MARCO A. HERNANDEZ, District Judge.
Robert Haws ("Haws" or "Decedent") died while he was an inmate at Marion County Jail. Compl., ¶ 1. Plaintiff Diane Bernard ("Plaintiff" or "Bernard") brings this action in her individual capacity and in the capacity as the personal representative of the Estate of Haws. The Complaint names twenty-one defendants and ten "John and Jane Does" (collectively, "Defendants").
Plaintiff asserts seven claims for relief, five of which she asserts against Neil Rendleman, M.D. ("Rendleman" or "Defendant"), one of the named health care providers. Id., ¶ 23. The five claims for relief asserted against Defendant are as follows: (1) violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's rights pursuant to the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution for delay and denial of medical care; (2) violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's rights pursuant to the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments for failure to protect Decedent; (3) violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's rights pursuant to the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments for supervisory liability; (4) violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's substantive due process rights pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment and for parental loss; and (5) a supplemental state law claim for medical negligence.
Now before me is the motion to dismiss the Complaint (doc. #27) pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ("Rule").
The following allegations in the Complaint are accepted as true for the purpose of evaluating Defendants' motions to dismiss:
Around 9:30 a.m. on July 13, 2010, Decedent was playing basketball with other inmates in the Marion County Jail courtyard. Id., ¶ 30. While playing basketball, Decedent became involved in a verbal altercation with Robert Dailey ("Dailey"), another inmate at Marion County Jail. Id., ¶¶ 31-32. During the altercation, Daily punched Decedent in the jaw, knocking him unconscious and causing him to hit his head on the concrete. Id., ¶ 32. Dailey and the other inmates in the area dispersed. Id., ¶ 33. None of the guards, however, witnessed the altercation or Decedent as he laid unconscious on the basketball court for approximately fifteen minutes because they were watching their computers instead of the recreational yard. Id., ¶¶ 33, 41.
At some point, Dailey and a few other inmates returned to check on Decedent. Id., ¶ 34. They dragged Decedent over to one of the poles of the basketball nets and propped him up against it. Id. Decedent was barely conscious, was vomiting and urinating over himself, and was bleeding out of his nose. Id., ¶¶ 34-36. Without any interference from the guards, one of the inmates made several trips to the laundry room, replacing Decedent's soiled, bloody clothing with clean clothing from the laundry room. Id., ¶¶ 34-35.
Around 10:40 a.m., Decedent was noticed on a visual monitor. Id., ¶ 36. When law enforcement officers finally reached Decedent, he was disoriented and could not respond to any of their questions. Id. Decedent was handcuffed, and around 11:15 a.m., was put in a wheelchair and taken to the segregation unit of the Marion County Jail. Id., ¶¶ 36-37. Although Decedent continued to vomit and bleed out of his mouth and nose, he was placed in leg iron restraints. Id., ¶¶ 37-38.
Sometime after 11:15 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was made. Id., ¶ 38. Emergency medical technicians ("EMTs") arrived at Marion County Jail around 11:30 a.m. Id. Although unsupported "by [Decedent's] medical history or symptoms," the medical staff and security officers told the EMTs that Decedent probably had a seizure and that his recent depression indicated his state could be connected with a suicide attempt. Id. At no time did they discuss the possibility of head trauma. Id.
Decedent arrived at the emergency room around 12:00 p.m. Id., ¶ 39. His condition, however, "was not classified [as] a true emergency based on the false and contrived information provided by [D]efendants" and as such, Decedent remained chained to a gurney in the emergency room until the evening. Id. Around 6:00 p.m., an x-ray was performed indicating Decedent had a subdural hematoma. Id. Decedent was taken in for surgery, which lasted approximately five hours. Id. Decedent emerged from surgery in a coma and died seven days after the surgery. Id., ¶ 40.
To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more than a "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action."
"In ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion, a court may generally consider only allegations contained in the pleadings, exhibits attached to the complaint, and matters properly subject to judicial notice."
Rule 12(f) provides that district courts "may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter" on their own initiative or pursuant to a party's motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). The disposition of a motion to strike is within the discretion of the district court.
Defendant seeks an order dismissing all of the claims asserted against him pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6).
The level of specificity Defendant seeks here is not required under Rule 8(a)(2), which requires only that a complaint contain a "short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2);
With respect to Defendant's supervisory authority, the Complaint specifically alleges "Rendleman . . . w[as] employed by Marion County in a supervisory capacity[,] . . . had duties to manage and direct subordinate staff in the carrying out of their duties and responsibilities[,] . . . [and was] directly involved in the decisions to respond to the situation. . . ." Id., ¶¶ 57-58. Defendant's assertion that there are no allegations of fact supporting a finding that Defendant had supervisory authority belies the allegations in the Complaint.
Defendant also contends the allegations in paragraph 47 of the Complaint is a "conclusion of law and . . . should be disregarded." Reply, p. 2. He further contends the Complaint fails to allege how he acted in concert with the other Defendants and that he cannot be held liable for each and every act of his co-defendants.
Courts "are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation."
In addition, Plaintiff's in-concert allegations are not the sole basis of any of the five claims asserted against Defendant.
Plaintiff's second claim for relief alleges violations of 42 U.S.C § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments for failure to protect Decedent. It expressly "realleges paragraphs 1 through 50" and alleges "the named [D]efendants" failed to "respond to the . . . medical needs of [Decedent]," failed "to document accurately the actions and investigation taken when addressing the needs of a clearly injured inmate," and failed "to call emergency transport." Id., ¶¶ 51, 53. It further alleges Defendant intentionally "delay[ed] the transport and evaluation of [Decedent]," provided "false and contrived information to medical personnel thus interfering with the treatment of [Decedent]," and provided "false and contrived information to emergency medical officers which was documented and provided to medical staff at the hospital." Id., ¶ 53.
Plaintiff's third claim for relief alleges violations of 42 U.S.C § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's rights pursuant to the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments for supervisory liability. Id., ¶ 57. Like the first and second claims for relief, it simply "realleges" all the allegations in the preceding paragraphs. Id. It also alleges "Rendleman . . . [was] employed by Marion County in a supervisory capacity . . . [and] had duties to manage and direct subordinate staff in the carrying out of [his] duties and responsibilities." Id., ¶ 58. It further alleges Defendant was "directly involved in the decisions to respond to the situation" and "appear[ed] to allow a malicious, callous and institutional disregard for serious medical issues suffered by prisoners to the extent [he] . . . participate[d] in depriving [Decedent] of medical care, delay[ed] transport, cover[ed] up misconduct by staff[,] and provide[d] false statements . . . ." Id. Finally, Plaintiff's third claim for relief alleges Defendant "fail[ed] to provide timely and adequate emergency care for inmates." Id., ¶ 61.
Plaintiff's fourth claim for relief alleges violations of 42 U.S.C § 1983 for deprivation of Decedent's substantive due process rights pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment and for parental loss. Id., ¶ 62. It "realleges" all allegations stated in the preceding paragraphs and asserts Defendant delayed Decedent's medical care. Id., ¶¶ 62, 67.
Lastly, Plaintiff's seventh claim for relief alleges a supplemental state law claim for medical negligence. Id., ¶ 76. It "realleges" all the allegations asserted in the preceding paragraphs of the Complaint and asserts Defendant was "on duty" when Decedent was injured. Id., ¶ 77. It alleges Defendant "fail[ed] to recognize and treat" Decedent and failed to provide Decedent with "timely access to hospital and emergency medical care." Id., ¶ 79. It further alleges Defendant failed to "take the urgent action that Plaintiff's condition clearly required," "interfered with medical care needed by [Decedent,]" and "provided false and misleading information to medical staff resulting in extensive delays of treatment." Id., ¶ 80.
When read in its entirety, the Complaint here satisfies the liberal pleading standard set forth in Rule 8(a)(2) and provides Defendant with "fair notice" of what the claims are and "the grounds upon which [they] rest[]."
Accepting the allegations of material fact in the Complaint as true and construing those allegations in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, I conclude Plaintiff pleads sufficient facts supporting his claims against Defendant.
Defendant's motion to dismiss Plaintiff's first, second, third, fourth, and seventh claims for relief is denied.
In the alternative, Defendant moves to strike Plaintiff's allegations of in-concert liability set forth in paragraphs 47 and 48 of the Complaint. Under Rule 12(f), a "court may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). "The function of a 12(f) motion to strike is to avoid the expenditure of time and money that must arise from litigating spurious issues by dispensing with those issues prior to trial. . . ."
Plaintiff argues that the allegations in paragraphs 47 and 48 are not redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous. I agree. Furthermore, as noted above, motions to strike are disfavored and infrequently granted. Lastly, I find Plaintiff's allegations regarding in-concert liability may later prove relevant to her claims and damages. Accordingly, Defendant's motion to strike paragraphs 47 and 48 of the Complaint is denied.
Based on the foregoing reasons, Defendant's motion to dismiss (doc. #27) and motion to strike (doc. #27) are DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.