Fitzgerald v. Corrections Corp. of America

403 F.3d 1134, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 5894, 2005 WL 827139
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedApril 11, 2005
Docket03-5029
StatusPublished
Cited by191 cases

This text of 403 F.3d 1134 (Fitzgerald v. Corrections Corp. of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fitzgerald v. Corrections Corp. of America, 403 F.3d 1134, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 5894, 2005 WL 827139 (10th Cir. 2005).

Opinions

HOLLOWAY, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff-Appellant James J. Fitzgerald broke his hip while he was incarcerated at the David Moss Criminal Justice Center. Fitzgerald alleges that he suffered this fracture after experiencing a diabetes-related seizure and falling down, and he claims that his injuries are a result of the prison authorities’ failure to adequately treat his diabetes and failure to provide him with a wheelchair. Fitzgerald further alleges that prison authorities did not secure a medical evaluation for his injuries until over five months after he incurred them, and ultimately failed to provide any treatment for him at all.

Fitzgerald sued the jail’s private operator, the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), as well as the health care provider Prison Health Services (PHS), the Board of County Commissioners of Tulsa County (BCC), the Tulsa County Criminal Justice Authority (TCCJA), and John F. Josephson, M.D. (“Dr. Josephson”), attempting to assert claims for disability discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and § 504 of the [1137]*1137Rehabilitation Act. He also attempted to assert, against CCA, PHS and Dr. Josephson, claims arising under state law for negligence or medical malpractice and arising under federal law, i.e. 42 U.S.C. § 1983, based upon alleged violations of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma granted summary judgment to Dr. Josephson and dismissed the suit pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) against the remaining defendants. Fitzgerald now appeals.

As explained later, with respect to the dismissal of Fitzgerald’s claims against CCA, PHS, BCC and TCCJA for failure to plead exhaustion of administrative remedies sufficiently as required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), we vacate and remand for clarification whether dismissal of Fitzgerald’s claims was with or without prejudice. We affirm the grant of summary judgment for Dr. Josephson with respect to the federal claims against him. We reverse the summary judgment for him with respect to the state law claims, and remand for further proceedings.

I

BACKGROUND

A. Fitzgerald’s Allegations

James Fitzgerald was an insulin-dependent diabetic with a history of low blood sugar and seizures. Fitzgerald Amended Petition dated Feb. 22, 2002, ApltApp. 20, 21, ¶2. As a result of his condition, he alleges that he was also particularly susceptible to bone fractures. Id.

In August 1999 Fitzgerald was placed in the David Moss Criminal Justice Center. Id. at 22-23, ¶ 7. Upon admission, he alleges that he “informed jail staff’ that he required a special diet and regular injections of insulin. Id. Fitzgerald alleges he further “informed jail staff’ that as a result of his diabetic condition, his bones were more susceptible to fracture and that he had broken his leg while being housed in the old Tulsa County jail several years earlier. Id. He also “informed jail staff’ that he had a history of low blood sugar, that this caused him to have seizures if his diet and medication were not properly regulated, and that he required use of a wheelchair to prevent him from falling and sustaining injury. Id. Fitzgerald alleges that defendants CCH and PHS failed to accommodate his requests. Id at 23, ¶ 9.

On or about September 17, 1999, Fitzgerald alleges that he slipped into a diabetic coma or seizure and fell, fracturing his left upper femur. Id. Despite the apparent severity of these injuries, Fitzgerald alleges he was not provided with the opportunity for appropriate medical treatment until February 24, 2000. Id. at 23-24, ¶ 10-11. On or about February 24, 2000, Fitzgerald was examined by Dr. John F. Josephson, who was under contract with PHS. Id. at ¶ 11. Dr. Josephson reviewed Fitzgerald’s medical records and interpreted x-rays with which he was provided. Affidavit of Dr. Josephson dated Oct. 24, 2002, Aplee. SuppApp. at 75. Dr. Josephson offered three treatment options for Fitzgerald’s injury. Id. Although Dr. Josephson advised that a surgical procedure was the best form of treatment, he also informed PHS that an acceptable course of treatment was to do nothing. Fitzgerald Petition, ApltApp. at 23-24, ¶ 11. PHS chose to do nothing. Id.

In November, 2000, Fitzgerald was transferred into the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, having lived for fourteen months with an untreated broken hip. Id. at 24, ¶ 13 Fitzgerald alleges that he received no medical treatment for his injuries other than non-prescription pain medication during the time [1138]*1138that he was in jail, despite “numerous and repeated requests.” Id.

B. Procedural History

Fitzgerald first sued Defendants in the District Court of Tulsa County, Oklahoma. The case was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, on notice by CCA. The U.S. District Court exercised jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C, § 1331; since the court was presented with claims arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §§ 12102 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq.), and the United States Constitution. The District Court also had supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over Fitzgerald’s state negligence or malpractice claims against CCA, PHS and Dr. Josephson. We have jurisdiction over the appeals involving these claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

In the District Court before Judge Holmes, BCC, CCA, PHS and TCCJA moved to dismiss the claims against them under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), while Dr. Josephson moved for summary judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c) and Local Rule 56.1. The District Court found that Fitzgerald failed to adequately plead exhaustion of administrative remedies before bringing suit, as is required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). As a result, the court dismissed Fitzgerald’s suit entirely against BCC and TCCJA, because no state law claims were asserted against those Defendants. Order (2d) dated Jan. 6, 2003, Aplt. App. 33, 37.

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Bluebook (online)
403 F.3d 1134, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 5894, 2005 WL 827139, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fitzgerald-v-corrections-corp-of-america-ca10-2005.