Baldwin v. Atchley

District Court, N.D. California·Decided June 3, 2020·No. 5:20-cv-00676·Unknown

Opinion

ANTHONY LEE BALDWIN, Case No. 20-00676 BLF (PR) Plaintiff, ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH v. LEAVE TO AMEND; DENYING MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL INSTRUCTIONS TO DR. L. GAMBOA, et al., THE CLERK Defendants. (Docket No. 3)

Plaintiff, a California state prisoner, filed the instant pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against employees of Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”), where is currently incarcerated, and officers at the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office. Dkt. No. 1. Plaintiff has filed a motion for appointment of counsel. Dkt. No. 3. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis shall be addressed in a separate order. Dkt. No. 2. A. Standard of Review A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must, however, be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). B. Plaintiff’s Claims Plaintiff names the following as defendants in this action: Dr. Lawrence Gamboa, Chief Physician and Surgeon at SVSP in 2016; Dr. Darren Bright, Chief Physician and Surgeon at SVSP in 2018; Dr. Rosana Javate, physician and surgeon in B-Facility at SVSP; Dr Mandeep Singh, physician and surgeon at C-Facility in SVSP; Mr. Arik Anderson, Del Norte County Sheriff, and Mr. Bill Stevens, Del Norte County Deputy Sheriff, Jail Commander. Dkt. No. 3. This action is based on the medical care Plaintiff received for two separate injuries, the first to his left shoulder and the second to his face. Plaintiff’s claims also involve two separate groups of defendants located at two different institutions: SVSP and the Del Norte County Jail. Accordingly, it may be that claims and parties have been improperly joined in this matter in violation of Rules 18(a) and 20(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. However, it is unnecessary to consider whether severance is appropriate at this time because Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to state a cognizable claim against any named defendant. 1. Shoulder Injury Plaintiff claims that he suffered a left shoulder injury at another prison before arriving at SVSP in October 2015. Dkt. No. 1 at 4. His request to see an orthopedic orthopedic surgeon at Twin Cities Memorial Hospital, who recommended an MRI. Id. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Dr. Gamboa denied the MRI, but that it was later granted after he filed a grievance on the matter. Id. He received the MRI on June 30, 2016, which revealed a “partial thickness tear of the rotator cuff, tendinopathy with impingement.” Id. When Dr. Kowall recommended surgery after a follow-up visit on September 12, 2016, Defendant Dr. Gamboa denied the request. Id. Plaintiff claims he suffered intense pain and dramatically reduced range of motion for the next two years. Id. On May 4, 2018, Plaintiff requested to a follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon, which was denied. Dkt. No. 1 at 5. In February 2018, Plaintiff had suffered a face injury for which he was also seeking treatment. Id. at 4. Dr. Sam Pajong, Plaintiff’s doctor at the time, suggested focusing first on getting Plaintiff’s jaw fixed before dealing with his shoulder. Id. at 6; see infra at 4. Plaintiff agreed with the treatment plan. Id. at 6. After Plaintiff’s jaw surgery was scheduled for August 15, 2018, Dr. Pajong resubmitted the request for a follow up with Dr. Kowall on August 8, 2018, and the request was granted. Id. at 7. Two weeks later on August 22, 2018, Plaintiff saw Dr. Kowall, who stated that his recommendation for surgery remained the same. Id. Plaintiff was approved for surgery on his left shoulder, which he received on December 3, 2018. Id. Dr. Kowall informed Plaintiff that recovery could be quite painful and last up to 6 months, and he prescribed morphine sulphate at 30 mg, twice daily. Id. At this time, Plaintiff was temporarily housed at the Correctional Training Facility (“CTF”) in Soledad as an ad-seg overflow transfer. Id. at 7-8. He claims that the doctors at CTF followed Dr. Kowall’s orders regarding his pain medication. Id. at 8. When Plaintiff was transferred back to SVSP in January 2019, Plaintiff came under the care of Defendant Dr. Rosana Javate, who reduced his pain medication to 15 mg, three times daily. Id. at 8. Plaintiff filed a medical grievance against Dr. Javate for her actions. Id. Department (the “Jail”) for resentencing. Id. The Jail “cut off” his pain medication “for no reason except that the jail’s blanket policy is no opioids.” Id. Plaintiff claims after he filed a grievance, the Jail Commander partially granted the medical accommodation, but the Jail still failed to provide his medication due to the lack of paperwork in his medical file, i.e., the prescription for morphine. Id. He claims that he submitted the grievance to the 4th level review “10 months ago,” but did not receive a response. Id. at 9. On April 10, 2019, Plaintiff was transferred back to SVSP, where he submitted a sick call slip for follow-up and physical therapy, as well as an appointment with Dr. Kowall to renew his pain medication. Id. at 9. Plaintiff was seen by Dr. Javate, who would not renew his pain meds because he was now “weaned” off, but she submitted a request for services for Plaintiff to see Dr. Kowall. Id. On Mary 17, 2019, Plaintiff saw Dr. Kowall who diagnosed “frozen shoulder” due to the lack of physical therapy; he administered a subacromial steroid injection and scheduled a follow-up. Id. A month later on June 17, 2019, Plaintiff had a follow-up with Dr. Kowall to whom he described a lack of improvement in pain but slight improvement of range of motion due to physical therapy. Id. Plaintiff had an additional procedure with Dr. Kowall in December 2019, which involved a “forced manipulation of left shoulder to break up the blockage that had built up and impinged movement.” Id. at 10. Based on the above allegations, Plaintiff asserts that the CDCR caused him to suffer for 2 years with a torn rotator cuff without the benefit of pain management medications, and that the SVSP medical department is “breathtakingly incompetent or so deliberately indifferent.” Id. Plaintiff also claims that the Del Norte Sheriff’s Department is also responsible for contributing to his shoulder becoming frozen because the Jail was “more interested in how to avoid the cost of physical therapy and pain management medication.” Id. at 11. 2. Face Injury a cement table while playing football. Id. Plaintiff did not seek medical attention until three weeks later. Dkt. No. 4. On March 13, 2018, he was seen by Defendant Dr. Javate. Id. at 4-5. Plaintiff complained of “intense agony” which prevented him from eating, sleeping and washing his face. Id. at 5. He was only able to open his jaw past “3/4 inch” after which the

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