Awe v. Mullins et al, No. 7:2014cv00665 - Document 39 (W.D. Va. 2015)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Jackson L. Kiser on 7/1/2015. (tvt)
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ckE- : oFFl u. . D< >- l ce : . r AT M G E' VA FI LED J -l 2 1 UL 25 I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR TH E W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A ROANOK E DI SI VI ON K EN N ETH V A LEN TIN E AW E, Pl ntff ai i , BEN N Y M ULL I S,e al, N t . D efendant s. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) JUL. c D oL BK # '. Rg cu u Ci lA c i N o.7: c 00665 vi t on 14- v- M EM OR ANDUM OPI ON NI By: H on.Jackson L .K i ser Se orUnie St t sDit i tJudge ni t d p e sr c rfe ompli ant Ke t VaentneAwe,aVigi aprs rpr e ngpr K ,ie ave iid c nne h l i r ni ione oce di o tld . purua t 42U. C.j 1 na ngDr BennyM uli a nufesRe De la VikiPhi s nt o S. 983, mi . lns nd s bel e nd c pjs o t Re Ono S aePrs n (ROS 'a d fnd n s Pli t falg st a Dee a t we e f he d in tt io C P' s ee a t. ani l e h t fnd n s r $ ) f e dei r t y i fe e t hi s ro m e ca nee ,i vi ai oft Ei h Amend e . lbe ael ndif r nt o s e i us di l ds n olton he ght m ht Dee a t fldamoin frs mmayj g n , n Plitf r s o d d mà i s ematrrp fnd n s ie to o u r ud me t a d an if e p n e , kngt te ie h frdipo iin. Aftrr vi ngt r or , Ig a tDee d n s moin frs mmayj d me t o s sto 1 e e ewi he ec d rn fn a t' to o u r u g n . Pli ifcli st thei a tit d wih t antf am ha s flc e t d known/ ume e 'c oni a t ii i hi doc nt d' hr c rhrts n s kne ,(s ve edege r tvedicdie e,' hr cC nitons'dicpr r i a bul ng, es te r ne a i s s as 'c oni t a i r' s otuson nd gi her c ompr son ofner er ,e plt ts rngr' f es i v oot nd a e dpuri 'de onne ve tbr e,a i baa d re a nd m lnce. Cons que l Pl i if s yshe i una e t do q lt m ove e s f RO SP' s i lho i e nty, a ntf a s bl o l he m nt or S pec a usng s urt pr ed est a e so - - el a i te ,lke e r s ,s we s a t ne and f miy ec iy oc ur o cc s utofc l ctvii s i xe cie ho r , tor y n l viiai a c a sfcai n hea i ,duet Def nda s alege f iur t te thi a l nt t t st ton, nd l s ii to rngs o e nt ' l d a l e o r a s ime s ha Awe v. Mullins et al Doc. 39 rs tdi t e ule n t unbea a e ' i r bl ' pa n. 1Paniffldagu n wi o t vd n ei rs o s t Dee a t' to frsmmayj d me t litf ie r me t t u e ie c n ep n e o fnd ns moin o u r u g n. h Cons nty,lmus r y ont ve ii d c pli t r f t t e de ei s eque l t el he rte om ant o e ue he vi nc n uppor dft m oto f s m ay t he in or um r j d me t Se W iimsv. ifn 9 2F.d8 0, 23(t Ci. 9 )( tn av rfe c mpan çst e uv ln u g n. e la l Grfi, 5 2 2 8 4h r 1 91 noig eiid o litç he q iae t i o a o o igafd vtfrsmmayj d me t u p ss wh ntealg t nsc nan dteenaeb sdo f n pp sn fia i o u r u g n p r o e, e h l ai o tie h ri r ae n e o p ro l n wld e'. esna k o e g ' ) Dockets.Justia.com . l rs n e pons ,De e e f ndant s m i t f l ng e denc Dr M uli i a lce e me c s ub t he olowi vi e. . lns s i ns d di al doc o a ha be n pr di m e ca s r i e t i t sa ROSP sncea oxi t l Aprl t r nd s e ovi ng di l e v c s o nma e t i ppr ma ey i 201 Be or Dr M uli r nde e c ea ROSP,Pli ifr cevedX r ofbot hi i M a c 4. f e . lns e r d ar t antf e i ays h ps n r h 20l t ts 3 ha howe Pli ifs f r fom de ne a i a t ii i bot hi . Theteam e tf d antf ufe ed r ge r tve rhrts n h ps r t n or t sc ton i tzoug m e c ton unl soruntlt c ton deeror t se hi ondii s lr h di a i es i he ondii t i a e nough t tslge y ha tr r i wa r n e Pl i ifhasr ceve me c ton f t sc ton. s r a t d. antf e i d dia i or hi ondii On M a 1 201 Dr M uli or e aone- a botom bunk a l rtera sg e y 3, 4, . lns der d ye r t nd owe i s inm nt f Pl i if a Dr M uli o de e asx- ont l rte as i nm e f Pl i ifon Augus 5, or antf, nd . lns r r d i m h owe ir sg nt or antf t i 7 5 . 201 2 O n A pr1 1 ,201 ,Dr M uli l r d ofPli if sde ie f ar ne d l 4. lns eane a ntf sr or e we owerter i a s g e a ag n a ove t r que t s i nm nt nd ai ppr d he e s . Dr M uli a s l r d ofPl ntf sdesr f ano- elpas on Aprl1 201 . lns lo ea ne ai if ie or kne s i 7, 5. Acc di t Pli ifsmedialr c d,aphyscan ha e mi Pl i ifon Ocobe 7, 4, or ng o antf c e or ii d xn ned antf t r 201 a de e t r ques f ano- elpa sbec us Pl i ifha af nci na r ng ofmoto i nd nid he e t or kne s a e antf d ' to l a e u in n hi e r m ii s no de or t o s li and anor gat I or rf Dr M uli t detr i s xte te , f miy r we lng, mal i. n de or . lns o e m ne whehe Pl i ifqua ii f rano- elpa s he wo d ha t e m i Pl ntf be a ea not r antf lfes o kne s, ul ve o xa ne ai if c us kne pa s s g fca t y a f c s s urt a RO SP.3 el s i nii n l f e t ec iy t Pli ifdi notco pl n t Dr M uli a utis r a e t hi hi knee o ba k a a ntf d m ai o . lns bo s ues elt d o s ps s r c nd ha notr que t ano- elpas durng t rl ta nt e onNove be 1 201 Dr d e sed kne s i hei as ppoi m nt m r 8, 4. . M uli expl nst tPl i ifma s i a sck c lr ques i Pli tf f l t thi co ton lns ai ha antf y ubm t i al e t f a n if ee s ha s ndii ha de eror t d ort the ha a m edi alne Dr M uli de e e rr f i t t e tPl i if s t i ae ha s c ed. . lns ni s ve e us ng o r a a ntf . 2Dr M uli 'undertndi ofprs polcyi t tal rte or ra efro y sx mont i r lns sa ng ion i s ha owe ir de r o nl i h ncement a s nd . t tani aeai aene onl t s bm i ar ques f r walt havet or rrne ha nm t nm t eds y o u t e t or ene o hat de e wed. 3Howeve 5 s d uponPli ifsm e c r or al , Dr M uli do t t tPli ifquaii sf ano r ba e antf' dial ec d one . lns ub s ha antf lte or kne pas . el s Nu s Phi ,asROSP' he nu s i r s i ef rbot admi sr tveand ci c r e pps S ad r e, s e ponsbl o h nitai lnial t ks A fe r vi w i t adm i s r tve 1 ofs c c l r ques s N tr e Phi a r t t as . t r e e ng he ni t a i og ik al e t , zs pps ve s ha Pli ifhasno fl d asc c l r quesssnceDe e be 201 a e ai t tPl i ifmay, a ntf t ie ik al e t i c m r 4 nd xpl ns ha antf lke ohe i aesa pe polc s i t r nm t nd r iy, ubmi asc c l r ques i hehasam e c lne d t r que ta t ik a l e t f di a e o e s no- lpas ort s e aphysc a ROSP nur e ma notis ano- elpas un i i i knee s o e ii n. ss y s ue kne s tl t s a horze by aphys can. ut i d ii Nur ePhi not t tPl i ifha a or f ral rte fom Aug t5,201 s pps es ha antf d n der o owe ir r us 4, t oug Fe a y 5,2015.l or rf rt to de t be r ne d, a ntf smpl nee d t hr h bnz r n de o ha r r o e we Pli if i y de o s i s h a r que t butPli ifdi no do s Upon r vi wi ROSP' e e toni r cor ubm t uc e s , antf d t o. e e ng S l cr c e ds s tm , s Phi dic r t ts urt saf ha hous d Pl ntf i a uppe te cel yse Nur e pps s ove ed ha ec iy t f d e ai if n n r ir l alhoug D r M uli 'l e te or rw asi ef e tt ough Fe u r 5, 5. Bec us D r t h . lns ow r i r de n f c hr br a y 201 a e . M uli 'l e te or r wasi t el c r c r c dss t m , ur e Phi doe no know w hy lns ow r i r de n he e t oni e or ys e N s pps s t Pli ifwa hous d i a u rte c l a s de esha ng ha a c e por ne antf s e n n ppe i r el, nd he ni vi d ny ontm a ous knowldge oft pr em .Asme c lpe s e he obl di a r onne , f nda sdo notcon r o ha a hort l De e nt tol r ve ut iy ove t housng ofi aes I t d,t me c de rme c n i s m e c lo d sr r ng r he i nm t . nsea he di al pa t nt a s ue di a r er ega di t m e c lne dsf botom bunksa l rte s butROSP s c iy sa fde e neswhehe he di a e or t nd owe ir , e urt t f t nni t r o how t eo de sma bei e e e r hos r r y mplm nt d.W he br n oughtt hi at nton on Aprl1 2015, . o s te i i 7, Dr M uli r ne d al we tero de ont s m e da lns e we o r i r r he n y. N ur e Dee deni ha ng ha a die ti ve e w ih Pl ntf c e ni t cl i s s l es vi d ny r c nvol m nt t ai if onc r ng he a m r i e i t sac i n orc em por neo know l a s d n hi to ont a us edge ofPl i i f shous ng as i e on a uppe a ntf i s gnm nt n r te . She de e r c vi a s c ca lr que tf om Pl i ifa ir ni s e ei ng ny i k l e s r a ntf bouta l e te hous ng ow r i r i as i ent a no- lpa s ora m e c lcondii durng t r l nttm e. s gnm , knee s , di a ton i he e eva i De e nt c l t tPl i ifha notb n de e a e st media te m e an f nda s oncude ha antf s ee ni d cc s o c l r at nt d a rt the ha ha a botom te a s g ne snc Fe a y 201 A lhough Pl i ifi f m ii r ve ha s d t i r s i m nt i e bnz r 5. t a ntf s n la w ih t pr e e t r ques m e c lte t nta ha us d t e pr ed e i t pa t t he oc dur s o e t di a r a me nd d e hos oc ur s n he s, Pl i t f had no s it d r a e r ques sf m e ca t e t e . a n if t ubm te el t d e t or di l r a m nt lI. A pat i e tte t s mmayj d me ti t pla ig ,h d s o eya dd s ls r ry s n ild o u r u g n f he e dn s te ic v r n ico u e ma e i l on tl ,a a a fdaviss t ras ie nd ny fi t how t tt r i no g nediput ast a m a e i f c . ha he e s enui s e o ny t ral a t Fed.R.Ci P. a .M aeilfcsaet ene sa yt etbls t elme sofapa t s v. 56() tra a t r hos ce sr o sa ih he e nt ry' c us o a ton.Andes v.Li t Lo I ,477U. 242, ( 98 .A ge nedipue a e f ci ron berv bbvsnc. S. 248 1 6) nui s t ofma e i lf te ssi,n viwi t r co dand a lr as bl i er nce d awn t r fom i a t ra ac xit f i e ng he e r l e ona e nf e s r he e r n lg m os f vo a e t t non- ovi pa t a r s bl f c - i r c d r t n a ve di tf i ht t a r bl o he m ng ry, ea ona e a t fnde oul e ur r c or t no mova .J Themovi pa t ha t bur nofs wi - Cha i,poi i outt t he n- nt #. ng ry s he de ho ng t t s ntng o he t di ti tcour - t tt r i a a e e ofe de e t s src t ha he e s n bs nc vi nc o uppor t nonm ovi pa t sc e. t he ng ry' as ' ' Ceoe Co p v Cart, 7 U. 31 , 2 ( 9 6 .l t emo n s tsisti bld n,h nte ltx r . . tet4 7 S. 7 3 5 1 8 ) f h va t aife h s t e t e h r non- o ntm us s tf t s ii a i sbl f ct t tde o t a e t e s e e ofa ge ne m va t e orh pec fc, dm s i e a s ha m nsr t he xit nc nui d s u eo fc f rtil l . t 2 - 3.A p ryi e tte t s mma yj d me ti ter c r a a ip t f a t o ra. d a 3 2 2 a t s nild o u r u g n f h e o d s whol c d notla ar tonal re off c t fnd i f voroft no m ova . W ila sv. e oul e d a i tir a t o i n a he nnt lim Grfi 95 F. 8 8 ( hCi.1 ) t e euns ifn, 2 2d 20, 23 4t r 991 . s r uppore s c ai ...i no e M td pe ulton s t nought o d fa as mma yj d me tmoin. En i v Na'As ' o Bus & Ed c Ra o l .5 F.d ee t u r u g n to ' ns . tl sn f . u . di.nc, 3 3 ' 5 , 2( t Ci.1 9 ) A panifc n o us ar s o et amoinf rs mmayj dg n t 5 6 4h r 9 5 . litf n n t e e p ns o to o u r u me t o c r tdei e e i ac antc lngedbyadee ntsmotonf s orec fcincis n ompli hale fnda ' i or umma yj r udgme . nt Cl ni e v.McDevit 555F. 3 336( hCi. oa ng r t, 3d 24, 4t r 2009) . 1 11. Dee d n saee tte t sl r j d me tb c u ePlitf f i t e tbiht i fn a t r nild o l mma y u g n e a s an if al o sa ls her s de i r t i fe e et as rousmedia ne d. Se .e. , t lev.Gn e 429 U. 97 10 lbe a e ndif r nc o e i cl e e c.Esel mbl , S. , 4 ( 976) Toesa ih a Eiht Ame 1 . tbls n g h ndme cli Plitf mus s t tadefnda was nt am, anif t how ha e nt pe s ly a r off c si cai as t nta rs ofs ro ha m a a t l r ogni d t r ona l wa e a t ndi tng ubsa i l ik e i us r nd cualy ec ze he e se ofs hars Fame v. e n,511U. 8 8 (994) SDei r t i feenc xitnce uc ik. r r Brnna S. 25, 38 1 . t lbe ae ndifr e m a bede onsr t d by eihe acua i e o r c e sdir r ' M ite v.Be n,896 F. y m ta e t r t l nt nt r e kl s sega d.' li r or 2d 8 851( h Ci.1 .$ de e nta t r kl sybydir r ngas tnta rs of 48, 4t r 990) ç f nda cs ec esl A segadi ubsa il ik da rt ti et rknown t t def nda o whi h wo d bea r ntt ar s na eper o i nge ha s ihe o he e nt r c ul ppa e o ea o bl s n n t de e ntsposton. l a 8 - A he lh c epr de ma be de i r t l i fe e he f nda ' ii ' d. t 51 52. ' at ar ovi r y lbe a ey ndif r nt w he t tea m e pr de i s gr s y i m pe e ,i de t ,ore es i ast s k t n he r t nt ovi d s o os l nco t nt na qua e xc s ve o hoc he cons e ori i olr bl t f m e a f nws . l a 851.Howeve ,cli sofneglge e cince s nt e a e o unda nt l ai s d. t r am i nc aenotc za ei aj 1 pr e di Esele,429U. a 1 06;s eJ onv.Oui ne , r ogni bl n 983 oc e ng. t l S. t 05- e ohns no s 1 F.d 1 1 69( hCi.1 )( i t tteai docor mus a t l drw t 45 3 64, 68- 4t r 998 notng ha r tng t s t cualy a he i e e et ta i t ss nf r nc ha n nma e' ympt m ssgniy t pr s nc ofapa tc a c ton a t ta o i f he e e e riul r ondii nd ha f iur t dr w s h a i e e em a pr e acli f neg i ncebutnotac am t rt a l e o a uc n nf r nc y es nt a m or lge l i mde he Eiht Ame g h ndme ) A prs rsdiag e mentwihme c lpes nt. ione ' s r e t dia ronnelove t c s of r he oure teame tdoesnotsaeaj1 3cam.W rg v.Coli ,766F. 8 8 ( h Ci.1 ; rt n tt 98 li iht lns 2d 41, 49 4t r 985) Ruselv.Shefer 528F. 31 31 (t Ci.1 )( rcura . sl f, 2d 8, 9 4h r 975 pe im) Pli ifc nnots ce by me el r si o hi a c a i i t compl ntt t a ntf a uc ed r y e tng n s c us ton n he ai ha Dee nt tal)t pr vi g m)wihnee dme ca c es r c s'n lghtoft e de e fnda s d il o o de hi t de di l ar evie 'i i f he vi nc s p o t De e d n s moinf rs mmayj dg n .S eBel lCo p. Two y 5 0 u p ri ng fn a t' to o u r u me t e lAt. r v. mbl, 5 U. 544,555( S. 2007)(nt na quottonmaksomitd)(e ognii apli ifsba i f rle i er l ai r te rc zng antf ss or eif de r mor t nlbesa c ncusons).W he Dr Muli s w Pli ifonNove t quies e ha a l nd o l i ' r n . lns a antf mber1 8, 201 aboutm e c ton ma eme ,Pli ifneiherc 4, dia i nag nt a ntf t ompl i ofis r a e t hi hi , aned s ues elt d o s ps kne s orba norr ques e a noe, ck e td knee pas . Dr M uli w a ne rpr en e w ih Pl i ifs l s . lns s ve es t d t a ntf de ie f ano- el s untlAprl1 2015 a wasnoti ved i t o he physcin' pror sr or kne pa s i i 7, , nd nvol n he t r ia s i de a oft r ques.The e i no e de et i ca et tDef nda swe e a r s c iy sa f ni l he e t r s vi nc o ndi t ha e nt r wa e e urt tf ha as i d sgnedPl i ift a uppe te des t Dr M uli 'or rf a bo tm te ,a i a antf o n r i r pie . lns de or to i r nd n ny e nt s c iy saf spl e e ofPl i ifon a uppe te i a mat rbeyond De e nt ' ve , e urt t f ac m nt antf n r ir s te f nda s c r . The e i no e de et tDef nda swe e dei r t l i fe e t a s rousm e ca ontol r s vi nc ha e nt r lbe a ey ndif r nt o e i di l ne d,a t y c nnotbehel la e f t a t o omisonsofs cziy sa f who we e e nd he a d i bl or he c s r s i e trt t f, r rs e pons bl f e cu i m e c lor r f r l i e or xe tng di a de s o ower te c las i e s N o m e c lofi e i -i r el s gnm nt . di a fc r n De e nt 'postonswoul know t tt ra t oro isonsunde t e cr um sa esvi a e f nda s ii d ha hei c s m s i r hes ic t nc olt d c e ryesa ihe c tt i lrght l a l t bls d onsiutona i s.Ac or ngl Def nda sa ee ild t qualfe c di y, e nt r ntte o ii d i nt a ds mma yj d me t mmu iy n u r u g n . I . V Fo tefr g igr a o , g a t fn a t' to f rs mma yj d me t a dI r h o e on e s ns I r n Dee d n s moi n o u r u g n , n r ci Plitf sl vet pr e t f mapa rsbe a ei i cla fom t r or t t es nd anif ea o oc ed q or upe i c us t s e r r he ec d ha Pl i ifha S hr s rkes'a i notunderi m i ntda rof s r o phys ca ha plr ua a ntf s t ee t i ' nd s t m ne nge e i us i l nn, z s nt t 2 U. C. 1 5 g .Se ECFNo. (eln P an ift ts c la ewo l b rs id d i i o 8 S. j 91 ( ) e 5 tl g litf ha u h e v u d e e cn e f t i wa dee ne t tPl nifhad(hr srkes'. s tnni d ha aitf t ee ti ') t l ENTER:Thi s @l . day of- , 01 5. 'N w . ' . ' / ' & f . . . . .' # , Se orUnied St t Diti tJ t aes src udge
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