Ball v. Commonwealth of Virginia et al

Filing 12

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief United States District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 12/23/2016. (tvt)

nlERK' OFFI U. DI COURT
S
CE S. ST.
AT Qr/HOKE,
Jk
VA
p! 7f '
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5

I TH E U N I
N
TED STATE S D I
STR I C O U RT
CT

2E2 23 2 1
g6

FOR TH E W ESTERN DI
STRI OF VI NI
CT
RGI A
R O AN O K E DI I O N
V SI
R EG I ALD BA LL,
N

JULI C i ' '' C'ERK
' ;- u /
BY:

CA SE N O .7:
16CV 00526

Pl ntf
ai if,

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

V.

COM M ONW EALTH OF VI
RGI A,
NI
E T M z,
.

By: G l E.C onr
en
ad
Chi fUni e St e D i t i Judge
e
t d at s s r ct

D efendant
s.

Pl i ifR e nal B a l a V i gila i a e pr ee ng pr K ,f l d t s ci lr g s ac i
a ntf gi d l,
r ri nm t oc di
o
ie hi vi i ht ton

under42U. C.j1
S.
983.I t c ant Bal alge t tc ranme soft medialsaf
n he ompli , l le s ha e ti mber he
c tf

o t eW e tr Vign aRe in lJ i (W VRJ' fie t p o d a p o raete t n f rhs
fh
sen r ii go a al $
t
' ald o r vie p r p it rame t o i
)
s
ympt
oms r lt t hi bl pr s ur Bal has alo fld a pl di tte G e i na y
e aed o gh ood e s e. l
s ie
ea ng ild G lmi r
pr

Ijmcin - REQUES FOR F ,
nt to
T
URIOUGH't a t c u tc n t zd a d d c td a amo in
' h t he o r o sn e n o kee s
to
f ritro u o y ij n tv rle .Th c u t o ld st a t i moin mu tb d n e a mo t
o n elc t r nu cie eif e o r c ncu e h t hs to s e e id s o
andt tt e ie a ton mus besl ma iy dimi s d f f itr t sa ea ca m .
ha he ntr c i
t lm rl s s e or alle o tt li

Bal alege t f l w i s que e of e nt r l t d t hi cl i s Bal i 34 ye s ol
l l s he olo ng e nc
ve s e a e o s a m .
ls
ar d

and t s pr s rpto media i r lt d t hi hit y of hi bl pr s ur Ar
ake e c i i n
c tons ea e o s sor
gh ood e s e. ound 8:
00
p. .o Aug t 1 2016,Ba las d ofi e st notf m e ca sa f Shathe was i pan,hi
m n
us 9,
l ke fc r o iy di l t f G
t
n i s

blo p e s r h d i ce s d a h wa s fei fo dz i s. ( mpl 3 ECF No.1)
o d r su e a n r a e , nd e s u frng r m izne s' Co . ,
'
.
A bout 8: p. . a m e c lt chni i n,A s e D oe,ani d a Ba ls hous ng uni t dit i e
30 m ,
di a e c a
hl y
ve t l '
i
t o s rbut
i a e ' da l m e c ton. Ba l t d D oe of hi s pt s a ga he a m e ca s r i
nm t s iy di a i
l ol
s ym om nd ve r
di l e v ce

r ue tf r . Be we n 9: a 9: p. . Ba lt d t foo ofi e t the wa f lng wor e
eq s o m
t e 00 nd 30 m , l ol he l r fc r ha
s eei
s
and ne de me c l a tnton. Abo t hour lt r t ofk e r pore t whe he ha
e d di a te i
ut wo
s a e , he f r e td hat
n
d

c le t m e ca uni a
al d he di l t boutBals c
l' ompl i s Nur e As e Ra s t d t ofiert t ç he
ant , s hl y ke ol he fc ha t
s

wa a r o ( l')h g b o d p e s r p o lms b two l n tte t( i ,a s e fl ta
s wa e f Ba1s ih l o rs u e r b e , u u d o r a hmj s h et h t
g e wa o y6 % c mpl n i tkn h sme iains' (d 3 4)
h ) s nl 3 o i t n a ig i dc to . I . - .
a
'
The ne da Aug t 20,2016,a 5: p. . a me be oft m e ca saf c c
xt y,
us
t 00 m ,
m r he di l t f he ked
Bals via sg . Att ttme,hi bl pr s ur m e s e 1 / 00. Ba lwas i e a e y
l' t l ins
ha i
s ood e s e a ur d 50 1
l
mm dit l
gi n Tylnol a Cl di
ve
e
nd oni ne. On Augus 25, M ega Ba fed, t W VRJ he lh s r i e
t
n ri l he
at e v c s
a rita ora itd t Ba lt tRa ss d ha s n and te t d hi o Augus 1 201
dmizsr t dm te o l ha ke houl ve ee
r ae m n
t 9, 6.
Ba fel a ke Ba lnott fl a co pl nta utt i i nt
r d s d l
o ie ny m ai bo he nc de .

l hi j1 compl ntBals st me c tc ca Ra s andBafed,a wela
n s 983
ai , l ue he dial e hniin, ke ,
ril s l s

t e Co n at o Vigna G re tCa giqSouins' a d a W vll mao ,Ama a
h mmo we 1 f r ii, û r c r sc lto , n
h
co
'
t jr
nd
Tr nt H e s e m one a y da a s
e .
e ks
t r m ge .
I
1.

F rt Balsspaaemoinf ri tro u o yij ncierle mu tb s mmaiyd n e
is, l' e rt to o ne lc tr nu t eif s e u rl e id.
v
I t smoton,Balas t be ta fr e G r W VRJt a media f clt nota s it d wih
n hi
i
l ks o r ns e r d t om
f
o
c l a iiy
s oca e t

teBt e u o Prs n (o r c i p o ra dne e sr me ia c r . ( o . ei Ij n .1
h l a f io s t l e eve r pe n c say dc l ae' M t Prlm. nu c ,
r
'
ECF No. ) Ther c r i dc t st a Balwa no ln e ic re ae a CVRJo oh r s
4.
e o d n iae h t l s o g r n ac r td t
r t e wie

s be tt t me ia c r o t e d f n a tW VRJ ofcas a t e t h fld t e i sa t
u j c o he dc l a é f h e e d n
fiil1 t h i e ie h n tn
me
mo in. Th rf r ,Balsmoi n f ritro uo y ij n tv r le a an tt s d f n a t i
to
ee oe l' to o n el c t r n u cie eif g is he e e e d n s s
mo ta dmus bed ne a s h S e ec, c ev. ae s 8 0F.d4 , 5 ( t Ci. 98 )
o n
t e id s uc . e , ..Ma e W tr , 1 2 51 4 2 4h r 1 7 ;
W ila v.Grfi 95 F. 820,823( h Ci.1 )
lims
itn, 2 2d
4t r 991.

1 Balhasalo na t Commo alh ofVigi aasa deenda . Howeve ,t Co m onweat i not
l
s med he
nwe t
r ni
f nt
r he m
1h s

a pesn sb ett si u e j1 8 . Se W i v.Mihc n De to Sae Poie 49lU. 5 ,71 (98 )
ro u jc o ut nd r 9 3 e l
l
c ia p' f tt lc,
S. 8
1 9
Ct li e aS aeno iso tcasa tn i t i of a c p cte aeCes n 'u de j 1 3'. Th r fr ,a1
l et r tt r t fiil cig n her f l a a iis r p ro s n r 98 .) eeoe 1
h
ki
,
camsa ans t sd fnd n mutb s mmai ds se . S e28U. C.j1 5 b()(e urn dimislo
li g i t hi ee a t s e u rl imis d e
y
S. 91 A( )1 rq iig s sa f
prsne cvlato o cam Ge k ig rdes 9o a g v mme tle tt up n fn n cam t b lg l
io r ii cin r li E e ln l e rs m o e n a n i
s
/' o idig li o e e al
y
fioo s.
rv lu)
2

11.
1

Un e 28U. C.j1 1 A()1,tec u ti rq je t rve pio e c rplit fr
dr
S. 9 5 b() h o r s e urd o e i' rsn r on ans o
w
compla e wih t bascnze ofpl di a durng t sr viw,m us eihe i ntf a c am
i nc t he i l s
ea ng, nd i hi e e
t t r de iy l i
i t c
n he ompli o whi r le m a be gr nt d ors ma iy dimi st c
ant n
ch ei f y
a e
um rl s s he ompli . A vi bl
a nt
a e
compl nt mus al ge ( nough f c s t sa e a cli t r i t t i plusbl on is f c '
ai
t le t
e
a t o tt
am o elef ha s a i e
t a e.
'

Gira tno v.J h o 5 F.d 2 8 3 2 ( t Ci.2 0 )( l At.Co .v Two y 5 0
a rna
o ns n, 21 3 9 , 0 4h r 0 8 Bel l p . mbl, 5
U. 544,570(
S.
2007)
.
To sae a c us of a to t r j1983,a pli if mus esa ih t t he has be n
tt a e
cin mde
antf
t tbls ha
e
de i d of rght g r nt e by t Co tt i or lws of t Unie Stt a t t t s
prve
i s ua a e d
he nsiuton
a
he
t d a es nd ha hi
de i ton r s td fom co uc c mit by ape s a tng unde col ofsa el w. W e t
prva i e ule r
nd t om ted
r on c i
r or t t a
s

v. ki ,487U. 42,48( 988) i elbe aei fee et a i t' srousmedialnee
At ns
S.
1 . o i r t ndif rnc o n nmaes e i
è
ds
co tt e c e a unus lpt s e unde t Ei h Am e
nsiut s nll nd
ua mihm nt
r he ght
ndme . J cks n v.Li hte
nt' a o
'
g s v,

7 F.d 1 0, 1 8 (t Ci.2 4 (iig Esel v Ga e 4 9 U. 9 , 1 5 ( 9 6 )
75 3 7 7 4h r 01 ) ctn tle . mbl, 2 S. 7 0 1 7 ).

Obe tv l t e imaes me ia c n iin mu tb Se iu ' i t e sns t a i G a b e
j ci ey, h n t ' d c l o dto
s e ç ro s' n h e e h t t t s e n
s
h
di gnos d by a physc a a m a tng te t ntor ...i s obvi us t te n a 1 y pe s n
a
e
i i n s ndai r a me
s o
o ha ve
a ro

wo l e sl rc n z t en c si f rad co ' al nin. 1 S be tvey,:fkil e ic
u d a i e og ie h e e st o o t rs te to ' d. u j ci l i t as vn e
y
y
'
o
dei r t i fe e by a tng i e i ly t de a orde t prs r a ce st ade t
lbe ae ndif r nce
ci nt ntona l o l y
ny he ione c s o qua e
m e c l c r o by i i a i t s known s rous m e c l ne ds' Sha pe v. So h
di a a e r
gnorng n nma e'
ei
di a e .'
r
ut

caoi De to Co rcins 6 F. p' 7 2 7 3(t Ci. 1 )( i to o te )
rl
na p . f re to , 21 Ap x 3 , 3 4 h r 20 5 ct ins mitd .
a
To pr de i r t i f e e e,Ba lm us s
ove lbe a e ndif r nc
l
t how t t t de e nt pr s ofi i lha
ha he f nda
i on fc a d
l c ua ...
t t l know l dge of bot t i a e' s rous m e ca c ton a t e es i r s
a
e
h he nm t s e i
di l ondii nd he xc s ve i k

pos by t ofkils(wnla ton ori ci ' J ks 775 F.d a 1 (ii Fn rv.
ed he t a' o
ci
na ton. ac on,
'
3 t 78 ctng nne

Brn a 5 1 U. 8 5 8 7 ( 9 4 ) Th s c mpo n r q rs p o fo itn be o d mee
e n n, 1 S. 2 , 3 1 9 ). i d ne t e uie r o f n e t y n
r

n g ie c ,er r i j d me t ia vetn o e sg t,o d s g e me t a o tt e p io rs
e lg n e ro s n u g n , n d re t v ri hs r ia re n s b u h rs ne '
te t n p a 1 Fu temo e Ga d ly i te t n ma c n ttt d l rt id fee ei
r ame t ln. d. rh r r ,t j ea n r ame t y o si e ei ae n ifrnc f
g
u
be

t d ly e a eb td t ij r o u n c sa i p o o e a i maesp i ' Sh pe 6 1 F.
he ea x c r ae he n u y r n e e srl r lng d n n t ' an. a , 2
y
'
Ap xa 7 4(t Ci. 01 )( u tn M c wa v. lc 61 F.d6 6 6 0( t Ci. 01 ).
p' t 3 4h r 2 5 q o ig Go n Hu ik, 2 3 3 , 4 7h r 2 0 )
Bal' al ga i smpl do nots ppo ta fndi t ta oft def nda svi a e hi
ls le tons i y
u r i ng ha ny he e nt olt d s
c tt i l rght . On Augu t 1 a 20,201 no one i r d hi m e c l is . The
onsi ona i s
m
s 9 nd
6,
gno e s di a s ues
t c cin a t of e s r pore hi c pl nt t t medialuni. Ntre Rake m a a
e hni a nd he fc r e td s om ai s o he
c
t
ls
s de

me ia j d me tta Balsc n i o dd n tprs n a sro sme ia n e f ri d ae
dc l u g n h t l' o dt n i o e e t e iu d c l e d o mme it
i
a tnton r a e t hi bl pr s u e bas on her knowldge t t he r ceved m e c ton
te i elt d o s ood e s r , ed
e
ha
e i
dia i
r ulry a s ei di no f lt ne t t ke i.By t ne afe noon,howe r Bals
eg a l nd om tmes d t ee he ed o a t
he xt tr
ve , l'
c to wasas e s d a te t
ondii n
s s e nd r aed.Balsal ga i a s f i t de
l' le tons lo a l o monsr t t tt b ifdea
ta e ha he re ly
of te t e f l s t n o da e e bae hi co ton o t thi s m pt m s wor e
r am nt or e s ha ne y xac r t d s ndii r ha s y o
s ned.
M os i
t mpora ty,Ba ldoe notsa e f c s s
tn l
l
s
t t a t howi t thi c ton a a tm e d i t t
ng ha s ondii t ny i
urng ha
pe i c tt ed a s rousm e c lne d r quii dif e te t nton a dif r tme t bl
rod onsiut
ei
di a e e rng fer nt r a me
fe ent i a e
t n he r c i d. As s h,hi al ga i do notsae a cli t thi c ls ofm e c lc r
ha
e e ve
uc
s le tons
tt
am ha s otr e
di a a e

v oae h sc n t uina rg t.Ac o dn l t ec u twilds s tec s wi o tp eu ie
i ltd i o si to l ih s c r igy,h o r l imis h a e t u rj dc ,
t
h
pzs a t o j1 5 b)1, o f iu et saeacam.Ana p o raeo d rwil n e ti d y.
t u n t 91 A( ( ) fr al r o tt li
r
p r p it r e l e tr h s a
The Cl r i dieqe t s c es oft s me or ndum o ni a a c pa ng
e k s r t d o end opi
hi m a
pi on nd c om nyi
o de t t pl ntf .
r r o he ai if

J dyo oee e
a r cmbr

Ex rsR : ' s . S
rhi 1

,

201
6.

ChifUnie St t sDititJ
e
d a e src udge

4