Bynum v. Sweet

District Court, N.D. California·Decided April 7, 2022·No. 5:21-cv-05833·Unknown

Opinion

JIM CARTER BYNUM, Case No. 21-05833 BLF (PR) Plaintiff, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO v. ISSUE SUMMONS AND MARSHAL DEFENDANT MICHAEL LAUFIK; MARY SWEET, et al., DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO FILE DISPOSITIVE MOTION OR Defendants. NOTICE REGARDING SUCH MOTION

Plaintiff, a state prisoner, filed the instant pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against medical personnel at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad (“CTF”) where he is currently incarcerated.1 Dkt. No. 1. The Court found the complaint stated a cognizable claim under the Eighth Amendment for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs, and ordered the matter served on Defendants Dr. Mary Karen Sweet and Dr. Martin Laufik. Dkt. No. 9. In response, the CDCR reported that Defendant Dr. Laufik is a contract doctor and not a CDCR employee, and provided his last known address under seal. Dkt. No. 10. Accordingly, the Court will order the Marshal to formally serve the matter on Defendant Dr. Martin Laufik at the address provided by the A. Standard of Review A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of 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 The Court found the complaint stated cognizable claims based on the following allegations: Plaintiff claims that on or about January 31, 2020, he fell and injured his elbow while exiting the shower. Dkt. No. 1 at 5. Plaintiff claims Defendant Dr. Mary Karen Sweet acted with deliberate indifference in treating his injury, resulting in greater damage to the area. Id. at 11. Plaintiff claims Defendant Dr. Martin Laufik was negligent in misdiagnosing his injury, resulting in delayed treatment and irreparable damage. Id. at 12-13. Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff states a cognizable § 1983 claim for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs against Defendant Sweet. See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). The Court will exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the negligence claim against Defendant Laufik. See United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 33 U.S. 715 (1966). Dkt. No. 9 at 2. /// For the reasons state above, the Court orders as follows: 1. The Clerk of the Court shall issue summons and the Unites States Marshal shall serve, without prepayment of fees, a copy of the complaint, Dkt. No. 1, all attachments thereto, and a copy of this order upon Defendant Dr. Michael Laufik at the address provided by the CDCR under seal. Dkt. No. 10. The Clerk shall also mail a copy of this Order to Plaintiff. Defendant Laufik is advised to contact the Attorney General’s Office2 for possible representation in this action. 2. No later than ninety-one (91) days from the date this order is filed, Defendants shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion with respect to the claims in the complaint found to be cognizable above. a. Any motion for summary judgment shall be supported by adequate factual documentation and shall conform in all respects to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Defendants are advised that summary judgment cannot be granted, nor qualified immunity found, if material facts are in dispute. If any Defendant is of the opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment, he shall so inform the Court prior to the date the summary judgment motion is due. b. In the event Defendants file a motion for summary judgment, the Ninth Circuit has held that Plaintiff must be concurrently provided the appropriate warnings under Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 963 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). See Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 940 (9th Cir. 2012). 3. Plaintiff’s opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the Court and served on Defendants no later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date Defendants’

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