Use' v. Abanagan
Filing
19
ORDER denying 15 Motion to Dismiss for the reasons set out in the Order. Signed by District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on January 20, 2017. (SP)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
NORTHERN DIVISION
CALVIN P. USÉ, SR., # 110652
PLAINTIFF
v.
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:16cv149-DPJ-FKB
DR. ROLAND ABANAGAN
DEFENDANT
ORDER
This pro se prisoner case is before the Court on Defendant Dr. Roland Abanagan’s
Motion to Dismiss [15]. For the reasons that follow, the motion is denied without prejudice.
I.
Facts and Procedural History
Plaintiff Calvin P. Usé, Sr., an inmate currently incarcerated at the East Mississippi
Correctional Facility (“EMCF”), brings this § 1983 lawsuit alleging denial of proper medical
care against Dr. Abanagan, a physician affiliated with EMCF. Usé claims that he has “been
refused” proper care with respect to “pain in [his] back[,] left leg[,] both feet[,] and left hip.”
Compl. [1] at 4. The medical records attached to Usé’s Complaint show that he is frequently
dissatisfied with the rate at which EMCF personnel prescribe and/or dispense pain medication
and that he has made multiple requests to see a pain specialist.
Particularly relevant to this case, the December 13, 2015 Administrative Remedy
Program (“ARP”) form Usé submitted that ultimately led to the filing of this lawsuit complains
that “Dr. Abanagan and/or someone has [discontinued] my pain medication . . . three to four
months before it was supposed to end.” Id. at 11–12. EMCF’s First Step Response Form
notified Usé that he was “seen and treated by Dr. Abanagan on 12-17-15 and put on pain
medication at that time” and that “[a]ll orders are being followed as written at this time.” Id. at
10. Usé responded by alleging that “Dr. Abanagan will not do anything for me but give
[ibuprofen], naprox[e]n, and tyl[e]no[]l which do[] nothing, [they] do not fix or explain the
problem in my lower back[,] left hip and leg[,] and both of my feet.” Id. at 8. Being unsatisfied
with the results of his ARP, Usé filed this lawsuit on February 29, 2016. He asserts claims
against Dr. Abanagan in his official and individual capacities and seeks “a preliminary and
permanent injunction ordering Dr. Abanagan to send [him] to a specialist for his pain problems.”
Id. at 5. Dr. Abanagan waived service of process [14] and moved to dismiss [15]. Usé filed a
tardy response [17], and Dr. Abanagan filed a rebuttal [18]. The Court is now prepared to rule.
II.
Standard
Dr. Abanagan has moved for dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim.
Under that rule, the “court accepts ‘all well-pleaded facts as true, viewing them in the light most
favorable to the plaintiff.’” Martin K. Eby Constr. Co. v. Dall. Area Rapid Transit, 369 F.3d 464,
467 (5th Cir. 2004) (quoting Jones v. Greninger, 188 F.3d 322, 324 (5th Cir. 1999) (per
curiam)). But “the tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in a
complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions. Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of
action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). To overcome a
motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible
on its face.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to
relief above the speculative level, on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are
true (even if doubtful in fact).” Id. at 555 (citations and footnote omitted). Finally, because Usé
is proceeding pro se, the Court must “liberally construe[]” his complaint and filings. Turner v.
Cain, 647 F. App’x 357, 362 (5th Cir. 2016) (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94
(2007)). And in the event the Court concludes a pro se complaint is due to be dismissed for
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failure to state a claim, the Court should “[g]enerally . . . giv[e] the plaintiff an opportunity to
amend.” Lerma v. Falks, 338 F. App’x 472, 474 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting Bazrowx v. Scott, 136
F.3d 1053, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998)).
III.
Analysis
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the imposition of
“cruel and unusual punishments” on incarcerated individuals. U.S. Const. amend. VIII. “In
Estelle v. Gamble, the [Supreme] Court held that prison officials inflict cruel and unusual
punishment if they are deliberately indifferent to an inmate’s serious medical needs.” Victoria
W. v. Larpenter, 369 F.3d 475, 483 (5th Cir. 2004) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. 97, 103–04 (1976)).
“Deliberate indifference encompasses only unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain repugnant
to the conscience of mankind.” Norton v. Dimazana, 122 F.3d 286, 291 (5th Cir. 1997). An
inmate who merely “[d]isagree[s] with medical treatment does not state a claim for Eighth
Amendment indifference to medical needs.” Id. at 292. Finally, “[a] delay in medical care
violates the Eighth Amendment only if it is due to deliberate indifference and results in
substantial harm.” Smith v. Millhauser, 444 F. App’x 812, 813 (5th Cir. 2011).
Dr. Abanagan urges the Court to dismiss Usé’s complaint because the factual allegations
do not state a facially plausible claim that he “acted with deliberate indifference to Us[é]’s
serious medical needs.” Def.’s Mem. [16] at 2. For his part, Usé contends that he has met his
burden at the pleading stage, noting that Abanagan has ceased his pain medication “for 3 to 6
months at a time for no reason” and “refuses to order his pain medication,” causing Usé “und[ue]
pain in his back, legs, feet and hands.” Pl.’s Mem. [17] at 1, 2.
Dr. Abanagan makes a strong argument that Usé’s allegations demonstrate nothing more
than “a difference of opinion as to the proper course of treatment” and do not show deliberate
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indifference. Trujillo v. Arce, 109 F. App’x 668, 670 (5th Cir. 2004). That said, Usé does
suggest that he was denied pain relief without reason. While this may be somewhat thin, on a
Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court would generally be inclined to grant the pro se plaintiff leave to
amend. Lerma, 338 F. App’x at 474. But an amended complaint may be no better and draw
another motion under Rule 12. In an effort to more efficiently bring this case to a resolution, and
because this presents a close call, the Court will deny Dr. Abanagan’s motion without prejudice.
Magistrate Judge Ball can conduct a Spears hearing and better assess the viability of Usé’s
claims. Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985). If Usé cannot better state his claim,
then Dr. Abanagan may again seek dismissal.1
IV.
Conclusion
The Court has considered all arguments. Those not specifically addressed would not
have changed the outcome. For the foregoing reasons, Defendant Dr. Roland Abanagan’s
Motion to Dismiss [15] is denied without prejudice.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 20th day of January, 2017.
s/ Daniel P. Jordan III
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
1
It is not entirely clear whether Dr. Abanagan’s motion addressed both the official- and
individual-capacity claims.
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