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No Exhaustion Required in Guard Attack
A federal district court in New York held that 42 U.S.C. § 1997e of the PLRA did not require a prisoner to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit over being beaten by prison guards. Candido Rodriguez is a New York state prisoner who filed suit claiming prison guards beat, kicked and punched him without provocation. The district court issued a brief, vague ruling allowing the suit to proceed.
Without stating whether Rodriguez had exhausted his administrative remedies, the court notes several cases, most of them unpublished, which hold that § 1997e requires that prisoners exhaust administrative remedies before they file suit.
The court distinguished this case from the others. "Notably, however, the claims in the cases above all concern facts where corrections officers 'failed to protect' an inmate from being assaulted by other inmates. The cases cited do not concern claims alleging that corrections officers themselves assaulted the plaintiff, in contrast to the case at bar. Under Farmer v. Brennan , 511 U.S. 825, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994), assault claims are not claims that challenge the conditions of a prisoner's confinement, that is, assault claims are distinguishable from failure to protect claims and from claims regarding whether adequate food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care was received."
Readers should note that this ruling is against the weight of rulings from the circuits and other district courts to consider the issue. Most courts are holding that exhausting administrative remedies confers subject matter jurisdiction on the federal courts to hear either the entire claim or claims for injunctive and declaratory relief. To avoid future procedural problems prisoners should exhaust administrative remedies. See: Rodriguez v. Berbary , 992 F. Supp. 592 (WD NY 1998).
Without stating whether Rodriguez had exhausted his administrative remedies, the court notes several cases, most of them unpublished, which hold that § 1997e requires that prisoners exhaust administrative remedies before they file suit.
The court distinguished this case from the others. "Notably, however, the claims in the cases above all concern facts where corrections officers 'failed to protect' an inmate from being assaulted by other inmates. The cases cited do not concern claims alleging that corrections officers themselves assaulted the plaintiff, in contrast to the case at bar. Under Farmer v. Brennan , 511 U.S. 825, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994), assault claims are not claims that challenge the conditions of a prisoner's confinement, that is, assault claims are distinguishable from failure to protect claims and from claims regarding whether adequate food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care was received."
Readers should note that this ruling is against the weight of rulings from the circuits and other district courts to consider the issue. Most courts are holding that exhausting administrative remedies confers subject matter jurisdiction on the federal courts to hear either the entire claim or claims for injunctive and declaratory relief. To avoid future procedural problems prisoners should exhaust administrative remedies. See: Rodriguez v. Berbary , 992 F. Supp. 592 (WD NY 1998).
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Related legal case
Rodriguez v. Berbary
| Year | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 992 F. Supp. 592 (WD NY 1998) |
| Level | District Court |
CANDIDO RODRIGUEZ, Plaintiff, -v- KENNETH BERBARY, Correction Officer, RAYMOND HAUCK, Correction Officer, WESLEY SPRING, Correction Officer, MICHAEL J. VERRASTRO, Correction Officer, TIMOTHY J. SNYDER, Correction Officer, MARK CUNNINGHAM, Sergeant, and DAVID R. COFFEY, Sergeant, in their individual capacities, Defendants.
97-CV-0931S(Sc)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
992 F. Supp. 592; 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1090
January 20, 1998, Decided
DISPOSITION: [**1] Plaintiff's requests to proceed in this court as a poor person granted.
COUNSEL: MARIE-ANN SENNETT, ESQ., of Counsel, PRISONERS' LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK, INC., Buffalo, New York, for Plaintiff.
JUDGES: JOHN T. CURTIN, United States District Judge.
OPINIONBY: JOHN T. CURTIN
OPINION:
[*592] ORDER
The plaintiff has requested permission to proceed in forma pauperis (Items 2 and 3) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ç 1915(a) and has both met the statutory requirements and furnished the court with a signed authorization. Accordingly, the plaintiff's requests to proceed in this court as a poor person are hereby granted.
When the court grants in forma pauperis status, section 1915 mandates that the court also must conduct an initial screening of the action to ensure that it goes forward only if it meets certain qualifications. 28 U.S.C. ç 1915(e)(2). Furthermore, Section 1915A states that when a complaint in a civil action is filed by a prisoner, the court shall review the complaint filed and dismiss any claims that are "frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. ç 1915A(b)(1).
A review of plaintiff's complaint reveals that plaintiff's claim is that defendants' [**2] punched, kicked, and forcibly beat plaintiff without provocation on the part of the plaintiff. In essence, plaintiff claims that his Eighth Amendment constitutional rights were violated when defendants used excessive force for no apparent reason.
The court is cognizant that the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. ç 1997e, [*593] requires a plaintiff to exhaust his administrative remedies before bringing a ç 1983 action with respect to "prison conditions." While the case law on this issue is sparse, the court is also cognizant that some courts have required a plaintiff to exhaust his administrative remedies before bringing a ç 1983 action with respect to prison conditions. See, e.g., Tafoya v. Simmons, 116 F.3d 489 (Table), 1997 WL 337513, at *2 (10th Cir. 1997) (inmate must exhaust administrative remedies regardless of whether or not the administrative action is futile); Midgette v. Doe, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15918, 1997 WL 634280 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 1997) (inmate must exhaust his administrative remedies in a failure to protect claim); Mitchell v. Gomez, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7968, 1997 WL 305273 (N.D. Cal. June 2, 1997) (inmate must exhaust administrative remedies for a claim that prison guards incited other inmates [**3] to assault him); McCoy v. Scott, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10409, 1997 WL 414185 (N.D. Cal. July 15, 1997) (inmate must exhaust administrative remedies for a claim that prison officials ignored his concerns about problems with his cellmate); Morgan v. Arizona Department of Corrections, 976 F. Supp. 892, 895-896 (D. Ariz. 1997) (inmate's claims that prison officials threatened his safety and allowed other inmates to assault him considered a prison condition and therefore must be grieved).
Notably, however, the claims in the cases cited above all concern facts where corrections officers "failed to protect" an inmate from other being assaulted by other inmates. The cases cited do not concern claims alleging that corrections officers themselves assaulted the plaintiff, in contrast to the case at bar. Under Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811, 114 S. Ct. 1970 (1994), assault claims are not claims that challenge the conditions of a prisoner's confinement. That is, assault claims are distinguishable from failure to protect claims and from claims regarding whether adequate food, clothing, shelter, and/or medical care was received. In Farmer, the Supreme Court stated:
In its prohibition [**4] of "cruel and unusual punishments," the Eighth Amendment places restraints on prison officials, who may not, for example, use excessive physical force against prisoners. See Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 117 L. Ed. 2d 156, 112 S. Ct. 995 (1992). The Amendment also imposes duties on these officials, who must provide humane conditions of confinement; prison officials must ensure that inmates receive adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, and must "take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the inmates."
Farmer, 511 U.S. at 832.
Based on the foregoing, the Clerk of Court is directed to file the plaintiffs papers and to cause the United States Marshal to serve copies of the Summons, Complaint, and this Order upon the named defendants without plaintiff's payment therefor. However, unpaid fees are recoverable if this action terminates by monetary award in the plaintiffs favor.
So ordered.
JOHN T. CURTIN
United States District Judge
Dated: January 20, 1998
97-CV-0931S(Sc)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
992 F. Supp. 592; 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1090
January 20, 1998, Decided
DISPOSITION: [**1] Plaintiff's requests to proceed in this court as a poor person granted.
COUNSEL: MARIE-ANN SENNETT, ESQ., of Counsel, PRISONERS' LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK, INC., Buffalo, New York, for Plaintiff.
JUDGES: JOHN T. CURTIN, United States District Judge.
OPINIONBY: JOHN T. CURTIN
OPINION:
[*592] ORDER
The plaintiff has requested permission to proceed in forma pauperis (Items 2 and 3) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ç 1915(a) and has both met the statutory requirements and furnished the court with a signed authorization. Accordingly, the plaintiff's requests to proceed in this court as a poor person are hereby granted.
When the court grants in forma pauperis status, section 1915 mandates that the court also must conduct an initial screening of the action to ensure that it goes forward only if it meets certain qualifications. 28 U.S.C. ç 1915(e)(2). Furthermore, Section 1915A states that when a complaint in a civil action is filed by a prisoner, the court shall review the complaint filed and dismiss any claims that are "frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. ç 1915A(b)(1).
A review of plaintiff's complaint reveals that plaintiff's claim is that defendants' [**2] punched, kicked, and forcibly beat plaintiff without provocation on the part of the plaintiff. In essence, plaintiff claims that his Eighth Amendment constitutional rights were violated when defendants used excessive force for no apparent reason.
The court is cognizant that the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. ç 1997e, [*593] requires a plaintiff to exhaust his administrative remedies before bringing a ç 1983 action with respect to "prison conditions." While the case law on this issue is sparse, the court is also cognizant that some courts have required a plaintiff to exhaust his administrative remedies before bringing a ç 1983 action with respect to prison conditions. See, e.g., Tafoya v. Simmons, 116 F.3d 489 (Table), 1997 WL 337513, at *2 (10th Cir. 1997) (inmate must exhaust administrative remedies regardless of whether or not the administrative action is futile); Midgette v. Doe, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15918, 1997 WL 634280 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 1997) (inmate must exhaust his administrative remedies in a failure to protect claim); Mitchell v. Gomez, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7968, 1997 WL 305273 (N.D. Cal. June 2, 1997) (inmate must exhaust administrative remedies for a claim that prison guards incited other inmates [**3] to assault him); McCoy v. Scott, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10409, 1997 WL 414185 (N.D. Cal. July 15, 1997) (inmate must exhaust administrative remedies for a claim that prison officials ignored his concerns about problems with his cellmate); Morgan v. Arizona Department of Corrections, 976 F. Supp. 892, 895-896 (D. Ariz. 1997) (inmate's claims that prison officials threatened his safety and allowed other inmates to assault him considered a prison condition and therefore must be grieved).
Notably, however, the claims in the cases cited above all concern facts where corrections officers "failed to protect" an inmate from other being assaulted by other inmates. The cases cited do not concern claims alleging that corrections officers themselves assaulted the plaintiff, in contrast to the case at bar. Under Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811, 114 S. Ct. 1970 (1994), assault claims are not claims that challenge the conditions of a prisoner's confinement. That is, assault claims are distinguishable from failure to protect claims and from claims regarding whether adequate food, clothing, shelter, and/or medical care was received. In Farmer, the Supreme Court stated:
In its prohibition [**4] of "cruel and unusual punishments," the Eighth Amendment places restraints on prison officials, who may not, for example, use excessive physical force against prisoners. See Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 117 L. Ed. 2d 156, 112 S. Ct. 995 (1992). The Amendment also imposes duties on these officials, who must provide humane conditions of confinement; prison officials must ensure that inmates receive adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, and must "take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the inmates."
Farmer, 511 U.S. at 832.
Based on the foregoing, the Clerk of Court is directed to file the plaintiffs papers and to cause the United States Marshal to serve copies of the Summons, Complaint, and this Order upon the named defendants without plaintiff's payment therefor. However, unpaid fees are recoverable if this action terminates by monetary award in the plaintiffs favor.
So ordered.
JOHN T. CURTIN
United States District Judge
Dated: January 20, 1998