Opinion ID: 4204685
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Patricia Rucker

Text: Patricia Rucker also served as a psychiatric social worker for the Wayne County Jail. Like Mr. Myftari, Ms. Rucker was not authorized to prescribe psychiatric medication. She saw Richmond on January 7, 2013 at Richmond’s behest, because Richmond had not yet received psychiatric medication after being in the custody of the Jail for almost two weeks. After examining Richmond, Rucker sent her to a mental health screening under the mistaken assumption that Richmond had not yet been screened. Rucker did not review Richmond’s chart, which included Myftari’s assessment, and did not attempt to verify Richmond’s claims that she had been on prescription medication prior to entering the Jail’s custody. In light of these failures, a reasonable jury could find that Rucker was or should have been aware that Richmond had serious psychiatric needs. In addition, considering the length of time Richmond had been without medication and Richmond’s request to see a psychiatric social worker specifically because she felt as though she needed her medication, a reasonable jury could find that Rucker knew Richmond faced a substantial risk of psychological distress, and that Rucker disregarded No. 16-2560 Richmond v. Huq, et al. Page 15 these risks by failing to review her chart or verify her existing outside prescriptions. As such, summary judgment on Richmond’s claims against Rucker was inappropriate.