Willoya v. State

OPINION No. 5622 I. INTRODUCTION Bryan Willoya was incarcerated at Spring Creek Correctional Center when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis that required surgery. Willoya brought a negligence claim against the State of Alaska and the personnel that treated him. After the superior court allowed Willoya's attorney to withdraw, Willoya filed multiple motions requesting the appointment of counsel, the appointment of an expert, and the appointment of a special master, all of which were denied by the superior court. The superior court then granted the state's motion for summary judgment, which was supplemented with expert affidavits, because Willoya failed to offer expert testimony that the state was negligent in its treatment of his condition. Because the superior court properly dismissed Willoya's claim in the absence of medical testimony to contradict the state's experts and because Willoya was not entitled to court-appointed counsel, experts, or a special master, we affirm the rulings of the superior court.