KENDALL J. NEWMAN, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is the motion to dismiss filed on behalf of defendant Stocker (ECF No. 38), and the motion to dismiss filed on behalf of defendants Hill and Wang (ECF. No. 43). Defendants move to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). For the following reasons, the undersigned orders that defendants' motion be granted with leave to amend, in part, as to defendant Hill, and recommends that defendants' motion be granted without leave to amend as to defendant Stocker and, in part, as to defendant Hill. The undersigned recommends that defendants' motion be denied as to defendant Wang.
Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures provides for motions to dismiss for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). In considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question,
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim should not be granted unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claims which would entitle him to relief.
This action is proceeding on the first amended complaint. (ECF No. 15.) Named as defendants are Nurse Wang, Warden Hill and Health Care Appeal Coordinator Stocker. Plaintiff alleges that on or around July 7, 2012, he filed a grievance against defendant Wang for ignoring him and speaking to him in a hateful voice. (
On July 11, 2012, all diabetic inmates, including plaintiff, were released from their cells to get their medication. (
Plaintiff alleges that defendant Wang then gave him his medication in a cup. (
Plaintiff alleges that defendant Stocker rejected or cancelled all of his grievances regarding defendant Wang. (
Plaintiff alleges that he informed defendant Hill about the incident involving defendant Wang but received no response. (
The undersigned finds that plaintiff's amended complaint alleges the following claims for relief: 1) violation of the Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care against defendant Wang; 2) retaliation against defendant Wang; 3) violation of the Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care against defendant Hill; 4) violation of the Eighth Amendment right to hygienic conditions of confinement against defendant Hill; 5) retaliation against defendant Hill; 6) conspiracy to cover-up defendant Wang's alleged misconduct against defendant Hill; 7) conspiracy to cover-up defendant Wang's alleged misconduct against defendant Stocker; and 8) failure to properly process grievances in violation of the right to due process against defendant Stocker.
Plaintiff alleges that defendant Wang retaliated against him for filing administrative grievances against him by giving him the wrong medication. Defendants argue that defendant Wang is entitled to qualified immunity as to this claim.
In analyzing a claim of qualified immunity, a court must examine (1) whether the facts as alleged, taken in the light most favorable to plaintiff, show that the defendant's conduct violated a constitutional right, and (2) if a constitutional right was violated, whether, "in light of the specific context of the case," the constitutional right was so clearly established that a reasonable official would understand that what he or she was doing violated that right.
To succeed on a First Amendment retaliation claim, a plaintiff must show the following: "(1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner's protected conduct, ... that such action (4) chilled the inmate's exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal."
Defendants first argue that plaintiff has not pled sufficient facts in support of his claim that defendant Wang gave plaintiff the wrong medication, i.e., took an adverse action. For the following reasons, the undersigned disagrees.
As discussed above, plaintiff alleges that he became ill shortly after taking the medication given to him by defendant Wang. Plaintiff also alleges that the doctor at the emergency room told him that he was given the wrong medication. Based on these allegations, taking the facts in the light most favorable to plaintiff, it is not unreasonable to infer that defendant Wang gave plaintiff the wrong medication.
Defendants argue that the exhibits attached to plaintiff's amended complaint disprove his claim that defendant Wang gave him the wrong medication. Defendants argue that plaintiff has attached a letter from the Methodist Hospital's custodian of records informing plaintiff that no toxicology report was conducted. (ECF No. 15 at 62.) Defendants also cite an exhibit stating that blood tests revealed that everything was in the normal range except plaintiff's glucose level, which would be expected with a diabetic. (
The finding that no toxicology report was conducted does not necessarily disprove plaintiff's claim that he was given the wrong medication. Similarly, the finding that "everything was normal" on plaintiff's blood work does not necessarily disprove plaintiff's claim that he was given the wrong medication. Defendants' argument that plaintiff's exhibits disprove his claim that he was given the wrong medication is without merit.
Defendants next argue that plaintiff has not pled sufficient facts demonstrating that defendant Wang was motivated to retaliate against plaintiff based on his filing of administrative grievances. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Wang gave him the wrong medication just days after plaintiff filed two administrative grievances against him. Plaintiff also alleges that just before giving him the wrong medication on July 11, 2012, defendant Wang asked plaintiff why he refused to take his medication and insulin shots from defendant. Plaintiff's July 8, 2012 grievance specifically stated that plaintiff was refusing to take medication from defendant.
While defendant Wang may have known about plaintiff's refusal to take medication from him based on plaintiff's own conduct, taking the facts in the light most favorable to plaintiff, it is not unreasonable to infer that he knew about plaintiff's refusal based on knowledge of plaintiff's July 8, 2012 grievance. Plaintiff's allegations regarding the timing of his receipt of the allegedly wrong medication combined with defendant Wang's statement which, taken in the light most favorable to plaintiff, reflected knowledge of the July 8, 2012 grievance, state a facially plausible claim of retaliatory motive.
Turning to the second prong of the qualified immunity analysis, the undersigned finds that a reasonable official would have known that intentionally giving plaintiff the wrong medication in retaliation for filing grievances violated plaintiff's constitutional rights.
Accordingly, for the reasons discussed above, the undersigned recommends that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's retaliation claim against defendant Wang be denied.
Plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Wang is virtually identical to his retaliation claim. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Wang intentionally gave him the wrong medication in retaliation for plaintiff's filing of administrative grievances against him. Defendants argue that plaintiff has failed to allege that defendant Wang personally participated in any violation of his constitutional rights. In particular, defendants contend that the complaint is devoid of any allegation that defendant Wang deprived plaintiff of adequate medical care.
An Eighth Amendment violation occurs when prison officials are deliberately indifferent to a prisoner's serious medical needs.
The objective component requires a demonstration of a deprivation that is "sufficiently serious."
A prison official acts with deliberate indifference, and satisfies the subjective component, when "the [official] knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health and safety."
Defendants first argue that plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts in support of his claim that defendant Wang gave him the wrong medication. As discussed above, plaintiff has pled sufficient facts from which it may reasonably be inferred that defendant Wang gave him the wrong medication.
Defendants also argue that plaintiff has not pled sufficient facts to support his claim that defendant Wang intentionally gave him the wrong medication, which is the theory on which plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Wang is predicated. As discussed above, plaintiff has pled sufficient facts to support his claim that defendant Wang intentionally gave him the wrong medication in retaliation for his filing of administrative grievances. These allegations also state a facially plausible claim for deliberate indifference in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Turning to the second prong of the qualified immunity analysis, the undersigned finds that a reasonable official would have known that intentionally giving plaintiff the wrong medication violated plaintiff's Eighth Amendment constitutional rights.
Accordingly, for the reasons discussed above, the undersigned recommends that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Wang be denied.
Plaintiff alleges four claims against defendant Hill: 1) defendant Hill conspired to cover-up defendant Wang's alleged misconduct; 2) defendant Hill allowed plaintiff to live in conditions that were unsanitary in violation of the Eighth Amendment; 3) defendant Hill allowed plaintiff to be housed on an upper bunk in the back in violation of his Eighth Amendment right to adequate medical care; and 4) defendant Hill allowed plaintiff to live in these conditions in retaliation for plaintiff complaining about them.
In the motion to dismiss, defendants argue that plaintiff has not adequately linked defendant Hill to any alleged deprivation.
The court first considers plaintiff's claim that defendant Hill conspired to cover-up defendant Wang's alleged misconduct by ignoring his complaints about defendant Wang. Liberally construing plaintiff's amended complaint, plaintiff's theory against defendant Hill in this claim appears to be that defendant Hill's failure to investigate his claim against defendant Wang interfered with plaintiff's ability to seek redress against defendant Wang.
A cover-up claim is premature when, as here, plaintiff's action seeking redress for the underlying constitutional violations remains pending.
Turning to plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim alleging unsanitary conditions, a prison official cannot be held liable under the Eighth Amendment for denying an inmate humane conditions of confinement unless the standard for criminal recklessness is met, i.e., the official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety.
Plaintiff has not pled adequate facts in support of his claim that defendant Hill knew of the alleged unsanitary conditions in his cell. Plaintiff does not specifically allege how defendant Hill became aware of the alleged unsanitary conditions. Plaintiff may be claiming that defendant Hill became aware of these alleged conditions by way of plaintiff's staff complaint and verbal complaints to the sergeant. However, plaintiff does not describe the grounds of his staff complaint and verbal complaints to the sergeant. The exhibits attached to plaintiff's complaint do not demonstrate that defendant Hill had knowledge of the alleged unsanitary conditions. Because plaintiff has not pled sufficient facts demonstrating that defendant Hill was aware of the alleged unsanitary conditions in his cell, defendants' motion to dismiss this claim is granted with leave to amend. If plaintiff files an amended complaint, he must specifically describe how he informed defendant Hill of the alleged unsanitary conditions.
Plaintiff next alleges that he informed defendant Hill that he should not be on a top bunk in the back due to his medical problems. For the same reasons the court finds that plaintiff has not pled sufficient facts supporting his claim that defendant Hill knew of the alleged unsanitary conditions, the court finds that plaintiff has not pled sufficient facts demonstrating that defendant Hill knew that plaintiff was in a back cell on the top bunk. Accordingly, this claim is dismissed with leave to amend. If plaintiff files an amended complaint, he must specifically allege how he informed defendant Hill about his alleged medical problems and his improper placement on a top bunk.
Finally, plaintiff alleges that defendant Hill kept him in the back bunk in retaliation for plaintiff filing a staff complaint and verbally complaining to the sergeant. This claim of retaliation is vague and conclusory. Plaintiff does not allege how defendant Hill knew of his staff complaint and verbal complaints. Plaintiff also does not allege how he knows that defendant Hill kept him in the back bunk. Accordingly, this claim is dismissed with leave to amend. If plaintiff files an amended complaint, he must specifically allege how defendant Hill knew about plaintiff's staff and verbal complaints and his placement in the back bunk. Plaintiff must also allege additional facts demonstrating a retaliatory motive by defendant Hill.
Defendants move to dismiss plaintiff's claim that defendant Stocker violated his right to due process by failing to process his grievances on the grounds that plaintiff has no due process right to the administrative grievance process.
Defendants do not address plaintiff's claim that defendant Stocker allegedly failed to process his grievances as part of a conspiracy to cover-up defendant Wang's misconduct. Nevertheless, the undersigned recommends that this claim be dismissed because it is without merit.
Liberally construing plaintiff's amended complaint, plaintiff's theory against defendant Stocker in this claim appears to be that defendant Stocker's failure to process his grievances regarding defendant Wang interfered with plaintiff's ability to seek redress against defendant Wang.
Because it does not appear that plaintiff can cure the pleading defects discussed above, the claims against defendant Stocker should be dismissed without leave to amend.
On March 21, 2014, plaintiff filed a pleading titled "Dismiss Defendant Stocker Claim Against Plaintiff." (ECF No. 53.) The court construes this document as plaintiff's opposition to defendant Stocker's motion to dismiss.
On November 15, 2013, plaintiff filed a motion to submit proof of exhaustion of administrative remedies. (ECF No. 39.) Attached are exhibits related to exhaustion of administrative remedies. Good cause appearing, plaintiff's motion to file these documents is granted.
On November 15, 2013, plaintiff filed a motion requesting that defendants provide proof or admit plaintiff's heart disease. (ECF No. 40.) Defendants are not required to provide proof of or admit plaintiff's heart disease. Accordingly, this motion is denied.
If plaintiff does not file a second amended complaint, this action will proceed on his claims against defendant Wang found colorable above. If plaintiff files a second amended complaint, he should include his claims against defendant Wang as well as those claims against defendant Hill on which leave to amend has been granted. Plaintiff should not include his claims against defendant Stocker in a second amended complaint.
Plaintiff is not obliged to amend his complaint. If plaintiff does not file a second amended complaint, defendant Wang will be required to respond to plaintiff's allegations in the first amended complaint within the deadlines stated in Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1). In this event, the court will construe plaintiff's election to proceed forthwith as consent to an order dismissing his defective claims against defendant Hill without prejudice.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that defendants' motions to dismiss (ECF Nos. 38 and 43) be granted as to all claims against defendant Stocker and plaintiff's cover-up claim against defendant Hill; defendants' motion to dismiss be denied as to plaintiff's claims against defendant Wang.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any response to the objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order.