Ferguson v. Clark et al

Filing 15

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 6/24/2014. (tvt)

CL S OFFI U, DI COURT
ERK'
CE S. ST.
AT ROANOKE,
VA
FI ED
L

I TH E UNI
N
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
FO R TH E W E STER N D I
STR I O F V I G I I
CT
R N A
ROANOKE DI I ON
V SI
TY R O N E A FER G U SO N , ,
JR.

JLN 2i 2 1
29
JULA C
I
BY;

CA SE NO .7:
14CV 001
07

Pl nt f ,
ai i f
M EM O M N DU M O PI O N
NI

HAROLD CLARK, RECTOR, K ,
DI
c

By:Gln E. n a
e Co r d
C hi U ni St
ef ted atesD i t ctJudge
s ri

Defndants.
e
t)
Tyr A.Fe gus J . a Vigi a i t pr e ng pr K ,fld a pl di t he
one
r on, r,
r ni nma e oc edi
o
ie
ea ng hat

sy e a a E OTI FOR J
tls s E
M ON
UDGMENT, algn ta j i a p io o t as wee
' le ig h t al nd rs n f l r
'
ki
delber t y i fe entt akno rs t tapari a i ae wo d a s ul pl i ifi t t
i ael ndif r o
wn ik ha
tculr nm t ul s a t antf f he wo
i t s we e as i ne t t s m e prs f iiy i t Vigi a De rm e of Core tons
nma e
r sg d o he n
ion aclt n he r ni pa t nt
rci

(VDOC' .Be a eFeg s na s rsta d fn a t'a to viltd h sc n tt to lrg t,
t
G
' c us r u o se t h t ee d n s cins oae i o siuina ih s
)
t co tc tue a doc t d hi pl a ng as a ci l rg s a ton pur ua t 42 U. C.
he ur onsr d nd
ke e s e di
vi i ht c i
s nt o
S.

j1
983.Be us Fegus spladi di no pr deas fce sae ntofrl ntfcs t
ca e r on' e ng d t ovi ufiint ttme
eeva a t,he
cour die t d hi t s i a to li or ton conc m i t dat o whih s ii
t r c e m o ubm t ddii na nf ma i
e ng he es n
c pec fc,
r lt d e nt occ r d. l r s e,Fe g on has s
ea e ve s ure n e pons
r us
ubmitd a afi vi,whi t c thas
te n fda t
ch he our
c i r a pa t of hi c
onsde ed s r
s ompl i . Upon r vi w of t s r co d,howe r t c twil
ant
e e
hi e r
ve , he our l
s ma iy dimi st sa ton f f ilr t sae ac tt i na cli .
um rl s s hi c i or a lze o t t onsiuto l a m
Backzround

Fe gus s toubl s w ih i a e ç ele' Pa ks bega a t tm e of Fe gus s
r on' r e
t nm t ç l ' r
v
n t he i
r on'
pr lm i
e i nmy hea i i t Cmnpbe lCot t Ci c t Cour i Se e be 201 whe e Par a
rng n he
l
m y r ui
t n pt m r 0, r
ks nd

Fer o ûc os ed pahs'i t co toom . Pa ks a r nki membe oft l oods'sr e
gus n sr s
t ' n he urr
r , n ng
r
he û
Bl ' te t
ga ti d t br a a a fo hi s urt es t s t i Fe gus s f e,a cal d hi a
ng, re o e k w y r m s ec iy cor, pa n r on' ac nd le m

L
K

t th. ( mpl2. F r u o a re t p e dg i ya dtsiya an tPaks Th p o e u o ,
t c ' Co . ) e g s n g e d o la ul n e tf g is r . e r s c tr
Bi '
t
Pa lM c d e ,a sze F r us n ta ç i hewa rma d dt t e (
u An rws sl d e g o h t û l
r
wh e
s e n e o h VDOC)h wo l n t
e ud o
e
ncountr( r )'be us t VDOC' casikai s tm e tbls d G ne docl nt of
e Paks, ca e he
'
S l st ton yse sa ihe û my tme s
e

s p rto ' ( a 2 3)
e a ain. J t - .
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Afe svea mo t a t Cn belCo n y J i a oh rl c lj is Fe g o wa
tr e rl nhs t he mp l u t al nd t e o a al, r us n s
tans e r d on Se e
r f re
pt mber30,2011 t M e e g Coreci lCe e ,whe e Pa ks was as
, o cklnbur
r tona ntr
r r
lo
i ione
mprs d. Pa ks a o he g ng m e r t e t ned Fe gus s lf Fe gus t d
r
nd t r a
mbe s hr a e
r on' ie.
r on ol
i si a orW ils t the and Pa ks we e nott be ho ed a t s m e f c lt M e kl nbtr
nve tg t
li ha
r
r
o
us t he n
a iiy. c e lg
ofk i l s gr t Fe gus f a mont a t n ta f r e hi t Lune lg Coreci na
t a s e egaed r on or
h nd he r ns e r d m o
nbtr
r to l
Cen e w iho i i nt At s e poi t r fe ,V D OC a hor te t a f r ed Fe gus t
t r t ut nc de .
om
nt he ea tr
ut ii s r ns e r
r on o

Gr en Roc Core tonal Ce er He s
e
k
rci
nt .
oon dicove e t Pa ks was alo a Gr n Roc
s r d hat r
s t ee
k.
Fe gus i e a e y no ii d hi f m iy,who notfe t wrde W hie Fe gus n wa i t
r on mm dit l tfe s n l
iid he
n.
l r o
s n he
c
how ha lone da Pa ks hi hi i t ba of t hea Ofi e s s r t d t i t ,
l
y, r
t m n he ck
he d. fc r epa a e he nma es
s gr ga e t m brel ta f red Pa ks a r ea ed Fe g on t t ge r lpopulton.
e e t d he
i fy, r nse r
r , nd el s
r us o he ne a
ai
VDOC öfi a sha as ur d Fe g on t ta t e s pa ae'or rwa pl c i bot i t s
fcil ve s e r us ha t p e r t ' de s a ed n h nma e '
ke
fl on Augus 1 201
ies
t 4, 2.

l hi c
n s ompli ,Fe gus s s t die t of t VDOC,M e e
ant r on ue he r c or he
cklnbur I si or
g nve tgat

W ils Ket Da kns(d ni e a a s p r iig ca st to o t ri t VDOC rg o a
l , ih ws i i e tt d s u e vsn lsikain f
i
i
ke n he
e in l
ofke ,Ca
t ) mpbel Count J i Cl stc ton Ofie Angea Momoe,a Cn
l
y al asii ai
fc r
l
nd mpbelCount
l
y
pr ec t Pa M c dr ws1 Fer
os u or ul M e .
guson ass s c1i s t t va i def nda s vi a e t
ert a m ha rous e nt olt d he
Ei h A m endm e , s a e l w s a r gul to , a or w e e ne i nt i f lng t pr ven
ght
nt t t a
nd e a i ns nd/
r glge n aii o e t
' A lhough t headi of t compl nt i udes J l Cor e i
t
he
ng
he
ai ncl
ai
r ctonal Ofker Tunes a J l
f
nd ai
l tgat M inor i t ls of def nda s, an a t hed a endment delt t e i vi s as
nves i or l
n he it
e nt
tac
m
ees hes ndi dual

de e ns ( No.l l)
fnda t. ECF
-.

Fe gus n fom bei a sgne t t s m e prs wih li c f nda ,Pa ks Fe gu o s ks
r o r
ng s i d o he a
ion t ls ode e nt r . r s n ee

mo eayd ma e a ij ncierle .
n tr n g s nd nu t eif
v
D i cussi
s
on

The c t i r uie t dim is a aci or c am fl d by a prs r agans a
our s eq r d o s s ny ton
l i ie
ione
i t
gove m e ale iy o ofi e i t c tdee mi t a ton o cli i fi ous malci ,
m nt ntt r fc r f he our tr nes he c i r am s rvol , i ous

o fist sae acam o whc rle ma beg a td 28U. C.j 1 5 b)1 . I o d rt
r al o tt li n ih eif y r ne .
S.
91 A( ( ) n r e o

saea cam i a y fd r lcvi a to t ep an ifsE a ta alg to mu tb e o g t
tt li n n e ea i l cin, h litf t cu l le ains s e n u h o
m
r s a rghtt r le a ve t s c ai l ve ,'t one t ti t a i e on is f c ' r t r
aie i o ei f bo he pe ul tve e l' o
ha s l usbl
pl
t a e, a he
'

t nmeey E o eva l. BelAt.Co p v. mbv 5 0 U..5 4 5 0 ( 0 7 . To saea
ha r l ç nc i be' l l r . Two l, 5 S 4 , 7 2 0 )
c
'
tt
ca e of acin unde j1
us
to
r 983,a pl ntf mus etbls t the ha be n de i d ofrght
ai if t sa ih ha
s e prve
i s
gu r n ee by t Consiuton or lws of t Unie Sut a t tt s de i ton r s t
aat d
he
tt i
a
he
td
es nd ha hi prva i e uled
fom co uc c mit by a pe s aci t rcol ofsae lw. W e tv.At ns 487 U.
'
r
nd t om ted
r on tng mde
or t t a
s
ki ,
S.

4 , ( 98 )
2 48 1 8 .
The Ei ht Am e e t i pos s a du y on prs ofkil l o pr ec prs ne s f o
g h
ndm n m e
t
ion f a s ç ot t io r r m
t

vi e a t ha ofohe prs r . nne v.Brnna 511U. 825,833( 994)(nena
olnce t he nds t r ione s'
'Fn r
e n,
S.
1
itr l
quotton maksomit . To esa ih acli i t sc e ,t prs rmus de tae
ai
r
ted)
tbls
am n hi ontxt he ione
t monsrt
t tprs ofk i sa t d wih ç i r t i fe e e't as t nta rs t the woul s f r
ha ion t al c e t û be ae ndif r nc ' o ubsa il ik ha
del
d ufe

s rousha m fom a he i t L- a 8 An ofk i s ws dei r t i fe e e i he i
ei
r r not r nma e. d t 34.
a
t al ho
lbe a e ndif r nc f s

G waeo f csfo whc (ec ud ifr ta as b tn ilrs o sro h r e it, d a
: r f a t r m ih h o l n e) h t u sa ta ik f e ius a m x ss' rws
a
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an i e e e t tt rs e ss and f ist r s
e r nc ha he ik xit ,
al o e pond r s bl t t rs l a 837,844. I
ea ona y o he ik. d. t
n

s q prs ofi i swho do notkno ofars who do notknow oft s rous soft rs
hor ion fcal
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ol i

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consiutonalrght nor ly c nnotbehed la eunde j1 3. Se Vi dcev.Gi ,550
tt i
i s mal a
l ibl
r 98
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F.d 9 6 9 ( t Ci.9 7 (i dngt a ûibit wilo ylewheei i afr tv l s wn
2 2 , 28 4h r1 7 ) fn i h t la l y l nl i
l i
r t s fimai ey ho
t a t o t a c ag da td p ro al i t de rv to o tepan if'rg t (e a s th
h t he fkil h r e ce es n ly n he p iain f h litfs ih s b c u e l e
docrneofr po a s rorha noa iai ' e j 1 .
ti
es nde t upe i s pplc ton'und r 983)
Fegus n' c antfist pr sntf t s
r o s ompli al o e e acs uppori a plusbl j1 3 cai t tt
tng ny a i e 98 l m ha he
Ca pbel Cot y de e n s Angea M onr a Pa M c
m l
mt f nda t ,
l
oe nd ul Andr ws a t d wih de i r t
e , ce
t lbe ae

i fe e t a known rs t Fe g on woul behnr d by Pa ks Eve i t s i vi s
ndif r nce o
ik hat r us
d
me
r .
n f he e ndi dual
kne t t Pa ks ha s t a Fe gus a t e t d hi i t c toom , Fe gus s
w ha
r
d pa t r on nd hr a ene
m n he our r
r on'

a lgatons do nots
le i
how a r s c i whi h t e def nda s r s
ny e pe t n
c hes
e nt e ponde urr a ona y t t t
d le s bl o ha

rs Fis,Fe gus doesno aleg t the a Pa kswe e,a a tme,i r e aed t t ra
ik. rt r on
t l e ha
nd r
r t ny i nca c r t oge he t

t eCn b l Co nyJ i(t ej i', r M o r ewo k d, ra a y o telc l al wh r h
h mp el u t al ûh a1' whee n o r e o t n f h o a j is ee e
t
)
washo ed dlrng t ti lpr ce di i whi h M c Andr wasi ved. Sec
us
zi he ra o e ngs n
c
ews
nvol
ond,Fe g on
r us

d e n t sae fcs i dc tn ta Mo r e a a lc lj i o fca,o M c rws a a
o s o tt a t n iaig h t n o , s o a al fiil r And e , s
pr ec or ha a dut o a hort t e ur t a m a of VDOC s c liy c a st a i
os ut , d ny y r ut iy o ns e he cc cy
e trt l s ik ton
r c ds on Fe g on or t t t e i vi l ha a i veme a a tm e i as i ng
e or
r us
ha hes ndi dua s d ny nvol
nt t ny i n sgni
Fe gus t a VDOC prs whe e Pa ks was hous d. For t saed r as ,t c twil
r on o
ion
r r
e
he t t e ons he our l

s mmaiyd s s F rus n' camsa an tM o r ea dM c d e u d rj1 5 b ( ) f r
u rl imis e g o s li g is n o n An rws n e 91 A( )1, o
fit saea aci bl j 1 cai
al o tt ny tona e 983 l m.
Fe g on' c pl i a s f is t s a e a tona e c a m s a ns t V D O C def nda s
r us s om a nt l o a l o t t c i bl l i gai t he
e nt .

VDOC Op rtn Pr c d r C0P' 8 06 e tbih s ç sn d r z d s se o i e tf ig
e aig o e u e 1 ' 3 . sa ls e t tn adie y tm f d niyn ,
)
a
verf ng,a doc e i ofe re
iyi
nd um ntng f nde nemi a s pa a i ne ds wihi i tt tons ope a e
es nd e r ton e
t n nsiu i
rtd
by' t VDOC. Unde OP 830. a û e s pa a e'desgna i i t i t 'fl s d
' he
r
6, l p e r t ' i ton n wo nma es ies houl
ke
pr ve t m f om be ng hous d a a VD O C f c lt w ih a e s t e c ot r The f tt to
e nt he r
i
e t
a iiy t cc s o a h he .
ac ha ne

4

i t st tm ony c rbut t a he i t sco c i doesno r quie,butmay s ppor
nma e' esi
onti ed o not r nma e' nviton
te r
u
t
a kee s pa a e de i ton f r t t i aes Prs a nita or and i si t s m a
p e r t sgna i o he wo nm t . ion dmi sr t s
nve tga or
y
r ue t a ke p s pa a e desgna i wihout c uli t i aes i ve or a i a e
eq s
e e rt
i ton, t
ons tng he nm t nvol d,
n nm t
hi e fma r ques t ha a s cik ofe
ms l y e t o ve pe t f nderdoclme e a hi e m y. W hehe t r s
l nt d s s ne
t r he eque t
f a ke p s pa a e de i ton co esf om a pr s ofi i loran of e r s h a des g t o i
or
e e r t s gna i
m
r
i on f c a
f nde , uc
i na i n s

i s d onl afe e e i i si ton a a oval by t I tmtona Cl st a i
s ue
y tr xt nsve nve tga i
nd ppr
he nsi i l as ik ton

Auh rt Ct '.
to i I )
y CA'
Fe g on a r ty i e t hol M e kl nbur l s i t W ils la e f f ii t
r us ppa en l nt nds o d c e
g nve tga or li i bl or a lng o

ensle t tFe gus a Pa ks be ke s pa a e a trt t i aes we e bot a sgne t
tr ha r on nd r
pt e r t fe he wo nm t
r
h si d o
M e e lg i Se e r2011 Unde OP 830. howe r no onei vi lc n m a akee
cklnbtr n pt mbe
.
r
6,
ve ,
ndi dua a
ke
p
s pa a ede e mi to whih r quiesI a ova . Fe gus ss
e r t t r nai n, c e r CA ppr l r on' ubmi sonsi cae t tafe
s i ndi t ha tr
he i or ed W ils of Pa ks tle t ,t i a e we e s r t d a Fe gus w as ta f r e
nf m
li
r ' lr a s he nm t s r epa a e nd r on
r ns e r d.

Som em ont lt r on Augus 1 201 a ke s pa ae de i ton wase e e i hi fl a
hs a e ,
t 4, 2, ep e r t sgna i
nt r d n s ie nd
Pa ks fl ,pos i y a a r s toft i si ton t tW ilsi ta e i 2011. Bas d onl on
r ' ie
sbl s e ul he nve tga i ha li niit d n
e
y
t s f c s t c tcn
he e a t, he our nnotfnd t tW ilsr s nde unr as na y t t rs t tPa kswoul
i ha li e po d e o bl o he ik ha r
d

ham Fegu on.Therf e,hec t l ds s t camsa i tW ilsunde j1 A( ( )
r r s
eor t our wil imis he li gans li
r 915 b)1 .
Fi ly,Fe g on' cai sa i tt VDOC die t rand Da ki mus be dim is d.
nal
r us s l m gans he
rco
ws ns t
s se
Fe g on doe notsa e f c s s wi t teihe oft e a i sr tve ofk i s ha s c fc
r us
s
tt a t ho ng ha t r hes dm nita i
t al d pe ii
no i be or Fe gus s ta f r t Gr en Roc t t he a Pa ks s d be s pa a e
tce f e r on' r ns e o e
k ha
nd r houl
e r t d.

Alhough t cour dieced Fe g on t pr det da e on wli h he wasta f r e t Gr e
t
he
t r t
r us o ovi he t
lc
r nse r d o e n
Roc a t da e on whih Pa ks a s ule hi t r Fe gu on has not pr vi d t s
k nd he t
c
r s a t d m he e, r s
o de hi
i or to Fe g on alo f ist sae f t i c tng t tt die ororDa ki ha a
nf mai n. r us
s al o t t ac s ndia i ha he r ct
ws ns d ny
pe s na i ve e i as i ng Fe gu o or Pa ks t Gr n R oc Fe g on i a r ty
r o l nvol m nt n s gni
r sn
r o ee
k. r us s ppa en l

a tmptng t hol t s de e nt vi rousy la e f t a tonsofot rInnn e ofki l ,
te i o d he e f nda s ca i l i bl or he c i
he l m d t a s

a d s c camsaen ta to a l t e j1 3 r d e 5 0F.d a 9 8(e u rn pes n l
n u h li r o ci n be md r 98 .Vi g , 5 2 t 2 rq iig ro a
me
iv le n frj 1 8 l blt)
n ov me t o 9 3 i ii .
a y
Be a e t c tc l s t t Fe gu on' alega i do no s
c us he our onc ude ha r s s l tons
t uppo t a a tonabl
r ny c i
e

cam u d rj 1 8 ,t c u td cie t e rie s p e n a j rs it n o e a y p si e
li n e 9 3 he o r e ln s o xecs u plme tl u idci v r n o sbl
o
cai she m a have r l td t t e nt aleg i t compl i ,bms d on ofk i l 'al ge
lm
y
e ae o he ve s l ed n he
ant e
t a s le d

ne lg n eo vo ai no saelwso r g lto s Se 28U. C. 1 6 () Se to 1 8 wa
gie c r ilto f tt a r e uain . e
S. j 3 7c . cin 9 3 s
i e d t pr e tonl f r lrght gua a e d by f r l 1 w and nott vi c t t tc a m s
nt nde o ot c
y ede a i s r nt e
ede a a
o ndi a e or l i

f r ihte ea ea e uaer me isu d rsaelw.W rg t Coln , 6 F. 8 , 4 ( t
o wh c h r r d q t e de n e tt a
ih v. lis 7 6 2d 41 8 9 4h

Ci.1 8 ) Th s t c u t l d s s a1s e lw camswi o tp eu ie Ana p o rae
r 9 5 . u ,he o r wil imis l ut a li
t u rj d c .
h
p r p it
or rwili s t sda
de l s ue hi y.
The Cl k i diec ed t s nd c e of t s m e or ndlm opi on a a om pa ng
er s r t o e
opi s
hi
m a l
ni nd cc
nyi

o de t pl i if
r r o antf .

2 & ay ofJune,201
4 d
4.
,

EX TER: Thi
s

ChifUnie St t sDititJ
e
t d a e src udge

6