Lyle v. Montgomery County Jail et al

Filing 34

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned recommends that Defendant Montgomery County's "Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint, or in the Alternative for Summary Judgment" (Docket No. 29 ) be GRANTED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jeffery S. Frensley on 2/8/2017. (xc:Pro se party by regular and certified mail.)(DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(hb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE DIVISION

ROBERT DOUGLAS LYLE,
Plaintiff,
v.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, et al
Defendant.

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Case No. 3:15-cv-01065
Judge Crenshaw / Frensley

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
I. Introduction and Background
This matter is before the Court upon Defendant Montgomery County’s “Motion to
Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint, or in the Alternative for Summary Judgment.” Docket No. 29.
Along with its Motion, Defendant has filed a supporting Memorandum of Law (Docket No. 30),
a Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (Docket No. 31), and the Affidavit of Douglas Tackett
(Docket No. 32).
Plaintiff has not responded to Defendant’s Motion or Statement of Undisputed Material
Facts, nor has he filed his own Statement of Undisputed Material Facts.
Plaintiff originally filed this pro se, in forma pauperis action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
1983, alleging the following:
1.) On or About Aug. 5, 2015 I have been received little or no
food on my trays.
2.) On or About Aug. 10, 2015 Female Deputy’s look at inmates
showering.
3.) On or About Sept. 26, 2015 Deputy Paul Carter could not give

me any answers to my questions about my state time at all.
4.) Nurse Ison RN has not or have I [sic] received - medical
treatment for hemorrhoids 9-28-2015
5.) Female nurses look at male inmates and male doctor’s and
male nurses look at female inmates. 9-28-2015
6.) Search of cells with inmates not there when cell is searched.
Docket No. 1.
An Order entered on October 14, 2015 dismissed all of Plaintiff’s claims against
Montgomery County except for his claim related to female guards being able to see male inmates
while they were showering and all of his claims against the other named Defendants except his
deliberate indifference to a serious medical need claim against Nurse Jessica Ison.1 See Docket
Nos. 3, 4. Accordingly, those are the only two claims remaining in this action.2
Defendant Montgomery County filed the instant Motion and supporting materials arguing
that Plaintiff’s claims against it should be dismissed because Plaintiff filed an identical lawsuit
against it which was dismissed against it in its entirety by Judge Kevin Sharp upon its Motion for
Summary Judgment. Docket No. 29, referencing Lyle v. Montgomery County Jail, Case No.
3:15-cv-00480, Docket Nos. 26, 27. Defendant argues that Plaintiff filed the present matter

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Plaintiff originally sued the Montgomery County Jail, Correct Care Solutions, Nurse
Jessica Ison, Paul Carter, and Montgomery County. See Docket No. 1. Plaintiff’s claims against
the Montgomery County Jail, Correct Care Solutions, and Paul Carter were dismissed in an
Order entered October 14, 2015, however, and they were terminated as parties in this action. See
Docket Nos. 3, 4. The only remaining Defendants, therefore, are Montgomery County and Nurse
Jessica Ison.
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Nurse Ison has filed her own Motion for Summary Judgment and supporting materials,
which the undersigned will address in a separate Report and Recommendation. See Docket Nos.
26-28. Accordingly, the undersigned will address only Plaintiff’s claim against Montgomery
County herein.
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during the pendency of Plaintiff’s prior action, but prior to its dismissal. Id. Defendant argues
that because the “present suit alleges the exact same claim as brought in an identical, dismissed
suit against this Defendant, Defendant requests that this matter be dismissed on the basis of
collateral estoppel and in the interest of judicial economy,” or, in the alternative, that summary
judgment be granted because there are no genuine issues of material fact and it is entitled to a
judgment as a matter of law. Id.
For the reasons set forth below, the undersigned recommends that Defendant
Montgomery County’s “Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint, or in the Alternative for
Summary Judgment” (Docket No. 29) be GRANTED.
II. Undisputed Facts3
A. Relevant Allegations of Plaintiff’s Verified Complaint
As pertains to Plaintiff’s sole remaining claim against the instant Defendant, Plaintiff
asserts that female guards watch male inmates shower. Docket No. 1.
B. Affidavit of Douglas Tackett
The Montgomery County Jail (“Jail”) is a 736 bed pre-trial detention facility, built in
2004. Docket No. 32, Affidavit of Douglas Tackett (“Tackett Aff.”), ¶ 2. The Jail was
constructed in accordance with the standards set by the American Corrections Association
(“ACA”), and was constructed by an Architect certified with the American Institute of Architects
(“AIA”). Id., ¶ 3. The Jail meets the minimum standards for the physical plant of Jail Facilities
as set forth by the Tennessee Corrections Institute (“TCI”), has always been recommended for

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Unless otherwise noted, the following facts are in a form required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 56,
and are undisputed.
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certification by the TCI, and has continuously maintained its certification by the TCI that it has
complied with the Tennessee minimum standards for local correctional facilities. Id., ¶¶ 2, 3.
Plaintiff was incarcerated at the Jail from January 12, 2015 until May 25, 2015, when he
was furloughed from the Jail to attend a rehabilitation facility. Id., ¶ 4. Plaintiff was returned to
the control and custody of the Jail following the rehabilitation treatment. Id. Plaintiff was
transferred from the Montgomery County Jail to the custody of the Tennessee Department of
Corrections on August 25, 2016 and is now housed at a state run facility in Pikeville, Tennessee.
Id.
No inmate at the Jail is subjected to regular surveillance by deputies of the opposite sex
while naked and it is not the policy or the procedure of the Jail to require male inmates to shower
under close or extended surveillance of female deputies. Id., ¶ 5.
The Jail employs both male and female deputies and is an equal opportunity employer.
Id., ¶ 6. Of the 169 total commissioned Jail deputies, 32 (just under 19%) are female. Id. Jail
deputies are responsible for handling inmate booking and processing, visitation, transportation to
court and other detention facilities, and providing security for both inmates and the facility. Id.
The supervision of inmates is an essential function and responsibility of the Jail. Id., ¶ 7.
The safety and security of inmates and Jail staff is primary among the many reasons why inmates
must be supervised in Jail. Id. Jail showers are known areas with increased security risks in Jail.
Id. Inmates may go to the shower to handle or transfer contraband or may start fights in the
showers. Id. As such, it is important for Jail staff to have some supervisory access to shower
areas. Id. Female deputies at the Jail may serve in the control tower or as rovers. Id. The duties
associated with these positions may include the incidental viewing of nude male inmates. Id.
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However, such viewing would be infrequent and casual observations only and would be at a
distance. Id.
The male showers at the Jail are situated below a control tower by a distance of at least 10
feet. Id., ¶ 8. In order to observe an inmate showering for any significant period of time, a
deputy would have to peer over the edge of the window to specifically view the nude body of a
male inmate. Id. Control tower deputies are tasked with many duties, such as the observation of
four inmate Pods simultaneously, and would not be able to sufficiently perform their jobs and
observe an inmate shower for an extended amount of time. Id. One deputy is assigned to the
control tower per shift. Id. The control towers have four pods to oversee. Id. Tower deputies
are required to maintain an accurate and legible log for the tower which lists all events occurring
on the shift in all four pods. Id. The tower deputy is not allowed to sleep, watch television, or
engage in any activity that would cause them to be inattentive to their required duties. Id.
Inmates in non-restricted housing areas are permitted to shower at any time during their
recreation period. Id., ¶ 10. They may shower as often or as long as they wish. Id. Jail deputies
do not enter the showers while inmates are showering, unless necessary for security-related
reasons. Id., ¶ 9.
Assistant Chief Deputy of the Detention Divisions for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s
Office, Douglas Tackett, is not aware of any deputy (male or female) inappropriately viewing
inmates while showering, and it would not be possible for a control tower deputy to observe an
inmate showering for any extended period of time and still perform the duties required of a
control tower deputy. Id., ¶¶ 1, 11. If it were brought to Assistant Chief Deputy Tackett’s
attention and shown that a deputy was inappropriately viewing inmates while showering at the
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Jail, that deputy would be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of his or
her employment. Id.
At all times relevant to the instant action, the Jail had in place a grievance procedure by
which inmates could express complaints with the conditions of their confinement. Id., ¶ 12. An
inmate may request an Inmate Grievance Form from any deputy. Id. After filling out the
grievance, the inmate may give it to any deputy. Id. The shift supervisor on duty reviews the
grievances and handles the grievance by responding or taking action himself or assigning the
grievance to the responsible supervisor for action or response. Id. The supervisor indicates the
response or action taken on the form, signs the form, and places the original in the inmate’s Jail
file and has a copy returned to the inmate. Id.
Plaintiff never filed a grievance related to the construction of the male showers at the Jail.
Id., ¶ 13.
III. Analysis
A. Local Rules 7.01(b) and 56.01(c) and (g)
Local Rule 7.01(b) states, in pertinent part:
b. Response. Each party opposing a motion shall serve and file a
response, memorandum, affidavits and other responsive material
not later than fourteen (14) days after service of the motion, except,
that in cases of a motion for summary judgment, that time shall be
twenty-one (21) days after the service of the motion, unless
otherwise ordered by the Court. Failure to file a timely response
shall indicate that there is no opposition to the motion.
Defendant filed the instant Motion on October 5, 2016. Docket No. 29. Plaintiff has
failed to respond to Defendant’s Motion.
Additionally, with respect to Motions for Summary Judgment specifically, Local Rules
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56.01(c) and (g) state, in pertinent part:
c. Response to Statement of Facts. Any party opposing the
motion for summary judgment must respond to each fact set forth
by the movant by either (i) agreeing that the fact is undisputed; (ii)
agreeing that the fact is undisputed for the purpose of ruling on the
motion for summary judgment only; or (iii) demonstrating that the
fact is disputed. Each disputed fact must be supported by a citation
to the record. ...
...
g. Failure to Respond. Failure to respond to a moving party’s
statement of material facts, or a non-moving party’s statement of
additional facts, within the time periods provided by these Rules
shall indicate that the asserted facts are not disputed for the
purposes of summary judgment.
Plaintiff has failed to respond to Defendant’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts or
file his own Statement of Undisputed Material Facts. Pursuant to Local Rule 56.01(g), Plaintiff’s
failure to respond indicates “that the asserted facts are not disputed for the purposes of summary
judgment.” Accordingly, there are no genuine issues as to any material fact and all that remains
to be determined is whether Defendant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.
B. Motion for Summary Judgment
It would be inappropriate to grant Defendant’s Motion solely on the ground that Plaintiff
has failed to respond. See Stough v. Mayville Community Schools, 138 F.3d 612, 614 (6th Cir.
1998). As the Sixth Circuit has stated:
[A] district court cannot grant summary judgment in favor of the
movant simply because the adverse party has not responded. The
Court is required, at a minimum, to examine the movant’s Motion
for Summary Judgment to ensure that he has discharged [his
initial] burden ... The federal rules require that the party filing a
Motion for Summary Judgment “always bears the burden of
demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue as to a material fact.”

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Id. (citations omitted). The Court will, therefore, consider whether Defendant has met its burden
under the appropriate summary judgment standards discussed below.
Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c), summary judgment is appropriate only “if the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if
any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is
entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” A dispute is “genuine” only if “the evidence is such
that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty
Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986).
In order to prevail on a Motion for summary judgment, the moving party must meet the
burden of proving the absence of a genuine issue as to material fact concerning an essential
element of the opposing party’s claim. Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S. Ct. 2548,
2553, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986); Street v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 886 F.2d 1472, 1477 (6th Cir.
1989). In determining whether the moving party has met its burden, the Court must view the
evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Matsushita Electric Indus. Co. v.
Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S. Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 provides that the nonmoving party may not rest upon the mere
allegations or denials of his or her pleading, but his or her response, by affidavits or otherwise,
must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If a nonmoving party,
however, fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to
that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial, there is no genuine
issue as to any material fact because a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element
of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at
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322-23, 106 S. Ct. at 2552, 91 L. Ed. 2d at 273. When this occurs, the moving party is entitled to
summary judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 322-23, 106 S. Ct. at 2552; Williams v. Ford Motor
Co., 187 F.3d 533, 537-38 (6th Cir. 1999).
C. 42 U.S.C. § 1983
1. Generally
Plaintiff generally alleges violations of his Eighth Amendment rights pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 1983. See Docket No. 1. Section 1983 provides, in part, that:
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...
Thus, in order to state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right
secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, and must show that the alleged
deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S.
42, 48, 108 S. Ct. 2250, 2254-55 (1988), citing Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 535, 101 S. Ct.
1908, 1913, 68 L. Ed. 2d 420 (1981) (overruled in part on other grounds, Daniels v. Williams,
474 U.S. 327, 330-331, 106 S. Ct. 662, 88 L. Ed. 2d 662 (1986)); Flagg Bros., Inc. v. Brooks,
436 U.S. 149, 155, 98 S. Ct. 1729, 1733, 56 L. Ed. 2d 185 (1978). The traditional definition of
acting under color of state law requires that the defendant in a § 1983 action have exercised
power “possessed by virtue of state law and made possible only because the wrongdoer is clothed
with the authority of state law.” Id. at 49, 108 S. Ct. 2255, quoting United States v. Classic, 313

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U.S. 299, 326, 61 S. Ct. 1031, 1043, 85 L. Ed. 1368 (1941).
2. Eighth Amendment
The Eighth Amendment provides that:
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
U.S. Const. amend. VIII.
The United States Supreme Court has held that the constitutional prohibition of “cruel
and unusual punishments” forbids punishments that are incompatible with “the evolving
standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society,” or which “involve the
unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102-03, 97 S. Ct.
285, 290, 50 L. Ed. 2d 251 (1976) (citations omitted).
In order to establish an Eighth Amendment claim, an inmate must satisfy a two-prong
test: (1) the deprivation alleged must be objectively serious; and (2) the official responsible for
the deprivation must have exhibited deliberate indifference to the inmate’s health or safety.
Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 1977, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811 (1994).
D. Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 42 U.S.C. §1997e
A prisoner must exhaust all available administrative remedies before filing a claim under
§1983 or any other federal law. 42 U.S.C. §1997e(a). See also, e.g., White v. McGinnis, 131
F.3d 593, 595 (6th Cir. 1997); Brown v. Toombs, 139 F.3d 1102, 1104 (6th Cir. 1998); Wyatt v.
Leonard, 193 F.3d 876, 878 (6th Cir. 1999). The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides
in pertinent part as follows:
(a) Applicability of Administrative Remedies. No action shall
be brought with respect to prison conditions under section 1983
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of this title, or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in
any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such
administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.
42 U.S.C. ' 1997e(a) (emphasis original).
Additionally, the filing of an initial grievance is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements
of ' 1997e(a). Rather, the PLRA exhaustion of prison administrative remedies requires a
prisoner to pursue his prison grievance through the final level of administrative appeal.
Hartsfield v. Vidor, 199 F.3d 305, 306 (6th Cir. 1999). In Hartsfield, the Sixth Circuit explicitly
stated:
Even if Plaintiff did file an initial grievance against [defendants],
he was required to continue to the next step in the grievance
process . . . . We have previously held that an inmate cannot simply
. . . abandon the process before the completion and claim that he
has exhausted his remedies. . .
When a defendant shows that a plaintiff has not Aexhausted all available state
administrative remedies,@ the only remaining question is whether Plaintiff=s claims have been
brought with respect to Aprison conditions@ as that term is used in 42 U.S.C. ' 1997e(a).
The Sixth Circuit discussed the meaning of the term Aprison conditions@ as used in 42
U.S.C. ' 1997e(a) in Freeman v. Francis, 196 F.3d 641 (6th Cir. 1999). In Freeman, Plaintiff
inmate brought a lawsuit against prison officials claiming that they had used excessive force
against him. The lower court had dismissed his complaint for failure to exhaust administrative
remedies. On appeal, Plaintiff argued in part that he was not required to exhaust his
administrative remedies because his excessive force claim did not involve a Aprison condition@
within the meaning of ' 1997e(a). The Freeman Court stated in part as follows:
The phrase Aaction . . . with respect to prison conditions@ is not
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defined in ' 1997e. Because the question is one of statutory
construction, we must first look to the plain language of the statute.
Defendants argue that the term Aprison conditions@ as used in 18
U.S.C. ' 3626(g)(2), which was amended as part of the same
legislation as ' 1997e, does include claims such as excessive force
because it expressly includes Aeffects of actions of government
officials on the lives of confined persons@ as well as Aconditions of
confinement@ in defining Aprison conditions.@ . . . It is generally
recognized that when Congress uses the same language in two
different places in the same statute, the words are usually read to
mean the same thing in both places. . . .
Moreover, reading the term Aprison conditions@ to include claims
of excessive force finds support in the purpose and legislative
history of the Act. The Act was passed to reduce frivolous prisoner
lawsuits and to reduce the intervention of federal courts into the
management of the nation=s prison systems. A broad exhaustion
requirement that includes excessive force claims effectuates this
purpose and maximizes the benefits of requiring prisoners to use
prison grievance procedures before coming to federal court.
Prisons need to know about and address claims of excessive force
as they would any other claim concerning prison life so that steps
may be taken to stop problems immediately if they exist.
196 F.3d at 643-644 (footnote omitted).
The U. S. Supreme Court has also held that A' 1997e(a)=s exhaustion requirement applies
to all prisoners seeking redress for prison circumstances or occurrences.@ See Porter v. Nussle,
534 U.S. 516, 520, 122 S.Ct. 983, 986 (2002). As the Porter Court stated:
Beyond doubt, Congress enacted ' 1997e(a) to reduce the quantity
and improve the quality of prisoner suits; to this purpose, Congress
afforded corrections officials time and opportunity to address
complaints internally before allowing the initiation of a federal
case. In some instances, corrective action taken in response to an
inmate=s grievance might improve prison administration and satisfy
the inmate, thereby obviating the need for litigation. . . . In other
instances, the internal review might Afilter out some frivolous
claims.@ . . . And for cases ultimately brought to court, adjudication
could be facilitated by an administrative record that clarifies the
contours of the controversy.
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...
For the reasons stated, we hold that the PLRAs exhaustion
requirement applies to all inmate suits about prison life, whether they
involve general circumstances or particular episodes, and whether
they allege excessive force or some other wrong.
122 S.Ct. at 988, 992 (citations omitted, emphasis added).
E. The Case at Bar
As an initial matter, under the reasoning of Porter and Freeman, Plaintiff=s claims in the
case at bar fall within the meaning of the term “prison conditions” as used in ' 1997e(a). He is,
therefore, required to exhaust his administrative remedies as set forth in the PLRA.
It is undisputed that, at all times relevant to the instant action, the Jail had in place a
grievance procedure by which inmates could express complaints with the conditions of their
confinement, and that Plaintiff never filed a grievance related to the construction of the male
showers at the Jail. Tackett Aff., ¶¶ 12, 13. Because Plaintiff did not file a grievance related to
his sole remaining claim, Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies as required
by the PLRA, and Defendant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.
Moreover, in order to hold Defendant Montgomery County, Tennessee, liable under
§ 1983, a plaintiff must plead allegations, inter alia, that an “official policy or custom was
adopted by the official makers of policy with ‘deliberate indifference’ towards the constitutional
rights of persons affected by the policy or custom.” City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 38788, 109 S. Ct. 1197, 1204, 103 L. Ed. 2d 41 (1989). See also Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Serv., 436
U.S. 658, 690-91, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2037, 56 L. Ed. 2d 611 (1978) (In order to find a governmental
entity liable, Plaintiff must establish that (1) he/she suffered a deprivation of a constitutionally

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protected interest, and (2) the deprivation was caused by an official policy, custom, or usage of
the local governmental entity.).
Plaintiff has failed to even allege the existence of any deficient Montgomery County
policy, practice, or custom, much less allege that an official Montgomery County policy, practice,
or custom caused him constitutional injury. Absent such allegations, Plaintiff cannot sustain his
claim.
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned recommends that Defendant Montgomery
County’s “Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint, or in the Alternative for Summary
Judgment” (Docket No. 29) be GRANTED.
Under Rule 72(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, any party has fourteen (14)
days after service of this Report and Recommendation in which to file any written objections to
this Recommendation with the District Court. Any party opposing said objections shall have
fourteen (14) days after service of any objections filed to this Report in which to file any
response to said objections. Failure to file specific objections within fourteen (14) days of
service of this Report and Recommendation can constitute a waiver of further appeal of this
Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 106 S.Ct. 466, 88 L. Ed. 2d 435 (1985),
reh’g denied, 474 U.S. 1111 (1986); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72.

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JEFFERY S. FRENSLEY
United States Magistrate Judge

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