Opinion
Civil Action 20-00453-BAJ-RLB
02-14-2022
KYLE DAVID JOEKEL v. DARRELL VANNOY, ET AL.
RULING AND ORDER
BRIAN A. JACKSON JUDGE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
Before the Court is Defendants Secretary James LeBlanc, Warden Darrell Vannoy, Warden Tim Delaney, and Warden Joseph Lamartinere's (hereinafter "Defendants") Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 16). The Motion is opposed. (Doe. 17). The Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation recommending that the Court grant Defendants' Motion. (Doc. 18, p. 6). Plaintiff objects to the Report and Recommendation. (Doc. 19).
The Magistrate Judge recommends that the Court grant Defendants' motion and dismiss Plaintiffs claims for failure to exhaust his administrative remedies prior to filing suit. (Doc. 18, p. 6). Plaintiff argues that he exhausted all administrative remedies when his grievance was not timely responded to and rejected as untimely. (Doc. 19, p. 1), Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997e, a plaintiff is required to exhaust all administrative remedies available to him at the prison prior to commencing a civil action in this Court challenging prison conditions. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections implemented a two-step administrative process that involves submission of an initial grievance to the warden's office of the facility. See 22 La. Admin. Code Part I, § 325. This regulation also provides that the grievance "be made in writing within a 90-day period after an incident has occurred." Id.
Plaintiff filed his initial grievance on June 1, 2020, complaining of ongoing solitary confinement beginning on September 11, 2012. See (Doc. 16-6, p. 2). Plaintiffs grievance was rejected because it addressed events that occurred several years ago. (Doc. 18, p. 5). As the Magistrate Judge noted, the incidents in Plaintiffs grievance clearly occurred more than 90 days prior to the filing of the ARP on June 1, 2020. (Doc. 18, p. 5). Plaintiff complains about his transfer to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola when he was a pretrial detainee in November of 2012. He alleged that his confinement as a pretrial detainee continued until his eventual conviction on February 9, 2020. Id. However, the record does not show that Plaintiff ever submitted a second ARP to clarify that the time period at issue in his petition commenced within the relevant 90-day period. Thus, Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e.
Having carefully considered the underlying Complaint, the instant Motion, and related filings, the Court APPROVES the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, and ADOPTS it as the Court's opinion herein.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Defendants' Motion (Doc. 16) is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the entirety of Plaintiffs claims against Defendants Secretary James LeBlanc, Warden Darrell Vannoy, Warden Tim Delaney, and Warden Joseph Lamartinere are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Court declines the exercise of supplemental jurisdiction in connection with any potential state law claims against Defendants Secretary James LeBlanc, Warden Darrell Vannoy, Warden Tim Delaney, and Warden Joseph Lamartinere.