Bell v. City of Lacey

[5] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA [7] KEVIN MICHAEL BELL, CASE NO. C18-5918 BHS [8] Plaintiff, ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR 9 v. SUMMARY JUDGMENT 10 CITY OF LACEY, et al., 11 Defendants. [12] 13 THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff Kevin Bell’s Motion for Partial 14 Summary Judgment on Liability, Dkt. 159, and on Defendant Dr. Bethany Sweet’s 15 Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt. 160. 16 The case arises from Bell’s nineteen-day pre-trial incarceration at the Nisqually 17 Corrections Facility (“the Jail”), operated by the Nisqually Tribe, after the City of Lacey 18 arrested him for and charged him with shoplifting.1 Bell had a stroke while in the Jail and 19 sued numerous parties for violating his constitutional rights in multiple ways. [21] 1 Lacey does not have its own jail and contracted with the Nisqually Tribe to send its pre22 and post- trial detainees to the Jail. 1 The case has been the subject of prior substantive Orders. See Dkts. 46, 58, 71, 2 and 136. Bell’s claims against most defendants have been dismissed by motion, 3 stipulation, or settlement. Only Bell’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and negligence claims against 4 Sweet—the physician hired by the Jail to provide specific, limited services—remain. Bell 5 asserts that Sweet was deliberately indifferent to his medical needs, primarily by failing 6 to timely provide him prescription medications, causing his stroke. Bell seeks judgment 7 as a matter of law on Sweet’s liability, leaving causation and damages for trial. Dkt. 159 8 at 2. 9 Sweet seeks dismissal with prejudice of all Bell’s claims against her, arguing that 10 there is no evidence supporting them. She argues persuasively that Bell improperly seeks 11 to make her liable for the Tribe’s management of its Jail because the Tribe was dismissed 12 on sovereign immunity. Dkt. 160. 13 I. BACKGROUND 14 On Sunday, August 7, 2016, Bell was arrested for shoplifting in Lacey, 15 Washington, and was detained at the Jail pending trial. On August 26, he woke up with 16 slurred speech and arm numbness, which he claims were caused by a stroke. Bell had 17 suffered previous strokes, as well as multiple heart attacks. He was transported to the 18 hospital, where, the parties agree, he had a debilitating stroke. He is apparently confined 19 to a wheelchair. 20 Bell contends that the Jail’s sole contracted physician, Sweet, is liable for failing 21 to conduct a timely examination of himself or his medical record, and for entrusting his 22 care to unqualified underlings. His § 1983 deliberate indifference claims are based on 1 Sweet’s failures as a physician and as the supervisor of others who were deliberately 2 indifferent to his medical needs, violating his Fourteenth Amendment rights. 3 The facts are essentially undisputed, and they are well-documented. Bell contends 4 that the Jail had two procedures for ascertaining the medical needs of its detainees: a 5 medical intake screening form and an electronic “kite” system. He emphasizes there was 6 “no medical screening by medical personnel at any point.” Dkt. 159 at 2. He concedes 7 that the intake screening was performed by a dismissed defendant, Stevenson, who made 8 various mistakes on the intake form but still listed Bell’s chronic medical problems on it. 9 He points out that he had recently been in the Jail three times (January 2015, October 10 2015, and February 2016) and that as a result, the Jail already had a record of his medical 11 condition. See generally Dkt. 159-1, Ex. C, at 29–57. Nevertheless, he was booked in the 12 Jail’s general population without further medical assessment. 13 He asserts that in the normal course, the intake forms would be sent to the 14 Certified Medial Assistant (“CMA”), Tabitha Connolly. Connolly testified that the lack 15 of her signature on the forms means that she “never got them.” Dkts. 159 at 4; 159-1 at 16 Ex. E (CMA deposition transcript). 17 Four days into his incarceration, Bell sent a kite informing the Jail that he was “out 18 of meds,” and that the “guards have his bottles.”2 Dkt. 159 at-1 at Ex. G. He sent another 19 kite on Saturday, August 13, stating he had a stroke and a heart attack “last month” and [20] 2 It is not clear how or when the Jail obtained Bell’s empty pill bottles. Sweet 21 demonstrates that Bell’s August 7 intake form reflects he was not taking or carrying any medications, was in good shape, and was not under a doctor’s care. Unlike the CMA, Bell signed 22 this form. Bui Declaration, Dkt. 161 at 26, Ex. C. 1 || was “out of most of [his] meds.” Dkt. 159-1 at Ex. G. The CMA responded on August 15 2 || that the doctor (Sweet) would be in on Thursday, August 16, and that in the meantime she 3 “pulled all [his] empty pill bottles to be filled.” On August 17, the CMA informed 4 || Bell that additional missing medications would be available the following day. Jd. The 5 || kites reflecting these interactions are in a table? in the record: 6 || [opateree [user [action [eras 08/18/16 19:10 Kevin Bell Responded to Staff | thank you your great | usually take two inhalers ventolin & i 7 | | dont know the other i got them from st petes 17/16 16:10 Tabitha connolly Staff Response I see your out of afew more, we have them ordered | and the will be in tomarrow 08/18/2016 Ferrous Sulfate | Lisinopril Topiramate -Tabitha 08/17/2016 | 08/17/16 13:09 | Kevin Bell Responded to Staff you rock 17/16 09:20 Tabitha connolly Staff Response | all your meds will be here today 08/17/2016 -Tabitha | 08/17/2016 10 08/16/16 14:31 _—| Kevin Bell Responded to Staff | thank you oars 16 15:09 | Tabitha connolly | Staff Response The doctor will be in tomorrow morning Tuesday | | 08/16/2016 and I've pulled all your empty pill bottles to 11 | | be filled. -Tabitha 08/15/2016 ate 20:20 | Kevin Bell Submitted New | medzs [12] 14 In any event, it is undisputed that Sweet was not at the Jail full time (she was not 15 || hired to be, and Bell repeats that she was there only about once a week) and that she did 16 || fot personally examine Bell until August 25. She wrote a prescription for his inhalers 17 || (Advair and Albuterol, presumably for COPD) and noted his history. She also noted that 1g || Bell had elevated blood pressure, and planned to re-visit that issue in a week, after seeing e effect of the Carvedilol (a blood pressure medicine) that he had begun taking two 19 || the effect of the Carvedilol (a blood p d ) that he had begun taking t 99 || days earlier. [21] 22 3 Bell’s August 13 kite is on the following page of Exhibit G. 1 Bell was transported to the hospital the next morning, August 26. The symptoms 2 he complained of in the Jail “spontaneously resolved,” Dkt. 161 at 19, but he was 3 admitted. That night, he had the debilitating stroke which is the basis of this action. 4 Bell asserts that the Jail’s staff, including Sweet, was aware of his medical history 5 and was “repeatedly notified” of his severe risk of potential stroke and other conditions. 6 See Dkt. 1-2. He claims that Sweet was deliberately indifferent to his medical needs, and 7 that, as the Jail’s de facto Health Care Authority (“HCA”) and thus a supervisor, she is 8 liable for the deliberate indifference of other Jail staff, including the CMA and the guards 9 responsible for inmate intake. Bell does not seek summary judgment on causation, but 10 implicit in his deliberate indifference claim is the allegation that the delay (from August 7 11 to August 16 or 174) in providing his numerous medications caused5 his stroke. 12 Sweet seeks summary judgment on Bell’s deliberate indifference claims and his 13 negligence claims (necessarily, medical malpractice under RCW Chapter 7.70) against 14 her. Sweet argues there is no evidence that she was deliberately indifferent to Bell’s 15 medical needs and emphasizes that she promptly prescribed his medications each time 16 she was informed of his need for them. She argues that Bell has no expert testimony [17] 4 Sweet argues the delay was only four days, between August 11, the date Bell sent his 18 first kite, to August 15, when the CMA “pulled his medications” and informed him the doctor would be in the following day. Dkt. 168 at 22. [19] 5 Sweet points out that Bell was demonstrably and routinely non-compliant in taking his medications well before he was incarcerated in August 2016; this fact is reflected throughout his 20 medical records. Dkt. 160 at 4–6; Dkt. 161 at Ex B. Bell had obtained only a 30-day supply of a single medication in 2016 (June), and there is no evidence or claim that he took it. Dkt. 160 at 6 21 (citing Dkt. 161 at Ex. I). Bell’s expert Neurologist, Dr. Schiff, opines that Bell’s incarceration itself was the cause of his stroke: “if he had not been in jail, this stroke would not have occurred 22 at this time.” Dkt. 159-1 at 210. 1 supporting a state law medical negligence claim, that his other negligence claims are pre2 empted by RCW Chapter 7.70, and that he cannot establish as a matter of law that any 3 failure on Sweet’s part caused his injury. 4 The issues are discussed in turn. 5 II. DISCUSSION 6 A. Summary Judgment Standard. 7 Summary judgment is proper “if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure 8 materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material 9 fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). 10 In determining whether an issue of fact exists, the Court must view all evidence in the 11 light most favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all reasonable inferences in that 12 party’s favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242 , 248–50 (1986); Bagdadi v. 13 Nazar, 84 F.3d 1194, 1197 (9th Cir. 1996). A genuine issue of material fact exists where 14 there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable factfinder to find for the nonmoving party. 15 Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248 . The inquiry is “whether the evidence presents a sufficient 16 disagreement to require submission to a jury or whether it is so one-sided that one party 17 must prevail as a matter of law.” Id. at 251–52. The moving party bears the initial burden 18 of showing that there is no evidence which supports an element essential to the 19 nonmovant’s claim. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). Once the movant 20 has met this burden, the nonmoving party then must show that there is a genuine issue for 21 trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250 . If the nonmoving party fails to establish the existence of 22 a genuine issue of material fact, “the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of 1 law.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323–24. There is no requirement that the moving party negate 2 elements of the non-movant’s case. Lujan v. National Wildlife Federation, 497 U.S. 871 3 (1990). Once the moving party has met its burden, the non-movant must then produce 4 concrete evidence, without merely relying on allegations in the pleadings, that there 5 remain genuine factual issues. Anderson, 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). 6 B. Bell’s § 1983 Deliberate Indifference Claims 7 To prevail on a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the 8 particular defendant caused or personally participated in causing the constitutional 9 deprivation. Arnold v. Int’l. Bus. Mach. Corp., 637 F.2d 1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981); 10 Sherman v. Yakahi, 549 F.2d 1287, 1290 (9th Cir. 1977). 11 Until 2018, the Ninth Circuit employed a subjective test in § 1983 Fourteenth 12 Amendment deliberate indifference cases involving pre-trial detainees, which was 13 consistent with the test applied to convicted inmates under the Eighth Amendment. See 14 Carnell v. Grimm, 74 F.3d 977, 979 (9th Cir. 1996); Redman v. Cnty. of San Diego, 942 15 F.2d 1435 , 1440 n.7 (9th Cir. 1991). A plaintiff was required to prove that government 16 officials were subjectively aware of a substantial risk of serious harm and yet took no 17 action. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994); Simmons v. Navajo Cnty., 18 Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1017–18 (9th Cir. 2010). As Sweet correctly asserts, this meant that 19 for an official to know of a substantial risk, it is not enough that she was aware of facts 20 from which an inference could be drawn that a substantial risk exists, but she must also 21 draw that inference. Dkt. 160 at 14 (citing Farmer). Sweet notes that this was the law 22 when the events in this case occurred. 1 In 2018, the Ninth Circuit endorsed an objective standard in Gordon v. Cnty. of 2 Orange, 888 F.3d 1118 (9th Cir. 2018). Gordon held that in order to prove a deliberate 3 indifference claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) the defendant made an intentional 4 decision with respect to the conditions under which the plaintiff was confined; (2) those 5 conditions put the plaintiff at substantial risk of suffering serious harm; (3) the defendant 6 did not take reasonable available measures to abate the risk, even though a reasonable 7 official in the circumstances would have appreciated the high degree of risk involved— 8 making the consequences of the defendant’s conduct obvious; and (4) by not taking such 9 measures, the defendants caused the plaintiff’s injuries. Id. at 1125 . 10 Sweet argues that Bell has produced no evidence of her deliberate indifference 11 under either the subjective standard that applied when these events occurred or the 12 objective standard which applies now. The undisputed evidence is that Sweet prescribed 13 Bell’s medications promptly after learning of his need for them and only examined him 14 the day before his stroke. She determined that his blood pressure was high and wanted to 15 see the effects of his medication and to check back on him in a week. There is no claim or 16 evidence that she should have done something different or better on that date. 17 Indeed, Bell does not directly criticize the care he received from Sweet. He has no 18 expert testimony opining that her care, specifically, was deficient. Instead, he argues that 19 as the Jail’s only physician, Sweet was, by process of elimination, the Jail’s HCA, 20 responsible for the administration of the Jail’s medical program, and the supervisor of 21 other Jail employees who, he claims, failed to ascertain and address the substantial risks [22] 1 he faced without access to his medications. The efficacy of Bell’s effort to paint Sweet as 2 the Jail’s HCA is the crux of his remaining claims, and it is addressed below. 3 1. Bell’s Partial Summary Judgment Motion is Denied. 4 Bell’s remaining § 1983 claim asserts that Sweet violated his Fourteenth 5 Amendment constitutional rights by deliberately ignoring his substantial medical needs. 6 He also argues, more strenuously, that Sweet had supervisor liability for the failings of 7 the CMA, the guards, and the Jail administration itself. This latter claim is based on his 8 assertion that Sweet was necessarily the Jail’s HCA; the Jail’s own policy required it to 9 have an HCA and required that person to be a licensed physician. Since Sweet was the 10 only physician (and because she and the CMA together comprised the Jail’s entire 11 medical staff), she must have been the HCA and as such is liable for the medication 12 delays of which he complains, even if Sweet did not personally know about his ailments 13 or the medications he required. Dkt. 159 at 6. 14 Bell’s claim that Sweet was necessarily the Jail’s HCA is supported by the expert 15 opinion of Dr. Stankus, who is both a medical doctor and an attorney. Her report6 to 16 Bell’s attorney is attached to his Declaration, Dkt. 159-1 at Ex. B. Stankus opines that 17 Sweet knew she was the “only licensed medical physician with whom the facility 18 contracts” and that that is the “definition of the HCA” under the Jail’s Policy and 19 Procedures Manual (Dkt. 159-1 at Ex. J). She claims that Manual provides that the Jail’s 20 Medical Program “shall be managed and directed by an HCA who is responsible for [21] 22 6 The report is not sworn, but the Court will consider it. 1 clinical supervision of health personnel within the facility, is the sole responsibility [sic] 2 for all final medical judgments relating to inmate care in the facility.” Dkt. 159-1 at 11. 3 She opines that, by process of elimination, the only person who could be the HCA is Dr. 4 Sweet, and that “by definition” she was Connolly’s supervisor. Id. 5 Neither Stankus nor Bell address the other option, which is that, despite its Policy, 6 the Jail had no HCA and no person or entity in charge of its Medical Program. Sweet was 7 not hired full time, and neither she nor the Tribe agreed that she would take on the HCA 8 role and the burdens and responsibilities that came with it. None of her alleged 9 subordinates claimed she was their supervisor, or that she had any authority over them; 10 they testified they worked for the Jail and that their boss was Jeff Smith. The mere fact 11 that Sweet is a doctor, and the Policy requires an HCA who is a doctor, does not make 12 Sweet the HCA. Sweet’s contract and all the other evidence make it clear that she was 13 not the HCA. The consequences of the Jail not having an HCA might be different if it 14 were not immune from suit. But that does not make Sweet liable by default for the Jail’s 15 failure to follow its own Policy. 16 Bell also argues that by claiming she was unaware of his plight, Sweet has 17 “asserted the deliberateness of her indifference as an affirmative defense.” Id. at 7. He 18 does not claim that she subjectively knew he was even in the Jail, much less that she 19 inferred that he faced a substantial medical risk if he did not obtain and take his 20 medications. 21 The Jail hired Sweet as an independent contractor three weeks before Bell was 22 incarcerated at the Jail. Dkt. 159-1 at 3–6. She was to be paid $5,000 per month ($60,000 1 per year) and agreed to be available for telephone consultation “24/7.” Id. She was not, 2 however, hired as the Jail’s HCA, and neither she nor the Tribe agreed that she would be 3 the Jail’s inmates’ full-time doctor. Sweet maintained full-time practice away from the 4 Jail. Id.; see also Dkt. 168 at 2 (citing Sweet Decl., Dkt. 170). She testifies that she would 5 work one to two hours per day, two to three days per week, providing medical 6 consultation and prescription re-fills as needed. And there is no evidence at all that Sweet 7 had authority to hire, train, discipline, or fire any other Jail employee, including the 8 CMA. See Dkt. 170. She asserts that she was “not responsible for administering the 9 medical program” at the Jail, and that her contract did not authorize or require her to do 10 so. Dkt. 168 at 3. Sweet was hired instead to provide specific medical services “in 11 support of” the Jail’s “medical operations.” Dkt. 159-1 at 3, ¶ 4 (emphasis added). 12 Bell’s primary argument—which, but for the Tribe’s sovereign immunity, would 13 be effective against the Jail’s administration—is that the Jail was legally and by its own 14 policy required to have an HCA, someone in charge of the Jail’s entire medical program. 15 Bell correctly asserts that Jail policy calls for “Medical Intake Screening conducted by a 16 member of the medical staff to identify obvious ailments or injuries and reduce 17 aggravation” and “timely health appraisal of each inmate including a complete medical 18 screening within 24 hours of admission.” Dkt. 159 at 7 (citing Dkt. 159-1, Ex. J at 217– 19 22). Bell asserts he did not receive such an appraisal. 20 From these requirements, Bell deduces that since Sweet was the only licensed 21 physician associated with the Jail, she necessarily must have been its HCA. As such, he 22 claims that she was obligated to conduct such medical screenings and appraisals. He also 1 argues that Sweet was the supervisor of all those who failed to expeditiously ascertain 2 and meet Bell’s medical requirements, from his initial intake until his stroke, 19 days 3 later, and that she is liable for those failings. 4 Sweet argues again that she timely filled Bell’s medications as soon as she learned 5 of his need for them, consistent with her duties under the contract with the Jail. She 6 argues correctly that the failure to follow a policy is not necessarily a constitutional 7 violation. Dkt. 168 at 21 (citing Gardner v. Howard, 109 F.3d 427 , 430 (8th Cir. 1997) 8 (“[T]here is no § 1983 liability for violating prison policy. [Plaintiff] must prove that [the 9 official] violated his constitutional right[.]”)). And it was the Jail, and not Sweet, which 10 failed to follow Jail policies. Sweet argues that she was not the Jail’s HCA as a matter of 11 law and that there is no evidence supporting Bell’s claim that she has supervisor liability 12 for the constitutional torts of those she supervised or failed to supervise. Dkt. 168 at 16. 13 Sweet argues that supervisor liability exists if the “official implements a policy so 14 deficient that the policy itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights and is the moving 15 force behind the constitutional violation.” Id. (quoting Marcotte v. Monroe Corr. 16 Complex, 394 F. Supp. 2d 1289, 1297 (W.D. Wash. 2005)). Sweet did not implement any 17 policy at the Jail; the policies existed before she was hired. She also argues that to be 18 liable for the actions or omission of her subordinates, a supervisor must have knowledge 19 of the violations and fail to act to prevent them, and that liability will not attach to 20 defendants who “cannot be supervisors of persons beyond their control.” Dkt. 168 at 17 21 (quoting Felarca v. Birgeneau, 891 F.3d 809, 820 (9th Cir. 2018) (administrators who 22 had no supervisory authority over the police who allegedly committed violations did not 1 participate in or cause such violations)). Sweet argues she was never designated the Jail’s 2 HCA and that there is no evidence she had any duties or authority with respect to any 3 other Jail employee, including the CMA. She was instead an independent contractor hired 4 to provide limited and specific services in support of the Jail’s medical program. 5 These arguments are persuasive. There is no evidence that Sweet made any 6 intentional decision to delay screening Bell or to provide him his prescribed medications 7 once she learned of his need for them. There is no evidence that the consequences of her 8 actions “obviously” put Bell at medical risk; when she examined him on August 25 his 9 blood pressure was high but not critical, and he was already on his medication. See 10 Gordon, 888 F.3d at 1125 . There is no evidence whatsoever that she was subjectively 11 aware of a substantial risk of harm to Bell and failed to take any action in response to it. 12 See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837 . 13 Bell’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Sweet’s deliberate indifference to 14 his medical needs, personally and as a supervisor, is DENIED. 15 2. Sweet’s Summary Judgment Motion is Granted. 16 Sweet’s motion presents the opposite side of the same issue. It argues that under 17 the same evidence, she is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on both iterations of 18 Bell’s § 1983 deliberate indifference claims against her. 19 Bell’s Response echoes his own motion, discussed above. He emphasizes that, 20 contrary to Jail policy, he was “never examined by any medical practitioner until the day 21 before his stroke, which was the 18th day of his detention.” Dkt. 167 at 4. He complains 22 that he “never got his medications until it was too late.” Id. 1 Bell argues that a prison health care delivery system may reflect deliberate 2 indifference to the plaintiff’s medical needs where unqualified personnel regularly 3 engage in medical practice. Id. at 5 (citing Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080 , 1112 4 (9th Cir. 1986), overruled in part on other grounds (citing Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 5 1237, 1252 ) (9th Cir. 1982)). He asserts that Sweet left the medical screening to the 6 guards and the CMA, neither of whom were qualified to provide medical care, and that 7 she did not provide care to inmates “unless and until inmates were brought before her.” 8 Dkt. 167 at 6. 9 Bell argues that under Hoptowit, a prison is deliberately indifferent where it has no 10 full-time chief medical officer, has no written procedures, leaves medical decision to 11 unqualified and unsupervised mid-level practitioners, fails to have a daily sick call, and 12 leaves the decision of which inmates get medical care to the prison guards. Id. (citing 13 Hoptowit, 682 F.2d at 1252 . 14 But as in Hoptowit, these failings are on the Jail, not on the part-time physician it 15 hired to do just what she did, and not to do the other functions that are apparently lacking 16 at the Jail. Sweet was not the Jail’s HCA as a matter of law, and she was not globally 17 responsible for its medical program. She is not liable for any of these failings, even if 18 they did cause Bell’s stroke—a questionable proposition which the Court need not 19 address. 20 Sweet’s Motion for Summary Judgment on Bell’s deliberate indifference claims 21 against her is GRANTED, and those claims are DISMISSED with prejudice. [22] 1 C. Bell’s negligence claims. 2 Sweet seeks summary judgment on Bell’s negligence claims, which include a 3 medical negligence claim and a negligent infliction of emotional distress (“NIED”) claim. 4 She argues that in the medical care context, negligence claims are governed exclusively 5 by RCW Chapter 7.70, Washington’s medical malpractice statue. She argues that other 6 negligence claims in the medical context are pre-empted by that statute, which requires a 7 plaintiff to demonstrate: 8 (a) The health care provider failed to exercise that degree of care, skill, and learning expected of a reasonably prudent health care provider at that time 9 in the profession or class to which he or she belongs, in the state of Washington, acting in the same or similar circumstances; and [10] (b) Such failure was the proximate cause of the injury complained of. [11] RCW 7.70.040. [12] Sweet argues, persuasively, that neither of Bell’s experts provide evidence of the [13] standard of care or how Sweet breached it. Dkt. 160 at 20 (citing Young v. Key Pharms., [14] Inc., 112 Wn.2d 216 , 226–227 (1989)). Nor does either expert provide testimony on how [15] Sweet’s violation of the standard of care caused Bell’s injury. [16] Bell responds by explaining why his negligence claim was initially broadly pled— [17] the Tribe, asserting sovereign immunity, would not disclose even Bell’s own medical [18] records without a Court Order compelling it to do so, and he did not know the names of [19] various individuals at the Jail—but he does not claim that his experts address the standard [20] of care applicable to Sweet. The applicable standard of care in medical malpractice [21] actions must generally be established through expert testimony. Reyes v. Yakima Health [22] 1 Dist., 191 Wn.2d 79 , 86 (2018). He instead claims without support that failing to provide 2 timely care is well below the standard of care and argues a jury could find that Sweet’s 3 “nonfeasance amounted to a breach of the standard of care.” Dkt. 167 at 12. 4 Under Washington law, a jury could not so find, in the absence of expert 5 testimony establishing the standard of care. Sweet’s Summary Judgment Motion on this 6 point is GRANTED. 7 Finally, Sweet argues that Bell’s NIED claim, and his common law negligence 8 claim, are pre-empted or foreclosed by RCW Chapter 7.70. Bell agrees that his NIED 9 claim can be dismissed. He does not address his common law negligence claim separate 10 from his medical malpractice claim, and that claim too is DISMISSED. Sweet’s Motion 11 for Summary Judgment on Bell’s state law negligence claims is GRANTED, and those 12 claims are DISMISSED with prejudice. 13 * * * 14 The Court is not unsympathetic to Bell’s plight, or to his frustration with the care 15 he received. It shares his concern over the City’s and the Tribe’s efforts to avoid any 16 accountability for the conditions at the Jail, including the medical treatment of inmates 17 there. Judge Leighton’s prior Orders reflect that he too was troubled by the implications 18 of the arrangement between Lacey and the Tribe. Nevertheless, any institutional failings 19 that caused Bell’s stroke were on the part of the Jail, not Dr. Sweet, as a matter of law. 20 The case is DISMISSED. The Clerk shall enter a JUDGMENT and close the case. 21 IT IS SO ORDERED. 22 // 1 Dated this 30th day of September, 2021. A [3] BENJAMIN H. SETTLE [4] United States District Judge