Reardon v. Commissioner of Correction

In his pro se complaint the plaintiff alleges four violations of his rights which he addresses on appeal: (1) that he was denied access to the prison law library, (2) that he was denied proper medical care, (3) that he was subjected to retaliatory punishment for asserting his legal rights, and (4) that he was denied the opportunity to call a prisoner as a witness at a disciplinary hearing. As authority he cites both the Massachusetts and United States Constitutions, as well as State laws and regulations. The first three of these claims are clearly cognizable. See Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 828 (1977); Cepulonis v. Fair, 563 F. Supp. 659 (D. Mass. 1983) (denial of access to law library); Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976) (denial of medical treatment); McDonald v. Hall, 610 F.2d 16, 18 (1st Cir. 1979) (retaliatory punishment). Given the facts alleged by the plaintiff in his complaint and the inferences in his favor that can be drawn from them, we cannot say beyond a doubt that there is no provable set of facts that would entitle him to relief.

Although the plaintiff’s fourth claim is also one recognized by the courts, see Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 566 (1974) and Real v. Superintendent of Mass. Correctional Inst., Walpole, 390 Mass. 399 (1983), it has been rendered moot since the plaintiff was given an administrative rehearing after this court granted a stay of the appeal. The propriety of the procedures at the second hearing cannot, of course, be a subject of this appeal because the issue could not have been raised in the complaint which was dismissed. Nonetheless, on remand the plaintiff may amend his complaint to add any claims arising out of subsequent proceedings.

We do not imply that this case or similar ones must necessarily be decided only after a full trial. Rather, we point out that a rule 12(b) (6) motion is ordinarily not the proper vehicle for testing the factual sufficiency of a plaintiff’s claims. In appropriate circumstances such a case may be disposed of on a motion for summary judgment, supported by affidavit, under Mass.R.Civ.P. 56(b), 365 Mass. 824 (1974).

The judgment is reversed, and the case is remanded to the Superior Court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

So ordered.