The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
NEAL HOLLINGSWORTH, )
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. ) Case No. No. 21-4013
)
ROCK ISLAND SHERIFF’S OFFICE )
and MEND CORRECTIONAL CARE, )
Defendants )
MERIT REVIEW ORDER
JAMES E. SHADID, U.S. District Judge:
This cause is before the Court for consideration of Plaintiff’s motion for leave to
file an amended complaint. [11].
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff’s initial complaint was dismissed as a violation of Rule 8 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be
granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915A. See April 22, 2021 Merit Review Order. Plaintiff
had not identified the appropriate Defendants, nor had he indicated how any specific
Defendants were involved in his claims. In addition, Plaintiff failed to provide enough
detail to clearly articulate a constitutional violation. Therefore, Plaintiff was given
additional time to file an amended complaint and directions to assist him in clarifying
his claims.
Plaintiff has now filed his motion for leave to amend which is granted pursuant
to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15. [11]
II. MERIT REVIEW
The Court is still required by 28 U.S.C. §1915A to “screen” the Plaintiff’s
amended complaint, and through such process to identify and dismiss any legally
insufficient claim, or the entire action if warranted. A claim is legally insufficient if it
“(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or
(2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C.
§1915A.
Plaintiff has now identified five Defendants at the Rock Island County Jail
including Dr. Brett Josie, Nurse Stephanie, Mend Correctional Care, Sergeant Allen, and
Correctional Officer Chris Omelia. The Court will dismiss the Rock Island County
Sheriff’s Office since it is no longer identified as a Defendant.
Plaintiff says on November 19, 2020, he informed Nurse Lisa he was
experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Nurse Lisa is not identified as a Defendant in the
list of Defendants, but Plaintiff has included her in the caption of his amended
complaint. (Amd. Comp., p. 1). Therefore, the Court will add Defendant Nurse Lisa.
An attachment to Plaintiff’s complaint indicates Plaintiff told the Defendant he
was not able to taste or smell and he was experiencing hot and cold sweats. (Amd.
Comp., p. 9). Defendant Nurse Lisa stated she would report Plaintiff’s symptoms to
Defendant Dr. Josie.
When the nurse returned, Plaintiff was moved from his general population cell
to a booking cell. Plaintiff claims the cell was not appropriate for any inmate with
medical problems. The booking cell was used for incoming inmates including
intoxicated or mentally ill individuals who came and went throughout the day and
night. Plaintiff was unable to rest or sleep. In addition, Plaintiff says he was denied
cleaning supplies and there was “spit, urine, old food, & feces throughout the cell.”
(Amd. Comp., p. 5). Plaintiff was left in the cell for five days with a fever, aches, and
pains. Defendants Nurse Stephanie and Nurse Lisa also denied Plaintiff any fluids and
Defendants Allen and Omelia refused Plaintiff’s requests for a shower.
Defendant Nurse Stephanie confirmed Plaintiff had tested positive for COVID-19
and confirmed Plaintiff was running a fever. Plaintiff says he also has asthma and was
suffering with upper respiratory issues. At times, Plaintiff says he was afraid he would
stop breathing.
Defendant Nurse Stephanie told Plaintiff any information concerning his
condition would be forward to Defendant Dr. Josie, but Plaintiff says he did not receive
any additional medical care and no medications. Plaintiff was also advised he was the
first male inmate to test positive for COVID-19.
Plaintiff remained in quarantine for 20 days without medical care. Based on the
attachment to Plaintiff’s complaint, it appears Plaintiff spent the first five days in the
booking cell and then moved to a quarantine cell block for the next 14 days. (Amd.
Comp., p. 9).
Plaintiff says since he was one of the first COVID-19 cases at the jail, Defendant
Dr. Josie would have reported the result to the healthcare provider, Mend Correctional
Care. Therefore, Plaintiff says he has also named Mend as a Defendant since the
provider had “full knowledge making them responsible...” (Amd. Comp., p. 6).
Plaintiff claims throughout his complaint the Defendants were deliberately
indifferent to his medical condition and living conditions. However, it is not clear from
Plaintiff’s complaint whether he was a pretrial detainee or a convicted prisoner during
the relevant time. Plaintiff’s status at the jail will determine whether the Fourteenth
Amendment’s objectively unreasonable standard or Eighth Amendment deliberate
indifference standard applies to his claims. See McCann v. Ogle Cty., 909 F.3d 881, 886
(7th Cir. 2018); see also Miranda v. Cty. of Lake, 900 F.3d 335, 353–54 (7th Cir. 2018).
Until additional information is provided, Plaintiff’s amended complaint alleges
Defendant Dr. Josie, Nurse Lisa, and Nurse Stephanie violated his constitutional rights
when Plaintiff was originally placed in a booking cell and denied all medications or
treatment for COVID-19.
Plaintiff has not articulated a claim against Mend Correctional Care. “[A]n
inmate bringing a claim against a corporate entity for a violation of his constitutional
right must show that the corporation supports a ‘policy that sanctions the maintenance
of prison conditions that infringe upon the constitutional rights of the prisoners.’”
Brown v Ghosh, 2010 WL 3893939 at 8 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 28, 2010) quoting Woodward v Corr.
Med. Servs. of Ill., Inc., 368 F.3d 917, 927 (7th Cir. 2004). The corporate policy “must be
the direct cause or moving force behind the constitutional violation.” Woodward, 368
F.3d at 927, quoting Estate of Novack ex rel. v. County of Wood, 226 F.3d 515, 530 (7th Cir.
2000). Plaintiff has failed to identify a policy or practice which led to a violation of his
constitutional rights.
Plaintiff has also alleged Defendants Sergeant Allen and Correctional Officer
Omela violated his constitutional rights based on his living conditions during the five
days in the booking cell. Plaintiff does not allege Defendant Dr. Josie ever came to the
cell, nor is it clear medical personnel would be responsible for the unclean cell
conditions.
The Court notes it is also unclear from Plaintiff’s complaint whether he
exhausted his administrative remedies for his claims. (Amd. Comp., p. 4). However,
this is an issue better addressed in a motion for summary judgment. If Defendants
chose to file a dispositive motion, they will have to address whether the grievance
procedure was available to Plaintiff during the time he was quarantined.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:
1) Pursuant to its merit review of the amended complaint under 28 U.S.C. §
1915A, the Court finds the Plaintiff alleges: a) Defendant Dr. Josie, Nurse Lisa,
and Nurse Stephanie violated his constitutional rights when he was denied
medical care and treatment for COVID-19; and 2) Defendants Sergeant Allen and
Correctional Officer Omela violated his constitutional rights based on his living
conditions during the five days in the booking cell. The claims are stated against
the Defendants in their individual capacities only. Any additional claims shall
not be included in the case, except at the Court’s discretion on motion by a party
for good cause shown or pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15.
2) This case is now in the process of service. Plaintiff is advised to wait until
counsel has appeared for Defendants before filing any motions, in order to give
Defendants notice and an opportunity to respond to those motions. Motions filed
before Defendants' counsel has filed an appearance will generally be denied as
premature. Plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the Court at this time, unless
otherwise directed by the Court.
3) The Court will attempt service on Defendants by mailing each Defendant a
waiver of service. Defendants have 60 days from service to file an Answer. If
Defendants have not filed Answers or appeared through counsel within 90 days
of the entry of this order, Plaintiff may file a motion requesting the status of
service. After Defendants have been served, the Court will enter an order setting
discovery and dispositive motion deadlines.
4) With respect to a Defendant who no longer works at the address provided by
Plaintiff, the entity for whom that Defendant worked while at that address shall
provide to the Clerk said Defendant's current work address, or, if not known, said
Defendant's forwarding address. This information shall be used only for
effectuating service. Documentation of forwarding addresses shall be retained
only by the Clerk and shall not be maintained in the public docket nor disclosed
by the Clerk.
5) Defendants shall file an answer within 60 days of the date the waiver is sent by
the Clerk. A motion to dismiss is not an answer. The answer should include all
defenses appropriate under the Federal Rules. The answer and subsequent
pleadings shall be to the issues and claims stated in this Order. In general, an
answer sets forth Defendants' positions. The Court does not rule on the merits of
those positions unless and until a motion is filed by Defendants. Therefore, no
response to the answer is necessary or will be considered.
6) Once counsel has appeared for a Defendant, Plaintiff need not send copies of
his filings to that Defendant or to that Defendant's counsel. Instead, the Clerk will
file Plaintiff's document electronically and send a notice of electronic filing to
defense counsel. The notice of electronic filing shall constitute service on
Defendants pursuant to Local Rule 5.3. If electronic service on Defendants is not
available, Plaintiff will be notified and instructed accordingly.
7) Counsel for Defendants is hereby granted leave to depose Plaintiff at his place
of confinement. Counsel for Defendants shall arrange the time for the deposition.
8) Plaintiff shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, of any change in his
mailing address and telephone number. Plaintiff's failure to notify the Court of
a change in mailing address or phone number will result in dismissal of this
lawsuit, with prejudice.
9) Within 10 days of receiving from Defendants’ counsel an authorization to
release medical records, Plaintiff is directed to sign and return the authorization
to Defendants’ Counsel.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT THE CLERK IS DIRECTED TO:
1) Grant Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint pursuant to
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15 and add Defendants Dr. Brett Josie, Nurse
Stephanie, Nurse Lisa, Sergeant Allen, and Correctional Officer Chris Omelia,
[11]; 2) Dismiss Defendants Mend Correctional Care and the Rock Island
Sheriff’s Office for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted
pursuant to by 28 U.S.C. §1915A; 3) Attempt service on Defendants pursuant to
the standard procedures; 4) Set an internal court deadline 60 days from the
entry of this order for the court to check on the status of service and enter
scheduling deadlines; and 5) Enter the Court's standard qualified protective
order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
ENTERED this 29th day of July, 2021.
s/James E. Shadid
____________________________________________
JAMES E. SHADID
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE