Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-6_05-cv-06086/USCOURTS-arwd-6_05-cv-06086-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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AO72A

(Rev. 8/82)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

HOT SPRINGS DIVISION

RONALD MILLS ADAMS PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 05-6086

GARLAND COUNTY DETENTION

CENTER, et al. DEFENDANTS

MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Ronald Mills Adams, who is presently detained at the Cross County Jail, brings this pro

se civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Garland County Detention Center,

Captain Harold Steed, Chaplain Ed Losey, and Sheriff Todd Sanders. (Doc. 1.) This action was

originally filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. By

ordered signed on December 7, 2005, Judge George Howard, Jr. transferred this case to this court

on the grounds of venue. (Doc. 1.) This court granted plaintiff pauper status (Doc. 6), and it is

now determined whether the complaint should be served on the defendants. 

In his complaint and supplement (Doc. 5) (which is a second copy of the documents

plaintiff filed in the Eastern District of Arkansas), plaintiff alleges that on March 15, 2005, he

learned that his mother "had been tragically killed." At the time, Adams was detained at the

Garland County DetentionCenter. Plaintiff was permitted to meet with family members to assist

with funeral arrangements that same day. The following day, Adams informed Captain Steed

that hewished to attend his mother's funeral. Plaintiff also informed Captain Steed that Chaplain

Losey "had promised that he would make all the arrangements necessary for [plaintiff] to be

able" to attend the funeral. Plaintiff claims that he had no disciplinary problems that would

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hinder his attendance and that Captain Steed recognized that. Despite having this meeting,

plaintiff alleges that "at no time after this meeting did any member of the administration meet

with [him] concerning the arrangements that were supposed to be made," and thus plaintiff was

not allowed to attend the funeral. 

When plaintiff inquired as to why he was not permitted to attend the funeral, he claims

that the only "excuse" he was given was that he "did not state [his] intention of attending the

funeral in a timely fashion." Due to the "gross negligence" of the defendants, plaintiff contends

that he suffered "mental anguish" that has carried over to his time in the Arkansas Department

of Correction. Plaintiff claims that he is seeking counseling through his unit counselor, the

Chaplains' Office, and the Mental Health offices. 

Plaintiff states that he is suing for punitive damages for emotional distress and mental

anguish cause by the defendants' cruel and unusual punishment. He also requests relief in the

form of $1 million for "pain and suffering." (Docs. 1, 5.) 

Section 1983 provides a federal cause of action for the deprivation, under color of law,

of a citizen's "rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws" of the

United States. "To establish a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, [a plaintiff] must show [1] a

deprivation [under color of law] of [2] a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the

Constitution or the laws of the United States." Dunham v. Wadley, 195 F.3d 1007, 1009 (8th Cir.

1999). "[T]o establish a violation of constitutional rights under § 1983, the plaintiff must prove

that the defendant’s unconstitutional action was the 'cause in fact' of the plaintiff’s injury."

Butler v. Dowd, 979 F.2d 661, 669 (8th Cir. 1992).

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Plaintiff's complaint is frivolous and subject to dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

Adams's allegation that his rights were violated when he was denied the opportunity to attend

his mother's funeral does not rise to a constitutional magnitude. A prisoner does not retain a

liberty interest in attending a family member's funeral, and the denial does not impose an atypical

or significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the normal incidents of prison life. See

Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484-86 (1995). Other courts around the nation that have

addressed this issue have held that prisoners do not retain a constitutional right to attend a family

member's funeral. See e.g., Hilliard v. Andrews, No. Civ. A. 05-75, 2005 WL 1629954 (W.D.

La. July 8, 2005) ("Simply put, plaintiff does not have a protected right to or a liberty interest in

attend his brother's funeral."); Bradley v. Beck, No. 1:01CV225-02-MU, 2001 WL 34610459

(W.D.N.C. Oct. 19, 2001) (fact that some prisoners are allowed to attend family member's

funerals is result of grace, not constitutional right); Cruz v. Sielaff, 767 F. Supp. 547, 550

(S.D.N.Y. 1991) (no federal right recognized under § 1983 to attend uncle's funeral). While it

is unfortunate that plaintiff was unable to attend his mother's funeral, that denial does not state

a claim under section 1983. 

Therefore, I recommend that plaintiff's complaint be dismissed as frivolous and for

failing to state a claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii) (IFP action, or any portion thereof,

may be dismissed on such grounds at any time). 

Adams has ten days from receipt of this report and recommendation in which to file

written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely written

objections may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. Adams is reminded

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that objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the district

court. 

DATED this 2nd day of May 2006.

/s/ Bobby E. Shepherd

_________________________________________

HON. BOBBY E. SHEPHERD 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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