Opinion ID: 800677
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Initial Editing of Security Screen

Text: With respect to implementing the increase in security, Chaffee admits making the change to King's transfer order to increase him to a level III. R. 171 (Trial Tr. I at 140:3-11). These changes were necessary to effect the transfer and increase in security ordered by Central Office. We have already held that Chaffee is not entitled to qualified immunity, King III, slip op. at 4, and the evidence supports that he knew or should have known that increasing a prisoner's security level in response to protected conduct would be a violation of King's First Amendment rights. The question is therefore whether he knew or should have known the increase was in fact impermissibly motivated by the protected conduct. See Thaddeus-X, 175 F.3d at 393. Chaffee could not recall having any discussions with Zamiara outside of his email. R. 171 (Trial Tr. I at 146:1-5). However, only forty minutes passed between Chaffee's email and Zamiara's response. Chaffee testified that he had no reason to believe Zamiara's response to increase security was for retaliation, and that he assumed that [Zamiara] knew something I didn't know. R. 171 (Trial Tr. I at 156:18-25). However, this assertion is not factually plausible in light of Chaffee's other statements that are directly contrary. [18] He conceded at trial that absent a few narrow exceptions, increasing a prisoner's security level was a punitive act. Id. at 136:13-137:15. And he conceded at his deposition that he believed Zamiara's response was based entirely on the underlying email that he himself had sent. R. 130, Ex. 7 (Chaffee Dep. at 38:24-39:20). This is consistent with the testimony of Deputy Warden Harry that Central Office would have relied solely on information coming from Brooks regarding what action to take against King. R. 171 (Trial Tr. I at 122:6-14). The record establishes that Chaffee knew or should have known that Zamiara's rapid response of increasing King's security level was motivated by King's assistance with the grievance process, because the evidence is clear that the increase was the result of Chaffee's email, which was itself motivated by King's assistance with the grievance process.