Armstrong v. McCracken

387 F. Supp. 289, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12258
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 14, 1974
DocketNo. 73-53
StatusPublished

This text of 387 F. Supp. 289 (Armstrong v. McCracken) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Armstrong v. McCracken, 387 F. Supp. 289, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12258 (E.D. Okla. 1974).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DAUGHERTY, Chief Judge.

Plaintiff, an inmate in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, has brought this action under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Defendants Leo McCracken, former Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and Park J. Anderson, former Warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, complaining that under color of State law said Defendants deprived Plaintiff of certain of his civil rights in connection with his confinement as a prisoner in said institution.

Plaintiff complains that he was placed in segregation without due process of law; was denied access to the Courts; [290]*290that certain of his personal property has been confiscated; that he was denied proper medical attention; that he was subjected to mace and tear gas and that his cell conditions were such as to amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

Plaintiff seeks $600,000.00 in damages against the Defendants, certain injunctive relief and the restoration of good time and work time credit lost through confinement in segregation.

Defendants have answered the Complaint denying the allegations thereof. The Court has conducted an evidentiary hearing. The State of Oklahoma has voluntarily produced the Plaintiff in open Court that he may testify regarding his complaints.

Under the evidence presented to the Court, the following findings of fact and conclusions of law and decisions are made herein:

(1) Plaintiff complains that on two occasions he was placed in segregation without due process of law. The Court finds however from the evidence that in each instance Plaintiff was notified of and knew the charges against him, was taken before the Prison Disciplinary Court, was present during the hearing, was given an opportunity to refute the charges against him, was found guilty in each instance, the first being theft and destruction of property, the second being the cursing of an officer and refusal to give his prison number. The Plaintiff testified with considerable uncertainty about a third confinement in segregation immediately following the second one above but the Court finds from the official prison records and from the evidence presented that no such immediate confinement in segregation took place. In this connection on February 6, 1970, the Prison Disciplinary Court found the Defendant guilty of theft and destruction of property and confined him to administrative segregation; on June 12, 1970 the Prison Disciplinary Court fo.und Plaintiff guilty of cursing an officer and refusing to give his prison number; Plaintiff was removed from segregation as a result of these two violations on December 16, 1971 but contrary to Plaintiff’s position he was not immediately placed back in segregation but on January 28, 1972 he was found guilty by the Prison Disciplinary Court and placed on punishment work gang detail for possession of and sniffing lacquer thinner. Plaintiff’s complaint of not being afforded due process is without merit as he was charged with rules infractions, was taken before the Prison Disciplinary Court, was advised of the charges against him and was given an opportunity to refute the same. This is shown by the official records of the prison and the Court finds such to be the true facts. In Adams v. Pate, 445 F.2d 105 (Seventh Cir. 1971) it is held:

“The usual institutional procedure is that prior to the imposition of confinement in segregation, the prisoner is to be taken before the Disciplinary Captain for a hearing and determination of guilt or innocence, and if found guilty to have him designate the punishment. It thus appears that the prisoner is confronted with the accusation against him and afforded a reasonable opportunity to deny the accusation or explain his actions. In the context of the nature of the administrative action here involved, this would appear to fairly and rationally satisfy the concept of procedural due process. Sostre v. McGinnis, supra [442 F.2d 178, Second Cir. 1971].”

In these circumstances Plaintiff’s request for restoration of good time and work time credits is denied as it is proper that they may be lost when undergoing punishment for prison misconduct.

(2) Plaintiff offered no evidence, though given the opportunity, as to his complaint of being denied access to the Courts.

(3) Plaintiff presented no evidence that either of the Defendants sued herein confiscated his personal property either directly or indirectly. In fact he could not name the person who took his property. It is the general rule that an official will not be liable in [291]*291a Civil Rights action unless he directly and personally participates in conduct under color of state law which deprives the plaintiff of rights, privileges, and immunities secured him by the Federal Constitution. Richardson v. Snow, 340 F.Supp. 1261 (D.Md.1972). It is an essential element of a Civil Rights claim that the particular defendant be personally involved in the alleged denial of the Constitutional right. Battle v. Lawson, 352 F.Supp. 156 (W.D.Okl.1972). Townes v. Swenson, 349 F.Supp. 1246 (W.D.Mo. 1972); Campbell v. Anderson, 335 F. Supp. 483 (D.Del.1971).

(4) Plaintiff’s complaint about receiving inadequate medical attention is based on his being gassed by a guard. The evidence reflects however that he was sent to the hospital, was examined, did see a doctor and no showing is made sufficient to indicate that either Defendant denied Plaintiff adequate medical care, or directed that he not receive medical care, or participated in any such denial. Moreover, the Court finds that as the Plaintiff did enter the hospital and was examined and treated by a doctor that he was furnished adequate medical care. The requirements of Coppinger v. Townsend, 398 F.2d 392 (Tenth Cir. 1968) are met under the evidence herein. Again, it is the general rule that an official will not be liable in a Civil Rights action unless he directly and personally participates in conduct under color of state law which deprives the plaintiff of rights, privileges, and immunities secured him by the Federal Constitution. Richardson v. Snow, supra. It is an essential element of a Civil Rights claim that the particular defendant be personally involved in the alleged denial of the Constitutional right. Battle v. Lawson, supra; Townes v. Swenson, supra; Campbell v. Anderson, supra. There is no evidence that the Defendants herein denied Plaintiff necessary medical care.

(5) Plaintiff presented no evidence that either Defendant sued herein for $600,000.00 in money damages either subjected him to mace or tear gas at anytime, or directed the same or in any way participated in such alleged violation of his civil rights. The evidence indicates that an officer by the name of A. J. Cox was involved in using either mace or tear gas on the Plaintiff and not the Defendants. The prison doctor testified that he made a recent medical examination of the Plaintiff and had him examined by an eye specialist and found no disability attributable to use of mace or tear gas. It was found that the Plaintiff is in need of corrective eye glasses and that such need is not related to Plaintiff’s complaints with reference to being subjected to mace and tear gas.

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Related

Richardson v. Snow
340 F. Supp. 1261 (D. Maryland, 1972)
Townes v. Swenson
349 F. Supp. 1246 (W.D. Missouri, 1972)
Campbell v. Anderson
335 F. Supp. 483 (D. Delaware, 1971)
Battle v. Lawson
352 F. Supp. 156 (W.D. Oklahoma, 1972)
Buszka v. Johnson
351 F. Supp. 771 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 1972)
Sostre v. McGinnis
442 F.2d 178 (Second Circuit, 1971)
Adams v. Pate
445 F.2d 105 (Seventh Circuit, 1971)

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Bluebook (online)
387 F. Supp. 289, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12258, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/armstrong-v-mccracken-oked-1974.