Source: http://md.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150226_0000304.DMD.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-06 12:04:52
Document Index: 170745244

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915']

| Smith v. Watkins
Smith v. Watkins
ANTOINNE LEWIS SMITH Plaintiff,v.SGT. E. WATKINS, et al., Defendants.
On December 23, 2013, plaintiff Antoinne Lewis Smith, a former inmate at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility ("MCCF"), filed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint against MCCF, MCCF Warden Robert Green and MCCF Sergeant Watkins. He alleged that on December 9, 2013, while conducting a room check, Sergeant Watkins "punch[ed] [him] in the face and head over and over, then... pulled [his] legs from under [him] and [the] left side of [his] face hit the floor." CompI., ECF NO.1. Smith claimed that he was taken to Shady Grove Hospital, where he was treated for a fractured skull and damage to his left ear drum. Id. Smith remained in the hospital for several days.[1] Id. He seeks compensatory damages for mental and physical injuries. Id. In his supplemental complaint, Smith provides additional information concerning the December 9, 2013 incident, which occurred around 11:00 p.m. Supp. CompI., ECF NO.8. Smith states that he was handcuffed from behind and was "being checked" by Watkins when Watkins hit and punched him in the back of the head and pulled his legs out from under him. Id. Smith states that he landed on the left side of his face causing blood to shoot from his ear. Id. He again claims that he suffered a skull fracture and burst left ear drum. Id. Smith states in some filings that he seeks $500, 000 in damages, Supp. Compl.; Compl. & Damages, ECF No.9; in others, he states that he seeks damages of $7 million. Compl.; Pl.'s Aug. 26, 2014 Mot. to Continue.
Defendants MCCF and Green have filed a motion to dismiss. ECF No. 16. Defendant Watkins has filed an answer to the complaint. ECF No. 15. Smith has filed several "motions to proceed or to continue, " which have been construed as oppositions to Defendants' motion to dismiss.[2] ECF Nos. 20, 21 & 27. The motion to dismiss may be determined on the pleadings and shall be granted without oral hearing. See Local Rule 105.6 (D. Md. 2014).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) authorizes the dismissal of a complaint if it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The purpose of the rule is to "test the sufficiency of a complaint and not to resolve contests surrounding the facts, the merits of a claim, or the applicability of defenses." Presley v. City of Charlottesville, 464 F.3d 480, 483 (4th Cir. 2006)). To that end, the court bears in mind the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 8, Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007), and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009), when considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Specifically, 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), and must state "a plausible claim for relief, " as "[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice, " Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937. See Velencia v. Drezhlo, RDB-12-0237, 2012 WL 6562764, at *4 (D. Md. Dec. 13, 2012) (discussing standard from Iqbal and Twombly). "A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 663, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
This court reviews the facts and all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, see Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 378 (2007); Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007), and liberally construes Smith's pleadings in light of the fact that he is self-represented. See Gordon v. Leek, 574 Fold 1147, 1151 (4th Cir. 1978). In his unverified complaint and supplemental complaint, Smith claims that he was assaulted anew by Sergeant Watkins on December 9, 2013. Smith does not raise any specific claims against the other defendants.
In their motion to dismiss, defendants Green and MCCF argue that no allegations are raised involving Green's personal involvement and that MCCF is not an entity subject to suit under § 1983. Defs.' Mot. ¶¶ 3-4.
Affording Smith's oppositions a generous construction, he claims that on October 21, 2013, the day after he was assaulted the first time by Watkins, he wrote Warden Green, asking to press charges against Watkins, and he filed a MCCF grievance, which "made the head of the [MCCF] Warden Robert Green aware" of the assault. Pl.'s May 8, 2014 Mot. to Proceed 1. He seemingly argues that his actions placed Green on notice of Watkins's behavior and made Green responsible in his supervisory capacity for Watkins's second assault on December 9, 2013. Id. Smith also claims that he has required medical care since his May 2014 release and cannot hear well out of his left ear. Aug. 26, 2014 Mot. to Continue.
Smith does not allege any personal involvement on the part of Warden Green. He does, however, claim that he "informed" Green of Watkins's previous use of excessive force against him by filing a request for charges and an administrative grievance remedy the day after the first incident, on October 21, 2013. Smith included Green as a defendant on the theory that Green violated his constitutional rights because he is responsible for the actions of his subordinates.
"[S]upervisory officials may be held liable in certain circumstances for the constitutional injuries inflicted by their subordinates." See Shaw v. Stroud, 13 F.3d 791, 798 (4th Cir. 1994) (citing Slakan v. Porter, 737 F.2d 368 (4th Cir. 1984)). This liability, however, "is not premised on respondeat superior but upon a recognition that supervisory indifference or tacit authorization of subordinates' misconduct may be a causative factor in the constitutional injuries they inflict on those committed to their care.'" Id. at 798 (quoting Slakan, 737 F.2d at 372-73). It "is determined by pinpointing the persons in the decision-making chain whose deliberate indifference permitted the constitutional abuses to continue unchecked.'" Id. at 798 (quoting Slakan, 737 F.2d at 376).
To establish supervisory liability against a warden or others under § 1983, Smith must show "(1) that the supervisor had actual or constructive knowledge that his subordinate was engaged in conduct that posed a pervasive and unreasonable risk' of constitutional injury to citizens like the plaintiff'; (2) that the supervisor's response to that knowledge was so inadequate as to show deliberate indifference to or tacit authorization of the alleged offensive practices'; and (3) that there was an affirmative causal link' between the supervisor's inaction and the particular constitutional injury suffered by the plaintiff." Shaw, 13 F.3d at 799 (citations omitted). To demonstrate "a pervasive' and unreasonable' risk of harm, " Smith must show that "the conduct is widespread, or at least has been used on several different occasions and that the conduct engaged in by the subordinate poses an unreasonable risk of harm or constitutional injury." ld. Deliberate indifference carries a "heavy burden of proof." ld. Significantly, a plaintiff generally cannot establish deliberate indifference "by pointing to a single incident or isolated incidents." Id. (quoting Slakan, 737 F.2d at 372-73 (citations omitted)). Rather, he must show "[the] supervisor's continued inaction in the face of documented widespread abuses, " which "provides an independent basis for finding he either was deliberately indifferent or acquiesced in the constitutionally offensive conduct of his subordinates.'" Id. (quoting Slakan, 737 F.2d at 372-73 (citations omitted)).
Smith has not satisfied the deliberate indifference requirement for supervisory liability in a § 1983 action. His allegation that Green is liable based on his prior notice of Watkins's alleged October 2013 use of force-one incident-is insufficient to convey knowledge that Green knew that Watkins was engaged in conduct that posed a pervasive and unreasonable risk of constitutional injury. Shaw, 13 F.3d at 798-99. The Court shall grant Green's motion to dismiss.
Further, MCCF is an inanimate object that cannot act under color of state law and therefore is not a "person" subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Allison v. California Adult Aufh., 419 F.2d 822, 823 (9th Cir. 1969) (California Adult Authority and San Quentin Prison not "person[s]" subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983); Preval v. Reno, 57 F.Supp.2d 307, 310 (E.D. Va. 1999) ("[TJhe Piedmont Regional Jail is not a person, ' and therefore not amenable to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983."); Brooks v. Pembroke City Jail, 722 F.Supp. 1294, 1301 (E.D. N.C. 1989) ("Claims under § 1983 are directed at persons' and the jail is not a person amenable to suit."); cf Roach v. W Va. Reg'l Jail & Corr. Facility, 74 F.3d 46, 48 (4th Cir. 1996). The MCCF's motion to dismiss shall be granted.
Accordingly, the motion to dismiss filed by MCCF and Green shall be granted. Sergeant Watkins, who has filed an answer, shall be subject to the schedule set out in the accompanying Order.
Finally, Smith has filed a motion to appoint counsel. ECF No. 24. He observes that although he has been released from confinement, he has no income and is seeking disability income for his "mental and physical damages." Smith seemingly asserts that he has contacted different legal providers, but no one will assist him. Id. Although 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) permits a court to request an attorney to represent an indigent litigant, it "does not authorize the federal courts to make coercive appointments of counsel." Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court for the S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 309-10(1989). A district court need not request an attorney's assistance pursuant to § 1915(e)(1) unless the case presents complex issues or exceptional circumstances. See Whisenant v. Yuam, 739 F.2d 160, 163 (4th Cir. 1984), abrogated on other grounds by Mallard, 490 U.S. at 298.
This case, which alleges the use of excessive force, presents no exceptional circumstances at this time which would warrant a request for representation pursuant to § 1915(e)(1). Smith, who has capably filed his self-represented complaint, has failed to show a particular need or exceptional circumstances which would require the assistance of a trained practitioner. Therefore, the motion to appoint counsel shall be denied without prejudice.
A separate Order shall be entered reflecting the rulings entered in this decision.