(PC) Burton v. Uddin ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 KENDALL BURTON, No. 2:19-cv-1616 JAM CKD P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND 14 MESKATH UDDIN, et al., FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff is a California prisoner proceeding pro se with an action for violation of civil 18 rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on a claim for denial of medical care 19 arising under the Eighth Amendment and a claim arising under the First Amendment based upon 20 retaliation for protected activity against defendant Uddin. Defendant Uddin’s motion for summary 21 judgment is before the court. 22 I. Additional Discovery 23 Plaintiff asks that the court delay resolution of defendant’s motion for summary judgment 24 and permit plaintiff to conduct “additional discovery.” It appears that plaintiff seeks portions of 25 his own medical records. 26 Under Rule 56(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the court may delay resolution 27 of a motion for summary judgment and permit the opposing party additional time to conduct 28 discovery if the opposing party shows that facts are “unavailable.” In order to show that facts are 1 “unavailable” for purposes of Rule 56(d), the opposing party must demonstrate previous 2 discovery opportunities were pursued with diligence. Bank of Am. NT & SA v. PENGWIN, 175 3 F.3d 1109, 1118 (9th Cir.1999). 4 Here, the discovery cut off was August 25, 2020. ECF Nos. 28 & 31. Plaintiff fails to 5 indicate why the information he seeks now was not obtained during the discovery period or that 6 he otherwise diligently pursued discovery opportunities during the discovery period. 7 Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion that this action be stayed so he may conduct additional discovery 8 is denied. 9 II. Summary Judgment Standard 10 Summary judgment is appropriate when it is demonstrated that there “is no genuine 11 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 12 Civ. P. 56(a). A party asserting that a fact cannot be disputed must support the assertion by 13 “citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, 14 electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for 15 purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials. . .” Fed. R. 16 Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A). 17 Summary judgment should be entered, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, 18 against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element 19 essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See 20 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an 21 essential element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” 22 Id. 23 If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing 24 party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist. See Matsushita 25 Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). In attempting to establish the 26 existence of this factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the allegations or denials 27 of their pleadings but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the form of affidavits, 28 and/or admissible discovery material, in support of its contention that the dispute exists or show 1 that the materials cited by the movant do not establish the absence of a genuine dispute. See Fed. 2 R. Civ. P. 56(c); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n.11. The opposing party must demonstrate that the 3 fact in contention is material, i.e., a fact that might affect the outcome of the suit under the 4 governing law, see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., 5 Inc. v. Pacific Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987), and that the dispute is 6 genuine, i.e., the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving 7 party, see Wool v. Tandem Computers, Inc., 818 F.2d 1433, 1436 (9th Cir. 1987). 8 In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not 9 establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the claimed factual 10 dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth at 11 trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., 809 F.2d at 631. Thus, the “purpose of summary judgment is to ‘pierce 12 the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.’” 13 Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) advisory committee’s note on 1963 14 amendments). 15 In resolving the summary judgment motion, the evidence of the opposing party is to be 16 believed. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. All reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the 17 facts placed before the court must be drawn in favor of the opposing party. See Matsushita, 475 18 U.S. at 587. Nevertheless, inferences are not drawn out of the air, and it is the opposing party’s 19 obligation to produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be drawn. See Richards 20 v. Nielsen Freight Lines, 602 F. Supp. 1224, 1244-45 (E.D. Cal. 1985), aff’d, 810 F.2d 898, 902 21 (9th Cir. 1987). Finally, to demonstrate a genuine issue, the opposing party “must do more than 22 simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts . . . . Where the record 23 taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no 24 ‘genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (citation omitted). 25 III. Plaintiff’s Allegations 26 In his complaint, which is signed under penalty of perjury, plaintiff alleges as follows: 27 1. At all times relevant, plaintiff was a prisoner at California State Prison, Sacramento 28 and defendant was employed there as a physician. 1 2. On May 31, 2018, plaintiff saw defendant seeking a different course of treatment with 2 respect to neuropathic pain. Defendant prescribed Cymbalta. 3 3. On October 5, 2018, plaintiff submitted a “Health Care Services Request” seeking a 4 different course of treatment as the Cymbalta was not relieving plaintiff’s pain. Defendant met 5 with plaintiff on November 26, 2018 as to his request. Defendant elected not to change the 6 course of treatment. 7 4. Plaintiff submitted a second “Health Care Services Request” on December 11, 2018 as 8 the Cymbalta was still not relieving plaintiff’s pain. That same day plaintiff informed defendant 9 that he would utilize the inmate grievance procedure if defendant persisted with the same 10 treatment. It is not clear if that was included in the “Health Care Services Request.” 11 5. Plaintiff filed a third “Health Care Services Request” on January 1, 2019 which was 12 essentially the same as the December 11, 2018 request. 13 6. Plaintiff saw defendant on January 16, 2019. At that point, defendant told plaintiff he 14 would not prescribe any pain medication and provide only minimal treatment because plaintiff 15 complains too much, including plaintiff’s use of the inmate grievance procedure. Defendant 16 refused to prescribe any pain medication, but did order “Walkfit” arch support. 17 7. Plaintiff submitted a fourth “Health Care Services Request” on February 17, 2019. 18 Plaintiff saw defendant on March 25, 2019. On that date, defendant told plaintiff there was 19 nothing he could do about plaintiff’s pain because “other courses of treatment cost too much.” 20 IV. Applicable Standards 21 Under the Eighth Amendment, prisoners cannot be subjected to “cruel and unusual 22 punishment[ ].” Denial or delay of medical care for a prisoner's serious medical needs may 23 constitute a violation of the prisoner's Eighth Amendment rights. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 24 104-05 (1976). An individual is liable for such a violation only when the individual is at least 25 deliberately indifferent to a prisoner's serious medical needs. Id. 26 For there to be deliberate indifference under this standard, a prison official must not only 27 “be aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm 28 exists,” but that official “must also draw the inference.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 1 (1994). A difference of opinion about the proper course of treatment is not deliberate 2 indifference. See, e.g., Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1058 (9th Cir. 2004). For a prisoner to 3 prevail on a claim involving choices between alternative courses of treatment, he must show that 4 the chosen course of treatment was “medically unacceptable under the circumstances” and was 5 chosen “in conscious disregard of an excessive risk to the prisoner's health.” Id. at 1058. 6 “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First Amendment retaliation entails five 7 basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2) 8 because of (3) that prisoner's protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled the inmate's 9 exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance a legitimate 10 correctional goal. Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005) (citations omitted). 11 Filing an inmate grievance is a protected action under the First Amendment. Bruce v. Ylst, 351 12 F.3d 1283, 1288 (9th Cir. 2003). Plaintiff must point to facts indicating a causal connection 13 between the adverse action and the protected conduct. Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1114 14 (9th Cir. 2012). 15 V. Defendant’s Arguments and Analysis 16 In his motion, defendant argues there is no genuine issue of material fact as to whether he 17 was at least deliberately indifferent to plaintiff’s serious medical needs or as to whether defendant 18 ever took any adverse action against plaintiff for plaintiff’s utilization of the inmate grievance 19 procedure. 20 In his affidavit, defendant indicates as follows: 21 1. He was plaintiff’s primary care physician between April 2018 and May 2019. During 22 that time, defendant saw plaintiff seven times for “a mass and infection in the back of his head,” 23 right foot pain and numbness and seizure disorder. 24 2. Plaintiff first mentioned problems with his right foot during a visit which took place on 25 May 31, 2018. Defendant examined the foot and diagnosed “mechanical flat foot” and “mild 26 neuropathy along the medial foot.” Defendant prescribed Cymbalta for the “numbness / 27 tingling.” At that point, plaintiff was already using an insole to treat his mechanical flat foot and 28 defendant advised that plaintiff keep doing so. 1 3. On November 26, 2018, plaintiff had a “face-to-face” consultation with a nurse during 2 which he complained of chronic foot pain. The nurse “performed a physical examination and 3 took [plaintiff’s] history.” Ultimately, the nurse contacted defendant as to plaintiff’s complaints. 4 Defendant reviewed plaintiff’s chart and advised that he take Ibuprofen / Naproxen for pain since 5 the prescribed Cymbalta was not working. 6 4. Plaintiff was seen by defendant on January 16, 2019. Again, plaintiff complained of 7 numbness and pain in his right foot. Defendant examined the foot. Ultimately, defendant 8 discontinued the Cymbalta prescription because plaintiff was already receiving a higher dose of 9 Cymbalta from a psychiatrist. Defendant prescribed arch support to address the mechanical flat 10 foot issue. 11 5. Plaintiff was seen by a nurse on March 25, 2019. As a result, the nurse contacted 12 defendant to discuss plaintiff’s seizure medications. The nurse noted that her physical 13 examination of plaintiff was unremarkable. 14 6. Plaintiff had a scheduled visit with defendant on May 17, 2019, but plaintiff refused to 15 attend. 16 7. Defendant asserts he was never deliberately indifferent to plaintiff’s medical needs. 17 Defendant performed a “thorough physical examination at each visit, assessed his current 18 symptoms and complaints, and tried various medically acceptable remedies to treat plaintiff’s 19 right foot pain, such as a prescription for Cymbalta and arch supports.” 20 As to the medical treatment provided by defendant, plaintiff fails to point to any evidence 21 indicating that the course of action chosen amounted to deliberate indifference. Plaintiff does not 22 point to any evidence suggesting what actions defendant should have taken rather than those he 23 did take, including prescribing Cymbalta and arch supports and instructing plaintiff to take pain 24 medication such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen. 25 As for the January 16, 2019 visit, plaintiff does not dispute in his opposition that he was 26 already prescribed Cymbalta by a psychiatrist and that such a prescription was not a proper basis 27 for defendant to discontinue his prescription. Also, medical records indicate that defendant again 28 counseled plaintiff as to taking over-the-counter medication such as Naproxen for pain and 1 || demonstrated stretching exercises. ECF No. 50-3 at 38. Plaintiff does not dispute this. 2 As for retaliation, the court is mindful that plaintiff alleges that defendant told plaintiff at 3 || the January 16, 2019 visit that defendant would only provide minimal treatment because, in part, 4 | of plaintiff's use of the inmate grievance procedure. However, without any evidence as to what 5 || defendant should have done the court cannot find that there is a genuine issue of material fact as 6 || to whether defendant actually took any adverse action against plaintiff for protected conduct. 7 || VI. Conclusion 8 In light of the foregoing, the court will recommend that defendant’s motion of summary 9 || judgment be granted and this case be closed. 10 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiffs motion that this action be stayed 11 | so that plaintiff may conduct additional discovery is denied. 12 IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 13 1. Defendant Uddin’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 50) be granted; and 14 2. This case be closed. 15 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 16 || assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days 17 || after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 18 || objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 19 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the 20 || objections shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of the objections. The 21 || parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 22 || appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 23 | Dated: January 5, 2022 / a8 } i | Ld , a ce CAROLYNK. DELANEY 25 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 26 | | burt1616.msj 28