Beckham v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr. ( 2011 )

[Cite as Beckham v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 2011-Ohio-3880.]
Court of Claims of Ohio
The Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street, Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263
www.cco.state.oh.us
DALE BECKHAM
Plaintiff
v.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION
Defendant
Case No. 2009-09442
Judge Clark B. Weaver Sr.
Magistrate Matthew C. Rambo
MAGISTRATE DECISION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff brought this action alleging that he was assaulted by an employee
of defendant. The issues of liability and damages were bifurcated and the case
proceeded to trial on the issue of liability.
{¶ 2} At all times relevant, plaintiff was in inmate in the custody and control of
defendant at the London Correctional Institution (LoCI) pursuant to R.C. 5120.16.
Plaintiff testified that he was eating in the LoCI dining room on either July 4 or 5, 2009,
at approximately 4:20 p.m. when inmate Martin asked him for a packet of mayonnaise.
Plaintiff stated that when he tossed the mayonnaise to Martin, Corrections Captain
Wimberly “chewed him out” and told him he had two minutes to finish eating his
sandwich. According to plaintiff, he soon thereafter stood up from the table and bused
his food tray, but continued to eat his sandwich. Plaintiff testified that Wimberly gave
him several orders to throw the sandwich in the trash, but that he quickly stuffed the
remainder of the sandwich in his mouth. According to plaintiff, Wimberly became angry
and struck him in the face with his shoulder several times. Plaintiff testified that he
Case No. 2009-09442 -2- MAGISTRATE DECISION
spent 52 days in the “hole” as a result of the incident. Plaintiff asserts that Wimberly’s
actions amount to an assault.
{¶ 3} However, plaintiff admitted that he was aware of the LoCI dining room rules,
which include: prohibitions on throwing food, taking food out of the dining room, and
loitering; and a limitation on the amount of time inmates have to eat their food. Plaintiff
also admitted that he disobeyed Wimberly’s orders to finish his sandwich, bus his tray,
and leave the dining room.
{¶ 4} Maurice Wimberly is a Corrections Captain posted as the first shift
commander at LoCI. Wimberly testified that he had only a vague recollection of the
incident with plaintiff. According to Wimberly, after plaintiff threw the mayonnaise
packet, he gave plaintiff a direct order to bus his tray and leave the dining room.
However, when plaintiff refused, Wimberly had a corrections officer escort plaintiff out of
the dining room to the administration area where Wimberly dealt with him “face to face”
after the meal was finished. Wimberly stated that he did not write a report concerning
the incident because it was minor and he did not believe a formal reprimand was
necessary. Wimberly testified that he did not use force against plaintiff at any time
during the incident.
{¶ 5} Harold Sewell was an inmate in the LoCI dining hall on the day of the
incident. Sewell testified that he saw plaintiff throw the mayonnaise packet, that
Wimberly warned plaintiff, and that when plaintiff bused his tray, Wimberly came up
beside him and bumped him with his shoulder before having him escorted out of the
dining area.
{¶ 6} DeCarlo Blackwell was the institutional inspector for LoCI at the time of the
incident. Blackwell testified that he began an investigation of the incident after plaintiff
filed a complaint alleging that Wimberly used force against him. No report was filed by
Wimberly regarding the incident. According to Blackwell, plaintiff was placed in
segregation during the investigation for his own safety, per defendant’s policy.
Case No. 2009-09442 -3- MAGISTRATE DECISION
Blackwell stated that he interviewed both plaintiff and Wimberly, and reviewed security
video footage during his investigation. Blackwell testified that plaintiff stated to him that
he was not harmed during the encounter with Wimberly and that it was a matter of
“principle.” Blackwell further testified that the security videos for July 4 and 5, 2009, do
not show the alleged incident.
{¶ 7} The Ohio Administrative Code sets forth the circumstances under which
force may be lawfully utilized by prison officials and employees in controlling inmates.
Ohio Adm.Code 5120-9-01(C) provides, in relevant part:
{¶ 8} “(2) Less-than-deadly force. There are six general circumstances in which
a staff member may use force against an inmate or third person. A staff member may
use less-than-deadly force against an inmate in the following circumstances:
{¶ 9} “(a) Self-defense from physical attack or threat of physical harm;
{¶ 10} “(b) Defense of another from physical attack or threat of physical attack;
{¶ 11} “(c) When necessary to control or subdue an inmate who refuses to obey
prison rules, regulations or orders;
{¶ 12} “(d) When necessary to stop an inmate from destroying property or
engaging in a riot or other disturbance;
{¶ 13} “(e) Prevention of an escape or apprehension of an escapee; or
{¶ 14} “(f) Controlling or subduing an inmate in order to stop or prevent self-
inflicted harm.”
{¶ 15} The court has recognized that “corrections officers have a privilege to use
force upon inmates under certain conditions. * * * However, such force must be used in
the performance of official duties and cannot exceed the amount of force which is
reasonably necessary under the circumstances. * * * Obviously, ‘the use of force is a
reality of prison life’ and the precise degree of force required to respond to a given
situation requires an exercise of discretion by the corrections officer.” Mason v. Ohio
Dept. of Rehab. & Corr. (1990), 62 Ohio Misc.2d 96, 101-102. (Internal citations
omitted.)
Case No. 2009-09442 -4- MAGISTRATE DECISION
{¶ 16} Based upon the foregoing testimony, the court finds that any “force”
Wimberly used against plaintiff was both minimal and justified in light of plaintiff’s refusal
to comply with Wimberly’s orders.
{¶ 17} Moreover, to the extent that plaintiff claims he was improperly held in
segregation during the investigation, the Supreme Court of Ohio has held that “[t]he
language in R.C. 2743.02 that ‘the state’ shall ‘have its liability determined * * * in
accordance with the same rules of law applicable to suits between private parties * * *’
means that the state cannot be sued for its legislative or judicial functions or the
exercise of an executive or planning function involving the making of a basic policy
decision which is characterized by the exercise of a high degree of official judgment or
discretion.” Reynolds v. State (1984), 14 Ohio St.3d 68, 70; Von Hoene v. State (1985),
20 Ohio App.3d 363, 364. Prison administrators are provided “wide-ranging deference
in the adoption and execution of policies and practices that in their judgment are needed
to preserve internal order and discipline and to maintain institutional security.” Bell v.
Wolfish (1979), 441 U.S. 520, 547.
{¶ 18} The court finds that the policy to hold plaintiff in the “hole” during the
pendency of the investigation into the alleged incident was characterized by a high
degree of official judgment or discretion and was based upon a need to maintain
institutional security. Defendant is therefore entitled to discretionary immunity from
claims arising out of that decision.
{¶ 19} Judgment is recommended in favor of defendant.
{¶ 20} A party may file written objections to the magistrate’s decision within 14
days of the filing of the decision, whether or not the court has adopted the decision
during that 14-day period as permitted by Civ.R. 53(D)(4)(e)(i). If any party timely files
objections, any other party may also file objections not later than ten days after the first
objections are filed. A party shall not assign as error on appeal the court’s adoption of
any factual finding or legal conclusion, whether or not specifically designated as a
Case No. 2009-09442 -5- MAGISTRATE DECISION
finding of fact or conclusion of law under Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(a)(ii), unless the party timely
and specifically objects to that factual finding or legal conclusion within 14 days of the
filing of the decision, as required by Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b).
_____________________________________
MATTHEW C. RAMBO
Magistrate
cc:
Kristin S. Boggs Dale Beckham, #435-197
Assistant Attorney General Allen Correctional Institution
150 East Gay Street, 18th Floor 2338 North West Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3130 P.O. Box 4501
Lima, Ohio 45801
MR/cmd/Filed May 27, 2011/To S.C. reporter June 7, 2011