Case ID: f-appx_672/html/0681-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mario Martinez ARIAS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. A. JOHAL, Medical Doctor at North Kern State Prison; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 16-16128
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted December 14, 2016 
    
    Filed December 22, 2016
    Mario Martinez Arias, Pro Se
    Before: WALLACE, LEAVY, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Mario Martinez Arias, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A and 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1118 (9th Cir. 2012); Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998) (order). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

The district court properly dismissed Arias’ deliberate indifference claims against defendants Dr. Smith and Dr. Shit-tu because Arias failed to allege facts sufficient to show that either Dr. Smith or Dr. Shittu knew of and disregarded an excessive risk to Arias’ health. See Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1057-58 (9th Cir. 2004) (setting forth elements of deliberate indifference; a prison official acts with deliberate indifference only if the official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health).

However, dismissal of Arias’ deliberate indifference claim against Dr. Johal was improper. Arias alleged in his amended complaint that Dr. Johal refused to change the dressing or clean his wound and failed to prescribe antibiotics despite signs of infection. These allegations are sufficient to state a claim of deliberate indifference against Dr. Johal. See id. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment in part, and remand for further proceedings.

AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.