Opinion ID: 2994465
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Retaliatory Denial Of Access To The Law

Text: Library Invoking the First Amendment, Zimmerman contends that Tribble retaliated against him for complaining about his lack of access to the law library. Prisoners have a right of access to the courts to give them a reasonably adequate opportunity to present their claims. Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 825 (1977). Such access must be adequate, effective and meaningful. Id. at 822. Zimmerman did not, as the District Court correctly concluded, state a claim for denial of access to the library. But, otherwise permissible conduct can become impermissible when done for retaliatory reasons. Cain v. Lane, 857 F.2d 1139, 1145 (7th Cir. 1988) (otherwise constitutional procedures of prison disciplinary committee could be invalidated by allegation of retaliation); Murphy v. Lane, 833 F.2d 106, 108-09 (7th Cir. 1987) (district court reversed for dismissing complaint challenging otherwise permissible prison transfer because of sufficient allegation of retaliation). We express no opinion as to its ultimate result, but we believe that Zimmerman can state a claim for retaliation against Tribble and, therefore, reverse and remand that count for further proceedings. A complaint states a claim for retaliation when it sets forth a chronology of events from which retaliation may plausibly be inferred. Cain, 857 F.2d at n.6. Here, Zimmerman alleges that upon his arrival at Wabash Valley, he notified Tribble, the law library supervisor, of his pro se status and firm trial date of August 4, 1997. Tribble repeatedly denied him access to the library facilities, causing Zimmerman to become upset and file prison grievances against her. After those grievances were filed, Tribble retaliated by denying Zimmerman access to the law library. This is the chronology alleged by Zimmerman. Although we would wish for more detail,/3 we find that the chronology alleges the bare minimum necessary to survive a dismissal under sec.1915A. In Babcock v. White, 102 F.3d 267, 275-76 (7th Cir. 1996), the plaintiff alleged that the defendant’s action in delaying the plaintiff’s transfer to another prison was in retaliation for plaintiff’s use of the ’inmate grievance system’ and previous lawsuits against B.O.P. officials. We held this to be sufficient to survive a motion for summary judgment. We believed that summary judgment was inappropriate based upon the record because [i]f believed, the claim that McDaniel prevented an expeditious transfer in order to retaliate against Babcock for exercising his constitutional rights would entitle Babcock to damages. Id. at 275. Zimmerman’s Second Amended Complaint does not merely assert the legal conclusion of retaliation, as the District Court here suggested. The complaint states enough factual allegations to arguably present a colorable claim of retaliation and it alleges that the exercise of his right was closely followed by the retaliatory act. See Harris v. Fleming, 839 F.2d 1232, 1238 (7th Cir. 1988) (District Court may appropriately consider timing between protected action and alleged retaliatory act). Given this, we reverse the judgment of the District Court dismissing Zimmerman’s claim for retaliation against Tribble and remand it to the District Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.