A. Tirado v. S.C.I. Houtzdale, Dr. M. Naji & Wellpath Med. Serv.

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Angel Tirado, :

Petitioner :

:

v. :

:

S.C.I. Houtzdale, Dr. M. Naji and :

Wellpath Medical Serv., et al., : No. 130 M.D. 2022

Respondents : Submitted: June 4, 2024

BEFORE: HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge

HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge (P.)

HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY

JUDGE COVEY FILED: July 16, 2024

Before this Court are Wellpath Medical Services’ (Wellpath) and Dr.

M. Naji’s (Dr. Naji) (collectively, Respondents)1 Preliminary Objections to Angel

Tirado’s (Tirado) pro se Petition for Review seeking a writ of mandamus2 and

1

According to Respondents, Wellpath Medical Services’ correct name is Wellpath, LLC.

See Respondents’ Prelim. Objs. at 1 n.1. “Respondents . . . are contracted medical services

providers for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections [(Department)].” Id. ¶ 6.

2

Tirado titled his filing a Pro Se Equity Petition for Discretionary Review. By May 9,

2022 Order, this Court declared that it “shall be treated as a Petition for Review addressed to this

Court’s original jurisdiction.” May 9, 2022 Order at 1. Further, although Tirado does not expressly

state that his Petition is in the nature of a mandamus action, based on the relief he is requesting -

an order from this Court directing Respondents to take specific action based on his medical

diagnoses - Respondents have responded as such. This Court will, likewise, treat this action as

one seeking mandamus. See Williams v. Dep’t of Corr. (Pa. Cmwlth. No. 31 M.D. 2017, filed

Sept. 5, 2017) (an inmate’s action to compel the Department to grant him permanent bottom bunk

status was in the nature of a mandamus action); see also Kretchmar v. Dep’t of Corr., 831 A.2d

793 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003) (where an inmate sought to compel the Department to provide him with

specific treatment, he was seeking a writ of mandamus). Unreported decisions of this Court issued

after January 15, 2008, may be cited as persuasive authority pursuant to Section 414(a) of this

Court’s Internal Operating Procedures. 210 Pa. Code § 69.414(a). The unreported cases included

herein are cited for their persuasive value.

monetary relief (Petition). After review, this Court sustains Respondents’

Preliminary Objections and dismisses the Petition.

Background3

Tirado is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution

(SCI) at Houtzdale (SCI-Houtzdale).4 See Petition ¶ 5. Tirado was diagnosed with

chronic arthritis in 2013 and diabetes in 2014. See id. ¶ 1. He is insulin dependent.

See id. ¶ 3. In 2017, to avoid the possibility of serious injury if he suffered

hypoglycemic shock, and to reduce arthritis related stress/pain in his knee, Tirado

was granted bottom bunk/bottom tier (BB/BT) status.5 See id. ¶¶ 2, 4. While at SCI-

Houtzdale, SCI-Houtzdale’s medical staff, namely Wellpath and Dr. Naji,

“negligently - carelessly terminated [his BB/BT s]tatus without first conducting any

sort of medical assessment to prove whether the need for such status continue[d] to

exist[].” Id. ¶ 5. On or before February 14 to 18, 2022, Tirado expressed his safety

concerns to Respondents and asked to have his BB/BT status reinstated, to no avail.

See id. ¶ 2.

Facts

On March 21, 2022, Tirado filed the Petition in this Court’s original

jurisdiction, asking this Court to mandate that Respondents restore his BB/BT status

On June 15, 2022, the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale (SCI-Houtzdale) also

filed preliminary objections to the Petition. On July 7, 2022, Tirado filed a Notice of Defective

Joinder requesting that this Court dismiss his action as against SCI-Houtzdale. By July 22, 2022

Order, this Court dismissed SCI-Houtzdale as a party and dismissed its preliminary objections to

the Petition as moot. See July 22, 2022 Order at 1. Thus, only Respondents’ Preliminary

Objections remain before this Court for disposition.

3

For purposes of considering the instant Preliminary Objections, this Court accepts as true

the facts as Tirado alleges therein.

4

See www.inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov/#/Result (last visited July 15, 2024).

5

Tirado does not specify at which SCI he was afforded BB/BT status.

2

or conduct “an evaluation determining whether there is a need[,]” and direct

Respondents to pay him “the sum of [$1,600.00] for unusual pain and needless

suffering.” Petition Ad Damnum Clause.

On July 12, 2022, Respondents filed the Preliminary Objections to the

Petition, asserting that Tirado failed to exhaust his administrative remedies and

failed to state a legally valid claim for mandamus and monetary damages. On

August 3, 2022, Tirado filed an answer opposing Respondents’ Preliminary

Objections. The parties filed their respective supporting briefs. This matter is now

ripe for this Court’s review.

Discussion

Initially, Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure (Appellate Rule)

1516(b) authorizes any party to file preliminary objections to an original jurisdiction

petition for review for the reasons specified in Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure

(Civil Rule) 1028. See Pa.R.A.P. 1516(b). Civil Rule 1028(a) authorizes any party

to file preliminary objections based on failure to exhaust a statutory remedy, see

Pa.R.Civ.P. 1028(7), and based on “legal insufficiency” (demurrer). Pa.R.Civ.P.

1028(a)(4).

In ruling on preliminary objections, [this Court] must

accept as true all well-pleaded material allegations in the

petition for review, as well as all inferences reasonably

deduced therefrom. The Court need not accept as true

conclusions of law, unwarranted inferences from facts,

argumentative allegations, or expressions of opinion. In

order to sustain preliminary objections, it must appear with

certainty that the law will not permit recovery, and any

doubt should be resolved by a refusal to sustain them.

A preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer admits

every well-pleaded fact in the [petition for review] and all

inferences reasonably deducible therefrom. It tests the

legal sufficiency of the challenged pleadings and will be

3

sustained only in cases where the pleader has clearly failed

to state a claim for which relief can be granted. When

ruling on a demurrer, a court must confine its analysis to

the [petition for review].

McNew v. E. Marlborough Twp., 295 A.3d 1, 8-9 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2023) (citations

omitted) (quoting Torres v. Beard, 997 A.2d 1242, 1245 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010)).

Moreover, “[w]hen ruling on a demurrer, [this C]ourt must confine its analysis to

the [petition for review].” Torres, 997 A.2d at 1245. “Thus, th[is] [C]ourt may

determine only whether, on the basis of the [petitioner’s] allegations, he or she

possesses a cause of action recognized at law.”6 Fraternal Ord. of Police Lodge No.

5, by McNesby v. City of Phila., 267 A.3d 531, 541 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2021).

6

In their Preliminary Objections, Respondents declare that SCI-Houtzdale has restored

Tirado’s BB/BT status. See Respondents’ Prelim. Objs. ¶¶ 30-33; see also Prelim. Objs. Ex. A at

1 (Tirado’s May 10, 2022 DC-481 Medical Release Summary). Respondents also attach and

reference a declaration by Keri Moore (Moore), the Department’s Assistant Chief Grievance

Officer in the Secretary’s Office of Inmate Grievances and Appeals, describing the Department’s

grievance process and declaring that Tirado did not file a grievance related to his BB/BT status.

See Respondents’ Prelim. Objs. ¶ 52; see also Prelim. Objs. Ex. B (Moore Declaration). However,

with one limited exception for writings not applicable here, “an effort to supply facts missing from

the objectionable pleading makes the preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer an

impermissible [s]peaking demurrer.” Stilp v. Commonwealth, 910 A.2d 775, 791 (Pa. Cmwlth.

2006), aff’d, 974 A.2d 491 (Pa. 2009) (citation and quotation marks omitted); see also Minor v.

Kraynak, 155 A.3d 114, 124 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2017). “[Respondents] may assert facts showing that

the allegations are not true . . . as an affirmative defense. But a demurrer is not an appropriate

avenue to assert such facts.” Minor, 155 A.3d at 124. Therefore, despite that Tirado acknowledges

in his Answer to the Preliminary Objections that his BB/BT status has been restored, see Answer

to Prelim. Objs. ¶¶ 31-34, and he has not filed a grievance because the process was irrelevant or

unavailable to him, see id. ¶¶ 50-53, this Court may not consider those facts at this stage. See

DuBoise v. Rumcik (Pa. Cmwlth. No. 566 M.D. 2020, filed May 21, 2021); see also Mobley v.

Coleman, 65 A.3d 1048 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013) (this Court may not rely on a speaking demurrer to

sustain preliminary objections).

4

First Preliminary Objection:

Mandamus Improper to Compel a Discretionary Act

Respondents argue that Tirado cannot invoke mandamus to force a

public official to perform a discretionary act, and Tirado seeks to have this Court

impermissibly superimpose its judgment on a clinical decision made by Dr. Naji,

who is required to exercise his judgment, discretion, and medical knowledge and

training.

This Court has explained:

“[M]andamus is an extraordinary writ which will only

issue to compel performance of a ministerial act or

mandatory duty where there exists a clear legal right in the

plaintiff, a corresponding duty in the defendant, and want

of any other adequate and appropriate remedy.” Dotterer

v. Sch. Dist. of Allentown, 92 A.3d 875, 880 (Pa. Cmwlth.

2014) (internal quotation marks omitted). “If any one of

the foregoing elements is absent, mandamus does not lie.”

Id. at 881.

Konieczny v. Zappala, 278 A.3d 416, 419 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2022). Mandamus “may be

used to compel performance of a ministerial duty, or to compel action in a matter

involving judgment or discretion.” Kegerise v. Delgrande, 183 A.3d 997, 1004 (Pa.

2018) (quoting Chanceford Aviation Props., L.L.P. v. Chanceford Twp. Bd. of

Supervisors, 923 A.2d 1099, 1108 (Pa. 2007)). “However, it may not be used to

direct the exercise of judgment or discretion in a particular way, or to direct the

retraction or reversal of an action already taken[,]” id., “even if the Court believes it

has been exercised incorrectly.” Clark v. Beard, 918 A.2d 155, 161 (Pa. Cmwlth.

2007). Moreover, the party seeking mandamus relief has the burden of proving his

legal right to such relief. See Werner v. Zazyczny, 681 A.2d 1331, 1335 (Pa. 1996);

see also Firearms Owners Against Crime - Inst. for Legal, Legis. & Educ. Action v.

Evanchick, 291 A.3d 507 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2023).

5

Here, Section 13.2.1.10.C of the Department of Corrections’

(Department) Access to Health Care Procedures Manual (Health Care Manual)7

specifies that upon new reception or transfer of an inmate from another facility, a

prescribing “practitioner will determine” an inmate’s medical necessity for special

items and document his/her assessment in the inmate’s medical records. Health Care

Manual at 10-1 (bold emphasis omitted); see also id. at 10-4.8 The Health Care

Manual defines special items as “[i]tem(s) medically necessary such as medical

supplies, . . . lower bunk, bottom tier cells, . . . etc.” Id. at xx. “The prescribing

practitioner will be responsible for making these determinations.” Id. at 10-1 (bold

emphasis omitted). The SCI’s Corrections Health Care Administrator/designee will

ensure that the inmate’s status is properly documented, see id., and “ensure that all

medically necessary orders for special item(s) will be carried out[.]” Id. at 10-2.

“Once the special item[] is available at the facility,” the SCI’s medical personnel

will provide it to the inmate, subject to conditions and periodic review schedules not

relevant here. Id. at 10-4 - 10-5.

However, the Health Care Manual also proclaims that “[i]ssuance of a

special item does not make the item the property of the inmate.” Id. at 10-3.

Moreover, the Health Care Manual declares:

This policy does not create rights in any person nor should

it be interpreted or applied in such a manner as to abridge

the rights of any individual. This policy should be

interpreted to have sufficient flexibility to be consistent

7

In his opposing brief, Tirado references that the Department’s BB/BT policy can be found

in Section 13.2.1 of the Health Care Manual. See Tirado Br. at 3. Pennsylvania courts may take

judicial notice of policies publicly available on the Department’s website. See Washington v. Pa.

Dep’t of Corr., 306 A.3d 263 (Pa. 2023).

8

See

www.cor.pa.gov/About%20Us/Documents/DOC%20Policies/13.02.01%20Access%20to%20He

alth%20Care.pdf (last visited July 15, 2024).

6

with law and to permit the accomplishment of the purpose

of the policies of the Department.

Id. at 2. Section 93.11(a) of the Department’s Regulations further announces that

“[a]n inmate does not have a right to be housed in a particular facility or in a

particular area within a facility.” 37 Pa. Code § 93.11(a). Thus, this Court has held

that “[i]t is entirely a matter of the Department’s discretion where to house an

inmate.” Clark, 918 A.2d at 160.

In addition, “[p]rison officials are afforded a wide range of discretion

in the promulgation and enforcement of policies to govern internal prison operations

and must be allowed to exercise their judgment and to execute those policies

necessary to preserve order and maintain security within Pennsylvania’s [SCIs] free

from judicial interference.” Tindell v. Dep’t of Corr., 87 A.3d 1029, 1035 (Pa.

Cmwlth. 2014). Pennsylvania law specifically “affords considerable latitude to

prison medical authorities in the diagnosis and treatment of the medical problems of

inmate patients. Courts will ‘disavow any attempt to second-guess the propriety or

adequacy of a particular course of treatment . . . (which) remains a question of sound

professional judgment.’” Kretchmar v. Commonwealth, 831 A.2d 793, 799 (Pa.

Cmwlth. 2003) (quoting Inmates of the Allegheny Cnty. Jail v. Pierce, 612 F.2d 754,

762 (3d Cir. 1979) (citations omitted)); see also Williams v. Dep’t of Corr. (Pa.

Cmwlth. No. 31 M.D. 2017, filed Sept. 5, 2017).

Based on the foregoing, Tirado has no legal right to BB/BT status, and

his complaints - whether regarding the necessity therefor, the immediacy with which

Respondents provided it, and/or when it expires - are “question[s] of sound

professional judgment.” Kretchmar, 831 A.2d at 799 (quoting Pierce, 612 F.2d at

762). In the absence of Tirado’s clear legal right, Respondents’ corresponding duty,

and, as is discussed more fully below, when there are other adequate and appropriate

7

remedies, the Petition fails to state a legally valid claim for mandamus relief.

Accordingly, this Court sustains Respondents’ First Preliminary Objection.

Second Preliminary Objection:

Failure to State a Claim and Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies

Respondents argue that this Court should dismiss the Petition because

it sounds in mandamus and Tirado failed to exhaust his administrative remedies

where he filed this action without first filing a grievance pursuant to the

Department’s grievance procedure.

The doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies

requires that a person challenging an administrative

decision must first exhaust all adequate and available

administrative remedies before seeking relief from the

courts. The purposes of this exhaustion requirement are to

prevent premature judicial intervention in the

administrative process and ensure that claims will be

addressed by the body with expertise in the area.

Funk v. Dep’t of Env’t Prot., 71 A.3d 1097, 1101 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2013) (citations

omitted).

The Department has established an inmate grievance policy in its DC-

ADM 804, Inmate Grievance System Procedures Manual (Grievance Manual)9

“designed to review and resolve any problems that an inmate experiences during his

incarceration.” Mueller v. Pa. State Police Headquarters, 532 A.2d 900, 903 n.4

(Pa. Cmwlth. 1987). The Grievance Manual preliminarily encourages inmates to

attempt to resolve concerns regarding issues, procedures, or events occurring in the

course of their confinement informally before filing an official grievance (Grievance

Process). See Grievance Manual at 1-1. If informal measures are unsuccessful,

9

See

www.cor.pa.gov/About%20Us/Documents/DOC%20Policies/804%20Inmate%20Grievances.pdf

(last visited July 15, 2024).

8

[t]he Grievance Process consists of three steps. In Step 1,

an inmate must submit the initial grievance to the

Grievance Coordinator within 15 working days of the

initial incident. The Grievance Coordinator then has 15

working days to provide a written response.

In Step 2, an inmate must appeal the grievance response to

the Facility Manager or Superintendent within 15 working

days of receiving it. In turn, the [Facility] Manager or

Superintendent must notify the inmate of his decision

within 15 working days of receiving the appeal.

If still dissatisfied, an inmate in Step 3 must submit the

final appeal to the Secretary’s Office of Inmate Grievances

and Appeals (Central Office) within 15 working days of

receiving an appeal response. The Central Office then has

30 working days to respond to the inmate. The Grievance

Process thus culminates in the Central Office’s response.

Kittrell v. Watson, 88 A.3d 1091, 1092-93 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014). This Court has

concluded that “[i]f the inmate fails to complete each of these steps, he or she fails

to exhaust his administrative remedies.”10 Hill v. Wetzel (Pa. Cmwlth. No. 699 C.D.

10

This Court acknowledges that

[a]n inmate may not be required to exhaust the administrative

remedies [if] those remedies are not available to the inmate. Ross v.

Blake, 578 U.S. 632, 642 (2016); Minor. . . , 155 A.3d [at] 125 . . . .

There are three situations where an administrative remedy is

considered “unavailable.” Ross, 578 U.S. at 643. First, “an

administrative procedure is unavailable when (despite what

regulations or guidance materials may promise) it operates as a

simple dead end - with officers unable or consistently unwilling to

provide any relief to aggrieved inmates.” Id. (citing Booth v.

Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 736 (2001)). Second, an administrative

remedy is unavailable if the “administrative scheme [is] so opaque

that it becomes, practically speaking, incapable of use.” Id. at 643.

Third, an administrative remedy is unavailable “when prison

administrators thwart inmates from taking advantage of a grievance

process through machination, misrepresentation, or intimidation.”

Id. at 644.

Hill v. Wetzel (Pa. Cmwlth. No. 699 C.D. 2021, filed Jan. 5, 2023), slip op. at 8-9. Another

exception allows an inmate to challenge a statute’s constitutionality or validity. See Funk; see also

9

2021, filed Jan. 5, 2023), slip op. at 7; see also McNew v. E. Marlborough Twp., 295

A.3d 1, 10 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2023) (“‘[W]here an adequate administrative process is

available, a party may not forgo that process in favor of seeking judicial relief.’ Se.

Pa. Transp. Auth. v. City of Phila., . . . 101 A.3d 79, 90 ([Pa.] 2014)”); Humphrey v.

Dep’t of Corr., 939 A.2d 987 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2007), aff’d in part, 955 A.2d 348 (Pa.

2008) (where inmate did not allege that he appealed the denial of a grievance or any

final Department order, he failed to exhaust administrative remedies). This Court

has determined that inmate challenges to their medical care are subject to the

Grievance Process. See Ex rel. Bundy v. Wetzel (Pa. Cmwlth. No. 444 M.D. 2020,

filed Oct. 29, 2021); see also Calero v. Dep’t of Corr. (Pa. Cmwlth. No. 1488 C.D.

2013, filed Mar. 20, 2014). Moreover, an inmate’s failure to exhaust adequate,

available administrative remedies is a bar to a mandamus action. See Mueller.

Here, Tirado does not state in the Petition that he availed himself of any

part of the Department’s Grievance Process. Even if this Court could consider

Tirado’s complaints to Respondents on or about February 14 to 18, 2022, as an

informal first step, his failure to complete the Grievance Process bars his mandamus

action. See Hill; see also Humphrey; Mueller. Because Tirado failed to exhaust his

administrative remedies, this Court sustains Respondents’ Second Preliminary

Objection.

Third Preliminary Objection:

Failure to State a Claim for Monetary Damages

Respondents also contend that this Court should dismiss the Petition

because Tirado failed to state a legally valid claim for which this Court may award

monetary damages. Specifically, Respondents argue that Tirado’s request for

Humphrey v. Dep’t of Corr., 939 A.2d 987 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2007), aff’d in part, 955 A.2d 348 (Pa.

2008). Tirado does not assert that an administrative remedy was unavailable to him, nor does he

challenge a statute’s constitutionality or validity.

10

monetary damages falls under Appellate Rule 1561(b), which allows damages for

certain claims raised in an original jurisdiction petition for review, and Appellate

Rule 1562(c) disallows money damages in tort actions.

Indeed, Appellate Rule 1561 provides, in relevant part:

(b) Original jurisdiction petitions for review.--Where

the petition for review raises questions that formerly were

determinable in an action in equity, replevin, mandamus,

or quo warranto, or for a declaratory judgment or upon a

petition for a writ of certiorari or prohibition, or in another

similar plenary action or proceeding, the court may grant

the relief heretofore available in any such plenary action

or proceeding.

(c) Money damages.--Money damages arising out of tort

or contract claims may not be granted under this chapter

(except on review of determinations of the Board of

Claims or similar agencies), but relief granted under

paragraph (b) of this rule may include any damages to

which the petitioner is entitled which are claimed in the

petition, which are ancillary to the matter, and which may

be granted by a court.

Pa.R.A.P. 1561.11 Thus, while this Court may award money damages for eligible

claims under Appellate Rule 1561(b), it may not do so for tort actions. See Appellate

Rule 1561(c).

11

[Appellate] Rule 1561 concludes the description of the petition for

review process, implements the statutory scheme found in various

parts of the Judicial Code, [42 Pa.C.S. §§ 101-9913,] and

summarizes [Appellate Rules] Chapter 15’s theme that a petition for

review is a plenary pleading through which a petitioner may obtain

any form of relief against state government consistent with the scope

of appellate court jurisdiction.

G. Ronald Darlington et al., 20A West’s Pa. Prac., Appellate Practice § 1561:1 (Disposition of

petition for review - Introduction) (2023-24 ed.).

11

This statement is consistent with

[Section 761(a) of the Judicial Code,] 42 Pa.C.S. § 761(a),

[which provides that] the Commonwealth Court has

original jurisdiction over civil actions or proceedings:

(1) Against the Commonwealth government,

including any officer thereof, acting in his official

capacity, except:

....

(v) actions or proceedings in the nature of trespass

as to which the Commonwealth government

formerly enjoyed sovereign or other immunity and

actions or proceedings in the nature of assumpsit

relating to such actions or proceedings in the

nature of trespass.

42 Pa.C.S. § 761(a)(1)(v).

Th[e Pennsylvania Supreme] Court, in examining the

historical context of Section 761 [of the Judicial Code],

has held []:

[T]he clear intent of the General Assembly is that

actions against the Commonwealth or its officers

acting in their official capacity for money damages

based on tort liability are outside the original

jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court and are

properly commenced in the [c]ourts of [c]ommon

[p]leas.

Balshy v. Rank, . . . 490 A.2d 415, 420-21 ([Pa.] 1985).

Hill v. Pa. Dep’t of Env’t Prot., 679 A.2d 773, 774 (Pa. 1996). Thus, Section

761(a)(1)(v) of the Judicial Code excludes common law trespass from this Court’s

original jurisdiction. See Hill; see also Miles v. Beard, 847 A.2d 161 (Pa. Cmwlth.

2004).

Tirado requests $1,600.00 for pain and suffering caused by

Respondents negligently and carelessly terminating his BB/BT status. See Petition

12

¶ 5; see also Petition Ad Damnum Clause. Therefore, he asserts tort claims against

Respondents over which this Court lacks jurisdiction. Accordingly, because Tirado

has failed to state a claim for which this Court may award him money damages, this

Court sustains Respondents’ Third Preliminary Objection.

Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, accepting as true all well-pleaded facts in the

Petition and drawing all inferences reasonably deducible therefrom in favor of the

nonmoving party (i.e., Tirado), as this Court must, “the law indicates with certainty

that no recovery is possible” from Respondents. Vasquez, 279 A.3d at 75.

Therefore, this Court sustains Respondents’ Preliminary Objections and dismisses

Tirado’s Petition.

_________________________________

ANNE E. COVEY, Judge

13

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Angel Tirado, :

Petitioner :

:

v. :

:

S.C.I. Houtzdale, Dr. M. Naji and :

Wellpath Medical Serv., et al., : No. 130 M.D. 2022

Respondents :

ORDER

AND NOW, this 16th day of July, 2024, Wellpath Medical Services’

and Dr. M. Naji’s Preliminary Objections to Angel Tirado’s Petition for Review

(Petition) are SUSTAINED, and the Petition is DISMISSED.

_________________________________

ANNE E. COVEY, Judge