Opinion
03-CV-325F (Consent).
June 21, 2005
MARK A. SMITH, Plaintiff Pro Se Rhinebeck, New York.
ELIOT L. SPITZER ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF NEW YORK Attorney for Defendant MICHAEL A. SIRAGUSA, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, OF COUNSEL Buffalo, New York.
DECISION and ORDER
JURISDICTION
The parties have consented to proceed before the undersigned pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The matter is before the court on the Defendant's motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 25) filed April 27, 2004.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff commenced this action on April, 23, 2003 pursuant to Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming a violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments for alleged excessive use of force and a retaliatory misbehavior report (Docket No. 1). On May 22, 2003, Plaintiff was granted in forma pauperis status (Docket No. 3). On June 23, 2003, Defendants filed an Answer to the Complaint (Docket No. 4). Defendant moved for summary judgment on April 27, 2004, arguing that the force used against Plaintiff was de minimis and not excessive, that Defendant Donahue had no personal involvement in the alleged assault, and that Plaintiff's claim of retaliation is not constitutionally cognizable (Docket No. 25).
Plaintiff filed a response to the motion on May 26, 2004 (Docket Nos. 36-38). Oral argument was deemed unnecessary. For the following reasons, Defendant's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
FACTS
This factual statement is taken from the pleadings and papers filed in the action.
At the time of the alleged constitutional deprivations, Plaintiff was an inmate in the custody of the New York State Department of Correctional Services housed at the Southport Correctional Facility. Plaintiff alleges that on October 9, 2002 he testified at a disciplinary hearing before Lt. Donahue. Following his testimony, he was told to wait outside the hearing room for the disposition. Plaintiff alleges that, while waiting, he was grabbed from behind by Defendant Richards and pushed over a railing. Plaintiff was then stomped upon and kicked in the chest, stomach and face by Defendant Richards. Plaintiff further alleges that he filed a written complaint about the alleged assault and that, in retaliation for the complaint, Lt. Donahue filed a misbehavior report charging Plaintiff with making threats (Doc. No. 1).
In support of the motion for summary judgment, Defendants submitted a declaration of Defendant Richards in which Richards stated that he was present at Plaintiff's Tier III disciplinary hearing on October 9, 2002, but denied threatening Plaintiff with physical harm (Docket No. 28 ¶ 4). Defendant Richards stated that, following the hearing, he escorted Plaintiff into the hallway to await the disposition. Id. ¶ 5. Richards ordered Plaintiff to stand against the wall, but Plaintiff responded with profanity and attempted to run away. Id. ¶ 6. Richards stated that he grabbed Plaintiff by his waist chain, and that Plaintiff struggled with him. Richards further averred that other corrections staff arrived and they subdued Plaintiff. Id. ¶ 7. Plaintiff refused to stand, so the staff carried him to the shower area. Id. ¶ 8. Richards denied stomping, kicking, or punching Plaintiff. Id. ¶ 9.
In further support of the motion, Defendant submitted a declaration of Defendant Donahue (Doc. No. 29). Lt. Donahue stated that he conducted Plaintiff's disciplinary hearing on October 9, 2002. Id. ¶ 4. Following the hearing, Lt. Donahue directed Richards to escort Plaintiff to the hallway. Id. ¶ 5. Shortly thereafter, Lt. Donahue heard a commotion in the hallway, and observed Plaintiff struggling with Richards. Id. ¶ 6. Several other staff members arrived and assisted in restraining Plaintiff. Id. ¶ 7. Lt. Donahue stated that he did not fail to intervene in the alleged assault upon Plaintiff, because he witnessed no assault. Lt. Donahue stated that corrections staff used appropriate force "to quell the disturbance, to maintain discipline, to maintain order, to maintain security within the facility, and to protect themselves and others." Id. ¶ 9. Based on the incident, Plaintiff filed a grievance on October 10, 2002. Id. ¶ 11. In a letter to DOCS Commissioner Goord regarding the October 9, 2002 incident, Plaintiff stated: "Because I fear for my life and this administration has not taken my complaints seriously, I am left with no other choice but to assault whatever correction staff comes to get me out of my cell because I don't know if their intent is to hurt me." Id. Exh. A. Lt. Donahue then filed a misbehavior report against Plaintiff for his threats against staff in violation of DOCS rule 102.10. Id. ¶¶ 13, 16. Plaintiff was not disciplined for this letter, as the disciplinary hearing was not timely commenced. Id. ¶ 15.
Defendants also submitted a declaration of Connie L. DeMerritt, a registered nurse at Southport. Ms. DeMerritt examined Plaintiff in conformance with DOCS policy following the use of force incident on October 9, 2002. Plaintiff complained of lumbar back pain, but DeMerritt observed no visible swelling, redness or eccymosis (Doc. No. 30 ¶ 5). According to DeMerritt, Plaintiff had a small abrasion on his right wrist, and she advised him to keep it clean. Id. ¶ 6. However, Ms. DeMerritt observed no injuries consistent with Plaintiff's allegations that he was stomped on and kicked. Id., ¶ 10. Finally, Defendants offered a declaration of Paul Bryington, who took photographs of Plaintiff after the use of force incident (Doc. No. 31). The photographs are filed as Docket No. 32.
In opposition to Defendants' motion, Plaintiff stated that prior to the Tier III hearing on October 9, 2002, Defendants Richards and Donahue threatened him with physical harm (Docket No. 38 ¶ 4). Plaintiff stated that he was attacked without provocation by Defendant Richards and that Defendant Donahue observed the assault and refused to intervene. Id. ¶¶ 5-6. Plaintiff stated that he was dragged to the shower area, where defendant Richards stomped upon and kicked him. Id., ¶ 7. Finally, Plaintiff stated that neither Commissioner Goord, to whom the letter was written, nor his designee Wayne Wilhelm directed that Defendant Donahue file a misbehavior report regarding the letter. Id. ¶ 11.
DISCUSSION
1. Summary Judgment Standard
The standard of review on a motion for summary judgment is well established. Summary judgment will be granted if the "pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The burden of establishing that no genuine factual dispute exists rests on the party seeking summary judgment. See Chambers v. TRM Copy Ctrs. Corp., 43 F.3d 29, 36 (2d Cir. 1994). The movant may discharge this burden by demonstrating that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case on an issue on which the non-movant has the burden of proof. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323.
If the moving party meets its burden of demonstrating the absence of any genuine issue of material fact, the nonmoving party must come forward with "specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). The function of a district court in considering a summary judgment motion is not to resolve disputed issues of fact, but to determine whether there is a genuine issue to be tried. Gallo v. Prudential Residential Servs., 22 F.3d 1219, 1224 (2d Cir. 1994). In assessing the record, including any affidavits, exhibits, and other submissions, the court is required to resolve all ambiguities and to draw all factual inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986); Rattner v. Netburn, 930 F.3d 204, 209 (2d Cir. 1991). The nonmoving party may not rest upon unsubstantiated allegations, conclusory assertions or mere denials, but must set forth and establish specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). A metaphysical or other whimsical doubt concerning a material fact does not establish a genuine issue requiring trial. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 584 (1986). If there is any evidence in the record from any source from which a reasonable inference could be drawn in favor of the nonmoving party, summary judgment is improper. Chambers, 43 F.3d at 37.
2. Excessive Use of Force
Defendants do not dispute that force was used against Plaintiff during the October 9, 2002 incident, but contend that the force used against Plaintiff was de minimis and was part of a justified attempt to maintain discipline and security when Plaintiff refused to obey a direct order. Plaintiff contends that he was the victim of an unprovoked assault, and was stomped upon and kicked. Defendants also argue that Plaintiff suffered no injuries that would be consistent with an assault as described by Plaintiff, and thus Plaintiff has failed to raise an issue of fact.
The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from "cruel and unusual punishment" based on the "unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain" at the hands of prison officials. Romano v. Howarth, 998 F.2d 101, 104 (2d Cir. 1993). "A claim of cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment has two components — one subjective, focusing on the defendant's motive for his conduct, and the other objective, focusing on the conduct's effect." Sims v. Artuz, 230 F.3d 14, 20 (2d Cir. 2000).
To meet the objective standard for an excessive force claim, the plaintiff must establish that the deprivation alleged is sufficiently serious or harmful enough to reach constitutional dimensions. Romano v. Howarth, 998 F.2d at 105 (citing Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991)). In this regard, while a de minimis use of force will rarely suffice to state a constitutional claim, the plaintiff is not required to show that the application of force resulted in serious injury. Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992). As explained by the Supreme Court in Hudson:
That is not to say that every malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal cause of action. . . . The Eighth Amendment's prohibition of `cruel and unusual' punishments necessarily excludes from constitutional recognition de minimis uses of physical force, provided that the use of force is not of a sort `repugnant to the conscience of mankind.'Id. at 9-10 (citing Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d 1028, 1033 (2d Cir.) ("Not every push or shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of a judge's chambers, violates a prisoner's constitutional rights"), cert. denied sub nom. John v. Johnson, 414 U.S. 1033 (1973); Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 327 (1986)).
To meet the subjective requirement, the inmate must show that the prison officials involved "had a `wanton' state of mind when they were engaging in the alleged misconduct." Davidson v. Flynn, 32 F.3d 27, 30 (2d Cir. 1994) (citations omitted). "[I]n excessive force cases, the `wantonness' inquiry turns on `whether force was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.'" Blyden v. Mancusi, 186 F.3d 252, 262 (2d Cir. 1999) (quoting Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7). "[T]he extent of injury suffered by an inmate is one factor that may suggest `whether the use of force could plausibly have been thought necessary' in a particular situation, `or instead evinced such wantonness with respect to the unjustified infliction of harm as is tantamount to a knowing willingness that it occur.'" Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7 (quoting Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. at 321).
While plaintiff's injuries, lumbar back pain and an abrasion on his hand, do not appear to have been serious, the court finds a question of material fact exists regarding the circumstances under which Plaintiff sustained these injuries. See Corselli v. Coughlin, 842 F.2d 23, 26-27 (2d Cir. 1988) (even if injuries suffered were not permanent or severe, plaintiff may still recover if force used was unreasonable and excessive). As noted, Defendants admit that Plaintiff was subjected to the use of force, but contend that the use of force was de minimis, and thus justified. Plaintiff states that he was the victim of an unprovoked assault. Whether the proof will establish that Plaintiff's injuries resulted from an unprovoked attack or the measured and reasonable use of force presents a question of fact as to whether, under the circumstances presented, such force "was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore prison discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm." Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7; see also Gibbs v. MacKay, 2005 WL 735966, *6 (W.D.N.Y. March 31, 2005) (summary judgment denied where plaintiff alleged he was punched, kicked and rammed into the wall, while the officers suggested plaintiff's injuries resulted from his banging his head into the wall of his cell); Smith v. Marcellus, 917 F.Supp. 168, 173-74 (W.D.N.Y. 1995) (summary judgment denied where officers claimed they handcuffed plaintiff and walked him to his cell, while plaintiff claimed that the officers struck him with batons and a walkie-talkie and pushed plaintiff's head against the wall as they handcuffed him); see also Messina v. Mazzeo, 854 F.Supp. 116, 133-34 (E.D.N.Y. 1994) (issue of excessive force best left for jury if plaintiff establishes that force was used and some injury was sustained).
Additionally, Defendants contend that Defendant Donahue was not personally involved in the alleged assault upon Plaintiff, and so he must be dismissed from the case. It is well-settled in this Circuit that "personal involvement of defendants in alleged constitutional deprivations is a prerequisite to an award of damages under § 1983." Hernandez v. Keane, 341 F.3d 137, 144 (2d Cir. 2003) (quoting Moffitt v. Town of Brookfield, 950 F.2d 880, 885 (2d Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 125 S.Ct. 971 (2005). An officer is personally involved in the use of excessive force if he either: (1) directly participates in an assault; or (2) was present during the assault, yet failed to intercede on behalf of the victim even though he had a reasonable opportunity to do so. See Ricciuti v. New York City Transit Auth., 124 F.3d 123, 129 (2d Cir. 1997); Anderson v. Branen, 17 F.3d 552, 557 (2d Cir. 1994).
Here, Lt. Donahue stated that he heard a commotion in the hallway and observed Defendant Richards involved in a struggle with Plaintiff. Defendant Richards was then joined by other staff members who subdued Plaintiff. If the trier of fact should credit the Plaintiff's view of the evidence, that he was the victim of an unprovoked attack and that the use of force was excessive, there is also a question of fact whether Defendant Donahue had a reasonable opportunity to intervene. Accordingly, the motion for summary judgment as to the use of force claim is DENIED.
3. Retaliation
Plaintiff also alleges that Defendant Donahue, in retaliation for the filing of a grievance regarding the alleged assault, filed a misbehavior report against him. Defendants state that the misbehavior report was filed for Plaintiff's threats against staff in a letter to DOCS Commissioner Goord. In his letter, plaintiff wrote: "Because I fear for my life and this administration has not taken my complaints seriously, I am left with no other choice but to assault whatever correction staff comes to get me out of my cell because I don't know if their intent is to hurt me." (Doc. Item 29 Exh. A).
In order to state a prima facie claim under section 1983 for retaliatory conduct, a plaintiff must advance non-conclusory allegations establishing that (1) the conduct at issue was protected, (2) the defendants took adverse action against the plaintiff, and (3) there was a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse action — in other words, that the protected conduct was a "substantial or motivating factor" in the prison officials' decision to take action against the plaintiff. Mount Healthy City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 287 (1977); Dawes v. Walker, 239 F.3d 489, 492 (2d Cir. 2001), overruled on other grounds, Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506 (2002). If the plaintiff sustains this burden, the defendants must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they would have taken action against the plaintiff "even in the absence of the protected conduct." Mount Healthy, 429 U.S. at 287. If taken for both proper and improper reasons, state action may be upheld if the action would have been taken based on the proper reasons alone. Graham v. Henderson, 89 F.3d 75, 79 (2d Cir. 1996).
When an inmate alleges a claim of retaliation, courts are instructed to examine the claim with care. Prisoner's retaliation claims are "prone to abuse," and the Second Circuit insists on a higher level of detail in pleading. See Gill v. Mooney, 824 F.2d 192, 194 (2d Cir. 1987). "Mere conclusory allegations" are insufficient to withstand a motion for summary judgment, once the moving party has sustained its burden. Flaherty v. Coughlin, 713 F.2d 10, 13 (2d Cir. 1983).
Here, Plaintiff has failed to satisfy his burden of proving a prima facie case of retaliation. While the filing of a grievance is protected conduct, see Jones v. Coughlin, 45 F.3d 677, 679-80 (2d Cir. 1995) ("a prisoner has a substantive due process right not to be subjected to false misconduct charges as retaliation for his exercise of a constitutional right such as petitioning the government for redress of his grievances."); Lashley v. Wakefield, 367 F.Supp.2d 461, 466 n. 4 (W.D.N.Y. 2005), and Lt. Donahue served Plaintiff with a misbehavior report, no disciplinary action was taken against Plaintiff, as the Tier III hearing was not timely commenced pursuant to DOCS regulations. Additionally, Defendants have shown an independent reason for the misbehavior report aside from Plaintiff's grievance. Plaintiff does not deny that he wrote the letter in question to Commissioner Goord, and that the letter contains threats against corrections staff in violation of DOCS rules. Thus, the issuance of the misbehavior report would have been proper for this reason alone, and Plaintiff's retaliation claim therefore cannot survive. Accordingly, summary judgment is GRANTED with respect to Plaintiff's retaliation claim.
4. Qualified Immunity
Finally, Defendants argue that they are entitled to qualified immunity.
As a general rule, law enforcement officers "are entitled to qualified immunity if (1) their actions did not violate clearly established law, or (2) it was objectively reasonable for them to believe that their actions did not violate such law." Warren v. Keane, 196 F.3d 330, 332 (2d Cir. 1999) (citing Salim v. Proulx, 93 F.3d 86, 89 (2d Cir. 1996)); Oliveira v. Mayer, 23 F.3d 642, 648 (2d Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1076 (1995). Qualified immunity shields government officials performing discretionary functions from liability for damages "insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). Freedom from the use of excessive force is a clearly established constitutional right. The issue is whether it was objectively reasonable for the Defendants to believe that their acts did not violate Plaintiff's right to be free from the use of excessive force.
Here, as discussed, there is an issue of fact surrounding the circumstances of the alleged excessive force. Plaintiff maintains that he was the victim of an unprovoked attack and was stomped upon and kicked, while defendants maintain that the use of force was de minimis and justified to maintain order. These factual issues therefore also preclude summary judgment on the defense of qualified immunity.
CONCLUSION
The Defendants' motion for summary judgment is DENIED with respect to the excessive force claim, and GRANTED with respect to the retaliation claim (Docket No. 25). The parties are directed to appear for a conference on July 27, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. to set a schedule for trial of this matter. Plaintiff must contact the court with a telephone number where he can be reached.
SO ORDERED.