SANTIAGO v. NASH, No. 1:2005cv04552 - Document 15 (D.N.J. 2007)
Court Description: OPINION filed. Signed by Judge Jerome B. Simandle on 9/24/07. (gn)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
SANTIAGO v. NASH Doc. 15 Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 1 of 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY NERY SANTIAGO, Petitioner, v. JOHN NASH, WARDEN, Respondent. : : : : : : : : : : : Civil Action No. 05-4552 (JBS) O P I N I O N APPEARANCES: NERY SANTIAGO, Petitioner, Pro Se # 40417-018 FCI Fort Dix West Compound, P.O. Box 7000 Fort Dix, New Jersey 08640 CHRISTOPHER J. CHRISTIE, United States Attorney JOHN ANDREW RUYMANN, Assistant U.S. Attorney 402 East State Street, Suite 430 Trenton, New Jersey 08608 NORMAN JOEL GROSS, Assistant U.S. Attorney 401 Market Street, Fourth Floor Camden, New Jersey 08101 Attorneys for Respondents SIMANDLE, District Judge This matter is before this Court on Petitioner s motion to set aside this Court s Judgment and Order of September 20, 2006, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b), in which the Court denied Petitioner s writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Petitioner filed this motion on or about September 10, 2007. The Court will consider the motion pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 78. Dockets.Justia.com Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 I. Filed 09/24/2007 Page 2 of 8 BACKGROUND On September 20, 2006, this Court entered an Opinion and Order denying Petitioner s application for habeas relief in which he challenged prison disciplinary proceedings and sanctions imposed upon him. Petitioner sought expungement of the disciplinary finding and restoration of his good conduct time. The petition had been filed on or about September 14, 2005. The named respondent was the Warden at FCI Fort Dix, John Nash. Respondent filed an Answer to the petition on April 27, 2006, with a certified copy of the relevant administrative record. Petitioner filed a reply brief on May 16, 2006. In denying the writ, this Court found no procedural due process violation as alleged by Petitioner. In particular, the Court found that: there was no deprivation of discovery or petitioner s opportunity to present evidence. Further, Santiago s argument that he was denied discovery in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and was denied confrontation with witnesses in violation of Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004) is misplaced. These cases involve issues of constitutional rights afforded to criminal defendants during their criminal trial proceedings and are not applicable to institutional disciplinary proceedings. In Wolff, the Supreme Court held that, while prisoners retain certain basic constitutional rights, including procedural due process protections, prison disciplinary hearings are not part of criminal prosecution, and an inmate s rights at such hearings may be curtailed by the demands and realities of the prison environment. Id. at 556-57; Young v. Kann, 926 F.2d 1396, 1399 (3d Cir. 1991). Second, contrary to Santiago s assertion that no investigation was conducted, the record shows that an investigation was performed by the investigating Lieutenant before the UDC, who concluded that the charges against 2 Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 3 of 8 Santiago were valid. This investigation included the reporting officer s account and petitioner s statement claiming no knowledge of the tattoo needle. Consequently, there is no factual basis for this claim by petitioner that an investigation was not undertaken. Rather, it appears that his claim is based on his dissatisfaction with the investigating officer s conclusions, which did not find credible petitioner s protest of innocence. Third, the errors referenced by Santiago are simply typographical mistakes regarding dates when petitioner received notice of the charges, the date the DHO report was delivered to Santiago, and the date of the incident as reflected in the response to Santiago s administrative appeal. These errors do not rise to the level of constitutional dimension and do not tend to show that petitioner was denied due process. Finally, the sanctions imposed against Santiago are within the maximum penalties authorized for the high severity level offenses charged. See 28 C.F.R. § 541.13, Tables 3 and 4. Therefore, the Court finds that Santiago s claim asserting denial of due process is without merit, and habeas relief will be denied accordingly. Additionally, this Court determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the disciplinary charge and resulting sanctions. This Court expressly found: Here, there is sufficient evidence noted by the DHO in reaching his determination. The DHO s Report demonstrates that, after an investigation and the DHO s consideration of all the relevant evidence, the DHO found that the greater weight of evidence supported a finding that Santiago did commit the prohibited acts in violation of Code 108A and 299. The DHO s determination clearly took into account Santiago s claims of innocence, but rejected petitioner s explanation as follows: Although you claim you didn t know anything about the needle or it being taped to your bunk, I determined you have every reason to make that assertion in an effort to have the charges against you expunged. I did determine the employee to be credible concerning this matter as you did not dispute the fact that bed 2L was yours, or the fact that the needle was taped to your bunk, you just stated , you didn t know it was there. 3 Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 4 of 8 Additionally, you are responsible to ensure your assigned area remains contraband free. (Ahmed Decl., Ex. B, DHO Report at Block V). Thus, the DHO s Report plainly shows that it was not so devoid of evidence that the findings of the [DHO were] without support or otherwise arbitrary. Hill, 472 U.S. at 457. Santiago s arguments in his petition are merely another rendition of his innocence rejected by the DHO as selfserving. The DHO apparently attached more weight to the confirmed facts that (1) Santiago admitted the bunk where the needle was found was his bunk, and (2) Santiago has a duty to keep his area contraband free, in contrast to Santiago s unestablished claims that he was a newcomer at the time of the incident, who would have had difficulty obtaining the tattoo needle, or had health limitations to actually use the tattoo needle for tattoo art. Therefore, based upon this evidence as relied upon by the DHO, and without any contradictory evidence submitted by petitioner, except his self-serving denial of the prohibited acts charged, the Court finds that Santiago s right to due process was not violated by the determination of the DHO. The procedures enunciated in Wolff, supra, were complied with, and there was some evidence , in accordance with Hill, supra, to support the DHO s finding of guilt. See Sinde v. Gerlinski, 252 F. Supp.2d 144, 150 (M.D. Pa. 2003)( If there is some evidence to support the decision of the hearing examiner, the court must reject any evidentiary challenges by the plaintiff )(quoting Hill, 472 U.S. at 457). (September 20, 2006 Opinion, Docket Entry No. 6). Petitioner appealed this Court s ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. On March 22, 2007, the Court of Appeals issued judgment affirming this Court s September 20, 2006 decision. A mandate of the United States Court of Appeals judgment was filed on May 21, 2007. No. 13). 4 (See Docket Entry Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 5 of 8 Four months later, on or about September 10, 2007, Petitioner filed this Rule 60(b) motion. Petitioner proceeds under Rule 60(b)(3) and (6), claiming that Petitioner s disciplinary ruling was obtained by fraud on the part of the prison officials. Namely, Petitioner states that the tattoo needle found taped behind his bunk was actually a needle from a sewing kit that can be obtained from the prison commissary. Petitioner claims that the Warden and prison guard failed to notify the Disciplinary Hearing Officer ( DHO ) and this Court of this fact. Petitioner also alleges that being new to the prison at that time, he was not aware that this was a sewing needle, but the prison guard should have known. II. ANALYSIS Rule 60(b) provides, in pertinent part: On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or a party s legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following reasons: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); (3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospective application; or (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment. The motion shall be made within a reasonable time, and for reasons (1), (2) and (3) not more than one year after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or taken. 5 Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 6 of 8 The general purpose of Rule 60(b) ... is to strike a proper balance between the conflicting principles that litigation must be brought to an end and that justice must be done. Boughner v. Sec y of Health, Educ. & Welfare, 572 F.2d 976, 977 (3d Cir. 1978) (quoted in Coltec Industries, Inc. v. Hobgood, 280 F.3d 262, 271 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 947 (2002)). A motion filed pursuant to Rule 60(b) is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court guided by accepted legal principles applied in light of all the relevant circumstances. Ross v. Meagan, 638 F.2d 646, 648 (3d Cir. 1981). Rule 60(b), however, does not confer upon the district courts a standardless residual of discretionary power to set aside judgments. Moolenaar v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 822 F.2d 1342, 1346 (3d Cir. 1987). Rather, relief under rule 60(b) is available only under such circumstances that the overriding interest in the finality and repose of judgments may properly be overcome. Harris v. Martin, 834 F.2d 361, 364 (3d Cir. 1987) (quoting Martinez-McBean v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 562 F.2d 908, 913 (3d Cir. 1977)). The remedy provided by Rule 60(b) is extraordinary, and [only] special circumstances may justify granting relief under it. Moolenaar, 822 F.2d at 1346 (citations omitted). Tischio v. Bontex, Inc., 16 F. Supp.2d 511, 533 (D.N.J. 1998) (citations omitted). Relief is available only in cases evidencing extraordinary circumstances. Ackermann v. United States, 340 U.S. 193 (1950); Stradley v. Cortez, 518 F.2d 488, 493 (3d Cir. 1975). A motion under Rule 60(b)(6) must be fully substantiated by adequate 6 Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 7 of 8 proof and its exceptional character must be clearly established. FDIC v. Alker, 234 F.2d 113, 116-17 (3d Cir. 1956).1 To the extent a moving party seeks to relitigate the court s prior conclusions, Rule 60(b) is not an appropriate vehicle. [C]ourts must be guided by the well established principle that a motion under Rule 60(b) may not be used as a substitute for appeal. It follows therefore that it is improper to grant relief under Rule 60(b)(6) if the aggrieved party could have reasonably sought the same relief by means of appeal. Martinez- McBean v. Government of Virgin Islands, 562 F.2d 908, 911 (3d Cir. 1977) (citations omitted). Here, Petitioner essentially seeks to relitigate this Court s prior conclusions by arguing the respondent and prison guard committed fraud. He contends that the tattoo gun needle found was actually a sewing needle that can be obtained from the prison commissary. This Court finds no evidence of fraud. Regardless of whether the needle may have been obtained from a sewing needle kit, it clearly was not being used for that purpose and the hidden needle was therefore contraband. The prison guard inadvertently found the needle taped behind Petitioner s bunk, and was punctured by the needle. The needle was not contained in 1 In this case, the Government seeks relief from judgment based on Rule 60(b)(1), (4), and (6). 7 Case 1:05-cv-04552-JBS Document 15 Filed 09/24/2007 Page 8 of 8 a sewing kit and was concealed, suggesting it was obtained for an unauthorized purpose and use. Identifying the needle as a tattoo needle does not indicate fraud or misrepresentation. The actual charge or disciplinary infraction was possession of a hazardous tool. Any needle concealed in the manner in which it was found would certainly fall under that description. Finally, Petitioner has failed to establish any extraordinary circumstances justifying relief from judgment, pursuant to Rule 60(b)(6). His allegation of fraud is not supported by the record, and the distinction between a sewing needle and tattoo needle does not serve to negate the disciplinary finding because any needle being used in the manner found would constitute a hazardous tool under the prison disciplinary charge. Therefore, Petitioner is not entitled to relief under Rule 60(b), and his motion is denied accordingly. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth above, Petitioner s motion under Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b), seeking relief from judgment, as set forth in this Court s September 20, 2006 Opinion and Order, will be denied. An appropriate order follows. s/ Jerome B. Simandle JEROME B. SIMANDLE United States District Judge Dated: September 24, 2007 8
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
