Scalia v. Cnty. of Kern

308 F. Supp. 3d 1064
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedApril 10, 2018
Docket1:17–cv–01097–LJO–SKO
StatusPublished
Cited by51 cases

This text of 308 F. Supp. 3d 1064 (Scalia v. Cnty. of Kern) 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
Scalia v. Cnty. of Kern, 308 F. Supp. 3d 1064 (E.D. Cal. 2018).

Opinion

Lawrence J. O'Neill, UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE

I. INTRODUCTION

This case arises from the death of Kimberly Morrissey-Scalia ("Decedent" or "Morrissey-Scalia"), who died after twice falling from her bunk while a pretrial detainee at Kern County Jail. Decedent's husband, John Scalia ("Plaintiff"), brings claims individually and on behalf of his late wife's estate. Plaintiff brings this case against Kern County, Kern County Hospital Authority ("KCHA"), Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, Kern County Sheriff's Sergeant Joel Swanson, Kern County Sheriff's Detention Deputies Randi Allen and Misty Miller, Kern County Hospital Authority Staff Nurse Rowena P. Blakely ("Blakely"), and Does 1-100, alleging deliberate indifference under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law causes of action for Bane Act violations, failure to summon medical care pursuant to California Government Code § 845.6, negligence, and medical negligence.

Defendants KCHA and Blakely (collectively, for purposes of this motion, "Defendants") moved to dismiss ("Motion"). ECF No. 18. Plaintiff opposed ("Opp."), ECF No. 24, and Defendants filed a reply ("Reply"), ECF No. 25. This matter is suitable for disposition without oral argument. See Local Rule 230(g). For the reasons set forth below, Defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED IN PART .

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Decedent, a 59-year-old woman, was arrested following an incident at her residence *1071with her roommate on June 22, 2016. FAC ¶¶ 1, 17. She had a history of mental illness, alcohol dependence, and "medical and mental health problems" involving prescription medications. Id. ¶ 18. Because of her history of suicide attempts, she was initially placed on suicide watch by the intake staff after her booking. Id. She was removed from suicide watch and on or about June 27, 2016, she was transferred from the Central Receiving Facility to the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility, in Bakersfield, where she was housed in B-Pod. Id. ¶¶ 20-22. That same day, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Decedent fell approximately five feet from a lying position on a top bunk onto the bare concrete floor. Id. ¶ 23. She pressed her emergency intercom button to alert KCO Detention Deputies that she had been injured and was transported "to the 'infirmary' in a wheelchair, as she was unable to walk." Id. ¶ 24. Staff nurse Blakely saw Decedent at the infirmary, where Decedent reported falling from the top bunk and hitting the left side of her face, her left elbow, and her left knee, which was bleeding. Id. ¶ 25. She also had a bump over her left eyebrow as a result of the fall. Id. ¶ 30. Blakely did not order tests to assess potential head trauma or refer Decedent to a physician before clearing Decedent to return to B-Pod. Id. ¶ 25.

Decedent was returned to B-Pod, in a different cell, where she again fell from her bunk at some point prior to 2:24 a.m. on June 28, 2016. Id. ¶ 48. She used her emergency intercom to alert jail staff that she was vomiting and required medical care. Id. She was unconscious and vomiting when Defendant Allen arrived in the cell. At approximately 2:30 a.m., Blakely responded to Allen's request for medical staff. Decedent was placed on a gurney and transported to the jail infirmary, where Blakely took her vital signs and at approximately 2:37 a.m. made a 911 request for transport to Kern Medical Emergency room. Id. ¶¶ 52, 54. The ambulance arrived at Lerdo at approximately 2:53 a.m., left Lerdo at approximately 3:15 a.m., and arrived at Kern Medical Center at approximately 3:40 a.m. Id. ¶¶ 55-57. Decedent was taken into emergency surgery around 8:20 a.m. and was later placed on life support. Id. ¶¶ 57, 63. She passed away shortly after midnight on the morning of July 1, 2016. Id. ¶ 63.

III. LEGAL STANDARD

Dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when a plaintiff's allegations fail "to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Fed. R. Civ. P.

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308 F. Supp. 3d 1064, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scalia-v-cnty-of-kern-caed-2018.