Skinner v. Uphoff

234 F. Supp. 2d 1208, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23813, 2002 WL 31802084
District Court, D. Wyoming·Decided November 27, 2002·No. 02-CV-0033-B·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT

BRIMMER, District Judge.

This Eighth Amendment “failure to protect” case arises out of a challenge to the existing conditions at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins, Wyoming, where the inmates allege that prison officials have failed to reasonably protect them from assault by other inmates. Plaintiff Brad Skinner is suing on his own behalf and on behalf of current and future inmates of the prison, alleging that the poli- *1210 cíes, practices, and customs of Defendants place the inmates at the risk of unprovoked assault, bodily injury, and death at the hands of other inmates. The Court certified the case as a class action pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2). The case is before the Court on Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment on the class claim. Summary judgment is not sought on Plaintiffs individual claim for damages. Upon reading the briefs, hearing oral argument, and being fully advised of the premises, the Court FINDS and ORDERS as follows:

Statement of Parties and Jurisdiction

Plaintiff is currently serving a sentence in the State of Wyoming. Plaintiff has been placed under the care, custody, and control of the Wyoming Department of Corrections (‘WDOC”). Since his sentence in October of 1999, he has been incarcerated at the Wyoming State Penitentiary (“WSP”) in Rawlins, Wyoming. Plaintiff filed this suit on behalf of himself and all other inmates of the WSP as a class action pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(1),(2) for purposes of obtaining declaratory and in-junctive relief.

Defendant Judith Uphoff is a citizen and resident of Wyoming and is being sued in her individual and official capacities. Defendant Uphoff has been Director of the WDOC at all times material to this action. As Director, Ms. Uphoff is the agency official responsible under state law for the operation and administration of the WSP.

Defendant Vance Everett is a citizen of Wyoming and is being sued in his individual and official capacities. Defendant Everett has been Warden at the WSP at all times material to this action. With regard to Plaintiffs claim for injunctive relief, Mr. Everett is now the Complex Administrator at the WSP. In both capacities, he had and has a duty and obligation under state law to ensure, among other things, that inmates are protected against unprovoked assaults by other inmates.

Defendant James Hewitt is a citizen of Wyoming and is being sued in his individual and official capacities. Defendant Hewitt has been a security officer at the WSP at all times material to this action. Mr. Hewitt’s duties have included ensuring the safety and protection of WSP inmates.

Defendant David Ebell is a citizen of Wyoming and is being sued in his individual and official capacities. Defendant Ebell has been a security officer at the WSP at all times material to this action. Mr. Ebell’s duties have included ensuring the safety and protection of WSP inmates.

Defendants John Does 1 through 6 are security officers who were assigned to monitor the living unit in which Plaintiff resided on the day and time he was assaulted and whose duties included ensuring Plaintiffs safety. At the time Plaintiff filed his Complaint in this action, the actual identity of these Defendants was unknown; however, Plaintiff intends to obtain the names of these Defendants through pretrial discovery. The John Does’ identities are more relevant for purposes of Plaintiffs individual damages claim than for declaratory and injunctive relief on the class claim.

The Court exercises jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1343(a)(3),(4), as this action seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).

Background

The parties agree that virtually all facts and testimony in this case are undisputed. Plaintiff was transferred from a housing unit to B-Star, Block 4, a “closed custody” housing unit on November 4, 1999. The B-Star was built in the shape of a star *1211 with the security rotunda in the middle. This unit was in the North prison, which since the time of the events at issue has been closed and no longer houses inmates. Subsequently, WSP inmates have been moved to the new South prison, and to other in-state and out-of-state facilities.

Plaintiff alleges that within an hour of his arrival in the B-Star unit, another inmate informed him that other inmates did not welcome his presence and that he would be assaulted if he stayed. Plaintiff took this threat seriously and reported it to the guards. Defendant Ebell escorted Plaintiff to Defendant Hewitt’s office, where Plaintiff proceeded to tell Hewitt of his fear of assault. Plaintiff was so scared that he broke down and cried, and he pleaded with Hewitt to move him to another tier of the penitentiary. Plaintiff alleges that in response, Hewitt berated, insulted, and yelled at him and then forced him to sign a statement that Hewitt had written stating that Plaintiff felt safe returning to his cell. However, the signed statement has disappeared from the WSP’s records. As a result, Plaintiff was even more afraid to return to his cell because the inmates who threatened him also observed him inform security of their threats.

Ebell was present in the room diming Plaintiffs conversation with Hewitt. In a report that Ebell wrote the next day, he said that he called Yard observation, B-Unit, and Central Control to tell them to monitor Plaintiff and also to pass this info on to the second shift. Defendants named as Does 1 through 6 were the officers instructed to monitor Plaintiff.

Plaintiff was returned to his cell in B-Star, where three inmates subsequently entered his cell and beat him. One of the inmates was allegedly wearing a stocking cap and a white scarf obscuring his face.

Cell doors are generally left open during the day, but are closed periodically during “Count” where officers walk through the unit and check on each inmate. One of these Counts occurred during Plaintiffs beating. The three assailants left Plaintiffs cell and told him to keep quiet. Plaintiff did keep quiet, and even though there was blood all over his face, and an officer performing the checks during Count allegedly saw this, nothing was done. After Count, the three assailants returned to Plaintiffs cell and continued to beat and kick him.

Plaintiff passed out from pain during the beating. When he regained consciousness, he yelled for help. Guards arrived, took photographs of his injuries, and sent him to the hospital. Plaintiff suffered separations in his vertebrae, a concussion, contusions, swelling, and a broken nose. Plaintiff continues to suffer from back pain, migraine headaches, blurred vision, and other physical and psychological pain and suffering resulting from the assault.

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Skinner v. Uphoff, 234 F. Supp. 2d 1208, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23813, 2002 WL 31802084 (D. Wyo. 2002).

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