Jones v. Madison County Jail

Filing 12

ORDER DISMISSING 10 First Amended Complaint without prejudice for failure to state a claim and DENYING 3 Motion for Recruitment of Counsel without prejudice. COUNT 1 is DISMISSED with prejudice, and COUNTS 2 and 3 are DISMISSED without prejudice. Plaintiff is GRANTED leave to file a "Second Amended Complaint" on or before October 1, 2021. Failure to do so shall result in dismissal of the action with prejudice for failure to comply with a court order and/or for failure to prosecute his claims. FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b); 28 U.S.C. 1915(g). The CLERK is DIRECTED to mail Plaintiff a blank civil rights complaint form and motion for recruitment of counsel. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 9/3/2021. (jsy)

Case 3:21-cv-00735-JPG Document 12 Filed 09/07/21 Page 1 of 6 Page ID #139

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
KENNETH JONES, #77758,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
RACHELLE BRAUN,
Defendant.

Case No. 21-cv-00735-JPG

MEMORANDUM & ORDER
GILBERT, District Judge:
Plaintiff Kenneth Jones, a detainee at Madison County Jail, filed this action pursuant to the
Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346, 2671-2680. (Docs. 1 and 10). He
complains of a delay in treating his broken right hand and further injury caused by an avoidable
fight. (Id.). Plaintiff seeks monetary relief against Madison County Jail. (Id. at 8).
The First Amended Complaint is now before the Court for screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915A, which requires the Court to review prisoner complaints and filter out non-meritorious
claims. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). Any portion of the complaint that is legally frivolous or malicious,
fails to state a claim for relief, or requests money damages from an immune defendant must be
dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). At this juncture, the factual allegations are liberally construed.
Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Serv., 577 F.3d 816, 821 (7th Cir. 2009).
First Amended Complaint
Plaintiff sets forth the following allegations in the First Amended Complaint (Doc. 10,
pp. 1-25): On or around April 26, 2021, Plaintiff slipped and fell in the shower at Madison County
Jail and broke one or more bones in his right hand. He requested treatment for the injury on April

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27, 2021, and the nurse met with him the same day. Plaintiff informed the nurse that his right hand
was broken, and he was in a lot of pain. He requested x-rays and treatment.
Plaintiff did not undergo x-rays until May 2, 2021. Although they showed one or more
fractures, Plaintiff did not receive the results until May 18, 2021. He was not sent for treatment
with an outside provider until May 24, 2021. The provider, Dr. McKee, diagnosed Plaintiff with
a fractured right fourth metacarpal with mild displacement. He explained that the injury required
surgical intervention, but the delay in treatment rendered surgery impossible.
Plaintiff nevertheless demanded surgery when he met with the Jail’s doctor to discuss the
matter on May 25, 2021. Plaintiff explained that he was in significant pain and could not use his
right hand. He was concerned that the untreated injury would prevent him from working long
term. His request for surgery appears to have been denied.
Meanwhile, Plaintiff was placed on a high risk cell block, and his requests for protection
were also ignored by staff. On June 3, 2021, Plaintiff got into a fight. While attempting to protect
himself, he sustained further injuries to his hand. (Id.).
Discussion
Based on these allegations, the Court finds it convenient to reorganize the pro se action
into the following enumerated Counts:
Count 1:

Defendants are liable to Plaintiff under the Federal Tort Claims Act for the
delays in treatment of his right hand fracture that occurred at the Jail on
April 26, 2021.

Count 2:

Defendants are liable under the Eighth and/or Fourteenth Amendments for
denying or delaying treatment for Plaintiff’s right hand fracture that
occurred at the Jail on April 26, 2021.

Count 3:

Defendants are liable under the Eighth and/or Fourteenth Amendments for
failing to protect Plaintiff from an inmate fight that caused further injury to
his hand on June 3, 2021, after they left him housed in a high risk cell block
with his fractured hand.
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Any other claim that is mentioned in the First Amended Complaint but not addressed herein
is considered dismissed without prejudice as inadequately pled under Twombly.1
Count 1
Plaintiff brings this action under the Federal Tort Claims Act, (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1346, 2671-2680. The only defendants he named in the case caption and list of defendants are
Madison County Jail, in the original Complaint, and Nurse Rachelle Braun, in the First Amended
Complaint. He cannot proceed with an FTCA claim against either one.
The FTCA provides jurisdiction for suits against the United States for torts committed by
federal officers. 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1). In other words, the “only proper defendant in an FTCA
action is the United States.” Jackson v. Kotter, 541 F.3d 688, 693 (7th Cir. 2008); Hughes v.
United States, 701 F.2d 56, 58 (7th Cir. 1982). See 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b). And, the claim arises
from allegations of misconduct by federal agents. Plaintiff does not name the United States as a
defendant, and he does not complain of misconduct by federal officers. Therefore, he cannot
proceed with the FTCA claim herein. Count 1 shall be dismissed with prejudice against the
defendant(s).
Counts 2 and 3
Counts 2 and 3 arise under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which provides for money damages and
injunctive relief against defendants who violate a plaintiff’s federally protected rights while acting
under color of state law. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff alleges deprivations of his Fourteenth
and/or Eighth Amendment rights by state or local officials. Counts 2 and 3 are properly brought
under Section 1983.

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See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007).

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However, Plaintiff does not actually refer to either defendant in the statement of his claim.
He identified Madison County Jail as a defendant in the original Complaint and Rachelle Braun as
a defendant in the First Amended Complaint. There is no mention of either defendant in the body
of his complaints, and Plaintiff cannot state a claim against a defendant just by naming him or her
as a party in the case caption of the complaint. Section 1983 instead creates a cause of action based
on personal liability and predicated upon fault; thus, “to be liable under [Section] 1983, an
individual defendant must have caused or participated in a constitutional deprivation.” Id.
Nurse Braun is mentioned nowhere in the body of the complaints. There is no indication
that she was involved in delaying or denying medical care for Plaintiff’s right hand or in the
decision to place Plaintiff in a high risk cell block. Plaintiff’s generic reference to a “nurse” and a
“doctor” in the statement of his claim is insufficient to state a claim against Nurse Braun.
Madison County Jail is not a “person” subject to suit under Section 1983. Smith v. Knox
Cnty. Jail, 666 F.3d 1037, 1040 (7th Cir. 2012); Powell v. Cook Cnty. Jail, 814 F. Supp. 757, 758
(N.D. Ill. 1993). A defendant must have the legal capacity to be sued. FED. R. CIV. P. 17(b). The
Jail is not a legal entity at all.
Had he named Madison County instead, it would not have saved his claim(s).
Governmental entities can only be held liable for the unconstitutional acts of employees that are
carried out pursuant to an official policy or custom. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658,
694 (1978). Plaintiff describes no policy or custom that caused the deprivation of his constitutional
rights. See id.
If he wishes to pursue Counts 2 and 3, Plaintiff may file a Second Amended Complaint
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He should list each defendant in the case caption. Plaintiff must set forth
allegations describing what each defendant did, or failed to do, in violation of his rights. However,

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he is obligated to follow the instructions and deadline in the disposition below and is warned that
failure to do so shall result in dismissal of the action. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b).
Disposition
IT IS ORDERED that the First Amended Complaint (Doc. 10) is DISMISSED without
prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. COUNT 1 is DISMISSED
with prejudice and COUNTS 2 and 3 are DISMISSED without prejudice, all for failure to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted.
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Recruitment of Counsel (Doc. 3) is DENIED
without prejudice because: (a) he has shown no efforts to find an attorney on his own before
seeking the court’s help; or (b) described any impediments to self-representation. Plaintiff may
renew his request by filing a separate motion after contacting at least three attorneys or law firms
to request representation in this matter. He should attach copies of his communications with these
attorneys/firms to his new motion and describe any medical, mental health, educational, physical,
language or other barriers to self-representation therein.
Plaintiff is GRANTED leave to file a “Second Amended Complaint” on or before
October 1, 2021. Should Plaintiff fail to file a Second Amended Complaint within the allotted
time or consistent with the instructions set forth in this Order, the entire case shall be dismissed
with prejudice for failure to comply with a court order and/or for failure to prosecute his claims.
FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b); Ladien v. Astrachan, 128 F.3d 1051 (7th Cir. 1997); Johnson v. Kamminga,
34 F.3d 466 (7th Cir. 1994); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The dismissal shall also count as one of
Plaintiff’s three allotted “strikes” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). To enable Plaintiff to comply with
this Order, the CLERK is DIRECTED to mail Plaintiff a blank civil rights complaint form and
motion for recruitment of counsel.

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It is strongly recommended that Plaintiff use the civil rights complaint form designed for
use in this District. He should label the form, “Second Amended Complaint,” and use the case
number for this action (No. 21-cv-00735-JPG). He is reminded that an amended complaint
generally supersedes and replaces all prior versions and renders them void. See Flannery v.
Recording Indus. Ass’n of Am., 354 F.3d 632, 638 n. 1 (7th Cir. 2004). The Second Amended
Complaint must stand on its own without reference to any previous pleading. Plaintiff must refile any exhibits he wishes the Court to consider along with it. The Second Amended Complaint
is also subject to review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
Plaintiff is further ADVISED that his obligation to pay the filing fee for this action was
incurred at the time the action was filed, thus the filing fee remains due and payable, regardless of
whether Plaintiff files a Second Amended Complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1); Lucien v. Jockisch,
133 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1998).
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: 9/3/2021
s/J. Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
United States District Judge

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