Opinion ID: 1288836
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Case Number 32194 Marshall County Health Care Proceeding

Text: Mr. White states that he has been incarcerated at various correctional facilities in the State of West Virginia since 1998; he currently is housed at Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility (hereinafter referred to as Northern). During his incarceration, he has received medical care for his severe acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome afflictions. [14] Before he was transferred to Northern, Mr. White had received prescription medications for these conditions and transported these medicines and his medical records with him when he was transferred to Northern. Upon his arrival at Northern, Mr. White complains that he received only a cursory examination by a nurse who allegedly did not review his medical file. Approximately one week after his transfer, Dr. Balgo conducted a brief examination of Mr. White and renewed his prescription medications for ninety days. After the expiration of that prescription, Mr. White asked Dr. Balgo to renew his prior prescription. In response to Mr. White's requests, however, Dr. Balgo purportedly informed him that he did not have the ailments of which he claimed and that if he continued to experience discomfort, he could obtain a lower dose over-the-counter medication at the facility's commissary. In response to Dr. Balgo's denial of his request for a prescription renewal, Mr. White started his grievance procedure by filing a G-1 grievance with Kandi Lloyd on December 12, 2002; Ms. Lloyd responded and denied the grievance on January 2, 2003. Mr. White next filed a G-2 grievance with Ms. Seifert on January 9, 2003; Ms. Seifert responded and denied the grievance on January 13, 2003. Thereafter, Mr. White filed an appeal with Mr. Rubenstein on January 17, 2003, which appeal was denied on February 6, 2003. Having failed to receive a favorable response to his complaints, Mr. White again pursued the grievance process, filing a G-1 grievance with Ms. Lloyd on February 19, 2003, which Ms. Lloyd denied on February 25, 2003. Mr. White then filed a G-2 grievance with Ms. Seifert on February 27, 2003, which Ms. Seifert answered on March 7, 2003. In her response, Ms. Seifert informed Mr. White that he had an outstanding bill from the medical department regarding his receipt of the generic, lower strength medication recommended by Dr. Balgo. Subsequently, Mr. White filed an appeal to Mr. Rubenstein on March 10, 2003, to which he received an unfavorable response on March 27, 2003. As a result of his failure to obtain relief through the grievance process, Mr. White filed the underlying complaint against the named defendants [15] in the Circuit Court of Marshall County on March 13, 2003. In response to Mr. White's complaint, Mr. Rubenstein and Ms. Seifert jointly filed motions to collect filing fees; for further screening pursuant to the West Virginia Prisoner Litigation Reform Act, W. Va.Code § 25-1A-1, et seq.; and to dismiss Mr. White's complaint. Replying to the defendants' motions, Mr. White filed a response on April 23, 2003, attaching copies of his grievance documents and medical records in support of his claim for relief. The circuit court reviewed the parties' arguments; considered the evidence submitted by Mr. White in support of his civil action; and entered its final order on September 9, 2003. Ruling in favor of the defendants, the circuit court found that Mr. White was required to pay filing fees in accordance with W. Va.Code § 25-1A-1, et seq., [16] and directed the circuit clerk to collect such fees. The circuit court further determined that Mr. White had not shown with any particularity that he has filed grievances concerning the matters of which he complains, in his complaint. In short, the court was unable to find where the Plaintiff had pursued a particular grievance through the required steps, up to and including, the Commissioner of Corrections. Although pro se Petitions for Writs are treated liberally by this Court and most Courts, there is no requirement that in actions for monetary damages, such as in this case, the Court is required to do home-work for the Petitioner. Case No. 03-C-65M is dismissed without prejudice for Plaintiff's failure to show that he has exhausted his administrative remedies in the manner prescribed in the policy of Division of Corrections. [17] (Citations omitted; footnote added). From these adverse rulings of the Randolph County and Marshall County Circuit Courts, Mr. White now appeals to this Court.