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Jones v. Glebe

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA
Nov 20, 2013
CASE NO. C13-5475 BHS (W.D. Wash. Nov. 20, 2013)

Opinion

CASE NO. C13-5475 BHS

11-20-2013

NIGUEL D. JONES, Plaintiff, v. PAT GLEBE, et al., Defendants.


ORDER ADOPTING REPORT

AND RECOMMENDATION

This matter comes before the Court on the Report and Recommendation ("R&R") of the Honorable Karen L. Strombom, United States Magistrate Judge (Dkt. 19), and Plaintiff Niguel Jones's ("Jones") objections to the R&R (Dkt. 20).

On October 3, 2013, Judge Strombom issued the R&R recommending that the Court grant Defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. 14) and deny Jones's motion to amend (Dkt. 18) as moot. Dkt. 19. On October 21, 2013, Jones filed objections arguing that his claim falls squarely within established precedent. Dkt. 20. On October 31, 2013, Defendants responded. Dkt. 21. On November 11, 2013, Jones replied. Dkt. 22.

The main issue before the Court is whether Jones has alleged sufficient facts to state a claim for injuries resulting from an "institutionalized practice" of improperly confiscating inmates' property. "[W]hen deprivations of property are effected through random and unauthorized conduct of a state employee, pre-deprivation procedures are simply 'impracticable' since the state cannot know when such deprivations will occur." Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 104 S. Ct. 3194 (1984) 468 U.S. at 533 (intentional deprivations of property); see also Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 537 (1981) (negligent deprivations of property). On the other hand, when the deprivation occurs pursuant to "state law, regulation, or institutionalized practice, it is neither random nor unauthorized, but wholly predictable, authorized, and within the power of the state to control," and the justifications for post-deprivation remedies does not apply and the normal pre-deprivation hearing is required to satisfy due process. Haygood v. Younger, 769 F.2d 1350, 1357 (9th Cir. 1985) ( en banc ), cert. denied, 478 U.S. 1020 (1986) (citing Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 436 (1982)); see also Zimmerman v. City of Oakland, 255 F.3d 734, 737-38 (9th Cir. 2001).

In this case, Jones asserts a violation of constitutional due process based on an institution-wide pattern or practice of improperly confiscating inmate property. Jones alleges that the destruction of his photographs violated administrative regulations and department policies. Defendants have stopped just short of conceding that the photographs were erroneously confiscated and destroyed. Dkt. 18-1, Exhs. 4 & 5 (Jones's grievances). Regardless, for the purposes of the instant motion, the Court must consider Jones's material allegations as admitted. Keniston v. Roberts, 717 F.2d 1295, 1301 (9th Cir. 1983). However, one act does not support the allegation of an institutionalized practice. With his motion to amend, Jones submitted the declaration of a fellow inmate William Taylor. Dkt. 18-1, Exh. 6. Similar to Jones, Mr. Taylor alleges that prison staff confiscated and threw in the trash "clearly legal property." Id., ¶ 5. Accepting both allegations as true, the Court finds that Jones has failed to state a claim of an institutionalized practice. These deprivations are random and possibly unauthorized acts of employees, and Jones and Mr. Taylor have post deprivation remedies. Moreover, the alleged deprivations are in violation of administrative regulations and department policies. This allegation is supported by management's comment that they "will work with staff so this [confiscation and destruction] does not happen again." Dkt. 18-1, Exh. 4.

Judge Strombom characterized the property as "possible contraband," which is not accepting the material allegations as true.

Therefore, the Court having considered the R&R, Jones's objections, and the remaining record, does hereby find and order as follows:

(1) The R&R is ADOPTED;

(2) Defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED;

(3) Jones's motion to amend is DENIED; and,

(4) This case shall be closed.

______________________

BENJAMIN H. SETTLE

United States District Judge


Summaries of

Jones v. Glebe

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA
Nov 20, 2013
CASE NO. C13-5475 BHS (W.D. Wash. Nov. 20, 2013)
Case details for

Jones v. Glebe

Case Details

Full title:NIGUEL D. JONES, Plaintiff, v. PAT GLEBE, et al., Defendants.

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA

Date published: Nov 20, 2013

Citations

CASE NO. C13-5475 BHS (W.D. Wash. Nov. 20, 2013)