Burke v. Clarke

Filing 26

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 09/24/2014. (kab)

t bahr
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o ne e ie he ik. Bt e ls d h o r Bl e h n u b d C. ) n
r
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r i ver r l he . Bmke puledou hi pe sa be nmat bai
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Bt e s e C. I o o h i ns u he d o . C. I u d f h
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f wa d w ih hera l tons a i tBtr
or r t
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( hepr e ut a ke ( W .whys ca f war wiht algai ag ns
Tl os c or s d C. )
he me or d t he le tons ai t
( lk l i 2 0 f r e e t t a o c re i 1 98 ( W . r s o e ta s e
Bt e n 0 9 o v n s h t c u rd n 9 . C. ) e p nd d h t h
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ea ne n
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s x a mic nd c. ( W . si s e fl s eh d t t o s mehig'a d d d n t
e u l s o u t C. I ad h et h a o t o t n ' n i o
d
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nt r ous n o ve o e tf
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( . . p Opiin 1 Au . 6 2 0 ECFNo.1 1)
Va CtAp . no , g 2 , 01 ,
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Bukestil to n y Vae i Co k d dn ti daeyo j c t ete tepr s c trs
r ' ra a tr e , lra o , i o mme itl b e t o i r h o e uo '
h
que to or t C. .S t si ony a ut he c i s al ga i . On c os - xa i ton,Cook
si n
o W ' e tm
bo
r ousn' le tons
r s e m na i
q si ne C. . a
ue to d W bout he c
r onve s ton wih he cousn. Cook wat d t i a tr t
rai
t
r
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Co nwe lhrse isc s i c ift a kt til u g t isr c tej r r no t c nsd r
mmo at e td t a e n he o s he ra j d e o n tu t h u o s t o o i e
C. .S t si ony a
W ' e tm
bouthe co i s a lga i ofbeng molse by Bur The pr e or
r usn' le tons
i
e td
ke.
os cut

o jce a d pr fee ta b f r til Co k h d rc ie sl re o poiei tr iwso
be td n o frd h t eo e ra, o a e ev d l
mmais f l ne ve f
c
C. . durng whi h C. .saed t t s r pored t i i nti J nua y 2009,be a e he
W , i
c W t t ha he e t he nc de n a r
c us r

c u i h d r c n l c n i e ta Bu keha mo etd te c u i a a c id. Th tilj d e
o sn a e e ty o fd d h t r
d lse h o sn s h l
e ra u g
a ke Cook i s wa a ki t c tt t ke a r medilm e tr ot rt n t c ai
s d
f he s s ng he our o a ny e
a
asle he ha he ur tve
i t c i s ha r ue td. Cook a we e t ts wasm e e y s ki ac a i i tuc i
nsnlton he d eq se
ns r d ha he
r l ee ng ur tve nsr ton.

Th tilu g g a tdCo k' r q eta i tu tdj r r t dir g r a dn tatiue
e ra j d e rn e o s e u s nd nsr ce u o s o se ad n o trb t
a w ei or s gnii a
ny
ght
i f c nce t t alega i ns by C . .S c i a t e a l a i ns w e e
o he l to
W ' ous n, s hes leg t o
r

ir e nt t t pr edi
r el va o he oce ng. D urng Cook' c osng a gum e delve e afe t Cour ha
i
s l i r
nt i r d t r he
t d

ofe edt c ai i tuci n,Cook a i r e r d t C. .Sc
f r he ur tve nsr to
gan ef re o W ' onve s ton wih he c i
rai
t r ousn.

Afe sx h t so d lb rto t ejlo sn n u c d t a te ha r a h d a i a s ,
tr i oz f eieain, h t r n o n e h t h y d e c e n mp se
r
r
a dt etilud ed lv r da Ale 1c ag .A ferres i t i delber tons jlo ssn o t
n h ra j g eie e n ln h r e t um ng her i a i , t r e t u
r
a wrte q e to fr t e Co r a o tt e s fkin y o te e d n e t whc t e j d e
itn u sin o h u t b u h u t e c f h vie c , o ih h u g
r s o d d. Ab u h l a h u ltr t jzo sra he av r it fn i g Bu keg it o al
ep n e
o t af n o r ae , he t r e c d e dc, id n r u l n l
r
y
t ee c
hr ount .
s

Cook s e nty m ove f a m iti lbas on C. .St tmony abouthe co i s
ubs que l
d or
sra
ed
W ' esi
r usn'

alg t nsa an tBt k , ih t Co r d nid. F lo n t erc mme d to so t ej r
le ai g i s l e whc he u t e e ol wig h e o n ai n f h u y,
o
r
t Cour uli a el s e e Btr t a t t l a tve s nt e of t e y yea s i pr s
he
t tm t y ent nc d lke o
o a c i e enc
w nt
r n i on,

c itng ofc uren s nt nc offve ye r f agg ava e s lba tr t nt ye r f
onssi
onc r t e e es i
a s or r t d exua te y, we y a s or
a
bducton, t l m ont f i e lbe tes
i and weve
hs or ndec nt i ri .
Cook ptr ue a a al on Blr s be f c l ngi t t i l c ts de al of hi
ls d n ppe
zke' hal, hale ng he r a our ' ni
s

pos-ra m oton f r a m iti ,bas d o C. ' t tmony a
tti l i o
sral e n W s esi
bout he c i s a cus to of
r ousn' c ai ns
Bm ke a t s f e y oft e de et s
, nd he ufki nc
he vi nc o uppo thi c c i f a
r s onviton or bduc i wih i e t
ton t nt nt o

deies pa aefom t s tnc oft ot rofe e chage ( or No.0788- 0- ) On
fl e rt r he ubsa e he he fns s r d. Rec d
1 3.
Aug t26,201 t Cour of Appe l of Vigi a de e Bm ke' a
us
0, he
t
as
r ni ni d
s ppea,fndi t t snc
l i ng ha i e

Bu k h d n to j ce t C. ' tsi n o drc u tlatrt eCo n at h d r se ,
r e a o b e td o W s e tmo y n ie t n i fe h mmo we lh a e td
t is wasnotpr s r f a la e r vi w a r quied t rRul 5 : oft Supr m e
he s ue
e e ved or ppe lt e e s e r mde
e A 18 he
e
Co tofV i g ni Bur t r t i d ne c
ur
r i a.
ke hen e a ne w ouns l St r J.Pe r on,t pe ii f r r vi w t
e , ua t
as
o tton o e e o

t Supr m e Co tof Vigi a whih r f s d Btr s pe ii n f a
he
e
ur
r ni , c e u e
lke' tto or ppea on J
l
une 1,2011.

( c dNo.1 829.
Re or
01 )

1 A len v. Unie S ae ,1 4U. 4 ( 8 6 .
l
td tt s 6 S. 92 1 9 )

Pe r on tmel tld a peii n f a wrt of ha a comus on Bur s be f i t
a s i y ie
tto or
i
be s
ke' hal n he

Ro n k Co mt Cic tCo r ( s No CL1 0 0 8 - 0 ,a s ri t e flo n tvecams
a o e t y rui u t Ca e . 2 0 6 8 0 ) s et h o lwig i li
ng
ofi fe tveas it nc ofcot e :
ne f c i
ssa e
ms l

A)

Fal gt o j c t o j cin b et si n p e e tdb t vci
ii o b e t o b e to a l e tmo y rs n e y he itm;
n

B)

Fal gt efcieyv i dr tej r po l
ii o fe tv l or ie h u y o;
n

C)

Fa lng t i e vew wines e who woul ha a de i c
ii o nt r i
t ss
d ve i d n ouns ls c os e' r s
e m i to oft vi tm ;
xn na i n he c i

D)

Fal g t efciey ds u sa d rve te Co n at sp o osd
ii o fe t l ic s n e iw h mmo we lh' r p e
n
v
pl a ag e m e ;
e r e nt and

E)

Falng, a alt t Co tofAppe s t i keet rt g c us
ii on ppe o he ur
al,o nvo ihe he ood a e
o e d o j tc e c pinst Rul 5 1 t alw t eCo r o Ap e l
r n s f usie x e to o e A:8 o lo h u t f p as
t r a h Quesi 1i Bur speii fra al
o ec
ton n ke' tton o ppe .

Btr as d t Cour t gr nt hi peii : alow hi t o
lke ke he
to a
s tton ç
and l
m he pporuniy t pr s nt or l
t t o qe
a

a g me ta d s c o h re i e c a pemitd b t Co r a dt eRue . ( . s Ex 2
r u n n u h t e v d n e s r te y he u t n h ls' M Dim. h. ,
'
a 6;ECFNo.1 2.
t
3- )
The R oa
noke Count Cic t Cour s m a iy de ed Btr s sa e ha s com us
y r ui
t um r l
ni
lke' t t
bea

p tto b tna o d r d td M a 1 ,2 3 The Co r h l t tCo k' fi le t o j c
eiin y s l r e ae
y 5 01 .
u t ed ha o s alr o be t
t
c e
ont mpor ne l t t i opert si on by C. .a
a ousy o he mpr
e tm y
W boutBur ha ng m olsed he c i
ke vi
et
r ousn
wasa vald ti sr t gy. The Cour f rhe no ed t tBur ha f l t esa ih pa tc a
i ral ta e
t u t r t ha
ke d aied o t bls ri ulr

f cst s o ta Co k' i efcie rp e e uto o hm h d p eu ie t e o to o te
a t o h w h t o s n fe tv e r sn in f i a rj d c d h uc me f h
til Thus t Cour f
ra .
, he
t ound, t ke ha no e t bls d bo h pr ngs of t Sti klnd g
t
Bur
s t sa ihe t o
he rc a v.

W as ndon, U. 668( 984) t t a cli A i co l or ' ( .Dim. No.3,a 6;
hi
466 S.
1 ) es, nd am s ncus y.' M s Exh.
t
ECFNo.1 3. TheCour as f mdt tBur hadfie t pr en fc se tbls ngdefce
3- )
t lo ot ha ke
ald o es t a t sa ihi
iint

pef ma e by Cook orprj c underStiklnd a t any ofhi ohe cai ofi fci
ror nc
eudie
rc a s o
s t r l ms nefe tve
a ssa .
s i t nce

4

Ana
ppea f om t de alofa w rtofha scor lesdi e ty i t Supr m e Cour of
l r he ni
i
bea
pus i r c l n he
e
t

Vign a a Bu k ha t ry d yst n t h sa p a. S e Va Co eAn j 1 14 6 b ; .
r ii, nd r e d hit a o o e i p e l e . d n. 7.- 0 ( ) Va
Sup.Ct R.5:4.Btr howe r di nota a t cic tcour' de a ofhi ha speii n.
.
1
lke,
ve , d
ppe l he r ui
ts ni l
s bea tto
l tad,he fl t s pr K j225 peiin on Aug t15,201 atcki t val t ofhi
nse
ied hi o
4 tto
us
3, ta ng he i y
di
s
.

c c i on s t ntaly t s me gr mdsa r ied i hi saeha aspeii
onvi ton
ubsa i l he n
ot
s a s n s t t be
tton. I s
n uppor of
t
hi f de a pe ii Bur s is nlm er us a f da t t t he di notpr s n i s
s e r l tton, ke ubm t l o f i vis ha
d
e e t n uppor of t
t he
c r ui c t tton.
i c t our pe ii

Blr di no a a t cr ui c tsdenilofhi ha spe ii bas d u t c e r
zke d t ppe l he ic t our'
a
s bea tton e pon he l a
die ton of hi a l t a ha as c
rci
s ppelae nd be ouns l Pe r on, who t d hi t t a a i t t
e, a s
ol m ha ppe lng o he
Supr m e Cour ofVig ni wasunne s a y t e us a l e sa e r di be or s e ng
e
t
ri a
ce s r o xha t vaiabl tt eme es f e e ki
ha s r i i f de alc t Spe tca l Pe r on a s d Btr by l te da e M a 21 201
bea elef n e r our .
cii ly, a s dvi e lke
e tr t d y , 3
asf l s 2
olow :

Unf tnaey,J
oru tl udge Swa on hasr e agans you (n t cr ui c tha as
ns
uld i t
i he ic t our be
c
omus c e . I my opi on, y ha now e use a1 a lbl rle
as) n
ni ou ve
xha td 1 vaia e eif
opport ii s i t Co m onw e t of V igi a. Y ou m a ha t r g t fl
tm te n he m
alh
r ni
y ve he i ht o ie
f W rt of Ha s com us i Fe r l Cour,but 1 a not f la wih t t
or i
bea
n de a
t
m
amiir t ha
pa tc a pr es . Now t t t s r c f r whi I wa r t i ha be n
riulr oc s
ha he e vies o
ch
s e aned ve e
c plt d,1wilcl em y tl l you i e t pu s a Fe r Ha s Co pus
om e e
l os
ie. f
nt nd o r ue
de al bea r
Pe ii n,plas l tm e know i you ne a oft doc
tto
e e e
f
ed ny
he ument i my fl a I
sn
ie nd
w ilgl dl f war t m t you.
l a y or d he o

( t Ata h D3 ECF No 1 1 ) Pe ro r p ae hsi c re ta vc i as c n lte , ae
Pe. tc . ,
. - 4. a s n e e t d i n o rc d ie n e o d e tr d td
J y 29,201 s a i
ul
3, t tng:

( he Commonweat ofVigi a alowsa Ha aspeii t be fld i et r
Tl
lh
r ni l
be tton o ie n ihe
Cic t Cour or t Supr m e Cour . I m y opi on w e w e e m or lke y,i t s
r ui
t he
e
t n
ni
r
e i l n hi
c e, o ge a f vor bl r lng f om J
as t t a a e u i r
udge Swa on s t ti w he e l fl d. Eve
ns o ha s
r ie
n

2 Btkesb te c pe o Pe ro ' lt r a o th be sc r u poce ig a e hbt t hi j2 5
l u mitd o is f as ns et s b u a a o p s r e dn s s x iis o s 2 4
r
e
peii Be aus t r s
tton. c e he e ponde hasnotc esed t lter aut ntct t c ti udest aspa toft s
nt
ont t he e t s' he iiy, he our ncl
hem
r hi
f cuals mar
a t um y.

t ug i was not fl d t ough t Su e Cou t Fe r Co ts d sil
ho h t
ie hr
he pr me
r, de al ur houl tl
a e i.
cc pt t

( tAta h.D,ECF No.1 1 )
Pe. tc
- 4.
II.

The pari a e t tb f ii t a a t de a ofhi sa e ha s pe ii t t
tes gr e ha y a lng o ppe l he ni l
s t t bea tton o he

Supr m e Cour ofVigi a,Bur f l t e us a a ia e sa e c tr m e a om iso
e
t
r ni
ke aied o xha t n va lbl tt our e dy, n
sin
t t c tt es a pr edur l de a t of hi i fe tve as itnc c am s The r ponde
ha onsiut
oc a f ul
s ne f c i
ssa e l i .
es
nt

f r e ul manan t a Bt k c n o s o c us f r hsd fulo r s li p eu ie
oc f l iti s h t l e a n t h w a e o t i ea t r e utng rj d c .
y
r
Btr scu r ntpr diame i t ua ,i t tno c t ot rt n t ti c q ha
lke' r e
e c nt s mus l n ha
our, he ha he ral our s
r viwe t pr ee ngs be or t til c t t de e m i whehe Bur r eved a
e e d he oc di
f e he ra our o t r ne
t r
ke ec i
cons iutonaly a ua e t i . Blr l t hi di e t a a a t t a i sbiiy of C. .S
tt i l deq t ral
zke os s r c ppe l s o he dm s i lt
W '
t s i ony t t Bur ha s xualy m ol t he co i be aus c
e tm
ha
ke d e l
esed r us n, c e ouns f ie t m a a
el a l d o
ke

c ne rn o o j cin. Lie s , o l t e til c u t h s r ve d t iefcie
o tmpo a e us b e t
o
k wie ny h ra o r a e iwe he n fe tv
as it nc is r s d i t sa eha a pe ii n- no f a f lle by Btr ,butbe us hi
ssa e s ues aie n he t t be s tto
t or ny aitr
zke
ca e s

h b a c u e fi det e t r a o t u d rtn t ei o t fVa Co eAn j 1 .- 0 ( )
a e s o ns l al i r o e d r o n e sa d h mp r o . d n. 7 14 6 b ,
e h
whi pr desf adie ta alofha sm at r t t Su e Cour ofVigi a.
ch ovi or r c ppe
bea te s o he pr me
t
r ni

Cii Rhi sv.W e ,544U. 269 (
tng ne
ber
S.
2005) Btr sc re cot elhasa nc an
, lke' u rnt ms
dva ed
a pl nt whih i s ce sul potntaly c d gi Bur t opporuniy t obt n f rher
r me , c f uc s f , e i l oul ve
ke he
t t o ai u t
sae co tr vi ofhi ha aspe ii Thi c tt sno poston ast whehe Btr wil
tt ur e ew
s be
tton. s our ake
ii
o
t r tke l
uli a ey be a e t e us hi i f c i a ssa e cai
tm t l
bl o xha t s nefe tve s it nc l ms. I i wel e t bls d,howe r
t s l sa ihe
ve ,
t tt e usi r r m e i ç n a co moda i ofol f de als t m de i d t gi t
ha he xha ton equie nt s l c m
a
ton
tr e r yse
sgne o ve he
St t t i talopporuniy t pas upon a cor e t a l ge vi a i of is pr s s f r l
a e he nii
t t o s
nd r c le d ol tons t i oner ' ede a

rg t. Piadv.Co n r 40 U. 2 0, 7 ( 9 )(n en l u tto sa dctto o te )
ih s' c r
'
n e , 4 S. 7 2 5 1 71 itr a q o ai n n i ins mitd .
a
To t se t docrne off de aim a c iy c tan t c tt wihhol r i on t
hi nd, he ti s e r ls nd om t onsr i he our o t d ulng
he
6

pe ii a t stme t gveBtr t opporuniy t r t n t sae c tf whaeve r le may
tton t hi i o i
lke he
t t o eur o tt our or t r ei f
be a lbl t hi t r o hi une use cai . S a e dif r nty,t c tbeleve t t
vaia e o m he e n s xha td l ms t t d fe e l he our i s ha
t pe ii r s d a l s ha t opporuniy t s ek r le ,i wha a e cea l t ual
he ttone houl t ea t ve he
t t o e e if n
t r l ry mus
cr lm sa s be or t Supr me Co tofVigi a.
ic l t nce , f e he
e
ur
r ni
111
.

Att r ue tofBtr sf r ha a c ms ,t c twilsay t sca eand hol i
he eq s
lke' ede al be s ot el he our l t hi s
dt
i a
n beya e t a l w Bur t s e r vi be or t Supr m e Cour of V igi a of t i s s
nc o lo
ke o e k e ew f e he
e
t
r ni
he s ue

r ie i t sae c tha as pr e ng. The pa tesa e die t t r por t t s c tno
a s d n he t t our be
oc edi
ri r r ced o e t o hi our
lt rt n 60 da fom t dae oft sor ro t sausofa f t rsae c rtpr ee ngs
a e ha
ys r he t
hi de n he t t
ny urhe t t ou oc di .
A n a opr a e or rw ili s e t sday.
ppr i t de l s u hi
EN TER : ' s
rhi

AV'a o s pe e 2014.
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