Robinson v. Fenner et al
Filing
48
MEMORANDUM OPINION (Denying Without Prejudice Motions to Dismiss) Signed by District Judge Henry E. Hudson on 08/08/2019. Copy mailed to plaintiff. (tjoh, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Richmond Division
WILLIAM ROBINSON,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. 3:18CV117-HEH
V.
J.FENNER,e/flf/.,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
(Denying Without Prejudice Motions to Dismiss)
William Robinson, a Virginia inmate proceeding pro se, filed this 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 action.^ Robinson contends that Defendants Officer J. Fenner ("Officer Fenner"),
Captain Hurlock, Lieutenant Hansen, and Magistrate Condra Walker("Magistrate
Walker")violated Robinson's rights during his incarceration at the Prince
William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center. For the reasons set forth below,
this action will proceed on Robinson's Second Particularized Complaint(ECF No. 39).^
^ That statute provides,in pertinent part:
Every person who, under color of any statute ... of any State ...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....
42 U.S.C. § 1983.
^ The Court utilizes the pagination assigned to the parties' submissions by the CM/ECF
docketing system. The Court corrects the spelling, capitalization, and punctuation in quotations
from Robinson's Second Particularized Complaint.
Defendants' Motions to Dismiss(ECF Nos. 33,36),^ which were filed before Robinson
filed his Second Particularized Complaint, will be denied without prejudice. Robinson's
claims against Magistrate Walker will be dismissed under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and
1915A as firivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
L PROCEDURAL HISTORY
By Memorandum Order entered on June 12,2018,the Court denied without
prejudice Robinson's three motions to amend his complaint because Robinson had failed
to submit a copy ofthe proposed amended pleading with his motions. (ECF No. 13, at 1
(citing Williams v. Wilkerson, 90 F.R.D. 168, 169-70(E.D. Va. 1981).) However,
because the allegations set forth in Robinson's Complaint failed to provide each
defendant with fair notice ofthe facts and legal basis upon which each defendant's
liability rested, the Court directed Robinson to file a particularized complaint that
remedied this deficiency. (Id at 2.)
Thereafter, Robinson filed his First Particularized Complaint. (ECF No. 14.)
Shortly after filing his First Particularized Complaint, Robinson filed another motion to
amend,seeking leave of Court to amend his First Particularized Complaint. (ECF
No. 16.) By Memorandum Order entered on October 1, 2018,the Court denied
Robinson's request to amend his First Particularized Complaint without prejudice
because Robinson had failed to submit his proposed amended pleading with his motion. *
^ Counsel for Magistrate Walker filed two duplicative Motions to Dismiss. (ECF Nos. 28, 33.)
Counsel filed the second Motion to Dismiss(ECF No. 33)to correct the attomey/client
association that counsel had selected on CM/ECF when counsel filed the first Motion to Dismiss.
As such, Magistrate Walker's first Motion to Dismiss(ECF No.28) will be administratively
terminated.
(ECF No. 18.) On October 5,2018, Robinson again requested leave of court to amend
his First Particularized Complaint. (ECF No. 19.) Robinson failed to submit his
proposed amended pleading with his motion. The Court denied Robinson's request
without prejudice in a Memorandum Order entered on October 24,2018. (ECF No. 21.)
On November 1,2018,the Court directed the Marshal to serve Defendants with
the First Particularized Complaint. (ECF No. 24.) On December 11,2018, Defendant
Magistrate Walker filed a Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 33.) Defendants Officer Fenner,
Captain Hurlock, and Lieutenant Hansen also filed a Motion to Dismiss on December 11,
2018. (ECF No. 36.)
On December 19,2018, Robinson filed a Second Particularized Complaint. (ECF.
No.39.) Subsequently, on December 26,2018, Robinson filed an Opposition to
Magistrate Walker's Motion to Dismiss(ECF No. 40),"^ a Motion to Appoint Counsel
(ECF No.41), and a Third Particularized Complaint(ECF No. 42). Thereafter,
Defendants Officer Fenner, Captain Hurlock, and Lieutenant Hansen filed an Opposition
to Robinson's Second Particularized Complaint and Third Particularized Complaint.
(ECF No. 44.)
^ Despite the provision of notice pursuant to Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309(4th Cir. 1975),
Robinson did not respond to the Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendants Officer Fenner, Captain
Hurlock, and Lieutenant Hansen.
11. ANALYSIS
A. Amendments and the Motions to Dismiss
With respect to amendments,the pertinent rule provides:
(a)Amendments Before Trial.
(1)Amending as a Matter ofCourse, A party may amend its pleading
once as a matter of course within:
(A)21 days after serving it, or
(B)if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is required,
21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21 days after
service of a motion under Rule 12(b),(e), or (f), whichever is earlier.
(2) Other Amendments. In all other cases, a party may amend its
pleading only with the opposing party's written consent or the court's
leave. The court should freely give leave when justice so requires.
(3) Time to Respond, Unless the court orders otherwise, any required
response to an amended pleading must be made within the time
remaining to respond to the original pleading or within 14 days after
service ofthe amended pleading, whichever is later.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Here, Robinson filed his Second Particularized Complaint, which
presents allegations against all ofthe previously named Defendants, within twenty-one
days ofDefendants filing their Motions to Dismiss.^ (ECF No. 39.) Several days later,
Robinson filed a Third Particularized Complaint, which he titled, "Particularized
Complaint Lt. Hansen." (ECF No.42.) The allegations in Robinson's Third
Particularized Complaint are identical to the allegations against Lieutenant Hansen in
Robinson's Second Particularized Complaint.
Because Robinson's Third Particularized Complaint is simply a fragment ofthe
allegations in the Second Particularized Complaint and not a comprehensive amended
complaint, the Court will not consider Robinson's Third Particularized Complaint. See
^ The Court notes that, although Robinson previously amended his Complaint, his prior
amendment was at the direction ofthe Court.
Williams v. Wilkerson, 90 F.R.D. 168, 169-70(E.D. Va. 1981)(discussing that litigants
may not spackle new allegations or defendants onto the original complaint). This action
will proceed on Robinson's Second Particularized Complaint. (EOF No. 39.) The Court
construes Robinson to raise the following claims for relief:
Claim One:
Officer Fenner (a) assaulted Robinson and used excessive
force, (b)"falsely arrested [Robinson]," (c) "maliciously
made false statements causing [Robinson] to be false[ly]
imprisoned inside of the jail on TSL,"^ and (d) "punished
[Robinson] for being assaulted, all without due process."
(ECFNo. 39,atl.)
Claim Two:
After Robinson was assaulted. Lieutenant Hansen "denied
[Robinson] due process [by] not investigating [Robinson's]
description of the events which were true enough that [he]
was found not guilty of assault." (Id)
Claim Three: Captain Hurlock violated Robinson's right to due process
and right to be fi-ee from cruel and unusual punishment
when Captain Hurlock "had [Robinson] placed on TSL
from the time of the incident 8-30-17 to 1-11-18." (Id.
at 2.)
Claim Four:
Magistrate Walker "refused [Robinson's] criminal
complaint" (id. at 4), which "denied [Robinson] access to
the courts and due process oflaw." (Id. at 3.)
Defendants' Motions to Dismiss(ECF Nos. 33, 36), which were filed before
Robinson filed his Second Particularized Complaint, will be denied without prejudice.
Defendants shall have twenty(20)days to submit a fiirther response to Robinson's
Second Particularized Complaint.
^ Robinson does not define the components ofthe acronym "TSL," but indicates that when
placed on TSL,he was "housed on a higher security level." (ECF No. 39, at 7.)
B. Court's Review Under 28 U.S.C.§§ 1915(e)(2)and 1915A
1. Standard of Review
Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act("PLRA")this Court must dismiss
any action filed by a prisoner ifthe Court determines the action(1)"is frivolous" or
(2)"fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see
28 U.S.C. § 19ISA. As such,the Court will review Robinson's Second Particularized •
Complaint under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A.
In reviewing an action pursuant to the PLRA,the first standard includes claims
based upon "an indisputably meritless legal theory," or claims where the "factual
contentions are clearly baseless." Clay v. Yates, 809 F. Supp.417,427(E.D. Va. 1992)
(quoting Neitzke v. Williams,490 U.S. 319, 327(1989)). The second standard is the
familiar standard for a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
"A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) tests the sufficiency of a complaint;
importantly, it does not resolve contests surrounding the facts, the merits of a claim, or
the applicability of defenses." Republican Party ofN.C. v. Martin,980 F,2d 943,952
(4th Cir. 1992)(citing 5A Charles A. Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and
Procedure § 1356(1990)). In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim,
a plaintiffs well-pleaded allegations are taken as true and the complaint is viewed in the
light most favorable to the plaintiff. Mylan Labs,, Inc. v. Matkari,7 F.3d 1130, 1134(4th
Cir. 1993); see also Martin,980 F.2d at 952. This principle applies only to factual
allegations, however, and "a court considering a motion to dismiss can choose to begin
by identifying pleadings that, because they are no more than conclusions, are not entitled
to the assumption of truth." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,679(2009).
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure "require[]only 'a short and plain statement
ofthe claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to 'give the defendant
fair notice of what the... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" Bell Atl Corp.
V. Twombly,550 U.S. 544,555(2007)(second alteration in original)(quoting Conley v.
Gibson, 355 U.S. 41,47(1957)). Plaintiffs cannot satisfy this standard with complaints
containing only "labels and conclusions" or a "formulaic recitation ofthe elements of a
cause of action." Id. (citations omitted). Instead, a plaintiff must allege facts sufficient
"to raise a right to relief above the speculative level," id. (citation omitted), stating a
claim that is "plausible on its face," id. at 570, rather than merely "conceivable." Id. "A
claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court
to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged."
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 556). In order for a claim or
complaint to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim,the plaintiff must "allege facts
sufficient to state all the elements of[his or] her claim." Bass v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours
& Co., 324 F.3d 761,765(4th Cir. 2003)(citing Dickson v. Microsoft Corp., 309 F.3d
193,213(4th Cir. 2002);lodice v. United States, 289 F.3d 270,281 (4th Cir. 2002)).
Lastly, while the Court liberally construes pro se complaints, Gordon v. Leeke,574 F.2d
1147, 1151 (4th Cir. 1978), it will not act as the inmate's advocate and develop,sm
sponte, statutory and constitutional claims that the inmate failed to clearly raise on the
face of his complaint. See Brock v. Carroll, 107 F.3d 241,243 (4th Cir. 1997)(Luttig, J.,
concurring); Beaudettv. City ofHampton,775 F.2d 1274, 1278(4th Cir. 1985).
2. Claim Four
In Claim Four, Robinson contends that Magistrate Walker "refused piis] criminal
complaint, stating that 'it already has been investigated,' but the truth ofthe matter is
[Officer] Fenner's fabrication had been investigated. [Robinson] was and still [has] been
denied due process to have [his] side heard and charges filed on [Officer] Fenner." (ECF
No. 39, at 4.) However,judges are absolutely immune from suits under § 1983 for acts
committed within their judicial discretion. Stump v. Sparkman,435 U.S. 349,355-56
(1978). "Absolute judicial immunity exists 'because it is recognized thatjudicial officers
in whom discretion is entrusted must be able to exercise discretion vigorously and
effectively, without apprehension that they will be subjected to burdensome and
vexatious litigation.'" Lesane v. Spencer, No. 3:09CV012,2009 WL 4730716, at *2
(E.D. Va. Dec. 3,2009)(citations omitted)(quoting MrCray v. Maryland,456 F.2d 1, 3
(4th Cir. 1972), overruled on other grounds.Pink v. Lester, 52F.3d73,77(4th Cir.
1995)). A judge is entitled to immunity even if"the action he [or she] took was in error,
was done maliciously, or was in excess of his [or her] authority ...." Stump,435 U.S.
at 356. This immunity extends to magistrates in Virginia. Pressly v. Gregory,831 F.2d
514, 517(4th Cir. 1987)(citation omitted)(noting that "[a]s judicial officers, magistrates
are entitled to absolute immunity for acts performed in their judicial capacity"). Only
two exceptions apply to judicial immunity: (1)nonjudicial actions; and(2)those actions
"though judicial in nature,taken in complete absence of all jurisdiction." Mireles v.
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JVaco, 502 U.S. 9,11-12(1991)(citations omitted). Neither exception applies in this
instance.
Robinson faults Magistrate Walker for the actions she took when she received his
criminal complaint. (See ECF No. 39, at 2-4.) Robinson fails to allege facts that
plausibly suggest that Magistrate Walker's actions were nonjudicial actions or that
Magistrate Walker's actions were taken in complete absence of all jurisdiction. Thus,
Magistrate Walker is entitled to absolute immunity. Accordingly, Robinson's claims
against Magistrate Walker, which are set forth in Claim Four, will be dismissed as
frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
C. Robinson's Motion to Appoint Counsel
Robinson moves the Court for the appointment of counsel. (ECF No.41.)
Counsel need not be appointed in § 1983 cases unless the case presents complex issues or
exceptional circumstances. See Fowler v. Lee, 18 F. App'x 164, 166(4th Cir. 2001)
(citation omitted). This action presents no complex issues or exceptional circumstances.
Additionally, Robinson's pleadings demonstrate that he is competent to represent himself
in the action. Accordingly, Robinson's Motion to Appoint Counsel(ECF No.41)will be
denied without prejudice.
m. CONCLUSION
The Motions to Dismiss(ECF Nos. 33, 36)will be denied without prejudice.
Magistrate Walker's first Motion to Dismiss(ECF No. 28)will be administratively
terminated. Robinson's claims against Magistrate Walker, which are set forth in Claim
Four, will be dismissed under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A as frivolous and for
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failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Robinson's Motion to Appoint
Counsel(EOF No.41)will be denied without prejudice. The action will proceed on
Claims One(a),(b),(c), and (d), Two,and Three. Defendants Officer Fenner, Captain
Hurlock, and Lieutenant Hansen shall have twenty(20)days to submit a further response
to Robinson's Second Particularized Complaint.
An appropriate Order shall accompany this Memorandum Opinion.
/s/
HENRY E. HUDSON
Date:Rtfj g
SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Richmond, Virginia
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