Hempstead v. Parker (PSLC2)

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedDecember 17, 2021
Docket3:21-cv-00417
StatusUnknown

This text of Hempstead v. Parker (PSLC2) (Hempstead v. Parker (PSLC2)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hempstead v. Parker (PSLC2), (E.D. Tenn. 2021).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE

HAROLD HEMPSTEAD, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No.: 3:21-CV-417-TAV-DCP ) TONY PARKER, ) KENNETH WILLIAMS, ) STEVEN WHEELER, ) JAMES HOLLOWAY, ) EMMA RICH, ) KATIE CAMPBELL, ) SHAWN PHILLIPS, ) RAY WORTHINGTON, ) VELMA BARNETT, ) EARNEST JONES, ) NATHAN TOLLITT, ) PAUL OAKS, and ) BRETT COBBLE, ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER This case is before the Court on Plaintiff’s pro se complaint alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 [Doc. 1]. Because Plaintiff is incarcerated, the Court must screen his complaint pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) to determine whether Plaintiff has stated a justiciable claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. I. SCREENING STANDARDS Under the PLRA, district courts must screen prisoner complaints and sua sponte dismiss any claims that are “frivolous, malicious, or 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 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); see also Randolph v. Campbell, 25 F. App’x 261, 263 (6th Cir. 2001) (holding PLRA screening procedures apply even if plaintiff pays entire filing fee). “[T]he dismissal standard articulated” by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft v.

Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009) and Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007) “governs dismissals for failure state a claim under [28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A] because the relevant statutory language tracks the language in [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure] 12(b)(6).” Hill v. Lappin, 630 F.3d 468, 470-71 (6th Cir. 2010). Thus, to survive an initial review under the PLRA, a complaint “must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as

true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). In order to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must establish that he was deprived of a federal right by a person acting under color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Braley v. City of Pontiac, 906 F.2d 220, 223 (6th Cir. 1990) (stating that “Section

1983 does not itself create any constitutional rights; it creates a right of action for the vindication of constitutional guarantees found elsewhere”). Courts liberally construe pro se pleadings filed in civil rights cases and “hold [them] to less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Rather, all that is required is “enough facts to state a claim to

relief that is plausible on its face.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 544, 570. Allegations that give rise to a mere possibility that a plaintiff might later establish undisclosed facts supporting recovery, however, are not well-pled and do not state a plausible claim. Id. Further, 2 “formulaic [and conclusory] recitations of the elements of a . . . claim,” which are not supported by specific facts are insufficient to state a plausible claim for relief. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 681.

II. PLAINTIFF’S RELEVANT ALLEGATIONS On March 17, 2017, Plaintiff was transferred from the Florida Department of Correction (“FDOC”) to the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction (“TDOC”) pursuant to an interstate corrections compact between the states [Doc. 1 p. 2]. Plaintiff was transferred with a fractured right wrist, digestive issues, and lower back problems

[Id. at 3]. FDOC had issued Plaintiff medical passes for a special diet; assignment to a lower bunk; a back brace and wrist brace; and that he be restricted from activity requiring him to push, pull, lift heavy objects, or stand for a long period of time [Id.]. Just prior to Plaintiff’s transfer to TDOC custody, FDOC medical officials were attempting to find a surgeon who would perform surgery on Plaintiff’s fractured right wrist without general

anesthesia due to “the high likelihood” that Plaintiff is allergic to anesthesia [Id.]. Plaintiff was notified by a June 7, 2017 letter that a TDOC administrator was in possession of Plaintiff’s classification and medical files [Id. at 2]. Between August 2017 and August 2021, Plaintiff was advised several times that his medical files were transferred with him between TDOC institutions [Id. at 3].

From late 2018 until November 2020 (except for a months-long respite in 2019), Plaintiff suffered pain in his lower back and upper right leg that made it very difficult for him to walk [Id.]. This pain also prevented Plaintiff from leaving his housing unit unless 3 forced to do so by staff [Id.]. Plaintiff gained approximately 30 pounds from eating only commissary foods during that time, as walking to the chow hall for meals was too painful and difficult [Id.].

Plaintiff was transferred to Bledsoe County Correctional Complex (“BCCX”) in November 2020 [Id.]. At that time, he was informed that the physical therapy treatment he had received at the previous TDOC institution would not be continued, as BCCX did not have a physical therapist, and Covid-19 restrictions would not allow an outside therapist to visit the facility [Id.].

On March 31, 2021, Nurse Practitioner Liz Elgan reviewed Plaintiff’s medical files and evaluated Plaintiff [Id.]. She placed the following medical restrictions in his medical file and on the Tennessee Offender Management Information System (“TOMIS”): No heavy lifting 20 lbs max, able to frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs, limited strenuous activity for extended periods of time, no continuous standing or walking for extended periods of time, no repetitive stooping or bending, no climbing or balancing (uneven ground), no participation in weight lifting or strenuous athletics, or outside work in spring and summer, and must be housed on the first floor bottom bunk [Id. at 4].

On March 29, 2021, Plaintiff was evaluated by Defendant Dr. Earnest Jones after Plaintiff submitted a sick-call request [Id.]. Plaintiff advised Dr. Jones of severe pain in his hip and left knee and told Dr. Jones that he believed the pain was caused by the left side of his body having to bear the majority of Plaintiff’s body weight due to the chronic severe pain Plaintiff experienced in his lower back and upper right leg [Id.]. Plaintiff requested a steroid shot and/or a wheelchair or cane [Id.]. Dr. Jones told Plaintiff “that more than likely, the pain in the [P]laintiff’s knee was from overworking it, that he could not give the 4 [P]laintiff a steroid shot or issue him a wheelchair or ca[ne], nor could he issue the [P]laintiff any pain medicine” [Id.]. Plaintiff contends that his medical file was on Dr. Jones’s desk at the time [Id.].

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Related

Johnson v. Rodriguez
110 F.3d 299 (Fifth Circuit, 1997)
Ex Parte Young
209 U.S. 123 (Supreme Court, 1908)
Haines v. Kerner
404 U.S. 519 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly
550 U.S. 544 (Supreme Court, 2007)
Ashcroft v. Iqbal
556 U.S. 662 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Hill v. Lappin
630 F.3d 468 (Sixth Circuit, 2010)
Thaddeus-X and Earnest Bell, Jr. v. Blatter
175 F.3d 378 (Sixth Circuit, 1999)
Foster v. State
150 S.W.3d 166 (Court of Appeals of Tennessee, 2004)
Whittel v. Roche
88 F.2d 366 (Ninth Circuit, 1937)
Randolph v. Campbell
25 F. App'x 261 (Sixth Circuit, 2001)
Smith v. Yarrow
78 F. App'x 529 (Sixth Circuit, 2003)

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Bluebook (online)
Hempstead v. Parker (PSLC2), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hempstead-v-parker-pslc2-tned-2021.