L. Henderson v. John Wetzel, Secretary of PA DOC and Theresa DelBlaso, Sup. of SCI Mahanoy

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Lamont Henderson, :
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 86 M.D. 2018
: Submitted: August 3, 2018
John Wetzel, Secretary of :
Pennsylvania Department of :
Corrections; and Theresa DelBlaso, :
Superintendent of SCI Mahanoy, :
Respondents :
BEFORE: HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
JUDGE COHN JUBELIRER FILED: October 11, 2018
Before this Court are the preliminary objections (POs) of John Wetzel,
Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (Secretary), and Theresa
DelBalso, Superintendent of State Correctional Institution (SCI) Mahanoy
(Superintendent) 1 (together, Respondents), to the pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas
Corpus (Petition) filed by Lamont Henderson. In the Petition, Henderson, who
alleges he is elderly, has no right eye, is legally blind in his remaining eye, and, for
more than 35 years until May 23, 2017, has held “single-cell status” within the SCIs
1
Although the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus spells Superintendent’s last name
“DelBlaso,” it appears that the correct spelling is “DelBalso.”
and county jails in which he has been housed (Petition ¶¶ 4, 6-7, 15, 19),2 seeks an
order directing:
Respondents to restore Petitioner Henderson’s single-cell status on the
special needs unit due to Petitioner’s well documented disability, the
new and current double-cell confinement is in violation of the Eighth
and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution[3] and in
violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”)[4] and
[Section 504 of] The Rehabilitation Act [of 1973 (Rehabilitation
Act)].[5]
(Id. at 1.) In their POs, Respondents assert that, if the Petition is viewed as a writ of
habeas corpus, this Court lacks jurisdiction, and, if the Petition is viewed as a writ
of mandamus, Henderson has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted
(demurrer). Under either theory, Respondents argue, the Petition should be
dismissed.
2
In ruling on a preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer, which Respondents assert
here, “the Court must accept as true all well-pleaded facts and all reasonable inferences deducible
therefrom; however, we need not accept conclusions of law.” Marin v. Sec’y of Commonwealth,
41 A.3d 913, 914 n.2 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2012), aff’d per curiam, 66 A.3d 250 (Pa. 2013). The Court
will sustain a demurrer “only where it is clear and free from doubt that the law will not permit
recovery under the alleged facts.” Id.3
The Eighth Amendment provides “[e]xcessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” U.S. Const. amend. VIII. The
Fourteenth Amendment relevantly states that “[n]o State shall . . . deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” U.S. Const. amend. XIV.
4
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213. Section 202 of the ADA states that “no qualified individual
with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied
the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to
discrimination by any such entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132.
5
29 U.S.C. § 794. In relevant part, Section 504 mandates the following, “No otherwise
qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his
disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . .” Id.2
The Petition was originally filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill
County (common pleas), but, after considering Respondents’ Answers to a Rule to
Show Cause issued by common pleas, it transferred the Petition to this Court
believing this Court has original jurisdiction.6 The Petition makes the following
averments.
Henderson suffers from a variety of physical impairments, including the
above-mentioned visual impairments and newly-diagnosed PE (pulmonary
embolism) blood clots in both lungs and “2 percent cancer cells in his neck.” (Id.
¶¶ 4, 6-7, 24.) His physical impairments render him legally disabled and a
“qualified” individual under the Rehabilitation Act because they substantially limit
one or more of his major life activities and there is a record of his impairment in his
medical records. (Id. ¶¶ 8, 51.) For over 35 years, Henderson maintained single-
cell status in multiple SCIs and county jails. In the past, Henderson was assaulted
by cell mates due to his disability and inability to adequately defend himself from
non-disabled inmates. In 2002, Henderson mistakenly was given a cell mate at SCI-
Dallas, who seriously assaulted and robbed him of items he had purchased from the
commissary. He was not able to adequately defend himself against the cell mate due
to his disability. After the assault, Henderson’s single-cell status was annually
maintained by prison officials at SCI-Dallas and SCI-Somerset for the following 14
years. Similarly situated inmates who suffer from vision impairment disabilities are
given single cells for their safety.
6
Common pleas issued the Rule to Show Cause as to why the relief requested should not
be granted. After filing an answer that explained why habeas corpus relief should not be granted,
but did not directly respond to each of the numbered paragraphs of the Petition, Respondents filed
an amended answer doing so and incorporating its prior answer. They asserted that, if the Petition
was read as requesting relief in the nature of mandamus, common pleas lacked jurisdiction to grant
that relief. Although common pleas issued the Rule to Show Cause to which Respondents filed a
response, only the Petition and Respondents’ POs are currently before this Court.
3
On or about March 10, 2017, Henderson was told by B.H., a member of SCI-
Somerset’s medical staff, that B.H. was putting a transfer in for Henderson and was
removing Henderson’s single-cell status due to Henderson’s complaints against B.H.
for lack/delay of medical treatment. It is a Department of Corrections (DOC)
practice to use a vote sheet to remove an inmate’s single-cell status, which records
the votes of various SCI and DOC officials, and each official who votes no is
required to provide a reason. When Henderson told B.H. that he needed a single cell
due to his vision impairment disability, he would be in great danger if he was double
celled, and no vote sheet had been issued to remove Henderson’s single-cell status,
B.H. responded “he could get around the ‘vote sheet’” requirement and change
Henderson’s status without a vote sheet. (Petition ¶¶ 17-18.) On May 23, 2017,
Henderson was transferred to SCI-Mahanoy, where he was placed in a double cell.
Henderson advised a unit manager at SCI-Mahanoy and Superintendent that he had
been single-cell status for over 35 years due to his vision impairment, but
Henderson’s request for a single cell was denied. Henderson’s status was changed
without the use of a “collective facility vote sheet,” thereby violating his due process
rights. (Id. ¶¶ 21-22, 25.)
DOC receives federal funds to accommodate inmates with disabilities, and
SCI-Mahanoy (as well as other SCIs) has a “special needs” unit, “A-block,” that
houses disabled inmates, which is closest to the medical department. (Id. ¶¶ 28-30,
32.) At the time of the Petition, Henderson was housed on “F-block.” (Id. ¶ 31.)
Pursuant to DOC’s disability accommodation policy, Henderson has requested, and
been denied, housing on the “A-block” multiple times by Superintendent. (Id. ¶¶ 33,
45.) Prior to the removal of his single-cell status, Henderson was not evaluated by
an optometrist, and no optometrist issued a report indicating that Henderson’s
4
eyesight “ha[d] been restored, [or] remove[d] him from qualifying as a ‘disable[d]
person’ . . . under the ADA or Rehabilitation Act.” (Id. ¶¶ 26-28.) Despite no change
in Henderson’s disability and his risk of assault by a cell mate due to his disability
and inability to defend himself, Superintendent indicated that Henderson’s single-
cell status was removed because he no longer needed a single cell.7 While DOC’s
disability accommodation policy provides a process for inmates to request
accommodations, it contains no guidance or instructions to be used in deciding
whether to remove the accommodation, leaving disabled inmates vulnerable to the
improper removal of an accommodation without adequate due process.
Henderson is a non-smoker and does not use any nicotine products, yet
following his transfer to SCI-Mahanoy, he was placed in cells “with a number of
young and aggressive inmates” who smoked and with whom Henderson was not
compatible. (Id. ¶¶ 9, 19, 34.) Henderson’s exposure to second-hand smoke for six
months has resulted in his experiencing unwarranted and excessive coughing, eye
burning, and headaches. He has been robbed of his possessions by either his cell
mates or prison guards; he is unsure who is responsible due to his visual impairment.
As a result of his vision impairment, “he is in danger of being seriously assaulted by
random cell mates,” and he cannot defend himself physically against the non-
disabled, younger cell mates. (Id. ¶ 38.) Additionally, SCI-Mahanoy’s double cells
use metal double bunkbeds, the single cells use metal single bunkbeds, and the
handicap single cells have “railings to accommodate those with disabilities,” like
7
Attached to the Petition is Superintendent’s response to Henderson’s Accommodations
Request in which it is stated that the Inmate Disability Accommodations Committee had reviewed
his request and SCI-Mahanoy’s response, as well as the accommodations policy and the medical
director’s findings, and agreed with the denial of the request. (Petition, Ex. A.) The reason for
upholding the denial was that he did “have a disability, but the disability is already being
reasonably accommodated by the institution.” (Id.)
5
Henderson. (Id. ¶ 40.) Henderson was assigned to the lower bunk due to being
elderly, blind, and his inability to see to climb up to the top bunk. This assignment
has caused Henderson to injure his head because when he wakes up and rises, he
strikes his head on the top bunk due to his vision impairment.
Superintendent has intentionally discriminated against him “by failing to
restore his single-cell [status] when . . . made aware by his file that he qualifies as a
disable[d] person, that he was “at risk of being assaulted again,” and that his single-
cell status was removed without due process. (Id. ¶ 50.) Henderson has used the
grievance and administrative remedies available to him, which were denied, as were
his appeals from those determinations. There are no other remedies available to him
“to promptly and effectively address and correct these constitutional [violations] and
ADA and . . . Rehabilitation Act violations” and, therefore, a writ of habeas corpus
is appropriate. (Id. ¶ 55.)
In his memorandum of law in support of the Petition, filed with common pleas
and transferred to us, Henderson explains that the writ of habeas corpus can be used
to safeguard against arbitrary and lawless action. Citing precedent,8 he asserts that
the ADA and Rehabilitation Act apply to state prisons and provide protections, such
as requiring reasonable accommodations to be made for disabled or “qualified”
inmates. Henderson argues that Respondents have admitted that he is disabled, but
have failed to properly accommodate his disability, which requires that he be placed
in a single, handicap cell, like the other visually-impaired inmates within DOC.
This, he asserts, violates the ADA and Rehabilitation Act. He further argues there
is a violation of his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment
8
See, e.g., Manley v. Office of Vocational Rehab., 654 A.2d 25, 26-27 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1994);
Yeskey v. Dep’t of Corr., 118 F.3d 168, 172 (3d Cir. 1997) (ADA and Rehabilitation Act apply to
prisons), aff’d sub nom. Pa. Dep’t of Corr. v. Yeskey, 524 U.S. 206 (1998).
6
because Respondents have failed to act by placing him in a single cell despite
knowing that he is at a substantial risk of being assaulted, as he was in the past, due
to his known disability and inability to protect himself. He also asserts there is an
Eighth Amendment claim due to his exposure to second-hand smoke, particularly
given his recent diagnosis of PE blood clots in both lungs, and Superintendent’s
deliberate indifference to Henderson’s health, safety, and welfare. Finally, he argues
there is a violation of his Equal Protection Rights, under a class-of-one theory,
because he is being treated differently than other visually-impaired inmates in
DOC’s custody. Respondents cannot, Henderson asserts, provide one
accommodation to some blind, disabled persons in their custody, and not to others.
While the matter was pending in this Court, Henderson filed a motion for
injunction seeking to be moved from his double cell to a handicapped, disability cell
with no metal top bunk because he keeps striking his head on the top bunk in his
current cell due to his inability to see. Respondents filed an answer. Henderson
filed a response indicating that, on April 6, 2018, he “was moved to a safe, non-
hazardous cell with no top metal bunk, metal ladder, metal hanging lip or obstacles
which removed all danger to [him].” (Petitioner’s Reply to Respondents’ Answer
¶ 3.) By order dated May 22, 2018, we dismissed the motion for injunction as moot.
Prior to our ruling on the motion for injunction, Respondents filed their POs.9
In his brief in opposition to the POs, which was filed on July 23, 2018, Henderson
responds that this Court has jurisdiction either as an ancillary matter or because it
was transferred to this Court by common pleas under, respectively, Sections 761(c)
9
A third PO was filed related to improper service; however, proper service on Respondents
has been effectuated, and that PO was overruled in this Court’s order dated May 22, 2018.
7
or 5103(a) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C.S. §§ 761(c), 5103(a).10 He further explains
that he has stated a claim for relief. Henderson states, in his brief, that he remains
in the safe, non-hazardous cell. (Henderson’s Brief (Br.) at 7.)
In the Petition, Henderson requests that his single-cell status be restored and
he be placed in a single cell as an accommodation for his disabilities. He requested
similar relief, that he be placed in a safe, non-hazardous cell, in his motion for
injunction. Since the filing of the Petition, Henderson has been “moved to a safe,
non-hazardous cell with no top metal bunk, metal ladder, metal hanging lip or
obstacles which [has] removed all danger to [him],” and he remains in a safe, non-
hazardous cell. (Petitioner’s Reply to Respondents’ Answer ¶ 3; Henderson’s Br. at
7.) “Intervening changes in the factual matrix of a pending case, which eliminate an
actual controversy and make it impossible for the requested relief to be granted,
render a legal question moot.” Zemprelli v. Thornburgh, 466 A.2d 1123, 1125 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 1983) (dismissing quo warranto action seeking the removal of a
government official from his appointed position as moot when, during the course of
the proceedings, the official resigned from office). “Where . . . there is no
meaningful relief to be ordered, a matter is moot.” Krenzel v. Se. Pa. Transp. Auth.,
840 A.2d 450, 455 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003). Such cases should be dismissed. Johnston
v. Lehman, 676 A.2d 1287, 1289 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996). Here, Henderson has been
placed, and remains, in a safe, non-hazardous cell, as he has requested. As there is
no meaningful relief left for this Court to grant, the Petition is moot and will be
dismissed as such.
10
Henderson cites Section 761(f) of the Judicial Code as the basis for this Court’s
jurisdiction due to common pleas’ transferring the Petition to this Court. There is no Section
761(f), but Section 5103(a) addresses the transfer of matters improperly filed in one court to the
court with the proper jurisdiction.
8
Although the current Petition is moot, we observe that if the Petition was
viewed as a writ of habeas corpus or a writ of mandamus, respectively, this Court
would lack jurisdiction11 and Henderson would not have stated a claim upon which
relief can be granted.12 However, the Petition’s averments could also be construed
as asserting claims that Henderson’s rights under the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act,
and the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution have
been violated by, among other things, the alleged retaliatory and improper removal
of his single-cell status, the refusal to properly accommodate his documented
disabilities, and his placement in a double cell notwithstanding the risk that he could,
as he had before, be attacked due to his disability and associated inability to protect
himself. See Danysh v. Dep’t of Corr., 845 A.2d 260, 262-63 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004)
(“[A]llegations of a pro se complainant are held to a less stringent standard . . . [and]
[i]f a fair reading of the complaint shows that the complainant has pleaded facts that
may entitle him to relief, the [POs] will be overruled.”). The POs filed by
Respondents here would not have addressed such claims and, thus, those claims
would have moved forward had the Petition not become moot.
11
See Warren v. Dep’t of Corr., 616 A.2d 140, 142 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1992) (concluding that
Commonwealth Court does not have jurisdiction to hear writs of habeas corpus); Pennsylvania
Rule of Criminal Procedure 108(b), Pa.R.Crim.P. 108(b) (a petition for writ of habeas corpus
challenging the conditions of confinement shall be filed in the judicial district in which the
petitioner is confined).
12
See Seeton v. Adams, 50 A.3d 268, 274 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2012) (concluding that mandamus
is an extraordinary writ and can only compel a government agency to exercise its discretion, not
how to exercise that discretion); Frankenberry v. Ferguson (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 105 C.D. 2017, filed
July 12, 2017), slip op. at 8-9 (holding that decisions related to an inmate’s housing status, such as
single-cell or “Z” code status, are within the discretion of the prison administrators). Frankenberry
is cited as persuasive pursuant to this Court’s Internal Operating Procedure 414(a), 210 Pa. Code
§ 69.414(a).
9
Nevertheless, because there is no meaningful relief left for this Court to grant,
the Petition is now moot and is dismissed as such. Correspondingly, Respondents’
POs are also dismissed as moot.
_____________________________________
RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
10
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Lamont Henderson, :
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 86 M.D. 2018
:
John Wetzel, Secretary of :
Pennsylvania Department of :
Corrections; and Theresa DelBlaso, :
Superintendent of SCI Mahanoy, :
Respondents :
ORDER
NOW, October 11, 2018, the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Petition)
filed by Lamont Henderson is DISMISSED AS MOOT. Having dismissed the
Petition as moot, the preliminary objections filed by John Wetzel, Secretary of
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and Theresa DelBlaso, Superintendent of
SCI Mahanoy, to the Petition are likewise DISMISSED AS MOOT.
_____________________________________
RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge