Noli v. Johnson ( 2021 )

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 Nicholas M. Noli, Case No.: 2:21-cv-00650-JAD-NJK 4 Plaintiff 5 v. Order Screening and Dismissing Complaint with Leave to Amend 6 Calvin Johnson, et al., 7 Defendants 8 9 Plaintiff Nicholas M. Noli brings this civil-rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming 10 that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated when medical and prison staff delayed 11 surgically repairing his umbilical hernia during his incarceration in the custody of the Nevada 12 Department of Corrections (NDOC). Because Noli applies to proceed in forma pauperis,1 I 13 screen his complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. The matter of the filing fee will be temporarily 14 deferred. In screening Noli’s complaint, I find that he has not pled a colorable claim for 15 deliberate indifference to serious medical needs against any defendant in Claim 1, which is 16 Noli’s only claim, so I dismiss his complaint without prejudice and give him until November 25, 17 2021, to file an amended complaint if he can cure the deficiencies outlined in this order. 18 Background 19 A. Plaintiff’s factual allegations2 20 From May 2019 to the present, Noli was an inmate at Nevada’s High Desert State Prison 21 (HDSP). Noli alleges that since he entered HDSP, he had been trying unsuccessfully to get 22 1 ECF No. 1. 23 2 These facts are merely a summary of the plaintiff’s allegations, they are not intended as findings of fact. 1 medical staff to surgically repair his umbilical hernia, which causes him pain and discomfort. 2 When Noli first saw a provider who would address his condition—three months after he entered 3 the facility—the provider issued orders that the hernia should be further examined with an 4 ultrasound device and repaired. But neither happened, and when Noli submitted a kite asking for 5 a status report two months later, he was told that the Utilization Review Committee (URC) had 6 denied the requests with instructions to monitor Noli’s condition.3 7 Noli was told that if his condition got worse he should submit a medical kite to schedule 8 an appointment with a medical provider. Sometime later, Noli filed a kite to see a medical 9 provider about his hernia, which had “doubled in size” and was causing him “a tremendous 10 amount of pain.” Noli saw Dr. Bryan, who ordered the hernia to be examined by the prison’s 11 general surgeon. In September 2019, Noli sent a medical kite asking about the status of his 12 appointment with the general surgeon. He was told that the URC denied the request for a referral 13 to the general surgeon with an order to continue monitoring the hernia.4 14 Noli was again told to file a kite if his condition got worse. Noli submitted a kite and was 15 next seen by Dr. Manalang, who determined that the hernia should be surgically repaired and 16 submitted a request to the URC for Noli to have a consult with the prison’s general surgeon. 17 Apparently the URC approved this request, because Noli saw the general surgeon in December 18 2019. The surgeon informed Noli that he would be scheduled for surgery.5 19 A nurse told Noli that some doctor saw his E.K.G. results and wanted him to see a 20 cardiologist but nothing came of it and Noli got neither surgery nor an examination by a 21 22 3 ECF No. 1-1 at 7. 23 4 Id. at 8. 5 Id. at 9. 1 cardiologist. So in October 2020, Noli sent another kite asking for a status update about his 2 cardiology appointment. He was told that the URC denied the request that he be referred to see a 3 cardiologist.6 4 Another three months went by and Noli had an appointment with Dr. Martin who 5 examined the hernia, told Noli that the surgery was approved and he would check to see why 6 scheduling it was taking so long. Noli had a blood draw in May or June 2020 and another 7 E.K.G. examination three weeks later.7 Noli’s complaint stops with the seemingly cliff-hanger 8 that he asked Nurse Jamie the next day about the status of his surgery.8 However, it can be 9 reasonably inferred from Noli’s allegations that he’s suffered for over 22 months and was still 10 waiting for surgery when he initiated this action in April 2021.9 11 B. Plaintiff’s cause of action 12 Based on these events, Noli sues Calvin Johnson, Charles Daniels, Sonya Carrillo, Dr. 13 Martin, Dr. Bryan, Dr. Minev, Dr. Manalang, and Bob Faulkner and alleges a single claim for an 14 Eighth Amendment violation based on deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Noli 15 sues the defendants in their individual and official capacities,10 and he seeks monetary 16 (compensatory and punitive), declaratory, and injunctive relief.11 17 18 19 20 6 Id. at 10. 21 7 Id. at 11. 8 ECF No. 1-1 at 11. Noli does not name Nurse Jamie as a defendant. 22 9 See id at 4. 23 10 Id. at 2–4. 11 Id.at 49–50. 1 Discussion 2 A. Screening standard 3 Federal courts must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner 4 seeks redress from a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity.12 5 In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are 6 frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary 7 relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.13 All or part of the complaint may be 8 dismissed sua sponte if the prisoner’s claims lack an arguable basis in law or fact. This includes 9 claims based on legal conclusions that are untenable, like claims against defendants who are 10 immune from suit or claims of infringement of a legal interest which clearly does not exist, as 11 well as claims based on fanciful factual allegations or fantastic or delusional scenarios.14 12 Dismissal for failure to state a claim is proper only if it is clear that the plaintiff cannot 13 prove any set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle him or her to relief.15 In making 14 this determination, the court takes all allegations of material fact as true and construes them in 15 the light most favorable to the plaintiff.16 Allegations of a pro se complainant are held to less 16 stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers,17 but a plaintiff must provide more 17 18 19 12 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). 20 13 See id. at § 1915A(b)(1)(2). 14 See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327–28 (1989); see also McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 21 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991). 22 15 See Morley v. Walker, 175 F.3d 756, 759 (9th Cir. 1999). 16 See Warshaw v. Xoma Corp., 74 F.3d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1996). 23 17 Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980); see also Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990) (recognizing that pro se pleadings must be liberally construed). 1 than mere labels and conclusions.18 “While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a 2 complaint, they must be supported with factual allegations.”19 “Determining whether a 3 complaint states a plausible claim for relief . . . [is] a context-specific task that requires the 4 reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.”20 5 B. Deliberate indifference to serious medical needs 6 The Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of cruel and unusual punishment and 7 “embodies broad and idealistic concepts of dignity, civilized standards, humanity, and 8 decency.”21 A prison official violates the Eighth Amendment when he acts with “deliberate 9 indifference” to the serious medical needs of an inmate.22 “To establish an Eighth Amendment 10 violation, a plaintiff must satisfy both an objective standard—that the deprivation was serious 11 enough to constitute cruel and unusual punishment—and a subjective standard—deliberate 12 indifference.”23 For the first prong, “the plaintiff must show a serious medical need by 13 demonstrating that failure to treat [his] condition could result in further significant injury or the 14 unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.”24 For the second prong, he must show 15 “(a) purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and 16 (b) harm caused by the indifference.”25 This requires that the prison official “knows of and 17 18 18 Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). 19 19 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). 20 Id. 20 21 Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102 (1976) (internal quotation omitted). 21 22 Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 828 (1994). 22 23 Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 985 (9th Cir. 2012), overruled in part on other grounds by Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1083 (9th Cir. 2014). 23 24 Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (internal quotations omitted). 25 Id. 1 disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety; the official must both be aware of facts 2 from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he 3 must also draw the inference.”26 4 When a prisoner claims deliberate indifference based on a delay in providing medical 5 treatment, he must show that the delay led to further harm.27 Prison officials who know of a 6 substantial risk to an inmate’s health and safety are liable only if they responded unreasonably to 7 the risk, even if the harm ultimately was not averted.28 Thus, if a prison medical official is 8 denied resources necessary to provide medical care, that person cannot be said to have punished 9 the inmate and cannot be held liable under the Eighth Amendment.29 Because deliberate 10 indifference is required, a complaint that a medical provider inadvertently or negligently 11 misdiagnosed or treated a medical condition is not sufficient to state a valid claim under the 12 Eighth Amendment as “[m]edical malpractice does not become a constitutional violation merely 13 because the victim is a prisoner.”30 Even gross negligence is insufficient to establish deliberate 14 indifference to serious medical needs.31 15 A mere difference of opinion between medical professionals concerning the appropriate 16 course of treatment, or a difference of opinion between the prisoner-patient and the medical-care 17 26 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837; see also Peralta, 744 F.3d at 1086. 18 27 See Shapley v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985) 19 (holding that “mere delay of surgery, without more, is insufficient to state a claim of deliberate medical indifference”). 20 28 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 844. 21 29 Peralta, 744 F.3d at 1084; see also Patkins v. Tran, No. 15-CV-05073-EMC, 2017 WL 2861914, at *7 (N.D. Cal. July 5, 2017) (holding that because prison policy concerning 22 allowable dental services for prisoners did not include bridges, the law did not impose liability for damages on dentist for not providing a replacement bridge for inmate). 23 30 Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. 31 See Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). 1 provider, also cannot support a claim for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs32 2 unless the prisoner can “show that the course of treatment the doctors chose was medically 3 unacceptable under the circumstances” and “that they chose this course in conscious disregard of 4 an excessive risk to [the prisoner’s] health.”33 If a defendant chooses to override medical 5 recommendations and deny a person medical care solely based on an administrative policy that 6 he knows would require an inmate to suffer medically (and not based on differences of medical 7 opinions or because medical care was not medically indicated or would be unhelpful) there may 8 be deliberate indifference.34 But advancing a policy that requires subordinates to commit 9 constitutional violations cannot be sufficient for § 1983 liability if the policy does not 10 proximately cause the plaintiff’s constitutional harm.35 A plaintiff cannot plead a colorable 11 claim on such a theory by merely offering the conclusory statement that there is a policy;36 the 12 plaintiff must plead facts that show that there is a policy, what the policy is, and what role each 13 particular defendant played in creating that policy.37 14 Finally, because “[t]here is no respondeat superior liability under [§]1983,”38 every target 15 of a prisoner civil-rights claim must have personally participated in the constitutional 16 17 18 32 Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin v. State of Or., State Welfare Div., 662 F.2d 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981). 19 33 Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996) (emphasis added). 20 34 Colwell v. Bannister, 763 F.3d 1060, 1068 (9th Cir. 2014). 35 OSU Student All. v. Ray, 699 F.3d 1053, 1076 (9th Cir. 2012). 21 36 Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 680–81. 22 37 Id. at 678–81. 38 Id. at 676 (holding that “[b]ecause vicarious liability is inapplicable to Bivens and § 1983 suits, 23 a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official’s own individual actions, has violated the Constitution”). 1 deprivation.39 “A supervisor is only liable for constitutional violations of his subordinates if the 2 supervisor participated in or directed the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to 3 prevent them.”40 “A showing that a supervisor acted, or failed to act, in a manner that was 4 deliberately indifferent to an inmate’s Eighth Amendment rights is sufficient to demonstrate the 5 involvement—and the liability—of that supervisor.”41 “Thus, when a supervisor is found liable 6 based on deliberate indifference, the supervisor is being held liable for his or her own culpable 7 action or inaction, not held vicariously liable for the culpable action or inaction of his or her 8 subordinates.”42 Therefore, “a plaintiff may state a claim against a supervisor for deliberate 9 indifference based upon the supervisor’s knowledge of and acquiescence in unconstitutional 10 conduct by his or her subordinates.”43 There must be a sufficient causal connection between the 11 supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the Constitutional violation.44 12 C. Analyzing Claim 1 13 Noli has plausibly alleged that his surgery was delayed and that he was harmed as a result 14 because he needlessly suffered “tremendous” pain waiting for surgery.45 Noli has also plausibly 15 alleged that the URC’s decisions against surgery were medically unacceptable under the 16 circumstances. According to Noli, the URC denied the first request even though the hernia had 17 been “causing him a lot of pain” for at least several months. And the URC denied the second 18 19 39 Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). 20 40 Id. 21 41 Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1206–07 (9th Cir. 2011). 42 Id. at 1207. 22 43 Id. 23 44 Id. 45 ECF No. 1-1 at 8. 1 request even though Noli’s hernia had “doubled in size” and was now causing him “a 2 tremendous amount of pain.”46 But there’s a fatal problem with Noli’s complaint: he has not 3 plausibly alleged that any named defendant is responsible for delaying his surgery. 4 The only facts that Noli alleges about Johnson, Daniels, Carrillo, Dr. Minev, and 5 Faulkner are their titles. I can infer from the alleged titles that those defendants are 6 administrators or supervisors,47 and I can infer from the grievance records Noli attaches to his 7 complaint that some of them are also grievance responders.48 But these few facts and inferences 8 are not enough to state a plausible claim for deliberate indifference against any of them. Simply 9 put, Noli doesn’t allege that Johnson, Daniels, Carrillo, Dr. Minev, or Faulkner participated in or 10 directed any alleged misconduct on the part of medical staff or knew of unconstitutional acts by 11 medical staff and failed to act to prevent them. As I explained above, “[a] supervisor is only 12 liable for constitutional violations of his subordinates if the supervisor participated in or directed 13 the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them.”49 So Noli’s 14 allegations against the administrative and supervisory defendants is deficient. 15 Noli’s allegations about the other defendants aren’t much more sufficient. Dr. Bryan 16 inspected Noli’s hernia and determined that a surgical examination was necessary, so Bryan 17 submitted a request for Noli to be examined by the prison’s general surgeon. But the URC 18 19 20 46 Id. 21 47 See, e.g., id. at 2 (Sonya Carrillo is alleged to be the director of nursing at HDSP). 48 See, e.g., id. at 20 (Dr. Minev’s resolving second-level grievance, explaining that the URC 22 approved surgery; an appointment has been made and should be completed soon), 39 (Faulkner denying first-level grievance, explaining that Noli saw a surgeon on 12/20/19 who recommended 23 surgery and that the URC’s review of the request for surgery is pending). 49 Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d at 1045. 1 denied that request with instructions to continue monitoring the hernia.50 Dr. Manalong 2 examined the hernia, determined that surgery was necessary, and submitted a request for the 3 prison’s surgeon to examine Noli. Apparently that request was approved by the URC because 4 Noli alleges that he was soon examined by the prison’s surgeon, who also determined that 5 surgery was necessary.51 Later, Dr. Martin inspected the hernia and told Noli that the URC had 6 approved the request for surgery and that he’d check on why it was taking so long.52 Nothing 7 more is alleged about these defendants, and what is alleged doesn’t plausibly show that either 8 doctor committed a purposeful act or failed to respond to Noli’s pain or possible medical need. 9 What this means is that while Noli alleges that these doctors took some action about his medical 10 needs, he does not allege that any of them acted in a manner that’s deliberately indifferent to 11 those needs. 12 The upshot of my screening Noli’s complaint is that he has not plausibly alleged that any 13 named defendant is responsible for delaying surgery to correct his hernia condition. Claim 1 is 14 therefore dismissed without prejudice but with leave to amend. And all of the defendants are 15 dismissed from the complaint without prejudice. But because it does not yet appear that Noli 16 cannot state any set of facts upon which relief can be granted, I grant him leave to amend if he 17 can plead true facts to cure the deficiencies identified in this order. 18 D. Leave to amend 19 To be clear, I do not grant Noli leave to amend in any way that he sees fit. Noli has 20 limited leave to amend by alleging additional true facts to show that one or more of the named 21 22 50 ECF No. 1-1 at 8. 23 51 Id. at 9. 52 Id. at 11. 1 defendants is responsible for delaying his hernia surgery. I also grant Noli leave to amend by 2 adding parties to Claim 1, like anyone who served as a member of the URC when it declined his 3 medical providers’ requests for surgery. Noli is cautioned that the use of Doe defendants is not 4 favored in the Ninth Circuit.53 So if Noli chooses to pursue a claim against any member of the 5 URC, he should attempt to determine the member’s identity to properly name him or her as a 6 defendant in this action. I do not give Noli leave to assert new claims. 7 If Noli chooses to file an amended complaint, he is advised that an amended complaint 8 replaces the original complaint, so the amended complaint must be complete in itself.54 This 9 means that the amended complaint must contain all facts and claims and identify all defendants 10 that he intends to sue. He must file the amended complaint on this court’s approved prisoner- 11 civil-rights form, and it must be entitled “First Amended Complaint.” Noli must follow the 12 instructions on the form. He need not and should not allege very many facts in the “nature of the 13 case” section of the form. Rather, in each count, he should allege facts sufficient to show what 14 each defendant did to violate his civil rights. He must file the amended complaint by 15 November 25, 2021. 16 Conclusion 17 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to FILE the 18 complaint (ECF No. 1-1), which is DISMISSED in its entirety without prejudice and with leave 19 to amend by November 25, 2021. 20 21 53 Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980). 54 See Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 22 1989) (holding that “[t]he fact that a party was named in the original complaint is irrelevant; an amended pleading supersedes the original”); see also Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 23 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (holding that for claims dismissed with prejudice, a plaintiff is not required to reallege such claims in a subsequent amended complaint to preserve them for appeal). 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to SEND plaintiff 2|| the approved form for filing a § 1983 prisoner complaint, instructions for the same, and a copy of his original complaint (ECF No. 1-1). If plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he must use the approved form and he must write the words “First Amended” above the words “Civil Rights Complaint” in the caption. The amended complaint will be screened in a separate 6|| screening order, and the screening process will take many months. If plaintiff does not file amended complaint by November 25, 2021, this action will be dismissed without 8|| prejudice for failure to state a claim, and this case will be closed without further prior notice.*> wee U.S. District Jirege Jennifer A. Dorsey 1] Dated: October 22, 2021 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 A decision on the application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 1) is deferred. 12