Brakeall v. Stanwick-Klemik

CourtDistrict Court, D. South Dakota
DecidedSeptember 28, 2018
Docket4:17-cv-04101
StatusUnknown

This text of Brakeall v. Stanwick-Klemik (Brakeall v. Stanwick-Klemik) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. South Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brakeall v. Stanwick-Klemik, (D.S.D. 2018).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT. DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTHERN DIVISION

WINSTON GREY BRAKEALL, 4:17-CV-04101-LLP Plaintiff, vs. ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT IN PART AND DIRECTING SERVICE JENIFER STANWICK-KLEMIK, in her individual and official capacity; JOSH KLIMEK, in his individual and official capacity; DENNIS KAEMINGEK, in his individual and official capacity, ROBERT DOOLEY, in his individual and official capacity, BRENT FLUKE, in his individual and official capacity; KELLY TJEERDSMA, in her individual and official capacity; NICOLE ST. PIERRE, in her individual and official capacity; TAMMY MERTENS- JONES, in her individual and official capacity; ANNIE ANTROBUS, in her individual and official capacity, UNKNOWN CBM FOOD SERVICES STAFF, individual and official capacity; UNKNOWN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STAFF MEMBERS, individual and official capacity, SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; LT. MADDOX, in _ his individual and _ official capacity; LT. HARTIGAN, in his individual and official capacity, CAC FLEEK, in his individual and official capacity; TIFFANY VOIGT, in her individual and official capacity; Defendants.

INTRODUCTION Plaintiff, Winston Grey Brakeall, is an inmate at Mike Durfee State Prison (MDSP) in Springfield, South Dakota. He filed a pro se civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the

Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The Court previously “screened” this case pursuant to 28 USC. § 1915A and directed service. Brakeall, however, has not yet served any deféndants. Brakeall now moves to amend and supplement his complaint. Docket 17, 19, & 20. Brakeall intended these motions to add to his initial complaint, rather than supplant or replace his initial complaint. Docket 20. Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may amend his pleadings once without court authorization if the motion is made within 21 days after service or within 21 days after service of a responsive pleading. Because no defendants have

. been served, the court will grant Brakeall’s motions to amend and supplement and rescreen Brakeall’s claims against defendants. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Brakeall alleges several violations of his civil rights occurred at MDSP. Docket 17-1. The facts as alleged in the amended complaint are as follows. Bed Modification Brakeall stands 6’ 9” tall. Id. ¢ 18. He has a body mass index of 37.5 and is morbidly obese. Id. Brakeall requires modifications to his bed to lie flat. Jd. { 19. In 1997, Brakeall was imprisoned at the South Dakota State Penitentiary (SDSP) and the Department of Corrections (DOC) extended a bed and issued an extra mattress, blankets, and pillows. Jd. { 19. In 2000, Brakeall was transferred to East Hall in SDSP where a second, customized bed was made for him. Jd. J 20. Brakeall was again issued additional mattresses and bedding. Id. In 2005, Brakeall was transferred to the MDSP. Id. { 21. The staff was alerted to Brakeall’s size and they prepared a medical bed with a one-foot mattress extension. Id.

In November 2014, Brakeall returned to the Jameson Prison Annex. Jd. { 22. Brakeall informed staff that he was too tall to sleep in the cells because the bunks are built across the 6’ 5” width of the cell. Jd. Staff assigned Brakeall the top bunk, which is approximately six feet off the ground. Brakeall was unable to climb into his assigned bed and slept on the floor for six weeks. Id. { 24. Staff witnessed Brakeall duck under doorways and sleep on the floor. Id. | 23. The Jameson Annex staff claimed to have no record of Brakeall’s height, weight or past accommodations. Id. In December of 2014, Brakeall was transferred to the East Hall at the SDSP. Id. 24. East Hall staff also claimed to have no record of Brakeall’s height, weight or past accommodations or any orders to keep Brakeall on the first floor, to assign him the bottom bunk, or provide him extra bedding. Jd. 25. Several days later, Brakeall was transferred to the West Hall housing unit after being assaulted. Id. { 26. In West Hall, Brakeall was assigned the middle bunk of a triple stack. Jd. The top bunk was approximately twenty inches away from the middle bunk. Jd. Brakeall regularly bumped his head and shoulders on the upper bunk. Id. Brakeall’s parole was reinstated and he was transferred to the Community Transition Program (CTP) at Unit C. Jd. 27. Brakeall was initially assigned the top bunk of a triple stack, but he was allowed to move to a middle bunk and was given additional bedding as a temporary extension. Id. In December 2015, Brakeall was detained and placed in East Hall with no height accommodations. Id. { 28. In February of 2016, Brakeall was transferred to West Hall after being assaulted a second and third time. Jd. In West Hall, Unit Manager Keith Ditmanson provided Brakeall with an extra mattress. Id. In July of 2016, Brakeall violated his parole and was transferred to MDSP. Id. § 29. At MDSP, he was assigned to the top bunk of a triple stack in a nine-man room in the West Crawford

housing unit. Id. at 8, § A2. Unit Coordinator Britney Ulmer told Brakeall his bed would be modified once he was transferred to a “permanent” room. Id. ¥ 30. In October of 2016, Brakeall was assigned the bottom bunk in room 118. Id. q 31. The bottom bunk is approximately five inches off the floor. Jd.-Nine months passed without any modifications to the bed. Jd. { 32. Without modifications, Brakeall “is forced to sleep with his feet pushed through the cross bars at the bottom.” Jd. Additionally, Brakeall’s weight causes persistent hip and back pain, which can be accommodated with a second mattress. Jd. The bed’s proximity to the floor causes Brakeall constant knee and back pain. Id. § 107. Brakeall spoke to Unit Manager Josh Klimek about the modifications and an extension. Id.

_ Klimek repeatedly replied that “he’s ‘looking into it.’ ” Jd. § 33. Brakeall also kited Klimek several times but received no response. Id { 34. Brakeall filed a grievance but received no response. Id. | 35. Brakeall signed up to see Klimek during “ ‘open door’ periods at least fifty times in a past

months and the only time-he has seen Mr. Klimek was in passing at his desk.” Id. J 36. Colonoscopy Cancelation Brakeall requested a colonoscopy to screen for cancer. Id. at 9, { S4. His request was approved and an appointment was scheduled in August 2017. Jd. On Thursday, July 27, 2018, a health services nurse told him he could not take ibuprofen or any other anti-inflammatory drugs until after his colonoscopy. Jd. (S5. That same day, Brakeall informed his parents about the upcoming colonoscopy. Jd. at 10, { S6. On Saturday, July 29, 2018, Health Services informed Brakeall that he was placed on a low fiber diet in preparation for his colonoscopy. Jd. i S7. That same day, Brakeall again called his parents about the colonoscopy he expected to take place on Monday or Tuesday. Id. J S8.

On July 30, 2018, Health Services gave Brakeall laxative tablets at 4:00 p.m. and told him to return at 6:00 p.m. for another dose. Jd. ¢S9. Brakeall then called his parents about the colonoscopy. J S10. At 2:00 p.m. on July 31, Brakeall’s mother, Linda Brakeall, called the prison to check on Brakeall’s status. (S15. Medical staff then brought Brakeall a disclosure form to allow thern to discuss his condition with his mother. ¢ S16. At 5:00 p.m., Health Services called for Brakeall and informed him that he would have to stay in the infirmary until his colonoscopy was complete. Id. $11. The nurses told him it was to prevent him from eating and interfering with the colon prep. Id, At 8:00 p.m., Brakeall spoke to Lt. Maddox, the officer in charge, about going to the law library. | S12.

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Brakeall v. Stanwick-Klemik, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brakeall-v-stanwick-klemik-sdd-2018.