Opinion ID: 2976544
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Julie Stiver, R.N.

Text: Moreover, even though defendant Julie Stiver, R.N., did not physically participate in the restraint of Lanman, she may still be liable for a violation of Lanman’s constitutional rights under a supervisory liability theory. As the supervisor of the restraint procedure, she can be held liable for the actions of the resident care aides if she “at least implicitly authorized, approved or knowingly acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct of the offending subordinate[s].” Bellamy v. Bradley, 729 F.2d 416, 421 (6th Cir.1984) (citing Hays v. Jefferson County, 668 F.2d 869, 872-74 (6th Cir.1982)). Defendant Julie Stiver, R.N., may also be liable for her own actions. As a professional decisionmaker, competent because of her education, supervisory position, and NAPPI training to decide to physically restrain Lanman and to use proper methods of restraint, she could only order the physical restraint of Lanman to the extent professional judgment deemed this necessary to assure the safety of himself or others. See Youngberg, 457 U.S. at 324. Her decision to restrain Lanman in the manner defendants did is presumptively valid. Id. at 323. She will be liable for a constitutional violation of his substantive due process right to be free from undue bodily restraint only if her decision was such a substantial departure from accepted professional judgment that it demonstrates that the manner in which defendants restrained Lanman was not based on such judgment. Id. In the present case, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, there is a genuine issue as to whether defendant Julie Stiver, R.N., is liable for the deliberately indifferent conduct of her subordinates and whether she is liable for her own actions as a professional decisionmaker. Stiver ordered the staff to place ankle and wrist restraints on Lanman and supervised the actions of the staff in attempting to do so. Because plaintiff has shown that Stiver was physically present and directly supervising the staff as they restrained Lanman, plaintiff has demonstrated that Stiver at least knowingly acquiesced in the alleged unconstitutional conduct of her subordinates. Also, because the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff demonstrates that at least some of the defendant resident care aides were deliberately indifferent, there is a genuine issue as to whether Stiver’s actions show that she failed to exercise professional judgment in ordering and supervising Lanman’s restraint.