Boskie v. Thomas

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

FASAAD BOSKIE, No. 4:19-CV-01369

Plaintiff, (Judge Brann)

v.

NANCY THOMAS, et al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

APRIL 13, 2020

I. BACKGROUND

This pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 was filed by

Fasaad Boskie, a state prisoner presently confined at the State Correctional

Institution at Smithfield in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.1 In the complaint, Plaintiff

sought to allege an unspecified Eighth Amendment claim resulting from his

confinement with a cellmate who had the flu and/or some unspecified illness and

who allegedly contaminated Plaintiff’s food and drink. The Court reviewed the

complaint and determined that Plaintiff had failed to state an Eighth Amendment

claim, whether that claim be a medical claim, a failure to protect claim, or a

1 See Doc. 1.

conditions of confinement claim.2 The Court granted Plaintiff leave to file an

amended complaint to remedy his pleading defects.3

In his first amended complaint, Plaintiff alleged that on February 7, 2018, he

returned to his cell after working a shift in the kitchen when Defendants Unit

Manager Nancy Thomas and Nurse Jane Doe informed Plaintiff that he would need

to go on medical quarantine in his cell due to the flu.4 Plaintiff questioned this

decision, as he did not seem to have any symptoms of the flu; he was informed that

since his cellmate had been diagnosed with the flu, Plaintiff likely also had it and

would need to quarantine.5 Plaintiff believed this was unfair, as he had no symptoms

of the flu, was not diagnosed with the flu, and would now be exposed to the flu by

being forced to quarantine with his cellmate.6 Despite voicing his objection, Plaintiff

was required to quarantine in his cell with his sick cellmate.7

When Plaintiff entered his cell, he noticed some smeared blood in the cell and

his cellmate, Roman Cook, trying to clean up his blood.8 Mr. Cook informed

Plaintiff that he had woken up in his blood and that the medical department informed

him that he had the flu.9 The following morning Plaintiff observed Mr. Cook asleep

2 See Doc. 8.

3 See id.

4 Doc. 13 at 5.

5 Id.

6 Id.

7 Id.

8 Id.

9 Id.

on his bed with blood “pouring from his nose and mouth.”10 Plaintiff left his cell

and demanded that he be moved to another cell.11 Defendants Thomas and Doe told

him that he needed to stay in his cell.12 Plaintiff refused, alleging that his cellmate

must have something more serious than the flu.13 Despite his objection, Plaintiff

was forced to return to his cell and to stay there for three days.14 According to

Plaintiff, every morning after he woke up, he would observe blood around his

cellmate.15 Throughout this time, Mr. Cook became agitated and threatened to harm

himself and others.16 Mr. Cook also informed Plaintiff that he put something special

in Plaintiff’s food.17

At some point, Plaintiff spoke with non-party Sergeant John Doe and

requested a cell change due to his cellmate’s behavior.18 Sergeant Doe observed Mr.

Cook’s behavior and moved Plaintiff to a new cell.19 The next morning, however,

Defendant Thomas required Plaintiff to return to his regular cell with Mr. Cook.20

Plaintiff informed his family of the situation with his cellmate, and his family called

10 Id.

11 Id. at 6.

12 Id.

13 Id.

14 Id.

15 Id.

16 Id.

17 Id.

18 Id.

19 Id.

20 Id.

officials at SCI Smithfield, after which Plaintiff was permanently moved to a new

cell.21

Plaintiff then began to feel sick “with strange internal changes” and “major

headaches.”22 Plaintiff became concerned that his former cellmate had possibly

poisoned him.23 Plaintiff repeatedly sought medical attention. Specifically, on

March 27, 2018, Plaintiff spoke with his doctor, non-party Dr. Kelly, about his flu

like symptoms and swollen glands.24 Dr. Kelly directed Defendant Nurse Jackie

Grove to do further testing on Plaintiff.25 Blood and urine tests were conducted, and

the urine test was positive for a urinary tract infection.26 Plaintiff was prescribed an

antibiotic for two weeks.27 Plaintiff alleges that he took the prescribed medication

but that it did not help his pain or unspecified internal problems.28 Plaintiff returned

to the medical department on a few occasions, explaining to the medical staff that

his sickness was “attacking his brain and spine.”29 He also requested a meningitis

test and to be hospitalized for further testing; both requests were denied.30

21 Id. at 7.

22 Id.

23 Id.

24 Id.

25 Id.

26 Id.

27 Id. at 8.

28 Id.

29 Id.

30 Id.

In his second amended complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Thomas

forced Plaintiff to quarantine with his cellmate for ten days, and that the conditions

in his cell were unsafe.31 He also alleges that she forced him to return to his cell

after he was initially moved to another cell by a non-party corrections officer.32

Plaintiff also alleges that Defendant Grove, a disease specialist, was the one who

diagnosed his roommate with the flu and knew of his cellmate’s history of mental

illness.33

Plaintiff also alleges that he submitted numerous sick call slips, and that

Defendant Jennifer Pierre examined him and determined that there was nothing

wrong with him.34 Plaintiff alleges that she determined that nothing was wrong with

him in order to discourage him from seeking further medical care.35

Finally, Plaintiff alleges that he advised Defendants Luther, Wakefield, and

the Health Administrator of his issues through grievances, however none took

appropriate steps to ensure that he received medical care.36

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Sections 1915(e)(2) and 1915A require a court to review complaints prior to

service in cases in which a plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis and in which a

31 Doc. 34 at 1.

32 Id.

33 Id.

34 Id. at 2.

35 Id.

36 Id.

plaintiff is incarcerated.37 The Court must sua sponte dismiss any claim that is

frivolous, is malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or

seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. This action

is subject to sua sponte screening for dismissal under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)

and 1915A because Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis and is also incarcerated.

To survive sua sponte screening for failure to state a claim, the complaint must

allege “sufficient factual matter” to show that the claim is facially plausible.38 “‘A

claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the

court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct

alleged.’”39 “[A] pleading that offers ‘labels or conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic

recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.’”40 In determining whether

a complaint states a plausible claim for relief, this Court must “accept all factual

allegations in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in the

plaintiff’s favor.”41

III. DISCUSSION

As to Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment medical claim, the Court concluded in its

memorandum dismissing the first amended complaint that:

37 See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2), 1915A.

38 Fowler v. UPMC Shadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir. 2009).

39 Fair Wind Sailing, Inc. v. Dempster, 764 F.3d 303, 308 n.3 (3d Cir. 2014) (quoting Ashcroft

v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)).

40 Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)).

41 Alpizar-Fallas v. Favero, 908 F.3d 910, 914 (3d Cir. 2018).

As the Court previously determined when it reviewed the original

complaint, even under the liberal pleading standard afforded to pro se

litigants, the facts alleged in the amended complaint are insufficient to

establish liability on the part of the defendants. Plaintiff does not allege

a serious medical condition—he only alludes in conclusory fashion to

“internal issues” and headaches. He admits that he has been to the

medical department, where he received both blood and urinary tests,

and that when he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infect, he received

treatment in the form of antibiotics. There is no allegation or inference

that the care Plaintiff received violates the standards of professional

care such that it violates the Eighth Amendment. And, because Plaintiff

did receive care and treatment, the Court presumes that the treatment

given was proper. At best, Plaintiff alleges a disagreement over the

medical procedures and treatment he should receive, which fails to state

a claim for medical deliberate indifference under the Eighth

Amendment.42

Plaintiff’s allegations in the second amended complaint merely restate his

prior allegations made in both his complaint and first amended complaint. Plaintiff

received numerous medical tests and care as well as a prescription when he was

found to have a urinary tract infection. Further, despite Plaintiff’s allegation, it

would not be a reasonable inference to conclude that Defendant Pierre advised

Plaintiff that there was nothing wrong with him because she wanted to deter him

from seeking further medical treatment in light of the numerous tests and

examinations that Plaintiff received. As such, the Court will dismiss the Eighth

Amendment medical indifference claim.

42 Doc. 27 at 7-8.

As to Plaintiff’s failure to protect claim, the Court previously concluded that:

Again, much like the allegations of the original complaint, Plaintiff has

failed to allege a failure to protect claim against the Defendants.

Notably, no allegations support the conclusion or inference that

Defendants knew or should have known that Plaintiff’s cellmate was a

threat to him or that he might contaminate Plaintiff’s food or drink or

that they were deliberately indifferent to any such risk. As such, the

Eighth Amendment claims will be dismissed without prejudice.43

Plaintiff fails to allege any additional facts in support of his Eighth Amendment

failure to protect claim beyond those alleged in his first amended complaint and

previously considered by the Court. This claim remains deficient, and the Court will

dismiss it.

Finally, Plaintiff alleges for the first time that Defendants Luther, Wakefield,

and the Health Care Administrator failed to adequately respond to his grievances

about his cellmate. These Defendants are not otherwise mentioned in the factual

allegations of the second amended complaint. “A defendant in a civil rights action

‘must have personal involvement in the alleged wrongs to be liable,’ and ‘cannot be

held responsible for a constitutional violation which he or she neither participated in

nor approved.’”44 Notably, a prisoner’s allegation that prison officials and

administrators responded inappropriately or failed to respond to a prisoner’s

complaint or an official grievance does not establish that the officials and

43 Id. at 9.

44 Baraka v. McGreevey, 481 F.3d 187, 210 (3d Cir. 2007). See Evancho v. Fisher, 423 F.3d

347, 353 (3d Cir. 2005); Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir. 1988).

administrators were involved in the underlying allegedly unconstitutional conduct.45

Further, a supervisory official has no affirmative constitutional duty to supervise or

discipline subordinates so as to prevent the violation of constitutional rights.46 The

Court must dismiss these Defendants as their involvement is limited to receiving or

responding to grievances, and thus Plaintiff has failed to allege their personal

involvement in his Eighth Amendment claims.

Generally, “plaintiffs who file complaints subject to dismissal under FED R.

CIV. P. 12(b)(6) should receive leave to amend unless amendment would be

inequitable or futile.” Plaintiff has now had two opportunities to amend his

complaint, and he has still failed to remedy his pleading defects. As such, the Court

finds that it would be futile to permit Plaintiff yet another opportunity to amend his

second amended complaint.

45 See Rode, 845 F.2d at 1207-08 (concluding that review of a grievance is insufficient to

demonstrate the actual knowledge necessary to establish personal involvement); Pressley v.

Beard, 266 F. App’x 216 (3d Cir. 2008) (prison officials cannot be held liable solely based

on their failure to take corrective action when grievances or investigations were referred to

them); Brooks v. Beard, 167 F. App’x 923, 925 (3d Cir. 2006); Croom v. Wagner, No. 06-

1431, 2006 WL 2619794, at *4 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 11, 2006) (holding that neither the filing of a

grievance nor an appeal of a grievance is sufficient to impose knowledge of any

wrongdoing); Ramos v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of Corrs., No. 06-cv-1444, 2006 WL 2129148, at

*2 (M.D. Pa. July 27, 2006) (holding that the review and denial of the grievances and

subsequent administrative appeal does not establish personal involvement).

46 Brown v. Grabowski, 922 F.2d 1097, 1120 (3d Cir. 1990).

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, this Court will dismiss the second amended

complaint with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted.

An appropriate Order follows.

BY THE COURT:

s/ Matthew W. Brann

Matthew W. Brann

United States District Judge