Opinion
No.: 3:17-cv-00200
06-02-2017
SHAMSIDDEEN HATCHER, Plaintiff, v. TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, Defendant.
REEVES/SHIRLEY
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is a pro se prisoner's complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Court previously granted Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, separated the complaints filed as one document in this case into three separate actions, and held that this action would proceed only as to the first complaint therein, specifically the first three pages of the complaint filed by Plaintiff [Doc. 4]. For the reasons set forth below, however, no process shall issue and this action will be DISMISSED for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under § 1983.
I. SCREENING STANDARD
District courts shall, at any time, sua sponte dismiss any claims filed in forma pauperis that are frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim for relief, or are against a defendant who is immune. See, e.g., 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) The dismissal standard articulated by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009) and in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554 (2007) "governs dismissals for failure state a claim under [28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B] because the relevant statutory language tracks the language in Rule 12(b)(6)." Hill v. Lappin, 630 F.3d 468, 470-71 (6th Cir. 2010). Thus, to survive a review under this rule, a complaint "must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). Courts liberally construe pro se pleadings filed in civil rights cases and hold them to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972).
In order to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must establish that he was deprived of a federal right by a person acting under color of state law. Black v. Barberton Citizens Hosp., 134 F.3d 1265, 1267 (6th Cir. 1998); see also Braley v. City of Pontiac, 906 F.2d 220, 223 (6th Cir. 1990) (stating that "Section 1983 does not itself create any constitutional rights; it creates a right of action for the vindication of constitutional guarantees found elsewhere").
II. ALLEGATIONS OF THE COMPLAINT
Plaintiff's complaint seeks monetary and declaratory relief and a class action injunction based upon allegations that, prior to his transfer from Sullivan County Jail to Bledsoe County Correctional Complex ("BCCX") on December 14, 2015, Sheriff's deputies unreasonably assaulted him twice [Doc. 1 p. 1-3]. Plaintiff states that when he arrived at BCCX, he reported these assaults to prison officials and that he also reported the assaults to mental health staff on or about December 22, 2015 [Id. at 2]. Plaintiff complains, however, that Defendant Tennessee Department of Correction ("TDOC") did not permit Plaintiff to file criminal charges despite Plaintiff filing multiple grievances, making verbal complaints, and sending a letter to the Defendant TDOC's main building in Nashville [Id. at 2]. Thus, Plaintiff states that he "fears" that Defendant TDOC has a policy of ignoring complaints from incoming prisoners who have been assaulted and/or sexually assaulted [Id. at 2].
III. LEGAL ANALYSIS
First, Plaintiff alleges that he was assaulted and transferred in December 2015, that he reported that assault to TDOC officials and others immediately or soon after his transfer, and that he continued to protest his inability to file criminal charges. Plaintiff's complaint, however, was not filed until April 14, 2017. Thus, Plaintiff's claims are time-barred. Zundel v. Holder, 687 F.3d 271, 281 (6th Cir. 2012) (holding that, in Tennessee, a one-year statute of limitations is applicable to § 1983 actions); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(3).
Even if Plaintiff had timely claims arising out of the alleged incidents underlying his complaint, however, Plaintiff alleges only that Defendant TDOC denied Plaintiff the opportunity to file criminal charges against the individuals who assaulted him and Plaintiff "lacks a judicially cognizable interest in the prosecution or nonprosecution of another." Linda R.S. v. Richard D., 410 U.S. 614, 619 (1973). Further, Plaintiff has only sued Defendant TDOC, and the Eleventh Amendment provides the State of Tennessee with immunity from § 1983 claims. Rodgers v. Mich. Dep't of Corrections, 29 Fed. App'x 259, 260 (6th Cir. 2002). This immunity extends to state governmental agencies, as they are "arms" of the state. Dubuc v. Mich. Bd. Of Law Examiners, 342 F.3d 610, 615 (6th Cir. 2003).
Accordingly, Plaintiff's complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under § 1983 and this action will be DISMISSED.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, even liberally construing the complaint in favor of Plaintiff, it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under § 1983 and this action will therefore be DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915(A).
The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this action would not be taken in good faith and would be totally frivolous. See Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
AN APPROPRIATE ORDER WILL ENTER.
ENTER :
/s/ _________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE