OWENS-ALI v. Pennell

672 F. Supp. 2d 647, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113720, 2009 WL 4547059

• Court: District Court, D. Delaware
• Decided: December 4, 2009
• Docket: Civil Action 09-556-JJF
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

FARNAN, District Judge.

Plaintiff Ushango Owens-Ali (“Plaintiff’), an inmate at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (“VCC”), Smyrna, Delaware filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc to 2000cc-5. (D.I. 2, 3.) He appears pro se. For the reasons discussed below, the Court will dismiss the claims against Defendants Warden Perry Phelps (“Phelps”), Deputy Warden Klein (“Klein”), Matthew Dutton (“Dutton”), Jeanie E. Coventry (“Coventry”), Lise M. Merson (“Merson”), Dr. Claudia Parker (“Dr. Parker”), Debra Crapella (“Crapella”), Thomas Aiello (“Aiello”), Lieutenant Salas (“Salas”), Richard Kearney (“Kearney”), and Carl Danberg (“Danberg”) as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and § 1915A(b)(l), and will allow Plaintiff to proceed against Defendants Chaplain Frank C. Pennell (“Pennell”), Ron Hosterman (“Hosterman”), Major Scarborough (“Scarborough”), Joe L. Kadtke (“Kadtke”), and C. Senato (“Senato”). The Court will deny without prejudice Plaintiffs Request for Counsel. (D.I. 4.)

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff, a Moorish American National adherent, sought a diet to accommodate his religious beliefs and dietary needs and, on July 14, 2008, requested a diet consistent with those beliefs. He alleges that he was denied his requests for a vegan/vegetarian diet between July 14, 2008 and February 6, 2009. Plaintiff submitted grievances and wrote numerous letters to Pennell, Hosterman, Scarborough, and Senato seeking the religious diet, to no avail. Plaintiff alleges that Kadtke made statements that led to the denial of his grievance.

On August 5, 2008, Plaintiff was transferred from the Howard R. Young Correctional Institutional (“HRYCI”), Wilmington, Delaware to the VCC. He alleges the transfer was in retaliation for his attempts to exercise his religious rights.

Plaintiff also submitted grievances complaining of: (1) missing legal and personal property following his transfer from the HRYCI to VCC; (2) unsanitary conditions and infested mattresses; and (3) medical staff who failed to provide adequate service, were uncooperative, and discriminatory to inmates. Plaintiffs grievances were either unresolved or returned as nongrievable.

Plaintiff sues Defendants in their individual and official capacities. He seeks injunctive relief, compensatory, and punitive damages.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

This Court must dismiss, at the earliest practicable time, certain informa pauperis and prisoner actions that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) (in forma pauperis actions); 28 U.S.C. § 1915A (actions in which prisoner seeks redress from a governmental defendant); 42 U.S.C. § 1997e (prisoner actions brought with respect to prison conditions). The Court must accept all factual allegations in a complaint as true and take them in the light most favorable to a pro se plaintiff. Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 229 (3d Cir.2008); Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007). Because Plaintiff proceeds pro se, his pleading is liberally construed and his Complaint, “however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. at 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197 (citations omitted).

An action is frivolous if it “lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)© and § 1915A(b)(l), a court may dismiss a complaint as frivolous if it is “based on an indisputably meritless legal theory” or a “clearly baseless” or “fantastic or delusional” factual scenario. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. at 327-28, 109 S.Ct. 1827; Wilson v. Rackmill, 878 F.2d 772, 774 (3d Cir.1989); see, e.g., Deutsch v. United States, 67 F.3d 1080, 1091-92 (3d Cir.1995) (hold ing frivolous a suit alleging that prison officials took an inmate’s pen and refused to give it back). The Court is “especially careful when assessing frivolousness in the case of in forma pauperis complaints, for ‘prisoners often must rely on the courts as the only available forum to redress their grievances, even when those grievances seem insignificant to one who is not so confined.’ ” See Deutsch, 67 F.3d at 1090.

The legal standard for dismissing a complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and § 1915A(b)(l) is identical to the legal standard used when ruling on 12(b)(6) motions. Tourscher v. McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 240 (3d Cir.1999)(applying Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) standard to dismissal for failure to state a claim under § 1915(e)(2)(B)). However, before dismissing a complaint or claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to the screening provisions of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915 and 1915A, the Court must grant Plaintiff leave to amend his complaint unless amendment would be inequitable or futile. See Grayson v. Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 114 (3rd Cir.2002).

“To survive dismissal, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, —- U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). A claim is facially plausible when its factual content allows the court to draw a reasonable inference that Defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Id. The plausibility standard “asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. “Where a complaint pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability, it ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’ ’ ” Id. The assumption of truth is inapplicable to legal conclusions or to “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action supported by mere conclusory statements.” Id. “[W]here the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more than a mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged—but it has not shown—that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Id. (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)).

III. DISCUSSION

A.Section 1983

Plaintiff filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging violations of his civil rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution. Section 1983 provides in relevant part:

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory ... subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress ....

42 U.S.C. § 1983. Thus, to state a claim for relief under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege, first, the violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States and, second, that the alleged deprivation was committed or caused by a person acting under color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48, 108 S.Ct. 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988).

B. RLUIPA

To state a claim under RLUIPA, an institutionalized person must allege a “substantial burden on [his] religious exercise.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000ec-l. Under RLUIPA, “[a] plaintiff-inmate bears the burden to show that a prison institution’s policy or official practice has substantially burdened the practice of that inmate’s religion.” Washington v. Klem, 497 F.3d 272, 278 (3d Cir.2007). “A substantial burden exists where: “1) a follower is forced to choose between following the precepts of his religion and forfeiting benefits otherwise generally available to other inmates versus abandoning one of the precepts of his religion in order to receive a benefit; OR 2) the government puts substantial pressure on an adherent to substantially modify his behavior and to violate his beliefs.” ” Heleva v. Kramer, 330 Fed.Appx. 406, 409 (3d Cir.2009) (not published) (quoting Washington v. Klem, 497 F.3d at 280).

C. Eleventh Amendment Immunity

Plaintiff sues Defendants in their individual and official capacities, and seeks injunctive relief and compensatory damages. The claims for monetary damages against Defendants in their official capaci ties are essentially claims against the State of Delaware and are barred by the State’s Eleventh Amendment immunity. 1 See Will v. Michigan Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71, 109 S.Ct. 2804, 105 L.Ed.2d 45 (1989); Melo v. Hafer, 912 F.2d 628, 635 (3d Cir.1990); see also Scott v. Beard, 252 Fed.Appx. 491, 492-93 (3d Cir.2007) (not published).

Defendants may, however, be subject to federal suit in their official capacities where a plaintiff seeks prospective, injunctive relief from an ongoing violation of federal law. Kretchmar v. Beard, 241 Fed.Appx. 863, 865 (3d Cir.2007) (not published) (citing Blanciak v. Allegheny Ludlum Corp., 77 F.3d 690, 697 (3d Cir.1996); Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908)). Accordingly, Defendants are immune from all claims in their official capacities except those alleging ongoing violations of RLUIPA, and of Plaintiffs First Amendment rights as protected by 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

D. Respondeat Superior

Danberg, Phelps, Klein, and Kearney are named as defendants, apparently because of their supervisory positions. There are no allegations directed towards these Defendants, but they are listed in the “Defendants” section of the Complaint. There, Plaintiff explains that Danberg is responsible for the overall operation of the Delaware Department of Correction (“DOC”) and each institution under its jurisdiction; Phelps is legally responsible for the operation of the VCC and for the welfare of all its inmates; Klein held the rank of deputy warden and was assigned to the VCC; and Kearney held the position of Bureau Chief of the DOC and was assigned to the Bureau of Prisons. (D.I. 2, ¶¶ 4, 5, 6, 15.) The Complaint does not allege that Danberg, Phelps, Klein, or Kearney personally committed any constitutional violations.

As is well established, civil rights claims cannot be premised on a theory of respondeat superior. Natále v. Camden County Corr. Facility, 318 F.3d 575, 583 (3d Cir.2003); Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir.1988). Instead, each named defendant must be shown, via the Complaint’s allegations, to have been personally involved in the events or occurrences which underlie a claim. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-72, 96 S.Ct. 598, 46 L.Ed.2d 561 (1976); Hampton v. Holmesburg Prison Officials, 546 F.2d 1077, 1082 (3d Cir.1976). “Personal involvement can be shown through allegations of personal direction or of actual knowledge and acquiescence. Allegations of participation or actual knowledge and acquiescence, however, must be made with appropriate particularity.” Rode, 845 F.2d at 1207. In order for a supervisory public official to be held liable for a subordinate’s constitutional tort, the official must either be the “moving force [behind] the constitutional violation” or exhibit “deliberate indifference to the plight of the person deprived.” Sample v. Diecks, 885 F.2d 1099, 1118 (3d Cir.1989) (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 389, 109 S.Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989)).

The Complaint does not allege the personal involvement of Danberg, Phelps, Klein, or Kearney. Neither does it allege that they were the “driving force [behind]” Plaintiffs alleged violations. Additionally, the Complaint does not indicate that these Defendants were aware of Plaintiffs allegations and remained “deliberately indifferent” to his plight. Sample v. Diecks, 885 F.2d at 1118. Respondeat superior liability is unavailable under § 1983 and, therefore, Plaintiffs claims are legally baseless. See Hampton v. Holmesburg Prison Officials, 546 F.2d at 1082 (No § 1983 claim against prison warden who had not participated in or had actual knowledge of prison guards’ alleged wrongdoing). For the above reasons, the Court will dismiss Plaintiffs claims against Defendants Danberg, Phelps, Klein, and Kearney as frivolous as they have no arguable basis in law or in fact.

E. Personal Involvement

In the “Defendant” section of the Complaint the following Defendants are listed as individuals with the DOC and assigned to the VCC. Parker is identified as a doctor, Crapella is identified as a medical staff investigator, Aiello is identified as a staff counselor, and Salas is identified as a correctional officer holding the rank of lieutenant. (D.I. 2, ¶¶ 10-13.) There are no allegations directed towards these Defendants.

In order to satisfy the personal involvement requirement for a § 1983 claim, the Complaint need only allege the conduct, time, place, and person responsible. See Evancho v. Fisher, 423 F.3d 347, 353-54 (3d Cir.2005) (citing Boykins v. Ambridge Area Sch. Dist., 621 F.2d 75, 80 (3d Cir.1980)); see also Solan v. Ranck, 326 Fed.Appx. 97, 101 (3d Cir.2009) (not published). The bare identifying allegations fail to set forth facts indicating that the foregoing Defendants personally directed or knew of and acquiesced in any alleged constitutional violation. See Evancho v. Fisher, 423 F.3d at 353-54. Absent any allegation of personal involvement, Plaintiffs § 1983 claims against Parker, Crapella, Aiello, and Salas cannot stand. The claims against them are frivolous and the Court will dismiss them to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and § 1915A(b)(l).

F. Grievances

The Complaint identifies Dutton, Coventry, and Merson as IGC (i.e., Institutional Grievance Committee) officers at the VCC (D.I. 2, ¶¶ 7-9.) Plaintiff alleges that Dutton investigated his grievance regarding missing legal and personal property. (Id. at ¶ 22.) No remedy was afforded Plaintiff, he appealed, and on February 24, 2009, Merson denied the appeal. (Id. at ¶ 24.)

The filing of prison grievances is a constitutionally protected activity. Robinson v. Taylor, 204 Fed.Appx. 155, 157 (3d Cir.2006) (not published). To the extent that Plaintiff bases his claims upon his dissatisfaction with the grievance procedure or denial of his grievances, the claims fail because an inmate does not have a constitutionally protected right to a grievance procedure. Caldwell v. Beard, 324 Fed.Appx. 186, 189 (3d Cir.2009) (not published) (citing Flick v. Alba, 932 F.2d 728, 729 (8th Cir.1991)). Additionally, Plaintiffs complaints regarding the investigation of his grievances do not state a constitutional claim. See Gay v. Shannon, 211 Fed.Appx. 113, 116 (3d Cir.2006) (not reported) (citing Antonelli v. Sheahan, 81 F.3d 1422, 1430 (7th Cir.1996) (holding allegedly inadequate grievance procedures did not give rise to a constitutional claim)); see also Hurley v. Blevins, Civ. No. 6:04CV368, 2005 WL 997317 (E.D.Tex. Mar. 28, 2005) (the failure to investigate a grievance does not raise a constitutional issue.) Finally, the denial of his grievance appeal does not in itself give rise to a constitutional claim as Plaintiff is free to bring a civil rights claim in District Court. Winn v. Department Of Corr., 340 Fed. Appx. 757, 759 (3d Cir.2009) (citing Flick v. Alba, 932 F.2d at 729).

Plaintiff cannot maintain a constitutional claim based upon his perception that his grievances were not properly processed, investigated, or that the grievance process is inadequate. Therefore, the Court will dismiss the grievance claims as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and § 1915A(b)(l).

G. Request For Counsel

Plaintiff requests counsel on the grounds that he is unable to afford counsel, the issues in the case are complex, he has limited access to the law library, and limited knowledge of the law. (D.I. 4.) Although a plaintiff does not have a constitutional or statutory right to an attorney, 2 a district court may seek legal representation by counsel for a plaintiff who demonstrates “special circumstances indicating the likelihood of substantial prejudice to [the plaintiff] resulting ... from [the plaintiffs] probable inability without such assistance to present the facts and legal issues to the court in a complex but arguably meritorious case.” Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 154 (3d Cir.1993) (citing Smith-Bey v. Petsock, 741 F.2d 22, 26 (3d Cir.1984)).

Factors to be considered by a court in deciding whether to request a lawyer to represent an indigent petitioner include: (1) the merits of the petitioner’s claim; (2) the petitioner’s ability to present his or her case considering his or her education, literacy, experience, and the restraints placed upon him or her by incarceration; (3) the complexity of the legal issues; (4) the degree to which factual investigation is required and the petitioner’s ability to pursue such investigation; (5) the petitioner’s capacity to retain counsel on his or her own behalf; and (5) the degree to which the case turns on credibility determinations or expert testimony. Montgomery v. Pinchak, 294 F.3d 492, 498-99 (3d Cir.2002); Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155-56.

After reviewing Plaintiffs Motion and supporting affidavit, the Court concludes that the case is not so factually or legally complex at this juncture that requesting an attorney to represent Plaintiff is warranted. Plaintiffs filings in this case demonstrate his ability to articulate his claims and represent himself. Thus, in these circumstances, the Court will deny without prejudice to renew Plaintiffs Request For Counsel. (D.I. 4.)

IV. CONCLUSION

For the above reasons, the claims against Defendants Phelps, Klein, Dutton, Coventry, Merson, Dr. Parker, Crapella, Aiello, Salas, Kearney, and Danberg will be dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)© and § 1915A(b)(l). Plaintiff will be allowed to proceed against Defendants Pennell, Hosterman, Scarborough, Kadtke, and Senato. The Court will deny Plaintiffs Request for Counsel. (D.I. 4.)

An appropriate Order will be entered.

ORDER

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiffs Request For Counsel is DENIED without prejudice. (D.I. 4.)

2. The claims against Defendants Warden Perry Phelps, Deputy Warden Klein, Matthew Dutton, Jeanie E. Coventry, Lise M. Merson, Dr. Claudia Parker, Debra Crapella, Thomas Aiello, Lieutenant Salas, Richard Kearney, and Carl Danberg are DISMISSED as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and § 1915A(b)(l).

3. The Court has identified non-frivolous and what appear to be cognizable claims within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) against Defendants Chaplain Frank C. Pennell, Ron Hosterman, Major Scarborough, Joe L. Kadtke, and C. Senate pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc to 2000cc-5. Plaintiff may proceed with these claims.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of Court shall cause a copy of this Order to be mailed to Plaintiff.

2. Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(c)(3) and (d)(1), Plaintiff shall complete and return to the Clerk of Court signed, original “U.S. Marshal 285” forms for remaining Defendants Chaplain Frank C. Pennell, Ron Hosterman, Major Scarborough, Joe L. Kadtke, and C. Senato, as well as for the Attorney General of the State of Delaware, 820 N. FRENCH STREET, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, 19801, pursuant to Del.Code Ann. tit. 10 § 3103(c). Plaintiff shall also provide the Court with copies of the Complaint (D.I. 2) and Memorandum Of Law (D.I. 3) for service upon the remaining Defendants and the Attorney General. Plaintiff is notified that the United States Marshals Service (“USMS”) will not serve the Complaint and Memorandum until all “U.S. Marshal 285” forms have been received by the Clerk of Court. Failure to provide the “U.S. Marshal 285” forms and copies of the Complaint and Memorandum for the remaining Defendants and the Attorney General within 120 days from the date of this Order may result in the Complaint being dismissed or Defendant(s) being dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).

3. Upon receipt of the form(s) required by paragraph 2 above, the USMS shall forthwith serve a copy of the Complaint, Memorandum, this Order, a “Notice of Lawsuit” form, the filing fee order(s), and a “Return of Waiver” form upon each of the defendants so identified in each 285 form.

4. Within thirty (30) days from the date that the “Notice of Lawsuit” and “Return of Waiver” forms are sent, if an executed “Waiver of Service of Summons” form has not been received from a defendant, the USMS shall personally serve said Defendant and said Defendant shall be required to bear the cost related to such service, unless good cause is shown for failure to sign and return the waiver pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(d)(1) and (2).

5. Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(d)(3), a Defendant who, before being served with process timely returns a waiver as requested, is required to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint within sixty (60) days from the date upon which the Complaint, this Order, the “Notice of Lawsuit” form, and the “Return of Waiver” form are sent. If a defendant responds by way of a motion, said motion shall be accompanied by a brief or a memorandum of points and authorities and any supporting affidavits.

6. No communication, including pleadings, briefs, statement of position, etc., will be considered by the Court in this civil action unless the documents reflect proof of service upon the parties or their counsel.

7. NOTE: * * * When an amended complaint is filed prior to service, the Court will VACATE all previous service orders entered, and service will not take place. An amended complaint filed prior to service shall be subject to re-screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) and § 1915A(a). * * *

8. NOTE: * * * Discovery motions and motions for appointment of counsel filed prior to service will be dismissed without prejudice, with leave to refile following service. * * *

1 . Two District Courts in our Circuit have found that RLUIPA does not support damage claims against state officials in their individual capacities. See e.g., Logan v. Lockett, Civ. No. 07-1759, 2009 WL 799749, at *4 (W.D.Pa. Mar. 25, 2009); Bowman v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dep’t of Corr., Civ. No. 04-2176, 2006 WL 42091, at *1 (M.D.Pa. Jan. 6, 2006); see also Nelson v. Miller, 570 F.3d 868, 885-89 (7th Cir.2009)(discussing split of authority on issue; holding that RLUIPA does not allow damages against state officials in their individual capacities). Our Court of Appeals has yet to decide the issue. See Brown v. D.O.C. PA, 265 Fed.Appx. 107, 111 (3d Cir.2008) (not published).

2 . See Mallard v. United States District Court for the S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 104 L.Ed.2d 318 (1989) (§ 1915(d) does not authorize a federal court to require an unwilling attorney to represent an indigent civil litigant, the operative word in the statute being "request.”); Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 153 (3d Cir.1993) (no right to counsel in a civil suit).