Muhammad v. Tatro et al, No. 7:2012cv00043 - Document 66 (W.D. Va. 2013)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Samuel G. Wilson on 1/30/2013. (tvt)

Download PDF
T '* OFFI U.s Ds c e el # pA> CE lz ou ' A R A o kv T o N K .h Fsno t I TH E U NI N TED STA TES DI RI T C O U RT ST C FO R TH E W ESTERN DISTR I T O F V IR G I IA C N R O AN O K E DIVISIO N M A LC O LM M U H A M M AD , Pl nt f , ai i f V. DR .L.TA TR O etal, . De e f ndant . s J 32 2 3 Ad 2 JULA c, I BK D UA o > - Ci lA cton N o.7: vi i 12cv00043 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) M EM O M N D UM O PI I N N O - By:Sam uelG .W ison l Unie St e Dit i tJudge t d at s s r c Pl i if M a c m M uhn m a a V i gi a i a e pr e ng pr s , brngs t s c vi a ntf l ol m d, r ni nm t oc edi o e i hi i l rght a ton ptrua t 42 U. C.j 1 i s ci ls nt o S. 983,al i t tt dee nt fie t prvi hi legng ha he fnda s ald o o de m wih a qua e de a ca e. By m e andum opi o an or e er d Augus 1 201 on t de t nt l r mor ni n d der nt e t 0, 2, de e nt 'm o i t dim is t c tdimis d a lofM uha a scli e e t twhih f nda s tons o s s ,he our s s e l mm d' a ms xc pt ha c a os outofa e de a tea m e be w ee l t M a ch a Aug t 1 2011 Se ECF N os 28 z e bs nt nt l r t nt t n a e r nd us 6, . e . a 29. Deenda sha fl motonsf s nd f nt ve ied i or ummayj r udgmentc e ngt rmani cam onc mi he e i ng li a M ul nd mmmadha fl r pons i opposton t r t m a ngt sma t rpe f diposto s ied es es n ii he eo, ki hi ter i or s ii n. Fo t era o ssae h r i t ec t t rn sd fn a t' to sf rsl r u g n . r h e s n ttd e en,h ol g a t ee d n s mo in o l r mma yj d me tl 1. On J nuar 5,2011 M uha m ad s w D r Ta r r ga di hi upper de ur whi h ha a y , m a . t o e r ng s nt e, c d s i. The uppe de ur wasr par a r t plt r nt e e ied nd eunwd t M uhnmm a t s m e da f hi t us o d he a y or m o e untl a ne u r de ur c d be made f hi . On Fe ua y l 2011 as s n a t i w ppe nt e oul or m br r 4, , oo s he l bo a or ha m a t pr t ype f M uhn m a s uppe de ur M uha m a s w D r Ta r a r t y d de he o ot or m d' r nt e, m d a . to f a tty i 'oft pr ot de ur t ensure pr or tr n' he ot ype nt e o operftbef e t act dent e w msm ade. i or he ual ur lM u m m a hasalo fld am o i t am e hi c pli i whi hetist r vehi cam sc e i ha d s ie ton o nd s om ant n ch re o evi s li onc m ng de alte men bewe Augus 1 2011a Dec mbe 2011 Howe ,t c talea dimis d t s cai nt rat t t en t 7, nd e r . ver he our r dy s s e he e l ms a ns t na ed dee nt f f ii t sae a consiutona cl m a M uhamm ad pr s nt no ne m ae i gai t he m fnda s or alng o tt tt i l ai nd ee s w tral f t t twoul c nge t cou tspr ou a yss Be aus M thammad' algato i hi moto t a nd acs ha d ha he r ' evi s nal i. c e l s le ins n s in o me silf lt sae a cl m of c tttonalmagniude f t s r s sae i t cour' Augus 1 201 tl ai o tt ai onsiu i t or he ame ea ons t td n he ts t 0, 2 memorndum opi on a or r a ame a ni nd de , n ndme t M uha d' c nt o mma s ompli t r ve t s cai woul be ftl. ant o evi he e l ms d uie Acc di y,hecour denisM tha m a sm oto or ngl t t e l m d' in. . ' - . , On M a c 1 2011 M thn ma s r h 0, , l m d ubmit a Of e r Re t f I o m ai n, ted n f nde ques or nf r to r quesi t t Den a As it nt Gi ns a s t De it t t M uhn m a ne d de a e tng ha t l ssa ve dvie he nts ha m d ede nt l t e t e due t a br n t t t the c a m s w a c tng hi t r a m nt o oke 00 h ha li s uti s ongue. Gi ns a knowl dge z ve c e d M u mmad' r ques on M a c 1 2011a wr t &Iwilt l t de it' ha se t r h 6, nd o e,ç l el he nts.' On M a c 21, 2011 M lha m a s w Dr Ta r a r c ve hi pe m a nt u r rh , z m d a . t o nd e ei d s r ne ppe de m e. M uha a a l s t the a s s nt mm d lege ha l o howe Dr Tar hi ç t h' a t sa i t nt d . to s l oot ' t hi ppo n me bad and t tDr Tar s i hewoul c l M uha a a ha . to a d d al mm d bouti s t oon. Dr Ta r sa est tM uhn ma . to tt ha m d di no r po ta de t lpr e a t the s w no de alm o e ofa sg t a e o a d t e r ny n a obl m nd ha a nt blm ny i nik nc r ny pr bl m w ih M uham m ad' t o e t s ongue. On M a c 24, 1 M uha m a s r h 201 , m d ubmitd aReque tf M e c Ser i ssai t the te s or di al vce ttng ha wa e a br n t h pule t te tng hotorc d f od ca e hi pan,and t the di not nt d oke 00t ld, ha a i ol o us d m i ha d wa i t be m e i ec e .3 Gi ns r s nde t M uha m a s r ue t on M a c 28, 2011 nt t o co nf t d ve e po d o m d' eq s rh , i c tng t ti ha be n r ceved. Gi ns sa e t t upon r cevi M uhn a s r que t ndia i ha t d e e i ve tt s ha , e i ng mm d' e s, s adde M u mm a s name t t ls of i aes awatng r i de al s r c . he d hn d' o he it nm t ii outne nt e vies M u a d s b te n oh r r q ss c mplit,o g iva c s (e u a o e r e c ) h mma u mitd o t e e uet, o an s r re n e r g lr r meg n y conc r ng de a c r be wee M a c 24,2011 a Augus 1 2011. On Augus 1 2011 e ni nt l a e t n rh nd t 6, t 6, , M uhn a s w Dr Tar pur ua t hi M a c 24,2011 r que t W he Dr Tar x-a d mm d a . to s nt o s r h e s. n . to r ye M uha a smout i Aug t hedicove e t tM uhn m a ha t ot ra c s d t t on mm d' hn us, s r d ha m d d wo he bs es e eeh t o he sde ofhi m out .4 D r.Tato sa e t tM uhn mad' br ke t h wa nota c s e he t r i s h r tt s ha m s o n 00t s bs e s d 2 Ac r ng t Dr Ta saf co di o . ko' fdavi,M u mma st h wasid oke i t s ns t tpa toft e mel t ha d' 00t tbr n' n he e e ha r he na aoundt flnghadbe n l twiht tli butw a nots ehi t twoul ha cu hi t r he ii e os t he ilng, s om t ng ha d ve t s onguenorc us hi a ed m a pr e ofsg f a .... ny oblm inik nce ' ' 3Theco tnoest tt f m whih M tha d s te ce ry satst ti t i t i e re ng a ur t ha he or c l mma ubmitd la l t e ha f he nmae s xpeinci n e rewy h s ud ç oiy (i!fo rot ri ditl ' Th r i n e it c ta Ml a dn tfe te meg l , e ho l < tf hs lo fke mme aey. ee s o vd n e h t z mma oiid h n ' h foorofi e ofa de alem ege y. l tc r ny nt r nc 4 Dr Tar saes t tt t a c s d t t é ppe r d t be ofa l tndi chr c naur' a t t to tt ha he wo bs es e eeh i a e o a ongsa ng oni t e' nd ha . M uhamm addi no c pl n a uta pan fom t eteh. d t om ai bo ny i r hos e t 2 ori ece Dr Tar pr s rbe a a i otc asa pr phylc i f r t t abs es e t eh i nf t d. . to e c i d n ntbi i o a tc o he wo c s d e t n pr pa a i f f t edent lwor I Se embe , n Dr Ta r s w M uhn a t e r ctt e r ton or u ur a k. n pt r whe . to a mm d o xta he a c s d t e h,whi h he cls ii ast E i iy fo a de alpe s tve' Dr Ta r a ked bs es e e t c a sfed he t ort r m pr nt r peci ,' . to s M uha m a w hi h s de of hi m o h he pr f n'd t t D r Ta r t e t fr t a M uhn m a m d c i s ut e e e ha . to r a i s s nd m d r quese e r c i oft br n t t be or t t a c s d t e h. Dr Ta r e r c e e td xta ton he oke 00 h f e he wo bs es e e t 6 . t o xt a t d M uha ma sbr n t h i Se embe a hi a c s t t a al t a n m e t m d' oke 00t n pt r nd s bs esed eeh t aer ppoi t n . Gi ns i r ponsbl f r s he i de a a nt nt f i t a W ale Ri e ve s es i e o c dulng nt l ppoi me s or nma es t lns dg Stt Prs (S RSP' . Ptrua t DOP 720. Secin V1IC)1 ,a e st r i d tl ae ion t W ' zs nt o ) 6, to l( ( ) cc s o outne ena c r i t t y c r l by us of an a nt nt book' a i t s wil be cal a e s s abl ontoled equi e ppoi me ' nd nma e l led a co dng t t c onol c l da e on t r r ue t f m . Acc di t Gi ns t r a e c r i o he hr ogi a t hei eq s or z or ng o ve , he e r a oxi ae y 200 i a e o t watng ls f r tne de t ls viesa W RSP a t wat ppr m tl nm t s n he ii it or ou i n a er c t nd he i tm e i a o ma ey fve m on hs. Furher Gi ns sa e t ti a i ae ha a e r e y i s ppr xi t l i t t , ve t t s ha f n nm t s n me g nc de alis hes d s nt s ue, houl ubmi an e ge y gre nc t r cevet t mer nc i va e o e i xpedied de alteamen . t nt r t t l. I M uhn ma al gest tt de e nt we e de i r t l i fe e t hi d a ne ds m d le ha he f nda s r lbe a e y ndif r nt o s entl e by f ii t pr de hi wih te m e be we n lt M ar h and Augus 1 2011 The co t a lng o ovi m t r at nt t e a e c t 6, . ur fndst tM u mm a ha notde o taedt tt de e nt we e dei r t l i fe e t a i ha ha d s m nsr t ha he f nda s r lbe a ey ndif r nt o s ro sme ia ne da ,h r f r , r nst ed fn a t' to f rs mmayj d me t eiu d c l e nd te eo e g a t h e e d n s moins o u r u g n. To sae a c z e Ei h Ame e cli f r deni of medialc r ,a pl i ir tt ogni abl ght ndm nt am o al c ae antf mu talg fcs s fiin t d mo srt ta j i o tcas wee d lb r tl i dfee tt a s le e a t u fce t o e n tae h t al f il r eieaey n ifrn o i 5D r Tar sae t a ç sad nit(e o ywa ts t n mbo esd o ap te ' mo t t woko a atme . to tts h tt e ts,h ! nl n g) o u n ie f aints uh o r n t i , a b c u en mbn b t sd s o t mo tawhc as n mbstej w a tn ue afcsap tetsf to l e a s u ig oh ie f he uh ih lo u h a nd o g , fe t ain' t ina mc a ltess h a s lw i tl ng,e i a drrki ' biii uc s walo ng, aki atng, nd it ng. ' 6Thec tnot t tM uhamm ad sgned aRe u alt Cons tt Tr am e f m bec ehechos t hav t our es ha i fs o en o e t nt or aus e o e he br n t t e r td a ns Dr Tar sr comme to t tt a cesedteh beteae asaprort oke 00h xtace gai t . to' e ndain ha he bs s e t r td i iy. 7The c tnot t tDOP 720.6 S cin l H) se i c l ca sfe toh e ta to sa sn ivt t h t our es ha , e t V( , p ct al lsiis o t xrcin nd e st i o o o i y iy a c dtmpe aur sascicl tnc sr rngr utnede alr ame . nd ol e r t e r tmsa e equii o i nt te t nt 3 s rousme c lne Esel v.Gnmbl 429U. 97,1 ( 976) St esv.Va.Dep' ofCon' ei dia ed. tle e, S. 04 1 ; apl t . , 904F. pp.487,492( D. 1 ) A Gerousme c lne d'i G t thasbe ndi nos d su E. Va. 995 . t i s dia e 's ç ha one e ag e by a physc a asm a i team e orone t i s obvi t t e n a ly peron woul ii n ndatng r t nt hat s o ous ha ve a s d e sl rc g z te n c siy frad co ' atnin. l o v.S rv ,5 5F.d 2 , 41( t a i e o nie h e e st o o t rs t t ' k y e o ' h e e 3 3 25 2 4h Ci.2008) A prs ofki i t i ael i fee 'onl i het r . ion t al s û bert y ndifrnt' y f t del knowsofa dir r a nd segads n e s i rs t i ae he t ors et ' Fa m e v. rr n, 1U. 825, (1 . xce sve ik o nm t alh af y. r r B ema 51 S. ' 837 994) - M e e ne i nc doe no c tt t delbe a e i fe e ,r t ra prs ofii lmus r glge e s t onsiue i r t ndif r nce ahe ion fc a t bot be a r of t f t fom whih t i e e e c d be dr wn t t a s t nta rs of h wa e he ac s r c he nf r nc oul a ha ubsa il ik ham e ss a hemus drw t i e e e. J onv.Oui r xit, nd t a he nfr nc ohns nones 1 F. 1 1 ( h Ci. , 45 3d 64, 67 4t r 1 ;seas Fame ,511U. a 8 Theofie ' co uc mus bes gr syi mpee , 998) e lo r r S. t 37. fc rs nd t t o osl nco tnt i deq e,ore es i ast s k t c cinceort be i olr bl t f m e a f ines . na uat xc sve o hoc he ons e o nt e a e o unda nt l ar s M iiir v.Beon,896 F. 848,851 ( h Ci.1 . A cam co eni a diagee n lte r 2d 4t r 990) li nc r ng s r me t bewe n a i t a m e c lpe s melr r ng di gnoss or c zs ofteam e t d not t e n nma e nd di a r or ega di a i olr e r t n oes i i t t Ei h Ame mplcae he ght ndme .W rc v. lns 766F. 8 8 ( hCi.1 ;Rusel nt iht Coli , 2d 41, 49 4t r 985) sl, 528F. a 31 Hari v.Mura 761F.Supp.409,41 ( D. 1 .A dea i rc i ng 2d t 9; rs ry, 4 E. Va. 990) ly n e evi me ia c r, t n r s li gij r ,d e n tvo aeteEihh Ame me t Se S rc lrv dc l ae wih o e u tn n u y o s o ilt h g t nd n . e tike . W aes 98 F. 1 1 81( hCi.1 tr, 9 2d 375, 380- 4t r 9993) Me av.Lyna 989F. 1 ,1 (t ; ndoz ugh, 2d 91 95 5h Ci. 9 3 ; v nv. t o 3 7F. u p. d 8 2, 38( . N. 2 0 ) r 1 9 ) W n M md , 6 S p 2 3 8 M D. C. 0 4 . Fis, M uha a has not de rt mm d monsr t d t t hi br n t t consiut d a ç e i ta e ha s oke 00 h tt e i rous s medialnee ' Dr Ta r s w M uha mad c c d. ' . to a m once ni hi de tr l s t n t we ksa trhi r ng s ntle e s ha wo e fe s t h br a di no de e mi t ta team e twasne s a y. M or ove ,whe Dr Ta r 00t oke nd d t t r ne ha ny r t n ce s r e r n . to s w M uha a i Augus s cf ly r ga d ng t br n t h,Dr Tar de e mi d t t a mm d n t pe ika l e r i he oke 00t . to t r ne ha ot rd ntlte t nt(xta ton oft ot rteh)wa mor i tnta t te r cin of he e a rame e rci wo he e t s e mpora nd ha xta to M uhn m a s br n t h w a t of a pa tc a co e n f o a de al pe s c i . m d' oke 00t s t not ny ri ul r nc r r m nt r pe tve ' ' 4 Furhe , uha a hasnotde t rM mm d monsr t t thi nee f team e ofhi br n t hwa t o taed ha s d or r t nt s oke 00t s ç s obvi t te n a ly pe s woul e sl r c z t nec s iy f a docorsa tnton.' To ous ha ve a r on d a iy e ogni e he e st or t ' te i ' t e e M uha a diag e wih Dr Tar s di noss a r comm e d c s of he xtnt mm d s r es t . to' ag i nd e nde om e t e t e ,s h a c a m i notac i bl unde t Ei ht A m e e . r a m nt uc li s tona e r he g h ndm nt Sec ond, M tha m ad has not de o ta e t t eihe of t de e l m m nsr t d ha t r he f ndant ac e wih s td t dei r t i fe e e c e i hi br n t t W he M uhn m a fl d hi Re s f r lbe ae ndif r nc onc m ng s oke 00 h. n m d e s que t o M edia Se v c on M a c 24,2011 Gi nspl e hi nn e on t watng ls f r tne c l r i es rh , ve ac d s m he ii it or ou i de alt e t e cons s e w ih V D OC pr dtr The w a tng ls f r r i den a s r c s a nt r a m nt it nt t oce le. ii i t o outne t l e vi e t W RSP i a p o i tl fv mo t a d Mu mma wat dj tt rt ta u to tmefr s p r xmaey ie nhs n ha d i us mde ha mo n f i o e hi a nt e . Durng t tme t tM uhn a was waii he di nots s ppoi m nt i he i ha mm d tng, d ubmi a ot r t ny he r que t,c e ss ompl nt,or g iva es c em i hi t h or a pai t the wa ex re i ai s re nc onc ng s 00t ny n ha s pe inc ng. M uhnm m a a s di not r que t a e e ge y de alt e t e c e i t br n t h. d lo d e s ny m r nc nt r a m nt onc m ng he oke 00t W he Dr Tar s w M uhn mad c n . to a m onceni t b oken t h,he e r c e t br ken t t a r ng he r 00t xta t d he o 00 h t M uham m ad' r que t s e s. Fi l M uha d ha notde nsrtd t thes fr d a ij r msars to hi naly, mma s mo tae ha ufe e ny n u y e ul f s deaye de a te t e . AsDr Ta r obs r e i Aug t t br ke t h wa nota c s d l d nt l r am nt . to e v d n us, he o n 00t s bs es e or i e t nf ced. Acc di y, t c t fnds t t M uha or ngl he our i ha mmad has not demonsr t t t t taed ha he de e n swe ede i r t y i fe en t a s i m e c lnee f nda t r lbe ael ndif r t o erous di a d. 11 1. Fo t era o ssae ,h c u tga t d fn a t' to f rsu ma yj d me t r h e s n ttd t e o r r ns ee d n s moins o tn r u g n . ENTER:J nua y 30, 3. a r 201 UNI TED STATES DI STRI J CT UDGE 5

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.