Johnson #235820 v. Whitmer et al, No. 1:2021cv00532 - Document 40 (W.D. Mich. 2021)

Court Description: OPINION; Order and Judgment to issue; signed by Judge Janet T. Neff (Judge Janet T. Neff, clb)

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Johnson #235820 v. Whitmer et al Doc. 40 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION ______ WILLIAM JOHNSON, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 1:21-cv-532 Honorable Janet T. Neff GRETCHEN WHITMER, et al., Defendants. ____________________________/ OPINION This is a civil rights action originally brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by thirteen state prisoners housed at the Lakeland Correctional Facility (LCF). On June 22, 2021, the Court denied the request for a class action certification and severed the claims of the thirteen prisonerplaintiffs into separate actions. (ECF No. 36.) Each plaintiff, including Plaintiff Johnson, was ordered to file an amended complaint containing only the allegations relevant to that Plaintiff. (Id.) Plaintiff Johnson now has filed an amended complaint (ECF No. 37) and a motion to amend and/or supplement the complaint (ECF No. 39). Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Pub. L. No. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996) (PLRA), the Court is required to dismiss any prisoner action brought under federal law if the complaint is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2), 1915A; 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c). The Court must read Plaintiff’s pro se complaint indulgently, see Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), and accept Plaintiff’s allegations as true, unless they are clearly irrational or wholly incredible. Denton v. Hernandez, Dockets.Justia.com 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992). Applying these standards, the Court will dismiss Plaintiff’s amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Discussion Factual allegations Plaintiff is presently incarcerated with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) at the Lakeland Correctional Facility (LCF) in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. The events about which he complains occurred at that facility. Plaintiff sues Governor Gretchen Whitmer, MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington, Deputy Warden Robert Ault, Acting Administrative Assistant Janet Traore, Doctor Margaret Quellete, Medical Provider E. Coe Hill, Registered Nurse Lori Blue, Resident Unit Manager Timothy Shaw, Law Librarian Linda Thompson, Resident Unit Manager Scott Cline, Warden Bryant Morrison, Nurses Unknown Parties, and Corrections Officers Unknown Parties. Plaintiff also names Prisoner Counselors Karen Kowalski, Shawanda Cope, Unknown Daniels, Unknown Dircshell, and Unknown Randall. In his first amended complaint (ECF No. 37), Plaintiff alleges that he was born with bronchial asthma and a host of other respiratory ailments. Plaintiff has a long history as a chronic care patient and should be routinely monitored by medical staff. Despite Plaintiff’s status as a high risk person, he was not monitored when COVID-19 was spreading through LCF. Around the end of March and beginning of April, Plaintiff began to experience headaches and nosebleeds. Although these were known symptoms of COVID-19, healthcare refused to see Plaintiff. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff was administered a COVID-19 test by Unknown Nurse who refused to change her gloves. On April 23, 2020, Plaintiff was diagnosed with COVID-19 and suffered from nosebleeds, fever, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, and weakness. Plaintiff also claims that he has not received any testing to determine the extent of the damage caused to his body by COVID-19, 2 nor has he received any mental health intervention to help him cope with the psychological effects of the disease. Plaintiff states that in March and April 2020, COVID-19 infections at LCF were rampant and Defendants failed to institute a true quarantine. Infected staff members were free to move in and out of facilities, placing prisoners in imminent danger of becoming infected. Plaintiff alleges that there was an initial exposure to a COVID-19 positive case from the E2 unit on the Westside Yard in March 2020, but that no notice was given to the population until the virus had spread to the Eastside Yard 48 hours later. The virus spread to B5 unit, C5 unit, Rec, and Dbuilding, as infected prisoners were placed with uninfected prisoners, all sharing the same common areas. Plaintiff asserts that each of the named Defendants knew or should have known of the imminent danger posed to Plaintiff and other prisoners by COVID-19, but failed to act in accordance with their duties to protect Plaintiff from the virus, or to ensure that he could access the appropriate process to gain early release from prison. In his motion to amend and/or supplement pleadings, Plaintiff seeks to add new Defendants to his action. (ECF No. 39.) Plaintiff’s motion names Deputy Warden Troy Chrisman, Kirsten Losinski, Counselor Markiyroe Garrett, Business/Mailroom Manager Sue Middlestadt, Mailroom Employees Christine Boden and Michael Stevens, Accounting Assistant Jessica Jones, Lieutenant Christiana Borst, Lieutenant Frank Sobrieski, and Health Unit Manager Nathan Mikel. Plaintiff’s motion to amend and/or supplement pleadings also sets forth additional allegations regarding his experience with COVID-19 at LCF. Plaintiff alleges that when COVID19 began spreading at LCF, Plaintiff lived in a dormitory setting with eighty-two other prisoners. All the prisoners shared the same telephones, microwaves, kiosks, toilets, and cleaning supplies. 3 Plaintiff states that on January 29, 2020, he witnessed the death of prisoner Malone-Bey. Plaintiff believes that the cause of death was COVID-19, although prison officials deny this. Plaintiff states that his sleeping area is an open front stall type space, with three feet walls on either side and another sleeping area directly across from him. Plaintiff states that following Defendant Whitmer’s declaration of a state emergency, officials at LCF failed to take immediate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the prison. Plaintiff continued to go to the dining hall for group meals and was forced to sit at a table with three other prisoners, despite the fact that Plaintiff was taking prescription medications which weakened his immune system. On March 31, 2020, Plaintiff wrote to LCF health care explaining that he had difficulty breathing with a mask on because of his asthma. Plaintiff requested an N95 mask because of his high risk status, but his request was denied. Plaintiff’s second request was also denied on April 2, 2020. Prisoner Bernard Kelly was the first prisoner diagnosed with COVID-19 at LCF and his close contacts were moved to Plaintiff’s unit and allowed to mingle with other prisoners. In late March and early April several prisoners began to show signs of COVID-19. These prisoners, including one that was extremely ill, were allowed to remain in the unit and mingle with Plaintiff and other prisoners. Plaintiff began to experience chills, night sweats, fever, headaches, dizziness, and weakness in the second week of April. On April 20, 2020, Plaintiff wrote a health care request complaining of nose bleeds and shortness of breath. On April 29, 2020, Plaintiff filed a grievance, which was summarily denied. Plaintiff states that he was tested for COVID-19 on April 22, 2020, by Unknown Party Nurse who refused to change her gloves between prisoners. Plaintiff was informed that he was positive for COVID-19 on April 23, 2020. 4 Plaintiff asserts that the warden and deputy warden made rounds at least weekly during this time period, and that when he complained about catching the virus and the conditions at LCF, they told him that the prison was overwhelmed and all he could do was wait. Plaintiff claims that since having COVID-19, his health has deteriorated and he now suffers from constant chest and back pain, as well as frequent headaches and worsened asthma. Plaintiff states that he has not been given a CAT scan, MRI, or other test to determine the amount of damage caused to his body by the virus. Plaintiff appears to be claiming that Defendants violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief. Failure to state a claim A complaint may be dismissed for failure to state a claim if it fails “‘to give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). While a complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff’s allegations must include more than labels and conclusions. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555; Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”). The court must determine whether the complaint contains “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 679. Although the plausibility standard is not equivalent to a “‘probability requirement,’ . . . it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “[W]here the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court 5 to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged—but it has not ‘show[n]’—that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)); see also Hill v. Lappin, 630 F.3d 468, 470–71 (6th Cir. 2010) (holding that the Twombly/Iqbal plausibility standard applies to dismissals of prisoner cases on initial review under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b)(1) and 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)). To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right secured by the federal Constitution or laws and must show that the deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988); Street v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 102 F.3d 810, 814 (6th Cir. 1996). Because § 1983 is a method for vindicating federal rights, not a source of substantive rights itself, the first step in an action under § 1983 is to identify the specific constitutional right allegedly infringed. Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 271 (1994). Eighth Amendment Plaintiff’s allegations do not rise to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation. The Eighth Amendment imposes a constitutional limitation on the power of the states to punish those convicted of crimes. Punishment may not be “barbarous” nor may it contravene society’s “evolving standards of decency.” Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 345–46 (1981). The Amendment, therefore, prohibits conduct by prison officials that involves the “unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” Ivey v. Wilson, 832 F.2d 950, 954 (6th Cir. 1987) (per curiam) (quoting Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 346). The deprivation alleged must result in the denial of the “minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.” Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347; see also Wilson v. Yaklich, 148 F.3d 596, 600–01 (6th Cir. 1998). The Eighth Amendment is only concerned with “deprivations of essential food, medical care, or sanitation” or “other conditions intolerable for prison confinement.” Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 348 (citation omitted). Moreover, “[n]ot every unpleasant 6 experience a prisoner might endure while incarcerated constitutes cruel and unusual punishment within the meaning of the Eighth Amendment.” Ivey, 832 F.2d at 954. In order for a prisoner to prevail on an Eighth Amendment claim, he must show that he faced a sufficiently serious risk to his health or safety and that the defendant official acted with “‘deliberate indifference’ to [his] health or safety.” Mingus v. Butler, 591 F.3d 474, 479–80 (6th Cir. 2010) (citing Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994) (applying deliberate indifference standard to medical claims)); see also Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 35 (1993) (applying deliberate indifference standard to conditions of confinement claims). The assertions made by Plaintiff against the named Defendants are entirely conclusory. In fact, Plaintiff fails to specifically allege any actions taken by Defendants which resulted in a denial of Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. Plaintiff complains that the “Warden” and “Deputy Warden” did not respond to his complaints regarding COVID-19 other than to say that the prison was overwhelmed. However, Plaintiff had already become ill with COVID-19 at that point and he fails to allege any specific actions on the part of the Warden and Deputy Warden which demonstrate that they were deliberately indifferent to his health or safety. Plaintiff alleges that Unknown Party Nurse failed to change her gloves between prisoners when conducting COVID-19 testing on Plaintiff and others. However, Plaintiff’s test result showed that he already had the virus, so it is clear that Unknown Party Nurse’s failure to change gloves was not responsible for Plaintiff’s illness. Nor does such conduct necessarily display deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s health and safety. Aside from Plaintiff’s allegations against the Warden, Deputy Warden, and Unknown Party Nurse, Plaintiff does not actually name any Defendants in the body of his complaint. Plaintiff merely asserts that Defendants as a group are responsible for the failure to 7 protect prisoners at LCF from COVID-19 virus by virtue of their job duties. It is a basic pleading essential that a plaintiff attribute factual allegations to particular defendants. See Twombly, 550 U.S. at 544 (holding that, in order to state a claim, a plaintiff must make sufficient allegations to give a defendant fair notice of the claim). Where a person is named as a defendant without an allegation of specific conduct, the complaint is subject to dismissal, even under the liberal construction afforded to pro se complaints. See Gilmore v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 92 F. App’x 188, 190 (6th Cir. 2004) (dismissing complaint where plaintiff failed to allege how any named defendant was involved in the violation of his rights); Frazier v. Michigan, 41 F. App’x 762, 764 (6th Cir. 2002) (dismissing plaintiff’s claims where the complaint did not allege with any degree of specificity which of the named defendants were personally involved in or responsible for each alleged violation of rights); Griffin v. Montgomery, No. 00-3402, 2000 WL 1800569, at *2 (6th Cir. Nov. 30, 2000) (requiring allegations of personal involvement against each defendant); Rodriguez v. Jabe, No. 90-1010, 1990 WL 82722, at *1 (6th Cir. June 19, 1990) (“Plaintiff’s claims against those individuals are without a basis in law as the complaint is totally devoid of allegations as to them which would suggest their involvement in the events leading to his injuries”). Because Plaintiff’s claims fall far short of the minimal pleading standards under Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 (requiring “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief”), his complaint must be dismissed. Supplemental and amended pleadings As noted above, Plaintiff has filed a motion to amend and/or to supplement the complaint, in which he seeks to add new Defendants to his action. (ECF No. 39.) Plaintiff’s motion names Deputy Warden Troy Chrisman, Kirsten Losinski, Counselor Markiyroe Garrett, Business/Mailroom Manager Sue Middlestadt, Mailroom Employees Christine Boden and Michael Stevens, Accounting Assistant Jessica Jones, Lieutenant Christiana Borst, Lieutenant 8 Frank Sobrieski, and Health Unit Manager Nathan Mikel. However, Plaintiff’s proposed supplemental pleading, like his original and first amended complaints, is entirely conclusory. Nowhere in Plaintiff’s motion does he allege any specific facts against any of the individuals he seeks to add to this action. Therefore, even if the Court allowed Plaintiff to add these individuals to this action, his claims against them would fail because they are entirely conclusory. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion to amend and/or supplement the complaint by adding new Defendants (ECF No. 39) is properly denied as futile. However, the additional facts that Plaintiff’s sets forth in his motion to amend and/or supplement regarding his experience with COVID-19 at LCF have been considered by the Court in the context of determining whether Plaintiff has stated an Eighth Amendment claim against the existing Defendants. The Court concludes that even with these additional allegations, Plaintiff’s complaint is properly denied as conclusory. Conclusion Having conducted the review required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, the Court determines that Plaintiff’s complaint will be dismissed for failure to state a claim, under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A(b), and 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c). The Court must next decide whether an appeal of this action would be in good faith within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). See McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 611 (6th Cir. 1997). Although the Court concludes that Plaintiff’s claims are properly dismissed, the Court does not conclude that any issue Plaintiff might raise on appeal would be frivolous. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). Accordingly, the Court does not certify that an appeal would not be taken in good faith. Should Plaintiff appeal this decision, the Court will assess the $505.00 appellate filing fee pursuant to § 1915(b)(1), see McGore, 114 F.3d at 610–11, unless Plaintiff is barred from 9 proceeding in forma pauperis, e.g., by the “three-strikes” rule of § 1915(g). If he is barred, he will be required to pay the $505.00 appellate filing fee in one lump sum. This is a dismissal as described by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). An order and judgment consistent with this opinion will be entered. Dated: November 24, 2021 /s/ Janet T. Neff Janet T. Neff United States District Judge 10

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