Coleman v. Poff et al, No. 7:2012cv00156 - Document 16 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 06/21/2012. (kab)

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CLERK' OF C E U,S.DI COURT S FI ST, AT ROANOKE,V A FI LED I T H E UN I N TED STATES DI STR I C O U R T CT FO R TH E W E STER N D I STR I T O F V I G I I C R N A R O A N O K E DIVISIO N J 22 2 1 UN 22 JU BY: C. UDL n , DEPUW CL ERK LAR I CO LEM AN , W C A SE N O .7: 12CV 001 56 Pl ntf , ai if M EM O R AN DU M O PIN ION VS. By: G l E .Conrad en C hi U ni ed St ef t atesD i t ctJudge s ri SUP.CHARLES1 POFF, ,c AL. . JR. , Dee fndants. t) La r Col m a a i a e pr e ng pr K ,fl d t sci lrght ac i n pur ua t 4 ry e n, n nm t oc edi o ie hi vi i s to s nt o 2 U. C.j1 3, legngt tt dee nt alofi il vi ae hi c tt i lrght by S. 98 al i ha he fnda j i tcas oltd s onsiutona i s f c ng hi t clm b i o a da r uppe bunk be a by de ng hi a opra e m e c l or i m o i nt nge ous r d nd nyi m ppr i t di a teame f ij ishes fr dwhe hefl fom t tbunk.Uponrviw oft r or t r t nt or nure ufe e n el r ha e e he ec d,he c tfndst tt a ton m us be s m a iy di m i s d. our i ha he c i t um rl s s e I Col m a a l gest f l i s ue e ofe t r a e t hi cl i s I M a c 201 e n le he olow ng eq nc ven s el t d o s a m . n r h 0, Colma wa i a c rtd a t W esen Vigni Re onalJ i (%hej i' i Sae Vigni l e n s nc r eae the tr r i a gi al 1 al' n lm, r i a. t ) Depi t efc ta Co e nweg e 2 0p u dsj io fcasa sg e Coe nt atp b n s t h a t h t lma ih d 6 o n ,al fiil sin d lma o o u k e be Col m a t d O f i er Thom asa J Doe t the w a a r d he w oul hur hi s l d. e n ol fc s nd ohn ha s f ai d t m ef tyi t c i b i o s a hi h bunk a t the had be n c e r a a he pr s f a botom r ng o lm nt uch g nd ha e l a ed t not r i on or t bunk. W ihou c ki Col m a sm e c r co ds t of i rt d hi t the w o d e t r t t hec ng e n' di al e r , he fce ol m ha ul ihe c i b i o t t p bunk o he w o d f ce a di c plna y c r . Col m a di a he wast d. He lm nt he o r ul a s i i r ha ge e n d s ol fl g i va s a ied r e nce boutbei f ce t us a t bunk de pie t da r O n Apr l11 201 ng or d o e op s t he nge . i , 0, Colma atmptdt clmbupt t bunk,fl, nd ij e hi ba k.Jalofiil ta po td e n te e o i o he ela n urd s c i fcas rns re hi t an out de publc hos t f eval i and tea m ent m o si i pial or uaton r t . 1 C oI eman i cur e l i cer t i New Je s . s r nty ncar a ed n r ey E Coe nalg st a atr s fe e ij r t hsb c i Ap i a dMa 2 0 Th ma lma le e h t fe he u fr d nu y o i a k,n rl n y 01 , o s a D oe k ons r ' ih d nd ' pied' w t t i i n As it ntM i s St ve ' t i e f r w ih Col m a s c phys c a ssa s e ns' o nt r e e t e n' pr s rbed m e ca i by t li St ve t tCol m a w asr f i t m e c i w he i e ci di ton e lng e ns ha e n e us ng he di aton, n n f c ,Col m a w a una e t w a k t t m e c uni t obt i t m e ca i n. Col m a a s r s at e n s bl o l o he di al t o a n he di t o e n se t ta tej i s p rne e ts o l b la l f rtemic n u t fal h s j io tc r, e a ei h t h al u e itnd n h u d e ibe o h s o d c o 1t e e al fi es b c us t i tes p rn e d n ' d t t e s r s ft a dme ia c r fr aln tsa h s o l h v s h u eitn e ts uy o n u e a ey n dc l ae o j i imae nd e h u d a e known t tt bunk be we euns f ha he ds r a e. OnSe tmb r3, 0 ofiil ta s re Coe nfo t j it Ne J re f r pe e 201 , fcas rn po td lma r m he al o w e sy o pr ce di onadeai rfom t t urs ci o e ngs t ne r ha j iditon.Colmana srst tJ m andJ Doe e se t ha ol ane , s p r io yme ia sa ff rCo me ac mp n c nr ci wiht ej i t p o i eimae ' u e vs r dc l tf o n d, o a y o ta tng t h al o r v d n ts me ca team e ,t r ud e l ' vem e ca cla a ef Colm a t betans tdt N e di l r t nt t a ulnty'ga f di l e r nc or e n o r pore o w J r e D t i t ti Col m a l tf lng i hi l gs a a t rhe a ve a hi de tna i e s y. z ng he rp, e n os ee i n s e , nd fe r ni d t s s i ton, h h dt h v e r e c s r e yt rmo eds sfo h sb c , 1 a ar s to t ij r h e a o a e meg n y u g r o e v ic r m i a k a1 s e ul f he nu y e s fr i t f lfom hi bunka t j i.Col naset t tJ a J neDoe ufeed n he al r s t he al ema s rs ha ohn nd a S a i i usy,s l c i y a f a ul nty c ea e ' sba k pr em s ( n an a t m ptt s ve ' lc o l e e tvel nd r ud e l onc l d' hi c obl m t i te o a t ej i . .r m ha igt pa f rac tyne d do eain' Colma as s e Co me f r h al . fo vn o y o osl e e p rto . ' e n lo u s n d o f lngt tkec rctvea tonagans J a JneDoef C ii l dea i 'te t n aii o a ore i ci i t ohn nd a or t cousy lylngl'r ame t mal o Col m a sba k pr e s f e n' c obl m . I t sac i Col a s e m o t r dmua s f rtm alc ousne ec f l s ' ag ns n hi ton, em n e ks ne a y ge o t i i gl t u ne s' ai t t ej is peitn e t Ofie sTh ma a dJ h Do , n dHe l S r c , n J h a d h al u rn e d n , fc r o s n o n e Co me at evie a d o n n h J ne D oe Conm ed s a f s a t f er . 11 Thec tma dimisa a tonorcai fldbyaprs rpr e di t f our y s s ny ci l m ie ione oc e ng q onna pa r s i t c tde e ne t a ton orc a m i f i ous m a i i , f l t s a e a upe i f he our t nni s he c i l i s rvol , lc ous or ais o t t cam onwhihr ifma begrntd.28U. C.j 1 5e ( ( .l or rt saeacai i li c ele y a e S. 91 ()2)b) n de o tt l m n a yfd r l i l ci n tepanifstta t a alg to smus b e o g t r iearg t o n e e a cvia to ,h litf ll cu l l ain l e t e n u h o as ih t r le a e i f bove t s ul tve l l' t one t ti d a i e on isf ce ' r t t n m e e y he pec a i eve , o ' ha s û usbl pl t a ,' a her ha rl û onc va e. BelAt.Cor v. mbl 550U. 544,570( t ei bl ' l l p. Two v, c ' S, 2007) . A . The Bunk Bed C l m ai Coe nr ie smia alg to sa dc n ttto l li a ansj i o fcasf rte lma as d i lr le ain n o si ina cams g i t al fiil o h u s , em n ue he da r uppe bt k s t to i a pr vi usc vi a ton. I t tprorca e Col a s d t nge ous r m iua i n n e o i l c i 2 n ha i j i a dtej i s p rn e d n , u tec u t o n t a h salg to fie t saea y al n h al u e itn e t b t h o r f u d h t i l ains ald o tt n e a to a l c n ttto a cam a ans a o a tej i, e adnghi f l fo teu p rb n ci n be o si in l li g i t ny ne th alr g r i s al r m h p e u k. u I t i t ntc e, he onl a tona f c sCol m a alege r l t d t hi bt k be n he ns a as t y ddii l a t e n l s ea e o s m d c ai a e t the t d c r a n of i e s he w a af a d he w oul f l a t the t d t s of i e s l m r ha ol e t i f c r s ri d a l nd ha ol he e fc r t a a oh r al a me ial a p o e h m f ralwe b n Th s sae n sfo Coe n , h t n t e j ih d d c l p r v d i o o r u k. e e ttme t r m lma y ho e r a e nots f c e s ppo tf a tndi t tt of i e s kne as i en t a uppe w ve , z uf i i nt u r or i ng ha he f c r w s gnm t o n r bunk pos d a s g fc tr s t tCol m a w oul s f r s r ousphysca ha m , r ui e t e i ni i an i k ha e n d uf e e i i l r as eq r d o s a e a de i r t i f er nce c a m r r ng ha r uslvi c tons Se St i kl rv. tt lbe a e ndif e l i ega di za do i ng ondii . e r c e W aes 98 F. 1 1 81( hCi.1 93) Colma fulst ofi r f fii t tr, 9 2d 375, 380- 4t r 9 . e n a t he tces or alng o co nduc a i t n ndepe ntas e s e ofhi m edi a r c dst ve iy hi m e c lnee f a bunk. nde s s m nt s c l e or o rf s di a d or J i o fcasma rg tu l rl , we e , nt ej d me to t ej i' me ia safrg r ig al fiil y i hf ly ey ho v r o h u g n f h als d c l tf e adn a imae' me ca ne ds Se M ite v. or 896F. 8 ( h Ci.1 (i ngt t n n t s di l e . e lir Be n, 2d 48 4t r 990) tndi ha 2 Se Col an v. W e tr Vigii Re on lJ i, s No. 1 e em sen r na gi a alCa e 7:2CV0 25( . Va J n. , 00 W D. . a 31 201 . 2) prs pe s lma r l ondecso ofme c lsa fast t pr rcoureofteame ) ion ronne y ey iins dia tf o he ope s r t nt. Colma ofesno i cai t theha s hto o anedame c ce r nc a t sj i f e n fr ndi ton ha d oug r bti dial la a e t hi al or r s rc i t a l e bunk bef r hi f l. Thus t cou tfnds no e denc t s ppo ta tndi e t i ton o ow r o e s al , he r i vi e o u r i ng t ta oft def nda sw e e de i r t l i fe e tt Col m a snee a s m a iy ha ny he e nt r lbe a e y ndi f r n o e n' ds nd um r l dimis swiho prj c hi j 1 cam a hi fl fom t burkunde j1 ()2)b) s se t ut eudie s 983 li bout s al r he l r 915e( ( f f l e t s at a cl m . or aiur o t e ai B . The M edi Treat entCl m s cal m ai Col m a r s d s m ia a l ga i nsa c nsiutonalc a m saga ns hi t e tng p i i n e n ai e i l r le to nd o tt i li i t s r a i hys c a a tej i i t p e i u j 1 8 a to , iht c u t u rl d s s e wih u p eu ie t h aln wo rv o s 9 3 cins whc he o r s mmaiy imis d t o t rj d c unde j1915( ( ( f fiur t saeacam. I bot t eaci ns, t c tdee mi d r e)2)b) or al e o tt li 3 n h hes to he our tr ne t tCol m a alege a m os,a di a r e e twih t c ur e oft e t e t doc orpr c i ha e n l d, t t s g e m n t he o s r a m nt he t es rbed f hi ba k ij ya fie t d or s c nur nd ald o emonsrt t tt me c lsafsc tae ha he dia tf onduc a t mountdt e o delbe a e i f e e e, r quie t s a e a a tona e co tt i lc ai . Se Fa m e v. i r t ndif r nc as e r d o t t n c i bl ns iutona l m e r r Brl n,511U. 825,8 ( 94) Esel v.Ga e, U. 97,1 ( 976 . ema S. 47 19 ; tle mbl 429 S. 04 1 ) l t i t ntc s Col m an s m ia l a l ge no hi m or t n a di a ee e wih t n he ns a a e, e i l ry le s t ng e ha s gr m nt t he decsonst me c saf a t j lma c er nghi c s ofme c teame a hi ii he dial t f t he ai de onc ni s oure dialr t nt nd s m e c c e r nc f t a l Col m a f ist a l f t on whi h t c tc d de e m i di al l a a e or r ve . e n a l o lege ac s c he our oul t r ne t tD e e nt Thom asa St ve orOfi e D oe kne t tCol m a wasuna e t w a k t ha f nda s nd e ns tc r w ha e n bl o l o t m e c luni t r e ve hi m e ca i ast do t ha o de e Si ia l Col a f l t he di a t o ec i s di ton he c or d r r d. m l ry, em n ais o s a e f c son w hi h J tt a t c ohn a J ne D oe t Co ed em pl es kne t tt a i t N e nd a , he nm oye , w ha r velng o w J r e pos a s gnii a rs t tCol m a woul s f ra a to ofhi ba k t o e e s y ed i f c nt i k ha e n d uf e ggr va i n s c r ubl . 3 Se Col e eman v. Al, s No.7 1 CV00 5 201 W L 2 28 ( . Va. u 25y 01 , iCa e :0 25 , 0 605 3 W D. J ne 2 0) a fd, 7Fe App' 90 ( t Ci. t 1 201 )( np ls dl Colma v. i Ca eNo. fi 39 d. x 9 4 h r Oc. 2, 0 u ubihe ; e n Al, s 7: 1 1 CV005 ( . Va No 3 201 ) a pe l s s e f f iu et p os c t, 1 61 ( hCi. 61 W D. . v. 0, 1 , p a dimisd or alr o r e ue No. 2- 03 4t r M a .1 ,201 . r 5 2) Be a e Col man f ist a lge f c son whih heco dpr dei r t i fe e by a of c us e a l o le a t c ul ove lbe a e ndif r nce ny t edefnda s t c ts hes e nt,he our ummaiydimis shi j1 me c camswiho prj c , rl s se s 983 dial li t ut eudie purua t j1 5()2 ( . s nt o 91 e ()b) Colma as sae noa tona ecli a i tt j i' s rntnde orConme e n lo tts ci bl am gans he als upe i e nt d. Se ton 1 r r s a s i ofpe s lf ul on t pa tofa def nda e t rbas d on t c i 983 equie how ng r ona a t he r e nt ihe e he de e nt spe s f nda ' r onalc onduc ora he ' c nd ti e uton oft def nt spolc e or t not r s o uc n xec i he enda ' ii s c t ,whihColma f l t desrbe.Po lv.ShopcoLa e Co.678F. 504,50 ( h usoms c e n ais o ci wel url , 2d 6 4t Ci.1 (i ngt tprvaec portoni notla eunde j1 whe la lt i baed r 982) fndi ha i t or ai s ibl r 983 n ibiiy s s s eyuponrs oll e ponde ts ror.Supe vs yofiil c nnotbehed la ef co tt inal a upei ) r ior fcas a l ibl or nsiuto ij re i fitdb t i s b r i tsa s n as o n t a t es pe vs rk e o ars o nu is nlce y her u o dnae b e t h wi g h t h u r io n w f ik f h r a dta hsfiu et a th l dt c u et eij r Se S a v. to d, 3F.d7 , 9 am n h t i alr o c epe o a s h nu y. e h w S r u 1 3 91 7 8 (t Ci.1 9 .Coe nf i t saea yf css o n t a t es p rn e d n k e 4 h r 9 4) lma al o tt n a t h wig h t h u eitn e t n w s Co e a s bur a s gnm e orhi l t rco s ofm edi a t e t e pos d a r s ofha m t l m n' l s i k nt s a e ur e c l r a m nt e ny i k r o Col m a M or ove ,Col m a hasno c tt tonalrgh t ha Conm ed i tt e di c plna y e n. e r e n ons iu i i t o ve ns iut s i i r aci agans a ne Theeor t c 'wils mmaiydimisColma sj1 cams ton i t nyo . rf e,he oul l u rl s s e n' 983 li t a i tt s rntndenta Co d,purua t j1 5()2)b) f f l et saeacai 4 gans he upei e nd nme s nt o 91 e( ( , or aiur o tt l m. I 1I Fo t ras sae t c t s sesColma sj1983cl mswihoutprj c r he e ons ttd,he our dimis e n' ai t eudie, purua t j 1 5()2)b) a malci orf fiur t saeacli a dimis salsae s nto 91 e( ( , s i ous or al e o tt am, nd s se 1 tt lw camswih u p eudc . a li t o t rj ie 4 To t eext t tCol an' alegatonsm i s h ent ha em s l i ght uppor s ecl m ofmedialneglgenc or t om ai c i e ohe sae1w cli t c ur de ln st e e cs s ppe n a j idito ov rs c cams pu s nt t r tt a am,he o t cie o x r ie u lme t lurs c in e u h li , rua t 28U. C. 1 ( ) Ac or i l alsae1w camswilb s o S. j 367 c . c dngy, l tt a li l e ummaiy d s s e wih tp eudc . rl imis d tou rj ie 5 TheCl r i dieced t s nd c e oft sm e a e k s r t o e opi s hi mor ndum o ni a a compa ng pi on nd c nyi or rt pl i if de o a ntf . E NTER :Ths $l# d yof u e 2 1 i ' a J n , 0 2. Chi fUnie Stt Diti tJ e t d a es src udge

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