Opinion
Civ. Action 22-34-GBW
04-15-2024
DONALD J. BOYER, Plaintiff, v. ROBERT MAY, et al., . Defendants.
MEMORANDUM ORDER
At Wilmington, this 15th day of April, 2024, having considered the Medical Defendants' motion to dismiss (D.I. 40), the State Defendants' motion to dismiss (D.I. 45), Plaintiff's motions to amend (D.I. 42, 47), Plaintiff s motions for preliminary injunctive relief (D.I. 39, 55), and Plaintiff's motion to strike (D.I. 53);
Motions to Dismiss. Plaintiff proceeds pro se and has been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. (D.I. 22). On January 13, 2023, the Court screened the Complaint, identified what appeared to be a cognizable and non-frivolous claim within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b), and entered a service order. (D.I. 16).
The legal standard used when screening cases for failure to state a claim pursuant to § 1915A(b)(1) is identical to the Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal standard. See Malcomb v. McKean, 535 Fed.Appx. 184, 186 (3d Cir. 2013) (citing De'lonta v. Johnson, 708 F.3d 520, 524 (4th Cir. 2013), and Allah v. Seiverling, 229 F.3d 220, 223 (3d Cir. 2000)). Nothing has changed since the Complaint was screened. In addition, the Court must liberally construe the Complaint. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). In doing so, the Court concludes that, with the exception of Plaintiff s claims against Defendant Susan Conley, the allegations contained in the Complaint are sufficient to withstand the instant motions to dismiss and, therefore, will deny the Medical Defendants' motion and deny in part the State •
As the State Defendants rightly note in their motion to dismiss, the Complaint does not contain particularized allegations against Defendant Conley. She will, therefore, be dismissed.
Motions to Amend. The additional claims Plaintiff seeks to bring against these Defendants and additional prospective defendants in his motions to amend are based on allegations generally unrelated to this action. Accordingly, Plaintiffs motions to amend will be denied, without prejudice to bringing the claims contained therein in a separate action. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 20; Mai v. Blades, 2023 WL 7324547, at *2 (D. Del. Nov. 7, 2023).
Motions for Preliminary Injunctive Relief. These motions will be dismissed without prejudice to renew. Besides being procedurally deficient, the State Defendants have submitted Defendant Conley's sworn statement outlining
the ongoing medical care from outside specialists Plaintiff is receiving, including a planned April visit. (D.I. 56-1).
Now therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. The Medical Defendants' motion to dismiss (D.I. 40) is DENIED.
2. The State Defendants' motion to dismiss (D.I. 45) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
3. Defendant Conley is DISMISSED from this action. .
4. Plaintiffs motions to amend (D.I. 42, 47) are DENIED.
5. Plaintiff's motions for preliminary injunctive relief (D.I. 39, 55) are DENIED without prejudice to renew.
6. Plaintiffs motion to strike (D.I. 53) is DENIED.
7. Defendants shall file answers to the Complaint within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this Memorandum Order.