ROY B. DALTON JR., District Judge.
This cause is before the Court on the following motions:
On September 7, 2012, Plaintiff, Jason R. Moulton, filed an omnibus response (Doc. No. 109) to Hendrix's (Doc. No. 71), DeSue's (Doc. No. 76), Mixon's (Doc. No. 79), and Hollingsworth's (Doc. No. 78) motions for summary judgment. That same day, he filed a separate response to the Sheriff's motion for summary judgment, (Doc. No. 108.) On September 21, 2012, all Defendants filed replies to Plaintiff's responses. (Doc. Nos. 112, 113, 114, 115, & 116.) On October 12, 2012, Defendants DeSue, Mixon, and Holingsworth filed a response to Plaintiff's motion to strike. (Doc. No. 119.) The motions are now ripe for the Court's disposition.
This action arises out of events that transpired while Tia Marie Sloama Ritch ("Ritch"), the deceased, was detained in the Bradford County Jail. On June 28, 2009, Ritch was arrested and admitted to the jail for child neglect. At the time of Ritch's booking, the then twenty-one-year-old informed the booking officer that she was pregnant. During the days that followed, the jail's movement log indicates that Ritch engaged in church and recreation activities without incident. In fact, there was no indication that she was having any pregnancy or other health-related issues until July 2 and July 3, 2009.
Early in the evening of July 2, 2009, Ritch became sick to her stomach. After having eaten dinner around 5:00 p.m. she ran to the bathroom complaining of abdominal pain. Because she was assigned the top bunk bed, her cellmate pulled Ritch's mattress to the floor where she, visibly in pain, laid down. According to the other inmates housed in the A pod with Ritch, she was holding her stomach, had vomited, and had become very pale. By 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The intercom calls from the inmates are received by the pod control officers. Working in the pod control room at that time were Officers Black and Williams. Upon Officer Williams's request, Officer DeSue, who was a central control room officer that night, went to check on Ritch at approximately 6:00 p.m. DeSue observed Ritch lying on the mattress on the floor of her cell. Ritch told DeSue that she was pregnant and was having stomach cramps. Upon receiving this information, DeSue returned to the control room to inform Sergeant Hendrix, the officer in charge. Either on her own initiative or following an order from Sergeant Hendrix, Officer DeSue called the jail nurse, Karen Kinder, who had already left the premises for the day. DeSue told the nurse that a pregnant inmate was complaining of stomach cramps, and the nurse advised to give Ritch Tylenol and a pitcher of ice water. DeSue administered the water and Tylenol to Ritch at about 6:15 p.m. This was the only time that night that anyone spoke to the jail nurse or any other medical professional regarding Ritch.
Sometime between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., two "church ladies" who regularly visit the inmates in the A pod at the Bradford County Jail prayed for Ritch as her condition seemed to have worsened. Ms. Lisa Bruno, another inmate, describes Ritch as unresponsive around this time. (Bruno Dep. 37:8-12, June 8, 2012 ("[S]he couldn't sit up, ... she looked lethargic.... She looked yellow and she looked weak, couldn't sit up. Like she would sit — Ms. Pam would sit her up and she would fall back down.").) As the Tylenol and water proved ineffective, some of the inmates began calling for help again. Some inmates thought Ritch had an infection and that it could have been contagious. She was starting to look yellow, her lips were changing color, and she never stood back up on her feet.
Despite numerous cries for help, no correctional officer came to see Ritch until sometime between 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.
Inmate Hammontree, housed in a medical cell next to Ritch's, was the last person to talk to her before she died. Through a vent above the sink, Hammontree was able to see and talk to Ritch from the time she was transferred into the medical cell until the early hours of July 3, 2009. Ritch complained to Hammontree that she was in a lot of pain and that she was scared and worried about her baby. Hammontree observed Ritch in a really bad shape; it was obvious she was in a lot of pain. A few times throughout the night, Hammontree witnessed Ritch make vomiting sounds. She asked Hammontree to keep talking to her because she was afraid to fall asleep. Around thirty minutes before breakfast was served, Ritch stopped talking and Hammontree thought she fell asleep. No correctional officer came to check on Ritch during the night. She was found dead around 7:30 a.m. The cause of her death was determined to be intraabdominal bleeding caused by a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
On April 21, 2011, Jason R. Moulton, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Ritch, brought the present action against Correctional Officer Carla DeSue, in her individual capacity; Correctional Officer Amanda Mixon, in her individual capacity; Correctional Sergeant Charles Hendrix, in his individual capacity; Correctional Officer Lance Hollingsworth, in his individual capacity; Correctional Nurse Karen Kinder, in her individual capacity; and Sheriff Gordon Smith, in his official capacity. (Doc. No. 1, pp. 1-2.) Subsequently, on April 9, 2012, Plaintiff filed a Stipulation of Dismissal as to his claims against Karen Kinder. (Doc. No. 36.)
This case is now before the Court on five separate motions for summary judgment filed by the remaining Defendants in this action. Also before the Court is Plaintiff's Motion to Strike Defendants DeSue, Hollingsworth, and Mixon's Argument Regarding Medical Causation Raised for the First Time in These Defendants' Reply Briefs or in the Alternative, Motion for Leave to Amend Answer Brief (Doc. No. 118), filed on October 1, 2012. The Court now turns to these motions.
Summary judgment is appropriate when the movant can show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fennell v. Gilstrap, 559 F.3d 1212, 1216 (11th Cir.2009) (citing Welding Servs., Inc. v. Forman, 509 F.3d 1351, 1356 (11th Cir.2007)). Which facts are material depends on the substantive law applicable to the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The moving party bears the burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists. Clark v. Coats & Clark, Inc., 929 F.2d 604,
When a moving party has discharged its burden, the non-moving party must then go beyond the pleadings, and by its own affidavits, or by depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial. Porter v. Ray, 461 F.3d 1315, 1320 (11th Cir.2006) (citation omitted). The party opposing a motion for summary judgment must rely on more than conclusory statements or allegations unsupported by facts. Evers v. Gen. Motors Corp., 770 F.2d 984, 986 (11th Cir. 1985) (stating "conclusory allegations without specific supporting facts have no probative value"). This Court may not decide a genuine factual dispute at the summary judgment stage. Fernandez v. Bankers Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 906 F.2d 559, 564 (11th Cir.1990). "[I]f factual issues are present, the [C]ourt must deny the motion and proceed to trial." Id. (quoting Warrior Tombigbee Transp. Co. v. M/V Nan Fung, 695 F.2d 1294, 1296 (11th Cir.1983)).
Section 1983 provides:
42 U.S.C. § 1983. "Section 1983 is merely a vehicle by which to bring these suits; it does not create any substantive federal rights," and "[t]herefore, the plaintiff must point to a specific federal right that the defendant violated." Williams v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Georgia, 477 F.3d 1282, 1299 (11th Cir.2007) (internal citation omitted). "To state a claim under ... § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that (1) the defendant deprived him [or her] of a right secured under the United States Constitution or federal law and (2) such deprivation occurred under color of state law." Richardson v. Johnson, 598 F.3d 734, 737 (11th Cir.2010) (citing U.S. Steel, LLC v. Tieco, Inc., 261 F.3d 1275, 1288 (11th Cir.2001); Arrington v. Cobb Cnty., 139 F.3d 865, 872 (11th Cir.1998)).
In their respective motions, Hendrix, Mixon, DeSue, and Hollingsworth (in this section, collectively "Defendants") move for summary judgment as to Count I of Plaintiff's Complaint. Count I alleges a § 1983 claim against Defendants in their individual capacities for displaying deliberate indifference to Ritch's clearly established Fourteenth Amendment
Additionally, Defendants argue that even if the Court finds that Plaintiff presented sufficient evidence from which a reasonable jury could find a constitutional violation, qualified immunity shields them from this lawsuit as Plaintiff failed to show that such alleged violation was clearly established at the time it occurred.
In response, Plaintiff asserts that the record evidence sufficiently shows that Ritch was clearly suffering from an objectively serious medical need that even a lay person would recognize as requiring a doctor's attention. Given Ritch's obvious need for medical attention, Plaintiff argues that each of the Defendants acted with deliberate indifference when they delayed Ritch's access to medical care. Lastly, Plaintiff contends that the constitutional violation as alleged has been clearly established at the time of the incident in question; therefore, Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity.
To prove deliberate indifference, Plaintiff must show that: (1) Ritch had a serious medical need — an objective inquiry, (2) Defendants acted with deliberate indifference to that need — a subjective inquiry, and (3) the injury was caused by Defendants' deliberate indifference.
The issue presented here then is whether Defendants acted with deliberate indifference to Ritch's serious medical need. To show that Defendants acted so, for each Defendant Plaintiff must show that: (1) he or she had a subjective knowledge of a risk of serious harm; (2) he or
Goebert, 510 F.3d at 1327 (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 842, 114 S.Ct. 1970, 128 L.Ed.2d 811 (1994)) (internal quotation marks omitted). For this reason, a genuine issue of material fact exists only if the record contains evidence of subjective awareness of a risk of harm. McElligott v. Foley, 182 F.3d 1248, 1255 (11th Cir.1999). "[I]mputed or collective knowledge cannot serve as the basis for a claim of deliberate indifference;" thus, "[e]ach individual Defendant must be judged separately and on the basis of what that person knows." Burnette, 533 F.3d at 1331 (citation and footnote omitted). To determine whether the alleged conduct is more than grossly negligent, the Eleventh Circuit considers the seriousness of the medical need, whether the delay worsened the medical condition, and the reason for the delay. Goebert, 510 F.3d at 1327 (citation omitted).
Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the Court concludes that a reasonable jury could conceivably find that Defendants Hendrix, DeSue, and Mixon were deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of Ritch. Specifically, Ritch's condition was such that any lay person would easily recognize a serious medical need and the necessity for a doctor's attention. All three Defendants knew that Ritch was pregnant; that she was complaining of abdominal pain and vomiting from about 5:00 p.m. until her transfer to the medical cell around 1:00 a.m.; that other inmates were calling for help through the intercom system over a period of a few hours; and that, although they dispute this, she looked obviously ill and weak. These facts, when taken in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, could lead a reasonable jury to conclude that Ritch needed immediate medical care.
The record, when viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, shows that all three Defendants disregarded this risk as no call to a doctor, rescue, or the jail nurse — other than the one around 6:00 p.m. — was ever made on behalf of Ritch. Defendants' decision to move Ritch to a medical cell was not for medical reasons. Instead, the record indicates that she was moved so that the other inmates would quiet down and go to sleep. This, coupled with Defendants' deposition testimony, strongly suggests that Defendants denied Ritch medical care because they believed she was faking her condition.
In her deposition, DeSue acknowledged that a miscarriage would be considered a medical emergency. (DeSue Dep. 83:19-25,
Furthermore, Hendrix acknowledged that "the nurse always said if [the inmates are] pregnant and we know they're pregnant and they complain of stomach cramps, then figure you're pretty much going to call rescue, that's what I've been advised." (Hendrix Dep. 99:1-5); see also 110:1-4 ("[I]f [pregnant inmates] complain... if we can't reach the nurse, we're supposed to send them out by rescue.") Yet, despite being faced with a pregnant inmate making those exact complaints, Hendrix failed to call rescue and called Ritch a "drama queen of the year" instead.
Mixon also made statements that, when read in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, show that she thought Ritch was faking her pain. Mixon testified that when Ritch slipped out of the wheelchair, it appeared deliberate. (Mixon Dep. 171:12-16 ("She slipped out of the wheelchair. It appeared deliberate to me.... It appeared to me that she arched her back deliberately to push herself out.").)
Accordingly, there is a genuine issue as to whether the Defendants' failure to call rescue constituted more than grossly negligent disregard of the substantial risk of a serious harm. Viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, their deliberate decision to disbelieve Ritch's and other inmates' complaints and to withhold medical care could amount to more than grossly negligent deliberate indifference to Ritch's constitutional right to medical care.
Viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, Hollingsworth was aware of these facts: (1) Hendrix had ordered that Ritch be transferred into the medical cell; (2) Hollingsworth helped during the transfer; (3) Hollingsworth knew that Ritch had vomited earlier in the night; and (4) Ritch slid out of the wheelchair because, although he disputes this, she was visibly weak and in pain. Hollingsworth's shift began at 11:00 p.m. on July 2, 2009. There is no evidence showing that Hollingsworth knew that Ritch was pregnant. In fact, Hollingsworth testified that other than knowing that she had vomited earlier that night, he did not know anything else. Hollingsworth also stated that he does not recall receiving any intercom calls made to the pod control regarding Ritch.
Although a much closer call for Hollingsworth than for Hendrix, Mixon, and DeSue, the Court concludes that a reasonable jury could conceivably find that Hollingsworth was deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of Ritch. Even absent any evidence demonstrating that Hollingsworth knew that Ritch was pregnant, a reasonable jury could find that Ritch's condition immediately prior, during, and after her transfer to the medical cell was such that any lay person would easily recognize a serious medical need and the necessity for a doctor's attention. Although Hollingsworth testified that he does not recall receiving any intercom calls regarding Ritch, it is undisputed in the record that he was assigned to the pod control room during his shift and that intercom calls were indeed made to the pod control. From this circumstantial evidence, a reasonable jury could conclude that he knew of Ritch's serious medical need.
The Court now addresses whether Hendrix, Mixon, DeSue, and Hollingsworth are entitled to qualified immunity. "The doctrine of qualified immunity protects public officials to some extent from lawsuits against them in their individual capacities." Goebert, 510 F.3d at 1329 (citation omitted). "To claim qualified immunity, a defendant official must first show that his allegedly wrongful act or omission occurred while he was engaged in a discretionary duty." Id. Here, it is undisputed that all Defendants engaged in discretionary duties. The burden then shifts to Plaintiff to prove that Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity. Townsend v. Jefferson Cnty., 601 F.3d 1152, 1157 (11th Cir.2010).
Terrell v. Smith, 668 F.3d 1244, 1250 (11th Cir.2012). Since the Court determined that a reasonable jury could find that there was a constitutional violation as to each Defendant, the question becomes whether Plaintiff has sufficiently asserted that the Defendants' alleged acts or omissions "violate clearly established ... constitutional rights." Goebert, 510 F.3d at 1329 (quoting Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
"The standard for determining whether a right is well-established for purposes of qualified immunity is whether the
Here there are principles of law enunciated in relevant decisions and factually similar case previously decided which clearly establish that Defendants' alleged conduct amounted to deliberate indifference. The Supreme Court of the United States established that "deliberate indifference to serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain, proscribed by the Eighth Amendment." Goebert, 510 F.3d at 1330 (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976)) (internal quotation marks omitted). The Eleventh Circuit has held that "[a]n official acts with deliberate indifference when he intentionally delays providing an inmate with access to medical treatment, knowing that the inmate has a life-threatening condition or an urgent medical condition that would be exacerbated by delay." Bozeman v. Orum, 422 F.3d 1265, 1273 (11th Cir.2005) (quoting Lancaster v. Monroe Cnty., Ala., 116 F.3d 1419, 1425 (11th Cir. 1997)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Even so,
Id. at 1274.
Here, one specific case is sufficiently similar to have put Defendants on notice that their alleged actions or inactions violated Ritch's constitutional right to medical care. In Kimbell ex rel. Liddell v. Clayton County, Case No: 1:03-cv-2910, ECF No. 189 (N.D.Ga. Sept. 27, 2005), aff'd in 170 Fed.Appx. 663 (11th Cir.2006), the court held that plaintiff submitted sufficient evidence so as to create genuine issues of material fact on whether correctional officers deprived the female prisoner of her constitutional right to medical care by delaying her transfer to a hospital. Quite strikingly, that female inmate also died of intra-abdominal bleeding caused by a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. There, the facts, presented in the light most favorable to that plaintiff, are strikingly similar to the facts viewed in the light most favorable to the Plaintiff here. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the decision, albeit in an unpublished opinion, finding that the district court was correct to conclude that genuine issue of material fact precluded summary judgment and that the constitutional right alleged is clearly established.
DeSue, Hollingsworth, and Mixon also move for summary judgment on Plaintiff's claim for punitive damages. They argue that there is no evidence that they acted with ill will or malice towards inmate Ritch, or that they exhibited reckless indifference. Plaintiff disagrees and contends that granting summary judgment on this issue would invade the province of the jury. (Doc. No. 109, p. 44.)
"Punitive damages are appropriate under § 1983 `when the defendant's conduct is shown to be motivated by evil motive or intent, or when it involves callous or reckless indifference to the federally protected rights of others.'" Wright v. Sheppard, 919 F.2d 665, 670 (11th Cir. 1990) (quoting Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56, 103 S.Ct. 1625, 75 L.Ed.2d 632 (1983)). Viewed in the light most favorable to the Plaintiff, the Court finds that there is sufficient evidence in the record from which a reasonable jury could conclude that Defendants' actions exhibited reckless indifference. Therefore, the Court denies the motions for summary judgment as to this issue.
Sheriff Smith moves the Court to enter summary judgment in his favor as to Count II of Plaintiff's Complaint. Count II alleges a claim against Sheriff Smith in his official capacity only. Plaintiff contends that Sheriff Smith's customs, unwritten policies, and failure to train and supervise his correctional officers caused a deprivation of Ritch's constitutional rights. (Doc. No. 1, ¶¶ 45-60.) Sheriff Smith argues that "Plaintiff cannot prove: (1) there is a causal connection between Sheriff Smith's unwritten policies and customs, and inmate Ritch's alleged deprivation of constitutional rights; and (2) Sheriff Smith knew of a need to train and supervise his correctional officers, and made a deliberate choice not to do it." (Doc. No. 77, p. 2.)
In response, Plaintiff concedes that summary judgment is due to be granted as to Count II.
To summarize, a jury reasonably could find that: (1) Hendrix, DeSue, Mixon, and Hollingsworth knew Ritch had urgent medical needs; and (2) they were deliberately indifferent to that need. Because the law clearly established that conduct as alleged violated a pre-trial detainee's Fourteenth Amendment right to medical care, Hendrix, DeSue, Mixon, and Hollingsworth
Based on the foregoing, it is
This cause is before the Court on Plaintiffs Motion to Vacate Judgment and Amend Order (Doc. 122), filed October 18, 2012. Plaintiff submits that the Court's direction to the Clerk to terminate Gordon Smith as a defendant was incorrect. (Id. at 2.) Plaintiff moves the Court to vacate judgment in favor of Defendant Gordon Smith, instruct the Clerk to enter final judgment in favor of Defendant Gordon Smith only as to Count II of the Complaint, and issue an amended order incorporating these changes. (Id. at 3.) Upon consideration, the Court agrees that claims against Defendant Gordon Smith as to Count IV of the Complaint are still pending; the decree portion of the Court's Order contained errors as to this matter. The Court hereby amends its previous Order (Doc. 120).
Accordingly, it is hereby
It is
that pursuant to the Court's Order entered on October 19, 2012, final judgment is entered that Plaintiff shall take nothing on his claims against Gordon Smith, in his
Id. at 1342. Further, even if the Court were to consider that argument, the Court's decision set forth in this Order would not change.