Luna v. Gentry

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

TEXARKANA DIVISION

RONNIE ANTHONY LUNA PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 4:22-cv-04048-SOH-BAB

SHERIFF ROBERT GENTRY;

JAIL ADMINISTRATOR CHRIS WALCOTT;

JAILER ADRIAN HERNANDEZ; JAILER

ROMONA ARENAS; PROGRAM COORDINATOR

ELEUPERIO HERNANDEZ; JAILER BARBERA

VALENTNE; JAILER KIMBERLY MCBAIN;

JAILER/DEPUTY ANTHONY IRVIN; JAILER

BLAKE REEL; JAILER/PROGRAM DIR.

ANA MEJIA; JAILER WHITNEY HIGGINS;

and NURSE TAMMY FOWLER DEFENDANTS

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Before the Court is Defendant Tammy Fowler’s Motion to for Judgment on the Pleadings

(ECF No. 87). Plaintiff did not respond and his time to do so has passed. Pursuant to the provisions

of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and (3)(2011), the Honorable Susan O. Hickey, Chief United States

District Judge, referred the instant motion to the undersigned for the purpose of making a Report

and Recommendation.

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1

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Plaintiff filed his original Complaint and Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP

Motion”) on June 1, 2022. (ECF Nos. 1, 2). The Court granted Plaintiff’s IFP Motion on the same

1 This case has a long and convoluted procedural background much of which is irrelevant to

Defendant Fowler’s instant Motion. Accordingly, the Court includes here only those filings

which are relevant.

day. (ECF No. 3). Plaintiff subsequently filed two amended complaints, (ECF Nos. 6, 8), and one

Motion to Supplement, (ECF No. 79). The Court granted Plaintiff’s Motion to Supplement and

held the Motion to Supplement, (ECF No. 79), and Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (ECF

No. 8) would be read together to state all of Plaintiff’s claims. (ECF No. 84).

Defendant Fowler filed her Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and Brief in support on

July 5, 2023. (ECF Nos. 87-88). The Court directed Plaintiff to respond to this Motion by July

27, 2023. (ECF No. 89). Plaintiff requested an extension of time to respond to Defendant Fowler’s

Motion and the Court granted such extension. (ECF No. 92-93). Plaintiff then failed to respond,

and the Court entered an Order to Show Cause directing Plaintiff to respond to Defendant Fowler’s

Motion by October 19, 2023. (ECF No. 95). Plaintiff again failed to respond to Defendant

Fowler’s Motion. However, Plaintiff did file two Motions to subpoena witnesses, (ECF Nos. 96-

97), a Notice of Change of Address, (ECF No. 100), and two Motions to extend time to file a

motion for summary judgment, (ECF Nos. 101, 106).

Plaintiff has been given ample time to respond to Defendant Fowler’s Motion and the Court

will now consider the Motion unopposed.

II. CLAIMS AND FACTS ALLEGED

Plaintiff is currently incarcerated in the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center in

Lexington, Oklahoma. His claims in this lawsuit stem from alleged civil rights violations while

he was incarcerated in the Sevier County Detention Center (“SCDC”), in DeQueen, Arkansas, as

a pretrial detainee. Plaintiff sued Defendant Fowler in both her individual and official capacities.

Plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. (ECF No. 8).

In his Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff alleges three claims against Defendant

Fowler—Claim One, Claim Four, and Claim Five.2 First, Plaintiff claims, Defendant Fowler

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violated his rights by failing to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment on April 27, 2022.

Plaintiff alleges Defendant Fowler placed another inmate in his cell who was experiencing

medication changes. Further Plaintiff claims, Defendant Fowler failed to properly monitor this

inmate or evaluate his reaction to the increase in medication. (ECF No. 8, p. 6).

Next, in Claim Four of his Second Amendment Complaint, Plaintiff claims Defendant

Fowler denied him access to the courts on April 27, 2022. Plaintiff alleges:

My discovery papers were destroyed when Justin [Velasquez] urinated on them. I asked

for [copies] or another copy of the papers and to this day I have never received them . . .

Each defendant was aware that my discovery evidence was destroyed and has made no

effort to obtain me another copy after asking multiple of times violating my rights (under

color state law).

Id. at 9 (errors in original).

Lastly in Claim Five of his Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff states Defendant Fowler

was aware of “the incident” but failed to address it. (ECF No. 8, p. 10). Plaintiff goes on to allege:

My papers were destroyed. And I asked [repeatedly] for them to be replaced. They never

refused to do it but they just kept putting me off acting as though the incident never

occurred. Each one of these individuals violated my rights (under color of law).

Id. (errors in original).

When prompted to explain the official capacity claims alleged, Plaintiff stated:

My rights were violated (under color of state law) after they made [copies] for my family

but refused to make [copies] of my documents for me. They returned the contaminated

legal work to me . . ..

Id. at 11.

2 Plaintiff alleges a total of five claims against twelve defendants in his Second Amended

Complaint. However, the only claims at issue and addressed here, are those asserted against

Defendant Fowler. (ECF No. 8).

In his Supplement to Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff states three additional claims

against Defendant Fowler.3 First in Supplemental Claim One, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Fowler

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failed to train or supervise the SCDC staff while Plaintiff was incarcerated there. Specifically,

Plaintiff alleges:

On April 27, 2022 Justin [Velasquez} who is nephew of ass. Jail administrator Romona

Arenas was improperly housed in my cell (A3). [Velasquez] had prior disturbances which

were documented relating to his mental health status and medication in which he was

removed from housing locations due to these disturbances. Exposure to this inmate my

safety and well being, ruined my only discovery motions on pending criminal cases.

Caused me emotional, psychiatric distress, and physical harm relating to the out come of

my criminal convictions. Tammy Fowler [and other Defendants] directly participated in

the housing of [Velasquez] and where personally involved. Even though it was brought to

the staffs attention of these mental disturbances caused by [Velasquez] he was still

improperly housed in general population. Nurse Tammy Fowler and security staff violated

policy by not coordinating with each other in rehousing [Velasquez] up on a change of

dose in his current [medication]. [Velasquez] destroyed my legal paper work and discovery

materials when he was sleep walking and urinated all over my paper work. This occurred

only days before my scheduled trial date in which I only had 2 days of receiving the paper

work to study and be prepared.

Even after this incident and my problems with [Velasquez] defendants intentionally kept

moving him to the same housing location as I was housed. Defendants were fully aware

of [Velasquez] mental condition, schizophrenic out burst and anger problems. This show

total disregard for my safety . . .

Medical Defendant nurse Fowler violated policy when she deliberately chose to not isolate

observe, treat and house special needs inmate Justin [Velasquez], even though, he had prior

history of disturbances and increased of dosage in his psych medicine.

(ECF No. 79, pp. 3-6). 4

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3 The Court notes that even though Plaintiff labeled claims in his Supplement with the same

numbers as claims from his Second Amended Complaint, the supplemental claims appear to be

additional claims.

4 Plaintiff makes additional allegations in this claim, but they are not against Defendant Fowler.

Therefore, the Court finds them irrelevant to the consideration of Defendant Fowler’s Motion for

Judgment on the Pleadings.

Next, in his Supplemental Claim Two, Plaintiff alleges: Defendant Fowler intentionally

exposed him to a mentally ill inmate and this constituted “mishandling, mishousing, and

mistreatment.” (ECF No. 79, p. 8) (errors in original). Plaintiff further alleges:

On around 4-20-2022 Justin Belazquez was moved in to my cell by shift supervisor by

Anthony Irvin. Prior to this Velazquez, who is on high doses of psych medicine had been

housed in isolation. Due to his disturbances and violent nature. Velazquez had also been

housed in General population but was removed after he threatened other inmates with his

stick. Even though Velazquez had a history of violent misconduct due to his mental

disorder, [other Defendants] and nurse Tammy Fowler disregarded my safety when they

chose to have Antony Irvin place in my cell.

Even after the incident when Velazquez was sleep walking and ruined my legal paper work

he was removed from my cell only to return a few days later. Nurse Tammy Fowler and

facility staff continued to improperly house Velazquez, every[ ]time I moved to a new

housing location Velazquez was some how followed me. Staff were fully aware of the

problems of Velazquez and my self but intentionally moved him in to my housing location.

Velazquez mistreatment, mishousing, and improper handling contributed to my safety

being jeopardized, emotional and mental distress, my legal materials being destroyed

which effected process of my criminal proceedings, and led to intentional violation of my

constitutional rights.

Id. at 8-9 (errors in original).5

4F

Finally, Plaintiff claims Defendant Fowler denied him medical care. (ECF No. 79, p. 13).

Plaintiff alleges that his hands began swelling on April 8, 2022. He submitted medical requests

on this issue six times between May 30, 2022 and September 23, 2022. Plaintiff’s pain was severe

and the swelling intense. After seven months, Defendant Fowler told Plaintiff he did not have

arthritis, but an x-ray “a few days later” changed Defendant Fowler’s opinion. She then diagnosed

him with arthritis. Plaintiff states: “I endured 7 months of pain and torture due to this delay of

treatment and diagnosis.” Id.

For his official capacity claim against Defendant Fowler here Plaintiff states:

5 Plaintiff also makes an official capacity claim here, but it is only against the non-moving

defendants.

Turnkey medical services failed to follow the policies to properly diagnose and treat

inmates with chronic medical conditions. Defendants down play the seriousness of inmates

complaints which lead to unwantton infliction of pain and suffering.

Id. at 13-14 (errors in original).

III. LEGAL STANDARD

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) provides that a party may move for judgment on the

pleadings. The Court applies the same standard on a motion for judgment on the pleadings as it

would on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. See Westcott v. City of

Omaha, 901 F.2d 1486, 1488 (8th Cir. 1990).

The legal standard for a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c) is the same

standard as a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). See Westcott, 901 F.2d at 1488 (noting the

“distinction is purely formal” as courts review a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings

under the same standard courts consider a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss). A “judgment on the

pleadings is appropriate when there are no material facts to resolve[,] and the moving party is

entitled to a judgment [in his favor] as a matter of law.” Mills v. City of Grand Forks, 614 F.3d

495, 497-98 (8th Cir. 2010).

Rule 8(a) contains the general pleading rules and requires a complaint to present “a short

and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

8(a)(2). “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.”

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The Court will consider well plead factual allegations

in the Complaint as true, and construe all reasonable inferences from the pleadings in favor of the

non-moving party. Morton v. Becker, 793 F.2d 185, 187 (8th Cir. 1986). However, while the

Court will liberally construe a pro se plaintiff’s complaint, the plaintiff must allege sufficient facts

to support his claims. See Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir. 2004).

Additionally, the Court may consider the pleadings themselves, materials embraced by the

pleadings, exhibits attached to the pleadings, and matters of public record in ruling upon a Rule

12(c) motion. Porous Media Corp. v. Pall Corp., 186 F.3d 1077, 1079 (8th Cir. 1999).

IV. DISCUSSION

As an initial matter the Court notes Defendant Fowler did not move for dismissal on all

claims asserted against her. Defendant Fowler made a general argument regarding Mr.

Velasquez’s conduct and then moved for dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant Fowler

regarding Plaintiff’s medical care, failure to train, and all official capacity claims. The Court will

address Defendant Fowler’s arguments as they apply to each of Plaintiff’s Claims.

A. Claim One (Second Amended Complaint) and Claim Two (Supplement)

Defendant Fowler first argues Plaintiff has failed to state any cognizable claims based on

Mr. Velasquez’s conduct. Defendant Fowler failed to identify which of Plaintiff’s claims they

seek dismissal of with this argument. Therefore, the Court is left to presume Defendant Fowler

intended this to address Plaintiff’s Claim One from his Second Amended Complaint and Claim

Two from his Supplement.

Defendant argues, related to Mr. Velasquez’s conduct, that Plaintiff does not have standing

to assert a claim regarding the medical care provided to another inmate. The Court agrees.

However, Defendant Fowler has misinterpreted Plaintiff’s claims here. Plaintiff clearly states in

his Second Amended Complaint under Claim One that Defendant Fowler violated his rights by

failing to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for Plaintiff. Plaintiff goes on to explain

this failure occurred on April 27, 2022 when Mr. Velasquez—who was experiencing medication

changes—was placed in Plaintiff's cell. (ECF No. 8, p. 6). Likewise, in Claim Two of his

Supplement, Plaintiff claims Defendant Fowler intentionally exposed him to a mentally ill

inmate—Mr. Velasquez. (ECF No. 79, p. 8). Additionally, Plaintiff plainly states in his

Supplement “Velazquez[’s] mistreatment, mishousing, and improper handling contributed to my

safety being jeopardized . . ..” (ECF No. 79, p. 9). Both of these claims center on Plaintiff’s

exposure to the mentally ill inmate—Velasquez—and how that exposure caused injury to Plaintiff

through the destruction of his legal papers. The Court interprets these claims as failure-to-protect

claims pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment. 6

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To prevail on a failure to protect claim, Plaintiff must establish: (1) he was “incarcerated

under conditions posing a substantial risk of serious harm,” and (2) prison officials were

“deliberately indifferent [to his] health or safety.” See Holden v. Hirner, 663 F.3d 336, 341 (8th

Cir. 2011) (internal citations omitted). The Court finds, even considering the facts alleged in a

light most favorable to Plaintiff, no fact finder can find Plaintiff was incarcerated under conditions

posing substantial risk of serious harm. The only injury asserted by Plaintiff as a result of being

housed with Mr. Velasquez is the destruction of his legal papers, subsequent “mental anguish,”

“stress,” and “physical harm relating to the [outcome] of my criminal convictions.” (ECF No. 8,

p. 11; ECF No. 79, p. 4). Plaintiff does not provide any explanation of the “mental anguish,”

“stress,” or “physical harm” but simply lists the phrases. None of these allegations are sufficient

to establish a cognizable Fourteenth Amendment violation under Section 1983 for failure to

protect. See Schoelch v. Mitchell, 625 F.3d 1041, 1047 (8th Cir. 2010) (holding a pretrial

detainee’s Fourteenth Amendment Due Process claim for failure to protect and unconstitutional

6 The Court notes Plaintiff makes comments throughout his Second Amended Complaint and

Supplement as to improper treatment or housing of Mr. Velazquez, however, the Court does not

construe these statements to allege any claim for denial of medical care for Mr. Velazquez.

conditions of confinement failed due to a lack of evidence showing the detainee suffered an

“objectively serious mental or physical injury” as a result of the complained of conduct).

Additionally the Prison Litigation Reform Act “PLRA” provides, in pertinent part, that

“[n]o federal civil action may be brought by a prisoner … for mental or emotional injury … without

a prior showing of physical injury.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e). In Royal v. Kautzky, 375 F.3d 720,

723 (8th Cir. 2004), the Eighth Circuit concluded that Congress intended this provision of the

PLRA to “limit [] recovery for mental or emotional injury in all federal actions brought by

prisoners.”

Lastly, to the extent Plaintiff is claiming his criminal conviction was improper—thus an

injury—such a claim is barred unless “the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct

appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such

determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.”

Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994). Plaintiff has produced no evidence or allegations

in his complaint to meet the Heck requirements.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Claim One in his Amended Complaint and Claim Two in his

Supplement fail to state a cognizable claim under Section 1983 and should be dismissed.

B. Claim Three (Supplement)

Next, Defendant Fowler argues Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim for denial of

medical care. This argument addresses Plaintiff’s Claim Three from his Supplement in which he

claims he was denied medical care for over seven months for arthritis in his hands.

In prisoner litigation, courts in the Eighth Circuit analyze denial of medical care claims

under the deliberate indifference standard of the Eighth Amendment. See e.g., Morris v. Cradduck,

954 F.3d 1055, 1058 (8th Cir. 2020) (pretrial detainee has the same rights to medical care under

the Due Process Clause as an inmate has under the Eighth Amendment). The Court therefore

examines Plaintiff’s claims under the Eighth Amendment's deliberate indifference standard. Id.

To succeed on this type of claim, Plaintiff must demonstrate (1) that he had an objectively

serious medical need, and (2) that the Defendants actually knew of, but deliberately disregarded,

that serious medical need. See Ivey v. Audrain Cty., Mo., 968 F.3d 845, 848 (8th Cir. 2020). “A

serious medical need is one that has been diagnosed by a physician as requiring treatment, or one

that is so obvious that even a layperson would easily recognize the necessity for a doctor’s

attention.” Coleman v. Rahija, 114 F.3d 778, 784 (8th Cir. 1997) (internal quotations omitted).

“To demonstrate that a defendant actually knew of, but deliberately disregarded, a serious medical

need, the plaintiff must establish a mental state akin to criminal recklessness: disregarding a known

risk to the [detainee’s] health.” Barton v. Taber, 908 F.3d 1119, 1124 (8th Cir. 2018) (internal

quotations and citations omitted). The Eighth Circuit has stated that this “onerous standard

requires a showing more than negligence, more than even gross negligence, but less than

purposefully causing or knowingly bringing about a substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate.”

Thompson v. King, 730 F.3d 742, 747 (8th Cir. 2013) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

Deliberate indifference may also be manifested by “prison guards in intentionally denying

or delaying access to medical care or intentionally interfering with the treatment once prescribed.”

Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104–05 (1976). However, the “Constitution does not require jailers

to handle every medical complaint as quickly as each inmate might wish.” Jenkins v. Cty. of

Hennepin, Minn., 557 F.3d 628, 633 (8th Cir. 2009). “A prisoner alleging a delay in treatment

must present verifying medical evidence that the prison officials ignored an acute or escalating

situation or that these delays adversely affected his prognosis[,]” Holden v. Hirner, 663 F.3d 336,

342 (8th Cir. 2011) (internal quotations omitted), unless the need for medical attention is obvious

to a layperson, in which case the plaintiff need not submit verifying medical evidence to show the

detrimental effects of delay. See Schaub v. VonWald, 638 F.3d 905, 919 (8th Cir. 2011) (citing

Roberson v. Bradshaw, 198 F.3d 645, 648 (8th Cir. 1999)); see also Boyd v. Knox, 47 F.3d 966,

969 (8th Cir. 1995) (holding a three-week delay, “coupled with knowledge of inmate-patient’s

suffering, can support a finding of an Eighth Amendment violation”).

Here, Plaintiff alleges in his Supplement he suffered with intense swelling and severe pain

in his hands for over seven months. He also alleges he filed at least six medical requests to

Defendant Fowler on the issue.7 Finally, he alleges Defendant Fowler diagnosed him with arthritis

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after seven months of suffering. The Court finds these allegations, considered in the light most

favorable to Plaintiff as the Court must at this stage, state a viable delay of medical care claim

against Defendant Fowler.

Defendants argue Plaintiff cannot state a viable delay of medical care claim without an

allegation that the delay negatively impacted his prognosis. However, the Eighth Circuit has held

that a delay claim may be stated when the defendant knows of pain and suffering experienced by

the inmate or detainee and continues to delay treatment. See Boyd, 47 F.3d at 969 (knowledge of

swollen mouth from impacted and infected wisdom teeth coupled with a three-week delay before

referring to an oral surgeon can establish deliberate indifference); see also Schaub v. VonWald,

638 F.3d at 919 (holding verifying medical evidence unnecessary when the need for medical

attention was obvious to a layperson). Plaintiff has stated such an allegation here when he alleged

7 The Court notes Defendants argue Plaintiff was seen by Defendant Fowler six times. Plaintiff’s

Supplement does not state this nor is there any other evidence in the pleadings showing that

Plaintiff was seen by Defendant Fowler regarding his hands. Instead, Plaintiff alleges he filed six

medical requests to Defendant Fowler. (ECF No. 79, p. 13).

severe pain and intense swelling for over seven months coupled with the six medical requests sent

to Defendant Fowler.

Finally, Defendants argue Plaintiff did not suffer any injury from the delay in medical care.

However, Plaintiff alleges seven months of intense swelling and severe pain in his hands. The

Court finds this is an adequate allegation of physical injury.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Claim Three in his Supplement should survive for further litigation

as Plaintiff has stated a claim upon which relief may be granted.

C. Claim One (Supplement)

Defendant Fowler’s third argument is that Plaintiff failed to allege sufficient facts to

establish she had any personal involvement in the housing of Mr. Velasquez or Plaintiff, and

supervisor liability is not a cognizable claim pursuant to Section 1983. Under a claim labeled

“failure to train or supervise 8th 14th Amendment” Plaintiff stated:

Tammy Fowler [and other Defendants] directly participated in the housing of [Velasquez]

and where personally involved. Even though it was brought to the staffs attention of these

mental disturbances caused by [Velasquez] he was still improperly housed in general

population. Nurse Tammy Fowler and security staff violated policy by not coordinating

with each other in rehousing [Velasquez] up on a change of dose in his current

[medication].

(ECF No. 79, pp. 3-6) (errors in original).

In cases brought under Section 1983, supervisors are not liable for constitutional violations

committed by their subordinates simply because they are their supervisors; instead, Plaintiff must

plead each Defendant, “through [his] own individual actions,” has violated the Constitution.

Marsh v. Phelps Cty, 902 F.3d 745, 754 (8th Cir. 2018). (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,

676 (2009)). Supervisors are only liable for their own misconduct. Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 677.

Plaintiff’s allegations, considered in the light most favorable to Plaintiff as the Court must at this

stage, alleged individual involvement of Defendant Fowler. Thus, the Court finds his claim is not

based on supervisory liability.

However, a prison supervisor can be held liable for failing to train or supervise subordinates

when that failure caused the constitutional violation. Tilson v. Forest City Police Dept., 28 F.3d

802, 806 (8th Cir. 1994). To state an individual capacity claim for failure to train or supervise

there must be allegations: (1) the supervisor knew of a pattern of unconstitutional acts committed

by the subordinate; (2) the supervisor demonstrated deliberate indifference to, or unspoken

authorization of, constitutional violations committed by subordinates; (3) the supervisor failed to

take appropriate remedial action after learning of a subordinate's misconduct; and (4) the plaintiff

was injured as a result of the failure to properly train or supervise subordinates. Otey v. Marshall,

121 F.3d 1150, 1155 (8th Cir. 1997). The standard for proving deliberate indifference is high.

Even where prison officials know of a substantial risk to inmate health or safety, they are not liable,

“if they responded reasonably to the risk, even if the harm ultimately was not averted.” Farmer v.

Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 844 (1994).

While Plaintiff has stated sufficient factual allegations to meet the first three elements of a

failure to train claim, again Plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient facts to establish he was injured

as a result of Defendant Fowler’s conduct. See supra, Section IV. A. Thus Plaintiff has failed to

allege facts to satisfy the fourth element of a failure-to-protect claim. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s

Claim One in his Supplement should be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief

may be granted.

D. Official capacity claims

Lastly, Defendant Fowler argues Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable official capacity

claim against Defendant Fowler. The Court agrees. While Plaintiff alleges multiple times in his

Second Amended Complaint and Supplement how policies and customs of the SCDC violated his

constitutional rights, he only makes one allegation against Defendant Fowler’s employer—

TurnKey:

Turnkey medical services failed to follow the policies to properly diagnose and treat

inmates with chronic medical conditions. Defendants down play the seriousness of inmates

complaints which lead to unwantton infliction of pain and suffering.

(ECF No. 79, pp. 13-14) (errors in original).

“Claims against individuals in their official capacities are equivalent to claims against the

entity for which they work; they require proof that a policy or custom of the entity violated the

plaintiff’s rights, and the only type of immunity available is one belonging to the entity itself.”

Gorman v Bartch, 152 F.3d 907, 914 (8th Cir. 1998). Official capacity claims are “functionally

equivalent to a suit against the employing governmental entity.”8 Veatch v. Bartels Lutheran

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Home, 627 F.3d 1254, 1257 (8th Cir. 2010). To sustain an official capacity claim against such an

entity a plaintiff “must show that there was a policy, custom, or official action that inflicted an

8 The Court takes judicial notice that Turnkey, a private medical care company, was contracted to

provide medical care at the SCDC during the time at issue, and Defendant Fowler appears to be

an employee (or former employee) of TurnKey. Medical providers who contract to provide

medical care for incarcerated persons are state actors acting under color of state law for the

purposes of Section 1983. See Davis v. Buchanan Cty., Missouri, 11 F.4th 604, 617 (8th Cir.

2021). See also West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 57, (1988) (because the provision of medical services

to inmates is “state action fairly attributable to the State,” medical personnel act “under color of

state law for purposes of [Section] 1983”); Montano v. Hedgepeth, 120 F.3d 844, 849–50 (8th Cir.

1997) (“physicians working in state prisons, who help to fulfill the state's Eighth Amendment

obligation to inmates and who typically are the only health professionals available to care for

incarcerated persons, are persons who may fairly be said to be state actors.”).

actionable injury.” Johnson v. Hamilton, 452 F.3d 967, 973 (8th Cir. 2006). Thus, Plaintiff's

official capacity claim against Defendant Fowler is “functionally equivalent,” Veatch, 627 F.3d at

1257, to alleging her employer, Turnkey, had “a policy, custom, or [took an] official action” that

deprived him of his constitutional rights, Johnson, 452 F.3d at 973.

To establish a claim for “custom” liability, Plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) “The existence

of a continuing, widespread, persistent pattern of unconstitutional misconduct by the governmental

entity's employees;” (2) “Deliberate indifference to or tacit authorization of such conduct by the

governmental entity's policymaking officials after notice to the official of that misconduct;” and

(3) “That Plaintiff was injured by acts pursuant to the government entity's custom, i.e., that the

custom was a moving force behind the constitutional violation.” Johnson v. Douglas Cty Medical

Dept., 725 F.3d 825, 828 (8th Cir. 2013). “A single deviation from a written, official policy does

not prove a conflicting custom.” Id. (internal quotations omitted).

Here, Plaintiff did not allege a policy or custom of Turnkey violated his constitutional

rights. Instead, he claims a failure to follow policy by Defendant Fowler and TurnKey was the

cause of his violated rights. This fails to state an official capacity claim upon which relief can be

granted.

Accordingly, all official capacity claims against Defendant Fowler should be dismissed

without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

E. Claims Four and Five (Second Amended Complaint)

Plaintiff made two additional claims against Defendant Fowler, which were not addressed

in the Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. However, the Court may on its own initiative dismiss

claims for failure to state a claim. See Buckley v. Ray, 848 F.3d 855, 867 n.9 (8th Cir. 2017); Smith

v. Boyd, 945 F.2d 1041, 1042-1043 (8th Cir. 1991); Mildfelt v. Circuit Court, 827 F.2d 343, 345

(8th Cir. 1987) (per curiam). Dismissal is appropriate where a “plaintiff cannot possibly prevail

and amendment would be futile.” Bucklew v. Lombardi, 783 F. 3d 1120, 1127 (8th Cir. 2015).

Furthermore, the Court has an obligation to screen Plaintiff’s claims pursuant to the PLRA and

dismiss any claims which fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. §

1915A(b)(1).

Plaintiff’s Claim Four from his Second Amended Complaint alleges Defendant Fowler

denied him access to the Courts. The Supreme Court has held “the fundamental constitutional

right of access to the courts requires prison authorities to assist inmates in the preparation and

filing of meaningful legal papers by providing prisoners with adequate law libraries or adequate

assistance from persons trained in the law.” Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 346 (1996) (quoting

Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817 (1997)). Nevertheless, the Supreme Court “did not create an

abstract, freestanding right to a law library or legal assistance.” Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 351

(1996). Instead, prison officials must provide “some means for ensuring a reasonably adequate

opportunity to present claimed violations of fundamental constitutional rights to the courts.” Bear

v. Fayram, 650 F.3d 1120, 1123 (8th Cir. 2011) (internal quotations and citations omitted). These

means may include, but are not limited to: prison libraries; jailhouse lawyers; private lawyers on

contract with the prison; or some combination of these and other methods. Id.

An inmate cannot prevail on an access-to-courts claim unless he can demonstrate he

suffered prejudice or actual injury as a result of the prison officials' conduct. See Lewis, 518 U.S.

at 351-2; see also Farver v. Vilches, 155 F.3d 978, 979-80 (8th Cir. 1998) (per curiam); Klinger v.

Dep't of Corr., 107 F.3d 609, 617 (8th Cir. 1997) (to prevail on access-to-courts claim, inmate

must show actual injury or prejudice even if denial of access to library is complete and systematic);

McMaster v. Pung, 984 F.2d 948, 953 (8th Cir. 1993). “To prove a violation of the right of

meaningful access to the courts, a prisoner must establish the state has not provided an opportunity

to litigate a claim challenging the prisoner's sentence or conditions of confinement in a court of

law, which resulted in actual injury, that is, the hindrance of a nonfrivolous and arguably

meritorious underlying legal claim.’” Hartsfield v. Nichols, 511 F.3d 826, 831 (8th Cir. 2008)

(internal quotation and citations omitted).

Plaintiff states in his Second Amended Complaint that copies of his legal papers were made

and provided to his family. (ECF No. 8, p. 8). Plaintiff also states he was returned the copies on

which Mr. Velasquez urinated. (ECF No. 8, p. 11). Furthermore, Plaintiff was also represented

in his criminal case during the time his legal papers were destroyed. (ECF No. 79, p. 10).

Considering these facts alleged by Plaintiff, he was not denied access to the courts. See Bear v.

Fayram, 650 F.3d at 1123. Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can

be granted in Claim Four of his Second Amended Complaint, and such claim should be dismissed.

Plaintiff’s Claim Five from his Second Amended Complaint alleges Defendant Fowler was

aware of the incident in which Mr. Velasquez urinated on Plaintiff’s legal papers, but she refused

to replace the legal papers. Plaintiff goes on to explain this claim by saying Defendant Fowler (or

possibly other Defendants) provided copies of his legal papers to his family but not to him. Instead,

Plaintiff received his original legal papers back with urine on them. (ECF No. 8, p.11).

The Court interprets this Claim Five to be either a reiteration or extension of Plaintiff’s

access-to-courts claim, or one for property deprivation. If the former, the same analysis as

enumerated under Claim Four above applies and Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable Section

1983 claim for access to the courts. If, the later, then plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable

Section 1983 claim because there is no constitutional claim under Section 1983 for loss of property.

The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides that “[n]o state shall ...

deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” U.S. Const. Amend.

XIV, § 1. Courts have interpreted procedural due process considerations as imposing “constraints

on governmental decisions which deprive individuals of ‘liberty’ or ‘property’ interests within the

meaning of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth or Fourteenth Amendment.” Walters v. Wolf, 660

F.3d 307, 311 (8th Cir. 2011) (quoting Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 332 (1976)).

Assuming, without deciding, that Plaintiff has a recognized property interest in his legal papers,

the question, then becomes what process Plaintiff is owed for the loss of that property.

In answering this question, the Supreme Court has usually held that “the Constitution

requires some kind of hearing before the State deprives a person of liberty or property.” Zinermon

v. Burch, 494 U.S. 113, 127 (1990) (emphasis in original). “In some circumstances, however, the

Court has held that a statutory provision for a post deprivation hearing, or a common-law tort

remedy for erroneous deprivation, satisfies due process.” Id. at 128. The Supreme Court has held,

moreover, that such circumstances include “cases where the predicate deprivation is, or is akin to,

a tortious loss of a prisoner's property resulting from a random unauthorized act by a state

employee—versus some established state procedure.” Walters, 660 F.3d at 312 (quoting Parratt

v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 541 (1981), overruled on other grounds by Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S.

327, 330-31 (1986)). “The loss of property ... is in almost all cases beyond the control of the

[government], in most cases it is not only impracticable, but impossible, to provide a meaningful

hearing before the deprivation.” Id.

This is exactly one such case. Assuming Plaintiff has a property interest in his legal papers

and Defendant Fowler deprived him of his property when she housed Plaintiff with Mr. Velasquez,

a post-deprivation hearing is all the process Plaintiff is due. See Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517,

533 (1984) (intentional deprivation of property does not violate due process when meaningful

post-deprivation remedy is available). Arkansas law provides such a post-deprivation remedy

through an action for conversion. See e.g., Elliott v. Hurst, 817 S.W.2d 877, 880 (Ark. 1991)

(cause of action for conversion lies where distinct act of dominion is exerted over property in

denial of owner's right). Accordingly, Plaintiff's claim concerning the loss of his legal papers does

not establish a cognizable Section 1983 claim, and Plaintiff’s Claim Five from his Second

Amended Complaint should be dismissed.

V. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, I recommend Defendant Fowler’s Motion for Judgment on the

Pleadings (ECF No. 87) be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part with (1) Plaintiff’s Claims

One, Four, and Five from his Second Amended Complaint and Plaintiff’s Claims One and Two

from his Supplement, as they apply to Defendant Fowler, be dismissed without prejudice; (2) all

official capacity claims against Defendant Fowler be dismissed without prejudice; and (3)

Plaintiff’s Claim Three, for denial or delay of medical care, from his Supplement remaining for

further litigation.

Referral Status: This case should remain referred for all matters not disposed of in

this Order.

The parties have fourteen (14) days from receipt of the Report and Recommendation

in which to file written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely

objections may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. The parties are

reminded that objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the

district court.

DATED this 18th day of January 2024.

Barry A. Bryant

/s/

HON. BARRY A. BRYANT

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE