Belton v. Alameda County Sheriff's Department

Background

Dwight Clayton Belton, a state prisoner proceeding without a lawyer, filed a civil-rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He alleges denial of medical care and interference with his legal mail at Santa Rita Jail.

The court ordered service on two deputies and Alameda County Sheriff Sanchez, referred to as the County Defendants, concerning the legal-mail and medical-care allegations. It also ordered service on Dr. Magat and WellPath Healthcare Providers, referred to as the Medical Defendants, concerning medical care.

On January 2, 2025, the court stayed the case after the Medical Defendants reported a bankruptcy-related stay. The opinion states that Wellpath Holdings, Inc. had filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, and that the bankruptcy court issued stays affecting cases against WellPath, certain physicians employed by WellPath, and temporarily non-debtor defendants.

Court’s Actions

The court lifted the stay and reopened the case. Before the stay, Belton, the County Defendants, and the Medical Defendants had filed separate motions for summary judgment. The court had vacated those motions without prejudice because of the stay. The parties may refile those motions or file new motions within twenty-eight days. Belton stated that he had not received the Medical Defendants’ motion, and the court said he may oppose it after it is refiled.

Belton may file an amended motion to compel directed at the County Defendants. The County Defendants must respond within twenty-eight days.

The court also addressed subpoenas for pharmacy and medical records. Within twenty-one days, the Medical Defendants and County Defendants must provide Belton with his CVS pharmacy records from 2022 and 2023 and medical records from that period from Eastmont Wellness Center that defendants obtained during his detention. Belton must request his medical files from prison staff under the procedures identified by the court.

Disposition

The court ordered that the stay is lifted and the case is reopened. It did not decide the underlying allegations about medical care or legal mail in this order. The parties may refile or replace their summary-judgment motions within twenty-eight days; the County Defendants must respond to the amended motion to compel within that period; and defendants must provide the specified records within twenty-one days. The court also warned that failing to prosecute the case or comply with court orders may result in dismissal for failure to prosecute under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).