Smith v. Ely et al, No. 7:2014cv00168 - Document 136 (W.D. Va. 2016)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief United States District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 1/26/2016. (tvt)

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cl Rrs OFFI, U. DI COUA E CE S. SX AT ROANOKE, VA FI LFD I TH E UN I N TED STA TE S D I STR I C O U R T CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF W RGI A CT NI ROANOKE DI SI VI ON COREY SM I , TH J 25 2 1 Ad 05 JUL ,) ûk : BY; DEPU CASE N O.7: 46+ 00168 1 Pl ntf , ai if M EM O R AN DU M O PI I N N O ELY, & , c By: GlnE. nr d e Co a Chi fU ni e St e D i t i tJudge e t d at s s r c De e a t) f nd nts. Co ey Sm ih,aVigi ai aepr e di pr K ,fl t sc vi rg sa ton ptr ua t r t r ni nm t oc e ng o ied hi i l i ht c i ts nt o 4 U. C.j 1 8 ,algn cams o e e sv f re o fiu e t itr e e b Dee a t 2 S. 9 3 l ig li f xc si e o c r al r o n e v n y fnd ns e Fn nnon,El Carc Com bs a Fil ,on J y 18,201 a W ale Ri St t Prs n,a y, io, , nd eds ul 2, t lns dge ae i o nd r lt d c am s of a s ul a ba tr dei r t i fe e e t s ro medial ne ds by ea e l i s a t nd te y; lbe ae ndif r nc o e i us c e De enda sTa e a M a he a Re Oni St t Prs n;a m e c lneglge e by Ta e The f nt t nd t na t d on ae io nd di a i nc t. c t d ed de e nt ' i ta d s ii moto a r f re t m a tr t Unie Sut s our eni f nda s nii l ipostve i ns nd e e r d he te o td e M a itaeJ g S r e t o a p o raep o e dng .S e28U. C. 6 6 b ( )B) gsrt ud e a g n f r p r p it r c e i s e S. j 3 ( )1( . Afe c n u tn a t - a c u tp o e d n ,n j y t lha ig b e d ma e , tr o d cig wo d y o r r c e i g o ur da vn e n e nd d M a sr t J gita e udge Sa ge fld a Re ta Re omm e ton o No mbe 3,201 The r nt ie por nd c nda i n ve r 5. Re tf por ound t tt t si o o t de e nt wine s s wasm or c e bl a c itnt ha he e tm ny f he f nda s' t s e e r di e nd onsse wih ot re de e,a t t Smih' ve so ofe nt wasdic e t d by t we g ofot r t he vi nc nd ha t s r in ve s s r die he i ht he e de e a t si vi nc nd e tmony pr s nt i l ng t tsi e e ed, nc udi he e tmony of li o wines es The Re r ls wn t s . po t Smith v. Ely et al Doc. 136 c ude t tSm ih had notpr n by a m e nde a o t e de e t the wa be t n or oncl d ha t ove po r nce f he vi nc ha s ae oh r s c u e ij r o J y 1 ,2 2 b a y o fc ra W aln Rig ;o t th s fee t e wie a s d n u y n ul 8 01 , y n fie t le s d e r ha e u fr d a s rousmed c ne d whe he e ot er d De e ny e i i al e n nc mt e f ndan sTa ea M ahe a Re Oni The t t nd t na t d on. Re ta s c l por lo oncuded t tdef nda sha pr n by a pr ponde anc oft e de t tEl s ha e nt d ove e r e he vi nce ha y' Dockets.Justia.com c aci to o a e e i s k beton Smih,whie aG rvil' e o f r e c tt e a go tvai n f n l drc hoc l t l t nonti a 'us f o c , onsiut d od fih ef r t rso eo d r j tfe b S t sds p iea to i iet ta p rain v n at fo t o e tr r e ,usiid y mi inztv cins nsd he rns o tto a , h' a t tte s o k d d no c u e S t a y ij r . Th s t Re o tr c mme d d g a tng nd ha h h c i t a s mih n nu y u , he p r e o n e r ni j g n f r d fn a t o S t s Eihh Ame d n e c sie f re a d d lb rt ud me t o ee d n s n mi h' g t n me t x e sv o c n eieae i fe e e clhns a hi as a t a ba t y a m e c neglge e cai . Fi l t ndif r nc a , nd s s ul nd ter nd dial i nc l ms naly, he Re r f mdt tSmihdi note us a ritai rme e beor flngt j 1 acin, po t ot ha t d xha t dmilsrtve e dis f e ii he 983 to a r q rd u e j 1 9 ea ,a d h d n tp o n b ap e nd rn eo t ee d nc t ta y s e uie nd r 9 7 () n a o r ve y rpo ea c f h vie e ha n ofi ilo prs n c ton pr ve e hi fo doi s fca r i o ondii e nt d m ' m r ng o. S t fld tmey o j cin t te Re o tt taerp f rd cso He o j cst te mih ie i l b e to s o h p r ha r i e o e iin. bet o h Re r ' fndi a co l i on wine s c e biiy,l r l r ie a i hi own t si ony po ts i ngs nd ncusons t s r di lt a gey et r tng s e tm a hi a tmpt d ng tilt dic e tt de e nt a t i wines e i va i uswa and nd s te s mi ra o s r di he f nda s nd her t s s n ro ys t bo se li own wine s s c e biiy. o lt r ls t s e ' r di lt Thema itaej g ma e o l ar c mme ain t t i c u t M ah wsv. e e , gsrt ud e k s ny e o nd to o h s o r. t e W br 4 3 U. .2 ,2 0 71 ( 9 6 . Th c u ti c r e wi madn G d n v d tr n to o 2 S 61 7 - 1 7 ) e o r s hag d t l g G h a o o eemiain f t e pori ns of t r por or s ciid pr e fndi or r co m e tons t wlih hos to he e t pe fe opos d i ngs e m nda i o lc o j cin i ma e' 2 U. C.j 6 6b () t o g te dsrc c u tma gv ama ikae b e to s d . 8 S. ' 3 () 1.Alh u h h itit o r y ie gs t j d esp o s dfn igsa r c mme d to sGuc weg ta gh h mei c mma d a dte u g ' r po e idn nd e o n ain û h ih s t e j rt o n s n h s s u dd srto o tej d ewar ns't a t rt a ter s nsbl yt ma a if r d o n ic ein f h u g ra t, he uho i nd h epo i it o ke n n o me ' y i fna d tnniainrmanswi t edsxdj d e UntdS ae v Ra d t , 4 U. 6 7, 8 l ee n to e i t h iti u g . ie tts . d az 4 7 S. 6 6 2h 8 ( )(nenalquotto maksa ctton omit ) Theeor ,i peror ng aX novo 3 1980 itr ain r nd iai ted . rf e n f mi rviw,t d sdc j dg mus e e cs G sn n d lg b ea t o iy b c n i eig te a t a e e he it t u e t x r ie E o - ee a l u h rt y o sd rn h cu l hi t si ony,a no m e ey by r viwi t m agitae' r po ta r omm e tons' W i me e tm nd t r l e e ng he sr t s e r nd ec nda i .' m r v Co k, 7 F.d6 , 6(t Ci.1 8 ) . o 7 4 2 8 7 4h r 9 5 . Th c u t sc rf l rviwe S t so j cin a d ag me t,a d p rie tp rs e o r ha ae ul e e d mih' b e to s n r u n s n e t n a t y n oft r c d,i l ng t e bis a vi o f a a te durng til and t prs n' he e or ncudi he xhi t nd de oot ge dmitd i ra , he io s s cliypolc a tedl rs a f L c mearviw.Theco thasas c e trt iy dmit mde e l or q n r e e ur lo onduce éqnovo td r vi w oft wines t tm o a r fe t d i t l ha lngedta c i oft ti t tm o e e he t s esi ny, s e lc e n he mc le r ns rpt he ral esi ny, and r vi we Smih' ve son ofe n si hi pro lws ta e e d t s ri ve t n s i r a ui boutt s me e nt,Sm ih v.El he n ve s t y, No 7 1 CV0 3 9( . Va Oc. , 01 )(imis dwi u p eu ief rfi let e h u t . :3 0 2 W D. . t 25 2 3 ds se t t rj d c o alr o x a s ho t a miitai rme is. d n srt e de ) ve The wei oft e de e tbls d t ton J y 1 201 s e40 i a e i Smih' ght he vi nce sa ihe ha ul 7, 2, om nm t s n t s h usn a e ( p d a W aln li g d fa tyrfze t c mpywihs v r l r e st r tml o ig r a B1 o ) t le s td e einl e t d o o l t e ea o d r o et s t t erc lst b lc d d wn Prs n o f asa d e s d t i b h v o a amao sc i o h i el o e o ke o . io fkil d r se her e a i r s j r e urt y i i t va t alof e s fom t pod a s c e t door ,a notse s do ofi e s ncden , caed l sc r r he nd e ur d he s nd i d upe r fc r up t c i ofc ma he han om nd. Eve ual t i t sr t ne t t i c l wihoutanyone beng nt ly, he nma e eur d o her els t i hn d or a pr ry be ng da a d. l aes Clnt a Co e Smih we e i ntfe as nne ny ope t i m ge nm t a on nd r y t r de ii d ha ng s ed defa c vi hout i nt omm e sa we e m o t s gr ga i t tni t Bot i a e l tr nt nd r ved o e e ton ha gh . h nm t s ae pl a e ded g ly t a dicplna y c r f i ii a ro or gr up de o tai n.1 The ne uit o s i i r ha ge or nctng i t o m nsr to xt m or ng, 15 i a e who we e sowes t co y wih or r t r tun t t i c ls we e ni nm t s r l t o mpl t de s o et ' o her e l r es o td t t r r a i ya d, oa d ont ta pora i va ,a ta f r e t Red Oni n. c re o he ec e ton r l de o r ns tton ns nd r nse r d o o The we g of t e de e e t bls t tbec us Clnt had be n i ntse as a i ht he vi nc sa ihed ha a e a on e de i d rnglade oft dit r nce ofk e spl e a st bel a ot hi waitasapr c uton bef r i e r he s u ba , t r ac d tm t r md s s ea i oe l di hi i o one ofs ver lc oa ng m nt e a ompa t e son ata pora i va The plce Smih on t rm nt r ns tton n. y a d t he 1 Ca t Br t tfed t td i t i t 'dit ba , Smih l ke a Br a s i s t ng P . own esii ha urng he nmaes sur nce t oo d t own nd ad omehi l e R eaen t oigi o rfc igcls W er no lc igd wn. ( . 8 , g. 2 20 5) i , W r o g n n u u kn el. 'e t o kn o ' Tr2 4 Au 1 , 1 . k ' va wiho i de .2 Be us Sm ih had a s be i ntte a as c iy tzea and a al a r n t ut nci nt ca e t lo en de i d s e urt lr t i s e de i t i ae dimr nc ,Fn n r move Smih fom t va plc a su bel on hi wa s, n he nm t s ba e nno e d t ' he n, a ed t n t r s it and r t r d li t t va c e u ne lm o he n ompa t e be i Cl nt rm nt sde a on. E1 t n s w Cl nt a Sm ih y he a a on nd t ki ki a buti t i s ul r a ns t va scompa t ntdoor . He or r t m t c ng nd tng her ho de s gai t he n' rme s de ed he o so butt y di no c t p, he d t ompl Fe rng t tda a t t c y. a i ha m ge o he ompa t e sc d pr s n s cliy rm nt oul e e t e trt rs ofe c pe,we pon f bdc ton,o i ae c l bor to dudng t ta por,El dee ned iks s a a a a i r nm t ola ai n he r ns t y tnni t ta us o f c wa wa r nt d a r m o d fom hi own bett r mot co r s f r t ha e f or e s ra e nd e ve r s l he e e ntol o he i a e 's n be t . nm t s bl ls The e de e e t bls d t tt bet do no a i e unl s t of e sm ulane l vi nc sa ihe ha he ls t ctvat e s he fc r i t ousy pr s esbot oft butonson t r m ot,us ly usng t ha f rt pr ed e Pr sng es h wo t he e e ual i wo nds o he oc ur . es i o bu tn s ne to ounds a bee wn ni t i t t sop t dir ptve be vir o be s ke p, r ng he nma e o t he s u i ha o r hoc d. W he a tva e t bel s kst i t f a n c i t d, he t hoc he nma e or boute g s c i ht e onds t ough t me a poi son , hr wo t l nt li l rbac W hie t de c m a l a t r dde d sgnaur m a ks on t s n oft ls owe k. l he vi e y e ve wo e ne i t e r he ki he i t sba k,none oft de e nt had s e t a tva i oft bel ca ebur orc st nma e' c he f nda s e n he c i tôn he t us ns ut o t s n, l a onl o m a k. he ki or e ve y ne r The e de e e t bls d t twhe Clnt n a Sm ih di no so t rdir pton a tr vi nc sa ihe ha n a o nd t d t t p hei s u i fe t be p,El pus d t s c he e y he he e ond buton alo t aci t ea h i ae' sun bet o tm e. t s o tvae c nm t s t l, ne i The ea tr t i a e soppe kiki a El di nota tva et bet a i W he o fc r r fe , he nm t s t d c ng, nd y d c i t he ls ga n. n f es pl e W ile Smih i o one oft ba c ac d li t nt he ck ompa t e t on t va hebl ke t doo wih li rm n s he n, oc d he r t ls 2 Th ma itaej d esrpotsae t tS t tsiida o ep n t t fr plcn hm o t v n, e gsrt u g ' e r tts ha mi etfe t n oitha beoe a ig i n he a h El a Ca i t hi be nd t van a hel hi whieFr y nd rco ook m hi he nd d m, l mnon sa d hi f e i o t sdeoft va a lmme s ac nt he i he n nd pl hedhi i t f enu oustmes t tCombsandFil wac d wiho it veni a t tFa mc m n he ac mer i , ha eds the t ut ner ng, nd ha nnont n he plce ast bel a ot S ih' waita r t nedhi t t va wiht o blc e sandbl drppi 9om hi a d tm t r md m t s s nd eur m o he n t ' a k ye w ood i ng s nos ont hi s r. The c tf t t Smih has c itnty mai aned t tSmih i tal e e e t va e o s hit our mds ha t onsse l nti ha t niily ntr d he n wihou i i nta t t alege a s ul fom Fa t t ncde nd hat he l d s a t r nnon oc r d a rFa n r ve Smih 9om t va t cure ûe nno emo d t he n o plce hi i t s u bet The co tas fnds howeve ,t Smih' tsi a m n he t n l. ur lo i , r hat t s e tmony a tt of r 'a s uli bou he fce s s a tve aci o sde t va i smpl no c e bl i lgh of c r c o y,mor cedi e t tmony a e de , tons uti he n s i y t r di e n i t ontadit r e r bl esi nd vi nce i l ng t vi o f a o Smih' a rva a Red Oni The eor ,t f t a dic e nc i t Re r t ncudi he de ootge f t s ri l t on. r f e he ac u l s r pa y n he po t o whc S t o j csi i tra t teRe o t c n lso sa dhi o jcinwil o e uld ih mih be t s mmaeilo h p r' o cu in , n s b eto lbe v n e . s 4 f t de pie or r t so a c s d onl afe a ofi e a id OC s a 3 The i aes ee, s t de s o t p, nd ea e nm t y tr n fc r pple pr y. r f s da o frf rd c n a n to a d ddno c mp an t tev n d iesa u ij r o OC e u e n fe o e o tmi ain n i t o li o h a rv r bo t nu y r s a e f t dlrng t 45- i e rde t Re Oni n. Sm ih l tr pl a pr y fecs zi he m nut i o d o t ae e ded guit t a ly o dici i t c r t the a tmpt d t da s plnay ha ge ha te e o mage sa epr pe t r l t t t r tt the had t t o ry, e aed o he epor ha l ke ata pora i velce do . dc d r ns tton li l or The e de e esa ihe t twhe t va r a he Red Oni ofk e s oft tprs n vi nc t bls d ha n he n e c d on, t r ha io t oa d t i a e ,srp s a c d t m ,pl c d s tmas o t m,ha t nures as e s ml de he nm t s ti e r he he a e pi ks n he d wo s ss t m f ra i me ae me c lne ds pl e t m i s r gai n c l,a ha am e alheat he o ny m di t di a e , ac d he n eg e to els nd d nt lh pr e so l i e viw and as e s t m f a physca orm e t lhe t i s s N one o t of s i na ntr e s s he or ny i l n a alh s ue . f he i vi uaswho ha c a twih Smih d u ng tlspr s docl e ed t the ha any vii e ndi d l d ont c t t t i li oce s lm nt ha d sbl ij re o ma ea yv r a c mp an so ha ig ij e . Re On o wi s e e tbls e te nu is r d n e b l o lit f vn nmis d in t s s sa ih d h ne i o tn e o d cl n ig a y ij re o a a v n imaet e s r ta h rc ie a mp ra c f o l tn n nu is n n ni i g n t o n u e h t e e ev d ny me te t n n c sa' a dt t ec udn tltrcam rc ii gs c ij re a Re On o rame t e e s t n ha h o l o ae li e ev n u h nu is t d i n. y The e de e as e t bls vi nc lo sa ihes t t Smih di not pr ry exha t a i sr tve ha t d ope l us dm nita i r m e e bef r flng t s l ws t Smih' t tmony t the c ul no o ai t ne s a y e di s o e ii hi a ui. t s esi ha o d t bt n he ce s r f r bec us ofi r r us d t pr de t m i smpl not c e bl i lg of o he ,mor o ms a e fce s ef e o ovi he s i y r di e n i ht t r e consse t si on a e de e t t Smih di not dii nty pur ue t a ia e it nt e tm y nd vi nc ha t d lge l s he val bl a nitai r m e esr r ng hi c am si t sa ton. dmi sr tve e di ega di s l i n hi c i 3 Smih tsiid t toncehewasr t r t t va El s ked hi muli e tme wih t su bet t e tfe ha e uned o he n y hoc m tpl i s t he t n l, f nor s n,t n ga t r mot t Fa or ea o he ve he e e o nnon,who c i ontnued a tvai Smih' betmuli etmeswih o ha ci tng t s l tpl i t ne nd, whie s a ng OC s a on Smih a Clnt wih t ohe hand. Smih alo tsi d t he s fr at r l pryi pry t nd a on t he t r t s e tle hat ufe ed hidde ee, ng bt' wol t hi l rba k fom beng s ke byt bel a t thes t spe le a e -ied gr oozi un md o s owe c r i hoc d he t nd ha aw hi nci-r s rsz ij r i temi o o c h rahe hsc l a Re Onin b tnoo eprvd d me ia atninfrtewo n . nuy n h r r n e e e c d i el t d o , u r n o ie dc l te to o h u d Th c u tmd S t stsi n a u teot r' s o t su b la dOC sry, n a u t ij r tebet e o r f s mi et y bo t h f s u e fhe tn et n h' mo ke p a a d bo the nu y h l ale y c us d hi t bec lgedl a e m, o ompltl i r di ei lg ofc r co y e de a t na u eoft betis f eey nc e bl n iht ontaditr vi nce bout he t r he l tel a ot wines e 'mor cedi et tmon a c e nd her t s s e r bl esi y nd ontmpor neo doc ntton. a us ume ai I lg to t e ie e n td h r a d ohe fcsf u d b t e ma itaej dg ,t e n ih f he vd nc oe ee n t r a t o n y h gsrt u e h c u t o cu e t a S t so j cin mus b o m z d a o t ihe o d sr dtdb oh r o r c n ld s h t mi b e to s t e ve l s u weg d r ic e ie y t e h' e e de e . t r co d,i l ng t vi o f t ge a ted i o e de e. The c tf rhe vi nc i he e r nc udi he de oo a dmit nt vi nc n our u t r c ncu e ta t d fnd n sdd no vo ae p io p lc o us f r e t u tfa l a an t o ld s h t he ee a t i t ilt rs n o iy r e o c mj siiby g is Smih, s ditc ly a m ai i l f t pur e of c usng hi ha m . The co t a s t a sia l nd lcousy or he pos a i m r ur lo c ncu e ta S t dd n ts fe a y ij r o lg lsg i n e o J l 1 ,2 24a ( tjt o ld s h t mi i o u fr n nu y f e a i nt c n u y 8 01 , nj ja h ka t d fnd n sa ee tte t j g n o S t scamso e c si ef r e fiu et itr e e he ee a t r n ild o ud me t n mi li f x e sv o c , alr o n ev n h' i r t ndif r nc o e i us di l eds i s h f c 5a d delbe aei fe e et s ro m e ca ne . n uc or e, n Fo t r as sa e t co twilad t fndi and c usons oft Re t r he e ons tt d, he ur l opt he i ngs oncl i he por, wi te a dto a f cs a d c ncu in heen sae , a d wi e tr j g n fr t e t h d i n l a t n o lso s ri ttd n l n e ud me t o h h i l defnda t ,asr co me d byt Re r. An a o i t o de wile e tzsda e n s e m nde he po t ppr prae r r l ntr li y. ENTER : Thi AG & da ofJ nua y,201 s y a r 6 . 4 Cli Unie Stt sDititJ lef t d a e src udge 4 I r c ng t sc uson, t c tdoe notmi m i t s rt oft i n ea hi hi oncl i he our s ni ze he eveiy he mmedit dic or a ae s omf t nd pai a i t s f r whe s kedwih a el toni bete n onetme.Ne t l s i Smih' ca e onetme n n nmae ufes n hoc t n ecr c l ve i verhees ,n t s s , -i us oft devi t hathi r peae dir ptve beha ort t e t ne pr t da e he ce o l s e td, s u i vi hat hr a e d opery mage a s c iy rs a nd e urt ik, qer ve balor r had bee i fe tve wassmpl notdipr tonaet t crumsa e t ofi r fce o J y r de s n ne fci , i y s opori t o he ic tnc s he fce s a d n ul 18 201 , 2. Onteoh rh n ,tfoc ta i osssro c n e ue c srq ie sg tc n cru cito ' Esae h te a d K lre h t mp e eius o sq n e e urs ini a t ic msrpin. tt g i ' o Ar to e rl Ar to v. l.o Pi hls, F.d ,2 6 WL 1 5 8 ,a * (t Ci. a .1 ,2 6 f msrng x e. msrn: Vil f ne t t 3 r 01 0 3 6 t 8 4h r J n 1 01 ) (mdn ta Ra esaep o rin lfreo l whe ve ly d i rs ns t asmain i whc a ra o a l f ig h t tsr r rpdto a oc ny n po e n epo e o i to n ih e s n be ox c rwoul pe ceves i dit da rt coul bemii td by usngt t e' a f ngt tr peae e d r i ome mme a e nge hat d tgae i he as r' nd mdi ha e td tsrus a antrssa t me tly i idviu ls bett h lnayc ae e g is e itn, nal l n i d a u jc o wou tr ommime to d rwa e c siefrei l t n r e s x esv oc n voain o teEihhAme me t ato g ofc rwa e tte t q ai e i ni frhsa t ns. Ha te ilt f h g t o nd y, l u h fie s n i d o u lt d mmu t o i ci ) d h h l i y o weihtoft e de ei c t t ta ofi raci e t s nbeton Sm ihm uli etm e onJ y 1 201 as g he vi nc ndiaed ha ny tce tvatd he m l t tpl i s ul 8, 2, Smih ale d,t e a tons mihtwelha be n dee d a unc tt onalus off c a ns a r tane t lge hos ci g l ve e me n onsimi e ore gai t esr i d i t whowa l ke i i ata pora i v nmae s oc d nsde r ns tton an. 5 Se Ra lv Prn eGe resCn v. d,3 2F.d 1 8 20 -4( t Ci 20 2 (et g sa d r fr e ndal ic og ' t .M . 0 3 8 , 30 4h n 0 ) sti tn ad o n b sa d rl bit) y tn e i ly . a i .

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