Goodwin v. Gilbert

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon on 8/28/2017. (slt)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
ROANOKE DIVISION
ANDRE GOODWIN,
Plaintiff,

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v.
C. GILBERT,
Defendant.

Civil Action No. 7:16cv00336
By: Elizabeth K. Dillon
United States District Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Andre Goodwin, a Virginia inmate proceeding pro se, filed a civil rights action
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that defendant Lieutenant Gilbert denied him access to the
grievance process and failed to prevent other correctional officers from calling Goodwin racial
slurs and “other vulgar words,” and from kicking and banging on Goodwin’s door during
security checks.1 Upon review of his complaint, the court finds that Goodwin’s allegations fail
to state a claim against and, therefore, dismisses his claims against these defendants pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).
I. COMPLAINT
Goodwin alleges that on July 1, 2016, Lt. Gilbert refused to give him a grievance form.
Goodwin states that he needed a grievance form to complain that various correctional officers
had called him racial slurs and “other vulgar words,” and kicked and banged on his door during
security checks. Goodwin seeks to hold Lt. Gilbert responsible because he “failed to prevent”
the officers from doing this. Goodwin alleges that Lt. Gilbert and the officers have caused him
emotional distress, stress, and loss of sleep.
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The court notes that Goodwin also names Warden Barksdale as a defendant in the body of his amended
complaint but not in the caption, as required by Rule 10 of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure. However, even if
the court were to consider Goodwin’s complaint as against Warden Barksdale, he alleges no facts against or conduct
committed by the warden. Accordingly, the court will dismiss Goodwin’s complaint against Warden Barksdale
without prejudice. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42 (1988).

II. DISCUSSION
To state a claim for relief under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege facts indicating that
plaintiff has been deprived of rights guaranteed by the Constitution or laws of the United States
and that this deprivation resulted from conduct by a person acting under color of state law. West
v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48-49 (1988). A plaintiff must assert factual allegations that raise a right
to relief that is “plausible on its face,” not one that is speculative or merely “conceivable.” Bell
Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The court must dismiss an action or claim
filed by a prisoner against an employee of a governmental entity if the action or claim is
frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915A(b)(1). In this case, Goodwin’s allegations do not demonstrate the violation of any
federal right; thus, the court will dismiss the complaint without prejudice for failure to state a
claim.
A. Grievance Forms
To the extent Goodwin claims that Lt. Gilbert violated his federal rights by denying him a
grievance form, his claim fails because an inmate has no constitutional or other federal legal
right to participate in grievance proceedings. Adams v. Rice, 40 F.3d 72, 75 (4th Cir. 1994). The
court notes that Goodwin does not allege that Lt. Gilbert denied him the grievance form as a
means of retaliation. Accordingly, the court will dismiss this claim.
B. Verbal Threats/Harassment
To the extent Goodwin complains that officers verbally harassed him, his claim fails.
Verbal harassment or verbal abuse by prison officials in and of itself does not state a
constitutional deprivation under § 1983. Henslee v. Lewis, 153 F. App’x 178, 180 (4th Cir.
2005) (citing Collins v. Cundy, 603 F.2d 825, 827 (10th Cir. 1979)); Johnson v. Laham, 9 F.3d
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1543 (4th Cir. 1993). The Constitution does not “protect against all intrusions on one’s peace of
mind.” Pittsley v. Warish, 927 F.2d 3, 7 (1st Cir. 1991). Verbal harassment of an inmate, even
to an extent that it causes an inmate fear or emotional anxiety, does not constitute an invasion of
any identified liberty interest. Morrison v. Martin, 755 F. Supp. 683, 687 (E.D.N.C. 1990)
(finding that the threatening language of a prison official, even if true, does not amount to
constitutional violation); Keyes v. City of Albany, 594 F. Supp. 1147 (N.D.N.Y. 1984) (“[T]he
use of vile and abusive language [including racial epithets], no matter how abhorrent or
reprehensible, cannot form the basis for a § 1983 claim.”). Accordingly, the court will dismiss
this claim.
C. Supervisory Liability
To the extent Goodwin seeks to hold Lt. Gilbert responsible for the acts of “his officers,”
the claim fails. For supervisory prison officials to be held liable under § 1983 for constitutional
injuries inflicted by their subordinates, an inmate must state facts showing that: (1) the
supervisor had actual or constructive knowledge that his subordinate was engaged in conduct
that posed a “pervasive and unreasonable” risk of constitutional injury; (2) the supervisor’s
response to this knowledge was so inadequate as to show “deliberate indifference top or tacit
authorization” of the offensive practices; and (3) there was an “affirmative causal link” between
the supervisor’s inaction and the particular constitutional injury suffered. Shaw v. Stroud, 13
F.3d 791, 799 (4th Cir. 1994). Goodwin makes no such factual showing and cannot use labels
and conclusions to build actionable claims. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (“A
pleading that offers labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of
action will not do.”). Moreover, Goodwin has not demonstrated that his constitutional rights
were violated by the actions of which he complains. There can be no supervisory liability under
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§ 1983 without a viable constitutional claim at stake. Accordingly, the court will dismiss this
claim.
III. CONCLUSION
Finding that none of Goodwin’s allegations state a violation of a federal right, the court
will dismiss his complaint without prejudice for failure to state a claim, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915A(b)(1).
An appropriate order will be entered.
Entered: August 28, 2017.

/s/ Elizabeth K. Dillon
Elizabeth K. Dillon
United States District Judge

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