### IN THE UNI TED STAT ES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIF TH CIRCU IT

N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

K I R B Y T A T E

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l a n t

v

.

E A R N E S T I N E S T A R K S

, S e r g e a n t

, U n i t 2 9

- B

, i n H e r

I n d i v i d u a l a n d O f

f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; R E G I N A C A P L E R S

, L i e u t e n a n t

, D i s c i p l i n a r y O f f i c e r

, i n H e r O f

f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ;

R I C K Y S C O T T

, C I D I n v e s t i g a t o r

, i n H i s I n d i v i d u a l a n d

O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; C H R I S T O P H E R B E P P S

, C O M M I S S I O N E R

, M I S S I S S I P P I D E P A R T M E N T O F C O R R E C T I O N S

, I n H i s I n d i v i d u a l

a n d O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; E M M I T T S P A R K M A N

, D e p u t y C o m m i s s i o n e r

o f I n s t i t u t i o n s o f M i s s i s s i p p i D e p a r t m e n t o f C o r r e c t i o n s

, i n H i s

I n d i v i d u a l a n d O f

f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; L A W R E N C E K E L L Y

, S u p e r i n t e n d e n t

, M i s s i s s i p p i S t a t e P e n i t e n t i a r y

, i n H i s O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; M A R E L Y N

S T U R D I V A N T

, U n i t 2 9

- A

, C a s e M a n a g e r

, i n H e r O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ;

L Y N E T T E J O R D A N

, D i r e c t o r o f O f f e n d e r S e r v i c e s

, I n H e r O f f i c i a l

C a p a c i t y ; V E R L E N A F L A G G S

, A s s o c i a t e W a r d e n

, U n i t 2 9

, i n H e r

O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; J A M E S B R E W E R

, W a r d e n

, U n i t 2 9

, I n H i s O f f i c i a l

C a p a c i t y ; W I L L I E F U L L E R

, L i e u t e n a n t

, U n i t 2 9 i n H e r O f f i c i a l

C a p a c i t y ; M A R V I N O V E R S T R E E T

, C I D C h i e f

, M i s s i s s i p p i S t a t e

P e n i t e n t i a r y

, i n H i s O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; P A M E L A R O B I N S O N

, C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s

, A c t i n g C a s e M a n a g e r

, U n i t 3 2

, i n H e r O f f i c i a l

C a p a c i t y ; J I M N O R R I S

, A t t o r n e y

, M i s s i s s i p p i D e p a r t m e n t o f

C o r r e c t i o n s L e g a l C o u n s e l ; K E N N O R T H

, C I D D i r e c t o r

, i n H i s

O f f i c i a l C a p a c i t y ; U N K N O W N S H I V E R S

, U n i t 3 2

- A

, C a s e

M a n a g e r ; M I S S I S S I P P I D E P A R T M E N T O F C O R R E C T I O N S ; J O A N N

S H I V E R S

,

D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l e e s U n i te d S ta te s C o u rt o f A p p ea l s

F i ft h C i rc u i t



### F I L E D

June 21 , 20 11

Lyle W . Cayce

Clerk Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

A p p e a l f

r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e N o r t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f M i s s i s s i p p i

U S D C N o

. 4 : 0 8

- C V

- 7 3

B e f o r e J O L L Y

, H I G G I N B O T H A M

, a n d S M I T H

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

.

E

. G R A D Y J O L L Y

, C i r c u i t J u d g e : *

M i s s i s s i p p i p r i s o n e r K i r b y T a t e b r o u g h t s u i t a g a i n s t p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s f o r

p l a c i n g h i m i n s u p e r

- m a x i m u m s e c u r i t y

, s o l i t a r y c o n f i n e m e n t f

o r t w o y e a r s

w i t h o u t s a t i s f

y i n g d u e p r o c e s s r e q u i r e m e n t s

. T a t e a p p e a l s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s

g r a n t o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t m o t i o n a n d t h e d e n i a l o f h i s m o t i o n

t o r e o p e n

. W e A F F I R M i n p a r t a n d V A C A T E i n p a r t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s g r a n t

o f s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

, a n d V A C A T E t h e d e n i a l o f t h e m o t i o n t o r e o p e n

. W e

R E M A N D t h e c a s e t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o r f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s

.

I

.

K i r b y T a t e w a s s e n t e n c e d t o s i x t y y e a r s o f i m p r i s o n m e n t w i t h o u t t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y f

o r p a r o l e a f

t e r b e i n g c o n v i c t e d o f i n t e n t t o d i s t r i b u t e o n e h a l f p o u n d

o f m a r i j u a n a

. U n t i l F e b r u a r y 2 2

, 2 0 0 8

, T a t e ’ s p r i s o n c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s “ B 1

Purs uant to 5 T H C I R

. R. 47.5

, the cour t has d ete rm ined t hat this opi nion sho uld not *

be publ ish ed and is not pr ece dent excep t unde r the lim ite d cir cum st ance s se t for th in 5 T H C I R

. R. 47.5 .4.

On Januar y 28, 1991, Tate ple ade d guilty to tw o count s of sal e of mar ijuana les s than 1

one ounce and wa s se nten ced to se rve thr ee years in pr iso n for thr ee years on each count

. Tate

v. State

, 912 So. 2d 919, 922 n.2 (M iss

. 2005)

. Twe lve years late r, in 2003, Tate wa s convic ted

of poss es sio n wi th inte nt to del iver and del ivery of marijuan a. Id

. at 922. He wa s sente nced

as a habit ual and enhanc ed off ende r and se nten ced to se rve tw o conc urr ent se nten ces of sixt y

years wi tho u t t h e p os sib ilit y of the se nten ces being red uced or sus pend ed. Id

. at 922- 23.

Becaus e Tate is not eligibl e for earl y rele ase

, he wi ll n ot be rele ase d fr om pr iso n until he is

ninet y-nine years old

. Id

. T a t e ’ s convic tion and sub se quent app eals have se veral unus ual

fea tur es

.

Tate wa s arr es ted on Mar ch 10, 2003 aft er giving a quant ity of mar ijuana to

governm ent info rm ant Ge rald Warr en. Id

. at 922. Tate pr es ente d a n entr apm ent def ens e,

clai mi ng that Warr en lef t mar ijuana in Tate’ s she d wi thou t Tate’ s kn ow led ge and Tate wa s

2 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

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C u s t o d y

, ” w h i c h e n t i t l e d h i m t o s u b s t a n t i a l p r i v i l e g e s

, i n c l u d i n g c o n t a c t

v i s i t a t i o n w i t h h i s f a m i l y

, a b i l i t y t o w a t c h t e l e v i s i o n

, a n d r e c r e a t i o n t i m e w i t h

o t h e r p r i s o n e r s

. O n F e b r u a r y 2 2

, 2 0 0 8

, T a t e w a s v a l i d a t e d a s a S e c u r i t y T h r e a t

G r o u p “ D i s r u p t i v e C o r e L e a d e r ” b y p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s

, w h o c h a r g e d t h a t T a t e w a s

a l e a d e r o f t h e p r i s o n g a n g t h e S i m o n C i t y R o y a l s

. C o n s e q u e n t l y

, T a t e w a s

r e c l a s s i f

i e d a s “ D C u s t o d y ” a n d r e l o c a t e d t o U n i t 3 2 a t P a r c h m a n

, w i t h s u p e r

m a x i m u m s e c u r i t y

, s o l i t a r y c o n f i n e m e n t c o n d i t i o n s

. I n r e s p o n s e t o h i s

r e c l a s s i f

i c a t i o n

, T a t e b r o u g h t t h i s f e d e r a l s u i t a g a i n s t n u m e r o u s M i s s i s s i p p i

D e p a r t m e n t o f C o r r e c t i o n s ( M D O C ) o f f i c i a l s

, a s s e r t i n g t h a t t h e y d e n i e d h i m

a c c e s s t o c o u r t s

, d i s c i p l i n e d h i m a s a f o r m o f r e t a l i a t i o n

, a n d r e c l a s s i f i e d h i m

f r o m B C u s t o d y t o t h e s u p e r

- m a x i m u m s e c u r i t y D C u s t o d y w i t h o u t a h e a r i n g o r

ret urning it to Warr en–not s ellin g it –at the tim e h e w as arr es ted

. Id

. at 924- 25.

The cre dibi lity of Ge rald Warr en wa s call ed into ques tio n at the tim e of tri al wh en his

fou rte en year old daught er, Brit tany Warr en, app roac hed the def ens e wi th se veral num ero us

ass ert ions agains t his cre dibi lity, in clud ing t hat he ow ned fou r to five poun ds of mar ijuana,

sm ok ed mar ijuana, and that he had att em pt ed to pr os tit ute her for dr ugs. Id

. at 928- 29. She

wa s pr epa red to tes tif

y that Ge rald Warr en ans we red in the aff irm ative wh en ask ed wh ethe r

he se t Tate up for $2,0 00 and a poun d of mar ijuana given to him by the East Mis sis sip pi Task

Forc e. Id

. at 929. The tri al cour t dec lined to adm it Brit tany’s tes tim ony f o r a n u m b e r of

reas ons

, inclu ding her mo ther ’s pr efe renc e that she not tes tif y and that Brit tany had rec entl y

unde rgone dr ug t reat me nt. Id

. at 930.

A ft er Tate wa s convic ted

, Ge rald Warr en rec ante d his tri al tes tim ony that Tate h a d

d e l i v e r e d dr ugs to him and adm itt ed that he had plan ted the dr ugs in Tate’ s she d. Tate v

. Park er

, 2010 WL 2606045

, *1 (S .D

. Mis s. June 22, 2010)

. W arr en pr ovide d a rec ord ed

inte rview wi th Tate’ s couns el and signe d tw o a ff idavit s to this ef

fec t. Id

. The dis tri ct cour t

fou nd, for a mul tit ude of reas ons

, that Warr en had “virt ually no cre dibi lity” and thus that the

new evide nce of Warr en’s rec antat ion of tri al tes ti m o n y w a s ins uff icie nt to sat isf

y Tate’ s

burd en that

, in light of the new evide nce, it wa s mo re lik ely than not that no reas onable juror

wo uld find Tat e gui lty beyond a reas onable d oubt

. Id

. at *5- *6.

Tate has fil ed se veral wr its of habeas cor pus

, wh ich have been dism iss ed. See Tate v.

Park er, 2007 WL 892449 (S .D

. Mi s s

. Jan. 16, 2007) ; Tate v. Park er

, 2010 WL 2606045 (S .D

. Mis s. June 22, 2010) ; Tate v. Kel le y

, 2011 WL 1103769 (S .D

. Mis s. Mar ch 23, 2011)

. On Mar ch

23, 2011, how ever, the dist ric t cour t cer tif ied for app eal the iss ue of whet her Tate’s se nten ce

wa s gros sly dis pr opo rti onat e t o h is cri me

. Tate

, 2011 WL 1 103769 at *4.

3 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 3 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

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w r i t t e n d i s c l o s u r e o f t h e f a c t s u s e d t o m a k e t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t h e w a s a

g a n g l e a d e r a l l i n v i o l a t i o n o f h i s d u e p r o c e s s r i g h t s

.

T h i s c a s e p r e s e n t s a s o m e w h a t c o n f u s e d r e c o r d b o t h p r o c e d u r a l l y a n d

s u b s t a n t i v e l y

. A l t h o u g h t h e i n i t i a l p l e a d i n g s s e e m t o h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t u n d e r

t h e c o n s e n t d e c r e e o f P r e s l e y v

. E p p s

, C i v i l A c t i o n N o

. 4 : 0 5 C V 1 4 8

, t h e c o m p l a i n t

a l s o a l l e g e d

, w i t h o u t c i t i n g t h e s t a t u t e

, c e r t a i n 4 2 U

. S

. C

. § 1 9 8 3 c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

c l a i m s r e l a t i n g t o r e t a l i a t i o n

, a c c e s s t o c o u r t s

, a n d d e n i a l o f d u e p r o c e s s r i g h t s

.

T h e d e f e n d a n t s h a v e n e v e r r a i s e d t h e p r o p r i e t y o f T a t e ’ s c l a i m p r o c e e d i n g o n l y

u n d e r P r e s l e y a s a d e f e n s e o r o t h e r w i s e

, b u t i n s t e a d

– a p p a r e n t l y a c k n o w l e d g i n g

t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e d a § 1 9 8 3 c l a i m

– m o v e d f o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o n t h e

g r o u n d s t h a t t h e r e w a s n o i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l f a c t a n d t h a t T a t e ’ s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

w a s i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e M i s s i s s i p p i D e p a r t m e n t o f C o r r e c t i o n s g u i d e l i n e s

a n d n o t v i o l a t i v e o f T a t e ’ s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s

. 2

T a t e ’ s o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t

, f i l e d o n J u n e 6

, 2 0 0 8

, i n c l u d e d a l l e g a t i o n s t h a t

p r i s o n o f

f i c i a l s w e r e i m p r o p e r l y i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h h i s a c c e s s t o c o u r t s

. H i s

c o m p l a i n t r e a d

, i n r e l e v a n t p a r t :

M D O C o f

f i c i a l s h a v e s y s t e m a t i c a l l y i n t e r f e r e d w i t h m y a c c e s s t o

c o u r t s n o t o n l y i n m y h a b e a s p e t i t i o n s

, b u t a l s o i n m y a t t e m p t s t o

f i l e t h i s c o m p l a i n t

. T h e y h a v e i n t e n t i o n a l l y t r i e d t o m a k e m e m i s s

d e a d l i n e s

, c o n f

i s c a t e d s t a m p s p r o v i d e d b y m y a t t o r n e y

, m o n i t o r e d

c o n f i d e n t i a l a t t o r n e y c l i e n t t e l e p h o n e c a l l s

, a n d c e n s o r e d

c o n f i d e n t i a l a t t o r n e y

- c l i e n t m a i l

, i n c l u d i n g t h i s C o m p l a i n t

.

T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t w a s s i g n e d “ K i r b y T a t e b y

, S y l v i a O w e n [ A t t o r n e y f o r

P l a i n t i f f ] ” a n d w a s e x e c u t e d a t U n i t 3 2

, P a r c h m a n

, M i s s i s s i p p i

.

T h e d e f e n d a n t s m o v e d f

o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t b u t d i d n o t a s s e r t t h a t

T a t e ’ s a f

f i d a v i t d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e c o m p e t e n t e v i d e n c e

. O n F e b r u a r y 2 5

, 2 0 0 9

,

t h e M a g i s t r a t e J u d g e f i l e d a R e p o r t a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n i n w h i c h h e s u a s p o n t e

The def enda nts ’ mo tio n for sum mar y judgm ent wa s not brie fed and wa s unres pons ive 2

to se veral of the allegat ions in Tat e’s c om plai nt.

4 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 4 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

r a i d e d t h e i s s u e a n d r u l e d t h a t T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e a d m i s s i b l e

e v i d e n c e b e c a u s e i t w a s s i g n e d b y T a t e ’ s c o u n s e l

, r a t h e r t h a n T a t e

.

A c c o r d i n g l y

, h e f

o u n d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o b o n a f i d e d i s p u t e o f m a t e r i a l f a c t s

. T h e

m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e a l s o s u a s p o n t e a d d r e s s e d T a t e ’ s a c c e s s t o c o u r t s c l a i m

– n o t

a d d r e s s e d b y t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ m o t i o n f o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

– a n d f o u n d t h a t

T a t e h a d n o t s t a t e d a c l a i m

. F u r t h e r

, t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e r e c o m m e n d e d

, s u a

s p o n t e

, t h a t T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t b e d i s m i s s e d w i t h p r e j u d i c e f o r f a i l u r e t o s t a t e a

c l a i m b e c a u s e a n i n d i v i d u a l p r i s o n e r c a n n o t s t a t e a c l a i m b a s e d u p o n f a i l u r e t o

c o m p l y w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f P r e s l e y

.

T a t e ’ s o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e R e p o r t a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n w e r e d u e b y M a r c h

1 1

, 2 0 0 9

. T a t e ’ s c o u n s e l f i l e d a m o t i o n f

o r e x t e n d e d t i m e

, n o t i n g t h a t p r i s o n

o f f i c i a l s r e f

u s e d t o a l l o w T a t e t o h a v e h i s a f f i d a v i t n o t a r i z e d

. T h e c o u r t g r a n t e d

t h e m o t i o n

, g i v i n g T a t e u n t i l M a r c h 2 5 t o s u b m i t h i s o b j e c t i o n s

. O n M a r c h 2 5

,

T a t e f i l e d a b r i e f i n s u p p o r t o f o b j e c t i o n s a n d a l s o a n o t i c e o f t e c h n i c a l d i f f i c u l t y

r e g a r d i n g a s c a n n e r m a l f u n c t i o n

. O n M a r c h 3 0

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s s u e d a n

o p i n i o n o v e r r u l i n g T a t e ’ s o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e R e p o r t a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n a n d

a p p r o v i n g a n d a d o p t i n g t h e R e p o r t a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n

. O n t h e s a m e d a y

,

T a t e f i l e d a m o t i o n t o r e c o n s i d e r

, s t a t i n g t h a t “ [ d ] u e t o a s c a n n e r m a l f u n c t i o n

a n d p r i s o n l e g a l m a i l i t w a s n o t p o s s i b l e t o f i l e t h e [ e ] x h i b i t s

, ” w h i c h i n c l u d e d

o v e r t h i r t y p a g e s

, i n c l u d i n g T a t e ’ s a f f i d a v i t a n d t h e a f

f i d a v i t o f h i s c o u n s e l

. O n

A p r i l 1 3

, 2 0 0 9

, T a t e f i l e d a n a m e n d e d m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. O n A p r i l 1 6

,

2 0 0 9

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s s u e d a n o r d e r d e n y i n g T a t e ’ s m o t i o n t o r e o p e n

, f i n d i n g

t h a t T a t e h a d f a i l e d t o p r o d u c e a l e g a l o r f a c t u a l b a s i s t o a l t e r t h e c o u r t ’ s r u l i n g

.

T a t e t i m e l y a p p e a l e d

.

I I

.

W e b e g i n b y n o t i n g t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t c i t e d c a s e s h o l d i n g t h a t

p r i s o n e r s h a v e n o l i b e r t y i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

. T o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e

s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h i s c a s e r e l i e d u p o n s u c h c a s e s

, p a r t i c u l a r l y

5 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 5 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

H e r n a n d e z v

. V

a l a s q u e z

, 5 2 2 F

. 3 d 5 5 6

, 5 6 3

- 6 4 ( 5 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 ) a n d P i c h a r d o v

.

K i n k e r

, 7 3 F

. 3 d 6 1 2

, 6 1 2

- 1 3 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 6 )

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n n o t

c o n s i d e r i n g W i l k i n s o n v

. A u s t i n

, 5 4 5 U

. S

. 2 0 9 ( 2 0 0 5 )

, w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s a c r u c i a l

e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e t h a t a p r i s o n e r h a s n o l i b e r t y i n t e r e s t i n h i s

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n : t h a t i s

, w h e n t h e p r i s o n e r i s i n c a r c e r a t e d i n s u p e r

- m a x i m u m

s e c u r i t y c o n d i t i o n s

, a s w a s T a t e

.

W e r e v i e w t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f a m o t i o n t o r e c o n s i d e r f o r a b u s e

o f d i s c r e t i o n

. W h e n d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r t o g r a n t a m o t i o n t o r e c o n s i d e r

, t h e t r i a l

c o u r t s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e i m p o r t a n c e a n d p r o b a t i v e v a l u e o f t h e e v i d e n c e

, t h e

r e a s o n f o r t h e m o v i n g p a r t y ' s f a i l u r e t o i n t r o d u c e t h e e v i d e n c e e a r l i e r

, a n d t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f p r e j u d i c e t o t h e n o n

- m o v i n g p a r t y

. G a r c i a v

. W o m e n ' s H o s

p

. o f

T e x

. , 9 7 F

. 3 d 8 1 0

, 8 1 4 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 6 )

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t “ w i l l n o t b e d i s t u r b e d i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a s h o w i n g t h a t i t h a s w o r k e d a n

i n j u s t i c e

. ” I

d

.

W i t h t h i s i n m i n d

, w e e v a l u a t e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f T a t e ’ s m o t i o n

f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. T a t e c o n t e n d s t h a t h e p r e s e n t e d s i g n i f i c a n t n e w a n d

a d m i s s i b l e e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e a n d d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e f u s e d t o

c o n s i d e r o n g r o u n d s t h a t h i s o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t w a s n o t s i g n e d

. T a t e ’ s o r i g i n a l

c o m p l a i n t n o t e d “ M D O C o f f i c i a l s h a v e s y s t e m a t i c a l l y i n t e r f e r e d w i t h m y a c c e s s

t o c o u r t s

. . . i n m y a t t e m p t s t o f i l e t h i s c o m p l a i n t

. T h e y h a v e i n t e n t i o n a l l y t r i e d

t o m a k e m e m i s s d e a d l i n e s

. . . a n d c e n s o r e d c o n f i d e n t i a l a t t o r n e y

- c l i e n t m a i l

,

i n c l u d i n g t h i s C o m p l a i n t

. ” F u r t h e r m o r e

, t h e o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e R e p o r t a n d

R e c o m m e n d a t i o n a n d t h e m o t i o n t o r e o p e n

– a d d r e s s i n g t h e b a s i s o f t h e

m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e ’ s r u l i n g

, t h a t i s

, t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t h a d n o t b e e n s i g n e d

– a l s o

a l l e g e d t h a t T a t e h a d n o t s i g n e d a n d s u b m i t t e d t h e n e c e s s a r y f i l i n g s b e c a u s e t h e

p r i s o n o f

f i c i a l s h a d p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m d o i n g s o

. A t o r a l a r g u m e n t

, T a t e ’ s

c o u n s e l f

u r t h e r e x p l a i n e d t h i s c l a i m b y s t a t i n g t h a t p r i s o n g u a r d s r e f u s e d t o

p e r m i t T a t e t o s i g n h i s p l e a d i n g w h e n s h e b r o u g h t i t t o h i m o n a v i s i t

.

6 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 6 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

A d d i t i o n a l l y

, T a t e ’ s c o u n s e l f i l e d m o t i o n s f

o r e x t e n s i o n s o f t i m e o n M a r c h 1 6

a n d M a r c h 3 0

, 2 0 0 9

, c l a i m i n g t h a t p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s w e r e i m p e d i n g T a t e f r o m

s i g n i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y d o c u m e n t s

. W h e r e i m p o r t a n t

, p r o b a t i v e e v i d e n c e w a s n o t 3

b e f o r e t h e c o u r t b e c a u s e o f t h e p o t e n t i a l l y i l l e g a l a c t i o n s o f d e f e n d a n t s

, a n

i n j u s t i c e h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d

.

T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t w a s b o t h i m p o r t a n t a n d p r o b a t i v e t o t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s

o f g r a n t i n g t h e m o t i o n f o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

. T h e p o t e n t i a l v i a b i l i t y o f T a t e ’ s

c l a i m t o s u r v i v e s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t i s i l l u s t r a t e d t h r o u g h t h e s i m i l a r c a s e o f

H o g a n v

. E

p p s

, 2 0 0 9 W L 4 7 8 5 8 6 0 ( S

. D

. M i s s

. , D e c

. 8

, 2 0 0 9 ) ( u n p u b l i s h e d )

. I n

H o g a n

, t h e p r i s o n e r p l a i n t i f f a l l e g e d t h a t

, w h i l e h o u s e d a t P a r c h m a n

, h e w a s

i d e n t i f i e d a s a S e c u r i t y T h r e a t G r o u p l e a d e r a n d t r a n s f e r r e d t o s u p e r

- m a x i m u m

s e c u r i t y c o n d i t i o n s w i t h o u t d u e p r o c e s s

. I d

. a t * 2

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d t h e

s t a t e ’ s s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s H o g a n ’ s d u e p r o c e s s c l a i m

, a f t e r

f i n d i n g t h a t :

D e f e n d a n t s h a v e s u p p o r t e d t h e i r m o t i o n w i t h n o e v i d e n c e a s t o t h e

c o n d i t i o n s o r r e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e S T G U n i t s

, t h e n a t u r e o r f r e q u e n c y

o f r e v i e w a c c o r d e d i n m a t e s i n t h e u n i t s

, o r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s u n d e r

w h i c h a n i n m a t e m a y b e r e m o v e d f r o m S T G s e g r e g a t i o n

.

I d

. a t * 3

. A s i n H o g a n

, t h e d e f e n d a n t s h e r e h a v e p r o v i d e d n o i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t

t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d r e s t r i c t i o n s o f S T G u n i t s o r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s u n d e r w h i c h

a n i n m a t e m a y b e r e m o v e d f r o m S T G s e g r e g a t i o n

. F u r t h e r

, t h e d e f e n d a n t s 4

Tate has cons ist entl y mai ntain ed– in his origi nal com plai nt fil ed on June 6, 2008 until 3

pr es ent– that M DO C of fic ials in ter fer ed wi th his c om plai nt.

The evide nce sup por ting the def enda nts ’ mo tio n for sum mar y judgm ent com pr ise d of: 4

(1) the aff

i d a v it of Rick y Sco tt, the CID Invest igator wh o valida ted Tate; (2) com put erize d

clas sif icat ion rec ord for ms fr om Februa ry 28, 2008 to July 30, 2008; and (3) the aff idavit of Dr

. Gl oria Per r y

, d isc uss ing Tate’ s ps ycholo gical cond itio n. Not icea bly abs ent fr om the

def enda nts ’ sum mar y judgm ent evide nce wa s an aff idavit att es ting to the qualit y and cont ent

of Tate’ s pos sib le clas sif icat ion hear ing. The evide nce sub mi tte d, li k e t h a t pr es ente d in

Ho gan

, fai ls to dis cus s the cond itio n and rest ric tio ns of STG units

, the for m or cont ent of the

hear ings allege d STG lead ers rec eive bef ore tra nsf

er, or cir cum st ance s unde r wh ich an inm ate

may be rem oved f

rom S TG se gregat ion.

7 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 7 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

s u b m i t t e d a t h r e e

- p a g e m o t i o n f o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t a n d n e i t h e r p a r t y

p r o v i d e d a s u p p o r t i n g b r i e f w i t h t h e m o t i o n o r r e s p o n s e

. I n t h i s l i g h t

, t h e

i m p o r t a n c e o f T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t i s c l e a r : i t a d d r e s s e d t h e i s s u e s i n d e t a i l a n d

t h u s p r o v i d e d s i g n i f i c a n t p r o b a t i v e v a l u e

. W e t h e r e f o r e c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n a d o p t i n g t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e ’ s R e p o r t a n d

R e c o m m e n d a t i o n a n d a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n n o t f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e m o t i o n

t o r e o p e n

. T h e j u d g m e n t d i s m i s s i n g t h i s c o m p l a i n t i s

, t h e r e f o r e

, V A C A T E D a n d

t h e c a s e R E M A N D E D

.

W e s u g g e s t t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a l l o w a S p e a r s h e a r i n g t o c o n s i d e r a t

l e a s t t w o m a t t e r s

. F i r s t

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d c o n s i d e r T a t e ’ s c l a i m o f t h e

d e n i a l o f a c c e s s t o c o u r t s

, m o s t p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e t h e r T a t e w a s i m p r o p e r l y

p r e v e n t e d f

r o m s i g n i n g h i s c o m p l a i n t a n d t i m e l y s u b m i t t i n g h i s a f f i d a v i t

c o n t e s t i n g t h e p r i s o n ’ s p o l i c y

. S e c o n d

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r

t h e d u e p r o c e s s a f

f o r d e d t o T a t e d u r i n g h i s r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n t o D c u s t o d y

, a n d

s u b s e q u e n t r e v i e w o f t h e c u s t o d y

, s a t i s f

y t h e d u e p r o c e s s s t a n d a r d s r e f e r e n c e d

i n W i l k i n s o n v

. A u s t i n

. 5

T a t e a l s o r a i s e d a n a d d i t i o n a l c l a i m r e l a t i n g t o r e t a l i a t i o n

. T h e p a r t o f t h e

j u d g m e n t d i s m i s s i n g t h e r e t a l i a t i o n c l a i m i s a f f i r m e d

. T h e o n l y v i a b l e c l a i m s

r e m a i n i n g f

o r t h e c o u r t t o c o n s i d e r o n r e m a n d a r e T a t e ’ s a c c e s s t o c o u r t s a n d

d u e p r o c e s s c l a i m s

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s

A F F I R M E D

, i n p a r t

, a n d V A C A T E D

, i n p a r t

, a n d t h e c a s e i s R E M A N D E D

.

A F F I R M E D i n p a r t ; V A C A T E D i n p a r t ; a n d R E M A N D E D

.

W e are very se nsi tive to the fac t that pr iso n se cur ity iss ues are clea rly involved

. 5

Ho we ver, at oral argum ent, the def enda nts ’ couns el off

ere d that they wo uld be full y ame nable

to the cour t unde rta ki ng an in ca me ra ins pec tio n of the evide nce t h e y h a v e agains t Tate

im pli cat ing hi m as a l ead er in the se cur ity thr eat group

.

8 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 8 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

J E R R Y E

. S M I T H

, C i r c u i t J u d g e

, d i s s e n t i n g :

K i r b y T a t e i s a t h r e e

- t i m e c o n v i c t e d d r u g d e a l e r w h o s t a t e p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s

b e l i e v e i s t h e l e a d e r o f a p r i s o n g a n g k n o w n p r i m a r i l y f o r d r u g d i s t r i b u t i o n

. 1

T h e y a c c o r d i n g l y c o n f i n e d h i m i n a s u p e r

- m a x i m u m s e c u r i t y p r i s o n u n i t

, b e

c a u s e h e p o s e d a s e c u r i t y t h r e a t

. T a t e a r g u e s t h a t t h e p r i s o n p r o v i d e d i n s u f

f i c i e n t p r o c e s s i n m a k i n g t h a t d e t e r m i n a t i o n

, b u t h e d i d n o t p r o f f e r a n y e v i d e n c e

s u p p o r t i n g h i s a l l e g a t i o n s b e f o r e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g r a n t e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

.

G i v i n g T a t e a m u l l i g a n

, t h e m a j o r i t y ( 1 ) d i s t o r t s o r i g n o r e s c r u c i a l f a c t s

,

( 2 ) s i g n i f

i c a n t l y m u d d l e s o u r c a s e l a w c o n c e r n i n g t h e s t a n d a r d f o r r e v i e w i n g t h e

d e n i a l o f

a m o t i o n t o r e c o n s i d e r a j u d g m e n t

, ( 3 ) o r d e r s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o c o n

s i d e r a c l a i m t h a t T a t e d i d n o t p r e s e r v e o n a p p e a l a n d t h a t w a s n o t m e n t i o n e d

a t o r a l a r g u m e n t

, a n d ( 4 ) s u g g e s t s t h a t i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r a d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o r e

v i e w t h e s u b s t a n t i v e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t i n g a s t a t e p r i s o n ’ s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n d e t e r

m i n a t i o n i n a d j u d i c a t i n g a p r o c e d u r a l d u e p r o c e s s c l a i m

. M o r e o v e r

, t h e m a j o r i t y

d o e s s o a f

t e r h a v i n g t u r n e d o r a l a r g u m e n t i n t o a m e a n d e r i n g

, e i g h t y

- m i n u t e e v i

d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g i n v o l v i n g u n s w o r n

, h e a r s a y t e s t i m o n y b y e a c h p a r t y ’ s c o u n s e l

. 2

I r e s p e c t f

u l l y d i s s e n t a n d w o u l d a f f i r m t h e s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t a n d t h e d e n i a l

o f t h e r e q u e s t t o r e o p e n

.

The majo rit y se ek s to butt res s its opi nion by dr edgin g up fac ts to cas t doub t on Tate’ s 1

mo st rec ent convic tio n, even thou gh thos e fac ts are utt erly irr elevant to this app eal conc erni ng

pr is on condi tions

, and desp ite the fact that the convict ion w as up held by the Miss iss ipp i Supr em e Court and on habeas cor pus revie w ( o n l y a chall enge to the length of Tate’ s thr eest rik es -la w se nten ce rem ains ). The majo rit y’s cher ry-p ick ing of irr elevant but sym pat heti c

fac ts m ere ly gives t he im pr es sio n

SS not unw arr ante d

SS that it s opi nion is m oti vated m ore by

mi sp lace d sym pat hy f or a c rim inal than by c aref ul legal analys is.

Even the mo st c om ple x and im por tant c ase s in this cir cuit usua lly r ece ive, at m os t, 2

for ty mi nute s of oral ar gume nt. A ver y lim ite d num ber, inclu ding en banc cas es

, rec eive an

hour. This fr ivolous app eal wa s the excep tion and wa s given about doub le the cus tom ary tim e.

9 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 9 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

I

.

T a t e s u e d t h e M i s s i s s i p p i D e p a r t m e n t o f C o r r e c t i o n s ( “ M D O C ” ) a n d m a n y

o f i t s o f f i c i a l s i n J u n e 2 0 0 8

, v i a a c o m p l a i n t s i g n e d o n l y b y h i s l a w y e r

, w h i c h t h e

m a j o r i t y e r r o n e o u s l y a n d m i s l e a d i n g l y r e f e r s t o a s “ T a t e ’ s a f f i d a v i t ”

. R

. 2 3

. F o u r

m o n t h s p a s s e d

, a n d T a t e d i d n o t p r e s e n t a n y e v i d e n c e

— n o t o n e i o t a

— s u p p o r t i n g

h i s a l l e g a t i o n s

. T h e d i s c o v e r y d e a d l i n e e x p i r e d i n O c t o b e r 2 0 0 8

. T w o m o n t h s

l a t e r

, w i t h a b a r e r e c o r d

, t h e M D O C m o v e d f o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o n T a t e ’ s

c l a i m s

. R

. 1 8 8

- 8 9

. T w o m o n t h s a f t e r t h a t

, w i t h t h e r e c o r d s t i l l b a r e

, t h e m a g i s

t r a t e j u d g e i s s u e d a r e p o r t i n w h i c h h e n o t e d t h a t T a t e h a d n o t p r e s e n t e d a n y

p r o p e r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t e v i d e n c e b e c a u s e h e h a d n e v e r s i g n e d h i s c o m p l a i n t

a n d h a d n o t s u b m i t t e d a n y t h i n g e l s e t o s u p p o r t h i s a l l e g a t i o n s

. 3

A l t h o u g h T a t e ’ s a t t o r n e y

, S y l v i a O w e n

, h a d s i g n e d t h e c o m p l a i n t a n d d e

c l a r e d t h a t i t w a s t r u e a n d c o r r e c t u n d e r p e n a l t y o f p e r j u r y

, a v e r i f i e d c o m p l a i n t

s i g n e d o n l y b y a n a t t o r n e y w h o

, l i k e O w e n

, l a c k s p e r s o n a l k n o w l e d g e o f a m a t

t e r

, i s n o t c o m p e t e n t s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t e v i d e n c e

, b u t o n l y h e a r s a y

. A c c o r d i n g 4

See R.262 (“ Tate’ s com plai nt ass ert s that Tate is not a me mbe r of any gang, muc h les s 3

a gang lead er. But his c om plai nt, w hile cont aining language that it is unde r oath

, is signe d

not by Tate, but his couns el.

. . . There for e Tate has fai le d t o pr ovide adm iss ible evide nce

. . . .” ). The majo rit y mak es muc h of the fac t that the magis tra te judge add res se d the evide ntiar y value of Tate’ s com plai nt sua sp onte

, but he had the autho rit y to do so

. See Cel otex Corp

.

v. Catre tt

, 477 U. S. 317, 325 (198 6) (“ [D ]is tri ct cour ts are wi del y ack now led ged to pos se ss the

pow er to ente r sum mar y judgm ents sua sp onte

, so long as the los ing par ty wa s on noti ce that

she had to com e for wa rd wi th all of her evide nce. ”)

. Even ass umi ng that Tate wa s not on notic e about the fac t that he had no com pet ent sum mar y judgm ent evide nce to sup por t his clai ms

eight month s after he fil ed his com plai nt, he had abou t a mont h afte r the magist rat e judge’ s

rep ort to sign his com plai nt, but did not do so, and, as will be disc uss ed, it was his ow n faul t

that t he dis tri ct cour t grant ed sum mar y jud gmen t.

See, e. g., F E D

. R. C I V

. P. 56(c )( 4) (“ An aff idavit or dec larat ion use d to sup por t or opp os e 4

a mo tio n mus t be mad e on per so nal kn ow led ge

. . . .” ); Wel ls Fargo Ho me Mo rtg., Inc. v. Lindquis t

, 592 F.3d 838, 845- 46 (8t h Cir. 2010) (ho ldi ng that dis tri ct cour t pr ope rly ignore d att orney’s aff idavit beca use he did not asse rt pers onal know led ge of the tra nsa cti on) ; Brai nar d v.

Am

. Skandi a Lif

e As sur

. Corp

. , 432 F.3d 655, 667 (6t h Cir. 2005) (ho ldi ng att orne y’s aff idavit

that doe s noth ing mo re than ass em ble pr ope rly authe ntic ated evide nce is st ill not adm iss ible,

beca use it is no t bas ed on per so nal kn ow led ge); United States v. Peterso n , 414 F.3d 825

, 827

(c onti nued

.. .)

1 0 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 10 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

l y

, t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e p r o p e r l y i g n o r e d i t a n d r e c o m m e n d e d s u m m a r y j u d g

m e n t

.

O w e n s t a t e d a t o r a l a r g u m e n t t h a t t h e r e a s o n t h e c o m p l a i n t w a s n o t

s i g n e d b y T a t e w a s t h a t p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s h a d p r e v e n t e d h e r f r o m p a s s i n g t h e d o c

u m e n t t o h i m d u r i n g v i s i t a t i o n

. S h e s a y s s h e c o m p l a i n e d t o t h e M D O C

, “ a l l t h e

w a y t o t h e w a r d e n

, ” t o n o a v a i l

. B u t

, a s i d e f r o m T a t e ’ s a f

f i d a v i t f i l e d a f t e r t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t h a d g r a n t e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

, R

. 3 7 3

, t h e r e i s n o i n d i c a t i o n o f

a n y o f t h a t i n t h e r e c o r d

, e v e n t h o u g h t h e r e c o r d c o n t a i n s d o z e n s o f p a g e s o f

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e t w e e n O w e n a n d t h e M D O C t h a t O w e n s u b m i t t e d

. S e e

R

. 5 5

- 9 3

.

I f T a t e ’ s a n d O w e n ’ s a s s e r t i o n s w e r e t r u e

, o n e w o u l d e x p e c t t h e m t o h a v e

u t t e r e d t h o s e c l a i m s a r o u n d t h e t i m e t h e c o m p l a i n t w a s f i l e d

, n o t a f

t e r t h e d i s

t r i c t c o u r t h a d g r a n t e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o v e r e i g h t m o n t h s l a t e r

. I n d e e d

,

e v e n a f t e r t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e r e c o m m e n d e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t b e c a u s e T a t e

h a d n o t s i g n e d h i s c o m p l a i n t a n d t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g e l s e t o s u p p o r t h i s a l l e g a

t i o n s

, T a t e a n d O w e n s t i l l d i d n o t m e n t i o n t h a t t h e p r i s o n h a d o b s t r u c t e d T a t e ’ s

a t t e m p t t o s i g n i t

. W e s h o u l d n o t r e l y o n T a t e ’ s a n d O w e n ’ s s e l f

- s e r v i n g

, p o s t 5

(

.. .c onti nued ) 4

(7t h Cir. 2005) (“ The law yer’s aff idavit

, being hear say, is no evide n c e a t a ll. ”) ; Al bri ght v.

FDIC , 1994 U. S. App. LEXIS 6 206, at *1 6-* 17 ( 1st Cir

. Apr. 1, 199 4) (unp ublis hed) ( hold ing

that att orne y’s aff

idavit wa s not com pet ent evide nce of his clie nts ’ agree me n t or

com mun icat ions wi th the def enda nts

, beca use it wa s not bas ed on per so nal kn ow led ge); Suit

v. Ell is

, 282 F.2d 145, 147 n.2 (5t h Cir. 1960) (“ The mo tio n for new tri al is of litt le ass ist ance

to the pet itio ner excep t as a ple adin g to be cons ide red by the Court

, beca use the aff idavit wa s

mad e by the attor ney and not by the pet itio ner, and beca use it fai led to contain any sho wi ng

that the attor ney had any per so nal kno wl edge of the fac ts allege d. ”) ; 11 J A M E S W. M O O R E E T

A L

. , M O O R E ’ S F E D E R A L P R A C T I C E § 56.9 4[7] [a]

, at 56-2 45 (3d ed. 2011) (s tat ing that

, in

opp os ing sum mar y judgm ent, “an att orne y’s aff idavit or dec larat ion is sub ject to the sam e

per so nal kn ow led ge r equir em ent as any o ther af fid avit or dec larat ion

. . . .” ).

When Ow en wa s ask ed at oral argum ent wh e t h e r she me ntio ned to the magis tra te 5

judge that pr iso n off

icia ls had pr event ed her fr om pas sin g the com plai nt to Tate at visi tat ion,

s h e s a id, “I belie ve that ’s in my aff idavit .” But Ow en’s aff idavit

, dat ed Sep tem ber 5

, 2 0 0 8

,

(c onti nued

.. .)

1 1 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 11 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

h o c e x p l a n a t i o n s t o f o r c e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o g r a n t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. Y e t t h e m a

j o r i t y d o e s p r e c i s e l y t h a t

.

I n d e e d

, t h e m a j o r i t y g o e s f u r t h e r b y m a k i n g t h e u n s u p p o r t a b l e c o n t e n t i o n

t h a t T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t i t s e l f a l l e g e d t h a t t h e M D O C h a d p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m s i g n

i n g i t

. T h a t i s p h y s i c a l l y a n d t e m p o r a l l y i m p o s s i b l e

. A c c o r d i n g t o O w e n ’ s c l a i m s

a t o r a l a r g u m e n t

, s h e b r o u g h t t h e c o m p l a i n t t o t h e p r i s o n

, w h e r e s h e s a t d o w n

a c r o s s f r o m T a t e s e p a r a t e d b y g l a s s a n d c o u l d n o t h a n d t h e c o m p l a i n t t o h i m b e

c a u s e p r i s o n o f

f i c i a l s w o u l d n o t l e t h e r

, s o s h e s i g n e d i t h e r s e l f t h e n a n d t h e r e

.

T h e c o m p l a i n t c o u l d n o t h a v e r e l a t e d t h o s e e v e n t s

, b e c a u s e

, i f t h e y o c c u r r e d

, i t

m u s t h a v e b e e n a f

t e r i t w a s w r i t t e n

.

W h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e d w a s m e r e l y t h a t p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s h a d “ c e n s o r e d

c o n f i d e n t i a l a t t o r n e y

- c l i e n t m a i l

, i n c l u d i n g t h i s C o m p l a i n t

. ” R

. 3 8 ( e m p h a s i s a d

d e d )

. M o r e o v e r

, t h e c o m p l a i n t e x p l a i n e d t h e a l l e g e d “ c e n s o r [ i n g ] ” o f p r i s o n m a i l

t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y r e l i e s o n

, a n d i t h a s n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h p r e v e n t i n g T a t e f r o m

s i g n i n g t h e c o m p l a i n t : W h e n T a t e a t t e m p t e d t o m a i l t h e c o m p l a i n t t o h i s a t t o r

n e y ( u n s i g n e d

, a p p a r e n t l y )

, h e “ i n s t r u c t e d t h e [ p r i s o n ] n o t t o o p e n i t o r m a k e a

c o p y

. H o w e v e r

, t h e y o b v i o u s l y d i d s o a n y w a y b e c a u s e t h e y r e t u r n e d a c o p y t o

[ T a t e ]

. ” R

. 3 8 n

. 4

. A l l e g i n g t h a t a p r i s o n r e a d a h i g h

- s e c u r i t y i n m a t e ’ s m a i l b e

f o r e m a i l i n g i t a n d g a v e t h e i n m a t e a c o p y d o e s n o t e q u a t e t o a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e

p r i s o n o b s t r u c t e d a c l i e n t ’ s a t t e m p t t o s i g n i t

. T h u s

, d e s p i t e t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s 6

c l a i m s

, t h e r e c o r d d o e s n o t s h o w t h a t t h e M D O C p r e v e n t e d T a t e f r o m s i g n i n g

h i s c o m p l a i n t b e f

o r e t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e e x c l u d e d i t f r o m e v i d e n c e

.

(

.. .c onti nued ) 5

doe s not so allege

. See R.366 -71. Mo reo ver, in wh at app ears to be a pat ter n, Ow en’s aff idavit

is not com pet ent evide nce, be caus e s he never signe d it. R.11, 371

.

Acco rd ing to the MD OC, it need ed to mo nito r Tate’ s comm unica tio ns with Ow en be- 6

caus e they we re in a phys ical rela tio nshi p toget her, so she pos ed a se cur ity ris k. There is no

evide nce in the rec ord to sup por t that clai m, but the dis tri ct cour t may wi sh to inquir e into the

mat ter on r em and.

1 2 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 12 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

W h a t t h e r e c o r d d o e s s h o w

S S a n d t h e m a j o r i t y o m i t s

S S i s t h a t O w e n m a i l e d

a n a f f i d a v i t t o T a t e o n F e b r u a r y 2 6

, 2 0 0 9

, a d a y a f t e r t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e i s

s u e d h i s r e p o r t r e c o m m e n d i n g s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

. I n o t h e r w o r d s

, O w e n w a s 7

n o t d i l i g e n t l y a t t e m p t i n g t o g e t T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t s i g n e d f o r m o n t h s ; i t w a s n o t

u n t i l t h e d e a d l i n e t h a t O w e n r e a l i z e d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t h e r c l i e n t n e e d e d t o

s i g n s o m e t h i n g

. T h a t i s n o t a t a l l t h a t s u r p r i s i n g

, g i v e n t h a t s h e i s a n e s t a t e

p l a n n i n g a t t o r n e y w h o s a y s s h e i s r e p r e s e n t i n g T a t e a s a f a m i l y f r i e n d

, n o t a l i t i

g a t o r w i t h t r i a l e x p e r t i s e

. O w e n ’ s i n e x p e r i e n c e

, n o t p r i s o n i n t e r f e r e n c e

, i s t h e

r e a s o n T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t h a d n o t b e e n s i g n e d o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f e i g h t m o n t h s

.

A f t e r O w e n s e n t T a t e t h e a f f i d a v i t i n F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9

, s h e w a s u n s u c c e s s f u l

i n o b t a i n i n g a s i g n e d c o p y f r o m h i m

, s o s h e s o u g h t a t e n

- d a y e x t e n s i o n

, a l l e g e d l y

b e c a u s e “ p r i s o n o f

f i c i a l s r e f

u s e d t o a l l o w [ T a t e ] t o h a v e i t n o t a r i z e d

, ” a n d

“ [ T a t e ’ s ] m e n t a l s t a t e a f t e r b e i n g l o c k e d d o w n f o r o v e r a y e a r a p p e a r s t o b e h i n

d e r i n g h i s a b i l i t y t o f o l l o w i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d a s s i s t c o u n s e l i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f

t h i s c a s e

. ” R

. 2 6 6

. T h a t O w e n a s k e d f o r o n l y a t e n

- d a y e x t e n s i o n c a s t s f u r t h e r 8

d o u b t o n h e r a l l e g a t i o n s o f p r i s o n m a l f e a s a n c e

, b e c a u s e i f t h e M D O C h a d r e a l l y

b e e n c o n s i s t e n t l y d e n y i n g h e r c l i e n t a c c e s s t o h e r d o c u m e n t s f o r a l m o s t a y e a r

b y t h a t p o i n t

, o n e w o u l d t h i n k s h e w o u l d h a v e a s k e d f o r m o r e t h a n a n e x t r a t e n

d a y s

. R e g a r d l e s s

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g r a n t e d O w e n p r e c i s e l y t h e t e n

- d a y e x t e n

s i o n s h e r e q u e s t e d

. R

. 2 6 9

.

W h e n t h e d e a d l i n e e x p i r e d

, O w e n f i l e d o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e ’ s

r e p o r t w i t h o u t a n y a c c o m p a n y i n g e v i d e n c e

. I n h e r b r i e f

, s h e s t a t e d t h a t “ T a t e

See R

. 2 6 6 ( “ M a g ist rat e Jerr y Da vis fil ed his Repo rt and Recom me ndat ions in the 7

above ref

ere nced ac tio n o n Fe bruar y 25, 200 9 .

. . . Pla inti ff ’s c ouns el mai led an aff idavit t o

Plaint iff on Feb ruar y 26, 200 9 .

. . . ”)

.

Gi ven that Tate’ s aff

idavit did not need to be nota rized

, only signe d and dec lare d tru e 8

and cor rec t unde r pena lty of per jury, see DIRECT V, Inc. v. Budden

, 420 F.3d 521, 530- 31 (5t h

Cir. 2005) (c itin g 28 U. S. C. § 1746 (200 6))

, even if Ow en’s allegat ions we re tru e, one can ques

tio n w heth er the pr iso n m ater ially hind ere d her fr om ob taini ng Tat e’s af fid avit.

1 3 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 13 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

w i l l m i s s t h e t e n d a y d e a d l i n e t o f i l e h i s a f

f i d a v i t ” b e c a u s e “ h e w a s n o t a l l o w e d

t o h a v e [ i t ] n o t a r i z e d

. ” R

. 2 9 6

. S h e d i d n o t e x p l a i n w h y s h e h a d f a i l e d t o s u b m i t

a n y o t h e r e v i d e n c e

. T h e n e x t d a y

, h o w e v e r

, s h e f i l e d a n o t i c e o f

t e c h n i c a l d i f

f i

c u l t y e x p l a i n i n g t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t s u b m i t T a t e ’ s e x h i b i t s b e c a u s e o f a “ s c a n n e r

m a l f u n c t i o n

, ” b u t t h a t “ [ t ] h e p r o b l e m w i l l b e c o r r e c t e d p r o m p t l y

. ” R

. 1 1

, 3 2 8

. S h e

d i d n o t r e q u e s t a n e x t e n s i o n o f h e r d e a d l i n e t o s u b m i t e v i d e n c e

. A t t h a t p o i n t

,

i t w o u l d h a v e a p p e a r e d t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t h a t O w e n h a d e v e r y d o c u m e n t s h e

r e q u i r e d b u t o n l y n e e d e d a f e w h o u r s o r a n e x t r a d a y t o s u b m i t t h e m

.

F i v e d a y s p a s s e d

, h o w e v e r

, w i t h s i l e n c e f r o m T a t e a n d h i s c o u n s e l

. T h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, i t s d e a d l i n e n o w h a v i n g b e e n f l o u t e d

, p u l l e d t h e t r i g g e r a n d g r a n t

e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o t h e M D O C

. R

. 3 3 1

- 3 2

. G i v e n t h a t O w e n d i d n o t r e

q u e s t a n e x t e n s i o n o f h e r a l r e a d y

- e x t e n d e d d e a d l i n e

, a n d t h a t h e r r e a s o n f o r t h e

d e l a y w a s a “ s c a n n e r m a l f u n c t i o n ” t h a t c o n t i n u e d f o r f i v e d a y s

, i t w a s n o t u n r e a

s o n a b l e f

o r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o d o s o

.

I m m e d i a t e l y a f

t e r t h e c o u r t e n t e r e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

, o n M a r c h 3 0

,

2 0 0 9

, O w e n f

i l e d a F e d e r a l R u l e o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n t o r e o p e n t h e

c a s e o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t

, “ [ d ] u e t o a s c a n n e r m a l f u n c t i o n a n d p r i s o n l e g a l m a i l [

, ]

i t w a s n o t p o s s i b l e t o f i l e ” h e r e x h i b i t s o n t i m e

. R

. 3 3 3

- 3 4

. A l o n g w i t h t h a t m o

t i o n

, s h e s u b m i t t e d a n u m b e r o f d o c u m e n t s

, i n c l u d i n g a f f i d a v i t s f

r o m T a t e ’ s

b r o t h e r a n d w i f

e

, s i g n e d F e b r u a r y 2 5 a n d 2 8

, r e s p e c t i v e l y

, a n d v a r i o u s p u b l i c

d o c u m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e p r o c e d u r e s t h e M D O C h a d p r o v i d e d T a t e

. R

. 3 3 5

- 5 9

.

A n y o f t h o s e d o c u m e n t s c o u l d h a v e b e e n f i l e d m o n t h s e a r l i e r a n d h a v e n o t h i n g

t o d o w i t h t h e p r i s o n ’ s a l l e g e d i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h O w e n ’ s c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h

h e r c l i e n t

, b u t t h e m a j o r i t y h o l d s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e m a n y

w a y

.

A l o n g w i t h h e r m o t i o n t o r e o p e n

, O w e n f i l e d a m o t i o n f

o r a d d i t i o n a l t i m e

t o o b t a i n T a t e ’ s a f

f i d a v i t o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e p r i s o n h a d “ i n t e r f e r [ e d ] w i t h l e

g a l m a i l w h e n [ T a t e ] a t t e m p t e d t o m a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y r e v i s i o n s t o h i s A f f i d a v i t

. ”

1 4 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 14 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

R

. 3 6 0

. S h e a l s o s u b m i t t e d a n u n t i m e l y a f f i d a v i t o f h e r o w n

, d a t e d S e p t e m b e r

2 0 0 8

, w h i c h t h e c o u r t r e j e c t e d b e c a u s e s h e h a d n o t s i g n e d i t

. R

. 1 1

, 3 6 6

- 7 1

. F i

n a l l y

, i n A p r i l 2 0 0 9

, b e f o r e t h e c o u r t c o u l d r u l e o n t h e m o t i o n f o r a d d i t i o n a l t i m e

,

O w e n s u b m i t t e d a n o t h e r r u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n t o r e o p e n

, a l o n g w i t h v a r i o u s d o c u

m e n t s

, i n c l u d i n g a n o t h e r c o p y o f T a t e ’ s c o m p l a i n t a n d a n a f f i d a v i t

, b o t h o f w h i c h

T a t e f i n a l l y s i g n e d a n d d e c l a r e d t r u e a n d c o r r e c t u n d e r p e n a l t y o f p e r j u r y

.

R

. 3 7 2

- 4 1 5

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t h e n d e c l i n e d t o r e o p e n

, w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r i n g t h e

a d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s

, b e c a u s e t h e “ s a m e a r g u m e n t s ” w e r e b e f o r e t h e m a g i s t r a t e

j u d g e w h e n h e i s s u e d h i s r e p o r t a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n

. R

. 4 1 6

.

I I

.

W h e r e

, a s h e r e

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d “ n o t e x p r e s s l y o r i m p l i e d l y r e f e r t o

t h e m a t e r i a l s [ s u b m i t t e d w i t h a r u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n ] i n i t s r u l i n g

, ” w e r e v i e w i t s

d e n i a l o f t h e m o t i o n f o r a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n

. T e m p l e t v

. H

y d r o c h e m

, I

n c

. , 3 6 7

F

. 3 d 4 7 3

, 4 7 7 ( 5 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 )

. T h e m a j o r i t y c i t e s G a r c i a v

. W o m a n ’ s H o s p i t a l o f

T e x a s

, 9 7 F

. 3 d 8 1 0

, 8 1 4 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 4 )

, f o r t h e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t a d e c i s i o n n o t t o

r e o p e n “ w i l l n o t b e d i s t u r b e d i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a s h o w i n g t h a t i t h a s w o r k e d a n

i n j u s t i c e i n t h e c a u s e

. ” T h e m a j o r i t y c o n c l u d e s

, h o w e v e r

, t h a t “ b e c a u s e a n i n

j u s t i c e h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d ” ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

, n o t s h o w n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n

. N o t o n l y d o e s t h e m a j o r i t y i g n o r e t h e v e r y s t a n d a r d i t

c i t e s b u t

, b y i t s r e a s o n i n g

, n o j u d g m e n t w o u l d e v e r b e f i n a l

.

W e d o n o t h a v e a f

r e e w h e e l i n g “ p o s s i b l e i n j u s t i c e ” s t a n d a r d f o r r e v i e w i n g

d e n i a l s o f m o t i o n s t o r e o p e n

, a n d i t w i l l c a u s e c h a o s i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s i f w e

a d o p t o n e

. T o t h e c o n t r a r y

, b e c a u s e g r a n t i n g r u l e 5 9 ( e ) r e l i e f t o r e o p e n a f i n a l

j u d g m e n t i s a n “ e x t r a o r d i n a r y r e m e d y ” t h a t s h o u l d b e “ u s e d s p a r i n g l y

, ” i d

. a t

4 7 9 ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

, w e r e v e r s e a d e n i a l o f a r u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n o n l y t o c o r r e c t

m a n i f e s t e r r o r s o f l a w o r f a c t o r b e c a u s e o f n e w l y d i s c o v e r e d e v i d e n c e

. I d

. ( c i t i n g

1 5 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 15 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

W a l t m a n v

. I

n t ’ l P a p e r C o

. , 8 7 5 F

. 2 d 4 6 8

, 4 7 3 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 8 9 ) )

. T h o s e a r e t h e 9

s p e c i f i c k i n d s o f “ i n j u s t i c e ” t h a t w e h a v e h e l d a r e g r o u n d s f o r r e v e r s i n g a d e n i a l

o f a r u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n

. S u c h a m o t i o n “ i s n o t t h e p r o p e r v e h i c l e f o r r e h a s h i n g e v

i d e n c e

, l e g a l t h e o r i e s

, o r a r g u m e n t s t h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n o f f e r e d o r r a i s e d b e f

o r e

t h e e n t r y o f j u d g m e n t

. ” I d

.

A n u n e x c u s e d f a i l u r e t o p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e a v a i l a b l e a t t h e t i m e o f s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t i s a v a l i d r e a s o n f o r d e n y i n g a m o t i o n t o r e o p e n

. I d

. ( c i t i n g R u s s v

.

I n t ’ l P a p e r C o

. , 9 4 3 F

. 2 d 5 8 9

, 5 9 3 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 1 ) )

. F o r e x a m p l e

, i n T e m p l e t t h e

p l a i n t i f f s d i d n o t p r o v i d e e x p e r t e v i d e n c e t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t b e f o r e s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t b e c a u s e

, b y t h e t i m e t h e y o b t a i n e d t h e e v i d e n c e

, t h e d e a d l i n e f o r p r o

v i d i n g s u c h e v i d e n c e h a d e x p i r e d

. I d

. a t 4 7 8

. T h e p l a i n t i f f s a r g u e d

, i n t h e i r m o

t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

, t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t h a v e p r o d u c e d t h e e v i d e n c e w i t h o u t

v i o l a t i n g t h e s c h e d u l i n g o r d e r

, b u t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n t o r e c o n

s i d e r b e c a u s e p l a i n t i f f s c o u l d h a v e a s k e d f o r a c o n t i n u a n c e o r a r e s c h e d u l i n g o f

d e a d l i n e s b e f

o r e s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

. I d

. a t 4 7 9

. W e h e l d t h a t t h e c o u r t d i d n o t

a b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n

. I d

. a t 4 7 9

- 8 0

.

T h e s a m e i s t r u e h e r e

. T a t e d o e s n o t a n d c a n n o t a l l e g e t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t m a n i f e s t l y m i s c o n s t r u e d t h e l a w o r f a c t s w h e n i t g r a n t e d s u m m a r y j u d g

m e n t

, b e c a u s e t h e r e c o r d w a s e s s e n t i a l l y b a r e

. T h e r e w e r e t h u s n o f a c t s t o m i s

c o n s t r u e

, a n d w i t h o u t f a c t s

, t h e r e w a s n o l a w t h a t c o u l d h e l p T a t e

. M o r e o v e r

, 1 0

We may als o do so wh en ther e has been an inte rvenin g change in the cont roll ing law

, 9

Schi ll er v. Physi ci ans Res

. Gr p.

, Inc.

, 342 F.3d 563, 567- 68 (5t h Cir. 2003)

, but that is not the

sit uatio n he re.

Irres pec tive of wh ethe r Tate both pos se ss es a liber ty inte res t and wa s deni ed d u e 1 0

pr oce ss unde r Wil kins on v. Aus tin

, 545 U. S. 209 (200 5)— iss ues that neit her the majo rit y nor

I add res s— Tate did not sho w

SS b ef or e th e di st rict cour t grant ed sum mar y judgm ent

SS any com

pet ent evid ence of eith er a liber ty inter es t or a due proce ss violat ion, let alone suf fic ient evidenc e to sat isf

y his burd en to def

eat sum mar y judgm ent. See Du ff ie v. Uni ted States

, 600 F.3d

362, 371 (5t h Cir. 2010) (“ [T] he nonm oving par ty canno t sur vive a sum mar y judgm ent mo tio n

by r es ting on the me re allegat ions of it s ple adin gs. ”)

.

1 6 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 16 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

T a t e w a s o b v i o u s l y a w a r e o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t h i s t e s t i m o n y c o u l d b e u s e d a s

e v i d e n c e

, s o i t w a s n o t n e w l y d i s c o v e r e d

. 1 1

I t i s t r u e t h a t T a t e a l l e g e d t h a t t h e M D O C p r e v e n t e d h i m f r o m g e t t i n g t h e

a f f i d a v i t n o t a r i z e d

, b u t i f h e d i d n o t b e l i e v e h e c o u l d s u b m i t e v i d e n c e o n t i m e

,

i t w a s h i s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o a s k f o r a n e x t e n s i o n b e f

o r e s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

, a s h e

h a d o n c e a l r e a d y d o n e

. I n s t e a d

, h e s a i d

, t h r o u g h c o u n s e l

, t h a t h e w o u l d s u b

1 2

m i t a l l h i s e x h i b i t s a s s o o n a s a s c a n n e r m a l f u n c t i o n w a s p r o m p t l y c o r r e c t e d

.

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t p a t i e n t l y w a i t e d f o r f i v e d a y s

, a n d w h e n s t i l l n o t h i n g w a s

f o r t h c o m i n g

, i t e n t e r e d a f i n a l j u d g m e n t

. B e c a u s e i t w a s T a t e ’ s o w n f a u l t t h a t

t h e c o u r t d e c i d e d t h e c a s e

, t h e c o u r t w a s e n t i t l e d t o d e n y h i s r u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n

f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

.

I n a d d i t i o n

, w e h a v e n o i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e e x t e n t

, n a t u r e

, o r i m p r o p r i

e t y o f t h e M D O C ’ s a l l e g e d i n t e r f e r e n c e

. W e h a v e n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n u n e l a b

o r a t e d a s s e r t i o n o f “ i n t e r f e r e n c e ” w i t h l e g a l m a i l c a u s i n g “ d e l a y

. ” R

. 3 7 3

. T h e

m a j o r i t y t h u s r e o p e n s t h e c a s e

, a s i t c o n c e d e s

, b a s e d o n l y o n t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t

i n j u s t i c e m i g h t h a v e o c c u r r e d

. T h a t w i l l o p e n t h e d o o r t o a n y n u m b e r o f p l a i n

t i f f s ’ s e e k i n g t o r e o p e n c a s e s b a s e d o n u n s u p p o r t e d a l l e g a t i o n s o f i n j u s t i c e w h e n

t h e c a s e d o e s n o t g o t h e i r w a y

, a n d t h i s w i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e c o s t s o n b o t h

t h e c o u r t s y s t e m a n d p a r t i e s

. I t c a n n o t b e s q u a r e d w i t h t h e n o t i o n t h a t r e c o n

s i d e r a t i o n o f a j u d g m e n t i s a n “ e x t r a o r d i n a r y r e m e d y t h a t s h o u l d b e u s e d s p a r

See Tem pl et

, 367 F.3d at 479 (ho ldi ng evide nce wa s not new ly dis cover ed beca use “th e 1 1

unde rlying fac ts we re we ll wi thin the [p art y’s ] kn ow led ge pr ior to the dis tri ct cour t’s entr y of

judgm ent” ).

See Fanni ng v. Me tro. Tra nsi t Auth.

, 141 F. App ’x 311, 314 (5t h Cir. 2005) (“ [ O ] u r 1 2

cour t has for eclo se d a par ty’s cont enti on on app eal that it had inad equat e tim e to mar sha l evidenc e to def

end agains t sum mar y judgm ent wh en the par ty did not se ek Rule 56(f ) [no w rule

56(d )] reli ef bef

ore the sum mar y judgm ent rulin g. A Rule 56[( d) ] mo tio n [f or cont inuanc e], not

[a rule 59(e ) mo tio n] for rec ons ide rat ion, is the pr ope r rem edy for a par ty clai mi ng sum mar y

judgm ent is inap pr opr iate beca use of inad equat e dis cover y.” (c itin g Potter v. De lta Ai r Line s

, Inc.

, 98 F. 3d 881, 887 ( 5th Cir. 199 6)) ).

1 7 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 17 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

i n g l y

. ” T

e m p l e t

, 3 6 7 F

. 3 d a t 4 7 9 ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d )

.

M o r e o v e r

, t h e m a j o r i t y d o e s n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t T a t e ’ s c l a i m o f i n t e r f e r e n c e

i s q u e s t i o n a b l e g i v e n t h a t

, a s d i s c u s s e d i n p a r t I

, T a t e a n d O w e n n o w s a y t h a t

t h e p r i s o n i n t e r f

e r e d w i t h T a t e ’ s a t t e m p t s t o s i g n h i s o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t

, y e t t h e y

d i d n o t s e e f

i t t o m e n t i o n t h a t s a l i e n t f a c t o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f e i g h t m o n t h s u n t i l

a f t e r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t h a d b e e n g r a n t e d

. T h a t i s n o t t o s a y T a t e a n d O w e n

n e c e s s a r i l y l i e d

, b u t o n l y t o r e a s o n t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i s

c r e t i o n b y n o t g r a n t i n g t h e “ e x t r a o r d i n a r y r e m e d y ” o f r e o p e n i n g t h e c a s e

I I I

.

J u s t a s t r o u b l i n g a s t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s l e g a l a n a l y s i s

, h o w e v e r

, i s t h a t i t r e a c h

e s i t s c o n c l u s i o n b y s e i z i n g o n t h e e x p l a n a t i o n s t h a t O w e n g a v e a t o u r e i g h t y

m i n u t e “ e v i d e n t i a r y h e a r i n g

, ” w h i l e i g n o r i n g t h e M D O C ’ s a t t o r n e y ’ s c l a i m s t h a t

O w e n ’ s p o s t h o c a l l e g a t i o n s w e r e f a l s e

. A l t h o u g h t h e m a j o r i t y p a y s l i p s e r v i c e

t o t h e a b u s e

- o f

- d i s c r e t i o n s t a n d a r d f o r m o t i o n s t o r e o p e n

, i t e s s e n t i a l l y r e v i e w s

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n d e n o v o b y p u t t i n g i t s o w n c r e d i b i l i t y d e t e r m i n a t i o n s

a h e a d o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s c o n c l u s i o n s

. T h e r e i s n o l a w t h a t I a m a w a r e o f t h a t

g i v e s u s t h e a u t h o r i t y t o d e c i d e t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t g o t i t w r o n g a n d t o r e a c h

t h a t c o n c l u s i o n b y t u r n i n g o r a l a r g u m e n t i n t o a f a c t

- g a t h e r i n g e x c u r s i o n

, t h e n

b a s i n g o u r r u l i n g o n o u r o w n a s s e s s m e n t o f e a c h p a r t y ’ s l a w y e r ’ s c r e d i b i l i t y a t

a r g u m e n t

. I f t h e p r a c t i c e o f r e t r y i n g c a s e s a t o r a l a r g u m e n t b e c o m e s w i d e

s p r e a d

, w e w i l l h a v e m o s t l y d o n e a w a y w i t h t h e n o t i o n o f d e f e r e n c e t o t h e d i s

t r i c t c o u r t s

, a n d t h e c o u r t s w i l l i n c u r c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p e n s e b y h a v i n g t o c o n

s t r u c t w i t n e s s s t a n d s i n a p p e l l a t e c o u r t r o o m s

.

I V

.

T h e m a j o r i t y a l s o e r r s b y i n e x p l i c a b l y r e s u r r e c t i n g a c l a i m t h a t T a t e h a d

w a i v e d

. T h e m a j o r i t y i n s t r u c t s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o r e v i e w T a t e ’ s a c c e s s

- t o

1 8 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 18 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

c o u r t s c l a i m e v e n t h o u g h t h a t c l a i m w a s g i v e n o n l y a f e w l i n e s i n t h e “ s t a t e m e n t

o f t h e c a s e ” s e c t i o n o f T a t e ’ s o p e n i n g b r i e f

, w i t h o u t c i t a t i o n t o a n y a u t h o r i t y

.

F a i l i n g t o c i t e a n y a u t h o r i t y i n e v e n a o n e

- p a g e a r g u m e n t c o n s t i t u t e s w a i v e r

.

L & A C o n t r a c t i n g C o

. v

. S

. C o n c r e t e S e r v s

. , 1 7 F

. 3 d 1 0 6

, 1 1 3 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 4 )

.

I n d e e d

, w e d i d n o t d i s c u s s t h e i s s u e a t o r a l a r g u m e n t a n d d i d n o t a s k t h e p a r t i e s

t o a d d r e s s i t i n t h e i r s u p p l e m e n t a l b r i e f i n g

. T h e n o t i o n t h a t t h e M D O C m i g h t

b e p r e j u d i c e d b y t h e m a j o r i t y ’ s e l e v e n t h

- h o u r a c t i o n a p p a r e n t l y d o e s n o t c o n c e r n

t h e m a j o r i t y i n a n y w a y

.

V

.

T h e m a j o r i t y d r o p s a f o o t n o t e

, n e a r t h e e n d o f i t s o p i n i o n

, s u g g e s t i n g t h a t

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t u n d e r t a k e a n i n c a m e r a r e v i e w o f t h e M D O C ’s e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t

T a t e

, b e c a u s e t h e M D O C s t a t e d t h a t i t w a s “ f u l l y a m e n a b l e ” t o d o i n g s o

. T h a t

c r e a t e s t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h i s c a s e t u r n s o n w h e t h e r T a t e w a s p r o p e r l y c l a s s i

f i e d a s a g a n g l e a d e r

. I t d o e s n o t

. T h e m a j o r i t y a p p e a r s t o h a v e f o r g o t t e n t h a t

T a t e ’ s c l a i m i s o n e o f p r o c e d u r a l d u e p r o c e s s

— i

. e

. , w h e t h e r t h e M D O C h a s f o l

l o w e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y a d e q u a t e p r o c e d u r e s i n c l a s s i f y i n g T a t e

— n o t a q u e s t i o n

o f w h e t h e r t h e M D O C h a d a d e q u a t e s u b s t a n t i v e g r o u n d t o p l a c e h i m i n U n i t 3 2

.

N o l a w e x i s t s f

o r t h e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t f e d e r a l c o u r t s m a y s i t a s t r i b u n a l s i n r e

v i e w o f s t a t e p r i s o n s ’ s u b s t a n t i v e d e c i s i o n s c o n c e r n i n g w h o s h o u l d o r s h o u l d n o t

b e p l a c e d i n s u p e r

- m a x i m u m

- s e c u r i t y c u s t o d y

. W h e t h e r t h e M D O C m a d e t h e

r i g h t d e c i s i o n i n m o v i n g T a t e i n t o U n i t 3 2 i s e n t i r e l y i r r e l e v a n t t o w h e t h e r h i s

d u e p r o c e s s r i g h t s w e r e v i o l a t e d

.

V I

.

T h e m a j o r i t y o p i n i o n d o e s h a v e t w o v i r t u e s

. T h e f i r s t i s t h a t

, a s a n u n p u b

l i s h e d d e c i s i o n

, i t i s n o n

- p r e c e d e n t i a l

, 5 T H C I R

. R

. 4 7

. 5

, s o f u t u r e p a n e l s a r e e n

t i t l e d t o i g n o r e i t

. T h e s e c o n d i s t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y d o e s n o t g r a n t o r d e n y s u m

1 9 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 19 Date Filed: 06/21/2011N o

. 0 9

- 6 0 3 8 4

m a r y j u d g m e n t b u t r e m a n d s t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o c o n s i d e r a n y i s s u e s i t d e e m s

a p p r o p r i a t e

.

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d i n q u i r e w h e t h e r T a t e ’ s c l a i m i s m o o t

. T h e M D O C

a p p e a r s t o h a v e c l o s e d d o w n U n i t 3 2 a t P a r c h m a n a n d t r a n s f e r r e d T a t e t o a n o n

s u p e r m a x p r i s o n w h i l e t h i s a p p e a l w a s p e n d i n g

. M i s s i s s i p p i s e e m i n g l y d o e s n o t

h a v e a n y o t h e r s u p e r

- m a x i m u m s e c u r i t y u n i t s

. V o l u n t a r y c e s s a t i o n o f a c h a l

l e n g e d p r a c t i c e m o o t s a c a s e i f i t i s “ a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r t h a t t h e a l l e g e d l y w r o n g f u l

b e h a v i o r c o u l d n o t r e a s o n a b l y b e e x p e c t e d t o r e c u r

. ” 1 3

I r e s p e c t f

u l l y d i s s e n t

.

Pare nts Inv olv ed in Cmty. Sc h. v. Se attle Sc h. Di st. No. 1

, 551 U. S. 701

, 719 (200 7) 1 3

(quo ting Fr ie nds of the Ea rth, 528 U .S

. at 189)

.

2 0 Case: 09-60384 Document: 00511514627 Page: 20 Date Filed: 06/21/2011