Court Opinion

ID: 147210
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-05-26 16:51:54+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:03:00.374174
License: Public Domain

ALD-195                                                    NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                          FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                    No. 10-1158

                             MICHAEL LEE AUSTIN,
                                         Appellant

                                         v.

               FRANKLIN J. TENNIS, In His Individual Capacity Only;
                    LIEUTENANT GRASMIRRE; C.O. LACHAT;
C.O. SPOTTS; KEVIN BURKE, In His Individual Capacity Only; JOHN K. WALMER,
       In His Individual Capacity Only; PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF
                  CORRECTIONS; PRISON HEALTH SERVICES;
       RICHARD ELLERS; In His Individual Capacity Only; JOEL DICKSON

                  On Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                        (D.C. Civil Action No. 07-cv-1693)
                     District Judge: Honorable John E. Jones

       Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
       or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                  May 13, 2010

             Before: SLOVITER, AMBRO and SMITH, Circuit Judges

                           (Opinion filed: May 26, 2010)

                                     OPINION

PER CURIAM

     Appellant Michael Lee Austin, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals from a
judgment entered by the District Court in favor of the Defendants. For the reasons set

forth below, we will summarily affirm. See I.O.P. 10.6.

                                              I.

          Austin is a prisoner in the custody of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

(“DOC”) who, during the relevant time, was incarcerated at the State Correctional

Institution at Rockview (“SCI-Rockview”).1 In March 2008, Austin filed an amended

complaint pursuant 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the DOC; Franklin Tennis, Superintendent at

SCI-Rockview; Richard Ellers, Medical Administrator at SCI-Rockview; Dr. John

Walmer, psychologist at SCI-Rockview; C.O. Robert Grasmyer; C.O. Christopher Lachat;

C.O. Michael Spotts, and Joel Dickson, Deputy Secretary for Security at SCI-Rockview

(“the Commonwealth Defendants”); Prison Health Services, Inc. (“PHS”); and Dr. Kevin

Burke, an employee of MHM Correctional Services, Inc.

          In his amended complaint, Austin alleged that at various times during 2006 and

2007, the Defendants violated state law as well as his rights under the Eighth Amendment

when they: (1) denied him medical care during a hunger strike; (2) transferred him to a

“conduit cell” without regard to his psychological condition; (3) employed excessive

force during a cell extraction; and 4) denied him advanced medical testing after his

alleged exposure to asbestos.

          In March 2009, the District Court granted in part and denied in part, a motion to

   1
       Austin is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Cresson.

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dismiss filed by the Commonwealth Defendants. The District Court also granted a

motion to dismiss filed by PHS, but denied Dr. Burke’s. Following discovery, the

Commonwealth Defendants as well as Dr. Burke moved for summary judgment on

Austin’s remaining claims. In a December 2009 decision, the District Court granted both

motions and entered final judgment in the case. Austin filed a timely appeal.

                                            II.

       We have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review of

the District Court’s dismissals for failure to state a claim is plenary. Port Auth. of N.Y.

and N. J. v. Arcadian Corp., 189 F.3d 305, 311 (3d Cir. 1999). “To survive a motion to

dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a

claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949

(2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). In deciding a

motion to dismiss, a court must determine whether the complaint “pleads factual content

that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the

misconduct alleged.” Id.

       We review a District Court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Pennsylvania

Coal Ass’n v. Babbitt, 63 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir. 1995). Summary judgment is proper

only if it appears “that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the

moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Carrasca

v. Pomeroy, 313 F.3d 828, 832-33 (3d Cir. 2002). If a moving party demonstrates that no

                                                  3
genuine issue of material fact exists, the non-moving party must set forth specific facts

showing a genuine material issue for trial and may not rest upon the mere allegations or

denials of its pleadings. Connors v. Fawn Mining Corp., 30 F.3d 483, 489 (3d Cir. 1994).

We may affirm on any ground supported by the record. See, e.g., Tourscher v.

McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 240 (3d Cir. 1999). After reviewing the record on appeal and

the District Court’s thorough decisions, we conclude that the District Court committed no

reversible error in disposing of Austin’s claims.

       Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss

       First, the District Court correctly dismissed PHS as well as the DOC from the

action. With regard to the DOC, the District Court properly determined that the Eleventh

Amendment bars claims for damages against the DOC, a state agency that did not waive

its sovereign immunity. See Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 663 (1974). Although

Congress can abrogate a state’s sovereign immunity, it did not do so through the

enactment of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the federal law under which Austin proceeds. See Quern

v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 345 (1979).

       The District Court also properly dismissed PHS from the action. In his amended

complaint, Austin failed to allege that PHS had any direct involvement in the alleged

wrongful conduct. See Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir. 1988).

       The District Court also properly dismissed Austin’s claim that the Defendants were

deliberately indifferent to his need for advanced medical testing in light of his alleged

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exposure to asbestos. Specifically, Austin alleged that around July 2006, after developing

“respiratory problems,” he requested medical testing to screen him for asbestos-related

illnesses because he believed that he had been exposed to asbestos through the prison’s

ventilation system. (Am. Compl. at 4-5.) In the amended complaint, Austin did not

provide a basis for his belief that he had been exposed to asbestos nor did he plead any

facts suggesting that the Defendants knew about the existence of asbestos in the area

where he was housed.

       Pursuant to the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment,

prison officials are required to provide basic medical treatment to inmates. See Rouse v.

Plantier, 182 F.3d 192, 197 (3d Cir. 1999). In order for a prisoner to state a claim under

section 1983 for medical mistreatment or the denial of medical care, he must allege “acts

or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical

needs.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976). “Claims of negligence or medical

malpractice, without some more culpable state of mind, do not constitute deliberate

indifference.” Rouse, 182 F.3d at 197. Moreover, “[w]here a prisoner has received some

medical attention and the dispute is over the adequacy of the treatment, federal courts are

generally reluctant to second guess medical judgments and to constitutionalize claims

which sound in state tort law.” United States ex rel. Walker v. Fayette County, 599 F. 2d

573, 575 n.2 (3d Cir. 1979).

       Austin failed to allege any specific acts of deliberate indifference on the part of the

                                              5
Defendants. He did not claim that prison officials refused to treat the respiratory

problems that he allegedly developed in 2006, only that they denied his request for

additional testing for asbestos exposure based upon his unsubstantiated belief that he had

been exposed to asbestos while in his cell. As a result, we conclude that Austin simply

failed to allege that prison officials acted with a sufficiently culpable state of mind to

survive Defendants’ motion to dismiss.

       Defendants’ Motions for Summary Judgment

              Deliberate Indifference to Austin’s Psychological Need

       As a result of Austin’s mental state on March 5, 2007, prison officials placed him

in an observation cell. Austin claims that the particular observation cell where he was

housed contained a dangerous “conduit pole.” (Am. Compl. at 5.) At some point during

that day, Austin formed a noose with a sheet and attempted to attach the noose to the

conduit pole. Prison staff observed, via camera, Austin’s actions and immediately

removed him from the cell. Austin alleges that the decision to place him in a cell with

such a conduit pole, despite being aware of his deteriorated mental state, suggests that the

Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious psychological condition.2

       The record reflects, however, that Austin was placed in the observation cell

because of his mental state. He was observed at all times by prison officials and removed

   2
   Austin asserted this claim against Dr. Burke as well as the Commonwealth
Defendants.

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from the cell when he was observed trying to tie the sheet to the pole. The record further

reflects that even though prison officials deemed the cell safe because of their ability to

observe an inmate occupying that cell via camera, a plan was nevertheless developed to

re-construct the cell so that the conduit pole would no longer be exposed.

       In light of these facts, we agree with the District Court that there is an insufficient

evidentiary basis upon which a reasonable jury could conclude that the Defendants acted

with deliberate indifference to Austin’s psychological condition.3 As a result of his

condition on March 5 th , Austin was placed in a cell in a which was monitored in order to

ensure his safety. Because of the effectiveness of the monitoring, prison officials were

immediately able to thwart Austin’s attempt to harm himself. Summary judgment was

therefore appropriate.

              Denial of Medical Care During Austin’s Hunger Strike

       The District Court also properly granted summary judgment on Austin’s claim that

the Commonwealth Defendants denied him proper medical care during a hunger strike, in

violation of his constitutional rights. The record reveals that Austin began refusing food

on March 7, 2007 and continued to do so through March 14, 2007. The record further

reflects that during that time Austin was offered three meals a day and that officials

observed him in his cell. From March 8 th through March 10 th , Austin refused any medical

   3
    With regard to Dr. Burke, there is no evidence that he even had the authority to
authorize Austin’s placement in that particular cell.

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treatment. On March 11 th , Austin accepted medical treatment. The following day, prison

officials removed Austin from his cell, allowed him to be checked by medical personnel,

and placed him in an observation unit. When he refused meals on March 14 th , the DOC

Office of Chief Counsel filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction in the

Court of Common Pleas in Centre County, Pennsylvania requesting that the DOC be

allowed to involuntarily examine Austin, perform diagnostic tests, and administer

psychological treatment as necessary. That same day, the court signed the order, which

was subsequently read to Austin. Thereafter, Austin ate a full meal, and he began to

consume food regularly again.

       Based on those facts, we agree with the District Court that there was no basis to

conclude that the Commonwealth Defendants were deliberately indifferent to Austin’s

medical needs throughout the course of his self-imposed hunger strike. Austin was

repeatedly offered meals and refused them. He was additionally monitored and prison

officials petitioned a court to extensively treat Austin, without his consent, once his

hunger strike became prolonged.

              Excessive Use of Force

       Lastly, Austin claimed that during his cell extraction on March 12, 2007 (during

the period of his hunger strike), prison officials used unnecessary force to effectuate his

removal.

       The Eighth Amendment prohibits prison officials from unnecessarily and wantonly

                                              8
inflicting pain in a manner that offends contemporary standards of decency. See Hudson

v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 8 (1992). When reviewing Eighth Amendment excessive force

claims, we must determine whether the “force was applied in a good-faith effort to

maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.” Id. at 7.

Whether the force applied was excessive requires the examination of several factors,

including: (1) the need for the application of force; (2) the relationship between the need

and the amount of force that was used; (3) the extent of injury inflicted; (4) the extent of

the threat to the safety of staff and inmates, as reasonably perceived by responsible

officials on the basis of the facts known to them; and (5) any efforts made to temper the

severity of a forceful response. Brooks v. Kyler, 204 F.3d 102, 106 (3d Cir. 2000)

(quoting Whitley v. Albers, 465 U.S. 312, 321 (1986)). Although the extent of an

inmate’s injuries is relevant to an Eighth Amendment analysis, “there is no fixed

minimum quantum of injury that a prisoner must prove that he suffered through objective

or independent evidence in order to state a claim for wanton and excessive force.” Id. at

104.

       Austin alleged in his amended complaint that on March 12th Defendants Lachat,

Spotts and Grasmyer “bent him down in an 90 degree angle, where [his] head was

literally in his ‘genitalia,’ where each officer had a grip on an arm and the back of

plaintiff’s jumpsuit.” (Am. Compl. at 9-10.) He additionally alleged that he was forced

to walk a long distance while in leg irons and cuffs and that he went unconscious before

                                              9
entering the treatment building, but that upon arrival, a nurse provided him with an

ammonia salt packet to inhale. (Id.) Austin did not allege that he suffered any injury

during the extraction or that he was refused medical treatment. As mentioned, the

purpose of the cell extraction was to evaluate Austin as a result of his self-imposed

hunger strike.

       We agree with the District Court that Austin failed to allege any facts, or present

any evidence, that would establish that the Defendants used excessive force in removing

him from the cell. Specifically, he did not offer any evidence contradicting the District

Court’s viewing of the video of the cell extraction, provided by the DOC, which showed

that Austin was non-combative and that the Defendants used only the amount of force

necessary to transport Austin to a treatment building for evaluation. Because there was

no basis upon which a reasonable jury could conclude that Defendants used excessive

force in removing Austin from his cell, we will affirm the District Court’s summary

judgment ruling.4

       As Austin’s appeal presents no substantial question, we will summarily affirm.

See Third Cir. LAR 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6. Austin’s motion for appointment of counsel is

denied.

   4
    We also conclude that the District Court acted within its discretion in refraining from
exercising supplemental jurisdiction over Austin’s state law claims. See 28 U.S.C. §
1367(c) (“ The district courts may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a
[state law] claim . . . if the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has
original jurisdiction.”)

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