Bell v. Charlottesville Department of Child Protective Services et al
Filing
34
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 9/11/15. (jcj)
CLERKSOFFI U.S. ST K URI
CE
DI ,
AT ROANOG ,
VA
FI ED
L
I THE UN I
N
TED STATES D I
STRI COU RT
CT
FO R TH E W ESTERN DI
STRI O F V I I I
CT
RG N A
CH AR LOTTESV I
LLE D I I ON
V SI
sEP 112 1
25
J
BYULK C.
RK
,
:
DE
CL
'
J REE BELL,
A
Ci lA cton N o.3:
vi
i
15CV 00031
Pl i if
a ntf ,
M EM O R AN D UM O PINIO N
CH A RLO TTESVI
LLE D EPARTM EN T
H on. e E.
Gl n Conr
ad
Chi Unie St t s D it i tJ e
ef t d a e s rc udg
OF CHI PROTECTI SERVI
LD
VE
CES,1g
ç L,
Def nda s
e nt .
Ea le t syea , a e Be lsm i c l r n w e er m oved f om he cus ody a pl c d i t
r i r hi
r J r e l' nor hid e
r e
r
r t
nd a e n he
cusody oft i ma e na g a
t
he r t r l r ndmot . Bel c me e t sa ton r l t t t c t de son
her
l om nc d hi c i e aed o he usody cii
om a nt ul ,
m d
f nda s he t l tes le
cha
by f lng a pr yq c pl i on J y 1 2015. Shenn e asde e nt t t r o t vil
ii
o
-
De rme ofChid Pr e tveSe vi s'.lr em pl ee oft Charote vil De rm e o
pa t nt
l ot c i
r ce '1 ttee
oy s he
l t s le pa t nt f
,
Soci lSe v ce , e Sa pe,Sha
a r i s Br nda m
nnon M a r , nd El o Rei t gua di a lt m a
gui e a
m na d; he r an d ie ppoi e
nt d
f herc l e St phani Cangi ,a Cha l t vil J nie a Dom e tc Re a i Di t i
or
hidr n, e
e
n' nd
r otes le uve l nd
s i l tons s rd
Co tJ
ur udgeEdwa d Be r The c ei pr s nty be or t cour on t de e nt 'm oto t
r ry.
as s e e l f e he
t he f nda s
i ns o
di m i s Fort f l i r as , he c twilgr ntt de e nt m otons
s s.
he olow ng e ons t our l a he f nda s' i .
Fact Backeround
ual
O n J nua y 1 201 t Cha l t s le Depa t e tofSoc a Ser c t l d t o pe ii i
a r 2, 5, he
rote vil
rm n
i l vi es i e w
ttons n
t Cha l t vil J nie a D om es i Re a i nsD i ti tCour , s ntt Vi gi a Co
he
rotes le uve l nd
tc l to
s rc
t pur ua o r ni de
jj1 1252a o 1 1253. Thepeii s
6.- nd/r 6.ttons oughtt rmovalofBelst mi c l e fom
he e
l' wo nor hidrn r
he c t
r usody. The we es po tdby a a fda tfom Sha
y r up re
n fi vi r
nnon M a r a s i lwor empl
guie, oc a
ker
oyed
by t Charotesvil D epart entofSoci Servi
he
l t le
m
al
ces. The af i ti cat t Bel w as
fdavi ndi ed hat l
'Thecour hasbee adviedt tt se iy i pa4oft Fa iy Ser cesD i son oft Charotes le
t
n
s ha hi ntt s l he m l
vi
vii
he
l t vil
Deparm entofSoci Ser ces
t
al vi .
i r e aed o c r ofdomesi vi e e,ma ii wou ng,a c l a easar s tofa
nca c r t n ha ges
tc olnc
lc ous ndi nd hid bus
e ul
phys c la t r ton w ih D e m ond Ra s y, he f t rofBe ls one ye r ol da
i a le ca i
t
s
m e t a he
l'
- a - d ught r who w as
e,
pr s nti t ho e a t tm e oft i i nt t ta pr ec i or rw a i pl e pr bii B e l
e e n he m t he i
he nc de ; ha
ot tve de s n ac ohi tng l
f om havi a con a tw ih R a s y ort one- ar ol c l t tBe lhad pr e t d as
r
ng ny t c t m e
he
ye - d hid; ha l
es n e
e o i ly unsa e'a t tt De rme ofSocilSe vi e wasconc r d t ts woul
m tonal
tbl , nd ha he pa t nt
a r cs
e ne ha he
d
atmp t tk h rt c id e o to saewh n s ewa rla e fo j i.
te t o a e e wo hlr n u f tt e h s ee s d rm al
J
udge Be r f
r y ound t tt c l r n w e e a e o ne ec ed,o atrs ofbe ng a e or
ha he hid e
r bus d r gl t r i k
i bus d
ne e t d, Be l On J nua y 21 2015 J
gl c e by l .
a r ,
, udge Be r e e e a pr i i r r m oval de a di
r y nt r d elm na y e
or r war ng
tm por r c t y oft chidr t t i m ae nalgr ndmot , oceyn Bel. On M a c 11, 5,
e
a y usod
he l en o her tr
a
her J l
l
r h 201
J
udge Be r e e e a dipos to or rta f r i cus o t t m a e na gr ndm ot .
r y nt r d
s ii nal de r ns e r ng t dy o he t r l a
her
Be lsco pl ntars s f o t e c t y pr e ngs Bel c a m st t whie s w a
l' m ai i e r m hes us od oce di .
l l i ha , l he s
i a c rtd,heDepat ntofChidPrtci Sevi s(k 'wr ulytanse rdc t of
nc r eae t
rme
l oe tve r ce C
CPS' ongf l r fre usody
)
he c l r nt t i m ae na g a
r hid e o her t r l r ndmot r Bel c endst tf s alegai r ga di he m e t
he .
l ont
ha ale l tons e r ng r n al
he t we em a t CPS, ndt tt de rme ' e oye si ude t a lga i i a fda t
alh r de o
a ha he pa t nts mpl e ncl d he le tons n fi vis
a i the e t
ga ns r ven hough t e w a no C
her s d i lpr of' o s
physca o t uppor t a l atons Be la l ge t t
t he leg i . l le s ha
Ca n, he c l e sgua di n a lt m , f l t r t n he m es age . Bel f rhe a l gest t
ngi t hidr n'
r a d ie has aied o e ur r
s s
l u t r le
ha
CPS,Ca i a J
ng n, nd udge Be r havem a i i pos i e f rhe t r unie w ih he c l e
ry
de t m s bl o r o e t t r hidr n.
Bel doesnots e a m one a y da a s I t d,s as t tt sc t os t c t y
l
e k ny
t r m ge . nsea he ks ha hi our cl e he us od
ca e c i i l pr e ut t e pe s who pr de f l e i o m a i a ns he , r a nty
s , r m naly os c e hos r ons
ovi d a s nf r ton gai t r pe m ne l
r m ovet i vi lde e nt fom t i postons a r uniehe wih he c l e Bel not s
e
he ndi dua f nda s r her ii , nd e t r t r hidr n.
l e
t ts ha I lpa r ka e ist frfom CPSandwilber si mor gthejAug.
ha he s s pewor nd mal hus a r
al
l equetng e a r
2nd hearng' bef Judge Ber y.
i ' ore
r
ProceduralH i orv
st
B el,pr
l oceedi pr yçandj f ma p
ng o
. or aupe i,tl d t i t ntaci n o J y 1 201 The
n
rs ie he nsa to n ul , 5.
.
.
defnda ss e ntymo dt dimist complitpurua t Ruls1 b) 1 a 1 b)6)of
e nt ubs que l ve o s s he
an s nt o e 2( () nd 2( (
t Fe r Rul ofCi lPr du e Thec tnotfe Be lo t de e nt 'm o i a r r d
he de al es
vi oce r .
our iid l f he f nda s tons s equie
byRosbor v. rion,5 F. 309( hCi.1 , s di nottl a r pons Thematri
e o Gars 28 2d
4t r 975)but he d ie ny es e.
te s
rpe f di pos ton.
i or s ii
st
andar o Re q
ds f yiw
Rul 1 b)1 oft Fe r lRulso Ci l oc r per t apa t t mo f dimislof
e 2( () he de a e f viPr edu e mis ry o ve or s sa
a a to f rlc o s b e tmatr u idcin Theplitf b a st b r e o p o i t t
n cin o a k f u j c te j rs ito .
an if e r he u d n f r vng ha
s be t te j rs ito e it. Eva sv. F. r isCo,1 6F.d6 2 6 7( t Ci.1 9 .
u j c matr u id cin x ss
n B. Pekn . 6 3 4 , 4 4h r 99 )
Dimisl o lc o s b e t te j rs it ni a p o raet n yi temaeilu idcin la t
s sa f r a k f u j c matr u id ci s p r p it s l f h tra j rs it a fcs
o
o
o
a eno i ds ea t movngpa t i e il t prvaia amatro l ' l (ntr lctton
r t n iput nd he i ry s ntted o e l s te f aw. d.i ena iai
'
a dq o ai nmakso te ) I d cdngamoint ds s frlc o s be t te jzidcin,
n u tto r mi d . n e ii
l
to o imis o a k f u jc matr l s ito
r
t co ts ul ' ega d t pl a ngsasm e e e denc on t i s a m a c i re de e
he ur ho d ç r he e di
r
r vi e he s ue, nd y ons de vi nc
o tiet pe dn swi o t o v rigt p o e d n t o ef rs mma yj d me t' 1 .
u sd he la ig t u c n et he r c e i g o n o u r u g n . d
h
n
'
Rul l b)6 oft Fe r lRulso Ci l oc r pelnisapa t t mo f dimislof
e 2( () he de a e f viPr edue n t ry o ve or s sa
a com pl i f rf iur t sa e a cl i upon w hi r le c n be g a e To s vi di m i s lf
a nt o a l e o t t
am
ch e i f a
r nt d.
ur ve s s a or
f l e t s a e a c ai , pl ntf m us e t bls tf c al a i lt ' pl adi C a t lc e t t
aiur o t t l m a ai i f t s a i h ia i pl us biiy' by e ng s c ua ont nt ha
f
a l st c t o dr w t r s bl i e e t tt de e nti la e f t m i c
low he our t a he ea ona e nf r nce ha he f nda s i bl or he s onduc
t
alged.' As r tv. qba,556U. 662,678(
le ' hcof I l
S.
2009) ( botom,apli ifmus
. $
At t
antf
t
S
nudger r cl msa r st lnefom c i et plusbl t rss dimisl' W agM or
hej ai cos he i r oncevabl o a i e' o e it s sa.'
e
Dols LLC v.Coz r, 0F. 359,36 65( hCi. 2)( i BelAt. p. Two y,550
,
a t68 3d
4- 4t r201 quotng l lCor v. mbl
U. 544,570(
S.
2007). W hieapr . ltga ' pla ngsaet belbeal c tu d,Gor v.
)
l oï ii nts e di r o i rly onsr e
q
don
3
Le ,574F. 11 11 (t Ci.1 ,apr K c antmus silc an s fcintf csCo
eke
2d 47, 51 4h r 978) o ompli
t tl onti ufi e a t t
t
r i e a rghtt r le a
a s i o e i f bove t s c a i l ve ' a C t t a c a m t r le t ti pl usbl on is
he pe ul tve e l' nd k a e l i o e i f ha s a i e t
s
fc ' Twombl 55 U. a 555,5 l c i rngaRul 1 b)6 moton,t cour may
a e.'
y, 0 S. t
70. n onsdei
e 2( () i he t
c i re bis a t c t orr f r e t i t c pl i . Se Philpsv.
onsde xhi t ta hed o e e r d o n he om a nt
e li
LCll ' l ,1 F.
ntl nc. 90 3d
,
609,61 ( hCi.1 )
8 4t r 999 .
D i c s on
s us i
Th d fn a t h vemo e t ds s t epanifsc mp an f rlc o s b e t te
e ee d ns a
v d o imis h litf o lit o a k f u j c matr
J i di i a f f iur t sa e apl us bl c ai f rr le . The c t l c i re h a g e
' s cton nd or a l e o t t
ur
a i e l m o e if
our wil ons de ac r um nt
i t n.
n ur
1
.
M oton t Dimisf La o Subj tM ate Jurs c i
i o s s or ck f ec
tr iditon
Th d fn a t frtag eta ti c u ta k s b e tmatr u idcint a r ij n tv
e e e d n s is r u h t h s o r lc s u j c te j rs ito o wad nu cie
r le r ques e i t c pl nt s c fca l t r ues t tt s c toverur J e Be r s
ei f e
t d n he om ai , pe ii ly he eq t ha hi our
t n udg
r y'
c t de s on a r unie B e lw ih herc l r n. The c t ee . U nde t Rooke - l m a
us ody ci i nd e t l t
hid e
our agr s
r he
r Fe d n
d crn , e e a d src c u t d n t a es be t t r u idcint h a d a e b o g tb
o ti e fd rl itit o rs o o h v u j c mat j rs ito o e r i s s r u h y
e
c
saec u to esc mp an n o ij re c usdb saec u tu g n srn rdb f r ted src
tt-o r ls r o lii g f nu is a e y tt-o rj d me t e dee eo e h itit
c u t r c e i sc mme e a divingd src c u t e iw a drj cin o t o ej d me t.2
o r p o e dng o nc d n n t itit o r rve n ee to f h s u g n s,
i
,
Ex o M o l r v. u i scl d s Co'.5 4U. 28 , 8 ( 0 5 . Ac o dn l t t e
x n biCo p. Sa d Ba i n u . l , 4 S. 0 2 4 2 0 ) c r igy,o h
p
e tn Bel e k rv e o , r eif r m,ud eBer sc so yd cso , e c mpan i s b e to
xe t ls e s e iw fo r le fo J g ry' u t d e iin h r o lit s u j c t
dimis lunde Rul l b)1.
s sa
r e 2( ( )
ll.
M oton t Di m i s f Faiure t St e a Cl m Upon W hi R elefC an Be G rant
i o s s or l
o at
ai
ch
i
ed
Belsc anti as s j c t dimislunde Rul 1 b)6)f anumbe ofr a ons
l' ompli s lo ube t o s sa
r e 2( ( or
r es .
2TheRooke - dma docrnei namedafert Supr Cour c es Rookerv.Fi iyTr tCo.263
r Fel n ti s
t wo
eme
t as ,
delt us
,
U. 41 ( 9 3 , n Ditito Col aCo t Ap asv. ed n 46 U. 4 ( 98 )
S. 3 1 2 ) a d src f umbi urof pe l F lma , 0 S. 62 1 3 .
4
Fis ,o t e e Bel a kst scou tt cl e t c t ca e orot r s i ewe i ongoi
r t t he xtnt l s hi r o os he usody s
he wie nt l ne n
ng
pr e ngsbe or J e Be r s h r le i ba r d by t a t nton doc r ne s tf t i Y o
oce di
f e udg
r y, uc e i f s r e
he bs e i
t i e orh n unge
r
v. ri,401U. 37( 971. TheYounge docrnepr dest taf r c ts da ti
Hars
S. 1 )
r ti ovi ha edeal our houl bsan
fom i ef rngi asaepr e di e ni ihasj iditont r a ht meis i ()t r ae
r ntrei n tt oc e ng, ve f t urs ci o e e he rt,f 1 hee r
ongoi sat j ca pr ee ngs ( t pr e ngsi iaei tntsaei eess a (
ng t e udiil oc di ;2) he oc edi mplc t mpora tt ntr t; nd 3)
t r ia a
he e s n dequa eoppor uniy t r i e a f de alc ai si t sat pr ee ngs M a tn M a i ta
t
t t o a s ny e r l m n he t e oc di .
ri
ret
Cor v. avlndComm' o Huma Reltons 38F. 1 1 ( hCi.1 .
p. M r a
n n
n ai , 3d 392, 396 4t r 994)
Appl ngt s prncpls t c tconcude t Belscli f ij tver le ae
yi he e i i e ,he our
l s hat l' ams or nunci eif r
s j ctt dimis lunde Younce. Fis,ii ce rfom t c antt tt saecusody
ube o s s a
r
r rt t s la r he ompli ha he tt t
pr ee ng we eongoi a t tmet sa tonwasfld,snc t c
oc di s r
ng t he i hi c i
ie i e he ompl i i c t st tBelwa
ant ndia e ha l s
s he ed t a a f ahe rngbef r J
c dul o ppe r or a i
o e udge Bery onAugus 2,201 Sec
r
t
5.
ond,i i wel
ts l
esa i he t tc l c t m a t r i plc t i po t ntsa e i e e t . Se M oo e v.Si s 442
t bls d ha hid us ody te s m i a e m r a t t nt r s s
e
r
m ,
U. 415, ( 9 (a l r ltonsar ata tona a e ofsaec r . Thid,t r i no
S. 435 1 79) fmiy eai
e rdii l r a tt oncen)
r he e s
i c ton t Be lc nno r i e he c ai s i t s a e co tp oc edi . Be us Bel hasnot
ndi a i hat l a t a s r l m n he t t ur r e ngs
ca e l
i tf e a e r or na y c r um s a est tm i htgi r s t a e e i t t a i a i of
den ii d ny xt a di r i c t nc ha g
ve ie o n xc pton o he pplc ton
t Younge doc rne,t c tc ude t ti m us a t i f om hea i a ofhe c ai s
he
r ti he our oncl s ha t t bs a n r
rng ny
rlm
concer ng t pendi st e pr
ni he
ng at oceedi
ngs.
Addii l a c ai sa i tt D e rm e ofSoc a Se vi esa e ba r by t El ve h
tonaly, ny l m ga ns he pa t nt
i l r c r r ed he e nt
Am e e t t Unied St t Cons iuton. Pur ua t t El ve h A m e en ,t n
ndm nt o he t
a es
tt i
s nt o he e nt
ndm t t
a
u ons ntng St t i i m une f o s t br
nc e i
ae s m
r m uis oughti f de alc t b he ow n c tz . Edel a v.
n e r ours y r
ii ens'
'
m n
J da 415U. 651 662- ( 974 . Thi pr e to as c endst saea nce , ge sof
or n,
S. , 63 1 )
s otcin lo xt
o tt ge is Re nt
Uni ofCalv. e,51 U. 425 429( 997) whihaec i r dd m lloft Stt,' t
v.
. Do 9 S. ,
1 , c r onsde e ' s he ae'M ,
ar
He lhyCivSc Dit Bd. Educ v. e 429U. 274,280( 977) l Vigi a de t t of
at t h. s. of
. Dovl,
S.
1 . n r ni, parmens
s a s r ce ar c i r d la m soft Com m onwea t . . a l a tw he i c e t t rr e i
oci l e vi s e ons de e i r
he
1h . , t e s
n t om s o hei ol n
pr t c i c l e ' N e s n v. e r c N o.3: 1 c 0001 2011U . Di t LEX I 1
o e tng hidr n.
' l o H r i k,
1 - v4,
S. s .
S 23618 a *35
,t
( . Va. t26, 1;s eas Doev. lnsNo. 1
W D. Oc. 201 ) e lo
Muli , 2:0CV0001 201 U. DitLEXI 74080,
7, 0 S. s.
S
a *( . Va. 0)( di t tt W ieCo yDe rmen ofSocalSevies i isr ei
t W D. 201 hol ng ha he s unt pa t t
i r c ,n t ol n
pr e tngc l e ii prpel c rcei da a am oft sae'. I t absnceofc e t
otci hidrn,ks o ry haa trze s n r
he tt') n he e
onsnt o
s tora e es w a ve ofi m uniy, he Cha l t s leD e rm e ofSoc a Se v ce a isChid
ui
n xpr s i r m
t t
rote vil pa t nt
i l r i s nd t
l
Pr ec i Se vi s Di s on a e i m une f o labiiy unde t El vent Am e
ot tve r ce vi i r m
r m i lt
r he e h
ndm e t
n.
Thec tlkewie c l st tJ
our i s onc ude ha udgeBe r a St p ni Ca n,t gua di a lt m
ry nd e ha e ngi he r an d ie
a
ppoi ed f he c l e a e i m une fom la lt Se St p v.Spa km a 435 U . 349,
nt or r hidr n, r m
r i biiy. e um
r n,
S.
3 5 5 ( 9 8 ( ic so udca i ntl s eas Flmigv As il4 F.d8 6 8 9(t Ci.
5 - 6 1 7 ) d susinj iilmmu iy ; e lo e n . b l 2 3 8 , 8 4h r
,
1 ( di t tt dee nt whiea tngast g din,wa i
994) hol ng ha he fnda , l ci
he uar a s mmunefom la lt e ni
r ibiiy, ve f
s ele t tej d ei o e c u t.
h id o h u g n p n o r)
Fi ly, l Belhasatmptdt i
nal whie l te e o nvoket co tsf rlq si j iditon,he
he ur' edea ueton urs ci
r
com pl i , n unde t m os lbe a c tud i f ist a l ge s fci ntf t t s a e a pl us bl
a nt eve
r he
t i r l onsr on, a l o le uf i e ac s o t t
a i e
cli unde any f de alc tt i lorsa ut ypr son a i ta oft na e def nt .
am
r
e r onsiutona
tt or ovii gans ny he m d enda s
Ac o dn l t c mpliti s b e t ods sa u d rTwo l a dI b l
c r igy,he o an s u jc t imisl n e
mb y n q a.
C oncl i
us on
Fort r a ons sat d, he c t ilgr ntt de e nt 'm o i nst dim i s The Cl r i
he e s
t e t our w l a he f nda s t o o s s .
ek s
diec e t s nd c e oft sm e or nd o ni a t a c pa ng or rt t pl i ifa
r t d o e opi s hi m a um pi on nd he c om nyi
de o he a ntf nd
a lc
l ouns lofr c d.
e
e or
ENTER : Thi l(Q day ofSe ember 2015.
s
pt
,
Chi U nied St esD i r ctJudge
ef t
at
sti
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?