Dobbs v. Ballew et al, No. 2:2019cv00037 - Document 41 (N.D. Tex. 2022)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT: The Court ORDERS Plaintiff's Complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 be DISMISSED for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. (Ordered by Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk on 2/28/2022) (awc)
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Dobbs v. Ballew et al Doc. 41 Case 2:19-cv-00037-Z-BR Document 41 Filed 02/28/22 Page 1 of 4 PageID 204 IN THE UNITED STA TES DISTRICT COUR FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEX AMARILLO DIVISION , . .11.~. D1s rn1cr l'(}tiKJ NOR 11 IIJ{N DISTRICT OF TEXAS FILED [ FEB 28 2022 J ' CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT CASEY GLYNN DOBBS, TDCJ-CID No. 02197944, Plaintiff, V. § § § § § § By"l1';"7""TiJc;:;;;r,-;;;;11y--- 2: 19-CV-037-Z-BR § SHAWN BALLEW et al., Defendants. § § § MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT Before the Court is Plaintiffs civil rights complaint brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the above-referenced Defendants (ECF No. 3) ("Complaint"), filed March 1, 2019. Plaintiff filed suit prose while incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice ("TDCJ"), Correctional Institutions Division. Plaintiff was granted permission to proceed in for ma pauper is. For the reasons discussed herein, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiffs Complaint. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Plaintiff alleges on April 15, 2018, Defendants denied him medical care while he was imprisoned as a pretrial detainee in county jail. ECF No. 3 at 4. Plaintiff alleges Defendant Ballew - a deputy officer - was questioning Plaintiff about a criminal matter when Plaintiff began experiencing chest pains. Id. Because of his history of cancer and heart problems, Plaintiff asked to go to the hospital. Id. But Defendants did not take Plaintiff to the hospital. Plaintiff alleges his wife had provided the county jail with medical records to explain his medical history, including heart problems and seizures. Id. at 6. Plaintiff claims on the day he Dockets.Justia.com - ----·-·--- - - - -- - - -- - - - - -- -- - -- Case 2:19-cv-00037-Z-BR Document 41 Filed 02/28/22 -- - -·· ··-·--------"' Page 2 of 4 PageID 205 requested medical care, he had a "a minor heart attack" after the Defendants refused to transport him to the hospital. Id. Plaintiffs Complaint included attachments. ECF No. 7. In those attachments, Plaintiff claims Defendant Ballew informed Plaintiff he would get him a doctor if he "would just answer the question" after Plaintiff had asked for a lawyer during the exchange. Id. at 2. Plaintiff claims Defendants - particularly Defendant Ballew - had a personal grudge against Plaintiff and had attempted to charge him with numerous crimes in the past. Id. LEGAL STANDARD When a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility brings an action with respect to prison conditions under any federal law, the Court may evaluate the complaint and dismiss it without service of process, Ali v. Higgs, 892 F.2d 438, 440 (5th Cir. 1990), if it is frivolous, 1 malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A, 1915(e)(2). The same standards will support dismissal of a suit brought under any federal law by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility, where such suit concerns prison conditions. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(l). A Spears hearing need not be conducted for every prose complaint. Wilson v. Barrientos, 926 F.2d 480,483 n.4 (5th Cir. 1991). 2 1 A claim is frivolous if it lacks an arguable basis in law or in fact. Booker v. Koonce, 2 F.3d 114, 115 (5th Cir. 1993). 2 Green vs. McKaskle, 788 F.2d 1116, 1120 (5th Cir. 1986) ("Of course, our discussion of Spears should no( be interpreted to mean that all or even most prisoner claims require or deserve a Spears hearing. A district court should be able to dismiss as frivolous a significant number of prisoner suits on the complaint alone or the complaint together with the Watson questionnaire."). Dismissals may also be based on adequately identified or authenticated records. Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232,234 (5th Cir. 1995). 2 .. ,,,,,,____ -- Case 2:19-cv-00037-Z-BR Document 41 Filed 02/28/22 Page 3 of 4 PageID 206 ANALYSIS Pretrial detainees have a constitutional right - under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment - not to have their serious medical needs met with deliberate indifference on the part of the confining officials. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 103 (1976); Hare v. City of Corinth, 74 F.3d 633,636 (5th Cir. 1996) (en bane) (Hare JI); Colle v. Brazos County, 981 F.2d 237, 244 (5th Cir. 1993); Fielder v. Bosshard, 590 F.2d 105, 107 (5th Cir. 1979). Deliberate indifference in the context of an episodic failure to provide reasonable medical care to a pretrial detainee means: (1) the official was aware of facts from which an inference of substantial risk of serious harm could be drawn; (2) the official actually drew that inference; and (3) the official's response indicates the official subjectively intended that harm occur. Hare JI, 74 F.3d at 643, 64950. Deliberate indifference, however, cannot be inferred merely from a negligent or even a grossly negligent response to a substantial risk of serious harm. Id. at 645,649. Plaintiff indicates Defendants negligence to Plaintiffs care - while certainly acting with negligence or even gross do not constitute deliberate indifference. Plaintiff describes a single instance when Defendant Ballew ignored Plaintiffs request to take him to the hospital. Plaintiff does not assert his wife personally notified Defendant Ballew of Plaintiffs medical history or Defendant Ballew had personal knowledge of Plaintiffs condition. Plaintiff also does not allege he informed Defendant Ballew of his condition. The facts alleged do not support that Plaintiff had an obvious serious medical need that was Defendant Ballew ignored. Plaintiffs Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiffs Complaint. 3 Case 2:19-cv-00037-Z-BR Document 41 Filed 02/28/22 Page 4 of 4 PageID 207 Additionally, Defendant Warden is not subject to liability in his supervisory capacity. Under Section 1983, supervisory officials are not liable for the actions of subordinates on any theory of vicarious liability." Thompkins v. Belt, 828 F.2d 298, 303 (5th Cir. 1987). A sheriff, such as Defendant Warden, not personally involved in the acts that deprived the plaintiff of his constitutional rights is liable under Section 1983 if: ( 1) the sheriff failed to train or supervise the officers involved; (2) there is a causal connection between the alleged failure to supervise or train and the alleged violation of the plaintiffs rights; and (3) the failure to train or supervise constituted deliberate indifference to the plaintiffs constitutional rights. Smith v. Brenoettsy, 158 F.3d 908, 911-12 (5th Cir. 1998); Doe v. Taylor lndep. Sch. Dist., 15 F.3d 443, 452-54 & nn.7-8 (5th Cir. 1994) (en bane); Hinshaw v. Doffer, 785 F.2d 1260, 1263 (5th Cir. 1986). Here, Plaintiff does not allege Defendant Warden's personal involvement in the denial of medical care to the Plaintiff, nor any of the above factors. The Court therefore DISMISSES the claims against Defendant Warden. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth above and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A, 1915(e)(2) and 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), the Court ORDERS Plaintiffs Complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § I 983 be DISMISSED for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. SO ORDERED. February ~ 2022 M 4 MARYK !STRICT JUDGE
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