Source: http://ks.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180723_0001071.DKS.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 18:13:15+00:00

Document:
OFFICE OF ADMINSTRATIVE HEARINGS, et al., Defendant.
This court referred the following case to United States Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer, who issued a report and recommendation, and an order pertaining to plaintiff's case. Judge Birzer filed the report and recommendation on May 28, 2018, and she recommended that the court dismiss this case with prejudice under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(iii) as seeking relief from defendants who are immune from suit. Judge Birzer also filed an order on May 28, 2018, denying plaintiff's motion to appoint counsel. Plaintiff timely filed an objection to Judge Birzer's report and recommendation and order denying appointment of counsel. Plaintiff also filed a motion to proceed with trial.
The following facts are taken primarily from the documents attached to plaintiff's complaint. Plaintiff's complaint contains very few factual allegations, so the court refers to the exhibits to understand the background of this case. The facts recited below are generally not critical to the resolution of this case, and are provided primarily for context. They should not be construed as judicial findings or factual determinations.
Plaintiff is a resident of Wichita, Kansas. Plaintiff was a licensed practical or vocational nurse (“L.P.N.”). Defendants are the Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”) and Sandra L. Sharon, a Presiding Officer with OAH.
In January 2015, plaintiff was employed as a dispensing nurse at Matrix Center, a methadone clinic for opioid addiction. During the early morning of January 26, 2015, plaintiff was reported to have been working at an “extremely slow pace.” As a result, the owner/manager of the facility, Steve Kuma, decided to drug test all staff members. Plaintiff tested positive.
On January 29, 2015, plaintiff took a second drug test and tested positive for methadone and barbiturates. Plaintiff was prescribed barbiturates, but not methadone. That same day, several patients of the facility reported that their prescriptions for methadone were short. It was suspected-but not confirmed-that plaintiff shorted these patient's prescriptions.
Plaintiff argues she tested positive for methadone because Matrix employees poisoned her when they bought her lunch on January 22, 2015. After these events, plaintiff's employment with Matrix was terminated.
Following plaintiff's termination, these events were reported to the Kansas State Board of Nursing (“Board”). After its own investigation, the Board referred plaintiff to the Kansas Nurse Assistance Program (“KNAP”). KNAP recommended that plaintiff participate in a one-year monitoring program, but plaintiff refused. As a result, KNAP petitioned to revoke plaintiff's license for violating K.S.A. § 65-1120(a)(7) and K.A.R. § 60-3-10(s).
On April 26, 2017, the Board conducted a hearing about this matter pursuant to K.S.A. § 77-536. OAH appointed Ms. Sharon to preside over the hearing. Ms. Sharon granted the Board's petition to revoke plaintiff's license to practice nursing on May 23, 2017.
Following this hearing, plaintiff filed multiple petitions, all of which were denied. Plaintiff may have also attempted to seek review of the Board's decision from multiple other jurisdictions. Plaintiff is now before this court, claiming that OAH and Ms. Sharon denied her due process and equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. Plaintiff also claims emotional distress and defamation of character. Plaintiff requests $77, 000 and reinstatement of her nursing license.
Judge Birzer granted plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), which requires a court to examine the pleadings for merit when determining plaintiff's financial ability to pursue the action. The authority to proceed without payment of fees is not without limitation. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), a court shall dismiss a case at any time if the court determines that the action (1) is frivolous or malicious; (2) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. Additionally, Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3) requires the court to dismiss a case if it lacks subject matter jurisdiction.

References: § 1915
 § 65
 § 60
 § 77
 § 1915
 § 1915