Willis v. Parker et al

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT AND ORDER Assessing Filing Fee $350 for Howard Hawk Willis, ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Barbara D. Holmes. Hence, the claims against the Tennessee Department of Correction are DISMISSED. 28 U.S.C . § 1915(e)(2). 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 th is action. Signed by District Judge Aleta A. Trauger on 11/27/17. (xc:Pro se party by regular mail. ) (Warden of RMSI sent copy of this order by regular mail.) (Pro se party sent (4) service packets 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
HOWARD HAWK WILLIS,
Plaintiff,
v.
COMMISSIONER TONY PARKER,
et al.,
Defendants.

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No. 3:17-cv-01423
Judge Trauger

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

The Court is in receipt of a pro se prisoner complaint (Doc. No. 1) and an application (Doc.
No. 2) to proceed in forma pauperis.
Howard Hawk Willis is an inmate at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in
Nashville. It appears from his application that the plaintiff lacks sufficient financial resources from
which to pay the fee required to file the complaint. Accordingly, the 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 plaintiff brings this action against Tony Parker, Commissioner of the Tennessee
Department of Correction (TDOC); Centurion of Tennessee, a private entity under contract to
provide health care services for inmates at Riverbend; Kenneth Williams, Medical Director for
TDOC; Dr. Marina Cadreche, Assistant Commissioner of Rehabilitative Services for TDOC; and
the Tennessee Department of Correction; seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.
During a court ordered medical exam in November, 2006, it was discovered that the plaintiff
had contracted the Hepatitis C virus. Doc. No. 1 at 10. The plaintiff subsequently tested positive for
Hepatitis B as well. Id at 12.
An infectious disease specialist (Dr. Berthaud) reviewed the plaintiff’s medical records in
July, 2014 and concluded that plaintiff’s Hepatitis C could be treated using a combination of
Ribavirin, Pegylated Interferon, alpha 2a and Solvadi. Id. The plaintiff requested the recommended
treatment but was told that “priority is given to those who need treatment most.” Id at 13. The
plaintiff did not fall into that category.
The plaintiff wrote a letter to the Commissioner of TDOC requesting treatment but received
no response to the letter. Id. He filed several grievances requesting treatment that were either denied
or ignored. Id. In the meantime, the damage to the plaintiff’s liver has become progressively

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noticeable, Id at 20, and he now suffers from diabetes. Id at 14.
The plaintiff claims “more than 3 years after a meaningful treatment was ordered, the
Defendants are refusing to provide treatment, although drugs to cure Hepatitis C are readily
available, specifically the latest generation drug, Maverick.” Id. He alleges that the defendants have
been deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs and that “the Defendants are imposing
improper barriers to withhold HCV treatment, for the purpose of limiting the number of prisoners
who receive treatment in order to limit financial responsibility.” Id at 13. The plaintiff also alleges
an excessive use of force claim by asserting that “ .... the Defendants’ actions of denying the
Plaintiff’s treatment for years does constitute attempted murder.” Id at 20.
The Eighth Amendment guarantees a prisoner the right to medical care. This right has been
violated when jail officials are deliberately indifferent to a prisoner’s serious medical needs. Estelle
v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976). The Plaintiff alleges that he has a serious medical condition that is
not being treated because treatment would be costly. It can be inferred from his allegations that the
choice of not providing the plaintiff with adequate treatment is a policy decision that has been made
by Centurion of Tennessee and adopted by TDOC. Because deliberate indifference could be inferred
from the plaintiff’s allegations, the Court finds that the plaintiff has stated a colorable claim for
relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
It is noted, however, that the plaintiff has named the Tennessee Department of Correction
as a defendant. This defendant is an agency of the State of Tennessee. The Eleventh Amendment
bars a suit in federal court by a citizen against a state or its agencies unless the state has expressly
consented to suit by waiving its sovereign immunity or Congress has clearly overridden that
immunity. Pennhurst State School and Hospital v. Halderman, 104 S.Ct. 900, 908 (1984); Will v.

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Michigan Department of State Police, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 2312 (1989).
Congress has not overridden a state's sovereign immunity to civil rights complaints. Nor has
the State of Tennessee consented to waive its immunity to such actions. Berndt v. Tennessee, 796
F.2d 879 (6th Cir.1986). Faced with this defendant’s sovereign immunity, the plaintiff has failed to
state a colorable claim for relief from this defendant. Hence, the claims against the Tennessee
Department of Correction are DISMISSED. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
The Clerk is instructed to send the plaintiff a service packet (a blank summons and USM 285
form) for each defendant remaining in this action. 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 also 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 further directed to send a copy of this order to the Warden of the Riverbend
Maximum Security Institution to ensure that the custodian of plaintiff's inmate trust account
complies with that portion of the Prison Litigation Reform Act relating to the payment of the filing
fee.

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It is so ORDERED.

_______________________________
Aleta A. Trauger
United States District Judge

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