Crawley v. Combs
Filing
31
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 2/28/2017. (slt)
CLERK' OFFI U,S,DI
S
GE
AT RoM ol ST. COURT
œ
F
,VA
I
LED
FEB 23 2 1
27
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 GI I
CT
R N A
ROANOKE DI I ON
V SI
D AV I CM W LEY ,
D
Pl ntf
ai if,
BJ
;
.
Dua cu
aax
CL
C i lA c i N o.7: 6- vvi t on
1 c 0017
2
M EM O R AN DU M O PI O N
NI
JO HN C.COM BS,
D ef
endant
.
By:
Hon.M i hae F. bansd
c l Ur
l
U ni e St esD i t i tJudge
t d at
src
Da d Cr wly,a Vigi ai t pr ee ngpr K ,fl d aci lrght c
vi a e
r ni nma e oc di
o
ie
vi i s ompl n
ait
purua t 42U. C j1 3,na ngAsit tW a de J l C.Co a t s edee nt
s nt o
S. 98 mi
ssan r n om
mbs s he ol fnda .
Pl ntf al ge t tCombsvi aedt Fis Ame e oft Unie Stt Consiuto by
ai if le s ha
olt he rt
ndm nt he t d aes
tt i n
a o ng Pli ifst
ppr vi
antf ' empor r s pe i fom t Vigi a De rm e ofCoreci ns
a y us nson r he r ni pa t nt
r to '
(1
ç
VDOC' Co n F r Dit(co nFae'.Co sfldamoinf rs
' mmo a e e t mmo r '
)
s
) mb ie
to o ummay
r
j d me t a dtetmef rPlitf t r s n e pie , l gtematrrpef rd s o iin
u g n , n h i o an if o epo d x rd madn h te i o ip sto .
Afe r ve ngt er c r ,h c u t rn sCo s moinf rs mmayj d me t
tr e iwi h e o d te o r g a t mb ' t o u r u g n .
o
Pl ntf wr t t f l ng sng ecli i t c
ai if o e he olowi i l am n he ompl i '
ant
.
Dee d n J l Co l As itnl W ad n o W aln Rig S ae
f n a t om mbss ssa t r e f le s d e tt
j
)
Prs ng 'n 1 / l l wihp i rk o e g t a tePlitf wgs n tu e
io y o 2 1 / 6 t ro n wld e h t h an if a j o nd r
)
a Co nFâede c nrcgz(jbtaiyd p ie te( litf o hi
ny mmo r it o tatj arirrl e rv d h Pjanif f s
FlsjAme dl n)Rih t FreyEx r ieh srlg o b s p ndn t
rt
n me t g t o e l ecs i eiin y us e ig he
( l ntf fom pe i pai i hi rlgi dit
Pjai if r
ci tng n s ei ous e.
The r s oft r c d m ve st pe tne f ds
e t he e or
al he ri nt a .
OnM ac 5,201 t W alnsRi Stt Prs n (t RSP' I tt i lCl sfc to
rh
4, he le dge ae io IW
' nsiutona asiiain
)
Aut iy($CA' r omme dt Pl nifbea ove t r c i CommonFaeont ba i
hort ç ' ec
I )
nde hat aitf ppr d o e eve
r he ss
ppr ve he CA S e om tda i n r h
ofhi r i o belef . C o bs a o d t I ' r c m e l ton o M a c 7, 201
s elgi us i s 1 m
4.
1Thi r co m e i wasar ul ofas te e i Pl ntf' pro cvi a ton, Cr w lyv. l y.e
s e m ndaton
es t
etlm nt n ai ifs ir i l c i
a e Holowa t
al,No. 1 cv. 7:4- 00084.Combswasnotadeenda i t tacin.
f nt n ha to
Comm on Fa ei a ditde i d t a c moda ei m a e who ha r lgi dit r
r s e sgne o c om
t n ts
ve ei ous e a y
l e s VDOC Op r tn P o e u e(OP' 8 . r q rsa imaewhowa t t rc ie
l d.
e
e ai g r c d r ç ' 413.e uie n n t
ç )
n s o e ev
Com mon Fa et sgnt Gcomm o Fa e Ag ee nt'whih s t f t t r quie e sa
r o i he l
n r r me ,' c e s orh he e r m nt nd
pe li oft Comm o Fa epr a .Oner uie e ti t ta i t r evi Common
nates he
n r ogr m
eq r m n s ha n nma e ec i ng
Fa emus note tt non- m mon Fa ef s r e i t di ng hal a t pe te a e
r
t
a he
co
r ood e v d n he ni
l, nd he nali s r
t m por r s pe i nsf om Com m on Fa e.
e
a y us ns o r
r
On De mbe 9,201 t 1 c f nedt r vi Pl i ifsCo mon Fa e saus The
ce r
5, he CA orve
o e ew antf
m
r tt .
1 he d t tmony t tPl i ift ar ul r nonCA ar esi
ha antf ook eg a ,
comm o Fa etay o Thn gi ng.The
n r r n
nks vi
I de e ne a t e oft he rngt tPl i ifvi a e t tnnsoft Com mon Far
CA t nni d t he nd he a i ha antf olt d he e
he
e
Agr e e a r omm e d hi s pe i fo Comm o Fa ef sx mont .
e m nt nd ec
nde s us nson r m
n r or i
hs
Pl i iffl d a a m i sr tver que tf t c pli a utt r c mende
antf ie n d nitai e s onn o om a n bo he e om
d
s pe i Head itd t thet anonus nson.
m te ha
ook
comm o Fa e ta cli d t the ha E ve
n r r y, a me ha
dû r
ne
s g d norbe br e ed a
i ne
en i f bouta Co m on Fa e A gr e e Co r c ,' nd a gue t tt
ny m
r
e m nt nt a t' a r d ha he
f
oodson t tay a ar d t beKos r2 TheAs itntW a de sOfi sa d i r c ve on
he r ppe e o
he .
ssa
r n' fce t mpe t e ei d
Dec mbe 11 201 a s e whos sg mr i il gi er s nde t ts me da notng,
e r , 5, nd om one
e i na e s le bl e po d ha n
y, i
Sti myu d rtndngta y u aearg lrta whc i avo ai no t eg mmo Fae
ç s
l
n esa i h t o t e u a ry, ih s ilto f h co n rl
a e m e .' O n D e e be 11 201 Com bs a ove t I ' r om m e ton t s pe
gr e nt'
c m r , 5,
ppr d he CA S ec
nda i o us nd
Pl i if A lhoug Pl i i fa l ge t hi r m o lf om t Com m on Fa e di toc un'd on
a ntf . t
h a ntf le s hat s e va r he
r e c e
Dec mbe 11 201 i i c e rfom t r co d t ti t k plc o ye re rir
e r , 6, t s l a r he e r ha t oo a e ne a a le .
Pl i iffl d a ad i s r tve gre nc on D e m be 15,
a ntf ie n m ni t a i
i va e
ce r 2015, i adm i tng he a e
aga n
ti
t
t nonhe
com mon Fa em e la c am i t theha ne rsgne a Co mon Fa eAgr e e .
r a nd l i ng ha
d ve i d
m
r
e m nt
2A lhought f
t
he oodsale dl a a e t bet s eK os rf
lge y ppe r d o he am
he oodss v oh Com m onFa e Pli ifdi
er ed
r , antf d
nota s r heha a pe s nalknowl a whehe t ef on t r gulrtaywer ke Kos rlket
set
d ny r o
edge bout t r hos oods he e a r
e pt he i he
f
oodssor prpaed,a s r edon CommonFa e
t ed, e r nd e v
r.
2
Pl ntf a lge t the ha 'a s d Combs...hr
ai if le d ha
d tdvie
t ough ar q s t tlwa n' t ra
e ue t ha
s t mde ny
Con r c ,butCombssils pe d m ewih knowl .'The W RSP W a de dee
ta t
tl us nde
t
edge'
r n medt
he
gre ncef
i va
ounde be a e Pli ifha notsg aComm o Fa eAg ee e afe s tlng
d c us antf d
i ned
n r r m nt tr e ti
Cr wly v. l wavse a .No.7: 4- va e Holo
t 1,
1 c 0008 TheW a de no e Pli ifsr m e woul be
4.
r n t d a ntf' e dy
d
r ns a e e t Co m on Fa e.
ei t t m nt o m
r
On J nua y 4, 6, heI r co me d t tPl i ifber i t t d t Co mon Fa e
a r 201 t CA e m nde ha antf
e nsa e o m
r.
Pl i ifsgne a Common Fa eAgr e nt a Combsa ovedt I ' r c me ton on
antf i d
r
e me , nd
ppr
he CA S e om nda i
J nuar 1 201
a
y 4, 6.
II.
A.
Co sfldamoinf rs mma yj d me t ag i t a h i e t ldt q aiid
mb ie
to o u r u g n , r ung h t e s ni e o u lfe
t
i
mmuniy.Quai i
t
lied mmuniyper t Gg nz ntof il pef mi dicei y
t mis dove me fcas ror ng s rtonar
f ncins. .t b )s ile fo la iiyf rcvld ma e is f ra terc n u td e n t
u to . go e hed d r m ib l o ii n g s n o a s h i o d c o s o
t
vi aecla l e t bls saut r orconsiutonalrght ofwhih ar s bl pe s n woul
olt e ry s a ihed t t o y
tt i
i s
c ea ona e r o
d
h v k o ' Ha lw v. ta r l, 5 U. 8 0 8 8( 98 ) Onc ad fn a trie t
a e n wn. ro Fiz e ad 4 7 S. 0 , 1 1 2 . e ee d n as s he
'
q lfe i
ua ii d mmuniy de e e apl ntf be r t bur t s w t ta de e ntsc
t f ns , ai if a s he den o ho ha
f nda ' onduc
t
vo ae t ep an ifsrg t Br a tv Mu h 9 4 F.d 1 8 1 6( t Ci. 9 3 .
ilt d h litf ih . y n . t , 9 2 0 2, 08 4h r 1 9 )
A p ryi e tte t s mmayj dg n i t epe dng ,h ds ls dmae il o fl,
a t s n i d o u r u me t f h la i s te ico e tras n ie
l
a a afi viss
nd ny fda t how t tt ei no ge nediput a t a ma e i lf c .Fed. Ci P.
ha her s
nui s e s o ny t ra a t
R. v.
5 () Th mo i p ryh st b r e o s wig-Gh ti, it o tt t ed src c u t
6a . e vng a t a he ù d n f ho n t a s poni u o h itit o r t
ng
t tt r i an a e e ofe denc t s
ha he e s bs nc
vi e o uppor t nonm ovi pa t sc e' Ce otx Co p.v.
t he
ng ry' as .' l e
r
Cart 477U. 31 325( 986) l t movants ts st sbur n,he t non- ntmus
tet
S. 7,
1 . f he
aife hi de t n he mova
t
s tf t s c fc f t t de ons r t t e s e o a ge ne di put off c f t i . I a
e orh pe ii ac s hat m t a e he xit nce f
nui
s e a t or ral d. t
3
322- A c 'm a notr ol diputd f t,we g t e de ,orma dee mi tonsof
24. oul y
t
es ve s e ac s i h he vi nce
ke tr na i
ce iii Ruselv M ir d n Co .65F.d 1 2 ,1 3 ( t Ci.1 9 ) So e ev. r hv
r dblt
y. s l . co y e o , 3 2 9 2 9 4h r 9 5 ; sbe Mu p ,
797F. 1 1 ( hCi.1986 .l t d,aco ta ce sa t et e de oft no
2d 79, 82 4t r
) nsea
ur c pt s nz he vi nce he nm o ngpa t and r s vesa1 i e na c lcsa i er nc i t non- ovi pa t sf vor
vi
ry
e ol
1 nt r l onfi t nd nf e es n he
m ng ry' a .
Ch z o n g sd F a c v S t 5 7F.d4 6 41 ( t Ci.1 7 )
ab n a e e r n e . mi 9 2 0 , 4 4h r 9 9 .
h,
t a e i lf ct'a e t ef t ne es a y t e t bls t e e nt ofapa t sca eof
l t ra a s' r hos acs c s r o sa i h he l me s
M
ry' us
a to An e s nv Li e t Lo y I .4 7U. 2 2 2 ( 9 6 .A g n i ds t o
cin. d ro . b rv bb .nc, 7 S. 4 , 48 1 8 ) e une ipue f
m ae ilf te s si, nviwi t r c d a a1r a ona e i e e e dr wn t r fo i a
tra ac xit f i e ng he e or nd 1 e s bl nf r nc s a he e r m n
lg mos f a e t t noniht t avor bl o he
movi pary,ar as na ef tfnde c d r tu' ave ditf
ng t e o bl acr oul et n
r c or
t n n mo a t J .An ifrnc i d sn da ça c n l inr a h db c n ie igoh r
he o - v n . .
d
=
n ee e s e e s û q o cuso e c e y o sd rn te
g
f csa dd d igalgc l o e ue c fo t e ,'a dtth p o e so t ug tb wh c
a t n e ucn o ia c ns q n e r m h mgl' n l q e r c s f ho h y ih
l
o emo sfo e i e c t p o f' Blc sLa Dito ay (0h e . 01 ) s eEx r e Co .
n ve r m v d n e o r o . a k' w cin r 1 t d 2 4 ; e e c n p
'
v W a- a t tr s I .5 5F.d 1 1 1 29n. ( d. r 20 9 ( r a o a l ifrnc i
. lM r S o e .nc, 7 3 3 2, 3 5 Fe Ci. 0 ) t e s n b e n ee e s
W
ï
o et a i plusbl a t a fo lg c lyfo tefcsalg d . .) Plitf, st en n
n h t s a i e nd h t l ws o ial r m h a t l e . .' . anif a h o e
'
m ovi pa t i e il d t t be ftofr as bl i e e est tm a be d a fom t
ng ry, s ntte o he ne i e ona e nf r nc ha y
r wn r he
e de ;howe r s ul ton i no pe s i e Thepas a fom onepr ii t a t r
vi nce
ve , pec ai s t nnisbl .
s ge r
oposton o no he
mu tb l gc lyc mpelda dç n n tb mee. .nuio )o g e sn ' Po pel Ciyo
s e o ial o le n l n o e r . it t nl r u sig. p lv. t f
c
i
'
Sa Dia ,1 9F.d 9 , 5 (t Ci.1 9 ) Th s teça o l gc' rw t ln S ewe n
n e o 4 3 51 9 4 9h r 9 8 . u ,h s ws f o i'd a he ie t t e
l
b
ar a o a l if rn et a ma p r s il b d a b aj r fo b scfcsi e i e c a d
e s n b e n e e c h t y emisby e r wn y u y r m a i a t n v d n e n
a i per i s bl s c a i n. I
n m m s i e pe ul to ' d.
'
Pl ntf f l t s a e s ii f c st tdem ons r t t exi t e ofa ge ne diput of
ai i f ais o t t pec f c a t ha
t a e he s enc
nui
s e
fc f rtil a dc n e u nl Co i e tte t q aiidi miya dml r j d me t
a t o ra, n o s q e ty, mbs s n ild o u l e mmt t n mmay u g n .
f
4
OnN o mbe 15,
ve r 2016, hec te e e aNotc afe Combsfld hi m o i f sl a y
t our ntr d
i e tr
ie s ton or lmm r
j g n .Th Noier a i pet e t r:
ud me t e tc e d n ri n pa t
n
The Co r wi gv P an ift ny-n ( )d y fo te d t o t s
u t l ie litf we t o e 21 a s r m h ae f hi
l
Notc t s
i e o ubmi a f t r comt ra fda t or ot r r e n e de e
t ny ' he t e - fi vis
ur
he elva t vi nc
con r di tng, e ani or a di De e nts e de e. I Pl ntf
ta ci
xpl i ng
voi ng f nda ' vi nc
f ai if
does not r s
e pond t De e nts pladi , t Cou t wil as l e t t
o f nda ' e ngs he
r l sl ha
m
Pl ntf ha l ti e e ti t ca e,a o t tPl i ifag ee wih wha
ai if s os ntr s n he s nd/ r ha antf r s t
t
t eDee a tsae i t errs o i pla i t) l Plitf wih st
h fnd n tts n h i e p nsve e dng s. f anif s e o
co i
ntnue wih t ca e i i nec s ar t t Pli tf r s nd i a
t he s , t s
e s y ha a n if e po
n n
a o it f s o ... Howe r i Pli tf doe notEl s
ppr pra e a hi n.
ve , f a n if s
e ome r s ns
e po e
wihi t t nt ne( )day pei t Cour ma dimist c s fr
t n he we po 21
rod,he
t y s s he a e o
f l et pr e ut
aiur o os c e.
Pl ntf ha notr s
ai if s
e pondedi a a opraef hi n t c r dit e an, a d Def nda '
n n ppr it as o o onta c , xpl i or voi
e nts
e de e,de pier c vi t e i tnotc a a e e i oftm et do s Ac r ngl
vi nc
s t e ei ng he xplci ie nd n xt nson i o
o. co di y,
t c tfnds i a or ncewih t N o i ,t tPl i ifa ee wih De e ntssae e s
he our i , n cc da
t he tce ha antf gr s t f nda ' tt m nt
oft c e.3
he as
B.
A n i a e sFis A m e e r ghtt t f e e r s ofr lgi m us be ba a e w ih
nm t ' r t
ndm nt i o he r e xe ci e e i on
t
l nc d t
prs
ions'i tt i lne dsofs c iy,dicplne, nd g r la nita i O'
nsiutona e
e urt s i i a ene a dmi sr ton. Lonev. tt
Esae
o S a a z 48 U. 3 2 3 8 4 ( 9 7 .Th s ac re to a rg lto o ma a e n
f h b z , 2 S. 4 , 4 - 9 1 8 ) u , o rcin l e u ain r n g me t
de son t ts t nta l bur nsa i a e sc tt tonalrghti vai i i i r s bl
cii ha ubsa ily de n nm t ' onsiu i
i s ld f t s ea ona y
r ltdt lgtmaepe oo ia itr ss Lo ea ev. e 4 2F.d1 4,1 9(t Ci. 0 6 .
eae o e ii t n lg c l nee t. v lc Le , 7 3 7 9 4h r 2 0 )
N otbl ac r c i lofi i lvi aest tFis Ame m e rg onl by i t ntona ,a not
a y, or e tona fc a olt ha r t
nd nt iht y
n e i l nd
ne i nt c
glge , onduc . I a 201
t d. t .
Pl ntf doe no pr s nte de fom whih t i e Co bsi en i l s
ai if s t e e vi nce r
c o nf r m nt tonaly ough t
to
i e f r w ih Pl i i fsr lgi e r i e a e a r as na e a l tm a e pe ogi a
nt r e e t a ntf e i ous xe c s bs nt e o bl nd egii t nol c l
3Thec r notst t c pli i notv ii . Se . ..W iimsv Grfi, 5 F.d8 0 8 3( h
ou t e hat he om ant s
erfed e ea, l a . ifn 9 2 2 2 2 4t
l
Ci.1 91.
r 9 )
5
i t r t Pli ifa lged i hi gre nc t tCom bskne o t da hea ove Pl i ifs
n e es. antf le
n s iva e ha
w n he y
ppr d antf'
s pe i fom Com mon Fa et tPl ntf d ne rsg aComm on Far Agr e e .The
us nson r
r ha ai ifha ve i ned
e e m nt
unco r re e de e e t bls st tPl i ifa eanonntove td vi nc sa ihe ha antf t
comm o Fa etay, heI
n r r t CA
r omm e d Pl i ifbes pe d fom Com mon Fa ei a c da ewih OP 8 3 f e tng
ec
nde antf
us nde r
r n c or nc t
41. or a i
t tta a Combsa ove t r c
ha r y, nd
ppr d he e omm e ton bas on Pl ntY sad it c umpton
nda i
ed
ai i
m ted ons
i
oft tta Alo,Combsa r t theçha no knowldget ta Comm o Fa eAg ee ntwa
ha r y. s
ve s ha
s d
e
ha
n r r me
s
no o ûl f r( anit a trh wa a p o e t rc ieCo nFaei 2 4. Ev n
t n e o Pli tf fe e s p r v d o e ev mmo r n 01 ' e
l
'
i e ng i Pl i i sf vort tCombssgne t r ques f m o Dec m be 11 201 not ng
nf ni n antY a ha
i d he e t or n
e r , 5, hi
i hi r s
n s e pons a
e boutPl i ife tng anonantf a i
comm on Fa eta c e t sadiput ofma e i lf t
r r y rae
s e
t ra ac .
Pl i iff ulsCombsf rno c ki wheherPl i ifha a Co mon Fa e Agr me
antf a t
o t hec ng
t
antf d
m
r
ee nt
on fl bef ea ovi t I ' r c me ton,a i e t VDOC' polc a c t
ie or ppr ng he CA S e om nda i nd nde d,he
S i y nd usom
r r d i t st sgn a Common Fa eAgr e e be o er cevi Comm o Fa e. Ho ve ,
equie nma e o i
r
e m nt f r e i ng
n r
we r
Gsmpl ne i nce t l s c mon de
ti e glge , he owe t om
nomi t ofc t m a y t tla lt doesnots fc
naor uso r or i biiy,
ufi e
t mee t f ul r quie t' o aFis Am e
o
t he a t e r men 'f r r t
ndme vi ai n.Lo l e, F. a 19
nt olto
veac 472 3d t 4.
ç- heCo si to d e n tg rn e d ec r o tep r o saeo fcas la ii f r
çf
gl
n tt in o s o uaa te u ae n h at f tt fiil;ib ly o
u
t
ne i nty i lc e ha m i c t gorcal be a ht t es d'ofc tt i lpr t c i .
glge l nfit d r s a e i ly ne t he hr hol ' onsiutona o e tons
Cnt.ofSa r nt v.Le s 523U. 833,8 ( ) seas Pi v. se,52F. 73,77
y
came o
wi,
S.
49 1998 9 e lo nk Letr
3d
( hCi.1 )
4t r 995 .
Noa l ,çtheb r e . .sn t nteS aet p o et v ldt o p io r g lto s
tb y t l u d n . i o o h tt o r v he ai i f rs n e uain
g
y
Erma raldecsons butont prs rt dipr i.'Ove tn v. zet,539U. 1 ,
o nagei
ii )
he ione o s ove t' ro Baz ta
S. 26
l 2 ( ) Pli ifwholyf l t dipr t vai t oft r ultona horzngfra
3 2003 . antf
l ais o s ove he ldiy he eg ai ut ii o
tmpo ays pe i fom CommonFaef e tnganon- mmonFaeta Se L
e r r us nson r
r or ai
co
r ry. e ês
6
Furhe m or ,i i no diput d he et tt VDOC ha al gii t i e es i r gultngwhih
t r e t s t s e r ha he
s e tma e nt r t n e ai
c
imaema r c i Co nFae Se . ..Tu n rv. fe , 8 U. 78 8 - 0( 98 )
n t y e eve mmo r. e ec, r e Saly 4 2 S. , 99 1 7
( susi t f fcor t dee net r a o bl r ltont lgii t pe ogia
dic sng he our a t s o tnni he e s na e eai o e tmae nol c l
i eess.Ac r ngl t r i nodiput ofmaei fc,t r or c dnotla arto l
ntr t) co di y, hee s
s e
tral a t he ec d oul
e d aina
tiroff tt fnd i Pl i ifsf r a Combsi e il dt qua i i t t a s
re
ac o i n antf avo , nd
s ntte o lsed mm miy nd umm a y
r
'
J me .
udg nt
11
1.
Fo tef r g igr a o ,hec u t r nsCo s moinf rsl r ud me t
r h o e on e s ns t o r ga t mb ' to o l
mmayj g n .
EN TER : Thi
s
W
d yo Fe ray 2017.
a f bu r ,
'
+
2: ../.
. e
2
Unie St t Diti tJ
t d açs src udge
7
+
.
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?