Green v. USA

Filing 5

ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson. Signed by Judge Michael J. Reagan on 3/3/2014. (tjk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
NATHANIEL GREEN,
No. 16620-034,
Plaintiff,
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.

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Case No. 014-cv-00119-MJR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
REAGAN, District Judge:
Plaintiff Nathaniel Green, an inmate in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons,
brings suit under Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346, 2671–2680, for
allegedly negligent medical diagnosis and care he received while housed at the Federal
Correctional Center in Greenville, Illinois.
More specifically, the complaint alleges that in March 2009 Plaintiff sought
medical care for a skin rash and stiffness on his right foot. Named healthcare professionals at
FCI Greenville prescribed an anti-fungal cream. Over time, the cream proved ineffective, the
condition of the foot deteriorated, and the pain increased. Plaintiff repeatedly sought further care,
but medical personnel generally stayed the course and often became annoyed with Plaintiff’s
insistence that there was a more serious problem. Plaintiff even suggested that he could have
peripheral artery disease, but no one agreed with his self-diagnosis. On September 12, 2011,
Plaintiff was finally diagnosed with severe arterial disease. A vascular surgeon was consulted,
who indicated that Plaintiff was at high risk of losing his right leg. By the time surgery was
performed at the end of October 2011, an above-the-knee amputation was required.
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This case is now before the Court for a preliminary review of the complaint
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, which provides:
(a) Screening.– The court shall review, before docketing, if feasible or, in
any event, as soon as practicable after docketing, a complaint in a civil
action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or
officer or employee of a governmental entity.
(b) Grounds for Dismissal.– On review, the court shall identify
cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the
complaint, if the complaint–
(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim on which relief
may be granted; or
(2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from
such relief.
The FTCA is the exclusive avenue for securing monetary damages for the
negligence of government employees. See 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1); Couch v. United States, 694
F.3d 852, 856 (7th Cir. 2013). The United States is the only proper defendant to an FTCA case.
See 28U.S.C. § 2679(b). The Bureau of Prisons has a statutory duty to care for prisoners in its
custody (18 U.S.C. § 4042(a)(2)). In addition, it is noted that administrative remedies appear to
have been exhausted. Consequently, the complaint states colorable claims regarding the failure
of prison medical staff to properly diagnose and treat Plaintiff. Therefore, the case shall proceed.
The Court offers no opinion regarding whether the four-year statute of limitations period has any
impact upon Plaintiff’s claims.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the complaint shall PROCEED against
the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The Clerk of Court shall prepare for Defendant: (1) Form 5 (Notice of a Lawsuit
and Request to Waive Service of a Summons), and (2) Form 6 (Waiver of Service of Summons).
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(1), the Clerk shall (1) deliver to or send by
registered or certified mail addressed to the civil-process clerk at the office of the United States

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Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois a copy of the summons, the complaint, and this
Memorandum and Order; (2) send by registered or certified mail to the Attorney General of the
United States at Washington, D.C., a copy of the summons, the complaint, and this
Memorandum and Order; and (3) send by registered or certified mail to the Bureau of Prisons at
Washington, D.C., a copy of the summons, the complaint, and this Memorandum and Order.
Plaintiff shall serve upon Defendant (or upon defense counsel once an appearance
is entered), a copy of every pleading or other document submitted for consideration by the Court.
Plaintiff shall include with the original paper to be filed a certificate stating the date on which a
true and correct copy of the document was served on Defendant or counsel. Any paper received
by a district judge or magistrate judge that has not been filed with the Clerk or that fails to
include a certificate of service will be disregarded by the Court.
The United States of America is ORDERED to timely file an appropriate
responsive pleading to the complaint and shall not waive filing a reply pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
1997e(g).
Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) shall be decided
by separate order.
Pursuant to Local Rule 72.1(a)(2), this action is REFERRED to a United States
Magistrate Judge for further pre-trial proceedings.
Further, this entire matter shall be REFERRED to a United States Magistrate for
disposition, pursuant to Local Rule 72.2(b)(2) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), if all parties consent to
such a referral.
If judgment is rendered against Plaintiff, and the judgment includes the payment
of costs under Section 1915, Plaintiff will be required to pay the full amount of the costs,

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notwithstanding that his application to proceed in forma pauperis may have been granted. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(A).
Plaintiff is ADVISED that at the time application was made under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915 for leave to commence this civil action without being required to prepay fees and costs or
give security for the same, the applicant and his or her attorney were deemed to have entered into
a stipulation that the recovery, if any, secured in the action shall be paid to the Clerk of the
Court, who shall pay therefrom all unpaid costs taxed against plaintiff and remit the balance to
plaintiff. Local Rule 3.1(c)(1).
Finally, Plaintiff is ADVISED that he is under a continuing obligation to keep the
Clerk of Court and each opposing party informed of any change in his address; the Court will not
independently investigate his whereabouts. This shall be done in writing and not later than 7
days after a transfer or other change in address occurs. Failure to comply with this order will
cause a delay in the transmission of court documents and may result in dismissal of this action
for want of prosecution. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: March 3, 2014
s/ Michael J. Reagan
MICHAEL J. REAGAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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