an action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it does not plead “enough facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face.”
How later courts described this case
- an action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it does not plead “enough facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
DARREN BROWN, #M50137, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. ) Case No. 3:22-cv-01321-SMY
)
CODY PIPER, )
JOSHUA CRAWFORD, )
KEVIN T. JOHNSON, and )
NATHAN ATTEBURY, )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
YANDLE, District Judge:
Plaintiff Darren Brown, an inmate of the Illinois Department of Corrections, filed the
instant lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging deprivations of his constitutional rights at
Lawrence Correctional Center. Following preliminary review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the
Complaint was dismissed for failure to state a claim and Plaintiff was granted leave to file a First
Amended Complaint (Doc. 10). The First Amended Complaint is now before the Court for §
1915A review.1
First Amended Complaint
Plaintiff makes the following allegations in the First Amended Complaint (Doc. 15):
Plaintiff was issued a disciplinary report following an investigation by Internal Affairs Officers
Cody Piper and Joshua Crawford. According to Piper and Crawford, confidential sources stated
Plaintiff was responsible for distributing synthetic marijuana in Lawrence Correctional Center.
1 Any portion of the Complaint that is legally frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim for relief, or requests money
damages from an immune defendant must be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).
Plaintiff was found guilty after a hearing before Adjustment Committee Members Kevin Johnson
and Nathan Attebury and given three months segregation and six months contact visit restriction.
Based on the allegations in the First Amended Complaint, the Court designates the
following claim in this pro se action:2
Count 1: Fourteenth Amendment claim against Piper, Crawford, Johnson,
and Attebury for due process violations in the disciplinary
proceedings against Plaintiff including issuing a false disciplinary
report, withholding evidence, relying on misleading evidence from
confidential sources, and finding Plaintiff guilty without sufficient
evidence
Discussion
To state a procedural due process claim under the Fourteenth Amendment, a plaintiff must
show that the state deprived him of a constitutionally protected interest in “life, liberty, or
property” without due process of law. Zinermon v. Burch, 494 U.S. 113, 125 (1990) (emphasis
added). A court analyzing an alleged due process claim in the context of prison disciplinary
hearings considers: (1) whether there was a protected interest at stake that necessitated due process
protections; and (2) whether the disciplinary hearing was conducted in accordance with procedural
due process requirements. Id.
Plaintiff’s original Complaint was dismissed because he did not allege facts showing that
a protected interest was implicated. In assessing whether disciplinary segregation triggers a
protected interest, the Court looks to the length of a prisoner's confinement in segregation in
combination with the conditions he endured there. See Kervin v. Barnes, 787 F.3d 833, 836-37
(7th Cir. 2015). Here, there are no allegations regarding the conditions of Plaintiff’s confinement
2Any claim that is mentioned in the Complaint but not addressed in this Order is dismissed without prejudice as
inadequately pled under the Twombly pleading standard. See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570
(2007) (an action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it does not plead “enough facts to state a
claim that is plausible on its face.”).
in segregation. And three months in segregation, standing alone, does not implicate a protected
liberty interest. See Marion v. Columbia Corr. Inst., 559 F3d 693, 698 (7th Cir. 2009).
Additionally, a six month contact visit restriction does not implicate a protected interest. See
Overton v. Bazzetta, 539 U.S. 126, 136 (2003). As a result, Plaintiff once again fails to state a
claim. The First Amended Complaint will be dismissed and Plaintiff will be given a final
opportunity to address the deficiency the Court identified in his Complaint and First Amended
Complaint.
Disposition
The First Amended Complaint (Doc. 15) is DISMISSED without prejudice for failure to
state a claim for relief. Plaintiff is GRANTED leave to file a Second Amended Complaint by
September 21, 2022.
Should Plaintiff file a Second Amended Complaint, it is strongly recommended that he use
the civil rights complaint form designed for use in this District. He should label the form
“Second Amended Complaint” and use the case number for this action (No. 22-1321). The
Second Amended Complaint will be subject to review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. To facilitate
Plaintiff’s compliance with this Order, the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to mail him a civil rights
complaint form.
An amended complaint supersedes and replaces the original complaint, rendering the
original complaint void. See Flannery v. Recording Indus. Ass’n of Am., 354 F.3d 632, 638 n. 1
(7th Cir. 2004). Therefore, the Court will not accept piecemeal amendments to a previously filed
Complaint. The Second Amended Complaint must stand on its own, without reference to any
previous pleading. Plaintiff should attach any exhibits that he wishes to submit with the Second
Amended Complaint.
If Plaintiff fails to file his Second Amended Complaint within the allotted time or
consistent with the instructions set forth in this Order, the case will be dismissed with prejudice
for failure to state a claim for relief, failure to comply with a court order, and for failure to prosecute
his claims. The dismissal will count as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
If judgment is rendered against Plaintiff and the judgment includes the payment of costs
under 28 U.S.C. §1915, he will be required to pay the full amount of the costs. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(f)(2)(A).
Plaintiff is under a continuing obligation to keep the Clerk of Court informed of any change
in his address; the Court will not independently investigate his whereabouts. This shall be done in
writing and not later than 7 days after a transfer or other change in address occurs. Failure to
comply with this order will cause a delay in the transmission of court documents and may result
in dismissal of this action for want of prosecution. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: August 22, 2022
s/ Staci M. Yandle_____
STACI M. YANDLE
United States District Judge