United States District Court, S.D. Illinois
MWAMBA M. RUFFIN, #B72799, Plaintiff,
v.
WEXFORD HEALTH SOURCES, INC., JOHN BALDWIN, FAIYAZ AHMED, DR. RITZ, VIPIN K. SHAH, LORIE CUNNINGHAM, NURSE BROOKS, HALEY BASNETT, and L. TROTTER, Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Staci
M. Yandle, United States District Judge.
Plaintiff
Mwamba Ruffin, an inmate in the custody of the Illinois
Department of Corrections (“IDOC”) currently
incarcerated at Big Muddy River Correctional Center
(“Big Muddy”), brings this civil rights action
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for alleged deprivations of
his federal and state law rights at Lawrence Correctional
Center (“Lawrence”). (Doc. 1). He claims
Defendants denied him treatment for his depression, left
shoulder mass, and hearing loss. (Id. at pp. 1-72).
He seeks money damages and injunctive relief.[1] (Id. at
pp. 1, 7).
This
case is before the Court for preliminary review of the
Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. However, before
the Court can screen this case, it is necessary to first
consider whether any claims are improperly joined in this
action. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir.
2007).
The
Complaint
Plaintiff
makes the following allegations in the Complaint: Plaintiff
has been denied mental health treatment for depression by
Defendants Trotter, Basnett, Brooks, Wexford, and Baldwin
since June 2017. (Doc. 1, pp. 3-4, 6, 29-34, 40-43).
Plaintiff has also been denied surgery and medical care for a
painful left shoulder mass and infection by Defendants Ahmed,
Shah, Ritz, Wexford, and Baldwin since 2016 (Id. at
pp. 5-7, 15-22, 25-28, 44-71) and has been denied a hearing
examination and hearing aids by Defendant Cunningham.
(Id. at pp. 6-7, 35-39).
Claims
Based
on the allegations in the Complaint, the Court finds it
convenient to divide the pro se action into
the following enumerated Counts:
Count 1: Eighth Amendment claim against
Defendants Trotter, Basnett, Brooks, Wexford, and Baldwin for
their deliberate indifference to Plaintiff's mental
health needs at Lawrence. (Doc. 1, pp. 3-4, 6, 29-34, 40-43).
Count 2: Illinois medical negligence claim
against Defendants Trotter, Basnett, Brooks, Wexford, and
Baldwin for delaying or denying Plaintiff access to mental
health treatment at Lawrence. (Doc. 1, pp. 3-4, 6, 29-34,
40-43).
Count 3: Eighth Amendment claim against
Defendants Ahmed, Ritz, Shah, Wexford, and Baldwin for their
deliberate indifference to Plaintiff's painful left
shoulder mass and infection at Lawrence. (Doc. 1, pp. 5-7,
15-22, 25-28, 44-71).
Count 4: Illinois medical negligence claim
against Defendants Ahmed, Ritz, Shah, Wexford, and Baldwin
for delaying or denying Plaintiff medical care and surgery
for a painful left shoulder lipoma and infection at Lawrence.
(Doc. 1, pp. 5-7, 15-22, 25-28, 44-71).
Count 5: Eighth Amendment claim against
Defendant Cunningham for delaying or denying Plaintiff's
request for a hearing test and hearing aids at Lawrence.
(Doc. 1, pp. 6-7, 35-39).
Count 6: Illinois medical negligence claim
against Defendant Cunningham for delaying or denying
Plaintiff's request for a hearing test and hearing aids
at Lawrence. (Doc. 1, pp. 6-7, 35-39).
The
parties and the Court will use these designations in all
future pleadings and orders, unless otherwise directed ...