O'Neil v. Texas Deparment of Criminal Justice

804 F. Supp. 2d 532, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37885, 2011 WL 1335179
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Texas
DecidedApril 7, 2011
DocketNo. 2:10-CV-3-J
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 804 F. Supp. 2d 532 (O'Neil v. Texas Deparment of Criminal Justice) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
O'Neil v. Texas Deparment of Criminal Justice, 804 F. Supp. 2d 532, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37885, 2011 WL 1335179 (N.D. Tex. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

MARY LOU ROBINSON, District Judge.

Before the Court are Defendants Dr. Dhirajlal Patel and Texas Tech Health Science Center’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Defendants’ John Heuerman, Jr. and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

This action arises from the death of Shermaine Peterson, an asthmatic inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Jordan Unit at the time of his death in 2008. Plaintiff O’Neil brings this suit as next friend to Peterson’s minor daughter.

O’Neil brings causes of action against Patel and Heuerman under § 1983 based on alleged violations of the Eighth Amendment.

O’Neil brings causes of action against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and Texas Tech Health Science Center (TTHSC) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act (RA).

STANDARD

This Court may grant summary judgment on a claim if the record shows that there is no genuine dispute of any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Crv. P. 56(c). A party who moves for summary judgment has the burden of identifying the parts of the pleadings and discovery on file that, together with any affidavits, show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). If the movant [536]*536carries this burden, then the burden shifts to the nonmovant to show that the Court should not grant summary judgment. Id. at 324-325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The nonmovant must set forth specific facts that show a genuine issue for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The nonmovant cannot rely on conclusory allegations, improbable inferences, and unsupported speculation. Krim v. BancTexas Group, Inc., 989 F.2d 1435, 1449 (5th Cir.1993). The Court must review the facts and draw all inferences most favorable to the nonmovant. Reid v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 784 F.2d 577, 578 (5th Cir.1986).

DISCUSSION

I. Dr. Dhirajial Patel and John Heuerman, Jr.

A prison official’s deliberate indifference to the serious medical needs of an inmate violates the Eighth Amendment. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976). This is true, among other things, when the indifference is manifested by a prison doctor in response to a prisoner’s medical needs. Id. at 104, 97 S.Ct. 285. The plaintiff must show objectively that the prisoner was exposed to a substantial risk of serious harm and that the official acted or failed to act with deliberate indifference to that harm. Lawson v. Dallas County, 286 F.3d 257, 262 (5th Cir.2002). The plaintiff must prove that the official was actually aware of the risk and consciously disregarded it. Id. Negligent medical care does not violate the Eighth Amendment. Mendoza v. Lynaugh, 989 F.2d 191 (5th Cir.1993).

Deliberate indifference is interpreted by a strict standard; the plaintiff must show that the prison official refused to treat him, ignored his complaint, intentionally treated him incorrectly, or otherwise showed a wanton disregard for his serious medical needs. Domino v. Tex. Dept. of Crim. Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th Cir.2001) (citation omitted).

Dr. Patel argues that there is no evidence indicating a deliberate indifference to Peterson’s asthma.

Dr. Patel is employed by TTHSC. He examined Peterson on September 11, 2007. O’Neil submits evidence that Patel did not review Peterson’s medical history at that examination. O’Neil submits evidence that Patel did not schedule a follow-up appointment with Peterson.

O’Neil has submitted evidence which indicates Patel was negligent in not reviewing Peterson’s medical history or scheduling a follow-up appointment. However, she has not pointed to evidence which shows Patel did so in an effort to intentionally treat him incorrectly or otherwise showed a wanton disregard for his condition.

Additionally, O’Neil submits evidence that Peterson did not have medication at the time of his death. O’Neil does not submit evidence, however, that Patel intentionally failed to provide Peterson with medication. In fact, O’Neil asserts that “while [Patel] made out a prescription, it was not one sufficient to treat Mr. Peterson’s life-threatening condition.” Pl.’s Br. at 13.

The decision to provide additional treatment is a matter of medical judgment. Domino v. Tex. Dept. of Crim. Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th Cir.2001) (citation omitted). An incorrect diagnosis does not amount to deliberate indifference. Id.

O’Neil’s evidence against Patel supports only a finding of negligence. Negligence does not constitute an Eighth Amendment violation.

O’Neil has not submitted sufficient evidence to support a finding that Patel acted with deliberate indifference by inflicting [537]*537“ ‘unnecessary and wanton’ infliction of pain” on Peterson. Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (5th Cir.1985) (citing Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976)). See also, Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106, 97 S.Ct. 285 (“Medical malpractice does not become a constitutional violation merely because the victim is a prisoner. In order to state a cognizable claim, a prisoner must allege acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.”).

Summary judgment is therefore granted as to Defendant Patel.

Defendant Heuerman was a picket officer working in the Jordan Unit on the date of Peterson’s death. Heuerman argues that O’Neil’s version of events is wholly unsupported by the record. Additionally, Heuerman argues that he is entitled to qualified immunity because he acted as a competent correctional officer would have acted.

O’Neil alleges that Heuerman did not respond to the inmate emergency call button when Peterson’s cellmate Frederick Parker attempted to obtain help for Peterson during Peterson’s asthma attack.

O’Neil submits a sworn declaration made by Parker asserting that Heuerman did not answer the emergency call button or respond to verbal calls for help.

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Bluebook (online)
804 F. Supp. 2d 532, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37885, 2011 WL 1335179, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oneil-v-texas-deparment-of-criminal-justice-txnd-2011.