Brittingham v. Cpl. Nunn

CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedMay 12, 2020
Docket1:20-cv-00014
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
Brittingham v. Cpl. Nunn, (D. Del. 2020).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

MALACHI BRITTINGHAM, ) ) Plaintiff. ) ) v. ) C.A. No. 20-014 (MN) ) CPL. NUNN, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Malachi Brittingham, Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, Wilmington, Delaware. Pro Se Plaintiff.

May 12, 2020 Wilmington, Delaware N , U.S. District Judge: I. INTRODUCTION Plaintiff Malachi Brittingham(‘Plaintiff’), a pretrial detainee! at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, Delaware, filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.7 (D.I. 1). The Court considers Docket Items 1, 6, 10, 11, and 16 as the operative pleading.? Plaintiff appears pro se and has been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. (D.I. 15, 25). Plaintiff has also filed requests for counsel (D.I. 5, 8, 23), motions for injunctive relief (D.I. 7, 24), and motions to stay the proceedings (D.I. 9, 22, 27). The Court proceeds to review and screen the matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b) and § 1915A(a). II. BACKGROUND The Court liberally construes the operative pleading* as attempting to raise: (1) slander, harassment, and false report claims against Defendants Cpl. Nunn (“Nunn”), C/O Mansfield (“Mansfield”), and C/O Jones (‘Jones’); (2) sexual harassment claims against Mansfield: (3) retaliation; (4) a legal mail claim against Nunn; (5) denial of commissary; and (6) improper

It appears that Plaintiff is a pretrial detainee; not a sentenced inmate. See Brittingham vy. Akinbayo, C.A. No. 20-190-MN (D. Del. 2020). When bringing a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must allege that some person has deprived him of a federal right, and that the person who caused the deprivation acted under color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 3 Docket Item 10 makes a jury demand. The Court considers Docket Item 16 as a supplement to the complaint — not a motion — and will deny the motion as moot. 4 Normally the Court would cite to particular pages in describing a plaintiff's claim. Because the allegations are dispersed over so many filings, however, the Court will summarize the claims and cite to the docket item, but not to a page.

treatment or denial of medical and mental health care against Medical and Mental Health Departments.5 Plaintiff alleges he was constantly harassed by Nunn and another officer on January 17, 2019, and he responded with non-verbal threats or physical threats. (D.I. 16). On

May 27, 2019, Plaintiff was housed on psychiatric close observation. (Id.). Although not clear, it seems that Plaintiff alleges Nunn harassed female employees and made comments about Plaintiff. (Id.). He alleges that Nunn’s “sociopathic seeds were growing,” and he refers to conversations with Nunn, a look on Nunn’s face, and comments Nunn made about him. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that he called the PREA (i.e., Prison Rape Elimination Act) hotline three times. (D.I. 1). Plaintiff alleges that he was sexually harassed by Mansfield on October 20, 2019, and made a PREA report on Mansfield on the same day. (D.I. 1, 6). He alleges retaliation occurred following the report when his cellmate, who was placed in his cell to counter the PREA report, was moved from the cell less than 23 hours later. (Id.). He also alleges retaliation also took place on November 7, 2019, when a “make shift weapon” was found in his belongings. (Id.). Plaintiff

first believed the weapon had been placed in his cell by another inmate, and then alleges that it is “possible” that the weapon was planted by the inmate at the direction of staff in retaliation for the PREA report he lodged against Mansfield. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that on November 11, 2019, Mansfield would not provide him toilet paper and then made statements about him to “everyone.” (D.I. 6). Next, Plaintiff alleges that on November 29, 2019, Mansfield received some of Plaintiff’s writing concerning another inmate by

5 It may be that Plaintiff attempts to raise other claims, given his many complaints. It is not clear if some information is provided as background or if they are claims seeking relief. Therefore, the Court will address the obvious claims. mistake and would not return the writings to Plaintiff. (D.I. 1, 6). Five days later, unnamed correctional officers slandered Plaintiff through false reports. (D.I. 1). Plaintiff alleges that during the month of October 2019, Jones would come around his cell and make comments about him and attempt to influence staff. (D.I. 6). Plaintiff alleges that on

December 5, 6, and 12, Jones made fictitious statements about Plaintiff. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that on December 30, 2019, he handed legal mail to Nunn and does not believe that all of it was mailed based upon the sizes of envelopes that he later saw Nunn holding. (D.I. 1, 6, 16). The legal mailings Plaintiff believed had not been mailed, included those received by this Court. Plaintiff refers to cell checks during the latter part of December 2019 and beginning of January 2019. (D.I. 6). Although not clear, he seems to allege that a female officer was uncomfortable about him and that she “played him” when she took up for another male staff’s wrong doing. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that on January 9, 2020, Jones told Plaintiff he would be let out first for

recreation but Jones let him out last. (D.I. 6). He alleges that on January 10, 2020, Jones entered his cell while he was trying to sleep and when in front of the door made a comment about Plaintiff. (Id). Plaintiff alleges that Jones also made comments about him on January 14, 2020. (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that on January 11, 2020, a female officer invited a “frameup” to place Plaintiff in a negative situation and speculates it was based on animosity with regards to Nunn. (D.I. 6). Plaintiff also refers to issues he had with a bank check, the amounts allowed for inmate accounts, and that it would take a while for the check to clear. (Id.). Plaintiff appears to allege that he has not been allowed to use the commissary since October 2019. (Id.). It is not clear if this is related to the issue with the bank check. He posits that because it may take a while for the check to clear, this may be retaliatory. (D.I. 16). On February 3, 2020, Plaintiff saw Nunn exit his cell, and when Plaintiff entered his cell he discovered that his legal documents were scattered throughout the cell. (D.I. 16). After Plaintiff

submitted a grievance regarding the matter, Nunn returned to Plaintiff’s cell and called him a name. (Id.). Finally, Plaintiff alleges that he is not receiving the proper medical and mental health treatment. (D.I. 1). He refers to a 2019 misdiagnosis of schizophrenia and a later evaluation of traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) and post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”). (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that mental health believes he is faking, refuses to treat him, and has administered him incorrect medication. (Id.). He also alleges that he is not being treated for the TBI or the PTSD. (D.I. 6). Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages and medical treatment. (D.I. 11, 16). III. LEGAL STANDARDS A federal court may properly dismiss an action sua sponte under the screening provisions

of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and § 1915A(b) if “the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” Ball v. Famiglio, 726 F.3d 448, 452 (3d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C.

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Brittingham v. Cpl. Nunn, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brittingham-v-cpl-nunn-ded-2020.