Kaleohano-Arakaki v. State of Hawaii

District Court, D. Hawaii·Decided April 29, 2024·No. 1:24-cv-00131·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF HAWAII YASUSHI KALEOHANO-ARAKAKI, CIVIL NO. 24-00131 DKW-RT #A0115950, ORDER (1) DISMISSING Plaintiff, PRISONER COMPLAINT FOR A CIVIL CASE; AND (2) DENYING vs. MOTION FOR COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL STATE OF HAWAII, et al.,

Defendants.

Before the Court is a Complaint for a Civil Case filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by pro se Plaintiff Yasushi Kaleohano-Arakaki, ECF No 1, and his “Motion: Request for Court Appointed Counsel,” ECF No. 4.1 ECF No. 1. In the Complaint, Kaleohano-Arakaki alleges that his safety was threatened, and he was denied adequate medical care during his incarceration at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center (HCCC) in Hilo, Hawaii and at the Halawa Correctional Facility.2 See ECF No. 3 at PageID.11–PageID.13. After conducting the required

1Kaleohano-Arakaki is currently incarcerated at the Halawa Correctional Facility. See ECF No. 1-1, at PageID.6; see also VINE, https://vinelink.vineapps.com/search/HI/Person (select “ID Number”; enter “A0115950”; and select “Search”) (last visited Apr. 25, 2024).

2Kaleohano-Arakaki names as Defendants the State of Hawaii, HCCC Medical, Dr. Caroline Mee, Dr. Brent Burrougs, and an unnamed nurse at the HCCC. ECF No. 1 at PageID.1– PageID.3. It is unclear if Kaleohano-Arakaki instead meant to name Dr. Brent A. Burroughs, a neurologist with the Queen’s Health System. screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A, the Court DISMISSES the Complaint with partial leave to amend. If Kaleohano-Arakaki wants this action

to proceed, he must file an amended pleading that cures the noted deficiencies in his claims on or before May 20, 2024. In the alternative, Kaleohano-Arakaki may inform the Court in writing on or before May 20, 2024 that he would like to

voluntarily dismiss this action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1), and such a dismissal will not count as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Kaleohano-Arakaki’s Motion for Court Appointed Counsel, ECF No. 4, is DENIED without prejudice.

I. BACKGROUND3 On an unspecified date, a “gang of inmates” at the HCCC “attacked” Kaleohano-Arakaki. ECF No. 3 at PageID.11. During the incident, Kaleohano-

Arakaki was knocked unconscious. Id. A cellmate told Kaleohano-Arakaki that he was kicked repeatedly during the incident. Id. Some of the kicks were to Kaleohano-Arakaki’s head. Id. The incident ended after Kaleohano-Arakaki’s cellmate intervened. Id.

When Kaleohano-Arakaki regained consciousness the next morning, he ached from head to toe. Id. at PageID.12. His vision was blurred, and his right

3Kaleohano-Arakaki’s factual allegations are accepted as true for purposes of screening. See Nordstrom v. Ryan, 762 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2014). arm was trembling. Id. Kaleohano-Arakaki went to the medical unit and was seen by a nurse. Id. A week later, Kaleohano-Arakaki visited Dr. Mee. Id. Dr. Mee

told Kaleohano-Arakaki that the pain in his shoulder was attributable to “frozen shoulder,” and she ordered X-rays of that area. Id. During a second visit, Dr. Mee gave Kaleohano-Arakaki exercises for his shoulder. Id.

Approximately three months later, Kaleohano-Arakaki was transferred from the HCCC to the Halawa Correctional Facility (“HCF”) on Oahu. Id. By that time, Kaleohano-Arakaki was unable to perform the recommended shoulder exercises because of his trembling right arm. Id. As Kaleohano-Arakaki was

waiting to complete his medical screening upon entering the HCF, a doctor noticed Kaleohano-Arakaki’s arm trembling and asked when it had begun. Id. at PageID.13. Kaleohano-Arakaki told the doctor that the trembling started

approximately three months earlier. Id. When the doctor asked Kaleohano- Arakaki if he had received an MRI, Kaleohano-Arakaki explained that X-rays were taken of his shoulder. Id. The doctor asked if any imaging was taken of Kaleohano-Arakaki’s head. Id. The doctor then said to Kaleohano-Arakaki,

“Don’t you know you had a stroke.” Id. The doctor ordered an MRI. Id. “Many months” later, an MRI was performed. Id. Kaleohano-Arakaki then visited Dr. Burrougs, a neurologist. Id. Dr. Burrougs explained to Kaleohano-

Arakaki that he had a blood clot in his brain. Id. Dr. Burrougs could not say whether the blood clot was caused by the assault or something else. Id. According to Kaleohano-Arakaki, Dr. Burrougs decided not to treat the blood clot. Id.

Kaleohano-Arakaki commenced this action by signing the Complaint on March 10, 2024. ECF No. 1 at PageID.6. Kaleohano-Arakaki alleges that his safety was threatened, and he was denied adequate medical care. ECF No. 3 at

PageID.11–PageID.13. He seeks unspecified damages. ECF No. 1 at PageID.6. The Court granted Kaleohano-Arakaki’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis by a Prisoner, ECF No. 6, on April 22, 2024, ECF No. 7. II. STATUTORY SCREENING

The Court is required to screen all in forma pauperis prisoner complaints filed against government officials, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A. See Byrd v. Phoenix Police Dep’t, 885 F.3d 639, 641 (9th Cir. 2018). Claims or

complaints that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim for relief, or seek damages from defendants who are immune from suit must be dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

Screening under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A involves the same standard as that used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Rosati v. Igbinoso, 791 F.3d 1037, 1039 (9th Cir. 2015) (per curiam). Under this standard,

“a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). A claim is “plausible” when the facts

alleged support a reasonable inference that the plaintiff is entitled to relief from a specific defendant for specific misconduct. See id. In conducting this screening, the Court liberally construes pro se litigants’

pleadings and resolves all doubts in their favor. See Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010). The Court must grant leave to amend if it appears that the plaintiff can correct the defects in the complaint. See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130. When a claim cannot be saved by amendment, however, dismissal with prejudice

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