Court Opinion

ID: 4353024
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-20 21:00:19.044905+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:45.585076
License: Public Domain

CLD-315                                                 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                       No. 18-1890
                                       ___________

                              WILLIAM JAZZ MEEKINS,
                                           Appellant

                                             v.

                         DOC'S GRATERFORD, E.T.A.L.;
           JOHN AND JANE DOE, Associates to Secretary of Corrections;
             J. HAWK, Unit Manager; SUPERINTENDENT C. LINK;
      J. WETZEL, Secretary Corrections; and Assoc; C/O CARTER, of 2-10- Shift;
                             HOLDING C/O CLARK
                   ____________________________________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
                         (D.C. Civil Action No. 2-18-cv-00851)
                     District Judge: Honorable Lawrence F. Stengel
                      ____________________________________

       Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or
         Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                 September 20, 2018
       Before: CHAGARES, GREENAWAY, JR. and FUENTES, Circuit Judges

                           (Opinion filed: December 20, 2018)
                                       _________

                                        OPINION *
                                        _________

PER CURIAM

*
 This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
       William Meekins, a Pennsylvania state prisoner, appeals from the order of the

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissing his civil

rights complaint for failure to state a claim. For the following reasons, we will

summarily affirm. 1

       Meekins filed a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against various officials

and employees of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC). He alleged that a

power surge at SCI-Graterford destroyed his television, resulting in the “[i]ntentional loss

and deprivation” of his property. He further maintained that his grievances, which sought

reimbursement and replacement of the television, were wrongfully denied. Meekins

sought over $100,000 in damages.

       The District Court properly concluded that the complaint was subject to dismissal

for failure to state a claim. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (complaint

must allege specific plausible facts supporting claim and allowing inference that

defendant is liable). To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that a person

acting under color of state law deprived him of rights, privileges, or immunities secured

by the Constitution or laws of the United States. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988);

Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 535 (1981), overruled in part on other grounds by

Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 330-31 (1986). Neither the negligent nor even the

1
  We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and exercise plenary review over the
District Court’s sua sponte dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(ii). See Allah v. Seiverling, 229 F.3d 220, 223 (3d Cir. 2000). We may
summarily affirm if no substantial question is presented on appeal. 3d Cir. LAR 27.4 and
I.O.P. 10.6.
                                             2
unauthorized, intentional deprivation of property by a state employee gives rise to a due

process violation if state law provides an adequate post-deprivation remedy. 2 Hudson v.

Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 533 (1984); Parratt, 451 U.S. 543-44. As the District Court

properly concluded, Meekins had adequate post-deprivation remedies under Pennsylvania

law in the form of the DOC’s grievance procedures, see, e.g., Tillman v. Lebanon Cty.

Correctional Facility, 221 F.3d 410, 422 (3d Cir. 2000), and state tort law, see 42 Pa.

Cons. Stat. Ann. § 8522(b)(3). And Meekins’ claim that his grievances were wrongfully

denied amounts to a dissatisfaction with the outcome of the grievance process; it does not

present the denial of a federal right. See Massey v. Helman, 259 F.3d 641, 647 (7th Cir.

2001) (“A state-created prison grievance procedure is simply a procedural right and does

not confer any substantive right upon an inmate.”); see also Woods v. City of Michigan

City, Ind., 940 F.2d 275, 285 (7th Cir. 1991) (“Due process does not guarantee ‘right’

substantive outcomes or correct conclusions of law.”). Finally, because Meekins’ claims

were legally flawed, amendment would have been futile and, as such, dismissal with

prejudice was proper.

       For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that this appeal presents no substantial

question. See I.O.P. 10.6. Accordingly, we will summarily affirm the District Court's

judgment.

2
  We agree with the District Court that Meekins’ claims regarding the destruction of his
property sounded in due process. Even had Meekin alleged that the defendants’ actions
violated his Eighth Amendment rights, as he does on appeal, his complaint would have
fared no better. See Rahman X v. Morgan, 300 F.3d 970, 974 (8th Cir. 2002)
(recognizing that the denial of access to television does not amount to cruel and unusual
punishment).
                                             3