LOUISE W. FLANAGAN, District Judge.
This matter is before the court on defendants' motions for summary judgment (DE 96, 106, 129), and plaintiff's motion for judgment as a matter of law (DE 117). Plaintiff did not file substantive responses to the motions for summary judgment. Defendants Bell, Beck, and Baysden filed responses to plaintiff's motion for judgment as a matter of law. In this posture, the issues raised are ripe for decision. For the following reasons, the court grants defendants' motions for summary judgment and denies plaintiff's motion for judgment as a matter of law.
On December 21, 2015, plaintiff, a state inmate, filed this civil rights action pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, naming George W. Baysden, Jr. ("Baysden"), Kay Beck ("Beck"), Dr. Ron Bell ("Bell"), and Kimberly Wynn ("Wynn") as defendants. Plaintiff alleged that defendants Beck, Bell, and Wynn acted with deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff additionally alleged defendant Baysden violated his constitutional rights in the course of plaintiff's disciplinary proceedings. On May 20, 2016, the court conducted its frivolity review of plaintiff's action and allowed the matter to proceed.
On April 28, 2017, the court entered order resolving various Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 motions filed by defendants Bell, Baysden and Beck, and defendant Wynn's first motion for summary judgment. The court granted defendant Wynn's motion for summary judgment based on failure to exhaust administrative remedies and dismissed defendant Wynn without prejudice; denied defendant Bell's motion to dismiss; and granted in part and denied in part defendants Beck and Baysden's motion for judgment on the pleadings, dismissing plaintiff's claims against defendant Baysden. The April 28, 2017, order also directed plaintiff to file an amended complaint particularizing his claims, which plaintiff timely filed. Plaintiff's amended complaint contained new allegations that defendants Wynn and Baysden were deliberately indifference to plaintiff's serious medical needs.
On November 2, 2017, the court conducted its frivolity review of plaintiff's amended complaint and reinstated plaintiff's claims against defendants Wynn and Baysden. On November 16, 2017, the court appointed North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. to conduct discovery on plaintiff's behalf pursuant to Standing Order 17-SO-03.
On December 18, 2017, defendant Wynn filed motion for judgment on the pleadings, or in the alternative, motion ot dismiss, directed to plaintiff's amended complaint. After granting extension of time for plaintiff to respond, the court granted the motion in part, and denied it part by order dated September 6, 2018. The court granted the motion to the extent it sought dismissal of plaintiff's official capacity claims, and denied the motion in all other respects.
After discovery closed, the parties filed the following instant dispositive motions. Defendant Bell filed motion for summary judgment on June 18, 2018, arguing the undisputed evidence establishes he was not deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's serious medical needs. In support of the motion, defendant Bell filed memorandum of law, statement of material facts, and 357 pages of plaintiff's medical records and North Carolina Department of Public Safety ("DPS") records.
Defendant Wynn filed her second motion for summary judgment on June 27, 2018, also arguing the undisputed evidence establishes she was not deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's serious medical needs. In support of the motion, defendant Wynn filed memorandum of law, statement of material facts, affidavit of defendant Wynn, and attached as exhibits plaintiff's DPS movement records and medical records. Plaintiff did not file response to defendant Wynn's motion.
Plaintiff filed motion for judgment as a matter of law on August 22, 2018. Defendants Bell, Beck, and Baysden timely filed responses in opposition to plaintiff's motion.
Defendants Beck and Baysden filed motion for summary judgment on October 2, 2018, also arguing the undisputed evidence establishes they were not deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's serious medical needs. In support of their motion, defendants Beck and Baysden filed memorandum of law, statement of material facts, affidavits of defendants Beck and Baysden, and attached as exhibits plaintiff's DPS records and certain DPS policies and procedures regarding inmate medical care. Plaintiff did not respond to the motion.
Plaintiff was an inmate at the Tabor Correctional Institution ("Tabor C.I.") during the relevant time period. (Compl. (DE 60) § V). Plaintiff alleges defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs by failing to provide adequate medical care for his ingrown toenail, or by failing to respond to his requests for medical care. (
The relevant facts concerning each defendant are set forth below. As noted, plaintiff did not file substantive responses to defendants' motions for summary judgment, and his complaints are not verified. Accordingly, the court recounts the facts as provided in defendants' affidavits, exhibits attached thereto, and other admissible medical records submitted in connection with the instant motions.
Defendant Bell is a medical doctor at Tabor C.I. (Bell Statement of Material Facts (DE 97) ¶ 1). Defendant Bell personally examined plaintiff for his complaints of ingrown toenails on April 20, 2015, May 11, 2015, June 9, 2015, July 28, 2015, and August 24, 2015. (Bell App. (DE 97-1) at 89-90, 97-98, 101, 105 164).
Defendant Wynn is a physician assistant at Tabor C.I. (Wynn Aff. (DE 109) ¶ 2). Defendant Wynn began treating plaintiff for his toenail issues after a podiatrist removed plaintiff's ingrown toenail on his left great toe on October 15, 2015. (
On November 10, 2015, defendant Wynn examined plaintiff after he complained that his ingrown toenail on his left great toe had returned following surgery, and that he was suffering from a new ingrown toenail on his right great toe. (
On November 13, 2015, defendant Wynn reviewed plaintiff's chart following his November 12, 2015, podiatry appointment, and entered an order for plaintiff to apply silvasorb gel to the affected toenails every three days for a month. (
On January 19, 2016, defendant Wynn examined plaintiff after he complained of additional toenail issues and foot and ankle pain. (
On January 27, 2016, defendant Wynn examined plaintiff again for a routine history and physical. (
Defendant Baysden, the Assistant Superintendent for Programs at Tabor C.I., had no involvement in plaintiff's medical care or providing plaintiff access to such care. (
Summary judgment is appropriate when there exists no genuine issue of material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a);
As noted, plaintiff alleges defendants failed to provide constitutionally adequate medical care in violation of the Eighth Amendment. "[D]eliberate indifference to an inmate's serious medical needs constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment."
The undisputed evidence, as set forth above, demonstrates defendants Bell and Wynn were not deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's toenail issues. On the contrary, the record reflects they carefully treated plaintiff for his toenail issues on multiple occasions during the relevant time period, and that plaintiff was seen by medical or nursing staff virtually every time he complained about such issues. (
Defendants Beck and Baysden have submitted undisputed evidence that they did not treat plaintiff's medical conditions and did not prevent plaintiff from receiving medical care. The record therefore establishes defendants Beck and Baysden were not deliberately indifference to plaintiff's serious medical needs.
Based on the foregoing, defendants' motions for summary judgment (DE 96, 106, 129) are GRANTED. Plaintiff's motion for judgment as a matter of law (DE 117) is DENIED as moot. The clerk is DIRECTED to close this case.
SO ORDERED.