Olzinski v. MacIona

714 F. Supp. 401, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6478, 1989 WL 60226
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedJune 7, 1989
Docket88-C-479
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 714 F. Supp. 401 (Olzinski v. MacIona) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olzinski v. MacIona, 714 F. Supp. 401, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6478, 1989 WL 60226 (E.D. Wis. 1989).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

CURRAN, District Judge.

Joseph Olzinski has commenced the above-captioned action against four agents of the Wisconsin Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Correction, Bureau of Community Corrections 1 and Timothy Cullen, former Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, 2 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that the defendants violated his rights guaranteed by the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution when he was arrested and detained for five days for an alleged probation violation. The plaintiff is suing the defendants in their official and individual capacities and is seeking:

A. A declaratory judgment adjudging Wisconsin Administrative Code HHS 328.22 null and void;
B. Preliminary and permanent injunctions enjoining and restraining the enforcement of the regulation above complained of;
C. Preliminary and permanent injunctions enjoining and restraining defendants from further interference with plaintiffs exercise of his constitutional rights;
D. Award to the plaintiff compensatory damages against all and each of the defendants, jointly and severally, in excess of $250,000.00; and
E. Award punitive damages against each and all of the defendants, jointly and severally, in excess of $250,-000.00 and such other relief as to this Court seems just, proper and equitable.

*403 Civil Complaint at 6-7. If the plaintiff has alleged justiciable constitutional claims, this court would have jurisdiction over the subject matter of these claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343(3).

The defendants answered, denying liability and asserting the defenses of immunity and preclusion. After the deadline for the completion of all discovery of fact witnesses had passed, the parties filed cross motions for summary judgment. These motions are now fully briefed and ready for decision.

I.FACTS

In connection with their motions the plaintiff and the defendants submitted proposed findings of fact. The undisputed facts, as compiled from both sides, are:

1. Plaintiff, Joseph Olzinski is an adult resident of Milwaukee County. On August 25, 1987, plaintiff was divorced from his ex-wife, Patricia.

2. On December 2, 1987, plaintiff was arrested for breaking into his ex-wife’s residence and engaging in assaultive and disorderly conduct. Plaintiff was charged with violating section 943.14 of the Wisconsin Statutes (criminal trespass to dwelling) and section 904.01 of the Wisconsin Statutes (disorderly conduct).

3. On September 9, 1987, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Arlene Connors enjoined plaintiff from having any contact with his ex-wife.

4. On December 9, 1987, plaintiff was convicted of the charges (criminal trespass to dwelling and disorderly conduct) in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, the Honorable Marvin C. Holz, presiding. Judge Holz placed plaintiff on eighteen months probation, ordered him to pay $50 in restitution and also ordered him to have no contact with the victim (his ex-wife).

5. Pursuant to the probation order, plaintiff was assigned to the supervision of Agent Daniel King of the Milwaukee Division of the Department of Corrections. On January 21, 1988, plaintiff met with Agent King for the first time.

6. Mr. King provided plaintiff with the Department of Corrections rules of supervision and orally explained what would be expected of him during the period of his probation. Agent King never informed plaintiff that a letter to a third party regarding his ex-wife would constitute a violation of either the rules of supervision or the court ordered provisions of his probation.

7. Sometime in January, 1988, plaintiff sent a letter to his ex-wife’s employer, the Zablocki Medical Center. The undated letter stated that:

Dear Sir: I am in possession of one bottle of capoten obtained by my ex-wife without prescription from the Zablocki Medical Center on or about September 24, 1977. The bottle and contents are available as evidence.
Further, my ex-wife, Patricia Olzinski was in possession of capsules (approximately fifteen) that she described to me as her “suicide pills.” She, I believe, obtained these illegally from the Zablocki Medical Center in June of 1977.
By copy of this letter (registered), I am reporting these alleged violations to the state Bureau of Regulation & Licensing and I have verbally contracted [sic] the federal drug enforcement authorities.
I expect this matter to be investigated, persons in violation of the law to be charged appropriately and that the state Bureau of Licensing & Regulation after investigation, bring proper disciplinary action.
I have lived with suicidal threats from my ex-wife for our entire marriage and find this letter necessary to do whatever may be possible to prevent a catastrophe as I take steps to annul our marriage within the Catholic Church. Signed Joseph S. Olzinski.

8. On February 15, 1988, plaintiff’s letter came to the attention of defendant David Schneider, who is a supervisor in the Department of Health and Social Services Probation and Parole Office located at 1713 South Sixth Street in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Defendant Schneider was the supervisor of probation agent Daniel *404 King who up to that time had been plaintiffs probation agent. Agent King had recently gone on medical leave.

9. Defendant Schneider spoke with plaintiffs ex-wife, Patricia Olzinski, and concluded that she was frightened of plaintiff and was concerned that plaintiff might do something to her and her son.

10. Defendant Schneider assigned plaintiffs case file to defendant Rita Maciona who at that time was working as a probation and parole officer in the Sixth Street office. Defendant Schneider asked defendant Maciona to investigate the incident.

11. No one from the Department of Corrections contacted the Zablocki Medical Center to see if anyone there had received the letter.

12. On February 15, 1988, Agent Macio-na placed a telephone call to plaintiffs house and spoke to Peggy Allen, a friend of Mr. Olzinski’s. Agent Maciona directed Peggy Allen to tell Mr. Olzinski to contact her.

13. On February 15,1988, Agent Macio-na sent out a letter to plaintiffs home address advising him that he was currently in violation of his probation status and that it would be necessary for him to report to the probation office. The letter further stated that he should report on February 22, 1988, at 10:30 a.m.

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

Related

Parham v. Lámar
1 F. Supp. 2d 1457 (M.D. Florida, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
714 F. Supp. 401, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6478, 1989 WL 60226, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olzinski-v-maciona-wied-1989.