Abdulrahaman v. Dept. of Rehab. & Corr.
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[Cite as Abdulrahaman v. Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 2009-Ohio-5450.] 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 ABDUL ABDULRAHAMAN Plaintiff v. DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION, et al. Defendants Case No. 2007-01126 Judge Joseph T. Clark Magistrate Steven A. Larson MAGISTRATE DECISION {¶ 1} Plaintiff brought this action alleging that he was assaulted by defendants employees. The issues of liability and damages were bifurcated and the case proceeded to trial before a magistrate on the issue of liability. {¶ 2} At all times relevant, plaintiff was an inmate in the custody and control of defendants at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) pursuant to R.C. 5120.16. Plaintiff alleges that on December 21, 2006, SOCF employees assaulted him {¶ 3} 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: {¶ 4} (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: Case No. 2007-01126 -2- {¶ 5} (a) MAGISTRATE DECISION Self-defense from physical attack or threat of physical harm; {¶ 6} (b) Defense of another from physical attack or threat of physical attack; {¶ 7} (c) When necessary to control or subdue an inmate who refuses to obey prison rules, regulations or orders; {¶ 8} (d) When necessary to stop an inmate from destroying property or engaging in a riot or other disturbance; {¶ 9} (e) Prevention of an escape or apprehension of an escapee; or {¶ 10} (f) Controlling or subduing an inmate in order to stop or prevent self-inflicted harm. {¶ 11} 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 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.) {¶ 12} Plaintiff testified that the incident occurred when he was in his cell and SOCF staff attempted to remove his handcuffs. According to plaintiff, staff members sprayed him with mace and forcibly removed his handcuffs, causing him to suffer a laceration to his arm. However, plaintiff s testimony regarding the incident was inconsistent. {¶ 13} Corrections Sergeant Michael Humphrey responded to another employee s call for help regarding plaintiff on the morning of December 21, 2006. Humphrey testified that when he arrived on the scene, he observed plaintiff wandering around the range and refusing orders to either go to his cell or to the shower cell. Humphrey stated that he and Sergeant Bear entered the range and escorted plaintiff Case No. 2007-01126 back to his cell without incident. -3- MAGISTRATE DECISION Humphrey testified that plaintiff has a history of refusing to allow his handcuffs to be removed and attempting to retreat into his cell while handcuffed. According to Humphrey, this prompted him to use his PR-24 tactical baton to aid in the removal of the handcuffs. Humphrey stated that plaintiff placed his hands through the cuff port in the cell door, a second set of handcuffs was attached to the set plaintiff had on and then to the baton, and the handcuffs were removed without incident. Humphrey stated that he prepared an incident report and participated in a use-of-force investigation following the encounter. (Defendant s Exhibit A.) {¶ 14} Humphrey further testified that he had a second incident with plaintiff later that same day. According to Humphrey, plaintiff was again released from his cell to take a shower, but after his shower he refused to return to his cell. Humphrey stated that he again entered the range and escorted plaintiff to his cell without incident, but that before he could remove the handcuffs, plaintiff ran to the back of the cell, retrieved an object, said I got something for you and then turned to throw something. Humphrey testified that he administered a burst of mace at which point plaintiff complied with his orders and he was able to remove the handcuffs. Humphrey stated that he prepared an incident report and participated in a use-of-force investigation following this incident as well. (Defendant s Exhibit B.) {¶ 15} Based upon the foregoing, the court concludes that Humphrey and other staff involved in the incidents of December 21, 2006, used appropriate force at all times. Accordingly, judgment is recommended in favor of defendants. 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 Case No. 2007-01126 -4- MAGISTRATE DECISION 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). _____________________________________ STEVEN A. LARSON Magistrate cc: Stephanie D. Pestello-Sharf Assistant Attorney General 150 East Gay Street, 18th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215-3130 Magistrate Steven A. Larson MR/cmd Filed September 28, 2009 To S.C. reporter October 13, 2009 Abdul Abdulrahaman, #487-773 P.O. Box 45699 Lucasville, Ohio 45699
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