Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-03350/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-03350-0/pdf.json

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

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICKY TYRONE HARRIS,

Plaintiff,

v.

DWIGHT WINSLOW, M.D.,

Health Care Manager,

Defendant.

 /

No. C 04-3350 SI (pr)

ORDER OF SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

Ricky Tyrone Harris commenced this action by filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus.

The court reviewed the petition, determined that it concerned conditions of confinement and

therefore had to be pursued as a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Harris has now filed

a civil rights complaint and an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. His complaint

is now before the court for review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915A. 

BACKGROUND

Harris alleges that he inadvertently burned his scalp in 2000 when he used a home perm kit

he bought at the prison canteen. He further alleges that he has not received adequate medical care

for a large, disfiguring and itchy keloid that formed after his scalp healed. Harris alleges that a

doctor recommended minor surgery and/or steroid injections but defendant Dr. Winslow (the

prison health care manager) refuses to allow Harris to have the minor surgery, the injections or

medication that will help him deal with the keloid.

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 1 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

DISCUSSION

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any case in which a prisoner

seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See

28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and dismiss

any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,

or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. at

1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police

Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).

To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two elements: (1) that a

right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated and (2) that the

violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487

U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

To establish a claim for an Eighth Amendment violation, an inmate claiming that prison

officials failed to attend to medical needs must establish both (1) a serious medical need and (2)

deliberate indifference to that need by prison officials. See McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050,

1059-60 (9th Cir. 1992). A medical need is serious if the failure to treat the inmate's condition

could result in further significant injury or the "unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain." Id. at

1059 (citing Estelle v. Gamble , 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)). 

Liberally construed, the allegations of the complaint state a § 1983 claim for relief against

Dr. Winslow for an Eighth Amendment violation based on his alleged refusal to allow treatment

of Harris' keloid. 

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, 

1. Plaintiff's complaint states a claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against

defendant Dr. Dwight Winslow.

2. The clerk shall issue a summons and the United States Marshal shall serve, without

prepayment of fees, the summons, a copy of the complaint, a copy of this order, and a copy of all

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 2 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

the other documents in the case file upon Dr. Dwight Winslow, who apparently is the health care

manager at Pelican Bay State Prison.

3. In order to expedite the resolution of this case, the following briefing schedule for

dispositive motions is set:

a. No later than December 2, 2005, defendant must file and serve a motion for

summary judgment or other dispositive motion. If defendant is of the opinion that this case cannot

be resolved by summary judgment, he must so inform the court prior to the date the motion is due.

b. Plaintiff's opposition to the summary judgment or other dispositive motion

must be filed with the court and served upon defendant no later than January 6, 2006. Plaintiff

must bear in mind the following notice and warning regarding summary judgment as he prepares

his opposition to any summary judgment motion:

The defendants may make a motion for summary judgment by which they

seek to have your case dismissed. A motion for summary judgment under Rule 56

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will, if granted, end your case. [¶] Rule 56 tells you what you must do in order to oppose a motion for summary judgment.

Generally, summary judgment must be granted when there is no genuine issue of material fact --

that is, if there is no real dispute about any fact that would affect the result of your case, the party

who asked for summary judgment is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, which will end your

case. When a party you are suing makes a motion for summary judgment that is properly

supported by declarations (or other sworn testimony), you cannot simply rely on what your

complaint says. Instead, you must set out specific facts in declarations, depositions, answers to

interrogatories, or authenticated documents, as provided in Rule 56(e), that contradict the facts

shown in the defendants' declarations and documents and show that there is a genuine issue of

material fact for trial. If you do not submit your own evidence in opposition, summary judgment,

if appropriate, may be entered against you. If summary judgment is granted, your case will be

dismissed and there will be no trial. (See Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 962-63 (9th Cir. 1998).

c. If defendant wishes to file a reply brief, he must file and serve the reply brief

no later than January 20, 2006.

4. All communications by plaintiff with the court must be served on a defendant's

counsel by mailing a true copy of the document to defendant's counsel. The court may disregard

any document which a party files but fails to send a copy of to his opponent. Until a defendant's

counsel has been designated, plaintiff may mail a true copy of the document directly to defendant,

but once a defendant is represented by counsel, all documents must be mailed to counsel rather

than directly to that defendant. 

5. Discovery may be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 3 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4

No further court order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(a)(2) or Local Rule 16 is

required before the parties may conduct discovery.

6. Plaintiff is responsible for prosecuting this case. Plaintiff must promptly keep the

court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court's orders in a timely

fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Plaintiff must file a notice of change of

address in every pending case every time he is moved to a new facility. 

7. Plaintiff is cautioned that he must include the case name and case number for this

case on any document he submits to this court for consideration in this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October _5__, 2005 _______________________

 SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 4 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICKY TYRONE HARRIS,

Plaintiff,

v.

DWIGHT WINSLOW, M.D.,

Health Care Manager,

Defendant.

 /

No. C 04-3350 SI (pr)

ORDER OF SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

Ricky Tyrone Harris commenced this action by filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus.

The court reviewed the petition, determined that it concerned conditions of confinement and

therefore had to be pursued as a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Harris has now filed

a civil rights complaint and an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. His complaint

is now before the court for review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915A. 

BACKGROUND

Harris alleges that he inadvertently burned his scalp in 2000 when he used a home perm kit

he bought at the prison canteen. He further alleges that he has not received adequate medical care

for a large, disfiguring and itchy keloid that formed after his scalp healed. Harris alleges that a

doctor recommended minor surgery and/or steroid injections but defendant Dr. Winslow (the

prison health care manager) refuses to allow Harris to have the minor surgery, the injections or

medication that will help him deal with the keloid.

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 5 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

DISCUSSION

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any case in which a prisoner

seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See

28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and dismiss

any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,

or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. at

1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police

Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).

To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two elements: (1) that a

right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated and (2) that the

violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487

U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

To establish a claim for an Eighth Amendment violation, an inmate claiming that prison

officials failed to attend to medical needs must establish both (1) a serious medical need and (2)

deliberate indifference to that need by prison officials. See McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050,

1059-60 (9th Cir. 1992). A medical need is serious if the failure to treat the inmate's condition

could result in further significant injury or the "unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain." Id. at

1059 (citing Estelle v. Gamble , 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)). 

Liberally construed, the allegations of the complaint state a § 1983 claim for relief against

Dr. Winslow for an Eighth Amendment violation based on his alleged refusal to allow treatment

of Harris' keloid. 

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, 

1. Plaintiff's complaint states a claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against

defendant Dr. Dwight Winslow.

2. The clerk shall issue a summons and the United States Marshal shall serve, without

prepayment of fees, the summons, a copy of the complaint, a copy of this order, and a copy of all

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 6 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

the other documents in the case file upon Dr. Dwight Winslow, who apparently is the health care

manager at Pelican Bay State Prison.

3. In order to expedite the resolution of this case, the following briefing schedule for

dispositive motions is set:

a. No later than December 2, 2005, defendant must file and serve a motion for

summary judgment or other dispositive motion. If defendant is of the opinion that this case cannot

be resolved by summary judgment, he must so inform the court prior to the date the motion is due.

b. Plaintiff's opposition to the summary judgment or other dispositive motion

must be filed with the court and served upon defendant no later than January 6, 2006. Plaintiff

must bear in mind the following notice and warning regarding summary judgment as he prepares

his opposition to any summary judgment motion:

The defendants may make a motion for summary judgment by which they

seek to have your case dismissed. A motion for summary judgment under Rule 56

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will, if granted, end your case. [¶] Rule 56 tells you what you must do in order to oppose a motion for summary judgment.

Generally, summary judgment must be granted when there is no genuine issue of material fact --

that is, if there is no real dispute about any fact that would affect the result of your case, the party

who asked for summary judgment is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, which will end your

case. When a party you are suing makes a motion for summary judgment that is properly

supported by declarations (or other sworn testimony), you cannot simply rely on what your

complaint says. Instead, you must set out specific facts in declarations, depositions, answers to

interrogatories, or authenticated documents, as provided in Rule 56(e), that contradict the facts

shown in the defendants' declarations and documents and show that there is a genuine issue of

material fact for trial. If you do not submit your own evidence in opposition, summary judgment,

if appropriate, may be entered against you. If summary judgment is granted, your case will be

dismissed and there will be no trial. (See Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 962-63 (9th Cir. 1998).

c. If defendant wishes to file a reply brief, he must file and serve the reply brief

no later than January 20, 2006.

4. All communications by plaintiff with the court must be served on a defendant's

counsel by mailing a true copy of the document to defendant's counsel. The court may disregard

any document which a party files but fails to send a copy of to his opponent. Until a defendant's

counsel has been designated, plaintiff may mail a true copy of the document directly to defendant,

but once a defendant is represented by counsel, all documents must be mailed to counsel rather

than directly to that defendant. 

5. Discovery may be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 7 of 8
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4

No further court order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(a)(2) or Local Rule 16 is

required before the parties may conduct discovery.

6. Plaintiff is responsible for prosecuting this case. Plaintiff must promptly keep the

court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court's orders in a timely

fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Plaintiff must file a notice of change of

address in every pending case every time he is moved to a new facility. 

7. Plaintiff is cautioned that he must include the case name and case number for this

case on any document he submits to this court for consideration in this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October _5__, 2005 _______________________

 SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-03350-SI Document 5 Filed 10/06/05 Page 8 of 8