The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS DIVISION
RICHARD PATTON PLAINTIFF
V. CIVIL NO. 6:18-cv-06121
PHILLIP GLOVER, WALTER WHITE and
ARKANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTION DEFENDANTS
ORDER
The Court has received a Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 8) from United States
Magistrate Judge Barry A. Bryant. Plaintiff has filed objections. Plaintiff, proceeding pro se and
in forma pauperis, provisionally filed the instant civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
against Defendant Arkansas Community Correction (ACC) Omega Supervision Sanction Center
and Defendants Phillip Glover and Walter White in their official and individual capacities as
employees of ACC (ECF No. 1.) This matter is ripe for review.
Plaintiff alleges his federal constitutional rights were violated when Defendants Glover
and White purposely submitted false statements and documents to state officials directly causing
the wrongful revocation of Plaintiff’s parole (Id. at 4-6). Plaintiff complains further that he was
denied the right to counsel and the right to have evidence in support of his defense presented to
the parole board for consideration at the hearing. Id. Plaintiff alleges that the parole revocation
proceedings were brought against him in retaliation for filing a complaint about a threat he
received from members of the Aryan Brotherhood. According to Plaintiff, “The Arkansas Parole
Board was used as a weapon in a hate crime…” (Id. at 6.) Based on Defendants’ false
representations, Plaintiff challenges the constitutionality of the parole revocation that caused him
to be arrested and imprisoned for one hundred eighty (180) days (Id.) Plaintiff seeks damages
and reversal of the revocation of his parole. Plaintiff asks to be returned to supervised release.
Id. at 17.
The Magistrate makes four recommendations. First, it is recommended that Plaintiff’s
claims against the ACC be dismissed, because States and state agencies are not “persons” subject
to suit under §1983. Howlett v. Rose, 496, U.S. 356 (1990); Will v. Mich. Dept. of State Police,
490 U.S. 58 (1989); McLean v. Gordon, 548 F.3d 613, 618 (8th Cir. 2008). Second, it is
recommended that Plaintiff’s official capacity claims against Defendants Glover and White be
dismissed, because an official capacity claim against an ACC employee is essentially a claim
against the State of Arkansas, and “[t]he Eleventh Amendment bars suits against a State by
citizens of that same State in federal court.” Williams v. Missouri, 973 F.2d 599, 599-600 (8th
Circ. 1992) (citing Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 276 (1986)). With regard to Plaintiff’s
request for an order reversing the parole revocation and returning him to supervised release, the
Magistrate cites Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), and recommends that Plaintiff’s claim
for this type of relief be dismissed without prejudice because “Plaintiff has not …made any
allegations that his parole revocation and incarceration have been overturned or otherwise
favorably terminated.” (Report & Recommendations 4, ECF No. 8.) Finally, the Magistrate
recommends that Plaintiff’s claim of retaliation against Defendants Glover and White be allowed
to proceed, because a disciplinary charge against a prisoner is actionable under section 1983 if
done in retaliation for exercising protected speech activities. See Rouse v. Benson, 193 F.3d 936,
939 (8th Cir. 1999).
The Court has conducted a de novo review of those portions of the report and recommendation to
which Plaintiff has objected. 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1). Plaintiff’s objections offer neither law nor fact requiring
departure from the Magistrate’s findings. The Report and Recommendation is proper, contains no clear
error, and is ADOPTED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff’s personal capacity claim against Defendants Glover
and White for First Amendment retaliation shall remain with the Court for further consideration. IT IS
FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s other claims are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 19th day of March 2019.
ROBERT T. DAWSON
SENIOR U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE