Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-2_06-cv-02145/USCOURTS-arwd-2_06-cv-02145-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FORT SMITH DIVISION

MICHAEL MORRELL SANDERS PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 06-2145 

SHERIFF FRANK ATKINSON;

CAPT. MICHAEL CONGER;

LT. GAYLA JACKSON; NURSE

CRYSTAL REED; CPL. MIKE

RESTINE; SGT. KIM TAUBLEE;

SGT. JUSTIN RITTER; and

DR. TOM TINSMAN DEFENDANTS

MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Plaintiff, Michael Morrell Sanders, a detainee of the Sebastian County Detention Center

(SCDC), brings this pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The complaint was

filed in forma pauperis (IFP) subject to a later determination of whether it should be served upon

the defendants.

 On September 12, 2006, the undersigned entered an order (Doc. 5) directing the plaintiff

to sign and return an addendum to his complaint. The court received the addendum (Doc. 6) on

September 19, 2006. 

I. Background

In his complaint, Sanders alleges he has been exposed to tuberculosis (TB). He states he

has not been treated for the exposure. 

Sanders has been incarcerated at the SCDC since January 23, 2006. Addendum at ¶ 1.

He is incarcerated because of pending criminal charges. Id. at ¶ 2. 

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Sanders maintains he was exposed to TB due to the overcrowding at the facility.

Addendum at ¶ 6. He indicates the facility did not have proper TB devices such as lights to kill

airborne diseases. Id. During February, he volunteered to take a TB skin test. Id. at ¶ 1.

Sanders indicates his skin test was positive. Id. at ¶ 7. He was then taken for a chest x-ray and

diagnosed with TB. Id. Although he was diagnosed with TB, Sanders indicates Reed refused

to provide him with medication. Id.

Sanders maintains Nurse Crystal Reed and Dr. Tinsman were deliberately indifferent to

his serious medical needs. Addendum at ¶ 3 & ¶ 4. Sanders maintains Reed is not certified to

read his x-rays or to dictate what medication he needs. Id. at ¶ 3. He asserts both Reed and Dr.

Tinsman knew Sanders’ TB skin test was positive but did nothing to ensure that he received

appropriate treatment and did not prevent him from being further exposed to TB. Id. at ¶ 3 &

¶ 4.

Sanders was asked whether he had named Sheriff Atkinson, Captain Conger, Lt. Jackson,

Cpl. Restine, Sgt. Taublee, and Justin Ritter as defendants solely because they are supervisors

or are in the chain of command at the jail. Addendum at ¶ 5. He responded: “Yes.” Id. He

indicates each staff member has a duty to ensure the safety of each inmate and to ensure the safe

running of the jail. Id. By not providing him with the medical treatment he needed, Sanders

maintained the staff members “failed to protect my health as they had originally vowed in [their]

sworn testimony upon hire.” 

II. Discussion

Section 1983 provides a federal cause of action for the deprivation, under color of law,

of a citizen's "rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws" of the

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United States. "To establish a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, [a plaintiff] must show [1] a

deprivation [under color of law] of [2] a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the

Constitution or the laws of the United States." Dunham v. Wadley, 195 F.3d 1007, 1009 (8th Cir.

1999). "[T]o establish a violation of constitutional rights under § 1983, the plaintiff must prove

that the defendant's unconstitutional action was the 'cause in fact' of the plaintiff's injury.” Butler

v. Dowd, 979 F.2d 661, 669 (8th Cir. 1992).

Sanders’ claims against Sheriff Frank Atkinson, Captain Mike Conger, Lt. Gayla

Jackson, Cpl. Mike Restine, Sgt. Kim Taublee, and Sgt. Justin Ritter are subject to dismissal.

Sanders has not alleged any of these defendants were personally involved in making any

decisions regarding his medical care. The fact that these individuals occupied supervisory

positions at the detention center is insufficient to establish liability under § 1983. “Liability

under section 1983 requires a causal link to, and direct responsibility for, the deprivation of

rights.” Madewell v. Roberts, 909 F.2d 1203, 1208 (8th Cir. 1990). See also Keeper v. King,

130 F.3d 1309, 1314 (8th Cir. 1997)(no evidence the defendants were medical personnel or were

personally involved in making medical decisions about the plaintiff’s treatment); Boyd v. Knox,

47 F.3d 966, 968 (8th Cir. 1995)(section 1983 liability requires personal involvement, or

allegation that supervisor had knowledge of unconstitutional conduct and turned blind eye to it).

 III. Conclusion

Accordingly, I recommend that the claims against Sheriff Frank Atkinson, Capt. Michael

Conger, Lt. Gayla Jackson, Cpl. Mike Restine, Sgt. Kim Taublee, and Sgt. Justin Ritter be

dismissed on the grounds that the claims are frivolous and fail to state claims. See 28 U.S.C. §

1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii)(IFP action may be dismissed on such grounds at any time). 

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We note that this leaves Sanders’ claims against Nurse Reed and Dr. Tinsman. By

separate order the undersigned will direct service of the complaint on Nurse Reed and Dr.

Tinsman.

Sanders has ten days from receipt of this report and recommendation in which to

file written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely

objections may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. Sanders is

reminded that objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the

district court.

DATED this 13th day of November 2006.

/s/ Beverly Stites Jones 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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