Awe v. Mullins et al
Filing
39
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Jackson L. Kiser on 7/1/2015. (tvt)
ckE- : oFFl u. . D< >- l
ce :
. r
AT M G E'
VA
FI
LED
J -l 2 1
UL
25
I THE UNI
N
TED STATES DI
STRI COURT
CT
FOR TH E W ESTERN DI
STRI OF VI NI
CT
RGI A
ROANOK E DI SI
VI ON
K EN N ETH V A LEN TIN E AW E,
Pl ntff
ai i ,
BEN N Y M ULL I S,e al,
N
t .
D efendant
s.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
JUL. c D oL
BK
#
'.
Rg
cu
u
Ci lA c i N o.7: c 00665
vi t on
14- v-
M EM OR ANDUM OPI ON
NI
By:
H on.Jackson L .K i
ser
Se orUnie St t sDit i tJudge
ni
t d p e sr c
rfe ompli
ant
Ke t VaentneAwe,aVigi aprs rpr e ngpr K ,ie ave iid c
nne h l i
r ni ione oce di
o tld
.
purua t 42U. C.j 1 na ngDr BennyM uli a nufesRe De la VikiPhi
s nt o
S.
983, mi
.
lns nd s bel e nd c
pjs
o t Re Ono S aePrs n (ROS 'a d fnd n s Pli t falg st a Dee a t we e
f he d in tt io C P' s ee a t. ani l e h t fnd n s r
$
)
f e
dei r t y i fe e t hi s ro m e ca nee ,i vi ai oft Ei h Amend e .
lbe ael ndif r nt o s e i us di l ds n olton he ght
m ht
Dee a t fldamoin frs mmayj g n , n Plitf r s o d d mà i s ematrrp
fnd n s ie
to o u r ud me t a d an if e p n e , kngt te ie
h
frdipo iin. Aftrr vi ngt r or , Ig a tDee d n s moin frs mmayj d me t
o s sto 1 e e ewi he ec d rn fn a t' to o u r u g n .
Pli ifcli st thei a tit d wih t
antf am ha
s flc e t d
known/ ume e 'c oni a t ii i hi
doc nt d' hr c rhrts n s
kne ,(s ve edege r tvedicdie e,' hr cC nitons'dicpr r i a bul ng,
es te r
ne a i s s as 'c oni t a i r' s otuson nd gi
her
c
ompr son ofner er ,e plt ts rngr' f
es i
v oot nd a e dpuri 'de onne ve tbr e,a i baa
d re a nd m lnce.
Cons que l Pl i if s yshe i una e t do q lt m ove e s f RO SP' s i lho i
e nty, a ntf a
s bl o
l he
m nt or
S pec a usng
s urt pr ed est a e so - - el a i te ,lke e r s ,s we s a t ne and f miy
ec iy oc ur o cc s utofc l ctvii s i xe cie ho r , tor y
n l
viiai a c a sfcai n hea i ,duet Def nda s alege f iur t te thi a l nt t t
st ton, nd l s ii to
rngs
o e nt ' l d a l e o r a s ime s ha
rs tdi t
e ule n t
unbea a e ' i
r bl ' pa n.
1Paniffldagu n wi o t vd n ei rs o s t Dee a t' to frsmmayj d me t
litf ie r me t t u e ie c n ep n e o fnd ns moin o u r u g n.
h
Cons nty,lmus r y ont ve ii d c pli t r f t t e de ei s
eque l
t el
he rte om ant o e ue he vi nc n uppor dft m oto f s m ay
t he in or um r
j d me t Se W iimsv. ifn 9 2F.d8 0, 23(t Ci. 9 )( tn av rfe c mpan çst e uv ln
u g n. e la
l
Grfi, 5 2 2 8 4h r 1 91 noig eiid o litç he q iae t
i
o a o o igafd vtfrsmmayj d me t u p ss wh ntealg t nsc nan dteenaeb sdo
f n pp sn fia i o u r u g n p r o e, e h l ai o tie h ri r ae n
e o
p ro l n wld e'.
esna k o e g '
)
.
l rs
n e pons ,De e
e f ndant s m i t f l ng e denc Dr M uli i a lce e me c
s ub t he olowi vi e. . lns s i ns d di al
doc o a ha be n pr di m e ca s r i e t i t sa ROSP sncea oxi t l Aprl
t r nd s e ovi ng di l e v c s o nma e t
i
ppr ma ey
i
201 Be or Dr M uli r nde e c ea ROSP,Pli ifr cevedX r ofbot hi i M a c
4. f e . lns e r d ar t
antf e i
ays
h ps n r h
20l t ts
3 ha howe Pli ifs f r fom de ne a i a t ii i bot hi . Theteam e tf
d antf ufe ed r
ge r tve rhrts n h ps
r t n or
t sc ton i tzoug m e c ton unl soruntlt c ton deeror t se
hi ondii s lr h di a i
es
i he ondii
t i a e nough t tslge y
ha tr r
i wa r n e Pl i ifhasr ceve me c ton f t sc ton.
s r a t d. antf
e i d dia i or hi ondii
On M a 1 201 Dr M uli or e aone- a botom bunk a l rtera sg e
y 3, 4, . lns der d
ye r t
nd owe i s inm nt
f Pl i if a Dr M uli o de e asx- ont l rte as i nm e f Pl i ifon Augus 5,
or antf, nd . lns r r d i m h owe ir sg nt or antf
t
i 7
5 .
201 2 O n A pr1 1 ,201 ,Dr M uli l r d ofPli if sde ie f ar ne d l
4.
lns eane
a ntf
sr or e we owerter
i
a s g e a ag n a ove t r que t
s i nm nt nd ai ppr d he e s .
Dr M uli a s l r d ofPl ntf sdesr f ano- elpas on Aprl1 201
. lns lo ea ne
ai if
ie or
kne
s
i 7, 5.
Acc di t Pli ifsmedialr c d,aphyscan ha e mi Pl i ifon Ocobe 7, 4,
or ng o antf
c e or
ii
d xn ned antf
t r 201
a de e t r ques f ano- elpa sbec us Pl i ifha af nci na r ng ofmoto i
nd nid he e t or
kne
s
a e antf d ' to l a e
u
in n
hi e r m ii s no de or t o s li and anor gat I or rf Dr M uli t detr i
s xte te ,
f miy r we lng,
mal i. n de or . lns o e m ne
whehe Pl i ifqua ii f rano- elpa s he wo d ha t e m i Pl ntf be a ea not r antf
lfes o
kne
s,
ul ve o xa ne ai if c us
kne pa s s g fca t y a f c s s urt a RO SP.3
el s i nii n l f e t ec iy t
Pli ifdi notco pl n t Dr M uli a utis r a e t hi hi knee o ba k a
a ntf d
m ai o . lns bo s ues elt d o s ps
s r c nd
ha notr que t ano- elpas durng t rl ta nt e onNove be 1 201 Dr
d
e sed
kne
s i hei as ppoi m nt
m r 8, 4. .
M uli expl nst tPl i ifma s i a sck c lr ques i Pli tf f l t thi co ton
lns
ai ha antf y ubm t i al e t f a n if ee s ha s ndii
ha de eror t d ort the ha a m edi alne Dr M uli de e e rr f i t t e tPl i if
s t i ae
ha
s
c
ed. . lns ni s ve e us ng o r a a ntf .
2Dr M uli 'undertndi ofprs polcyi t tal rte or ra efro y sx mont i r
lns
sa ng
ion i s ha owe ir de r o nl i
h ncement a
s nd
.
t tani aeai aene onl t s bm i ar ques f r walt havet or rrne
ha
nm t nm t eds y o u t e t or ene
o
hat de e wed.
3Howeve 5 s d uponPli ifsm e c r or al , Dr M uli do t t tPli ifquaii sf ano
r ba e
antf' dial ec d one . lns ub s ha antf
lte or kne pas .
el s
Nu s Phi ,asROSP' he nu s i r s i ef rbot admi sr tveand ci c
r e pps
S ad r e, s e ponsbl o h
nitai
lnial
t ks A fe r vi w i t adm i s r tve 1 ofs c c l r ques s N tr e Phi a r t t
as . t r e e ng he
ni t a i og
ik al e
t , zs
pps ve s ha
Pli ifhasno fl d asc c l r quesssnceDe e be 201 a e ai t tPl i ifmay,
a ntf
t ie ik al e t i
c m r 4 nd xpl ns ha antf
lke ohe i aesa pe polc s
i t r nm t nd r iy, ubmi asc c l r ques i hehasam e c lne d t r que ta
t ik a l e t f
di a e o e s
no- lpas ort s e aphysc a ROSP nur e ma notis ano- elpas un i i i
knee s o e
ii n.
ss y
s ue
kne
s tl t s
a horze by aphys can.
ut i d
ii
Nur ePhi not t tPl i ifha a or f ral rte fom Aug t5,201
s
pps es ha antf d n der o owe ir r
us
4,
t oug Fe a y 5,2015.l or rf rt to de t be r ne d, a ntf smpl nee d t
hr h bnz r
n de o ha r r o e we Pli if i y de o
s i s h a r que t butPli ifdi no do s Upon r vi wi ROSP' e e toni r cor
ubm t uc e s ,
antf d t o.
e e ng
S l cr c e ds
s tm , s Phi dic r t ts urt saf ha hous d Pl ntf i a uppe te cel
yse Nur e pps s ove ed ha ec iy t f d
e ai if n n
r ir l
alhoug D r M uli 'l e te or rw asi ef e tt ough Fe u r 5, 5. Bec us D r
t
h . lns ow r i r de
n f c hr
br a y 201
a e .
M uli 'l e te or r wasi t el c r c r c dss t m , ur e Phi doe no know w hy
lns ow r i r de
n he e t oni e or ys e N s
pps s t
Pli ifwa hous d i a u rte c l a s de esha ng ha a c e por ne
antf s
e n n ppe i r el, nd he ni vi
d ny ontm a ous
knowldge oft pr em .Asme c lpe s
e
he obl
di a r onne , f nda sdo notcon r o ha a hort
l De e nt
tol r ve ut iy
ove t housng ofi aes I t d,t me c de rme c n i s m e c lo d sr r ng
r he
i
nm t . nsea he di al pa t nt a s ue di a r er ega di
t m e c lne dsf botom bunksa l rte s butROSP s c iy sa fde e neswhehe
he di a e or t
nd owe ir ,
e urt t f t nni
t r
o how t eo de sma bei e e e
r
hos r r y mplm nt d.W he br
n oughtt hi at nton on Aprl1 2015, .
o s te i
i 7,
Dr
M uli r ne d al we tero de ont s m e da
lns e we o r i r r he n
y.
N ur e Dee deni ha ng ha a die ti ve e w ih Pl ntf c e ni t cl i s
s
l
es vi
d ny r c nvol m nt t ai if onc r ng he a m
r i e i t sac i n orc em por neo know l
a s d n hi to
ont
a us
edge ofPl i i f shous ng as i e on a uppe
a ntf
i
s gnm nt
n
r
te . She de e r c vi a s c ca lr que tf om Pl i ifa
ir
ni s e ei ng ny i k l e s r
a ntf bouta l e te hous ng
ow r i r
i
as i ent a no- lpa s ora m e c lcondii durng t r l nttm e.
s gnm ,
knee s ,
di a
ton i he e eva i
De e nt c l t tPl i ifha notb n de e a e st media te m e an
f nda s oncude ha antf s
ee ni d cc s o
c l r at nt d
a rt the ha ha a botom te a s g ne snc Fe a y 201 A lhough Pl i ifi f m ii r
ve ha
s d
t i r s i m nt i e bnz r
5. t
a ntf s n la
w ih t pr e e t r ques m e c lte t nta ha us d t e pr ed e i t pa t
t he oc dur s o e t di a r a me nd d e hos oc ur s n he s,
Pl i t f had no s it d r a e r ques sf m e ca t e t e .
a n if
t ubm te el t d e
t or di l r a m nt
lI.
A pat i e tte t s mmayj d me ti t pla ig ,h d s o eya dd s ls r
ry s n ild o u r u g n f he e dn s te ic v r n ico u e
ma e i l on tl ,a a a fdaviss
t ras ie nd ny fi t how t tt r i no g nediput ast a m a e i f c .
ha he e s
enui s e o ny t ral a t
Fed.R.Ci P. a .M aeilfcsaet ene sa yt etbls t elme sofapa t s
v. 56() tra a t r hos ce sr o sa ih he e nt
ry'
c us o a ton.Andes v.Li t Lo I ,477U. 242, ( 98 .A ge nedipue
a e f ci
ron
berv bbvsnc.
S. 248 1 6)
nui s t
ofma e i lf te ssi,n viwi t r co dand a lr as bl i er nce d awn t r fom i a
t ra ac xit f i e ng he e r
l e ona e nf e s r
he e r n
lg m os f vo a e t t non- ovi pa t a r s bl f c - i r c d r t n a ve di tf
i ht
t a r bl o he
m ng ry, ea ona e a t fnde oul e ur
r c or
t no mova .J Themovi pa t ha t bur nofs wi - Cha i,poi i outt t
he n- nt #.
ng ry s he de ho ng t t s ntng o he
t
di ti tcour - t tt r i a a e e ofe de e t s
src
t ha he e s n bs nc
vi nc o uppor t nonm ovi pa t sc e.
t he
ng ry' as '
'
Ceoe Co p v Cart, 7 U. 31 , 2 ( 9 6 .l t emo n s tsisti bld n,h nte
ltx r . . tet4 7 S. 7 3 5 1 8 ) f h va t aife h s t e t e h
r
non- o ntm us s tf t s ii a i sbl f ct t tde o t a e t e s e e ofa ge ne
m va
t e orh pec fc, dm s i e a s ha m nsr t he xit nc
nui
d s u eo fc f rtil l . t 2 - 3.A p ryi e tte t s mma yj d me ti ter c r a a
ip t f a t o ra. d a 3 2 2
a t s nild o u r u g n f h e o d s
whol c d notla ar tonal re off c t fnd i f voroft no m ova . W ila sv.
e oul
e d a i tir a t o i n a
he nnt lim
Grfi 95 F. 8 8 ( hCi.1 ) t e euns
ifn, 2 2d 20, 23 4t r 991 . s r uppore s c ai ...i no e
M
td pe ulton s t nought
o
d fa as mma yj d me tmoin. En i v Na'As ' o Bus & Ed c Ra o l .5 F.d
ee t u r u g n to ' ns . tl sn f . u . di.nc, 3 3
'
5 , 2( t Ci.1 9 ) A panifc n o us ar s o et amoinf rs mmayj dg n t
5 6 4h r 9 5 . litf n n t e e p ns o
to o u r u me t o
c r tdei e e i ac antc lngedbyadee ntsmotonf s
orec fcincis n ompli hale
fnda ' i or umma yj
r udgme .
nt
Cl ni e v.McDevit 555F. 3 336( hCi.
oa ng r
t,
3d 24, 4t r 2009)
.
1
11.
Dee d n saee tte t sl r j d me tb c u ePlitf f i t e tbiht i
fn a t r nild o l
mma y u g n e a s an if al o sa ls her
s
de i r t i fe e et as rousmedia ne d. Se .e. , t lev.Gn e 429 U. 97 10
lbe a e ndif r nc o e i
cl e
e c.Esel
mbl ,
S. , 4
( 976) Toesa ih a Eiht Ame
1 .
tbls n g h
ndme cli Plitf mus s t tadefnda was
nt am, anif t how ha
e nt
pe s ly a r off c si cai as t nta rs ofs ro ha m a a t l r ogni d t
r ona l wa e a t ndi tng ubsa i l ik e i us r nd cualy ec ze he
e se ofs hars Fame v. e n,511U. 8 8 (994) SDei r t i feenc
xitnce uc ik. r r Brnna
S. 25, 38 1 . t lbe ae ndifr e
m a bede onsr t d by eihe acua i e o r c e sdir r ' M ite v.Be n,896 F.
y
m ta e
t r t l nt nt r e kl s sega d.' li r
or
2d
8 851( h Ci.1 .$ de e nta t r kl sybydir r ngas tnta rs of
48, 4t r 990) ç f nda cs ec esl
A
segadi
ubsa il ik
da rt ti et rknown t t def nda o whi h wo d bea r ntt ar s na eper o i
nge ha s ihe
o he e nt r c
ul
ppa e o ea o bl s n n
t de e ntsposton. l a 8 - A he lh c epr de ma be de i r t l i fe e
he f nda '
ii ' d. t 51 52.
'
at ar ovi r y
lbe a ey ndif r nt
w he t tea m e pr de i s gr s y i m pe e ,i de t ,ore es i ast s k t
n he r t nt ovi d s o os l nco t nt na qua e
xc s ve o hoc he
cons e ori i olr bl t f m e a f nws . l a 851.Howeve ,cli sofneglge e
cince s nt e a e o unda nt l ai s d. t
r am
i nc
aenotc za ei aj 1 pr e di Esele,429U. a 1 06;s eJ onv.Oui ne ,
r
ogni bl n
983 oc e ng. t l
S. t 05- e ohns
no s
1 F.d 1 1 69( hCi.1 )( i t tteai docor mus a t l drw t
45 3 64, 68- 4t r 998 notng ha r tng t s t cualy a he
i e e et ta i t ss
nf r nc ha n nma e' ympt m ssgniy t pr s nc ofapa tc a c ton a t ta
o i f he e e e
riul r ondii nd ha
f iur t dr w s h a i e e em a pr e acli f neg i ncebutnotac am t rt
a l e o a uc n nf r nc
y es nt a m or lge
l i mde he
Eiht Ame
g h
ndme ) A prs rsdiag e mentwihme c lpes
nt. ione ' s r e
t dia ronnelove t c s of
r he oure
teame tdoesnotsaeaj1 3cam.W rg v.Coli ,766F. 8 8 ( h Ci.1 ;
rt n
tt
98 li
iht
lns
2d 41, 49 4t r 985)
Ruselv.Shefer 528F. 31 31 (t Ci.1 )( rcura .
sl
f,
2d 8, 9 4h r 975 pe im)
Pli ifc nnots ce by me el r si o hi a c a i i t compl ntt t
a ntf a
uc ed
r y e tng n s c us ton n he
ai ha
Dee nt tal)t pr vi g m)wihnee dme ca c es r c s'n lghtoft e de e
fnda s d il o o de hi t de di l ar evie 'i i
f
he vi nc
s p o t De e d n s moinf rs mmayj dg n .S eBel lCo p. Two y 5 0
u p ri
ng fn a t' to o u r u me t e lAt. r v. mbl, 5
U. 544,555(
S.
2007)(nt na quottonmaksomitd)(e ognii apli ifsba i f rle
i er l ai
r
te rc zng antf ss or eif
de r mor t nlbesa c ncusons).W he Dr Muli s w Pli ifonNove
t quies e ha a l nd o l i '
r
n . lns a antf
mber1
8,
201 aboutm e c ton ma eme ,Pli ifneiherc
4,
dia i
nag nt a ntf t ompl i ofis r a e t hi hi ,
aned s ues elt d o s ps
kne s orba norr ques e a noe,
ck
e
td
knee pas . Dr M uli w a ne rpr en e w ih Pl i ifs
l s
. lns s ve es t d t a ntf
de ie f ano- el s untlAprl1 2015 a wasnoti ved i t o he physcin' pror
sr or
kne pa s i
i 7,
, nd
nvol n he t r
ia s i
de a oft r ques.The e i no e de et i ca et tDef nda swe e a r s c iy sa f
ni l he e t
r s
vi nc o ndi t ha
e nt r wa e e urt tf
ha as i
d sgnedPl i ift a uppe te des t Dr M uli 'or rf a bo tm te ,a i a
antf o n
r i r pie . lns de or to i r nd n ny
e nt s c iy saf spl e e ofPl i ifon a uppe te i a mat rbeyond De e nt '
ve , e urt t f ac m nt
antf
n
r ir s
te
f nda s
c r . The e i no e de et tDef nda swe e dei r t l i fe e t a s rousm e ca
ontol
r s
vi nc ha
e nt r lbe a ey ndif r nt o e i
di l
ne d,a t y c nnotbehel la e f t a t o omisonsofs cziy sa f who we e
e nd he a
d i bl or he c s r s i
e trt t f,
r
rs
e pons bl f e cu i m e c lor r f r l
i e or xe tng di a de s o ower te c las i e s N o m e c lofi e i
-i r el s gnm nt .
di a fc r n
De e nt 'postonswoul know t tt ra t oro isonsunde t e cr um sa esvi a e
f nda s
ii
d
ha hei c s m s i
r hes ic t nc
olt d
c e ryesa ihe c tt i lrght
l a l t bls d onsiutona i s.Ac or ngl Def nda sa ee ild t qualfe
c di y, e nt r ntte o
ii d
i nt a ds mma yj d me t
mmu iy n u r u g n .
I .
V
Fo tefr g igr a o , g a t fn a t' to f rs mma yj d me t a dI
r h o e on e s ns I r n Dee d n s moi n o u r u g n , n
r ci Plitf sl vet pr e t f mapa rsbe a ei i cla fom t r or t t
es nd anif ea o oc ed q or
upe i c us t s e r r he ec d ha
Pl i ifha S hr s rkes'a i notunderi m i ntda rof s r o phys ca ha plr ua
a ntf s t ee t i ' nd s
t
m ne
nge
e i us
i l nn, z s nt
t 2 U. C. 1 5 g .Se ECFNo. (eln P an ift ts c la ewo l b rs id d i i
o 8 S. j 91 ( ) e
5 tl g litf ha u h e v u d e e cn e f t
i
wa dee ne t tPl nifhad(hr srkes'.
s tnni d ha aitf
t ee ti ')
t
l
ENTER:Thi
s
@l
.
day of-
, 01
5.
'N
w
.
'
.
' / ' &
f
.
.
.
.
.'
#
,
Se orUnied St t Diti tJ
t
aes src udge
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?