MARC T. TREADWELL, District Judge.
Defendants Fye, McLaughlin, Jackson, and Frazier have moved to dismiss the Plaintiff's claims against them. (Doc. 14). United States Magistrate Judge recommends granting the motion as to Jackson and Frazier and denying the motion as to Fye and McLaughlin. (Doc. 40). Defendants Lamb, Nash, Russell, and Willis have also moved to dismiss the Plaintiff's claims against them. (Doc. 30). The Magistrate Judge recommends granting their motion. (Doc. 40). Defendants McLaughlin and Fye and the Plaintiff have objected to the Recommendation. (Docs. 45; 47).
Defendants McLaughlin and Fye object to the Magistrate Judge's conclusion that the Plaintiff sufficiently stated a plausible claim against them for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. The Plaintiff limits his objection to the Magistrate Judge's conclusion that he failed to state a plausible claim for deliberate indifference against Defendant Jackson. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the Court has considered the Parties' objections and has made a de novo determination of the portions of the Recommendation to which the Parties object. Liberally construing the complaint and taking the allegations as true with all reasonable inferences drawn in the Plaintiff's favor, the Court agrees that the Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged plausible claims for deliberate indifference against Defendants McLaughlin
In his objection and in a separate motion, the Plaintiff has moved to amend his complaint to name McLaughlin and Fye in their official capacities and to add a request for prospective injunctive relief requiring "all known medical conditions of Plaintiff ... be properly treated in the future." (Docs. 47; 48, ¶ 2). The Plaintiff argues that given he is serving a life sentence and is a diabetic with an amputated leg, he "is going to need constant medical care including, but not limited to, prosthetics, mobility devices, blood sugar monitoring, proper diet, and regular exercise." (Doc. 47 at 5). As acknowledged by the Plaintiff, prospective injunctive relief against a party in his official capacity is an appropriate remedy to address "ongoing" constitutional violations. The Eleventh Circuit has addressed the availability of this remedy and what a party seeking the remedy must show:
Church v. City of Huntsville, 30 F.3d 1332, 1337 (11th Cir. 1994).
Although the Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged plausible claims that his medical care was constitutionally inadequate, he has not sufficiently alleged in his complaint or provided additional facts in his objection or motion to amend alleging a real and immediate threat to a future injury. See Wooden v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Georgia, 247 F.3d 1262, 1283 (11th Cir. 2001) ("Simply because a party prevails on the merits of a constitutional claim does not mean that the party is automatically entitled to prospective injunctive relief."). He simply states injunctive relief is appropriate and necessary because he is serving a life sentence with a life-long medical condition requiring constant medical care. In other words, the Plaintiff has requested injunctive relief for a hypothetical future injury without providing sufficient allegations that he continues to receive inadequate treatment or that the threat of future inadequate treatment is real and immediate. Moreover, the Plaintiff's requested relief "would do no more than instruct [the Defendants] to obey the law" by providing the Plaintiff constitutionally adequate treatment for his medical condition. See Burton v. City of Belle Glade, 178 F.3d 1175, 1200-01 (11th Cir. 1999). However, "obey-the-law" injunctions are unenforceable and "not an available remedy to redress [the Plaintiff's] alleged injuries." Id.; see also S.E.C. v. Smyth, 420 F.3d 1225, 1233 n.14 (11th Cir. 2005).
And without a claim for prospective injunctive relief, the claims against McLaughlin and Fye in their official capacities are due to be dismissed on Eleventh Amendment immunity grounds or because they are not proper § 1983 claims. See Will v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 63 (1989); Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 169 (1985). Accordingly, the Plaintiff's motion to amend his complaint to name McLaughlin and Fye in their official capacities and add a claim for prospective injunctive relief against them is
The Court has reviewed the Recommendation, and the Court accepts and adopts the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Magistrate Judge. The Recommendation is