Davila v. Gladden, No. 13-10739 (11th Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CasePlaintiff, a federal prisoner and a Santeria priest, filed suit against prison employees, alleging violations of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. 2000bb. Plaintiff sought injunctive and monetary relief, claiming that defendants violated his rights by refusing to allow him to receive his Santeria beads and shells. The court concluded that the district court erred in granting summary judgment on plaintiff's claim for injunctive relief under RFRA where the prison has offered no evidence to justify its cost and safety concerns. Defendants' generalized statement of interests, unsupported by specific and reliable evidence, is not sufficient to show that the prison restriction furthered a compelling governmental interest. The court affirmed the district court's dismissal of plaintiff's claims for money damages under RFRA and grant of summary judgment to defendants on the First Amendment claims.
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