Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 23:22:06.818731+00
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Opinions of the United
2009 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

1-14-2009

Heilman v. T.W. Ponessa and Ass
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 08-1667

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                                                      NOT PRECEDENTIAL

             UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                  FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                            No. 08-1667

                        CRAIG HEILMAN,
                                   Appellant

                                 v.

     T.W. PONESSA AND ASSOC.; MOLLY SIMMON;
         KIM MCDERMOTT; RACHEL RAUSER;
        CINDY MERRYMAN; CLINTON COUNTY

           On Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                    (D.C. Civil No. 07-cv-01308)
                District Judge: Hon. John E. Jones, III

             Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                         January 12, 2009

     Before: SLOVITER and BARRY, Circuit Judges, and
                POLLAK*, District Judge

                      (Filed: January 14, 2009)

                             OPINION

       *
        Hon. Louis H. Pollak, Senior Judge, United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sitting by
designation.
SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

       Craig Heilman appeals the District Court’s dismissal under Fed. R. Civ. P.

12(b)(6) of his civil rights case, brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against probation

officers Kim McDermott, Rachel Rausher, and Cynthia Merryman; the counseling facility

of T.W. Ponessa & Associates and its employee, Molly Simmons; and Clinton County

(collectively, “Defendants” or “Appellees”), for alleged constitutional violations related

to the revocation of his probation and his subsequent incarceration. We will affirm.

                                             I.

       In February 2002, Heilman was charged in the Pennsylvania Court of Common

Pleas of Clinton County with sexually assaulting his fifteen-year-old daughter. He

consistently denied his guilt, and he withdrew a nolo contendere plea to one count of

incest, but he later rescinded the withdrawal of his plea. On August 4, 2003, Heilman

was sentenced to thirty-six months probation, with the condition that he participate in a

sex offenders’ treatment program. Heilman was initially assigned to Appellee Rachel

Rausher, a probation officer in Clinton County, but his probation was transferred to York

County, where he was assigned to Appellee Kim McDermott as his probation officer.

       In September 2003, Heilman went to T.W. Ponessa and Associates (“T.W.

Ponessa”), a private counseling center, to sign up for a sex offenders’ treatment program.

At his evaluation meeting, Heilman refused to sign paperwork stating that he was guilty

of the crime of incest. A week later, Appellee Molly Simmons, a counselor at T.W.

Ponessa, and probation officer McDermott informed Heilman that he would be in

                                             2
violation of his probation if he did not sign the paperwork. Heilman then signed the

paperwork and attended two or three meetings at T.W. Ponessa. Because Heilman

continued to deny having committed incest, his participation in the sex offenders’

treatment program was terminated upon the recommendation of Appellee Simmons.

       Probation officer McDermott then ordered Heilman’s probation back to Clinton

County and, upon information received from McDermott, probation officer Rausher

issued a violation of probation on October 20, 2003. Heilman was detained at York

County Prison on October 21, 2003 and then was transferred to Clinton County Prison on

October 22, 2003. At Heilman’s probation revocation hearing on November 17, 2003,

the court informed Heilman that he was entitled to Gagnon I and Gagnon II hearings, but

neither was held.1

       On June 14, 2004, the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas held a re-

sentencing hearing, and the court imposed a 20 - 120 month prison sentence, which

Heilman appealed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. On June 1, 2005, the Superior

Court held that Heilman had been provided a Gagnon I hearing, which established that

                     1
                      In Gagnon v. Scarpelli, the Supreme Court held that a
            person accused of violating the terms of his probation was entitled
            to two hearings before revocation and re-sentencing. See Gagnon
            v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 781-82 (1973). The first, a Gagnon I
            hearing, serves to determine whether there was probable cause for
            the probation revocation. Gagnon, 411 U.S. at 782. The second,
            a Gagnon II hearing, determines whether the person in fact violated
            the conditions of his or her probation and whether s/he should be
            incarcerated. Commonwealth v. Sims, 770 A.2d 346, 349 (Pa.
            Super. Ct. 2001) (citing Gagnon, 411 U.S. at 784).

                                            3
probable cause existed for the revocation of his probation, but because Heilman was not

provided with the requisite Gagnon II hearing, the Court reversed Heilman’s prison

sentence and remanded the case for further proceedings.

       The Clinton County Court of Common Pleas released Heilman from prison on July

18, 2005, dismissed the petition for his probation revocation, sentenced him to thirty-six

months probation, and issued an order for Heilman to pay fines and costs in the amount of

$ 6,418.67, pay the costs of mental health treatment for his victim, and engage in 500

hours of community service.

       In the summer of 2003 before Heilman was incarcerated, he had undergone a

series of spinal surgeries. Heilman claims that his doctors sent to Clinton County Prison

documentation regarding his need for prescribed medication and physical therapy, but

prison officials provided neither. According to Heilman’s complaint, while he was

incarcerated, he “experienced three ruptures for which [he] never received any

treatment,” and was denied reading glasses and “an appliance for . . . treatment of

[temporomandibular joint disorder].” App. at 60 ¶ 72-73. Heilman claims that, as a result

of this alleged improper medical treatment, he suffers from numerous painful ailments

and is unable to work.

       On July 18, 2007, Heilman filed a complaint in the District Court for the Middle

District of Pennsylvania, and an amended complaint on September 14, 2007. Heilman

alleges that the probation officers violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights,

that T.W. Ponessa and Appellee Simmons generally violated his constitutional rights “by

                                             4
forcing him to admit guilt to a crime of which he never pled guilty or was convicted,” and

that Clinton County violated his Eighth Amendment rights “by failing to provide [him]

with necessary medical care.” App. at 61 ¶ 79-80, 83. Heilman seeks compensatory and

punitive damages, costs, and attorney’s fees.

       All Defendants filed motions to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for

failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The District Court granted each

Defendant’s motions on every ground, and Heilman timely filed this appeal. Because we

affirm the District Court’s holdings on at least one of the grounds given by the District

Court, we do not reach every ground discussed by the District Court.

                                             II.

       The District Court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, and we have

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review of a dismissal of a complaint under Fed.

R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) is plenary. Stevenson v. Carroll, 495 F.3d 62, 65 (3d Cir. 2007). In

deciding a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a court must “accept as true all of

the allegations in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn

therefrom, and view them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Morse v. Lower

Merion Sch. Dist., 132 F.3d 902, 906 (3d Cir. 1997) (citations omitted).

                                            III.

       1.     Appellees McDermott, Rausher, and Merryman

       The District Court correctly construed Heilman’s allegations that the probation

officers violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights as claims for false

                                             5
imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Each probation officer sought dismissal on

three grounds: (1) statute of limitations; (2) failure to state a claim; and (3) qualified

immunity. The District Court found that each ground warranted dismissal of the claims.

       In order to establish a claim for false imprisonment or malicious prosecution,

Heilman must show that his probation was revoked without probable cause. See Groman

v. Township of Manalapan, 47 F.3d 628, 636 (3d Cir. 1995) (Section 1983 claim for false

imprisonment under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments cannot be established if the

detention in question resulted from an arrest based on probable cause); Estate of Smith v.

Marasco, 318 F.3d 497, 521 (3d Cir. 2003) (to establish a Section 1983 claim for

malicious prosecution under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, plaintiff must show

that “the proceeding was initiated without probable cause”).

       The doctrine of collateral estoppel bars both claims because the Pennsylvania

Superior Court has already decided that Heilman’s November 14, 2003, hearing

established that the revocation of his probation was based on probable cause. Because

Heilman cannot re-litigate the issue of probable cause, see Edmundson v. Borough of

Kennett Square, 4 F.3d 186, 189 (3d Cir. 1993), he cannot state a claim for false

imprisonment or malicious prosecution.

       2.     Appellees T.W. Ponessa and Simmons

       Heilman’s complaint alleges that T.W. Ponessa and Simmons “violated [his] rights

by forcing him to admit guilt to a crime of which he never pled guilty or was convicted,”

App. at 61 ¶ 80, and he argued before the District Court that they “conspired with the

                                               6
probation officers to violate his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights by providing

the impetus for his probation revocation and arrest,” App. at 36. Heilman does not

specify a theory of liability for his claims against T.W. Ponessa and Simmons, but

appears to argue that their actions contributed to his alleged false imprisonment and

malicious prosecution. For the same reason discussed above with respect to the same

claims against the probation officers, the false imprisonment and malicious prosecution

claims against T.W. Ponessa and Simmons were properly dismissed.2

       3.     Appellant Clinton County

       Heilman claims that Clinton County violated his rights under the Eighth

Amendment by “failing to provide [him] with necessary medical care . . . [and]

engag[ing] in a policy, custom and practice of denying proper medical care to inmates.”

App. at 61-62 ¶ 83-84. Clinton County moved to dismiss on two grounds: (1) statute of

limitations and (2) “fail[ure] to state a claim for municipal liability under § 1983,” as

required by Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978). App. at

40. The District Court dismissed the claim against Clinton County on both grounds.

       We limit our consideration to the statute of limitations. The parties agree that the

applicable statute of limitations period is two years and the cause of action accrues “when

                    2
                       Though the District Court gave different reasons for
             dismissing the claims against T.W. Ponessa and Simmons, “[w]e
             may affirm a District Court’s judgment on grounds other than those
             considered by the District Court itself.” Hughes v. Long, 242 F.3d
             121, 122 n.1 (3d Cir. 2001) (citing Guthrie v. Lady Jane Collieries,
             Inc., 722 F.2d 1141, 1145 n.1 (3d Cir. 1983)).

                                              7
the plaintiff knew or should have known of the injury upon which its action is based.”

Sameric Corp. of Del., Inc. v. City of Philadelphia, 142 F.3d 582, 599 (3d Cir. 1998).

Heilman does not specify when he was denied medical treatment by Clinton County, but

any deprivations must have occurred after he was incarcerated on October 21, 2003, and

before he was released on July 18, 2005. Because Heilman filed his complaint on July

18, 2007 – exactly two years after his release – and he was certainly aware that he was

denied medical treatment before the day he was released, his claim against Clinton

County is barred by the statute of limitations.

       We note that Heilman in the District Court claimed that the “continuing violations

doctrine” tolled the statute of limitations. As noted above, he has not made this argument

on appeal. However, we note that he would not prevail on this theory. “To establish that

a claim falls within the continuing violations theory, the plaintiff must do two things.

First, he must demonstrate that at least one act occurred within the filing period: The

crucial question is whether any present violation exists. Next, the plaintiff must establish

that the [alleged wrong] is more than the occurrence of isolated or sporadic acts.” West v.

Philadelphia Elec. Co., 45 F.3d 744, 754-55 (3d Cir. 1995) (quotations omitted)

(emphasis omitted). The burden is on the plaintiff to show that the continuing violation

doctrine applies. Id. As the District Court correctly reasoned:

       In this case, Heilman has not met step one of his burden. He has not alleged
       any act that occurred during the limitations period, and it is extremely
       unlikely that [he] can do so. Heilman’s complaint was filed on July 18,
       2007, and Heilman was released from Clinton County Prison on July 18,
       2005. Thus, only if Heilman can demonstrate that a denial of adequate

                                              8
       medical care occurred on the day he was released would the continuing
       violations doctrine apply. Even if Heilman had made such a showing, he
       has not established that Clinton County’s alleged wrongs were more than
       isolated or sporadic acts.

App. at 43. The District Court therefore did not err in dismissing the suit on the

timeliness ground.3

                                              IV.

       For the above-stated reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s grant of

Appellees’ motions to dismiss Heilman’s claims under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).

                      3
                      We also note that Heilman fails to argue that the District
            Court erred in holding that his claim against Clinton County was
            barred by the statute of limitations. As an alternate basis for our
            disposition, we hold that he has waived that claim. See United
            States v. Pelullo, 399 F.3d 197, 222 (3d Cir. 2005) (“It is well
            settled that an appellant’s failure to identify or argue an issue in his
            opening brief constitutes waiver of that issue on appeal.”) (citation
            omitted).

                                               9