Pippin v. S. Ohio Correctional Facility

[Cite as Pippin v. S. Ohio Correctional Facility, 2009-Ohio-6071.]
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
TONY PIPPIN
Plaintiff
v.
SOUTHERN OHIO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Defendant
Case No. 2008-08388
Judge Clark B. Weaver Sr.
Magistrate Matthew C. Rambo
MAGISTRATE DECISION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff brought this action alleging that defendant’s employees assaulted
him. The issues of liability and damages were bifurcated and the case proceeded to
trial before a magistrate on the issue of liability.
{¶ 2} As an initial matter, on September 10, 2009, defendant filed a motion to
quash all subpoenas issued at plaintiff’s request inasmuch as the mandatory witness
fees were not tendered. Upon review, the motion is GRANTED and all of the
subpoenas issued at plaintiff’s request are hereby quashed.
{¶ 3} At all times relevant, plaintiff was an inmate in the custody and control of
defendant pursuant to R.C. 5120.16. The underlying facts of this case are largely
undisputed. On July 7, 2008, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Corrections Officers (CO) Ben
Gunn and Chris Moore, and Jan Dayton, RN, were delivering medications to plaintiff
and other inmates on his range. After Gunn opened the food slot1 on plaintiff’s cell and
1
Plaintiff described the food slot as a rectangular opening in the cell door that is covered by a
piece of solid steel that slides open and closed from the left side of the slot.
Case No. 2008-08388 -2- MAGISTRATE DECISION
handed him his medication, plaintiff thrust his right arm through the slot and refused
several orders to pull his arm back into the cell. Gunn then used his foot to force the
cover of the slot closed, which caused the cover to strike the back of plaintiff’s arm,
forcing him to retract it . Gunn then closed and locked the slot. Plaintiff asserts that the
force used by Gunn was excessive and that the impact of the cover on his arm caused
permanent injury.
{¶ 4} 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:
{¶ 5} “(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:
{¶ 6} “(a) Self-defense from physical attack or threat of
physical harm;
{¶ 7} “(b) Defense of another from physical attack or
threat of physical attack;
{¶ 8} “(c) When necessary to control or subdue an
inmate who refuses to obey prison rules, regulations or orders;
{¶ 9} “(d) When necessary to stop an inmate from
destroying property or engaging in a riot or other disturbance;
{¶ 10} “(e) Prevention of an escape or apprehension of an
escapee; or
{¶ 11} “(f) Controlling or subduing an inmate in order to
stop or prevent self-inflicted harm.”
{¶ 12} The court has recognized that “corrections officers have a privilege to use
force upon inmates under certain conditions. * * * Obviously ‘the use of force is a reality
Case No. 2008-08388 -3- MAGISTRATE DECISION
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.)
{¶ 13} Plaintiff testified that when Gunn came to his cell to deliver his medication
he informed Gunn that he had a seizure during the night and wanted to go to the
infirmary, but that Gunn denied his request. According to plaintiff, Gunn then denied his
request to speak with a “white shirt,” a corrections sergeant, lieutenant, or captain in a
supervisory position. Plaintiff stated that he then stuck his right arm out of the food slot
and placed it flat against the door, to which Gunn replied “bitch, I’m not calling you no
white shirt.” According to plaintiff, a brief argument ensued during which he pulled his
hand and forearm into the cell but left his elbow sticking out of the slot. Plaintiff testified
that Gunn then attempted to physically push his arm into the cell but was unsuccessful
and then turned to the left of the cell door and began kicking the cover and causing it to
strike his arm. Plaintiff stated that after the third kick, he pulled his arm into his cell.
Plaintiff testified that about an hour after the incident, Corrections Lieutenant Tackett
and other COs came to his cell, and that Dayton examined him from a distance, but that
he was never taken to the infirmary. Plaintiff admitted that he knew that sticking his arm
out of the food slot violated institutional rules and that he ignored several orders to pull
his arm back into the cell.
{¶ 14} As a result of the incident, a Use of Force Committee conducted an
investigation to determine whether Gunn used excessive force in dealing with plaintiff.
The committee interviewed plaintiff, Gunn, Dayton, and Moore, reviewed the video of
the incident (Plaintiff’s Exhibit 14), and issued a report. (Defendant’s Exhibit J.) The
committee concluded that the force used by Gunn was not excessive. Phillip Kerns,
defendant’s warden, reviewed the committee report and concurred with its conclusion.
(Defendant’s Exhibit K.)
{¶ 15} Plaintiff stated that he believes the statements that Gunn, Moore, and
Dayton gave to the committee contained numerous fabrications in an attempt to “cover”
Case No. 2008-08388 -4- MAGISTRATE DECISION
themselves. Specifically, plaintiff asserts that Gunn’s statements to the committee that
plaintiff attempted to grab him and that he merely “put pressure” on the cover to try and
close it are false and that the video of the incident shows otherwise.
{¶ 16} Upon review of the video, the court agrees that it shows Gunn kicking the
cover, but that it is unclear whether plaintiff attempted to grab Gunn. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit
14.) However, the court finds that Gunn’s actions were justified and not excessive in
that plaintiff disobeyed several direct orders to pull his arm back into his cell and in that
it was reasonable for Gunn to believe that plaintiff posed a threat to him while his arm
was outside of the cell. Therefore, the court finds that Gunn did not use excessive force
when dealing with plaintiff during the July 7, 2008 incident. Accordingly, judgment is
recommended in favor of defendant.
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 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:
Case No. 2008-08388 -5- MAGISTRATE DECISION
Jennifer A. Adair Tony Pippin, #536-301
Assistant Attorney General 878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road
150 East Gay Street, 18th Floor Youngstown, Ohio 44505
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3130
MR/cmd
Filed October 21, 2009
To S.C. reporter November 17, 2009