Mack v. Warden, Loretto FCI — prisoner civil rights — reversal — Fuentes

A divided Third Circuit panel ruled in favor on an inmate alleging violation of his rights. As the majority opinion summarized:

Mack’s allegations raise several issues of first impression in our Circuit, including (1) whether an inmate’s oral grievance to prison officials can constitute protected activity under the Constitution; (2) whether RFRA prohibits individual conduct that substantially burdens religious exercise; and (3) whether RFRA provides for monetary relief from an official sued in his individual capacity. We answer all three questions in the affirmative, and therefore conclude that Mack has sufficiently pled a First Amendment retaliation claim and a RFRA claim. We agree, however, that Mack’s First Amendment Free Exercise claim and Fifth Amendment equal protection claim must be dismissed. We will therefore affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand to the District Court for further proceedings.

Fuentes was joined by McKee; Roth dissented in part, arguing that inmates’ oral complaints should not be First-Amendment-protected speech. Arguing for the prisoner was Duke law appellate clinic student Russell Taylor (supervised by Sean Andrussier), and for the government was Jane Dattilo.