(Pc) Antonio Gutierrez V. California Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation, Et Al

Case Background

On August 13, 2020, Antonio Gutierrez Jr., an inmate at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, filed a lawsuit against Nurse Margarita Sandoval. The prison civil rights lawsuit claimed Sandoval's failure to provide adequate care caused permanent nerve damage to Gutierrez's face. The medical negligence lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, California Eastern (Fresno). It was assigned to District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff and referred to Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean. [Case number: 1:20cv1130]

Cause

Antonio Gutierrez Jr., a California inmate, experienced sudden neurological symptoms on August 17, 2019. Around 7:30 p.m., the right side of his face became numb while he was alone in his cell at the California Correctional Institution (CCI). Concerned, he alerted Correctional Officers Robert Miller and Dylan Stuart, who noticed his facial droop and sent him to the medical clinic. At the clinic, Nurse Sandoval greeted Gutierrez with alleged annoyance and fatigue. He explained his inability to move or feel the right side of his face and described other alarming symptoms. Despite his concerns, Sandoval performed a brief examination, reviewed his medical history, dismissed his condition as minor, and advised him to drink water. She allegedly did not document the visit or contact an on-call physician. Gutierrez returned to his cell, skeptical of the advice but followed it, drinking large amounts of water. The symptoms persisted. The following Monday, Corrections Officer Steven Cacciola noticed Gutierrez’s facial droop and escorted him to the clinic. This time, Dr. Faye Montegrande diagnosed him with Bell’s palsy, noting that the delayed treatment likely made h