Davenport v. Crablim et al

Filing 7

RECOMMENDED PARTIAL DISPOSITION recommending that Davenport be allowed to proceed with his inadequate medical care claim against Crablim and Cunningham, in their individual capacities only; service be ordered on Crablim and Cunningham; and the Court certify that an in forma pauperis appeal from any Order adopting this Recommended Partial Disposition would not be taken in good faith. Objections due within 14 days of this Recommendation. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 11/27/2017. (kdr)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF DIVISION

JONATHAN DAVENPORT,
ADC #132353
V.

PLAINTIFF
5:17CV00229 JM/JTR

CRABLIM, Nurse, Tucker Unit, ADC, et al.

DEFENDANTS

RECOMMENDED PARTIAL DISPOSITION
The following Recommended Partial Disposition ("Recommendation") has
been sent to United States District Judge James M. Moody Jr. Any party may file
written objections to this Recommendation.

Objections must be specific and

include the factual or legal basis for disagreeing with the Recommendation. An
objection to a factual finding must specifically identify the finding of fact believed
to be wrong and describe the evidence that supports that belief.
An original and one copy of the objections must be received by the Clerk of
this Court within fourteen (14) days of this Recommendation. If no objections are
filed, Judge Moody can adopt this Recommendation without independently
reviewing all of the evidence in the record. By not objecting, you may also waive
any right to appeal questions of fact.
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I. Introduction
Plaintiff Jonathan Davenport ("Davenport") is a prisoner in the Tucker Unit
of the Arkansas Department of Correction. He has filed a pro se § 1983 Complaint
and an Amended Complaint alleging that Defendants violated his constitutional
rights. Docs. 2 & 5. Before Davenport may proceed with this action, the Court
must screen his claims.1
II. Discussion
Davenport alleges that Defendants Nurse Cunningham ("Cunningham") and
Nurse Crablim ("Crablim") failed to provide him with constitutionally adequate
medical care for chest pains and difficulty breathing, which ultimately resulted in
the collapse of his lung. The Court concludes, for screening purposes only, that
Davenport has pled a viable § 1983 inadequate medical care claim against
Cunningham and Crablim, in their individual capacities.

Thus, the Court

recommends that service should be ordered on them.

1

The Prison Litigation Reform Act requires federal courts to screen prisoner complaints
seeking relief against a governmental entity, officer, or employee. 28 U.S.C. ' 1915A(a). The
Court must dismiss a complaint or a portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that: (a) are
legally frivolous or malicious; (b) fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (c)
seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. ' 1915A(b).
When making this determination, a court must accept the truth of the factual allegations contained
in the complaint, and it may consider the documents attached to the complaint. Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009); Reynolds v. Dormire, 636 F.3d 976, 979 (8th Cir. 2011).
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Davenport has also named Crablim and Cunningham in their official
capacities.

The doctrine of sovereign immunity precludes Davenport from

obtaining monetary damages from Crablim and Cunningham, in their official
capacities. See Zajrael v. Harmon, 677 F.3d. 353, 355 (8th Cir. 2012); Larson v.
Kempker, 414 F.3d 936, 939-40 (8th Cir. 2005). Because monetary damages are
the only form of relief sought by Davenport, his official capacity claims against
Crablim and Cunningham should be dismissed, without prejudice.
Davenport has named John Does ("Does") and Director of Nursing Huff
("Huff") as Defendants. Because there is no vicarious liability in ' 1983 actions, a
prisoner "must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official's
own individual actions, has violated the Constitution." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
662, 676 (2009). Although he was instructed to do so (Doc. 4), Davenport has not
pled any facts explaining how Huff or Does, through their own individual actions,
violated the Constitution. Accordingly, the Court recommends that Huff and Does
be dismissed, without prejudice, as Defendants in this action because Davenport has
failed to plead a viable claim against them.
III. Conclusion
IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT:
1.

Davenport be allowed to PROCEED with his inadequate medical care
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claim against Crablim and Cunningham, in their individual capacities only.
2.

All other claims and Defendants be DISMISSED, WITHOUT

PREJUDICE.
3.

Service be ordered on Crablim and Cummingham.

4.

The Court CERTIFY, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that an in

forma pauperis appeal from any Order adopting this Recommended Partial
Disposition would not be taken in good faith.
Dated this 27th day of November, 2017.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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