Graham v. Main
| Decision Date | 09 June 2011 |
| Docket Number | Civil Action No. 10-5027 (SRC) |
| Parties | RAFIEEK GRAHAM, Plaintiff, v. DR. MERRIL MAIN, et al., Defendants. |
| Court | U.S. District Court — District of New Jersey |
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
OPINIONAPPEARANCES:
RAFIEEK GRAHAM, Plaintiff pro se
East Jersey State Prison, Special Treatment Unit
Plaintiff, Rafieek Graham, an involuntarily committed person pursuant to the Sexually Violent Predator Act ("SVPA"), N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.24, et seq., seeks to bring this action in forma pauperis. Based on his affidavit of indigence, the Court will grant plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) (1998) and order the Clerk of the Court to file the Complaint.
At this time, the Court must review the Complaint and plaintiff's many addendums, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), to determine whether the action should be dismissed as frivolous or malicious, for failure to state a claim upon which relief maybe granted, or because it seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. For the reasons set forth below, the Court concludes that this action should be dismissed with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
Plaintiff, Rafieek Graham ("Graham"), brings this civil rights action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against the following defendants: Mrs. Shantay Brame Adams, Assistant Director of the Special Treatment Unit ("STU") at the East Jersey State Prison ("EJSP"); Dr. Merril Main, Director of the EJSP STU; Ms. Roxanne Vega, Psychologist at the EJSP STU; Mrs. Jackie Ottino, Program Coordinator at the EJSP STU; Michael Vanpelt, Program Coordinator at the STU Annex; John Main, Chief Executive Officer of mental Health at the Ann Klein Forensic Center; and Dr. Kevin Enright, Psychiatrist at the EJSP STU. (Complaint, Caption and 55 4b-4h). The following factual allegations are taken from the Complaint, and are accepted for purposes of this screening only. The Court has made no findings as to the veracity of plaintiff's allegations.
The Court notes that this is the second action filed by Graham with regard to his civil confinement at the STU in EJSP. His first action, Graham v. Christie, et al., Civil No. 10-2010 (KSH), was dismissed without prejudice by Opinion and Orderissued by the Honorable Katharine S. Hayden on or about October 18, 2010. Graham filed this instant Complaint on or about September 25, 2010, before his first action was dismissed.1 Additionally, Graham filed yet a third action on or about October 26, 2010, shortly after his first action was dismissed. See Graham v. Sharp, et al., Civil No. 10-5563 (SRC).
In this second action, Graham continues to complain about his confinement at the EJSP STU, and what he alleges are unconstitutional restrictions and conditions placed on him as a civilly committed person. He generally complains that he has suffered mental abuse and harassment by the treatment team staff at the EJSP STU since he was transferred there in May 2010, mainly because they are treating him like a prisoner and not a civilly committed person.
For instance, Graham first alleges that, on September 24, 2010, defendant Dr. Enright (Compl., ¶ 6 Statement of Claims).
Graham seeks to be transferred to a "federally funded facility" and to be compensated for his mental anguish and deliberate indifference by the named defendants. He seeks an unspecified amount in punitive damages. (Compl., ¶ 7).
On October 14, 2010, Graham filed his first of many notices of addendum to his Complaint. (Docket entry no. 2). In this first addendum, Graham alleges that there are three different addresses used for the residents at the EJSP STU, and that mail and packages are sent to a different location than where the residents are confined.2 When Graham questioned the use of different addresses, he complains that, on May 14, 2010, he was "indirectly threatened" by the New Jersey Department of Human Services ("NJDHS") Administrator and the New Jersey Department of Corrections ("NJDOC") Administrator that plaintiff would be placed on Modified Activities Program ("MAP") status. Graham states that he continued to file complaints and grievances. (See October 14, 2010 Addendum at Docket entry no. 2).
Graham further alleges that, on May 12, 2010, he was placed on the South Unit because of his treatment refusal, although he states that he never refused treatment. On September 23, 2010, Lieutenant Jones moved Graham's support group on the South Unit,but the next day, defendant Adams moved the support off the unit for "personal reasons." (See id.).
Graham also complains that, since May 2010, he has been placed in a cell that leaks water from the ceiling when it rains and is infested with gnats. Although he files grievances about these conditions, he alleges that nothing is done. (Id.).
On October 1, 2010, Lt. Jones informed plaintiff that the NJDHS staff told Jones to separate Graham and the support group Graham had been with for ten years. On October 25, 2010, Graham went to the yard and was verbally harassed by corrections officers and staff. Graham alleges that on September 28, 2010, defendants Adams and Ottino told officers to harass plaintiff about his "gender of life" by calling plaintiff a "homo" and "fag." (Id.).
On September 24, 2010, Graham alleges that he was threatened with "treatment probation." Graham states that on October 1, 2010 he was still housed on South Unit labeled as a segregated unit, for treatment refusals, and as a result, he has not been able to go to groups or participate in any therapeutic programs. Graham contends that he has not been in any trouble for over seven years. (Id.).
On October 4, 2010, Graham attended "group 7" run by group therapist Roxanne Vega. Graham alleges that Vega became "aggressive" and yelled at plaintiff not to tell another NJDHSstaff member that Graham's family is his own business. Graham states that Vega threatened to put Graham on MAP status. He claims that psychiatric treatments are being used for disciplinary purposes. (Id.)
On October 7, 2010, Director Main and Superintendent Johnson ordered that no kitchen worker on "A" unit can go to the kitchen. On October 8, 2010, an exterminator came to spray the unit for an outbreak of bed bug infestation. The exterminators come four days each week to fumigate the unit. (Id.)
On October 9 and 10, 2010, Graham attended yard movement to be with his support group, but they were harassed by officers because of their gender and lifestyle. Graham complains that he has been humiliated and mentally tortured. Graham alleges that Officer Ware stated to him that she did not understand why plaintiff and his support group were being harassed. (Id.).
On October 14, 2010, the Court received a motion filed by Graham seeking a temporary restraining order directing defendants not to retaliate against plaintiff by confiscating his court papers or placing plaintiff on MAP status. (See Docket entry no. 3). Graham alleges that he has been banned from law library materials and has been placed under prison policy guidelines and procedures even though he is not a prisoner. He also alleges that he has been threatened with MAP status if he does not follow the NJDHS "way." He also complains that he has been separated from his "mental support." (Id.).
On October 19, 2010, the Court received a second addendum to plaintiff's Complaint. (Docket entry no. 4). Graham alleges that on October 14, 2010, defendant Vega dropped plaintiff's treatment from Phase 3 to Phase 2 with the possibility of taking plaintiff's job. Graham states that he has had above average attendance in group and passed two polygraph tests. Graham was told that he had missed four group sessions although Graham contends that he missed only two because of family problems. He alleges that the drop in his treatment phase was retaliatory because of the lawsuit he filed. (Id.).
Graham further alleges that Vega told him that Graham manipulated Lt. Jones to put plaintiff on the South Unit to be with his support group. Graham was then moved to the West Unit where he does not get along with the other residents on the theory that a conflict would occur and Graham could be placed on MAP status. (Id.).
On or about October 28, 2010, Graham wrote another addendum to his Complaint. (Docket entry no. 5). Graham continues to recite perceived grievances in his treatment at the EJSP STU. On October 22, 2010, he states that he was locked in his cell while it was searched and electronic equipment was taken. He states that he remained locked in his cell for seven hours before being allowed to leave his cell. Graham attaches the contraband seizure receipt he received on October 22, 2010, which shows that three remotes, one X-box controller, one portable DVD player, athree-plug adapter and a Kinyo surge protector box were confiscated because these items pose " a threat to the security or orderly operation of the correctional facility." He complains that a civilly committed person should not be subjected to the same rules as prisoners, more particularly, he should not be subjected to cell searches and pat searches. (Id.).
Graham also alleges that the confiscation of his electronic equipment was part of a campaign of harassment by correctional officers against him. His cell was searched on October 19, 2010, when no other residents' cells were searched. Graham does not identify the other forms of harassment but states that it happens continuously and that he has filed grievances about it to no avail. He states that the harassment causes him mental anguish and...
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