Dickerson v. Stirling

Filing 60

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ADOPTS AS MODIFIED the Magistrate Judge's R&R [ECF No. 46/27], DENIES Plaintiff's discovery-related motion [ECF No. 57/45], and GRANTS Defendant's motion for summary jud gment [ECF No. 39/27] as to Plaintiff's federal § 1983 claims. The Court hereby DECONSOLIDATES Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH from Civil Action No.8:19-cv-01316-RBH and DISMISSES Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01316-RBH in its entirety with prejudice. As to Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiff's federal claims with prejudice and REMANDS his state-law claims (the ones raised in the original/removed complaint in Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH, see ECF Nos. 1-1 & 26-4) to the Richland County Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to mail a certified copy of this Order to the clerk of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas only as to Civil ActionNo. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH. Signed by Chief Judge R Bryan Harwell on 3/23/2020. (gpre, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ANDERSON/GREENWOOD DIVISION
Joseph Dickerson,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
Bryan P. Stirling,
)
)
Defendant.
)
________________________)

ORDER (Consolidated Cases)

Civil Action Nos.:

8:19-cv-01158-RBH (Lead Case)
8:19-cv-01316-RBH

In this consolidated action, pro se Plaintiff Joseph Dickerson alleges his constitutional rights
were violated as a result of his transfer from state prison in South Carolina to a private prison in
Mississippi. The matter is before the Court for consideration of Plaintiff’s objections to the Report and
Recommendation (“R & R”) of United States Magistrate Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin, who recommends
granting Defendant Bryan Stirling’s motion for summary judgment.1
Legal Standards
I.

Review of the R & R
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to the Court. The Magistrate Judge’s

recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination
remains with the Court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270–71 (1976). The Court must conduct a
de novo review of those portions of the R & R to which specific objections are made, and it may accept,
reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge or recommit the
matter with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
The Court must engage in a de novo review of every portion of the Magistrate Judge’s report

1

The Magistrate Judge issued the R & R in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Civil Rule
73.02 (D.S.C.).

to which objections have been filed. Id. However, the Court need not conduct a de novo review when
a party makes only “general and conclusory objections that do not direct the [C]ourt to a specific error
in the [M]agistrate [Judge]’s proposed findings and recommendations.” Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d
44, 47 (4th Cir. 1982). In the absence of specific objections to the R & R, the Court reviews only for
clear error, Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005), and the Court
need not give any explanation for adopting the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation. Camby v. Davis,
718 F.2d 198, 199–200 (4th Cir. 1983).
II.

Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is appropriate when no genuine issue of material fact exists and the moving

party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Reyazuddin v. Montgomery Cty., Md., 789 F.3d 407,
413 (4th Cir. 2015); see Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) (“The court shall grant summary judgment 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.”). “A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the
assertion by: (A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record . . . ; or (B) showing that the
materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party
cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). The facts and
inferences to be drawn from the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving
party, Reyazuddin, 789 F.3d at 413, but the Court “cannot weigh the evidence or make credibility
determinations.” Jacobs v. N.C. Admin. Office of the Courts, 780 F.3d 562, 569 (4th Cir. 2015).
Moreover, “the mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not
defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be
no genuine issue of material fact.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247–48 (1986). “A
2

dispute of material fact is ‘genuine’ if sufficient evidence favoring the non-moving party exists for the
trier of fact to return a verdict for that party.” Seastrunk v. United States, 25 F. Supp. 3d 812, 814
(D.S.C. 2014). A fact is “material” if proof of its existence or nonexistence would affect disposition
of the case under the applicable law. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
At the summary judgment stage, “the moving party must demonstrate the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact. Once the moving party has met his burden, the nonmoving party must come
forward with some evidence beyond the mere allegations contained in the pleadings to show that there
is a genuine issue for trial.” Baber v. Hosp. Corp. of Am., 977 F.2d 872, 874–75 (4th Cir. 1992)
(internal citation omitted). Summary judgment is not warranted unless, “from the totality of the
evidence, including pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and affidavits, the [C]ourt
believes no genuine issue of material fact exists for trial and the moving party is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law.” Whiteman v. Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C., 729 F.3d 381, 385 (4th Cir. 2013);
see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322–23 (1986).
Background2
Plaintiff is committed to the South Carolina Department of Corrections (“SCDC”) and has been
serving a fifty-year prison sentence for armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and cocaine trafficking
convictions since 2000. See ECF No. 26 at ¶ 17; ECF No. 42-2 at ¶ 2; ECF No. 42-5 at p. 1. On June
18, 2018, Plaintiff was removed from the general population at Ridgeland Correctional Institution and
sent to Kirkland Correctional Institution, and then on June 21, 2018, he was transferred to a private
prison in Mississippi—the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility—owned and operated by

2

The R & R thoroughly summarizes the factual and procedural background of this consolidated action. The
Court briefly summarizes that background and, consistent with the R & R, cites to the docket entries from the lead
case, No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH.

3

CoreCivic, Inc. See ECF No. 26 at ¶¶ 13, 17, 19, 23; ECF No. 42-2 at ¶¶ 2–4. Plaintiff and forty-seven
other SCDC inmates housed at various prisons throughout South Carolina were identified by SCDC
officials as “problematic” based on suspected involvement in gang and/or contraband related activities
and transferred to the Mississippi prison following a deadly riot in April 2018 at Lee Correctional
Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina. See ECF No. 26 at ¶¶ 7–16; ECF No. 26-4 at ¶¶ 3, 10–31;
ECF No. 39-1 at ¶¶ 5–8, 15.3 Defendant is Director of the SCDC and signed an Inmate Housing
Agreement with CoreCivic, Inc. authorizing transfer of the forty-eight inmates. See ECF No. 39-1 at
pp. 4–17.
In February 2019, Plaintiff filed a complaint in state court against Defendant asserting state and
federal claims and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. See ECF Nos. 1-1 & 26-4. In April 2019,
Defendant removed the case to this Court (docketed as No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH), and Plaintiff
subsequently filed a second case in this Court (docketed as No. 8:19-cv-01316-RBH) against Defendant
asserting claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and seeking monetary damages. See ECF No. 26. The
Magistrate Judge consolidated the cases pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a) and combined both complaints
to form one single Amended Complaint.4

See ECF Nos. 25 & 26.

The lead case is No.

3

SCDC officials claimed cell phones escalated the riot at Lee, and although Plaintiff was not involved in it
and was housed at another prison (Ridgeland) at the time, he had prior disciplinary sanctions for possession of cell
phones and contraband. See ECF No. 26 at ¶¶ 8–9; ECF No. 39-1 at ¶¶ 5–8, 15; ECF No. 39-2 at ¶¶ 6–7; ECF No.
42-2 at ¶ 4.
4

Both complaints were verified and therefore the Amended Complaint serves as an opposing affidavit for
summary judgment purposes. See Carter v. Fleming, 879 F.3d 132, 141 n.8 (4th Cir. 2018) (“‘[A] verified complaint
is the equivalent of an opposing affidavit for summary judgment purposes, when the allegations contained therein
are based on personal knowledge.’” (alteration in original) (quoting Williams v. Griffin, 952 F.2d 820, 823 (4th Cir.
1991))). The Court is mindful of its duty to liberally construe Plaintiff’s pro se filings. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551
U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (recognizing “[a] document filed pro se is to be liberally construed” (internal quotation marks
omitted)). But see United States v. Wilson, 699 F.3d 789, 797 (4th Cir. 2012) (“Although courts must liberally
construe the claims of pro se litigants, the special judicial solicitude with which a district court should view pro se
filings does not transform the court into an advocate.” (internal citations, quotation marks, ellipsis, and brackets
omitted)).

4

8:19-cv-01158-RBH.
On July 23, 2019, Plaintiff was transferred back to an SCDC facility in South Carolina. See
ECF No. 31. Thereafter, Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff filed a response in
opposition, Defendant filed a reply, and Plaintiff filed a surreply. See ECF Nos. 39, 42, 43, & 45. The
Magistrate Judge then entered the instant R & R. See ECF No. 46.
Discussion
Plaintiff pursues three federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983: (1) procedural due process and
(2) equal protection claims under the Fourteenth Amendment and (3) a conditions of confinement claim
under the Eighth Amendment. The Magistrate Judge recommends granting Defendant’s motion for
summary judgment, concluding (a) Plaintiff’s request for declaratory and injunctive relief is not moot;
(b) as to Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims, Defendant is entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity for damages
sought against him in his official capacity; (c) all three § 1983 claims fail on the merits; and (d)
Defendant is entitled to qualified immunity because his conduct did not violate a federal right. See R
& R at pp. 10–22 & n.10. Plaintiff has filed three specific objections to the R & R. See ECF No. 53.5
I.

Plaintiff’s Objections
A.

First Objection

Plaintiff’s first objection relates to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation regarding Eleventh
Amendment immunity.6 See id. at pp. 4–6. The Court notes Defendant moves for summary judgment

5

Defendant has filed a response to Plaintiff’s objections, and Plaintiff has filed a reply to Defendant’s
response. See ECF Nos. 55 & 56.
6

Although Plaintiff argues Defendant is sued only in his individual capacity, Plaintiff has sued Defendant
in both his individual and official capacities. As mentioned above, Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint consists of both
the complaint he filed in this Court and the complaint he originally filed in state court (the one removed to this
Court). See ECF Nos. 26 & 26-4. The complaint originally filed in state court twice names Defendant “in his official
and/or individual capacity.” ECF No. 26-4 at p. 1 & ¶ 50 (emphasis added).

5

based on Will v. Michigan Department of State Police, wherein the Supreme Court held “that neither
a State nor its officials acting in their official capacities are ‘persons’ under § 1983.” 491 U.S. 58, 71
(1989); see also id. at 66 (“[T]he scope of the Eleventh Amendment and the scope of § 1983
are . . . separate issues.”); Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 27 (1991) (“State officers sued for damages in
their official capacity are not ‘persons’ for purposes of the suit because they assume the identity of the
government that employs them.” (citing Will, 491 U.S. at 71)); Rose v. SCDC, No. 0:18-cv-03315-RBH,
2020 WL 289273, at *3–4 & n.7 (D.S.C. Jan. 21, 2020) (discussing the difference between “the
Eleventh Amendment question” and “the § 1983 statutory question”). This threshold statutory reason
is why Defendant cannot be sued for damages in his official capacity under § 1983, and the Court need
not reach the separate issue of Eleventh Amendment immunity.7 See Rose, 2020 WL 289273, at *3 n.7
(recognizing the proper order of analysis under Vermont Agency8 and its progeny).
B.

Second Objection

Plaintiff’s second objection concerns his procedural due process claim. See ECF No. 53 at pp.
6–12. A due process claim—whether procedural or substantive9—requires a plaintiff to demonstrate
the deprivation of a protected interest in life, liberty, or property. Beverati v. Smith, 120 F.3d 500, 502
(4th Cir. 1997). Here, Plaintiff alleges a state-created liberty interest “[t]o be free from mistaken out
of state transfers,” ECF No. 26 at ¶ 35(a), and because he is a convicted prisoner, the Court must
7

In any event, Plaintiff’s objections appear to withdraw any official capacity claims against Defendant. See
ECF No. 53 at pp. 4–6 (stating “that Plaintiff intended to bring suit against Defendant in his individual capacity,”
that “there is nothing . . . to suggest this action is a[n] official capacity suit,” and that “Defendant is being sued in his
individual capacity alone” (emphasis added)).
8

Vermont Agency of Nat. Res. v. U.S. ex rel. Stevens, 529 U.S. 765 (2000).

9

Plaintiff appears to pursue only a procedural due process claim, but his complaint alleges “substantive
and/or procedural protections afforded by the Fourteenth Amendment.” ECF No. 26 at ¶ 36 (emphasis added). To
the extent Plaintiff has alleged a substantive due process claim, it too fails because he cannot demonstrate deprivation
of a liberty interest, as discussed herein. See Beverati, supra.

6

analyze his claim under the two-prong framework established in Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472
(1995).10 See Prieto v. Clarke, 780 F.3d 245, 249–51 (4th Cir. 2015) (discussing the Sandin line of
cases).
Under Sandin, a prisoner must show both (1) a protected liberty interest (arising either from the
federal Constitution or from a state statute, regulation, or policy) and (2) denial of such an interest
imposed “‘atypical and significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison
life.’” Id. at 249 (quoting Sandin, 515 U.S. at 484). Plaintiff has not made either showing. Regarding
the first Sandin prong, he does not have a federal or state-created liberty interest in being free from an
interstate prison transfer,11 and for this reason alone his due process claim fails. See Couch v. Clarke,
10

The Magistrate Judge does not cite Sandin but does cite Beverati, which applied Sandin. See R & R at p.
17. The Court modifies the R & R by performing an explicit two-prong Sandin analysis.
11

See Olim v. Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238, 248 (1983) (“[A]n interstate prison transfer . . . does not deprive
an inmate of any liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause in and of itself.”); id. at n.9 (“A conviction,
whether in Hawaii, Alaska, or one of the contiguous 48 States, empowers the State to confine the inmate in any penal
institution in any State unless there is state law to the contrary or the reason for confining the inmate in a particular
institution is itself constitutionally impermissible.”); Merriweather v. Reynolds, 586 F. Supp. 2d 548, 557 (D.S.C.
2008) (“It is known from other cases previously decided in this judicial district that South Carolina law confers no
protected liberty interest upon inmates of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from being classified, or
being placed in administrative segregation, in a particular prison, or in a particular section of a prison.” (collecting
cases)).
Plaintiff argues in his objections that he has a state-created liberty interest “to remain free from mistaken
transfers to another state without due process.” ECF No. 53 at p. 7. He cites Article XII, Section 9, of the South
Carolina Constitution (which addresses SCDC’s control of convicts) as well as South Carolina statutes and an SCDC
policy dealing with the Interstate Corrections Compact (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 24–11–20, –30 and SCDC policy OP21.03). Id. at pp. 7–8; ECF No. 42 at p. 6; ECF No. 45 at pp. 2–6. However, that state constitutional provision
expressly permits inmate transfers by SCDC, see S.C. Const. Art. XII, § 9; and as the Magistrate Judge correctly
explains, the Interstate Corrections Compact (“ICC”) does not apply as Plaintiff’s transfer was to a private prison
not a state-run prison. See Olim, 461 U.S. at 246–47 (explaining the ICC “authorize[s] incarceration of a prisoner
of one State in another State’s prison”); S.C. Code Ann. § 24–11–20 (“‘State’ means a state of the United States; the
United States of America; a territory or possession of the United States; the District of Columbia; the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico.”). Moreover, even assuming arguendo that the ICC applies, “the ICC creates no federal substantive
rights, and is strictly a matter for state resolution.” Saunders v. Patseavouras, 808 F.2d 835, 1986 WL 18337, at *1
(4th Cir. 1986) (unpublished table decision). Finally, Plaintiff’s “whole debate . . . misses the point” and ultimately
fails because he does not satisfy the second Sandin prong. See Cochran v. Morris, 73 F.3d 1310, 1318 (4th Cir.
1996) (en banc) (rejecting similar arguments).
Although not discussed by the Magistrate Judge, the Court notes two South Carolina statutes appear to
expressly permit transfers such as Plaintiff’s, thus undermining the argument in his objections. See S.C. Code Ann.
§ 24–3–20(A) (“A person convicted of an offense against this State and sentenced to imprisonment for more than

7

782 F. App’x 290, 292 (4th Cir. 2019) (“If the inmate does not have such an interest, then the
protections of the Due Process Clause do not apply.” (citing Prieto, 780 F.3d at 248)); see, e.g., Khan
v. Stirling, No. 9:18-cv-03130-BHH-BM, 2019 WL 3976626, at *3–4 (D.S.C. July 24, 2019)
(evaluating the same allegations made by an inmate transferred to the same Mississippi prison and
finding no protected liberty interest), adopted by, 2019 WL 3973708 (D.S.C. Aug. 22, 2019); Russell
v. Stirling, No. 2:19-cv-01965-CMC-MGB, 2019 WL 4935522, at *1–2 (D.S.C. Sept. 12, 2019)
(summarily dismissing a due process claim based on an inmate’s transfer to the same Mississippi
prison), adopted by, 2019 WL 4930211 (D.S.C. Oct. 7, 2019); Harrell v. Stirling, No.
2:19-cv-01699-CMC-MGB, 2019 WL 7195643, at *2 (D.S.C. Sept. 12, 2019) (same), adopted by, 2019
WL 4926367 (D.S.C. Oct. 7, 2019).
The second Sandin prong12 requires Plaintiff to demonstrate that the conditions at the
Mississippi prison “were atypical and significantly harsh compared to those of the general population”
in South Carolina prison. See Martin v. Duffy, 858 F.3d 239, 253 (4th Cir. 2017) (brackets omitted)
(quoting Incumaa v. Stirling, 791 F.3d 517, 528–29 (4th Cir. 2015) (“noting that the general prison

three months is in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, and the department shall designate
the place of confinement where the sentence must be served. . . . The department may designate as a place of
confinement any available, suitable, and appropriate institution or facility, including a regional, county, or
municipal jail or prison camp, whether maintained by the department or by some other entity.” (emphases added));
id. at § 24–3–30(A) (“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person convicted of an offense against the State
must be in the custody of the Department of Corrections, and the department shall designate the place of confinement
where the sentence must be served. The department may designate as a place of confinement an available, a
suitable, and an appropriate institution or facility including, but not limited to, a regional, county, or municipal jail
or prison camp, whether maintained by the Department of Corrections, or by some other entity.” (emphases added)).
See also Skipper v. SCDC, 633 S.E.2d 910, 913 (S.C. Ct. App. 2006) (“In South Carolina, the authority to determine
where an inmate is housed is vested in the Department of Corrections.”).
12

Although the Court need not reach the second Sandin prong, see Prieto, 780 F.3d at 252 n.8 (“[A] court
need only reach the atypicality question if an inmate has been deprived of a state-created liberty interest.”), the Court
addresses it for the sake of completeness and because Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation
regarding atypicality. See, e.g., id. (“Nevertheless, we address the atypicality inquiry because it is Prieto’s principal
contention and was the basis for the district court’s holding.”).

8

population is the ‘touchstone’ in cases where inmate was sentenced to confinement in the general
population and later transferred”)). “This analysis necessarily is fact specific,” but ultimately “is a legal
determination.” Beverati, 120 F.3d at 503. The Fourth Circuit has instructed that
changes in a prisoner’s location, variations of daily routine, changes
in conditions of confinement (including administrative segregation),
and the denial of privileges—matters which every prisoner can
anticipate are contemplated by his original sentence to prison—are
necessarily functions of prison management that must be left to the
broad discretion of prison administrators to enable them to manage
the prisons safely and efficiently.
Gaston v. Taylor, 946 F.2d 340, 343 (4th Cir. 1991) (en banc) (citing cases later discussed in Sandin).
The R & R thoroughly summarizes the conditions at the Mississippi prison as alleged by Plaintiff. See
R & R at pp. 16–17. In brief, Plaintiff claims he was “confined to the pod 23 hours” a day with “1 hour
[of] recreation,”13 did not enjoy various privileges otherwise available in SCDC facilities, and was
unable to work or participate in various SCDC programs. See ECF No. 26 at ¶¶ 21, 27, 31. While
“more burdensome than those imposed on the general prison population” in South Carolina, see
Beverati, 120 F.3d at 504, the conditions Plaintiff temporarily experienced while in the Mississippi
prison were not an atypical and significant hardship under Sandin’s second prong. See, e.g., White v.
Turner, 671 F. App’x 162, 163–64 (4th Cir. 2016) (affirming a grant of summary judgment because the
plaintiff “failed to provide evidence to support a finding that the conditions of his confinement posed
an atypical and significant hardship in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life, as required to
establish a liberty interest giving rise to a due process claim”); Khan, 2019 WL 3976626, at *3–4

13

In his objections, Plaintiff characterizes the living conditions as “solitary confinement,” ECF No. 53 at p.
9, but his Amended Complaint and affidavits from other inmates at the Mississippi prison clearly indicate he lived
in a “pod” and shared “living quarters” with other inmates. See ECF No. 26 at ¶¶ 27, 31; ECF No. 26-1 at pp. 6–9;
ECF No. 26-4 at ¶ 29.

9

(involving nearly identical allegations and finding no atypicality under Sandin). Because Plaintiff fails
to satisfy either Sandin prong, the Court must dismiss his procedural due process claim.
C.

Third Objection

Plaintiff’s last objection concerns his equal protection claim. See ECF No. 53 at pp. 13–14.
First, he requests leave to conduct discovery on the claim. Id. at p. 14. However, discovery ended in
October 2019, see Local Civ. Rule 26.04 (D.S.C.) (providing that pretrial discovery in a pro se prisoner
case must be completed within ninety days after “joinder of issues”); Bachman v. M. Lowenstein &
Sons, Inc., 85 F.R.D. 10, 12 (D.S.C. 1979) (explaining “joinder of issues” occurs when the defendant
serves an answer to the complaint), and Plaintiff has not demonstrated good cause to reopen discovery.14
See Bachman, 85 F.R.D. at 13 (“[W]hen a party is dilatory in pursuing discovery and the time period
for discovery has expired, any attempt to reopen discovery must be denied[.]”); see, e.g., Vanzant v.
Weissglass, No. 8:15-cv-02876-RBH, 2016 WL 4607595, at *3 (D.S.C. Sept. 6, 2016) (denying a
discovery motion because it was untimely under Local Civil Rule 26.04), aff’d, 692 F. App’x 728 (4th
Cir. 2017).
Second, Plaintiff argues that even if his discovery request is denied, his equal protection claim
should survive summary judgment. Although de novo review is not required in light of this “general
and conclusory” objection, see Orpiano, 687 F.2d at 47, the Court has nevertheless reviewed the claim
de novo and concludes summary judgment is proper. To establish an equal protection claim based on
his transfer to the Mississippi prison, Plaintiff “must prove that he was treated differently than other
similarly situated inmates as a result of intentional discrimination and that his disparate treatment was

14

After filing his objections, Plaintiff filed a “Motion for Leave to Request Second Set of
Interrogatories/Discovery from Defendant.” See ECF No. 57. The Court will deny this discovery motion for the
same reason explained above.

10

not rationally related to any legitimate penological interest.” Tate v. Parks, 791 F. App’x 387, 391 (4th
Cir. 2019) (citing King v. Rubenstein, 825 F.3d 206, 220–21 (4th Cir. 2016)). As the Magistrate Judge
correctly explains, Plaintiff has not shown that Defendant treated him differently than other similarly
situated inmates with any discriminatory purpose, or that his transfer was not rationally related to a
legitimate penological interest. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s equal protection claim cannot survive summary
judgment.
The Court will grant Defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiff’s federal § 1983
claims.15
II.

Pendent State-Law Claims
Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint in this consolidated action contains the complaint originally

filed in the case removed from state court—which asserted both federal and state-law claims. See ECF
No. 26-4. Thus, those state-law claims remain pending, although this matter was not specifically
addressed by the Magistrate Judge. Because no federal claims remain, the Court declines to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction over the state-law claims and will remand them to state court. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1367(c)(3) (permitting dismissal of pendent state-law claims upon dismissal of federal claims); United
Mine Workers of Am. v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726 (1966) (recognizing that when “federal claims are
dismissed before trial, . . . state claims should be dismissed as well”).
To accomplish remand, the Court will deconsolidate the removed case with the state-law claims
(No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH, which contains Plaintiff’s complaint originally filed in state court) from the

15

Plaintiff does not object to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation regarding his Eighth Amendment
conditions of confinement claim or that regarding qualified immunity, and the Court discerns no clear error regarding
those recommendations. See Diamond, 416 F.3d at 315–16 (explaining that absent a timely filed specific written
objection, a district court need only review for clear error).

11

federal case (No. 8:19-cv-01316-RBH, which cannot be remanded to state court). See Payne v. Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 75 F. App’x 903, 906 (4th Cir. 2003) (explaining the remand
principles a district court must follow when a removed case has been consolidated with a federal case);
see, e.g., id. (“[T]he district court should have addressed the propriety of remanding the two cases—the
removed case and the federal case—independently. To the extent that the district court remanded the
[plaintiffs’] federal case to state court, that remand was in error.”). The Court modifies the R & R to
reflect the disposition of Plaintiff’s state-law claims.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Court ADOPTS AS MODIFIED the Magistrate Judge’s R &
R [ECF No. 46/27], DENIES Plaintiff’s discovery-related motion [ECF No. 57/45], and GRANTS
Defendant’s motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 39/27] as to Plaintiff’s federal § 1983 claims.
The Court hereby DECONSOLIDATES Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH from Civil Action No.
8:19-cv-01316-RBH and DISMISSES Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01316-RBH in its entirety with
prejudice. As to Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiff’s federal
claims with prejudice and REMANDS his state-law claims (the ones raised in the original/removed
complaint in Civil Action No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH, see ECF Nos. 1-1 & 26-4) to the Richland County
Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to mail a certified
copy of this Order to the clerk of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas only as to Civil Action
No. 8:19-cv-01158-RBH.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Florence, South Carolina
March 23, 2020

s/ R. Bryan Harwell
R. Bryan Harwell
Chief United States District Judge
12