SURRICK, J.

MEMORANDUM SURRICK, J.

Presently before the Court are Defendants Warden Dale Meisel and County of Lehigh's Motion for Summary Judgment (Meisel Mot. Summ. J., ECF No. 55), and Defendants PrimeCare Medical, Inc., Josie Bahnick, R.N., and Dr. Erik Von Kiel, D.O.'s Motion for Summary Judgment (PrimeCare Mot. Summ. J., ECF Nos. 56, 57, 58), as well as exhibits and Plaintiff's response thereto (Pl.'s Resp., ECF No. 61). For the following reasons, the Motions will be granted.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

On the evening of August 13, 2008, Plaintiff Inell Foye was struck in the head with a golf club during an assault and attempted robbery in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Foye Dep., ECF No. 55-2 at 76-77.) Plaintiff sustained a laceration to the left side of his head as a result of the attack. (Sacred Heart Medical Records, Pl.'s Resp. Ex. A at 00022.) Following the attack, Plaintiff was admitted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown ("Sacred Heart"), and evaluated by medical staff. (Id.) Although Plaintiff was upset and anxious after the events of the evening, he was in stable physical condition, and remained conscious and alert at all times. (Id.) Sacred Heart doctors repaired Plaintiff's laceration using staples and sutures, performed a series of radiological tests, and treated Plaintiff with several medications to prevent infection and alleviate his pain. (Id. at 00023-00024.)

Over the course of the next several days, Plaintiff discussed options for further treatment with Ghodrat Daneshdoot, M.D., a neurosurgeon associated with Sacred Heart. (Id. at 00039.) After considering the available options, Plaintiff elected to undergo surgery to remove a depressed skull fracture and repair affected areas. (Id.) On August 18, 2008, surgeons performed a craniectomy, removing the depressed skull fracture, as well as bone shards that could potentially damage Plaintiff's brain and necrotic brain tissue. Surgeons subsequently performed a duraplasty and cranioplasty. (Id.) According to doctors, the surgery was "uneventful." (Id. at 00132.)

Following surgery, Plaintiff was transferred to Sacred Heart's Intensive Care Unit for recovery, and both a CT scan and an MRI showed edema and swelling present in the area of the surgery. (Id. at 00039.) Among the symptoms Plaintiff experienced at this point were hesitancy of expression and occasional slurred speech, though neurological exams showed no serious problems or deficits. (Id.) Prior to being discharged on August 26, 2008, Plaintiff was prescribed Dilantin, a prescription medication to prevent seizures, as a prophylactic measure for a period of six to twelve months. (Id.) Plaintiff was also told to return in one month for a repeat MRI. (Id.) Plaintiff's radiologist, Paul DuPont, M.D., recommended a "6 month follow-up" to assess any potential changes in the size of Plaintiff's pineal gland region. (Id. at 00160.)

Plaintiff's condition gradually improved over the course of subsequent months. (Foye Dep. 21; Pl.'s Resp. 4.) Although Plaintiff's speech problems disappeared, Plaintiff still experienced pain, migraines, and dizziness. (Foye Dep. 22; Pl.'s Resp. 5.) Plaintiff did not suffer from any seizures during this period. (PrimeCare Mem. 3.) Nevertheless, Plaintiff's symptoms affected his regular activities, and he had difficulty sleeping, standing, and driving. (Foye Dep. 22-23.) However, Plaintiff did not follow up with medical professionals regarding to these symptoms. (LCP Medical Records, Prime Care Mem. Ex. C at 14.)

On February 11, 2009, Plaintiff was sent to Lehigh County Prison ("LCP") following his arrest on drug charges. (Foye Dep. 13.) Plaintiff's incarceration was lengthy. He was ultimately sentenced to a prison term of 9 3/4 to 25 years. (Id.) At LCP, Plaintiff received an initial medical screening by Megan Hughes, an employee of Defendant PrimeCare, which manages health services for LCP. (LCP Medical Records 14.) Plaintiff informed Hughes about his injury and surgery, and told her about his lingering symptoms. (Foye Dep. 26, 34; LCP Medical Records 14.) Plaintiff stated that he had been prescribed various medications, and that he needed a follow-up MRI, though he could not remember the names of the specific medications he had been prescribed. (Foye Dep. 26; LCP Medical Records 14.) Plaintiff admitted that he did not regularly comply with the instructions for his medications during the period between his surgery and incarceration. He also admitted that he did not follow up with doctors during that time. (LCP Medical Records 14.) After obtaining Plaintiff's consent, PrimeCare employees requested, and subsequently received, the records of Plaintiff's treatment at Sacred Heart. (Id.)

Following his admission to LCP, Plaintiff was assigned to "bottom bunk, bottom tier" status, due in large part to the residual effects of his injury. (Foye Dep. 32-33.) Having been so designated, Plaintiff was prevented from holding a job in the prison, and his ability to participate in physical activities with other inmates was limited. (Id. 33.)

Over the course of his first four months at LCP, Plaintiff contacted PrimeCare employees and prison officials with a variety of complaints. Plaintiff's complaints touched on a wide range of topics, from a number of medical problems to issues with his cell environment and bedding. (See Pl.'s Resp. Exs. I-N.) Plaintiff repeatedly sent Sick Call Requests-the medium by which LCP inmates typically request medical attention-to PrimeCare employees. On March 18, 2009, Plaintiff complained of headaches, and requested that he receive an MRI. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. I at 1.) Plaintiff repeated this request on April 1, 2009, and PrimeCare employees scheduled Plaintiff for an appointment with a physician. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. J.) Plaintiff also requested an MRI on April 23, 2009, and another doctor's appointment was scheduled. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. K.) Plaintiff's MRI requests were frequently made in association with concerns about his headaches and blood pressure problems. (See, e.g., id.) Plaintiff's requests and grievances were consistently addressed by PrimeCare employees. (Foye Dep. 40, 42.) In addition, although Plaintiff alleges problems with how PrimeCare employees responded to his pain needs, he also noted that his pain issues were generally addressed. (Id. at 46-49.) According to Plaintiff, the MRI issue is the basis for the instant dispute. (Id. at 86.)

Plaintiff filed a series of grievances with prison administrators to complain about the fact that he had not yet received an MRI. On May 15, 2009, Plaintiff requested relief from administrators, noting that he had repeatedly asked nurses to schedule the test. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. M.) Defendant Bahnick responded to this grievance on May 29, and Plaintiff appealed, reiterating that he had not yet received an MRI. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. O.) On June 11, Defendant Dale Meisel, in his capacity as Warden of LCP, rejected the appeal for failure to comply with the LCP procedural requirements, but noted that Plaintiff had been seen by a physician and that "a consultation for an MRI would occur." (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. P.) Plaintiff subsequently re-submitted an appeal, but it was rejected as time-barred. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. R.) Plaintiff claims that Meisel is responsible for making, or overseeing, these decisions. Meisel does not contest that he is personally involved in investigating and adjudicating grievances. Indeed, he testified that he is informed of every grievance that is filed. (Foye Dep. 63-64; Meisel Dep. 36.) In addition, on June 10, 2009, Plaintiff mentioned the MRI issue to an unidentified member of the prison staff ("white shirt"). (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. N.)

On June 10, 2009, Von Kiel requested that Physician Assistant Angela Napolitano evaluate Plaintiff for an MRI. (LCP Medical Records 7.) On June 19, Plaintiff received an MRI at an outside facility managed by Cedar Crest Imaging. (LCP Medical Records 3.) The results of the MRI showed no new significant damage. It did indicate the presence of a hematoma and scar tissue. (Id.) Specifically, the report indicated that there was "no evidence of residual changes from the prior trauma, no intracranial hemorrhage, [and] cystic changes [to the] pineal gland [had] measurement similar to a prior report." (Id.) Defendant's expert, Carl Ellenberger, M.D., opined that Plaintiff "did not suffer any adverse effects by not having an MRI from February 11, 2009 through June 19, 2009." (Ellenberger Letter.) Plaintiff has not proffered any evidence contradicting Ellenberger's opinion, or demonstrating that he suffered any adverse physical effects because the MRI was conducted in June.

After the MRI, Plaintiff's pain did not abate. Plaintiff's July 4, 2009 Sick Call Request stated that he was "still having headaches due to skull fracture." (LCP Medical Records at 2.) Plaintiff has since been transferred to the custody of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and currently resides at the State Correctional Institution in Coal Township, Pennsylvania.

B. Procedural History

Plaintiff filed a Complaint on June 30, 2009 (ECF No. 1), and subsequently amended that Complaint on two occasions. The most recent version is the Second Amended Complaint, which seeks relief on a number of theories. (ECF No. 29.) Defendants filed Motions to Dismiss (ECF Nos. 30, 33), which were denied in part and granted in part (ECF No. 38). Following discovery, Defendants moved for summary judgment. (ECF Nos. 55-58.) Plaintiff filed a response with attached exhibits. (ECF No. 61.)

Plaintiff seeks relief on several counts. In Count I, Plaintiff claims that Bahnick, Von Kiel, and Meisel, in their individual capacities, violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and that he is therefore entitled to relief, including punitive damages, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 43-52.) In Count II, Plaintiff seeks relief from Lehigh County for similar violations. (Id. ¶¶ 53-58.) In Count III, Plaintiff alleges that PrimeCare Medical Inc. is liable under the same theory advanced in Counts I and II of his Complaint. (Id. at ¶¶ 59-68.) In Count V, Plaintiff alleges that PrimeCare is vicariously liable for the negligence of its employees. (Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 69-73.) In Count VI, Plaintiff seeks relief from Bahnick and Von Kiel for negligent infliction of emotional distress. (Id. at ¶¶ 74-78.)

II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

A party is entitled to summary judgment "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986) ("Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Factual disputes that are irrelevant or unnecessary will not be counted."). Where the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party may identify an absence of a genuine issue of material fact by showing the court that there is no evidence in the record supporting the nonmoving party's case. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); UPMC Health Sys. v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 391 F.3d 497, 502 (3d Cir. 2004). If the moving party carries this initial burden, the nonmoving party must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) ("A party asserting that a fact is genuinely . . . disputed must support the assertion by . . . citing to particular parts of materials in the record."); see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986) (noting that the nonmoving party "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts"). "Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a reasonable trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no 'genuine issue for trial.'" Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (citations omitted). When deciding a motion for summary judgment, courts must view facts and inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. Courts must not resolve factual disputes or make credibility determinations. Siegel Transfer, Inc. v. Carrier Express, Inc., 54 F.3d 1125, 1127 (3d Cir. 1995).

III. DISCUSSION

A. Eighth Amendment Claim Against Bahnick, Von Kiel, and Meisel (Count I)

Defendants seek summary judgment on Plaintiff's claims in Count I that three individuals, Bahnick, Von Kiel, and Meisel, violated Plaintiff's civil rights under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. (Meisel Mem. 6; PrimeCare Mem. 9.) Plaintiff argues that Defendants are not entitled to summary judgment. (Pl.'s Resp. 12.)

1. Legal Standard

In order to prevail on a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, "a plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant, acting under color of state law, deprived him or her of a right secured by the Constitution or the laws of the United States." Kaucher v. Cnty. of Bucks, 455 F.3d 418, 423 (3d Cir. 2006). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants, in their individual capacities, violated his right to be free from "cruel and unusual punishment," as guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment. (Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 44, 48.) Specifically, Plaintiff argues that Defendants acted under the color of state law, and were deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff's "serious medical needs" by failing to provide Plaintiff with medications and timely care, and "deliberately preventing" Plaintiff from obtaining an MRI. (Id. at ¶ 50.)

The Eighth Amendment requires prison officials to provide adequate medical treatment to inmates. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 103 (1976). To prevail on a Section 1983 claim based upon an allegation of inadequate medical treatment, a plaintiff must establish that: (1) the medical need was serious; and (2) the acts or omissions by prison officials demonstrated "deliberate indifference" to the inmate's health or safety. Id. at 104; West v. Keve, 571 F.2d 158, 161 (3d Cir. 1978). 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 Cnty. Corr. Inst. Inmates v. Lanzaro, 834 F.2d 326, 347 (3d Cir. 1987) (internal citations omitted).

For behavior to qualify as deliberate indifference, an official must actually know of, and disregard, an excessive risk to the health of an inmate. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 840 (1994); see also Baker v. Lehman, 932 F.Supp. 666, 670 (E.D. Pa. 1996) (noting that the question is "whether the defendants were aware of facts from which they could draw the inference that a substantial risk of serious harm existed, and whether they drew that inference.") The subjective knowledge on the part of the official can be proved by circumstantial evidence to the effect that the excessive risk was so obvious that the official must have known of the risk. In re Bayside Prison Litig., 341 F. App'x. 790, 796 (3d Cir. 2009). To prevail on the subjective element, plaintiff is required to do more than simply establish malpractice, or a professional "disagreement as to the proper treatment" for the underlying medical condition. Lanzaro, 834 F.2d at 346.

Where a plaintiff has received some type of medical care, "inadequacy or impropriety of the care that was not given will not support an Eighth Amendment claim." Norris v. Frame, 585 F.2d 1183, 1186 (3d Cir. 1978) (citation omitted). Even though a medical condition may require surgery, if the need for that surgery "does not appear to be acute, and the surgery is 'elective,' it is unlikely that a constitutional violation has occurred." Hussmann v. Knauer, No. 04-2776, 2005 WL 435231, at *3 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 22, 2005) (citing Boring v. Kozakiewicz, 833 F.2d 468, 473 (3d Cir. 1987)).

2. Medications Received by Plaintiff

During the first four months of his incarceration at LCP, Plaintiff interacted with LCP medical staff regarding a number of medical issues. Most prominent among Plaintiff's problems were his severe headaches and dizziness, which were a lingering byproduct of the assault that he had suffered. Concurrent with these complaints was Plaintiff's demand for a follow-up MRI to be conducted, in accordance with the Sacred Heart doctors' instructions following surgery.

We consider first Plaintiff's claim that Defendants failed, with deliberate indifference, to provide him with Dilantin, the anti-seizure medication he was prescribed following his emergency surgery, Defendant can not establish a cognizable claim for relief on this issue. It has not been established that Plaintiff had a "serious medical need," or in fact any medical need, for Dilantin during the period in question. Although medical professionals had prescribed Dilantin for Plaintiff, they had done so six months earlier as part of a planned anti-seizure regimen. Sacred Heart doctors prescribed Dilantin as a purely prophylactic measure. They noted that Plaintiff himself had elected to take the medication prophylactically instead of waiting to see if he would have a seizure without it, because Plaintiff has never had a seizure-either prior to or since the surgery. (Sacred Heart Medical Records 00039.) The doctors suggested that the medication be taken for a period of six to twelve months; however, by the time Plaintiff entered LCP, nearly six months had elapsed since this suggestion. (Id.) Simply because Dilantin might have been an appropriate course of treatment in August of 2008, it does not necessarily mean that it was an appropriate course of treatment after February of 2009.

There is no evidence of any "deliberate indifference" on the part of PrimeCare or its employees. PrimeCare and its employees catalogued, as best as they could given the limited information Plaintiff offered, Plaintiff's prescription drug needs at his intake examination. (LCP Medical Records 14.) Plaintiff did not identify Dilantin as one of his medications during that examination, although he did mention that he had been prescribed an anti-seizure drug. (Id.) Plaintiff further indicated that he had been non-compliant with the prescription regimen, and had last filled the prescription for Dilantin in August 2008. (Id.) Plaintiff's non-compliance meant that PrimeCare and its employees were not being asked merely to not interrupt an ongoing course of treatment; they were being asked essentially to initiate a new course of treatment. Given the inherent risks in initiating and discontinuing drug regimens, we cannot second-guess a conscious medical decision to not place Plaintiff on a course of Dilantin. The decision was made after consideration of the material fact that Plaintiff had never executed the original treatment plan that Sacred Heart doctors had proposed. "While the distinction between deliberate indifference and malpractice can be subtle, it is well established that as long as a physician exercises professional judgment his behavior will not violate a prisoner's constitutional rights." Brown v. Chambersburg, 903 F.2d 274, 278 (3d Cir. 1990). Plaintiff's claim regarding the failure to provide anti-seizure medication lacks merit.

Considering next Plaintiff's claim that he was deliberately denied appropriate pain medication, we do not doubt that Plaintiff experienced pain during the period in question. Plaintiff was, however, given pain medication to address his headaches. At first, Plaintiff was given acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain medication. (LCP Medical Records 27.) Later, he was given Ultram, a different pain medication, to address his migraines. (Id.) We note that during his intake examination, Plaintiff did not know which pain medications he was supposed to be taking. (LCP Medical Records 9.) There is no evidence to suggest that Plaintiff's condition required stronger pain medication than the drugs provided to him. Indeed, Plaintiff was requesting that his medications be "renew[ed]" and "continue[d]" as late as April 29, 2009. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. L.) Furthermore, Plaintiff agrees that any gaps in the availability of pain medication were quickly addressed. (Foye Dep. 48.)

"Certainly no claim is stated when a doctor disagrees with the professional judgment of another doctor. There may, for example, be several acceptable ways to treat an illness." White v. Napoleon, 897 F.2d 103, 110 (3d Cir. 1990) (emphasis omitted). We believe that the question of which pain medication was appropriate falls squarely within the professional judgment of the medical providers, and Plaintiff's complaint is no more than "a disagreement over the exact contours of his medical treatment." Gause v. Diguglielmo, 339 F. App'x. 132, 136 (3d Cir. 2009). Such a disagreement is beyond the purview of this Court. Plaintiff has provided no evidence to support his claim that "deliberate indifference" characterized the decisions related to his medical care at any point. Plaintiff's claim is without merit.

3. Plaintiff's Claim that He was Denied an MRI

a) "Serious medical need"

With regard to Plaintiff's argument that Defendants deliberately prevented him "from obtaining the follow-up neurological consult and MRI that he needed following his head injury," (Second Am. Compl. ¶ 50), we must first determine whether Plaintiff's request for an MRI constituted a "serious medical need".

The sole mention of the need for an MRI in Plaintiff's hospital records is a brief comment contained within the radiologist's report on August 25, 2008. (Sacred Heart Medical Records 00160.) The radiologist, Dr. Paul DuPont, recommended a 6-month follow-up to assess the state of Plaintiff's pineal gland. (Id.) The radiologist also suggested "further clinical correlation and follow-up" for an edema. (Id.) In the same set of documents, the neurosurgeon who oversaw Plaintiff's procedure recommended an MRI one month after the surgery. (Id.)

While these recommendations constitute guideposts for future treatment, they do not, by themselves, amount to the factual delineation of a "serious medical need." We noted the full scope of DuPont's recommendations because they appear to be suggestions for how Plaintiff and medical professionals should address the situation in the future. They do not point to absolute medical necessities that "requir[e] treatment," or to situations that are "so obvious that a lay person would easily recognize the necessity for a doctor's attention." Lanzaro, 834 F.2d at 347. Furthermore, Defendants' medical expert has stated that "[n]othing in [Plaintiff's] clinical condition, such as new symptoms or change in consciousness or other neurologic deficit, indicated complications of the prior injury, surgery, or change in the pineal cyst." (Ellenberger Letter.) Plaintiff has offered no medical evidence to contest this statement, other than a physician's statement that he required follow-up imaging at an indeterminate point in the future. (See Katz Letter.) We do not see the seriousness and urgency in Plaintiff's request for an immediate MRI. The record does not support such a description of his request.

It is true that Plaintiff repeatedly asked for an MRI to be conducted, utilizing the full range of administrative avenues available to him. This does not answer the question of whether the MRI constituted a "serious medical need." There is no indication that an MRI-a radiological exam to determine if the pineal gland was enlarged-was a treatment which could have alleviated any of Plaintiff's symptoms. It was recommended as a routine follow-up, and there is no reason to believe that the six-month mark suggested for an MRI was a firm date, or that failure to perform the MRI at the precise six-month anniversary of the surgery would have an adverse effect on Plaintiff's health. Plaintiff has offered no evidence to the contrary.

b) Defendants Bahnick and Von Kiel

Although we are not convinced that Plaintiff's request for an MRI constituted a serious medical need, we are certain that there exists no factual question as to whether Defendants Bahnick and Von Kiel exhibited deliberate indifference towards Plaintiff's condition. The Supreme Court has stated that "an official must actually know of, and disregard, an excessive risk to the health of an inmate," for his or her behavior to qualify as deliberate indifference. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 829.

Plaintiff noted at his deposition that he was unable to explain why Bahnick was included as a defendant. (Foye Dep. 82.) We cannot explain this either, and note that Plaintiff has failed to allege specific facts which would demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue for trial with regard to Bahnick. There is little evidence to suggest that Bahnick had any meaningful role in decisions regarding the scheduling of Plaintiff's MRI. Any such decision seems to have required the input of Von Kiel, the on-site physician. While Bahnick may have interacted with Plaintiff occasionally, Plaintiff must demonstrate more than simple interactions. Plaintiff has proffered no evidence of Bahnick's deliberate indifference. Indeed, he cannot even point to Bahnick's involvement in the process of determining whether and when Plaintiff should receive an MRI. Because there is no reason to believe that Bahnick knew of, and disregarded, any medical risk to Plaintiff, there is no outstanding issue of fact as to this claim. Accordingly, we will grant summary judgment as to Plaintiff's claim against Bahnick.

Turning to Von Kiel's role in the providing of an MRI to Plaintiff, Von Kiel had, at various points, considered the question of Plaintiff's MRI. On April 7, 2009, Von Kiel wrote that Plaintiff wanted an MRI, though he noted that this was one of his "many complaints." (LCP Medical Records 13.) Napolitano, the Physician Assistant who treated Plaintiff on June 10, 2009, noted that Von Kiel had requested that Plaintiff be evaluated for an MRI. (Id. at 12.) Plaintiff admitted that Von Kiel had consistently told Plaintiff he would receive the MRI. (Foye Dep. 86.) The precise scheduling of the MRI was not unreasonable, nor did a delay of several months constitute deliberate indifference to Plaintiff's medical needs. We are aware of no credible evidence that Von Kiel was aware of a risk to Plaintiff that would result from a short delay in scheduling an MRI, or that he disregarded such a risk. Even as we view the facts in a light favorable to Plaintiff, as we are required to do, we cannot conclude that a reasonable trier of fact could determine that Von Kiel's actions exhibited deliberate indifference to Plaintiff's medical needs. As such, Plaintiff's claim against Von Kiel must fail.

c) Defendant Meisel

Plaintiff has also claimed that Defendant Dale Meisel, Warden of LCP, was responsible for Plaintiff's medical treatment and violated Plaintiff's constitutional rights. (Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 7, 50.) Plaintiff argues, correctly, that Meisel "directly supervised and was personally involved with" LCP's inmate grievance procedures. (Id. at ¶ 8.) Accordingly, Plaintiff claims, Meisel exhibited deliberate indifference towards Plaintiff's medical needs and consequently bears responsibility for the violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. (Id. at ¶ 50.) As evidence of this alleged indifference, Plaintiff cites Meisel's rejections of various inmate grievance forms that Plaintiff submitted over the course of several months.

Meisel, as LCP's chief administrator, has plenary authority over all areas of prison life, but this is not a basis on which to hold him responsible for delays in scheduling a medical procedure. His rejection of Plaintiff's grievances on legitimate procedural grounds does not implicate the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff may have been frustrated that his grievance was rejected due to his failure to use the proper paper (Foye Dep. 70); however, LCP's enforcement of its established procedural rules simply does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

Furthermore, Meisel's intervention on behalf of Plaintiff contravenes the notion that he was deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff's concerns. Meisel contacted Bahnick prior to rejecting Plaintiff's appeal, to determine the status of Plaintiff's request for an MRI. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. T; Meisel Dep. 52.) Meisel's two rejections of Plaintiff's appealed grievances took place on June 11 and 22, 2009. (Pl.'s Resp. Exs. P and R.) During the period between these two rejections, prison officials scheduled, and Plaintiff received, the MRI which he claims that Meisel labored to deny him. Plaintiff's substantive complaint-that he had not received an MRI-was addressed by prison officials, under Meisel's supervision, during this period. This does not constitute deliberate indifference; it more closely resembles active engagement on Plaintiff's behalf.

There is no basis upon which to conclude that Meisel knew of and disregarded an excessive risk to Plaintiff's health needs. Accordingly, Plaintiff's claim against Meisel lacks merit.

B. Eighth Amendment Claims Against PrimeCare and Lehigh County

Plaintiff acknowledges that his Eighth Amendment claims against PrimeCare (Count II) and Lehigh County (Count III) cannot proceed under the same legal theory as his claims against the individual Defendants named in the Complaint. (Pl's Resp. 19.) The Supreme Court has stated that "a local government may not be sued under § 1983 for an injury inflicted solely by its employees or agents." Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978). The theory of respondeat superior is an improper basis on which to hold a municipal defendant liable for the unconstitutional acts of its employees. Id. at 691. The same holds true for a private corporation acting under the color of state law or performing a municipal function. Connolly v. Oquendo, No. 12-315, 2013 WL 4051320, at *3 (E.D. Pa. Aug. 9, 2013). By providing medical services to prisoners and pretrial detainees at LCP, PrimeCare was acting under the color of state law for purposes of Section 1983. Id. at *2 (citing West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 54 (1988)). Accordingly, PrimeCare cannot be vicariously liable for any unconstitutional acts of its employees. Id. at *3.

Plaintiff can, however, prevail on a Section 1983 claim against these Defendants if he produces adequate "evidence that there was a relevant . . . policy or custom, and that the policy caused the constitutional violation" that he is alleging. Natale v. Camden Cnty. Corr. Facility, 318 F.3d 575, 594 (3d Cir. 2003). In order to succeed in a Section 1983 claim against them, Plaintiff must demonstrate that PrimeCare and Lehigh County pursued policies that caused a constitutional violation.

We note that a policy is made "when a decisionmaker possess[ing] final authority to establish . . . policy with respect to the action issues an official proclamation, policy, or edict." Kneipp v. Tedder, 95 F.3d 1199, 1212 (3d Cir. 1996) (citation omitted). A custom is an act "that has not been formally approved by an appropriate decisionmaker," but that is "so widespread as to have the force of law." Bd. of Comm'rs of Bryan Cnty. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 404 (1997).

Plaintiff claims that Lehigh County and PrimeCare have violated LCP inmates' Eighth Amendment rights by "allowing technical formality to trump substance where serious medical needs are [at] stake." (Pl.'s Resp. 20.) In support of this contention, Plaintiff has submitted several grievances filed by other LCP inmates which purport to support the argument that PrimeCare, and Lehigh County, have pursued policies that violate the Constitution. (See Pl.'s Resp. Exs. V-DD.) According to Plaintiff, the enforcement of the prison's procedural requirements has denied or delayed inmates' receipt of "legitimate medical attention." (Id.)

We have considered these grievance filings. We see no pattern that suggests either PrimeCare or Lehigh County engaging in a grievance adjudication policy which in any way violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

By way of example, Plaintiff argues that a January 24, 2008 Grievance was rejected because the inmate "had failed to fill out Inmate Request to Staff forms." (Pl.'s Resp. 20; see also id. at Ex. V.) The grievance in question was rejected, it appears, because the grievance was in the form of a letter to Defendant Bahnick. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. V at 1.) The Grievance Coordinator responded that the issue had to be addressed informally before the formal grievance process could begin, and suggested that the grievance be repurposed into a letter directly to Bahnick. (Id. at 2.) This rule-requiring that informal avenues be exhausted before a formal grievance is filed-is clearly established in LCP's published policies. (Inmate Grievances Policy 3.) This reasonable procedural requirement is not designed to delay medical treatment.

We note that several grievances were rejected because the inmate failed to sign and date them (see Pl.'s Resp. Exs. X, Z), or because the inmate did not explain the informal attempts made to resolve the grievances (see Pl.'s Resp. Exs. Y, AA, BB, CC). These requirements are also clearly stated in LCP's policies related to inmate grievances. (Inmate Grievances Policy 3.) We do not consider the requirement that inmates describe prior attempts to remedy a situation to be illegitimate, nor do we consider the procedural requirement to sign and date a complaint to be onerous.

All of the inmate grievances which Plaintiff submitted in support of his claim that PrimeCare and Lehigh County were pursuing an unconstitutional policy share a single characteristic: they were rejected by prison administrators because the inmates failed to properly comply with clearly established rules. Prison officials have a right to require that certain procedural requirements be satisfied. Nevertheless, in many of these cases, prison officials responded to the substantive requests underlying the grievances even as they noted the grievances' procedural irregularities. As Meisel stated in his deposition, the mere "fact that we reject a grievance doesn't mean that we actually ignore the underlying issue that the inmate raises." (Meisel Dep. 51.) Indeed, the record indicates that follow up related to the issues prisoners raised was not uncommon.

We further note that all of these claims deal with specific aspects of inmates' medical treatments. We cannot agree that because one inmate claims to have received inadequate treatment of a pimple (Ex. CC), or another inmate disagrees with medical professionals about his liver ammonia levels and corresponding need for a biopsy (Ex. W), there exists any evidence of unconstitutional policies. Indeed, we have seen no evidence of any policy of deliberate indifference to inmates' serious medical needs in this record. Rather, we believe that, at worst, the chronicled grievances describe situations in which inmates disagreed with their diagnoses or treatment plans, but those treatments were still well within the range of professional reasonableness. In addition, we note that many of these grievances received substantive responses from prison officials. Bahnick responded to the grievance found at Exhibit W with a detailed explanation that the treatment which the inmate sought-a biopsy on his liver-was unnecessary, and that he was already receiving proper medical attention for potentially heightened ammonia levels. (Pl.'s Resp. Ex. W at 2.) Meisel contacted Bahnick in regard to the grievances in Exhibits Y and CC, to determine the nature of the prisoners' ailments and how best to treat them. (Pl.'s Resp. Exs. Y, CC.)

Accordingly, we find the allegation that the prison operates a grievance system which implicates the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment to be meritless. There is simply no basis for Plaintiff's claim that an unconstitutional policy or custom exists.

Plaintiff's claims regarding any unconstitutional policy are purely conclusory. Plaintiff adduces no meaningful evidence to support his claim that Lehigh County and PrimeCare have pursued or implemented any policies that violate the Eighth Amendment. Even as we consider all facts in a light favorable to Plaintiff, there is no disputed issue of material fact related to these claims. As such, Defendants PrimeCare and Lehigh County's Motions for Summary Judgment as to Counts II and III of Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint will be granted.

C. Negligence Claim Against PrimeCare

Plaintiff has raised a negligence claim against PrimeCare (Count V), arguing that PrimeCare is vicariously liable for its employees Bahnick and Von Kiel's negligence. (Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 70-71.) Defendant PrimeCare has moved for summary judgment, arguing that "Plaintiff has failed to present the required evidence to support the underlying claim." (PrimeCare Mem. 16.)

Plaintiff's Count IV claim against Defendants Bahnick and Von Kiel was dismissed because Plaintiff failed to file a Certificate of Merit as required by Pennsylvania law. (ECF No. 46.) Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1042.3 requires that "[i]n any action based upon an allegation that a licensed professional deviated from an acceptable professional standard," the plaintiff must file a certificate of merit within sixty days after the filing of the complaint. Pa. R. Civ. P. 1042.3(a).

In claims that seek damages based on a theory of vicarious liability, additional certificates must be filed as to each professional defendant for whose behavior a corporate defendant allegedly bears vicarious liability. See Rostock v. Anzalone, 904 A.2d 943, 946 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006); Stroud, 546 F. Supp. 2d at 248.

Plaintiff has not submitted Certificates of Merit that speak to the alleged professional negligence of Von Kiel, a Doctor of Osteopathy, or Bahnick, a Registered Nurse. There exists no legal basis pursuant to which Plaintiff's negligence claim against PrimeCare can proceed, and no set of facts could permit Plaintiff's recovery on this state law negligence claim. Accordingly, Defendant's Motion for summary judgment as to Count V of the Second Amended Complaint will be granted.

D. Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress Claim Against Bahnick and Von Kiel

Finally, we consider Plaintiff's claim found in Count VI of the Second Amended Complaint, that Bahnick and Von Kiel are liable for negligent infliction of emotional distress upon Plaintiff. (Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 74-78.) Plaintiff's Complaint alleges no specific facts to support this claim. Moreover, Plaintiff's response in opposition to Defendants' motions deals with this issue in a brief footnote which is not enlightening.

Accordingly, Plaintiff's negligent infliction of emotional distress claim must fail. Plaintiff has offered no evidence of causation. There is no disputed fact that, if resolved in Plaintiff's favor at trial, would lead a trier of fact to conclude that his injuries are a result of a breached duty. Plaintiff claims that he "experienced dizziness, nausea, headaches, and constant pain, all of which are sufficient physical manifestations of emotional distress for purposes of a negligent infliction of emotional distress claim." (Pl.'s Resp. 24 n.7.) Based upon the totality of Plaintiff's factual statements, the aforementioned symptoms resulted primarily from the lingering effects of the August 13, 2008 assault and subsequent surgery. There is no indication that Plaintiff experienced these physical symptoms as a result of Defendants' actions, especially since Plaintiff has not alleged, with even a scintilla of specificity, any causal connection between Defendants' actions and his alleged emotional distress.

Plaintiff, as the nonmoving party, "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). We do not believe that "the record taken as a whole could . . . lead a rational trier of fact" to find that Defendants' actions constituted the negligent infliction of emotional distress upon Plaintiff. Id. Accordingly, we will grant summary judgment in the Defendants' favor.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment will be granted.

An appropriate Order follows.

BY THE COURT:

/s/_________

R. BARCLAY SURRICK, J.