McGregor v. Management Training Corporation et al
Filing
38
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DENYING 26 MOTION for Hearing re 25 MOTION to Compel filed by Jeremiah Jason McGregor, denying 25 MOTION to Compel filed by Jeremiah Jason McGregor, denying 17 MOTION filed by Jeremiah Jason McGregor, and denying 23 MOTION to Compel filed by Jeremiah Jason McGregor. Signed by Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie on 10/5/12. (mjc, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
JEREMIAH JASON McGREGOR #1582673
§
VS.
§
MANAGEMENT TRAINING
CORPORATION, ET AL
§
CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:12CV391
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
Plaintiff Jeremiah Jason McGregor, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed this civil
rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The complaint was assigned to the undersigned pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
On July 25, 2012, Plaintiff filed a “Plaintiff’s First Motion to Obtain a Court Order for the
Named Defendant’s in this Case to Return to Plaintiff All Legal Documents that were Illegally
Searched and Confiscated by Officer’s on the Billy Moore Unit on July 13, 2012” (docket entry #17).
On August 16, 2012, he filed a “Motion to Compel” (docket entry #23). Both motions seek the
return of certain legal documents that Plaintiff alleges were confiscated from the cell of his prisoner
legal assistant, inmate Eddie Eugene Brewer, on July 13, 2012.
He sought an order that Senior Warden Debbie Ruthven return his legal documents to him.
Docket entry #17 at 4; docket entry #23 at 2. He asserted he needs the documents to prepare for the
evidentiary hearing the Court has set on October 23, 2012. He also asked that the Clerk of this Court
provide him with a complete copy of the documents filed on the docket. See docket entry #17 at 4.
Additionally, he requested an order “to stop the on-going harassment and retaliation taking place in
this case” against him and Brewer. Id.
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On August 21, 2012, the Court issued a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) construing
both motions together as a motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and/or a Preliminary
Injunction. See docket entry #29. There, the Court cited Fed. R. Civ. P. 65 for the requirement that
“[e]very order granting an injunction and every restraining order must . . . state the reasons why it
issued; [ ] state its terms specifically; and [ ] describe in reasonable detail - and not by referring to
the complaint or other document - the act or acts restrained or required.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(d).
Further, that a party seeking injunctive relief must show: (1) a substantial likelihood of success on
the merits; (2) a substantial threat that plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not
granted; (3) that the threatened injury outweighs any damage that the injunction might cause the
defendant; and (4) that the injunction will not disserve the public interest. Nichols v. Alcatel USA,
Inc., 532 F.3d 364, 372 (5th Cir. 2008). The Court then analyzed Plaintiff’s request for injunctive
relief:
Plaintiff has not addressed all of these factors, much less showed that all of them are met.
First, he does not explicitly refer to the merits of his lawsuit, nor how the instant motion for
injunctive relief pertains to it. His underlying complaint is that Defendants are “deliberately
indifferent” to his alleged working conditions, resulting in injury when a gas heater valve
blew up. However, he has a very high standard to meet to make a showing that he will
prevail on this claim. “Deliberate indifference encompasses only unnecessary and wanton
infliction of pain repugnant to the conscience of mankind.” Norton v. Dimanzana, 122 F.3d
286, 291 (5th Cir. 1997). It occurs when two requirements are met. “First, the deprivation
alleged must be, objectively, sufficiently serious; a prison official’s act or omission must
result in the denial of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.” Farmer v.
Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811 (1994) (internal citations
and quotations omitted). Second, the prison official must subjectively know of and disregard
a substantial risk to the inmate’s health or safety. Id. at 839-40. In his motions, he has made
no showing of success on the merits against this standard. Instead, he states that he needs
his legal documents to prepare for thee October 23, 2012, evidentiary hearing. However, the
intent of the hearing is to obtain his testimony as to the facts of the events alleged in his
complaint, namely, the incident on October 31, 2011, in which Plaintiff alleges he was
injured while performing maintenance in the gym under the supervision of certain
correctional officers. He should not require extensive preparation or reference to documents
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for that purpose. Second, he has made no showing, or even a claim in the motion, of any
threat that he will suffer irreparable harm without injunctive relief. He merely requests
injunctive relief for the return of his documents, without explaining why he could not recover
them when Capt Lanthem left them in the dayroom, and for protection against harassment
and retaliation, which he has not supported with any factual allegations at all. Third, he has
not addressed the possible damage to the Defendants if injunctive relief is granted. Fourth,
Plaintiff similarly has not addressed the public interest in granting his motion. Plaintiff must
carry the burden of persuasion on all four of these factors, Lake Charles Diesel, Inc., 328
F.3d at 196 (citing Canal Auth. v. Callaway, 489 F.2d 567, 572 (5th Cir. 1974)), but has not
done so. In addition, a motion for injunctive relief is not the proper means by which to
request copies of documents from the Court’s docket. He may file a separate request
identifying which particular documents he desires copied and demonstrating why he cannot
pay for the copies. Therefore, Plaintiff’s motion should be denied.
See R&R of August 21, 2012, at 3-4 (footnote omitted). Simultaneously with the issuance of this
R&R, Plaintiff filed two additional motions. First, he filed a letter motion seeking to file what he
terms “Exhibits T-X” to his earlier motions, which the Court construes as an additional Letter
Motion to Compel (docket entry #25). The exhibits attached thereto summarize his demands to
prison officials regarding his legal papers, their response and his attempts at communication with
other third parties, including, inter alia, TDCJ Internal Affairs and a district attorney. Second, he
filed a Letter Motion for Hearing on his Motion to Compel (docket entry #26). The Court then
issued a Supplemental R&R on September 13, 2012 (docket entry #33). There, the Court observed
that the documents attached to the Letter Motion to Compel (docket entry #25) did not address the
requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 65; and, that a hearing pursuant to Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179
(5th Cir. 1985) has been set in this case and that Plaintiff could raise his concerns about the legal
documents at that time, obviating the need for any other hearing on the request for injunctive relief.
On September 26, 2012, Plaintiff filed Objections (docket entry #35) to the R&Rs. However,
he had previously consented to full Magistrate Judge jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636(c), on June 25, 2012. Defendants signed such consent on September 20, 2012.
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Therefore, this case was reassigned to the undersigned for all purposes. See docket entry #36.
Regarding Plaintiff’s objections, the Court observes that he limited them to the analysis of
the four factors in the first R&R, but did not again address the issue of a hearing.
As to the first factor, Plaintiff asserts that he has made a showing of likelihood of success on
the merits. Objections at 2. However, he only contends that he has alleged the elements of a cause
of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, stating, “First, the Plaintiff must allege that some person has
deprived him of a federal right. Second, he must allege that the person who has deprived him of that
right acted under color of state or territorial law.” Objections at 2 (quoting Gomez v. Toledo, 446
U.S. 635, 640, 100 S. Ct. 1920, 64 L. Ed. 2d 572 (1980). That is correct with regard to the elements
of a § 1983 claim, but it is not a showing of likelihood of success on the merits; his pleadings are
merely allegations. He also contends he has informed the Court that he is trying to obtain treatment
for certain unspecified mental health issues and that he has filed two prior motions for appointment
of counsel, which have been denied. Neither argument addresses the first factor; furthermore, Rule
65 requires that a motion for injunctive relief “describe in reasonable detail - and not by referring
to the complaint or other document - the act or acts restrained or required.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
65(d)(1)(C). This objection is without merit.
As to the second factor, Plaintiff only asserts that he is receiving “psychotic medications”
when he “need[s] therapy, not drugs, to correct the P.T.S.D.” Objections at 3. However, his motion
for injunctive relief concerns the return of legal documents he contends were taken from the cell of
his prisoner legal assistant, Eddie Eugene Brewer. He has not requested injunctive relief on the issue
of his medical treatment. This argument is inapposite to the issue of whether he will suffer
irreparable harm absent the return of his documents, and is without merit.
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As to the third and fourth factors, Plaintiff simply makes conclusory statements that the
injunctive relief he seeks will not damage Defendants or disserve the public interest. The only actual
argument he makes, if briefly, is that “U.T.M.B. is paid to provide these services to inmates in the
T.D.C.J.” Objections at 3. Again, that is an argument aimed at a medical issue not implicated by
the request for requiring the return of his documents. These arguments are without merit.
Having reviewed Plaintiff’s objections, it is hereby
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Objections are OVERRULED. It is further
ORDERED that “Plaintiff’s First Motion to Obtain a Court Order for the Named
Defendant’s in this Case to Return to Plaintiff All Legal Documents that were Illegally Searched and
Confiscated by Officer’s on the Billy Moore Unit on July 13, 2012” (docket entry #17); Plaintiff’s
“Motion to Compel” (docket entry #23); Plaintiff’s Letter Motion to Compel (docket entry #25); and
Plaintiff’s Letter Motion for Hearing on his Motion to Compel (docket entry #26), all construed
together as a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and/or Preliminary Injunction and a Motion
for Hearing are hereby DENIED.
So ORDERED and SIGNED this 5
day of October, 2012.
____________________________
JUDITH K. GUTHRIE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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