Calderon v. Annucci et al, No. 9:2020cv00645 - Document 50 (N.D.N.Y 2022)
Court Description: DECISION AND ORDER: ORDERED that the second amended complaint (Dkt. No. 48 ) is deemed the operative pleading. ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall amend the docket as follows: (1) include Albany Medical Center, Drinnon O. Hand, M.D., and Edward Iskhakov, M.D. as defendants; and (2) terminate Nurse Jane Doe, Sergeant John Does 1-3, Correctional Officer John Does 1-3, and CIU Director John Doe as defendants. ORDERED that this action alleging federal claims under Section 1983 is DIS MISSED with prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) f or failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. The Clerk is directed to close this case. Signed by Senior Judge Gary L. Sharpe on October 4, 2022. {order served via regular mail on plaintiff}(nas)
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Calderon v. Annucci et al Doc. 50 Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 1 of 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK LARRY CALDERON, Plaintiff, 9:20-CV-0645 (GLS/CFH) v. ANTHONY ANNUCCI et al., Defendants. APPEARANCES: LARRY CALDERON 17-A-3002 Plaintiff, pro se Clinton Correctional Facility P.O. Box 2000 Dannemora, NY 12929 GARY L. SHARPE Senior United States District Judge DECISION AND ORDER I. INTRODUCTION Plaintiff pro se Larry Calderon, an inmate in the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), commenced this action alleging deprivation of his civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against defendants Anthony J. Annucci, Noeth, Christine Scaccia, and unidentif ied Doe defendants. Dkt. No. 2 ("Compl."). II. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY On May 14, 2020, plaintiff filed a complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in the Southern District of New York. Dkt. No. 1 ("IFP Application"); Dkt. No. 2 Dockets.Justia.com Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 2 of 7 ("Compl."). On June 3, 2020, the Southern District transf erred the action to this District. Dkt. No. 4. On September 8, 2020, the Court issued a Decision and Order, which granted plaintiff's IFP application and dismissed the complaint, without prejudice, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). Dkt. No. 12 ("September Order"). In light of his pro se status, plaintiff was afforded an opportunity to submit an amended complaint. Id. at 20. On December 3, 2020, the Court reviewed the amended complaint and issued a Decision and Order directing defendants Nurse Jane Doe, Sergeant John Does 1-3, and Correctional Officer John Does 1-3 to respond to Eighth Amendment claims, and Noeth and Defendant CIU Current Director John Doe to respond to First Amendment retaliation claims. Dkt. No. 14 ("December Order"). On March 22, 2021, Noeth filed a pre-answer motion for summary judgment. Dkt. No. 24. In a Report-Recommendation and Order (R&R), Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel recommended that Noeth's motion for summary judgment be granted. See generally Dkt. No. 30. Magistrate Judge Hummel noted that the only remaining defendants were Doe defendants and recommended that the New York State Attorney General's Office "take reasonable steps to attempt to ascertain the full names of the remaining Doe defendants" and provide addresses where the Doe defendants could be served. Id. at 14. Magistrate Judge Hummel further recommended that the Attorney General’s Office be advised that it need not undertake to def end or indemnify the Doe defendants, at that time. Id. This Court adopted the R&R in its entirety. Dkt. No. 31. In response to the Court's order adopting the R&R, the Attorney General's Office provided a status report identifying the CIU Director John Doe as Scott Kelly. Dkt. No. 32. 2 Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 3 of 7 Counsel further advised that she was unable to identify Nurse Jane Doe, Sergeant John Does 1-3, and Correctional Officer John Does 1-3. Id. Subsequently, the Court held four status conferences regarding the progress made in identifying the defendants. See Minute Text Entries of Feb. 4, 2022, March 10, 2022, May 19, 2022, and July 28, 2022. During the July 28, 2022 conference, the Court afforded plaintiff the opportunity to file an amended complaint to name the defendants identified during discovery. See Text Minute Entry of July 28, 2022. Plaintiff was advised that a motion was not necessary. Id. Presently before the Court for review is plaintiff's second amended complaint. Dkt. No. 48. III. REVIEW OF SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT A. Legal Standard The legal standard governing the dismissal of a pleading for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) w as discussed at length in September Order and will not be restated in this Decision and Order. See September Order at 3-4. B. Summary of Second Amended Complaint In the second amended complaint, plaintiff names the following entities/individuals as defendants: Albany Medical Center, Drinnon O. Hand, M.D., and Edward Iskhakov, M.D.1 See 2d. Am. Compl. at 1. Plaintiff did not identify Nurse Jane Doe, Sergeant John Does 1-3, Correctional Officer John Does 1-3, or CIU Director John Doe in the second am ended 1 The Clerk of the Court is directed to add these defendants to the docket. 3 Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 4 of 7 complaint and the pleading does not include any claims against these defendants.2 On February 14, 2018, plaintiff was transported from Sullivan Correctional Facility ("Sullivan C.F.") to Albany Medical Center, where he remained hospitalized until April 18, 2018. 2d Am. Compl. at 2-3. On April 18, 2018, following the recommendation of defendants Hand and Iskhakov (doctors employed at Albany Medical Center), plaintiff was discharged from the hospital. Id. at 2, 3. On April 20, 2018, while in the custody of DOCCS at Clinton C.F., plaintiff complained of chest pain, shortness of breath, and a cough. 2d Am. Compl. at 4. Plaintiff was transported to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and treated for various conditions including bilateral pneumonia and respiratory distress. Id. On April 21, 2018, plaintiff was transferred to Albany Medical Center Intensive Care Unit and treated for pneumonia. Id. Plaintiff remained at Albany Medical Center until May 18, 2018. Id. Construed liberally, the second amended complaint contains the following claims: (1) Eighth Amendment deliberate medical indifference; (2) negligence; and (3) medical malpractice. See 2d Am. Compl. at 5-6. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages. Id. at 6. C. Analysis Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to Section 1983, which establishes a cause of action for "the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws" of the United States. German v. Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp., 885 F. Supp. 537, 573 (S.D.N.Y. 1995) (citing Wilder v. Va. Hosp. Ass'n, 496 U.S. 498, 508 (1990) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1983)) (footnote omitted); see Myers v. Wollowitz, No. 6:95-CV-0272 2 The Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate these individuals as defendants. 4 Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 5 of 7 (TJM/RWS), 1995 WL 236245, at *2 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 10, 1995) (explaining that Section 1983 "is the vehicle by which individuals may seek redress for alleged violations of their constitutional rights"). In order to maintain a Section 1983 action, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements. First, "the conduct complained of must have been committed by a person acting under color of state law." Pitchell v. Callan, 13 F.3d 545, 547 (2d Cir. 1994). Second, "the conduct complained of must have deprived a person of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States." Id. Assuming, without deciding, that the individual doctors and Albany Medical Center Hospital acted under "color of law" for purposes of Section 1983 and that plaintiff's injury was sufficiently serious to satisfy the first prong of an Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim and, to satisfy the subjective test for such a claim, plaintiff must allege facts to demonstrate that defendant "knew of and disregarded an excessive risk to his health or safety." Sales v. Barizone, No. 03 Civ. 6691, 2004 WL 2781752, at *18 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 2, 2004) (citing Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994)). The second amended complaint contains no facts to plausibly suggest that defendants were deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's serious medical needs or showed a wanton disregard for those needs. With respect to plaintiff's allegations related to negligence and malpractice, the protections afforded by the Eighth Amendment do not extend to remedy harms which may be inflicted as a result of conduct amounting to negligence or medical malpractice but not encompassing conscious disregard of an inmate's health. Therefore, a complaint that a physician, or any other medical personnel, have been negligent in diagnosing or treating a medical condition does not state a valid claim . . . under the Eighth Amendment." Estelle v. 5 Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 6 of 7 Gamble, 429 U.S. 91, 105-06 (1976). Stated another w ay, "medical malpractice does not become a constitutional violation merely because the victim is a prisoner." Id.; see Smith v. Carpenter, 316 F.3d 178, 184 (2d Cir. 2003) ("[T]he Eighth Amendment is not a vehicle for bringing medical malpractice claims."). After reviewing plaintiff's second amended complaint, and according it the utmost liberality in light of plaintiff’s pro se status, the Court is not able to discern either a f actual or legal basis for this action. Because plaintiff has already had two opportunities to amend his claims, this action is dismissed with prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to Section 1983. 3 IV. CONCLUSION WHEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED that the second amended complaint (Dkt. No. 48) is deemed the operative pleading; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall amend the docket as follows: (1) include Albany Medical Center, Drinnon O. Hand, M.D., and Edward Iskhakov, M.D. as defendants; and (2) terminate Nurse Jane Doe, Sergeant John Does 1-3, Correctional Officer John Does 1-3, and CIU Director John Doe as defendants; and it is further ORDERED that this action alleging federal claims under Section 1983 is DISMISSED with prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) f or failure to 3 Although plaintiff's federal constitutional and federal statutory claims are dismissed with prejudice, plaintiff is free to pursue any available state law claims in the appropriate state court. 6 Case 9:20-cv-00645-GLS-CFH Document 50 Filed 10/04/22 Page 7 of 7 state a claim upon which relief may be granted.4 The Clerk is directed to close this case; and; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk serve a copy of this Decision and Order on plaintiff and the Attorney General's Office in accordance with the Local Rules of Practice. IT IS SO ORDERED. October 4, 2022 Albany, New York 4 Generally, when a district court dismisses a pro se action sua sponte, the plaintiff will be allowed to amend his action. See Gomez v. USAA Fed. Sav. Bank, 171 F.3d 794, 796 (2d Cir. 1999). However, an opportunity to amend is not required where the defects in the plaintiff's claims are substantive, rather than merely formal, such that any amendment would be futile. See Cuoco v. Moritsugu, 222 F.3d 99, 112 (2d Cir. 2000); see also Pucci v. Brown, 423 F. App'x 77, 78 (2d Cir. 2011). 7
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