Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-5_19-cv-00104/USCOURTS-ared-5_19-cv-00104-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

PINE BLUFF DIVISION 

CHAVERIAN AVERY PLAINTIFF 

ADC #172665 

v. No: 5:19-cv-00104 KGB-PSH 

DARRELL ELKINS, et al. DEFENDANTS 

PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION 

INSTRUCTIONS 

 The following proposed Recommendation has been sent to United States District Judge 

Kristine G. Baker. You may file written objections to all or part of this Recommendation. If you 

do so, those objections must: (1) specifically explain the factual and/or legal basis for your 

objection, and (2) be received by the Clerk of this Court within fourteen (14) days of this 

Recommendation. By not objecting, you may waive the right to appeal questions of fact. 

 

DISPOSITION 

 Plaintiff Chaverian Avery filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on March 

22, 2019, while incarcerated at the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center (Doc. No. 1). He 

named Darrell Elkins, Deputy Lewis, and Tyra Tyler-Johnson as defendants. Avery was ordered 

to file an amended complaint describing how he was injured and why he sued defendants in their 

official capacities. Doc. No. 5. That order notified Avery that an amended complaint would render 

his original complaint without legal effect. 

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Avery filed an amended complaint on May 6, 2019. It names Elkins as the only defendant, 

and states that he sues Elkins in his personal capacity only.1 Id. For the reasons stated herein, 

Avery’s claims should be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 

I. Screening Standard 

 Before docketing the complaint, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Court must review 

the complaint to identify cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint if it: (1) is frivolous or 

malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief 

against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Rule 8 of the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure requires only “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 

pleader is entitled to relief.” In Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007), 

the Court stated, “a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ 

requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of 

action will not do. . . . Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the 

speculative level,” citing 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235-

236 (3d ed. 2004). A complaint must contain enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible 

on its face, not merely conceivable. Twombly at 570. However, a pro se plaintiff’s allegations 

must be construed liberally. Burke v. North Dakota Dept. of Corr. & Rehab., 294 F.3d 1043, 1043-

1044 (8th Cir.2002) (citations omitted). 

II. Analysis 

 Avery complains that defendant Elkins, a doctor, recklessly discussed his medical 

condition in front of other inmates at the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center. Doc. No. 

                                                            

1 Avery does not identify Lewis or Tyra Tyler-Johnson as defendants in the amended complaint 

and asserts no claims in which they are identified. Therefore, the Clerk of the Court is instructed 

to remove Lewis and Tyra Tyler-Johnson as defendants in the style of the case. 

Case 5:19-cv-00104-KGB Document 13 Filed 05/21/19 Page 2 of 4
12 at 4. Avery alleges the inmates have since spread lies about his health. Id. Avery does not 

specifically describe what medical information was disclosed or complain that he faces a risk of 

harm based on the disclosure of that information. Avery has since been moved to the Arkansas 

Department of Corrections’ Wrightsville Unit. He does not specify whether any of the inmates 

who became aware of his medical information are also incarcerated at the Wrightsville Unit. 

 The facts alleged by Avery fail to state an actionable constitutional claim. There is no 

private right of action to enforce a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 

Act (HIPAA). HIPPA “cannot be privately enforced either via § 1983 or through an implied right 

of action.” Adams v. Eureka Fire Prot. Dist., 352 F. App’x 137 (8th Cir. 2009). Additionally, 

Avery does not describe any injury or risk to his safety as a result of the disclosure of his medical 

condition that might support an Eighth Amendment failure-to-protect claim. Accordingly, Avery 

does not allege sufficient facts to state a claim that defendants were deliberately indifferent to a 

substantial risk of serious harm. See Irving v. Dormire, 519 F.3d 441, 447 (8th Cir. 2008) (To 

succeed on a failure-to-protect claim, plaintiff must show that there was a substantial risk of serious 

harm to him and that defendants were deliberately indifferent to that risk.); Jones v. Wallace, 641 

Fed. Appx. 665, 666 (8th Cir. 2016) (“[T]he deprivation alleged must be, objectively, ‘sufficiently 

serious.’”). Avery’s complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and should 

be dismissed. 

III. Conclusion 

 For the reasons stated herein, it is recommended that: 

 1. Avery’s complaint be dismissed without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon 

which relief may be granted. 

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 2. Dismissal of this action count as a “strike” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(g). 

 3. The Court certify, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that an in forma pauperis 

appeal from the order adopting this recommendation and accompanying judgment would not be 

taken in good faith. 

 IT IS SO RECOMMENDED this 21st day of May, 2019. 

 

 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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