Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-14-01509/USCOURTS-ca10-14-01509-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Christopher Pagel
Appellee
The GEO Group, Inc.
Appellee
Billy Jack Wiglesworth
Appellant

Document Text:

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT 

_________________________________ 

BILLY JACK WIGLESWORTH, 

 Plaintiff - Appellant, 

v. 

CHRISTOPHER PAGEL; THE GEO 

GROUP, INC., 

 Defendants - Appellees. 

No. 14-1509 

(D.C. No. 1:13-CV-00957-KMT) 

(D. Colorado) 

_________________________________ 

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

_________________________________ 

Before KELLY, LUCERO, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges. 

_________________________________ 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined 

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of 

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore 

ordered submitted without oral argument. 

I. BACKGROUND 

Plaintiff-appellant Billy Wiglesworth appeals the dismissal of his complaint 

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Mr. Wiglesworth is an inmate 

 *

 This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines 

of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for 

its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. 

FILED 

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit 

June 23, 2015

Elisabeth A. Shumaker 

Clerk of Court

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incarcerated by the Alaska Department of Corrections. During the relevant time 

period, Mr. Wiglesworth was incarcerated at the Hudson Correctional Facility 

(Hudson) in Hudson, Colorado. Hudson is a private correctional facility owned and 

operated by Defendant The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) under contract from the Alaska 

Department of Corrections. 

In June 2012, Mr. Wiglesworth was presented with an incident report charging 

him with forging a television request form in violation of Alaska Administrative 

Code tit. 22, § 05.400(c)(12), which identifies a prisoner’s forging of a document as a 

“[h]igh-moderate” infraction. Defendant Christopher Pagel scheduled a disciplinary 

hearing in which he acted as the prison hearing officer. At the hearing, Mr. 

Wiglesworth informed Mr. Pagel that he was invoking his right to cross-examine the 

staff members involved in creating the incident report. See Alaska Admin. Code tit. 

22, § 05.420(b)(5)(A) (“[I]f the prisoner or the disciplinary tribunal has requested the 

appearance of the staff member who wrote the disciplinary report, the staff member 

must be called into the room and questioned . . . .”); James v. State, 260 P.3d 1046, 

1055 (Alaska 2011) (holding prisoner’s state due process rights were violated when 

accusing prison officials were not present at disciplinary hearing). Mr. Pagel 

postponed the disciplinary hearing twice, but neither of the two staff members who 

accused Mr. Wiglesworth ever appeared to testify in person. Mr. Wiglesworth was 

found guilty and sentenced to thirty days of punitive segregation. 

After Mr. Wiglesworth exhausted his administrative remedies, he filed a civil 

action in Alaska state court. Mr. Wiglesworth argued the disciplinary hearing 

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violated his due process rights under the Alaska Constitution and state administrative 

code, which Hudson was obliged by contract to follow. Mr. Wiglesworth also 

brought claims of negligence per se based on the defendants’ violation of the Alaska 

regulation governing prison disciplinary proceedings. See Alaska Admin. Code tit. 

22, § 05.420(b)(5)(A). GEO and Mr. Pagel removed the case to the U.S. District 

Court for the District of Alaska, invoking the court’s diversity jurisdiction under 28 

U.S.C. § 1332(a). The case was subsequently transferred to the District of Colorado 

as the more convenient forum, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). The Colorado federal 

district court initially dismissed Mr. Wiglesworth’s complaint as frivolous pursuant 

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). On appeal, this court reversed, holding the district court 

improperly analyzed Mr. Wiglesworth’s claims solely under federal law. We 

remanded to the district court for consideration of the claims under state law. 

On remand, the district court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss. First, 

the district court determined that Mr. Wiglesworth’s state due process claims were 

rendered moot when he was transferred out of Hudson and into another facility in 

Alaska. Second, the district court determined that Colorado law governed Mr. 

Wiglesworth’s negligence per se claims. And, because Mr. Wiglesworth had relied 

solely on Alaska law for these claims, the district court granted the defendants’ 

motion to dismiss.1

 Mr. Wiglesworth appeals. 

 1

 The district court did give Mr. Wiglesworth thirty days to file an amended 

complaint to assert negligence per se claims premised on a violation of Colorado law. 

But, Mr. Wiglesworth voluntarily waived any claims for negligence per se premised 

on Colorado law. Accordingly, the district court entered final judgment. 

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II. DISCUSSION 

Because Mr. Wiglesworth is proceeding pro se, “we review his pleadings and 

other papers liberally and hold them to a less stringent standard than those drafted by 

attorneys.” Trackwell v. United States, 472 F.3d 1242, 1243 (10th Cir. 2007). Under 

this standard, “we make some allowances for the pro se plaintiff’s failure to cite 

proper legal authority, his confusion of various legal theories, his poor syntax and 

sentence construction, or his unfamiliarity with pleading requirements,” but we 

“cannot take on the responsibility of serving as the litigant’s attorney in constructing 

arguments and searching the record.” Garrett v. Selby Connor Maddux & Janer, 425 

F.3d 836, 840 (10th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted). 

Applying these principles, we understand Mr. Wiglesworth to make two arguments 

on appeal: (1) that the district court improperly applied Colorado law to his 

negligence per se claims and (2) that the district court’s mootness determination was 

erroneous. 

We review de novo a district court’s dismissal of Mr. Wiglesworth’s claims 

under Rule 12(b)(6). See Nixon v. City & Cnty. of Denver, 784 F.3d 1364, 1368 (10th 

Cir. 2015). In so doing, we “accept[] all well-pled facts as true and view[] them in the 

light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Barnes v. Harris, 783 F.3d 1185, 1191–92 (10th 

Cir. 2015). We further review the district court’s determination of questions 

involving mootness de novo. Rio Grande Silvery Minnow v. Bureau of Reclamation, 

601 F.3d 1096, 1122 (10th Cir. 2010). Finally, we review the district court’s choiceAppellate Case: 14-1509 Document: 01019448864 Date Filed: 06/23/2015 Page: 4 
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of-law determination de novo. Boone v. MVM, Inc., 572 F.3d 809, 811 (10th Cir. 

2009). We now address Mr. Wiglesworth’s claims. 

A. Mr. Wiglesworth’s Negligence Per Se Claims 

Mr. Wiglesworth premises his negligence per se claims on the assertion that 

the defendants violated his rights under the Alaska Constitution and Alaska state law. 

Because the case was transferred from Alaska to Colorado pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1404(a), the district court was required to conduct a choice-of-law analysis to 

determine whether Mr. Wiglesworth’s claims should be analyzed under Alaska or 

Colorado law. A federal court sitting in diversity usually applies the forum state’s—

in this case Colorado’s—choice-of-law rules. TPLC, Inc. v. United Nat’l Ins. Co., 44 

F.3d 1484, 1490 (10th Cir. 1995). But where, as here, “a case is transferred from one 

forum to another under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a), . . . the transferee court must follow the 

choice of law rules of the transferor court.” Trierweiler v. Croxton & Trench Holding 

Corp., 90 F.3d 1523, 1532 (10th Cir. 1996). Thus, we apply Alaska’s choice-of-law 

rules to Mr. Wiglesworth’s negligence per se claims. 

Alaska has adopted the approach of the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of 

Laws in its choice-of-law analysis. Savage Arms, Inc. v. W. Auto Supply Co., 18 P.3d 

49, 53 (Alaska 2001). Alaska law recognizes the tort of negligence per se. N. Lights 

Motel, Inc. v. Sweaney, 561 P.2d 1176, 1183 (Alaska 1977). Under the Restatement, 

“[t]he rights and liabilities of the parties with respect to an issue in tort are 

determined by the local law of the state which, with respect to that issue, has the 

most significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties under the principles 

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stated in § 6.” Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145(1) (1971). Section 6 

of the Restatement establishes seven factors relevant to a choice-of-law analysis: 

(a) the needs of the interstate and international systems, 

(b) the relevant policies of the forum, 

(c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests of 

those states in the determination of the particular issue, 

(d) the protection of justified expectations, 

(e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law, 

(f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and 

(g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied. 

Id. § 6(2). The Restatement further directs courts to consider four types of contacts 

when applying the principles established in § 6: 

(a) the place where the injury occurred, 

(b) the place where the conduct causing the injury occurred, 

(c) the domicil, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of 

business of the parties, and 

(d) the place where the relationship, if any, between the parties is centered. 

Id. § 145(2). Finally, the Restatement directs that “[t]hese contacts are to be 

evaluated according to their relative importance with respect to the particular issue.” 

Id.

The district court considered the types of contacts listed in § 145(2), but did 

not specifically address the factors enumerated in § 6. Viewing the parties’ contacts 

in light of the § 6 factors, we disagree with the district court’s conclusion that 

Colorado has the most significant relationship under the facts of this case. 

Mr. Wiglesworth argues the defendants had a duty to him to conduct the 

disciplinary hearing in accordance with Alaska law. He asserts that the defendants’ 

failure to comply with Alaska statutory and regulatory law in conducting the hearing 

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breached that duty, thereby forming the basis of a negligence per se claim. The 

alleged breach of Alaska law occurred in Colorado, but did so during a hearing 

conducted under the authority of Alaska law. Mr. Wiglesworth remains within the 

jurisdiction of Alaska, even though he was transferred to a prison facility in 

Colorado. See Overturf v. Massie, 385 F.3d 1276, 1279 (10th Cir. 2004) (recognizing 

that prisoners transferred to another state remain within the jurisdiction of the state in 

which the prisoner was originally sentenced). And the defendants only had the 

authority to discipline Mr. Wiglesworth in the first instance because they were acting 

under authority delegated to them by the Alaska Department of Corrections. See 

Hertz v. State, 22 P.3d 895, 902–03 (Alaska Ct. App. 2001) (recognizing that the 

Alaska Department of Corrections had delegated authority to private prison); Alaska 

Stat. § 33.30.031(a) (authorizing Alaska Department of Corrections to enter into 

agreements with private prison facilities only if those facilities “provide a degree of 

custody, care, and discipline similar to that required by the laws of” Alaska). Thus, 

although the disciplinary hearing—and the defendants’ allegedly negligent conduct—

occurred in Colorado, our analysis of the first two § 145(2) contacts must take into 

account that these events occurred in Colorado only by virtue of the defendants’ 

delegated authority from the State of Alaska. 

As the district court recognized, Mr. Wiglesworth is a resident of Alaska, 

despite being housed in Colorado. Mr. Pagel is a resident of Colorado, while GEO is 

a Florida-based corporation doing business in Colorado. Thus, the third § 145(2) 

contact points to Colorado and to some extent, Alaska. 

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As to the fourth § 145(2) contact, we think it clear on the facts of this case that 

the parties’ relationship is centered in Alaska. Although physically located in 

Colorado, the sole basis for the parties’ interaction was premised on their relationship 

to Alaska. But for his status as an Alaska prisoner, Mr. Wiglesworth would never 

have been under the defendants’ supervision. And but for the defendants’ contractual 

relationship with the Alaska Department of Corrections, they would never have come 

into contact with Mr. Wiglesworth. The parties’ physical presence in Colorado was 

incidental to their relationship. See Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 145 

cmt. e (“Situations do arise, however, where the place of injury will not play an 

important role in the selection of the state of the applicable law. This will be so, for 

example, when the place of injury can be said to be fortuitous or when for other 

reasons it bears little relation to the occurrence and the parties with respect to the 

particular issue.”); id. § 146 cmt. d (“Situations will, however, arise where, although 

conduct and injury occur in the same state, some other state is that of most significant 

relationship and therefore the state of the applicable law even with respect to such 

issues . . . which would usually be determined by the local law of the state of conduct 

and injury.”). Thus, the parties’ relationship was centered in Alaska. 

Our conclusion that Alaska is the state with the most significant relationship is 

bolstered when we consider the § 145(2) contacts in light of the § 6 factors. Alaska 

has a clear interest in ensuring its prisoners are treated in accordance with its laws 

and constitution. And we have identified no competing Colorado interests that would 

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be frustrated by applying Alaska law in this instance.2

 Moreover, the parties’ justified 

expectations were that Alaska law would govern their interactions. Mr. Wiglesworth, 

as an Alaska prisoner, was entitled to the protection of the Alaska Constitution and 

state law while in Alaska custody. Similarly, the defendants knew they were under an 

obligation to comply with Alaska law when supervising Mr. Wiglesworth’s 

disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, applying Alaska law to a dispute between an 

Alaska prisoner and prison officials under contract with the Alaska Department of 

Corrections promotes uniformity and predictability because it ensures that Alaska 

prisoners are treated the same, regardless of where they happen to be physically 

housed.3

 At the same time, it ensures prison officials know of the scope of their 

duties and potential liabilities vis-à-vis Alaska prisoners, without having to adjust to 

other states’ local laws. 

 2

 The district court concluded that a negligence per se claim under Colorado 

law must be premised on a violation of a Colorado statute. But this conclusion is 

incorrect. Colorado courts allow negligence per se claims premised on non-Colorado 

statutes, so long as the statute is adopted for the public’s safety, the plaintiff falls 

within the class the statute was meant to protect, and the plaintiff’s injury is the type 

the statute was meant to prevent. Hageman v. TSI, Inc., 786 P.2d 452, 453–55 (Colo. 

App. 1989) (allowing Colorado negligence per se claim premised on violation of 

federal highway regulations). Thus, Colorado law would not be offended by applying 

Alaska law in these circumstances. 

3

 We also note that applying Alaska law in these circumstances avoids the 

temptation for forum shopping. In this case, Mr. Wiglesworth brought his Alaska 

state law claims in Alaska state court. It was the defendants who sought removal and 

transfer to Colorado. Defendants’ choice of forum should not affect the scope of 

Mr. Wiglesworth’s rights under Alaska law. 

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Thus, we conclude the district court erred in its choice-of-law analysis. On 

remand, the court should analyze Mr. Wiglesworth’s negligence per se claims under 

Alaska law. 

B. Mr. Wiglesworth’s Due Process Claims 

Mr. Wiglesworth’s final claim on appeal is that the district court incorrectly 

determined his due process claims were moot. Mr. Wiglesworth sought declaratory 

and injunctive relief for his state law due process claims. Specifically, he requested 

(1) a declaration stating that Mr. Pagel violated Mr. Wiglesworth’s due process right 

to confront and cross-examine his accusers during the disciplinary hearing, (2) a 

declaration that Mr. Pagel had violated Mr. Wiglesworth’s due process rights by 

improperly questioning his staff advocate, and (3) an injunction ordering the 

defendants to reverse the disciplinary sanction as unfounded.4

 After this action was 

initiated, Mr. Wiglesworth was transferred out of Hudson and into a correctional 

facility in Alaska. The district court concluded that Mr. Wiglesworth’s transfer to 

another facility rendered his due process claims against the defendants moot because 

any relief awarded by the court would have no effect on the defendants’ future 

behavior toward Mr. Wiglesworth. 

On appeal, Mr. Wiglesworth does not challenge the district court’s mootness 

determination with regard to his requests for declaratory relief. Rather, he argues the 

 4

 Mr. Wiglesworth also requested declaratory relief in relation to another 

prison official, Joe Driver. But Mr. Wiglesworth voluntarily dismissed his claim 

against Mr. Driver on March 21, 2014. Accordingly, we do not address this request 

for relief. 

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court can still grant him effective relief “by ordering the disciplinary finding reversed 

and expunged from Mr. Wiglesworth’s institutional record.” According to Mr. 

Wiglesworth, the existence of the disciplinary record can be used to harm his future 

parole opportunities, as well as in any future prison disciplinary proceedings. He 

therefore argues that his request for injunctive relief was not moot. 

When determining whether a claim for injunctive relief is moot, “the crucial 

question is whether granting a present determination of the issues offered will have 

some effect in the real world. When it becomes impossible for a court to grant 

effective relief, a live controversy ceases to exist, and the case becomes moot.” 

Abdulhaseeb v. Calbone, 600 F.3d 1301, 1311 (10th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation 

marks omitted). Importantly, any relief fashioned by the court must have prospective 

effect and not merely amount to a declaration that the prisoner was wronged. Jordan 

v. Sosa, 654 F.3d 1012, 1027–28 (10th Cir. 2011). Applying these principles, we 

have previously held that “penitentiary-specific” claims can be mooted by a 

prisoner’s transfer to another facility. Id. at 1027–29. But, when a prisoner’s request 

for relief implicates system-wide interests, we have indicated that a prisoner’s 

transfer does not moot the claim. See id.

In this case, Mr. Wiglesworth has argued that the disciplinary finding is the 

product of the defendants’ unconstitutional conduct and that its presence on his 

record carries collateral consequences of a system-wide nature. As a remedy, he has 

asked the court to reverse the disciplinary finding and to order it expunged from his 

disciplinary record. If Mr. Wiglesworth is ultimately successful on the merits of his 

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claims, this is relief the court can offer that will have some effect in the real world. 

Accordingly, Mr. Wiglesworth’s claim for injunctive relief was not mooted by his 

transfer to another facility. 

III. CONCLUSION 

For the reasons discussed above, we REVERSE and REMAND to the district 

court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We further GRANT 

Mr. Wiglesworth’s request to proceed in forma pauperis, but we remind him of his 

obligation to continue making partial payments until the fee has been paid in full. 

Entered for the Court 

Carolyn B. McHugh 

Circuit Judge 

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