(PC) Estrada v. Well Path

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedJanuary 16, 2024
Docket1:23-cv-01399
StatusUnknown

This text of (PC) Estrada v. Well Path ((PC) Estrada v. Well Path) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
(PC) Estrada v. Well Path, (E.D. Cal. 2024).

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 RUDOLPH F. ESTRADA, Case No. 1:23-cv-01399-BAM (PC) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE TO 13 v. ACTION 14 WELL PATH, et al., FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISMISS ACTION, WITH PREJUDICE, FOR 15 Defendants. FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, FAILURE TO OBEY COURT ORDERS, AND FAILURE 16 TO PROSECUTE 17 (ECF Nos. 7, 9) 18 FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE 19 20 I. Background 21 Plaintiff Rudolph F. Estrada (“Plaintiff”) is a county jail inmate proceeding pro se and in 22 forma pauperis in this civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 23 On November 2, 2023, the Court issued a screening order granting Plaintiff leave to file a 24 first amended complaint or a notice of voluntary dismissal within thirty (30) days. (ECF No. 7.) 25 The Court expressly warned Plaintiff that the failure to comply with the Court’s order would 26 result in a recommendation for dismissal of this action, with prejudice. (Id. at 10.) The Court 27 granted Plaintiff a thirty-day extension of time on November 27, 2023. (ECF No. 9.) The 28 extended deadline has expired, and Plaintiff has failed to file an amended complaint or otherwise 1 communicate with the Court. 2 II. Failure to State a Claim 3 A. Screening Requirement 4 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 5 governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. 6 § 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to dismissal if it is frivolous 7 or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or if it seeks monetary 8 relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b). 9 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 10 pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not 11 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 12 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell 13 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as 14 true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 15 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 16 To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires 17 sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable 18 for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S. Secret 19 Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully 20 is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the plausibility 21 standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. 22 B. Plaintiff’s Allegations 23 Plaintiff is currently housed at Fresno County Jail, possibly as a pretrial detainee,1 where 24 the events in the complaint are alleged to have occurred. Plaintiff names as defendants: (1) Well 25 Path, health care, (2) Fresno County, (3) Fresno County Jail, and (4) Russell Duran, Custody 26 Captain. 27

28 1 It is unclear from the allegations if Plaintiff is a convicted prisoner or a pretrial detainee. 1 In claim 1, Plaintiff alleges a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff alleges that 2 since 3/33/23, defendants have neglected to provide Plaintiff with a reasonable treatment plan that 3 will alleviate the severe spinal pain and discomfort Plaintiff experiences and which is worsening. 4 The pain prevents Plaintiff from performing activities of daily living. Plaintiff has relentlessly 5 submitted numerous Health Care Service Request forms requesting defendants to schedule an 6 appointment with a physician who is qualified to address Plaintiff’s spinal pain and discomfort. It 7 took over eighty days before Plaintiff was able to be evaluated by a physician. Although 8 Defendants are aware that Plaintiff’s only complaint is the severe pain and discomfort in his 9 spine, the defendants consciously ignored his complaint and ordered medical exams (CAT scan, 10 MRI) of Plaintiff’s left hip which Plaintiff does not have a problem with.2 Defendants allowed 11 custody officer, Captain Russell Duran, to make the medical decision regarding Plaintiff medical 12 needs. Captain Duran does not have the training or qualifications in medicine to make 13 evaluations or treatment for patients. On 6/13/23, Captain Duran denied Plaintiff’s medical 14 treatment, via appeal final decision, because Plaintiff did not provide evidence to support 15 Plaintiff’s complaint that the medical plan is ineffective. As a result of denial of medical 16 treatment, Captain Duran has caused further bodily injuries and psychological distress. 17 As remedies, Plaintiff seeks access to a qualified expert to determine the extent of 18 Plaintiff’s spinal injury and requests alleviation of his pain and discomfort. Plaintiff also asks 19 that custody officer be prohibited from making medical decisions. Plaintiff also seeks 20 compensatory and punitive damages. 21 C. Discussion 22 Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to 23 state a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 24 1. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 25 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain 26 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 27

28 2 Plaintiff’s attached exhibits state that his hip and spine were x-rayed. 1 Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause 2 of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 3 (citation omitted). Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a 4 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. 5 at 570). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Id.; see also 6 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556–57; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. 7 Here, Plaintiff’s complaint is short, but is not a clear statement. Plaintiff fails to identify 8 who did what and explain how his rights were violated. Plaintiff has failed to identify individual 9 medical providers and does not allege factual support that any individual’s care was not 10 sufficient. Plaintiff’s conclusory allegations are not sufficient. Plaintiff refers to “defendants” 11 jointly without identifying what each defendant did or did not do which violated Plaintiff’s rights.

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Bluebook (online)
(PC) Estrada v. Well Path, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pc-estrada-v-well-path-caed-2024.