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

> Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania · July 16, 2024

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10470960

## Case

- **Court:** Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
- **Decided:** July 16, 2024
- **Precedential status:** Unpublished
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Judges:** Covey, J.
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

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

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10470960. Public record. Not legal advice.
