Alvarez v. Maryland Department of Corrections et al

Filing 213

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Paula Xinis on 8/17/2022. (c/m 8/17/2022 - mg3s, Deputy Clerk)

Case 1:17-cv-00141-PX Document 213 Filed 08/17/22 Page 1 of 6

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
BRUMAN ALVAREZ,

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Plaintiff,

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v.

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ASRESAHEGN GETACHEW, M.D.,
Defendant.

Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-00141-PX

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MEMORANDUM OPINION

Following a four-day trial in this prisoner civil rights dispute, the jury returned a verdict
in favor of Defendant Asresahegn Getachew, M.D. ECF No. 181. Now pending before the
Court are Plaintiff Bruman Alvarez’s post-trial motions for a new trial, ECF No. 201, to appoint
appeal counsel, ECF No. 200, and for transcripts free of charge, ECF No. 210. The motions are
fully briefed. Finding no hearing necessary, see D. Md. Loc. R. 105.6, and for the following
reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motions.
I.

Background

Evidence at trial established that Plaintiff Bruman Alvarez (“Alvarez”), an inmate
imprisoned at Western Correctional Institution (“WCI”), has suffered longstanding degenerative
knee problems. ECF No. 186 at 188:16–190–6. This matter concerned the quality of care that
Alvarez received for his right knee from the prison contract healthcare providers employed
through Wexford Health Services. ECF Nos. 186 at 12:12–20, 144:22–145:9.
On September 15, 2014, Dr. Robustiano Barrera, a primary care physician, examined
Alvarez’ knee and ordered that he see an orthopedic surgeon and receive an MRI to ascertain the
source of his pain. ECF No. 186 at 42:7–23, 43:3–44:12. The recommendation was approved
and, on November 18, 2014, board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ashok Krishnaswamy,

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examined Alvarez and diagnosed him with a medial meniscus tear. Id. at 11:17–21, 45:2–7; ECF
No. 187 at 59:19–24. Dr. Krishnasawamy recommended that Alvarez receive arthroscopic knee
surgery “soon.” ECF No. 186 at 21:2–22:2, 46:2–5.
At that time, Defendant Dr. Getachew was head of Utilization Management for WCI, a
group of healthcare providers who oversee inmates’ course of care. In that capacity, Dr.
Getachew made the final decisions as to the provision of medical services for Alvarez’ knee
problems. ECF No. 187 at 53:22–54:17, 55:4–7. After review and consultation with other
medical personnel, Dr. Getachew refused to authorize surgery for Alvarez and instead ordered
the more conservative treatment of physical therapy and a knee brace. ECF No. 186 at 59:18–
23.
These non-surgical alternatives brought Alvarez little relief and so, on January 2, 2015,
he was seen by another board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Roy Carls. Dr. Carls also
“strongly” recommended surgery. ECF Nos. 185 at 201:15–16, 203:8–17, 209:6–210:17; 186 at
48:10–16; 187 at 62:17–23.
Dr. Getachew ultimately approved the surgery in June of 2015. See ECF Nos. 186 at
61:5–18; 187 at 67:23–68:16. But the procedure had to be postponed because Alvarez at the
time was suffering from acute back pain stemming from his degenerative disc disease. ECF No.
186 at 61:19–62:12, 198:7–199:9. By August of 2015, however, the back pain had resolved such
that Alvarez urged Dr. Getachew to approve the knee surgery. Id. at 199:12–200:12.
A year and a half later, Alvarez still had not received the surgery. During this time,
Alvarez’ knee would dislocate, lock, and give out, causing him much pain. ECF Nos. 186 at
49:14–16, 203:6–11; 187 at 69:8–10. Alvarez walked with a cane, and for longer distances, used
a wheelchair. ECF No. 186 at 49:17–21, 203:17–204:2. On one occasion, Alvarez spilled

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scalding hot liquid on himself when his knee gave out, resulting in third-degree burns. Id. at
206:22–207:10.
On January 13, 2017, Alvarez filed suit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations
of the Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment arising from an
unreasonable delay in medical care. Id. 1 Thereafter, the Court denied defendants’ motion to
dismiss and appointed counsel to represent Alvarez. Counsel vigorously litigated the matter
through discovery and another round of dispositive motions. Ultimately, a single count alleging
an Eighth Amendment violation remained as to Dr. Getachew only.
Trial commenced on September 28, 2021. ECF No. 170. After four days of testimony
and evidence, the jury returned a verdict in Dr. Getachew’s favor and judgment was entered on
October 12, 2021. ECF Nos. 181 & 184. Court-appointed counsel withdrew from the case.
ECF Nos. 189–92. Now Alvarez, proceeding pro se, requests appointment of new counsel, ECF
No. 200, a new trial, ECF No. 201, and the trial transcripts free of charge, ECF No. 210. The
Court turns first to Alvarez’ motion for new trial.
II.

Analysis
A. New Trial

Liberally construed, the motion requests both a new trial and to alter or amend the
judgment. ECF No. 201; Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e). As for the requested new trial, the Court may
grant a new trial under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(a) “for any reason for which
a new trial has heretofore been granted in an action at law in federal court.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
59(a)(1)(A). “Because every litigant is entitled to one fair trial, not two, the decision of whether

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Alvarez received arthroscopy in July of 2017. ECF No. 187 at 41:1–3.

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to grant or deny a motion for a new trial lies within the discretion of the district court.” Wallace
v. Poulos, 861 F. Supp. 2d 587, 599 (D. Md. 2012) (internal citations and quotation marks
omitted); see also King v. McMillan, 594 F.3d 301, 314-15 (4th Cir. 2010). A new trial is
warranted “only if the verdict (1) is against the clear weight of the evidence, (2) is based upon
evidence which is false, or (3) will result in a miscarriage of justice, even though there may be
substantial evidence which would prevent the direction of a verdict.” Wallace, 861 F. Supp. 2d
at 599 (citing Knussman v. Maryland, 272 F.3d 625, 639 (4th Cir. 2001)). The Court should
grant a new trial where it is “reasonably clear that prejudicial error has crept into the record or
that substantial justice has not been done.” Pathways Psychosocial v. Town of Leonardtown, 223
F. Supp. 2d 699, 706 (D. Md. 2002) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
“[R]econsideration of a judgment after its entry is an extraordinary remedy which should
be used sparingly.” 11 Wright et al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 2810.1, at 156–57 (3d ed.
2022). Such a motion should be granted “(1) to accommodate an intervening change in
controlling law; (2) to account for new evidence not available at trial; or (3) to correct a clear
error of law or prevent manifest injustice.” See Pac. Ins. Co. v. Am. Nat. Fire Ins. Co., 148 F.3d
396, 403 (4th Cir. 1998). “[I]f a party relies on newly discovered evidence” to support the
motion, “the party must produce a legitimate justification for not presenting the evidence during
the earlier proceeding.” Id. (internal citations and quotations marks omitted).
In support his requested relief, Alvarez contends that the Court generally erred in
instructing the jury on the scope of Dr. Getachew’s liability for acts taken in his individual
capacity. ECF No. 201 at 1. Where the movant claims error in jury instructions, a new trial is
warranted only if he demonstrates that the challenged instruction was “erroneous and
the error ‘seriously prejudiced’ the moving party’s case.” Goodman v. Praxair Services, Inc.,

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2011 WL 13176593, at *10 (D. Md. 2011); cf. RFT Mgmt. Co., LLC v. Powell, 607 F. App’x
238, 243 (4th Cir. 2015) (“[W]e will not set aside a resulting verdict unless the erroneous
instruction seriously prejudiced the challenging party’s case.”). Further, because Alvarez failed
to object to this instruction at trial, he must demonstrate any alleged error was plain and “affects
substantial rights.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 51(d)(2). Alvarez has made no such showing. The Court
has reviewed the relevant jury instructions, ECF No. 178 at 17–19, and can discern no error, let
alone plain error. Thus, the motion must be denied on this basis.
Likewise, as to purported “newly discovered evidence,” Alvarez argues, without support,
that certain utilization management notes were “false as to the dates and time [sic].” ECF No.
201 at 4. Alvarez also argues that the defendant breached its disclosure obligations under Brady
v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972). These
arguments are meritless. Brady applies only to criminal matters, requiring the prosecution to
disclose to the criminal defendant any exculpatory evidence. See Brodie v. Dep’t of Health &
Hum. Servs., 951 F. Supp. 2d 108, 118 (D.D.C. 2013), aff’d sub nom. Brodie v. U.S. Dep’t of
Health & Hum. Servs., No. 13-5227, 2014 WL 211222 (D.C. Cir. 2014). Nor are the notes
newly discovered evidence. In fact, the notes had been produced well in advance of trial and
admitted at trial as a joint exhibit. ECF Nos. 174 Ex. 2; 187 at 76:23–24; 188 at 89:2–8, 113:11–
13. Alvarez, through counsel, also had ample opportunity to explore the reliability of the notes
with relevant witnesses. ECF No. 187. Accordingly, the motion must be denied. 2

Alvarez also seeks judgment as a matter of law pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(b). ECF
No. 206 at 1. However, a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law after trial under Rule 50(b) can only be
granted “[i]f the court does not grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law made under Rule 50(a)[.]” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 50(b). A Rule 50(a) motion must be made “at any time before the case is submitted to the jury.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 50(a)(2). Alvarez never moved for relief under Rule 50(a). See ECF Nos. 185–88. Thus, relief under Rule
50(b) is not available.
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B. Remaining Motions
Alvarez separately moves for the reappointment of counsel in light of the case’s
complexity, Covid-19, his limited access to the law library, and because his prior court-appointed
attorneys declined to appeal the verdict on his behalf. ECF No. 200 at 1. The Court appoints
counsel for a pro se litigant who possesses “a colorable claim but lacks the capacity to present
it.” Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147, 1153 (4th Cir. 1978). Because all post-trial grounds for
relief lack merit, the Court declines to appoint counsel. As to appellate counsel, the United
States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit must make that determination. See 4th Cir. Loc.
R. 46(d); 3 see also Barker v. United States, 2022 WL 2976530, at *24 (N.D. W. Va. 2022).
Alvarez also asks for transcripts free of charge. ECF No. 210. “An indigent [litigant] is
not entitled to a transcript at government expense without a showing of the need, merely to comb
the record in the hope of discovering some flaw.” See United States v. Glass, 317 F.2d 200, 202
(4th Cir. 1963); see also United States v. Ilodi, 982 F. Supp. 1046, 1049 (D. Md. 1997). To be
sure, Alvarez is of limited financial means. But he was present for the entirety of the trial and is
intimately familiar with the proceedings. He has failed to demonstrate any such legal need for
the transcripts. Accordingly, the request is denied.
III.

Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiff Bruman Alvarez’ motion for new
trial (ECF No. 201), motion to appoint counsel (ECF No. 200), and motion for transcripts free of
charge, (ECF No. 210). A separate Order follows.
August 17, 2022____________________
Date

___________/s/_______________
Paula Xinis
United States District Judge

For civil appeals, “[a]ssignment of counsel is discretionary. . . . Therefore, such cases receive a
preliminary review before a decision is made regarding appointment of counsel.” 4th Cir. Loc. R. 46(d).
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