2016) (quoting Mitchell v. Horn, 318 F.3d 523, 530 (3d Cir. 2003)).
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Trotman alleges that Smith falsely accused him of threatening staff because Trotman had
filed a prior lawsuit against Smith and that, as result of this false report, Trotman was confined in
disciplinary segregation and lost good conduct time. As explained below, while Trotman’s
allegations satisfy the first and second elements of his retaliation claim, they do not support the
third essential element of the claim.
As to the first element, the Third Circuit has explained that the First Amendment’s “Free
Speech Clause and the Petition Clause protect . . . both expression generally and expression
directed towards the government for the specific purpose of asking it to right a wrong.” Mack, 839
F.3d at 297 (citing Borough of Duryea, Pa. v. Guarnieri, 564 U.S. 379, 388 (2011)). To be sure,
prisoners, “like other individuals, have the right to petition the Government for redress of
grievances which, of course, includes ‘access . . . to the courts for the purpose of presenting their
complaints.’” Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 321 (1972), quoting Johnson v. Avery, 393 U.S. 483,
485 (1969)). Therefore, by filing a lawsuit against Smith, Trotman engaged in constitutionally
protected conduct. Trotman’s allegations are also sufficient to support the “adverse action”
element of his claim based on Smith’s alleged filing of a false misconduct charge against him and
his related placement in disciplinary segregation and loss of good conduct time. Smith’s alleged
action and its consequences would certainly deter a person of ordinary firmness from exercising
his constitutional rights. Accordingly, the second element of a retaliation claim is also satisfied.
But Trotman’s allegations do not support the third essential element of his retaliation claim
against Smith—i.e., causation. The Third Circuit has explained that “[t]o establish the requisite
causal connection a plaintiff usually must prove either (1) an unusually suggestive temporal
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.
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DeFlaminis, 480 F.3d 259, 267 (3d Cir. 2007). Trotman cannot satisfy the causal link through
temporal proximity because he filed the lawsuits involving Smith in 2017 but Smith’s allegedly
retaliatory action did not occur until 2019. And “for temporal proximity alone to show retaliatory
motive, the time between the protected conduct and the adverse action cannot be more than a
matter of days.” Jackson v. O’Brien, No. 1:18-CV-00032-RAL, 2021 WL 982739, at *10 (W.D.
Pa. Mar. 16, 2021) (citing Booze v. Wetzel, 2015 WL 5173937, *13–16 (M.D. Pa. Sept. 2, 2015)).
Because “there is no bright line rule for the time that may pass between protected speech
and what constitutes actionable retaliation,” Conard v. Pa. State Police, 902 F.3d 178, 183 (3d Cir.
2018), the Third Circuit has “allowed time-attenuated retaliation claims to proceed to discovery
where there is a ‘pattern of antagonism’ that sheds light on the ‘timing of events’ enough to justify
an inference of causation. Curley v. Monmouth Cty. Bd. of Chosen Freeholders, 816 Fed. Appx.
670, 674–75 (3d Cir. 2020) (quoting Conard, 902 F.3d at 184.) But Trotman has failed to allege
an intervening pattern of antagonism which could give rise to such an inference. While Trotman
asserts that Smith had previously filed a false misconduct charge against him in 2015 and contends
that it constitutes a pattern, the Court cannot infer causation from that particular charge because it
predates Trotman’s protected activity—i.e., the lawsuits against Smith—which occurred in 2017.
Because Smith cannot establish a causal link between the exercise of his constitutional
rights and the adverse action taken against him, he has failed to allege a plausible First Amendment
retaliation claim. 7
The Court recognizes that “[a]lthough timing and ongoing antagonism have often been the basis
for the causal link,” Third Circuit precedent allows “a plaintiff to substantiate a causal connection
for purposes of the prima facie case through other types of circumstantial evidence that support
the inference.” Farrell v. Planters Lifesavers Co., 206 F.3d 271, 280–81 (3d Cir. 2000). But there
is nothing in the Complaint or the exhibits attached thereto from which the Court could infer
causation.
7
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B.
Fifth Amendment
Liberally construed, Trotman also appears to be alleging that his due process rights were
violated because of the BOP’s imposed punishment of two weeks in disciplinary segregation,
which cannot be restored or remedied through the administrative appeal process.
To establish a due process violation in the prison context, a plaintiff must show that he was
deprived of a liberty interest protected by the Constitution or a statute. Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S.
472, 479 n.4, 483–84 (1995). A prisoner’s liberty interests are not violated, however, unless a
condition “imposes atypical and significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the ordinary
incidents of prison life.” Id. at 484. Therefore, in determining whether a prisoner’s due process
rights have been violated, courts first consider whether there has been a denial of a liberty or
property interest. See Ky. Dep’t of Corrs. v. Thompson, 490 U.S. 454, 460 (1989). If a prisoner
makes such a showing, the next step for the courts is to evaluate “whether the procedures attendant
upon that deprivation were constitutionally sufficient.” Id.
Here, Trotman’s due process claim fails at the first step of the inquiry. Trotman alleges that
he was confined in disciplinary segregation for two weeks. However, two weeks in disciplinary
custody, without more, is insufficient to establish the kind of atypical deprivation of prison life
necessary to implicate a protected liberty interest. See Smith v. Mensinger, 293 F.3d 641, 652 (3d
Cir. 2002) (seven months in disciplinary custody insufficient to trigger a due process violation);
Griffin v. Vaughn, 112 F.3d 703, 706–708 (3d Cir. 1997) (fifteen-month placement in
administrative custody did not implicate a protected liberty interest because said confinement was
not atypical); Young v. Beard, 227 Fed. Appx. 138 (3d Cir. 2007) (aggregate 980 days in
disciplinary segregation did not violate the due process clause).
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Accordingly, Trotman’s Fifth Amendment due process claim is untenable. 8
C.
Eighth Amendment
It is well established that “[t]he Eighth Amendment, through its prohibition on cruel and
unusual punishment, prohibits the imposition of ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain
contrary to contemporary standards of decency.’” Pearson v. Prison Health Serv., 850 F.3d 526,
534 (3d Cir. 2017) (quoting Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 32 (1993)). “The question under
the Eighth Amendment is whether prison officials, acting with deliberate indifference, exposed a
prisoner to a sufficiently substantial risk of serious damage to his future health.” Giles v. Kearney,
571 F.3d 318, 330 (3d Cir. 2009) (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 843 (1994)).
Trotman has not alleged any facts regarding the conditions under which he is incarcerated,
nor does he claim that he has been deprived of “the minimal civilized measures of life’s
necessities.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). Accordingly, his Eighth Amendment
claim necessarily fails. 9
D.
Leave to Amend
When dismissing a civil rights case for failure to state a claim, a court must give the plaintiff
the opportunity to amend a deficient complaint unless doing so would be inequitable or futile.
Fletcher-Harlee Corp. v. Pote Concrete Contractors, Inc., 482 F.3d 247, 251 (3d Cir. 2007). “An
amendment is futile if the amended complaint would not survive a motion to dismiss for failure to
state a claim upon which relief could be granted.” Alvin v. Suzuki, 227 F.3d 107, 121 (3d Cir. 2000)
(citation omitted).
8
To the extent that Trotman claims that his equal protection rights were violated, he has not alleged
any facts suggesting that he was treated differently from similarly situated inmates—as is required
to sustain such a claim. See Wilson v. Schillinger, 761 F.2d 921, 930 (3d Cir. 1985).
9
Because Trotman has failed to allege any violations of his constitutional rights, the Court need
not, and does not, reach Smith’s alternative argument regarding the availability of a Bivens remedy.
12
Here, allowing Trotman to file another complaint would be futile. With respect to his First
Amendment claim, Trotman cannot plausibly allege a causal link between his protected activity
and the adverse action because of the passage of time. See Curley, 816 Fed. Appx. at 675 (“Absent
factual allegations that could support a finding of causation, a significant period of time between
the alleged protected conduct and retaliatory acts is fatal to the retaliation claim.”). Similarly,
Trotman’s Fifth Amendment claim, which relates to his disciplinary segregation in a prison, is
insufficient to implicate a protected liberty interest and cannot be cured. Finally, having reviewed
the exhibits to the Complaint, there is no factual basis for any Eighth Amendment violation.
V.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, Smith’s motion to dismiss will be granted. An appropriate order
will follow.
Dated: July 16, 2021
RICHARD A. LANZILLO
United States Magistrate Judge
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