Michael A. Fleming v. Kenneth McIntyre, et al.

CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedMay 8, 2026
Docket1:25-cv-00136
StatusUnknown

This text of Michael A. Fleming v. Kenneth McIntyre, et al. (Michael A. Fleming v. Kenneth McIntyre, et al.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Michael A. Fleming v. Kenneth McIntyre, et al., (W.D. Mich. 2026).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION

MICHAEL A. FLEMING #802151,

Plaintiff, Hon. Robert J. Jonker

v. Case No. 1:25-cv-00136

KENNETH MCINTYRE, et al.,

Defendants. ____________________________________/

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION This matter is before the Court on Defendant Bartlett’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF Nos. 14, 15); Defendant McIntyre’s Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 21); and Defendant Stamper’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 23). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), the undersigned recommends that Defendants’ motions be granted and this action terminated. BACKGROUND Plaintiff is presently incarcerated with the MDOC at the Saginaw Correctional Facility (SRF) in Freeland, Saginaw County, Michigan, but the events about which he complains occurred at the Ionia Correctional Facility (ICF) in Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan. (ECF No. 1). Plaintiff sued the following ICF medical personnel in their individual and official capacities: Registered Nurse Kenneth McIntyre, Registered Nurse Ruth Bartlett, Nurse Eileen Cannon, Registered Nurse Deborah Jones, Registered Nurse Anna Stamper, and Registered Nurse Unknown Fosburg. (ECF No. 1). The Court screened out all claims except for Plaintiff’s individual capacity Eighth Amendment medical care claims against Defendants McIntyre, Bartlett, and Stamper. (ECF Nos. 4, 5). In his complaint, Plaintiff alleges that the remaining Defendants received medical

kites describing Plaintiff’s symptoms between 2022 and 2023 and that each Defendant did not take further action, such as referring Plaintiff for a medical appointment. (ECF No. 1, PageID.7-11). The remaining Defendants filed dispositive motions on exhaustion grounds. (ECF Nos. 14, 21, 23). Plaintiff did not respond to Defendants’ motions. The Court finds that oral argument is unnecessary. See W.D. MICH. LCIVR 7.2(d). STANDARD

Summary judgment “shall” be granted “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). Whether a fact is “material” depends on “whether its resolution might affect the outcome of the case.” Harden v. Hillman, 993 F.3d 465, 474 (6th Cir. 2021). A party moving for summary judgment can satisfy its burden by demonstrating

that the non-moving party, “having had sufficient opportunity for discovery, has no evidence to support an essential element of his or her case.” Minadeo v. ICI Paints, 398 F.3d 751, 761 (6th Cir. 2005). Once the moving party makes this showing, the non- moving party “must identify specific facts that can be established by admissible evidence, which demonstrate a genuine issue for trial.” Amini v. Oberlin College, 440 F.3d 350,

-2- 357 (6th Cir. 2006). The existence of a mere “scintilla of evidence” in support of the non- moving party’s position, however, is insufficient. Daniels v. Woodside, 396 F.3d 730, 734-35 (6th Cir. 2005).

While the Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non- moving party, that party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Amini, 440 F.3d at 357. The non-moving party “may not rest upon [his] mere allegations,” but must instead present “significant probative evidence,” establishing that “there is a genuine issue for trial.” Pack v. Damon Corp., 434 F.3d 810, 813-14 (6th Cir. 2006). Likewise, the non-moving party cannot merely “recite the incantation, ‘credibility,’ and have a trial on the hope that a

jury may disbelieve factually uncontested proof.” Fogerty v. MGM Group Holdings Corp., Inc., 379 F.3d 348, 353-54 (6th Cir. 2004). Accordingly, summary judgment is appropriate “against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Daniels, 396 F.3d at 735. Stated differently, the “ultimate question is whether the evidence presents a

sufficient factual disagreement to require submission of the case to the jury, or whether the evidence is so one-sided that the moving parties should prevail as a matter of law.” Harden, 993 F.3d at 474. While a moving party without the burden of proof need only show that the opponent cannot sustain his burden at trial, a moving party with the burden of proof

-3- faces a “substantially higher hurdle.” Arnett v. Myers, 281 F.3d 552, 561 (6th Cir. 2002). Where the moving party has the burden, “his showing must be sufficient for the court to hold that no reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the moving party.”

Calderone v. United States, 799 F.2d 254, 259 (6th Cir. 1986). Accordingly, summary judgment in favor of the party with the burden of proof “is inappropriate when the evidence is susceptible of different interpretations or inferences by the trier of fact.” Hunt v. Cromartie, 526 U.S. 541, 553 (1999). Defendants’ motions are unopposed. The Sixth Circuit has stated that, “[e]ven when faced with an unopposed motion for summary judgment, the district court cannot grant a motion for summary judgment without first considering supporting evidence and

determining whether the movant has met its burden.” Byrne v. CSX Transp., Inc., 541 F. App’x 672, 675 (2013); see also Delphi Auto. Sys., LLC v. United Plastics, Inc., 418 F. App’x 374, 380-81 (6th Cir. 2011) (“ ‘[A] district court cannot grant summary judgment in favor of a movant simply because the adverse party has not responded. The court is required, at a minimum, to examine the movant’s motion for summary judgment to ensure that he has discharged that burden.’ ” (quoting Carver v. Bunch, 946 F.2d 451,

454-55 (6th Cir. 1991))). That said, when a motion for summary judgment is unopposed, “[n]othing in either the Rules or case law supports an argument that the trial court must conduct its own probing investigation of the record.” Guarino v. Brookfield Twp. Trs., 980 F.2d 399, 405 (6th Cir. 1992). “The court may rely on the moving party’s unrebutted recitation of

-4- the evidence in reaching a conclusion that facts are uncontroverted and that there is no genuine issue of material fact.” Jones v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 238 F.3d 421, at *3 (6th Cir. 2000) (table).

ANALYSIS Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), a prisoner asserting an action regarding prison conditions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 must first exhaust his administrative remedies. See Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 524 (2002).

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Randall D. Carver v. Bobby Bunch and Betty Bunch
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Charles Byrne v. CSX Transportation, Inc.
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Daniels v. Woodside
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Jerry Vandiver v. Correctional Medical Services
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Bluebook (online)
Michael A. Fleming v. Kenneth McIntyre, et al., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/michael-a-fleming-v-kenneth-mcintyre-et-al-miwd-2026.