Wright v. Fentress County, Tennessee et al

Filing 33

DEFAULT JUDGMENT ORDER: The Court rules as follows: (1) The Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 32 ) is APPROVED and ADOPTED; (2) Wrights Motion for Default Judgment (Doc. No. 31 ) is GRANTED; (3) Wright is hereby AWARDED $47,500 in compensat ory damages and $25,000 in punitive damages against Cravens in his individual capacity; and (4) The claims against the remaining Defendant having previously been settled, (Doc. No. 27 ), the Clerk of the Court shall CLOSE this case. (xc: Cravens by regular mail.) Signed by Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr on 4/23/2019. (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(jm) Modified on 4/24/2019 (jm).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE DIVISION
DUSTIN SHANE WRIGHT,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
FENTRESS COUNTY, TENNESSEE,
)
and CHARLES SCOTT “CHUCKY”
)
CRAVENS, in his official and individual )
capacity,
)
)
Defendants.
)

No. 2:17-0070
Chief Judge Crenshaw

DEFAULT JUDGMENT ORDER
Magistrate Judge Brown has entered a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) (Doc. No. 32)
that recommends Duane Shane Wright, a former inmate at the Fentress County, Tennessee jail, be
awarded $47,500 in compensatory damages and $25,000 in punitive damages from former Sheriff
Charles Scott Cravens in his individual capacity. Cravens, who is presently in federal prison as a
result of the physical assault that led to Wright’s damages (and for sexual relations with three female
inmates at the jail), has not responded to the R&R, nor did he respond to Wright’s Motion for
Default Judgment (Doc. No. 31) that specified those amounts.
Having considered the matter de novo in accordance with rule 72(b) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, the Court agrees with the recommendation. The $47,000 compensatory damages
figures is more than supported by the fact that Wright was (1) struck in the head and tasered by
Cravens; (2) handcuffed and then hit four more times in the head and back; (3) placed in an isolation
cell with no running water or toilet facilities; and (4) thereafter placed in another isolation cell for
approximately one month. The punitive damages award is also reasonable and appropriate. Such
awards are proper in Section 1983 cases where the “the defendant’s conduct is shown to be

motivated by evil motive or intent, or where it involves reckless or callous indifference to the
federally protected rights of others.” Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S 30(1983). Cravens’ evil intent or
callous indifference has been established by him having pled guilty to depriving Wright of his civil
rights under color of law.
Accordingly, the Court rules as follows:
(1) The Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 32) is APPROVED and ADOPTED;
(2) Wrights Motion for Default Judgment (Doc. No. 31) is GRANTED;
(3) Wright is hereby AWARDED $47,500 in compensatory damages and $25,000 in
punitive damages against Cravens in his individual capacity; and
(4) The claims against the remaining Defendant having previously been settled, (Doc. No.
27), the Clerk of the Court shall CLOSE this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

__________________________________________
WAVERLY D. CRENSHAW, JR.
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

2