Bannister v. Ponte

609 F. Supp. 920, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19359
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedMay 30, 1985
DocketCiv. A. No. 83-0753-C
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 609 F. Supp. 920 (Bannister v. Ponte) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bannister v. Ponte, 609 F. Supp. 920, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19359 (D. Mass. 1985).

Opinion

[922]*922MEMORANDUM

CAFFREY, Chief Judge.

Plaintiff Albert Bannister, an inmate at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Walpole (“MCI Walpole”), has brought this action against several present and former employees of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (“DOC”) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The present defendants are Joseph Ponte (“Ponte”), Superintendent of MCI Walpole, Michael Corsini (“Corsini”), Unit Manager at Walpole, and the three members of a DOC disciplinary board. See 103 CMR § 430.13. The matter is now before the Court on the defendants’ motions for summary judgment.

There are three identifiable factual and legal issues before the Court: (1) whether the transfer of a prisoner in violation of state law is a cognizable injury under § 1983; (2) whether there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding acts or omissions by defendants Ponte and Corsini which would give rise to liability under § 1983; and (3) whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to any acts or omissions by the disciplinary board which would give rise to liability under § 1983.

The plaintiff’s amended complaint alleges certain facts, the substance of which is as follows. On August 24, 1982 the plaintiff was involved in an altercation with another inmate named Larrabee. Corrections Officers intervened, returning Bannister to the Middlesex I cell block, where he had been housed prior to the fight. On August 27, 1982, defendant Corsini informed the plaintiff that he was being moved to the Middlesex II cell block, where Larrabee was housed. The plaintiff objected to this move, telling Corsini that his life would be in substantial danger if he were moved to the block where Larrabee lived. Initially, Bannister was placed on “awaiting action” status in Middlesex II, which involved his being locked in a cell a substantial portion of each day. Allegedly, pertinent state regulations were violated in that no disciplinary report was filed until September 17, 1982, and no hearing was held until September 28, 1982. Meanwhile, the plaintiff repeatedly communicated his fears of retaliation to Corsini, and wrote a letter to Ponte about the situation.

At the disciplinary hearing, Bannister told defendant Ponte and the three members of the disciplinary board that he feared for his safety in Middlesex II because Larrabee had a reputation for assaultive and retaliatory behavior.

On September 29, 1982 Bannister was released from “awaiting action” status but remained in Middlesex II, allegedly in violation of DOC regulations and practice, and despite his protestations. On October 4, 1982, the plaintiff was assaulted in Middle-sex II by an inmate (later identified as Warren Masciemento) and suffered a wound to the head which required 14 stitches to close, left a permanent scar, and has caused very bad headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and damage to his sight.

The complaint purports to state claims for violation of Bannister’s rights under the State Department of Corrections Regulations and violation of his Federal Constitutional rights.

Violation of State Law

On the first issue, the plaintiff concedes that the transfer of a prisoner from one cell block to another, even if in violation of state law, is not an injury cognizable under § .1983. It is well established that § 1983 applies only where federal rights are violated. Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 146-147, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 2695-2696, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (1979). Accordingly, I rule that the defendants’ motion for summary judgment should be granted as to this portion of the complaint.

Section § 1983 Claims Against Ponte and Corsini

The second issue involves the question of defendants Ponte and Corsini’s liability under § 1983 for Bannister’s injury. Although there is generally no § 1983 remedy available against one who negligently fails to prevent injury at the hands of a third person, there is an exception where, by reason of an involuntary commit[923]*923ment to a prison or mental institution, the state places the plaintiff in peril. See Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30,103 S.Ct. 1625, 75 L.Ed.2d 632 (1983); Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 30, 102 S.Ct. 2452, 73 L.Ed.2d 28 (1982); Clark v. Taylor, 710 F.2d 4 (1st Cir.1983). A prison official is “liable for a failure to act that reflects a reckless or callous indifference to the ... safety of the prisoners in his charge.” Clark v. Taylor, 710 F.2d at 9; See also Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976).

The focus of the Court’s inquiry on a motion for summary judgment is therefore whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the defendants acted with reckless disregard or callous indifference to the plaintiff’s safety. In this analysis, I note that the discovery materials are replete with claims by Bannister that he notified both Ponte and Corsini that he was in danger in Middlesex II because he feared retaliation from Larrabee. Depositions from two other prisoners corroborate Bannister’s claim that he notified Ponte and further elaborate on the likelihood of retaliation by Larrabee or his associates.

In contrast, the depositions of defendants Ponte and Corsini indicate a lack of memory as to any such notification, and are silent as to any knowledge of the plaintiff’s peril.

When deciding a motion for summary judgment a Court must draw all inferences from the record favorably to the party opposing the motion. United States v. Die-bold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962). The record in this case is such that there is clearly a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the defendants were aware of Bannister’s peril. A jury could find that Ponte and Corsini transferred Bannister into a dangerous situation, kept him there despite his repeated pleas, and were on notice that his safety was at risk. Because the evidence, with all inferences drawn favorably to the plaintiff, would meet the “deliberate indifference” standard of Clark v. Taylor, I rule that summary judgment should not be granted on this issue in favor of Ponte and Corsini.

The defendants also argue that they are entitled to qualified good faith immunity. See Procunier v. Navarette, 434 U.S. 555, 561, 98 S.Ct. 855, 859, 55 L.Ed.2d 24 (1978); Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). The objective good faith standard propounded in Harlow would provide a defense for the Corsini and Ponte only if their conduct did not violate clearly established constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. 457 U.S. at 817-818, 102 S.Ct. at 2737-2738.

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Bluebook (online)
609 F. Supp. 920, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19359, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bannister-v-ponte-mad-1985.