Haddock v. Montgomery County Correctional Facility

Filing 21

MEMORANDUM. Signed by Judge J. Frederick Motz on 6/11/13. (c/m apls, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

KEITH HADDOCK, # 12-04574

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Plaintiff

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v

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, and
WARDEN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
Defendants

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Civil Action No. JFM-12-2762

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MEMORANDUM

Keith Haddock (“Haddock”), a self-represented litigant, claims in this complaint filed
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 that he received constitutionally inadequate medical care at the
Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Haddock claims: 1) was refused medication for
diabetes several times by medical and/or corrections staff; 2) he was placed on an diet improper
for diabetics; and 3) doctor-client confidentiality was breached. (ECF No. 1). Defendants, the
Montgomery County Correctional Facility (“MCCF”) and Warden Green, through counsel, have
filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) (ECF No. 12), which Haddock opposes.
(ECF Nos. 18 and 20). The submissions have been reviewed and no hearing is necessary. See
Local Rule 105.6 (D. Md.2011). For reasons to follow, Defendants ‘Motion to Dismiss (ECF
No. 12) will be granted.
BACKGROUND
Haddock, a pre-trial detainee at MCCF at the time he filed this complaint on September
17, 2012, avers that “Correctional Officers have refused to send me to medical to get my
medication (insulin) and medical staff have refused to treat me.” (ECF No. 1 at 4-5).

Additionally, he alleges “I have been put on a diet tray by medical staff that Im [sic] positive
does not fit the criteria for my diabeties [sic]” and that “[the] medication that I am being given is
not what I was taking when I was out and does not at all balance the food that’s given.” (ECF
No. 1 at 4).1 He posits his sugars are “out of control.” (ECF No. 1 at 4-5). Lastly, he claims
doctor-patient confidentiality law has been “broken and violated” by unnamed corrections officer
who “[o]n several occasions” announced to his housing unit that he is a diabetic by announcing
“diabetic call” when Haddock was called to get his insulin. (ECF No. 1 at 5). Haddock states
corrections officers have made “derogative comments to me amongst other inmates about my
condition.” (ECF No. 1 at 5). He does not identify the guards, specify the contents of the
remarks, or state when these comments were made.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Under Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a complaint must contain a
“short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Rule
12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes the dismissal of a complaint if it fails
to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The purpose of Rule 12(b)(6) is “to test the
sufficiency of a complaint and not to resolve contests surrounding the facts, the merits of a claim,
or the applicability of defenses.” Presley v. City of Charlottesville, 464 F.3d 480, 483 (4th Cir.
2006).
The Supreme Court's opinions in Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544
(2007), and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009), “require that complaints in civil actions be

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Haddock does not name medical providers as defendants, but asserts he “blacked out” and has suffered vision
problems due to irregular administration of insulin. (ECF No. 20). If he intends to pursue claims of inadequate
medical care against prison medical providers, he may do so in a separate complaint. He will be sent a § 1983
information and forms packet. The court expresses no opinion as to the merits of bringing such an action.

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alleged with greater specificity than previously was required.” Walters v. McMahen, 684 F.3d
435, 439 (4th Cir. 2012) (citation omitted). Twombly set forth “[t]wo working principles” for
reviewing Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. First, while a court must
accept as true all the factual allegations contained in the complaint, legal conclusions drawn from
those facts are not afforded such deference. See id. (stating that “[t]hreadbare recitals of the
elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice” to plead
a claim).
Second, a complaint must be dismissed if it does not allege “a plausible claim for relief.”
Id. at 679. Under the plausibility standard, a complaint must contain “more than labels and
conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Twombly, 550 U.S.
at 555. Although the plausibility requirement does not impose a “probability requirement,” id. at
556, “[a] claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the
court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 663; see also Robertson v. Sea Pines Real Estate Comanies, 679 F.3d 278, 291
(4th Cir. 2012) (“A complaint need not make a case against a defendant or forecast evidence
sufficient to prove an element of the claim. It need only allege facts sufficient to state elements
of the claim.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). A court must “draw on its
judicial experience and common sense” to determine whether the pleader has stated a plausible
claim for relief. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 664.
DISCUSSION
To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege “the violation of a right secured by
the Constitution and laws of the United States, and must show that the alleged deprivation was

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committed by a person acting under color of state law.” West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
Haddock references the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth 2 Amendments of the United States
Constitution in support of his claims.
A. MCCF
As a threshold matter, the court notes that MCCF is not a “person” subject to suit under
42 U.S.C. § 1983. See e.g. Allison v. California Adult Authority, 419 F.2d 822, 823 (9th
Cir.1969) (California Adult Authority and San Quentin Prison not “person[s]” subject to suit
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983); Powell v. Cook County Jail, 814 F.Supp. 757 (N.D.Ill.1993) (jail not
subject to suit); Marsden v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 856 F.Supp. 832, 836 (S.D.N.Y.1994) (“jail
is not an entity that is amenable to suit”).
Further, counsel argues MCCF is not amenable to suit because it is a correctional facility
owned and operated by Montgomery County. No provisions in any statute or regulation
empower the MCCF to sue or be sued in its own right as a subordinate agency of Montgomery
County Maryland. See Bourexis v. Carroll County Narcotics Task Force, 96 Md. App. 459, 46768 (1983) (ruling the Carroll County Narcotics Task Force is not an entity subject to suit). In
sum, MCCF has no capacity to sue or be sued and the claims against it will be dismissed.3

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A pretrial detainee's claims relating to an alleged denial of medical care are governed by the Fourteenth
Amendment, which prohibits treatment so severe that it amounts to “punishment.” The constitutional protections
afforded a pretrial detainee under the Fourteenth Amendment are coextensive with those provided by the Eighth
Amendment. See Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 (1979); Belcher v. Oliver, 898 F. d 32, 34 (4th Cir. 1990). “Due
process rights of a pretrial detainee are at least as great as the eighth amendment protections available to the
convicted prisoner.” Hill v. Nicodemus, 979 F.2d 987, 991 (4th Cir. 1992) (citing Martin v. Gentile, 849 F.2d 863,
870 (4th Cir. 1988)).
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Even if this claim were treated as one against Montgomery County, Haddock does not identify an unconstitutional
county policy, custom, or procedure resulted in alleged injury to him. See Monell v. Department of Social Services
of NYC, 436 U.S. 658 (1978).

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B. Warden Green
Although Haddock’s supplemental filings list the names of several medical providers and
corrections officers, he fails to attribute specific conduct to these individuals or particularize why
their alleged actions violated his federal constitutional rights. Haddock complains he has
“written letters to the warden about the grievances and has not received answers” (ECF No. 1 at
2), but does not claim Warden Green personally participated in the alleged constitutional
deprivations.
To the extent Haddock complains that Green is subject to liability under 42 U.S.C. §
1983 based upon a prison grievance process, the court finds no constitutional claim. Haddock has
no constitutional right to an administrative remedy or grievance process. See Adams v. Rice, 40
F.3d 72,75 (4th Cir.1994). Further, he has failed to show damages or injury from the alleged
handling of his grievances.
In addition, liability under § 1983 extends only to persons who are personally involved in
depriving others of their constitutional rights. See Rizzo v. Goode, 4213 U.S, 362, 377 (1976).
The doctrine of respondeat superior4 does not apply in § 1983 claims. See Love–Lane v. Martin,
355 F.3d 766, 782 (4th Cir. 2004) (no respondeat superior liability under § 1983). Supervisory
liability “is not based on ordinary principles of respondeat superior, but rather is premised on ‘a
recognition that supervisory indifference or tacit authorization of subordinates' misconduct may
be a causative factor in the constitutional injuries they inflict on those committed to their care.’ ”
Baynard v. Malone, 268 F.3d 228, 235 (4th Cir. 2001), citing Slakan v. Porter, 737 F.2d 368,
372 (4th Cir. 1984). Supervisory liability under § 1983 must be supported with evidence: 1) the
supervisor had actual or constructive knowledge that his subordinate was engaged in conduct
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Respondeat superior is a legal doctrine whereby an employer may be held responsible for its employees.

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that posed a pervasive and unreasonable risk of constitutional injury to citizens like the plaintiff;
2) the supervisor's response to the knowledge was so inadequate as to show deliberate
indifference to or tacit authorization of the alleged offensive practices; and 3) there was an
affirmative causal link between the supervisor's inaction and the particular constitutional injury
suffered by the plaintiff. See Shaw v. Stroud, 13 F.3d 791, 799 (4th Cir. 1994). Haddock’s
generally stated allegations fail to meet this standard. Consequently, the court will dismiss the
claims against Green.
C. Breach of Confidentiality
As noted, to state a cause of action under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege a violation of
federal constitutional right or law. There is no federal law or constitutional right to doctorpatient confidentiality. Correctional guards are not doctors and inmates are not their patients. In
any event, Haddock fails to attribute the conduct to specific officers and fails to allege that he
suffered any resulting injury. It bears noting that the Supreme Court has recognized that
“imprisonment carries with it the circumscription or loss of many significant rights.” Hudson v.
Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 524 (1984). Even for detainees, loss of privacy is an “inherent incident [ ]
of confinement.” Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 537 (1979). Accordingly the complaint will be
dismissed.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the court will grant defendants’ motion to dismiss by separate order to
follow.
June 11, 2013
Date

/s/
J. Frederick Motz
United States District Judge

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