Bray v. Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections

CourtDistrict Court, D. Idaho
DecidedAugust 9, 2022
Docket4:21-cv-00458
StatusUnknown

This text of Bray v. Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (Bray v. Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Idaho primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bray v. Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, (D. Idaho 2022).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO

JEFFERY BRAY and MICHELLE BRAY, individually and as personal Case No. 4:21-cv-00458-DCN representatives of the ESTATE OF COLBY JAMES BRAY (DECEASED), MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER Plaintiff,

v.

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS; SKIP GREENE, an individual; SHAUNA KRESS RN, an individual; KELLY MEACHAM PA-C, an individual; LORI FULMER LPN, an individual; DEBORAH FULTON LPN, an individual; TERRISA PETERSON LPN, an individual; and JOHN DOES 1- X,

Defendants.

I. INTRODUCTION Pending before the Court are ten motions.1 Having reviewed the record and briefs, the Court finds that the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented. Accordingly,

1 Defendants Skip Greene and Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections’ (“IDJC”) First Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction, Insufficient Service, and Alternative Motion to Quash Attempted Service (“IDJC’s and Greene’s First Motion to Dismiss”) (Dkt. 5); IDJC’s Second Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction, Insufficient Service, and Alternative Motion to Quash Attempted Service (IDJC’s Second Motion to Dismiss”) (Dkt. 9); Plaintiffs’ Motion for Alternative Service (Dkt. 16); IDJC’s Third Motion to Dismiss for Insufficient Service of Process and Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (“IDJC’s Third Motion to Dismiss”) (Dkt. 17); Individual Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss for Insufficient Process, Insufficient Service of

(Continued) in the interest of avoiding delay, and because the Court finds that the decisional process would not be significantly aided by oral argument, the Court will decide the Motions without oral argument. Dist. Idaho Loc. Civ. R. 7.1(d)(1)(B).

II. BACKGROUND Colby James Bray was a resident at the Juvenile Corrections Center-St. Anthony, a facility owned and operated by the IDJC in Fremont County, Idaho. On the morning of November 21, 2019, Colby Bray began feeling several symptoms of an illness. His condition quickly deteriorated, and on November 24, Colby Bray was taken to Madison

Memorial hospital for further evaluation. His condition continued to worsen, and he passed away the next day.2 Colby Bray’s parents Jeffery and Michelle (the “Brays”), as his heirs and representatives of his estate, brought the instant lawsuit. They filed their complaint on November 24, 2021, a day before the two-year anniversary of Colby’s death.3 Notably, the

Brays previously filed a Notice of Claim with the Secretary of State of Idaho on March 20, 2020. Dkt. 17-3, at 5. This Notice notified the Secretary of State that Bearnson & Caldwell

Process, and Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (“Individual Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss”) (Dkt. 19); Plaintiffs’ Motion for Enlargement of Time to Effectuate Service Upon Defendants (“Motion for Enlargement of Time”) (Dkt. 21); Defendant Kelly Meacham, PA-C’s Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(2), 12(b)(5) (“Meacham’s Motion to Dismiss”) (Dkt. 32); Defendants’ Renewed Motion to Dismiss for Insufficient Process, Insufficient Service of Process and Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (“Individual Defendants’ and IDJC’s Renewed Motion to Dismiss”) (Dkt. 34); and two Renewed Motions to Dismiss filed by Individual Defendants (Dkts. 39, 40).

2 The preceding facts come from the Complaint (Dkt. 1).

3 IDJC claims that the statute of limitations expired on November 25, 2021. Dkt. 26, at 7. However, nothing in the record indicates Colby’s age at death or the impact, if any, of I. C. Section 5-230 on his claim if he is a minor. had been retained by the Brays, that damages would be no less than $750,000, and that the persons involved included Shauna Kress, Kelly Meacham, Lori Fulmer, Deborah Fulton, Terrisa Peterson, IDJC, and John and Jane Does. Dkt. 17-3, at 5–7. The Notice also

thoroughly detailed the circumstances of Colby Bray’s death. Id. A. Timeline of Efforts to Serve Process on IDJC The Brays’ lawsuit ran into several snags when they attempted to serve process on IDJC. On December 17, 2021, the Brays attempted to serve a summons on Skip Greene4 at his home. Dkt. 17-5, at 2. However, that summons did not list Greene’s name—it only

listed IDJC. Dkt. 17-5, at 7. The Brays did not file the return of service for the Summons served on Skip Greene. Dkt. 8, at 2. Greene’s counsel contacted the Brays’ counsel and informed them that the attempted service of process on Mr. Greene was insufficient. Dkt. 8, at 2. The Brays indicated that they had instructed the Fremont County Sheriff to serve the Summons on the IDJC facility in Saint Anthony and had not instructed the server to

serve Greene at his home. Dkt. 8, at 2. Consequently, “to avoid entry of default,” IDJC and Greene filed IDJC’s and Greene’s First Motion to Dismiss. Dkt. 17-5, at 2; see Dkt. 5. To remedy the issues with the Bray’s first attempt to serve IDJC, another summons was issued on December 30, 2021. Dkt. 4. This summons was again for IDJC alone and was sent c/o Lawrence G. Wasden, State of Idaho – Office of the Attorney General. Dkt.

17-2, at 21. Bray’s counsel hired the Ada County Sheriff’s Office to serve the summons. Dkt. 7. Marc Bowman, a Deputy Sherriff with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, served the

4 Defendant states that his correct name is “Arthur D. Greene.” Dkt. 17-1, at 2. Plaintiffs allege Greene “is the IDJC Superintendent for the Juvenile Corrections Center in Saint Anthony, Idaho.” Dkt. 1, at 2. summons on January 10, 2022. Id. at 1; Dkt. 17-2, at 3. The Sheriff’s Office certified that two copies were served upon the “Idaho Attorney General through Brian Kane (Chief Deputy Attorney General-Representative).” Dkt. 7, at 1. The address of the Idaho Attorney

General (which happens to be the Idaho State Capitol) was listed as 700 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 210, Boise, Idaho 83720. Id. To again avoid the risk of default, IDJC filed IDJC’s Second Motion to Dismiss. Dkt. 17-1, at 3; Dkt. 9. Yet another summons was issued for IDJC on February 14, 2022, in a third attempt to properly serve IDJC. Dkt. 17-2, at 5. Bray’s counsel once again emailed the Ada County

Sheriff’s Office and paid for service to be completed upon the Idaho Secretary of State this time, whose office is located at the Idaho State Capitol in Room E205. Bowman, the same Deputy Sheriff who served the January summons for IDJC, served the new summons four days later. Dkt. 14, at 1. When he arrived at the Idaho State Capitol, he went to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in Room 210, not the Idaho Secretary of State Office in Room

E205 that was listed on the summons. Dkt. 17-2, at 2, 5. The individuals working in the office “are authorized to handle summons and complaints which are served on the Attorney General.” Dkt. 17-2, at 2. They are not authorized to accept service on behalf of the Idaho Secretary of State. Bowman handed the summons to the process accepter, Kriss Bivens Cloyd, who “noted that it was addressed to the Idaho Secretary of State’s office, and

suggested to the process server that it should instead be served on the Secretary of State.” Dkt. 17-2, at 3. Bowman said that it was to be delivered to her office, so Cloyd accepted the summons using her standard procedures.5 Dkt. 17-2, at 3. When Bowman filled out the Affidavit of Service6 he testified that he served the summons with the Idaho Secretary of State Office through Brian Kane, who was listed as

a Chief Deputy-Representative on the document.7 Dkt. 14, at 1. The information about the Idaho Secretary of State Office, and the title of Brian Kane, was listed three times. Dkt. 14 at 1–3. The title “Attorney General” was never put on the Affidavit.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Bray v. Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bray-v-idaho-department-of-juvenile-corrections-idd-2022.