Baxley v. Marshall

District Court, S.D. West Virginia·Decided July 27, 2020·No. 3:18-cv-01526·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA HUNTINGTON DIVISION

JOHN BAXLEY, JR., ET AL.,

Plaintiffs,

vs. Civil Action No. 3:18-cv-01526

BETSEY JIVIDEN, ET AL.,

Defendants.

ORDER

Pending before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Third Motion to Compel Discovery (ECF No. 238)1 On July 16, 2020, the undersigned hosted an informal telephonic conference concerning this matter during which the parties indicated that additional time was necessary to determine if a resolution could be reached in this discovery dispute. Since then, the parties have met and conferred further, however, they have represented to the Court that certain issues related to the Motion remain unresolved: 1. Plaintiffs’ Requests for Production Numbers 9, 11, 21, 60-62, 64, 65, that concern only those documents related to Northern Regional Jail, where Defendant West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (“DCR”) medical contractor is Wexford Health Systems. These are documents are related to patient health records, audits, and reviews. DCR maintains that these items are in the possession of Wexford and not DCR. Plaintiffs maintain that DCR is required to provide documents within the possession and control of its agents and/or provide additional documentation of the purportedly reasonable efforts that it has made to obtain said records.

2. Plaintiffs’ Requests for Production Numbers 21 and 63, that concern documents related to DCR employee Debbie Hissom, as well as contractor employees

1 As indicated by the parties, items related to production requests raised in Plaintiffs’ Second Motion to Compel Discovery (ECF No. 131) remained unresolved to date (specifically, Plaintiffs assert that Requests for Production Numbers 1, 2, and 3-5 are outstanding, thus necessitating filing of their Third Motion to Compel Discovery). 2 providing inmate care at Northern Regional Jail, where Wexford is the contractor. These are documents related to personnel files and staff evaluations related to patient care and medical oversight. DCR maintains that the items other than those regarding Debbie Hissom are in the possession of Wexford and not DCR. Plaintiffs maintain that DCR is required to provide documents within the possession and control of its agents and/or provide additional documentation of the purportedly reasonable efforts made to obtain said records.

3. Plaintiffs’ Request for Production Number 59. This relates specifically to records for the named Plaintiffs regarding incident reports and use of force reports.

For the reasons stated infra, the undersigned GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Motion: Background This case is a putative class action against Defendants for alleged failures to provide basic and necessary medical and mental health care to inmates in Defendants’ custody and control at West Virginia Regional Jails. Defendants contract with Wexford Health Systems to provide medical and mental health care for inmates at Northern Regional Jail. Plaintiffs’ Argument in Support of Motion to Compel With regard to Requests for Production Numbers 9, 11, 21, 61, 64, 65, Plaintiffs assert that Defendant had objected to same, stating that documents responsive to these Requests are in the custody/control of Wexford. Plaintiffs contend that these Requests seek information that deposition testimony revealed is produced to Defendants regularly by its contracted agent, reflects meetings in which Defendants participate, and by virtue of the contractual relationship, Defendants would be entitled to this information anyway. Plaintiffs argue this information is relevant and proportional to the needs of this case, particularly with regard to class certification. Plaintiffs further complain that Defendants objected to Requests for Production Numbers 61 and 64 citing confidentiality concerns regarding mortality reviews, and indicated Wexford objected to disclosure on that basis as well. However, Plaintiffs note that redactions can be made the ensure confidentiality is preserved, and further, state-law peer review privilege does not apply 3 in these proceedings. Despite Defendants having represented that they have had communications with Wexford on these matters, Defendants have not produced information regarding these communications, which would also be responsive to Plaintiffs’ Requests. With regard to Request for Production Number 63, which concerns personnel files of

employees and contractors for DCR who have medical training or make medical decisions, Plaintiffs assert they have clarified to Defendants that they want information concerning an individual contracted with Defendants regarding medical contracts – not personal information that would unreasonably invade privacy or information to which Defendants are entitled to withhold pursuant to state law. This information is appropriate for disclosure under state law, however, Defendants have not disclosed any responsive information. With regard to Request for Production Number 59, which concerns files of named Plaintiffs that include disciplinary and use of force reports, Plaintiffs argue that these records are relevant and proportional to the needs of this case because deposition testimony from at least one named Plaintiff revealed that his mental health treatment was deliberately withheld by correctional staff

in order to trigger a mental health crisis allowing for correctional staff to use as pretext to employ physical force to restrain or subdue him. Defendants objected on grounds these are irrelevant. With regard to Request for Production Number 60, concerning autopsy reports and internal and external investigations related thereto, Plaintiffs assert that these documents are relevant and proportional to their claims that necessary and basic medical care has been provided or not. Defendants objected on ground of confidentiality. Plaintiffs counter that the protective order entered in this matter would cover confidences, and further, despite Defendants’ contention that Plaintiffs can obtain these records from the medical examiner, Defendants have access to these records and are obligated to produce them.

4 With regard to Request for Production Number 62, which concern records related to inmate suicides, Defendants have stated these were already produced, however, Plaintiffs claim they are unable to locate such responsive documents in the materials produced thus far. Plaintiffs maintain these materials are still relevant and proportional to the needs of this case and must be produced.

Defendants’ Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Third Motion to Compel Defendants contend that they have timely responded to Plaintiffs’ discovery requests and have produced over 10,000 pages of documentation. Further, they argue that Plaintiffs’ motion is untimely – it should have been filed no later than June 10, 2020, and during the parties’ meet and confer on the issues related to their discovery responses, Defendants’ counsel pointed out to Plaintiffs’ counsel about the deadline, however, Plaintiffs counsel made no efforts to stipulate to an extension of the deadline. Therefore, Plaintiffs’ motion should be denied on this basis. Defendants further state that with regard to Plaintiffs’ Requests for Production Numbers 59 and 62, these are moot issues because Defendants have since produced responsive information to these Requests. However, with regard to materials sought in Plaintiffs’ Request for Production

Number 59 that concerns disciplinary files, Defendants maintain that such information is irrelevant to Plaintiffs’ claims. With regard to Requests for Production Numbers 9, 11, 21, 61, 64, and 65, Defendants maintain that Wexford is not a parent or subsidiary corporation of Defendants or in any way related thereto, and Defendants do not have custody of the responsive documentation.

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