Atkins v. Schwartz et al

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 10/28/2011. (tvt)

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O pRK' OFFI U. DI COURT s CE S. ST. AT ROANOKE, VA F! rr . 7 I TH E U N I N TED STATE S D I STR I C O U R T CT FO R TH E W ESTERN D I STR I O F VI G I I CT R N A ROANOKE DI I ON V SI D AV I ATK I S, D N 02T 3 1 2 1 21 J A( ULt 1 BY; D 'W ' C CA SE NO .7: V00493 11C Pl ntif ai f , M EM O M NDUM OPI ON NI V S. KATHY SCHW ARTZ, & , c By: Gln E. nr d e Co a ChifUnied St e Dit i tJudge e t at s s r c De e f ndants. t) D a d A t ns a V i gi a i a e pr e ng pr K ,f l d t s ci lr ght a ton ptr ua vi ki , r ni nm t oc edi o ie hi vi i s c i l s nt t 4 U. C.j 1 8 ,algngt a t ed fn a tji o t asha ede rv d hm o a p o rae o 2 S. 9 3 le i h t h e e d n al fkil v p ie i f p r p it m e c lte t nt i vi a i ofhi c tt i nalrght . Fi ng t tAt ns a l a i nsf l di a r a me , n olton s onsiuto i s ndi ha ki ' leg to ai t saea cli a tonabl t rj1 t c twils o tt ny am ci e mde 983,he our l ummarl dimist a ton. iy s s he ci I At ns s isonsi c t t f l ng s que eofe nt fom whi h hi cli ki ' ubm s i ndi a e he olowi e nc ve s r c s a ms a ie.At nssa e t thes f r fo S-ypogl mi ,'s i tr s a he dac , orwhi he rs ki t t s ha ufe s r m ûl l yce a' e zze , nd a hes f ch ha be n pr s rbed I ti s e e ci ma rx.On Se embe 7, 1, fcal ta f red At nsfom t pt r 201 ofi i s r nse r ki r he No f l Ciyji t t eRo kn h m-- n s n u gRe in l al thej i'.Afe h sfrtd y rok t al o h c ig a la i o b r go a J i (é a1) tr i is a l t ' t r , es o et an re if r dhe t a h h dp e iu l b e ic r eae a tej i a d hee h p k o u s ,n o me r h t e a r vo sy e n n ac rtd t h al n t ta docort r ha pr vi l pr s rbed at ha t he e d e ousy e c i i doubl pori dit'be us o hi e ton e ' ca e f s h p lc mi.Th n rei fr dAti st a t ej iû i n t ra h p gy e m' At i y ogy e a e u s n ome k n h t h alt d o te t y o lc mi ' kns d sg e ar la et alw j ime ia p ro n loo ti h sme ia r c r a e p ce t e in d ee s o lo al dc l e s n e t b an i dc l e o ds nd x e td h nur e t si hi up t s a doct . s o gn m o ee or I t eg nea p p aina tej i, kn ta e p o e t i mst ohe i tsf r n h e rl o ulto t h alAt is r d d r p ry t o t r nmae o e e r f i hi sl- rce efor t tc r g s media c ton. W henhebega getng xta ood n s efdie td f t o çontol hil c l ondii ' ' n ti LERK hea c ,c d s a s dizi sa bl vii n, i or e t ntre t thebele d t s da hes ol we t , z nes nd uny so he nf m d he ls ha i ve he e s ympt r ule fom adr i hi bl s rlve . Thentr et d hi t tno docorhad oms es t d r op n s ood uga e l zs ol m ha t or r d nur e t c c At ns bl s ara no onehad o de e as c a di tf rhi . On de e s s o he k ki ' ood ug nd r r d pe i l e o m Se e be 1 2011, ki fld agre nc des rbi hi s pt m r 0, At ns ie iva e, c i ng s ympt a compl i ngt t oms nd ani ha ofk il we ede ng hi te t e f rhi hypog yc m i A nur er ponde a sng hi t a s r nyi m r am nt o s l e a. s es d, dvi i m t tt m ed c lde rme wa silwaii f rl um e a i 'a t the c dfl a ha he i a pa t nt s tl tng o t doc nt ton' nd ha oul ie medialr ques ora k a ofk e r r ng ta por t t medialuni f e c e t s n t r ega di r ns t o he c t or xami ton. na i I t d,At nsa nsea ki ppeaed t g ivanc r pons a s ntt s rf ar ue tf m e ca l he re e es e nd e he he if eq s or di l t eat ent r m . Thi r ques wasf wa ded t t ntr e who had ofk il brng At nst t m e ca se t or r o he zs , t as i ki o he di l u io S p e r1 , 01 .Th r , ed s o rdt tt j id dha eme ia r c r fo hi nt n e tmbe 5 2 1 e e h ic vee ha he al i v d c l e o ds r m s prori r e ai n,i l ng doc e ai n oft ditt ta s ci ithad or r d f rhi i nca c r to nc udi um nt to he e ha pe als de e o m dzi t ttm e.Het d t nm s s s ul c i t tpr vi l or r s c a d e . lrng ha i ol he e he ho d ontnue ha e ousy de ed, pe i l i t W he he sildi notr c vet dit hefld m o e gre nc .On Se embe 1 2011 n tl d e ei he e , ie r iva es pt r 9, , ofk il or r hi m ove t t m e ca de rm e , r hi m e c obs r a i c l ha t a s de ed m d o he di l pa t nt whe e s dial e v ton el d bl o t wal and bl ood n he ls oody ts ueson t foor I t media uni, alo c dno wac is he l . n he c l t he s oul t th t e son,ply boar ga e wih ot ri t s ors elvii a d m s t he nma e , howe eve y da a hi t lphoneus e r r y, nd s ee ag wa lm ie Nlr esc c At ns t mpe atr a bl pr s tr r gul l butdi not s i t d. zs he ked ki ' e r tze nd ood e sle e ary, d c c hi bl s ar he k s ood ug . At nsas t nur ewhy heha be n m o d,a s s i ç a e o yom ki ked he s d e ve nd he a d,t us f Bec greva ' She s i t tbe us he had a ke f m e c lt e t en , f c al ha hi m o d i nce. ' a d ha ca e s d or di a r a m t of i i s d m ve t t m e c luni s t tt m e c lsa fwoul moniorhi c to At nst n Gl d o he di a t o ha he di a t f d t s ondii n. ki he e g i va esa a a s com pl i ng t tt nur e ha or r d hi m ove i r t la i f hi r e nc nd ppe l , a ni ha he s d de e s n e a i ton or s greva es I r pons ofi i sa s hi t tm e ca saf woul moniorhi condii a i nc . n es e, fcal dvied m ha di l t f d t s ton nd c n u t t t ej i d co , owo l i a etefn l a o (ilte t n . o s l wi h al o tr wh ud û v h i a s y n h s r ame t' h h ' At nssaest thi s ki t t ha s ympt sha g t n wor e.Hebe iveshi bl s ri om ve ote s le s ood uga s t oppi m or ,' ha l tw ei ht a he r c vesno bl s r c c o t e t e f hi ç dr ng e ' he s os g , nd e ei ood uga he ks r r a m nt or s he c .At nss t he ntr ea t s rf,s e ng $2, 000 i damage . ada hes ki ues he ad zs nd he he if e ki 500, n s 1 1 Thec ti rquie t dimisa a tonorcam tl byaprs rpr e ngt our s e r d o s s ny ci li ied ione oc edi q f m a pa r s i i de er i st ac i o c ai i f i ous m alc ous or f ist s a e a cl i or upe i f t t m ne he ton r l m s rvol , i i , a l o t t am o whi rle ma begane 28U. C.j1 5 b)1 .I or t saeacam i a n ch eif y r td. S. 91 A( () n der o tt li n ny fd r l i la to ,h pli tf sS ta ta alg to smus bee o g t r iearg t orle e ea cvi ci n te anif ûl cu l le ain l t n u h o as ih t eif a bovet s c a i l ,'o one t ti E a i eon isf c 'r t rt n m e e y he pe ultve evel't ha s t usbl pl t a e,' a he ha rl t onceva e. BelAt. . Two y,550U. 5 570( i i bl ' l lCop v. mbl c ' S. 44, 2007) Afe ar vi of . tr e ew At ns salega i , heco tc udest thef l t alegef c ssai a pl usbl c am ki ' l tons t ur oncl ha ais o l a t t tng ny a i e l i a tona eunde j 1 ci bl r 983. To saeac us ofa tonunde j 1 aplitf mus esa iht heha be n tt a e ci r 983, anif t tbls hat s e de i d ofrg sg r nt e by t Consiu i orlwsoft Unied St t sa t tt s prve i ht ua a e d he tt ton a he t a e nd ha hi de i ton r s t d f om c prva i e ule r onduc c m it d by a pe s a tng unde c orofs a e l w . W e t t om te r on c i r ol tt a s v. ki , U. 42( 988) At nsriest e cli ,ba e onhi al to a hi At ns 487 S. 1 . ki as hre ams s d s legains bout s me ia c r a tej i:( )d lb rt idifrn eb ten s t p an ifss ro me ia d c l ae t h al 1 eieae n fee c y h ure o litf eius dc l ne df t prviusypr ci ddit ( rtlai byt nurefrpli ifss si of e or he e o l esrbe e ;2) eaiton he s o antf ubmison g ivanc ; ( dei rt i fee byt s ift pli ifsne f t dit re es and 3) lbeae ndifrnce he herf o antf ed or he e. A pr s ofk i l sde i r t i f e e e t a i a e' s r ous m e c ne vi a e i on t a ' lbe a e ndif r nc o n nm t s e i di al eds ol t s t Ei hAme nt Se Esel v. mbl,429U. 97,1 2 ( 976) A c ttto l he ght ndme . e tle Gn e S. 0 1 . onsiuina vo ai ni t sc ne tn ole b t a o j ciea das b e t ec mp e t Th o j cie ilto n hi o tx iv v s oh n b e tv n u j ci o on n . e b e tv v com pone i m e i t de i ton i û ufk i nty s r ous ' Fa m erv.Br nnan,511 U . 8 nt s t f he prva i s i t e l e i . r s ' e S. 25, 834( 994) A s fce l s ro me c lnee i C t tha be ndignosdbyaphysca 1 . ufiinty eius dia d st ha s e a e one iin a ma tngte t ntoronet ti s obvi ust te n al pe s woul e iy r ogni s nda i r a me ha s o o ha ve ay r on d asl ec ze tene e st frad do ' atnin. I ov S r v , 35F.d2 5 2 ( t Ci. 0 ) The h c siy o o rs te to ' k . h e e 5 3 2 , 41 4h r 2 08 . ' s be tvec mpo n i me i ap io o fca i l eieaey id fe e t'ta i i heû n ws u j ci o ne t s t f rs n fiils s lb rtl n ifrn y h t s f i o d ' k ofa dir r a e es i rs t i aeheat o s eya Fn me ,511 U. a 837. nd sega ds n xc sve ik o nm t lh r af t ' r r ' S. t A cli c am once ni a dia e m e bewe n a i a ea medi lper o lr r ng r ng s gr e nt t e n nm t nd ca s nne ega di dignossa c s ofte t ntdoesnotg ne aly i i t t Ei h Am e e . W raht a i nd our e r a me e r l mplcae he ght ndm nt i v Coln , 6 F.d 8 , 49(t Ci. 98 ) Qu sinso me ia j g n aen t u jc t . lis 7 6 2 41 8 4 h r 1 5 . eto f dc lud me t r o s be t o j d ca rv e t e j1 3.Ruselv S e fr 5 8F.d 3 8(t Ci. 97 ) Mo e v r u iil e iw md r 98 s l . h fe , 2 2 1 4 h r 1 5 . r o e , m e c m a pr c i e doe notsat a f de alc a m ,Es e l 429 U . a 1 1 nordoesm e e di al l a tc s t e e r li t le, S. t 05- 06, r ne i nc i dignoss Sosbe v. uphy,797F. 17 ( hCi.1 6) glge e n a i. e e M 2d 9 4t r 98 . At nsm a beabl t pr t theha a s rousme c lne d f rte t e ofhi ki y e o ove ha s ei di a e o r a m nt s h p gy e a Hehms l b l v st a tej i me ia safs o di daeyha ete td y o lc mi. i ef ei e h t h al d c l tf h ul mme itl v rae e hi condii i Se e r2009,a co di t a docorspr s rpton a not d i ol m e ca s ton n pt mbe c r ng o t ' e c i i s e n d di l r c r sfo h sls siti t j io b sdo Ati ' e b l e r o te t n t tad co e o d rm i a t tn n he al r a e n kns v r a rpo t f r ame t ha o tr a a oh r al drc n l p e cie .Ont eoh r n ,h me ia sa f i terme ia t n t e j iha e e t rs rb d y h te ha d te d c l tf,n h i dc l j d me t d tnn n dt tAti ' o i o a t e o s r e iddno warn a i dae u g n , ee i e ha kns c ndt n s h y b e v d t i t ra t n mme it i a p it n wi t j ido t ro p o i ighm t ed u l po to de ap e o sd co ha p on me t t he al co r r v dn i h o b e rin it rviu o tr d h or r d afe o e v ng hi s de e tr bs r i s ympt sa s om t omeuni ntfe ea le tmeperod. Thecozs of de ii d ri r i i lr e a ton t y be i ved a opr a e w ast c i hi i t m e ca t i f cl e obs r a i of c i he le ppr i t o onfne m n he di l m t or os e v ton h sc re ts mp o , it o t i oh rr ltdrc r , n rpo th i fn i st t ej i i u r n y tms wat o b an te eae e o ds a d e r t er idng o h al 4 doc or s t thec d de dewhehe a addii na te t e s d bepr crbe 1 At n t , o ha oul ci t r ny to l r am nt houl es i d. kis, s i s ons of e no i c ton t tm edi als a fm e ber kne f l et pr vi t ubm s i f r ndi a i ha c t f m s w aiur o o de he pr vi usy di tpos a s t nta rs ofs r ousha m ,gi n t e l ton a ca e t y e o l e ed ubs a i l i k e i r ve he va ua i nd r he pr ded i t at r tve. Thi s r ofdia ee ntbewee t pai ntand medialsaf ove ovi n he le na i s ot s gr me t n he te c tf r t a opra e cotr e oftea m e sm pl doe nots he ppr i t ls r t nt i y s uppor a c ai ofdelbe a e i f e e e as t lm i r t ndif r nc r qui e t s a e a c tt i lc ai . e r d o t t onsiutona l m A t ns alega i a s s a e no a tona e c a m t tt s r f w a de i r t l ki ' l tons l o t t c i bl l i ha he he i f s lbe a e y i fe e t hi s rousme c lne ds To brng amedia team e cli agans no m e c l ndif r nt o s e i di a e . i c l r t nt a m i t n- di a pr s n pe s i o r onne ,a i a e m us s w t s h ofk i l w e e pe s ly i ve w ih a de a l n nm t t ho hat uc t a s r r ona l nvol d t ni l ofte t nt de i r t l i e f r d wih prs docor 'team e ,o t c ty a horz orwer r a me , lbe a e y nt re e t ion t s r t nt r a il ut ied e i fe e t t prs physca 'mic ndifr nt o he ion iins s onduc.Mite v. or 8 F. 8 85 (t Ci. t lir Be n, 96 2d 48, 4 4h r 1 . 990) At ns a s rs t ta t rhe t d t s rf a ki s e t ha f e ol he he if boutt di tdoc or ha pr c i he e t s d es r bed pr vi usy, hes rf s d ha m a s et medialsa fpr de t tdit i t d of e o l t he if houl ve de ur he c t f ovi d ha e , nsea f war ng At nsr s ba t t ntre. Ba e on At ns f l et a l f c s or di ki eque t ck o he ls sd ki ' aiur o lege a t d mo tai d lb rt i dfee eb t ji me ia saf h salg to sas f it s w e nsrt ei eae n ifrnc y he al dc l t f, i le ain lo al o ho ng t tt s rf t cty a o d a m ic ha he he if a il ppr ve ny s onduc byt tsa f M or ove , he s rf rghtuly t ha t f. e r t he if i f l r i o hi s a ft de e m i usng t i m e ca expe ts ,t pr rc l s oft e t e f eled n s t f o t r ne, i he r di l ri e he ope otr e r a m nt or At ns c r nts ki ' ure ympt oms.I a 855. Fort s r as ,At ns c am st thedi no r ceve d. t he e e ons ki ' l i ha d te i a prp it me ia c r mu tb sl rl d s se , ru n t j1 1 A( )1 , o fi let p o rae dc l a e s e l mmai imis d pu s a t o 9 5 b ( ) f r alr o y t sa e a c a r t t l in. 1 I a4iv n ers o s d tdS pe e 1 , 01 , n reifr dAtista seh d n re a c ep n e ae e tmb r 7 2 l a u s nome kn h t h a o d r dhi adlbei s c d l a d ano ta o da whe tej i s r e o y mo ni a r e e m a tc na k ai n y on ry n ys n h al e v d nl r ng nd e ng m eal Anot r pons dat Se ember20,2011,sat t tw hie At nswas i t m e cal veni s. her es e ed pt t ed ha l ki n he di uni,saf s e ent hi m eal wih a ni tm e s t t f upplm ed s s t ght i nack and at r ta on weekends. hid r y Fi ly,At ns algai pr denos nal ki ' le tons ovi uppor fracam unde j1 3t tt nure t o li r 98 ha he s move hi t t m e ca uni i o de t r t lae a i thi f tlng agreva . To saea d m o he di l t n r r o e ai t gans m or ii i nce tt rtlain cai a ina et rj1 3,a i t mus alegefct s t e t de tae eaito l m cto bl mde 98 n nmae t l a s ufkint o monsrt t tt ofk ilt t al ge yr t it y a tin r s et t e r s ofa c tt i na l ha he t a ook he le dl eala or c ç e pons o he xe cie i onsiuto ly pr e t rghto t tt ac is l vi a e s h a r g .' Ada v. c 40F.d 7 7 (t ot c ed i r ha he t t e f ol t d uc i ht' ms Rie, 3 2, 4 4h e nm es tt i Ci.1 .At nsma snet roft es ngs Becaus i at haveno consiutonal r 994) ki ke ihe hes howi . rg tt aj ig iv n ep o e t e At i wa n te e csn ac n tt to a rg twh nh fld i h o al re a c r c d l , kns s o x r iig o siui n l ih e e ie r g i va e a r e nc s bouthi m e c lc r . M or ove ,hi ow n a l ga i i c t t tt nlr e m o d s di a a e e r s le tons ndi a e ha he zs ve hi t t m e ca t ti o de t moniorhi m e c c ton and notwih a i e t m o he di l mi n r r o t s dial ondii t ny ntnt o pt s hi . Theco twils ma iy dimi sAt ns r t iton ca m asfi ous pur ua t mih m ur l um rl s s ki ' eala i li rvol , s nt o j1 5 b() 91 A() 1. I s r, kns alg to d n td mo taeta a yo a t ej i h sa tdwih n ho tAt i ' le ains o o e nsrt h t n ne t h al a ce t de i r t i f e e e t hi m edi alne orr t la e a i thi i vi a i ofhi lbe a e ndif r nc o s c eds e a i t d ga ns m n ol ton s c tt i lrght Ac or ngl t c ti t tAt nsha f ldt saeany j1 onsiutona i s. c di y,he our tnds ha ki s aie o tt 983 cam a dwil imist c mplitwi o t rj dc i ise trt Ana pr p it o de wi li n l d s s he o an t u p eu ie n t niey. p o rae r r l h l is t sda s ue hi y. TheClr i die t t s nd c e oft sm e o a e k s r c ed o e opi s hi m r ndum o ni a a compa yi pi on nd c n ng or rt pl ntf. de o ai if ENTER:Ths4. d yo oco e, 2011. i î a f tb r Chi Unie Stt Diti tJ ef t d a es src udge 6

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