The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
1:18-cv-00180-FDW
ASHTON FLETCHER BRANCH
HARRIS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. )
) ORDER
)
CLEVELAND F. RIDDLE, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
____________________________________ )
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on Motion for Summary Judgment by
Defendants Riddle, Grindstaff, Harris, and Slater [Doc. 33] and on Plaintiff’s Motion for Copies
[Doc. 42].
I. BACKGROUND
A. Procedural Background
Pro se Plaintiff Ashton Fletcher Branch Harris (“Plaintiff”), a North Carolina inmate
currently incarcerated at Alexander Correctional Institution in Taylorsville, North Carolina, filed
this action on June 26, 2018, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff named the following
individuals as Defendants in this matter: (1) Cleveland F. Riddle, identified as a Lieutenant at
Mountain View Correctional Institution (“Mountain View”); (2) Tommy Harris, identified as a
correctional officer at Mountain View; (3) FNU Grindstaff, identified as a Captain at Mountain
View; and (4) FNU Slater, identified as a psychologist at Mountain View. [Doc. 1 at 2-3]. Plaintiff
alleges that, on April 19, 2018, Defendants used excessive force against Plaintiff, failed to
intervene in the use of excessive, force, and subjected Plaintiff to cruel and unusual punishment
through his conditions of confinement, all in violation of Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights
while he was incarcerated at Mountain View. [Doc. 1]. Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive
damages. [Doc. 1 at 8]. The Plaintiff’s complaint survived initial review under 28 U.S.C. §
1915(e)(2). [Doc. 10].
On July 9, 2019, Defendants filed the pending summary judgment motion. [Doc. 33]. This
Court entered an Order pursuant to Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975), granting
Petitioner fourteen days to respond to the summary judgment motion. [See Docs. 36, 40]. Plaintiff
timely filed his response to Defendants’ motion. [See Doc. 41]. On November 14, 2019, Plaintiff
filed a letter with the Court [Doc. 42], which the Court construes as a motion for copies of all
documents filed in the docket in this matter and a request for a status update in this case.
B. Factual Background
1. Defendants’ Summary Judgment Materials
In support of the summary judgment motion, Defendants rely on incident reports by various
correctional officers and other witnesses submitted following the incident, Plaintiff’s medical and
mental health records, other prison records and policies, and the affidavits of Tommy Buchanan,
Robert Mask, and Janet Ray and Defendants Grindstaff, Harris, Riddle and Slater. [See Docs.35-
1 through 35-7]. Defendants’ forecast of evidence shows the following:
Sometime on or around April 15, 2018, Plaintiff began a hunger strike to protest his lack
of access to certain medications and mental health care. [Doc. 35-5 at 20]. In addition to the
hunger strike, Plaintiff had engaged in self-injurious behavior (“SIB”) and claimed that he was
going to harm himself. [Doc. 35-7 at ¶ 8: Slater Affidavit]. As a result, Plaintiff was placed on
SIB precautions by Dr. Nicole Prior, a psychologist, on April 18, 2018. [Id. at ¶ 8; Id. at 9]. At
this time, the Mental Health standard operating procedures (“SOP”) were employed in caring for
the Plaintiff. [Id. at ¶ 8]. Dr. Prior, in her note recommending SIB precautions, states:
[Plaintiff] appears to be[ ] trying to manipulate the system and to
gain treatment that he wants by claiming to be suicidal. He has done
this several time[s] while being housed at [Alexander Correctional
Institution] [i]n addition to going on hunger strikes. He has poor
coping skills and difficulty with impulse control. Both he and
another inmate appear to be mimicking each other in hopes of
achieving their goal of being released from ICONN.
[Id. at 8].
The next day, April 19, 2018, Plaintiff remained on SIB precautions. [Id. at ¶ 9]. SIB
precautions require that a custody officer must continuously monitor the inmate. To do so, the
custody official must be able to see the inmate. That is, the inmate’s body cannot be entirely
covered. [Id.]. Under SIB precautions, an inmate must be seen by a psychology staff member
every 24 hours. [Id. at ¶ 10]. Further, under Mental Health SOP, an inmate placed on SIB
precautions is provided a safety blanket, safety smock, and safety mattress. All other materials are
to be removed unless authorized by a mental health clinician. [Id. at 14].
Defendant Slater is a licensed psychology associate employed by the North Carolina
Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) at Mountain View. [Id. at ¶ 3]. Defendant Slater has a
bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology. [Id. at ¶ 4].
Defendant Slater has been employed with the NCDPS as a psychologist for 19 years. [Id. at ¶ 5].
On the morning of April 19, 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Defendant Slater went to
the restricted housing unit (RHU) where Plaintiff was being housed for a 24-hour SIB check. [Id.
at ¶ 11]. When Defendant Slater arrived at the RHU that morning, she was informed that Plaintiff
was observed by custody staff covering his entire body with the safety blanket. [Id. at ¶ 12; Id. at
7; Doc. 35-6 at ¶ 5(d): Riddle Affidavit]. Plaintiff had been repeatedly told that he needed to
uncover at least his head so that he could be observed as “safe” according to SIB precautions.
[Doc. 35-7 at ¶ 12; Id. at 7; see Doc. 35-6 at ¶ 5(d)]. Plaintiff refused to comply. [Id. at ¶ 12; Id.
at 7]. Defendant Slater approached Plaintiff’s cell with custodial staff and Plaintiff refused to
respond to Defendant Slater. Plaintiff kept himself completely obscured. [Id. at ¶ 13; Id. at 7; see
Doc. 35-6 at ¶ 5(d)]. Thereafter, Defendant Slater instructed the custodial staff to take way the
safety blanket. Plaintiff complied, but then used the safety smock in the same manner as he had
used the safety blanket. The smock was, therefore, also removed. [Id. at ¶ 15; Id. at 7; Doc. 35-6
at ¶ 5(e)-(h)]. Next, Plaintiff used his safety mattress in the same manner, preventing custodial
staff from observing him. The safety mattress, therefore, was also removed for safety and security
purposes for the proper observation of Plaintiff. [Id. at ¶¶ 16, 17; Id. at 7; Doc. 35-6 at ¶ 5(i)].
At approximately 9:20 a.m., Defendant Riddle decided to move Plaintiff from cell S-111
to S-109. [Doc. 35-6 at ¶ 5(j)]. Plaintiff was given a pair of boxer shorts for the transfer between
these cells. [Id. at ¶ 5(l)]. At or around 12:00 p.m., Plaintiff refused an evaluation related to his
hunger strike by Physicians Assistant Jeffrey Patane, including all interactions with mental health
and medical care providers, all health screenings, and all medications. [Doc. 35-5 at 19].
At approximately 1:00 p.m., a radio call advised correctional staff that Plaintiff was
repeatedly flushing the toilet in his cell. [Doc. 35-3 at ¶¶ 4-6: Harris Declaration]. At the time,
Plaintiff was in cell S-109 and Defendant Harris and Assistant Unit Manager Robert Mask were
in the prison intake area. They both went to Plaintiff’s cell. [Id. at ¶¶ 4-6; Doc. 35-4 at ¶¶ 5(a)-
(b)]. When they arrived, Mask looked through the window of the cell and saw that Plaintiff had
his head in the toilet and was flushing it repeatedly. [Id. at ¶ 5(c)]. Mask knocked on Plaintiff’s
window. Plaintiff responded by looking up and then placing his head back into the toilet. [Id. at
¶ 5(d)]. Mask then instructed Defendant Harris to turn off the water to Plaintiff’s cell, which he
did. [Doc. 35-3 at ¶¶ 4-6; Doc. 35-4 at ¶ 5(e)]. After Plaintiff ceased flushing his own head in the
toilet, he began banging his head on the cell door, attempting to harm himself. [Doc. 35-2 at ¶
5(d); Doc. 35-4 at ¶ 5(e)]. At this time, Plaintiff refused orders to stop banging his head on the
cell door and to submit to handcuffs. [Id. at ¶ 5(e)-(f)]. Defendant Grindstaff arrived and ordered
the Plaintiff to submit to handcuffs or Plaintiff would be pepper sprayed. [Id. at ¶ 5(g); Doc. 35-4
at ¶ 5(f)]. Plaintiff then submitted to handcuffs and was given a pair of boxer shorts to be escorted
to an intake holding cell where he would be placed in four-point restraints for his own safety. [Id.
at ¶ 5(h)-(i)]. The use of four-point restraints was approved by Lieutenant Tommy Buchanan, who
was the officer in charge on the day of the incident. [Doc. 35-1 at 40; see id. at ¶ 5: Buchanan
Affidavit].
At approximately 1:45 p.m., four-point restraints were applied to Plaintiff. [Id. at 40].
Defendant Harris, while other officers were restraining Plaintiff so that the restraints could be
applied, placed a safety helmet on Plaintiff. Placement of a safety helmet is standard and
customary in this situation. [Doc. 35-3 at ¶ 10]. The application of the restraints was without
incident, other than Plaintiff using profanity toward the staff, calling them a bunch of “Hillbilly
Mother Fuckers.” [Doc. 35-6 at ¶ 5(u)]. Plaintiff also told the prison staff they were incompetent
and tried to direct the staff on how to apply the restraints. [Id. at ¶ 5(v)].
Defendant Harris had no other involvement in getting Plaintiff out of cell S-109, in
escorting Plaintiff to the intake cell, in placing Plaintiff on the bed there, or in applying the four-
point restraints. [Doc. 35-3 at ¶¶ 7, 8, 9]. Specifically, Defendant Harris did not hit, punch, kick,
or use any other force on Plaintiff, nor did Defendant Harris witness any other staff using any force
on Plaintiff beyond that which was necessary to escort him to the intake cell and restrain him while
the four-point restraints were applied. [Id. at ¶ 12]. Further, any force used on Plaintiff was
necessary to achieve a correctional goal and was not excessive. [Id. at ¶ 13; Doc. 35-4 at ¶ 6].
Defendant Grindstaff was not present for the application of the restraints, as there were
several supervisors on site at the time, including Lieutenant Buchanan, Assistant Unit Manager
Mask, Lieutenant Riddle, and Brett Bullis. [Doc. 35-2 at ¶ 5(j)]. Further, Defendant Grindstaff
did not witness any staff cursing at or smacking, punching, kneeing, or choking Plaintiff. [Id. at ¶
5(k)].
Nurse Janet Ray, RN, reported promptly to RHU to check Plaintiff’s restraints and to
ensure Plaintiff was not in distress. [Doc. 35-1 at 8; Doc. 35-5 at ¶ 5]. This is standard and required
procedure when four-point restraints are used. [Doc. 35-5 at ¶ 5]. Nurse Ray reported that Plaintiff
had adequate capillary refill to his fingers, and that she was able to get her fingers under the
restraints on Plaintiff’s wrist and ankles. [Doc. 35-1 at 8; Doc. 35-5 at ¶ 6]. As such, Nurse Ray
determined that the four-point restraints were appropriately and safely applied. [Doc. 35-5 at ¶ 6].
Nurse Ray was not informed that there was a use-of-force incident nor did she notice any injuries
or marks on Plaintiff. [Id. at ¶ 7]. Further, Plaintiff did not complain to Nurse Ray about any
injuries at this time. [Id. at ¶ 7].
At 4:00 p.m., while he was in four-point restraints, Plaintiff was seen by Staff Psychologist
Rich Bruner to ensure Plaintiff was calm and of limited danger to attending officers so that Plaintiff
could take his scheduled bathroom break. [Doc. 35-7 at 6]. At that time, Plaintiff’s safety smock
had been returned and Plaintiff seemed to be returning to a calm, lucid state. [Id. at ¶ 19].
Psychologist Bruner noted that Plaintiff “reported recently ‘waking up’ to find himself [in] 4 point
restraints. He states he does not remember actions from this morning which led to his current
state.” [Id. at 6].
At approximately 5:30 p.m., due to Plaintiff’s improved behavior, the four-point restraints
were removed. Plaintiff was placed in full mechanical restraints at this time. [Doc. 35-1 at 6; Id.
at 37]. At 7:30 p.m., due to continued improved behavior, Plaintiff’s connecting chain was
removed. Then, at 9:30 p.m., Plaintiff’s leg restraints were removed. At 11:30 p.m., Plaintiff’s
waist chain and block box were removed. Finally, on April 20, 2018, at 1:00 a.m., Plaintiff’s
handcuffs were removed. [Doc. 35-1 at 6].
Defendant Slater saw Plaintiff the next morning, April 20, 2018, at approximately 9:00
a.m. [Doc. 35-7 at ¶ 20]. Plaintiff was in his cell, out of restraints, and had his safety apron,
blanket, and mattress. At this visit, Plaintiff stated to Defendant Slater, “I really had a bad day
yesterday.” Plaintiff also apologized to Defendant Slater “if I was rude.” [Id. at 5]. Plaintiff
remained on SIB precautions until April 22, 2018. [Id.; id. at ¶ 21]. Plaintiff did not return to SIB
precautions during the remainder of his incarceration at Mountain View. [Id. at ¶ 21].
Plaintiff had several other medical and mental health encounters in the days following the
alleged incident. Plaintiff, however, did not complain of or even mention the alleged use of
excessive force or any injuries therefrom until eight days later.
On April 20, 2018, at approximately 11 p.m., Plaintiff was seen by Nurse Deborah Huskins,
RN, for a hunger strike assessment. Plaintiff was on day five of his hunger strike. [Doc. 35-5 at
16]. Plaintiff allowed his vital signs to be taken and a urine dipstick to be done, but he refused a
blood check. [Id.]. The urine dipstick results showed indications of dehydration. [Id. at 17].
Plaintiff initially agreed to go to local emergency room for further assessment and treatment, but
then refused to go. Plaintiff stated he just wants to see a dietician and a mental health provider
again. [Id.]. Plaintiff, however, made no complaints regarding any alleged use of excessive force
during this encounter. [See id. at 16].
On April 21, 2018, at around 9:00 a.m., Plaintiff was seen in RHU by Nurse Lora Winegar,
RN. Nurse Winegar encouraged Plaintiff to go to the hospital for IV fluids and/or to end his hunger
strike. [Doc. 35-5 at 12]. Plaintiff refused and stated:
I’m on a hunger strike because I want treatment by mental health. I
wanted to be admitted to the mental health floor and get my
medications back. I was on Thorazine and Clozapine before and my
order expired and it was never renewed. When I go without these
medications I black out. The other day I blacked out and woke up
in 4 point restraints. I am afraid that I am going to black out and
never wake up. I know it is not good to go without eating and
drinking but I have to do this to get my treatment. I am willing to
do whatever I have to do to get this mental health treatment.
[Id.]. Nurse Winegar noted that “[n]o records were found of the inmate being one either one of
these medications.” [Id.]. Plaintiff made no complaints regarding any alleged use of excessive
force during this encounter. [See Doc. 35-5].
Later that day, at 5:45 p.m., Nurse Tommy Hughes, RN, assessed the Plaintiff in RHU.
Plaintiff complaint of stomach pain and cramps. Plaintiff stated that he drank about three cups of
water earlier that day. All Plaintiff’s vital signs were within normal limits and no acute distress
was noted. [Id. at 11]. Again, Plaintiff made no complaints regarding any alleged use of excessive
force during this encounter. [See id. at 11].
On or around April 22, 2018, Plaintiff ended his hunger strike and resumed eating. [Doc.
35-5 at 10]. On April 25, 2018, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Plaintiff was examined by P.A. Patane
secondary to the end of Plaintiff’s most recent hunger strike. Plaintiff had no complaints or
symptoms relative to his hunger strike. [Id. at 7]. And, again, Plaintiff made no complaints
regarding any alleged use of excessive force during this encounter. [See id. at 7].
Finally, on April 28, 2018, Plaintiff was seen my medical staff in response to a grievance
he had filed. At this visit, Plaintiff complained to Nurse Tamara Allen, RN, that, on April 19,
2018, “while being placed in restraints that staff kicked, punched and beat him in the head.
[Plaintiff] states that his neck and lower back are hurt and now causing him pain.” [Id. at 4]. Nurse
Allen examined Plaintiff from head to toe and noted no injuries. Nurse Allen also noted that
Plaintiff “has full range of motion to all extremities with no deformity or visible injuries.” [Id.].
2. Plaintiff’s Summary Judgment Materials
In opposition to Defendants’ summary judgment motion, Plaintiff has submitted a brief,
his own sworn declaration and various exhibits thereto, including prison records, prison policies,
medical records, sick call appointment requests, Defendants’ discovery responses, and a list of
“Case law in support of Plaintiffs [sic] Response.”1 [Docs. 41, 41-1 through 41-17]. Plaintiff’s
forecast of evidence shows, in pertinent part, as follows:2
On April 13, 2018, Plaintiff was transferred to Mountain View and placed in cell N-212.
[Doc. 41-3 at 2: “Affidavit”]. Plaintiff began to have a panic attack and heard voices. Plaintiff
notified a staff member that he was having thoughts of harming himself. The staff member closed
the slider on Plaintiff’s cell window and walked away. Plaintiff then began to kick his cell door
until Lieutenant Buchanan came to Plaintiff’s cell. [Id.]. Lieutenant Buchanan returned with
several other staff members and a mental health provider. Plaintiff was transferred to cell S-111
and placed on suicide precautions. [Id.]. At some point thereafter but before April 15, 2018,
Plaintiff was taken off suicide precautions. [See id. at 2].
On April 15, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., Plaintiff reported to the officer in charge that he had come
off suicide precautions “too soon” and did not feel safe with himself. Plaintiff was then placed
1 Plaintiff also submits an “Addendum” with his summary judgment materials in which he alleges additional
adverse conditions of confinement. [Doc. 41-3 at 7-8]. The Court will not consider this Addendum, as
these additional allegations were not included in Plaintiff’s original Complaint and do not relate to the
transactions or occurrences that were put at issue in Plaintiff’s original Complaint. Further, these
allegations are not made against any particular individual, in any event, and do not even reference the
Defendants in this matter.
2 In the interest of efficiency, the Court does not include Plaintiff’s forecast of evidence that does not conflict
with Defendants’ forecast in any meaingful way.
back on suicide precautions. [Doc. 41-12 at 2]. In a Self-Injury Risk Assessment interview with
Psychologist Bruner, Plaintiff reported “that his life was filled with taking advantage of and hurting
other people and he would probably just do that again so he ought to just stay where he was and
die.” [Id.]. Mr. Bruner noted that Plaintiff “appeared sad and sincere when discussing his feelings
of hopelessness and helplessness.” [Id.].
On April 16, 2018, while still on suicide precautions, Plaintiff began a hunger strike after
he noticed hair and foreign objects in his food. [Doc. 41-3 at 2]. On April 19, 2018, Defendant
Slater came to Plaintiff’s cell to talk to Plaintiff, but Plaintiff refused. Defendant Slater eventually
became more frustrated and advised staff to remove Plaintiff’s safety smock. [Id.]. Plaintiff
continued to refuse to talk to Defendant Slater and she then ordered the removal of Plaintiff’s
safety blanket. Finally, after again refusing to speak with Defendant Slater, she ordered the
removal of Plaintiff’s safety mattress. [Id. at 2-3]. Defendant Slater ordered the staff to “leave
him naked and don’t give him anything back.” [Doc. 41-7: Michael A. York Affidavit]. Plaintiff
was left in cell S-111 completely naked. [Doc. 41-3 at 3].
Sometime later, Plaintiff was moved to cell S-109 by Defendant Riddle, Lieutenant
Buchanan, and another officer after Plaintiff eventually agreed to submit to handcuffs after being
threatened with mace and given a pair of boxer shorts for the transfer. [Id.]. Cell S-109 was filthy,
as it had not been cleaned since being vacated by the previous occupant. [Doc. 41-1 at 2: Plaintiff’s
Declaration; Doc. 41-3 at 3]. Plaintiff was stripped of his boxer shorts and again left naked. [Doc.
41-3 at 3]. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff filed a P.R.E.A. complaint3 against Defendant Riddle.
3 P.R.E.A. stands for the Prison Rape Elimination Act, 34 U.S.C. § 30301. It seeks to establish “zero
tolerance” for the incidence of prison rape. The purpose of this Act is to protect inmates in correctional
facilities from sexual abuse and sexual assault. Gadeson v. Reynolds, No. 2:08-3702-CMC-RSC, 2009 WL
4572872, at *3 (D.S.C. Dec. 4, 2009).
Plaintiff met with Brett Bullis, the Mountain View P.R.E.A. representative, between 11:15 a.m.
and 11:30 a.m., while still completely naked. [Id.].
After Mr. Bullis left Plaintiff’s cell, Plaintiff began hearing voices that encouraged Plaintiff
to hurt someone. Plaintiff tried to ask for help, but he was instead told over the intercom “just kill
yourself nigger!” [Doc. 41-3 at 3]. By 1:00 p.m., Plaintiff had been left naked, “cold visibly
trembling” in this filthy cell for over four hours. [Doc. 41-1 at 2]. Around this time, Lieutenant
Buchanan, Assistant Unit Manager Mask, and several other officers, sergeants, and lieutenants
came to Plaintiff’s cells and tried to give Plaintiff his SIB smock, stating “she shouldn’t [have] left
you naked.” [Doc. 41-1 at 3; Doc. 41-3 at 4]. “Not being of sound mind and body at the time”
and “in a frenzy of paranoid thoughts,” Plaintiff refused. [Id. at 3; Doc. 41-3 at 4].
Defendant Grindstaff then stepped forward and threatened to mace Plaintiff if Plaintiff did
not submit to handcuffs. [Doc. 41-3 at 4; Doc. 41-1 at 3]. Plaintiff submitted to handcuffs and
was “violently snatched out of [his] cell backwards.” [Doc. 41-1 at 3; see Doc. 41-3 at 4; see Doc.
41-7]. Plaintiff was forced into a smock by two officers. [Id. at 3]. Defendant Grindstaff then
stated, “Put his ass in 4 pt. restraints!” [Doc. 41-3 at 4]. Plaintiff was then taken to a “camera[-]
less holding cell,” “while begging staff to follow policy and please go retrieve a video camera,”
“where [he] was punched repeatedly in the left side of [his] head by Defendant Harris while being
kicked and hit by other staff [Plaintiff] could not name. Defendant Harris then placed both hands
around [Plaintiff’s] neck and gradually applied pressure until [Plaintiff] lost conciousness [sic].”
[Doc. 41-1 at 3-4; Doc. 41-3 at 4; see Doc. 41-7]. At some point, Plaintiff was lifted off the ground
completely and slammed into the steel bed frame. [Doc. 41-3 at 4]. This all occurred in the
presence of Defendant Girndstaff. [Id.]. Plaintiff recalls waking up in four-point restraints
sometime later and speaking with Psychologist Bruner. [Doc. 41-1 at 4]. Lieutenant Buchanan
then “hurried to have [Plaintiff] taken out of the 4[-]point restraints befor [sic] shift change.” [Doc.
41-3]. After being out the restraints, Plaintiff had a steady pounding in his ear and noticed dry and
crusted blood inside his ear. [Id. at 4].
On April 20, 2018, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., Plaintiff was returned to his cell.
[Id.]. Later that day, Plaintiff was told by Mr. Bruner that Plaintiff would not be taken off SIB
precautions until he ended his hunger strike. Plaintiff eventually relented and ended his hunger
strike. [Id. at 5]. On April 24, 2018, Plaintiff was taken off suicide precautions and moved back
to cell N-212. [Id.].
On April 27, 2018, Plaintiff filed a grievance related to the alleged events around the
application of the four-point restraints. The next day Plaintiff was seen by medical staff and
informed them of his neck and ear issues. [Id.]. Plaintiff does not include a copy of this grievance
in his summary judgment materials. On June 5, 2018, just days before filing the Complaint in this
matter, Plaintiff submitted a five-page grievance regarding the incident [Doc. 41-8 at 2-6], which
the Court can only assume is at least somewhat duplicative of the grievance Plaintiff alleges he
filed on April 27, 2018.
Plaintiff also submits medical records for care he received after the incident at issue. On
October 23, 2018, approximately six months after the incident, Plaintiff reported in a Sick Call
Appointment Request “over the last couple months hearing in my left ear has slowly diminished
and I now have almost no hearing at all in my left ear.” [Doc. 41-10 at 7]. On December 3, 2018,
Plaintiff was seen by Nurse Pamela Cox, RN, for his hearing loss. Nurse Cox noted that she had
to speak with Plaintiff “face to face” so that he could hear her properly. [Doc. 41-11 at 2]. Physical
examination showed a “pearly and bulging” ear drum. [Id.]. Plaintiff was prescribed Claritin, an
allergy medication, and medicated nasal spray to treat his ear. [See Doc. 41-9 at 2, 4]. On January
26, 2019, Plaintiff reports to Nurse Rowel Dauz, RN, that he “ha[s] no hearing still on [his] left
ear.” [Id. at 7]. Plaintiff was seen on January 28, 2019 by Nurse Annetta Ratliff, LPN, for follow
up on his hearing loss. Plaintiff also reported sporadic pain in his left ear at this time. [Doc. 41-
11 at 4]. Nurse Ratliff noted that the Claritin and nasal spray had been ineffective to treat
Plaintiff’s hearing loss. [Id.]. On January 30, 2019, a note was added to Plaintiff’s medical chart
indicating that Plaintiff stated that he was going to start a hunger strike if he did not get audiology
testing. [Id. at 6].
Plaintiff also submits evidence regarding the lack of video footage of the alleged use of
force incident. Specifically, Plaintiff submits that, at the final stage of administrative review of
the incident, Facility Administrator M. Slagle found as follows:
Based on this review it appears that appropriate action was taken in
response to the inmate’s inappropriate actions. All policies and
procedures are thoroughly documented by the reviewing authority.
Although I understand and agree with the lack of video footage for
the initial response to the inmates SIB, I do think there was time to
retrieve a camera to video the placement in restraints. In the future
uninvolved staff should be utilized to retrieve a camera and as much
of the incident as possible should be videoed for documentation
purposes. This should be addressed with responsible staff.
[Doc. 41-4 at 3]. Plaintiff also submits the prison policy which provides that, “when use of force
is anticipated, the responsible supervisor will implement the use of the audio/video camera
procedures,” which “encompasses the actual filming of incidents where correctional staff
anticipates the use of physical force.” [Doc. 41-6 at 18].
Neither party submitted any video footage of any alleged event in this matter. Further,
there is no evidence in the record of any discovery dispute between the parties regarding the
production of any video footage. Defendants maintain that there is no footage of the events in this
case. [Doc. 41-16 at 3]. In his original Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that his constitutional rights
were violated by Defendant Riddle’s and Defendant Grindstaff’s failure to ensure that the
application of full restraints was videotaped.4 [Doc. 1 at 5, 6].
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment shall be granted “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute
as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P.
56(a). A factual dispute is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a
verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A
fact is material only if it might affect the outcome of the suit under governing law. Id.
The movant has the “initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its
motion, and identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories,
and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, which it believes demonstrate the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)
(internal citations omitted).
Once this initial burden is met, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party. The nonmoving
party “must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Id. at 322 n.3.
The nonmoving party may not rely upon mere allegations or denials of allegations in his pleadings
to defeat a motion for summary judgment. Id. at 324. The nonmoving party must present sufficient
evidence from which “a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.”
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248; accord Sylvia Dev. Corp. v. Calvert County, Md., 48 F.3d 810, 818
(4th Cir. 1995).
4 Plaintiff, however, cites to no authority creating a constitutionally protected right to have anticipated use
of force incidents videotaped and the Court is aware of none. Therefore, while it appears the failure to
videotape the application of four-point restraints may have violated prison policy, the Court declines to
further address this claim by Plaintiff.
When ruling on a summary judgment motion, a court must view the evidence and any
inferences from the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Anderson, 477
U.S. at 255. Facts, however, “must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party
only if there is a ‘genuine’ dispute as to those facts.” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007).
As the Supreme Court has emphasized,
“[w]hen the moving party has carried its burden under Rule 56(c),
the opponent must do more than simply show there is some
metaphysical doubt as to the material facts …. Where the record
taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the
nonmoving party, there is no ‘genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita
Elec. Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87,
106 S. Ct. 1348 (1986) (footnote omitted). “[T]he mere existence
of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat
an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the
requirement is that there be no genuine issue of material fact.”
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-28, 106 S. Ct.
2505 (1986). When opposing parties tell two different stories, one
of which is blatantly contradicted by the record, so that no
reasonable jury could believe it, a court should not adopt that version
of the facts for purposes of ruling on a motion for summary
judgment.
Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380, 127 S. Ct. 1769, 1776 (2007).
III. DISCUSSION
A. Excessive Force.
The Eighth Amendment prohibits the infliction of “cruel and unusual punishments,” U.S.
CONST. amend. VIII, and protects prisoners from the “unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,”
Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986). To establish an Eighth Amendment claim, an inmate
must satisfy both an objective component–that the harm inflicted was sufficiently serious–and a
subjective component–that the prison official acted with a sufficiently culpable state of mind.
Williams v. Benjamin, 77 F.3d 756, 761 (4th Cir. 1996).
When an inmate claims that prison officials used excessive force on him, he must meet a
higher standard to establish the subjective standard. This is because prison “[o]fficials are entitled
to use appropriate force to quell prison disturbances.” Williams, 77 F.3d at 761. “Because officials
must act ‘in haste, under pressure, and frequently without the luxury of a second chance,’ deliberate
indifference is not a sufficiently rigorous.” Id. (citing Whitley, 475 U.S. at 320). “Rather, in these
circumstances, in order to make out an Eighth Amendment claim, a prisoner must demonstrate that
officials applied force maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm.” Id.
(internal quotations and citation omitted).
Plaintiff attests that Defendant Harris (and other unnamed staff) gratuitously beat him and
that Defendant Harris choked Plaintiff until Plaintiff passed out. Plaintiff’s version of events,
however, is wholly contradicted by the record. Most compelling is that Plaintiff was seen and/or
examined by medical and mental health providers at least five times after the alleged use of
excessive force before finally claiming, on April 27, 2018, that he had been beaten. Examination
of Plaintiff on April 28, 2018 showed no evidence of injury. Further, immediately after the four-
point restraints had been applied, Plaintiff was assessed by Defendant Slater. She observed no
injuries and noted that the four-point restraints had been applied properly. Finally, while Plaintiff
was still in the four-point restraints, he told Psychologist Bruner that he had recently woken up to
find himself in the restraints and could not remember what led to the application of the restraints.
Here, Plaintiff’s story is wholly contradicted by the record, such that no reasonable juror
could believe it.5 Scott, 550 U.S. at 380, 127 S. Ct. at 1776. The Court, therefore, should not
adopt it for the purpose of ruling on Defendants’ summary judgment motion.
5 Interestingly, it appears Plaintiff is attempting to connect his hearing loss in his left ear to the incident in
question. The medical records are clear, however, that Plaintiff’s symptoms did not begin until four months
after the incident and were treated as consistent with an ear infection. Accordingly, the fact of Plaintiff’s
hearing loss does not make his story any more believable.
The Plaintiff’s forecast of evidence, therefore, creates no genuine issue of material fact
relevant to whether Defendant Harris used excessive force against the Plaintiff. The Court will
grant summary judgment on Plaintiff’s claim of use of excessive force against Defendant Harris.
B. Failure to Intervene.
Next, the Court examines Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Riddle and Grindstaff
based on their alleged failure to intervene in the attacks on Plaintiff. Plaintiff contends that
Defendants Riddle and Grindstaff allowed staff, including Defendant Harris, to punch, hit, smack,
body slam, and choke Plaintiff until Plaintiff lost consciousness and blacked out.
The negligent failure to protect an inmate from assaults by other prisoners, or by other
prison guards, does not rise to the level of an unconstitutional violation. Davidson v. Cannon, 474
U.S. 344, 348 (1986). To show deliberate indifference, a plaintiff must allege that the prison
official had actual knowledge of an excessive risk to the plaintiff’s safety. Danser v. Stansberry,
No. 13-1828, 2014 WL 2978541, at *5 (4th Cir. Sept. 12, 2014). In other words, the prison official
“must both be aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of
serious harm exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837
(1994). Further, a plaintiff sufficiently alleges a failure to intervene by a prison official where the
plaintiff states that the official observed an altercation and failed to respond. Brown v. N.C. Dept.
of Corrections, 612 F.3d 720, 723 (4th Cir. 2010).
Here, because no reasonable juror could believe Plaintiff’s version of the facts relative to
the alleged use of excessive force, which is contradicted by the record as a whole, the claims
against Defendants Riddle and Grindstaff necessarily fail. There can be no failure to intervene in
an attack that no reasonable juror could believe occurred in the first place. As such, the Court will
grant the motions for summary judgment by Defendants Riddle and Grindstaff.
C. Conditions of Confinement.
The Eighth Amendment also protects prisoners from inhumane methods of punishment
and from inhumane conditions of confinement. Williams v. Benjamin, 77 F.3d 756, 761 (4th Cir.
1996). “Prison conditions may be harsh and uncomfortable without violating the Eighth
Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.” Dixon v. Godinez, 114 F.3d 640,
642 (7th Cir. 1997). Rather, extreme deprivations are required, and “only those deprivations
denying the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities are sufficiently grave to form the basis
of an Eighth Amendment violation.” Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992) (quoting Wilson
v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991) (internal quotation omitted)). The plaintiff must allege facts
sufficient to support a claim that prison officials knew of and disregarded a substantial risk of
serious harm. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 847 (1994). A plaintiff must also generally allege
“a serious or significant physical or emotional injury resulting from the challenged conditions.”
Strickler v. Waters, 989 F.2d 1375, 1381 (4th Cir. 1993). To show an extreme deprivation, a
prisoner “must produce evidence of a serious or significant physical or emotional injury resulting
from the challenged conditions,” Strickler v. Waters, 989 F.2d at 1381, or demonstrate a substantial
risk of such serious harm resulting from the prisoner’s unwilling exposure to the challenged
conditions, see Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 33-35 (1993).
Defendants’ forecast of evidence shows that the challenged conditions were engaged in
accordance with prison policy and were necessary to ensure the safety of Plaintiff and others.
Defendants’ forecast of evidence also shows that any deprivation Plaintiff suffered was minimal
and short-lived. Namely, Plaintiff’s safety smock, blanket, and mattress were removed for a period
of approximately five hours before four-point restraints were applied to Plaintiff for the purpose
of protecting Plaintiff’s safety. Further, sometime shortly thereafter, Plaintiff’s safety smock was
returned to him.
Plaintiff’s forecast of evidence does not create a genuine issue of material fact on this issue.
Plaintiff has not shown an extreme deprivation, that prison officials knew of and disregarded a
substantial risk of serious harm to Plaintiff, or that Plaintiff suffered any actual physical or
emotional harm as a result of his conditions. Plaintiff has shown only that the cell he was moved
to, cell S-109, was filthy, that Plaintiff was left naked in that cell for approximately five hours, and
that he was cold during that time. Further, Plaintiff admits that several individuals attempted to
return his safety smock to him, and that he refused to accept it.
Plaintiff, therefore, has failed to forecast sufficient evidence to overcome Defendants’
showing that Plaintiff was not subjected to unconstitutional conditions of confinement.
Finally, Defendants also seek summary judgment based on qualified immunity. [Doc. 33].
Qualified immunity shields “government officials performing discretionary functions … from
liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or
constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457
U.S. 800, 818 (1982). Defendants, therefore, are entitled to qualified immunity if either their
conduct did not violate any constitutional rights, or the right was not clearly established. Pearson
v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 232 (2009). Here, Plaintiff has failed to forecast sufficient evidence
that Defendants’ conduct violated any constitutional rights. As such, Defendants are also entitled
to qualified immunity.
In sum, for the reasons stated herein, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated herein, the Court will grant Defendants’ motion for summary
judgment.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 33] is GRANTED.
2. Plaintiff's Motion for Copies [Doc. 42] is DENIED as moot.
3. The Clerk is instructed to terminate this action.
Signed: January 8, 2020
Frank D. Whitney é
Chief United States District Judge ~*#**
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