Mescall v. Bronx Residential Center

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedAugust 15, 2022
Docket1:22-cv-04557
StatusUnknown

This text of Mescall v. Bronx Residential Center (Mescall v. Bronx Residential Center) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mescall v. Bronx Residential Center, (S.D.N.Y. 2022).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SEAN FITZGERALD MESCALL, Plaintiff, -against- 22-CV-4557 (LTS) BRONX RESIDENTIAL CENTER; GEO; ORDER TO AMEND FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS; TRI- CENTER, Defendants. LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge: Plaintiff, who is appearing pro se, brings this action invoking the Court’s federal question jurisdiction.1 Plaintiff contends that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has a policy that prevents him, during his home confinement, from using a particular medication (“Dextroamp”) to treat his attention deficiency hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Plaintiff invokes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq., and asserts a violation of his constitutional right to substantive due process. Plaintiff sues the BOP and three private entities providing services to federal prisoners (Tri Center, Inc., Geo Halfway House, and the Bronx Residential Center). He seeks preliminary injunctive relief and asks the Court to seal this action. For the reasons set forth below, the Court grants Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint within 60 days of the date of this order.

1 This action was originally filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, which transferred it here. By order dated June 21, 2022, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis, that is, without prepayment of fees. STANDARD OF REVIEW The Prison Litigation Reform Act requires that federal courts screen complaints brought by prisoners who seek relief against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a prisoner’s in forma pauperis complaint, or any portion of the complaint, that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b); see Abbas v. Dixon, 480 F.3d 636, 639 (2d Cir. 2007). The Court must also dismiss a complaint if the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). BACKGROUND Plaintiff Sean Mescall is in the custody of the BOP but is currently on home confinement in Newburgh, New York. Plaintiff is monitored “via a cell phone,” by GEO Halfway House in Bronx County, New York, and receives medical services from TRI Center, Inc. (ECF 1 at 2-3.) Plaintiff receives “aftercare for substance abuse of alcohol and opioids,” including taking “suboxone to treat his alcohol and opioid cravings” (id. at 1, 4), and he takes medication

prescribed for depression. Plaintiff was diagnosed with ADHD when he was five years old. After his release to home confinement, Plaintiff’s private primary care doctor prescribed Dextroamp for his ADHD. (Id. at 2.) The BOP, however, “wants him to take a non-controlled substance analogous to Wellbutrin.” (Id..) A doctor from TRI Center, Inc., which provides medical services to federal prisoners, prescribed Atomoxetine for Plaintiff’s ADHD; that medication caused Plaintiff severe nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and other symptoms. (Id.) Case Manager Ortiz from GEO Halfway House told Plaintiff that he could not take Dextroamp unless the BOP approved it. Dr. “Tina” at Tri Center, Inc. told Plaintiff that BOP policy “forbids [prescribing] controlled substance Dextroamp.” (Id. at 2, n.1.) Dr. Tina “advocated and argued for Mescall” and recommends that Adderall be prescribed for him, id. at 4, but it is unclear if he received Adderall, Wellbutrin, or any medication other than Atomoxetine. Plaintiff contends that the BOP is “forbidding treatment of a disorder” and requiring him

to “take medicines only approved by the BOP,” which he argues violates the ADA and his right to substantive due process. Plaintiff contends that he “has never abused Dextroamp, and has no history of abuse with respect to any mental stimulant for treatment of ADHD.” (Id.) He never “sold or took any drug analogous to the drug” at issue. (Id.) Plaintiff brings suit against the “Bronx Residential Center,” “Geo,” “Tri-Center,” and the BOP. He invokes disability discrimination statutes (the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act), and asserts a violation of his right to substantive due process. Plaintiff seeks to enjoin Defendants from preventing him from taking Dextroamp. DISCUSSION A. Americans with Disabilities Act Title II of the ADA provides that “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by

reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132. A “public entity” is defined in Title II of the ADA to include “any State or local government” and “any department, agency, . . . or other instrumentality of a State,” 42 U.S.C. § 12131(1); United States v. Georgia, 546 U.S. 151, 154 (2006) (Title II of the ADA “prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against people with disabilities in government programs, services, and activities”). The federal government and its agencies are not covered under Title II of the ADA. Plaintiff’s allegations that the BOP violated his rights under Title II of the ADA by limiting the ADHD medications available to him while he is on home confinement thus fail to state a claim under the ADA because it does not govern the conduct of federal agencies. B. Rehabilitation Act To state a claim under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a plaintiff must allege that he “(1) is a ‘handicapped person’ as defined by the Rehabilitation Act, (2) is ‘otherwise qualified’

to participate in the offered activity or benefit; (3) was excluded from such participation solely by reason of h[is] handicap; and (4) was denied participation in a program that receives federal funds.” Biondo v. Kaledia Health, 935 F.3d 68, 73 (2d Cir. 2019) (quoting Loeffler v. Staten Island Univ. Hosp., 582 F.3d 268, 275 (2d Cir. 2009)). Here, Plaintiff invokes a section of the Rehabilitation Act that relates to the “Duties of National Council,” 29 U.S.C. § 781. (ECF 1 at 3.) He challenges the health care that he is receiving but does not allege that Defendants discriminated against him, excluded, him, or treated him differently from others because of his disability. “Courts routinely dismiss [discrimination] suits by disabled inmates that allege inadequate medical treatment, but do not allege that the inmate was treated differently because of his or her disability.” Crosby v.

Petermann, No. 18-CV-9470 (JGK), 2020 WL 1434932, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 24, 2020) (quoting Elbert v. New York State Dep’t of Corr. Servs., 751 F. Supp. 2d 590, 595 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (collecting cases)); Maccharulo v. New York State Dep’t of Corr. Servs., No. 08-CV-0301, 2010 WL 2899751, at *5 (S.D.N.Y.

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Mescall v. Bronx Residential Center, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mescall-v-bronx-residential-center-nysd-2022.