Court Opinion

ID: 217180
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-05-23 17:28:02+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:28:31.476264
License: Public Domain

GLD-183                                                       NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                      No. 11-1605
                                      ___________

                                EDWARD GOODMAN,
                                           Appellant

                                           v.

                          CATHERINE MCVEY and
             PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF PROBATION AND PAROLE
                   ____________________________________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                               (D.C. Civ. No. 10-cv-02403)
                    District Judge: Honorable Christopher C. Conner
                      ____________________________________

        Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
        or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                   May 12, 2011
          Before: AMBRO, CHAGARES and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges

                             (Opinion filed: May 23, 2011)
                                      _________

                                       OPINION
                                       _________

PER CURIAM

      Edward Goodman, a Pennsylvania state prisoner, appeals pro se from the District

Court’s order dismissing the complaint. Because we conclude that this appeal presents

no substantial question, we will summarily affirm. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.
                                             I.

       On August 8, 1978, Goodman took part in the confrontation between the MOVE

organization and the Philadelphia police, which resulted in the deaths of eleven MOVE

members, one police officer, and injuries to seven other officers and firefighters. In

1980, he was convicted of third degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder,

aggravated assault, and criminal conspiracy, and was sentenced to 30 to 100 years of

imprisonment. He became eligible for parole in August 2008. In October 2010, the

Board denied him parole for the second time, citing as reasons: the negative

recommendations from the Department of Corrections and prosecuting attorneys,

Goodman’s minimization of nature of his crimes, and his refusal to accept responsibility.

       In November 2010, Goodman filed a complaint in the District Court under 42

U.S.C. § 1983 claiming that the defendants—the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and

Parole (“the Board”) and Catherine McVey, the Chairperson of the Board—violated his

due process rights in denying him parole. He seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, in

the form of orders requiring the Board to apply “uniform” due process procedures and to

prohibit the use of immutable factors (such as the nature of the offense) to deny parole.

The Magistrate Judge reviewed the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), and

recommended that it be dismissed. After considering Goodman’s objections, the District

Court adopted the Report and Recommendation and dismissed the complaint. Goodman

filed a timely notice of appeal.

                                            II.
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       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review the District

Court’s dismissal under § 1915(e) for abuse of discretion. Denton v. Hernandez, 504

U.S. 25, 22 (1992). Having granted Goodman leave to proceed in forma pauperis, we

must dismiss his appeal pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B) if it has no arguable basis in law.

See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 215 (1989). Alternatively, summary action is

warranted if an appeal presents no substantial question. LAR 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.

                                             III.

       Goodman argues that the Board violated his due process liberty interest in parole

because its decision lacked a basis in fact and relied solely on the nature of the 32-year-

old offense. He claims the Board ignored the overwhelming evidence of his parole

suitability, and makes conclusory statements that the Board has an “unforgiving, no

exception policy” against parole.

       We agree with the District Court that Goodman’s claims against the Board are

prohibited by the Eleventh Amendment. Barring consent, a state or one of its agencies is

immune from suit in federal court under the Eleventh Amendment. See Kimel v. Fla. Bd.

of Regents, 528 U.S. 62, 73 (2000); see also, Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 340 (1979).

       In addition, Goodman’s claims against McVey under § 1983 cannot be sustained

on the basis of respondeat superior; rather, she is liable only for her own misconduct. See

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). The Magistrate Judge noted that

Goodman did not allege that McVey was personally involved in the parole suitability

determination, and thus could not be liable for an alleged constitutional violation. See
                                              3
Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir. 1988). Accordingly, we agree that

Goodman fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted against McVey.

       The District Court also found that Goodman failed to allege facts sufficient to state

a procedural due process claim. While states may, under certain circumstances, create

liberty interests that are protected by the due process clause, see Sandin v. Conner, 515

U.S. 472, 484 (1995), procedural due process is generally satisfied if the procedures

employed afford notice of the hearing, an opportunity to be heard, and notice of any

adverse action. See Greenholtz v. Inmates of Neb. Penal & Corr. Complex, 442 U.S. 1,

16 (1979). Here, Goodman has not alleged that the defendants did not comply with these

procedures.

       Goodman claims that the Board’s reasons for denying parole lacked a factual basis

and were contrary to the record, including the evidence that he is suitable for parole. To

find a substantive due process violation, Goodman would have to show that the violation

involved action that shocks the conscience. See Kaucher v. County of Bucks, 455 F.3d

418, 425 (3d Cir. 2006). “[F]ederal courts are not authorized by the due process clause to

second-guess parole boards and the requirements of substantive due process are met if

there is some basis for the challenged decision.” Coady v. Vaughn, 251 F.3d 480, 487

(3d Cir. 2001). In this case, as the Magistrate Judge found, the Board considered more

than just the nature of his offense, including Goodman’s minimization of the nature of the

offense and the recommendations against parole. There is no indication that the Board

weighed his parole suitability factors in an arbitrary manner, let alone in a “conscience-
                                             4
shocking” one.

       Finally, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in

determining that it would be futile to allow Goodman to file an amended complaint.

Because the appeal does not present a substantial question, we will summarily affirm the

District Court’s order. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; 3d Cir. I.O.P. 10.6.

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