Woods v. Hommrich et al

Filing 9

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER: Bryson Woods shall not be returned to GTI, but will remain at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Center under appropriate medical and custodial supervision pending a preliminary injunction hearing in this case. The Court w ill hold a preliminary injunction hearing on April 26, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. Signed by District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr on 4/16/18. (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(af) Modified on 4/16/2018 (af).

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

)
)
Plaintiff.
)
)
v.
)
)
BONNIE HOMMRICH, in her official )
Capacity as the Commissioner of
)
the Tennessee Department of
)
Children’s Services, and WILLIAM
)
HASLAM, in his official capacity
)
as Governor of the State of
)
Tennessee,
)
)
Defendants.
)

NO. 3:18cv00371
JUDGE CAMPBELL

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65, Bryson Woods (“Plaintiff”) has moved
this Court for a temporary restraining order and/or an order preliminarily enjoining the
Defendants from returning him to the Gateway to Independence Youth Development Center. In
support of his Motion, Plaintiff has provided facts through a Verified Complaint and a separate
Affidavit.
The Verified Complaint and Affidavit establish the following facts:
1.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”) operates the Gateway

to Independence (“GTI”) Youth Development Center as a hardware secure placement for
children adjudicated delinquent and placed in its custody.
2.

DCS has placed Bryson Woods at DCS for several months.

3.

While at GTI, Mr. Woods alleges that the following has occurred:
a. He has been attacked multiple times by others housed at GTI.
b. He has requested ‘protective custody’ to protect himself against further
attacks.
c. ‘Protective custody’ involves isolation of youth from other youth to
protect them from other dangerous youth.
d. Multiple children have been hospitalized following violence at the
facility.
e. On April 9, 2018, a riot broke out at the facility. Youth, staff and
teachers were injured. At least one youth escaped the facility.
f. Also on April 9, 2018, Bryson Woods attempted suicide.

4.

Plaintiff raises claims for violations of his Fourteenth Amendment

substantive due process rights, his right to be free from cruel and unusual
punishment under the Eighth Amendment, and for violations of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act.
5.

In determining whether to issue a TRO pursuant to Rule 65 of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court is to consider: (1) the plaintiff’s likelihood of
success on the merits; (2) whether the plaintiff may suffer irreparable harm absent
the injunction; (3) whether granting the injunction will cause substantial harm to
others; and (4) the impact of the injunction on the public interest. See, e.g., Doe v.
Univ. of Cincinnati, 872 F.3d 393, 399 (6th Cir. 2017).
Based on the Motion, pleadings, and the entire record, the Court finds: (1)
Plaintiff has demonstrated a strong or substantial likelihood of success on the merits of
his constitutional claims; (2) Plaintiff has demonstrated that he faces a threat of imminent
harm if returned to GTI from his current hospitalization; (3) the balance of relative
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harms among the parties weighs in favor of Plaintiff against Defendants; and (4) the
public interest will not be harmed by injunctive relief pending a preliminary injunction
hearing. The relief set forth herein is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary
to correct the violation of the federal rights, and is the least intrusive means necessary to
correct the violation of the Federal right.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Defendants are restrained as follows:
1.

Bryson Woods shall not be returned to GTI, but will remain at Middle Tennessee

Mental Health Center under appropriate medical and custodial supervision pending a preliminary
injunction hearing in this case;
2.

This Order has been issued without notice because the injury accumulated on the

weekend, and the evidence submitted establishes that the threat of injury to Plaintiff is imminent
should he be returned to GTI before the Court can better understand his circumstances and
medical condition. Plaintiff’s counsel represents that efforts have been made to inform
Defendants of this Motion.
3.

The Court concludes that, pursuant to Rule 65(c), the posting of bond by Plaintiff

is unnecessary as Defendants are unlikely to be harmed by issuance of this Order.
This Temporary Restraining Order is effective upon its issuance on April 16, 2018, at
2:00 p.m., and expires fourteen (14) days thereafter, absent further order of the Court.
In accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(3), the Court will hold a preliminary injunction
hearing on April 26, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.

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The parties shall file with the Court by noon on April 25, 2018, the following pertaining
to the preliminary injunction hearing: (1) any affidavits; (2) witness lists; (3) exhibit lists; (4) any
depositions and/or deposition designations; (5) any stipulations; (6) any motions in limine; and
(7) any supplemental briefs. No witness shall testify live at the preliminary injunction hearing
unless the party calling such witness to testify has identified and made that witness available for
a deposition prior to the hearing.
It is so ORDERED.

____________________________________
WILLIAM L. CAMPBELL, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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