2012 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

7-31-2012

Mitchell Garraway v. Harley Lappin

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 12-1867

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CLD-232 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

___________

No. 12-1867

___________

MITCHELL THEOPHILUS GARRAWAY,

 Appellant

v.

HARLEY G. LAPPIN, Federal Bureau of Prisons; TROY WILLIAMSON, former 

Warden, USP Lewisburg; KERSTETTER, Captain, Inmate Systems Manager, former 

Warden, USP Lewisburg; SALVADORE IRIZZARY, Chaplain, USP Lewisburg; R. 

ROGERS, Food Service Administrator, USP Lewisburg; FRANK STRADA, former 

Assistant Warden, USP Lewisburg; KEVIN KELLEY, Chaplain, USP Lewisburg; 

JOHNSON, Inmate Trust Fund Manager, USP Lewisburg; JOHN JOHNSON, Chaplain, 

USP Canaan; RONNIE HOLT, Warden Executive Officer, USP Canaan; ANGELA 

DUNBAR, Assistant Warden, USP Canaan; D. MRAD, USP Canaan; R. SORENSON, 

USP Canaan; THOMAS DIEHL, Inmate Trust Fund, Manager, USP Canaan; R. 

GUNDRUM, Food Service Administrator, USP Canaan; M. NOVAK, Lieutenant,

USP Canaan

____________________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

(D.C. Civil No. 4-10-cv-01697)

District Judge: Honorable William J. Nealon 

____________________________________

Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)

or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6

July 19, 2012

Before: RENDELL, HARDIMAN and COWEN, Circuit Judges

(Opinion filed: July 31, 2012 )
2

_________

OPINION OF THE COURT

_________

PER CURIAM

Mitchell Theophilus Garraway, an inmate at the United States Penitentiary in 

Lewisburg (“USP-Lewisburg”), appeals pro se and in forma pauperis from the District 

Court‟s order granting the Defendants‟ motion to dismiss, or in the alternative, for 

summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, we will summarily affirm the District 

Court‟s order. 

I.

In August 2010, Garraway commenced a Bivens action1claiming that certain rules 

and policies instituted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) “severely and 

unnecessarily” burdened his ability to practice his Muslim faith, in violation of his First 

Amendment free exercise rights. He brought statutory claims under the Religious 

Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb et seq., and the Religious 

Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc et seq. 

He named as Defendants several current and former employees of USP-Lewisburg and 

the United States Penitentiary in Canaan (“USP-Canaan”), having been an inmate at both 

facilities during the time period set forth in his complaint. 

 

1 Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 

(1971). 
3

Defendants filed a motion to dismiss, or in the alternative, for summary judgment, 

with respect to all of Garraway‟s claims. The District Court granted the motion on March 

21, 2012, and entered final judgment in favor of Defendants. Garraway timely filed a 

Notice of Appeal on March 27, 2012. 

II.

Jurisdiction is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We will summarily affirm the 

District Court‟s judgment if the appeal presents no substantial question. See 3d Cir. LAR 

27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6. 

We exercise plenary review over an order dismissing claims under Federal Rule of 

Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Monroe v. Beard, 536 F.3d 198, 205 (3d Cir. 2008). 

“Reviewing such an order, we accept as true all allegations in the plaintiff‟s complaint as 

well as all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from them, and we construe them in a 

light most favorable to the non-movant.” Id. (citation omitted). 

A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that 

the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This pleading standard “does 

not require „detailed factual allegations,‟ but it demands more than an unadorned, thedefendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 

(2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). “A pleading that 

offers „labels and conclusions‟ or „a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of 

action will not do.‟” Id. “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted 

as true, to „state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.‟” Id.; see also Twombly, 
4

550 U.S. at 556 (explaining that a plaintiff must “identify[] facts that are suggestive 

enough to render [his claim] plausible.”) “[O]nly a complaint that states a plausible 

claim for relief survives a motion to dismiss.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. 

We also exercise plenary review over a grant of summary judgment and “employ 

the same standard as applied below.” DeHart v. Horn, 390 F.3d 262, 267 (3d Cir. 2004). 

That is, “[t]he court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no 

genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter 

of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). “In reviewing the grant of summary judgment, we must

affirm if the record evidence submitted by the non-movant is merely colorable or is not 

significantly probative.” DeHart, 390 F.3d at 267-68 (citation and internal quotation 

marks omitted). 

Claims under the First Amendment and claims under the RFRA are analyzed 

separately.

2

 When a prisoner asserts a First Amendment free exercise claim that “a 

prison policy is impinging on [his] constitutional rights,” the court must then apply the 

four factor test set forth in Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78 (1987), to determine whether the 

curtailment at issue is “reasonably related to penological interests.” DeHart v. Horn, 227 

F.3d 47, 51 (3d Cir. 2000) (citing Turner, 482 U.S. at 89). As this Court has explained, 

 

2

The District Court properly dismissed Garraway‟s RLUIPA claims because RLUIPA 

does not apply to a federal government action. Navajo Nation v. U.S. Forest Serv., 535 

F.3d 1058, 1077 (9th Cir. 2008); Rogers v. United States, 696 F. Supp. 2d 472, 486 

(W.D. Pa. 2010); see also Sharp v. Johnson, 669 F.3d 144, 153 (3d Cir. 2012) 

(recognizing that RLUIPA applies to actions against state and local governments). 
5

[Turner] directs courts to assess the overall reasonableness of 

such regulations by weighing four factors. “First, there must 

be a „valid, rational connection‟ between the prison regulation 

and the legitimate governmental interest put forward to justify 

it,” and this connection must not be “so remote as to render 

the policy arbitrary or irrational.” Second, a court must 

consider whether inmates retain alternative means of 

exercising the circumscribed right. Third, a court must take 

into account the costs that accommodating the right would 

impose on other inmates, guards, and prison resources 

generally. And fourth, a court must consider whether there are 

alternatives to the regulation that “fully accommodate[ ] the 

prisoner's rights at de minimis cost to valid penological 

interests.”

Id. (citing Waterman v. Farmer, 183 F.3d 208, 213 (3d Cir. 1999) (internal citations 

omitted)). 

In contrast, a challenged restraint on the freedom of religion does not fall within 

the scope of the RFRA unless the inmate can establish that a “substantial burden” is 

placed on his ability to exercise said freedom. Small v. Lehman, 98 F.3d 762, 767 (3d 

Cir. 1996), overruled on other grounds by City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507 (1997).

3

 

This Court has said that a substantial burden exists where:

(1) a follower is forced to choose between following the 

precepts of his religion and forfeiting benefits otherwise 

generally available to other inmates versus abandoning one of 

the precepts of his religion in order to receive a benefit; or

 

3

Though the Supreme Court held the RFRA unconstitutional as to state and local 

governments in City of Boerne v. Flores, RFRA claims against the federal government 

“remain viable,” Jama v. Esmor Corr. Servs., Inc., 577 F.3d 169, 172 n.4 (3d Cir. 2009) 

(citation omitted).
6

(2) the government puts substantial pressure on an adherent to 

substantially modify his behavior and to violate his beliefs.

Washington v. Klem, 497 F.3d 272, 280 (3d Cir. 2007). It is only once a substantial 

burden on religion has been established by the prisoner that the government must then 

establish “that it has a „compelling interest‟ in its actions and is furthering that interest by 

the „least restrictive means.‟” Small, 98 F.3d at 767 (citations omitted). 

III.

The District Court addressed Garraway‟s numerous claims by subject matter. In 

his argument in support of appeal, Garraway highlighted the following issues as violative 

of his First Amendment free exercise rights and the RFRA: (1) prison policies limiting 

group prayer; (2) the lack of a full-time Sunni Muslim chaplain; (3) prison policies 

regarding an Islamic Halal diet; (4) prison policies limiting the number of books he can 

keep in his cell; and (5) the availability of ceremonial religious items. We will first 

consider these claims before turning to the remainder of those addressed in the District 

Court‟s Memorandum. 

1. Prison Policies Limiting Group Prayer

Garraway claimed that the prison regulation regarding congregational worship 

violated his First Amendment free exercise rights. The regulation in question, BOP 

Program Statement 5360.09.7.a, states, in pertinent part:

The level of scheduled activities is expected to be 

commensurate with the institution‟s mission/need. 

Authorized congregate services will be made available for all 

inmates weekly with the exception of those detained in any 
7

Special Housing Units (SHUs). If a state of emergency exists 

(e.g. fog, institution lock down, food strike), the warden or 

designee will determine the appropriate level of chapel 

programming.

(Dkt. No. 39, Ex. 1, Attach. B.) 

“When a prison regulation impinges on inmates‟ constitutional rights, the 

regulation is valid if it is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.” Turner, 

482 U.S. at 89. The District Court aptly applied the four-part Turner analysis in 

determining that Garraway‟s First Amendment right to free exercise was not 

impermissibly impinged by this regulation. (Dkt. No. 65, pp. 20-29.) That analysis need 

not be repeated here. Garraway did not allege that the policy substantially burdened his 

ability to exercise his religion. Without establishing a substantial burden, his claim under 

the RFRA fails. 

2. Lack of a Full-Time Sunni Muslim Chaplain 

Garraway claimed that Defendants violated his First Amendment rights and the 

RFRA “by refusing to provide a full-time Sunni Muslim chaplain ... while providing ... 

two to three Christian chaplains for Christian inmates.” (Dkt. No. 27, ¶¶ 22, 44.) 

“A special chapel or place of worship need not be provided for every faith 

regardless of size; nor must a chaplain, priest, or minister be provided without regard to 

the extent of the demand.” Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 322 n.2 (1972) (per curiam); see 

also Gittlemacker v. Prasse, 428 F.2d 1, 4 (3d Cir. 1970) (no affirmative duty to provide 

an inmate with a clergyman of his choice). Nonetheless, it is undisputed that Defendants
8

provided Muslim chaplains as they became available. (Dkt. No. 40, ¶¶ 16-17; Dkt. No. 

50, Attach. 3, ¶¶ 16-17.) Garraway has not alleged that there is a prison policy impinging 

on his First Amendment rights. Therefore, it is not necessary to undertake a Turner

analysis. Nor has Garraway alleged that the lack of a full-time Sunni Muslim chaplain 

substantially burdens the exercise of his religion. Without establishing a substantial 

burden, his claim under the RFRA fails. 

3. Prison Policies Regarding an Islamic Halal Diet 

Garraway claimed that Defendants violated his First Amendment rights by failing

to provide an Islamic Halal diet. Religious diets are provided in accordance with the 

following BOP policy:

The Bureau provides inmates requesting a religious diet 

reasonable and equitable opportunity to observe their 

religious dietary practice within the constraints of budget 

limitations and the security and orderly running of the 

institution and the Bureau through a religious diet menu.

28 C.F.R. § 548.20(a). 

Again, the District Court ably applied the requisite four-part Turner analysis, 

concluding that the regulation in question did not impermissibly curtail Garraway‟s right 

to free exercise of his religion. (Dkt. No. 65 at pp. 35-39); see also Williams v. Morton, 

343 F.3d 212, 220 (3d Cir. 2003) (rejecting inmates‟ claim that failure to provide Halal 

meat in lieu of vegetarian meals violated their First Amendment rights). 
9

4. Prison Policies Limiting the Number of Books Kept in an Inmate‟s Cell

Garraway claimed that the BOP regulation limiting the number of books an inmate 

may have as personal property in his cell substantially burdened his ability to exercise his 

religion. The regulation in question, BOP Program Statement 5580.07, instituted a 

national limit of five books per inmate, regardless of topic. (Dkt. No. 39, Ex. 1, Attach.

C.) According to Defendants, this limit was imposed in the interest of security, fire 

safety, and sanitation, as it allowed proper cell searches and limited the places inmates 

could store contraband. (Dkt. No. 40, ¶ 51-52.) Garraway did not dispute that the BOP 

provided him with religious texts. (Dkt. No. 40, ¶¶ 42-43; Dkt No. 50, Attach. 3, ¶¶ 42-

43.) However, he claimed that Defendants “exaggerated” the security concerns 

addressed by BOP Program Statement 5580.07. (Dkt. No. 50, Attach. 3, ¶¶ 51-52.) 

The District Court correctly considered the Turner factors in reaching the 

conclusion that the BOP regulation did not impermissibly impinge on Garraway‟s free 

exercise of his religion. (Dkt. No. 65 at 45-46.) Further, no facts supported Garraway‟s 

claim that the five book national limit substantially burdened his ability to practice his 

religion. This Court‟s decision in Washington v. Klem, 497 F.3d 272 (3d Cir. 2007), is 

distinguishable. There, an inmate argued that his religion required “a daily reading of 

four Afro-centric books,” id. at 281, and that the prison‟s ten-book limitation 

substantially burdened the practice of his religion, id. at 282-83. Garraway makes no 

such claim. Without establishing a substantial burden, his claim under the RFRA fails.
10

 5. Availability of Ceremonial Religious Items 

Garraway claimed his First Amendment rights were violated because Islamic 

ceremonial religious items were sold in the BOP commissary with marked-up prices, in 

violation of BOP policy. Defendants provided evidence that the items were not sold with 

a mark-up. (Dkt. No. 39, Ex. 1, Attach. E and Attach. F.) Garraway responded with an 

unsupported assertion that the evidence provided by Defendants contained “false and 

misleading” information. (Dkt. No. 50-4, ¶ 16.) There being no genuine issue of 

material fact, the District Court correctly granted summary judgment in favor of 

Defendants. We will affirm. See DeHart, 390 F.3d at 267-68 (“In reviewing the grant of 

summary judgment, we must affirm if the record evidence submitted by the non-movant 

is merely colorable or is not significantly probative.”). 

6. Garraway‟s Remaining Claims

We have thoroughly reviewed the District Court‟s Memorandum and Order, 

together with the record below. Garraway‟s remaining claims were either properly 

dismissed4or summary judgment was properly entered5in favor of the Defendants. 

 

4

These include Garraway‟s claims under the RLUIPA (Dkt. No. 65, pp. 7-8), those 

barred by the statute of limitations (id., pp. 8-10), and his claims with respect to a

standardized chapel library (id., pp. 47-48), the distribution of Bible quotes (id., p. 50),

and alleged verbal harassment (id., pp. 62-64). 

5

These include Garraway‟s claims with respect to a delay in receiving mail (Dkt. No. 65, 

pp. 31-33), dress and clothing issues (id., pp. 39-43), allocation of funds (id., p. 50), 

teaching Arabic in chapel (id., pp. 55-57), participation in Muslim observances (id., pp.

57-59), and rejection of his administrative remedies (id., pp. 60-62). 
11

Because no substantial question is presented by this appeal, we will summarily 

affirm the order of the District Court granting Defendants‟ motion to dismiss, or in the 

alternative, for summary judgment6, pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6. 

 

6

It is unclear from the District Court‟s opinion whether certain claims were dismissed or 

whether summary judgment was entered in favor of Defendants. In any case, it is 

harmless error where, as here, “the judgment may be affirmed if it appears that there is no 

set of facts on which plaintiff[] could possibly recover.” Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331, 

342 (3d Cir. 1989) (citation omitted); see also Tourscher v. McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 

240 (3d Cir. 1999) (“We may affirm the district court on any ground supported by the 

record.”).