McQueen v. White , 2015 Ohio 3982 ( 2015 )

[Cite as McQueen v. White, 2015-Ohio-3982.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
John McQueen, :
Plaintiff-Appellant, : No. 15AP-18
(C.P.C. No. 14CV-6510)
v. :
(ACCELERATED CALENDAR)
Mark A. White, M.D., :
Defendant-Appellee. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on September 29, 2015
John McQueen, pro se.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
BROWN, P.J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal by plaintiff-appellant, John McQueen, from a judgment of
the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas dismissing appellant's complaint for failure
to state a claim for relief.
{¶ 2} On June 23, 2014, appellant filed a pro se complaint against defendant-
appellee, Mark A. White, M.D., in which appellant asserted a "civil rights action * * * for
violations of his rights secured by state and federal Constitutions." In the complaint,
appellant alleged he had made an office visit to appellee complaining of "serious back and
other pain." It was further alleged that appellee had prescribed pain medications for
appellant, but that appellee had subsequently "refused to continue [prescribing] the
medication, knowing that he had addicted [appellant] to this medication." Appellant
sought damages in the amount of $1 million, alleging appellee "knew or reasonably should
No. 15AP-18 2
have known that his conduct against [appellant] was not consistent with his position as a
doctor." Appellant attached several documents to his complaint labeled as exhibits.
{¶ 3} On September 4, 2014, appellant filed a "request for default judgment,"
asserting that appellee had not responded to his complaint. On September 8, 2014,
appellant filed a "request for final judgment," in which he again argued appellee had
refused to respond to the complaint.
{¶ 4} By journal entry filed September 22, 2014, the trial court denied appellant's
motions for default and/or final judgment. The court, while giving recognition to
appellant's allegation of a civil rights action, further noted that the complaint,
"[c]haritably viewed," alleges "medical malpractice or negligence." As to the alleged
medical claims, the court observed that appellant failed to attach, pursuant to Civ.R.
10(D)(2), an affidavit of merit from a physician attesting to the colorable validity of the
claim. The trial court also noted it was "not clear from the docket that Dr. White was
actually served with the Summons and Complaint." Finally, the court's entry provided in
part: "Within fourteen * * * days of this Entry, plaintiff is ordered to show cause
why this case should not be dismissed for failure to comply with Civ.R. 10(D)(2), or else
plaintiff must file an appropriate Affidavit of Merit from a doctor that complies fully with
Civil Rule 10(D)(2)." (Emphasis sic.)
{¶ 5} On October 7, 2014, appellant filed a memorandum in which he argued that
an "affidavit of merit is not required when claims are based upon constitutional violations
under * * * Section 1983." Also on that date, appellant filed a "response to show cause," in
which he asserted that his insurance provider was "Buckeye Community Health Plan—a
state based company," and that appellee became a state actor "pursuant to a contract with
this state company."
{¶ 6} By decision and entry filed January 6, 2015, the trial court dismissed
appellant's complaint for failure to state a claim for relief. In its decision, the court
observed that the complaint "appears to make a 'medical claim' against * * * Mark A.
White, M.D., although in the unnumbered first paragraph it says it is a 'civil rights action
* * * for violations of his [plaintiff's] rights secured by state and federal Constitutions.' "
Noting that a suit under 42 U.S.C. 1983 "requires state action as a predicate," the court
found that, while appellant alleged [appellee] prescribed him two separate pain
No. 15AP-18 3
medications for "serious back and other pain" which ultimately led to appellant's apparent
addiction to pain pills, "no allegation in the complaint suggests that [appellant] was a
state prisoner, or otherwise under the care, custody, or control of the state at the time of
the events in question."
{¶ 7} The trial court also addressed an argument raised by appellant in his
"response to show cause," holding in part:
In his "Response to Show Cause" filed October 7, 2014
plaintiff contends that Dr. White is a state actor because his
medical insurance provider, Buckeye Community Health
Plan, is a state agency. * * * Plaintiff claims that having given
him insurance, the state "has an obligation under The Eighth
Amendment and state law to provide adequate medical care to
those the state chooses to give medical cards. * * * Plaintiff
claims, therefore, that a claim is available under 42 U.S.C. §
1983, and that such a claim is properly in front of this court
without any Affidavit of Merit in compliance with Civ. R.
10(D)(2).
Plaintiff is incorrect. There is no colorable substance to his §
1983 claim because of the lack of state action. Moreover, even
if he had stated a colorable § 1983 civil rights claim, it is
premised solely upon medical negligence. Where that is the
operative focus of the case, the requirements of Ohio Rule of
Civil Procedure 10 are triggered when a plaintiff sues in state
court. * * * Plaintiff has not colorably satisfied his obligation
to plead a malpractice case under Ohio Civ. R. 10(D)(2).
Accordingly, this case is DISMISSED.
(Emphasis sic.)
{¶ 8} On appeal, appellant, pro se, sets forth the following assignment of error for
this court's review:
THE LOWER COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW IN
DISMISSING APPELLANT'S COMPLAINT FOR FAILURE
TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF COULD BE
GRANTED.
{¶ 9} Under his single assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court
erred in dismissing his 42 U.S.C. 1983 (hereafter "Section 1983") action against appellee.
More specifically, appellant argues the trial court erred in failing to find appellee was a
state actor acting under color of state law for purposes of Section 1983.
No. 15AP-18 4
{¶ 10} This court reviews de novo a trial court's dismissal of a complaint for failure
to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, as "it involves a purely legal issue."
Salata v. Vallas, 159 Ohio App. 3d 108, 2004-Ohio-6037, ¶ 15 (7th Dist.). In order for a
court to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a cognizable claim, "it must appear beyond
doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle
plaintiff to relief." Id. Further, "[i]n determining whether a complaint presents a claim
for which relief may be granted, the court must presume that all of the factual allegations
in the complaint are true and make all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving
party." Id. Under Ohio law, " '[s]ua sponte dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a
claim upon which relief can be granted is appropriate if the complaint is frivolous or the
claimant obviously cannot prevail on the facts alleged in the complaint.' " Id. at ¶ 14,
quoting State ex rel. Kreps v. Christiansen, 88 Ohio St. 3d 313, 316 (2000).
{¶ 11} In general, "Section 1983 provides a remedy to persons whose federal rights
have been violated by governmental officials." Mankins v. Paxton, 142 Ohio App. 3d 1, 9
(1oth Dist.2001). The elements of a claim under Section 1983 are that "the conduct in
controversy must be committed by a person acting under color of state law, and the
conduct must deprive the plaintiff of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the
Constitution or laws of the United States." Id. at 10.
{¶ 12} In the present case, the trial court concluded that appellant's complaint did
not state a claim under Section 1983 because the complaint failed to adequately allege
requisite state action. Based upon this court's de novo review, we find no error with that
determination. Appellant's complaint does not allege that appellee is an employee of the
state or of a state agency, nor does the complaint allege that appellee was operating
pursuant to a contractual agreement with the state or a state agency. Rather, the
complaint simply alleges that appellant "went to the office of [appellee]" with complaints
of "serious back and other pain," and that appellee treated him with pain medication.
Such allegations "cannot constitute state action for purposes of Section 1983." Koulkina
v. City of New York, 559 F. Supp. 2d 300, 320 (2008) (noting that "[p]rivate physicians
are generally not state actors," and holding that plaintiff was not a state actor where
allegations in complaint described nothing more than medical treatment he received from
private physician's examination). See also Gladney v. McMonagle, E.D.Pa. No. 87-4871
No. 15AP-18 5
(May 18, 1988) ("A private physician exercising judgment does not do so as a state actor,
but as a private individual.").
{¶ 13} In his pro se brief, appellant relies on the United States Supreme Court's
decision in West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42 (1988), in which the Supreme Court held that a
private physician, who contracted with a state prison to provide medical services on a
part-time basis to inmates within the confines of a state prison, acted under color of state
law within the meaning of Section 1983 when undertaking his duties to treat an inmate.
Appellant's reliance on West, however, is misplaced. As noted by the trial court, appellant
did not allege in his complaint that he "was a state prisoner, or otherwise under the care,
custody, or control of the state at the time of the events in question," nor did the
complaint allege that appellee was employed by a prison or under contract to provide
medical treatment to inmates.
{¶ 14} The facts and holding in West are readily distinguishable from the facts
alleged in the instant complaint, i.e., a private physician treating a patient in an office or
hospital setting. See, e.g., Nunez v. Horn, 72 F. Supp. 2d 24, 27 (N.D.N.Y.1999) (finding
West distinguishable where physician was "not employed by the Bureau of Prisons, nor
was he under contract with the state to render medical services to prison inmates," and
physician did not treat inmate in prison hospital but, rather, "freely performed his
medical duties in a much more physician-controlled environment"). As noted by one
federal court, "[t]he theory behind the Supreme Court's recognition of state action [in
West] was that the state had delegated a function for which it could not disclaim
responsibility." Mitchell v. St. Elizabeth Hosp., 119 Fed.Appx. 1, 2 (7th Cir.2004).
Further, "[t]he basis of the Court's holding was not that the physician had provided
services, but rather that the state had 'an affirmative obligation to provide adequate
medical care' to the petitioner." Id. at 2-3. Thus, because the state had an obligation to
provide medical care to its inmates, the treatment provided by the physician in West was "
'clothed with the authority of state law.' " West at 55, quoting United States v. Classic, 313
U.S. 299, 326 (1941). The court in West also "specifically distinguished the custodial
physician-patient relationship from the 'ordinary' physician-patient relationship." Britt v.
Buffalo Mun. Housing Auth., 827 F. Supp. 2d 198, 206 (W.D.N.Y.2011), quoting West at
57, fn. 15.
No. 15AP-18 6
{¶ 15} Appellant contends that the "fact he was not physically in custody," i.e., a
prisoner, does not preclude his action under Section 1983. In support, appellant relies on
Sykes v. McPhillips, 412 F. Supp. 2d 197 (N.D.N.Y.2006), and Styles v. McGinnis, 28
Fed.Appx. 362 (6th Cir.2001) for the proposition that the holding in West has been
extended outside the prison setting. Neither of the cases cited by appellant are authority
for reversal of the trial court's dismissal in the instant case. In Sykes, the plaintiff filed a
Section 1983 action against a defendant-physician, alleging constitutional violations
arising from the delivery of emergency medical services at a private hospital during the
plaintiff's son's incarceration. The plaintiff argued that the physician should be deemed a
state actor because the physician's medical group contracted to provide emergency
services to the hospital. The court in Sykes rejected this argument and found no state
action. The court in Sykes relied in part on Nunez in holding that a physician "engaged in
a single encounter with a prisoner presented for emergency treatment, which he was
obligated under law to provide," would "not be deemed a state actor" for Section 1983
purposes. Id. at 204. Similarly, in the other decision cited by appellant, Styles, the Sixth
Circuit Court of Appeals held that an emergency room physician who treated an inmate
did not qualify as a state actor.
{¶ 16} Finally, appellant raises an argument in his pro se brief similar to one he
made before the trial court in his "response to show cause." Specifically, appellant
represented before the trial court that he obtained a medical card from the state due to his
inability to pay for his own medical treatment. According to appellant, because the state
provided him with a medical card, he is "no different than a prisoner who must [rely]
upon the state to pay for his medical treatment," and that the provision of services by
appellee implicates state action. While appellant's complaint contains no allegations with
respect to receipt of a state medical card or his reliance on the state for medical benefits,
such facts, standing alone, would not be sufficient to state a claim under Section 1983. In
fact, the court in West acknowledged "the fact that * * * private entities received state
funding and were subject to state regulation did not, without more, convert their conduct
into state action." West at 57, fn. 10. See also Smith v. Univ. of Minn. Med. Ctr.-Fairview
Riverside, D.C.Minn. No. 09-293 (July 14, 2010) ("extensive regulation and receipt of
No. 15AP-18 7
government funds does not convert a private medical provider, who provides medical
services that a state would not normally provide, into a state actor").
{¶ 17} Here, based upon this court's de novo review, the trial court properly
determined the complaint failed to state a claim for relief under Section 1983.
Accordingly, appellant's single assignment of error is overruled, and the judgment of the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is hereby affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
BRUNNER and HORTON, JJ., concur.
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