Thrasher 279825 v. Vannorstran

District Court, D. Arizona·Decided June 20, 2025·No. 4:24-cv-00050·Unknown

Opinion

WO Alex Guy Gillis Thrasher, ) ) Plaintiff, ) v. ) No. CIV 24-050-TUC-CKJ ) Unknown VanNorstran, et al., ) ORDER ) Defendants. ) ) Pending before the Court are the Motion to Compel Production of All Related Medical Records (Doc. 22), the Motion to Ask Court to Compel Defendant to Complete a Deposition (Doc. 23), the Motion Requesting Leave of Court to Amend Complaint/Extension of 14 Days for Completion of Second Amendment (Doc. 34), the Motion for Default Judgement Against the Defendant (Doc. 39), the Application for Entry of Default (Doc. 39) the Motion Requesting Discovery (Doc. 40), and the Request for a Subpoena in a Civil Case (Doc. 41) filed by Plaintiff Alex Guy Gillis Thrasher ("Thrasher"). Additionally, Thrasher has submitted a Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") (Doc. 38) and a Status Check of 2nd Amended Complaint/s and Recently Submitted Motions (Doc. 46). I. Motion Requesting Leave of Court to Amend Complaint/Extension of 14 Days for Completion of Second Amendment (Doc. 34) The Court previously granted Thrasher additional time to submit his SAC and will accept the docketed SAC as timely. The Court previously advised Thrasher that "[f]ive factors are frequently used to assess the propriety of a motion for leave to amend: (1) bad faith, (2) undue delay, (3) prejudice to the opposing party, (4) futility of amendment; and (5) whether plaintiff has previously amended his complaint." Allen v. City of Beverly Hills, 911 F.2d 367, 373 (9th Cir. 1990). Further, as the Court previously advised Thrasher, this Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity, 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), and must dismiss claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)–(2). November 20, 2024, Order (Doc. 15, p. 2). Additionally, the Court previously summarized the requirements for stating a claim upon which relief can be granted. Id. at 3. The Court also advised Thrasher of the applicable rule which states, inter alia, a "proposed amended pleading must not incorporate by reference any part of the preceding pleading, including exhibits." March 25, 2025, Order (Doc. 35, p. 2), quoting LRCiv 15.1(a). The "Supporting Facts" section of Thrasher's SAC states: I would like to request all previous 8th Amend. claims I made in previous amendment or in initial claim be included in the current proceedings involving this Case No. 4:24- CV-00050-TUC-CKJ as these claims are all factual and relevant to this civil rights violation case. SAC (Doc. 38, p. 3 of 11). As the Court previously advised Thrasher an amended pleading could not incorporate any part of a preceding pleading, the Court will only consider the claims/facts alleged in the SAC. The Court screens the SAC herein and, based on the review infra, the Court will grant the Motion Requesting Leave of Court to Amend Complaint. II. Second Amended Complaint – Allegations Thrasher's SAC names (1) Jennifer VanNorstran, a nurse practitioner; (2) Unknown, a supervisor of medical staff for ultrasound and D.V.T.; (3) Naphcare, Inmate Health Services; and (4) Unknown, the supervisor(s) in charge of acquiring vaccines, as defendants.1 Thrasher asserts claims regarding his medical care and due process violations. Thrasher states he has permanent damage to the tissues and vein structures of his left leg, has a fear of a possible blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or stroke, and has suffered psychological damages by being denied life saving care. Thrasher had previously been advised by his operating surgeon of his need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of blood clots and his increased probability of developing DVTs. Thrasher alleges that, on or about November 23, 2023, he submitted a health needs request ("HNR") stating he had a painful and swollen left leg and foot although no injury had occurred. Thrasher stated in the initial triage and, he believes, in the HNR that he had deep vein thrombosis ("DVT") and needed to be diagnosed and treated by an outside ultrasound facility. During the initial triage appointment and subsequent visits with N.P. VanNorstran, Thrasher repeatedly stated his medical history including recurrent DVTs due to major surgery repairing a compound break of Thrasher's pelvis. Thrasher also "pleaded . . . over and over" with VanNorstran, who did not listen to Thrasher's reasoning (new medication likely caused reduced blood flow and dehydration), history, and worsening condition. Thrasher requested immediate care because, based on his history, he believed he had DVT and the repeated blood clotting could easily have been caused by the changed dose of medication prescribed by VanNorstran (and its availability to Thrasher). The FAC alleges VanNorstran ordered an ultrasound for December 12, 2023, but Thrasher was not informed about the appointment. After Thrasher submitted an HNR asking why it had been weeks and he had not received an ultrasound, he was informed he had refused it. Thrasher asserts he did not refuse an ultrasound; rather, he was not informed of this scheduled ultrasound. Thrasher received an 1Generally, unknown defendants are unfavored. However, if the identity of any defendant is unknown, "the plaintiff should be given an opportunity through discovery to identify the unknown defendants, unless it is clear that discovery would not uncover the identities, or that the complaint would be dismissed on other grounds. Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 978 (9th Cir. 2013), citation omitted. ultrasound on or about January 13, 2024. In Count I, Thrasher asserts the delayed treatment resulted in permanent damage (e.g., vascular damage, increased healing time for any scrape/cut to the leg, severe swelling, need for more expensive medication). Thrasher alleges this is the result of VanNorstran's gross negligence and willful and deliberate indifference to the care and suffering of Thrasher. Thrasher's Count II alleges his due process rights were violated because no relief was available through the administrative remedies in responding to his grievance regarding his medical care/alleged Eighth Amendment violation and the inability to dictate his own medical treatment pursuant to A.R.S. 31-203.05. Thrasher's Count III alleges that, since July or August of 2024, he has been seeking an updated COVID-19 vaccination. Thrasher alleges he is at high risk to suffer from extreme COVID or long COVID. Thrasher alleges NaphCare has claimed neither the county nor the state provide the vaccinations and that NaphCare is not required to vaccinate even the high risk inmates, thus violating the Eighth Amendment. In Count IV, Thrasher alleges an Eighth Amendment and/or a due process violation by supervisors failing to oversee procedures and provide adequate training, resulting in an unreasonable delay in the treatment of his DVT. A. Counts I and III - Eighth Amendment Violations Accepting Thrasher's allegations regarding the delayed care for the DVT as true, they are sufficient to state a claim for an Eight Amendment violation. See e.g., Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (to state a § 1983 medical claim, a plaintiff must allege (1) a "serious medical need" by demonstrating that failure to treat the condition could result in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain and (2) the defendant's response was deliberately indifferent); see also Wilhelm v. Rotman,

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