Woodcock et al v. Commonwealth of Kentucky et al
Filing
71
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: 1. The Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendants Rodney Ballard, LaDonna Thompson, Doug Crall, Cookie Crews, and James Erwin 38 is DENIED WITH PREJUDICE; and 2. Plaintiffs SHALL effectuate proper service on Defendants Ro dney Ballard, LaDonna Thompson, Doug Crall, Cookie Crews, and James Erwin within thirty (30) days of the entry of this Order, otherwise this matter may be dismissed without prejudice as to those defendants.. Signed by Judge Gregory F. VanTatenhove on 5/23/2018. (CBD)cc: COR
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
CENTRAL DIVISION
FRANKFORT
BRIAN WOODCOCK, et al.,
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Plaintiffs,
V.
CORRECT CARE SOLUTIONS, LLC,
et al.,
Defendants.
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Civ. No: 3:16-CV-00096-GFVT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
&
ORDER
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Plaintiffs Ruben Rios Salinas, Brian Woodcock, Keath Bramblett, and Jessica Lawrence
sued various individuals in charge of developing treatment plans and treating inmates in the
Kentucky Department of Corrections. Plaintiffs assert that Defendants failed to adequately treat
them after they were diagnosed with the Hepatitis C virus. Several Defendants now file a motion
to dismiss, asserting many different theories relating to dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6). [R. 38 at 3.] For the reasons that follow, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss is
DENIED.
I
A
The Plaintiffs in this matter are inmates, incarcerated with the Kentucky Department of
Corrections (KDOC). [R. 1-2 at ¶ 3.] Each of them have been diagnosed with the Hepatitis C
virus (HCV). Id. Defendant James Erwin is the current Commissioner of the KDOC,
responsible for its operations, policies, and employment. [R. 36 at ¶ 4.] The original Plaintiffs
did not sue Mr. Erwin, but he was added to this lawsuit by Intervening Plaintiff Jessica
Lawrence. Defendants Rodney Ballard and LaDonna Thompson are former Commissioners of
the KDOC. Id. at ¶ 5–6. Defendant Doug Crall, M.D., is the Medical Director of the KDOC,
responsible for policies, procedures, and employment concerning the inmates’ medical care. [R.
1-2 at ¶ 12.] Defendant Cookie Crews is the Health Services Administrator of the KDOC. Id. at
¶ 13. Defendant Frederick Kemen, M.D., is responsible for managing the HCV treatment plan
for KDOC inmates. Id. at ¶ 14. Defendants Correct Care Solutions, Inc., provides medical
services to inmates of the KDOC. Id. at ¶ 15. All Defendants were sued in their individual, not
official, capacities.
Plaintiffs believe they were not provided treatment for their HCV infections that
complied with the appropriate standard of care. Id. at ¶ 16. According to their complaint,
Defendants did not employ qualified individuals, did not adequately train these employees, and
did not create or enforce necessarily policies and procedures to ensure proper care. Id. Plaintiff
Brian Woodcock is housed at the Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP). Id. at ¶ 52. In December
2011, a biopsy indicated the fibrosis in his liver had advanced from Stage 1 to Stage 2. Id.
Under Dr. Steven Shedlofshky’s standards, he was first told he qualified for antiviral prescription
medication. Id. But Dr. Shedlofsky then left KDOC, and KDOC found Mr. Woodcock did not
qualify for medication. Id. Four years later, after his infection further progressed, he began
receiving treatment. Id. at ¶53. Plaintiff Ruben Rios Salinas is also housed in KSP and has been
denied testing and treatment of his HCV infection. Id. at ¶¶ 54–55. Plaintiff Keath Bramblett,
another inmate at KSP, contracted HCV during incarceration. Id. at ¶ 56. He has been denied
both participation in any program working with food and treatment for his condition. Id. at ¶¶
56–57. Mr. Bramblett has been ordered to share razors with other inmates. Id. at ¶ 57.
Intervening Plaintiff Jessica Lawrence has been diagnosed with HCV but has not received any
2
treatment. [R. 36 at 5.]
Plaintiffs sue Defendants on four separate theories. First, Plaintiffs sue Defendants under
§ 1983 for violations of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution. [R. 1-2 at ¶ 61.] Also, Plaintiffs claim Defendants violated the Americans with
Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1978 for failure to reasonably accommodate their
infections. Id. at ¶ 64. Based on the failure to meet the standard of care, Plaintiffs believe
Defendants acted with negligence and gross negligence. Id. at ¶ 66. Finally, Plaintiffs sue for
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. Id. at ¶ 68. Intervening Plaintiff Lawrence joins in
each of these claims except for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. [R. 36 at ¶¶ 6–8.]
They seek both injunctive relief for care and damages for lack of treatment. [R. 1-2 at 19; R. 36
at 9.]
B
This case began in 2015 in Franklin Circuit Court in Franklin County, Kentucky. [R. 38
at 1.] Mr. Salinas filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus against then-Commissioner LaDonna
Thompson, seeking the Court to order treatment for his HCV infection. Id. at 1–2. On
November 14, 2016, Mr. Salinas filed an Amended Class Action Complaint, naming additional
plaintiffs and defendants. Id. at 2. The case was removed to this Court on December 7, 2016.
[R. 1.] On August 18, 2017, Ms. Lawrence moved to intervene, adding Mr. Erwin as an
additional defendant. [R. 33.] Magistrate Judge Edward B. Atkins permitted intervention. [R.
35.] Nearly a month later, Mr. Ballard, Dr. Crall, Ms. Crews, Mr. Erwin, and Ms. Thompson
filed a joint Motion to Dismiss. [R. 38.] The Court has construed this motion to be a motion to
dismiss both the First Amended Class Action Complaint [R. 1-2] and the Intervening Complaint
[R. 36].
3
II
A
A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) tests the sufficiency of the Plaintiffs’
complaint. In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court must “construe the complaint in the
light most favorable to the plaintiff, accept its allegations as true, and draw all inferences in favor
of the plaintiff.” DirecTV, Inc. v. Treesh, 487 F.3d 471, 476 (6th Cir. 2007). The Court,
however, “need not accept as true legal conclusions or unwarranted factual inferences.” Id.
(quoting Gregory v. Shelby County, 220 F.3d 433, 446 (6th Cir. 2000)). The Supreme Court
explained that in order “[t]o survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient
factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft
v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,
570 (2007)); see also Courier v. Alcoa Wheel & Forged Products, 577 F.3d 625, 629 (6th Cir.
2009).
B
1
Plaintiffs sue Defendants in their individual capacities only. [R. 1-2.] When Plaintiffs
filed their complaint in Franklin Circuit Court, they attempted service in compliance with the
Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure, which allow service of the summons and complaint by
registered mail or certified mail return receipt requested. CR 4.01(1)(a). Service is complete
upon delivery of the envelope, and the return receipt serves as proof of place, time, and manner
of service.
Plaintiffs sent a copy of the summons and complaint to the Defendants via certified mail,
but addressed each of their envelopes to the KDOC, their work addresses, rather than their home
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addresses. [R. 61-1; R. 61-2; R. 62-1.] Each of these return receipts were signed for, returned,
and filed with the Court. Id. Upon removal of this Court, Mr. Ballard, Dr. Crall, Ms. Crews, and
Ms. Thompson had entered appearances in Franklin Circuit Court. [R. 1 at 2.] After removal,
they filed a joint Notice of Consent for Removal [R. 5] and a joint Notice of Compliance
regarding disclosures [R. 32]. Mr. Erwin, however, has not entered any notice of appearance
other than the filing of this motion.
Defendants move to dismiss initially based on improper service. Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 4(e)(2) requires a plaintiff to serve a defendant by delivering a copy of the summons
and complaint to the individual personally, leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the
person’s usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and discretion also residing there, or
delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or law to
receive service of process. Plaintiffs may also serve a summons by following the state law
requirements for such service of the state in which the district court is located. Fed. R. Civ. Pro.
4(e)(1). In Kentucky, service may be made by sending a copy of the summons and complaint via
“registered mail or certified mail return receipt requested with instructions to the delivering
postal employee to deliver to the addressee only.” Ky. CR 4.01(1)(a).
Plaintiffs sent copies of the summons and complaint to each Defendant via certified mail
return receipt requested. [R. 61-1; R. 61-2; R. 62-1.] However, upon review of the return
receipts, it appears that the Defendants themselves did not sign the return receipts. Id. The
Plaintiffs bear the burden to prove proper service of process. Byrd v. Stone, 94 F.3d 217, 219
(6th Cir. 1996). By failing to restrict delivery to the Defendants themselves, and further by
failing to prove the person who signed the certified mail return receipts had authorization to
accept service, service here was ineffective. CR 4.01(1)(a).
5
However, Plaintiffs have requested, and Defendants have not objected to, a reasonable
period of time to effectuate proper service. [R. 61 at 2.] Where service is deemed ineffective, a
court may either dismiss the action or quash service and retain the case. Meyer v. Timothy E.
Baxter & Assoc., P.C., No. 18-10058, 2018 WL 1858182; at *2 (E.D. Mich. April 18, 2018);
Young’s Trading Co. v. Fancy Import, Inc., 222 F.R.D. 341, 342 (W.D. Tenn. 2004) (citing
Haley v. Simmons, 529 F.2d 78, 79 (8th Cir. 1976)). The Court here finds that request
reasonable. Plaintiffs shall have an additional thirty days from the entry of this order to
effectuate proper service on Defendants Ballard, Thompson, Crews, Crall, and Erwin pursuant to
Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 4(e).
2
Defendants suggest that the Court lacks standing to address this matter, however, fail to
provide any reasons for this assertion. [R. 38 at 4–6.] Instead, Defendants cite two pages of case
law related to standing without explanation of how it relates to the Plaintiffs. Id. Then,
Defendants argue as a separate matter that Plaintiffs’ claims are hypothetical and, therefore, not
ripe. Id. at 6–7. Nonetheless, each of these statements concern this Court’s power to hear this
case and will be addressed individually.
Article III of the Constitution of the United States limits jurisdiction of this Court to
“cases and controversies.” See also, Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 559 (1992).
The “cases and controversies” standard requires plaintiffs to have an injury in fact, a causal
connection between that injury and the conduct complained of, and a likelihood of redressability.
Id. at 560–61. The injury in fact must be concrete and particularized as well as actual or
imminent, not hypothetical or conjectural. Defendants point to two paragraphs of Plaintiffs’
complaint to show their injuries are merely hypothetical: Paragraph 5 and Paragraph 51. [R. 38
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at 6.] Paragraph 5 states:
HCV, if left untreated, may progress toward end-stage liver disease and
death. Major advances in treatment have recently been made with the introduction
of medication regimens having increasingly higher success rates, fewer side effects,
and much shorter treatment durations. The Kentucky Department of Corrections
(“KDOC”) is currently preparing a new HCV treatment plan (“the New Plan”).
However, even if the New Plan meets the prevailing standard of care, future
developments in treatment are likely to render it obsolete, ant it is anticipated that
there will be inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and unwarranted deviations in its
implementation, particularly given the expense of new treatment regimens. In
addition, the New Plan is the first amendment to the KDOC’s old HCV treatment
plan (“the Old Plan”) since 2007, and many members of the class may have been
harmed by Defendants’ failure to regularly and consistently update the plan to
mirror the established standard of care. Finally, there may be issues concerning the
reliability of the testing to which HCV-infected inmates are subjected, raising
questions as to the integrity of and motivations underlying, such testing.
[R. 1-2 at 4, emphasis added.] Paragraph 51 states:
Even though the Old Plan required compliance with the prevailing standard
of care, and despite the advances in HCV treatment over the last decade, it has not
yet been updated. The Old Plan made no mention of the triple therapy treatment
that had been the standard of care since 2011. Without policy and procedure
guidance, testing and treatment of HCV by the KDOC has been ad hoc, arbitrary
and capricious, and responsive to cost and administrative convenience, not the
medical needs of Plaintiffs and the class. Moreover, since around July 2014, other
than the most serious cases of HCV in the KDOC’s institutions, no one with HCV
was treated pending developments in HCV treatment options. Defendant Kemen
testified in August 2014 that the KDOC was in “the earlier stages of . . . revising or
maybe replacing the [HCV] algorithm now.” But the New Plan is still in
development. Whether the New Plan meets the applicable standard of care is
currently the subject of litigation in Woodcock v. Kentucky Dept. of Corrections, et
al.,, Case No. 5:12-cv-135 (W.D. Ky.) Whether the New Plan will be followed and
implemented in all deserving cases, together with the damages incurred from the
delay in its implementation, is the subject of this case.
[R. 1-2 at 13–14]. While language in Paragraph 5 includes words indicating hypotheticals,
Paragraph 51 does not. Paragraph 51 merely sets forth history of treatment and does not, by
itself, allege any injury, hypothetical or otherwise.
Defendants argue the language in Paragraph 5, that “many members . . . may have been
harmed,” proves Plaintiffs’ injuries are merely hypothetical. [R. 38 at 6.] This Court
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disagreesChe. The statement refers to the potential for additional class members, but does not
show Plaintiffs’ injuries are hypothetical. Brian Woodcock claims the lack of care caused his
infection to progress nearly to Stage 4 cirrhosis. [R. 1-2 at ¶¶ 52–53.] Ruben Rios Salinas
claims he has been denied testing and treatment for his infection. Id. at ¶¶ 54–55. Keath
Bramblett claims he contracted the infection while incarcerated. Id. at ¶¶ 56–57. Jessica
Lawrence also claims she has been refused treatment for infection. [R. 36 at 1.] None of these
are merely hypothetical injuries. The Court finds standing to hear this matter.
3
Defendants next claim Plaintiffs fail to allege deliberate indifference in their complaint.
[R. 38 at 7.] In order to prove a violation of a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment rights, a plaintiff
must demonstrate that the prison doctors and/or prison officials were deliberately indifferent to
the prisoner’s medical needs. Richmond v. Huq, 885 F.3d 928, 937 (6th Cir. 2018). “Deliberate
indifference” requires both that the injury be objectively serious and that the defendant
subjectively knew of the risk but disregarded it. Id. at 938–39. “A prison official exhibits
deliberate indifference and thus violates the Eighth Amendment by, inter alia, intentionally
denying or delaying access to medical care for serious medical needs.” Johnson v. Million, 60 F.
App’x 548, 549 (6th Cir. 2003)(citing Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104–05 (1976)).
However, Defendants seek to dismiss the complaints because they did not disregard the
Plaintiffs’ medical issues. [R. 38 at 8.] This is not appropriate for consideration in a motion to
dismiss. Defendants might well be able to demonstrate that they did not disregard the risk after
discovery has been completed, but at this stage, the Court must draw inferences in favor of the
Plaintiff. DirecTV, Inc. v. Treesh, 487 F.3d 471, 476 (6th Cir. 2007). Plaintiffs have alleged that
they were diagnosed with HCV and qualified for treatment, as well as that the prison officials
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and doctors were aware of this diagnosis, yet disregarded the risks and failed to provide
treatment. [R. 1-2 at 14–15; R. 36 at 5.] If true, these facts present a claim for relief that is
plausible on its face. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic
Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)); see also Courier v. Alcoa Wheel & Forged
Products, 577 F.3d 625, 629 (6th Cir. 2009). Accordingly, Plaintiffs have alleged deliberate
indifference sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss.
4
Defendants then argue that the complaint must be dismissed because there is no theory of
respondeat superior in § 1983 cases. [R. 38 8–9.] However, Plaintiffs only sue Defendant
CorrectCare Solutions, Inc., under this doctrine, not the Defendants who have moved to dismiss
this action. [R. 1-2 at ¶ 15.] Because the Plaintiffs have not brought a respondeat superior claim
against these Defendants, such a claim cannot be dismissed.
5
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, “no qualified individual with a disability
shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of
the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any
such entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132. Medical care in prisons constitutes such “services, programs,
or activities” contemplated. United States v. Georgia, 546 U.S. 151, 157 (2006).
Defendants do not contest that Plaintiffs qualify as “disabled” under the Americans with
Disabilities Act. [R. 38 at 9.] In the motion to dismiss, Defendants believe Plaintiffs’ complaint
merely states a denial of medical treatment “in spite of a disability, not because of it.” Id. This
is contradictory, as Plaintiffs claim a denial of treatment and accommodations directly for their
HCV. It is possible that deliberate refusal of Defendants to accommodate Plaintiffs’ disability-
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related needs violates Title II of the ADA. Georgia, 546 U.S. at 157. Accordingly, this claim
also survives a motion to dismiss.
6
Defendants assert they are eligible for official qualified immunity. 1 [R. 38 at 10–11.] As
an initial matter, Defendants state, “To date, these defendants are not parties to this lawsuit in
their individual capacities.” Id. at 11. This is untrue. Defendants were all sued in their
individual capacities. [R. 1-2 at 2.] Defendants have recognized this by indicating their
individual party status in previous filings with this Court [See R. 5], and by arguing they were
improperly served as individual parties [R. 38 at 4]. To argue now that they have been sued in
their official capacities is erroneous.
Even so, immunity exists to protect federal and state government officials from suit for
actions taken in their official capacities. Absolute immunity is extended only to certain groups,
such as legislators, when acting in their legislative functions, or judges, when acting in their
judicial functions. Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 807 (1982). It is also offered to
prosecutors, adjudicative executive officers, and the President of the United States, but not prison
officials. See id. Qualified immunity is broader, and protects officials from personal liability
when performing discretionary functions within their official capacity. Maben v. Thelen, 887
F.3d 252, 269 (6th Cir. 2018); Messerschmidt v. Millender, 565 U.S. 535, 546 (6th Cir. 2012).
Defendants are not entitled to absolute immunity, but may be entitled to qualified
immunity, so long as their conduct did not clearly violate the rights of the Plaintiffs.
Messerschmidt, 565 U.S. at 546. That determination must wait until after discovery. “The
burden of justifying absolute immunity rests on the official asserting the claim.” Harlow, 457
1
Defendants split this into two arguments: “official immunity” and “qualified immunity.” [R. 38 at 10–11.] The
Court addresses them simultaneously here.
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U.S. at 812. Defendants have not provided, and the Court cannot find, where the denial of
medical treatment must always fall within the purviews of qualified immunity. Accordingly,
Defendants have not met their burden to show such immunity applies here.
7
Defendants also move to dismiss for Plaintiffs. Failure to exhaust available
administrative remedies prior to filing this action. [R. 38 at 11.] The Prison Litigation Reform
Act requires prisoners to exhaust all available administrative remedies before filing suit under §
1983. Lee v. Wiley, 789 F.3d 673, 677 (6th Cir. 2015). However, Plaintiffs allege they
exhausted such remedies. [R. 61 at 12.] Mr. Salinas outlined his grievance process in his filings
in Franklin Circuit Court, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky corroborated this. [R. 1-5 at
187–88; R. 1-2 at 38–39.] Mr. Woodcock attached proof of his grievance to their Response to
Defendants’ motion to dismiss. [R. 61-8; R. 61-9; R. 61-10; R. 61-11.]
However, whether Plaintiffs satisfied their administrative requirements is not appropriate
to decide here. Inferences are drawn in favor of the Plaintiffs, even if Defendants may later be
able to prove, through further discovery, that the administrative remedies were not exhausted.
DirecTV, Inc. v. Treesh, 487 F.3d 471, 476 (6th Cir. 2007). Plaintiffs’ preliminary
demonstration that they have satisfied these administrative remedies is enough for their
complaints to survive a motion to dismiss.
8
Finally, the Defendants claim that Plaintiffs’ Complaint does not meet the requirements
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 for a class action lawsuit and that a class action lawsuit
is not the only remedy available for redress. [R. 38 at 9, 13.] However, this is not the
appropriate procedural method for such arguments, as a separate motion for certification was
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filed on March 1, 2018, and is currently pending in this matter. [R. 49; R. 50.] The Court will
decide the appropriateness of the class action once the pending motion is fully briefed and ripe
for review.
III
Most of the arguments made by Defendants are best determined after discovery has been
completed. While Plaintiffs may ultimately fail on the merits, they have here filed a complaint
sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. Accordingly, for the aforementioned reasons, it is
hereby ORDERED as follows:
1.
The Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendants Rodney Ballard, LaDonna Thompson,
Doug Crall, Cookie Crews, and James Erwin [R. 38] is DENIED WITH PREJUDICE; and
2.
Plaintiffs SHALL effectuate proper service on Defendants Rodney Ballard,
LaDonna Thompson, Doug Crall, Cookie Crews, and James Erwin within thirty (30) days of the
entry of this Order, otherwise this matter may be dismissed without prejudice as to those
defendants.
This the 23d day of May, 2018.
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