Bell v. Charlottesville Department of Child Protective Services et al, No. 3:2015cv00031 - Document 34 (W.D. Va. 2015)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 9/11/15. (jcj)
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CLERKSOFFI U.S. ST K URI CE DI , AT ROANOG , VA FI ED L I THE UN I N TED STATES D I STRI COU RT CT FO R TH E W ESTERN DI STRI O F V I I I CT RG N A CH AR LOTTESV I LLE D I I ON V SI sEP 112 1 25 J BYULK C. RK , : DE CL ' J REE BELL, A Ci lA cton N o.3: vi i 15CV 00031 Pl i if a ntf , M EM O R AN D UM O PINIO N CH A RLO TTESVI LLE D EPARTM EN T H on. e E. Gl n Conr ad Chi Unie St t s D it i tJ e ef t d a e s rc udg OF CHI PROTECTI SERVI LD VE CES,1g ç L, Def nda s e nt . Ea le t syea , a e Be lsm i c l r n w e er m oved f om he cus ody a pl c d i t r i r hi r J r e l' nor hid e r e r r t nd a e n he cusody oft i ma e na g a t he r t r l r ndmot . Bel c me e t sa ton r l t t t c t de son her l om nc d hi c i e aed o he usody cii om a nt ul , m d f nda s he t l tes le cha by f lng a pr yq c pl i on J y 1 2015. Shenn e asde e nt t t r o t vil ii o - De rme ofChid Pr e tveSe vi s'.lr em pl ee oft Charote vil De rm e o pa t nt l ot c i r ce '1 ttee oy s he l t s le pa t nt f , Soci lSe v ce , e Sa pe,Sha a r i s Br nda m nnon M a r , nd El o Rei t gua di a lt m a gui e a m na d; he r an d ie ppoi e nt d f herc l e St phani Cangi ,a Cha l t vil J nie a Dom e tc Re a i Di t i or hidr n, e e n' nd r otes le uve l nd s i l tons s rd Co tJ ur udgeEdwa d Be r The c ei pr s nty be or t cour on t de e nt 'm oto t r ry. as s e e l f e he t he f nda s i ns o di m i s Fort f l i r as , he c twilgr ntt de e nt m otons s s. he olow ng e ons t our l a he f nda s' i . Fact Backeround ual O n J nua y 1 201 t Cha l t s le Depa t e tofSoc a Ser c t l d t o pe ii i a r 2, 5, he rote vil rm n i l vi es i e w ttons n t Cha l t vil J nie a D om es i Re a i nsD i ti tCour , s ntt Vi gi a Co he rotes le uve l nd tc l to s rc t pur ua o r ni de jj1 1252a o 1 1253. Thepeii s 6.- nd/r 6.ttons oughtt rmovalofBelst mi c l e fom he e l' wo nor hidrn r Bell v. Charlottesville Department of Child Protective Services et al Doc. 34 he c t r usody. The we es po tdby a a fda tfom Sha y r up re n fi vi r nnon M a r a s i lwor empl guie, oc a ker oyed by t Charotesvil D epart entofSoci Servi he l t le m al ces. The af i ti cat t Bel w as fdavi ndi ed hat l 'Thecour hasbee adviedt tt se iy i pa4oft Fa iy Ser cesD i son oft Charotes le t n s ha hi ntt s l he m l vi vii he l t vil Deparm entofSoci Ser ces t al vi . Dockets.Justia.com i r e aed o c r ofdomesi vi e e,ma ii wou ng,a c l a easar s tofa nca c r t n ha ges tc olnc lc ous ndi nd hid bus e ul phys c la t r ton w ih D e m ond Ra s y, he f t rofBe ls one ye r ol da i a le ca i t s m e t a he l' - a - d ught r who w as e, pr s nti t ho e a t tm e oft i i nt t ta pr ec i or rw a i pl e pr bii B e l e e n he m t he i he nc de ; ha ot tve de s n ac ohi tng l f om havi a con a tw ih R a s y ort one- ar ol c l t tBe lhad pr e t d as r ng ny t c t m e he ye - d hid; ha l es n e e o i ly unsa e'a t tt De rme ofSocilSe vi e wasconc r d t ts woul m tonal tbl , nd ha he pa t nt a r cs e ne ha he d atmp t tk h rt c id e o to saewh n s ewa rla e fo j i. te t o a e e wo hlr n u f tt e h s ee s d rm al J udge Be r f r y ound t tt c l r n w e e a e o ne ec ed,o atrs ofbe ng a e or ha he hid e r bus d r gl t r i k i bus d ne e t d, Be l On J nua y 21 2015 J gl c e by l . a r , , udge Be r e e e a pr i i r r m oval de a di r y nt r d elm na y e or r war ng tm por r c t y oft chidr t t i m ae nalgr ndmot , oceyn Bel. On M a c 11, 5, e a y usod he l en o her tr a her J l l r h 201 J udge Be r e e e a dipos to or rta f r i cus o t t m a e na gr ndm ot . r y nt r d s ii nal de r ns e r ng t dy o he t r l a her Be lsco pl ntars s f o t e c t y pr e ngs Bel c a m st t whie s w a l' m ai i e r m hes us od oce di . l l i ha , l he s i a c rtd,heDepat ntofChidPrtci Sevi s(k 'wr ulytanse rdc t of nc r eae t rme l oe tve r ce C CPS' ongf l r fre usody ) he c l r nt t i m ae na g a r hid e o her t r l r ndmot r Bel c endst tf s alegai r ga di he m e t he . l ont ha ale l tons e r ng r n al he t we em a t CPS, ndt tt de rme ' e oye si ude t a lga i i a fda t alh r de o a ha he pa t nts mpl e ncl d he le tons n fi vis a i the e t ga ns r ven hough t e w a no C her s d i lpr of' o s physca o t uppor t a l atons Be la l ge t t t he leg i . l le s ha Ca n, he c l e sgua di n a lt m , f l t r t n he m es age . Bel f rhe a l gest t ngi t hidr n' r a d ie has aied o e ur r s s l u t r le ha CPS,Ca i a J ng n, nd udge Be r havem a i i pos i e f rhe t r unie w ih he c l e ry de t m s bl o r o e t t r hidr n. Bel doesnots e a m one a y da a s I t d,s as t tt sc t os t c t y l e k ny t r m ge . nsea he ks ha hi our cl e he us od ca e c i i l pr e ut t e pe s who pr de f l e i o m a i a ns he , r a nty s , r m naly os c e hos r ons ovi d a s nf r ton gai t r pe m ne l r m ovet i vi lde e nt fom t i postons a r uniehe wih he c l e Bel not s e he ndi dua f nda s r her ii , nd e t r t r hidr n. l e t ts ha I lpa r ka e ist frfom CPSandwilber si mor gthejAug. ha he s s pewor nd mal hus a r al l equetng e a r 2nd hearng' bef Judge Ber y. i ' ore r ProceduralH i orv st B el,pr l oceedi pr yçandj f ma p ng o . or aupe i,tl d t i t ntaci n o J y 1 201 The n rs ie he nsa to n ul , 5. . . defnda ss e ntymo dt dimist complitpurua t Ruls1 b) 1 a 1 b)6)of e nt ubs que l ve o s s he an s nt o e 2( () nd 2( ( t Fe r Rul ofCi lPr du e Thec tnotfe Be lo t de e nt 'm o i a r r d he de al es vi oce r . our iid l f he f nda s tons s equie byRosbor v. rion,5 F. 309( hCi.1 , s di nottl a r pons Thematri e o Gars 28 2d 4t r 975)but he d ie ny es e. te s rpe f di pos ton. i or s ii st andar o Re q ds f yiw Rul 1 b)1 oft Fe r lRulso Ci l oc r per t apa t t mo f dimislof e 2( () he de a e f viPr edu e mis ry o ve or s sa a a to f rlc o s b e tmatr u idcin Theplitf b a st b r e o p o i t t n cin o a k f u j c te j rs ito . an if e r he u d n f r vng ha s be t te j rs ito e it. Eva sv. F. r isCo,1 6F.d6 2 6 7( t Ci.1 9 . u j c matr u id cin x ss n B. Pekn . 6 3 4 , 4 4h r 99 ) Dimisl o lc o s b e t te j rs it ni a p o raet n yi temaeilu idcin la t s sa f r a k f u j c matr u id ci s p r p it s l f h tra j rs it a fcs o o o a eno i ds ea t movngpa t i e il t prvaia amatro l ' l (ntr lctton r t n iput nd he i ry s ntted o e l s te f aw. d.i ena iai ' a dq o ai nmakso te ) I d cdngamoint ds s frlc o s be t te jzidcin, n u tto r mi d . n e ii l to o imis o a k f u jc matr l s ito r t co ts ul ' ega d t pl a ngsasm e e e denc on t i s a m a c i re de e he ur ho d ç r he e di r r vi e he s ue, nd y ons de vi nc o tiet pe dn swi o t o v rigt p o e d n t o ef rs mma yj d me t' 1 . u sd he la ig t u c n et he r c e i g o n o u r u g n . d h n ' Rul l b)6 oft Fe r lRulso Ci l oc r pelnisapa t t mo f dimislof e 2( () he de a e f viPr edue n t ry o ve or s sa a com pl i f rf iur t sa e a cl i upon w hi r le c n be g a e To s vi di m i s lf a nt o a l e o t t am ch e i f a r nt d. ur ve s s a or f l e t s a e a c ai , pl ntf m us e t bls tf c al a i lt ' pl adi C a t lc e t t aiur o t t l m a ai i f t s a i h ia i pl us biiy' by e ng s c ua ont nt ha f a l st c t o dr w t r s bl i e e t tt de e nti la e f t m i c low he our t a he ea ona e nf r nce ha he f nda s i bl or he s onduc t alged.' As r tv. qba,556U. 662,678( le ' hcof I l S. 2009) ( botom,apli ifmus . $ At t antf t S nudger r cl msa r st lnefom c i et plusbl t rss dimisl' W agM or hej ai cos he i r oncevabl o a i e' o e it s sa.' e Dols LLC v.Coz r, 0F. 359,36 65( hCi. 2)( i BelAt. p. Two y,550 , a t68 3d 4- 4t r201 quotng l lCor v. mbl U. 544,570( S. 2007). W hieapr . ltga ' pla ngsaet belbeal c tu d,Gor v. ) l oï ii nts e di r o i rly onsr e q don 3 Le ,574F. 11 11 (t Ci.1 ,apr K c antmus silc an s fcintf csCo eke 2d 47, 51 4h r 978) o ompli t tl onti ufi e a t t t r i e a rghtt r le a a s i o e i f bove t s c a i l ve ' a C t t a c a m t r le t ti pl usbl on is he pe ul tve e l' nd k a e l i o e i f ha s a i e t s fc ' Twombl 55 U. a 555,5 l c i rngaRul 1 b)6 moton,t cour may a e.' y, 0 S. t 70. n onsdei e 2( () i he t c i re bis a t c t orr f r e t i t c pl i . Se Philpsv. onsde xhi t ta hed o e e r d o n he om a nt e li LCll ' l ,1 F. ntl nc. 90 3d , 609,61 ( hCi.1 ) 8 4t r 999 . D i c s on s us i Th d fn a t h vemo e t ds s t epanifsc mp an f rlc o s b e t te e ee d ns a v d o imis h litf o lit o a k f u j c matr J i di i a f f iur t sa e apl us bl c ai f rr le . The c t l c i re h a g e ' s cton nd or a l e o t t ur a i e l m o e if our wil ons de ac r um nt i t n. n ur 1 . M oton t Dimisf La o Subj tM ate Jurs c i i o s s or ck f ec tr iditon Th d fn a t frtag eta ti c u ta k s b e tmatr u idcint a r ij n tv e e e d n s is r u h t h s o r lc s u j c te j rs ito o wad nu cie r le r ques e i t c pl nt s c fca l t r ues t tt s c toverur J e Be r s ei f e t d n he om ai , pe ii ly he eq t ha hi our t n udg r y' c t de s on a r unie B e lw ih herc l r n. The c t ee . U nde t Rooke - l m a us ody ci i nd e t l t hid e our agr s r he r Fe d n d crn , e e a d src c u t d n t a es be t t r u idcint h a d a e b o g tb o ti e fd rl itit o rs o o h v u j c mat j rs ito o e r i s s r u h y e c saec u to esc mp an n o ij re c usdb saec u tu g n srn rdb f r ted src tt-o r ls r o lii g f nu is a e y tt-o rj d me t e dee eo e h itit c u t r c e i sc mme e a divingd src c u t e iw a drj cin o t o ej d me t.2 o r p o e dng o nc d n n t itit o r rve n ee to f h s u g n s, i , Ex o M o l r v. u i scl d s Co'.5 4U. 28 , 8 ( 0 5 . Ac o dn l t t e x n biCo p. Sa d Ba i n u . l , 4 S. 0 2 4 2 0 ) c r igy,o h p e tn Bel e k rv e o , r eif r m,ud eBer sc so yd cso , e c mpan i s b e to xe t ls e s e iw fo r le fo J g ry' u t d e iin h r o lit s u j c t dimis lunde Rul l b)1. s sa r e 2( ( ) ll. M oton t Di m i s f Faiure t St e a Cl m Upon W hi R elefC an Be G rant i o s s or l o at ai ch i ed Belsc anti as s j c t dimislunde Rul 1 b)6)f anumbe ofr a ons l' ompli s lo ube t o s sa r e 2( ( or r es . 2TheRooke - dma docrnei namedafert Supr Cour c es Rookerv.Fi iyTr tCo.263 r Fel n ti s t wo eme t as , delt us , U. 41 ( 9 3 , n Ditito Col aCo t Ap asv. ed n 46 U. 4 ( 98 ) S. 3 1 2 ) a d src f umbi urof pe l F lma , 0 S. 62 1 3 . 4 Fis ,o t e e Bel a kst scou tt cl e t c t ca e orot r s i ewe i ongoi r t t he xtnt l s hi r o os he usody s he wie nt l ne n ng pr e ngsbe or J e Be r s h r le i ba r d by t a t nton doc r ne s tf t i Y o oce di f e udg r y, uc e i f s r e he bs e i t i e orh n unge r v. ri,401U. 37( 971. TheYounge docrnepr dest taf r c ts da ti Hars S. 1 ) r ti ovi ha edeal our houl bsan fom i ef rngi asaepr e di e ni ihasj iditont r a ht meis i ()t r ae r ntrei n tt oc e ng, ve f t urs ci o e e he rt,f 1 hee r ongoi sat j ca pr ee ngs ( t pr e ngsi iaei tntsaei eess a ( ng t e udiil oc di ;2) he oc edi mplc t mpora tt ntr t; nd 3) t r ia a he e s n dequa eoppor uniy t r i e a f de alc ai si t sat pr ee ngs M a tn M a i ta t t t o a s ny e r l m n he t e oc di . ri ret Cor v. avlndComm' o Huma Reltons 38F. 1 1 ( hCi.1 . p. M r a n n n ai , 3d 392, 396 4t r 994) Appl ngt s prncpls t c tconcude t Belscli f ij tver le ae yi he e i i e ,he our l s hat l' ams or nunci eif r s j ctt dimis lunde Younce. Fis,ii ce rfom t c antt tt saecusody ube o s s a r r rt t s la r he ompli ha he tt t pr ee ng we eongoi a t tmet sa tonwasfld,snc t c oc di s r ng t he i hi c i ie i e he ompl i i c t st tBelwa ant ndia e ha l s s he ed t a a f ahe rngbef r J c dul o ppe r or a i o e udge Bery onAugus 2,201 Sec r t 5. ond,i i wel ts l esa i he t tc l c t m a t r i plc t i po t ntsa e i e e t . Se M oo e v.Si s 442 t bls d ha hid us ody te s m i a e m r a t t nt r s s e r m , U. 415, ( 9 (a l r ltonsar ata tona a e ofsaec r . Thid,t r i no S. 435 1 79) fmiy eai e rdii l r a tt oncen) r he e s i c ton t Be lc nno r i e he c ai s i t s a e co tp oc edi . Be us Bel hasnot ndi a i hat l a t a s r l m n he t t ur r e ngs ca e l i tf e a e r or na y c r um s a est tm i htgi r s t a e e i t t a i a i of den ii d ny xt a di r i c t nc ha g ve ie o n xc pton o he pplc ton t Younge doc rne,t c tc ude t ti m us a t i f om hea i a ofhe c ai s he r ti he our oncl s ha t t bs a n r rng ny rlm concer ng t pendi st e pr ni he ng at oceedi ngs. Addii l a c ai sa i tt D e rm e ofSoc a Se vi esa e ba r by t El ve h tonaly, ny l m ga ns he pa t nt i l r c r r ed he e nt Am e e t t Unied St t Cons iuton. Pur ua t t El ve h A m e en ,t n ndm nt o he t a es tt i s nt o he e nt ndm t t a u ons ntng St t i i m une f o s t br nc e i ae s m r m uis oughti f de alc t b he ow n c tz . Edel a v. n e r ours y r ii ens' ' m n J da 415U. 651 662- ( 974 . Thi pr e to as c endst saea nce , ge sof or n, S. , 63 1 ) s otcin lo xt o tt ge is Re nt Uni ofCalv. e,51 U. 425 429( 997) whihaec i r dd m lloft Stt,' t v. . Do 9 S. , 1 , c r onsde e ' s he ae'M , ar He lhyCivSc Dit Bd. Educ v. e 429U. 274,280( 977) l Vigi a de t t of at t h. s. of . Dovl, S. 1 . n r ni, parmens s a s r ce ar c i r d la m soft Com m onwea t . . a l a tw he i c e t t rr e i oci l e vi s e ons de e i r he 1h . , t e s n t om s o hei ol n pr t c i c l e ' N e s n v. e r c N o.3: 1 c 0001 2011U . Di t LEX I 1 o e tng hidr n. ' l o H r i k, 1 - v4, S. s . S 23618 a *35 ,t ( . Va. t26, 1;s eas Doev. lnsNo. 1 W D. Oc. 201 ) e lo Muli , 2:0CV0001 201 U. DitLEXI 74080, 7, 0 S. s. S a *( . Va. 0)( di t tt W ieCo yDe rmen ofSocalSevies i isr ei t W D. 201 hol ng ha he s unt pa t t i r c ,n t ol n pr e tngc l e ii prpel c rcei da a am oft sae'. I t absnceofc e t otci hidrn,ks o ry haa trze s n r he tt') n he e onsnt o s tora e es w a ve ofi m uniy, he Cha l t s leD e rm e ofSoc a Se v ce a isChid ui n xpr s i r m t t rote vil pa t nt i l r i s nd t l Pr ec i Se vi s Di s on a e i m une f o labiiy unde t El vent Am e ot tve r ce vi i r m r m i lt r he e h ndm e t n. Thec tlkewie c l st tJ our i s onc ude ha udgeBe r a St p ni Ca n,t gua di a lt m ry nd e ha e ngi he r an d ie a ppoi ed f he c l e a e i m une fom la lt Se St p v.Spa km a 435 U . 349, nt or r hidr n, r m r i biiy. e um r n, S. 3 5 5 ( 9 8 ( ic so udca i ntl s eas Flmigv As il4 F.d8 6 8 9(t Ci. 5 - 6 1 7 ) d susinj iilmmu iy ; e lo e n . b l 2 3 8 , 8 4h r , 1 ( di t tt dee nt whiea tngast g din,wa i 994) hol ng ha he fnda , l ci he uar a s mmunefom la lt e ni r ibiiy, ve f s ele t tej d ei o e c u t. h id o h u g n p n o r) Fi ly, l Belhasatmptdt i nal whie l te e o nvoket co tsf rlq si j iditon,he he ur' edea ueton urs ci r com pl i , n unde t m os lbe a c tud i f ist a l ge s fci ntf t t s a e a pl us bl a nt eve r he t i r l onsr on, a l o le uf i e ac s o t t a i e cli unde any f de alc tt i lorsa ut ypr son a i ta oft na e def nt . am r e r onsiutona tt or ovii gans ny he m d enda s Ac o dn l t c mpliti s b e t ods sa u d rTwo l a dI b l c r igy,he o an s u jc t imisl n e mb y n q a. C oncl i us on Fort r a ons sat d, he c t ilgr ntt de e nt 'm o i nst dim i s The Cl r i he e s t e t our w l a he f nda s t o o s s . ek s diec e t s nd c e oft sm e or nd o ni a t a c pa ng or rt t pl i ifa r t d o e opi s hi m a um pi on nd he c om nyi de o he a ntf nd a lc l ouns lofr c d. e e or ENTER : Thi l(Q day ofSe ember 2015. s pt , Chi U nied St esD i r ctJudge ef t at sti
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