Bedingfield Ex Rel. Bedingfield v. Deen

487 F. App'x 219
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedSeptember 6, 2012
Docket11-30814
StatusUnpublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 487 F. App'x 219 (Bedingfield Ex Rel. Bedingfield v. Deen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bedingfield Ex Rel. Bedingfield v. Deen, 487 F. App'x 219 (5th Cir. 2012).

Opinion

*221 PER CURIAM: *

Jimmy “Trey” Bedingfield was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer while incarcerated at the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office Work Release Facility, and he died three months after his diagnosis. Plaintiffs-Appellants Elizabeth Macy Beding-field, Trey’s minor daughter (through her mother April Bedingfield), and Mrs. Elizabeth Bedingfield and Mr. Jimmy Elton Bedingfield, Trey’s parents, brought this civil action for monetary damages against Defendants-Appellees Bossier Parish Sheriff Larry Deen, Warden Mark Toloso, Assistant Warden Lieutenant Jerry Sims, and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Plaintiffs asserted a variety of claims, including claims under both federal and state law that Defendants failed to provide reasonable medical care to Trey. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Defendants and dismissed all of Plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs appeal the district court’s judgment and several of the court’s evidentiary and discovery rulings. For the following reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Statement of Facts

Jimmy “Trey” Bedingfield (“Trey”) was convicted of felony theft, and on November 27, 2007, he was sentenced to serve five years in jail, with three years suspended and with credit for time served. On January 18, 2008, Trey was accepted into the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office Work Release Facility (“Work Release Facility”). On January 21, 2008, Trey began working as a freight puller for Hardware Resources. Trey’s last day of employment was May 23, 2008. While he was employed, Trey only missed five days of work due to illness.

On March 2, 2008, Trey complained of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and jaundice, and he saw a paramedic at the Work Release Facility. Trey was referred to LSU Hospital, where he was evaluated by physicians. On March 4, Trey returned to the Work Release Facility with a discharge summary report from LSU Hospital that stated that an esophagogastro-duodenoscopy (“EGD” or “endoscopy”) procedure was scheduled for March 13. The report also stated that Trey should not take any “aspirin-type products including Pepto-Bismol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, as well as BC Powders” and that Trey would meet with a physician on March 20 to review the results'of the procedure. On March 5, Registered Nurse David Gorman (“Nurse Gor-man”), an employee of the Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office, made arrangements for jail personnel to take Trey to the endoscopy procedure on March 13.

On March 9, Trey submitted a “kite communication form” to Assistant Warden Lieutenant Jerry Sims (“Assistant Warden Sims”). The form indicated that Trey was refusing the EGD procedure. Trey wrote on the form:

Lt. Simms I’m suppose[d] to go back to the Hospital on the 13th and have a scope ran down in my stomach to check for ulcers. It[’]s not a life threatening deal or anything. I have medical insurance threw [sic] Willis Knighton and my own doctor I’ve had for years. I get out Aug 8th this year, I would rather him do this when I get out. I would like to turn down going back to the hospital if *222 that[’]s ok. I feel fíne since I’ve been back. Thank you.

On March 10, Trey also signed a “refusal of medical treatment form.” The form indicated that Trey refused the “M.D. Appointment” and “Medical Treatments” “scheduled or ordered for [him] by the medical staff.” Trey signed his name underneath the following typed paragraph on the form:

I am signing this on my own free will without any coercion. I was informed of the consequences of refusal, which may directly affect my medical condition. I accept those consequences and release Bossier Sheriffs Department, Bossier Parish Police Jury, and/or medical staff of all legal ramifications concerning this matter.

In his affidavit, Nurse Gorman stated that he had talked to Trey about the EGD procedure and that Trey told him that “he did not want to attend the procedure.”

On March 19, Trey complained of stomach cramps and of vomiting “clear water,” and he was seen by Nurse Gorman. Nurse Gorman, who stated that he was unaware of LSU Hospital’s orders to the contrary, gave Trey several Pepto Bismol tablets. Nurse Gorman advised Trey to report any further problems, and Nurse Gorman told Assistant Warden Sims that, if Trey reported any additional problems, he should be sent to LSU Hospital. Trey did not report any additional problems that night, but missed work the next day due to illness.

Trey next reported a medical problem on May 6, 2008, and he saw Nurse Gorman regarding chest pain. Nurse Gorman performed an EKG and drew blood that was sent to LSU Hospital for evaluation. Nurse Gorman also scheduled Trey to see Dr. Russell Roberts (“Dr. Roberts”) on May 9, which was the date of Dr. Roberts’s next visit to the Work Release Facility. On May 9, Dr. Roberts examined Trey and evaluated the May 6 blood work and EKG. Dr. Roberts scheduled a followup appointment for Trey a month later, at which time additional blood work would be compared with the May 6 blood work.

On May 27, 2008, Trey complained of abdominal pain, and he saw Nurse Gor-man. According to Nurse Gorman, Trey “indicated for the first time ... that he had experienced weight loss.” Nurse Gor-man immediately sent Trey to LSU Hospital for evaluation. On May 27, Trey was diagnosed with colon cancer that had metastasized to other organs, including his liver. According to Warden Mark Toloso (“Warden Toloso”), on Saturday, May 31, LSU Hospital told him of Trey’s terminal illness and requested permission for Trey to have visitors at LSU Hospital. 1 Warden Toloso stated that he granted permission for visitation that same day. Trey’s family visited him daily at LSU Hospital starting on or about June 1, 2008. Trey was discharged from LSU Hospital to hospice care on June 28, 2008. He passed away due to the cancer on September 3, 2008.

In addition to the medical problems outlined above, Plaintiffs assert that Trey experienced more medical issues but did not report them because of threats made by Warden Toloso. Plaintiffs state that the intimidation began on February 11, 2008, when Warden Toloso chastised Trey for missing work due to a back injury. According to Plaintiffs, Trey told his family and friends (over the telephone and through letters) that he did not report his medical problems because he did not want to be removed from the Work Release *223 Facility and be placed back in the general prison population.

B. Statement of Proceedings

On March 9, 2009, Plaintiffs-Appellants Elizabeth Macy Bedingfield, Trey’s minor daughter (through her mother and natural tutrix April Bedingfield), 2 and Mrs. Elizabeth Bedingfield and Mr. Jimmy Elton Bedingfield, Trey’s parents, 3 brought this civil action for monetary damages against Defendants-Appellees Bossier Parish Sheriff Larry Deen (“Sheriff Deen”), Warden Toloso, Assistant Warden Sims, and St.

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Bluebook (online)
487 F. App'x 219, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bedingfield-ex-rel-bedingfield-v-deen-ca5-2012.