Johnson v. King

District Court, W.D. Arkansas·Decided October 2, 2020·No. 4:19-cv-04111·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS TEXARKANA DIVISION

CHARLES SAMUEL JOHNSON JR. PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 4:19-cv-04111

NURSE KING, Miller County Detention Center (“MCDC”); and CAPTAIN ADAMS, MCDC; DEFENDANTS

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

This is a civil rights action filed pro se by Plaintiff, Charles Samuel Johnson, Jr., under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Before the Court are summary judgment motions filed by Defendant Captain Adams (ECF No. 58) and Defendant Nurse King. (ECF No. 62). Plaintiff has filed Responses to each motion. (ECF Nos. 66, 68).1 Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and (3)(2011), the Honorable Susan O. Hickey, Chief United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for the purpose of making a Report and Recommendation. I. FACTUAL BACKROUND Plaintiff is currently incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of Correction (“ADC”), Eastern Arkansas Regional Unit. His claims in this action arise from alleged incidents that occurred in 2016 while he was incarcerated in the Miller County Detention Center (“MCDC”). At the time of the events in question, Defendant Adams was a Captain employed at the MCDC and Defendant King was a registered nurse employed by Southern Health Partners Inc. (“SHP”), the third-party medical provider for the MCDC. (ECF No. 63-1, pp. 1-2). Plaintiff was arrested and booked into the MCDC on June 17, 2016. (ECF No. 60-2, p. 1). Plaintiff’s Admission History and Physical (“H&P”) was performed on June 20, 2016. (ECF No.

1 Plaintiff also filed a Statement of Disputed Facts in response to Defendant King’s recitation of the facts. (ECF No. 67). 71). During the H&P Plaintiff complained of “voiding blood, passing stones, and burning sensations.” (ECF No. 71-2, p. 2). On June 23, 2016, the jail nurse practitioner ordered Plaintiff to undergo a urinalysis and analysis of a kidney stone. Id. at p. 3. Plaintiff was placed on Motrin 800 mg twice a day for pain. On July 14, 2016, Plaintiff was seen by the jail nurse practitioner for complaints of

discoloration of his left toenail. (ECF No. 71-2, pp. 3, 6). He was diagnosed with a fungal infection of the toenail and prescribed Lamisil.2 A comprehensive metabolic panel (blood test) was also ordered. Id. at p. 5. On July 21, 2016, Plaintiff was brought to the infirmary for bleeding around his testicles. Plaintiff was treated by Defendant King for his complaints. (ECF No. 71-2, p. 8). On August 1, 2016, Plaintiff submitted Medical Request #1,089,279 stating, “Mrs. Moore has told me that my account was charged on 6/23/16 again on 7/13/16 an also on 7/21/16 can you tell me why would was my account charged for when it should not have been. Can you please explain why my money is missing of my tiger account. (thank You)”. (ECF No. 71-2, p. 9). The

following day, Defendant King responded to the request stating, “You have been seen in the infirmary for complaints of kidney stone, problem with a fungus on your toe, bleeding from scratching yourself, seizures for a bottom rack pass. The charges are correct and will not be refunded.” Id. On August 30, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., Plaintiff submitted Grievance #1,159,669 stating, “On 8/30/16 as I was being led down the hall way after a argument with Officer Tefft I was pulled by Officer Hensley even though I was walking on my own. When we got to Max-E where I’m being housed at Officer Hensley grabs me by my throut at my adams apple an procceds to choke me.”

2 Lamisil is an anti-fungal medication. (ECF No. 63-2, p. 2). Later that same day at approximately 8:49 p.m. Plaintiff submitted Medical Request #1,159,981, stating: “I need to see the dotor a bout my throat ofter being chocked by officer Hensley.” (ECF No. 60-3, p. 1). On the morning of August 31, 2016, Defendant King saw Plaintiff at pill pass and observed no evidence of bruising to Plaintiff’s neck, no difficulty breathing, and no signs of distress. (ECF

No. 63-1, pp. 1-2). After Defendant King returned to the infirmary, he responded to Plaintiff’s Medical Request #1,159,981 denying his request to see a doctor stating, “You weren’t choked, request denied.” (ECF No. 60-3, p. 1). On August 31, 2016, Plaintiff submitted Grievance #1,162,678 stating, “I was just denied medical attention by Nurse King stemming from a incident yesterday (8/30/16) where I was choked by Officer Hensley.” (ECF No. 60-3, p. 13). The following day, an unidentified grievance officer responded to Grievance #1,159,669 in which Plaintiff accused Officer Hensley of choking him stating, “We take allegations such as the one you have made very seriously. We would like to remind you that disciplinary action will be taken against you if it is found that you have made

false allegations. We also want to assure you that if necessary, appropriate measures will be taken to address your concerns.” (ECF No. 63-3, p. 2). On September 6, 2016, Defendant Adams responded to Plaintiff’s grievance stating, “When and where did the incident take place where the officer had to use force?” Id. Plaintiff never responded to Defendant Adams’ request for more information about the incident. In September of 2016, Plaintiff submitted two medical requests concerning his blood pressure. (ECF No. 60-3, pp. 2-3). On December 10, 2016, Plaintiff submitted a medical request pertaining to his medication. (ECF No. 60-3, p. 4). During January of 2017, Plaintiff submitted eight medical requests concerning his mental health, blood pressure, and acid reflux. (ECF No. 60-3, pp. 5-12). On February 27, 2017, Plaintiff was released from the MCDC and transferred to the ADC. (ECF No. 60-2, p. 1). From February 27, 2017 through July 9, 2018, while in the custody of the ADC, Plaintiff submitted numerous medical requests none of which related to any throat injury

from the alleged choking incident. Plaintiff was evaluated and treated by the ADC’s medical personnel on at least twenty (20) separate occasions and never mentioned any injury to his throat. (ECF No. 60-5, pp. 1-26). II. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The MCDC has policies in place regarding the treatment of inmates including but not limited to procedures for providing medical care. The policy provides the MCDC will maintain the health of each inmate at the level of his/her status at the time of incarceration, unless any illness or injury requires immediate attention or is deemed to be life threatening or potentially life threatening. (ECF No. 60-4, p. 1). The MCDC provides regular and emergency medical care and

services within the facility at a designated location. The MCDC maintains written agreements with one or more health authorities licensed in the State of Arkansas for this purpose. Id. Inmates in the MCDC have the opportunity each day to request health care services by submitting sick call requests, regardless of housing assignments. Inmate sick call requests are collected daily by the medical supervisor through medical selection on the KIOSKS and triaged during the evening medical rounds by qualified medical personnel for immediacy of need. (ECF No. 60-4, p. 4). Verbal or written sick call requests for non-emergency illnesses/injuries shall be triaged within twenty-four (24) hours (72 hours during weekends) by qualified medical personnel. Based on physician approved protocols, inmates, when appropriate, shall be scheduled for the next sick call clinic or the next available provider’s clinic. The frequency and duration of sick call shall be sufficient to meet the health needs of the inmate population. Id. At all times relevant, SHP was under contract with the MCDC to provide healthcare services to inmates. (ECF No. 63-1, p. 2). According to SHP’s policy and procedure manual for

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