# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 4- 15 89

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _
Terry M. Tur ne r

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.

Si dn ey Mu ll , Serg ean t, Co rrec ti on al Offic er, Tran sp or ta ti on Su pe rv is or ; An ge la
Ch an dl er, Ho sp it al Adm in is tra to r; R ob ert Theb eau , Cor rect io na l Offi cer; Terry

Ru ss el l; Pet e Koe ni g; Jo hn Doe, Co rrec ti on al Offic er

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el le es

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i - St . Lou is

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

13 , 20 15
Fil ed : Ap ril 28 , 20 15

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re SM ITH, BENTON, an d S HEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __

SMI TH, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Terry Turn er br ou gh t th is su it ag ai ns t se ve ral of fic ia ls at th e East ern Rec ep ti on Diag no st ic Co rrec ti on al Cen te r in Bo n ne Terre, Mi ss ou ri (ERDCC)

, as se rti ng
vi ol at io ns of hi s rig ht s un de r th e Eig ht h Am en dm en t; th e Fo ur te en th Am en dm en t;

Tit le II of th e Am eri can s wit h Dis ab il it ie s Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12 13 1 et se q .; an d§ 50 4 of th e Reh ab il it at io n Act, 29 U.S.C. § 79 4. The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d su m m ary 1
jud gm en t t o t he off

ic ia ls on all cla im s. We affi rm

.

I. Bac kg ro un d

At al l ti m es rel ev an t to th is cas e, Turn er was an in m at e at th e ERDCC. Turn er

su ffer ed fro m a ne ur ol og ic al di so rd er bu t was ab le to am bu la te

, st an d, an d si t wit h th e

us e of le g br aces an d cru tc he s. Alt ho ug h Turn er so ug ht an d rece iv ed m ed ic al care fo r

hi s ne ur ol og ic al co nd it io n on m ul ti pl e oc cas io ns in 20 11

, no ph y si ci an or de red th at

Turn er be pr ov id ed us e of a whe el ch ai r

. S i mi l a rly, no ph y si ci an or de red th at th e

ERDCC t ran sp or t Tu rn er i n a whee lc ha ir- acce ss ib le va n.

The ERDCC ha d a whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n equ ip pe d with a "l ift "— th at is

,

a de vi ce th at rai se s whe el ch ai r us ers fro m th e gr ou nd to th e flo or le ve l of th e va n an d

vi ce ve rs a. The ERDCC ge ne ral ly res tri ct ed th e va n's us e to act ua l whe el ch ai r us ers ,

an d si gn ag e on th e va n se pa rat el y ad vi se d th at on ly whe el ch ai rs were al lo wed on th e
whe el ch ai r li ft an d th at st an di ng on th e li ft was fo rb id de n to av oi d fal ls

. Thu s, be fo re

al low ing inm at es to us e th e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n, th e ERD CC ge ne ra lly re qui re d

th at in m at es rece iv e a m ed ic al or de r fo r tra ns po rta ti on vi a a whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e

ve hi cl e an d t ha t t he in m at es arri ve at t he tra ns po rta ti on area in a whe el ch ai r.

On Mar ch 22

, 20 11

, Tran sp or ta ti on Offi ce r P e t e Koe ni g an d Co rrec ti on al

Offi cer Ro be rt The be au tra ns po rte d Turn er to an d fro m a m ed ic al ap po in tm en t at th e Cap it ol Reg io na l Med ic al Cen te r in Je ffer so n Ci ty, Mi ss ou ri (CRM C). Tur ne r ar ri ve d

at th e tra ns po rta ti on area wit h ne it he r a whe el ch ai r no r a p h ys i c i an 's or de r to us e a
whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n. Co ns eq ue nt ly, he was tra ns po rte d to an d fro m th e CRM C

in a no n- whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n. Turn e r al le ge s th at , d ue to ph y si cal li m it at io ns

al le ge dl y as so ci at ed wit h hi s ne ur ol og ic al co nd it io n, th e on ly way he co ul d en te r th e

The Hon or ab le Jo hn A. Ro ss , Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Ea st ern 1

Dis tri ct of M is so ur i.

-2

-va n was by crawl in g in to it

. He al so al le ge s, am on g ot he r th in gs , th at ur in e an d vo m it

were on th e va n flo or an d th at he was un ab le to eat a sa ck lu nc h whi le tra ve li ng in th e

va n b ecau se of h is ex po su re t o t he un sa ni ta ry co nd it io ns

.

Turn er a l s o a l le ge s th at

, du rin g hi s ret ur n tri p fro m th e CRM C, The be au

st op pe d th e va n ne ar a br id ge fo r ap pr ox im at el y fiv e m in ut es . At so m e ti m e du rin g

t he st op , acco rd in g to Turn er, The ba u m en ti on ed th at he an d Koe ni g co ul d d r o w n

Turn er an d cl ai m th at Turn er tri ed to es cap e. The be au an d K o e n i g t he n al le ge dl y
lo ok ed at Turn er an d la ug he d. Turn er ad m it s th at he "d o[ es no t] kn ow if th ey [were ]
pl ay in g o r no t."

App ro xi m at el y two m on th s la te r, on May 19

, 20 11

, Turn er fil ed an In mate

Res ol ut io n Req ue st co nc ern in g th e al le ge d ev en ts th at oc cu rred on Mar ch 22

, 20 11

. At so m e po in t th erea fte r, acco rd in g to Turn er, pr is on st aff se arch ed an d "ra ns ack ed "

hi s cel l in ret al ia ti on fo r hi s lo dg in g th e co m pl ai nt

. Turn er al le ge s th at The be au was

pr es en t whe n hi s cel l w a s se arch ed

. Turn er fu rth er al le ge s th at The be au ret al ia te d

ag ai ns t hi m by vi si ti ng "3 -Ho us e," th e ho us in g un it in whi ch Turn er was in carc erat ed

,

an d c al li ng Turn er "n am es " an d u si ng "ex pl et iv es ."

On Sep te m

be r 5, 20 11

, Ang el a Ch an dl er, an em pl oyee of Co riz on , In c. who

se rv ed as t h e Heal th Serv ic es Adm in is tra to r at th e ERDCC, req ue st ed vi a em ai l to

ERDCC Tran sp or ta ti on Su pe r v i so r Si dn ey Mu ll th at Turn er be tra ns po rte d in a
"wh eel ch ai r, ha nd ic ap pe d- acce ss ib le va n" for m ed ic al ap po in tm en ts

. Ch an dl er was

no t a ph y si ci a n , b u t Turn er ha d in fo rm ed he r earl ie r th at sa m e da y th at he fo un d it

un co m fo rta bl e an d di ffi cu lt to rid e in th e no n- whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n. In res po ns e

to Ch an dl er's em ai l, Mu ll in fo rm ed Ch an dl er th at he was wil li ng to tra ns po rt Turn er

i n t h e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n (ev en th ou gh Turn er la ck ed an y m ed ic al or de r to

th at effe ct ); ho wev er, Mu ll m ad e cl ear th at Turn er— pe r faci li ty po li cy

—m us t arri ve

at th e tr an sp or ta ti on area in a whe el ch ai r:

-3

-The on ly way I can lo ad hi m vi a th e li ft on th e ha nd ic ap va n is if h e is

in a whe el ch ai r. The ve hi cl e ha s a warn in g no t to lo ad pe op le wit h it du e
to th e ris k of fal li ng

. If he co m es do wn in a whe el ch ai r I wil l de fin it el y
ta ke hi m in th e h an di cap va n.

On Octo be r 20

, 20 11

, Turn er was tra ns ferr ed to th e W e s te rn Mi ss ou ri

Co rrec ti on al Cen te r in Cam ero n, Mi ss ou ri (WMCC). Koe ni g was on e o f t he

tra ns po rta ti on of

fic ers who tra ns po rte d Turn er to th e W MCC

. Turn er al le ge s th at he

was tra ns po rte d i n a no n- whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e v an for pa rt o f th e tr ip , alt ho ug h h e

was tra ns po rte d i n a whee lc ha ir- acce ss ib le va n fo r th e rem ai nd er o f th e tr ip

.

II. Pro ced

ur al His to ry

Tu r ne r fil ed su it ag ai ns t Mu ll

, The be au , Koe ni g, Ch an dl er, an d ER D C C

W ard en Terry Ru ss el l. Turn er as se rte d (1 ) cl ai m s un de r 42 U.S.C. § 19 83 ag ai ns t al l

of th e of fic ia ls

, in bo th th ei r in di vi du al an d of fic ia l cap aci ti es , fo r al le ge d vi ol at io ns

of Turn er's Eig ht h an d Fo ur te en th Am en dm en t rig ht s; (2 ) a cl ai m un de r 42 U.S.C.
§ 19 83 ag ai ns t The be au fo r al le ge d ret al ia ti on ; (3 ) cl ai m s ag ai ns t al l of th e of fic ia ls

, in bo th th ei r in di vi du al an d of fic ia l cap aci ti es , fo r al le ge d vi ol at io ns of Turn er's rig ht s

un de r Tit le II of th e ADA an d § 50 4 of th e Reh ab il it at io n Act; an d (4 ) an ad di ti on al

ret al ia ti on cl ai m ag ai ns t The be au fo r al le ge d ret al ia ti on in vi ol at io n of Turn er's rig ht s

un de r th e ADA and Reh ab il it at io n Act

.

The di st ric t co ur

t gr an te d su m

m ary jud gm en t to th e of

fic ia ls on al l cl ai m s. W it h

res pe ct to th e of

f ic ia l-c ap aci ty cl ai m s, th e co ur t he ld th at "[t ]he un di sp ut ed fact s

. . . do no t su pp or t a fin di ng th at [Tur ne r] req ui red ha nd ic ap pe d- ac c e s s i bl e

tra ns po rta ti on , or th at su ch tra ns po rta ti on wou ld ha ve be ne fit te d [Tur ne r]" gi ve n th at

Tu r n e r was "ab le to am

bu la te wit h th e us e of le g br aces an d cru tc he s" an d th at " n o ph y si ci an ha d or de red a whe el ch ai r fo r [Tur ne r]." The co ur t a l s o fo un d th at th e

ERDCC's po li cy "re qu iri ng in m at es to be in whe el ch ai rs in or de r to u t i l iz e th e
whe el c h a ir- acce ss ib le va ns was fo r th ei r own sa fet y " an d th at th e ERDCC was no t

-4

-req ui red to co m pr om is e in m at es ' sa fet y "s im pl y b e cau se [Tur ne r] be li ev ed th at a
whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n was m or e co m fo rta bl e." The co ur t d i s mi s s e d th e § 19 83

in di vi du al -cap aci ty and Reh ab il it at io n Act cla im s l arg el y on th e sa m e g ro un ds

.

The co u r t he ld th at Turn er's rel at iv el y br ie f ex po su re to th e al le ge dl y

un sa ni ta ry co nd it io ns in th e va n di d no t ris e to th e le ve l of a co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n.

Lik ewis e, th e co ur t als o hel d th at The be au 's all eg ed th reat to dr own Turn er was no t

a co ns ti tu ti on al v i o l a ti on be cau se it was a on e-t im e, is ol at ed in ci de nt an d The be au

to ok no act io n i n fu rth eran ce o f th e al le ge d t hr eat

.

W it h res pe ct to The be au 's al le ge d ret al ia ti on , th e co ur t fo u n d t h at Turn er

pr ov id ed no ev id en ce th at The be au di rect ed or was ot he rwis e in ch arg e of th e se arch

. The co ur t al so fo un d th at Turn er ha d pr of fere d in su ffi ci en t ev id en ce to sh ow th at th e

se arch an d acco m

pa nyin g pr op ert y da m ag e were in ret al ia ti on fo r Turn er lo dg in g an y

co m pl ai nt s.

Fi na ll y , be cau se th e co ur t fo un d no co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io ns , it he ld th at Mu ll

, The be au , Koe ni g, an d Ru ss el l (co ll ect iv el y , "Pr is on Defen da nt s" ) were ad di ti on al ly

en ti tl ed to qu al ifi ed im m

un it y wit h re sp ect to Turn er's § 1 98 3 c la im s.

III. Dis cu ss io n

On ap pe al

, Turn er ch al le ng es th e di st ric t co ur t's gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t

wit h res pe ct to (1 ) hi s of fic ia l-c ap aci ty cl ai m s, (2 ) hi s in di vi du al -cap aci ty cl ai m s

ag ai ns t al l of th e of

fic ia ls ex cep t Ru ss el l

, ( 3 ) hi s ret al ia ti on cl ai m s, (4 ) hi s

Re h ab il it at io n Act cl ai m ag ai ns t al l of th e of fic ia ls ex cep t Ch an dl er, an d (5 ) th e

Pri so n Def

en da nt s' q ua li fie d i m

m un it y

.

W e rev i e w d e n o v o th e di st ric t co ur t's gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t. Hay ek v.

Ci ty of St

. Pau l

, 48 8 F

. 3 d 1 0 4 9

, 10 54 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

. W e wil l

affi rm th e di st ric t co ur t's gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t if "t he re is no ge nu in e di sp ut e

-5

-as to an y m at eri al fact an d th e m ov an t is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a m at te r of la w." Fed

.

R. Ci v. P. 56 (a). To es ta bl is h a ge nu in e is su e of m at eri al fact

, Turn er "m ay no t m erel y

po in t to un su pp or te d se lf- se rv in g al le ga ti on s, bu t m us t su bs ta nt ia te al le ga ti on s wit h

s u f f i c i en t pr ob at iv e ev id en ce th at wou ld pe rm it a fin di ng in [h is ] fav or ." Dav id s o n

& Ass oc s. v. Ju ng , 42 2 F .3d 63 0, 6 38 (8t h C ir. 2 00 5) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

.

A. Off ic ia l-C ap ac it y Cl ai ms
"Offi ci al -cap aci ty li ab il it y un de r 42 U.S.C. § 19 83 oc cu r s o n l y whe n a

co ns ti tu ti on al in

jury is cau se d by 'a go ve rn m en t's po li cy or cu st om , whe th er m ad e by

it s la wm ak ers or by th os e who se ed ic ts or act s m ay fai rly be sa id to rep res en t of fic ia l

po li cy .'" Gra

ys on v. Ros s , 45 4 F.3d 80 2, 81 0– 11 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (q uo ti ng Mon el l v.
Dep 't of So c. Se rv s ., 4 36 U.S. 6 58 , 6 94 (19 78 )). Tur ne r m ay pre va il on hi s of

fic ia lcap aci ty cl ai m s by id en ti fy in g a po li cy th at "co ns ti tu te s ei th er de li be rat e in di ffer en ce

to m ed ic al ne ed s or a pu ni sh m en t." Has la r v. Meg er man , 10 4 F.3 d 17 8, 18 0 (8 th Ci r.

19 97 ) (ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. "To es ta bl is h a cl ai m of de li be rat e in di ffer en ce to se rio us

m ed ic al ne ed s un de r § 19 83

, [Tur ne r] m us t de m on st rat e t h a t h e su ffer ed fro m an
ob jecti ve ly se rio us m ed ic al ne ed an d th at [th e of fic ia ls ] act ua ll y k n e w o f b ut

de li be rat el y di sr eg ard ed th e ne ed ." S a n t i a g o v. Bla ir

, 70 7 F.3 d 98 4, 99 0 (8 th Ci r.

20 13 ) (ci ta ti on om it te d)

.

In th e m ai n , Turn er arg ue s th at th e of fic ia ls vi ol at ed hi s co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s by en fo rci ng a po li cy th at ge ne ral ly res tri ct s us e of th e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n to

in m at es in whe el ch ai rs

. As a res ul t, acco rd in g to Turn er , t h e of fic ia ls were
de li be rat el y i n di ffer en t to Turn er's al le ge d se rio us m ed ic al ne ed s an d "fo rced " hi m

to crawl in to th e v an an d t o h is sea t. We di sa gr ee.

A s a th res ho ld m at te r, we no te th at Turn er was no t "fo rced " to e n d u r e t h e

ha rd sh ip s of whi ch he no w co m pl ai ns ; in de ed

, he co ul d ha ve en ti rel y av oi de d ha vi ng

to crawl in to th e v a n b y, fo r in st an ce, us in g a whe el ch ai r. Bu t he di d no t, ev en

th ou gh

, as Turn er co nc ed es , whe e l c h a i r s were "re ad il y av ai la bl e" th ere at th e

-6

-tra ns po rta ti on area

. In fact

, Turn er ad m it te d du rin g hi s de po si ti on th at he di d no t ev en

as k to us e an y of th os e read il y av ai la bl e whe el ch ai rs

. Turn er m ay al so ha ve av oi de d

crawl in g in to th e va n by se ek in g an d ob ta in in g a ph y si ci an 's or de r to be tra ns po rte d

in a whe el ch ai r an d a whee lc ha ir- acce ss ib le va n.

In an y ev en t, th e reco rd do es no t su pp or t Turn er's as se rti on th at h e ha d an
ob jecti ve ly seri ou s m ed ic al ne ed req ui rin g t ha t he us e a whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e v an

. As no te d ab ov e, no ph y si ci an or de red or is su ed a whe el ch ai r fo r Turn er, m uc h le ss

or de red th at he be tra ns po rte d in a whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n— ev en th ou gh Turn er

so ug ht an d ob t a in ed m ed ic al care fo r hi s ne ur ol og ic al co nd it io n m ul ti pl e ti m es in

20 11

. At le as t on e ph y si ci an sp eci fic al ly de em ed th at tra ns po rta ti on in a whe el ch ai racce ss ib le ve hi cl e was no t ne ces s a r y f o r Tu rn er gi ve n in pa rt th at he was ab le to

"wal k wit h a le g/ to rs o br ace" an d "ab le to s i t in a reg ul ar ve hi cl e." Fu rth erm or e, 2

Turn er n e i th er us ed no r req ue st ed to us e an y of th e whe el ch ai rs th at were "re ad il y

av ai la bl e" i n t he tra ns po rta ti on area

.

The ERDCC an d th e of fic ia ls pr of

fe red go od reas on s fo r en fo rci ng th e
whe el ch ai r-u se rs -o nl y po li cy . I t is un di sp ut ed th at im pr op erl y us in g or st an di ng on

th e li ft "was co ns id ered da ng ero us du e to th e po ss ib il it y of a fal l." In s h or t, th e
whe el ch ai r-u se rs -o nl y po li cy rep res en te d a rat io na l sa fet y m eas ur e fo r in m at es

. It is

cert ai nl y co nc ei va bl e th at if th e ERDCC di d no t en fo rce th e po li cy , it wou ld face a
ris k of la wsu it s fro m th os e sa m e in m at es in th e ev en t th ey in jure d th em se lv es whi le

us in g th e li ft im

pr op erl y

. Co ns eq ue nt ly, as th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d, th e "ERDCC st aff

was no t re qu ire d t o c om

pr om is e it s o wn po li cy an d th e sa fet y of it s in m at es si m pl y
be cau se [Tur ne r] b el ie ve d th at a whe el ch ai r acce ss ib le v a n w as m or e co m fo rta bl e"

or co nv en ie nt

. The of

fic ia ls ' refu sa l to d e v i a t e fro m th is po li cy di d no t co ns ti tu te

The ERDCC's n o n

- w h e el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e m in iv an s si t cl os er to th e gr ou nd 2

th an whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e ve hi cl es , ha ve du al -s li di ng do or s, an d ha ve se at s th at le an fo rward

.

-7

-"d el ib erat e in di ffer en ce" or so m e ot he r un co ns ti tu ti on al co nd uc t. S e e , e .g., Far mer

v

. Br e n na n , 51 1 U.S. 82 5, 83 4 (1 99 4) ("[ A] pr is on of fic ia l vi ol at es th e Eig ht h

Am en dm en t on ly whe n

. . . th e de pr iv at io n al le ge d [is ], ob jecti ve ly, 'su ffi ci en tl y

se rio us '

. . . [a n d r e s u l t s ] in th e de ni al of 'th e m in im al ci vi li zed m eas ur e of li fe's

ne ces si ti es .'" (ci ta ti on s o m it te d) ).

B. In di vi du al -Ca

pa ci ty Cla ims

Turn er m ay es ta bl is h cl ai m s ag ai ns t th e of fic ia ls in th ei r in di vi du al cap aci ti es

un de r § 19 83 if th ey de pr iv ed Turn er "o f an y rig ht s, pr iv il eg es , or im m un it ie s se cu red
by th e Co ns ti tu ti on ." 42 U.S

. C

. § 19 83

. On ap pe al

, Turn er arg ue s th at th e of fic ia ls

vi ol at ed hi s co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s in va rio us way s. Mo st of hi s arg u men ts fo cu s on
whe th er the of

fic ia ls were del ib erat el y

in di ffer en t t o a n o bjec ti ve ly seri ou s m ed ic al

ne ed an d whe th er th e crea ti on an d en fo rcem en t of th e whe el ch ai r-u se rs -o nl y po li cy
vi ol at ed Turn er's co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s. Hav in g al read y an swe red bo th qu es ti on s in th e

ne ga ti ve , we no w ad dr es s th e ad di ti on al arg um en ts Turn er rai se s wit h res pe ct to each

in di vi du al off

ic ia l.

1 . The be au an d K oe ni g

Turn er al le ge s th at The be au an d Koe ni g were de li be rat el y in di ffer en t to

Turn er's se rio us m ed ic al ne ed s es se nt ia ll y be cau se th ey (1 ) "fo rced " Turn er to be

tra ns po rte d an d crawl in th e no n- acce ss ib le

, un sa ni ta ry va n an d (2 ) th reat en ed Turn er

on ce on Mar ch 22

, 20 11

, whi le th ey were ret ur ni ng f r o m h i s ap po in tm en t at th e

CRM C.

As di sc us se d ab ov e, it is fact ua ll y in co rrec t to as se rt th at The be au an d Koe ni g

"fo rced " Turn er to en du re th e al le ge d ha rd sh ip s th at he no w co m pl a i n s of

. In an y

ev en t, ev en as su m in g arg ue nd o th at Turn er's on ly op ti on was to crawl in th e al le ge dl y

un sa ni ta ry va n, th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t err in di sm iss ing T urne r's in di vi du al -cap aci ty

cl ai m s ag ai ns t Th eb eau an d Ko en ig

.

-8

-Alt ho ug h it is tru e th at "i nm at es are en ti tl ed to reas on ab ly ad eq ua te sa ni ta ti on ,

. . . p art ic ul arl y o v e r a le ng th y co ur se of ti m e," Owen s v. Sc ot t Cn ty . J ai l , 3 28 F.3 d

10 26

, 10 27 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (p er cu ria m ) (q uo ta ti on om it te d)

, Turn er's ex po su re to th e

v a n 's al le ge dl y un sa ni ta ry co nd it io ns di d no t co ns ti tu te an Eig ht h Am en dm en t

vi ol at io n. It is un di sp ut ed th at th e tri p be t w e e n th e ERDCC an d th e CRM C is

ap pr ox im at el y th ree ho ur s in each di rect io n, m ean in g th at Turn er was ex po se d to th e

un sa ni ta ry co nd it io ns on a si ng le da y fo r a co m bi ne d m ax im

um of ap pr ox im at el y si x

h ou rs

. Ass um in g Turn er's de sc rip ti on of th e co nd it io ns is accu rat e, he en du re d a n

un do ub te dl y un pl eas an t

, po te nt ia ll y un he al th y ex pe rie nc e; no ne th el es s, th e di st ric t

co ur t di d no t err in fin di ng no co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n gi ve n th e reco rd be fo re us an d

th e rel at iv e br ev it y of Turn er's ex pe rie nc e. Gol dma n v. For bu s , 17 F. App 'x 48 7, 48 8
(8 th Ci r. 20 01 ) (p er cu ria m ) (fi nd in g no co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n whe n a de ta in ee sl ep t

two ni gh ts on a cel l's flo or ne xt to a to il et an d "u rin e was sp rin kl ed on hi m whe n hi s
cel lm at es us ed th e to il et "); Smi th v. Co pe la nd

, 87 F.3 d 2 65

, 26 8– 69 (8 th Ci r. 19 96 )
(fi nd in g no co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n whe n de ta in ee was su bjec te d to "ra w se wag e" an d

an "o ve rfl owe d to il et " in hi s cel l fo r fo ur da y s) ; How ar d v

. Ad ki so n , 8 87 F.2 d 13 4,

13 7 (8 th Ci r. 1 9 8 9 ) ( " C on di ti on s, su ch as a fil th y cel l, m ay 'be to le rab le fo r a few

da y s an d in to le rab ly cru el fo r week s or m on th s.'" (q uo ti ng Hut to v. Fin ne y , 43 7 U.S.

67 8, 6 87 (19 78 ))). 3

Si m il arl y , The be au 's al le ge d on e-t im e, on e-s en te nc e th reat to Turn er on Mar ch

22

, 20 11

, di d no t am ou nt to a co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n. "Gen eral ly, m ere ve rb al th reat s

To th e ex te nt Turn er arg ue s th at hi s al le ge d in ab il it y to eat a sa ck lu nc h du rin g 3

hi s tra ns po rta ti on in th e va n co ns ti tu te s an Eig ht Am en dm en t vi ol at io n, we di sa gr ee. Se e He r n a n d e

z v. Fla

. Dep 't of Co rr
., 28 1 F. App 'x 86 2, 86 6 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 08 ) (p er

cu ria m ) (h ol di ng th at an al le ge d "ro ut in e de pr iv at io n of lu nc h to [an in m at e] fiv e da y s
pe r week fo r ab ou t fiv e m on th s" di d no t co ns ti tu te an Eig ht h Am en dm en t vi ol at io n) ; Li nd se y v. O'Co nn or

, 32 7 F. App 'x 31 9, 32 1 (3 d Ci r. 20 09 ) (p er cu ria m ) (" Th e
pu rp or te d de pr iv at io n of a si ng le m eal is no t of su ch m ag ni tu de as to ris e to th e le ve l
of a co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n." (ci ta ti on om it te d) ).

-9

-m ad e by a st at e-ac to r do no t co ns ti tu te a § 19 83 cl ai m ." Hop so n v. Fred er ic ks en , 96 1

F.2 d 13 74

, 13 78 (8 th Ci r. 19 92 ) (ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. "In de te rm in in g whe th er th e

co ns ti tu ti on al li ne ha s be en cro ss ed

, a co ur t m us t lo ok to su ch fact or s as th e am ou nt

of fo rce th at was u s ed in rel at io ns hi p to th e ne ed pr es en te d, th e ex te nt of in jury

in fli ct ed

, an d t he m ot iv es of th e st at e of fic er." Id

. (q uo ta ti on om it te d)

. The al le ge d

th reat is r e d r e s sa bl e un de r § 19 83 if it "ca us ed se ve re in juri es , was gr os sl y
di sp ro po rti on at e to th e ne ed fo r act io n un de r th e ci rcu m st an ces an d was in sp ire d by

m al ic e rat he r th an m erel y care le ss or un wis e ex ces s of zeal so th at it am ou nt ed to an
ab us e o f of

fic ia l p owe r th at sh oc ks th e co ns ci en ce." Id

. (qu ot at io n o m it te d)

.

The is ol at ed "t hr eat " at is su e res ul te d i n n o "in jury"; i n fa ct , nei th er Th eb eau

no r Koe ni g to ok an y act io n wha ts oe ve r to effe ct ua te th e th reat

. Turn er ad m it te d th at

The be au was "l ik e ki nd of la ug hi ng ab ou t it

, ki nd of li ke it was fu nn y " whe n he m ad e

th e al le ge d s t a t e m en t, an d Turn er fu rth er ad m it te d th at he do es no t kn ow whe th er
The be au was act ua ll y "p la y in g" at th e ti m e. The be au 's al le ge d st at em en t was who ll y

im pr op er an d un pr of

es si on al

, bu t it do es no t am ou nt to an Eig ht h Am en dm en t

vi ol at io n, pa rti cu la rly whe n, by Turn er's own ad m is si on , it m ay no t ha ve be en a tru e

st at em en t. Se e, e.g ., W

al to n v. Ter ry , 38 F. App 'x 36 3, 36 4– 65 (9 th Ci r. 20 02 )
(aff irming di sm is sa l of a pr is on er's "Ei gh t h Am en dm en t cl ai m th at pr is on of fic ia ls

th reat en ed hi m , be cau se ve rb al th reat s do no t co ns ti tu te cru el an d un us ua l

pu ni sh m en t" ); Hop so n , 96 1 F.2 d at 13 78 –7 9 (fi nd in g no co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n
whe n of fic ers co nf

in ed pl ai nt iff in a po li ce car, u tt ered a raci al sl ur , and th reat en ed

to "k no ck [h is ] rem ai ni ng te et h ou t of hi s m ou th " if he rem ai ne d si le nt ); Emmon s v.

McLa ug hl in

, 87 4 F.2 d 35 1, 35 3– 54 (6 th Ci r. 19 89 ) (fi nd in g no co ns ti t u ti on al

vi ol at io n whe n a pa tro lm an th reat en ed th e pl ai nt iff an d cau se d hi m "t o fear fo r hi s

li fe" ).

2. M ul l

Turn er arg ue s th at Mu ll was de l i b erat el y in di ffer en t to Turn er's al le ge dl y

-1 0-se rio us m ed ic al co nd it io n bec au se he al le ge dl y th reat en ed to ha rm Turn er if Turn er

refu se d to rid e in th e n o n

- w he el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n on Octo be r 20

, 20 11

.

A s di sc us se d in Sect io n III.A, th e reco rd do es no t su pp or t th at Turn er ha d a

se rio us m ed ic al ne ed req ui rin g t ha t h e u se th e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e v an . Bas ed on

th is reas on al on e, hi s in di vi du al -cap aci ty cl ai m ag ai ns t Mu ll fo r a l l e g e d de li be rat e

in di ffer en ce f

a i l s

. Se e Sa nt ia go , 70 7 F.3 d at 99 0. Mo reo ve r, an d cri ti cal ly, Turn er

ov erl oo ks hi s own co nt rad ic to ry de po si ti on te st im on y in whi ch he ad m it te d th at he

do es no t kn ow whe th er it was Mu ll who al le ge dl y th reat en ed hi m

. Turn er's in ab il it y

to id en ti fy who al le ge dl y m ad e th e st at em en t is un de rs ta nd ab le gi ve n th at

, as Turn er

al so te st ifi ed

, th e pe rs on was "b eh in d" Turn er at th e ti m e th at he o r s h e mad e th e

al le ge d th reat

. Turn er's co nt rad ic to ry te st im on y al on e can no t crea te a di sp ut ed is su e

of m at eri al fact ne ces sa ry to su rv iv e su m m ary jud gm en t. Se e, e.g ., Mar at ho n Ash la nd

Petr ol eu m, L.L.C. v. In t'l Bhd

. of Tea mst er s , 30 0 F.3 d 94 5

, 9 5 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 02 )
(h ol di ng th at a wit ne ss 's "re vi se d" te st im on y "d oe s n o t c reat e an is su e of di sp ut ed

fact " n eces sa ry

to de feat su m

m ary jud gm en t).

3. Ch an dl er

Turn er arg ue s in co nc lu so ry fas hi on th at Ch an dl er was de li be rat el y in di ffer en t

to hi s se rio us m ed ic al ne ed s. As di sc us se d ab ov e, Ch an dl er's pr im ary in vo lv em en t in

th is cas e was th at sh e req ue st ed th at Turn er be pr ov id ed a whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e

va n— ev en th ou gh Turn er ha d no ph y si ci an 's or de r fo r th e us e of su ch a va n, an d ev en

th ou gh Turn er's m ed ic al co nd it io n ne it he r req ui red hi m to us e a whe el ch ai r to

am bu la te no r req ui red hi m to be tra ns po rte d in a whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n. On th is

reco rd

, Turn er's cl ai m ag ai ns t Ch an dl er fo r vi ol at in g hi s c o ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s la ck s

an y fact ua l s up po rt.

C. Reta li at io n C la ims

Turn er al le ge s th at The be au un la wfu ll y ret al ia te d ag ai ns t hi m fo r co m pl ai ni ng
ab ou t The be au 's al le ge dl y un la wfu l co nd uc t by pa rti ci pa ti ng in a cel l se arch in whi ch

-1 1-cert ai n of Tur n e r ' s p r op ert y was da m ag ed

. To es ta bl is h un la wfu l ret al ia ti on un de r

§ 50 4 of th e Reh ab il it at io n Act, Turn er m us t sh ow th at (1 ) he "en ga ge d in pr ot ect ed

act iv it y ," (2 ) he was su bjec te d to an "ad ve rs e act io n," an d (3 ) "a cau sa l co nn ect io n [ex is ts ] be twee n th e act iv it y an d th e [ad ve rs e] act io n." Bra dl ey ex re l. Bra dl ey v. Ark.

D e p ' t of Edu c ., 44 3 F.3 d 96 5, 97 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (ci ti ng Neu de cker v. Boi s c l a i r

Co rp ., 3 51 F.3 d 36 1, 36 3– 64 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 )). The el em en ts r e q u i r e d f or Turn er to

es ta bl is h hi s cl ai m of ret al ia ti on un de r § 19 83 are es se nt ia ll y id en ti cal to th os e un de r

th e Reh ab il it at io n Act. L.L. Nel so n Ente rs
., In c. v. Cn ty

. of St

. Lo ui s, Mo.

, 67 3 F.3d

79 9, 80 7– 08 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (req ui rin g (1 ) "p ro te ct ed act iv it y ," (2 ) "ad ve rs e act io n,"

an d (3) th at th e "ad ve rs e act io n [be ] m ot iv at ed at l eas t i n p art by the ex erci se of t he

pr ot ect ed act iv it y ." (q uo ta ti on om it te d) ).

Upo n rev ie w, we co nc lu de Turn er's ret al ia ti on cl ai m s fai l fo r two in de pe nd en t

reas on s. Fi rs t, Turn er ha s pr ov id ed in su ffi ci en t ev id en ce of an y cau sa l li nk be twee n

hi s co m pl ai nt s an d th e cel l se arch

. St rip pe d of th ei r ad or nm en ts

, Turn er's cl ai m s are
ba se d la rg el y on th e ti m in g of th e ev en ts —t ha t is

, th at th e cel l se arch oc cu rred aft er
he lo dg ed a co m

pl ai nt

. The m ere ti m in g of th es e ev en ts

, ho wev er, do es no t es ta bl is h

th e cau sa l li nk ne ces sa ry to de feat su m m ary jud gm en t. Se e Doc ker y v. Bea rd

, 50 9 F.
App 'x 10 7, 11 1 (3 d Ci r. 20 13 ) (aff irming di sm is sa l of ret al ia ti on cl a i ms i n p art

be cau se "n ot hi ng co nn ect [ed ] th e cel l se arch

, co nf is cat io n of pr op ert y , an d fai lu re to

ret ur n [th e in m at e's ] in -cel l pr op ert y to an y pa rti cu la r pr ot ect ed act iv it y "); Hus key v.

Ci t y o f S a n J os e , 20 4 F.3 d 89 3, 89 9 (9 th Ci r. 20 00 ) (aff irming su m

m ary jud gm en t

ag ai ns t a pl ai nt iff

's ret al ia ti on cl ai m whe n ho ld in g ot he rwis e "wo ul d be to en ga ge in

th e lo gi cal fal la cy of

po st ho c, er

go pr op te r ho c , li te ral ly, 'aft er th is

, th eref or e be cau se

of t h i s'" (ci ta ti on om it te d) ); Bermu de z v. TRC Hol di ng

s, In c ., 13 8 F.3 d 11 76

, 11 79
( 7 t h C i r. 19 98 ) (" Pos t ho c er go pr op te r ho c is no t en ou gh to su pp or t a fin di n g o f

ret al ia ti on

. . . ."). The m ere ti m in g of ev en ts is pa rti cu la rly un pe rs ua si ve in th is cas e gi ve n th at cel ls in Turn er's cel l bl oc k are se arch ed "at le as t on ce a m on th " as a m at te r

of co ur se

.

-1 2-Seco nd

, as th e di st ric t co ur t no te d, "[a ]t m os t, [Tur ne r] ha s pr ov id ed ev id en ce

th at Th eb eau was pr es en t, bu t no t pe rs on al ly in vo lv ed in [th e] se arch ." Turn er ha s

no t, fo r in st an ce, sh own th at The be au or de red th e se arch or di rect ed th e ot he r of fic ers
du rin g th e co ur se of th e se arch

. Thi s co ur t ha s m ad e cl ear th at "[l ]iab il it y un de r § 1 9 8 3 req ui res a cau sa l li nk to

, an d di rect res po ns ib il it y fo r, th e de pr iv at io n of
rig ht s." Mad

ewe ll v. Rob er ts

, 90 9 F

. 2 d 1 20 3, 12 08 (8 th Ci r. 19 90 ) (ci ti ng Riz zo v.

G o o d e , 42 3 U.S. 36 2, 37 0– 71

, 37 5– 77 (1 97 6)

, an d Co tt on v. Hut to

, 57 7 F.2 d 4 5 3

, 45 5 (8 th Ci r. 19 78 ) (p er cu ria m )). Thu s, Turn er's fai lu re to es ta bl is h t h e req ui si te

le ve l of in vo lv em en t fro m The be au is fat al to hi s ret al ia ti on cl ai m s. Se e al so Pow el l

v. Mar ti ne

z , 57 9 F. App 'x 25 0, 25 2 (5 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (p er cu ria m ) (aff irming di sm is sa l

fo r fai lu re to st at e a cl ai m o f r e t a l i at io n ag ai ns t a pr is on of fic er in pa rt be cau se th e pl ai nt iff di d n ot all eg e th e o ffi cer " or de red th e cel l s earc h" ).

D. Reh ab il it at io n Act

Cla ims

Sect io n 5 04 of t he Reh ab il it at io n Act pro vi de s t ha t " [n ]o ot he rwis e q ua li fie d

in di vi du al wit h a di sa bi li ty in th e Uni te d S ta te s . . . sh al l, so le ly by rea so n o f her or
hi s di sa bi li ty

, be ex cl ud ed fro m th e pa rti ci pa ti on in

, be de ni ed th e be ne fit s of, or be

su bjec te d to di sc riminat io n un de r an y pr og ram or act iv it y rece iv in g Fed eral fin an ci al

as si st an ce." 29 U.S.C. § 79 4( a) (em ph as is ad de d)

. To es ta b l i sh un la wfu l

d i s c r i mi na ti on un de r § 50 4, Turn er "m us t de m on st rat e th at : (1 ) he is a qu al ifi e d

in di vi du al wit h a di sa bi li ty; (2 ) he was de ni ed th e be n e f i t s o f a pr og ram or act iv it y
of a pu bl ic en ti ty whi ch rece iv es fed eral fu nd s, an d (3 ) he was di sc riminat ed ag ai ns t

ba se d on hi s di sa bi li ty." Gor man v. Bar tc h

, 15 2 F.3 d 90 7, 91 1 (8 th Ci r. 19 98 )
(ci ta ti on s om it te d)

. Eve n if T ur ne r es ta bl is he d each of th es e el em en ts

, ho wev er, th e

of fic ia ls "m ay de m on st rat e as an affi rm at iv e de fen se th at a req ue st ed acco m m od at io n

wou ld co ns ti tu te an un du e b ur de n." Id

. (ci ta ti on s o m it te d)

.

Turn er's cl ai m fai ls be cau se he ha s ad du ced in su ffi ci en t ev id en ce of un la wfu l

di sa bi li ty dis cri m in at io n. Th e ERDCC's po li ci es free ly al lo wed in m at es req ui rin g a
whe el ch ai r to us e th e whe el ch ai r

- a c ces si bl e va n. The whe el ch ai r-u se rs -o nl y po li cy

-1 3-was no t in st it u t e d to di sc riminat e ag ai ns t whe el ch ai r us ers or ot he rwis e di sa bl ed

peopl e; rat he r, it was ro ot ed in co nc ern s ov er th e un di sp ut ed sa fet y ha zard s as so ci at ed

wit h pe op le st an di ng on or ot he rwis e im pr op erl y us in g th e li ft. Mo reo ve r, Turn er

ne it he r us ed a whe el ch ai r on th e da y s in qu es ti on no r ob ta in ed an y ph y si ci an 's or de r

to us e th e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n. His fai lu re to do so pr ecl ud ed hi m fro m rid in g

in th e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e va n u n d e r t he ERDCC's po li cy . Tu rn er ha s no t sh own

th at ERDCC o r it s emplo y ees tre at ed hi m di ffer en tl y

be cau se of h is di sa bi li ty. 4

E. Qua li fi ed Immun it y

"G o ve rn m en t of

fic ia ls who pe rfo rm di sc ret io na ry fu nc ti on s are en ti tl ed to

qu al ifi ed im m

un it y un le ss th ei r al le ge d con du ct vi ol at ed cl earl y es ta bl is he d fe de ral

co ns ti tu ti on al or st at uto ry ri ght s of whi ch a reas on ab le pe rs on in th ei r po si ti on s wou ld

ha ve kn own ." Ott man v. Ci ty of In de pe nd en ce, Mo.

, 3 4 1 F.3 d 75 1, 75 6 (8 th Ci r.

20 03 ) (ci ti ng Har lo w v. Fi t z g e ra ld

, 45 7 U.S. 80 0, 81 8 (1 98 2) ). Fo r th e reas on s
di sc us se d ab ov e, th e Pri so n Defen da nt s di d no t vi ol at e Turn e r ' s c o ns ti tu ti on al or

st at ut or y r i g h t s

. The di st ric t co ur t th eref or e di d no t err in ho ld in g th at qu al ifi ed

im m un it y ba rs Turn er's § 1 98 3 c la im s ag ai ns t t he m

.

IV. Co nc lu si on
Afte r th or ou gh ly co ns id eri ng al l of Turn er's arg um en ts on a p p e a l

, we affi rm

th e d is tri ct co ur t's di sm is sa l o f Tur ne r's cla im s.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

To the ex te nt Turn er arg ue s he was en ti tl ed to us e th e whe el ch ai r-ac ces si bl e 4

va n an d it s whe el ch ai r li ft as a reas on ab le acco m m od at io n— ev en th ou gh he was no t in a whe el ch ai r an d ha d rece iv ed no su ch or de r fro m a ph y si ci an —h e is in co rrec t. The
ERDCC was no t req ui red to mak e s u c h an un sa fe acco m m od at io n. Se e Gar dn er v. Mor ri s , 75 2 F.2 d 12 71

, 12 80 –8 4 (8 th Ci r. 19 85 ) (h ol di ng th at an acco m m od at io n was

no t r e q u i red un de r th e Reh ab il it at io n Act whe n it wou ld en da ng er th e pl ai nt iff );
S h a ro n v. La rs on , 65 0 F. Su pp

. 13 96

, 14 02 (E.D. Pa. 19 86 ) (h ol di ng t h a t a n

acco m m od at io n no t req ui red un de r § 50 4 whe n "t he acco m m od at io n it se lf

. . . carr ie s it s o wn b ui lt -in da ng er" ).

-1 4-