Witzel v. Quatsoe

396 F. Supp. 395, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13551
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedMarch 4, 1975
DocketNo. 72-C-253
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 396 F. Supp. 395 (Witzel v. Quatsoe) 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
Witzel v. Quatsoe, 396 F. Supp. 395, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13551 (E.D. Wis. 1975).

Opinion

DECISION and ORDER

MYRON L. GORDON, District Judge. This matter is before me on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. Citing Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 94 S.Ct. 2963, 41 L.Ed.2d 935 (1974), and Steele v. Gray, 64 Wis.2d 422, 219 N.W.2d 312, 223 N.W.2d 614 (1974), the plaintiff challenges certain 1971 prison disciplinary proceedings on due process grounds. The parties have stipulated with respect to the following facts:

“1. That on July 16, 1971, plaintiff Clarence Witzel was an inmate at the Wisconsin State Reformatory at Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“2. That early in the morning of July 16, 1971, plaintiff was involved [396]*396in a fight with another inmate, Steve Borden, at the prison farm.
“3. That as a result of said fight, plaintiff was conveyed to the prison hospital at 6:45 A. M. on July 16,1971. While at the hospital, plaintiff was orally informed that he would have to appear at a disciplinary hearing that day, but was not advised what charges, if any, he faced.
“4. Upon his release from the prison hospital, plaintiff was immediately taken before the Prison Disciplinary Committee in the afternoon of July 16, 1971. Said Committee consisted of defendants Donald Klusen, Kenneth Mathys, and one other member of the prison staff, all of whom were acting under the direction of defendant, Donald Quatsoe, Warden.
“5. At said hearing before the Prison Disciplinary Committee, plaintiff was not advised (1.) of any right to an attorney; (2.) of any right to confront his accusers and to examine or cross-examine them under oath; (3.) of any right to produce witnesses to testify on his behalf; (4.) of any right to remain silent and that statements made by him might be used against him in a court of law in a subsequent criminal proceeding; (5.) of any right to a transcript; (7.) of any right to a written decision, detailing the reasons for any action taken by the Disciplinary Committee.
“6. That at said hearing, plaintiff made no request with respect to the rights enumerated in paragraph 5, nor did he object at the time of the hearing to the denial of these alleged rights.
“7. That as a result of the disciplinary hearing above mentioned, plaintiff was placed in detention for five days and lost five days of accrued good time.
“8. That' plaintiff has not been charged with a violation of any criminal statute as a result of the fight which occurred on July 16, 1971.”

In Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 94 S.Ct. 2963, 41 L.Ed.2d 935 (1974), the United States Supreme Court determined that an inmate who is the subject of misconduct proceedings is entitled to receive advance notice of the claimed violation and “a written statement by the factfinders as to the evidence relied on and reasons’ for the disciplinary action.” 418 U.S. at 564, 94 S.Ct. at 2979.

The Supreme Court indicated that an inmate should be allowed to call witnesses, present documentary evidence, and confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses when such procedures would not jeopardize institutional safety or correctional goals. 418 U.S. at 567, 94 S.Ct. 2963. It also suggested that a counsel-substitute should be permitted to assist an inmate where he is illiterate or the issues are complex. 418 U.S. at 570, 94 S.Ct. 2963.

In Steele v. Gray, 64 Wis.2d 422, 428, 219 N.W.2d 312, 315, 223 N.W.2d 614 (1974), the Wisconsin supreme court determined that “the due process standards capsulized in Morrissey [v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 481, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed. 2d 484 (1972)]. are to be applied in administrative hearings called for the purpose of considering the revocation of good time.” Therefore, those procedures which Wolff left to the discretion of prison officials — i. e., the opportunity to be heard in person and to present witnesses and documentary evidence, as well' as the right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses— are now required in Wisconsin prisoner disciplinary proceedings. Indeed, the disciplinary rules now in effect in the Wisconsin state prison system provide for written notice, a staff advocate, the presentation of witnesses, cross-examination, and a written record of the reasons for the disciplinary committee’s action.

The plaintiff seeks (1) a ruling declaring that the hearing conducted in July, 1971, violated his right to due process; (2) “a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from conducting future disciplinary hearings without [397]*397adequate notice and a fair opportunity to be heard; ” (3) “a purge of plaintiff’s record of any penalties imposed as a result of a proceeding before the Disciplinary Board in which plaintiff was denied adequate notice and a fair opportunity to be heard; and (4) “restoration of any ‘good time’ lost as a result of said disciplinary hearing, and credit for time spent by the plaintiff in solitary confinement.”

The defendants concede that “the disciplinary process afforded the plaintiff in July, 1971, did not fully comply with the requirements established by the Supreme Court in Wolff.” However, they maintain that the plaintiff is entitled to no declaratory and injunctive relief because the disciplinary procedures now in effect in the Wisconsin state prison system comport with Wolff and Steele, and that he is not entitled to a “purge” of his record and a restoration of good time because “the Wolff requirements are not to be retroactively applied.” See 418 U. S. at 577, 94 S.Ct. 2963.

In Steele v. Gray, 64 Wis.2d 422, at pp. 431-432, 219 N.W.2d 312, at p. 316, 223 N.W.2d 614 (1974), the Wisconsin supreme court held that:

“the requirement for ‘[a due process] hearing granted by this decision shall be prospective only except as to those petitions [or actions] on file in this court or any trial court in the state as of the date of this mandate.’ State ex rel. Johnson v. Cady (1971), 50 Wis.2d 540, 556, 185 N.W.2d 306, 315. “Until such time as a due process hearing is held, the good time, which was purportedly revoked, is restored

This action was filed two years pri- or to the Wolff and Steele decisions. In my judgment, the plaintiff qualifies for the type of relief which was afforded by the Wisconsin supreme court in Steele v. Gray, 64 Wis.2d 422, 219 N.W.2d 312, 223 N.W.2d 614 (1974). Compare Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 93 S.Ct. 1827, 36 L.Ed.2d 439 (1973).

Therefore, it is ordered that the defendants’ motion for summary judgment be and hereby is denied.

It is also ordered that the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment be and hereby is granted in part and denied in part.

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

Related

Sillman v. Schmidt
394 F. Supp. 1370 (W.D. Wisconsin, 1975)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
396 F. Supp. 395, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/witzel-v-quatsoe-wied-1975.