Darling v. Palm Beach County Sheriff
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DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOURTH DISTRICT July Term 2008 EDGAR DARLING, Appellant, v. PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF and PRISON HEALTH SERVICES, Appellees. No. 4D08-58 [ December 24, 2008 ] TAYLOR, J. Edgar Darling, an inmate at the Palm Beach County Stockade, sued the Palm Beach County Sheriff (Sheriff) and Prison Health Care Services (PHS) for medical malpractice and negligence as a result of delayed treatment of his broken wrist. Although the trial court correctly determined that Darling failed to satisfy pre-suit requirements for a medical malpractice action against the Sheriff and PHS, we reverse the final summary judgment entered in favor of the Sheriff on Darling s claim, which, in addition to medical negligence, alleged ordinary negligence in the performance of the Sheriff s custodial duties. Despite x-rays showing that Darling s right wrist was fractured after he fell while playing basketball at a Palm Beach County jail facility, Darling was initially treated with only pain medication for three weeks. He was later taken to a hospital for surgery after persistent complaints of excruciating pain. At the time, the Sheriff had a contract with PHS for the provision of all medical services to inmates. The trial court concluded, based on Darling s deposition testimony, that his claim against the Sheriff was solely for medical malpractice, and that it was barred for his failure to comply with the pre-suit requirements for such claims. We determine, however, that Darling s deposition, when considered as a whole and along with his pleadings, showed that his claim against the Sheriff included a claim of ordinary negligence and raised disputed issues of material fact regarding the Sheriff s liability for negligent custodial care. This case is similar to Okaloosa County v. Custer, 697 So. 2d 1297, 1297-98 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997). There, a jail inmate sued the county jail, alleging ordinary negligence and medical negligence for failure to provide medical attention for his arm infection. According to the inmate s complaint, the jail nurses were aware that he was suffering from a serious infection in his right forearm, based on his elevated temperature, red swollen arm, pus drainage, and his ill appearance. But, despite the inmate s pleas to see a doctor, they administered only basic wound care for three days before finally taking him to a hospital. By this time, his condition had worsened and he required surgery. The surgery resulted in permanent scarring. When the inmate filed suit, the two-year statute of limitations for medical negligence had run. The county moved to dismiss the inmate s complaint because he failed to timely provide a corroborating medical expert opinion in compliance with pre-suit requirements for medical malpractice actions a n d the statute of limitations had run. The First District Court of Appeal upheld the trial court s refusal to dismiss the complaint, agreeing with its ruling that the inmate s complaint stated a cause of action against the jail employees for ordinary negligence and was filed within the applicable limitations period for such a claim. In determining that the complaint stated a claim for ordinary negligence by jail employees, the trial court in Custer relied on Kelley v. Rice, 670 So. 2d 1094, 1096 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996). Kelley drew a distinction between claims based on negligent diagnosis, treatment or care, as contemplated by the medical malpractice statute, and allegations concerning the proper performance of the sheriff s custodial obligations to a n inmate. Our review of Darling s deposition and pleadings leads u s to conclude that Darling has stated a claim for ordinary negligence by the Sheriff and that genuine issues of material fact remain as to whether the Sheriff breached its custodial duties and obligations to the inmate. We also note that, notwithstanding the Sheriff s purported delegation of its medical care obligations to third-party provider PHS, Darling s deposition testimony suggests that this provider was negligently selected and supervised. This assertion may also create genuine issues of fact that cannot be decided on summary judgment. Darling also alleged in his complaint that the Sheriff s failure to adequately treat his fractured wrist showed a wanton deliberate indifference for human needs. On appeal, for the first time, he has argued that 42 U.S.C. ยง 1983 provides relief in prison medical care cases under similar circumstances. Although Darling may be able to amend his complaint on remand to add such a claim, we d o not read his current complaint as adequately alleging such a theory. Thus, we have not considered whether there 2 might also have been genuine issues of fact to be decided under that theory. Reversed and Remanded. HAZOURI and MAY, JJ., concur. * * * Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County; David F. Crow, Judge; L.T. Case No. 05-6948 CA. Edgar Darling, Indiantown, pro se. Adam J. Kopman of Weiss, Handler, Angelos & Cornwell, P.A., Boca Raton, for appellee Palm Beach County Sheriff. Nancy W. Gregoire of Kirschbaum Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire, PLLC, Fort Lauderdale, and Gregg A. Toomey of Henderson Franklin, Fort Myers, for appellee Prison Health Services. Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing. 3
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