Pierce v. Correct Care et al
Filing
11
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT. Signed by Chief Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr on 4/25/2018. (xc:Pro se party by regular mail. ) (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(am)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE DIVISION
CORNELIUS PIERCE,
# 177752,
Plaintiff,
v.
CORRECT CARE, et al.,
Defendants.
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No. 3:17-cv-01322
CHIEF JUDGE CRENSHAW
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Cornelius Pierce, formerly an inmate of the Whiteville Correctional Facility in
Whiteville, Tennessee, brings this pro se, in forma pauperis action against Correct Care, f/n/u
Bridges, Core Civic, and Charlie Peterson under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of the
Plaintiff’s civil rights. (Doc. No. 1). He also filed a “notice of injury and retaliation” (Doc. No. 3)
and two letters to the Court (Doc. Nos. 5 and 9).
The complaint is before the Court for an initial review pursuant to the Prison Litigation
Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A.
I.
Notices and Letters
The Plaintiff has filed a “notice of injury and retaliation” (Doc. No. 3) and two letters to
Court (Doc. Nos. 5 and 9). The Plaintiff’s notice and letters restate the allegations of the complaint
and add details and claims not previously mentioned in the original complaint. The Court will
consider the notice and letters in evaluating the Plaintiff’s claims pursuant to the PLRA. However,
going forward, the Plaintiff is advised that he cannot litigate this action or any action in this Court
by way of letters and notices to the Court. Even though the Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and the
Court will take into consideration his pro se status when evaluating pleadings and pending motions,
the Plaintiff is still required to comply with the rules governing this case. These rules exist to ensure
fairness to all parties. If the Plaintiff wishes for the Court to consider arguments and evidence, he
must raise them by way of timely and properly filed motions.
II.
Required Screening
Because the Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis in this case, the Court is required to
screen the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the
Court must dismiss any portion of a civil complaint filed in forma pauperis that fails to state a claim
upon which relief can be granted, is frivolous, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is
immune from such relief.
The Sixth Circuit has confirmed that the dismissal standard articulated by the Supreme Court
in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009), and Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007),
“governs dismissals for failure to state a claim under those statutes because the relevant statutory
language tracks the language in Rule 12(b)(6).” Hill v. Lappin, 630 F.3d 468, 470–71 (6th Cir.
2010). Thus, to survive scrutiny on initial review, “a complaint must contain sufficient factual
matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at
678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads
factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for
the misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “[A] district court must (1) view
the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and (2) take all well-pleaded factual
allegations as true.” Tackett v. M & G Polymers, USA, LLC, 561F.3d 478, 488 (6th Cir. 2009)
(citing Gunasekera v. Irwin, 551 F.3d 461, 466 (6th Cir. 2009) (citations omitted)).
Although pro se pleadings are to be held to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings
drafted by lawyers, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520–21 (1972); Jourdan v. Jabe, 951 F.2d 108,
110 (6th Cir. 1991), the courts’ “duty to be ‘less stringent’ with pro se complaints does not require
us to conjure up [unpleaded] allegations.” McDonald v. Hall, 610 F.2d 16, 19 (1st Cir. 1979)
(citation omitted).
III.
Section 1983 Standard
Plaintiff brings his complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983 creates
a cause of action against any person who, acting under color of state law, abridges “rights,
privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws . . . .” To state a claim under § 1983,
a plaintiff must allege and show two elements: (1) that he was deprived of a right secured by the
Constitution or laws of the United States; and (2) that the deprivation was caused by a person acting
under color of state law. Tahfs v. Proctor, 316 F.3d 584, 590 (6th Cir. 2003); 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
IV.
Alleged Facts
The complaint alleges that, on December 28, 2016, while an inmate of the Metro-Davidson
County Detention Facility in Nashville, Tennessee, the Plaintiff was working the kitchen detail and
fell. During the fall, he sustained injuries to his wrist. The Plaintiff saw a nurse who gave him
Naproxen for his pain. The nurse told the Plaintiff that he would see a doctor the next day. After
a week passed without seeing a doctor, the Plaintiff began “putting in sick calls” and was finally
seen by a doctor in February 2017. (Doc. No. 1 at 5). Soon thereafter, the Plaintiff received an xray and learned that his wrist was broken. (Doc. No. 3 at 1). The doctor told the Plaintiff that there
was “nothing they can do about [his] wrist [be]cause it happen[ed] to[o] long ago.” (Id.) According
to the complaint, the Plaintiff’s wrist constantly hurts. (Doc. No. 1 at 5).
The Plaintiff believes that Core Civic retaliated against him for filing this lawsuit by sending
the Plaintiff to the Whiteville prison. (Doc. Nos. 3 at 2, 9 at 1). The Plaintiff describes by letter how
the Whiteville staff refused assist the Plaintiff with his trust fund account statement and refused to
give him papers he needs to challenge his sentence. (Doc. No. 9 at 1). The Plaintiff also believes
that Core Civic retaliated against him by conducting “shakedowns” and accusing the Plaintiff of
having a knife in his cell that the Plaintiff says did not belong to him. (Id.)
V.
Analysis
A.
Deliberate indifference to serious medical needs claims
The complaint alleges that the Plaintiff did not receive appropriate medical treatment for the
wrist injury he sustained in a fall at the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in December
2016. He names four Defendants: Correct Care, Core Civic, Charlie Peterson of Core Civic “for
hiring Correct Care,” and Dr. Bridges “for malpractice.” (Doc. No. 1 at 5).
The United States Supreme Court has held that deliberate indifference to serious medical
needs of prisoners constitutes the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain proscribed by the Eighth
Amendment. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). A claim of deliberate indifference under
the Eighth Amendment has both an objective and subjective component. Rouster v. Cnty. of
Saginaw, 749 F.3d 437, 446 (6th Cir. 2014). A plaintiff satisfies the objective component by alleging
that the prisoner had a medical need that was “sufficiently serious.” Id. (quoting Farmer v. Brennan,
511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994)). A plaintiff satisfies the subjective component “by alleging facts which,
if true, would show that the official being sued subjectively perceived facts from which to infer
substantial risk to the prisoner, that he did in fact draw the inference, and that he then disregarded
that risk.” Id. The requisite intent is more than mere negligence and is more akin to recklessness.
Id.
Complaints of malpractice or allegations of negligence are insufficient to entitle plaintiff to
relief. Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06. A prisoner’s difference of opinion regarding diagnosis or
treatment also does not rise to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation. Id. at 107. Further,
where a prisoner has received some medical attention, but disputes the adequacy of that treatment,
the federal courts are reluctant to second-guess the medical judgments of prison officials and
constitutionalize claims that sound in state tort law. Westlake v. Lucas, 537 F.2d 857, 860 n.5 (6th
Cir. 1976). Finally, to set forth a viable claim for the denial of medical care, the plaintiff must argue
that his health suffered as a consequence of such alleged denial. See Thaddeus-X v. Blatter, 175
F.3d 378, 401 (6th Cir. 1999).
1.
Correct Care
Correct Care is the entity presumably responsible for providing medical care to inmates at
the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility. Because Correct Care performs a traditional state
function in operating a state prison, Correct Care acts under the color of state law. Street v. Corr.
Corp. of Am., 102 F.3d 810, 814 (6th Cir.1996). In order for Correct Care to be liable, the plaintiff
must allege that there is a direct causal link between a policy or custom of Correct Care and the
alleged constitutional violation. See Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978). In
other words, Correct Care may be liable under § 1983 “if its official policies or customs resulted in
injury to the plaintiff.” O'Brien v. Mich. Dep't of Corr., 592 Fed. Appx. 338, 341 (6th Cir. 2014);
see also Mason v. Doe, No. 3:12CV-P794-H, 2013 WL 4500107, at *1 (W.D. Ky. Aug. 21, 2013)
(collecting cases) (“a private corporation may be liable under § 1983 when an official policy or
custom of the corporation causes the alleged deprivation of a federal right”).
To hold Correct Care liable, the Plaintiff cannot rely on the theory of respondeat superior or
vicarious liability. Street, 102 F.3d at 818. Liability attaches only if Correct Care’s policies are
shown to be the“moving force” behind the plaintiff's injuries. City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S.
378, 388, 109 S. Ct. 1197, 103 L.Ed.2d 412 (1989). The plaintiff must “identify the policy, connect
the policy to the [entity] itself and show that the particular injury was incurred because of the
execution of that policy.” Garner v. Memphis Police Dep’t, 8 F.3d 358, 353-64 (6th Cir. 1993).
Here, the complaint fails to allege that any Correct Care policy was the “moving force”
behind the Plaintiff’s injuries. City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 388. In fact, the complaint fails to allege
the existence of any Correct Care policy relevant to the Plaintiff’s claims. Consequently, the Court
finds that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted against Correct Care.
2.
Core Civic
Core Civic is “[a] private corporation that performs the traditional state function of operating
a prison acts under color of state law for purposes of § 1983.” Thomas v. Coble, 55 F. App'x 748,
748 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing Street v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 102 F.3d 810, 814 (6th Cir.1996)); see also
Parsons v. Caruso, 491 F. App'x 597, 609 (6th Cir. 2012) (corporation that provides medical care
to prisoners can be sued under § 1983). The Sixth Circuit has applied the standards for assessing
municipal liability to claims against private corporations that operate prisons. Thomas, 55 F. App'x
at 748–49; Street, 102 F.3d at 817–18; Johnson v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 26 F. App'x 386, 388 (6th Cir.
2001). Core Civic “cannot be held liable under a theory of respondeat superior.” Braswell v. Corr.
Corp. of Am., 419 F. App'x 622, 627 (6th Cir. 2011).
To prevail on a § 1983 claim against Core Civic, the Plaintiff “must show that a policy or
well-settled custom of the company was the ‘moving force’ behind the alleged deprivation” of his
rights. Id. The complaint fails to allege that the Plaintiff’s broken wrist was caused by action taken
pursuant to a Core Civic official policy or custom, which is required for the Plaintiff to state a claim
upon which relief can be granted. See Thomas, 55 Fed. Appx at 749 (citing Monell v. Dep’t of Soc.
Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978)). Consequently, the Court finds that the complaint fails to state
an Eighth Amendment claim against Core Civic.
3.
Charlie Peterson
The complaint names Charlie Peterson as a Defendant because he “hired Correct Care.”
(Doc. No. 1 at 5).
There are no other allegations pertaining to Peterson in the complaint. The
complaint does not identify Peterson’s job title, but a fair reading of the complaint suggests that
Peterson is an employee of Core Civic with decision-making capability. (Id. at 4, 5).
Assuming for the purposes of this screening that Peterson is an employee of Core Civic with
the authority to hire the contract medical provider for the Metro-Davidson County Detention
Facility, Peterson could be considered a state actor for the same reasons that Core Civic is
considered a state actor. See Thomas, 55 F. App'x at 748. The law is settled that actions brought
against state actors cannot be maintained under § 1983 on a theory of respondeat superior. See e.g.,
Monell v. Dept. of Social Serv's of The City of New York, et al., 436 U.S. 658, 659, 691–95 (1978).
“[A] plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official's own official
actions, violated the Constitution.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676.
There must be a showing that the
supervisor encouraged the specific instance of misconduct or in some other way directly participated
in it. At a minimum, a § 1983 plaintiff must show that a supervisory official at least implicitly
authorized, approved or knowingly acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct of the offending
subordinates. See Bellamy v. Bradley, 729 F.2d 416, 421 (6th Cir. 1984) (citation omitted).
The Plaintiff’s claim against Peterson is based on his “hiring” or selection of Correct Care
as the jail’s medical provider. The complaint does not allege that Peterson was directly responsible
for the Plaintiff’s alleged inadequate medical treatment, nor can any such claims be liberally
construed against Peterson. Neither does the complaint allege that Peterson “implicitly authorized,
approved, or knowingly acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct of the offending” party or
parties. Id. Consequently, the complaint fails to state § 1983 claims upon which relief can be
granted as to Peterson based on supervisory liability.
4.
Dr. Bridges
With regard to Dr. Bridges, the complaint alleges that he examined the Plaintiff in February
2017, ordered an x-ray of the Plaintiff’s wrist, and told the Plaintiff that his wrist was broken and
there was “nothing they can do about [his] wrist [be]cause it happen[ed] to[o] long ago.” (Doc. No.
3 at 1). The complaint does not allege that Dr. Bridges played any role in the Plaintiff’s alleged
delay of medical treatment. The complaint seeks monetary damages against Dr. Bridges “for
malpractice.” (Id. at 5).
The Court assumes for purposes of the required screening that the Plaintiff’s wrist injury
constituted a sufficiently serious medical need. See Rouster, 749 F.3d at 446. To the extent that
the complaint alleges a claim based on a delay in examining, diagnosing, or treating the Plaintiff’s
injury, the complaint does not allege any deliberate indifference on the part of Dr. Bridges. In fact,
the complaint fails to allege that Dr. Bridges played any role whatsoever in the delayed examination,
diagnosis, and treatment of the Plaintiff. Even if the medical treatment provided by Dr. Bridges was
allegedly deficient in some manner, “[m]edical malpractice does not become a constitutional
violation merely because the victim is a prisoner.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. at 105-06. Simply
put, an inmate is not entitled to the “best” medical treatment available. Bemer v. Correctional Med.
Services, No. 10-12228, 2012 WL 525564, *7 (E.D. Mich. Jan. 27, 2012)(citing the 5th Circuit).
Consequently, the Court finds that the complaint fails to state a colorable deliberate indifference to
serious medical needs claim against Dr. Bridges, and this claim will be dismissed.
B.
Retaliation
The Plaintiff asserts that Core Civic retaliated against him for filing this lawsuit by sending
the Plaintiff to the Whiteville prison. (Doc. Nos. 3 at 2, 9 at 1).
However, inmates have no
constitutional right to be confined in any particular prison. Olim v. Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238
(1983); Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 468 (1983)(superseded by statute on other grounds);
Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 224 (1976); Beard v. Livesay, 798 F.2d 874, 876 (6th Cir. 1986).
Thus, the complaint fails to state retaliation claims under § 1983 claims upon which relief can be
granted against any Defendant based on the Plaintiff’s transfer to another facility because he has no
constitutional right to choose his site of imprisonment.
The Plaintiff also believes that Core Civic retaliated against him by conducting
“shakedowns” and accusing the Plaintiff of having a knife in his cell that the Plaintiff says did not
belong to him. (Doc. No. 9 at 1). The Plaintiff describes how the Whiteville staff refused assist the
Plaintiff with his trust fund account statement and refused to give him papers he needs to challenge
his sentence. (Id.)
A prisoner's claim that prison officials have retaliated against him for engaging in protected
conduct is grounded in the First Amendment. Thaddeus-X, 175 F.3d at 388 . To establish a prima
facie case of retaliation within the context of § 1983, a plaintiff must prove that: (1) he engaged in
protected conduct; (2) an adverse action was taken against him that would deter a person of ordinary
firmness from continuing to engage in that conduct; and (3) the defendant’s conduct was
substantially motivated at least in part by retaliation for the plaintiff’s protected speech and conduct.
Id. at 394-99. In addition to proving a retaliatory motive, the plaintiff must establish that the alleged
discriminatory action was punitive in nature by showing other than de minimis harm resulting from
it. See Ingraham v. Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 674 (1977); Thaddeus-X, 175 F.3d at 396.
Here, although the Plaintiff alleges that Core Civic and employees of Core Civic retaliated
against the Plaintiff in response to the Plaintiff filing a civil rights lawsuit, the Plaintiff does not
allege that the retaliatory acts caused any harm, or more than de minimis harm, to the Plaintiff. The
Plaintiff has since been released from incarceration, so he has the ability to procure whatever papers
he needs for challenging his sentence. In any event, this action is not the appropriate vehicle for
challenging the Plaintiff’s sentence. Any such claim raised herein would be dismissed under Heck
v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994)(citing Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 488-90
(1973))(emphasis added), in which the Supreme Court stated that “habeas corpus is the exclusive
remedy for a state prisoner who challenges the fact or duration of his confinement . . . even
though such a claim may come within the literal terms of § 1983.”
VI.
Id. at 481.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, the Court finds that the complaint fails to state claims upon
which relief can be granted under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against all Defendants. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
In the absence of an actionable claim, the Court must dismiss the complaint sua sponte.
Accordingly, this action will be dismissed.
An appropriate Order will be entered.
WAVERLY D. CRENSHAW, JR.
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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