Reggie L. Folks v. Okita R. Allen

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
REGGIE L. FOLKS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Case No. CPU4-18-003073
)
OKITA R. ALLEN, )
)
Defendant. )
Submitted: December l7, 2018
Decided: January lO, 2019
Reggie L. Folks Okita R. Allen
1301 E. 12th street 2022 North Washington street
Wilmington, DE 19802 Wilmington, DE 19802
Pro Se Plal`ntl`jY Pro Se Defendant
DECISION AFTER TRIAL
Plaintiff, Reggie L. Folks (hereinafter “Plaintift”), brings this cause of action for alleged
battery against defendant, Okita R. Allen (hereinafter “Defendant”), alleging that Defendant
intentionally struck Plaintiff With a Wooden rod, causing a facture in Plaintiff’ s finger Which
purportedly resulted in permanent pain and disfigurement Plaintiff seeks $49,500.00 in
compensatory damages, plus costs, attorney’s fees, and pre- and post-judgment interest.
Defendant brings a counter-complaint for alleged assault, alleging Plaintiff caused serious physical
injury, permanent disfigurement, and a life-long handicap to Defendant’s right hand, requiring
Defendant to engage in mental health therapy. Defendant also numerically lists harassment,
robbery, extortion, property damages, endangering the Welfare of a child, pain and suffering, and
conspiracy on her counter-claim.l Defendant seeks $50,000.00 in compensatory damages, plus
costs, attomey’s fees, and pre- and post-judgment interest.
On December 17, 2018, trial was held and the Court took the matter under advisement
This is the Final Decision and Order of the Court on Plaintiff’ s claim and Defendant’s counter-
claim.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The parties’ affiliation with one another began in 2017 when Defendant was having work
done on a residence she owned at 929 North Pine Street in Wilmington. Defendant employed
Plaintiff to perform handy work at the residence. The relationship deteriorated when Defendant
left town and upon her return to the residence discovered that appliances and sentimental property
belonging to Defendant’s late son were missing from the home, among other items. Allegations
that Plaintiff had stolen the property ensued and uncivil exchanges between the parties began. On
August 22, 2017, the incident from which this action arises took place, resulting in a scuffle of
some nature between the parties, the details of which are unclear from the evidence. Plaintiff
claims that Defendant removed a stick from her vehicle and swung it at Plaintiff, striking his finger
and causing permanent injury. ln contrast, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff swung a bat intending
to strike Defendant during the incident. Plaintiff sought treatment for a fractured finger at
Christiana Hospital on August 23, 2017, the day following the incident. In response, Defendant
alleges that Plaintiff was beaten up by other people not associated with this action on August 21,
2017, the day prior to the incident. Plaintiff contacted Wilmington Police on August 28, 2017 to
initiate a complaint against Defendant for the alleged injury, six days after the incident.
' These are not civil causes of action recognized under Delaware law. Additionally, conspiracy can only be brought
in a civil action along with the underlying wrong Which would survive as an independent cause of action despite the
conspiracy. Szczerba v. Am. Cl'garette Outlet, [nc., 2016 WL 1424561, at *2 (Del. Super. Apr. l, 2016).
DISCUSSION
ln a tort action for battery, the claimant must prove by preponderance of the evidence that
the opposing party committed an “intentional, unpermitted contact upon the [claimant’s] person .
. . which is harmful or offensive.”2 ln a tort counter-action for assault, the counter-claimant must
prove by preponderance of the evidence that the opposing party “intentionally caused the counter-
claimant to be in fear of an immediate harmful or offensive contact.”3 The parties failed to attain
the Court’s confidence to rule in either party’s favor on the claim for battery or counterclaim for
assault.
The parties’ accounts of the events that transpired on August 22, 2017 are unreliable. This
Court does not find the testimony presented by either party to be of heightened credibility.
Testifying on Plaintiff` s behalf was Plaintiff, Plaintiff’ s friend, Jessica Howard, who was a party
to the incident in question, and Jessica Howard’s nine-year-old daughter, Aaliyah Howard. Jessica
Howard unwaveringly granted permission for her daughter, Aaliyah, to testify. Aaliyah’s
testimony was an impressively and unnaturally verbatim to the testimony given by her mother,
clearly indicative of a coached witness. Testifying on Defendant’s behalf was Defendant,
Defendant’s daughter, Shamiyha Boone, who was not present during the incident in question, and
Defendant’s other daughter, Milan Allen. Plaintiff submitted an incomplete hospital record as
evidence of treatment for a fractured finger on August 23, 2017. As acknowledged by the Court,
the hospital record provided advised Plaintiff to follow up with a doctor, especially if pain
persisted, which Plaintiff admitted he had not done. Defendant spent a significant amount of her
case focusing on the theft of items belonging to her late son, which Defendant accuses Plaintiff of
2 Brzoska v. Olson, 668 A.2d 1355, 1360 (Del. 1995).
3 Smith v. Delaware State Police, 2014 WL 3360173, at *6 (Del. Super. July 8, 20]4).
stealing. The Court is sympathetic to Defendant’s plea for the Court’s assistance as such a loss is
understandably painful, but as the Court advised during trial, Defendant’s counterclaim is for
assault, not recovery of the items stolen from her home. Therefore, the Court cannot consider
those allegations as part of Defendant’s counter-claim. At the conclusion of evidence, it was still
unclear what transpired on August 22, 2017, therefore, the parties failed to meet the burden of their
claims.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED this 10th day of January, 2019,
that Plaintiff’ s claim for battery and Defendant’s counterclaim for assault be DENIED relief for
failure to meet the burden of proof. Each party is to bear their own costs.
cc: Patricia Thomas, J udicial Case Manager
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