Lee v. Clarke

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief United States District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 6/28/2017. (tvt)

nlFRKS OFFI U. DI
CE S. SX
AT ROANOKE,
VA
FI
LED

I THE UNI
N
TED STATES DI
STRI CO URT
CT
FOR THE W ESTERN DI
STRI OF W RGI A
CT
NI
ROANOKE DI SI
W ON
W I A M H EN R Y LEE,
LLI

J 28 2 1
Ld
27
JULI ' 'D
A BY:

CA SE N O .7: 6CV 00413
1

Pett oner,
ii

M EM O M N D U M O PI I N
N O

H A R O LD CLA R K E,D I EC TO R
R

By: H on.G l E.Conr
en
ad
Chi U ni e St e D i t i tJudge
ef t d at s s r c

R e po nt
s nde .

W iln He y Lee a Vigi a i ae pr e di pr K ,fld t speii f a m i of
lim m.
,
r ni nm t oc e ng o
ie hi tton or
t

ha sc pus ptrua t 28U. C.j2254,c le ng t vai t ofhi c me nto a
bea or , ls nt o
S.
halngi he ldiy
s onf me n

2 2j d me tb t ePityv ni Comt Cic i Co r. Re po e tfld amo in t d s s
01 u g n y h ts la a t y r ut u t s nd n ie
to o imis
ii
hi
t s i or s ii l
e
he ec d h
Le ' j2254 petton,and t sm ater i rpe f diposton. Upon reviw oft r or , t e
es
c tgr nt r ponde ' motont dimi st pe ii a un i ey andpr e aly def ule
our a s es
nts i o s s he tton s tm l
oc dur l
a t d.
1
.

Fac ualand Proc dur Bac
t
e al kzro
und

OnJ n 4 2 2 t Pts la i Co t Cic i Co r e trdj d me tc n itngLe
u e , 01 ,he ityv n a uny rut u t ne e u g n o vci
e
oft e co t off l drvi a trbe ng de a ed aha t ofe r s c ofe e ddvi
hr e un s e ony i ng fe i
clr
biual f nde , e ond f ns ,
ng
unde t i l nc ,t r ofe e i fveyea s a r f a t s bmi t t si f bl aco ,
r he nfue e hid f ns n i
r , nd e us l o u t o e tng or ood l hol
sc
e ond ofe e On M a 30,201 Le wa s n e d t f ure ye s a sx m ont of
f ns .
y
2, e s e t nce o o ten ar nd i
hs

i rs n n wihnney a ss s n e ( s No . 20 0 3 , 20 01 3 CR1 0 01 4,
mp io me t t i e r u pe d d. Ca e s CR1 0 0 7 CR1 0 1 , 2 0 1
CR1
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1 Th c utn tte Le o rs o d n' moin a rq ied by Ros bor v. Gars n 5 F.d3 9 (t
e o
e o r oi d e f ep n e ts t s e ur
i
o
rio , 28 2 0 4h

Ci 1 7 )a dwan dLe t tud n mih b g a tdfrters o d n i h ddno rs ndt t moinb
n 9 5 n r e e haj gme t g t e rne o h ep n e t f e i t epo o he to y
flng afi t orot r doc nt t c r ditr po nts e denc ort ot wie ex an hi cli . Le
ii tdavis
he
ume s o onta c es nde ' vi e o her s pli s ams
e
ne rr ponded. Howe r t tme alote f hi r s e hase r d,ma ng t materrpe f t c
ve es
ve , he i
l td or s e pons
xpie
ki he t i or he omfs
co i r ton.
nsde ai

.

0n a
ppea,Le c le d hi convitonson t s fcincy oft e de e t t Cour
l e ha lnge s
ci
he uf e
he vi nc o he
t

o Ap e l o Vigni.Th a pelt c u t e e t a pe lo De e e 6 2 2 ( d r Le
f p as f r i a e p lae o r d nid he p a n c mb r , 01 , Or e, e
v.Commonwe 1h ofVa.Re r No.1 1 3,( .Ct App.De 6,201 ,a Leedi not
at
, co d
063- 2- Va .
c.
2) nd
d
a a f rhe .
ppe l u t r
On Se e r21,2015,Lee fl d a pe ii f a m ' ofha a c pus i t Supr
pt mbe
ie
tton or
i
t
be s or
n he
eme
Co tofVigi a a s ri t f l ng c am sf rr i f
ur
r ni , s e tng he olowi l i o ele :
Co e f ie t c ac,i e v e o s
uns l al d o ont t ntr i w r ubpoe a ai wines .
na n lbi t s

Comslc lu e wi t eCo n at sAto n ya dtilud e
t e o ld d t h mmo we lh' tr e n ra j g .
h
3. Thetilud efie t b b t i a t l n d sn ee td
ra j g ald o e oh mp ri a d iitr se .
a
4. Couns lil galy a ndo d Le on a a .
e le l ba ne e
ppe l

Thep tto wa ds se a t i l p ru n t Vign aCo e j8015 ( ( ) a d
eiin s imis d s mtmey u s a t o r ii d . - 4 A)2 , n
t eS p e Co r o Vigni d nidrhe rn o Fe r ay4, 6 ( d r Le v Clr . r
h u r me u t f r i a e e e ai g n b u r 201 . Or e, e . ake Di.
De t o Cor o Va, c r No. 51 41 ( . c 2 2 5)
p'. f r. f .Re o d 1 4 , Va De . , 01 ).
On Se e r2,201 Le fldt i tntj2254peii Le sgr
ptmbe
6, e ie he nsa
tton. e' oundsf flngt s
or ii hi
pe ii a e a f l :
tton r s olows
Cl i 1 Cot e f ie t i tga ea s
am : ms l al d o nvesi t nd ubpoe ke albiwine st t tf a ti l
na y i
t s o esiy t ra .
Cl m 2: Couns lcolude wih t pr ec or
ai
e l d t he os ut .

Cl i 3:Couns lf l d t pr ry a s a de e Le
am
e aie o ope l dvie nd f nd e.
Res
ponde has fl d a m o i t dimis a gu ng t tLe s cai s a e untm e y fld
nt
ie
ton o s s , r i ha e' l m r
i l ie
a sm ula ous y e us e a de a t d.The c ta ee ,a e ai d be ow .
nd i t ne l xha t d nd f ule
our gr s s xpl ne l

2

I.
I

D i c s on
s us i

A . Ti elness
m i

Un e t An i ro im a dEfe tv De t Pe at Ac CW EDPA',ao - e rsaue
d r he tt r rs n fcie ah n ly t
e
' ney a tt t
)
o lmiain a pl swh n ap ro i c so y p ru n t aj g n o a saec ur flsa
f i tto s p i
e e e s n n u t d u s a t o ud me t f tt o t ie
fd r l eiinf ram i o ha e sc r us 28U. C. 2 44 d ()A- , l 3 c o t eRuls
e e a p tto o
t f b a op .
S. j 2 ( )1 ( D) Ru e () f h
e
Gove ngj2254Pr ee ngs2 Ge r ly, t speid be nst nm fom t daeonwhiht
mi
oc di . ne a l hi ro gi o
r he t
c he

j g n o c n cin b c me fn lwh n t ea alblt o dr c rviw i e h use . S e
ud me t f o vito e o s i a, e h v ia ii f ie t e e s x a td e
y
2 U. C.j2 4 ( )1 ( . Ho v r t e tme d dn wlc a t r pel sld'sae h b a
8 S.
2 4 d ( )A)
we e , h i u g l h t o ry e ' tt a e s
i
p

peiini p n i i no c u tdtwad tel tt n p ro .2 U. C. 2 4 d ()
tto s e dng s t o n e o r s h i ai s e id 8 S. j 2 4()2 .
mi o
Le ' pei o i ce ry t i l t r j2 4 ( )1( . Die t r v e o h s
es tt n s la l mtmey mde
i
2 4 d ( )A)
r c e iw f i
c ci concude a hi f de a habe tme coc be n t r o J nua y 7,201 t ry
onvi tons
l d, nd s e r l
as i l k ga o un, n a r
3, hit

d y atrt e Couto Ap e l o Vigra d n e l sa p a 9o j d me to De e e 6
a s fe h t' f p as f r il e id l p e l m u g n n c mb r ,
i
i

2 2 S e S p. . . e5 6 (lo ng3 d y fo d t o j d me tt n t a a pe l.
01 . e u Ct Va Rul A: alwi 0 a s r m ae f u g n o oe n p a)
Leet n fld a sa e ha a peii n i t Supr m e Co tofVigi a on Se e r21 201
he ie
tt be s tto n he
e
ur
r ni
pt mbe , 5.

Th sae h be s c u td s se Le ' cam a u tmey p ru n t Vign a Co e j 801
e tt a a o r imis d es li s ni l , u s a t o r ii d
.6 4 A)2 . Be a s t saeh be s c u tf u d Le ' pei o t b u tmey a d t ee o e
5 ( () c u e he tt a a o r o n e s t in o e ni l, n h rf r
t
2 Un e j2 4 ( )1, teo ey a p ro o l tto frfl gah b a p tto u de j2 5 b gist
d r 2 4 d() h n -e r eid f i ain o ii
mi
n a e s eiin n r 2 4 e n o
l n o t lts off rdae
' n he ae t ou ts:
u

( ted t o whc tej d me tbe a tn l y tec n lso ofdrc rve o
A) h ae n ih h u g n c me i a b h o cu in ie t e iw r
t e rton oft tmef s e ng s h r ew;
he xpia i
he i or e ki uc evi

( ted t o whihtei e i n t fl g a a piaince tdb Saea to i
B) h ae n c h mp dme t o ii n p l to rae y tt cin n
n
c
vi aton of t Consiuton or lws of t lnie Stt i rmoved,i t a i nt was
ol i
he
tt i
a
he l td aes s e
f he pplca
pr ntd fom flng bys Stt a i
eve e r ii
uch ae cton;

( te d t o whc tec ntmto lrg tas re wa iiil rc nz d b te
C) h ae n ih h o si ina ih setd s ntal eog ie y h
y
Supr me Cot i t rght ha be ne y r ognied by t Supr me Co t and made
e
ut f he i
s en wl ec z
he
e
ur
rtoa i y a iabl t c e on colaer rvi or
er ctvel pplc e o as s
lt al e ew;

( ted t o whc tefcu lpe iaeo tecam o camsp ee tdc udha e
D) h ae n ih h a ta rdct f h li r li rsne o l v
bee dic e tlought e r ieofduedii e.
n s overd lr
he xe cs
lgenc

3

i ope l fl t slng a pe nc of t pe ii di nott lt f de alflng pe i
mpr ry ied, he i nd nde y
he tton d
ol he e r ii
rod

unde j2244( ( . Mor ove,unde j2244( ( )A) Le sone- a flng pe e rd on
r
d)2)
e r
r
d)1( , e'
ye r ii dod xpie
J nua y 7,201 mor t n t yea sbe or he fl t i t ntf r ha speii
a r
4, e ha wo r f e
ed he nsa ede al bea ttoh.

Le ha n t se tdt t i j2 5 p tto i t l l e t eohe t e s bscinso
e s o a sre ha h s 2 4 ei n s i y md r h t r hre u e to f
i
me
j2 4 ( a d,h s t c tr fn sn b ssf rs c ag me t.Le ' c s a dp tto don t
2 4 *, n t u ,he olt i d o a i o u h r u n s e s a e n eiin o
i iaeany saecrae i
mplc t
tt- e td mpedi ntt hi pr e ai oft c rntcai s ast ti j
me o s esntton he ure l m o o rgger
2244( ( )B) Hi c e as doe no i vean ne l l ofc tt tona 1w de lr i a
d)1 ( . s as lo s t nvol y w ' e onsiui l a caed n
u
r e l decded a r toa tve y a iabl decson oft Urie St t Supr me Cour,s as
ec nty i
nd e r c i l pplc e ii
he lt d aes
e
t o

t i v k j2 4 ( )1( . La t e e to g Le watd f rt ep ndn Vign aStt Ba
o n o e 2 4 d ( )C) sl v n h u h e ie o h e ig r ii ae r
y,
c
ompli t concude on J y 7,201 be or flng hi sa e ha a pe ii hi a t ne s
a nt o
l
ul
4 f e ii
s t t be s tton, s tor y'
m iconduc co d ha be n dicove e tlo h d dii nce be or t t dae,a doe not
s
t ul ve e s r d l ug ue lge
r
f e ha t nd
s

iV0 j 2 4 ( )1( . Ac o dn l ,Le ' fd r lh be s cam i tmeb re l ls he
n ke 2 4 d ( )D)3 c r ig y es e ea a a li s i - ard l e s
n
de onsr t t tt co ts ul e t bl t lt o - a sa u eoflmia i ,Rous v.Lee
m taes ha he ur ho d quia y ol he ne ye r t t t
i t tons
e
,

3 F. d 2 8 2 6( t Ci. 0 )
9 3 . 3 , 4 4h r 20 3 .
Lees e e tbl t lngba e on t tm epe i be we t da ehefld ac
e ks quia e oli
s d he i
rod t en he t
ie
ompli
ant
wih t Vigi a St t Ba a t da e t tt i si to c ude A pe ii ri ' nl
t he r ni ae r nd he t ha he nve tgai n oncl d.
ttone s o y
e il d t e tbl t lng i he de onsr t s bo h t t he has be dii nt i pu s ng hi
ntte o quia e oli f
m ta e t ha
en lge n r ui
s
rght a t ta e r or na y cr l t nceca e hi untmel flng.H ola v.Fl i 560
i s nd ha n xta di r iclmsa
us d s i y ii
lnd
orda,

U. 6 1 6 9( 01 ) ei v siain o teba c mpan wa pe dn bewe n Aug t2 3
S. 3 , 4 2 0 .Th n etg to f h r o lit s n ig t e
us 01
3 Ther cei oft Vigi aStt Barsdeer i tont c ms lha a ndone Le di no cha t
e pt he r ni a e ' t m nai hat ot e d ba
d e d t nge he
fct llnds pe ofhi c e. M uc e rir c elf ld t c
a ua a ca
s as
h a le , ouns aie o ommuniaet Le t hi peiin f appe wih
c t o e hat s tto or
al t
t Vigi a Cour ofAppe s wa de e on De mbe 6,201 AAe notr cevi any communiaton f r
he r ni
t
al s nid
ce r
2.
r
e i ng
c i o
mont ,Lee t n c ace t Pityl ni Coun y Cic tCo tClr s Ofke a r ei d no i on J y 1
hs
he ont td he ts va a
t rui ur e k' t nd ec ve tce
ul 2,
201 t tt peii wa de e Thus t dae ofJ y 7,201 ca
3 ha he tton s nid.
, he t
ul
4 nnotconsi et Gacualpr c t 'oft
tmt he f t
ediae' he
cai pr s nt when Lee ha ar dy dicove e t f c of c els a
l ms e e ed
d lea
s r d he a t
ouns ' bandonme a t tme he fld hi
nt t he i
ie s

c mpan t teVignaSaeBa.Se . ..Owe v Bo d 2 F. d3 6 3 9(t Ci. 0 )(( h tig ri
o lit o h r ii tt r e ea, ns . y , 35 3 5 , 5 7h r20 0 $T)e rg e n
1
j2 4 d()D)i (cu lo i ue )ds o eyo tecam' Tatll rdc ty n trc g iino tefcs lg l
2 4()1( s a ta r mp td ic v r f h li s fct p e iae' o e o nto f h at'e a
a
sg iia c .)
infc n e' .
'
4

a J y 201 a ye upo is c uson, je (j not f l a s a e ha as pe ii untl
nd ul
4, nd t n t oncl i 4 a e jd
ie
t t be
tton
i
Se e r21 201 Leedi notdii nty plruehi rght whe hea l d ne ry t eeyea s
pt mbe , 5.
d
lge l zs
si s
n
lowe a l hr
r
t e a e be we n hi c cton a flng hi s e ha as ca m,and t n ne ry a ye r a t r
o l ps t e s onvi i nd ii
s Gt be li
he a l
a fe
t tt fl hi un i ey f r lha aspe ii M o e r Lee make no s wi t the wa
ha o ie s tm l ede a be
tton. r ove ,
s
ho ng ha
s
t bl t fl hi sa eha aspe ii i medit l a trher c ved notc t tt pe ng ba
ma e o ie s t t be
tton m
a ey fe
e ei
ie ha he ndi
r
co pl ntha be n r s ve Acc di y,t pe ng ba c m pl i di notpr ve Le fom
m ai d e e ol d.
or ngl he ndi
r o ant d
e nt e r
tm ey s e ng f de a ha a r le , a t ,e t bl t lng doesnota y.
i l e ki e r l be s ei f nd hus quia e oli
ppl 5
Fort r a onssa e t c tco l
he e s
tt d, he our ncudest tt r po n ' m oton t dim ismus
ha he es nde ts i o s s
t

begrntd.Leefie t fl hi peii wihi t tmelmisma tdby j22444 a fis
a e
ald o ie s tton t n he i i t ndae
d) nd al
t de onsr t a gr
o m ta e ny ound o whih t lng i wa r nt d.An a oprae or r wilen e t s
n
c oli s ra e
ppr i t de l t r hi
da
y.
The Cl k i die t d t s c e oft s m e or ndum opi on a a companyi
er s r c e o end opi s
hi m a
ni nd c
ng
or rt pe ii ne .
de o tto r

ENTER:Thi 1 d yo Jme 2 7.
s h a f t , 01
ChifUnie St t sDititJ e
e
t d a e src udg

4 The Vigi a Stt Ba dei ed a ' blc r i nd wihout tr ' f c els f lle t
r ni ae r lver
t i eprma
pu
t
e ms' or ouns ' aitr o
communiat wih Le r r ng t sausofhi a lfom t Pityl ni Couny Cic tCour orhi f rher
c e t e egadi he tt
s ppea r he ts va a
t r ui
t
s ut
appelt optons
lae i .
s Nonehels , e i Le coul i
t e s ven f e
d nvokeequiabl t lng,hei notenttedt r i bec us hi cai a e
t e oli
s
il o elef a e s l ms r

?oe ual bre . A saepio e mute huthsa albesaerme iso dmo srt teasneo
rcdrl ard
y
tt rsn r s x as i vial tt e de r e ntae h be c r

lefcie eso s c rme isb fr se igfd rlh b a rlelse28U. C.j2 5 48, nd:tj b r e o
n fe t n s f u h e de eoe e kn e ea a e s eit e
v
S.
2 41 a .jj u d n f
( e
p o n ta acam i e ha se le wi teh be sp tto e ' Brad v Pret 1 4 F.d 61 ,61 (t Ci.
rvig h t li s x u td is t h a a eiin n' e r . ut, 3 3 5 9 4h r
h
1 9 ) Tome th e h u to rq ie n, p io rmuts e rviw o hi cam i tehg etsaec u t t
9 8.
e te x a sin e urme ta rsne s e k e e n s li n h ih s tt o r wi
h
j rs ito t rve i tr ù hete drc a p a o p s-o vcinpo e dng .S eBa e v Coc rm 2 0F.
uidcin o e iw t ho g i r ie t p e l r o tc n ito rc e i s e k r . roa 2
h
3 2 6 28 (t Ci.2 0 )(ing O' lv n v Bo rk l 5 6 U. 8 8 8 2 ( 9 9) Th lg lt o isa d
d 7 , 8 4h r 0 0 ct
i Sul a . ec e. 2 S. 3 , 4 1 9 ). e e a he re n
i
f t ale tonspr s nt i f r lco tmus bet s me a t e pr e e atlas onc t t hi tsat
acual lgai
e e ed n ede a ur
t he a s hos es ntd e t e o he ghes t e

c ut Ba r2 0F.da 28 (in Gryv Neh ra d 51 U..1 2 1 (9 6 Be a s Le flda u tmey
o r. ke, 2 3 t 8 ct g a ! teln , 8 S 5 , 61 1 9 :. cu e e i n n i l
i
e
saeh be sp tto ,te S p e Co r o Vignan v rh dteo p ru t t aj diaeo temei o te
tt a a eiin h u rme u t f r ii e e a h p o tni o du c t n h rt f h
y
s
cl m s M o eove ,Lee i ba r fom r sng t s m e cai s i a s co sae ha aspeiin now,pur ua t
ai . r r
s red r aii he a
l m n e nd tt be
tto
s nt o

Vi na Co e j 80l6 4( ( ) 80 - 5 ( ( . Ac odn l Le ' camsae smutn o sy e h use a d
r i d j . -5 A)2, .16 4B)2) c r igy, es li r i la e u l x a td n
gi
defule andt ,hei pr ed al bare fom f de al bea r if
a td,
hus s oc ur ly r d r e r ha s ele .

5