Feuerstein v. Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Filing 9

OPINION and ORDER adopting 6 the Report and Recommendation. Signed by Judge Michael H. Watson on 1/4/17. (jk) (This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

Vincent Alan Feuerstein,
Plaintiff,
V.

Case No. 2:16-cv-786

Department of Rehabilitation

Judge Michael H. Watson

and Correction,
Defendant.
OPINION AND ORDER

Vincent Alan Feuerstein ("PiaintifT), an inmate appearing pro se, filed a
complaint against the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

("ODRC") based on 42 U.S.C. § 1983, arguing that he was misdiagnosed as
bipolar and has an incorrect mental health classification. Compi., EOF No. 1-1.
Magistrate Judge Deavers performed an initial screening of this case

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2} and 1915A and issued an Order and Report
and Recommendation ("R&R"). The R&R grants PiaintifTs motion for leave to
appear in forma pauperls and recommends the Court dismiss the case for failure
to state a claim. R&R 1-2, ECF No. 6. The R&R recommends dismissal

because: (1) Plaintilfs Complaint contains no factual allegations concerning

ODRC's involvement in any constitutional violation; (2) the Eleventh Amendment
precludes money damages against ODRC; and (3) Plaintiff has no constitutional
right to a particular mental health classification. Id. at 6-7.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(a) permits a magistrate judge to rule on
any pretrial matter that Is not dispositive of a party's claim or defense and that

has been referred to the magistrate judge. Ifa party timely objects to the
magistrate judge's Order, the district judge must consider the objections and "set

aside any part of the order that is clearly erroneous or is contrary to law." Fed. R.

Civ. P. 72(a).
With respect to pretrial matters that are dispositive of a claim or defense,
and with respect to prisoner petitions challenging the conditions of confinement.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b)(2) provides that "[wjithin 14 days after
being served with a copy of the recommended disposition, a party may serve and
file specific written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations."
Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2). "The district judge must determine de novo any part of
the magistrate judge's disposition that has been properly objected to. The district

judge may accept, reject, or modify the recommended disposition; receive further
evidence; or return the matter to the magistrate judge with instructions." Fed. R.

Civ. P. 72(b)(3). The R&R notified the parties of their right to object, and Plaintiff
has timely objected, ECF Nos. 7 & 8.
The Court has reviewed Plaintiffs objection and letter. First, Plaintiff

objects to the assessment of a filing fee, stating that he receives only $9.00 every
thirty days. Obj. 1, ECF No. 7; Letter 2, ECF No. 8. To the extent Plaintiff
asserts that the Court cannot assess the filing fee against him due to his status

as a pauper, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) requires that the full filing fee be assessed
Case No. 2:16-cv-786

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against a prisoner bringing a civil action in forma pauperis. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).
The Order's direction to the Clerk comported with § 1915. Compare R&R 2, EOF

No. 6, with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). This objection is therefore overruled as it is not
contrary to law.
Next, Plaintiff states that he asked for "10,000 $ [sic] or as much as

possible for relief

" Obj. 1, ECF No. 7. The Court construes this statement

as an objection to Magistrate Judge Deavers' conclusion that Plaintiff is not
entitled to damages. Whether Plaintiff asked for a sum certain "or as much as

possible," makes no difference. The Eleventh Amendment bars any damages
against ODRC, the only defendant in this case. Beil v. Lake Erie Corr. Records

Dep't, 282 F. App'x 363, 366 (6th Cir. 2008) (recognizing that the ODRC is a
state agency entitled to Sovereign immunity).

Finally, Plaintiff states that he filed with his Complaint a copy of his
grievance along with evidence of his misdiagnosis. Letter 1, ECF No. 8.

Construed liberally, this statement could be read as an argument that he has
stated a claim for relief. The argument, however, fails. First, Plaintiff did not file

a copy of his grievance or evidence of his misdiagnosis with his Complaint.
Regardless, Plaintiffs Complaint fails to state a claim for relief. Specifically,
Plaintifffails to allege a constitutional right that has been violated. At most.

Plaintiff alleges that he was misdiagnosed as bi-polar and given an incorrect
mental health classification. He does not allege any injury resulting from the
misdiagnosis or incorrect classification.

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A misdiagnosis, alone, Is not a constitutional violation. Estelle v. Gamble,
429 U.S. 97,105-06 (1976) ("Medical malpractice does not become a

constitutional violation merely because the victim is a prisoner. In order to state

a cognizable claim, a prisoner must allege acts or omissions sufficiently harmful
to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical needs."); Bright v. Martin,
37 F. App'x 136,138 (6th Cir. 2002) ("Bright's allegations amounted to only a
difference of opinion over his medical care and do not support an Eighth
Amendment claim.") (citations omitted); Comstock v. McCrary, 273 F.3d 693,703

(6th Cir. 2001) ("When a prison doctor provides treatment, albeit carelessly or
inefficaciously, to a prisoner, he has not displayed a deliberate indifference to the

prisoner's needs, but merely a degree of incompetence which does not rise to
the level of a constitutional violation."). Absent any additional allegations, a

misdiagnosis or misclassification would not, alone, amount to a violation of any
constitutional rights that could serve as the basis for a § 1983 claim.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs objections are OVERRULED. The R&R is
ADOPTED. The Clerk shall DISMISS this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

MICHAEL H. WATSON, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Case No. 2:16-cv-786

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