Cano v. Faust

Southern District of Texas

ENTERED

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT nn

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

HOUSTON DIVISION

JUAN DANIEL CANO, §

Plaintiff;

v. Civil Action No. H-19-0317

KAREN FAUST, e¢ al.,

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Juan Daniel Cano filed an original (Docket Entry No. 1) and an amended

complaint (Docket Entry No. 38) in this pro se state inmate section 1983 lawsuit. He sues

Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees Charles James and James Jones (the “TDCJ

Defendants”) and University of Texas Medical Branch employees Karen Faust, Mark Varner,

and Jaime Williams (the “UTMB Defendants”) for violations of his constitutional rights.

The TDCJ Defendants filed an amended motion to dismiss (Docket Entry No. 40), to

which plaintiff filed a response (Docket Entry No. 41). The UTMB Defendants filed a

motion for summary judgment (Docket Entry No. 34), to which plaintiff filed a response

(Docket Entry No. 39).

Having considered the motions, the responses, the original and amended complaints,

and the applicable law, the Court GRANTS the amended motion to dismiss and motion for

summary judgment and DISMISSES this case for the reasons shown below.

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In his original complaint (Docket Entry No. 1), plaintiffraised claims against TDCJ

Defendants James and Jones for retaliation, conspiracy, supervisory liability, deliberate

indifference to medical needs, and failure to train and/or supervise. The Court dismissed

with prejudice the claims for conspiracy and supervisory liability, and dismissed without

prejudice and with leave to amend the claims for retaliation, failure to train and/or supervise,

and deliberate indifference to medical needs. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint amending

the latter three claims, which are the subject of the TDCJ Defendants’ amended motion to

dismiss.

Plaintiff also raised claims against the UTMB Defendants in his original complaint

for supervisory liability, assault/use of excessive force, sexual assault, retaliation, conspiracy,

deliberate indifference to medical needs, failure to supervise and/or train, and failure to

intervene. The Court dismissed with prejudice the claims for supervisory liability, sexual

assault, and conspiracy, and dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend the claims

for retaliation and failure to supervise and/or train. The Court retained plaintiffs original

claims for deliberate indifference to medical needs, assault/use of excessive force, and failure

to intervene. Plaintiff's amended complaint amended the claims for retaliation and failure

to supervise and/or train. The UTMB Defendants’ pending motion for summary judgment

challenges plaintiff's claims for assault/use of excessive force, deliberate indifference to

medical needs, failure to supervise and/or train, and failure to intervene.

To avoid unnecessary duplications, the parties’ relevant arguments and factual

allegations will be set forth below under each specific claim for relief. Generally, plaintiff

alleges that he was given a rectal examination by UTMB Defendant Faust following his

complaints of rectal bleeding and constipation. He states that the examination constituted

an assault and/or use of excessive force because he did not expressly consent to an intrusive

examination and the examination caused him physical pain and mental anguish.

I. THE TDCJ DEFENDANTS

A. Rule 12(b)(6) Dismissal

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) authorizes courts to dismiss complaints

when they fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. This rule, however, must

be interpreted in conjunction with Rule 8(a), which sets forth the requirements for pleading

a claim for relief in federal court. Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but

“it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation” or

“threadbare recitals of the elements.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell

Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)).

To defeat a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must plead “enough facts to

state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. “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.” Iqbal, 556 U.S.

at 663 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “The plausibility standard is not akin to a

“probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has

acted unlawfully.” Jd. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). Where a complaint pleads facts

that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between

possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.” Jd. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557).

In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court must accept all well-pleaded facts in

the complaint as true and view them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Sonnier v.

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 509 F.3d 673, 675 (Sth Cir. 2007). The Court is not bound

to accept legal conclusions as true, and only a complaint that states a plausible claim for

relief survives a motion to dismiss. [gbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79. When there are well-pleaded

factual allegations, the Court assumes their veracity and then determines whether they

plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief. Jd.

B. Retaliation

Plaintiff asserts in his amended complaint that TDCJ Defendant James retaliated

against him “for complaining to the ombudsman [sic] office about the assault and continual

harassment that followed after reporting the incident, including denial of adequate medical

care.” (Docket Entry No. 38, p. 8.) His relevant allegations continue:

On 7-4-18, plaintiff was called to the captain’s office[.] [A] short time later,

defendant James walks in and begins to coerce him by telling plaintiff to

fabricate a statement, stating that all his claims (assault, denial of medical care,

and harassment) were lies and that if plaintiff did so, everything would go

away and he would be alright, implying that the harassment would stop and

plaintiff would receive medical attention. After plaintiffrefused he was taken

to Ag-seg.... Plaintiff was released from Ag-seg the next day.

Id., pp. 8-9. Plaintiff then reiterates the same event in slightly different words:

TDCI Defendant James retaliated against plaintiff for exercising his First

Amendment rights when he complained about his Eighth Amendment rights

being violated. James proposed a deal to plaintiff that if he made a written

statement stating that all the complaints he had alleged against Medical and

Security Staff were false, James would assure the stop of harassment and

provide adequate medical care to plaintiff. After plaintiff declined, James

ordered him to Ag-seg where plaintiff was threatened some more, and

continually denied medical care for his severe thyroid dysfunction and serious

symptoms. It was obvious that the retaliatory motive for defendant James’s

adverse acts was the exercise of plaintiff’s First Amendment rights when he

complained to the ombudsman [sic] office.

Id., pp. 9-10."

To state a retaliation claim, a prisoner’s well-pleaded facts must establish: (1) a

specific constitutional right; (2) the defendant’s intent to retaliate against him for his exercise

of that right; (3) a retaliatory adverse act; and (4) causation, which requires the prisoner to

show that, but for the retaliatory motive, the adverse actions would not have occurred.

Morris v. Powell, 449 F.3d 682, 684 (5th Cir. 2006); McDonald v. Steward, 132 F.3d 225,

231 (Sth Cir. 1998). Conclusory allegations without a specific factual basis are not sufficient

to state a claim of retaliation. Jones v. Greninger, 188 F.3d 322, 325 (Sth Cir. 1999); Woods

v. Smith, 60 F.3d 1161, 1166 (Sth Cir. 1995). “The relevant showing in such cases must be

more than the prisoner’s personal belief that he is the victim of retaliation.” Johnson v.

Rodriguez, 110 F.3d at 310 (internal quotation marks omitted). “The inmate must produce

'Plaintiff also pleads factual allegations against a “Sergeant Reece” (Docket Entry No. 38,

p. 9), but Reece is not named as a defendant in this lawsuit and plaintiff was not granted leave to add

a new defendant. Plaintiff's factual allegations as to Reece are STRICKEN FROM THE

AMENDED COMPLAINT as improper and unauthorized pleadings.

direct evidence of motivation, or the more probable scenario, allege a chronology of events

from which retaliation may be plausibly inferred.” Woods, 60 F.3d at 1166 (internal

quotation marks omitted).

TDCJ Defendant James contends that plaintiffs factual allegations fail to raise a

viable retaliation claim as a matter of law. In support, he argues that, as to plaintiffs claim

of being placed in administrative segregation for a day, plaintiff must allege that: (1) he was

engaged in constitutionally protected activity, (2) James’s actions caused him to suffer an

injury that would chill a person of ordinary firmness from continuing to engage in that

activity, and that (3) James’s adverse actions were substantially motivated against his

exercise of constitutionally protected conduct. See Keenan v. Tejeda, 290 F.3d 252, 258 (5th

Cir. 2002). Plaintiff does not plead factual allegations sufficient to show that being placed

in administrative segregation for one day was an injury that would chill a person of ordinary

firmness from continuing to engage in pursuing his claims. Moreover, plaintiff’ s own factual

allegations clearly show that he continued his pursuit ofhis claims following James’s alleged

retaliatory acts.

James further argues that no viable retaliation claim is raised under Woods because,

as a correctional officer, he played no part in plaintiffs medical care. Plaintiffs own factual

allegations show that medical staff had already diagnosed plaintiffs hypothyroidism and

treated the condition with monitoring, testing, and medication. James asserts that any

retaliatory actions he allegedly took at a later time had no impact on plaintiffs medical

treatment. Plaintiffs factual allegations do not sufficiently plead that, but for James’s

actions, he would have received the type and level of medical care he believed he needed.

Plaintiff's conclusory allegations of retaliation by James as to medical care are without a

specific factual basis, and are not sufficient to state a viable retaliation claim. Woods, 60

F.3d at 1166.

To the extent plaintiff alleges that James verbally abused and harassed him in

retaliation for his claims, no viable section 1983 claim is raised. A claim of verbal abuse or

harassment is not cognizable in a federal civil rights action. Calhoun v. Hargrove, 312 F.3d

730, 734 (Sth Cir. 2002) (“[C]laims of verbal abuse are not actionable under § 1983.”); Siglar

v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (Sth Cir. 1997) (“It is clear that verbal abuse by a prison

guard does not give rise to a cause of action under § 1983.”).

Consequently, plaintiff fails to raise a viable claim for retaliation against James, and

James is entitled to dismissal of the claim. Because plaintiff has had three opportunities to

raise a viable retaliation claim against James, the Court finds that plaintiff has pleaded his

‘best case and that the dismissal should be with prejudice. Plaintiffs claims TDCJ Defendant

James for retaliation are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

C, Deliberate Indifference

Plaintiff claims that the TDCJ Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his medical

needs in not providing him necessary medical care for his “thyroid dysfunction.”

‘Deliberate indifference is an extremely high standard to meet.” Domino v. Texas

Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (Sth Cir. 2001). A prison official may violate

the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment if he acts with

deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious medical needs, constituting an unnecessary and

wanton infliction of pain. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 297 (1991). Deliberate

indifference exists where a prison official knows of an excessive risk to inmate health or

safety and deliberately disregards that risk. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 836 (1994).

The facts underlying a claim for deliberate indifference “must clearly evince the medical

need in question and the alleged official dereliction.” Johnson vy. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238

(Sth Cir. 1985).

Plaintiff falls well short of pleading factual allegations sufficient to raise a viable

claim for deliberate indifference. In his amended complaint, he asserts that the TDCJ

Defendants were aware of plaintiff's grievances and complaints regarding lack of medical

care for his “thyroid dysfunction,” and that

[t]herefore, defendants Jones and James knew of an excessive risk to

plaintiff's health and safety, deliberately disregarded that risk by refusing to

treat him, continually ignored plaintiff's complaints and engaged in conduct

that clearly evinced a wanton disregard for his serious medical needs.

Plaintiff has sufficiently pleaded factual allegations supporting a colorable

claim against [Jones and James] in their individual capacity for deliberate

indifference to plaintiffs medical need for further diagnosis of and treatment

for his thyroid dysfunction and severe pain he was experiencing.

(Docket Entry No. 38, p. 12, emphasis added.)

These conclusory assertions of deliberate indifference are insufficient to raise a viable

claim for deliberate indifference to medical needs against Jones and James. Significantly,

plaintiff pleads no factual allegations supporting his claim that Jones and James refused to

treat him or that they had any authority to treat him or refuse to treat him. Plaintiff

acknowledges that Jones and James are TDCJ prison employees, not UTMB medical

personnel. Further, plaintiff pleads no factual allegations supporting a claim that the TDCJ

Defendants instructed the UTMB Defendants to deny plaintiff treatment for his thyroid

condition and that the UTMB Defendants accepted and followed the instructions. Plaintiff

fares no better in his response to the TDCJ Defendants’ motion to dismiss; he sets forth

applicable legal authority as to deliberate indifference, but fails to set forth any factual

allegations supporting such a claim. (Docket Entry No. 41, pp. 10-11.)

Consequently, plaintiff fails to raise a viable claim for deliberate indifference to

medical needs against the TDCJ Defendants. Because plaintiff has had three opportunities

to raise a viable deliberate indifference claim against these defendants, the Court finds that

plaintiff has pleaded his best case and that the dismissal should be with prejudice. Plaintiff's

claims against the TDCJ Defendants for deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs

are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

D. Failure to Supervise and/or Train

Plaintiff claims that the TDCJ Defendants failed to supervise and/or train

subordinates, and that the failure resulted in a denial of medical care.

To state a claim for failure to supervise and/or train, a plaintiff must plead factual

allegations showing that (1) the supervisor either failed to supervise or train the subordinate

official; (2) a causal link exists between the failure to supervise or train and the violation of

the plaintiff's rights; and (3) the failure to supervise or train amounted to deliberate

indifference. Gates v. Tex. Dep’t of Protective & Reg. Services, 537 F.3d 404, 435 (Sth Cir.

2008). “[A] single incident is usually insufficient to demonstrate deliberate indifference.”

Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. Rather, deliberate indifference generally requires that a plaintiff

demonstrate at least a pattern of similar violations arising from training or supervision “that

is so clearly inadequate as to be obviously likely to result in a constitutional violation.”

Burge v. St. Tammany Parish, 336 F.3d 363, 370 (Sth Cir. 2003); Thompson v. Upshur

County, 245 F.3d 447, 459 (Sth Cir. 2001).

In his amended complaint, plaintiff pleads the following factual allegations as relevant

to his claims against the TDCJ Defendants for failure to supervise and/or train:

TDCJ [D]efendants Jones and James failed to supervise and/or train

subordinates that caused denial of adequate medical care to plaintiff's serious

medical issues and harassment.

* * * *

Some time in late June[] of 2018, plaintiff asked a family member to contact

the ombudsman [sic] office and inform them of the harassment and denial of

medical assistance because plaintiff complained of the assault by Faust.

On 7-4-2018 .. . [a]fter refusing to dismiss the assault and harassment claims

plaintiff was sent to Ag-seg for one day under orders by defendant James.

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On 7-16-18, plaintiff filed a grievance on the matter and not surprisingly, all

allegations were denied. Defendant Jones addressed the grievance.

Plaintiff had submitted numerous grievances and at least a couple of them

were addressed by either defendant Jones or James, making them aware of

plaintiff's specific situation, mainly, the need of a medical evaluation for his

thyroids. But even if the grievances weren’t enough, after being contacted by

the ombudsman [sic] office both Jones and James were made aware of the

harassment plaintiff was enduring by staff, including the denial of adequate

medical care for severe pain and other symptoms due to his thyroid

dysfunction because of the failure to supervise and train medical and security

staff.

Plaintiff's numerous grievances also proves [sic] that the lack of training and

supervision to staff that caused the violation to his constitutional rights was

more than just a single instance. It was a pattern of similar violations that

arose from training that was clearly so inadequate as to be obviously likely to

result in a constitutional violation. Therefore, defendants Jones and James

knew of an excessive risk to plaintiff's health and safety, deliberately

disregarded that risk by refusing to treat him, continually ignored plaintiffs

complaints and engaged in conduct that clearly evinced a wanton disregard for

his serious medical needs.

(Docket Entry No. 38, pp. 10-12.)

Conclusory assertions of failure to train are inadequate to raise a claim under section

1983. Spiller v. City of Texas City Police Department, 130 F.3d 162, 167 (Sth Cir. 1997).

A “pattern of similar constitutional violations by untrained employees is ‘ordinarily

necessary’ to demonstrate deliberate indifference for purposes of failure to train.” Board of

County Comm’rs of Bryan County v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 409 (1997). A plaintiff must

allege with specificity how a particular training program was constitutionally defective.

Roberts v. City of Shreveport, 397 F.3d 287, 293 (Sth Cir. 2005). “Without notice that a

course of training is deficient in a particular respect, decision-makers can hardly be said to

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have deliberately chosen a training program that will cause violations of constitutional

rights.” Id.

Plaintiff claims here that James and Jones were responsible for, but failed to provide,

training and supervision of the UTMB Defendants as to his need for hypothyroid treatment.

Plaintiff fails to allege with any factual support that James and Jones were responsible for

‘training the UTMB Defendants as to medical care of thyroid conditions. Nor does he allege

a pattern of similar constitutional violations, in that he makes no claim that other inmates at

his unit were denied treatment for hypothyroidism. No causal connection is pleaded as

between the TDCJ Defendants’ actions or failures to act and the UTMB Defendants’ alleged

refusals to provide plaintiff certain thyroid treatments. Plaintiff's conclusory allegations of

deliberate indifference fail to plead factual allegations sufficient to raise a viable claim for

failure to train and/or supervise.

Because plaintiff has had three opportunities to raise a viable failure to train and/or

supervise claim against the TDCJ Defendants, the Court finds that plaintiff has pleaded his

best case and that the dismissal should be with prejudice. Plaintiffs claims against the TDCJ

Defendants for failure to train and/or supervise are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

I. THE UTMB DEFENDANTS

A. Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is proper “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute

as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Rogers v.

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Bromac Title Servs., L.L.C., 755 F.3d 347, 350 (Sth Cir. 2014); FED. R. Crv. P. 56(a). A

genuine dispute of material fact exists “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could

return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Brackeen v. Haaland, 994 F.3d 249, 290 (Sth Cir.

2021) (en banc). The court is to view “all the facts and evidence in the light most favorable

to the non-movant.” Ortega Garcia v. United States, 986 F.3d 513, 524 (Sth Cir. 2021).

However, “[sJummary judgment may not be thwarted by conclusional allegations,

unsupported assertions, or presentation of only a scintilla of evidence.” McFaul v.

Valenzuela, 684 F.3d 564, 571 (Sth Cir. 2012).

Procedurally, the party moving for summary judgment “bears the initial responsibility

of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of

[the record] which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.”

E.E.O.C. v. LHC Grp., Inc., 773 F.3d 688, 694 (Sth Cir. 2014) (alterations in original,

quotation marks and citation omitted). When the nonmoving party will bear the burden of

proof at trial, the moving party may satisfy this responsibility by “point[ing] out the absence

of evidence supporting the nonmoving party’s case.” Latimer v. Smithkline & French Labs,

919 F.2d 301, 303 (Sth Cir. 1990); see also Boudreaux v. Swift Transp. Co., 402 F.3d 536,

544-45 (Sth Cir. 2005).

If the moving party succeeds, “the onus shifts to the nonmoving party to go beyond

the pleadings and by [his] own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories,

13

and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for

trial.” LHC Grp., 773 F.3d at 694 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

B. Qualified Immunity

The UTMB Defendants claim entitlement to qualified immunity as to plaintiff's

claims against them. Government officials performing discretionary functions are shielded

from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly-established

statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. Harlow

v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has emphasized

that a government official is entitled to qualified immunity unless all reasonable officials

would have realized that the challenged conduct was proscribed by law at the time the

official acted and under the circumstances the official acted. Dudley v. Angel, 209 F.3d 460,

462 (5th Cir. 2000). Once a government official has asserted qualified immunity, the burden

shifts to the plaintiff to show that qualified immunity does not bar recovery. Salas v.

Carpenter, 980 F.2d 299, 305 (Sth Cir. 1992).

In addressing the qualified immunity issue, the district court engages in a two-step

inquiry. First, the court must consider “whether the plaintiff asserted a violation of a

constitutional right at all—prior to addressing the potentially unnecessary question of

whether plaintiff asserted a violation of a clearly established right.” Siegert v. Gilley, 500

U.S. 226, 230 (1991) (internal quotation marks omitted); Samaad v. City of Dallas, 940 F.2d

925, 940 (Sth Cir. 1991) (holding that Siegert requires a plaintiff first to allege a

14

constitutional violation before a court will decide whether the right is “clearly established”).

In making this assessment, the court uses “currently applicable constitutional standards.”

Rankin v. Klevenhagen, 5 F.3d 103, 106 (5th Cir. 1993).

Ifthe court finds that the plaintiffhas alleged the violation of a constitutional right—a

clearly established constitutional right—the court must then determine if the defendant

official’s action could reasonably have been thought consistent with that right. Siegert, 500

U.S. at 230. In making this second determination, the court looks to whether the defendant’s

actions were objectively reasonable as measured by reference to the law as it existed at the

time the conduct occurred and in light of the information that the defendant possessed.

Mouille v. City of Live Oak, 977 F.2d 924, 928 (Sth Cir. 1992). Regardless of a defendant

official’s mistaken assumptions, if his conduct is determined to have been objectively

reasonable, he is entitled to qualified immunity. Thus, officials are immune if their “actions

could reasonably have been thought consistent with the rights they are alleged to have

violated.” Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 638 (1987).

The “reasonableness” inquiry is an objective one; the question is whether the officer’s

actions are “objectively reasonable” in light of the facts and circumstances confronting him,

without regard to his underlying intent or motivation. Flores v. City of Palacios, 381 F.3d

391, 397 (Sth Cir. 2004). A court may address the two prongs of the qualified immunity

analysis in any sequence, depending on the circumstances of the particular case at hand.

15

Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 236 (2009); Heaney v. Roberts, 846 F.3d 795, 801 (Sth

Cir. 2017).

As discussed below, the UTMB Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity, as

plaintiff fails to meet his summary judgment burden of proof to establish a violation of his

constitutional rights.

C. Assault/Use of Excessive Force

Plaintiff alleges that, on January 23, 2017, he was seen at the TDCJ Huntsville Unit

infirmary for complaints of “extreme stomach pain, constipation, rectal irritation, and

bleeding.” (Docket Entry No. 1, p. 6.) He states that UTMB Defendant Faust, a physician

assistant assigned to the Huntsville Unit infirmary, instructed him to lower his pants and turn

around so she could apply medicated cream around his rectum to help stop the irritation.

Plaintiff states he followed her instructions and that Faust then forced an unknown object

into his rectum three times without warning or obtaining his express consent, causing pain

and mental anguish. Plaintiff claims that UTMB defendant Faust violated his Eighth

Amendment protections by assaulting him and intentionally using excessive force during the

rectal medical examination. Consequently, plaintiffs claim against Faust is two-fold: she

failed to obtain his express consent before performing the invasive rectal examination, and

she caused him pain by using unnecessary force during the examination.

It is a long-settled rule that the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain constitutes

cruel and unusual punishment forbidden by the Eighth Amendment. Ingraham v. Wright,

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430 U.S. 651, 670 (1977). However, the medical records submitted by the parties refute

plaintiffs claim that Faust intentionally inflicted pain or acted unreasonably during her

examination of plaintiff on January 23, 2017. On January 21, 2017, two days before the

incident, plaintiff seen in clinic with complaints of constipation, stomach pain, cramping,

and bleeding after using the restroom. He denied abdominal pain at the time, but stated he

has “cramping” almost daily. He reported bleeding from his rectum after bowel movements,

(Docket Entry No. 34-2, p. 43.) Physical examination by the clinic nurse revealed a soft,

non-tender flat abdomen with normal bowel sounds. Plaintiff denied having nausea or

vomiting, fever, abdominal rigidity or distention. Jd., p. 45. He was given a January 23,

2017, appointment date to see a midlevel provider. Id., p. 47.

Plaintiffwas seen in clinic by defendant Faust on January 23, 2017, for his complaints

of abdominal discomfort, cramping, rectal bleeding, and constipation. (Docket Entry No. 34-

2, p. 48-49.) Faust recorded in the medical chart that plaintiff felt

constipation and some cramping with intermittent rectal irritation and

bleeding. He reports [having a bowel movement] most every day sometimes

every other day. He reports stoll [sic] sometimes hard to pass and some

intermittent rectal irritation and bleeding after [bowel movements]. He reports

even though he has a [bowel movement] almost every day, he feel constipated.

He tells me that he has had these [symptoms] off and on for about a year or

more.

Id., p. 48. Faust noted that plaintiff's abdomen was positive for bowel sounds in all four

quadrants, and that his abdomen was soft, non-tender, and without masses. A rectal

examination evinced good sphincter tone without masses, and a hemoccult “stool heme” test

17

was negative. UTMB Defendant Varner was listed as a chaperone to the physical

examination. /d. Faust prescribed oral Colace capsules twice a day to soften stools, and

anusol hemorrhoidal cream for rectal irritation. She noted that a kidney-ureter-bladder x-ray

would be considered if plaintiff's symptoms persisted. /d., p. 49.

Plaintiff filed a step one administrative grievance against Faust on January 27, 2017.

(Docket Entry No. 34-3, p. S—6.) He complained that, during his examination by Faust four

days earlier, Faust told him that she would be applying a medical cream around his anus to

stop the itching. She instead forced an unknown object into his rectum three times without

his consent, causing rectal and stomach pain. UTMB Defendant Williams responded to the

grievance, stating that a rectal examination is a standard of care for complaints of abdominal

discomfort, cramping, and constipation. She stated that no force was used during the rectal

examination, and denied plaintiff's grievance. Jd., p. 6. In his ensuing step two grievance,

plaintiff disagreed with Williams’s statement that the rectal examination was warranted due

to the nature of his medical symptoms. He further stated that state and federal law required

Faust to obtain his express consent prior to performing an invasive rectal examination. □□□□

pp. 3-4. A health services official replied to the grievance by reiterating that the rectal

examination was undertaken to address plaintiff's complaints of constipation, cramping,

rectal irritation and rectal bleeding. Jd., p. 4.

The investigation report for plaintiff's grievances stated that plaintiff complained that

Faust performed an unnecessary rectal examination without his consent and that it caused

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him pain. Id., p. 8. Faust provided the following written statement for the investigation

report:

[Patient] reported rectal bleeding, constipation. Rectal exam is standard of

care for his complaints. [Plaintiff] was escorted to the ER where gloves, KY

jelly, hemoccult cards and developer are kept. I asked for a chaperone — Mr.

Varner, R.N., and instructed I would be doing a rectal exam to try to detect the

source of bleeding.

The [patient] was asked to lower his pants, lean over the exam table and use

his hands to spread his buttocks. Visual exam was performed followed by

single digit rectal exam. There was no screaming, complaints, or expressions

of confusion or questions. Informed [patient] [that his stool] was negative for

blood but prescribed hemorrhoid cream for reported rectal irritation. [Patient

was] advised to return if persistent symptoms.

Id., pp. 8-9.

In his response to the motion for summary judgment, plaintiff acknowledges that the

rectal intrusions he experienced during the examination were the hemoccult test and

developer, ifnot the single digit examination. (Docket Entry No. 39, p. 20.) Plaintiff insists,

however, that Faust “violat[ed] plaintiff's rights for an opportunity to deny or concent [sic]

to an intrusive examination.” He admits that Faust used the KY lubricant to decrease any

discomfort, but contends that Faust should have administered pain medication. He contends

that his pain and discomfort proves that Faust had used unnecessary force in performing the

examination. /d., p. 21.

Plaintiff incorrectly argues that Faust’s failure to obtain his express consent to the

rectal examination violated his constitutional rights. “Consent,” for purposes of medical

care, is an issue of state law, not federal constitutional law. See TEX. CIv. PRAC. & REM.

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CODE § 74.101; Hollis v. United States, 323 F.3d 330, 335 (Sth Cir. 2003). A medical

provider who renders medical services in absence of express or implied consent may be liable

under state tort law for battery, but no Eighth Amendment right is at issue. Hollis, 323 F.3d

at 335. Consequently, plaintiff's Eighth Amendment rights were not impinged if Faust

performed a rectal examination and testing without his express consent. Plaintiff provides

no legal support for his argument that he had an independent, constitutional right to deny or

consent to the rectal examination. Nor does he present probative, competent summary

judgment evidence that the rectal examination and insertion of testing and examination items

would have been completely discomfort-free if performed in a reasonable manner.

A use of force by a prison official is excessive and violates the Eighth Amendment

only when such force is applied maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing

harm rather than in a good faith effort to maintain or restore discipline. Wilkins v. Gaddy, 559

U.S. 34, 37 (2010). The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual

punishment necessarily excludes from constitutional recognition de minimis uses of physical

force, provided that such force is not of a sort “repugnant to the conscience of mankind.”

Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 10 (1992).

In the instant case, plaintiff presents only his own conclusory belief that Faust applied

force during the rectal examination maliciously and sadistically to cause harm. The medical

records show that plaintiff complained to Faust of experiencing rectal bleeding and

constipation, and that he wanted the problem evaluated and treated. In order to evaluate the

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complaints, Faust performed a rectal examination and hemoccult testing. She applied a

lubricant to ease insertion of the required items — a single digit and the hemoccult testing

items — but plaintiff complains the examination still caused him physical discomfort and pain.

To defeat Faust’s entitlement to qualified immunity, plaintiff must show that: (a) the

law was clearly established at the time; and (b) all reasonable medical providers in Faust’s

position would have known that her conduct was unreasonable. Plaintiff present no

probative, competent summary judgment evidence establishing that all reasonable medical

providers in Faust’s position would have known that her conduct in performing the rectal

examination was unreasonable. Plaintiff was provided a necessary medical procedure and

Faust took measures to make the intrusive examination tolerable. That plaintiff experienced

pain or discomfort during the examination or did not expressly consent to the procedure does

not transform the medical procedure into a violation of his constitutional protections. The

probative summary judgment evidence does not show the Faust used force “repugnant to the

conscience of mankind.” Hudson, 503 U.S. at 10.

UTMB Defendant Faust is entitled to summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs

claims against her for assault/use of excessive force, and the claims are DISMISSED WITH

PREJUDICE.

D. Deliberate Indifference

Plaintiff claims that the UTMB Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious

medical needs in not providing him necessary medical care for his “thyroid dysfunction.”

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He further claims that the defendants refused to have his thyroid and digestive system

examined by a medical specialist, and refused to provide him a medical care practitioner

other than Faust.

“Deliberate indifference is an extremely high standard to meet.” Domino, 239 F.3d

at 756. A prison official may violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and

unusual punishment if he acts with deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious medical

needs, constituting an unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain. Wilson, 501 U.S. at 297.

Deliberate indifference exists where an official knows of an excessive risk to inmate health

or safety and deliberately disregards that risk. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 836. The facts underlying

aclaim for deliberate indifference “must clearly evince the medical need in question and the

alleged official dereliction.” Johnson, 759 F.2d at 1238.

Unsuccessful medical treatment, negligence, neglect, and medical malpractice do not

give rise to a section 1983 cause of action, and an inmate’s disagreement with his medical

care does not establish a constitutional violation. Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321

(Sth Cir. 1991). Even if a lapse in professional judgment occurred, such a failure would

amount to mere negligence or malpractice, not a constitutional violation. Harris v.

Hegmann, 198 F.3d 153, 159 (Sth Cir. 1999). Deliberate indifference, as it is used in context

of the Eighth Amendment, requires more than mere negligence but less than purposeful or

knowing infliction of harm; it requires a showing of “subjective recklessness” as used in

criminal law. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 839-40. A plaintiff must show with sufficient factual

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allegations, not conclusory allegations, that the officials “refused to treat him, ignored his

complaints, intentionally treated him incorrectly, or engaged in any similar conduct that

would clearly evince a wanton disregard for any serious medical needs.” Johnson, 759 F.2d

at 1238. Medical records showing sick calls, examinations, diagnoses, and medications may

rebut an inmate’s allegations of deliberate indifference. Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d

232, 235 (Sth Cir. 1995).

The medical records submitted by plaintiff and the UTMB Defendants show that

plaintiff was provided medical examinations, laboratory testing, evaluations, treatment, and

medications for hypothyroidism by prison medical staff on a regular and continuing basis.

The records indicate that plaintiff began taking medication for hypothyroidism in 2013.

(Docket Entry No. 34-2, p. 88.) Records relevant to the UTMB Defendants show that Faust

prescribed levothyroxine for treatment of plaintiff's hypothyroidism from April 2016 through

April 2017. Id. pp. 3-12. From April 2017 through at least August 2017, medical provider

Ruth Brouwer, PA-C, prescribed plaintiffs levothyroxine medication. /d., pp. 25—28. The

records also indicate that plaintiff refused treatment and left the prison medical clinic on two

or more occasions in 2016 and 2017 because he was not seen quickly enough. /d., pp. 30,

32. The records include thyroid and related diagnostic lab testing results reported in

February 2017, March 2017, April 2017, August 2017, October 2017, November 2017,

February 2018, and June 2018, /d., pp. 50-59, 66-70, 73, 78-79, 88. Additional records

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provided by plaintiff show that he continued receiving levothyroxine up through at least

February 2021, well after the filing of the instant lawsuit. (Docket Entry No. 39, Exhibit C.)

He was followed in the prison Chronic Care Clinic for treatment of his hypothyroidism and

was provided on-going care, examinations, and evaluations for the condition during the times

relevant to this lawsuit. (Docket Entry No. 34-2, pp. 56, 61-63, 68, 72, 74, 77, 78, 81-88.)

Moreover, plaintiff fails to present probative summary judgment evidence

demonstrating that the UTMB Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his need to have

his “digestive system examined by a medical specialist.” To the contrary, the medical

records show that plaintiff was given on-going care, examinations, evaluations, treatment,

and medications for his “digestive system” issues. Plaintiff does not show that the UTMB

Defendants knew that failing to provide plaintiff a medical specialist posed an excessive risk

to his health or safety and that they deliberately disregarded that risk. Farmer, 511 U.S. at

836. Plaintiff's disagreements with his medical care and the professional judgment and

decisions of his medical providers do not rise to the level of constitutional issues.

Nor does plaintiff prevail on his claim that the UTMB Defendants refused to provide

him a medical care provider other than Faust. To the contrary, the medical records show that

plaintiff was examined, evaluated, and treated by medical care providers other than Faust

following his complaints as to the incident of January 23, 2017. (Docket Entry No. 34-2, pp.

25-29, 61-62, 66, 68, 70, 73, 74, 77-78, 79, 88-89; Docket Entry No. 39-1, pp. 3, 33, 34,

36, 39.) Plaintiff claims he was told that only Faust could refer him to a specialist; however,

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plaintiffs request for referral to a specialist was a disagreement with the type and level of

care he was receiving, and no deliberate indifference is shown.

The medical records and other probative summary judgment evidence do not show

that the UTMB Defendants refused to treat plaintiff, ignored his complaints, intentionally

treated him incorrectly, or engaged in conduct that would clearly evince a wanton disregard

for his serious medical needs. No deliberate indifference to plaintiff's serious medical needs

is shown, and the UTMB Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity.

The UTMB Defendants are entitled to summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff's

deliberate indifference claims against them, and the claims are DISMISSED WITH

PREJUDICE.

E. Failure to Intervene

Plaintiff claims that UTMB Defendant Varner was present in the room when Faust

assaulted him and/or used excessive force during the rectal examination, but that Varner

failed to stop the proceeding. Construed liberally, plaintiff’s allegations plead a claim against

Varner for failure to intervene.

To prevail on a section 1983 failure to intervene claim against an officer, a plaintiff

must prove that the defendant officer (1) knew that a fellow officer was violating an

individual’s constitutional rights; (2) was present at the scene of the constitutional violation;

(3) had a reasonable opportunity to prevent the harm; and (4) chose not to act. Whitley v.

Hanna, 726 F.3d 631, 646 (Sth Cir. 2013).

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The Court determined above that Faust’s examination and treatment of plaintiff on

January 23, 2017, did not violate his constitutional rights. Consequently, plaintiff does not

establish that Varner failed to intervene for purposes of section 1983. UTMB Defendant

Varner is entitled to qualified immunity.

The UTMB Defendants are entitled to summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs

claim for failure to intervene, and the claim is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

F, Failure to Supervise and/or Train

Plaintiff further claims that UTMB Defendant Williams failed to supervise and/or

train her subordinates. (Docket Entry No. 38, p. 3.) He further appears to argue that

Williams failed to investigate and remedy his administrative grievances, or ensure that

medical officials satisfactorily investigated and remedied the grievances.

To prevail on a claim for failure to supervise and/or train, a plaintiff must establish

that (1) the supervisor either failed to supervise or train the subordinate official; (2) a causal

link exists between the failure to supervise or train and the violation of the plaintiffs rights;

and (3) the failure to supervise or train amounted to deliberate indifference. Gates, 537 F.3d

at 435. “[A] single incident is usually insufficient to demonstrate deliberate indifference.”

Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. Rather, deliberate indifference generally requires that a plaintiff

demonstrate at least a pattern of similar violations arising from training or supervision “that

is so clearly inadequate as to be obviously likely to result in a constitutional violation.”

Burge, 336 F.3d at 370; Thompson, 245 F.3d at 459.

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The UTMB Defendants contend in their motion for summary judgment that plaintiff

fails to prove that they acted with deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. The

Court construes their argument as seeking summary judgment as to the instant claims

predicated on plaintiffs failure to establish deliberate indifference. Because the Court

determined above that plaintiff failed to prove his deliberate indifference claim against the

UTMB Defendants, he likewise fails for the same reasons to establish this essential element

of proof as it applies to his claims for failure train and/or supervise.

To the extent plaintiff also claims that Williams improperly investigated or denied

plaintiff’ s grievances or failed to ensure that plaintiffs grievances were properly investigated

or remedied, no constitutional violation is established. Prisoners have no constitutional right

to a satisfactory investigation or resolution of their prison administrative grievances. Geiger

v. Jowers, 404 F.3d 371, 373-74 (Sth Cir. 2005).

The UTMB Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity. The UTMB Defendants

are entitled to summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs claims for failure to train and/or

supervise, and the claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

G. Retaliation

Plaintiff claims that Faust used excessive force during the examination and treatment

in retaliation for a grievance he had filed against her two weeks earlier. He further claims

that the UTMB Defendants retaliated against him for his grievances by being deliberately

indifferent to his serious medical needs for thyroid treatment following the incident. Because

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the UTMB Defendants’ motion for summary judgment does not specifically address these

claims, the Court will consider, sua sponte, whether plaintiff's amended claims should be

dismissed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6).

To state a retaliation claim, a prisoner’s well-pleaded facts must establish: (1) a

specific constitutional right; (2) the defendant’s intent to retaliate against him for his exercise

of that right; (3) a retaliatory adverse act; and (4) causation, which requires the prisoner to

show that, but for the retaliatory motive, the adverse actions would not have occurred.

Morris, 449 F.3d at 684; McDonald, 132 F.3d at 231. Conclusory allegations without a

specific factual basis are not sufficient to state a claim of retaliation. Jones, 188 F.3d at 325;

Woods, 60 F.3d at 1166. “The relevant showing in such cases must be more than the

prisoner’s personal belief that he is the victim of retaliation.” Johnson, 110 F.3d at 310

(internal quotation marks omitted). “The inmate must produce direct evidence of motivation,

or the more probable scenario, allege a chronology of events from which retaliation may be

plausibly inferred.” Woods, 60 F.3d at 1166 (internal quotation marks omitted).

In pleading his amended claims for retaliation as to the UTMB Defendants, plaintiff

alleges the following:

On 12-30-16, plaintiff went to the infirmary due to [his] sertous constipation

problems, extreme abdominal pain, and swelling and bleeding of his rectal

[sic]. After almost 6 hours in the waiting room without any information of

what was taking so long to be attended, plaintiff asked the defendant Faust for

the reason of the long delay. Faust then became belligerent and states [sic] that

she didn’t care about plaintiffs situation and ordered him to leave without

medical care.

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On 1-3-17, plaintiff filed a complaint against Faust for her inappropriate

conduct and refusing him medical care, but also asking for medical assistance

for his serious medical issues.

On 1-23-17, plaintiff once again goes to the infirmary by appointment to

receive medical care. This time without major delay, Faust attends to him and

after inquiring his symptoms, instructs plaintiff to lower his pants and turn

around so that she could apply medicated cream around his rectal [sic] to help

stop the irritation. Without any further warning or consent, Faust intentionally

used excessive force by forcing an unknown object into plaintiff's rectum

three times, leaving his rectum and stomach in severe pain.

(Docket Entry No. 38, p. 7.) Plaintiff alleges that Faust’s actions, her denial of medical care

for his thyroid condition, and her refusal to refer him to a specialist were in retaliation for the

grievance he filed against her two weeks earlier. Jd.

Plaintiff's grievance against Faust regarding the six-hour waiting time was apparently

denied, as plaintiff alleges that UTMB Defendant Williams denied his grievances against

Faust. Thus, plaintiff asserts that all of Faust’s subsequent actions and denials of care

stemmed from his one unsuccessful grievance against her. Plaintiff's factual allegations

establish neither motivation or a chronology of events from which retaliation may be

plausibly inferred, and his assertions show little more than his personal belief that he was a

victim of retaliation. See Johnson, 110 F.3d at 310.

Plaintiff’ s factual allegations set forth in his amended complaint stop well short of the

line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief. Because plaintiff has had

three opportunities to raise a viable retaliation claim against the UTMB Defendants, the

Court finds that plaintiff has pleaded his best case and that the dismissal should be with

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prejudice. Plaintiff’s claims for retaliation against the UTMB Defendants are DISMISSED

WITH PREJUDICE pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6).

IV. CONCLUSION

The Court ORDERS as follows:

1. The amended motion to dismiss filed by the TDCJ Defendants (Docket Entry

No. 40) is GRANTED, and plaintiff's claims against the TDCJ Defendants are

DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

2. The motion for summary judgment filed by the UTMB Defendants (Docket

Entry No. 34) is GRANTED, and plaintiff's claims against the UTMB

Defendants are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

3. Any and all other pending motions are DISMISSED AS MOOT.

This is a FINAL JUDGMENT.

SIGNED at Houston, Texas on the 3 Gday of March, 2022.

KEITH P. ‘ LISON

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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