Chamberlain v. Russell et al

Filing 56

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 3/3/2014. (tvt)

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FO R TH E W E STER N D I
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BOBBY RUSSELL, aI,
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M EM O R AN DU M O PIN I N
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By:Sam ue G.W is n
l
lo
U nied St e D i t i Judge
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at s s r ct

J r mi h Cha be l n,aVigni i m a epr ee ngrr s ,brngst sci lrght a ton
ea a
m rai
r i a n t oc di
o e i hi vi i s c i

t e 4 U. C. 1 3f rd ma e a ijmcier le, g i s W e tr Vign aRe ina J i
md r 2 S. j 98 o a g s nd nt tv eif a an t sen r ii g o l al
(E VRJ'j io fcas Bo b Ru s l, nd Tu k, dKelr a dme ia pes n l
i
W
' al fiil: b y selAma a c Cha le; n dc l ro ne:
)
Uz Al, ( a ran' te tn p y iina W VRJ, ah rS e e , M e g n
ma i MD Ch mbeli s raig h sca t
I He te tv ns PA, a a
Swihe , HSA/ a Li elBr , alegng dei r t i fe e f t i f iur t pr de
s r
lbe a e ndif r nce or her a l e o ovi
RN, nd es
owe 1 l i
hi el c i a m s ge y,he tts C t e t e , pa n m e ca i n. The def nda sha
m e tve r ur r
pa ii r a m nt and i
di to
e nt ve

mo e f rs mmayj dg n wihs p o t ga td vt a e hb t d tiigCh mbeli s
v d o u r u me t t u p ri fi a is nd x iis ealn a ran'
n
me c lte t nta pr noss The unc r dit d e de e s
dia r a me nd og i .
onta c e vi nc howst tde e
ha f ndant we enot
s r
de i r t l i fe e t andt c tgr nt t i m o i
lbe a ey ndif r n ,
he our a s her ton.
1.

Chn be l n' c
m rai s ompl i a lge t f l ng f t .Dmi hi a r s i 2011,
ant le s he olowi ac s
ng s r e t n
Chn rai s f r d a guns twoundt hi rghtn m a wa hos t i d a t Ca ii
mbe l n ufe e
ho
o s i r nd s pialze t he rlon
Roa
noke M e oralH os t Em er ncy D e t e ,whe e J m Edw a ds M . . r o m e
m i
pial
ge
parm nt
r ol
r , D pe f r d

szge y.Upon hi dic gefom t hos t ,W VRJt Chn be l i i o c t asa
lr r
s s har r he pial
ook
m ran nt usody
pr tildea ne Dtrng af l up vii,Chambe l n as e t t tDr Edwa dsG s ' m
era ti e. li
olow
st
rai s rs ha .
r ç ed'hi
advi

1Br e i t Regi lD i e t r ofConM ed, t m e ca c r c orf W VRJ
ow s he
ona r c o
he di l onta t or
.

t th n e e t na dto a s r e y'ohsam, ihheddn trc iez( mp . t!b
ha e e d d $ d ii n l u g r 't i r whc
a
i o e ev . Co la )
Se r lm ont lt r Cha be l i wa di nos wih he ttsC,aviali eci n t tm a
ve a
hs a e , m ran s ag ed t pa ii
r nf to ha y

la t lv rifa to s f rwhihh te ev dn te t n . ( mp1a !m) Th o ho t
e d o i e n lmmai n3 o c e ç c ie o rame t' Co . t
r
'
r ug u
hi i a ce ai n a W VRJ Chn ran alege hes f r d ts ve e'a ç xc uc ai ' i
s nc r r to t
, mbe l i l s ufe e ûe r ' nd % r i tng'pan,
e
t h he a knowl st the waspr c i d va i pai mediatonsdurng t ttme.
houg
c
edge ha
es rbe rous n
c i
i ha i

( mp . t!i Ch mb rand e n t l geta tej i o fca d fn a t weeiv le i
Co la ) a e li o s o al h t h al fiil ee d n s r n ov d n
e
pr vi nghi m e ca ca e. Bas o t s alega i ,
o di
s di l r
ed n he e l tons Chambe l i cli t def nt we e
ran a ms he enda s r

dei rtl i feentandseksda ge a ij tverle .Cha rani nol ra
lbeaey ndifr
e
ma s nd nunci eif
mbeli s onge n
i ae a W U a i n i a c aed a W a lnsRi St t Prs .4
nm t t
nd s ow nc r er t t le
dge ae ion

Thed fn a t h v mo e f rs mmayj d me twi vmi usme ia rc r sa d
ee d ns a e v d o u r u g n, t o
h
dc l e o d n
a fda t fom Dr Al;PA St ve ' ndNur e Swihe . Ac or ngt Chn
fi vis r
. i
e ns a
,
s
s r
c di o
mbera n' m e ca
li s di l
r cor ,t def nda sr pondedt e h ofhi 23 (sc c ls'a pr c i d hi nume o
e ds he e nt es
o ac
s tik a l, nd es rbe m
'
r us

me iains ( f Ex ii 1 ) Ac o dngt t eu c n r v re afd vt, . wad s w
dc t .De . hbt 5 c r i o h n o to e td fi a is Dr Ed r s a
o
Cha ran f t e f l u viisa a s d t de e n st tChn rai l ede no
mbe l i or hr e olow p st nd dvie he f nda t ha
mbe l n ç
ne d

f t c r ,' ho hema betnt r t d i f tleeec i s ge yt f t ri pr t
urher a e't ugh
y ç e ese n u tr l tve m r o urhe m ove he
i

fmci ofhi a' . ( e nsAf.a 3)Ba e ont trpr s ntto a t i obsr to ,t
t ton
s 1 ' Stve f t
m '
s d ha e e e ain nd her evains he

d f n a t d dno p o iehm t eee tv a' s r ey ( i f a 3 De Ex bt1 a 9
e e d n s i t r vd i h lcie l u g r . AlAf. t ; f hii 5 t )
m
W ih r pec t t he ttsC te t e ,û di nossofhepaii C doesnotne e s rl r quie
t es t o he paii r am nt ç ag i
a
tts
c s a iy e r
tea m e , ri a l w he t r i no e de e ofs g fca a r a ii son a lve f ton
r t nt pa tcul r y
n he e s
vi nc
i ni i nt bno m lte
i r unc i

z m be l i al o a s r st tDr Ed dsad s d t thenee d t s ane ves c ait a
chn r a n s s e t ha . war
vie ha
de o ee r pe i ls, nd

3 h e d d h ia t ea y. Co la
t t en e e p ysc l h rp ( mp . t!b, 1
ha
ECF )
Die esa Co tons He ttsC,M a Clni hûp:- . yoci c. Fdie e s as nd ndii : paii
yo i c, /
/
ma lni or s ass
c to Aepaii-+ascsde toicoNondiins ttsc i / snii
zoo3o6l (as viiedFeb.25,201 .
8 l t st
4)

4 Cha be l n has fl a s pa a e a ton c
m rai
ied e r t c i once ni hi m e c team e a W a lns Ri
r ng s dial r t nt t le
dge
St t Pr s t t i c r l pe ng. Se Chn be l i v.Cl r e e al,N o.7: 4- va e i on ha s ur enty ndi
e
m ran
a ke f .
1 c 00013

(ie J n.13, 4)
fld a
201 .
2

ts, a ds htt t n c ul e c r aeCha e li su d ryn me t l e l is e . Al
e t' n uc r ame t o d xa eb t
'
mb ran' n e lig na h at su s ( i
h
Af a 4 Afe e au tngCh mb ran' lv rf n to ts, c s o dn sg i n
f t ) tr v lai
n e li s ie u cin e t whih h we o int t
ka
a
bnonnaltes t de e nt c ude t thi he ttsC di no r quiei me aete t e .
ii , he f nda s oncl d ha s paii
d t e r m di t r am nt

(d. Reg di Cha ran' pan,hedefnda spr ci da l s s ve difrntpan
I ) ar ng mbeli s i t
e nt esrbe t eat e n fee i
media i ,ho h hi pan m a ge e r gi wa Gc
c tons t ug s i na m nt e men s tomplcaedby hi hit y ofopit
it
s sor
ae

de
pende ea e, shi t ea ef panme c tons a hi ot rme c lis . (d.a
nc /bus hi gh olrnc or i diai , nd s he dia sues' I t
'
3) Healoç xhi tddnz s ki beha or'(d.
s ç bie g ee ng vi . l )
e
'
Chn be l i hasr s
m ran
e ponded t t de e nt 'm oton,r as e tng hi c am s butoferng
o he f nda s
i e s ri
s li ,
f i
no addii na e de ,a t ma tri rpef diposton.
to l vi nce nd he te s i or s ii
II.

Cha ran m ant i t tt de e
mbe li i ans ha he f ndan swe edelbe ae y i fe e ,i vi ai of
t r
i r tl ndif r nt n ol ton
t Ei ht Am e e ,f rf ii t pr dehi ee tve a m slge y, pa ii C te t e ,
he g h
ndm nt o alng o ovi m lc i r tr r he tts r am nt
a pan m e c ton.5 Be us t u ontove td evi nces
nd i di a i
ca e he nc r re
de
howst t de e
hat he f ndan swer not
t
e

d 1 rtl i ifrn ,h c u t l g a t h d fn a t' to frsz r j g n .
ei aey ndfee t te o r wil rn t e e e d n s moin o l
be
mmay ud me t
6

SCha ra n ha be n ta f redt adif r ntf c lt . Theta f orr l a eofaprs ne
mbe li s e r nse r o fe e a iiy
r nser e e s
io r

g neal rnd r mo ta y camsf rijmci o d caao yrle r ltn t t f r rplc
e rly e es o n li o nt t r e lrt r eif eaig o he o me a e
ve
ofconfne nt See e. ,Count ofLosAnc esv. vi,440U. 6 631( 979) W ila
i me . . :.
v
el Da s
S. 25,
1 ; lims
v.Grf 952F. 820,823(t Ci.1 )( io rsta frrnd e moo hi camsf
iûn,
2d
4h r 991 prs ne' r nse e erd t s li or
ij n tv a dd caao yrle) Hi camsf rd ca ao ya d ij n tver le aet ee oe
nu cie n e lrt r eit. s li o e lr tr n nu ci eif r h r fr
m oot
.

6S mmayj g n i prpe wh r , e n t fcsi tel h mo tfv rbl t t e
u r ud me t s o r ee viwig he a t n h i t s a o a e o h
g
pl i if G he ei no ge nedipu east a ma e i lf tandt m ova i e ttedt
antf, l r s
t
nui s t
o ny t ra ac
he
nt s n il o

j d me ta amatro lw. F d R. v. 5 () Th pa t mo n f rs mmayj d me t
u g n s te f a ' e . Ci P. 6 a . e ry vig o u r u g n
'
ha t i ta btr n ofde
s he nii l lde
monsr tng t a e ofa m aeda is off c .Ceot x Com .
ta i he bs nce ny t l s ue a t l e

v. rt,477U. 31 323( 986) Oncet movi pa t meesisi ta bur n,he
catet
S. 7,
1 .
he
ng ry t t niil de t
nonm ovi pa t m ay no r l upo m e e a l ga i o de al c ai d i ispl a ngs but
ng r y
t e y n r le tons r ni s ont ne n t e di ,
m us c ef wa d wih s ef m ofe de i r m ae i lalowe by Rul 5 de onsr tng
t om or r t om or
vi nta y t ra l d
e 6 m tai
t e s e ofa ge ne i s ofm a e i lf c r quii a ti l A nde s v. be t Lobbvs
he xi t nce
nui s ue
t r a a t e rng r a .
r on Li ry

l .477U. 242, 49(1 ) Ceotx, U. a 324.A ge neis ofmaeilfc
nc,
S. 248- 986 ; l e 477 S. t
nui sue
tra a t
exit whe artonalfcfnde ,c i rngt evi ncei t sz r j
ss n ai a ti r onsdei he de n he lmma y udgmen r or
t ec d,
co dfnd i fvoroft nonmovi pat Ric v.Destfno,1 S. .2658,2677( )
ul i n a
he
ng ry. c i
ea 29 Ct
2009 .
3

TheEi ht Am e e pr c i sprs ofii l fom a tng wih de i r t
g h
ndm nt os rbe ion fc a s r
ci
t lbe ae

i ifrnc t a imae ss ro sme ia n e s Esel v. mbe 4 U. 9 ,1 5( 9 6 ;
ndfee e o n n t' ei u d c l e d . tl Ga l, 29 S. 7 0 1 7 )
e
J cks v.Sa o 536F. x 356,357( hCi. 3 ( rc am) Stpl v. De tof
a on
mps n,
App'
4t r201 ) pe mi ; a es Va. p'
Co , 4 F.
=.90 supp.487,492( D.Va.1 .A prs ofi a i ldei rtl i feen'onl
E.
995)
ion fcil s ç lbeaey ndifr t' y
i he t
f l
know s ofa di r ar an e es i rs t i m a e he lh ors f t ' Fa merv.Br nna
nd s eg ds
xc sve i k o n t a t
a e y. r
'
e n,

511U. 825,837( 994) A E ei medialne 'sç t tha be ndignos dbya
S.
1 . s rous c ed'i t ha s e a e
s
one
physcin asm a tng te t e o o t ti s ob oust te n a 1y pe s woul ea iy
ia
nda i r am nt r ne ha s o vi ha ve a r on
d sl

r c g ieten c siyf rad co ' atni n' 1 ov S r v , 3 F.d2 , 41(t Ci.
e o nz h e e st o o t rs te to . k . h e e 5 5 3 25 2 4h r
'
2008 .t ca mapr tc doesnotbe omeaco tt i lvi atonmeeybe aus t
) t
Medi l l acie
c
nsiutona ol i
rl c e he
vi tm i a pr s ne . Es e l ,429 U . a 1
c i s i o r' t le
'
S. t 06.l t d,t sa e a vald c ai ofdelbe a e
ns ea o t t
i lm
i rt

i fe e e, hem e ca pr de ' a tonsmus be d o g os l i ompe e ,i deq t or
ndif r nc t
di l ovi rs c i
t t r sy nc
s
t nt na uae,
e es i a t s k t c cenc ort bei olr bl t f men a f ines . J cks 53
xc sve s o hoc he ons i e o nt e a e o unda t l ar s' a on, 6
'
F. pp' a 357. Tha a i a e s m pl d s r esw ih t co s oft e t e ortea m enti
A x t
t n nm t i y i ag e
t he ur e r a m nt r t
s

uns es f wilno r i eade i r t i fe e e ca m . rgh v. lns 766 F. 841 849
ucc s ul l t a s
lbe ae ndif r nc li W i t Coli ,
2d ,

( t Ci.1 8 ) J hn o v. e n 7 9F.d 1 3 ,1 38( t Ci.1 8 ) Harsv. u rv 7 F.
4h r 9 5 ; o s n Tre , 5 2 2 6 2 5h r 9 5 ; ri M ra , 61
Supp. 41 ( D. 1 )
409, 4 E. Va. 990 .
A.

A c or ngt t unco r re r or t W VRJm e c lpe s
c di o he
ntove td ec d, he
di a ronnelde e nt
f nda s
rs
e ponde t Chambe l i ssc ca l and pr s rbed va i medi to f hi aim e t . Afe
do
ran' ik ls
e ci
rous
cai ns or s l n s tr
t e pos-tr c viis Dr Edwa dsa s t def nda st tChnmbe l i nee d no
hr e tslgi al st , .
r dvied he e nt ha
ran de
a tona c r f rhi n m . Rel ng on t tr pr s nt i a t i o e v tons t de enda s
ddii l a e o s r
yi
ha e e e aton nd he r bs r a i , he f
nt

4

c l d t Chambe l n ha no t g ne f t elc i n m s ge y.7See W ebb v.
onc ude hat
rai d
l ent ed or he e tve r ur r
r

Ha d lh, 81F. p' 1 9 1 6 6 ( t Ci. 0 8 (f migs mma yj d me tf r rs n
miul 2
a
Ap x 5 , 6 - 7 4h r 2 0 ) afr n u r u g n o p io
doc orwher t pl ntf cai ng dei r t i fe e ha f ie t s
t
e he ai if l mi
lbe a e ndif r nce d a ld o how an e r ntne
me ge
ed

f ee tves ge y .Cha ran lkewief ist esa iht tt def nt weei fee
or lci ur r )
mbe li i s al o tbls ha he enda s r ndifrnt
wihr pe tt hi he ii C te ment Thede e nt e l td Cha ran' lve f i
t es c o s patts r at
.
f nda s va uae
mbe li s i r uncton,

i lg oft pot nta rs pos d by hi m e t he t a co l d t tteam e twa no
n i ht he e i l iks e
s n al alh, nd ncude ha r t n s t

n c s aya ta tme Se Le v. r e , :8 CV-61 201 W L 2 81 25 a * - ( D. .
e e s r t h t i . e e Gu n y 30 - 1 , 1
6 2 , t 5 6 E. Va
J y8,2011 (ii c e hol ngt rf alt pr dec ranhe ttsC te t nt a e a
ul
) ctng as s di hat e us o ovi e ti paii r ame s bs nt
me c lnec st wasnetdei rt i fee ) Cha rai scli t tt dee
dia esiy
lbeae ndifrnce. mbel n' am ha he fndant
s
we ei fe e t hi pan i sm ia l una ii De pieCha rai span m a ge e
r ndif r nt o s i s i lry va lng. s t
mbe l n' i na m nt
r gi e bei c
e m n ng omplcaed byhi own hit y a be vi ,t def ndant r gul l e l t
i t
s
sor nd ha or he e
s e ary va uaed

hi a pr s rbe a las s ve dif r ntpan media i .The ei no Eiht Ame e
m nd e c i d t e t e n fe e
i
c tons
r s
g h
ndm nt

rq ie n ta G rs n d co s( k e a imaepan fe i t a tr t o p o e me ia
e u rme th ts io o tr 1 e p n n t i-r e n he fe mah f r p r dc l
p
te t n . S pe v De la 9 F.d 5 6 5 2 (t Ci. 9 6 ;Ca hv. wn e , . :2 c r ame t' ni s . Tel, 5 3 8 , 9 7h r 1 9 ) s To ly No 7 1 -v
'
001 ,201 W L 11
69 3
46233( . Va. a.1 20l .Rahe t delbeaei fee e,t
W D. M r 9, 3) t r han i rt ndifrnc he
unco r di e e de e s
nta ctd vi nc howst tt de enda sc c e i l e a r d t di gnos ,
ha he f nt ons i ntousy nde vo e o a
e

e ua e a r pond t Cha be l n' me c lne ds
val t , nd es
o
m rai s di a e .
B.

The a e e ofa de i r e i fe e ealo e t i r ast t non- e ca
bs nc
ny lbe at ndif r nc s nds he nquiy o he
m di l

d f n a t,he al fkil.Ev n s , nimaec n tp e al nadei rt id fee c t
ee d n s t j i o t as e o a n t a no rv i o
l ae n ifrn e o
be
m edi alne dscl i ag ns non- e c pr s pe s l t l st y w e e pe s ly i ved
c
e
a m ai t
m di al i on r om el m es he
r r ona l nvol

1Alhough Chambe l i compl i t thewa notpr ded wih physca t r py ora
t
ran
ans ha
s
ovi
t
i l he a
n
opport iy t s e a ne v s i i t t r i no i c ton i t m e c lr or t tphys c l
tm t o e
r e pec als , he e s ndi a i n he di a ec ds ha
ia
t a wa e ror r d by hos t lsa f Dr Edwa ds ori tt i lm e c lsa f
herpy s ve de e
pia t f , .
r , nsiutona di a t f .

wih a de alofteam e , i ael i e f r wih aprs doc orsteame , t cty
t
ni
r t nt delber t y nt re ed t
ion t ' r t nt or a il

a horz orwer delber t y i fer ntt aprs doc orsm ic
ut ied
e i ael ndif e o ion t ' s onduc .M ite v. m ,8
t lir Beo 96

F.d8 8 8 4 5 ( t Ci.1 9 ) Le sv. ec , 2 F. p 6 , 3( . Va 1 9 )
2 4 , 5 - 5 4h r 9 0 ; wi Ana l 9 6 Su p. 9 7 W D. . 9 6 .
me

Cha e li d e no alg ta t ej i ot asweeivov dwihhi me ia te t n a d
mb ran o s t le e h t h al f l r n le t s dc l rame t n
ki
t r f ef l t sae ac za eEi ht Am e e tc am a i tt m .
he e or ais o t t ogni bl g h
ndm n l i ga ns he '
11
1.

Fort f egoi r s ns t c twilgr t de e nt 'm oto f rsl mmy
he or ng ea o , he our l ant he f nda s
i n o lm
'

J
udgm e .
nt

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UKI STATESDI CT J
TBD
STRI UDGE

BCha be l n lkew i e f l t s a e a c a m ag ns Br e. : saeacli unde j1 3,
m rai i
s ais o t t l i
ai t ow < tt
To
am
r 98 a
pli tf m us a lget vi a i ofargh s czed b t Consiuton a l wsoft Unie
a n if t le he olton
i t e lr y he
tt i nd a
he t d
St t ,a mus s
aes nd
t how t tt ale d de i to wasco mitd by ape s aci unde c or
ha he l ge prvai n
m te
r on tng
r ol

ofsaelw. W etv. ki , 7U. 42,48( 988) He e Cha rai al esnof t
tt a ' s At ns 48 S.
'
1 . r , mbel n leg
acs
a ns Br whas ver a t eor f l t saeac z ej 1 cam a i ther
gai t owe toe , nd herf e ais o tt ogniabl 983 li gans .
6