Court Opinion

ID: 2978290
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 18:22:54.07186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:44:11.687891
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                           File Name: 09a0614n.06

                                     Nos. 08-1710/1779/1820                             FILED
                                                                                     Aug 27, 2009
                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       LEONARD GREEN, Clerk
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

LAMONT BERNARD HEARD,                  )
                                       )
       Plaintiff-Appellant,            )
                                       )
v.                                     )
                                       )
PATRICIA CARUSO, named as              )                 ON APPEAL FROM THE
Director of the Michigan Department    )                 UNITED STATES DISTRICT
of Corrections, in her individual      )                 COURT FOR THE WESTERN
capacity, et al.,                      )                 DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
                                       )
       Defendants-Appellees,           )
                                       )                         OPINION
RANDALL MASKER, named as Mail          )
Room Supervisor, in his individual     )
capacity.                              )
                                       )
       Defendant-Appellee.             )
_______________________________________)

Before: MOORE, CLAY, and KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judges.

       KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. Lamont Bernard Heard (“Heard”), a

Michigan prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor

of Defendants-Appellees, several employees of the Michigan Department of Corrections (“MDOC”),

in this civil-rights action filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 Additionally, Heard appeals the judgment

       1
        These defendants include: Patricia L. Caruso, Director of the MDOC; Unknown Straub,
Deputy Director of the MDOC; Dave J. Burnett, MDOC Special Activities Coordinator; Robert
Mulvaney, MDOC Security Threat Group Coordinator; Jeri-Ann Sherry, Warden of Chippewa
Correctional Facility (“Chippewa”); Greg McQuiggin, Deputy Warden of Chippewa; Michael
Brown, Security Threat Group Coordinator at Chippewa; Steven Therrian, a lieutenant at Chippewa;
in favor of MDOC employee Randall Masker (“Masker”) following a bench trial on Heard’s claim

that Masker opened Heard’s legal mail outside Heard’s presence. These cases have been referred

to a panel of the court pursuant to Rule 34(j)(1), Rules of the Sixth Circuit. Upon examination, this

panel unanimously agrees that oral argument is not needed. Because there remains a genuine issue

of material fact as to whether Heard’s placement in a maximum-security prison implicates a

protected liberty interest, we VACATE that part of the district court’s summary-judgment order and

REMAND for further consideration of whether Heard’s confinement implicates a liberty interest

and, if so, whether the state has given Heard the process to which he is due. We also VACATE that

part of the summary-judgment order dismissing Heard’s equal-protection and RLUIPA claims for

prison officials’ failure to accommodate his request for a Nation-of-Islam diet, and REMAND for

further proceedings. We AFFIRM the remaining parts of the district court’s summary-judgment

order, AFFIRM the judgment in favor of Masker, and AFFIRM the various other rulings by the

district court that Heard challenges on appeal.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

       Heard is an inmate in the custody of the MDOC who has been confined to various maximum-

security facilities since October 21, 2004.2      Previously, Heard was confined at Chippewa

Correctional Facility (“Chippewa”), a low- to medium-security facility in Kincheloe, Michigan. On

September 18, 2004, prison officials placed Heard in segregation and charged him with major-

Sandy Shaw, a chaplain at Chippewa; Daniel Ezrow, an inspector at Baraga Maximum Correctional
Facility (“Baraga”); and D. Huhta, a resident unit officer at Baraga.
       2
         The record indicates that Heard has been confined to at least three different maximum-
security facilities, including the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility in Standish, Michigan, the
Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility in Baraga, Michigan, and the Marquette Branch Prison in
Marquette, Michigan.

                                                  2
misconduct (“Incite to Riot or Strike: Rioting or Striking”) because of statements Heard made

during a Nation-of-Islam religious service. R. 78 Ex. E-B (Major Misconduct Report 9/18/04 at 2).

During a speech generally discussing the Nation of Islam and the history of oppression of black

people in the United States, Heard stated, among other things, that “a resurrected man will not put

up with mistreatment and will strike back,” “mention[ed] the . . . Fruits of Islam—[the] [s]ecurity

Force of [the Nation of Islam],” “state[d] that . . . the only way to establish peace was through war,”

and “stated that the officers do not want peace as that disharmony is the ‘crux of their existence’ and

maintains their jobs and livelihood.” R. 78 Ex. E-A (Therrian Memo 9/18/04). Heard also stated

that “we have a real problem here.” Id. When later asked by a prison official what he meant by this,

“Heard responded [that] he meant at [Chippewa] . . . the officers . . . do not respect the black man,

but they will.” Id.

       Heard requested a hearing and access to relevant documents and witnesses. At the hearing,

Heard did not deny making these statements, but argued that prison officials had taken his words out

of context from a speech that generally concerned the history of black people in the United States,

with references to the film The Passion of the Christ and various Bible verses. R. 78 Ex. E-B

(Misconduct Hearing Report 9/23/04 at 1). Heard contended that his speech was not threatening,

did not show disrespect toward correctional officers or disrupt the prison, and was protected by the

First Amendment. At the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer upheld Heard’s major-

misconduct charge and placement in segregation, finding that Heard’s speech was “in a prison

setting” and was “not protected speech because he is advocating more than mere speech but conduct

by instigating actions which are intended to seriously endanger the physical safety of the facility,

persons or property.” Id.

                                                  3
       On October 7, 2004, Heard’s major-misconduct citation led prison officials to identify Heard

as a “recruiter,” classify him as an adherent of “Intolerant/Subversive Groups,” and, following an

interview with Heard, designate him a Security Threat Group (“STG”) II under the MDOC’s

security-threat classification system. R. 78 Ex. I (Brown Aff. ¶¶ 6-8). Under MDOC policy, Heard’s

STG II designation automatically resulted in his transfer to a Level V maximum-security facility.

       Heard filed internal grievances challenging both his initial major-misconduct citation and his

STG II designation; all were denied by prison officials. Heard also filed a request for removal of his

STG II designation, arguing that his designation as a “recruiter” under the “Intolerant/Subversive

Groups” category targeted his membership in the Nation of Islam. On October 21, 2004, defendant

Brown, Chippewa’s STG Coordinator, denied Heard’s request for removal of the STG II designation,

explaining that Heard’s designation as a “recruiter” and adherent of “Intolerant/Subversive Groups”

was not based upon Heard’s membership in the Nation of Islam but instead was based upon his

actions and statements, which “were a call to arms, a call to others to rise up with you and join your

cause.” R. 78 Ex. I-A (Brown Memo 10/21/04 at 2). Since being designated STG II in October

2004, Heard has been confined at maximum-security facilities in the Michigan prison system.

Heard’s confinement in maximum-security facilities evidently continues indefinitely until prison

officials decide to remove his STG II designation. Under MDOC policy, prison officials must

review a prisoner’s STG designation at least once every six months.

       On September 23, 2005, Heard, proceeding pro se, filed this § 1983 action, challenging on

several constitutional grounds the disciplinary actions taken against him and his placement and

continued confinement in maximum-security facilities. Heard alleged that his procedural-due-

process rights were violated when he was designated a security threat (i.e., STG II) and placed in

                                                  4
maximum-security facilities without the procedural protections to which he was due. Heard also

alleged that prison officials initiated these disciplinary actions against him in retaliation for his

exercise of his First Amendment rights in his September 18, 2004 speech. Heard asserted that prison

officials further retaliated against him for filing grievances challenging these disciplinary actions.

Heard’s complaint also challenged the refusal of prison officials to accommodate his request for a

dietary regimen recommended by the Nation of Islam, asserting both an equal-protection claim and

a claim under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C.

§ 2000cc-1 et seq. Heard additionally asserted a retaliation claim against defendant Huhta, a

corrections officer at Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility (“Baraga”), alleging that Huhta planted

a bullet shell in Heard’s cell in retaliation for Heard’s threat to file a lawsuit against prison officials.

Finally, Heard alleged that defendant Masker opened and read Heard’s legal mail outside of Heard’s

presence, despite Heard’s request to have his legal mail opened only when he is present.

        On September 28, 2005, the district court granted Heard leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

On December 21, 2005, the Defendants filed a motion to stay discovery on the ground that they soon

would be filing motion to dismiss Heard’s complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief

can be granted. The district court granted a stay of discovery on December 23, 2005. After

obtaining two extensions of time to file a responsive pleading, the defendants filed a motion to

dismiss on February 13, 2006, arguing that Heard’s complaint mis-joined parties in violation of

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 20 and 21 by asserting claims against various defendants that did

not arise out of the same transaction or occurrence or present common questions of law and fact.

On April 3, 2006, a magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation (“R&R”) recommending

                                                     5
denial of the defendants’ motion to dismiss.3 The district court approved the R&R on August 22,

2006.

        On June 5, 2006—while defendants’ motion to dismiss was pending before the district

court—the defendants filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of all of Heard’s

claims. On July 5, 2006, Heard served defendants with a number of discovery requests, including

interrogatories and requests for admissions. On July 21, 2006, the defendants filed a second motion

to stay discovery, arguing that the burden and expense of responding to Heard’s discovery requests

would outweigh the likely benefits and requesting that discovery not be permitted pending the

disposition of the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Heard filed an opposition to the

defendants’ motion to stay discovery, arguing that the defendants possessed information essential

to establishing fact issues for his various claims and that it would be improper for the district court

to rule on the defendants’ summary-judgment motion without first giving him an opportunity to

conduct discovery.

        On August 8, 2006, the magistrate judge issued an order granting the defendants’ motion to

stay discovery. The order stated that if Heard believed he needed discovery to defend against

defendants’ summary-judgment motion, he could “file a supplemental response, indicating as

specifically as possible what facts he believes might be revealed in discovery which will support his

cause.” R. 109 (Order Granting Mot. to Stay Discovery 8/8/06). On August 15, 2006, Heard filed

a supplemental response, which included an affidavit sworn by Heard identifying various documents

and information that Heard believed were possessed by defendants and stating how Heard believed

        3
        The R&R also recommended denial of Heard’s motion for a preliminary injunction and
motion for summary judgment, both of which had been filed before the defendants filed their motion
to dismiss.

                                                  6
this material could defeat defendants’ summary-judgment motion. See R.113 (Heard Supplement

8/15/06). The district court did not rule on or otherwise respond to Heard’s supplemental response.

       On November 21, 2006, the magistrate judge issued an R&R recommending that summary

judgment be granted in favor of defendants on all of Heard’s claims. On February 6, 2007, after

reviewing Heard’s objections, the district court issued an opinion and order modifying the R&R and

dismissing the case except as to Heard’s claim against defendant Masker for opening Heard’s legal

mail outside of Heard’s presence. The district court subsequently denied Heard’s motion to alter or

amend the summary-judgment order and Heard’s motion for relief from that order. The district court

also denied Heard’s February 28, 2008 motion to appeal an order of the magistrate judge that

allowed Heard to take the deposition of defendant Masker but disallowed Heard the use of a camera

recorder or tape recorder to make a record of the deposition. Heard filed a notice of appeal from that

order on May 23, 2008 (appeal No. 08-1710).

       On May 20, 2008, the district court held a bench trial on Heard’s remaining claim against

defendant Masker and on May 28, 2008, entered judgment for Masker. On June 11, 2008, Heard

filed a notice of appeal from the judgment for Masker and the district court’s prior order denying

relief from the summary-judgment order (appeal No. 08-1779). Heard also filed a supplemental

notice of appeal on June 18, 2008 (appeal No. 08-1820). The district court denied Heard’s motion

for a new trial on November 18, 2008.

       On appeal, Heard challenges the district court’s grant of summary judgment for all

defendants except Masker, the district court’s denial of his discovery requests, the judgment

following a bench trial in favor of Masker, and several other rulings by the district court.

                                                  7
                                           II. ANALYSIS

A. Summary-Judgment Order

       1. Standard of Review

       We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Miller v. Admin. Office

of the Courts, 448 F.3d 887, 893 (6th Cir. 2006). The moving party is entitled to summary judgment

“if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there

is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of

law.” FED . R. CIV . P. 56(c); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247 (1986).

       2. Procedural-Due-Process Claim

       Heard argues that the district court erred in dismissing his procedural-due-process claim

because he has a cognizable “liberty” interest in avoiding STG II designation and the attendant

confinement to maximum-security facilities. In order to prevail on a procedural-due-process claim,

an inmate must first demonstrate that he was deprived of “life, liberty, or property” by government

action. Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 221 (2005). Prisoners retain a liberty interest with respect

to state-imposed prison discipline that “imposes atypical and significant hardship on the inmate in

relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.” Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484 (1995). If a

prisoner establishes a liberty interest, the next question is what process the state must afford before

imposing the discipline in question. Austin, 545 U.S. at 224.

       The initial question in this case is whether Heard’s allegedly indefinite confinement to

maximum-security facilities because of his STG II designation constitutes an “atypical and

significant hardship on [him] in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.” Sandin, 515 U.S. at

484. In Sandin, the Supreme Court held that an inmate’s assignment to disciplinary segregation for

                                                   8
thirty days did not impose an “atypical, significant deprivation” that implicated an inmate’s liberty

interest. Id. at 486. In reaching this conclusion, the Court explained that disciplinary segregation

at the prison generally “mirrored those conditions imposed upon inmates in administrative

segregation and protective custody,” the inmate’s confinement in segregation “did not exceed

similar, but totally discretionary, confinement in either duration or degree of restriction,” and the

inmate’s segregation would not “inevitably affect the duration of his sentence.” Id. at 486-87. In

Austin, however, the Supreme Court held that placement in Ohio’s maximum-security prison did

implicate an inmate’s liberty interest. The Court concluded that assignment to the maximum-

security prison “impose[d] an atypical and significant hardship under any plausible baseline,” and

listed several factors that distinguished such confinement from the disciplinary segregation at issue

in Sandin :

        For an inmate placed in [the maximum-security prison], almost all human contact is
        prohibited, even to the point that conversation is not permitted from cell to cell; the
        light, though it may be dimmed, is on for 24 hours; exercise is for 1 hour per day, but
        only in a small indoor room. Save perhaps for the especially severe limitations on
        all human contact, these conditions likely would apply to most solitary confinement
        facilities, but here there are two added components. First is the duration. Unlike the
        30-day placement in Sandin, placement at [the maximum-security prison] is
        indefinite and, after an initial 30-day review, is reviewed just annually. Second is
        that placement disqualifies an otherwise eligible inmate for parole consideration.
        While any of these conditions standing alone might not be sufficient to create a
        liberty interest, taken together they impose an atypical and significant hardship within
        the correctional context. It follows that respondents have a liberty interest in
        avoiding assignment to [the maximum-security prison].

Austin, 545 U.S. at 223-24 (citations omitted).

        The district court—without explanation—found that Heard’s placement in maximum-security

facilities in Michigan was not an “atypical and significant hardship” that implicated a liberty interest.

However, the limited record before us suggests that there is a fact question as to whether

                                                   9
confinement to Michigan’s maximum-security facilities—like the Ohio maximum-security prison

at issue in Austin—implicates a protected liberty interest. On August 30, 2006, Heard filed a motion

to supplement,4 adding the following paragraph to a sworn declaration that he had previously filed

on January 10, 2006:

        Security Threat Group designations to status II result in plaintiff being placed in a
        maximum security prison, which is the most secured of all Michigan Department of
        Corrections prisons; but plaintiff does not challenge the increase in classification as
        a result of the STG designation. The challenge is to the atypical and significant
        hardships place[d] on plaintiff as a result of the designation that trigger due process.
        The designations are indefinite and paroles are automatically denied, there are only
        five minute showers (which include washing and drying off); visits are restricted to
        two one hour non-contacts visits per month; and all human contact is limited to yard,
        dining hall, library and religious service which culminate to a potential maximum of
        21 hours out [of] the cell per week. Cell to cell communication is prohibited, the
        lights, though [they] may be dimmed at night, [are] on 24 hours a day. These
        conditions are not ordinary conditions in the life of a prisoner in lower levels (1-4)
        in MDOC.

R. 117 (Mot. to Supplement 8/30/2006). Heard also submitted a “Parole Board Notice of Decision,”

indicating that Heard was denied parole on June 19, 2006, in part because of his designation as STG

II and his placement in a maximum-security facility. R. 100 (Mot. for Leave to File Exhibit 7/14/06

at 2). It is not clear from this document whether, as in Austin, Heard’s maximum-security

designation automatically disqualifies him for parole. Finally, the record shows that prison officials

are required to review a prisoner’s STG II status only once every six months. R. 88 (Ezrow Aff. ¶ 8).

Because the district court did not explain the basis for its finding that Heard’s placement in

maximum-security facilities did not implicate a liberty interest, it is unclear whether the district court

considered these materials.

        4
            Heard styled the motion an “affidavit,” but it was unsworn.

                                                   10
       We conclude that there are material issues of fact that prevent summary judgment on Heard’s

claim that his confinement to a maximum-security facility implicates a protected liberty interest.

Unlike the prisoner in Harbin-Bey v. Rutter, 420 F.3d 571, 576-77 (6th Cir. 2005), who challenged

only his designation by MDOC officials as an STG member, Heard challenges his placement in

maximum-security facilities, coupled with the indefinite nature of this placement and the

consequences for his eligibility for parole. It appears that there has been no discovery on these

issues. On remand, the district court should permit Heard discovery regarding materials relevant to

showing the conditions of his confinement in maximum-security facilities, the nature and timing of

review of his maximum-security placement, and the consequences of his placement for parole

eligibility. Defendants will, of course, have an opportunity to introduce evidence showing that the

conditions of confinement in Michigan’s maximum-security facilities are distinguishable from those

of the maximum-security prison in Austin.

       If a prisoner establishes a protected liberty interest, the next question is whether the state

afforded the inmate sufficient process. See Austin, 545 U.S. at 224. The district court suggested

that, even if Heard had a liberty interest, he received sufficient process when he “was called into the

Captain’s office and his actions were discussed” and when he “received a misconduct hearing and

was found guilty” before being designated STG II. R. 143 (Dist. Ct. Op. 2/6/07 at 3). However, on

the bare-bones record before us, we cannot say whether Heard received the process that may be due

if he has a protected liberty interest. Therefore, if the district court finds on remand that Heard’s

placement in maximum-security facilities implicates a protected liberty interest, it should then

consider whether prison officials have given Heard the process to which he is due under the

framework set forth by the Supreme Court in Austin and, if so, whether Heard actually received these

                                                  11
procedural protections. See Austin, 545 U.S. at 224-30 (applying the three factors set forth in

Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976)).

       3. First-Amendment-Retaliation Claim—Heard’s September 18, 2004 Speech

       Heard argues that the district court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of

defendants on his claim that prison officials initiated the disciplinary actions against him in

retaliation for his exercise of his First Amendment rights in his September 18, 2004 speech. To

establish a First Amendment retaliation claim, an inmate must show that (1) he was engaged in

protected conduct, (2) an adverse action was taken against him “that would deter a person of ordinary

firmness from continuing to engage in that conduct,” and (3) there is a causal connection between

the first two elements. Siggers-El v. Barlow, 412 F.3d 693, 699 (6th Cir. 2005); Thaddeus-X v.

Blatter, 175 F.3d 378, 394 (6th Cir. 1999) (en banc). It is clear that an adverse action was taken

against Heard—severe discipline resulting in maximum-security confinement—and that Heard’s

speech was the cause of this adverse action. The only remaining question therefore is whether

Heard’s statements during a Nation-of-Islam prayer service constitute speech that is protected by the

First Amendment.

       The Supreme Court has explained that although “incarceration does not divest prisoners of

all constitutional protections,” the “constitutional rights that prisoners possess are more limited in

scope than the constitutional rights held by individuals in society at large.” Shaw v. Murphy, 532
U.S. 223, 228-29 (2001). In the specific context of the First Amendment, the Court has stated that

“some rights are simply inconsistent with the status of a prisoner or ‘with the legitimate penological

objectives of the corrections system.’” Id. at 229 (quoting Pell v. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 822

(1974)). Under the “unitary, deferential standard” for reviewing the constitutional claims of

                                                 12
prisoners adopted by the Court, a prison regulation that impinges on a prisoner’s constitutional rights

“‘is valid if it is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.’” Id. (quoting Turner v.

Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987)).

        Heard was disciplined for a speech to other inmates in which he, among other things,

suggested that those who were mistreated would “strike back,” referred to the Fruits of Islam, the

paramilitary wing of the Nation of Islam, stated that “the only way to establish peace was through

war,” and said that “the officers do not want peace.” R. 78 Ex. E-A (Therrian Memo 9/18/04).

Although Heard’s speech was directed at other prisoners, it contained thinly veiled threats against

prison guards, suggesting that conflict between guards and prisoners was inevitable and that

mistreated prisoners would rise up against the guards. In light of the narrowed scope of the First

Amendment in the prison context, we conclude that disciplining Heard for this speech was

reasonably related to the legitimate interests of prison officials in maintaining order and ensuring

stability in the prison.

        The district court dismissed defendants Caruso, Sherry, McQuiggin, and Straub—supervisory

prison officials—from Heard’s First Amendment retaliation claim because Heard failed to allege that

these defendants participated directly or were involved in authorizing policies which violated

Heard’s First Amendment rights. See Bellamy v. Bradley, 729 F.2d 416, 421 (6th Cir. 1984)

(explaining that the doctrine of respondeat superior does not apply in § 1983 actions to impute

liability onto supervisory personnel, unless the supervisory personnel “encouraged the specific

incident of misconduct or in some other way directly participated in it”). Because we affirm the

dismissal of this retaliation claim as to all defendants, we need not address this issue.

                                                  13
        4. First-Amendment-Retaliation Claim Against Brown

        Heard separately argues that defendant Michael Brown (“Brown”), a corrections officer at

Chippewa, retaliated against him for filing an internal grievance challenging his initial major-

misconduct citation. According to Heard, Brown designated Heard as a “recruiter”—resulting in

Heard’s STG II designation—because Heard filed this grievance. The district court granted

summary judgment for Brown, finding that defendants had established that Heard’s STG II

designation “was the result of his conduct and not based upon the filing of a grievance.” R. 143

(Dist. Ct. Op. 2/6/07 at 3). In his affidavit, Brown stated that, at the time he participated in

designating Heard as STG II, he was unaware of Heard’s grievance. Brown further stated that the

decision to designate Heard as STG II was based upon an interview that Brown conducted with

Heard and the report Brown received from the misconduct hearing, which detailed Heard’s

statements in the September 18, 2004 speech. Heard did not come forward with any evidence

disputing Brown’s account, nor did Heard suggest how material uncovered through discovery might

support this claim. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not err in granting summary

judgment for Brown.

        5. First-Amendment-Retaliation Claim Against Huhta

        Heard also asserted a retaliation claim against defendant D. Huhta, a corrections officer at

Baraga, alleging that Huhta placed a .40-caliber shell casing in Heard’s cell in retaliation for Heard’s

threat to bring a lawsuit against prison officials. The district court granted summary judgment for

Huhta, finding that Heard suffered no adverse action because of this incident and that there was no

evidence that Huhta intentionally placed the shell casing in Heard’s cell. Summary judgment was

properly awarded to Huhta. Even assuming that the shell can be traced to Huhta, Heard pointed to

                                                  14
absolutely no evidence that Huhta intentionally placed the shell in Heard’s cell or that Huhta was

even aware of Heard’s plan to file a lawsuit. Further, the discovery requested by Heard with respect

to this claim—testing of the shell casing in order to trace it to Huhta’s gun—could not create a fact

issue as to whether Huhta intentionally placed the shell in Heard’s cell or whether Huhta had

knowledge of Heard’s intent to engage in protected conduct.

       6. Equal-Protection Claim—STG Designation

       Heard argues that his equal-protection rights were violated by his designation as STG II and

his attendant placement in maximum-security facilities. According to Heard, prison officials

targeted him for STG II designation because he is Muslim and a member of the Nation of Islam.

Heard contends that prisoners of other religions who are found guilty of the same offense (“Incite

to Riot or Strike”) have not received STG II designation. We conclude that district court did not err

in granting summary judgment for defendants because Heard has not identified similarly situated

non-Nation-of-Islam prisoners who were treated differently. See Buchanan v. City of Bolivar, 99
F.3d 1352, 1360 (6th Cir. 1996) (“In opposition to a motion for summary judgment [on an equal-

protection claim], it is plaintiff who possesses the burden of demonstrating that the defendants

treated similarly situated individuals in a disparate manner.”). Again, Heard failed to specify what

material he hoped to uncover through discovery to support this claim.

       7. Equal-Protection Claim—Diet

       Heard argues that the district court erred in granting summary judgment for defendants on

his claim that his equal-protection rights were violated by prison officials’ refusal to (1) provide a

diet recommended by the Nation of Islam as set forth in How to Eat to Live by Elijah Muhammad,

or (2) to provide him with meals under the kosher meal program. Heard alleged that prison officials

                                                 15
accommodated the religious diets of Jewish and Buddhist prisoners but did not accommodate his

request for a religious diet. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants, finding

that “MDOC had already made a determination rejecting a Nation of Islam menu years prior to

[Heard’s] request for a religious diet, because the menu failed to meet dietary requirements.” R. 143

(Dist. Ct. Op. 2/6/07 at 5). According to defendant Dave Burnett, MDOC previously had determined

that “the combination of foods not allowed [by the Nation-of-Islam diet] would make it impossible

to meet nutritional standards.” R. 78 Ex. H (Burnett Aff. ¶ 4). Burnett further stated that Heard was

denied a kosher diet because, “although the prohibition of blood and the prohibition of swine is

common to Muslims, the Nation of Islam and Jews; Muslims and the Nation of Islam are not

required to keep [k]osher,” and “[k]osher requirements go far beyond the denial of blood and pork.”

Id. ¶ 7. According to Burnett, “Muslims and members of the Nation of Islam can avoid both blood

and pork by selecting the non-meat entree from the main meal line.” Id.

       “[W]hen a prison regulation impinges on inmates’ constitutional rights, the regulation is valid

if it is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.” Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89

(1987). We have explained that in the prison context “policies infringing on religious rights may be

found unreasonable where accommodations are made for others.” Turner v. Bolden, 8 F. App’x 453,

456 (6th Cir. 2001) (unpublished order). If the defendants can show that the Nation-of-Islam diet

requested by Heard fails to meet nutritional standards, we believe that the refusal to provide this diet

would be “reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.” Turner, 482 U.S. at 89. The

defendants have come forward with some evidence that the Nation-of-Islam diet is nutritionally

inadequate—the affidavit of defendant Burnett, who evidently consulted the MDOC documents in

which it was determined that the Nation-of-Islam diet was inadequate. However, it appears that

                                                  16
Heard has been denied discovery of the MDOC documents and, therefore, denied the opportunity

to dispute defendants’ evidence.

       In his August 15, 2006 supplemental response and attached affidavit, Heard specifically

sought discovery of “the document the [MDOC] relied on to determine an Islamic regimen could not

meet MDOC required nutritional standards.” R. 113 (Heard Supplemental Response 8/15/06 at 5).

According to Heard, discovery of this document would show that the Nation-of-Islam diet could

meet MDOC nutritional standards and that prison officials were “favoring dietary regiments of

[B]uddhist and [J]ewish prisoners over [Heard’s] Islamic regimen, because of [f]inancial reasons and

for a detrimental effect on . . . Islamic practice.” Id. The requested document evidently was not

produced and is not in the record, and the district court did not respond to Heard’s request for

discovery of this document.

       Because Heard was denied discovery of specific MDOC records that may create a material

issue of fact as to whether or not the Nation-of-Islam diet meets MDOC nutritional standards,

remand for discovery and further factual findings is appropriate. Accordingly, we vacate this part

of the district court’s summary-judgment order and remand for further proceedings.

       Heard also claims that prison officials should, in the alternative, provide him with kosher

meals when Islamic meals are not available. Heard cites to sections of Islamic Dietary Concepts &

Practices by The Islamic Food & Nutrition Council of America in support of the proposition that

Muslims are required to eat kosher meals when Islamic meals are unavailable. See R. 163 (Exhibit

4/9/07). However, nothing in the pages cited by Heard supports his contention that Muslims must

be given kosher meals when Islamic meals are unavailable, and Heard points to no other evidence

that his religion mandates kosher meals. As defendant Burnett explained, kosher requirements far

                                                17
exceed the prohibition of blood and pork, and Muslim and Nation-of-Islam prisoners “can avoid both

blood and pork by selecting the non-meat entree from the main meal line.” R. 78 Ex. H (Burnett Aff.

¶ 7). Accordingly, the district court did not err in granting summary judgment for defendants as to

Heard’s claim that he should be accommodated with kosher meals.

       8. RLUIPA Claim—Diet

       Heard also claims that defendants Straub, Burnett, Sherry, and Shaw—all of whom Heard

sued in both their individual and official capacities—violated RLUIPA by failing to provide him

with a Nation-of-Islam diet or by failing to provide him with a kosher diet. RLUIPA provides:

       [n]o government shall impose a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a
       person residing in or confined to an institution . . . even if the burden results from a
       rule of general applicability, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of
       the burden on that person—

               (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and

               (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
                   governmental interest.

42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1(a). If Heard’s religion requires adherence to a Nation-of-Islam diet, prison

officials’ refusal to accommodate this diet would impose a substantial burden. See, e.g., Al-Amin

v. Shear, No. 08-7681, 2009 WL 971454, at *2-3 (4th Cir. Apr. 10, 2009) (unpublished) (finding that

denying kosher (“Common Fare”) food to observant Sunni Muslim during Ramadan would be a

substantial burden). The defendants would then have the burden of showing that denial of the

Nation-of-Islam diet was the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling government interest.

As explained above with respect to Heard’s equal-protection claim, there remains a material issue

of fact as to whether Heard’s proposed Nation-of-Islam diet does or does not meet MDOC nutritional

                                                 18
standards. Accordingly, we also vacate the district court’s dismissal of Heard’s RLUIPA claim and

remand for further proceedings.5

B. Judgment for Masker Following Bench Trial

        Heard argues that the weight of the evidence does not support the district court’s judgment

for Masker on Heard’s claim that Masker opened Heard’s legal mail outside Heard’s presence.

Although Heard properly preserved the issue for appeal by moving for a new trial, see United States

v. L.E. Cooke Co., 991 F.2d 336, 343 (6th Cir. 1993), a party may not challenge the weight of the

evidence to support a trial court’s judgment in the absence of a transcript, see FED . R. APP . P.

10(b)(2); Hawley v. City of Cleveland, 24 F.3d 814, 820-22 (6th Cir. 1994). A party in a civil

proceeding may obtain a transcript at the government’s expense if (1) he is granted leave to proceed

in forma pauperis on appeal and (2) “the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the appeal is not

frivolous (but presents a substantial question).” 28 U.S.C. § 753(f). Heard satisfies the first

requirement as the district court granted Heard leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal.

However, Heard did not ask the district court or this court to certify under 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) that

an appeal of the judgment for Masker would not be frivolous. Instead, on October 27, 2008, Heard

submitted to this court a transcript order form on which he indicated that a “[t]ranscript is

        5
          With respect to Heard’s RLUIPA claim against defendants in their official capacities, Heard
may seek only declaratory or injunctive relief and not monetary relief. See Cardinal v. Metrish, 564
F.3d 794, 798-801 (6th Cir. 2009) (holding that the doctrine of sovereign immunity bars the recovery
of monetary damages under RLUIPA when state officials are sued in their official capacities). This
court has not ruled, however, on whether RLUIPA authorizes suits for monetary damages against
state officials in their individual capacities. See Nelson v. Miller, 570 F.3d 868, 885-89 (7th Cir.
2009) (discussing split of authority on issue; holding that RLUIPA does not subject state officials
to suit in their individual capacities). Because the parties have not briefed this issue and because we
are remanding to the district court for further consideration of whether a Nation-of-Islam diet meets
MDOC nutritional standards, we decline to decide this issue at this time.

                                                  19
unnecessary for appeal purposes.” Under these circumstances, we do not consider whether Heard

can demonstrate a substantial question for appeal. Without a trial transcript, we are unable to review

the evidence before the district court. Accordingly, we must accept the factual findings of the district

court as correct and therefore affirm the judgment for Masker.

       Additionally, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Heard’s motion for a

new trial because Heard did not come forward with newly discovered evidence or present any other

grounds justifying the grant of a new trial. See Davis ex rel. Davis v. Jellico Cmty. Hosp. Inc., 912
F.2d 129, 132 (6th Cir. 1990).

C. Other Rulings by District Court

       1. Discovery Requests

       Heard argues that the district court abused its discretion in denying any discovery and then

proceeding to grant summary judgment in favor of defendants. We assume that Heard’s August 15,

2006 supplemental response and attached affidavit qualifies as a request for additional discovery

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f).6 We have explained that “[t]ypically, when the

parties have no opportunity for discovery, denying the Rule 56(f) motion and ruling on a summary

judgment motion is likely to be an abuse of discretion.” CenTra, Inc. v. Estrin, 538 F.3d 402, 420

(6th Cir. 2008). However, we have also “upheld the denial of Rule 56(f) motions when the court

        6
         Rule 56(f) provides:
        If a party opposing the motion shows by affidavit that, for specified reasons, it cannot
        present facts essential to justify its opposition, the court may:
        (1) deny the motion;
        (2) order a continuance to enable affidavits to be obtained, depositions to be taken,
              or other discovery to be undertaken; or
        (3) issue any other just order.
FED . R. CIV . P. 56(f).

                                                  20
deems as too vague the affidavits submitted in support of the motion,” and we have done so “even

when the parties were given no opportunity for discovery.” Id. Further, “we have affirmed the

denial of Rule 56(f) motions when the parties were given insufficient time for discovery if further

discovery would not have changed the legal and factual deficiencies.” Id. (internal quotation marks

omitted). In the instant case, the district court denied Heard any discovery, except with respect to

Heard’s claim against Masker, and did not rule on Heard’s August 15, 2006 Rule 56(f) motion for

discovery.

       As explained above in our discussion of Heard’s various claims against defendants, Heard

failed—except as noted above—to specify in his discovery requests and Rule 56(f) motion what he

hoped to uncover through discovery that would have created genuine issues of material fact as to his

various claims.    Because “further discovery would not have changed the legal and factual

deficiencies” of Heard’s various claims, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its

discretion in denying discovery except as we have previously noted. Id. (internal quotation marks

omitted).

       2. Motion to Recuse

       The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Heard’s motion to recuse. See

United States v. Jamieson, 427 F.3d 394, 405 (6th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1218 (2006).

Heard’s motion for recusal was without merit because he presented no evidence that either the

magistrate judge or the district judge had any personal bias or prejudice against Heard or in favor of

any of the defendants. See 28 U.S.C. § 144. Further, Heard did not show that the judges’

impartiality could reasonably be questioned. See 28 U.S.C. § 455.

                                                 21
       3. Appointment of Counsel

       The district court did not err in denying Heard’s motion for appointment of counsel. The

appointment of counsel in a civil proceeding is justified only by exceptional circumstances, which

are absent in this case. See Lavado v. Keohane, 992 F.2d 601, 606 (6th Cir. 1993).

       4. Class Certification

       The district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to certify the class and appoint

Heard as class representative. Heard is an incarcerated pro se litigant without legal training who is

representing himself and is not able adequately to represent the proposed class. See FED . R. CIV . P.

23; Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir. 1975) (“Ability to protect the interests of

the class depends in part on the quality of counsel, and we consider the competence of a layman

representing himself to be clearly too limited to allow him to risk the rights of others.” (citation

omitted)).

       5. Motion for a Default Judgment

       Finally, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Heard’s motion for a default

judgment pursuant to FED . R. CIV . P. 55. The district court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss

on August 22, 2006, but Masker did not file an answer until March 26, 2007. On April 2, 2007,

Heard filed a motion for a default judgment, citing Masker’s failure to file a timely answer. The

district court denied Heard’s motion on April 25, 2007, stating that “[d]efault was never entered in

this case.” R. 165 (Order 4/25/07). “Prior to obtaining a default judgment under either Rule

55(b)(1) or Rule 55(b)(2), there must be an entry of default as provided by Rule 55(a).” 10A

CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT ET AL., FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 2682, at 13 (3d ed. 1998).

Rule 55(a) provides that “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought

                                                 22
has failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise, the clerk

must enter the party’s default.” FED . R. CIV . P. 55(a). Because Heard did not first seek entry of a

default from the clerk of the court, it was procedurally improper for Heard to move for entry of a

default judgment.

                                        III. CONCLUSION

       For the reasons discussed above, we VACATE the district court’s grant of summary

judgment for defendants on Heard’s procedural-due-process claim and REMAND for further

proceedings. We also VACATE the district court’s grant of summary judgment for defendants on

Heard’s equal-protection and RLUIPA claims challenging the refusal to provide Heard with a

Nation-of-Islam diet and REMAND for further proceedings. The judgment of the district court is

AFFIRMED in all other respects.

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