Smith v. Turner et al, No. 7:2011cv00230 - Document 20 (W.D. Va. 2011)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 08/02/2011. (kab)

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rapRg' OFFI U. DI EO URT s CE S. S' >T QOANOKE, A . V Fl Fi i t ' At 2 221 s 1 I TH E U N I ED STA TES D I N T STR I C O U R T CT FO R TH E W E STER N D I STR I O F V I G I I CT R N A R O A N O K E D I ISIO N V CH AR LES AER ALL SM I TH J AC ULI ' $ CLERK BY; DE W L ERK CI I A C TI N N O .7: C V00230 V L O 11 Pl ntff ai i , M EM O M N D UM O PI I N N O VS. J.TU RN ER,etc/, . By: Sam uelG .W ison l U nie St e Di t i Judge t d at s s r ct Def endant . s Thi i a a tonpurua t 42U. C.j 1 bypli if Cha lsJ rl Smih,a s s n ci s nt o S. 983 antf, re eal t n imaea Re On o S aePrs np o e dngpr s a di o mapau rs a an td fn a t, . n t t d in tt io r c e i o e n nf r pe i, g i s ee d n s J Tum e ,T.A dn s D .Thom ps n,T. a e,L. uli , . ig e,V .Phi ,R.D e l R . r m , o H l M lns R K l or pps e, Ro ete,Trc Ray,Fr d Sc li J Gama Va saFihe ( prvaepa t ,a s vea wl t a y e hilng, ohn r n, ne s s r a i t ry) nd e rl C o Doe' io g r a i t ,a lgi t tdef nt a i d hi c tt i nalrght û hn l 'prs n ua ds nd nma es le ng ha enda s brdge s onsiuto i s byr tla i a ns hi f tlng gre nce and c ea itng gai t m or ii i va s ompl i s Sm ih m ant i t tde e n s ant . t i ans ha f nda t r t la e aga ns hi by con n i tng hi m e c ton, ihhol ng t e t enta t s i a t r e ait d i t m t m na i s di a i w t di r a m nd e tng f e Sm ih i s e t c a i t d m e ca i n,a by s e lng hi i t nge t d he ont m na e di to nd tai s ncom i m ai. Sm ih s e ng l t e ks c mp nst r d ma e a d caao ya dij n t rle .l ttl S t fldo e 4 0pa e o e ao y a g s nd e lrt r n n u ci eif n oa, mi ie v r 0 g s ve h w ih t c t i l ng a 1 pa c pl i a f t s ve a t he e bis H i c pl nt t he our , nc udi 57 ge om a nt nd ory- e n tac d xhi t . s om ai i of e r m blng a unr a e t hi unde l ng c a m s The c t i t tSm ih' a l ga i s t n n i nd el t d o s r yi l i . our f nds ha t s le tons a a f nc f a gi no hi ofbe ng f e by a hi m or t n hi own i agi to a ppe r a i ul nd ve nt i uel d nyt ng e ha s m na i n nd s e ulto .Co s q e ty t c u t imisshsa to wi o t eudc pu s n t 2 p c ain n e u n l,he o r d s se i cin t u prj ie rua to 8 h U. C.j 1 5()2)B)i) S. 91 e( ( (i. . . 1. Sm ih c a m st ti m i Febr r 201 de e nt c n i t d hi m e ca i by t l i ha n d- ua y 0, f nda s ont m na e s di ton plci hi pil i bodiy fui ( i slvaa lo s n)i ta ofwae .Smih saest t a ng s ls n l l d urne, ai nc/r eme nse d tr t tt ha u n i s i he i m e a el notc t s t nc i t m e c ne c ha a tf ult t . po nge ton, m di t y i ed he ubs a e n he di i up d ûo as e ' ' ( ComplEx.1 a 8, No.1. Smihmanti t tdefnda sc n naedhi pil i . , t ECF ) t i ans ha e nt ontmi t s ls n r t i ton f c pl nt he m a t t Unie St t s De rm e ofJ tc a ns RO SP. e ala i or om ai s de o he t d a e pa t nt us i e gai t Afe c umi t s t e,Smih satshede ope fu-i s tr ons ng he ubsanc t te vel d l lke ympt sa panf lfui om nd i u l dfle bumpson hi he ild s ad.Ther a tr t de e e fe , he f ndan e oye a Re Oni a lge y r f e t t mpl es t d on le dl e us d o pr de Sm ih w ih hea t c e s r i es i udi t s sf di ea e he beleve he c r c e ovi t t lh ar e v c , ncl ng e t or s s s i s ont a t d f om i tng t bodiy tui Ba e on hi pl di ,howeve ,hea t c e ofi a sa t r nges i he l l d. s d s ea ngs r lh ar tci l t he Re O ni tea e Sm ih w ih a i otc , es rbe bl pr s e m e c ton and t t d hi d on r t d t t ntbi i s pr c i d ood es ur di a i ese m f ot rpos i e pr e s or he s bl obl m . Smih as a lgest ta ofi e sol i om i ma ladd es edt Smih fom hi amt t lo le ha n fc r t e nc ng i r s o t r s t a f om a f i nd,g hi m a lt o he i m a es a cons r d t c rup t t f . Sm ih nd r re ave s i o t r n t , nd pie o ove he he t t m a nt ns t the di no r ce ve a l t e hi a cl i e t ha s nthi a t ta he i ai ha d te i e t r s unt a m d o ve e m nd ha not r i t tls apic ofpa whihl kedt bealte a be nlughi ' ( nmae t ahed e e f per c oo o etr nd ga a ng. ComplEx.1 ' . , a 36. Ac or ngt Smih,ot ri tsprvi l t dhi t tt ypl dt c nc a t ) c di o t he nmae e ousy ol m ha he anne o onvi e n ofk e t sea hi m a la g ve i t m . Sm ih c a m st ta of i e de i rng t m ai s c e l t r o t l s i nd i t he t l i ha n f c r lve i he l e r ty ga a he i ae Sm ih' m a l at ve not r nm t t s i, lhough,a or ngt Smih t ofi rde e t swhe cc di o t he fce nid hi n Sm ih co r e hi . Sm ih a s o r a d c t nfont d m t l o ve he r onve s tons be w ee i a e i w hi he rai t n nm t s n ch be i ve t i a e w e e r f r i t hi f i nd w ho s n hi t a l gedl s ol n m ai,a t le s he nm t s r e e rng o s re e t m he le y t e l lhoug h he di nothea a r e e e t he by na e.1 Sm ih a s cl i st ts e i a e ob a ne t d r ny ef r nc o r m t l o a m ha om nm t s t i d he lSm ih ovehe r t f l ng c t r a d he olowi onverai bewe ot ri ae : s tons t en he nm ts t l phone nu be of Sm ih' f i nd f om he l te st Sm ih a be n a i ppr pr a e ee m r t s re r r e tr o t nd ga n na o i t r a i hi w ih he . H ow e r c r po nc f om Sm ih' f i el tons p t r ve , or es nde e r t s rend,whi h Sm ih i l d as c t nc ude a a t c e t hi com pl i s a e ,1 ha no w rte t a ot r i at butyo and no n ta hm nt o s a nt t t s û ve t it n o ny he nm es I u o ha wrte t me. ( No.1 Ex.29. Smih' findwansSmihnott 1tpaanoi ge ne s itn o ' ECF ' 2, ) t s re r t oe r a t t bes ofhi . Sm ih a s atac t hi c pl i s r ll te she r c ved f o hi f i nd he t m t l o t hed o s om a nt eve a e t r e ei r m s re durng t tm ef a e he alege de enda sw e e s ea i hi m a l i he i r m l s f nt r t lng s i. A lhoug Sm ih tl d greva esr ga di t s m a t r , i o ofi i l aleg y f ie t h t i e i nc e r ng he e te s pr s n tc a s l edl a l d t t ke a ac i n t s op t m a lt torpuni h t e pl e w ho s ol hi m a l Sm ih a l s o a ny to o t he i hef s he m oye t e s i. t lege t tde e nt s ol hi m ai i r t la i n f rcom pl nt he m ade t t U nie St t ha f nda s t e s l n e a i to o ai s o he t d a es D e rm e ofJ tce a o hera hor te a i tRO SP. Sm ih al o m ai ai t thi f i nd pa t nt us i nd t ut ii s ga ns t s nt ns ha s r e a ce t n ot rdef ndant e e e i o a s tl m e a e m e r r ng t m ai t f,a nd rai he e s nt r d nt e te nt gr e nt ega di he l he t nd t the i ow e m o y f om t ss tl e .2 ha s d ne r hi e tem nt lmaeRi:ç-leo ewi tebi frh a,. .lgta lda b* * ta flu ' S t hdalg dyjkd n t j çlh n t h j oeed . o n n in * * htul p. mi a l e l o e lh ' h e w ihhi f nd a t s ne bouthe f e d l t pas. r or hea n he t ( mp. .1 a 41) Co lEx , t . lmaeG ' ûDi Jytlyo wh t ta b* * s i?' n t G ' ç d a el u al h t * * ad ' A.. l l aeç ' f nm t ç - ç twor y a B' Don' r bouti-' t' ( mp. .1 a 46) Co lEx , t . l aet ' çshewr em eba k ' nm t t ' ç A' ot c ' I t ç ' ç o t gilt tsbee wrtngyou?' nmae $ ' t B' e he r ha ' n ii ' I aet ' t a t ot ro ' nm t ç ' ç h he he ne' A' N l a e i ' if e ot r o ' nm t ( ' f ' he ne. B' -h ' ( mp . . , t2) Co lEx 4 a . lmaet ' û h s i c lh r'. . n t t - t e ad al e'( .) A' s I aeç ''ûl t r a hi youwantm et t lh ?' nm t % ' ts he e nyt ng o el er ' I maeç ' ç a tl h rlg t h lte .. l v h r' ( .) û g t rs meb d s e s' n t i ' t h el e o t e etr .1 o e e . . . ç o he o e he t' A' Ye ' I (d a 21. l.t ) 2Smih s bmit a lte t t c tr quesi a nmen ofanator y t as s hi i ne ta i hi s eof t u ted e tr o he our e tng ppoit t t ne o sit m n goitng s har tep o e d fo ti alg dstlme t ( No. 7. S t h sas fldamoinfra ponme t fc u e h r c e s r m hs l e et n. ECF 1 ) mih a lo ie e e to o p it n o o nsl ( No 5) Ho v r itswelstldta i cvia to stea p it n o c u sls ul b alwe o l i ECF . .. we e,ç i l et h t n i l cin h p onme t f o n e ho d e l d ny n i e o e c pin l a e. Coo v Bo n s 51 F.d7 9 7 0(t Ci. 9 5 .Fidign e c pina cru tn e i x e t a c ss' k . u d , 8 2 7 , 8 4h r 1 7 ) n n o x e to l ic msa c s n o ' t pr s ntca e,heco tdeclnest appoi couns andde esSm ih' m oton. he e e s t ur i o nt el ni ts i I I. Unde j1983,apli ifmus etbls t theha be nde i d ofrght guaa e dby r antf t sa ih ha s e prve i s rnte t Co tt i orlwsoft Unied St t ,a t tt sde i ton r s t fom c he nsiuton a he t aes nd ha hi prva i e uled r onduc t c ommitdbyape s aci underc orofsaelw.W etv. ki , U. 42( 988) To te ron tng ol tt a s At ns 487 S. 1 . s a e a a ua e c ai f rr le ,Sm ih' pl adi m us c ai û t t n deq t l m o e i f t s e ngs t ont n t enough f t t sa e a c a m ac s o t t l i t r i t ti plusbl onisfc ' Twombl 550U. a 570(iai omitd) W hiet o elef ha s a i e t a e.' v, S. t ctton te . l he co tm us a ce t cl i an ' f c ua a l ga i ast e H e iGr ur t c pt he a m t s a t l le tons nz , m oup.LLC v.Civ ofN . . t Y, 1 0 S.Ct983,986-87( 0) t st ti Sna ia et lga c l i Thradbae 3 . 201 ,hi ene s û pplc bl o e l oncusons. e r i r ia s oft el m e sofa c us ofa ton,s ec t l he e nt a e c i uppor e by m e e c us y s a e e s do no td r oncl or t t m nt , t s tce' As of v.gba,1 S. .1 1 ( ufi .' hcr t I l 29 Ct 937, 949 2009) Smih' c antandt . t s ompli he a t c e st hi c pl nt f lt s tf t f c ss w i t tpr s ofi al c n i t d hi ta hm nt o s om ai , ai o e orh a t ho ng ha ion tci s ont m na e s me cne, t ehi m al orwer delbe ael i fe e t hi m e c nee . The ef r t di i sol s i, e i r t y ndif r nt o s dial ds r o e, he c t s i s hi cl i s f f iur t s a e a pl usbl cl i f r le . our di m s es s a m or a l e o t t a i e a m or e i f Sm ih beleve t tpr s of i i s c t m i t hi m edi a i be a e t s t nc i t i s ha i on f c al on a na ed s c ton c us he ubs a e n t m e ci c ha a tf t s e - a t t s m ia t t tofde y' a bec us def nda s he di ne up d toul a t as e i l r o ha ca ' nd a e e nt s e dt saea hi S ual 'a trha nghi t pilc ( e me o tr t m é unus ly' fe ndi m he l up. ComplEx.1 a 8. . ,t ) Ho v r S t ss be tv b l fi n s bsi t fro j ciefcss o ngt a p io we e , mi u j cie ei s o u tt e o b e tv a t h wi h t rs n h' e u ofi a sde i r t l c a i t d hi m e ca i The c t i Sm ih' a l ga i t be tci l lbe a e y ont m na e s di ton. our f nds t s le tons o f nc f a s c a i a di m i s t m f f iur t s a e apl us bl c ai f r i . a i ul nd pe ul tve, nd s s es he or a l e o t t a i e l m or elef Smih' cli t def nda swe e dei r t l i fe e t hi s rousme c lnee t s am hat e nt r lbe a ey ndif r nt o s e i di a ds by f ii t pr vi hi w ih m edi a t ea m e a t s sf low i hi i s i ofa a lng o o de m t c l r t nt nd e t o l ng s nge t on c t m i t s t nc i s m ia l de i e . Sm ih m us s on n na ed ubsa e s i l ry fci nt t t how t tde e nt ac ed w ih ha f nda s t t delbe a e i f e e t hi s rousm edi alne dsi or t s a e a c ai unde t Ei ht i r t ndi f r nce o s e i c e n der o t t l m r he g h 4 Ame ndme f c u a t ua punihme .Esel v.Gn e 429U. 97,1 ( 976) l nt or r el nd mus l s nt tle mbl, S. 04 1 . n o de t s r r o how de i r t i f e e ,a publc of i i m us ha be pe s l a a e off t lbe a e ndi f r nce i f c al t ve en r onaly w r ac s i ca i a s t ntalr s of s r ousha m , nd t ofi a m us ha a t ly r cogni d t ndi tng ubs a i i k ei r a he tci l t ve c ua l e ze he e se eofs hars Fame v.Brnna 511U. 8 838( 994) A me c ne d srous xitnc uc ik. r r e n, S. 25, 1 . dial e ei e nough t gi rs t a c tt i o ve i e o ons iutonalc a m i ve a c ton t tpl e t i at a a l i nvol s ondii ha ac s he nm e t s t n i rs ofs i ha us ly l soflf orpe nen di a lt ora condii f r ubs a tal i k erous nn, ua l os ie nna t s biiy, ton o whihl kofte mentper t t sveepan.Sosbeev.Mumhy,797F. 1 1 183( h c ac rat peuaes e r i e 2d 79, 8 - 4t Ci.1 . r 986) Ho v r S t fist s w t a d fn a t k e o , n dirg r e , no j ciey we e , mi al o ho h t ee d n s n w f a d se ad d a b e tv l h s rous m e c lc ton, d orr s ofha m . To t c r r Sm ih' o n pl a ngss ei di a ondii nee ik r he onta y, t s w e di how t the t of i a sa t pr s t e t d Sm ih w he he c pl i ha alh fci l t he i on r a e t n om a ned. A c or ng t Sm ih' ow n c di o t s a oun , .Ba lpr s rbe m e ca i f t bum ps on hi s n,hi tu-i s p om sa cc t Dr l e c i d di tons or he s ki s l lke ym t nd hi bl pr s e a t t d f hi H I , lve dys u to a vin i defc enc e . s ood es ur nd es e or m V i r f nc i n, nd t m n i i i s3 The e or t c t s i s Sm ih' de i r t i f e enc t s rousm e c lne ds c ai r f e, he our di m s es t s lbe a e ndif r e o e i di a e l m bec us he hasf l t s a e a pl us bl cl i t tprs of i i l i nor d t e ne ds a e aied o t t a i e a m ha i on fc a s g e hos e . Sm ih a s f l t s w t tdef nda si t r e ed w ih hi m a l The c tfndst t t l o ais o ho ha e nt n e f r t s i. our i ha Sm ih' a l ga i t tpr s of i i s a prs r s ol hi m a la t s le tons ha i on f c al nd i one s t e s i ppea t be ba e on ro sd 3TOt ext t tSmih diag e wiht t ofteamentortsst tdeenda spr ded, aprs rs he ent ha t s r es t he ype r t e t ha f nt ovi ione ' d s g e me twihme ia p r o n l e t ec u s o h ste t n d e n tsaea j 1 8 cam. W rz t . ia r e n t d c l e s n e ov r h o re f i r ame t o s o tt 9 3 li ih v Col s 7 6F.d8 , 4 ( t Ci.1 5. ln , 6 2 41 8 9 4h r 98 ) i not ngm o e t n s ul ton a lkehi ot ra lga i a enotplusbl ont i f c 4 hi r ha pec ai nd i s he le tons r a i e her a e. Acc di y, hec tdim is t m . or ngl t our s s es he s 11 1. Fo t r s s a ed he ei t c tdi m i s Sm ih' c ai saga ns a1 def nda s r he ea ons t t r n, he our s s es t s l m i t l e nt wi o t rj d c p ru n t j1 1 ()2 ( . t u p eu ie u s a t o 9 5 e( )B)6 h EN TER :A ugus 2,2011. t G I TED ATESDI CT J STRI UDGE 4Sm ih alocli st tde e nt vi ae ot rco tt tonal i t, icu n hs ih t e ua j oet n t s am ha f nda s oltd he nsiu i rgh s n ldig i r t o q l r tci . g o Ho v rtec u t id t tS t sfcua alg to sd n tçtt acam t rle t tiplu l eo i fc ll we e,h o r fn s ha mi at l l ain o o i ae li o eifha s a sbl n t a e,' h' e s s ' Two l 5 0U. a 5 0, n teeoeds se a1 f soh rc n tuin lcamswi u prj die mbv, 5 S. t 7 a d h rfr imiss lo hi te o si to a li t t eu c . t ho 5Be aus Sm ih f l t a c e t ais o dequael s tf t f t plusbl s t y e orh acs a i y howi t tde e ng ha f ndant conam i td hi m e c ton, s t nae s diai sol hi mai,orwe edelbert y i feentt hi medi lnee ,hi ot rcli t tdefndan sc piedt te s l r i ael ndif r o s ca ds s he ams ha e t ons r o c mmi t s acs r t it agai thi by c o t he e t, ealaed ns m ommitngt s a s o f ie t pr pel a e shi prs n ti he e ct, r ald o o ry ddr s s io g iva sr lt t t ealgedacs alo ne s a iy fi.Fu t r Sm ih' pl di onl ofe co us y re nce eaed o hes le t, s ce s rl al rhe , t s ea ngs y fr ncl or algai t tdefnda sc piedorr tlae a i thi . The eba ealga i a ei ufiint See le tons ha e nt ons r eaitd gans m s r le tons r ns fce . Rutn egv J n s 28 F. px1 1 l 2(t Ci. 0 )(E h b r, o cusr alg to ta . . ee d ns te b r . o e , 3 Ap ' 2 , 3 4h r20 8 1T) e ae c n l oy l ain h t . d fn a t ( e c n prdt voaehi c n ttto a rg t'i is f ce t ; a v. c , 0F.d7 7 (t Ci. 9 4 (*) o s ie o ilt s o si in l ihs's n ut in. Ad ms Rie 4 3 2, 4 4h r 1 9 ) 1 n u i l 1 fr o mapa pei panif wh cam t a terc nttto a rg t h v benvoae b ofca rtlainmus u rs litfs o li h th i o siuin l ihs a e e iltd y fiileaito t pee tmo eta n k dc n l oyalg to o rp ial' .No d imae h v aç o tt o lih t rsn r h n a e o cus r le ains f e rsl.' r o n ts a e i nsi na rg to q) c mi pa tci t i gre nc pr edi .'1 at75. The eor t co tdim i esSm ih' cl msf r tlai ri pae n iva e oce ngs' d. r f e,he ur s ss t s ai or eaiton, c piac a f l et pr l a e shi gre nce . ons r y, nd aiur o opery ddr s s iva s P ru n t 28U. C. 1 6 ()tec u t e l e t e ecs sp e na jrs it o e a ysaelw cams u s a to S. j 3 7 c,h o rd ci s o x r ie u plme tlu idci v r n tt a li n on plitf as e t r ltd t t es m ealegai ,i udi pli ifscli sf ri e i i lci ofe otonal an if s rs eae o hes a l tons ncl ng antf am o ntntonal nfiton m i dsrs, r s n gie e a dasula db tey, n dimisste wi o t rj die Th c ut lods se ites go s e l nc , n sa t n atr a d s se h m t u p eu c . e o r as imiss g h Smihsp n i dso eymoin,ECFNo. ) a mo t t' e dng ic v r to ( 4 , s o. 6l a ton t t prm ay c n ddii o he i r ompl nt i t saci , Sm ih m a s ve alohe c us r a us tons Sm ih ai s n hi ton t kes e r t r oncl o y cc ai . t cl mst ton De embe 7 a 25,201 deenda st a ac d'hi celandr adhi l lmai.Hecl mst to ai ha c r nd 0, f nt t ns ke ' s l r e s ega l ai ha n Dec m be 20, 0,deenda saes erc fom hi m ea ta Sm ihalocli st thi f wa poioned.On e r 201 f nt t om ie r s l ry. t s am ha s ood s s Fe r ay9 201 , mi sae h t n o s iu l ig se d idfc s' i e tn hi wh a c ra.( mp. . b u r , 1 S t tts e t c n co sy n etd re e e'whl aig s e t ee l Co lEx h u e 5,t1 . S t camsta teslv iln efoa eo hic lblc wil u p r hsalg to s Pli if lo a 9) mi li h t h t el c o tg f s el o k ls p o t i l ain . ant as h r a e f saest templ tt ha oyeedeenda se f nt ncour d orpe mit ce t n i edeenda swhow e emembe sofagangt age r ted rai nmat f nt r r o atc tepanifa dt atmp t c mpe teplitf oj i terg n Ho v r S t d e n talg ta h t k h litf n o te t o o lh anift on h i a g. we e, mih o s o le e h t e a wasac al a t ke ort empl m ly tac d, hat oyeede e t f ld t ade t y pr e hi . Sm ihpr desno fcua f ndans aie o quael otct m t ovi at l e de ei s vi nc n uppor ofa oft ecl ms Ac di y,hecou tfndst tSmih ha f l t pr det nough t ny hes ai . cor ngl t r i ha t s aied o ovi s e fcst sat acam t r i t ti plusbl on isfce'Twombl 550 U. a 570, ndt r f r dimis st e a t o t e li o elef ha s a i e t a ,' y, S. t a he e o e s s e hes camsp ru n t 2 U. C.jl 5e()B) li us a to 8 S. 91 ()2 ( .

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