BLD-147 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 09-3450
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BIENVENIDO CASILLA,
Appellant
v.
NEW JERSEY STATE PRISON; GEORGE E. ACHEVE, MD;
RAYMUND T. TAGLE, MD; PAUL TALBOT, MD; RIZWANA NAVEED HAMID,
MD; LAURENCE DONKOR, MD; ARLENE TINKER, MD;
COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION OF NEW JERSEY;
LAWRENCE TALBOT, M.D.; CAROLE HOLT; ELLEN WARNER;
ROY L. HENDRICKS; MICHELLE R. RICCI;
CORRECTIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES; SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL;
ALLAN MARTIN
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of New Jersey
(D.C. Civil No. 05-cv-4590)
District Judge: Honorable Freda L. Wolfson
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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
March 11, 2010
Before: McKEE, Chief Judge, RENDELL and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges.
(Filed May 20, 2010)
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OPINION OF THE COURT
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PER CURIAM
Bienvenido Casilla appeals the District Court’s order granting appellees’ motions
for summary judgment. For the reasons below, we will affirm.
The procedural history of this case and the details of Casilla’s claims are well
known to the parties, set forth in the District Court’s thorough opinion, and need not be
discussed at length. Briefly, Casilla filed a complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging
that appellees were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs. Casilla asserted
that appellees failed to adequately treat his stomach pain and knee pain. Appellees moved
for summary judgment. The District Court appointed counsel for Casilla who filed a
response. The District Court granted appellees summary judgment, and Casilla filed a pro
se notice of appeal.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We exercise plenary review over
the District Court’s order granting appellees’ motions for summary judgment. Gallo v.
City of Philadelphia, 161 F.3d 217, 221 (3d Cir. 1998). A grant of summary judgment
will be affirmed if our review reveals that “there is no genuine issue as to any material
fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
56(c). We review the facts in a light most favorable to the party against whom summary
judgment was entered. See Coolspring Stone Supply, Inc. v. American States Life Ins.
Co., 10 F.3d 144, 146 (3d Cir. 1993).
In order to state a claim under the Eighth Amendment for denial of medical care,
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Casilla must show that the appellees were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical
needs. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). Deliberate indifference can be shown
by a prison official “intentionally denying or delaying access to medical care or
intentionally interfering with the treatment once prescribed.” Id. at 104. A medical need
is serious if it is one “that has been diagnosed by a physician as requiring treatment or one
that is so obvious that a lay person would easily recognize the necessity for a doctor's
attention.” Monmouth County Correctional Inst. Inmates v. Lanzaro, 834 F.2d 326, 347
(3d Cir. 1987). Mere disagreement as to the proper medical treatment will not support a
claim under the Eighth Amendment. Spruill v. Gillis, 372 F.3d 218, 235 (3d Cir. 2004).
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 Jail v. Pierce, 612 F. 2d 754, 762 (3d Cir. 1979)
(citations omitted).
Casilla’s medical records show that his complaints were treated with medications,
several diagnostic tests, consultations with specialists, and three knee surgeries. As for the
year-long delay in Casilla receiving knee replacement surgery, there is nothing in the
record concerning the process for scheduling surgeries, why the delay occurred, or how
any of the appellees were responsible for the delay. With respect to Casilla’s claims that
surgery was never performed on his left knee, he has not shown that surgery was ever
prescribed for his left knee. The document he has submitted in support of this allegation
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does not contain any such recommendation. Likewise, he has not submitted any evidence
showing that surgery for his stomach pain has been medically indicated. We agree with
the District Court that Casilla has not shown a genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the medical appellees are entitled to summary judgment on his claims.
Casilla’s claims against Appellees Hendricks and Ricci fail because prison
officials cannot be held to be deliberately indifferent merely because they did not respond
to the medical complaints of a prisoner who was already being treated by the prison
medical staff. Durmer v. O’Carroll, 991 F.2d 64, 69 (3d Cir. 1993). “[A]bsent a reason
to believe (or actual knowledge) that prison doctors or their assistants are mistreating (or
not treating) a prisoner, a non-medical prison official [] will not be chargeable with the
Eighth Amendment scienter requirement of deliberate indifference.” Spruill v. Gillis, 372
F.3d 218, 236 (3d Cir. 2004).
Summary action is appropriate if there is no substantial question presented in the
appeal. See Third Circuit LAR 27.4. For the above reasons, as well as those set forth by
the District Court, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s order. See Third Circuit
I.O.P. 10.6. Casilla’s motion for the appointment of counsel is denied.
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