Hunter v. Core Civic et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 2 Application to Proceed in forma pauperis; Assessing Filing Fee ($350) for William A. Hunter, and REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Joe Brown. Signed by District Judge Aleta A. Trauger on 9/21/17. (xc:Pro se party and Warden of Metro Davidson County Detention Facility by regular mail. Service Packets to Pro se party) (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(gb) Modified text on 9/21/2017 (gb).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE DIVISION
WILLIAM A. HUNTER,
Plaintiff,
v.
CORE CIVIC, INC., et al.,
Defendants.

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No. 3:17-cv-01269
Judge Trauger

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

William Hunter is an inmate at the Metro Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville.
He has filed pro se a prisoner complaint (Doc. No. 1) brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and an
application to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. No. 2).
It appears from his application that the plaintiff lacks sufficient financial resources from
which to pay the fee required to file the complaint. Accordingly, plaintiff’s application is
GRANTED. The Clerk shall file the complaint in forma pauperis. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).
The plaintiff is herewith ASSESSED the civil filing fee of $350.00. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(b)(1)(A) and (B), the custodian of the plaintiff's inmate trust account at the institution where
he now resides is directed to submit to the Clerk of Court, as an initial partial payment, whichever is
greater of:
(a)

twenty percent (20%) of the average monthly deposits to the plaintiff's inmate

trust account; or
(b)

twenty percent (20%) of the average monthly balance in the plaintiff's inmate

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trust account for the prior six (6) months.
Thereafter, the custodian shall submit twenty percent (20%) of the plaintiff's preceding
monthly income (or income credited to the plaintiff's trust account for the preceding month), but only
when such monthly income exceeds ten dollars ($10.00), until the full filing fee of three hundred fifty
dollars ($350.00) as authorized under 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) has been paid to the Clerk of Court. 28
U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
The defendant, Core Civic, Inc., is a privately held corporation under contract with the
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County to operate the Metro Davidson County
Detention Facility. In that capacity, this defendant acts under color of state law and is subject to suit
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Street v. Corrections Corp. of America, 102 F.3d 810, 814 (6th Cir. 1996).
The Metro Davidson County Detention Facility is currently experiencing an outbreak of
scabies.1 The plaintiff has been “itching and scratching a lot.” Doc. No. 1 at 5. He believes that he has
been infected with scabies. Id. When this was reported to the medical staff, they “put a black light on
me and said they don’t see anything.” Id. Nevertheless, he was prescribed a hydrocortisone cream for
the itching. Id.
When the cream proved ineffective, plaintiff returned to the infirmary. He was seen by a nurse
who gave him a pink lotion for the itching. Id. He has yet, however, to be examined by a doctor or
referred to a dermatologist. The cream and lotion have proven to be ineffective and he continues to
suffer. The defendants are aware of plaintiff’s situation but have allegedly done nothing to ease his
suffering. The plaintiff seeks relief in the form of treatment for scabies and damages. Id. at 6.
The Eighth Amendment imposes upon a county an obligation to provide its prisoners with

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Scabies is a contagious, intensely itchy skin condition caused by tiny, burrowing mites.
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reasonably adequate food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, recreation and medical care. Grubbs v.
Bradley, 552 F.Supp. 1052, 1119-1124 (M.D. Tenn.1982). The failure to provide such necessities is
a violation of an inmate's right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Bellamy v. Bradley, 729
F.2d 416 (6th Cir.1984).
The outbreak of an infectious condition creates an unhealthy environment. The defendants,
Core Civic and Dr. Bridges, a physician at the Detention Facility, are apparently aware of the outbreak
but have in effective done nothing to ease the plaintiff’s suffering. Since this could be construed as
a deliberate indifference to plaintiff’s serious medical needs, the Court finds that the plaintiff has
stated a colorable claim for relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
Accordingly, the Clerk is instructed to send the plaintiff a service packet (a blank summons
and USM 285 form) for each defendant. The plaintiff will complete the service packets and return
them to the Clerk’s Office within twenty one (21) days of the date of receipt of this order.
Upon return of the service packets, PROCESS SHALL ISSUE to the defendants. The
plaintiff is forewarned that the failure to return the completed service packets within the time required
could jeopardize his prosecution of this action. He is further forewarned that his prosecution of this
action will be jeopardized should he fail to keep the Clerk’s Office informed of his current address.
This action is REFERRED to the Magistrate Judge to enter a scheduling order for the
management of the case, to dispose or recommend disposition of any pretrial motions under 28 U.S.C.
§§ 636(b)(1)(A) and (B), and to conduct further proceedings, if necessary, under Rule 72(b),
Fed.R.Civ.P., and the Local Rules of Court.
The Clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the Warden of the Metro Davidson County
Detention Facility to ensure that the custodian of plaintiff's inmate trust account complies with that
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portion of the Prison Litigation Reform Act relating to the payment of the filing fee.
It is so ORDERED.
ENTER this 21st day of September 2017.

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Aleta A. Trauger
United States District Judge

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