Obataiye-Allah v. VA Clarke, et al, No. 7:2015cv00250 - Document 63 (W.D. Va. 2016)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief United States District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 8/8/2016. (tvt)
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rlFRK' OFFI U, . ST. URT . S CE S DI X AT RCANOKE, P VA ê( :r :1!r '-ql ALC 28 2 1 06 I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR THE W ES TERN DI TRI UF VI NI S CT RGI A ROANOKE DI SI W ON UHURU 'SEKOU OBATM YEALLM I , J AC 4 ULI BY: o , ERK C ' , t . CASE NO . 1 7: 5CV00 250 Pl ntf , ai if M EM O M N D U M O PI I N N O HAROLD CLARKE, K , c By: G l E.C onr en ad Chi U ni e St e D i t i tJudge ef t d at s s r c D efendant s. Pl i ifUhur Se u Oba aye Ala a Vig ni i a e pr e ng pr K ,fl d t s antf u' ko t i - lh, r i a nm t oce di o ie hi cvi rg sa ton ptrua t 42 U. C.j1 3. Heal est tt dee i l iht ci ls nt o S. 98 leg ha he fndantofki soft f al he VignaDe rme t fCor ci n (VDOC' h vevo ae hsc n ttto a rg t b r f sn r ii pat n o re to s G 1 ' a iltd i o siuin l ih s y eu ig ) t pr de dit r a c moda i f hi l t e i olr nc Afe r vi w of t pa te o ovi e a y c om ton or s acos nt e a e. tr e e he ris' ' $ 4 . s iso s t ec u t o cu e ta d fnd n sa ee tte t s mmayj g n a amatro ubm s i n ,h o r c n l d s h t ee a t r n i d o u l r ud me t s te f . lw . a 1 . Att tm e Oba aye- lh tl t s aci n,he was i a ce a e a Re Ori n St t he i t i Ala ied hi to nc r r t d t d lo a e P io (le Oro ' . I hi c mp an , alge t a hei alr i t d iy p o u t. Asa rs n tk d 1 n' 1 n s o lit he l s h t s legc o ar r d cs t i ) e f l roft Na i ofI hm x lgi he r ceve t Comm o Fa e Ditt ti l sdaiy olowe he ton s ei on, e i s he n r e ha ncude r f ie sa f ood t m nd oodsco ani daiy pr t . Obaai - l h c nt i ng r oduc s t ye Ala ompl i t twhe he a ds ans ha n voi Obataiye-Allah v. VA Clarke, et al e tn d iyie i t me l p o i e t hi het tr es . ( mp . , No 1) Heas aig ar tms n he as r v d d o m, t a v gj' Co l 3 ECF . . s ' lo Doc. 63 al ge t t i he a ci nty e t dar pr ucs he s f r fom Glve ,bur ng of t s n, le s ha f c de l a s iy od t , ufe s r Gi s l ni he ki mo t ic y e e ,lp ,mo t,tr t ec n usa g s b o n lp i,cn ,darh e , uh, th y s is uh h oa, t. a e , a ,a d mia an rmps irgl a ' I J 201 , Obaaye Ala no i t cour t he had bee ta f re t Sus e 1 Stt Prs n une 6 ti - lh tfed he t hat n rns er d o s x 1 a e ion (s se 1' s u sx 13 t Dockets.Justia.com o an t ymir ie ,End co i o (iqe o h g . ( No. - ) I hi j1983c mplitObaaie g an s a ) l sng f h s s p a us' ECF 12. n s ' Ala s st VDOC diecor t sa e deVD OC ditca a t f s r i e s r ior lh ue he r t , wo tt wi e i ins, nd wo ood e v c upe v s s a Re Oni n,cai ng t tt rf ilr t pr dehi wih s bsiut f ie sf rt dar t d o l mi ha hei a lze o ovi m t u tt e ood tm o he iy ie s i hi ditco tt t s dei r t i fe e e t a s rous medialne d a vi a e hi tm n s e nsiu e lbe a e ndif r nc o e i c e nd olt s s c nsi to a rg t.Hes e smo ea yd ma e a da ijmcin o d rn ad ipfe d e. o tt in l ihs u e k n tr n g s n n n t to r eig ar z e it Oba ayeAla a rve a Re Oni i l t M a 201 Acc di t t undiput d t i - lh r i d t d on n ae y 4. or ng o he s e me c lr or ,a t ttme,he we ghe 221 pou . I Jme 201 a a n i Dec m be di a ec ds t ha i i d nds n t 4 nd gai n e r 201 t i tt i l physcin is d a di t or r f Obat ye Ala t r ceve no daiy 4, he nsiutona i a s ue e de or ai - l h o e i r pr t . Unde t e ditor s f s r ce pr de Obaai - l h s tm t f ie s oduc s r hes e der, ood e vi ovi d t ye Ala ubsi e ood t m whe ve t men c le f dar pr t ,s h a c ta c e e. ne r he u a ld or iy oduc s uc s o tge he s On M ar h 20,201 t VDOC' c e physc a Doc o Am one t,is d a dieci by c 5, he S hi f ii n, t r te s ue r tve e alt a lVD OC he t a hortes a m e ca pr vi r c e ri dar al r es The m i o l alh ut ii nd di l o de s onc rlng iy le gi . e al saed t t da r a lr e a e t ua i a t a ac or ngl onl i aes who m i t t ha iy le gi s r mus l n duls nd, c di y, y nm t r pored s e t ympt m sc it ntwih at eale gy t da r pr t s ul r c ve am e c ldi t o ons se t nz lr o iy oduc s ho d e ei di a e or rf no dar The e ali c t d t ti ae who r por a hit y ofpan,gas bl tng, de or iy. m i ndia e ha nm t s e t sor i , oa i a di he wihoutot rs nd m a, t he ympt ss om uggesi ofa t e ale g a e lkey lc os i olr n , tve nl lr y, r i l a t e nt e a t r t rt n al r c;s h i aess d m e ey be a s d t a d dar pr t a s d ahe ha le gi uc nm t houl rl dvie o voi iy oduc s nd houl notbepr de any s c a dit r a omm odai ns2 The e li tuced medi lpr de st ovi d pe i l e a y cc to . mai nsr t ca ovi r o r e l t ale si S dar ' or r t e ur t tt y we e bas on e de e of a t e e vaua e 1 xitng G no iy' de s o ns e ha he r ed vi nc nz a l r t da r le gy o i y. I r pons t Dr Am one t s e a l Red Oni m e ca s a f r va ua ed Oba ai n es e o . te' m i, on di l t f ee l t t ye Ala sG daiy' d e or ra f md i nott bemedialy ne es a y.Spe ikaly,he f lh' ç no r ' i t de nd ol t o c l c sr c f l t y ound 2 Acc di t t VDOC' saeditcin, tl eVDOC doe notc r nty ha a a opra és bsiut or ng o he S tt ei a s' rh s ure l ve n ppr it u tt e frd iyp o ucs' ( No 3 -, t ) o ar r d t. ECF . 33 a 2. ' 2 t twhie Oba a ye Ala ma bel c os i olr nt heha notbe n dignos d a ha ng ada r ha l t i - lh y a t e nt e a , s e a e s vi iy al r The i tuce hi t mana hi c ton by a di t f le gy. y nsr t d m o ge s ondii voi ng he oodst tbot rhi . l ha he m n M a 201 f y 4, ood s r c a R e Ozi di c i d pr di O ba a ye- l h w ih f e vi e t d lon s ontnue ovi ng ti N a t ood s tt e f dar f ie so t Comm on Fa edit ubsiut s or iy ood t m n he r e. The Co mon Fa e diti 201 and 201 c l f agl sofmik f br kf s eve yda m r e n 4 5 aled or as l or ea a t r y a cotage c e e i a l ms one me e l ot r da Some i i Se e nd t he s n t e t al ve' he y. y tme n pt mber 201 t 5, he VDOC i plm e e a ne hotf Com mon Fa e me wih c tge c s s r ed onl o e m e nt d w, ood r nu, t ota hee e e v y nc ort c pe wee The Comm on Fa e m e u yi l a 3, caorc vaue,wih 1 gr ms of wie r k. r n e ds 000- l i l t 25 a pr ei t tval e e t VDOC m a t r men by 300 caore . Ac or ng t Obaai ot n; ha ue xce ds he se u l is c di o t yeAla s m e c r c d,he weghed 230 pot on M a 26,2015 t n pot m or t n he l h' dial e or i mds y - e mds e ha w e ghed be or t ç daiy' or rwasr i f e he t no r ' de evoke d. Obaai - l h a l est tva i uspas i i nt pr t tet rhe a tz ly hasa dar t ye M a leg ha ro t nc de s ove ha ihe c ta l iy a lr y o lc os i olr nc c us s m pt m s s rous e le g r a t e nt e a e a es y o ei nough t r quie dit r o e r eay ac omm odai ns He al ge t to Jme 1 201 co t c es wa s r e ne t hi be c to . le s ha n t 6, 5, tage he e s e v d xt o s ans a at ug heti d t s pa aet t a e tonl t be ns he de l pe s ln eye a a nd lho h re o e r t he wo nd a y he a , ve o d wole s nd r h on hi c s.3 Oba aye- lh c as s he t t i Ala ompli d ofot ra lr c r c i fom f on Jme 1 a ne he le gi ea tons r ood t 7 a 24,a on Augus 3 a 4,201 4 He ale st thi dar. pr e ha c us d li t nd nd t nd 5. l ge ha s iy obl ms ve a e lm o de l da k cr e a ound hi e sa t l eweghtt t poi t t a ne dy sx f e a tn veop r icls r s ye nd o os i o he nt ha , t a i e t nd e i hest l he i s t tal unde hi no ma wei of26 pot nc al, s ubsan i ly r s r l ght 2 mds. 3 Obaai Ala s medialr cor i c t t t nure who e mi hi i r s e t t e t ye- lh' c e ds ndiae hat he s xa ned m n e pons o hes compl nt not unlbor d br ahi a no r s r s wih o y a s la ai s ed a e e t ng nd aied mh, t nl mal mountofs lng a ound bot e , weli r h yes andadmi seedBe d yl nitr na r . 4 W he ObaayeAlah c n ti - l ompli ofaler s omsi J ne201 , t nur enotd no ac t dites, aned l gy ympt n u 5 he s e u e sr s pr de Be dr l a r e r hi f c r r viw byt i tt tona physci whono e Obaai - l spa t ovi d ne y, nd efred m or ha t e e he nsiui l i an, t d t ye Alah' s r us lt t r ale gyt tng. Theme ca r co d doe no r fe tt tObaai Ala r ie alr c ef a o mde go lr esi di l e r s t elc ha t ye- lh as d legy ompli s ant o Augu t3or4,201 n s 5. 3 I. I For a pa t s e de e t r ie a ge ne is of m ae il f c s fc e t a d ry' vi nc o as nui s ue t ra a t ufi i nt o voi sl r j d me t i mu tb E u h t a ar a o a l jly c ud rt l a v r itf rt eno l mmay u g n , t s e G c h t e s n b e t o l e' ' ed c o h n s r un mo ig pa t ' An es n v.Li e t Lo b .I . 47 U. 2 2 2 8 ( 9 6 . l mn i g t i vn ry. ' d ro b ry b y nc, 7 S. 4 , 4 1 8 ) n k n hs dee mi ton,ç he c ti r uie t viw t f c sa dr w r as t r na i G our s eq r d o e he a t nd a e onabl ile e s i a lg t e rf r nce n i ht mo tfv rbl t t n n vigpa t ' S w v. to ,1 F.d79 , 8( t Ci. 9 4 . s a o a e o he o mo n ry. ha S rud 3 3 1 79 4h r 1 9 ) ' Seci n 1 3 pe misa a i ve pa t t fl a c vi a ton agans ape s f a tons to 98 r t n ggre d ry o ie i l c i i t r on or c i t ke unde col ofsa e 1w t tvi a e hi c tt i rg s Se Coope v.She ha 735 a n r or tt a ha olt d s onsi onal i ht . e m r e n, F.d 1 3 1 8 ( t Ci.20 3 . Th Eih h Ame me t t t e Co siuin p o i i t 3 5 , 5 4h r 1 ) e gt nd n o h n ttto r h bt he s i lci n of l te a t ualpunihm e s'on prs r , i udi t G nne s ar a nfi to t ll nd mus cr s nt' ione s ncl ng he hl ce s y nd wa t n i lcin o p i. Whilv v Ale s 4 5 U. 2 3 9 ( 9 6 (n en lq tto n o nfito f an' te . b r , 7 S.31 , 1 1 8 ) itr a uoain ' mrk a d ctto so te ) To s c e o a y Eihh Ame me tcam,a p io e mu t s n iai n mitd . uc e d n n g t nd n li rs n r s s o t t ûh p io o fca a td wih a s fiinl c l b e sae o mid (u j ci h w ha G e rs n fiil ce t t u fce ty upa l tt f n s be t ve c mp n n ) a d . o o et n ( l ij r ititd o te imae wa s fiint s ro ( be tv t nu y nlce n h n t s u fce l eius o j cie he y c mp n n l' 1 ov Sh e e 5 5F.d2 5 2 8( t Ci. 0 8 . o o e t. k . rv , 3 3 2 , 3 4h r 2 0 ) ' To s c edi aj 1 cai rlt t me c lc r i prs pli ifmus saefcs uc e n 983 l m eaed o dia ae n ion, antf t tt a t s howi t t he has a s rous media ne t whih t de e nt prs ofi i l we e ng ha ei c l ed o c he f nda ion fc as r delbe ae y i fe e . S e Esel v Ga l,4 9 U. 9 ( 9 6 . To a twi d l r t i r tl ndif r nt e tle . mb e 2 S. 7 1 7 ) c t ei ae h be i fe e e,a of i lmus ha be n pe s na l a r off c si c tng a s t nta rs of ndif r nc n fc a t ve e r o ly wa e a t ndi ai ubsa il ik s r o hn m , a a s m us ha a m a l r c e i us r nd l o t ve c ly e ogni e t e s e z d he xit nce of s h r s Fn m e v. uc ik. r r Brr n 51 U. 8 5 8 (99 ) Prs n p rome ae e t ld t rl o t e me ia ema , 1 S. 2 , 38 1 4 . io e s r l r ni e o ey n h t dcl j d me to a imaeste tn p y iin t d tr newh tte t n i r q rd t a d e s u g n f n n t ' raig h sca o ee mi a r ame t s e uie o d r s xs o hnm rltd t me ia c ndto . Se Sh k a v.S t 71 F.d 1 2 1 7 ( t iks f r eae o d c l o i ns e n k i mi h, 3 6 , 6 4h Ci.9 5 (iigM i irv. o 8 6F. 8 8 8 4( t Ci.1 9 :. r1 9 ) ctn l e Be m, 9 2d 4 , 5 4h r 9 0 t Obati - l s s l- a a ye Alah' ef dignoss of hi s i s ympt m s a s rous e o s ei nough t wara s ci o r nt pe al dit z a om moda insi i uf i ntt pr t thehasa s rousme c ne f t s c a e ay cc to s ns fc e o ove ha ei di al ed or he pe i l di the desr . M or ove ,alhoug he hasa es t hi med c lr c ds he doe no a lge or e ies e r t h cc s o s i a e or , s t le s i a d lme a in ve iyi t t a m e ca pr f sonalhas dignos d hi as beng ubm t ny ocl nt to rf ng ha di l o es i a e m i ale gi t dar pr t . lr c o iy oduc s Eve a ce i a t e Obaai - l h' ale tons t tt s n c ptng s nz t ye Ala s l gai ha he ympt m s he e re s o xpe ince afe eai f tr tng oodsc a ni daiy c us hi s tntaldic f t heha no f e s e de e onti ng r a e m ubsa i s om or, s t or ca t vi nc s uppori t e e nt ofa Ei h Am e tng he l me s n ght ndmen cli her . Fis , heRed Oni m e ca saf t am e rtt on di l t f de i d Oba aye Ala had no me c l ne es iy f a dar r dit t t t VDOC now c de t i - lh di a c st or ipfee e ha he ' r er s f i aes wih a dignos a lr y t da r pr t . The rg t m e c lc e i es ve or nm t t a ed le g o iy oduc s i ht o di a ar s lm ied t team e t ti m e c ly ne es a y a nott tl lc m a be co i r d m e e y i t o r t nt ha s di al c s r nd ha i i h y wl nsde e rl d srb e' Bo i v.Go wi ,5 F.d 4 ,48 ( t Ci.1 7 ) S c nd d fnd n si t i eia l. wrnz ' d n 51 2 4 4h r 9 7 . e o , e e a t n h s lws t t VDOC die t r ditc a ,a f s r c s r s s a enotdoc or . The do a ui- he r c o , e ii ns nd ood e vie upe vior- r t s y no ha t e rie t dignos Oba aye- lh' s pt sasl c os i ol r nce ora da r t ve he xpe ts o a e t i Ala s ym om a t e nt e a iy al gy,ort de e mi whe he t f me c ton m e c ly r quie di t r a omm oda i ler o t r ne t r he or r ondii di al e r s e a y cc ton. On t co r r t s de e nt c d l wf l r l on t Re Oni m e ca sa ft m a he nta y, he e f nda s oul a uly ey he d on di l t f o ke p o e so lud me t a t wh t rOb tieAla sme ia litr i cud dada n sst a r f sina j g n s s o ehe aay - lh' dc lzso y n l e ig o i h t he s f r f o a da r a l r orr po t d s pt s c i t ntw ih l c os i ol r nce The e uf e s r m iy le gy e r e ym om ons se t a t e nt e a . s d fn a t c ud as lwf ly rl o Dr Amo et' p o e so a me ia j g n ta ee d n s o l lo a ul ey n . n te s r f sin l dc l ud me t h t i t wih l c os i olr nc ha no s rousm e c nee f rdi tr a omm od to . For nma es t a t e nt e a e ve ei dial d o ea y cc a i ns t e r a ons Oba ai - la c nnot s w t t t s de e nt ac e w ih de i r t hes e s , t ye A l h n ho ha he e f nda s t d t lbe a e 5 i f e e e whe t y r us d t e o c hi pro S dar 'ditor r ,i lghtoft medi l ndif r nc n he ef e o nf r e s i r G no iy' e de s n i he ca sa fs de e mi ton ofno medialnec st f s h a ditunde Dr Amone t s die tves tf t r na i c es iy or uc e r . te' r c i . Ac o dngy te c u twi g a td fnd ns moin f rsl r j g n An a p o t c r i l , h o r l rn e e a t' to o l l mmay ud me t6 p r pdae or rwilis t sda de l s ue hi y. Th èlr i dr ce t s n c pis o ti me rnd m o iin a d a c mp nyn e ek s ie td o e d o e f h s mo a u pn o n c o a ig or rt t pa tes de o he ri . ENTER;Ths V i d yo Au u t2 6 a f g s, 01 . Chif nie St t sDititJ e t d a e src udge 5 Ob ti - lh a srst a smmayj d me two l bepe tr u tlh h sb e ga td cran aayeAl se t h t u r u g n ud rmau e ni e a e n rn e e ti a dic r ie heha r que t hi e ie me c r or lssofi e e sofalf s ove y t ms s e sed: s ntr dial ec d; it np dint 1 oodson t Co he mmon Fa e r dithe r ei a Red Oni r la e doc ntton a ts e ec ved t on; eibl ume a i bou ympt ofl t e i ol a e a ofalr est oms acos nt ernc nd le gi o f oodss h aspe sa s doc nt in a uc anut nd oy; ume ato boutdignosng a i vi lwih an alr y t da t number a i n ndi dua t le g o hy; he a namesofVDOC i t wih t s t c to ;docl t to s wi t twhe he arve a Sus e I, nd nmaes t he e wo ondiins lmen ain ho ng ha n ri d t s x 1 he weghe onl 118 pounds a docl ntton s ng t t a l t e i olrnt i vi lca ofen t e ae i d y ; nd tme a i howi ha acos nt ea ndi dua n t olr t i esi s dar pr t. W he Obaai Ala s r d r ssf rs oft sdicove yea l i t lws t ng tng ome iy oducs n t ye- lh e ve eque t o ome hi s r ry n he a ui, tec u ts san d te d fn a t'o j cin ta h c udno o ti me ia rc rsi dso ey b cus h h o r u tie h ee d ns be to s h t e o l t ban dc l e od n ic v r , e a e e c udrve t m wi o tac u t r e.Th c u t los tie d fnd ns o jcin t toh rrq et smi r o l e iw he t u o r o d r e o r as usan d ee a t' beto s ha te e u ss i l h a t t s we eove br ors o he e r r oad oughtt obti i or ton be o an nf ma i yond t knowl he edge o r po biiy oft defnda s r es nsi lt he e nt, wh aen tme ia p oeso as ObaayeAl h' p n ig rn we dso eyrq ssaeo jcin befrte o r o dc l r fsin l. ti - l s e dn , e e d ic v r e uet r b eto a l o h a s me r a ons M o eo r t y do nots k e de mae ilt a f t lis r lt t hi a tmptd cl m s a e s . r ve , he ee vi nce tra o ny acua sue eaed o s te e ai a i t t de e nt. The c twil t r f r de Obaai Ala s moi r ga di t s o sa ng gans he f nda s our l, he e o e, ny t ye- lh' ton e r ng he e uttndi dso eyrq et, n f sta d fn a t' to frs mmayj d meti rpef rds osto ic v r e u ss a d md h t ee d n s moin o u r u g n s i o ip iin. 6 One coul s y t tObaaye- lh ha s t wr de e nt who haveno mediale rie or d a ha ti Ala s ued he ong f nda s c xpe ts a hort t dign e and or r ac mmodai of hi alge media dit y nee . The cou ca ut iy o a os de co ton s le d c l em' ds rt nnot fnd, i h we e,ay o ljt nt alw Obaay- lht a n t ad a dfn at teidviu l wh ma te o vr n biai o lo o tieAla o med o d s eedns h n i d as o de h me ia d tr n to wihwhc h i dsaife . S eGod nv. e e 5 4 F.d 11 ,1 51(t Ci.1 7 ) dc l eemialns t ih e s istsid e r o Le k . 7 2 47 1 4h r 9 8 ( ietn c r t alw po: lia tt a n a is icetpla n i ima b a n e t a he ej sie. drcig out o lo r . ig n o me d n nuf in edig f t y e me d d o c iv u tc) :t Attemot Ob tieAl h' c litalg shi ds ge me twihteme ia j d me t oftep oe so as h s, aay - l s ompan l e s ia re n t h dc lu g ns h r fsin l a e c r w ih hi c e. The gitofs h a cam i m e c neglgenc a s h algato do no i plc ehi haged t s ar s uc li s dial i e, nd uc le ins t m iat s c ntmt n lrg t. S e We b v Ha d lh 281F.Ap x 1 9 1 6 (t Ci.0 )Cp tsmpy,n gie t o si i a ihs e b . miul . o a p' 5 , 6 4h r2 08 u i l e l n g me ia da oe o te t n, t u moe d n t o si t d l eaei ifrn e'. dc l ign ss r rame twi t r , o o c ntt e ei rt ndfee c .) ho u b ' 6
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