Hall v. Stevens, No. 7:2013cv00465 - Document 30 (W.D. Va. 2014)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 6/9/2014. (tvt)

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CSERI' OFFI U..DiK COURT - <S CE S S AT ROANOKE, VA FIED L I TH E UN I N TED STA TES DI RI T CO UR T ST C FO R TH E W ESTER N D I STRI T O F V I G I I C R N A ROANOKE DI I V SION JO H N W I A M H A LL , LLI Pl nt f , ai i f V. H EATH ER STEV EN S, , PA D ef endant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) JUN 28 2 1 21 JULA I 6Y. ' C c C r m i N o.7: 3- vi nal 1 c 00465 M EM O M N D UM O PINIO N By:Sam uelG . is W l on U ni e St e D i t i tJudge t d at s s r c J hn W iln H a l a V igi a i a e pr e ngrr s tl t sci lr g s a ton o li m l, r ni nm t oc edi o e, i ed hi vi i ht c i unde 42U. C.j 1 a i tHe t rStve ,PA, physcan' asitnta W esenVigni r S. 983 gans ahe e ns a ii s ssa t tr r i a Re ina J i I Vl , le i s eviltdh sc n ttto a rg t b fiigt tk v ro s g o l al W UI algng h oae i o si in l ih s y al o a e a iu u n me tr t c r f hi ba k a s de pai Be or t co ta e St ve 'moton f asles o a e or s c nd houl r n. f e he ur r e ns i or s mma yj d me ta d s p lme tl to frs mmayj g n .Fid n t e u r u g n n u p e n a moin o u r ud me t n i g h unc r red e de e s wst tSt ve r pea e y e ua e a pr de c r f Hals ontove t vi nc ho ha e ns e t dl val t d nd ovi d a e or l' ba pan,heco twilgr nthe m otons ck i t ur l a r i . H a lfl d a bar l ie e boned c pl i ,a l gi St ve ç e o d a e r m a t e sf om om a nt le ng e ns t m ve n xt a tr s r r g m)a trdoco o dee i f bac pr e , fie t pr vi t fndi ofa X-a tke hi fe tr r zd t or k oblms' ald o o de he i ngs n ry a n ' ofhi lwe ba k, f ie t t keM R1orX-a i a ofhi uppe ba k a s de s s o r c and al d o a r y m ges s r c nd houl r . ( mpla 2 ECF 1 tv nsmo df rs mma yj d me twi as p o t gafd vt n Co . t , )S e e ve o u r u g n t u p ri fi a ia d h n va i e bis a es i H a ls c s oftea m e a W V RJ Hal r ponded,a l gi t rous xhi t , ddr sng l ' our e r t nt t . l es le ng he X-a W VRJpef medwer ofhi l rbac a di S s updikpr e . ( . rys ror e s owe k nd d l how not s oblms' P1 ' Res a 1 ECF 22) TheM a srt J p. t , gitae udgedie tdStvenst fl as e nt motonf r ce e o ie upplme al i or sz r j me a esi Halsalegai t ts f ldt tea hi uppe ba k,nec a lmmay udg nt ddr sng l' l tons ha he aie o r t s r c k, nd s de c ant.( de ,ECF 24 Stve fldas plme a motonf s houl r ompli s Or r ) e ns ie up e ntl i or ummay r j udgme a die d,al wiha he afda ta numeousexhi t deaii Hals nt s r de ' ong t not r fi vi nd r bis t lng l' m edi lhi t r Hal t n f l d a doc l e r ques i t tt c r r vi w hi m e c lr c ds ca s o y. l he ie tm nt e tng ha he ou t e e s di a e or . The c t done s and t unc r r e e de e i a f l w s l our has o, he ontove t d vi nc s s olo . St vens e l t H al a l a te gh tm esf om A ugus 201 t tlO c ober201 .2 e va ua ed l t e s i t i r t 2m i t 3 Durng hi frta nt e wih St ve f ba k pan-s had s n hi pr vi l f ot r i s is ppoi m nt t e ns or c i he ee m e ousy or he me c lc dia ompli s - li or d he t thehasdeg r tvedic die e. Shee l t d hi , ant-ll nf me r ha al ene a i s s as vauae m obs r d s e ve omet nde ne si hi ba k,a pr s rbed Tyl a a t rm e cai n. l lt e r s n s c nd e c i enol nd no he di to n a e f l201 St ve s w Hala i t stmef hi a ba k pan. Stve f l s m si Ha ls al 2, e ns a l gan, hi i or p nd c i e ns et pas n l' l rbac a or r d t ther e veanaddii lm a te s I s i 201 St ve e l td owe k nd de e ha ec i tona tr s . n prng .3, e ns vauae Halt a es co ai sofs de pan,whih s a ti e t o hi r pore a t ii . l o ddr s mpl nt houl r i c he trbut d t s e td rhrts' t ' ( tv nsAf. t5 ECF 2 - 4 Be a s Hals o d sg so tn e n s a dh dami Se e fa , 7 2 ) c u e l h we in f e d r e s n a l d mus l s s ,St ve i r as hi Tyl dos geandpr s rbe amus er a nt Ar c e pa m e ns nc e ed s enol a e ci d cl elxa . ound t ttm e St vens s H a lon t o occ s ons f l r l t d m e ca i s ,a d i t e ha i , e aw l w ai or m e a e di l s ues nd urng hos viisHa ldi notc st l d ompli ofbac hi o s de pan. an k, p, r houl r i I f l 201 whietki Tyl nola amus l r l xa a wel asha ng a addii n a l 3, l a ng e nd c e e a nt s l vi n tonal ma tes ,Hals it d am e c lr que tf m c tr s l ubm te di a e s or ompli ng ofbac pai W VRJs duld ani k n. che e hi f a X-a s ty t r fer butHalm is d t ta nt t3 Thene da W VRJ m or n r y horl he ea t , l s e ha ppoi men . xt y, sa fi peced Hal' cela dic r d heha be n hoa di Tyl a Zol twhih t f ns t ls l nd s ove e d e r ng enol nd of, c pr e e s f t c es nt d a e y once nst tr quied W VRJm e ca saf t s pe t emedia i r ha e r di l t f o us nd hos c tons 1I s t uppl m nt i n uppor ofhers e e alm oton, S e t venss ubmit nume ouse e pt ofHalsmedial ted r xc r s l' c r cor fom ot ri tt i , c doc m e hi media hit y a daeba k l bef r e ds r he nsiutons whih u nt s c l sor nd t c ong o e Stvensbega pr di hi c r . Thos medialr cor a el sr e ntt t is a ha e n ovi ng m a e e c e ds r es elva o he s ue t nd. The courtreles i ead on St i nst evens't o afi t and H al' m edi r dspert ni t t w fdavis ls cal ecor ai ng o he ca e he r c i d atW V RJ. r e e ve 2I a a sH a lm a ha be n di c r d f om i a ce a i a W V RJ s e i e i Oc o r t ppe r l y ve e s ha ge r nc r r ton t om tm n t be 201 and r -nc r r t d t r i Fe u r 201 St ve di no s e hi d i t ttm e. 2 e i a ce a e he e n br a y 3. e ns d t e m ur ng ha i 3H a1m a nt i t the m i s d t sX - a a 1 i a ns ha s e hi r y ppoi m e bec us he w asi c r t da . ( ePl nt nt a e n ou t hat y Se . Add'Ev.At5,ECF 1 l 7) pe ng f t rme a he lh ev ua i On t s da a t celi pe to St ve s w ndi urhe ntl a t al ton. he nme y s he l ns ci n, e ns a H a li r s l n e pons t co pl i sofbac pa n. Be aus he ha m i s d hi X - a a nt e ,s e o m a nt k i c e d s e s r y ppoi m nt he rv e da X-a tk nj s b f r s ebe a te tn hm a dd tr n dta i s o do l e iwe n ry a e u t eo e h g n r aig i n eemie h t t h we ny mida trts I t ea e eo a ne ij r o b c p o lm, tve f u dd o l rl ii. n h bsnc f ny w nu y r a k r b e S e ns o n s z n de monsrtdmedialnee 'f t a tona mates a dic i d i. Se nsAf. t2, tae c d' or he ddii l tr s nd sontnue t ( tve fa ECF 20- ) W ihi t e da ,W VRJt a X-a ofHalsl rba k a i or dhi t t 1 t n hre ys ook n ry l' owe c nd nf me m ha t X-a a an s we mida t i s ( e P . dlEv. t3 ECF 1 ) he r y g i ho d l rhrt . S e lAd ' a , i 7 Alhoug t ti a ng sudi sa e ua i de t h he dm gi t e nd val tons monsr t d no sg t a fndi ,' ta e i nik nt i ngs' Halc i dt c anofba kpai a Ehedecsonwa madet obs r eg 11whie l ontnue o ompli c n nd s t ii s o e v Ha1 l e ge i e r ay a tvii t a s swha i c ,i a hi c nga d n ve yd c i tes o s es t mpa t f ny, s ompl i so c o cbac hi ant f hr ni k, p, a s ule p i h do h sa t te o d i l i g'( tv nsAf. t7 ECF 2 -4 Ont nd ho d r an a n i ci is f al i n . S e e vi y v ' fa , 72 ) wo occ sons St vensobs ve Ha lr iehi annsa ai , e er d l as s bovehi hea c a p hi ha be nd hi ba s d, l s s nds hi s ck, Wa k up a down sa r ,a punc t ar a1 wihou a sg oflmie r ngeofmoton or l nd t is nd h he i, 1 t t ny i n i td a i dic or. Afe ea h obs r a i St nsne rhees ofe e t r - tr Tylnola t s omf t tr c e v ton, eve ve t l s f r d o e sa t e nd he m us l r l xa i c u he f m as a s f a t m a i ,butH a lr f e H a ldi how e r c e e a nt n r s d or a e le tve l e us d. l d, ve , r eque tan a tona m a tes ,whi h St e de e ç t g oundst no m e ca ne s iy s ddii l tr s c ev ns ni d s he r on hat di l ce st wa d mo srtd'( tv n Af. t8 ECF2 - 4 s e n tae . Se e s f a , ' 72 ) l he a fda t St ve sa e t tt c e va i c zs ofte t nts ofe e Ha l n r fi vi, e ns t t s ha he ons r tve olr e r a me he f r d l w a i ppr i e t hi c ton' g ve t l s e no lm ia i on hi da l a tvii s ' s s oprat o s ondii ' i n hat k how d a he i t tons s iy c i te ' a S sco pl nt we e c it ntwih t pa tmedialhit y whih he r pored a whih nd s hi m ai s r onsse t he s c sor c e t nd c wa e de i hi r c dsfom outi pr des'(d. s vi ntn s e or r sde ovi r. 1 )Fort eras ,Se nsco ude ' hos e ons tve ncl d f frhe i gi sudi /vauainsweei caed.'1 ) i u t r ma ng t ese l to no r ndi t '(d. l I. Hal cli sSt ve wa dei r t l i fe e f r m ovi hi a tonalma te s l am e ns s lbe a ey ndif r nt or e ng s ddii tr s , f ii t pr vi hi t r s t ofal rba X-a , a f ii t t ke a X-a orM Rlof a lng o o de m he e uls owe - ck r y nd a lng o a n r y hi uppe ba k a s de s Be a et unco r re e de e s s r c nd houl r . c us he ntove td vi nc howst tSt ve ha e ns e vo e t e l t a ea ef Ha lsba k a s de pan a wel ast r ol hi ndea r d o vauae nd r or l' c nd houl r i s l o es ve s nume o m e ca co pl i s a a s h i f l f rs tofs wi de i r t i fe e , r us di l m ant , nd s uc t als a hor ho ng lbe a e ndif r nce t ec u t l g a tS e e ' to f rs mma yj d me t4 h o r wil rn tv ns mo ins o u r u g n . TheEi h Am e ght ndmen pr bisprs ofi a sfom a ngwih de i r ei fe e e t ohi t ion fcil r di t lbe at ndif r nc t a i t ssrousmedc ne . tlev.Ga e 429U. 97,t05(976) J c o v. o n nmae' e i ial eds Esel mbl, S. 1 ; a ks n Sa s n 5 6F. p' 35 3 7( t Ci, 01 )( e c rn ; tp e v. . p' o Co r, 0 mp o , 3 Ap x 6, 5 4 h r 2 3 p r u im) S a ls Va De t f r.9 4 F.Supp. 49 ( D. 1 ) Toprvaionadei rt i fe e cam,a i t mus 487, 2 E. Va. 995 . e l lbeae ndifr nce li n nmae t alg h s fe e ade rv to t a wa C b e tv l s fiin l s ro 'a dCha s be tv l le e e u fr d p iain h t s ç j ciey u fce ty eius' n t t u jciey o t t of i i l a t d w ih a s tc e l c pa e sa e ofm i ' D e'w nt v. nge o ,330 F. d he f c a s c e t ufi i nty ul bl t t nd. ' l o a A l ne 3 630,634( h Ci.2003) Thi i $aveyhih sa r ' as ngofmeene i nc o 4t r . s s 1 r g tndad'and howi r glge e r m edi alm al a i w ilnots fce. t l 429 U . a 1 G r vs n v.Pe d,1 F. 692, c pr ctce l uf i Esele, S. t 06; a o e 95 3d 695( hCi.999)(iai omitd) I t d,t ofkilsc 4t r1 ctton te . nsea he t a' onduc mus ha be n s gr sy t t ve e o os l i om pe e , na qua e, exc s ve a t s k t c ci nc ort be i ol r bl t nc t nt i de t or es i s o hoc he ons e e o nt e a e o fnda a fine s M iiirv. or 896F. 8 ,851( h Ci.1 .TheEi h u mentl ar s . lte Be n, 2d 48 4t r 990) ght Am e ndmentdoesnotr quie d ion doc o st ke p a i t pai fe i t a tr ah of e r s s pr t r o e n nma e n-r e n he fe m t pr rme ca te t nt'Sni v. Tela,95F.d 586,592(t Ci.1 ;Le sv.La n, ope di l rame ,' pes De l 3 7h r 996) wi ppi 4S e e h smo e f rs mmayj d me tp ru n t F d r l l o Cii P o e t e5 .A tv ns a v d o u r u g n u s a t o e ea Rue f vl r c dz 6 r c ts dg a s our houl r nt ummayj r udgme i t pla ngs t dic r a dicl ur maeil on nt f he e di ,he sove y nd s os e tras fl ,a a a fda t s ie nd ny fi vis how t tt r i no ge ne is a t a m ae ilf c a t tt ha he e s nui s ue s o ny tra a t nd ha he mova i e ildt j me a amatroflw. R. P.56() l c i rngamotonf nt s ntte o udg nt s te a F. C. c. n onsdei i or s mmayj g n u d rRu e5 ,hec u t tve t r c r a awh ea dd a u r ud me t n e l 6 t o r mus iw he e o d s ol n rw r a ona e i e e s i t lg m os f vor bl t t nonm ovi pa t Ce ot x Cop . e s bl nf r nce n he i ht t a a e o he ng r y. l e v. Car t, U. 31 322- ( 98 . tet477 S. 7, 24 1 6) 4 No . :0 v1 0, :0 v5 , nd3 1 c 68 2 1W L 4 61 6 , t* ( D. . 1, n a s 3 1 c 3 3 1 c 68 a :0 v 4, 01 9 3 6 a 3 E. Va 201 ) a d m e ediag e m e be we n a i ae a medialpe s r s r e nt t e n nm t nd c r onne r ga di dignossorc ls of l e r ng a i otr e te t ntdoe no saea Ei hAmendme cai W rghyv.Coli , F. 841 849(t r ame s t tt n ght nt l m. i lns 766 2d , 4h Ci.1 8 ) Harsv. t ry 7 F. u p. 9 41 ( D. .1 9 ) r 9 5 9 ri M z a , 61 S p 40 , 4 E. Va 9 0 . r Durng a l mont tm epe i St ve e l t Halo a l a tei tocc sons i 3h i rod, e ns va uaed l n t e s gh ai , pr c i d va i m e c tons i r a e hi Tyl noldos ,r vi es r be r ous di a i , nc e s d s e age e ewed hi X -aysa m e c l s r nd di a r or ,a whe hewasf md hoar ng media i ofe edt pr dehi m e c to i a ec ds nd n ot di c tons f r o ovi s di ai ns n c s f f hi s f t Hal a s t t tSt ve di notr c nzhed onu or s a e y. l s ers ha e ns d e ountt r s t ofhi l r he e uls s owe bac X-a buthi own s iso s hela ne fom ot r t tt X-a s k r y, s ubm s i ns how er d r he s ha he r y howe m id d l a t ii . A sf H a ls c ai st t St ve f l d t pr dehi a a tona m a t e sa u r r hrts or l ' l m ha e ns aie o ovi m n ddii l tr s nd ppe bac i a ng, hos c am sa enot ng mor t n am e ediag e m e aboutt pr rc s k m gi t e l i r hi e ha r s r e nt he ope our e ofte t e . St ve 'de e m i ton t ta X-a ofHa lsuppe ba k wasnoti cae i $a r am nt e ns t r na i ha n r y l' r c ndi t d s t ca sce a l o amatrfrme ia j d me t'Esel, 2 U. a 1 7.An e e i he lsi x mpe f te o d c l u g n . tle 4 9 S. t 0 ' d vn f r j d me t swrngt i i n taf r m t ltg t isc re te s 1 a 1 6 Rah r h n u g n wa o h s s o o u o iiae t or cn s .d. t 0 . te t a dei r t i fe e e i i c e rt tSt ve c c e i l e a edt e l t dignos lbe a e ndif r nc , t s l a ha e ns ons intousy nde vor o va uae, a e, a r pond t Ha lsmedialne .Thec u t la c r i l g a t rs mma yj d me t nd es o l' c eds o r wi c o dngy rn he u r u g n l m otons. i 1 . 11 Fo t era o sae ,hec u t rn steS e e 'noin f rs rra'j d n e t r h e s ns ttd t o r g a t h tv ns z to s o un n z u g zn . y EN TER : J 9,201 une 4. ' .' , y UN I TED STA ES DI STRI J CT UDGE

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