Ferguson v. Clark et al, No. 7:2014cv00107 - Document 15 (W.D. Va. 2014)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 6/24/2014. (tvt)

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CL S OFFI U, DI COURT ERK' CE S. ST. AT ROANOKE, VA FI ED L I TH E UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FO R TH E W E STER N D I STR I O F V I G I I CT R N A ROANOKE DI I ON V SI TY R O N E A FER G U SO N , , JR. JLN 2i 2 1 29 JULA C I BY; CA SE NO .7: 14CV 001 07 Pl nt f , ai i f M EM O M N DU M O PI O N NI HAROLD CLARK, RECTOR, K , DI c By:Gln E. n a e Co r d C hi U ni St ef ted atesD i t ctJudge s ri Defndants. e t) Tyr A.Fe gus J . a Vigi a i t pr e ng pr K ,fld a pl di t he one r on, r, r ni nma e oc edi o ie ea ng hat sy e a a E OTI FOR J tls s E M ON UDGMENT, algn ta j i a p io o t as wee ' le ig h t al nd rs n f l r ' ki delber t y i fe entt akno rs t tapari a i ae wo d a s ul pl i ifi t t i ael ndif r o wn ik ha tculr nm t ul s a t antf f he wo i t s we e as i ne t t s m e prs f iiy i t Vigi a De rm e of Core tons nma e r sg d o he n ion aclt n he r ni pa t nt rci (VDOC' .Be a eFeg s na s rsta d fn a t'a to viltd h sc n tt to lrg t, t G ' c us r u o se t h t ee d n s cins oae i o siuina ih s ) t co tc tue a doc t d hi pl a ng as a ci l rg s a ton pur ua t 42 U. C. he ur onsr d nd ke e s e di vi i ht c i s nt o S. j1 983.Be us Fegus spladi di no pr deas fce sae ntofrl ntfcs t ca e r on' e ng d t ovi ufiint ttme eeva a t,he cour die t d hi t s i a to li or ton conc m i t dat o whih s ii t r c e m o ubm t ddii na nf ma i e ng he es n c pec fc, r lt d e nt occ r d. l r s e,Fe g on has s ea e ve s ure n e pons r us ubmitd a afi vi,whi t c thas te n fda t ch he our c i r a pa t of hi c onsde ed s r s ompl i . Upon r vi w of t s r co d,howe r t c twil ant e e hi e r ve , he our l s ma iy dimi st sa ton f f ilr t sae ac tt i na cli . um rl s s hi c i or a lze o t t onsiuto l a m Backzround Fe gus s toubl s w ih i a e ç ele' Pa ks bega a t tm e of Fe gus s r on' r e t nm t ç l ' r v n t he i r on' pr lm i e i nmy hea i i t Cmnpbe lCot t Ci c t Cour i Se e be 201 whe e Par a rng n he l m y r ui t n pt m r 0, r ks nd Fer o ûc os ed pahs'i t co toom . Pa ks a r nki membe oft l oods'sr e gus n sr s t ' n he urr r , n ng r he û Bl ' te t ga ti d t br a a a fo hi s urt es t s t i Fe gus s f e,a cal d hi a ng, re o e k w y r m s ec iy cor, pa n r on' ac nd le m L K t th. ( mpl2. F r u o a re t p e dg i ya dtsiya an tPaks Th p o e u o , t c ' Co . ) e g s n g e d o la ul n e tf g is r . e r s c tr Bi ' t Pa lM c d e ,a sze F r us n ta ç i hewa rma d dt t e ( u An rws sl d e g o h t û l r wh e s e n e o h VDOC)h wo l n t e ud o e ncountr( r )'be us t VDOC' casikai s tm e tbls d G ne docl nt of e Paks, ca e he ' S l st ton yse sa ihe û my tme s e s p rto ' ( a 2 3) e a ain. J t - . ' #. Afe svea mo t a t Cn belCo n y J i a oh rl c lj is Fe g o wa tr e rl nhs t he mp l u t al nd t e o a al, r us n s tans e r d on Se e r f re pt mber30,2011 t M e e g Coreci lCe e ,whe e Pa ks was as , o cklnbur r tona ntr r r lo i ione mprs d. Pa ks a o he g ng m e r t e t ned Fe gus s lf Fe gus t d r nd t r a mbe s hr a e r on' ie. r on ol i si a orW ils t the and Pa ks we e nott be ho ed a t s m e f c lt M e kl nbtr nve tg t li ha r r o us t he n a iiy. c e lg ofk i l s gr t Fe gus f a mont a t n ta f r e hi t Lune lg Coreci na t a s e egaed r on or h nd he r ns e r d m o nbtr r to l Cen e w iho i i nt At s e poi t r fe ,V D OC a hor te t a f r ed Fe gus t t r t ut nc de . om nt he ea tr ut ii s r ns e r r on o Gr en Roc Core tonal Ce er He s e k rci nt . oon dicove e t Pa ks was alo a Gr n Roc s r d hat r s t ee k. Fe gus i e a e y no ii d hi f m iy,who notfe t wrde W hie Fe gus n wa i t r on mm dit l tfe s n l iid he n. l r o s n he c how ha lone da Pa ks hi hi i t ba of t hea Ofi e s s r t d t i t , l y, r t m n he ck he d. fc r epa a e he nma es s gr ga e t m brel ta f red Pa ks a r ea ed Fe g on t t ge r lpopulton. e e t d he i fy, r nse r r , nd el s r us o he ne a ai VDOC öfi a sha as ur d Fe g on t ta t e s pa ae'or rwa pl c i bot i t s fcil ve s e r us ha t p e r t ' de s a ed n h nma e ' ke fl on Augus 1 201 ies t 4, 2. l hi c n s ompli ,Fe gus s s t die t of t VDOC,M e e ant r on ue he r c or he cklnbur I si or g nve tgat W ils Ket Da kns(d ni e a a s p r iig ca st to o t ri t VDOC rg o a l , ih ws i i e tt d s u e vsn lsikain f i i ke n he e in l ofke ,Ca t ) mpbel Count J i Cl stc ton Ofie Angea Momoe,a Cn l y al asii ai fc r l nd mpbelCount l y pr ec t Pa M c dr ws1 Fer os u or ul M e . guson ass s c1i s t t va i def nda s vi a e t ert a m ha rous e nt olt d he Ei h A m endm e , s a e l w s a r gul to , a or w e e ne i nt i f lng t pr ven ght nt t t a nd e a i ns nd/ r glge n aii o e t ' A lhough t headi of t compl nt i udes J l Cor e i t he ng he ai ncl ai r ctonal Ofker Tunes a J l f nd ai l tgat M inor i t ls of def nda s, an a t hed a endment delt t e i vi s as nves i or l n he it e nt tac m ees hes ndi dual de e ns ( No.l l) fnda t. ECF -. Fe gus n fom bei a sgne t t s m e prs wih li c f nda ,Pa ks Fe gu o s ks r o r ng s i d o he a ion t ls ode e nt r . r s n ee mo eayd ma e a ij ncierle . n tr n g s nd nu t eif v D i cussi s on The c t i r uie t dim is a aci or c am fl d by a prs r agans a our s eq r d o s s ny ton l i ie ione i t gove m e ale iy o ofi e i t c tdee mi t a ton o cli i fi ous malci , m nt ntt r fc r f he our tr nes he c i r am s rvol , i ous o fist sae acam o whc rle ma beg a td 28U. C.j 1 5 b)1 . I o d rt r al o tt li n ih eif y r ne . S. 91 A( ( ) n r e o saea cam i a y fd r lcvi a to t ep an ifsE a ta alg to mu tb e o g t tt li n n e ea i l cin, h litf t cu l le ains s e n u h o m r s a rghtt r le a ve t s c ai l ve ,'t one t ti t a i e on is f c ' r t r aie i o ei f bo he pe ul tve e l' o ha s l usbl pl t a e, a he ' t nmeey E o eva l. BelAt.Co p v. mbv 5 0 U..5 4 5 0 ( 0 7 . To saea ha r l ç nc i be' l l r . Two l, 5 S 4 , 7 2 0 ) c ' tt ca e of acin unde j1 us to r 983,a pl ntf mus etbls t the ha be n de i d ofrght ai if t sa ih ha s e prve i s gu r n ee by t Consiuton or lws of t Unie Sut a t tt s de i ton r s t aat d he tt i a he td es nd ha hi prva i e uled fom co uc c mit by a pe s aci t rcol ofsae lw. W e tv.At ns 487 U. ' r nd t om ted r on tng mde or t t a s ki , S. 4 , ( 98 ) 2 48 1 8 . The Ei ht Am e e t i pos s a du y on prs ofkil l o pr ec prs ne s f o g h ndm n m e t ion f a s ç ot t io r r m t vi e a t ha ofohe prs r . nne v.Brnna 511U. 825,833( 994)(nena olnce t he nds t r ione s' 'Fn r e n, S. 1 itr l quotton maksomit . To esa ih acli i t sc e ,t prs rmus de tae ai r ted) tbls am n hi ontxt he ione t monsrt t tprs ofk i sa t d wih ç i r t i fe e e't as t nta rs t the woul s f r ha ion t al c e t û be ae ndif r nc ' o ubsa il ik ha del d ufe s rousha m fom a he i t L- a 8 An ofk i s ws dei r t i fe e e i he i ei r r not r nma e. d t 34. a t al ho lbe a e ndif r nc f s G waeo f csfo whc (ec ud ifr ta as b tn ilrs o sro h r e it, d a : r f a t r m ih h o l n e) h t u sa ta ik f e ius a m x ss' rws a ' an i e e e t tt rs e ss and f ist r s e r nc ha he ik xit , al o e pond r s bl t t rs l a 837,844. I ea ona y o he ik. d. t n s q prs ofi i swho do notkno ofars who do notknow oft s rous soft rs hor ion fcal w ik, he e i nes he ik, or who actreasonabl i r y n espons t a rsk cnnnotbe hel labl f any constt i e o i d i e or im onalvi aton. ol i Si lry,s pe v s y prs ofi al who di not a t pe s nal t de i pl ntf of hi mia l u r ior ion fci s d c r o ly o prve ai if s consiutonalrght nor ly c nnotbehed la eunde j1 3. Se Vi dcev.Gi ,550 tt i i s mal a l ibl r 98 e nne bbs F.d 9 6 9 ( t Ci.9 7 (i dngt a ûibit wilo ylewheei i afr tv l s wn 2 2 , 28 4h r1 7 ) fn i h t la l y l nl i l i r t s fimai ey ho t a t o t a c ag da td p ro al i t de rv to o tepan if'rg t (e a s th h t he fkil h r e ce es n ly n he p iain f h litfs ih s b c u e l e docrneofr po a s rorha noa iai ' e j 1 . ti es nde t upe i s pplc ton'und r 983) Fegus n' c antfist pr sntf t s r o s ompli al o e e acs uppori a plusbl j1 3 cai t tt tng ny a i e 98 l m ha he Ca pbel Cot y de e n s Angea M onr a Pa M c m l mt f nda t , l oe nd ul Andr ws a t d wih de i r t e , ce t lbe ae i fe e t a known rs t Fe g on woul behnr d by Pa ks Eve i t s i vi s ndif r nce o ik hat r us d me r . n f he e ndi dual kne t t Pa ks ha s t a Fe gus a t e t d hi i t c toom , Fe gus s w ha r d pa t r on nd hr a ene m n he our r r on' a lgatons do nots le i how a r s c i whi h t e def nda s r s ny e pe t n c hes e nt e ponde urr a ona y t t t d le s bl o ha rs Fis,Fe gus doesno aleg t the a Pa kswe e,a a tme,i r e aed t t ra ik. rt r on t l e ha nd r r t ny i nca c r t oge he t t eCn b l Co nyJ i(t ej i', r M o r ewo k d, ra a y o telc l al wh r h h mp el u t al ûh a1' whee n o r e o t n f h o a j is ee e t ) washo ed dlrng t ti lpr ce di i whi h M c Andr wasi ved. Sec us zi he ra o e ngs n c ews nvol ond,Fe g on r us d e n t sae fcs i dc tn ta Mo r e a a lc lj i o fca,o M c rws a a o s o tt a t n iaig h t n o , s o a al fiil r And e , s pr ec or ha a dut o a hort t e ur t a m a of VDOC s c liy c a st a i os ut , d ny y r ut iy o ns e he cc cy e trt l s ik ton r c ds on Fe g on or t t t e i vi l ha a i veme a a tm e i as i ng e or r us ha hes ndi dua s d ny nvol nt t ny i n sgni Fe gus t a VDOC prs whe e Pa ks was hous d. For t saed r as ,t c twil r on o ion r r e he t t e ons he our l s mmaiyd s s F rus n' camsa an tM o r ea dM c d e u d rj1 5 b ( ) f r u rl imis e g o s li g is n o n An rws n e 91 A( )1, o fit saea aci bl j 1 cai al o tt ny tona e 983 l m. Fe g on' c pl i a s f is t s a e a tona e c a m s a ns t V D O C def nda s r us s om a nt l o a l o t t c i bl l i gai t he e nt . VDOC Op rtn Pr c d r C0P' 8 06 e tbih s ç sn d r z d s se o i e tf ig e aig o e u e 1 ' 3 . sa ls e t tn adie y tm f d niyn , ) a verf ng,a doc e i ofe re iyi nd um ntng f nde nemi a s pa a i ne ds wihi i tt tons ope a e es nd e r ton e t n nsiu i rtd by' t VDOC. Unde OP 830. a û e s pa a e'desgna i i t i t 'fl s d ' he r 6, l p e r t ' i ton n wo nma es ies houl ke pr ve t m f om be ng hous d a a VD O C f c lt w ih a e s t e c ot r The f tt to e nt he r i e t a iiy t cc s o a h he . ac ha ne 4 i t st tm ony c rbut t a he i t sco c i doesno r quie,butmay s ppor nma e' esi onti ed o not r nma e' nviton te r u t a kee s pa a e de i ton f r t t i aes Prs a nita or and i si t s m a p e r t sgna i o he wo nm t . ion dmi sr t s nve tga or y r ue t a ke p s pa a e desgna i wihout c uli t i aes i ve or a i a e eq s e e rt i ton, t ons tng he nm t nvol d, n nm t hi e fma r ques t ha a s cik ofe ms l y e t o ve pe t f nderdoclme e a hi e m y. W hehe t r s l nt d s s ne t r he eque t f a ke p s pa a e de i ton co esf om a pr s ofi i loran of e r s h a des g t o i or e e r t s gna i m r i on f c a f nde , uc i na i n s i s d onl afe e e i i si ton a a oval by t I tmtona Cl st a i s ue y tr xt nsve nve tga i nd ppr he nsi i l as ik ton Auh rt Ct '. to i I ) y CA' Fe g on a r ty i e t hol M e kl nbur l s i t W ils la e f f ii t r us ppa en l nt nds o d c e g nve tga or li i bl or a lng o ensle t tFe gus a Pa ks be ke s pa a e a trt t i aes we e bot a sgne t tr ha r on nd r pt e r t fe he wo nm t r h si d o M e e lg i Se e r2011 Unde OP 830. howe r no onei vi lc n m a akee cklnbtr n pt mbe . r 6, ve , ndi dua a ke p s pa a ede e mi to whih r quiesI a ova . Fe gus ss e r t t r nai n, c e r CA ppr l r on' ubmi sonsi cae t tafe s i ndi t ha tr he i or ed W ils of Pa ks tle t ,t i a e we e s r t d a Fe gus w as ta f r e nf m li r ' lr a s he nm t s r epa a e nd r on r ns e r d. Som em ont lt r on Augus 1 201 a ke s pa ae de i ton wase e e i hi fl a hs a e , t 4, 2, ep e r t sgna i nt r d n s ie nd Pa ks fl ,pos i y a a r s toft i si ton t tW ilsi ta e i 2011. Bas d onl on r ' ie sbl s e ul he nve tga i ha li niit d n e y t s f c s t c tcn he e a t, he our nnotfnd t tW ilsr s nde unr as na y t t rs t tPa kswoul i ha li e po d e o bl o he ik ha r d ham Fegu on.Therf e,hec t l ds s t camsa i tW ilsunde j1 A( ( ) r r s eor t our wil imis he li gans li r 915 b)1 . Fi ly,Fe g on' cai sa i tt VDOC die t rand Da ki mus be dim is d. nal r us s l m gans he rco ws ns t s se Fe g on doe notsa e f c s s wi t teihe oft e a i sr tve ofk i s ha s c fc r us s tt a t ho ng ha t r hes dm nita i t al d pe ii no i be or Fe gus s ta f r t Gr en Roc t t he a Pa ks s d be s pa a e tce f e r on' r ns e o e k ha nd r houl e r t d. Alhough t cour dieced Fe g on t pr det da e on wli h he wasta f r e t Gr e t he t r t r us o ovi he t lc r nse r d o e n Roc a t da e on whih Pa ks a s ule hi t r Fe gu on has not pr vi d t s k nd he t c r s a t d m he e, r s o de hi i or to Fe g on alo f ist sae f t i c tng t tt die ororDa ki ha a nf mai n. r us s al o t t ac s ndia i ha he r ct ws ns d ny pe s na i ve e i as i ng Fe gu o or Pa ks t Gr n R oc Fe g on i a r ty r o l nvol m nt n s gni r sn r o ee k. r us s ppa en l a tmptng t hol t s de e nt vi rousy la e f t a tonsofot rInnn e ofki l , te i o d he e f nda s ca i l i bl or he c i he l m d t a s a d s c camsaen ta to a l t e j1 3 r d e 5 0F.d a 9 8(e u rn pes n l n u h li r o ci n be md r 98 .Vi g , 5 2 t 2 rq iig ro a me iv le n frj 1 8 l blt) n ov me t o 9 3 i ii . a y Be a e t c tc l s t t Fe gu on' alega i do no s c us he our onc ude ha r s s l tons t uppo t a a tonabl r ny c i e cam u d rj 1 8 ,t c u td cie t e rie s p e n a j rs it n o e a y p si e li n e 9 3 he o r e ln s o xecs u plme tl u idci v r n o sbl o cai she m a have r l td t t e nt aleg i t compl i ,bms d on ofk i l 'al ge lm y e ae o he ve s l ed n he ant e t a s le d ne lg n eo vo ai no saelwso r g lto s Se 28U. C. 1 6 () Se to 1 8 wa gie c r ilto f tt a r e uain . e S. j 3 7c . cin 9 3 s i e d t pr e tonl f r lrght gua a e d by f r l 1 w and nott vi c t t tc a m s nt nde o ot c y ede a i s r nt e ede a a o ndi a e or l i f r ihte ea ea e uaer me isu d rsaelw.W rg t Coln , 6 F. 8 , 4 ( t o wh c h r r d q t e de n e tt a ih v. lis 7 6 2d 41 8 9 4h Ci.1 8 ) Th s t c u t l d s s a1s e lw camswi o tp eu ie Ana p o rae r 9 5 . u ,he o r wil imis l ut a li t u rj d c . h p r p it or rwili s t sda de l s ue hi y. The Cl k i diec ed t s nd c e of t s m e or ndlm opi on a a om pa ng er s r t o e opi s hi m a l ni nd cc nyi o de t pl i if r r o antf . 2 & ay ofJune,201 4 d 4. , EX TER: Thi s ChifUnie St t sDititJ e t d a e src udge 6

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