Polk v. Hefner, No. 2:2020cv00039 - Document 19 (N.D. Tex. 2023)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT re: 3 Complaint. (Ordered by Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk on 3/20/2023) (awc)

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Polk v. Hefner Doc. 19 Case 2:20-cv-00039-Z-BR Document 19 Filed 03/20/23 Page 1 of 4 PageID 57 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS AMARILLO DIVISION ALLEN LEE POLK, TDCJ-CID No. 02095411, U.S. DISTRICT COURT NORTI IERN DISTR JCT OF TEXAS FILED [ MAR20 2023 CL~:().2· j DISTRICT COURT 1J.,p111y Plaintiff, v. 2:20-CV-039-Z-BR WARDEN JODY HEFFNER, Defendant MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff's civil rights claims. Plaintiff filed suit pro se while a prisoner incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice ("TDCJ"), Correctional Institutions Division. See ECF No. 3. Plaintiff was granted permission to proceed in forma pauperis. See ECF No. 14. The Court ordered the Plaintiff to respond to a Briefing Order Questionnaire to further clarify his claims for relief. ECF No. 16. Plaintiff filed his response to the questionnaire on December 20, 2021. ECF No. 17. For the reasons discussed herein, Plaintiff's Complaint is DISMISSED. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Plaintiff's Complaint alleges that while housed on in the TDCJ Jordan Unit in Pampa, Texas, on June 13, 2019, Plaintiff was touched in an inappropriate sexual manner by TDCJ guard Officer Hubbs. ECF No. 3 at 1-2. Plaintiff has not brought suit against Officer Hubbs. Plaintiff immediately reported the conduct of Officer Hubbs to the sergeant on duty. The sergeant escorted Plaintiff to review video footage of the incident in the sergeant's office. Id Plaintiff was then Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:20-cv-00039-Z-BR Document 19 Filed 03/20/23 Page 2 of 4 PageID 58 escorted to Captain Flanegan's office where videotape footage of the incident was viewed a second time. Id. at 5. Following a review of the video footage, Captain Flanegan made a phone call to the administrative office in Huntsville, Texas, to report the incident. Id. Plaintiff was temporarily released from TDCJ custody and is unaware of any follow up investigation, if any, that occurred after the incident was reported. Id. at 5. Plaintiff claims that Officer Hubbs began to harass Plaintiff following the investigation and report. Id. Plaintiff does not allege that Defendant Heffner participated in the harassment of Plaintiff following the incident, nor does Plaintiff allege any specific actions taken by Defendant Heffuer following the incident. LEGAL STANDARD When a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility brings an action with respect to prison conditions under any federal law, the Court may evaluate the complaint and dismiss it without service of process, Ali v. Higgs, 892 F.2d 438, 440 (5th Cir. 1990), if it is frivolous 1, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A, 1915(e)(2). The same standards will support dismissal of a suit brought under any federal law by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility, where such suit concerns prison conditions. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(l). A Spears2 hearing need not be conducted for every prose complaint. Wilson v. Barrientos, 926 F.2d 480,483 n.4 (5th Cir. 1991). 3 1 A claim is frivolous ifit lacks an arguable basis in law or in fact. Booker v. Koonce, 2 F.3d 114, 115 (5th Cir. 1993). Spears v. Mccotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985). 3 Green vs. McKaskle, 788 F.2d 1116, 1120 (5th Cir. 1986) ("Of course, our discussion of Spears should not be interpreted to mean that all or even most prisoner claims require or deserve a Spears hearing. A district court should 2 be able to dismiss as frivolous a significant number of prisoner suits on the complaint alone or the complaint together with the Watson questionnaire."). Dismissals may also be based on adequately identified or authenticated records. Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232,234 (5th Cir. 1995). 2 Case 2:20-cv-00039-Z-BR Document 19 Filed 03/20/23 Page 3 of 4 PageID 59 ANALYSIS Plaintiff named a single Defendant, the Warden of the Jordan TDCJ Unit, on his original Complaint. The Complaint alleges no direct action taken by Defendant Heffner. See ECF No. 3. This Court gave Plaintiff an opportunity to clarify or add facts to his Complaint, and to specifically address any actions taken by Defendant Heffner in a Briefing Order Questionnaire. ECF No. 16. Plaintiff returned the questionnaire without adding any facts concerning Defendant Heffner's involvement in the investigation of this incident. ECF No. 17. Plaintiff does not sue the TDCJ officer who allegedly assaulted him, nor does he sue any of the supervisors who were present or later informed of the incident. See ECF No. 3. Plaintiff's claim against Defendant Heffner solely as a supervisor must be dismissed. In Section 1983 suits, liability of government officials for the unconstitutional conduct of their subordinates may not rest solely upon a theory of respondeat superior or vicarious liability. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009) (citing Robertson v. Sichel, 127 U.S. 507, 515-16 (1988)); see also Roberts v. City ofShreveport, 397 F.3d 287,292 (5th Cir. 2005) ("Under section 1983, supervisory officials are not liable for the actions of subordinates on any theory of vicarious liability."). Thus, supervisory officials are not subject to vicarious liability under Section 1983 for the acts or omissions of their subordinates. See Mouille v. City of Live Oak, Tex., 977 F.2d 924, 929 (5th Cir. 1992). Absent direct personal participation in the alleged constitutional violation, a plaintiff must prove that each individual defendant either implemented an unconstitutional policy that directly resulted in injury to the plaintiff or failed to properly train a subordinate employee. See Porter v. Epps, 659 F.3d 440, 446 (5th Cir. 2011); Thompkins v. Belt, 828 F.2d 298, 303-04 ( 5th Cir. 1987). Plaintiff has failed to allege direct involvement by Defendant. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against Defendant, and his Complaint is DISMISSED. 3 Case 2:20-cv-00039-Z-BR Document 19 Filed 03/20/23 Page 4 of 4 PageID 60 CONCLUSION The Complaint is DISMISSED. SO ORDERED. March ~ , 2023 HEW J. KACSMARYK ITED STATES DISTRICT WOGE 4

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