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Jail Discrimination Violates Equal Protection
The Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that different treatment of similarly situated prisoners because of their race, states an equal protection claim.
In 1998, Ricky L. Powells, a black prisoner, filed three separate lawsuits alleging that several defendants violated his rights during his incarceration at the Minnehaha County Jail. The actions were consolidated and dismissed pursuant to §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) for failure to state a claim. Subsequently, Powells filed two more complaints, which were dismissed under the "three strikes" rule when Powells failed to pay the filing fees. On appeal, the court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part.
In one of his initial complaints Powells alleged, inter alia, that guard #084 granted his white cellmate's request for an extra blanket and mattress while denying his request, even though they both followed the same procedure; that although he and another prisoner participated in the same conduct, guard Farinol, for racially discriminatory reasons, singled him out for placement in segregation; and, that guards Mison and Forrester opened his legal mail out of his presence.
The appeals court held that the first two allegations were of different treatment of similarly situated persons and thus stated a claim under the equal protection clause. The court also held that the opening of legal mail when the prisoner is not present states a (unidentified but presumably first amendment) constitutional claim. With regard to these issues, the court reversed and remanded with instructions. With regard to all remaining claims, the court affirmed. Finally, because the court reinstated one of Powells' complaints, that action eliminated one of the "three strikes" that was the basis of the dismissal of the latter filed cases. Therefore, the court ordered those cases reinstated. See: Powells v Minnehaha County Sheriff Dept., 198 F.3d 711 (8th Cir.1999).
In 1998, Ricky L. Powells, a black prisoner, filed three separate lawsuits alleging that several defendants violated his rights during his incarceration at the Minnehaha County Jail. The actions were consolidated and dismissed pursuant to §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) for failure to state a claim. Subsequently, Powells filed two more complaints, which were dismissed under the "three strikes" rule when Powells failed to pay the filing fees. On appeal, the court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part.
In one of his initial complaints Powells alleged, inter alia, that guard #084 granted his white cellmate's request for an extra blanket and mattress while denying his request, even though they both followed the same procedure; that although he and another prisoner participated in the same conduct, guard Farinol, for racially discriminatory reasons, singled him out for placement in segregation; and, that guards Mison and Forrester opened his legal mail out of his presence.
The appeals court held that the first two allegations were of different treatment of similarly situated persons and thus stated a claim under the equal protection clause. The court also held that the opening of legal mail when the prisoner is not present states a (unidentified but presumably first amendment) constitutional claim. With regard to these issues, the court reversed and remanded with instructions. With regard to all remaining claims, the court affirmed. Finally, because the court reinstated one of Powells' complaints, that action eliminated one of the "three strikes" that was the basis of the dismissal of the latter filed cases. Therefore, the court ordered those cases reinstated. See: Powells v Minnehaha County Sheriff Dept., 198 F.3d 711 (8th Cir.1999).
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Related legal case
Powells v. Minnehaha County Sheriff Dept.
| Year | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 198 F.3d 711 (8th Cir. 1999) |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
198 F.3D 711
Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. Minnehaha County Sheriff Department; Minnehaha County Jail Medical Staff; Sgt. Olson, Minnehaha County Sheriff Dept.; J.P. Jacobsen, Officer, Minnehaha Sheriff Dept.; Brad Farinol, Officer, Minnehaha Sheriff Dept.; Tina Cordes, Officer, Minnehaha Sheriff Dept., Appellees. Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. Doug Arntz, Minnehaha County Deputy; Bruce Swann, Assistant Minnehaha County Sheriff; Minnehaha County Jail; Minnehaha Disciplinary Board; Minnehaha Sheriff's Department; Mike Milstead; Sgt. Olson, Appellees. Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. McKennan Hospital, Sponsor for Minnehaha County Jail or Sheriff Dept.; Dr. Schaefer, Center for Family Medicine, Appellees. Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. Jeff Bloomberg, Dept. of Corrections Secretary; Douglas Weber, Warden; Col. Spurell; Mary Burggraaf; Amy Burielson; Jan Wienkauf; Jan Brinker, Appellees.
No. 99-2029SD, No. 99-2032SD, No. 99-2034SD, No. 99-3352SD
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
198 F.3d 711; 1999 U.S. App.
November 2, 1999, Submitted
December 20, 1999, Filed
PRIOR HISTORY: [**1] On Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. CIV 98-4160, CIV 98-4136, 98-4200, 98-4233. Honorable John B. Jones.
DISPOSITION: Affirmed in part, and reversed and remanded in part.
COUNSEL: Counsel who represented the appellant was not represented by counsel.
Counsel who represented the appellee was not represented by counsel.
JUDGES: Before McMILLIAN, RICHARD S. ARNOLD, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges.
OPINION: [*712] PER CURIAM.
In these consolidated appeals, South Dakota inmate Ricky Powells appeals from the District Court's order dismissing his three consolidated actions for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) (Appeal Nos. 99-2029, 99-2032, and 99-2034) and from the District Court's order dismissing Powells's other two consolidated actions for failure to pay the filing fee (Appeal No. 99-3352). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand to the District Court.
In August, September, and November 1998, Powells, a black man, filed three actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that a number of defendants violated his constitutional rights during his incarceration at the Minnehaha County Jail (D. Ct. Nos. 98-4136, 98-4160, and 98-4200.) In each of the three cases, Powells filed an in forma pauperis (IFP) application, which the [**2] District Court granted. The District Court consolidated the actions and dismissed them pursuant to sections 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. In December 1998, Powells filed two additional section 1983 actions arising from his incarceration in the South Dakota State Prison (D. Ct. Nos. 98-4233 and 98-4235.) The District Court consolidated the actions and, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), denied Powells's request to file the actions IFP because the Court had dismissed the prior three section 1983 actions. The District Court notified Powells that failure to pay the entire filing fee would result in dismissal of the actions. Powells did not pay the filing fee, and the court dismissed the cases.
After our de novo review, see Cooper v. Schriro, 189 F.3d 781, 783 (8th Cir. 1999) (§ 1915A dismissal reviewed de novo), we conclude that some of the allegations Powells made in case no. 98-4160 stated a claim. First, Powells alleged that he and his white cellmate, who followed the same procedures in requesting an extra mattress and extra blanket, were similarly situated and that Officer # [**3] 084, for racial reasons, denied his, but granted the white inmate's, request for the items. We conclude that these allegations stated an equal-protection claim. Cf. Nash v. Black, 781 F.2d 665, 668-69 (8th Cir. 1986) (reversing § 1915(d) (now § 1915(e)) dismissal where inmate-plaintiff simply alleged discrimination where similarly situated inmates received furloughs while plaintiff did not). Similarly, Powells alleged that defendant Officer Farinol placed him in solitary confinement for racially discriminatory reasons. This allegation was sufficient to state an equal-protection claim because Powells alleged that he was treated differently from another inmate involved in the same conduct. See Moore v. Clarke, 821 F.2d 518, 519 (8th Cir. 1987) (spirit of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is to discourage pleading of evidence; whether allegations are true and provable is left to further development of case). Powells also stated a constitutional claim when he alleged that Officers Mison and Forrester opened his "legal mail" when he was not present. See Jensen v. Klecker, 648 F.2d 1179, 1182 (8th Cir. 1981) (legal mail, mail to and from [**4] inmate's attorney and identified as such, may not be opened except in prisoner's presence (citing Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 576-77, 41 L. Ed. 2d 935, 94 S. Ct. 2963 (1974))). Therefore, we reverse and remand the order of the District Court as to Powells's claims against Officer # 084 for denial of a blanket and mattress, against Farinol for discriminatory discipline, and against Mison and Forrester for alleged interference with legal mail, and we instruct the District Court to grant Powells leave to amend his complaint to add Officer # 084, if he or she can be identified by name, Mison, and Forrester as defendants. [*713]
In all other respects, we affirm the dismissal of the remaining claims in No. 98-4160, and the dismissals of Nos. 98-4136 and 98-4200 in their entirety, as the allegations in these actions either fail to state a claim or are duplicative of the claims in No. 98-4160. See Aziz v. Burrows, 976 F.2d 1158, 1158-59 (8th Cir. 1992) (approving § 1915(d) (now § 1915(e)) dismissal of duplicative complaint).
The reversal as to some of Powells's claims in No. 98-4160 eliminates one of the "three strikes" that was the basis for the District [**5] Court's dismissal of the two later-filed cases. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) (discussing dismissal of "an action"); Moore v. Doan, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19624, No. 98 C-2307, 1998 WL 887089, at *5 (N. D. Ill. Dec. 10, 1998) ("dismissing a claim or a party from a case is not dismissing an Accordingly, we reverse and remand these actions for further proceedings so that Powells may proceed IFP in these cases in the District Court, if he qualifies for IFP status.
Accordingly, we affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.
Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. Minnehaha County Sheriff Department; Minnehaha County Jail Medical Staff; Sgt. Olson, Minnehaha County Sheriff Dept.; J.P. Jacobsen, Officer, Minnehaha Sheriff Dept.; Brad Farinol, Officer, Minnehaha Sheriff Dept.; Tina Cordes, Officer, Minnehaha Sheriff Dept., Appellees. Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. Doug Arntz, Minnehaha County Deputy; Bruce Swann, Assistant Minnehaha County Sheriff; Minnehaha County Jail; Minnehaha Disciplinary Board; Minnehaha Sheriff's Department; Mike Milstead; Sgt. Olson, Appellees. Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. McKennan Hospital, Sponsor for Minnehaha County Jail or Sheriff Dept.; Dr. Schaefer, Center for Family Medicine, Appellees. Ricky L. Powells, Appellant, v. Jeff Bloomberg, Dept. of Corrections Secretary; Douglas Weber, Warden; Col. Spurell; Mary Burggraaf; Amy Burielson; Jan Wienkauf; Jan Brinker, Appellees.
No. 99-2029SD, No. 99-2032SD, No. 99-2034SD, No. 99-3352SD
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
198 F.3d 711; 1999 U.S. App.
November 2, 1999, Submitted
December 20, 1999, Filed
PRIOR HISTORY: [**1] On Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. CIV 98-4160, CIV 98-4136, 98-4200, 98-4233. Honorable John B. Jones.
DISPOSITION: Affirmed in part, and reversed and remanded in part.
COUNSEL: Counsel who represented the appellant was not represented by counsel.
Counsel who represented the appellee was not represented by counsel.
JUDGES: Before McMILLIAN, RICHARD S. ARNOLD, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges.
OPINION: [*712] PER CURIAM.
In these consolidated appeals, South Dakota inmate Ricky Powells appeals from the District Court's order dismissing his three consolidated actions for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) (Appeal Nos. 99-2029, 99-2032, and 99-2034) and from the District Court's order dismissing Powells's other two consolidated actions for failure to pay the filing fee (Appeal No. 99-3352). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand to the District Court.
In August, September, and November 1998, Powells, a black man, filed three actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that a number of defendants violated his constitutional rights during his incarceration at the Minnehaha County Jail (D. Ct. Nos. 98-4136, 98-4160, and 98-4200.) In each of the three cases, Powells filed an in forma pauperis (IFP) application, which the [**2] District Court granted. The District Court consolidated the actions and dismissed them pursuant to sections 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. In December 1998, Powells filed two additional section 1983 actions arising from his incarceration in the South Dakota State Prison (D. Ct. Nos. 98-4233 and 98-4235.) The District Court consolidated the actions and, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), denied Powells's request to file the actions IFP because the Court had dismissed the prior three section 1983 actions. The District Court notified Powells that failure to pay the entire filing fee would result in dismissal of the actions. Powells did not pay the filing fee, and the court dismissed the cases.
After our de novo review, see Cooper v. Schriro, 189 F.3d 781, 783 (8th Cir. 1999) (§ 1915A dismissal reviewed de novo), we conclude that some of the allegations Powells made in case no. 98-4160 stated a claim. First, Powells alleged that he and his white cellmate, who followed the same procedures in requesting an extra mattress and extra blanket, were similarly situated and that Officer # [**3] 084, for racial reasons, denied his, but granted the white inmate's, request for the items. We conclude that these allegations stated an equal-protection claim. Cf. Nash v. Black, 781 F.2d 665, 668-69 (8th Cir. 1986) (reversing § 1915(d) (now § 1915(e)) dismissal where inmate-plaintiff simply alleged discrimination where similarly situated inmates received furloughs while plaintiff did not). Similarly, Powells alleged that defendant Officer Farinol placed him in solitary confinement for racially discriminatory reasons. This allegation was sufficient to state an equal-protection claim because Powells alleged that he was treated differently from another inmate involved in the same conduct. See Moore v. Clarke, 821 F.2d 518, 519 (8th Cir. 1987) (spirit of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is to discourage pleading of evidence; whether allegations are true and provable is left to further development of case). Powells also stated a constitutional claim when he alleged that Officers Mison and Forrester opened his "legal mail" when he was not present. See Jensen v. Klecker, 648 F.2d 1179, 1182 (8th Cir. 1981) (legal mail, mail to and from [**4] inmate's attorney and identified as such, may not be opened except in prisoner's presence (citing Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 576-77, 41 L. Ed. 2d 935, 94 S. Ct. 2963 (1974))). Therefore, we reverse and remand the order of the District Court as to Powells's claims against Officer # 084 for denial of a blanket and mattress, against Farinol for discriminatory discipline, and against Mison and Forrester for alleged interference with legal mail, and we instruct the District Court to grant Powells leave to amend his complaint to add Officer # 084, if he or she can be identified by name, Mison, and Forrester as defendants. [*713]
In all other respects, we affirm the dismissal of the remaining claims in No. 98-4160, and the dismissals of Nos. 98-4136 and 98-4200 in their entirety, as the allegations in these actions either fail to state a claim or are duplicative of the claims in No. 98-4160. See Aziz v. Burrows, 976 F.2d 1158, 1158-59 (8th Cir. 1992) (approving § 1915(d) (now § 1915(e)) dismissal of duplicative complaint).
The reversal as to some of Powells's claims in No. 98-4160 eliminates one of the "three strikes" that was the basis for the District [**5] Court's dismissal of the two later-filed cases. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) (discussing dismissal of "an action"); Moore v. Doan, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19624, No. 98 C-2307, 1998 WL 887089, at *5 (N. D. Ill. Dec. 10, 1998) ("dismissing a claim or a party from a case is not dismissing an Accordingly, we reverse and remand these actions for further proceedings so that Powells may proceed IFP in these cases in the District Court, if he qualifies for IFP status.
Accordingly, we affirm in part, and reverse and remand in part.