Court Opinion

ID: 1562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-13 00:10:08+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:59.637956
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                   _____________

                                    No. 08-3615
                                   _____________

                              LARRY LYLE LASKO,

                                                  Appellant

                                           v.

 HARRELL WATTS, Administrator for National Inmate Appeals; SCOTT DODRILL,
   Regional (NE) Director the B.O.P.; RONNIE HOLT, Warden, F.C.I. Schuylkill,
    Minersville, PA; RUSSELL C. HENDERSHOT, D.O. M.S. F C.I. Schuylkill;
         EDGARDO ONG, Health Services Administrator F.C.I. Schuylkill;
  Ms. M. WAMBACH, P.A. FMG, F.C.I. Schuylkill; Mr. HEADER, Law Library &
  Education Supervisor, F.C.I. Schuylkill; AMY LEONARD, Unit 2 Manager, F.C.I.
          Schuylkill; M. PLESH, Unit 2 Case Manager, F.C.I. Schuylkill;
                  D. SHIRES, Unit 2-A Counselor, F.C.I. Schuylkill

                   On Appeal From the United States District Court
                        for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                                     (06-cv-2126)
                    District Judge: Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie

                              Argued February 25, 2010

          Before: CHAGARES, STAPLETON, and LOURIE, * Circuit Judges.

                                (Filed: April 12, 2010 )

      *
      The Honorable Alan D. Lourie, Circuit Judge for the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, sitting by designation.
                                      _____________

                               OPINION OF THE COURT
                                   _____________

Thomas S. Jones
Jean M. Mosites (Argued)
Jones Day
500 Grant Street
Suite 4500
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2514
       Counsel for Appellant

Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt
United States Attorney
G. Michel Thiel (Argued)
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Middle District of Pennsylvania
235 North Washington Avenue
Suite 311
Scranton, PA 18501
       Counsel for Appellees

CHAGARES, Circuit Judge.

       Larry Lasko, an inmate incarcerated at the Schuylkill Federal Correctional

Institution in Minersville, Pennsylvania (“FCI-Schuylkill”), appeals from orders of the

District Court granting summary judgment for defendants and denying Lasko’s motion

for appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). We will affirm.

                                             I.

       Because we write solely for the benefit of the parties, we will only briefly

summarize the essential facts. Lasko suffers from chronic hepatitis C, a viral disease that

                                             2
can cause significant liver damage. The Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) guidelines on the

treatment of hepatitis C, see Joint Appendix (“J.A.”) 137-58, recommend that physicians

weigh a number of factors when assessing the appropriate form of treatment and

determining the best timing for initiating treatment. These guidelines advise that before

beginning a course of treatment with the antiviral medications ribavirin and interferon, an

inmate should be assessed for potential contraindications and treatment limitations.

Moreover, because of the potential side effects from these medications, the guidelines

instruct that patients must be carefully monitored and examined while undergoing a

course of treatment.

       Consistent with these guidelines, Lasko received a series of laboratory tests,

physical examinations, and psychological evaluations before starting on a regimen of

ribavirin and interferon. Upon his transfer to FCI-Schuylkill on April 12, 2004, Lasko

received a medical intake screening, which noted his history of hepatitis C. After this

initial screening, Lasko underwent a series of laboratory tests to evaluate his liver

function. Lasko received physical examinations from defendant Dr. Russel Hendershot

and other medical staff, and Lasko was evaluated on several occasions by a psychiatrist.

Lasko was also referred to a gastroenterology specialist, who recommended treating

Lasko with interferon and ribavirin. After seeing the gastroenterologist, Lasko was

scheduled for a liver biopsy. On October 5, 2005, Dr. Hendershot examined Lasko,

explained the results from the biopsy, and instructed him that his antiviral treatment

                                              3
would begin shortly. Dr. Hendershot also explained that Lasko would need to submit to

weekly examinations and periodic blood work to be eligible for the treatment. Over a

year passed between Lasko’s initial incarceration at FCI-Schuylkill and the

commencement of an antiviral medication regimen, but Lasko was evaluated and treated

by medical staff throughout this time period. During this time, Lasko submitted

numerous letters and administrative grievances regarding his medical treatment.

       Lasko began receiving ribarivin and interferon on October 17, 2005. On

November 8, 2005, Lasko refused to speak with or be examined by Dr. Hendershot. Dr.

Hendershot consulted with the BOP regional medical director, who recommended

discontinuing treatment because the ribavirin and interferon regimen could not be

continued without physical and psychological examinations. Dr. Hendershot continued

the medication treatments for another week, pending a psychological examination. The

staff psychologist reported that Lasko had failed to appear for appointments on at least

three occasions. On November 15, 2005, Lasko again refused to be examined by Dr.

Hendershot. At this time, Dr. Hendershot discontinued the ribavirin and interferon

treatment regimen. Lasko contends that his treatment was discontinued because Lasko

filed an administrative grievance against Dr. Hendershot, not because Lasko refused to

comply with the required physical and psychological examinations.

       On May 1, 2006, Lasko requested that his medication treatments be resumed, and

on June 7, 2006, he was re-started on ribavirin and interferon. On June 14, 2006,

                                             4
however, Lasko refused to allow blood samples to be drawn for laboratory work. In

addition, Lasko exhibited abusive and disruptive behavior during two medical

appointments. On October 25, 2006, a review of Lasko’s treatment plans and laboratory

reports indicated that the medication regimen had not been effective, as his viral load had

not declined and stabilized. After consulting with the BOP regional clinical director, Dr.

Hendershot discontinued Lasko’s medication regimen on October 27, 2006. Lasko

contends that his treatment was discontinued in retaliation for his administrative and legal

actions against defendants.

       Lasko initiated this action by filing a pro se complaint on October 30, 2006.1 The

complaint names ten individuals as defendants, including two BOP administrators and

eight FCI-Schuylkill employees. Lasko alleges that defendants knew of Lasko’s chronic

hepatitis C condition but delayed treating him for eighteen months. J.A. 71-73. The

complaint seeks relief under the First and Eighth Amendments, the Federal Tort Claims

Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§

12101-12213. J.A. 67, 70. The complaint also lists several specific legal claims: (1)

deliberate indifference to serious medical need; (2) retaliation; and (3) denial of access to

the courts. J.A. 76. After Lasko filed this complaint, the District Court sent him a

Standing Order indicating that each party had six months from the filing of its last

       1
       Lasko filed an earlier lawsuit, Lasko v. Hendershot, No. 05-cv-0991 (M.D. Pa.
Sep. 29, 2006), approximately one month before initiating this action. This earlier action
was dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies.

                                              5
pleading to complete discovery.

       On June 6, 2007, defendants moved for summary judgment on all of Lasko’s

claims, filing supporting papers on June 27, 2007. On July 27, 2007, Lasko filed a

motion for enlargement of time to respond to defendants’ motion for summary judgment;

a motion for the appointment of counsel; and several discovery requests. On August 6,

2007, Lasko filed another discovery request. On September 4, 2007, the District Court

granted defendants’ motion for an extension of time to respond to Lasko’s discovery

requests, permitting defendants to respond within thirty days of the court’s resolution of

defendants’ motion for summary judgment. On September 11, 2007, Lasko filed a brief

opposing defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

       On March 25, 2008, the District Court denied Lasko’s motion for appointment of

counsel, concluding that Lasko had demonstrated the ability to represent himself, at least

through this stage of the litigation. On August 12, 2008, the District Court granted

defendants’ motion for summary judgment, dismissing all of Lasko’s claims and ordering

the case closed. Lasko timely appealed.

                                              II.

       We review a district court’s denial of counsel to an indigent civil litigant for abuse

of discretion. See, e.g., Montgomery v. Pinchak, 294 F.3d 492, 498 (3d Cir. 2002). A

district court abuses its discretion “if its decision ‘rests upon a clearly erroneous finding

of fact, an errant conclusion of law or an improper application of law to fact.’” Id.

                                               6
(quoting Newton v. Merrill Lynch, 259 F.3d 154, 165-66 (3d Cir. 2001)).

       We review de novo the District Court’s substantive decision to grant summary

judgment for defendants, applying the same standard that the District Court was obligated

to apply. Gonzalez v. AMR, 549 F.3d 219, 223 (3d Cir. 2008). “Summary judgment is

appropriate only where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Id. (citation omitted); see Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).

On summary judgment, “we must view the facts in the light most favorable to the non-

moving party, and draw all reasonable inferences therefrom in that party’s favor.” N.J.

Transit Corp. v. Harsco Corp., 497 F.3d 323, 326 (3d Cir. 2007) (citation omitted). For

Lasko’s claim that the District Court granted summary judgment prematurely, we review

for abuse of discretion. See Doe v. Abington Friends Sch., 480 F.3d 252, 256 (3d Cir.

2007) (citation omitted).

                                             III.

       Lasko first argues that the District Court abused its discretion in denying his

motion for appointment of counsel and in declining to appoint counsel sua sponte later in

the proceedings. “Indigent civil litigants possess neither a constitutional nor a statutory

right to appointed counsel.” Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 498. Congress has granted district

courts the discretion to “request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford

counsel.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). A district court has “broad discretion” to determine

whether counsel should be appointed. Montgomery, 126 F.3d at 498. We have outlined

                                              7
a two-step process for determining whether counsel should be appointed. First, as a

“threshold matter,” the district court “must assess whether the claimant’s case has some

arguable merit in law and fact.” Montgomery, 126 F.3d at 499. Second, we have

provided a list of factors to guide the district court’s discretion. See Tabron v. Grace, 6

F.3d 147, 155 (3d Cir. 1993). These factors include:

       (1) the plaintiff’s ability to present his or her own case;
       (2) the complexity of the legal issues;
       (3) the degree to which factual investigation will be necessary and the ability
               of the plaintiff to pursue such investigation;
       (4) the amount a case is likely to turn on credibility determinations;
       (5) whether the case will require the testimony of expert witnesses;
       (6) whether the plaintiff can attain and afford counsel on his own behalf.

Parham, 126 F.3d 454, 457 (3d Cir. 1997) (citing Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155-56, 157 n.5).

This list of factors “is not exhaustive, but should serve as a guidepost for the district

courts.” Id. We have also instructed that “courts should exercise care in appointing

counsel because volunteer lawyer time is a precious commodity and should not be wasted

on frivolous cases.” Parham, 126 F.3d at 458.

       As a “threshold matter,” before a court may appoint counsel for an indigent civil

litigant, “‘it must first appear that the claim has some merit in fact and law.’” Tabron, 6

F.3d at 155 (quoting Maclin v. Freake, 650 F.2d 885, 887 (7th Cir. 1981) (per curiam)).

This burden is met if the “‘plaintiff has not alleged a frivolous or malicious claim and the

pleadings state a prima facie case.’” Id. (quoting Rayes v. Johnson, 969 F.2d 700, 703

(8th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1021 (1992)). Lasko argues that his FTCA medical

                                               8
malpractice claim, his Eighth Amendment claim, and his First Amendment retaliation

claim met this low initial hurdle. We agree. To determine whether the District Court

abused its discretion in denying Lasko’s motion for counsel, we must therefore analyze

the factors set forth in Tabron.

       The first, and “[p]erhaps the most significant,” factor influencing whether counsel

should be appointed in a civil case is the plaintiff’s ability to present his case to the court.

Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 501. In evaluating this factor, courts “should consider the

plaintiff’s education, literacy, prior work experience, and prior litigation experience,”

along with “whether the plaintiff has access to necessary resources like a typewriter,

telephone and computer.” Parham, 126 F.3d at 459 (citations and quotation marks

omitted). In this case, the District Court concluded that, at least up through the time of

that motion, “Lasko has possessed the means and ability to present his claims to the

court.” J.A. 14. The court acknowledged that Lasko suffered from serious medical issues

that may limit his ability to represent himself, but found that despite “the many physical

difficulties under which Lasko operates,” the record is “amazingly full and complete of

examples of Lasko’s ability to file motions, discovery, briefs, and exhibits relevant to this

case.” Id. Although a plaintiff’s ability to present and respond to motions does not

“conclusively establish” that a plaintiff is able to present his case, Parham, 126 F.3d at

459, we agree with the District Court that Lasko’s numerous submissions indicated that

he was able to present the necessary legal and factual issues to the court.

                                               9
       The second factor to be considered is the complexity of the legal issues involved.

Courts should be “more inclined to appoint counsel” if the legal issues are complicated.

Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156. Counsel for defendants admitted during oral argument that this

case involved complicated legal issues, but neither the substantive legal issues nor the

procedural hurdles Lasko faced were unusually complicated. Unlike in Montgomery and

Parham, procedural hurdles do not seem to have prevented Lasko from articulating his

arguments in opposition to defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

       The third factor is the need for, and the plaintiff’s ability to conduct, a detailed

factual investigation. Courts should consider “the degree to which factual investigation

will be required and the ability of the indigent plaintiff to pursue such investigation.”

Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156. Where the plaintiff’s claims are “likely to require extensive

discovery and compliance with complex discovery rules, appointment of counsel may be

warranted.” Id. In this case, Lasko successfully obtained all of his relevant medical

records, presented detailed factual chronologies in his pleadings, and submitted extensive

documentation to support his various filings with the court. As the District Court noted,

“many of his filings include portions of his own medical records, [and] excerpts of

medical textbooks and journals.” J.A. 14-15. The District Court also noted that Lasko

had shown “the ability to pose relevant discovery requests.” J.A. 15. Lasko’s lack of

counsel does not appear to have prevented him from marshaling the factual information

and evidence necessary to present his claims to the court.

                                              10
       The fourth factor bearing on the appointment of counsel is the role that credibility

determinations may play in the litigation. Representation by skilled advocates is

particularly important when a case is likely to turn on credibility determinations, because

“it is more likely that the truth will be exposed where both sides are represented by those

trained in the presentation of evidence and in cross examination.” Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156

(citation and quotation marks omitted). In this case, the District Court declined to appoint

counsel at the summary judgment stage but noted its ability to reconsider this decision if

the case were to proceed to trial. Moreover, under the summary judgment standard,

credibility determinations could not have played any role in the District Court’s resolution

of defendants’ motion.

       The fifth Tabron factor is the need for expert witnesses. Lasko emphasizes his

need to submit expert testimony in order to establish his medical malpractice claim under

the FTCA. This court has explained that “appointed counsel may be warranted where the

case will require testimony from expert witnesses.” Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156. We have held

that a district court abuses its discretion by denying a motion for appointment of counsel

because expert testimony would not be required to present the plaintiff’s case but then

granting a dispositive motion because of the lack of expert testimony. See Mongtomery,

294 F.3d at 505 (“successive contradictory decisions” effectively prevented plaintiff from

presenting his claim); Parham, 126 F.3d at 460 (“It is troublesome that the court could use

the lack of expert testimony as a shield to protect its denial of the motion for counsel and

                                             11
then as a sword to slay the indigent plaintiff’s case.”). Our precedent cannot be read as

requiring the appointment of counsel in every case in which expert testimony may be

warranted, however. In this case, the District Court did not base its decision denying

counsel on the erroneous assumption that Lasko would not need expert testimony.

Rather, the District Court highlighted Lasko’s demonstrated ability to present his claims

to the court and the court’s ability to appoint counsel later in the proceedings if the

circumstances changed. J.A. 14-15. Although the District Court cited the lack of medical

evidence as the reason for granting summary judgment on the medical malpractice claim,

Lasko’s case did not fall short merely because he was unable to retain a medical expert.

       The final factor to be considered is the plaintiff’s ability to retain and afford

counsel. “If counsel is easily attainable and affordable by the litigant, but the plaintiff

simply has made no effort to retain an attorney, then counsel should not be appointed by

the court.” Tabron, 6 F.3d at 157 n.5. The record lacks any evidence that Lasko had the

means to retain private counsel.

       Considering all of these factors, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse

its discretion in declining to appoint counsel. Lasko was able to obtain the medical

records and other documents underlying his claim, present the necessary factual

information and legal arguments to the court, and respond to the issues raised by

defendants’ summary judgment motion. The District Court did not abuse its broad

discretion in determining that counsel should not be appointed at this stage of the

                                              12
litigation.

                                             IV.

       Lasko also challenges the District Court’s order granting summary judgment for

defendants, arguing that the District Court should have allowed Lasko to conduct

additional discovery before deciding defendants’ motion for summary judgment and that

the District Court erred in its substantive analysis of that motion.

                                              A.

       It is “well established that a court is obliged to give a party opposing summary

judgment an adequate opportunity to obtain discovery.” Doe, 480 F.3d at 257 (citations

and quotation marks omitted). “If discovery is incomplete in any way material to a

pending summary judgment motion, a district court is justified in not granting the

motion.” Id. at 257. In Doe, we held that the district court abused its discretion by

granting summary judgment for the defendants based on a single affidavit before allowing

the plaintiffs any opportunity to conduct discovery into the issue on which the court

granted summary judgment. 480 F.3d at 254. Although the “extent of discovery . . . is

within the [district court’s] discretion,” the district court in Doe “needed to allow the

parties to develop the record as to potentially relevant facts.” Id. at 258.

       Unlike in Doe, Lasko cannot claim that defendants or the District Court prohibited

him from obtaining the information or evidence relevant to opposing the summary

judgment motion. Before this lawsuit was even commenced, defendants provided Lasko

                                              13
with all of his relevant medical records and the BOP guidelines on hepatitis C treatment.

Lasko has not identified any outstanding discovery that would be relevant to the summary

judgment motion. Given these circumstances, the District Court did not abuse its

discretion in granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

                                             B.

       Lasko also argues that the District Court erred by granting summary judgment on

his Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim and his First Amendment retaliation

claim, and by dismissing the individual defendants not involved in his medical treatment.

Lasko contends that the District Court improperly weighed evidence, made credibility

determinations, and drew inferences in favor of defendants.

       The District Court dismissed the deliberate indifference claim because Lasko

failed to present evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude that any

Defendant possessed the culpable mental state required for such a claim. The standard

for evaluating a prisoner’s deliberate indifference claim is highly deferential to the

medical practitioners’ professional judgment. “Courts will ‘disavow any attempt to

second-guess the propriety or adequacy of a particular course of treatment . . . [which]

remains a question of sound professional judgment.’” Inmates of Allegheny County Jail

v. Pierce, 612 F.2d 754, 762 (3d Cir. 1979) (quoting Bowring v. Godwin, 551 F.2d 44, 48

(4th Cir. 1977)). A prisoner does not have the right “to choose a specific form of medical

treatment.” Harrison v. Barkley, 219 F.3d 132, 136 (2d Cir. 2000). Lasko’s deliberate

                                             14
indifference claim hinges on the premise that defendants refused to treat him for hepatitis

C for eighteen months after he arrived at FCI-Schuylkill. As the District Court pointed

out, however, Lasko’s medical treatment, including extensive evaluations assessing the

appropriate course of treatment for his hepatitis C condition, commenced immediately

upon entering the facility. Defendants did not approve Lasko to begin a interferon and

ribavirin regimen until he had undergone physical and psychological examinations,

extensive laboratory testing, and several counseling sessions, but this approach is entirely

consistent with the BOP Guidelines for hepatitis C treatment. See J.A. 144-46. Lasko

has not adduced any evidence that Dr. Hendershot – or any of the other defendants –

failed to treat Lasko’s chronic hepatitis C condition. The District Court did not err in

granting summary judgment on Lasko’s Eighth Amendment claim.

       The District Court dismissed the First Amendment retaliation claim because Lasko

failed to adduce evidence that his filing of grievances and initiation of litigation played

any role in the decision to discontinue his medical treatment To establish a prima facie

case of retaliation in violation of the First Amendment, Lasko must show that “1) the

conduct in which he was engaged was constitutionally protected; 2) he suffered ‘adverse

action’ at the hands of prison officials; and 3) his constitutionally protected conduct was a

substantial or motivating factor in the decision to discipline him.” Carter v. McGrady,

292 F.3d 152, 158 (3d Cir. 2002) (citation omitted). In this case, there was no evidence

that the decisions to discontinue Lasko’s medication or to file incident reports regarding

                                              15
his conduct were influenced in any way by retaliatory motives. Furthermore, even if

Lasko were able to state a prima facie case, “the prison officials may still prevail by

proving that they would have made the same decision absent the protected conduct for

reasons reasonably related to a legitimate penological interest.” Rauser v. Horn, 242 F.3d

330, 334 (3d Cir. 2001). As the District Court recognized, there were compelling

penological interests supporting defendants’ actions in this case. Under these

circumstances, the District Court did not err in granting summary judgment. See Carter,

292 F.3d at 159 (affirming summary judgment based on undisputed evidence supporting

defendants’ proffered legitimate penological interests).

       Lasko’s final argument is that the District Court erred by dismissing the defendants

who had no responsibility for his medical decisions. Lasko contends that other

defendants were aware of his serious medical condition but failed to arrange for adequate

treatment. It is undisputed, however, that Lasko received medical treatment for his

hepatitis C. The only factual dispute is whether Lasko should have been started on

interferon and ribavirin sooner. We agree with the District Court that these non-medical

defendants could not have played a role in this decision and were properly dismissed from

the case.

                                             V.

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.

                                             16