Vinson, James v. La Crosse County Jail

Filing 25

ORDER Dismissing 1 Complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. Amendments to Pleadings due 6/21/2021. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 6/1/2021. (lam),(ps)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
JAMES DANIEL VINSON,
Plaintiff,

OPINION & ORDER

v.
Case No. 18-cv-389-wmc
LA CROSSE COUNTY JAIL,
Defendant.

Pro se plaintiff James Vinson brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the
LaCross County Jail. Vinson claims that the jail violated his constitutional and state law
rights when he was an inmate there. The complaint is now before the court for screening
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. After review, the court concludes that while plaintiff’s
complaint is subject to dismissal, he will be given the opportunity to amend his complaint
to correct the deficiencies described below.

ALLEGATIONS OF FACT1
Vinson alleges that between May and October of 2015, he was being held at the La
Cross County Jail. Vinson noticed changes in his testicle area, so informed medical staff
about (1) abnormal and frequent urination, and (2) uncomfortable pain in that area.
Vinson was brought to a medical room in the jail where he met with a nurse. The nurse
did not have Vinson submit to a urine or blood tests, or even conduct an exam. Instead,

Courts must read allegations in pro se complaints generously. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 521
(1972). The court assumes the facts above based on the allegations made in plaintiff’s complaint
and supplement. (Dkt. ##1, 6.)
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he was treated for possible epididymitis, receiving a shot and a prescription. When he
finished the prescription, he notified medical staff that the shot did nothing for his pain,
and subsequently he was told an ultrasound would be scheduled. The ultrasound was
completed at Gundersen Health System, a clinic in La Crosse. It appears that Vinson had
to undergo a second ultrasound, which showed a mass on his right testis. After removal of
the right testis and sperm cord, he was diagnosed with stage one cancer. The day after that
diagnosis, Vinson was released from the jail.

OPINION
Plaintiff claims that misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment violated his Eighth
Amendment and state law rights, but he may not proceed based on his current allegations.
As an initial matter, plaintiff does not explain whether he was a pretrial detainee or a
convicted prisoner, which is relevant to the legal standard that governs his claims. If he
was a detainee, his claims are governed by the due process clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment; if he was a prisoner, then his claim is governed by the Eighth Amendment.
Smith v. Dart, 803 F.3d 304, 309–10 (7th Cir. 2015). The Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit has concluded that medical care and conditions of confinement claims
brought by pretrial detainees are governed by the due process clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment, under the standard set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Kingsley
v. Hendrickson, 135 S. Ct. 2466 (2015). See Hardeman v. Curren, 933 F.3d 816, 821-22 (7th
Cir. 2019); Miranda v. Cty. of Lake, 900 F.3d 335, 353 (7th Cir. 2018). Therefore, the
failure to provide adequate conditions of confinement violates the Due Process Clause if:
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(1) the defendants acted with purposeful, knowing, or reckless disregard of the
consequences of their actions; and (2) the defendants’ conduct was objectively
unreasonable. Miranda, 900 F.3d at 353. While it is not enough to show negligence, the
plaintiff is not required to prove the defendant’s subjective awareness that the conduct was
unreasonable. Id. at 353. If plaintiff was a prisoner, then the Eighth Amendment governs
his claim, which provides ADD.
To start, the court will accept that plaintiff’s cancer constitutes a serious health risk.
However, that does not end the inquiry; plaintiff must also allege that jail staff were aware
that he was suffering from such a severe condition and knowingly took unreasonable
actions in response to that risk. Plaintiff’s allegations in this respect do not satisfy the
minimal pleading requirements set forth within Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8. Rule 8
requires “‘short and plain statement of the claim’ sufficient to notify the defendants of the
allegations against them and enable them to file an answer.” Marshall v. Knight, 445 F.3d
965, 968 (7th Cir. 2006) (emphasis added). Dismissal is proper “if the complaint fails to
set forth ‘enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” St. John’s
United Church of Christ v. City of Chi., 502 F.3d 616, 625 (7th Cir. 2007) (quoting Bell
Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). Plaintiff’s allegation that a nurse
treated him for epididymytis and then, when that treatment did not alleviate his
symptoms, referred him for an ultrasound that led directly to proper treatment and
diagnosis does not suggest that the nurse (or any other jail staff) responded in a deliberately
indifferent, objectively unreasonable, or even negligent, manner to his symptoms. Indeed,
plaintiff’s symptoms (pain in his testicle area and frequent/uncomfortable urination) are
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consistent

with

epididymitis,

see

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/epididymitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20363853, so the decision to first treat him
for that condition appears to be a completely reasonable first intervention. Then, staff
responded to his report that his symptoms persisted appropriately. Absent good faith
allegations that staff either delayed the follow-up treatment or otherwise prevented him
from obtaining access, it does not appear that plaintiff can state a constitutional claim.
With some skepticism about whether plaintiff can state a claim for relief, the court will
grant him the opportunity to amend his complaint to provide more details about his
experience at the jail. Critical to the court’s determination about whether he may proceed
against any jail staff, plaintiff should detail exactly when he submitted requests for
treatment, when he informed staff that the treatment for epididymytis was ineffective, and
when staff sent him for treatment at the clinic.
In preparing his amended complaint, plaintiff must also identify a proper defendant.
The La Crosse County Jail is not a suable entity for purposes of § 1983. The jail is a
building and cannot be sued because it cannot accept service of the complaint. Smith v.
Knox Cty. Jail, 666 F.3d 1037, 1040 (7th Cir. 2012). Therefore, such a defendant would
include any jail employee that knew that plaintiff has a serious medical need and acted
objectively unreasonable or with deliberate indifference (depending on the proper
standard). Minix v. Canarecci, 597 F.3d 824, 833-34 (7th Cir. 2010) (“[I]ndividual liability
under § 1983 requires personal involvement in the alleged constitutional deprivation.”). If
plaintiff does not know the identities of such person or persons, he may amend his
complaint and identify the defendant or defendant by the name “Jane Doe” or “John Doe”
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as appropriate. Should plaintiff take that approach, the court will screen his complaint
and plaintiff will then be afforded the opportunity to conduct discovery that will help him
identify and substitute the proper defendants.

ORDER
1. Plaintiff James Vinson’s complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice for failure to
satisfy the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and for failing to
identify a proper defendant.
2. Plaintiff may have until June 21, 2021, to submit an amended complaint that
identifies a suable person or entity for purposes of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. If
plaintiff fails to respond by that deadline, then this case will be dismissed
with prejudice for failure to prosecute.
Entered this 1st day of June, 2021.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
________________________________________
WILLIAM M. CONLEY
District Judge

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