Opinion ID: 614341
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Epps's Failure to Promulgate Policies

Text: Porter first asserts that Epps is liable for failing to promulgate adequate policies in the records department. The records department determines a release date for a prisoner based on the sentencing order and the rules and regulations of MDOC. Epps testified that he is responsible for implementing all policies and procedures at MDOC. A review of the record reveals that there was insufficient evidence to support a jury finding that Epps's failure to promulgate policy was objectively unreasonable in light of clearly established law. The evidence did not show that a reasonable person would have had actual or constructive notice that MDOC's policies with regard to the records department would result in instances of false imprisonment. Epps's testimony showed that there were policies in place with regard to sentencing orders. MDOC had a records department in which staff interpreted sentencing orders in accordance with training provided by attorneys. Epps placed a lawyer in the department to further ensure the accuracy of the interpretations. In addition, Epps testified that MDOC worked with judges to make future sentencing orders more understandable. Porter presented no evidence showing that these policies, or the lack of others, were unreasonable. Epps testified that he could not recall other incidents in which persons had been kept beyond their sentences because of records department errors, and Porter presented no evidence of similar false imprisonments. There was no evidence that the records department had a practice of reinstating suspended sentences. Further, Epps's testimony that the staff in the records department was not highly paid and that the positions had a high turnover rate does not establish that his policies caused Porter's injuries. Epps did not determine the salary of records department staff, and thus any problem attributable to low pay cannot be attributable to Epps. Moreover, the staff, while low-paid, was trained. The mere fact that the employees were not paid well does not show that instances of false imprisonment would be inevitable under this structure. In sum, no reasonable juror could determine that it was obvious that the likely consequence[ ] of not adopting more specific policies in the records department would be a deprivation of civil rights. While it is unfortunate that the records department erred in interpreting the sentencing order for Porter, this error does not support a finding that Epps's policies involving the records department were objectively unreasonable. Accordingly, Epps is entitled to qualified immunity in this regard.