JOHNSON v. COLEMAN et al

Filing 25

ORDER granting 16 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim filed by defendant Dr. Herbick; granting 18 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim filed by defendants Brian Coleman and Robert Tretinik; the Report and Recommendation of Mag istrate Judge Lenihan dated June 21, 2012 (ECF No. 23 ), as it is modified and supplemented by this Memorandum Order, is adopted as the opinion of this court. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court mark this case CLOSED. AND IT IS FURTHER OR DERED that that pursuant to Rule 4(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Plaintiff has thirty (30) days to file a notice of appeal as provided by Rule 3 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. Signed by Judge Joy Flowers Conti on 8/24/2012. (smc )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

SOLOMAN JOHNSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
BRIAN V. COLEMAN, DR.
HERBICK, and ROBERT TRETINIK,
Defendants.

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Civil Action No. 11 - 1376
District Judge Joy Flowers Conti
Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan
ECF Nos. 16, 18, 23

MEMORANDUM ORDER
This suit commenced with this court’s receipt of the Motion to Proceed In Forma
Pauperis filed by plaintiff Solomon Johnson (“Johnson” or “Plaintiff”) on October 28, 2011.
(ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff’s motion was denied and the case was closed on November 4, 2011, with
instructions that Plaintiff may reopen the case by paying the filing fee or submitting another
motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 2.) Plaintiff filed another Motion to Proceed In
Forma Pauperis on December 27, 2011 and the case was reopened upon the court granting the
motion on December 30, 2011. (ECF Nos. 3, 4.) Plaintiff’s complaint was filed on December
30, 2011, and this case was referred to United States Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan
for all pretrial proceedings on January 10, 2012. (ECF No. 5.)
Defendant Dr. Herbick (“Herbick”) filed a motion to dismiss and supporting brief on
March 28, 2012. (ECF Nos. 16, 17.) Defendants Brian V. Coleman (“Coleman”) and Robert
Tretinik (“Tretinik” and together with Herbick and Coleman, “Defendants”) filed a motion to
dismiss and supporting brief on April 2, 2012. (ECF Nos. 18, 19.) Johnson filed a brief in
opposition to each of Defendants’ motions on April 13, 2012. (ECF No. 20.) On July 21, 2012,
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the magistrate judge entered a Report and Recommendation (the “Report”) recommending that
Defendants’ motions be granted and this case be dismissed with prejudice because granting
Plaintiff leave to amend his complaint would be futile. (ECF No. 23.) Objections to the Report
were due by July 9, 2012. (ECF No. 23.) Johnson filed objections dated July 6, 2012. (ECF No.
24.) His objections are addressed below.
First, Johnson objects to the magistrate judge’s recommendation that the applicable twoyear statute of limitations bars his claims against Herbick. (ECF No. 24 at 1.) Johnson contends
that his entry of Exhibit C includes reference to a prescription by Herbick dated June 13, 2009,
and thus constitutes involvement that makes his complaint timely filed. (ECF No. 24 at 1.) A
prescription for medication constitutes medical treatment. Johnson’s objection in relation to the
continuing violations doctrine relies on assertions that reoccurring incidents “constitutes [the]
same type of discrimination” and “trigger[ed] Plaintiff’s awareness,” thus affirming that Johnson
was aware of his duty to assert his rights and that the continuing violations doctrine does not
apply. (ECF No. 24 at 2.) The court need not resolve this objection because even if Johnson is
correct that the statute of limitations would not bar his claims, the claims against Herbick would
still need to be dismissed on the other grounds discussed in the Report.
Second, Johnson objects to the magistrate judge’s recommendation that Johnson’s claims
against Herbick should be dismissed because his complaint fails to establish a culpable state of
mind. (ECF No. 24 at 7.) Johnson’s objection notes repeated evaluations and treatment by
Herbick and Johnson contends that “[b]ecause SCI Fayette doesn’t have ultrasound equippment
(sic) on location” he needs to be “outsource[d]” for treatment. (ECF No. 24 at 2.)

Again,

Johnson’s desire to undergo ultrasound treatment as preventative care amounts to a disagreement
with Herbick’s prescribed treatment plan. Ordering further evaluation rather than ultrasound
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treatment is an aspect of Herbick’s treatment plan and not an indication of a culpable mental
state. Johnson does not allege any injuries as a result of his current treatment plan. He alleges
only that he “suffers from a condition painful and potentially life threatening.” (ECF No. 24 at
2.) Johnson contends that because he was evaluated by a vascular surgeon once, Herbick’s
evaluations were not appropriate when Herbick did not recall the vascular surgeon for
subsequent evaluations. (ECF No. 24 at 2.) Johnson, however, admits that he was given access
to the vascular surgeon at least once and that the vascular surgeon’s evaluation did not result in
ultrasound therapy. (ECF No. 24 at 2.) Because the deliberate indifference standard rises above
that of negligence and “no claim is stated when a doctor disagrees with the professional
judgment of another doctor,” White v. Napoleon, 897 F.2d 103, 110 (3d Cir. 1990), Herbick’s
treatment plan involving pain medication and multiple evaluations rises above the level of
deliberate indifference even when it differs from the treatment plan of Johnson’s private
physician and does not include participation by a vascular surgeon for every evaluation. Thus,
Johnson’s objection is overruled.
Third, Johnson challenges the magistrate judge’s recommendation that Coleman and
Tretinik’s motion to dismiss be granted. (ECF No. 24 at 2.) Johnson contends that Coleman and
Tretinik failed to act despite their knowledge of a substantial risk of harm to Johnson. (ECF No.
24 at 3.) In order for these Defendants to be liable for deliberate indifference to a serious
medical need, Johnson must show that each Defendant “possessed actual knowledge or a reason
to believe that ‘prison doctors or their assistants [were] mistreating (or not treating) the
prisoner.’” Thomas v. Dragovich, 142 F.App’x 33, 39 (3d Cir. 2005) (citing Spurill v. Gillis,
372 F.3d 218, 236 (3d Cir. 2004)) Johnson, however, fails to identify any involvement by either
Defendant other than their responses to Johnson’s grievances. Because the Court of Appeals for
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the Third Circuit has been clear that responding to or reviewing inmate grievances does not
establish personal knowledge, Johnson’s objection is overruled. See Thomas, 142 F. App’x at 39
(3d Cir. 2005); Durmer v. O’Carroll, 991 F.2d 64, 69 (3d Cir. 1993).
After de novo review of the pleadings and documents in the case, together with the
Report and Recommendation, and the objections thereto, the following order is entered.
AND NOW, this 24th day of August, 2012,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motions to dismiss filed by defendant Dr. Herbick
(ECF No. 16) and defendants Brian Coleman and Robert Tretinik (ECF No. 18) are GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate
Judge Lenihan dated June 21, 2012 (ECF No. 23), as it is modified and supplemented by this
Memorandum Order, is adopted as the opinion of this court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court mark this case CLOSED.
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to Rule 4(a)(1) of the Federal Rules
of Appellate Procedure, Plaintiff has thirty (30) days to file a notice of appeal as provided by
Rule 3 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
By the Court:
/s/ Joy Flowers Conti____
Joy Flowers Conti
United States District Judge
cc: Solomon Johnson
GX-7163
SCI Greensburg
165 SCI Lane
Greensburg, PA 15601
Counsel of record.
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