Mohammed Abuharba v. Daniel Lawson, Patrick McVey, and Michael Moldenhauer

District Court, S.D. Illinois·Decided August 27, 2026·No. 3:23-cv-01761·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

MOHAMMED ABUHARBA, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) Case No. 3:23-cv-01761-GCS ) DANIEL LAWSON, ) PATRICK MCVEY, ) and ) MICHAEL MOLDENHAUER, ) ) Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM & ORDER SISON, Magistrate Judge: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Now before the Court are Defendant Micheal Moldenhauer’s motion for summary judgment, (Doc. 70, 71, 82, 83), and Defendant Daniel Lawson’s and Patrick McVey’s motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 86).1 Plaintiff opposes the motions. (Doc. 81). Based on the reasons delineated below, the Court GRANTS the motions for summary judgment.

1 Along with the motions for summary judgment, Defendants filed the required Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 notices informing Plaintiff of the consequences of failing to respond to the motions for summary judgment and what is required in responding to motions for summary judgment. (Doc. 72, 77). Plaintiff Mohammed Abuharba, an inmate in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections (“IDOC”), brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for

deprivations of his civil rights while he was housed at Menard Correctional Center (“Menard”). (Doc. 2). Plaintiff alleges Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that on November 30, 2020, while housed at Menard, he contracted COVID-19. (Doc. 2, p. 8). As the day progressed, Plaintiff noted that his symptoms became worse, and he became bedridden and experienced terrible pain. He informed Defendant Lawson of his

symptoms and asked for medical attention. Defendant Lawson, however, failed to obtain medical care for Plaintiff. Id. The next morning, Plaintiff informed Correctional Officer James of his symptoms, and James promptly took Plaintiff to receive medical treatment. (Doc. 2, p. 9). Plaintiff tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed under quarantine. Id. Since contracting COVID-19, Plaintiff continues to suffer from ongoing symptoms

such as chest pain, loss of feeling in his fingertips and toes, and shooting pain and numbness in his right arm. (Doc. 2, p. 10). On June 26, 2021, Plaintiff asked for emergency medical attention and was escorted to the health care unit. The medical technician determined Plaintiff had a low heart rate; he was scheduled to see a doctor. Later that day, Plaintiff experienced more severe chest pains. He told Defendant McVey about his

symptoms and stated he needed to see a medical technician. Defendant McVey ignored Plaintiff’s request and left him in his cell to suffer. Id. At some point, Plaintiff was seen by Defendant Moldenhauer. Defendant Moldenhauer performed several tests, including blood tests, vital checks, and an EKG. (Doc. 2, p. 10). The cause of Plaintiff’s symptoms was never determined, and he has not received any medical treatment or further evaluation. All medical evaluations have

stopped, but Plaintiff continues to experience the same symptoms with no relief. He believes that the symptoms stemmed from contracting COVID 19 while at the prison. Id. at p. 11. On January 19, 2024, the Court allowed Plaintiff to proceed on the following claims: Count 1: Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against Defendant Lawson for failing to provide Plaintiff with medical care on November 30, 2020.

Count 2: Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against Defendant McVey for failing to provide Plaintiff with emergency medical care in June 2021.

Count 3: Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against Defendant Moldenhauer for inadequate treatment of Plaintiff’s ongoing post COVID-19 symptoms. (Doc. 11). Defendants maintain they are entitled to summary judgment as Plaintiff cannot set forth any evidence they were deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs, nor did Plaintiff suffer any injury caused by them. Further, Defendants Lawson and McVey argue they are entitled to qualified immunity. Plaintiff counters that the evidence shows Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs. Plaintiff asserts that he suffered unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain and suffering due to Defendants’ conduct and such pain and suffering could have been avoided had Defendants acted properly. For the reasons delineated below, the Court grants the motions for summary judgment. UNDISPUTED FACTS2 During the time relevant to the complaint, Plaintiff Abuharba was an inmate incarcerated within the IDOC at Menard. Defendant McVey was employed by IDOC as

a Correctional Officer at Menard, Defendant Lawson was employed by IDOC as a Correctional Officer at Menard, and Defendant Moldenhauer was employed as a nurse practitioner at Menard. Plaintiff has no medical or mental health training. Defendant Lawson is not a medical professional. Defendant Lawson has never

given Plaintiff treatment for his injuries. Defendant McVey is not a medical professional. Defendant McVey has never given Plaintiff treatment for his injuries. Plaintiff was diagnosed with a low heart rate while being held in St. Clair County jail, prior to contracting Covid-19 in November of 2020. The medical records show that Defendant Moldenhauer saw Plaintiff on March 6,

2020, for potential exposure to an inmate with influenza. Plaintiff reported that a different

2 In response to Defendants’ motions for summary judgment, Plaintiff did not address/mention any of Defendants’ assertions of material facts in violation of Local Rule 56(b)(1). This is despite the fact that Defendants provided Plaintiff with the required notices of the consequences of failing to respond. (Doc. 72, 77). Local Rule 56.(1)(g) additionally provides: “[a]ll material facts set forth in a Statement of Material Facts or a Statement of Additional Material Facts shall be deemed admitted for the purposes of summary judgment unless specifically disputed.” SDIL-LR 56.1(g). Further, the Local Rule 56(j) states in part: “[t]his Local Rule applies equally to represented and pro se parties . . . .” Thus, the opposing party must respond to the movant’s statement of facts. See Schrott v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 403 F.3d 940, 944 (7th Cir. 2005). As Plaintiff did not respond/dispute Defendants’ material facts, the Court deems them admitted for the purposes of these motions for summary judgment. inmate near him had tested positive for the flu. Defendant Moldenhauer issued him a ten-day prescription of Tamiflu.

Thereafter, Defendant Moldenhauer saw Plaintiff on July 22, 2020, for complaints of neck pain. Plaintiff indicated that a tact team had him on the floor and he has had neck pain since then. Defendant Moldenhauer observed no signs or symptoms of difficulty with his neck range of motion during the exam. Defendant Moldenhauer diagnosed him with neck pain and referred him for x-rays of his cervical and thoracic spine. Defendant Moldenhauer also ordered him prescriptions of Robaxin and Naproxen.

Defendant Moldenhauer next saw Plaintiff on September 14, 2020, for neck pain. Plaintiff stated that a tact team had him bend his neck for several hours. He also reported he was not taking his medications. Defendant Moldenhauer diagnosed him with a neck strain and referred him for a physical therapy evaluation. Defendant Moldenhauer also ordered him a prescription of Naproxen and told him to follow-up in two months.

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Mohammed Abuharba v. Daniel Lawson, Patrick McVey, and Michael Moldenhauer, (S.D. Ill. 2026).

Mohammed Abuharba v. Daniel Lawson, Patrick McVey, and Michael Moldenhauer (Mohammed Abuharba v. Daniel Lawson, Patrick McVey, and Michael Moldenhauer) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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