Cooper v. NHSP

2014 DNH 053

• Court: District Court, D. New Hampshire
• Decided: March 13, 2014
• Docket: 14-CV-11-SM
• Status: Published

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Vincent Rashad Cooper

v. Case No. 14-cv-ll-SM Opinion No. 2014 DNH 053 New Hampshire State Prison and Corrections Officer Nimirowski1

O R D E R

Vincent Rashad Cooper has filed a complaint (doc. no. 1),

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, asserting that defendants have

violated his rights under the First and Eighth Amendments, and

the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act

("RLUIPA"). The matter is before the court for preliminary

review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). Also before the court

are Cooper's motion for a restraining order (doc. no. 3) and

"Motion to Preserve Hearing Recording" (doc. no. 11).

Preliminary Review (Doc. No. 1)

I. Standard

In determining whether a pro se pleading states a claim, the

court construes the pleading liberally. See Erickson v. Pardus,

551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). Disregarding any legal conclusions, the

court considers whether the factual content in the pleading and

1 Plaintiff does not provide defendant Nimirowski's first name in the complaint. inferences reasonably drawn therefrom, taken as true, state a

facially plausible claim to relief. Hernandez-Cuevas v. Taylor,

723 F.3d 91, 102-03 (1st Cir. 2013) (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal,

556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) ) .

II. Excessive Force Claim

Cooper, a Muslim inmate at the New Hampshire State Prison

("NHSP"), states that on December 10, 2013, NHSP Corrections

Officer Nimirowski pushed Cooper twice while Cooper was

handcuffed behind his back. When Cooper asked what Nimirowski's

"problem" was, Nimirowski told Cooper that Nimirowski does not

like Muslims.

To state an excessive force claim. Cooper must demonstrate

that the force used against him "'was applied . . . maliciously

and sadistically to cause harm,'" rather than "'in a good-faith

effort to maintain or restore discipline.'" Wilkins v. Gaddy,

559 U.S. 34, 37 (2010) (guoting Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1,

7 (1992)). " [Die minimis uses of physical force, provided that

the use of force is not of a sort repugnant to the conscience of

mankind," however, do not violate the Eighth Amendment. Hudson,

503 U.S. at 9-10 (internal guotation marks and citations

omitted). "An inmate who complains of a push or shove that

causes no discernible injury almost certainly fails to state a

2 valid excessive force claim." Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 38 (internal

quotation marks and citations omitted).

Here, Cooper has failed to allege facts that demonstrate

more than a de minimis use of force. Accordingly, he has failed

to state an Eighth Amendment violation against Nimirowski.

III. Religious Exercise Claims

Cooper's religion prohibits its followers from eating pork.

Cooper asserts that his right to practice his religion, as

protected by the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause and

RLUIPA, was violated when he was given meals on two occasions

that contained pork.

To make out a claim under either the First Amendment's Free

Exercise Clause or RLUIPA, "a plaintiff must initially

demonstrate that his sincerely held religious beliefs have been

'substantially' burdened by defendants' conduct - specifically,

that the government's action pressured him to commit an act

forbidden by his religion, or prevented him from engaging in

conduct or experiences mandated by his faith." Lewis v. Zon, 920

F. Supp. 2d 379, 384 (W.D.N.Y. 2013) (citing Salahuddin v. Goord,

467 F.3d 263, 274-75 (2d Cir. 2006)). Cooper's allegation that,

on two occasions, he was served a meal that contained pork is

insufficient to assert a plausible claim that his religious

practice has been "substantially burdened" under either the First

3 Amendment or RLUIPA. See Lewis, 920 F. Supp. 2d at 385; Walker

v. Fischer, No. 9:10-cv-01431(MAD/DEP), 2012 WL 1029614, at *7

(N.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2012) .

Motions

I. Preliminary Injunctive Relief (Doc. No. 3)

Because Cooper has failed to state any claim upon which

relief might be granted, he has necessarily failed to demonstrate

that he is likely to succeed on the merits of his underlying

claims. As Cooper must make such a showing in order to obtain

preliminary injunctive relief, see Corporate Techs., Inc. v.

Harnett, 731 F.3d 6, 9 (1st Cir. 2013), his reguest for

preliminary injunctive relief (doc. no. 3) is denied.

II. Preservation of Hearing Record (Doc. No. 11)

Cooper reguests an order directing NHSP officials to

preserve a recording of a disciplinary hearing unrelated to the

matter in this action. The motion is denied.

Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the court finds that Cooper has

failed to state any claim upon which relief may be granted.

Cooper is granted thirty days from the date of this order to file

4 an amended complaint, stating plausible claims for relief, or

this action will be dismissed.

The motion to preserve hearing record (doc. no. 11) is

denied. The motion for preliminary injunctive relief (doc. ,no.

3) is denied without prejudice to refiling should Cooper

demonstrate that this action should not be dismissed.

SO ORDERED.

Steven J/ McAuliffe nited States District Judge

March 13, 2 014

cc: Vincent R. Cooper, pro se