Henderson v. LeBlanc et al
Filing
49
RULING AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part 44 Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(1) and FRCP 12(b)(6). Plaintiff's claims for prospective injunctive relief are not barred by the Eleventh Amendment. However, all of Plaint iff's claims for damages against Defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983except Plaintiff's claims against Nurse Betty Taplinare dismissed for failure to state a cognizable claim. Defendants' motion as it pertains to Nurse Betty Tapl in is DENIED. Plaintiff's § 1983 claims for damages against James LeBlanc, Darrell Vannoy, Stephanie Lamartiniere, and Leslie Dupont are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Plaintiff's § 1983 claims for damages against Dr. Randy Lavespe re are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Plaintiff is given twenty-one (21) days in which to cure the deficiencies in Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 37), if he can do so. If Plaintiff does not cure these deficiencies within twenty-one (21) days, his claims against Dr. Lavespere will be dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge John W. deGravelles on 5/2/2018. (KAH)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
WILLIAM HENDERSON
CIVIL ACTION
VERSUS
NO. 16-265-JWD-RLB
JAMES M. LEBLANC, ET AL.
RULING AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to
FRCP 12(b)(1) and FRCP 12(b)(6) (Doc. 44) filed by Defendants James LeBlanc, Darrell
Vannoy, Stephanie Lamartiniere, Leslie Dupont, Dr. Randy Lavespere, and Nurse Betty Taplin
(LeBlanc, Vannoy, Lamartiniere, and Dupont are collectively the “Warden Defendants”; Dr.
Lavespere and Taplin are collectively the “Medical Defendants”; and all defendants are
collectively, “Defendants”). Plaintiff William Henderson opposes the motion. (Doc. 37.)
Neither Defendants nor Plaintiff filed a reply. Oral argument is not necessary. The Court has
carefully considered the law, the allegations in Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 44),
and the arguments and submissions of the parties and is prepared to rule.
For the following reasons, the Court will grant the Defendants’ motion in part and deny it
in part. Plaintiff’s claims for prospective injunctive relief against the Defendants in their official
capacity are not barred by the Eleventh Amendment. However, all of Plaintiff’s claims for
damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, except those against Nurse Taplin, are dismissed for failure to
state a viable claim. Plaintiff’s claims against the Warden Defendants will be dismissed with
prejudice, as further amendment would be futile. Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. Lavespere are
dismissed without prejudice, and Plaintiff is given twenty-one (21) days in which to cure the
Jury
deficiencies in Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 37), if he can do so. If the
deficiencies are not cured, these claims will be dismissed with prejudice.
I.
Relevant Factual Background1
A. The Parties
Plaintiff is an inmate at Louisiana State Penitentiary (“LSP”). (Doc. 37 at 1.) This suit
involves the Defendants’ alleged failure to ensure that the Plaintiff receive his HIV medication
timely and consistently.
Defendant James LeBlanc is the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety
and Corrections (“DPSC”). According to Plaintiff, LeBlanc (1) is “responsible for the
functioning and control of all programs within the” DPSC, (2) “creates the rules and regulations
that govern the inner workings of [DPSC]”, and (3) “is tasked with creating policies that ensure
the basic medical needs of [DPSC] offenders are met and that there is an internal system to
readily address offender grievances in a timely fashion”. (Doc. 37 at 3–4.)
Defendant Darrel Vannoy is LSP’s Warden. (Doc. 37 at 4–5.) Plaintiff alleges that
Vannoy is the “final policy and decision maker of LSP and . . . is tasked with ensuring offenders
at LSP receive adequate medical care.” (Doc. 37 at 5.) Vannoy (1) “is . . . in charge of hiring and
contracting with medical professionals tasked to treat offenders with serious medical conditions,
such as HIV[,]” and (2) is also “responsible for reviewing any administrative grievance
[(“ARP”)] and implementing curative remedies to serious grievances, such as inadequate
medical care.” (Doc. 37 at 5.)
1
The following allegations are taken from Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 37) and are assumed to be
true for purposes of this motion.
2
Defendant Stephanie Lamartiniere is the assistant warden of health services at LSP. (Doc.
37 at 5.) She “is charged with overseeing offender medical treatment at LSP, which includes the
treatment of offenders diagnosed with HIV.” (Doc. 37 at 5.)
Defendant Leslie Dupont is a deputy warden. (Doc. 37 at 6.) Dupont “is the unit head
and tasked with reviewing responses to ARPs.” (Doc. 37 at 6.)
As to the Medical Defendants, Nurse Betty Taplin “is the senior nurse in charge of HIV
positive offenders at” LSP. (Doc. 37 at 7.) Dr. Randy Lavespere is the “medical director of the
R.E. Barrow Treatment Center” at LSP and “has the responsibility to ensure all doctors provide
adequate care to offenders, including HIV positive offenders” like the Plaintiff. (Doc. 37 at 7.)
B. Underlying Events
Plaintiff was raped a number of times at the Terrebonne Parish Jail. (Doc. 37 at 1.) As a
result, he contracted HIV. (Doc. 37 at 1.) Plaintiff was subsequently convicted of second degree
murder and sentenced to life without parole. (Doc. 37 at 1.)
On December 10, 2012, Plaintiff came to LSP. (Doc. 37 at 8.) That day, he asked to be
tested for HIV. (Doc. 37 at 8.)
Several months later, Plaintiff was tested. (Doc. 37 at 8.) One month later, Plaintiff was
found to be HIV positive. (Doc. 37 at 8.) “It was further determined that Plaintiff was in
immediate need of medications due to the fact that his ‘T-Cell Count’ was almost low enough to
officially diagnose Plaintiff with AIDS.” (Doc. 37 at 8.)
“In mid-2013, Plaintiff began receiving four different types of medication” for his HIV.
(Doc. 37 at 9.) Plaintiff was supposed to receive two medications once a day and two
medications twice a day. (Doc. 37 at 9.) Three months later, Plaintiff was scheduled to see a
specialist via TeleMed. (Doc. 37 at 9.)
3
During the first TeleMed appointment, a doctor told the Plaintiff “(for the first time) that
Plaintiff should receive and take his medications twice daily and once daily, depending on the
prescription.” (Doc. 37 at 9.) According to Plaintiff, “Nurse Betty[] was present[,] and the
specialist informed her that she should not dispense Plaintiff’s medications all at once. This
conversation was recorded.” (Doc. 37 at 9.) Plaintiff also alleges: “The TeleMed specialist
explained to [him] that if he did not consistently take his medications for the rest of his life,
Plaintiff would suffer an agonizing deterioration of his immune system which would make him
susceptible to rare cancers and impair his immune system, making him susceptible to an early
death.” (Doc. 37 at 9.) The TeleMed specialist also said that “inconsistent dispensation of
antiretroviral HIV medication leads to viral resistance which compromises Plaintiff’s ability to
stave off full-blown AIDS.” (Doc. 37 at 10.)
In 2014, Plaintiff was not given any of his medicines “anywhere from three to six times
per month[.]” (Doc. 37 at 10.) “At one point, Plaintiff did not receive any medications for nearly
two and a half weeks.” (Doc. 37 at 10.)
In mid-2014, Plaintiff filed his first ARP against LSP “for failing to consistently provide
[him] with his antiretroviral medications.” (Doc. 37 at 10.) LSP eventually changed Plaintiff’s
medications “to a different ‘class group’ (three pills once a day) as his initial antiretroviral
medications failed because of inconsistent dosing.” (Doc. 37 at 10.)
In May 2015, Plaintiff was transferred to a different part of the prison. (Doc. 37 at 10.)
“It took approximately one week for his medications to arrive at Main Prison.” (Doc. 37 at 10.)
In late 2015, Plaintiff was returned to the last part of the prison. (Doc. 37 at 11.) “In late
November through December, Plaintiff was again denied his medications for numerous days in a
row.” (Doc. 37 at 11.)
4
According to Plaintiff, “Plaintiff continues to receive inconsistent doses of his
antiretroviral medications. As recently as August 25, 2016, Plaintiff failed to receive the
necessary daily doses of his life-sustaining medications.” (Doc. 37 at 11.)
Plaintiff’s claims are broadly divided into two categories. As to the Warden Defendants,
Plaintiff’s claims mainly relate to their handling of his ARPs. Plaintiff’s allegations against the
Medical Defendants focus on their allegedly improper provision of care. The specific allegations
against each defendant will be set forth below.
II.
Discussion
A. Rule 12(b)(6) Standard
In Johnson v. City of Shelby, Miss., 135 S. Ct. 346 (2014), the Supreme Court explained:
“Federal pleading rules call for a ‘short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader
is entitled to relief,’ Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); they do not countenance dismissal of a complaint for
imperfect statement of the legal theory supporting the claim asserted.” Id., 135 S. Ct. at 346-47
(citation omitted).
Interpreting Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Fifth Circuit has
explained:
The complaint (1) on its face (2) must contain enough factual matter (taken as true)
(3) to raise a reasonable hope or expectation (4) that discovery will reveal relevant
evidence of each element of a claim. “Asking for [such] plausible grounds to infer
[the element of a claim] does not impose a probability requirement at the pleading
stage; it simply calls for enough fact to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery
will reveal [that the elements of the claim existed].”
Lormand v. U.S. Unwired, Inc., 565 F.3d 228, 257 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1965 (2007)).
Applying the above case law, the Western District of Louisiana has stated:
5
Therefore, while the court is not to give the “assumption of truth” to conclusions,
factual allegations remain so entitled. Once those factual allegations are identified,
drawing on the court's judicial experience and common sense, the analysis is
whether those facts, which need not be detailed or specific, allow “the court to draw
the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
[Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009)]; Twombly,
55[0] U.S. at 556. This analysis is not substantively different from that set forth in
Lormand, supra, nor does this jurisprudence foreclose the option that discovery
must be undertaken in order to raise relevant information to support an element of
the claim. The standard, under the specific language of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2),
remains that the defendant be given adequate notice of the claim and the grounds
upon which it is based. The standard is met by the “reasonable inference” the court
must make that, with or without discovery, the facts set forth a plausible claim for
relief under a particular theory of law provided that there is a “reasonable
expectation” that “discovery will reveal relevant evidence of each element of the
claim.” Lormand, 565 F.3d at 257; Twombly, 55[0] U.S. at 556.
Diamond Servs. Corp. v. Oceanografia, S.A. De C.V., No. 10-00177, 2011 WL 938785, at *3
(W.D. La. Feb. 9, 2011) (citation omitted).
The Fifth Circuit further explained that all well-pleaded facts are taken as true and
viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Thompson v. City of Waco, Tex., 764 F.3d 500,
502–03 (5th Cir. 2014). The task of the Court is not to decide if the plaintiff will eventually be
successful, but to determine if a “legally cognizable claim” has been asserted.” Id. at 503.
B. Sovereign Immunity
Preliminarily, Defendants seek dismissal of all claims for monetary damages against the
Defendants in their official capacity as barred by the Eleventh Amendment. Defendants assert
that the most recent complaint “again does not specify whether [Plaintiff] is seeking damages
against each defendant in their personal or official capacities[,]” so, “[o]ut of an abundance of
caution,” Defendants request dismissal on Eleventh Amendment grounds.
Plaintiff responds that he “seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to ensure he will receive
his life-sustaining medication without interruption for the duration of his incarceration. For his
6
claim of declaratory and injunctive relief, he sues the defendants in their official capacities,
which is not precluded by the Eleventh Amendment.” (Doc. 46 at 3.)
The Court agrees with Plaintiff. “The Eleventh Amendment bars claims against a state
brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.” Aguilar v. Texas Dep't of Criminal Justice, 160 F.3d
1052, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998) (citing Farias v. Bexar Cty. Bd. of Trustees for Mental Health Mental
Retardation Servs., 925 F.2d 866, 875 n. 9 (5th Cir. 1991)). “Section 1983 does not waive the
states' sovereign immunity[.]” Id. (citing Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 338 n. 7, 99 S. Ct.
1139, 59 L. Ed. 2d 358 (1979)).
Nevertheless, “[i]n Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S. Ct. 441, 52 L. Ed. 714 (1908),
the Supreme Court carved out an exception to Eleventh Amendment immunity.” Aguilar, 160
F.3d at 1054. “The [Ex Parte Young] Court held that enforcement of an unconstitutional law is
not an official act because a state can not confer authority on its officers to violate the
Constitution or federal law.” Id. (citing American Bank & Trust Co. of Opelousas v. Dent, 982
F.2d 917, 920–21 (5th Cir. 1993)). “To meet the Ex Parte Young exception, a plaintiff's suit
alleging a violation of federal law must be brought against individual persons in their official
capacities as agents of the state, and the relief sought must be declaratory or injunctive in nature
and prospective in effect.” Id. (citing Saltz v. Tenn. Dep't of Emp’t Sec., 976 F.2d 966, 968 (5th
Cir. 1992)).
Here, Plaintiff satisfies the Ex Parte Young exception. In his prayer, Plaintiff asks for
“[a]n immediate order for injunctive relief requiring all necessary personnel within the
Department of Corrections to ensure that Mr. Henderson receives his daily dosages of lifesustaining medications[.]” (Doc. 37 at 22.) Plaintiff also acknowledges in his opposition that he
sues the Defendants in their official capacity for this injunctive relief. (Doc. 46 at 3.) Lastly,
7
Plaintiff alleges that his problem is ongoing, as the Second Amended Complaint states that
Plaintiff “continues to receive inconsistent doses of his antiretroviral medications” and that, “[a]s
recently as August 25, 2016, Plaintiff failed to receive the necessary daily doses of his lifesustaining medications.” (Doc. 37 at 11.) Accordingly, Defendants’ motion to dismiss on
Eleventh Amendment grounds is denied.
C. Claims Against the Warden Defendants
1. Parties’ Arguments
Defendants also seek dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims for damages. Defendants focus on
two aspects of Plaintiff’s claims against the Warden Defendants: Plaintiff’s ARP and the Warden
Defendants’ role as supervisors.
As to the first, Defendants rely on Geiger v. Jowers, 404 F.3d 371, 374 (5th Cir. 2005),
which, according to Defendants, held that an inmate has no “federally protected liberty interest in
having . . . grievances resolved to his satisfaction”, so there can be no due process violation
arising from an official’s failure to investigate a grievance. (Doc. 44-1 at 5 (quoting Geiger, 404
F.3d at 374).) Defendants maintain:
In this instant matter, plaintiff’s only claims against defendant Stephanie
Lamartiniere are that defendant Lamartiniere responded to plaintiff’s ARP
grievance stating in the response the reasons for her decision. In addition, plaintiff’s
only claims against defendants, Vannoy and Dupont, are that they also signed off
or approved the response provided by defendant Lamartiniere to the plaintiff
regarding his ARP grievance. Finally, plaintiff’s only claims against defendant
James LeBlanc relate to a second step response from his office related to plaintiff’s
ARP grievance. According to the clear jurisprudence from the courts, plaintiff has
no cognizable interest in his ARP grievance or any alleged failure to properly
investigate or alleged erroneous response to his ARP grievance.
(Doc. 44-1 at 6.) Thus, “plaintiff has no cognizable interest in his ARP grievance or any alleged
failure to properly investigate or alleged erroneous response to his ARP grievance.” (Doc. 44-1
at 6.)
8
As to supervisory liability, Defendants maintain that Plaintiff’s allegations are “vague
and conclusory” and “show no personal involvement by these defendants in plaintiff’s medical
treatment[,] nor has plaintiff identified a specific policy or procedure implemented by any of
these defendants which caused any alleged harm to the plaintiff.” (Doc. 44-1 at 7.) Defendants
contend that, as a result, Plaintiff’s claims for supervisory liability must be dismissed.
Plaintiff opposes the motion. Plaintiff argues that “all defendants had actual notice of
[Plaintiff’s] condition and acted with deliberate indifference to his life-threatening medical
condition by failing to give him life-sustaining medication for weeks at a time.” (Doc. 46 at 3
(citing Brown v. Johnson, 387 F.3d 1344, 1351 (11th Cir. 2004).) Plaintiff further contends that,
when Plaintiff tried to resolve his grievance, “prison and department officials did not investigate
[Plaintiff’s] allegations, did not respond appropriately to [his] concerns, and have not taken any
steps to ensure that [Plaintiff] receives his medications as prescribed, as his medications remain
inconsistent to date.” (Doc. 46 at 4.)
Specifically responding to Defendants’ arguments, Plaintiff states that, with respect to the
ARP, Geiger is distinguishable because it involved the failure to provide an inmate with
pornographic magazines. Conversely, here Plaintiff did not complain of something atypical;
rather, his life was at risk for the failure to administer the ARP correctly.
With respect to supervisory liability, Plaintiff maintains that each of the Warden
Defendants’ “had notice that [Plaintiff] was not receiving life-sustaining medication and these
named defendants failed to investigate or provide a remedy to the problem.” (Doc. 46 at 5.)
Further, the “inaction of defendants Le[B]lanc, Vannoy, Lamartiniere, and Dupont to remedy the
life-threatening situation caused by inconsistent medical treatment is an omission by government
9
officials which makes each of them liable in their official and individual capacities.” (Doc. 46 at
5 (underline in original).)
2. Relevant Standard
“Qualified immunity provides government officials performing discretionary functions
with a shield against civil damages liability, so long as their actions could reasonably have been
thought consistent with the rights they are alleged to have violated.” Gobert v. Caldwell, 463
F.3d 339, 345 (5th Cir. 2006) (citing Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 638, 107 S. Ct. 3034,
97 L. Ed. 2d 523 (1987)). “In determining whether an official enjoys immunity, we ask (1)
whether the plaintiff has demonstrated a violation of a clearly established federal constitutional
or statutory right and (2) whether the official's actions violated that right to the extent that an
objectively reasonable person would have known.” Id. (citing Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730, 122
S. Ct. 2508, 153 L. Ed. 2d 666 (2002)). Courts are “permitted to exercise their sound discretion
in deciding which of the two prongs of the qualified immunity analysis should be addressed first
in light of the circumstances in the particular case at hand.” See Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S.
223, 236, 129 S. Ct. 808, 172 L. Ed. 2d 565 (2009).
As to the constitutional violation prong, “[u]nder section 1983, supervisory officials are
not liable for the actions of subordinates on any theory of vicarious liability.” Simon v. LeBlanc,
694 F. App'x 260, 261 (5th Cir. 2017) (per curiam) (quoting Thompkins v. Belt, 828 F.2d 298,
303 (5th Cir. 1987)). “ ‘A supervisory official may be held liable . . . only if (1) he affirmatively
participates in the acts that cause the constitutional deprivation, or (2) he implements
unconstitutional policies that causally result in the constitutional injury.’ ” Porter v. Epps, 659
F.3d 440, 446 (5th Cir. 2011) (quoting Gates v. Texas Dep't of Prot. & Reg. Servs., 537 F.3d
404, 435 (5th Cir. 2008)). “ ‘In order to establish supervisor liability for constitutional violations
10
committed by subordinate employees, plaintiffs must show that the supervisor act[ed], or fail[ed]
to act, with deliberate indifference to violations of others' constitutional rights committed by
their subordinates.’ ” Id. (quoting Gates, 537 F.3d at 435 (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted, alterations and emphasis in Gates)).
“ ‘[D]eliberate indifference’ is a stringent standard of fault, requiring proof that a
municipal actor disregarded a known or obvious consequence of his action.” Estate of Davis ex
rel. McCully v. City of N. Richland Hills, 406 F.3d 375, 381 (5th Cir. 2005) (quoting Board of
Cty. Comm'rs of Bryan Cty. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 410, 117 S. Ct. 1382, 137 L. Ed. 2d 626
(1997)). “ ‘For an official to act with deliberate indifference, the official must both be aware of
facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and
he must also draw the inference.’ ” Id. (quoting Smith v. Brenoettsy, 158 F.3d 908, 912 (5th Cir.
1998)). “Deliberate indifference requires a showing of more than negligence or even gross
negligence.” Id. (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388, 109 S. Ct. 1197, 103 L. Ed.
2d 412 (1989); Doe v. Taylor Indep. Sch. Dist., 15 F.3d 443, 453 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc)).
“ ‘Actions and decisions by officials that are merely inept, erroneous, ineffective, or negligent do
not amount to deliberate indifference and do not divest officials of qualified immunity.’ ” Id.
(quoting Alton v. Texas A&M Univ., 168 F.3d 196, 201 (5th Cir. 1999)).
Additionally, “[a] failure to adopt a policy can be deliberately indifferent when it is
obvious that the likely consequences of not adopting a policy will be a deprivation of
constitutional rights.” Porter, 659 F.3d at 446 (quoting Rhyne v. Henderson Cty., 973 F.2d 386,
392 (5th Cir. 1992). Nevertheless, “[l]iability for failure to promulgate policy . . . require[s] that
the defendant . . . acted with deliberate indifference.” Id. As the Fifth Circuit stated with respect
to “failure-to-train” claims (and, by “logical” analogy, failure-to-promulgate claims):
11
To establish that a state actor disregarded a known or obvious consequence of his
actions, there must be actual or constructive notice that a particular omission in
their training program causes . . . employees to violate citizens' constitutional rights
and the actor nevertheless chooses to retain that program. A pattern of similar
constitutional violations by untrained employees is ordinarily necessary to
demonstrate deliberate indifference, because without notice that a course of training
is deficient in a particular respect, decisionmakers can hardly be said to have
deliberately chosen a training program that will cause violations of constitutional
rights. Without cabining failure-to-train claims in this manner (or, logically, failureto-promulgate-policy claims), a standard less stringent than deliberate indifference
would be employed, and a failure-to-train claim would result in de facto respondeat
superior liability.
Porter, 659 F.3d at 447 (citations, alterations, and quotations omitted).
As to the other prong of the Court’s analysis, “ ‘[q]ualified immunity attaches when an
official's conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a
reasonable person would have known.’ ” Kisela v. Hughes, 138 S. Ct. 1148, 1152 (2018) (per
curiam) (quoting White v. Pauly, 580 U.S. ––––, ––––, 137 S. Ct. 548, 551, 196 L. Ed. 2d 463
(2017) (per curiam ) (alterations and internal quotation marks omitted)). “ ‘Because the focus is
on whether the officer had fair notice that her conduct was unlawful, reasonableness is judged
against the backdrop of the law at the time of the conduct.’ ” Id. (quoting Brosseau v. Haugen,
543 U.S. 194, 198, 125 S. Ct. 596, 160 L. Ed. 2d 583 (2004) (per curiam)).
“Although ‘[the Supreme] Court's caselaw does not require a case directly on point for a
right to be clearly established, existing precedent must have placed the statutory or constitutional
question beyond debate.’ ” Id. (quoting White, 580 U.S. at ––––, 137 S. Ct. at 551 (internal
quotation marks omitted)). “ ‘In other words, immunity protects all but the plainly incompetent
or those who knowingly violate the law.’ ” Id. (quoting White, 580 U.S. at ––––, 137 S. Ct. at
551 (internal quotation marks omitted)).
“ ‘Of course, general statements of the law are not inherently incapable of giving fair and
clear warning to officers.’ ” Kisela, 138 S. Ct. at 1153 (quoting White, 580 U.S., at ––––, 137 S.
12
Ct., at 552 (internal quotation marks omitted)). “But . . . [a]n officer ‘cannot be said to have
violated a clearly established right unless the right's contours were sufficiently definite that any
reasonable official in the defendant's shoes would have understood that he was violating it.’ ” Id.
(quoting Plumhoff v. Rickard, 572 U.S. ––––, ––––, 134 S. Ct. 2012, 2023, 188 L. Ed. 2d 1056
(2014)). “That is a necessary part of the qualified-immunity standard[.]” Id.
3. Claims Against Lamartiniere, Dupont, and Vannoy
a. Specific Allegations Against Lamartiniere, Dupont, and
Vannoy
The Court will begin by detailing the allegations against Lamartiniere, Dupont, and
Vannoy. Plaintiff claims that, in mid-2014, he filed his first ARP about the “inconsistent
dispensation of his life-sustaining medications.” (Doc. 37 at 13.) Plaintiff asserts that, in that
ARP, he “included the master itemized numbers of medical requests/complaints filed not only by
[him] but by Sgt. Darcey[,]” a female guard “who filed complaints based on Plaintiff missing his
medications up to six times in one month and once over a two-and-a-half-week period.” (Doc. 37
at 13.)
Plaintiff alleges that “[o]ne or more of the defendants sent Captain Callahan to Plaintiff to
request that Plaintiff drop his initial ARP with the promise that Plaintiff’s medications would be
consistently dispensed and he would no longer miss a dose.” (Doc. 37 at 13.) According to
Plaintiff, he “feared that if he did not drop the ARP, he would continue to receive his
medications on an inconsistent basis.” (Doc. 37 at 13.) Plaintiff maintains that, at this time, “it is
unclear which defendants sent Captain Callahan to Plaintiff and which defendants had
knowledge about Plaintiff’s inconsistent dosing.” (Doc. 37 at 13.)
13
In late 2015, Plaintiff filed a second ARP about “the ongoing inconsistent dispensation of
the life-sustaining medications[.]” (Doc. 37 at 14.) He further complained that, when he got his
medication, “he was not provided food.” (Doc. 37 at 14.)
Plaintiff claims that Lamartiniere “handled step one of Plaintiff’s second/instant ARP,”
and, “[i]n her denial, she alleged that there [was] ‘extensive’ evidence that Plaintiff refused his
life-sustaining medications and that Plaintiff was receiving Ensure which would qualify as the
‘food’ which should be taken with his medicine.” (Doc. 37 at 14.) Plaintiff alleges that, “[i]n
order to refuse life-sustaining treatment, Plaintiff would have had to sign a written refusal for his
medications. There is no evidence that Plaintiff signed such refusals. Plaintiff never refused his
medications and Plaintiff consistently asked for his medications when they were not provided.”
(Doc. 37 at 14.) Thus, according to Plaintiff, Lamartiniere’s response to Plaintiff’s ARP is
“simply untrue”, and her “review and denial of [Plaintiff’s] ARP proves that she had personal
knowledge that he received inconsistent dosing of his medication.” (Doc. 37 at 14.) Plaintiff
further alleges that, “[o]nce she was put on actual notice of the issue, [Lamartiniere] had a duty
to ensure that [Plaintiff] consistently received his medications.” (Doc. 37 at 14.) Given
Plaintiff’s not receiving his medications “on a consistent basis before or after filing the ARP,”
Lamartiniere was deliberately indifferent.
Plaintiff also asserts in his most recent complaint that Lamartiniere “is charged with
overseeing offender medical treatment at LSP, which includes the treatment of offenders
diagnosed with HIV.” (Doc. 37 at 5.) Plaintiff maintains that, since other offenders at LSP have
HIV, Lamartiniere “should have known the seriousness of his condition, his need for consistent
medication, and the potentially grave risk associated with inconsistent dosing.” (Doc. 37 at 5.)
14
According to Plaintiff, “Lamartiniere failed to fulfill these duties by failing to provide [Plaintiff]
with proper, consistent treatment for his life threatening medical condition.” (Doc. 37 at 5.)
Plaintiff asserts that Lamartiniere “had notice on several occasions that [Plaintiff] was not
receiving proper medical treatment, as evidenced by her personal response to [Plaintiff’s] ARP.”
(Doc. 37 at 6.) Lamartiniere “denied [the] ARP and claimed there was extensive evidence that
he refused his medication”, but “this is inconsistent with Mr. Henderson filling multiple ARPs,
in which he begged for consistent administration of his life sustaining medications.” (Doc. 37 at
6.) Plaintiff maintains that Lamartiniere “has yet to provide any documentation that [Plaintiff]
willfully refused his medication.” (Doc. 37 at 6.) In fact, “no such documentation exists, [and] . .
. Lamartiniere improperly dismissed these ARPs and disregarded the fair administration of the
grievance procedure.” (Doc. 37 at 6.)
Again, Dupont is a deputy warden who “is the unit head and tasked with reviewing
responses to ARPs.” (Doc. 37 at 6.) Plaintiff pleads that “Dupont signed off on Warden
Lamartiniere’s denial of [Plaintiff’s] ARP, thereby endorsing Lamartiniere’s unsubstantiated
reasons for denying the ARP.” (Doc. 37 at 6.) Further, Plaintiff alleges that “Dupont allowed
[Plaintiff’s] grievance to remain unaddressed based on unsubstantiated allegations” and that the
denial of Plaintiff’s ARP “had life threatening ramifications[.]” (Doc. 37 at 6–7.) Plaintiff also
states that “Dupont is equally responsible for ensuring offenders with HIV at LSP receive
adequate medical care” and that Dupont “failed to implement adequate medical policies that
guarantee consistent dosing of life sustaining medications for offenders living with HIV.” (Doc.
37 at 7.)
As to Dupont, Plaintiff alleges that he “signed off on the denial of the ARP” and thus
“endorsed” Lamartiniere’s deliberate indifference. (Doc. 37 at 15.) Dupont is, according to
15
Plaintiff, “equally responsible as the ‘unit head.’ ” (Doc. 37 at 15.) Plaintiff pleads that, by
signing off, Dupont had personal knowledge of the Plaintiff getting medications inconsistently
and that he thus acted with deliberate indifference.
Defendant Darrel Vannoy is LSP’s warden and is, according to Plaintiff, the “final
policy and decision maker of LSP . . . tasked with ensuring offenders at LSP receive adequate
medical care.” (Doc. 37 at 5.) Vannoy (1) “is . . . in charge of hiring and contracting with
medical professionals tasked to treat offenders with serious medical conditions, such as HIV,”
and (2) “is further responsible for reviewing any administrative grievance and implementing
curative remedies to serious grievances, such as inadequate medical care.” (Doc. 37 at 5.)
Plaintiff claims that Vannoy’s office screens all ARPs. (Doc. 37 at 15.) Once Plaintiff’s
ARP was filed, Vannoy was “on notice” about Plaintiff’s lack of treatment, and, once Vannoy
received notice, he “owed a duty to ensure [Plaintiff] receive proper medical treatment” and “to
conduct an internal investigation to determine the source of the problem and remedy the
problem.” (Doc. 37 at 16.) Vannoy’s failure amounted to deliberate indifference, as did his
failure to “hire qualified individuals.” (Doc. 37 at 16.) Lastly, Vannoy was “responsible for
implementing internal policies to address serious grievances”, and LSP’s failure to resolve
Plaintiff’s ARP adequately makes Vannoy personally responsible. (Doc. 37 at 16.)
b. Analysis
The Court will grant the motion to dismiss as to Lamartiniere, Dupont, and Vannoy.
Again, “ ‘[a] supervisory official may be held liable . . . only if (1) he affirmatively participates
in the acts that cause the constitutional deprivation, or (2) he implements unconstitutional
policies that causally result in the constitutional injury.’ ” Porter, 659 F.3d at 446 (quoting
Gates, 537 F.3d at 435). None of these defendants personally participated in the denial of
16
medical care. While Plaintiff asserts that Dupont and Vannoy are liable for the failure to
implement policies with respect to the ARPs and medications, Plaintiff does so only in a
conclusory manner without providing any factual detail.
Plaintiff has also failed to state a cognizable claim of deliberate indifference as to any of
these defendants. Dupont and Vannoy are easily dispensed with here; Plaintiff alleges nothing
more than receipt and review of the ARP, and this is insufficient to establish knowledge. See
Dugas v. Cain, No. 09-0177, 2010 WL 4695313, at *5 (M.D. La. Oct. 20, 2010), report and
recommendation adopted, No. 09-177-BAJ-CN, 2010 WL 4704446 (M.D. La. Nov. 12, 2010)
(“the mere fact that the plaintiff may have made requests for medical attention in an institution
housing more than 5,000 inmates does not establish any particularized knowledge on the part of
the supervisory defendants, in the absence of an allegation that the defendants were personally
involved in his health care”). The allegations against these defendants amounts to little more
than claims of vicarious liability for which the Plaintiff cannot recover under § 1983. See Simon,
694 F. App'x at 261.
While Lamartiniere presents a closer call, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has failed to
adequately plead deliberate indifference against her as well. Plaintiff alleges that a female guard
complained at least six times about the Plaintiff not receiving his medication, but there is no
allegation Lamartiniere received this information. Plaintiff also alleges that one of the
defendants sent Captain Callahan to ask Plaintiff to “drop his initial ARP with the promise that
Plaintiff’s medications would be consistently dispensed and he would no longer miss a dose”
(Doc. 37 at 13), but Plaintiff admits that, at this time, “it is unclear which defendants sent
Captain Callahan to Plaintiff and which defendants had knowledge about Plaintiff’s inconsistent
dosing.” (Doc. 37 at 13.) Lastly, Plaintiff pleads that Lamartiniere handled and denied his ARP
17
and, in doing so, claimed there was “extensive evidence” when there was none. But there is no
allegation that Lamartiniere’s conduct was anything more than negligent or even grossly
negligent.
The Court finds that what Plaintiff is really alleging against these defendants is that they
mishandled his ARP in deliberate indifference to his medical needs, but numerous cases from the
Fifth Circuit and this Court have denied such claims in reliance on Geiger v. Jowers, 404 F.3d
371 (5th Cir. 2005). For example, in Simon v. LeBlanc, an inmate alerted medical staff at his
initial screening that he was diagnosed with “Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a severe inflammatory
eruption of the skin and mucous membranes that results when the patient has a respiratory
infection or an allergic reaction to drugs and other substances.” Simon, No. 10-201, 2016 WL
3749211, at *1 (W.D. La. July 7, 2016), aff'd, 694 F. App'x 260 (5th Cir. 2017). Plaintiff
claimed that the medical staff prescribed for him certain drugs that were a “known allergen” to
him that inflamed his condition, and prevented him from getting the proper drugs. Id. Plaintiff
also claimed that his wife sent a letter to the Warden “expressing her concerns about [plaintiff’s]
medical treatment.” Id. Plaintiff filed suit against the medical staff, the warden, and secretary
LeBlanc. Id. Following dismissal of the medical staff, LeBlanc and the warden moved for
summary judgment. Id. The district court granted the motion on the grounds that (a) plaintiff
failed to demonstrate an unconstitutional policy, and (b) “none of [plaintiff’s] allegations,
including the alleged letter from his wife to [the warden], come close to establishing that either
LeBlanc or [the warden] acted, or failed to act, with deliberate indifference to the alleged
violations of [plaintiff’s] constitutional rights by [prison] medical staff.” Id. at *2.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed. Id., 694 F. App’x at 261. On appeal, Plaintiff argued that the
defendants were “liable to him under the theory of respondent superior and because they denied
18
his grievance.” Id. After quickly rejecting the first argument, the Fifth Circuit held: “Because a
prisoner does not have a constitutional right to have his grievances resolved to his liking,
[plaintiff’s] argument that the appellees are liable to him because they denied his grievances
likewise fails.” Id. (citing Geiger v. Jowers, 404 F.3d 371, 373-74 (5th Cir. 2005)).
Jackson v. Dunn, 610 F. App’x 397 (5th Cir. 2015) (per curiam) also supports the Court’s
conclusion. There, an inmate complained that the district court erred in dismissing his claims
against two doctors and an interim warden. Id. Plaintiff claimed that the doctors were
deliberately indifferent to his medical needs and that the warden “violated his due process rights
by refusing to investigate and expunge a false disciplinary conviction from his record.” Id.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed. Id. at 398. The plaintiff claimed that one doctor “violated his
constitutional rights by denying his administrative remedy program request”, but the appellate
court found this argument was “without merit. [Plaintiff] did not have a ‘federally protected
liberty interest in having [his] grievances resolved to his satisfaction.’ ” Id. (quoting Geiger, 404
F.3d at 374). The Court also rejected the claims against the warden, explaining: “[Plaintiff] does
not have a constitutional right to have his grievance resolved in his favor or to have his claims
reviewed pursuant to a grievance process that is responsive to his perceived injustices[.]” Id.
(citation omitted).
Similarly, on several occasions, this Court has rejected claims against prison officials for
denying medical care in connection with the ARP process. See Mandigo v. LeBlanc, No. 12-170JJB, 2013 WL 3490671, at *4 (M.D. La. July 9, 2013) (granting motion to dismiss and finding as
to one defendant: “the plaintiff's assertion that defendant [assistant warden] improperly denied
the plaintiff's administrative grievance fails to state a meritorious claim inasmuch as an inmate
plaintiff is not constitutionally entitled to an investigation into his administrative complaints or to
19
a fair or favorable response thereto, and there is no procedural due process right inherent in such
a claim.” (citing Geiger, 404 F.3d at 374)); Dugas, 2010 WL 4695313, at *5, report and
recommendation adopted, 2010 WL 4704446 (relying on Geiger and finding that “any claim
regarding the alleged failure of the defendants to properly address, investigate or respond to his
complaints or administrative grievances regarding his medical care is without legal
foundation.”).
Lastly, even assuming that a constitutional violation had been sufficiently alleged as to
these defendants, Plaintiff has failed to establish that these Defendants are not entitled to
qualified immunity. Quite simply, Plaintiff has not shown that every reasonable officer in
Lamartiniere, Dupont, and Vannoy’s position would know that his or her conduct was unlawful,
nor has Plaintiff shown that their actions were plainly incompetent or a knowing violation of the
law.
For all these reasons, the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against
Lamartiniere, Dupont, and Vannoy. As a result, Plaintiff’s claims against them for damages in
their individual capacities are dismissed with prejudice. Moreover, for reasons discussed below,
the Court will deny Plaintiff leave to amend these claims as futile.
4. Claims Against LeBlanc
a. Specific Allegations Against LeBlanc
Again, LeBlanc is Secretary of the DPSC. According to Plaintiff, LeBlanc (1) is
“responsible for the functioning and control of all programs with the [DPSC]”, (2) “creates the
rules and regulations that govern the inner workings of [DPSC]”, and (3) “is tasked with creating
policies that ensure the basic medical needs of [DPSC] offenders are met and that there is an
internal system to readily address offender grievances in a timely fashion.” (Doc. 37 at 3–4.)
20
Plaintiff claims that LeBlanc “failed to create an adequate policy and oversight for the
treatment of [DPSC] offenders infected with HIV” and “failed to provide an adequate grievance
process” for Plaintiff “to raise the issue of his improper medical treatment in a timely fashion.”
(Doc. 37 at 4.) Plaintiff asserts the grievance process is inadequate (1) because Plaintiff, a
“man[] sick with HIV[,] [had] to resort to filing [ARPs] to ensure he received a daily dose of
life-sustaining medication” and (2) because it takes weeks (or longer) to fully resolve an ARP”,
and Plaintiff was forced to file multiple ARPs, which is a “clear indication that the filing of the
first ARP did little to remedy the issue.” (Doc. 37 at 4 (underline in original).)
Plaintiff also claims that LeBlanc “handled the final step of Plaintiff’s second/instant
ARP, which adopted Defendant Lamartiniere’s initial response to the second/instant ARP.”
(Doc. 37 at 17.) Plaintiff alleges that LeBlanc “knew about Plaintiff’s life-threatening situation
and failed to conduct an investigation and refused to even attempt to intervene on Plaintiff’s
behalf.” (Doc. 37 at 17.) Plaintiff states that LeBlanc is consequently “equally deliberately
indifferent to Plaintiff’s medical needs.” (Doc. 37 at 17.)
Additionally, Plaintiff alleges that LeBlanc “creates the rules and regulations that govern
the inner workings of DOC” and so is “tasked with creating policies that ensure the basic
medical needs of DOC offenders are met and that there is an internal system to readily address
offender grievances in a timely fashion.” (Doc. 37 at 17.) Plaintiff claims that LeBlanc “failed to
create an adequate policy and oversight for the treatment of DOC offenders infected with HIV”.
(Doc. 37 at 17.) Plaintiff maintains that he had to file two separate ARPs that were “not handled
in a timely fashion and did not solve the problem”, and, during this time, Plaintiff’s “condition
worsened.” (Doc. 37 at 17.) According to Plaintiff, “Le[B]lanc had knowledge of the issue[,]
and his failure to intervene demonstrates deliberate indifference.” (Doc. 37 at 17.)
21
b. Analysis
The Court grants Defendants’ motion as to LeBlanc. There is no allegation that LeBlanc
was personally involved in the denial of medical care.
Additionally, as stated above, Plaintiff’s complaints are essentially that LeBlanc did not
adequately handle his ARP. But, again, “[Plaintiff] does not have a constitutional right to have
his grievance resolved in his favor or to have his claims reviewed pursuant to a grievance process
that is responsive to his perceived injustices[.]” Jackson, 610 F. App’x at 398 (citation omitted);
see also Mandigo, 2013 WL 3490671, at *4 (“an inmate plaintiff is not constitutionally entitled
to an investigation into his administrative complaints or to a fair or favorable response thereto,
and there is no procedural due process right inherent in such a claim.” (citing Geiger, 404 F.3d at
374)). Thus, Plaintiff has no claim against LeBlanc for not resolving the ARP favorably or fairly.
Further, Plaintiff has not alleged a failure to adopt a policy so much as that the DPSC’s
policies were inadequate because the ARPs took too long to resolve, but Plaintiff has failed to
demonstrate how the policies were in fact inadequate or unreasonable. Specifically, DPSC has
implemented a two-step administrative process that involves the inmate submitting an initial
grievance to the warden's office at the inmate's facility. See La. Admin. Code. tit. 22:I, § 325.
The administrative rules state that, when an inmate is faced with an “emergency or sensitive
issue,” he may bypass the usual administrative procedure and file an “emergency request” to the
shift supervisor, who “shall immediately review the request to determine the appropriate
corrective action to be taken.” See Id., § 325(H). Further, prison officials have, as a general
rule, forty days for the first step in the ARP process and forty-five for a second-step appeal to the
Secretary of DPSC. See id., § 325(J)(1)(a)–(b). “If an offender is not satisfied with the second
step response, he may file suit in district court. Id., § 325(J)(1)(b)(iv). Critically, the DPSC rules
22
specifically state that “[n]o more than 90 days from the initiation to completion of the [entire
ARP] process shall elapse, unless an extension has been granted. Absent such extension,
expiration of response time limits shall entitle the offender to move on to the next step in the
process.” Id., § 325(J)(1)(c) (emphasis added). Plaintiff has failed to cite a single case
supporting the argument that this procedure—which expressly allows for an emergency request
and for an inmate to file suit for mandatory injunctive relief if the prison officials delay longer
than ninety days—is inadequate.
In any event, Plaintiff also had to establish that LeBlanc acted or failed to act with
deliberate indifference, Porter, 659 F.3d at 446, and Plaintiff has not done so. Specifically,
Plaintiff’s allegations that LeBlanc had knowledge of a substantial risk of harm to the Plaintiff
are, at best, conclusory. Moreover, even assuming that Plaintiff had alleged a failure-to-adoptpolicies claim, he has not shown that it was “ ‘obvious that the likely consequence’ of not
adopting [such] . . . policies . . . would be a deprivation of civil rights.” Id. at 448. There is no
allegation “that a reasonable person would have had actual or constructive notice that [the ARP
policy] . . . would result in instances” of constitutional violations, yet LeBlanc nevertheless chose
“to retain that program.” Id. at 446–47.
For all these reasons, Defendants’ motion to dismiss the claims for monetary damages
against Secretary LeBlanc is granted, and such claims are dismissed. Moreover, for reasons
discussed below, the Court will deny Plaintiff leave to amend these claims, as such amendment
would be futile.
23
D. Medical Defendants
1. Parties’ Arguments
Defendants assert that Plaintiff “simply named . . . Lavespere as a defendant, apparently
due to his position at LSP as the medical director[.]” (Doc. 44-1.) Defendants argue that
Plaintiff pleads no facts as to any personal involvement or knowledge by Dr. Lavaspere; rather,
according to Defendants, Plaintiff is simply trying to hold Dr. Lavespere liable for his
supervisory position, and this is prohibited under § 1983.
As to Nurse Betty Taplin, Defendants contend that Plaintiff’s claims against her “stem
from two tele-med visits which Plaintiff alleges that Nurse Taplin was present for in late 2013
and a following visit for which Plaintiff does not specify a date or time.” (Doc. 44-1 at 7.)
Defendants assert that Plaintiff’s allegations against Nurse Betty are conclusory and that there
are “no factual allegations that Nurse Taplin regularly dispensed his medication or that she was
responsible for the dispensation of his medications. Plaintiff simply wishes to hold Nurse Betty
liable for deliberate indifference for being present for one doctor visit.” (Doc. 44-1 at 9.)
Further, according to Defendants, case law establishes that delays in receiving medication
do not constitute deliberate indifference. This rule even applies to a delay in administering HIV
medication.
Lastly, Defendants argue that Plaintiff suffered no actual physical harm from these
delays. “The closest plaintiff comes to alleging a specific harm is plaintiff’s allegation that he
was changed to more effective medications because of the brief delays in receiving his
medication.” (Doc. 44-1 at 10.) But Defendants respond: “In fact, plaintiff’s allegations actually
show that he was being regularly treated for his HIV medical condition, that he was regularly
seen by specialists via tele-medicine in connection with this treatment, and that prison officials
24
responded to problems with his treatment by providing him with effective alternative
medications to treat his condition.” (Doc. 44-1 at 10.) Further, Defendants argue that there’s no
allegation that Plaintiff’s current medications fail to adequately treat his HIV.
Plaintiff opposes dismissal of both Medical Defendants. First, Plaintiff states that Dr.
Lavespere is the “treating physician” at LSP, so he is “responsible for ensuring his patients
receive proper medical treatment while incarcerated at” LSP. (Doc. 46 at 6.) Plaintiff asserts:
“At this stage in the proceeding, discovery has not been provided to [Plaintiff] and counsel’s
efforts to obtain [Plaintiff’s] medical records have proved fruitless. Thus, the full extent of Dr.
Lavespere’s failure to ensure [Plaintiff] received adequate treatment for his HIV is unknown.”
(Doc. 46 at 6.) Plaintiff maintains that Dr. Lavespere had notice of Plaintiff’s HIV from
Plaintiff’s treatment and ARPs. Plaintiff argues that Dr. Lavespere acted with deliberate
indifference and that dismissal before discovery of medical records is premature.
Second, as to Nurse Betty Taplin, Plaintiff argues that she was “present during at least
two of [Plaintiff’s] TeleMed visits with an HIV specialist.” (Doc. 46 at 7.) According to
Plaintiff, during the first visit, the TeleMed specialist told Plaintiff and Nurse Taplin that his
“HIV medications should not be dispensed all at once” and that “the failure to consistently take
HIV medications would result in viral resistance and could cause [Plaintiff] to suffer a premature
death from AIDS.” (Doc. 46 at 7.) Further, Plaintiff failed to receive his medications “on dozens
of occasions”, and, on the second TeleMed visit, Nurse Betty obstructed Plaintiff’s attempts to
communicate with the TeleMed specialist. (Doc. 46 at 7 (underline in original).) All of this
amounts to deliberate indifference. Lastly, Plaintiff claims that Defendants’ cited case law is
distinguishable and not binding.
25
2. Relevant Standard
“[D]eliberate indifference to serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the
‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain’ proscribed by the Eighth Amendment.” Estelle v.
Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104, 97 S. Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976) (internal citation omitted).
These claims “require[] a twofold analysis. [Plaintiff] must first prove objective exposure to a
substantial risk of serious harm.” Gobert, 463 F.3d at 345 (citing Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S.
825, 834, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811 (1994)). “Additionally, he must show that prison
officials acted or failed to act with deliberate indifference to that risk.” Id. at 345–46 (citing
Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834, 114 S. Ct. 1970).
Here, the deliberate indifference element is at issue. Again, “[a] prison official acts with
deliberate indifference ‘only if [ (A) ] he knows that inmates face a substantial risk of serious
bodily harm and [(B)] he disregards that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate it.’ ”
Id. at 346 (quoting Farmer, 511 U.S. at 847, 114 S. Ct. 1970 (alterations by Gobert)).
“Unsuccessful medical treatment, acts of negligence, or medical malpractice do not
constitute deliberate indifference, nor does a prisoner's disagreement with his medical treatment,
absent exceptional circumstances.” Id. (citations omitted). “ ‘Furthermore, the decision whether
to provide additional treatment “is a classic example of a matter for medical judgment.” ’ ” Id.
(quoting Domino v. Texas Dep't of Crim. Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th Cir. 2001) (quoting
Estelle, 429 U.S. at 107, 97 S. Ct. 285). “A showing of deliberate indifference requires the
prisoner to [demonstrate] that prison officials ‘ “refused to treat him, ignored his complaints,
intentionally treated him incorrectly, or engaged in any similar conduct that would clearly evince
a wanton disregard for any serious medical needs.” ’ ” See id. (quoting Domino, 239 F.3d at 756
(quoting Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (5th Cir.1985))). Moreover, “ ‘[m]edical
26
records of sick calls, examinations, diagnoses, and medications may rebut an inmate's allegations
of deliberate indifference.’ ” Id. at 347 n. 24 (quoting Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235
(5th Cir. 1995)). “Deliberate indifference ‘is an extremely high standard to meet.’ ” Id. (quoting
Domino, 239 F.3d at 756).
Lastly, a plaintiff asserting deliberate indifference to medical needs “must establish
resulting injuries.” McCarty v. Zapata Cty., 243 F. App'x 792, 794 (5th Cir. 2007) (per curiam)
(citing Mace v. City of Palestine, 333 F.3d 621, 625 (5th Cir. 2003)). “A delay in medical care
violates the Eighth Amendment only if it is due to deliberate indifference and results in
substantial harm.” Smith v. Milhauser, 444 F. App'x 812, 813 (5th Cir. 2011) (per curiam)
(citing Mendoza v. Lynaugh, 989 F.2d 191, 195 (5th Cir. 1993)).
3. Claims Against Dr. Lavespere
a. Specific Allegations Against Dr. Lavespere
Plaintiff’s only allegations against Dr. Randy Lavespere are that he is the “medical
director of the R.E. Barrow Treatment Center” at LSP and “has the responsibility to ensure all
doctors provide adequate care to offenders, including HIV positive offenders” like the Plaintiff.
(Doc. 37 at 7.)
b. Analysis
The Court will grant the motion to dismiss as to Dr. Lavespere. Plaintiff provides no
specific allegations of any wrongdoing by Dr. Lavespere that would rise to the level of deliberate
indifference; Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. Lavespere amount to little more than allegations of
vicarious liability, which, again, is barred by § 1983. Simon, 694 F. App'x at 261.
The Court also rejects Plaintiff’s attempt to obtain discovery before dismissal.
27
“ ‘One of the most salient benefits of qualified immunity is protection from pretrial discovery,
which is costly, time-consuming, and intrusive.’ ” Zapata v. Melson, 750 F.3d 481, 484–85 (5th
Cir. 2014) (quoting Backe v. LeBlanc, 691 F.3d 645, 648 (5th Cir. 2012). “ ‘Consequently, the
[Fifth Circuit] has established a careful procedure under which a district court may defer its
qualified immunity ruling if further factual development is necessary to ascertain the availability
of that defense.’ ” Id. at 485 (quoting Backe, 691 F.3d at 648). “[A] district court must first find
‘that the plaintiffs pleadings assert facts which, if true, would overcome the defense of qualified
immunity.’ ” Id. (quoting Wicks v. Miss. State Emp’t Servs., 41 F.3d 991, 994 (5th Cir. 1995)).
“ ‘Thus, a plaintiff seeking to overcome qualified immunity must plead specific facts that both
allow the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the harm he has
alleged and that defeat a qualified immunity defense with equal specificity.’ ” Id. (quoting
Backe, 691 F.3d at 648). “ ‘After the district court finds a plaintiff has so pleaded, if the court
remains “unable to rule on the immunity defense without further clarification of the facts,” it
may issue a discovery order “narrowly tailored to uncover only those facts needed to rule on the
immunity claim.” ’ ” Id. (quoting Backe, 691 F.3d at 648 (quoting Lion Boulos v. Wilson, 834
F.2d 504, 507–08 (5th Cir. 1987))).
Thus, in Zapata, the Fifth Circuit vacated the district court’s order deferring a ruling on
qualified immunity pending discovery because the lower court “failed to make an initial
determination that the plaintiffs' allegations, if true, would defeat qualified immunity, falling
short of the finding required by Backe and Wicks.” Zapata v. Melson, 750 F.3d at 485. The
Zapata court also did so because, “unlike the court in Lion Boulos, the district court did not
identify any questions of fact it needed to resolve before it would be able to determine whether
the defendants were entitled to qualified immunity.” Id.
28
Here, the Court finds that the Plaintiff has not shown entitlement to any discovery with
respect to his claims against Dr. Lavespere. Plaintiff has failed to plead any facts which, if true,
“would defeat qualified immunity.” As a result, the Court rejects Plaintiff’s argument. But, as
will be discussed below, the Court will grant Plaintiff leave to amend to cure the deficiencies.
4. Claims Against Nurse Betty Taplin
a. Specific Allegations Against Nurse Betty Taplin
Again, Nurse Betty Taplin “is the senior nurse in charge of HIV positive offenders at”
LSP. (Doc. 37 at 7.) According to Plaintiff, “Nurse Betty[] was present[,] and the specialist
informed her that she should not dispense Plaintiff’s medications all at once. This conversation
was recorded.” (Doc. 37 at 9.) Plaintiff also alleges: “The TeleMed specialist explained to [him]
that if he did not consistently take his medications for the rest of his life, Plaintiff would suffer
an agonizing deterioration of his immune system which would make him susceptible to rare
cancers and impair his immune system, making him susceptible to an early death.” (Doc. 37 at
9.) The TeleMed specialist also said that “inconsistent dispensation of antiretroviral HIV
medication leads to viral resistance which compromises Plaintiff’s ability to stave off full-blown
AIDS.” (Doc. 37 at 10.)
Plaintiff also alleges that Nurse Taplin knew about the inconsistent dispensation of
Plaintiff’s medications. (Doc. 37 at 18.) Further, “[o]n Plaintiff’s second TeleMed visit,
Defendant Betty actually attempted to disrupt Plaintiff’s conversation with his specialist while
Plaintiff tried to explain to the specialist that his medication was still being sporadically
dispersed and not dispensed with food.” (Doc. 37 at 18.) Plaintiff claims: “Not only was
Defendant Betty deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs, she willfully
29
attempted to stop Plaintiff from helping himself during a TeleMed conference with his
specialist.” (Doc. 37 at 18.)
b. Analysis
The Court will deny Plaintiff’s motion as to Nurse Taplin. Plaintiff clearly alleges that
Nurse Betty was present when Plaintiff was told of the importance of receiving his medications
consistently and the possible harm from a failure to do so, so she clearly had knowledge of a
substantial risk of harm.
Further, while Defendants are correct that a mere delay in receiving medication is
insufficient to constitute deliberate indifference, see Krivan v. Dall. Cty., No. 99-1560, 2002 WL
83768, at *3 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 14, 2002), Plaintiff has alleged more than a mere delay. Rather,
construing the allegations of the most recent complaint in a light most favorable to the Plaintiff
and accepting them as true, Nurse Betty refused treatment and intentionally obstructed Plaintiff’s
efforts to receive his medications. This amounts to more than mere negligence or gross
negligence. See Magee v. Williams, No. 16-0123, 2018 WL 1934072, at *1 (W.D. La. Apr. 24,
2018) (finding plaintiff’s claim was not frivolous when he alleged, among other things, that
medical providers “refused to provide appropriate treatment”).
Lastly, the Court finds that Plaintiff has alleged that he suffered substantial harm from the
denial of his medical care. The above allegations detail the severe consequences that Plaintiff
faces if deprived of his HIV medications, including: “an agonizing deterioration of his immune
system which would make him susceptible to rare cancers and impair his immune system,
making him susceptible to an early death”, and “viral resistance which compromises Plaintiff’s
ability to stave off full-blown AIDS.” (Doc. 37 at 9–10.) Thus, accepting these allegations as
true, Plaintiff clearly sustained substantial harm from Nurse Taplin’s conduct.
30
While defendants are correct that some cases have found, at the summary judgment stage,
that inmates did not sustain harm from being deprived of HIV medications, see Krivan, supra;
Gray v. Henderson Cty. Jail, No. 09-406, 2011 WL 806265, *1, *7 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 1, 2011)
(citing Krivan)), other cases reach a different result at the pleading stage. Specifically, in Magee,
2018 WL 1934072, at *1, Judge Foote in the Western District of Louisiana reversed the
magistrate judge and found that plaintiff’s claims were not frivolous when he alleged that he was
“depriv[ed] of his HIV medication[,] . . . that missed dosages increase[d] the severity of an HIV
infection[,]” and that he “suffer[ed] from chest and abdominal pains as well as a burning feeling
his veins” that appeared “related to his HIV medication.” Id. The district court found: “The
severe consequences for a compromised immune system that can flow from even a short-term
deprivation of antiviral medication combined with Plaintiff's multiple attempts to bring his
conditions to the attention DWCC staff are sufficient facts to state a claim for deliberate
indifference at this preliminary stage.” Id.
Further, assuming that Nurse Taplin intentionally obstructed Plaintiff’s efforts to obtain
HIV medication and refused Plaintiff treatment (as the Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint
describes), every reasonable officer in Nurse Taplin’s position would know that such conduct
was unlawful. Such actions are either plainly incompetent or a knowing violation of the law.
Consequently, the Court will deny the Defendant’s motion to dismiss the claims against
Nurse Taplin.
E. Leave to Amend
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a), leave to amend should be “freely give[n] . . .
when justice so requires.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). The Fifth Circuit has stated:
In view of the consequences of dismissal on the complaint alone, and the pull to
decide cases on the merits rather than on the sufficiency of pleadings, district courts
31
often afford plaintiffs at least one opportunity to cure pleading deficiencies before
dismissing a case, unless it is clear that the defects are incurable or the plaintiffs
advise the court that they are unwilling or unable to amend in a manner that will
avoid dismissal.
Great Plains Trust Co. v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., 313 F.3d 305, 329 (5th Cir. 2002).
Relying on Great Plains and other cases from this circuit, one district court in Texas articulated
the standard as follows:
When a complaint fails to state a claim, the court should generally give the plaintiff
at least one chance to amend before dismissing the action with prejudice unless it
is clear that the defects in the complaint are incurable. See Great Plains Trust Co.
v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., 313 F.3d 305, 329 (5th Cir. 2002); see also
United States ex rel. Adrian v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal., 363 F.3d 398, 403 (5th
Cir. 2004) (“Leave to amend should be freely given, and outright refusal to grant
leave to amend without a justification . . . is considered an abuse of discretion.”)
(internal citation omitted). However, a court may deny leave to amend a complaint
if the court determines that “the proposed change clearly is frivolous or advances a
claim or defense that is legally insufficient on its face.” 6 Charles A. Wright, Arthur
R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1487 (2d ed.1990)
(footnote omitted); see also Martin’s Herend Imports, Inc. v. Diamond & Gem
Trading United States of Am. Co., 195 F.3d 765, 771 (5th Cir. 1999) (“A district
court acts within its discretion when dismissing a motion to amend that is frivolous
or futile.”) (footnote omitted).
Tow v. Amegy Bank N.A., 498 B.R. 757, 765 (S.D. Tex. 2013).
This Court previously granted the Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims against
the Warden Defendants. (Doc. 36.) Consequently, Plaintiff has had an opportunity to address the
deficiencies in his complaints but has failed to adequately do so. Plaintiff’s pleadings and
opposition also do not demonstrate that he could allege additional facts to state a cognizable claim
against the Warden Defendants. See Jebaco, Inc. v. Harrah’s Operating Co., 587 F.3d 314, 322
(5th Cir. 2009) (leave to amend may properly be denied where amendment would be futile). As a
result, the Court will deny leave to amend against the Warden Defendants.
32
However, the Court has not previously dismissed the claims against Dr. Lavespere, nor has
the Court granted Plaintiff leave to amend these claims. Though the Plaintiff’s opposition makes
clear that he has no additional facts at this time to assert against Dr. Lavespere, out of an abundance
of caution and because this will essentially be Plaintiff’s first amendment as to this defendant, the
Court will grant Plaintiff an opportunity to amend his complaint as to Dr. Lavespere.
Nevertheless, the Court wishes to note two things. First, Plaintiff’s counsel is reminded of
her obligations under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. By submitting an amended
complaint to the Court, counsel for the Plaintiff is certifying that, to the best of her “knowledge,
information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances[] . . . the claims
. . . and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivilous argument for
extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
11(b)(2). While the Court fully believes that Plaintiff’s counsel will abide by this rule, the Court
notes it simply as a reminder.
Second, the fact that the Court may ultimately deny Plaintiff further leave to amend his
claims against Dr. Lavespere does not mean Plaintiff is absolutely barred from asserting claims
against him if new facts come to light. Specifically, in Brazier v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea
Co., 256 F.2d 96 (5th Cir. 1958), the Fifth Circuit stated that, even if a district court denies further
leave to amend, the plaintiff still has the right “to bring a new action if new facts should be
discovered.” Id. at 99 (citations omitted). Thus, dismissal at this time may not be the end for
Plaintiff.
F. Remaining Claims
Aside from the above claims, Plaintiff also alleges that the Defendants violated the
Louisiana State Constitution and committed intentional infliction of emotional distress against
33
him. (Doc. 37 at 20–21.) Because Defendants did not seek dismissal of these causes of action,
they survive this ruling.
Additionally, Defendants only seek dismissal of Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims against
Defendants for damages.(Doc. 44-1 at 14.) Thus, this Court has not ruled on whether Plaintiff
has stated a cognizable claim for injunctive relief against the Defendants in their official
capacity. This claim also survives.
III.
Conclusion
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(1) and
FRCP 12(b)(6) (Doc. 44) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Plaintiff’s claims
for prospective injunctive relief are not barred by the Eleventh Amendment. However, all of
Plaintiff’s claims for damages against Defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983—except Plaintiff’s
claims against Nurse Betty Taplin—are dismissed for failure to state a cognizable claim.
Defendants’ motion as it pertains to Nurse Betty Taplin is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims for damages against James
LeBlanc, Darrell Vannoy, Stephanie Lamartiniere, and Leslie Dupont are DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE.
Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on May 2, 2018.
S
JUDGE JOHN W. deGRAVELLES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
34
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s § 1983 claims for damages against Dr.
Randy Lavespere are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Plaintiff is given twenty-one
(21) days in which to cure the deficiencies in Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 37),
if he can do so. If Plaintiff does not cure these deficiencies within twenty-one (21) days, his
claims against Dr. Lavespere will be dismissed with prejudice.
35
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