Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-13 23:01:43.717064+00
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Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

2-4-2008

Laufgas v. Speziale
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 06-5062

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Recommended Citation
"Laufgas v. Speziale" (2008). 2008 Decisions. Paper 1644.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2008/1644

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                                                         NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                      FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                No. 06-5062

                          BERNARD LAUFGAS,
                                                    Appellant
                                     v.

        JERRY SPEZIALE, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW);
      CHARLES S. MEYERS, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW);
       BRIAN S. BENDEL, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW);
      M.D. MAGDY WAHBA, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW);
     HECTOR HERNANDEZ, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW);
  OMBUDSMAN, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW, A FICTITIOUS
  NAME FOR DESIGNATED EMPLOYED AS OMBUDSMAN AT THE PASSAIC
 COUNTY JAIL); REGISTERED DIETICIAN, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR
    OF LAW, A FICTITIOUS NAME FOR DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES AS THE
 REGISTERED DIETICIAN IN THE PASSAIC COUNTY JAIL); MEDICAL STAFF,
    (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF LAW, A FICTITIOUS NAME FOR
EMPLOYEES & OR AGENTS OR SERVANTS OF DEFENDANT, AT THE PASSAIC
COUNTY JAIL); COUNTY OF PASSAIC, (INDIVIDUALLY & UNDER COLOR OF
LAW); SO HEE YOUNG, (EMPLOYED BY ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL); LIBRADA N.
  LISING, (AN EMPLOYED OF ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL); STAFF MEMBERS, (A
   FICTITIOUS NAME FOR DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES MEMBERS IN THEIR
        FUNCTION AT ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL); ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL

               On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the District of New Jersey
                   (D.C. Civil Action No. 04-cv-01697)
                District Judge: Honorable Peter G. Sheridan

               Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                              February 1, 2008

        Before: SLOVITER, BARRY and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges
                             (Opinion filed: February 4, 2008)

                                         OPINION

PER CURIAM

       Bernard Laufgas appeals pro se from the District Court’s entry of partial summary

judgment and from its entry of judgment on a jury verdict. For the reasons that follow,

we will affirm.1

                                              I.

       This matter arises from Laufgas’s four-month incarceration at the Passaic County

Adult Correctional Institution, where he was serving a sentence for contempt of court

during Chancery Division proceedings not relevant to the present appeal.2

       Prior to his incarceration, Laufgas sent a letter to the Warden of the Passaic

County jail to notify the prison of his special needs. In the letter, Laufgas provided his

physician’s name, listed his daily medications and dietary restrictions, and indicated that

he would need access to the prison law library. Laufgas further noted that, “[i]f for some

reason you will deny me those basic Constitutional rights, I assure you, once I get out I

will institute legal action in the United States District Court against each of you, your

   1
    We have appellate jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
   2
   The full history of the underlying action is set forth in Amoresano v. Laufgas, 796
A.2d 164 (N.J. 2002).

                                              2
department, and Passaic County.” (Compl., at Ex. A.)

       Laufgas’s sentence began on February 8, 2002. Immediately upon his arrival at

the Passaic County prison, Laufgas was dissatisfied with the conditions of his

confinement. His primary complaint was that the prison failed to provide him with meals

tailored to his medical conditions; according to Laufgas, he could not tolerate salt, fried

foods, milk, eggs, coffee, or sugar. Because the Passaic County defendants failed to meet

these restrictions, Laufgas commenced a hunger and medication strike that lasted for

several days. In the following weeks, Laufgas carried out two more hunger and

medication strikes. After Laufgas’s third strike, prison officials took Laufgas to St.

Mary’s Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.3

       Over the course of his incarceration, Laufgas lodged various additional complaints,

including complaints about the law library, his prison cell, and his telephone access. In

the end, Laufgas filed approximately 150 Ombudsman Request Forms demanding various

personal items, privileges, or other treatment. Laufgas was released on April 14, 2002.

                                             II.

       On April 15, 2004, Laufgas filed a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey concerning the treatment he

received at the Passaic County jail. The complaint named as defendants the following

Passaic County employees: Jerry Speziale, Passaic County Sheriff; Charles S. Meyers,

   3
    Laufgas was temporarily transferred to the Ann Klein Forensic Center before he
returned to the Passaic County jail.

                                              3
prison warden; Brian S. Bendel, deputy warden; Officer Hector Hernandez; and Magdy

Wahba, Director and Head Physician (the “Passaic County defendants”). The complaint

also named as defendants St. Mary’s Hospital and two doctors at St. Mary’s Hospital’s

Psychiatric Emergency Services (the “St. Mary’s defendants”).4

       In the complaint, Laufgas first alleged that prison officials were deliberately

indifferent to his needs by: failing to honor his dietary restrictions; failing to provide two

hot meals a day; housing him in unsanitary conditions; denying him use of his pre-paid

phone card; subjecting him to second-hand smoke; depriving him of recreational

facilities; depriving him of proper bedding; depriving him of a shower and clean clothing;

and disposing of his personal belongings. Next, Laufgas alleged that his constitutional

rights were violated when he—a Jewish individual—was housed with individuals from

Arab countries and of Muslim faith. Laufgas further alleged that he was deprived of his

right of access to the courts because he was prevented from using the law library, the law

library was “outdated,” and he was denied use of his pre-paid phone card. In a related

claim, Laufgas alleged that his incoming mail was censored. Next, Laufgas stated claims

for “ombudsman abuse” and “denial of request for indigent status.” In his final three

claims, Laufgas alleged that he was forced to undergo an unwarranted psychiatric

evaluation, that the prison had conspired with St. Mary’s Hospital to deprive him of his

“basic human needs,” and that various supervisory employees at the prison were liable for

   4
    Laufgas also named several fictitious parties as defendants.

                                               4
the alleged constitutional violations under a theory of respondeat superior.

       After discovery had been completed, the Passaic County defendants filed a motion

for summary judgment. On August 31, 2006, following oral argument, the District Court

entered an order granting in part and denying in part the motion. Specifically, the District

Court dismissed with prejudice 13 of Laufgas’s 17 claims, but permitted four claims to

proceed. (App. at pp. 3-25.) Soon thereafter, the District Court dismissed the St. Mary’s

defendants from the suit.5 (App. at pp. 29-33.)

       On October 30, 2006, a jury trial commenced on Laufgas’s remaining claims,

which appear to have been condensed into the following two issues: (1) whether the

Passaic County defendants acted with deliberate indifference and deprived Laufgas of a

special diet for his medical condition; (2) whether the Passaic County defendants

seriously deprived Laufgas of basic human necessities while incarcerated. (Verdict

Sheet.) On November 8, 2006, following a four-day trial, the jury returned a verdict of

“no cause for action” in favor of the defendants. The present appeal followed.

                                             III.

       A.     Claims Dismissed on Summary Judgment

       Laufgas first appeals from the District Court’s August 31, 2006 summary

judgment order dismissing the majority of his claims. In its opinion, the District Court

   5
    Laufgas does not refer to this order in his notice of appeal or otherwise challenge it in
his appellate brief. Accordingly, we will not review the District Court’s order dismissing
the St. Mary’s defendants from the case.

                                              5
found that Laufgas failed to provide sufficient evidence to withstand summary judgment

on his claims that the Passaic County defendants violated his constitutional rights when

they: interfered with his access to the courts; exposed him to second-hand smoke; and

housed him with individuals from Arab countries and of Muslim faith. Next, the District

Court dismissed as frivolous Laufgas’s claims that the Passaic County defendants

violated his constitutional rights when they: failed to provide him two hot meals a day;

deprived him of his personal property; subjected him to an unwarranted psychiatric

evaluation; precluded him from using pre-paid phone cards to telephone home; denied

him use of recreational facilities; and generally conspired with St. Mary’s Hospital to

deprive him of his constitutional rights. The District Court also dismissed Laufgas’s

claims for “ombudsman abuse,” “denial of request for indigent form,” and “superior

respondent” on the ground that they were not separate causes of action.

       We review a District Court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Pennsylvania

Coal Ass’n v. Babbitt, 63 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir. 1995). Summary judgment is proper

only if it appears “that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the

moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Carrasca

v. Pomeroy, 313 F.3d 828, 832-33 (3d Cir. 2002). If a motion for summary judgment

demonstrates that no genuine issue of material fact exists, the nonmoving party must set

forth specific facts showing a genuine material issue for trial and may not rest upon the

mere allegations or denials of its pleadings. Connors v. Fawn Mining Corp., 30 F.3d 483,

489 (3d Cir. 1994) (internal quotations omitted). We agree with the District Court’s

                                              6
reasons for dismissing all of these claims, and will only summarize them here.

       First, the District Court properly entered summary judgment against Laufgas on

his access to the courts claim. In the complaint, Laufgas alleged that he was unable to

submit a timely brief in his pending habeas action because he was prevented from using

the law library, the library collection was “outdated,” he was denied use of his pre-paid

phone card, and because the prison prevented him from receiving the paper and pencils

that a friend had mailed to him.6 According to Laufgas, this amounted to interference

with his constitutional right of access to the courts.

       In order to survive summary judgment, however, Laufgas had to provide evidence

that he was actually injured by the Passaic County defendants’ alleged interference. See

Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349-55 (1996). Actual injury can be demonstrated by

showing that the defendants’ action hindered the prisoner’s ability to pursue a legal claim.

Oliver v. Fauver, 118 F.3d 175, 177-78 (3d Cir. 1997) (internal quotations omitted).

Laufgas failed to provide any evidence that Judge Bassler’s decision to dismiss Laufgas’s

habeas petition was impacted by the belated filing of Laufgas’s brief. To the contrary,

Judge Bassler dismissed the petition because it wholly lacked merit. Therefore, we

believe the District Court properly granted summary judgment on this claim.7

   6
   The District Court treated Laufgas’s mail censorship claim as part of his claim that he
was denied access to the courts.
   7
    The record shows that Laufgas was able to correspond with Judge Bassler throughout
his incarceration to complain of his inability to file his brief on time. Indeed, due to
Laufgas’s complaints, Judge Bassler granted him an extension and then issued an order

                                               7
       We also agree with the District Court that Laufgas failed to provide a sufficient

evidentiary basis on which a jury could find in his favor on his allegation that he had been

harmfully exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke. In order to withstand summary

judgment on this claim, Laufgas had to create a genuine issue of fact as to whether he was

being exposed to dangerously high levels of environmental tobacco smoke, and whether

prison authorities were deliberately indifferent to his exposure. See Helling v.

McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 35-37 (1993). As the District Court found, Laufgas failed to

offer any evidence to support either prong under Helling.

       Next, we address Laufgas’s claim that his constitutional rights were violated when

he was housed with individuals from Arab countries and of Muslim faith. According to

Laufgas, the Passaic County defendants deliberately deprived him of his constitutional

rights when they placed him with “detainees from Arab and or Muslim Countries, in a

hostile environment, since Plaintiff is a Jew and immigrated from Israel.” (Compl. at ¶

305.) Although prison authorities may, in very limited circumstances, “take into account

racial tensions in maintaining security, discipline, and good order in prisons and jails,”

Johnson v. California, 543 U.S. 499, 506-07 (2005) (internal quotation omitted), Laufgas

failed to provide any evidence that the Passaic County defendants had reason to believe

that segregation was appropriate here. Therefore, we agree with the District Court that

the Passaic County defendants were entitled to summary judgment on this claim as well.

directing the prison to permit him to use the law library.

                                              8
       We also agree with the District Court’s dismissal of Laufgas’s claim that the

prison’s failure to provide two hot meals a day constituted a violation of his constitutional

rights. As the District Court stated, while prisoners are guaranteed a nutritionally

adequate diet under the Eighth Amendment, see Ramos v. Lamm, 639 F.2d 559, 571

(10th Cir. 1980), there is no constitutional right to hot meals. See Brown-El v. Delo, 969

F.2d 644, 648 (8th Cir. 1992) (finding frivolous prisoner’s claim that his constitutional

rights were violated when he was served cold food).

       Next, the District Court properly dismissed Laufgas’s claim that prison officials

impermissibly disposed of his personal property, as a prisoner’s cause of action based on

unauthorized deprivation of property by a state actor is not actionable under section 1983

unless there is no adequate post-deprivation remedy available. See Parratt v. Taylor, 451

U.S. 527, 542 (1981), overruled on other grounds by Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327

(1986). As noted by the District Court, Laufgas failed to show that a conversion claim

under state law would have provided an inadequate remedy.

       The District Court also correctly concluded that the Passaic County defendants

were entitled to qualified immunity for their decision to take Laufgas to St. Mary’s

Hospital for a psychological evaluation. A government official is entitled to qualified

immunity if his “conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional

rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Berg v. County of Allegheny,

219 F.3d 261, 272 (3d Cir. 2000) (internal quotations omitted). As the District Court

noted, Laufgas’s “indisputably strange behavior” gave prison officials ample reason to

                                              9
request a psychiatric evaluation.

       The District Court also properly dismissed Laufgas’s claim that he was deprived of

basic recreational facilities. The District Court concluded that although lack of physical

exercise can, under certain circumstances, constitute a constitutional violation, see

Peterkin v. Jeffes, 855 F.2d 1021, 1031-32 (3d Cir. 1988), Laufgas did not allege facts

sufficient to make out a such a claim. Specifically, Laufgas failed to allege the amount of

exercise in which he engaged, the extent to which the Passaic County defendants

allegedly precluded exercise, or any specific physical injury resulting from lack of

exercise. Therefore, we agree with the District Court.8

       Accordingly, we will affirm the District Court’s entry of partial summary

judgment in favor of the Passaic County defendants.

       B.     Claims Dismissed Pursuant to Jury Verdict

       In his appellate brief, Laufgas also challenges the jury’s verdict on his remaining

claims. Laufgas, however, fails to specify any points of error at the trial. Rather, he

merely re-argues the merits of his claims, and baldly states that the jury committed “plain

error.” Given that Laufgas fails to direct us to any errors, we have no reason to question

the jury’s verdict.

                                            IV.

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s order granting partial

   8
    As for Laufgas’s remaining claims, we have carefully reviewed the record and agree
with the District Court’s disposition of these claims.

                                             10
summary judgment. We will also affirm the District Court’s entry of judgment on the

jury verdict.

                                          11