Rogers v. United States
Rogers v. United States
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
The plaintiff instituted this action seeking the recovery of damages for personal injuries allegedly sustained due to the negligence of a United States Marshal under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 1346(b)
The County of Sumter was joined as a third party defendant pursuant to the government’s motion under Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, it appearing that the County of Sumter might be liable to the United States under a contractual arrangement for the keeping of federal prisoners, should the United States be liable to the plaintiff. The case was tried before me without a jury in Columbia, South Carolina on April 1 and 2,1969.
In its consideration and determination of this case, this court is controlled and directed by Rogers v. United States, 397 F.2d 12 (1968), which reversed Rogers v. United States, 267 F.Supp. 25 (1967), wherein summary judgment was granted in favor of the defendant. The Fourth Circuit reversed and remanded the case for trial stating:
“On remand, the district court should consider, among other questions whether (a) Marshal Rowland knew or should have known in the exercise of due care of Brabham’s reputation and (b) whether the conduct of Jailer Beatson, who made the telephone contact with Brabham and who seemingly knew or should have known of Brabham’s perversion, can be imputed to the United States in view of the contract providing for the keeping of fed*702 eral prisoners in the Sumter County Jail. Depending upon his ultimate findings of fact, we think the trial judge should consider whether or not the marshal exercised less than ordinary care when he failed to make perfectly clear to the probationer the choices that were properly open to him under the order of the court— spending the night in jail, telephoning his parents or other friends in Loris to come for him, or renting a hotel room for the night at the government’s expense. Certainly if Jailer Beatson is found to be an agent of the United States and if it is further found that he knew of Brabham’s reputation, it would seem to follow that due care required him to warn Rogers of the danger of accompanying Brabham.”
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The plaintiff, now a resident of Lexington, North Carolina, formerly lived in Loris, South Carolina which is ■located approximately 100 miles from Columbia, South Carolina. During the year 1964 plaintiff was arrested by the federal authorities on the charge of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle and was placed in the Sumter County, South Carolina Jail awaiting trial. At that time he was seventeen years of age and was approaching his eighteenth birthday in August of that year.
2. John A. Rowland was appointed United States Marshal for the Eastern District of South Carolina on or about April 13, 1961 and was acting in that capacity during all relevant times. His office had taken plaintiff into custody at Conway, South Carolina on the federal offense and had placed him in pretrial confinement in the Sumter County Jail, according to the terms of a contract
3. After having remained in the Sumter County Jail for approximately two months awaiting trial, on the morning of July 22, 1964 plaintiff was transported from the jail to the United States District Court in Columbia where he entered a plea of guilty to the interstate transportation charge and was placed on five years probation by the Presiding Judge. When the fact that plaintiff was without funds and had no transportation to his home in Loris, South Carolina was called to the judge’s attention, he issued a routine order requiring:
“That the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of South Carolina shall provide the probationer with transportation in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 42833 from Columbia, South Carolina to Loris, South Carolina, together with a reasonable amount for subsistence.”
Pursuant to such order the Marshal’s office contacted local bus stations in Columbia seeking immediate transportation for plaintiff to his home that afternoon. Upon determining that no bus transportation was available that day Mr. Rowland, the Marshal, and his Deputy, Terry Pitts, advised plaintiff of that fact and suggested that he could spend the night in the nearby Lexington County Jail if he so desired, and that he would be furnished a transportation request for bus transportation to Loris the next day. Thereupon, the plaintiff advised the Marshal that he preferred to go back
4. The Marshal testified, and there is no credible evidence to the contrary, that plaintiff never told him the identity of his friend. The Marshal made no inquiry concerning the identity, reputation or character of plaintiff’s friend. Plaintiff, however, did tell the Marshal that his friend had visited him on several occasions while he was in custody in the Sumter County Jail, had brought him and his fellow prisoners food to eat, had talked to him about going to Sunday School and had read the Bible to him. The Marshal testified that if he had had any unfavorable information about plaintiff’s friend he of course would have suggested, that he not visit him, and that he naturally assumed that his friend was an all right person, otherwise Jailer Beatson and Sheriff Parnell would not have permitted him to frequent the jail and socialize with their prisoners.
5. Before the Marshal and his deputies left the Sumter County Jail that afternoon they issued a transportation request to plaintiff for bus transportation from Sumter to Loris. The Marshal did not advise plaintiff that the government would provide him with a hotel or motel room if he desired one, but he did make arrangements for him to spend the night at the Sumter County Jail and to have breakfast there the next morning if he were unable to contact his friend. At no time after his return to Sumter was plaintiff placed in custody, nor was his liberty restrained in any way. A Deputy Marshal executed a release card for plaintiff at the Sumter County Jail which he delivered to the jailer; he was in no respect a prisoner and was not being held under authority of any United States Statute. Thus, he was not covered by the contract between Sumter County and the United States. (Note 2, supra).
6. The credible evidence establishes that plaintiff’s friend Henry Brabham, who had lived in Sumter practically all his life, had no reputation in the community for violence prior to July 1964. Sheriff Byrd Parnell, who has been Sumter County Sheriff for over seventeen years, testified that he had known Brabham for twenty years and that although he did not have the best reputation he had no reputation for violence and had had only one charge of assault and battery placed against him prior to July 1964, which was never brought to trial. Deputy United States Marshal Ray Gaddy who had been a Deputy Marshal
7. In reference to Brabham’s reputation in and around Sumter one Harold Odom, a barber in the City of Sumter, testified for the plaintiff, stating that he had known Brabham for many years, that he had frequented his barbershop which is located near the Sumter County Courthouse, that he came from a good family but he was considered “a little odd.” On first being questioned about his reputation he testified that he did not know about his reputation as to violence. Later upon further questioning by plaintiff’s counsel he stated that Brabham’s reputation as to violence was bad. However, on cross examination he conceded that it may have been after he learned of Brabham’s brutal attack upon plaintiff that he formed an opinion that Brabham’s reputation for violence was bad. The testimony of this witness was not very convincing and has been given very little weight by the court.
8. Plaintiff testified that neither the Marshal nor anyone else ever told him that he was free to go and do as he pleased. He further testified that when the Marshal took him back to Sumter that afternoon he told the Sumter Jailer to lock him up; that he was accordingly taken upstairs and locked in a cell where he remained for about 2 hours until 7:00 p. m. when Brabham came to the jail; that the Sumter Jailer then released him and told him he could go with Brabham. Plaintiff further stated that he believed that he was still a prisoner, that no one offered him any money for a motel room or food, and that he thought he would be required to spend the night in the Sumter Jail if he did not go with Brabham. Plaintiff’s testimony in this regard was directly contradicted by the testimony of Marshal Rowland and his two deputies, Pitts and Davis, who were present with the Marshal and plaintiff in Columbia after his having been placed on probation and after their arrival back at the Sumter County Jail that afternoon. Thus, the court credits the Marshal’s and his deputies’ testimony as opposed to the plaintiff’s uncorroborated version of what occurred.
9. Henry Brabham had not arrived at the Sumter County Jail when the Marshal and his deputies left there about 6:00 p. m. to return to Columbia. However, he did come to the jail around 7:00 p. m. (It is not clear whether he came of his own volition on one of his customary visits, or whether he was actually contacted by the jailer). Shortly thereafter the plaintiff of his own volition and without the suggestion of anyone else departed the jail with Brabham,
10. As a result of the horrible and sadistic treatment of plaintiff by Brabham he was severely and seriously injured and made to suffer excruciating pain, all of which contributed to and precipitated his development of the mental condition requiring that he be committed to the South Carolina State Hospital. Plaintiff continues to suffer from nervousness, tenseness, and despondency; he is not able to sleep well, his energy is limited, his interest is short, and he has undergone a decided change in personality. Prior to this occurrence he apparently had a cheery disposition and a winsome personality. He also was ambitious and wanted to better himself with a high school education. He now is not as radiant, is highly nervous and slow, and does not look or act like the person he was prior to this occurrence. He has obviously suffered serious physical injuries, much excruciating pain and mental anguish, and has developed as a result thereof a mental illness of prolonged and probably permanent duration.
11. At the time of his injuries plaintiff was almost eighteen years of age, and under the South Carolina Mortuary Statute, as amended, plaintiff had a life expectancy of 52.19 years. In view of the physical injuries, pain, suffering, and mental anguish and impairments suffered and to be suffered in the future by plaintiff, and the resulting diminution in his earning capacity, the court finds that if this were a case of liability on the part of defendant, then plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars actual damages.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The court has jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter of this action by virtue of the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C.A. 1346(b) and 2671 et seq. The substantive law of the State of South Carolina is applicable to the issues of liability and damages herein presented.
Under the Act sovereign immunity from tort suits for damages has been waived by the United States under the
During all times relevant to the issues in this case Marshal Rowland and his deputies, Pitts and Davis, in all of their dealings with plaintiff were acting within the scope of their office and employment as United States Marshals; Defendant United States would therefore be fully responsible for all injuries and damages proximately resulting to plaintiff as a result of their negligence or breach of duty, if any, toward him.
As commanded by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in its opinion in Rogers v. United States, supra, the court has carefully considered the question of what duty and responsibility, if any, the marshal owed to plaintiff under the court order issued by the presiding judge pursuant to 18 U.S.C.A. § 4283, requiring that the marshal provide plaintiff with transportation and subsistence to his home after he was placed on probation by the court.
It is concluded that the Marshal adequately fulfilled his obligation to plaintiff — and the court — under the transportation and subsistence order. He made every reasonable effort to obtain bus transportation from Columbia, and later that same day from Sumter to plaintiff’s home in Loris. Upon determining
The Marshal did not offer to pay for a hotel or motel room for plaintiff that night in Sumter, but he did explain that he was free to go and do as he pleased, and made arrangements for him to sleep and eat at the Sumter County Jail if he could not locate his friend. Of course, it would have been more preferable for the Marshal to have offered a hotel or motel room rather than a jail cell. As a probationer the Marshal had no power, control or supervision over plaintiff. He had no affirmative duty to direct his personal activities from the time, he was given the transportation request from Sumter to Loris. Prior to the time the Marshal had made arrangements for plaintiff to spend the night at the Sumter Jail he had already elected to visit and spend the night with his friend Brabham if he could be located. Neither the Marshal, nor his deputies, Pitts and Davis, knew, or by the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of the violent, sadist, or perverted tendencies of Brabham. The Marshal testified that he was confident that neither Sheriff Parnell of Sumter County, nor Jailer Beatson would have allowed Brabham to visit their prisoners and frequent the jail if they had known of anything bad about him. He further testified that if he had known of anything unfavorable about Brabham, he would have suggested or advised against plaintiff’s going with him. It is therefore concluded that the Marshal was not guilty of negligence or breach of duty in carrying out any obligations or duties imposed upon him by Judge Hemphill’s order. Neither did the Marshal or his deputies breach any duty toward plaintiff which they reasonably assumed as a volunteer. The Marshal assumed no status as a “good Samaritan.” As before stated he fulfilled his obligations to the court, and to plaintiff, if he had any such obligation to the latter under Judge Hemphill’s transportation and subsistence order. Since the Marshal had no actual or constructive notice of any bad or unsavory tendencies or reputation of plaintiff’s friend Brabham, there was no duty on him under such circumstances to make any inquiry about the friend, or to volunteer any fatherly advice to plaintiff. Plaintiff was an intelligent young man who apparently knew his way around, and, if it could be concluded that the Marshal was negligent for failure to inquire or advise, by the same standard, plaintiff himself should be held to have been contributorily negligent himself, which would bar his recovery. He had met and known Brabham for some two months, thus if he had any doubts or reservations about him, he should have made inquiry before going to his home for the night.
There is no credible evidence to establish that Brabham had an unsavory or bad reputation, or a predisposition to
The court further concludes that Jailer Beatson was not guilty of any actionable negligence, or neglect of duty owed by him or Sumter County to plaintiff, or to the United States, in allowing plaintiff to leave the jail with Brabham, and in not warning plaintiff not to associate with him.
Plaintiff failed to prove that Jailer Beatson of the Sumter County Jail either knew, or reasonably should have known, of Brabham’s violent, sadistic, or perverted tendencies, and consequently there is no valid basis for finding any negligent conduct on the part of Jailer Beatson, or any other official of Sumter County, which could be imputed to defendant United States. The undisputed evidence is that Brabham frequented the Sumter County Jail during Beatson’s tenure as jailer, for the purpose of visiting the prisoners, including plaintiff; that he brought them chicken and other food, read the Bible to them, and was “like a father” to some of the prisoners. There is no evidence of any misconduct, or otherwise objectionable behavior at the jail during such visits. Such conduct without more would surely give no one a reasonable basis to suspect that Brabham was a sadist or a “queer”.
Further, under the contract between Sumter County and the United States, (Note 2, swpra), it is concluded that Sumter County was not acting in the capacity of an agent of the United States, but was in fact an independent contractor. Any negligence, if any, on its part, or the part of its agents committed in the scope of their duties, would not be chargeable against defendant United States. South Carolina has consistently followed the general rule that an employer is not liable for the torts of an independent contractor or the latter’s employees. Norris v. Bryant, 217 S.C. 389, 60 S.E.2d 844 (1950); Allison v. Ideal Laundry & Cleaners, 215 S.C. 344, 55 S.E.2d 281 (1949); Chatman v. Johnny J. Jones Exposition, Inc., 212 S.C. 215, 47 S.E.2d 302 (1949). A comprehensive discussion of South Carolina law in this regard is contained in 4 S.C.Law Quarterly 150 (1951).
The court concludes that plaintiff has failed to establish that there was any negligence on the part of Sumter County or any of its employees, including Jailer Beatson, which proximately caused or contributed to the injuries and damages suffered by plaintiff. Even if such actionable negligence were established, the same would not be imputed to or chargeable against the United States, since it was acting under its contract as an independent contractor, and not as an agent.
When plaintiff returned to the Sumter County Jail in the late afternoon of July 22, 1964, he was in no sense a prisoner under the custody and control of the Marshal. He was a probationer, subject only to the terms and conditions of his probation which imposed no special duty upon the Marshal toward him. He was a free agent under no restraint, power
In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it is unnecessary to pass upon the issues raised by the United States’ third party complaint against the third party defendant Sumter County. Suffice it to say, however, under the circumstances it would appear that under no theory should the United States be entitled to recover from Sumter County any sum which might be adjudged against it in favor of plaintiff.
It is recognized that plaintiff has suffered severe physical and mental injuries, much anguish, and diminution in his earnings and earning capacity, and will continue to suffer in the future, and the inhuman, fiendish, and brutal attacks by Brabham upon plaintiff are abhorred, nevertheless, under its view of the evidence and the law the court cannot hold defendant liable to plaintiff for such injuries and damages. Plaintiff has failed to establish any actionable negligence or neglect of duty of defendant or its employees upon which an award could be made in favor of plaintiff.
Let judgment be entered in favor of defendant United States, and third party defendant County of Sumter. Each party shall pay his, or its own costs.
And it is so ordered.
. “(b) Subject to the provisions of chapter 171 of this title, the district courts, together with the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone and the District Court of the Virgin Islands, shall have exclusive jurisdiction
. The United States and Sumter County had entered into a contract whereby Sumter County was to provide the services of “safe keeping, care, and subsistence of persons held under authority of any United States statute * * * ” (Government’s Ex. # 1).
. “A court of the United States when placing a defendant on probation, may direct the United States marshal to furnish the defendant with transportation to the place to which the defendant is required to proceed under the terms of his probation and, in addition, may also direct the marshal to furnish the defendant with an amount of money, not to exceed $30, for subsistence expense to his destination. In such event, such expenses shall be paid by the marshal.” 18 U.S.C. § 4283.
. It is noted that Jailer Beatson was present in court during the trial of the case but he was not called as a witness by any of the parties.
. In a pretrial deposition plaintiff testified that he and Brabham on one of the latter’s visits to the jail had discussed 302 F.Supp. — 45 the possibility of plaintiff’s spending the night with Brabham if he should be given a probationary sentence.
. At the trial the Marshal testified that, during his tenure in office, when directed by court order to furnish a probationer transportation to his home and subsistence, as he was ordered to do for plaintiff, his office generally furnished bus transportation to his home and provided him with necessary funds for meals, but that his office did not customarily provide lodging as part of the “subsistence”. The court has been unable to find any cases other than that of Judge Russell in Rogers v. United States, supra, construing Section 4283 and the Marshal’s duties thereunder to a probationer. The court agrees with Judge Russell’s construction and interpretation of this Section.
. The evidence is unclear as to whether the jailer ever succeeded in making contact with Brabham to request that he come to the jail to see plaintiff, or whether Brabham came to the jail on his own initiative, as one of his routine visits to the prisoners. There is some evidence that plaintiff and Brabham, while the former was in the Sumter County Jail awaiting disposition of his case, had discussed plaintiff’s spending the night with Brabham on his way home if he received a probationary sentence in Columbia. Whether Beatson’s acts, if found negligent, would give rise to any liability in plaintiff’s favor against Sumter County is not before the court, and no finding or conclusion thereabout is intimated, in view of the court’s conclusion that plaintiff did not come within the provisions of the contract between Sumter County and the United States.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Barry Dean ROGERS, by his Guardian ad Litem, Luther James Rogers v. UNITED STATES of America, and Third-Party v. COUNTY OF SUMTER, Third Party
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published