Tate v. Jones et al

Filing 77

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: The R&R (Doc. No. 56 ) is ADOPTED. The Complaint against Debra Kelly is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Signed by Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr on 10/10/2017. (xc:Pro se party by regular mail. ) (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(ab)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
COLUMBIA DIVISION
JAMES TATE,

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Plaintiff,
v.
DR. JONES, et al.,
Defendants.

NO. 1:17-cv-00002
CHIEF JUDGE CRENSHAW

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Before the Court is a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) of the Magistrate Judge (Doc.
No. 56), recommending the Court sua sponte dismiss the Complaint against Debra Kelly. Plaintiff
objected to the R&R. (Doc. No 61.) The Court conducted a de novo review of the record, and for
the following reasons, the R&R is ADOPTED. 1
The Magistrate Judge recommended dismissing the Complaint for failure to state a claim.
(Doc. No. 56 at 4.) The Magistrate Judge relied on evidence outside the pleadings, converting his
recommendation into one sua sponte granting summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 56(f). The Magistrate Judge noted that Plaintiff has an adequate opportunity to respond
because of the fourteen-day objection period for R&Rs. (Doc. No. 56 at 4-5.)
Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate Judge’s R&R because Kelly was required under
department policies to refer him to a doctor, and she did not. (Doc. No. 61 at 3.) Instead, she

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The Magistrate Judge also recommends that the Court dismiss the case because Plaintiff failed to exhaust
his administrative remedies. (Doc. No. 56 at 4.) Under the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act, a plaintiff must exhaust
his or her administrative remedies prior to filing in federal court. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Failure to exhaust “is an
affirmative defense,” and “inmates are not required to specially plead or demonstrate exhaustion in their complaints.”
Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 921 (2007). Here, it is inappropriate to dismiss the Complaint for failure to exhaust prior
to Debra Miller pleading the affirmative defense. As such, the Court declines to adopt this portion of the R&R.

prescribed Ibuprofen for a knot in his jaw, swelling, and an infection. (Id.; Doc. No. 45 at 2.)
However, the records confirm that Plaintiff had seen a doctor multiple times for pain and swelling
since he had two teeth extracted in April 2016, and the doctor consistently prescribed Ibuprofen.
(Doc. No. 56 at 4.) Plaintiff has not rebutted the Magistrate Judge’s conclusion that at most he
alleges negligence, which does not rise to the level of an Eighth Amendment constitutional
violation. (Doc. No. 56 at 4 (citing Westlake v. Lucas, 537 F.2d 857, 860 n.5 (6th Cir. 1976)). The
Court agrees Kelly is entitled to summary judgment.
Accordingly, the R&R (Doc. No. 56) is ADOPTED. The Complaint against Debra Kelly
is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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WAVERLY D. CRENSHAW, JR.
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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