JOSEPH F. BIANCO, District Judge:
Plaintiff Keith Pooler ("Pooler" or "plaintiff) brought this action against the Nassau Health Care Corporation, sued herein as Nassau University Medical Center ("NHCC"), Dr. Bruce David ("David") and Joseph Farhangian ("Farhangian") (collectively, "defendants") alleging violations of Pooler's constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff alleges that defendants showed deliberate indifference to the plaintiff's serious medical need when they denied the plaintiff medication for "anxiety and sleeping disorder" and the plaintiff subsequently suffered a "massive anxiety attack" that triggered a suicide attempt. Specifically, on December 23, 2009, plaintiff jumped from the second tier of E2A dorm, landing feet first. Plaintiff also alleges various state law claims, including negligence.
The defendants now move for summary judgment, pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on the grounds that: (1) plaintiff failed to exhaust his remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PLRA"), and (2) no rational jury could find that defendants acted with deliberate indifference to a serious medical need. For the reasons set forth below, the Court agrees with defendants and grants defendants' motion for summary judgment on the federal claims in its entirety. In particular, with respect to the failure to exhaust, the uncontroverted evidence in the record establishes that (1) there is a well-established Grievance Procedure in the Inmate Handbook, which plaintiff confirmed he received, requiring a grievance to be filed within five days of the occurrence; (2) plaintiff was familiar with the grievance procedure because he had filed at least two prior grievances regarding his medical care (unrelated to the issues in this lawsuit); (3) plaintiff did not file a grievance with respect to the alleged lack of medical care that is the subject of this lawsuit; and (4) no special circumstances prevented plaintiff from filing such a grievance, nor is there any other exception to the exhaustion requirement that applies here. Thus, summary judgment is warranted in defendants' favor based upon plaintiff's failure to exhaust his remedies under the PLRA regarding the medical care at issue in this lawsuit.
In any event, even assuming arguendo that plaintiff had properly exhausted his claims, summary judgment would still be warranted on the medical indifference claims because, based upon the uncontroverted
The Court has taken the facts set forth below from the parties' depositions, affidavits, and exhibits, and from the parties' respective Rule 56.1 Statements of Facts. Upon consideration of a motion for summary judgment, the Court shall construe the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See Capobianco v. City of New York, 422 F.3d 47, 50 (2d Cir.2005). Unless otherwise noted, where a party's 56.1 Statement is cited, that fact is undisputed or the opposing party has pointed to no evidence in the record to contradict it.
Plaintiff entered Nassau County Correctional Center ("NCCC") on June 13, 2009, and remained there until April 18, 2011, when he was transferred to State custody. (Defs.' 56.1 ¶ 1.) Upon admission to NCCC, the plaintiff was examined at Medical Intake. He reported a history of hypertension, borderline diabetes mellitus, anxiety and depression, with a prior suicide attempt in 2006. (Id. at ¶ 2.) Plaintiff had recently been released from State custody, and was attending a drug treatment program referred to as "EDNY," as part of his parole. (Id. at ¶ 3.) He reported that his counselor at EDNY was named Angela, but could not recall the name of his medication. (Id.)
Defendants state that plaintiff threatened suicide while in state custody prior to entering NCCC. (Id.) Plaintiff confirmed this at his deposition, explaining that he had attempted suicide by hanging himself "from the bunk" while he was in state custody in 2007. (Plaintiff's Deposition, Defs.' Mot. for Summary Judgment, Ex. H ("Pl.'s Dep.") at 24.) In his 56.1 statement, however, plaintiff denies threatening suicide while in state custody. (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 3.) While in state custody, plaintiff received counseling, but was not medicated. (Defs.' 56.1 ¶ 3.)
On June 13, 2009, plaintiff was interviewed by Felice Barasch, a psychiatric social worker. (Defs.' 56.1 at ¶ 5.) During this interview, plaintiff reported his treatment at EDNY for anxiety and sleep problems, and related that in the past he had had thoughts of suicide and had made suicidal gestures. (Id.) Plaintiff confirmed a history of substance of abuse. (Id.)
On June 15, 2009, David interviewed plaintiff as part of plaintiff's mental health evaluation. (Id. at ¶ 6.) In performing this assessment, David contacted Angela Rainey, plaintiff's counselor at EDNY, and reviewed Barasch's intake notes. (Id.) Rainey advised David that the plaintiff was receiving Seroquel at bedtime, and Celexa for anxiety. (Id. at ¶ 7.)
Following the interview, David found that plaintiff was neither depressed nor suicidal, and concluded that he was not in need of medication.
Although plaintiff was seen primarily by Laura Luzi, a licensed clinical social worker in the department, plaintiff was also interviewed on a number of occasions by Joseph Farhangian, another licensed clinical social worker who was responsible for supervising the staff of social workers in NCCC. (Id. at ¶ 9.) On December 3, 2009, Farhangian saw plaintiff at the request of staff at NCCC ("Corrections") after it was
On December 23, 2009, Farhangian again interviewed the plaintiff. (Id. at ¶ 12.) Defendants state that Corrections requested that Farhangian interview the plaintiff because the plaintiff had said he was "going to kill himself." (Id.) Plaintiff, however, states that he never said he was "going to kill himself," and in fact said he was "harmful to himself and other[s]." (Pl.'s 56.1 ¶ 12.) During the interview with Farhangian, plaintiff described his anxiety problems and said he did not "feel strong enough to make it in the dorm" and needed to be "isolated" so that he did not harm anyone. (Pl.'s Dep. at 68.) Plaintiff told Farhangian that he was "harmful to myself and others." (Id. at 69.) Farhangian offered to put plaintiff in protective custody and reported plaintiff's housing concerns to Corrections. (Id.; Defs.' 56.1 ¶ 12.)
On December 23, 2009, in an apparent suicidal gesture, plaintiff jumped from the second floor tier of E2A dorm, landing feet first. (Defs.' 56.1 ¶ 13.)
Pro se plaintiff filed the complaint in this action on January 11, 2010. Defendants answered the complaint on April 16, 2010. Plaintiff moved to amend his "pleadings" and narrative statement on October 13, 2010. On December 3, 2010, the Court granted the plaintiff's motion to amend his narrative statement, and deemed that the information contained in plaintiff's October 13, 2010 filing would supplement his prior narrative statement. On June 6, 2011, defendants moved for summary judgment, which included the requisite Notice to Pro Se Litigants pursuant to Local Rule 56.2. Plaintiff submitted his opposition on July 19, 2011. Defendants submitted their reply on July 29, 2011. Plaintiff submitted a surreply on August 15, 2011. The Court has fully considered the submissions of the parties.
The standards for summary judgment are well settled. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a), a court may only grant a motion for summary judgment if "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The moving party bears the burden of showing that he or she is entitled to summary judgment. Huminski v. Corsones, 396 F.3d 53, 69 (2d Cir.2005). "A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by: (A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information,
Once the moving party has met its burden, the opposing party "`must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.... [T]he nonmoving party must come forward with specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Caldarola v. Calabrese, 298 F.3d 156, 160 (2d Cir.2002) (quoting Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (emphasis in original)). As the Supreme Court stated in Anderson, "[i]f the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citations omitted). Indeed, "the mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties" alone will not defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment. Id. at 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (emphasis in original). Thus, the nonmoving party may not rest upon mere conclusory allegations or denials but must set forth "`concrete particulars'" showing that a trial is needed. R.G. Group, Inc. v. Horn & Hardart Co., 751 F.2d 69, 77 (2d Cir.1984) (quoting SEC v. Research Automation Corp., 585 F.2d 31, 33 (2d Cir.1978)). Accordingly, it is insufficient for a party opposing summary judgment "`merely to assert a conclusion without supplying supporting arguments or facts.'" BellSouth Telecomms., Inc. v. W.R. Grace & Co., 77 F.3d 603, 615 (2d Cir.1996) (quoting Research Automation Corp., 585 F.2d at 33).
As a threshold matter, defendants argue that plaintiff is barred from raising any Eighth Amendment claim because plaintiff has not exhausted his administrative remedies. For the reasons set forth below, the Court agrees.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 states that "[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted." 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). "The PLRA exhaustion requirement `applies to all inmate suits about prison life, whether they involve general circumstances or particular episodes, and whether they allege excessive force or some other wrong.' Prisoners must utilize the state's grievance procedures, regardless of whether the relief sought is offered through those procedures." Espinal v. Goord, 554 F.3d 216, 222 (2d Cir.2009) (quoting Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 532, 122 S.Ct. 983, 152 L.Ed.2d 12 (2002) (citations omitted)). "Proper exhaustion demands compliance with an agency's
Prior to Woodford, 548 U.S. 81, 126 S.Ct. 2378 (2006), the Second Circuit:
Reynoso v. Swezey, 238 Fed.Appx. 660, 662 (2d Cir.2007) (internal citations omitted); see also Davis v. New York, 311 Fed.Appx. 397, 399 (2d Cir.2009) (citing Hemphill v. New York, 380 F.3d 680, 686, 691 (2d Cir.2004)). Initially, it was unclear whether the above-discussed considerations would be impacted by Woodford. See, e.g., Reynoso, 238 Fed.Appx. at 662 ("Because we agree with the district court that [plaintiff] cannot prevail on any of these grounds, we have no occasion to decide whether Woodford has bearing on them."); Ruggiero v. County of Orange, 467 F.3d 170, 176 (2d Cir.2006) ("We need not determine what effect Woodford has on our case law in this area, however, because [plaintiff] could not have prevailed even under our pre-Woodford case law."). However, the Second Circuit has continued to hold post-Woodford that an inmate's failure to comply with the exhaustion requirement may be excused on these grounds. See Messa v. Goord, 652 F.3d 305, 309 (2d Cir.2011) (citing the Hemphill factors).
As the Supreme Court has held, exhaustion is an affirmative defense: "We conclude that failure to exhaust is an affirmative defense under the PLRA, and that inmates are not required to specially plead or demonstrate exhaustion in their complaints." Jones, 549 U.S. at 216, 127 S.Ct. 910; see also Key v. Toussaint, 660 F.Supp.2d 518, 523 (S.D.N.Y.2009) ("Failure to exhaust remedies under the PLRA is an affirmative defense, and thus the defendants have the burden of proving that [plaintiff's] retaliation claim has not been exhausted." (citations omitted)). Moreover, the Second Circuit has made clear that an inmate is not entitled to a jury trial on factual disputes regarding this failure to exhaust administrative remedies under the PLRA.
Defendants argue that plaintiff failed to exhaust his remedies under the PLRA because he did not file a grievance with respect to his mental health care. Defendants attach as an exhibit the "Nassau County Sheriff's Department Inmate Handbook." (Defs.' Mot. for Summary Judgment, Ex. J.) The handbook explains that "Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) is responsible for providing medical, mental, health and dental care to the inmate population." (Id. at 4.) Immediately following the section on NUMC is a section entitled "Grievance Procedure." (Id.) The section explains that a grievance is a "written inmate complaint concerning either ... policies, procedures, rules ... or the action or inaction of any person within the facility." (Id.) Grievances must be filed within five days of the act or occurrence leading to the grievance. (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff confirmed at his deposition that he received this booklet and learned about the process for filing grievances when he entered NCCC. (Pl.'s Dep. at 71.)
Plaintiff did not submit a grievance concerning his mental health care. Plaintiff argues that "there is no-grievance procedure for NUMC at Nassau County Jail the grievance must go-out side to hospital in order to be answer by them ... so the (Rules) for grievance procedure for the (jail) is incorrect documents." (Pl.'s Opp. at 18.
The Court concludes that plaintiff did not file a grievance in proper compliance with NCCC policy. Although plaintiff contends that "there is no-grievance procedure for NUMC at Nassau County Jail" (Pl.'s Opp. at 18.), his argument is undermined by the fact that he previously filed at least two grievances relating to his medical care. (Pl.'s Dep. at 72-75.) Moreover, the handbook states that the grievance procedure applies to "any person within the facility." (Ex. J at 4.) The policy sets forth "Non-Grievable Matters," such as grievances "regarding depositions, surcharges, and sanctions resulting from disciplinary hearings" or "administrative segregations decisions," and medical care is not among those items. (Id.) Thus, plaintiff's argument that there is no grievance procedure for NUMC fails.
Macias v. Zenk, 495 F.3d 37, 41 (2d Cir. 2007) (quoting Hemphill, 380 F.3d at 686 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted)).
As to the first exception to the exhaustion requirement, defendants have not forfeited the affirmative defense of non-exhaustion. Defendants raised the defense of non-exhaustion in their Answer and in their Motion for Summary Judgment. As to the second exception, there is no evidence that defendants have acted to inhibit plaintiff's exhaustion of remedies so as to estop defendants from raising failure to exhaust as a defense. The issue, however, is whether plaintiff has shown the existence of special circumstances that would justify his failure to comply with the administrative requirements.
Any argument that plaintiff was unable to file a grievance because he was incapacitated by the suicide attempt fails.
Accordingly, the Court finds that plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies and has not plausibly alleged any special circumstances (or conduct falling within any other exception to the exhaustion requirement) that would justify his failure to exhaust.
In any event, the Court also grants summary judgment to defendants on the merits of plaintiff's Section 1983 claim for deliberate indifference to serious medical need.
To prevail on a claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must show: (1) the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and its laws; (2) by a person acting under the color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. "Section 1983 itself creates no substantive rights; it provides only a procedure for redress for the deprivation of rights established elsewhere." Sykes v. James, 13 F.3d 515, 519 (2d Cir.1993).
There is no dispute for purposes of this motion that defendants were acting under color of state law. The question presented, therefore, is whether defendants' alleged conduct deprived plaintiff of his Eighth Amendment rights. Plaintiff alleges that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated when defendants showed deliberate indifference to the plaintiff's serious medical need when David denied the plaintiff medication and Farhangian failed to provide plaintiff with adequate treatment for "anxiety and sleeping disorder" and plaintiff subsequently suffered a "massive anxiety attack" that triggered a suicide attempt. Defendants argue that neither defendant's actions rise to the level of deliberate indifference. As set forth below, the Court agrees. Even accepting plaintiff's evidence as true and drawing all reasonable inferences in his favor, a rational jury could not conclude that defendants were deliberately indifferent to a serious medical need.
"Claims for deliberate indifference to a serious medical condition or other serious threat to the health or safety of a person in custody should be analyzed under the same standard irrespective of whether they are brought under the Eighth or Fourteenth Amendment." Caiozzo v. Koreman, 581 F.3d 63, 72 (2d Cir.2009). The Court analyzes plaintiff's deliberate indifference claim under Eighth Amendment jurisprudence.
"[D]eliberate indifference to serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain proscribed by the Eighth Amendment" and therefore "states a cause of action under § 1983." Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104-05, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976) (quotation marks and citation omitted). As the Second Circuit has explained,
Hayes v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Corr., 84 F.3d 614, 620 (2d Cir.1996) (citations omitted). Within this framework, "[d]eliberate indifference to a prisoner's serious medical needs constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment." Bellotto v. Cnty. of Orange, 248 Fed.Appx. 232, 236 (2d Cir.2007). Thus, according to the Second Circuit,
Ortiz v. Goord, 276 Fed.Appx. 97, 98 (2d Cir.2008) (citations and quotation marks omitted); see also Harrison v. Barkley, 219 F.3d 132, 137 (2d Cir.2000) ("Deliberate indifference will exist when an official `knows that inmates face a substantial risk of serious harm and disregards that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate it.'") (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837, 114 S.Ct. 1970, 128 L.Ed.2d 811 (1994)); Curry v. Kerik, 163 F.Supp.2d 232, 237 (S.D.N.Y.2001) ("`[A]n official acts with the requisite deliberate indifference when that official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety; the official must both be aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must also draw the inference.'" (quoting Chance v. Armstrong, 143 F.3d 698, 702 (2d Cir.1998) (internal quotation marks omitted))).
In particular, the Second Circuit has set forth a two-part test for determining whether a prison official's actions or omissions rise to the level of deliberate indifference:
Hayes, 84 F.3d at 620 (internal citation omitted); see also Phelps v. Kapnolas, 308 F.3d 180, 185-86 (2d Cir.2002) (setting forth two-part deliberate indifference test).
In Salahuddin v. Goord, the Second Circuit elaborated on this two-part test, explaining that that the first part is objective and the second part is subjective. 467 F.3d 263 (2d Cir.2006). In particular, with respect to the first, objective element, the Second Circuit explained:
467 F.3d at 279-80 (citations and quotation marks omitted); see also Jones v. Westchester Cnty. Dep't of Corr. Med. Dep't, 557 F.Supp.2d 408, 413-14 (S.D.N.Y.2008).
With respect to the second, subjective component, the Second Circuit further explained:
Salahuddin, 467 F.3d at 280 (citations and question marks omitted); see also Jones, 557 F.Supp.2d at 414.
Plaintiff alleges that David was deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's serious medical
As noted above, to determine whether a deprivation of medical care meets the objective prong of the test and is "sufficiently serious," the "first inquiry is whether the prisoner was actually deprived of adequate medical care. As the Supreme Court has noted, the prison official's duty is only to provide reasonable care." Salahuddin, 467 F.3d at 279. "An inmate is not entitled to treatment by every available medical alternative as long as his treatment is reasonable." Castro-Sanchez v. New York State Dep't of Corr. Servs., 10 Civ. 8314(DLC), 2011 WL 6057837, at *9, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140003, at *29 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 6, 2011) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 107, 97 S.Ct. 285).
A court must also inquire as to how the offending conduct is inadequate. "[I]f the unreasonable medical care is a failure to provide any treatment for an inmate's medical condition, courts examine whether the inmate's medical condition is sufficiently serious." Salahuddin, 467 F.3d at 280. In this case, however, plaintiff does not allege that defendants provided no treatment; he merely alleges that they provided inadequate treatment. Accordingly, "the seriousness inquiry is narrower." Id.
As an initial matter, courts in the Second Circuit are not consistent in how they evaluate suicidal tendencies under the objective prong of the test for deprivation of medical care. Some courts hold that suicidal tendencies present an objectively serious medical condition, without explicitly following the "reasonable care" test set forth in Salahuddin. For example, in Sims v. Gorman, No. 09-CV-6643 (MAT), 2012 WL 566875, at *4-5, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21614, at *13 (W.D.N.Y. Feb. 21, 2012), the court stated simply that "[plaintiff's] diagnosed mental illnesses (bipolar and antisocial personality disorders), and concomitant suicidal ideation and actual suicide attempts, constituted a serious medical need" before turning to the subjective element of the test. In Zimmerman v. Burge, 9:06-CV-0176 (GLS/GHL), 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88344, at *34-35 (N.D.N.Y Apr. 20, 2009), adopted by 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88343 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 24, 2009), the court "assume[d] that plaintiff suffered from a sufficiently serious medical need" where plaintiff "suffered from major depression with suicidal ideation," then addressed the subjective element.
Other courts have applied the "reasonable care" test set forth in Salahuddin. For example, in Mercado v. City of New York, 08 Civ. 2855(BSJ)(HP), 2011 WL 6057839, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140430 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 5, 2011), the court addressed whether defendants showed deliberate indifference in treating a plaintiff who ultimately committed suicide. In analyzing the objective element of the Eighth Amendment test, the court determined that plaintiffs failed to demonstrate "a constitutionally cognizable deprivation of medical care." The court explained that the medical professionals' determinations that plaintiff was not suicidal prior to committing suicide were not objectively "unreasonable." Id. at *5, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140430 at *16. In so doing, the court noted that the "parties debate whether [plaintiff] had a `serious medical condition,' i.e. suicidality. Regardless of whether he
This Court concludes that the "reasonable care" component of the objective prong needs to be considered in each case, including cases involving suicidality. Thus, applying the objective prong of the Salahuddin test, even construing the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff, this Court finds that no reasonable finder of fact could conclude that David deprived the plaintiff of adequate medical care. The following facts are uncontroverted. David saw plaintiff once, on June 15, 2009, as part of plaintiff's mental health evaluation. In performing this assessment, David contacted Angela Rainey, plaintiff's counselor at EDNY. Rainey advised David that the plaintiff was receiving Seroquel at bedtime, and Celexa for anxiety. As noted supra, in his affidavit, David states that Rainey reported that plaintiff was "extremely manipulative."
Given these uncontroverted facts, no reasonable factfinder could conclude that David did not offer the plaintiff reasonable care in response to plaintiff's medical condition. Although David chose not to prescribe anti-anxiety medication to the plaintiff, he offered further counseling, which plaintiff availed himself of. Accordingly, plaintiff has failed to put forth any evidence from which a jury could reasonably conclude that David deprived him of adequate medical care in a "sufficiently serious" manner.
Similarly, plaintiff also fails to submit evidence that creates a genuine issue of fact on the issue of whether defendant Farhangian deprived plaintiff of reasonable medical care in response to the plaintiff's medical condition. As a threshold matter, although plaintiff named social worker Farhangian as a defendant, plaintiff failed to allege any facts against him in the complaint. Moreover, to the extent plaintiff is claiming that Farhangian should have prescribed medication for
As discussed above, the second requirement for an Eighth Amendment violation is subjective: whether the prison official acted with a "sufficiently culpable state of mind." Salahuddin, 467 F.3d at 280 (citation omitted). "Deliberate indifference... requires that the charged official act or fail to act while actually aware of a substantial risk that serious inmate harm will result." Id. Even accepting plaintiff's version of events as true and drawing all reasonable inferences in his favor, no rational jury could conclude that either David or Farhangian acted with deliberate indifference to plaintiff.
As noted supra, David interviewed plaintiff as part of plaintiff's mental health evaluation. In performing his assessment, David contacted Angela Rainey, plaintiff's counselor at EDNY, and reviewed Barasch's intake notes. Rainey advised David that the plaintiff was receiving Seroquel at bedtime, and Celexa for anxiety. During the interview, plaintiff related a serious history of drug abuse. Plaintiff reported no history of psychiatric hospitalization.
Similarly, Farhangian, a licensed clinical social worker, cannot even prescribe medication. Thus, to the extent that plaintiff's claim is based on Farhangian's failure to prescribe him certain medications, plaintiff's claim fails. Assuming, however, that plaintiff is attempting to allege that Farhangian failed to provide him with care for anxiety so as to prevent his suicide attempt, plaintiff has failed to present evidence to create a genuine disputed issue of material fact as to whether Farhangian acted with deliberate indifference. Farhangian interviewed plaintiff on December 3, 2009 because Corrections informed Farhangian that plaintiff had threatened to kill himself. The plaintiff denied making this statement, however, advising Farhangian that he just wanted to speak to someone. Farhangian assessed the plaintiff and scheduled him for further counseling the next day. Farhangian saw plaintiff again on December 18, 2009 and found him to be cooperative and future oriented. Plaintiff returned on December 23, 2009, stating that he was "going to kill himself." During the interview with Farhangian, plaintiff described his anxiety problems and said he didn't "feel strong enough to make it in the dorm" and needed to be "isolated" so that he didn't harm anyone. (Pl.'s Dep. at 68.) Plaintiff told Farhangian that he was "harmful to myself and others." (Id. at 69.) Farhangian offered to put plaintiff in protective custody, but said that he could not change plaintiff's housing. In Farhangian's judgment, plaintiff "did not appear depressed, and did not have a plan." (Farhangian Aff. ¶ 6.) Farhangian believed that plaintiff "had a history of making threats in the past in an attempt to get what he wanted with no actual suicide attempts or gestures." (Id.) Farhangian "did not think that [plaintiff] was suicidal, but rather was concerned with his housing situation," and reported plaintiff's housing concerns to Corrections. (Pl.'s Dep. at 69-70; Farhangian Aff. ¶ 6, Defs.' 56.1 ¶ 12.) Four hours later, the plaintiff made the suicidal gesture.
In sum, given the uncontroverted evidence in the record, the Court concludes that no rational jury could conclude that either David or Farhangian acted with deliberate indifference to plaintiff's medical needs. Accordingly, even if plaintiff could overcome the exhaustion requirement, the Court concludes that summary judgment is warranted on the merits in favor of David and Farhangian on plaintiff's Section 1983 claims.
Plaintiff alleges that NHCC is liable under Section 1983 pursuant to Monell v. Department of Social Services of the City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 690-91, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). As set forth below, this claim cannot survive summary judgment.
Under Monell, a municipal entity may be held liable under Section 1983 where a plaintiff demonstrates that the constitutional violation complained of was caused by a municipal "policy or custom." 436 U.S. at 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018; see also Patterson v. Cnty. of Oneida, 375 F.3d 206, 226 (2d Cir.2004). "The policy or custom need not be memorialized in a specific rule or regulation." Kern v. City of Rochester, 93 F.3d 38, 44 (2d Cir.1996) (citing Sorlucco v. New York City Police Dep't, 971 F.2d 864, 870 (2d Cir.1992)). A policy, custom, or practice of the municipal entity may be inferred where "`the municipality so failed to train its employees as to display a deliberate indifference to the constitutional rights of those within its jurisdiction.'" Patterson, 375 F.3d at 226 (quoting Kern, 93 F.3d at 44).
Because plaintiff has failed to demonstrate any Eighth Amendment violations as to the individual defendants (for the reasons discussed infra), he cannot demonstrate that constitutional violations occurred pursuant to a custom or policy at NHCC. See Mercado, 2011 WL 6057839, at *7, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140430, at *26 (because there was "no independent, underlying" Eighth Amendment violation, there was "no basis for municipal or supervisory liability"). Furthermore, plaintiff has not provided any evidence of an alleged policy, practice or custom at NHCC that deprived plaintiff of his constitutional rights.
Having granted summary judgment to defendants on plaintiff's federal claim under § 1983, the only remaining claims are plaintiff's state law claims. In plaintiff's "Motion to Amend the Pleading," plaintiff alleges "negligence, and greater negligence. Pain and suffering, emotional stress, destress [sic], and physical lower back pain." Oct. 13, 2010, ECF No. 19. However, having determined that plaintiff's federal claims against the defendants do not survive the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings, the Court concludes that retaining jurisdiction over any state law claim is unwarranted. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); United Mine Workers of Am. v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966). "In the interest of comity, the Second Circuit instructs that `absent exceptional circumstances,' where federal claims can be disposed of pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) or summary judgment grounds, courts should `abstain from exercising pendent jurisdiction.'" Birch v. Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc., No. 06-CV-6497T, 2007 WL 1703914, at *5 (W.D.N.Y. June 8, 2007) (quoting Walker v. Time Life Films, Inc., 784 F.2d 44, 53 (2d Cir.1986)). Therefore, in the instant case, the Court, in its discretion, "`decline[s] to exercise supplemental jurisdiction'" over plaintiff's state law claim because "it `has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction.'" Kolari v. N.Y.-Presbyterian Hosp., 455 F.3d 118, 122 (2d Cir.2006) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3)); see also Cave v. E. Meadow Union Free Sch. Dist., 514 F.3d 240,
For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants defendants' motion for summary judgment on the federal claims, and the federal claims are dismissed with prejudice. The Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims and, thus, those claims are dismissed without prejudice to plaintiff attempting to assert them in state court. The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment accordingly and close the case. The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith; therefore, in forma pauperis status is denied for purposes of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45, 82 S.Ct. 917, 8 L.Ed.2d 21 (1962).
SO ORDERED.