Canady v. USP Marion et al

Filing 9

ORDER DISMISSING without prejudice 1 Complaint filed by Raevaughn Canady. Amended Pleadings due by 6/7/2022. Signed by Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel on 5/10/2022. (anp)

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Case 3:21-cv-01537-NJR Document 9 Filed 05/10/22 Page 1 of 6 Page ID #28 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS RAEVAUGHN CANADY, Plaintiff, vs. USP MARION and FEDERAL BUREAU of PRISONS, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 21-cv-1537-NJR MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ROSENSTENGEL, Chief Judge: Plaintiff Raevaughn Canady, an inmate of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) who is currently incarcerated at U.S. Penitentiary-Marion (“USP–Marion”), brings this action for deprivations of his constitutional rights pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). In the Complaint, Canady alleges medical malpractice, negligence, and deliberate indifference during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, he alleges that he was housed in an overcrowded cell during the pandemic which could turn his 21-month sentence into a “death sentence” (Doc. 1, pp. 1-2). He seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief. This case is now before the Court for preliminary review of the Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Under Section 1915A, the Court is required to screen prisoner complaints to filter out non-meritorious claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). Any portion of a complaint that is legally frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which 1 Case 3:21-cv-01537-NJR Document 9 Filed 05/10/22 Page 2 of 6 Page ID #29 relief may be granted, or asks for money damages from a defendant who by law is immune from such relief must be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). The Complaint In his Complaint (Doc. 1), Canady makes the following allegations: Canady was sentenced to 21-months’ imprisonment and, on June 3, 2021, he self-surrendered to USPMarion (Id. at p. 1). On August 26, 2021, he was placed in G unit, a quarantine unit. Although the cells are designed for one man, he was placed in the cell with another inmate and had to sleep on the floor. On September 8, 2021, he was moved to general population and placed in L unit, Cell 123, in a three-man cell. His fear of contracting Covid-19 grew due to being in close proximity to other inmates (Id. at pp. 1-2). Canady alleges that three-man cells are no longer permissible in the BOP and are especially dangerous due to the Covid-19 pandemic (Id. at p. 2). Canady maintains that USP-Marion is acting with deliberate indifference by continuing to house inmates in three-man cells as opposed to two. Canady also alleges that USP-Marion has admitted disregarding personal protection equipment (“PPE”) protocols, Center for Disease Control guidelines, and federal law. Canady alleges that he suffers from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and respiratory problems, and he has a stint in his heart. He is also at risk of a stroke and/or heart attack and fears that contracting Covid-19 could be a death sentence (Id.). Canady maintains he signed a 21-month plea deal, but USP-Marion will make his sentence a “death sentence” if he continues to be housed in a three-man cell and contracts Covid-19 (Id.). 2 Case 3:21-cv-01537-NJR Document 9 Filed 05/10/22 Page 3 of 6 Page ID #30 Discussion There are a number of issues with Canady’s Complaint. He seeks damages and injunctive relief for what he labels as “medical malpractice, medical negligence, and deliberate difference in violation of the Eighth Amendment,” but his factual allegations indicate a claim of conditions of confinement (Doc. 1, p. 1). He alleges that the number of inmates in a single cell put him at risk of contracting Covid-19. He also cites to the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments as a basis for his claims, but he does not further explain what claims could be raised under those Amendments. Further, the Court cannot discern whether Canady is pursuing a claim for denial of medical care related to his exposure to Covid-19 or a claim for unconstitutional living conditions based on his small cell, or both. The allegations are simply too vague and ambiguous given that he alleges medical malpractice but only describes conditions of his cell. The distinction as to the nature of his claim is an important one. In Ziglar v. Abbasi, 137 S.Ct. 1843 (2017), the Supreme Court explained that federal courts should not expand a remedy under Bivens into contexts not already officially recognized by the Supreme Court, unless certain “special factors” counsel otherwise. Ziglar, 137 S.Ct. at 1859-60. The Court cited three instances in which a Bivens remedy has been recognized against federal officials: (1) Fourth Amendment claims involving unlawful searches and seizures; (2) Fifth Amendment due process claims involving gender discrimination; and (3) Eighth Amendment claims for inadequate medical treatment. Id. at 1854-55 (citations omitted). In a case such as Canady’s, a claim against federal officials for money damages arising from the denial of medical care for Covid-19 would most likely proceed post-Abbasi, but 3 Case 3:21-cv-01537-NJR Document 9 Filed 05/10/22 Page 4 of 6 Page ID #31 a claim against federal agents for money damages based on unconstitutional living conditions may represent an expansion of the Bivens remedy that is not authorized postAbbasi, unless special factors counsel otherwise. Without basic factual allegations describing the exact nature of Canady’s claim, the Court simply cannot tell whether his claim can proceed. Further, Canady cannot state a claim against USP-Marion or the BOP for money damages. These defendants are not individual federal agents, and Bivens only offers a damages remedy for certain constitutional violations against individual officers. Correctional Servs. Corp. v. Malesko, 534 U.S. 61, 71 (2001). This damages remedy does not extend to the employer of individual federal agents. Id. at 71-72 & n.2; F.D.I.C. v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 486 (1994) (“An extension of Bivens to agencies of the Federal Government is not supported by the logic of Bivens itself.”). Thus, he cannot seek monetary damages from either the prison or BOP. To the extent he seeks injunctive relief, however, the Supreme Court has allowed an equitable action for such relief against a federal agency to proceed in Bowen v. Massachusetts, 487 U.S. 879, 893 (1988). Thus, the BOP could be a proper party for injunctive relief, but at this time Canady does not state a viable claim to proceed. It is not clear whether Canady suffered from a serious medical condition and any individual acted with deliberate indifference. Nor does he describe the specifics of his cell, including the exact dimensions or whether the cell included plumbing and furniture that would reduce the size. He also does not indicate that he informed any individual official about the conditions he faced and whether they acted with deliberate indifference. 4 Case 3:21-cv-01537-NJR Document 9 Filed 05/10/22 Page 5 of 6 Page ID #32 Accordingly, the Complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice. Canady will have an opportunity to file a First Amended Complaint if he wishes to pursue his claims. If he chooses to do so, Canady must comply with the instructions and deadlines set forth below. Disposition For the reasons stated above, Canady’s Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice. He is GRANTED leave to file a “First Amended Complaint” on or before June 7, 2022. Should he fail to file his First 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. App. P. 41(b). See generally 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 count as one of Canady’s three allotted “strikes” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). An amended complaint supersedes and replaces the original complaint, rendering the original complaint void. See Flannery v. Recording Indus. Ass’n of Am., 354 F.3d 632, 638 n. 1 (7th Cir. 2004). The Court will not accept piecemeal amendments to the original Complaint. Thus, the First Amended Complaint must stand on its own, without reference to any previous pleading, and Canady must re-file any exhibits he wishes the Court to consider along with the First Amended Complaint. The First Amended Complaint is subject to review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Canady 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, 5 Case 3:21-cv-01537-NJR Document 9 Filed 05/10/22 Page 6 of 6 Page ID #33 regardless of whether he elects to file a First Amended Complaint. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1); Lucien v. Jockisch, 133 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1998). Finally, Canady 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 seven 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: May 10, 2022 _____________________________ NANCY J. ROSENSTENGEL Chief U.S. District Judge 6

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