Waterman (ID 126456) v. Tunnel

District Court, D. Kansas·Decided April 30, 2025·No. 5:25-cv-03038·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS

BRIAN WATERMAN,

Plaintiff,

v. CASE NO. 25-3038-JWL

MICHELLE TUNNEL, et al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE Plaintiff Brian Michael Waterman is hereby required to show good cause, in writing to the undersigned, why this action should not be dismissed due to the deficiencies in Plaintiff’s Complaint that are discussed herein. Plaintiff is also given the opportunity to file an amended complaint to cure the deficiencies. I. Nature of the Matter before the Court Plaintiff brings this pro se civil rights case under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is incarcerated at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Hutchinson, Kansas (“HCF”). This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s response (Doc. 5), Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Doc. 6), and Motion to Supplement Pleadings (Doc. 7). Plaintiff alleges in his Complaint that he is allergic to peas, green beans, and seafood, and that on February 27, 2025, he was served a food tray with a pea in it. (Doc. 1, at 4.) Plaintiff alleges that he immediately spit the pea out and rinsed his mouth, and started “breaking out in a rash.” Id. Plaintiff alleges that he was taken to medical, where the nurse examined Plaintiff’s rash and then called APRN Michelle Tunnel on her cell phone. Id. at 5. Plaintiff alleges that APRN Tunnel told the nurse to give Plaintiff “a big dose of solumedrol in a shot,” two Benadryl, and another dose of solumedrol. Id. Plaintiff alleges that at 10 pm, his heart rate started to rise due to the “overdose” of steroids given. Id. Plaintiff alleges that on February 28, at 12:00 at night, he was having chest pains and medical was called. Id. Plaintiff alleges that his pulse was 112 and his blood pressure was 150/97. Id. Plaintiff alleges that at 3:00 am, he went back and his pulse was at 121 and his blood pressure was 154/97. Id. Plaintiff claims he was given an EKG, and “it read cardiac

attack.” Id. Plaintiff alleges that at 7:00 am he was seen by Faye Vargas and his pulse was at 110. Id. Plaintiff alleges that Vargas stated that Plaintiff was given an extreme amount of steroids for just a rash. Id. Plaintiff alleges that he requested another EKG at 9:00 am, and APRN Tunnel told Nurse Amy not to give him one. Id. at 6. Plaintiff alleges that nothing was given to him to counteract the overdose and he was denied a medical cell for observation. Id. Plaintiff alleges that Warden Schnurr does not have a doctor for Hutchinson Central, East, or South, and only APRN Tunnel is available to see inmates. Id. Plaintiff alleges that there hasn’t been a doctor there for six to eight months. Id. Plaintiff also alleges that Aramark Supervisor Armstrong is still sending Plaintiff trays

with the wrong diet written on them. Id. Plaintiff alleges that his trays are still being contaminated. Id. Plaintiff alleges that for almost every meal he has a tray that is sent back to be fixed, and on March 2, 2025, his dinner meal had green beans on the tray. Id. OIC Summer picked the tray up and took it back to the kitchen. Id. Plaintiff alleges a sole count in his Complaint. As Count I, Plaintiff alleges cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment, arguing that “prisons must provide inmates with nutritional [sic] adequate food that is prepared and served under conditions which do not present an imminent danger to the health and well-being of the inmate who consumes it.” Id. at 4–5. Plaintiff alleges that APRN Michelle Tunnel’s actions were “retaliatory and malicious to cause [Plaintiff] serious harm or death.” Id. at 5. Plaintiff alleges that she knew she was overdosing Plaintiff on steroids, and she refused to counteract the medication for over 22 hours “leaving [Plaintiff] in cardiac attack with no observation.” Id. Plaintiff names as defendants: Michelle Tunnel, Nurse; Centurion; (fnu) Armstrong, Kitchen Supervisor; (fnu) Davis, Aramark Worker; and Dan Schnurr, Warden. For relief,

Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damage, and injunctive relief in the form of an “immediate transfer,” an outside medical visit for his heart, a “real doctor furnished for inmates at HCF at all times,” and for “Jeff Zmuda to investigate HCF Centurion Medical.” Id. at 8. Plaintiff also seeks to have EA1 investigate why he was not taken to an observation cell or given medication to counteract the overdose of steroids, to have “all medical go through HCF’s doctor not the APRNs,” and to have a special master appointed to investigate Aramark’s special diet training and food preparation and to investigate Centurion’s procedures for allergic reactions and overdoses of steroids. Id. at 9. Lastly, Plaintiff seeks all new training programs for all medical and Aramark staff. Id.

II. Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis On March 6, 2025, the Court entered a Memorandum and Order (Doc. 4) (“M&O”) denying Plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis, finding Plaintiff is subject to the “three- strikes” provision under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). The Court examined the Complaint and found no showing of imminent danger of serious physical injury. The Court granted Plaintiff until April 4, 2025, to submit the $405.00 filing fee. The M&O provides that “[t]he failure to respond by the deadline will result in the dismissal of this matter without prejudice and without additional prior notice.” (Doc. 4, at 3.) Plaintiff has filed a response (Doc. 5), indicating that Aramark has ignored his severe allergy diet “almost every day.” (Doc. 5, at 2.) Plaintiff acknowledges that the nurse went to the kitchen and spoke with Aramark employees after Plaintiff’s allergic reaction on February 27, 2025. Id. Plaintiff alleges that Aramark “still has been placing green beans an [sic] peas on [Plaintiff’s] tray.” Id. Plaintiff argues that “another allergic reaction is imminent” and

“Centurion medical professionals are not adequately qualified to treat [his] allergic reactions.” Id. at 2–3. Based on Plaintiff’s response, the Court will allow him to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court grants Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis at Doc. 2. The Court assesses an initial partial filing fee of $1.50, calculated under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Plaintiff is granted to and including May 30, 2025, to submit the fee. Any objection to this order must be filed on or before the date payment is due. The failure to pay the fee as directed may result in the dismissal of this matter without further notice. Plaintiff remains obligated to pay the remainder of the $350.00 filing fee. The agency having custody of Plaintiff shall forward payments from

Plaintiff’s account in installments calculated under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The Court directs the Clerk to transmit a copy of this order to Plaintiff, to the finance office at the institution where Plaintiff is currently confined, and to the Court’s finance office. III. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints The 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). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.

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