Bower v. United States of America

Filing 45

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 7/7/2011. (ssm)

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10- 294

M EM O R AN D UM O PI O N
NI
UN I
TED STATES OF A M ERI ,
CA

By: o Gl E.
H n. en Com ud
Chi fUnie St e D i ti tJ
e
t d at s s rc udge

Dee n .
f nda t
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ai if oug hi lp- nd-al s g ns he e nt s nt o he de a

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)
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as s
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ee d n ' to o u r u g n . r h e s n ttd lw,h e e d n ' to
wilbe d ni d.
l
e e
Fact and ProceduralBackground
ual

The f l i f ct a e s a e i t lgh m os f vor bl t t pl ntf . r v' Fl r
olow ng a s r t t d n he i t t a a e o he ai if Te r s oo

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A ta oxi a e y 1 1 p. .on M a c 23,
ppr m t l 2: 0 m
r h 2009,84- a - d H a v y L.
ye r ol r e
Bow e f l i t
r e l n he

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lwa t he lm t ans fis dia ntr ç e
sa
' s
)
s n o eo
de a a nt e i t buidi A lhoug he had tnotc a si knes orot rpr e
nt l ppoi m nt n he l ng. t
h
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s
he obl m
wih t c ton oft foor Bow e ' f e ca e outf om unde hi ashe a oa hed t
t he ondii
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rs e t m
r
r m
ppr c
he

De a Clni (
ntl i c.Bowe De a 5. Afe fli t t fo ,srki hi s de a hea a
r p. t ) tr alng o he lor ti ng s houl r nd d, nd
facurnghi hi Bowe f tas tnc lkeû t j ly'orS x'i hi rg ha ( we
r t i s p,
r el ubsa e i l e el ' ' 'n s iht nd. Bo r
whi
wa
De a 3,5.Healoha a oiypac o sai onhi pa s ( t De a 78.Net rBower
p. t )
s d n l th r t n
s nt. Smih p. t ) ihe

RK

nort pli if i c rai a wha c usdhi fl.( t De a 70. Prort t si de ,
he antfl s e t n bout t a e s al Smih p. t ) i o hi nci nt
Bow e wasphys c ly i pe ntand a tve a di notha a hi t y off li
r
i a l nde nde
c i , nd d
ve s or
a lng.

I
mmedael a j e t t l ai ofBo rsf ltle VeernsAdmi srton
it y dac nt o he oc ton
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r
nitai
empl e we e wor ng i Conf r e Room 2- 52.Ea le t tm or ng- a a oxi a el
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or hei
r f e hm e .W a H en y, he Su r s rofCa e n Se vi esa Sa e VA M C,be i ve t t
e r s nt nda
r t
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nt e r c t l m
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he
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h N i
m r
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at e
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i vi l i Conf r nc R oom 2- 52, he drnks we e de i r d i a bow lofi e m e s i
ndi dua s n
ee e
1 t
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c
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weve nc . t ug
N i s
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de
a de i r on M a c 23,2009 orc us ng a s lson t tda e s esi a e t ts s ls
ny lve y
rh
a i ny pil
ha t , he tm t s ha he pil

lqui ori onc eveyf orfvemont .M c 1De a 20.Alhougha las oneo t
i ds ce e r our i
hs ( Nei p. t ) t
te t
f he
t e c e e i i vi l w a ked t oug t ha l a t t c e e r
hr e onf r nc ng ndi dua s l
hr h he lw y o he onf r nce oom be w e n
t e

1 45 a 1 1 none oft m no i d a hi un ua a utt foorwhe eBowe lt rf l.
0: nd 2:0,
he
tce nyt ng us l bo he l
r
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( rs De at46,50.
Calon p.
)

l'ead i sr t ofBowe se tt BehB . ih, ss bs ue l s ttt d a t pli ifi t s
'h m nitaor
T
r' sae, t Sm t wa u eq nty ubsiu e s he antf n hi
Cas
e.

W he t t eee oye i t c e e er
n he hr mpl es n he onf r nc oom hea dt s
r he ound ofBowe ' f l t y
rs al, he
i m e a e y se d i o t ha l a t i s i t fndi Bow e hal- itng a ha fl a ng
m di t l t ppe nt he lw y o nve tga e, i ng
r f s ti nd l -e ni

ag ns t wal Bo ri or t m t theha si d a r pe t dl ad s t tt foor
ai t he l. we nf med he ha
d lppe nd e a e y vied ha he l

wa sipey.( rs De a 1 20.Thetu'ee oye sweeprma iyc r dwih
s lp r Calon p. t 7, )
l e mpl e r i rl oncene t
pr urng m e c as i t nc f Bower butnone oft m s w a hi s i r on t tooro
oc i
di al s s a e or
,
he a nyt ng lppe y
he l
r

obs r d a hi on Bowe t twa we orsiky,e n whe t y s c fc ly l d on t
e ve nyt ng
r ha s t tc
ve
n he pe iia l ooke
he

foorf e de eoflqui ( lo De a 20,4 W atr De at1 40; nsm De a
l or vi nc i d. Cars n p. t 4; les p. 8, Robi c p. t

1 26.
5, )
W he a M e c lEm e ge y Te m r s
n
di a
r nc a e ponde t t s e one oft t a m e be s
d o he c ne,
he e m
m r,

Re Cr ir knel on t foorbesdeBowe t sa ta I f hi .Acc di t Cr ir s h a
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i
r o tr n V or m
or ng o ose , uc
pr es- whi hr quiess ki t I baga d a ni t lne -ofe i vesdrppi s
oc s
c e r pi ng he V
nd r i ng he i - tn nvol
i ng ome
oft I t ui on t foor buts doesnotknow w he he s s le an fui whe s a t
he V l d
he l ,
he
t r he pil d y l d
n t ri
ng

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rs V.Cr ir p. t ) tr taihtni p r ns ri he V, ose tc

s da
ome mpne sont sdeofhe pa t a c
s he i
r ns nd omme e onit he c lag .( ose De a
ntd t o r ole ues Cr ir p. t
25. Theda
)
mpne swasnotsiky,a Cr irltro ne t ti c dha be nac ountdf
s
tc nd ose ae pi d ha t oul ve e c e or
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i d r he V
Cr ir p. 28.
d
ie n t lc ubsa e

teto r ( o irDe a 1 , , 4 3 ) i e ddJ s n Ro i o , f l w rs o d rt
h l o . Cr se p. t 5 25 3 - 6.Net r i a mi e bns n a el e p n e o
h
o
t i i nts ne.Robi onDe a 1 24.
he ncde ce ( ns
p. t 8, )
A ferB ow erw as tans ed t t Em er
t
r port o he
gency Deparm ent Car Car s
t
, ol l on--one oft
he

i vi ua s who ha be n i t nea by co e e e r m --c pl t a i de r por i w hi h
ndi d l
d e n he r
nf r nc oo
om e ed n nci nt e t n
c
s m ade t f l i r ar
he
he olow ng em ks:

Onenur ewho a rve sa e t tt foorne rhi waswe a he unior wa
s
ri d t t d ha he l
a m
ts r f m s
we a trsti ont foo durnghe a s s m e pr es w ih t pai nt She
t fe itng he l r i
r s e s nt oc s t he te .
ha c us d s e m or dr ofm oi t e w hie sa tng t l ,butt tw a rght
d a e om
e ops
s ur
l t r i he V
ha s i
ne t t w a la noti t s m e pl c Onc he l f , i m a d o of
xt o he l nd
n he a
a e. e e t m ni l r ps
m oit e w e e de e e a
s ur r t ct d bout2 f e o f o t w a l V A Polce s a d i t
e t ut r m he l.
i t ye n he
a e untlt foorw asc e ne a dr
r a i he l
l a d nd y.

( .Br Ex.L a 1. Cars ha s e ntysae t ts di notpe s l s ea wae on
P1 .
t ) lon s ubs que l ttd ha he d
ronaly e ny tr

tefo ro t hal yo h rta ac u l o di fo teI b g ( rs nDe a 4 .
h l o f he lwa t e h n o p e f rps r m h V a . Calo p. t 4)
Bow e f l d t sac i on J 30,201 unde t FTCA ,a l i t thi f l w a a
r ie hi ton
une
0
r he
leg ng ha s a l s
r s tofSa e VA M C ' f iur t m a nt n t t oo i ar a o bl s f co to and i
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S a l e o i ai he l r n e s na y a e ndii n
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a lng o ovi
i e he ns f o to
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f nda
d or

s mmayj d me tt e Fe ea Rueo Ci iPr c d r 5 ()
u r u g n md r d r l l f vl o e u e 6 a .
D i si
scus on

Ana r o s mma yj g n i a p o raewhe t ep e dng ,heds o eya d
wad f u r ud me t s p r p it
n h la i s t ic v r n
di c os e m a e i s on fl ,a a a f d viss
s l ur t ral
ie nd ny f i a t how t tt r i no ge ne i s a t a
ha he e s
nui s ue s o ny

maeil a ta dta t emo a ti e t ldt j d me t sama tro lw.FE R. V.
tra fc n h t h v n s ni e o u g n a
t
te f a
D. CI P.

5 ()A p ry se i gs mma yj g n b astei ta bzd no s o n t ea sn eo a
6 a. a t e k n u r ud me t e r h ni l l e f h wig h b e c f
i r
ge neis ofmae ilf t Ceotx Co . Cart, U. 317,323( 98 . fc i
nui sue
tra ac. l e p v. tet477 S.
1 6) A a t s
m a e i i i m i af e tt out om e oft s tunde go ni l w . nde s v.Li r y
t ral f t ght f c he c
he ui
r ver ng a A r on
be t

Lob I ,477U. 242, (1 ) Forapa t se d nc t r s aSge ne'is of
by.nc.
S. 248 986 .
ry' vie e o aie i nui 'sue

maeil a ts fiin t a i s mmayj d me t imus b ç u ht a ara o a l j r c ul
tra fc u fce t o vod u r u g n ,t t e ç c h t e s n b e u y o d
s
rt aveditf t non- ngpat 'Lll ma ngt sd tr nai thec ts
eum
r c or he movi ry. c.n ki hi eemi ton,l our i
'
t
r quie t vi w t f t a dr w r as bl i e e esi a lghtm os f vor bl t t
e r d o e he ac s nd a e ona e nf r nc n i
t a a e o he

nonmovi pat 'Sha v.Stoud,1 F. 7 ,798( hCi.1 .
ng ry. w
'
r
3 3d 91
4t r 994)

Oncet m o ng pa t ha m e isi ta blr n ofde
he vi
ry s t t niil zde
monsr tng t a e e ofa
ta i he bs nc
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nui s ue
tra a t t
de hi t o he
vi
ry o how t tt r i
ha he e s
m or t n t o e m e aphysca doubta t t m a e i f c s' M a s hia El c. ndus Co. Lt
e ha t m
s
t
i l
s o he t ral a t . t us t e I
'
. - d.

v Ze ihRa i Co .47 U.. 7 , 8 - 7( 9 6 . u ,of rsal u r u g n,h
. nt do m , 5 S 5 4 5 6 8 1 8 ) Th s t o e tl s mma yj d me tte
nonmovi pa t m us s tf t t pe ii f c s' m ou i t m o et n a S r ...s ntlaof
ng ry
t e orh t ctc a t'a ntng o r ha k e
s
me
ci il
e de e. A nde s 477 U . a 248,252. orc n t no o ng pa t ûc e t a ge ne i s
vi nc '
'
r on,
S. t
N
a he nm vi
ry i r a e
nui s ue

ofmaera f c t r
t il a t h oughm e e s ulton ort buidi ofo i e e eupon a he . Be l
r pec a i
he l ng ne nf r nc
not r' a e
'

v.Ha d 769F. 213, 4 (t Ci.1 (ii Bawikv.CeotxCop .736F. 9 963
r v,
2d
21 4h r 985) ctng r c
le
,
2d 46,
( hCi.1
4t r 984:.W he et r c dtke a awhol c dnotla artonaltiroffc t fnd
r he e or a n s
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e d ai re a t o i
f t nonm ovi pa t t r i no A nui i s f ti l' M a s hia 475 U . a 587.On t
or he
ng ry, he e s û
ge ne s ue or r a .' t us t ,
S. t
he

oh rh nd i r a o a l mi sc ul dfe a t tei o t ftee ie c , u r j dg n
te a ,f e s n b e nd o d ifr s o h mp r o h vd n e s mma y u me t
m us be de e Ande s n,477 U . a 25
t
ni d.
ro
S. t 0.
1.

Applc e Law
i abl
G n a tonsbr
k ci
l
oughtunde t FTCA ,f de a cou t a y t s t ntve l oft sat
r he
e r l r s ppl he ubs a i aw
he t e

i w hi h t a to o i s on gi ng rs t t a to oc r ed. M vr c v.Unied St t ,723
n
c he c r m s i
vi i e o he c i n cu r '
' ik
t
a es

F. 11 11 ( hCi.1 .Seeas 28U. C. 1 46( ( ) tfhee s nta elme sofa
2d 58, 59 4t r 983)
lo
S. j 3 b)1 .t' s e il e nt
ne ie cai i Vigi a,a es whee, r ()t i nttc tonofalga d yoft
glg nce l m n r ni s le r ae 1 he de ii ai
e l ut he

d fn a t ot ep an if ()ab e c o ta d t ; n ( )ij r t t plitf p o maey
ee d n t h litf;2 r a h f h t uy a d 3 nu y o he anif r xi tl
c us dbyt bra h.' l v. ne M e c ll . 1 F. 1 1 ( h Ci.1 )
a e
he e c 'Talev Da k dia. nc, 79 3d 54, 57 4t r 999 .
D ue t Bow e ' s a usasa i t e ofSa e V AM C,s e V ol v.Ciy ofLe nct
o
rs tt
n nvie
lm
e
pe
t
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708S. 2d824,827( 2011,i owedhi adut t e r s or nar caet r hi
E.
Va. ) t
m
y o xecie di y r owad m,
manti ngt prmie i aras y sf co ii f hi vii, e ngf ei obe t
i ani he e s s n e onabl ae ndton or s str movi or gn j cs

fom isfoor whih i knew ors d ha kno we et r andwa ni hi ofa lt nt
r t l s c t
houl ve wn r he e,
r ng m
ny a e
uns f c ton t tw a ors ul ha bee know n t Sa e V A M C.W i
a e ondii ha s ho d ve n
o lm
nn-D i e St e .l
xi or s nc.

v. r r 396S. 2d649,650( .1 .
Pake,
E.
Va 990)
I1.

Exi ence of a H azardous Condii
st
ton

The def nda pr s est c t o a ptisopi on t t pl i i f se de e put
e nt e s he our t do t ni hat he a ntf vi nc
s
neihe oft o ope a i e e e sofa pr m iesla lt c ai t de V i g ni l w--exi t nc of
t r w
r tve l m nt
e s i biiy l m m r r i a a
se e
a ha r
za dous c ton a notc t r of i ge nedi put .Fis ,ofc s ,t pl i ifm us
ondii nd i e he e
n nui
s e rt
our e he a ntf
t
pr t he e s e e ofan uns e orda r c ndii on t pr m i es' H odge v. alM a t
ove s xi t nc
t
af
nge ous o ton
he e s .
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W - r

S o e .n .3 0F.d4 6 45 -2( t Ci. 0 )(iigKe d ikv. z I c, 21S. 2 4 7
t rs lc, 6 3 4 , 15 4h r 20 4 ctn n rc Va .n .4 E.d 4 ,
450( 1 2). Cgq ge r lr ei Vigi ai t tapl ntf mus,i odert etbls a
Va. 99 ) And tthe ne a ul n r ni s ha ai if t n r o sa ih
de e nt sneglge ,pr d h a how t i i ntha pe d' &ft c us oft e nti
f nda '
i nce ove w y nd
he nc de
p ne ; i he a e he ve s

lft c n e tr , u s , rrn o j d me tt epanifc n trc v r' L . t 51(iig
e to o j cu e g e s o a d m u g n ,h litf a no e o e .' 4 a 4 ctn
'
TownofW e tPoi v.Eva .299S. 2d349,351( .1 )
s nt
ns
E.
Va 983 .
l t sc s t pl ntf pr s st f l ngt or ofe nt;()M c i, e oye
n hi a e,he ai if eent he olowi he y ve s a Nelan mpl e
ofSa e VA M C,de i r d ca e i t Conf r nc Room 2- 52 a a oxi a e y 1 45 a. .
lm
lve e t r ng o
ee e
1 t ppr m t l 0: m on

M ac 23,2009,usnga ol difc tt ma
rh
i n d, fiul-o- neuve c r wihwol ou whe s ( a unc rd
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,
t l i hbyt l i hbowlofi c tttdpa t M c i' delvey;()Mc i ha t
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t n t ha d-o- a uve c r f om t ha l a i o t c e e e r m i or rt c pl t
ur he r t m ne r a t r he lw y nt he onf r nc oo n de o om e e

t delvey;( s ies le outoft unc rdiebowla Mc lnegoitdt tr ()
he i r d) ome c pild
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( Bowe s e nl se di t rs tngwae a wa prcpiae t t foo .
9
r ubsque ty tppe n he euli
tr nd s e i ttd o he l r

6

A lho h t de e ntur t tt pl ntf st ol i c tuc e upon a ca c of
t ug he f nda
ges ha he ai if he y s ons r t d
s ade

ifrn e whc i is fiin t f rsals mmayj d me tBe l, 6 F.da 21 - te
n ee c - ih s n u fce t o o etl u r u g n, ae 7 9 2 t 4 h
cou tc nnotag e t tt pl ntf ha f ie t r s a ge ne di put w ih r pec t t
r a
r e ha he ai i f s a l d o ai e
nui
s e t es t o he
e se ofa ha r
xi t nce
za dous c ton. a n ifha c r le e de t ndi t s
ondii Pl i tf s or a l d vi nce e ng o how t tM c e l
ha N i
m a t de i r on t da e i ques i t ts delve e a unc r d bow lofi e us ng a
de he lve y
he t n
ton, ha he i r d n
ove e
c i
w or a a kwa d c r , ha s ha t ne i t a t r w ih t unw i dy c r a t st of
n nd w
r a t t t he d o gota e u n t he
el a t t he ie

Bowe ' f l i o de t delve t unc r d bowlofi ,a t ts ha s le lqu dsa i e
rs al n r r o i r he ove e
ce nd ha he s pil d i i nd c
i t pas durngt c s ofhe f s r cedu i .
n he t i he our e
r ood e vi
tes Bowe cai t t a trhef l,bo h hi
r l ms ha , fe
el t s
hand a pa s bor a s t nc t tt y di notha o t m pr o t hi f l.One oft fr t
nd nt
e ubs a e ha he d
ve n he
i r o s al
he is
r ponde st t s ne oft i de lke i e obs r ed, t rkne i on t toorne rw he e
es
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12

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ENTER: Thi N & da ofJ y 2011.
4
s . y ul ,

Chi U nie St t sD i ti tJ
ef t d a e sr c udge

-

13-