Valez v. Corrections Corporation of America ( 2020 )

1 WO MDR 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 Carlos Valez, No. CV 20-01400-PHX-JAT (DMF) 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. ORDER 12 Corrections Corporation of America, et 13 al., 14 Defendants. 15 16 On July 15, 2020, Plaintiff Carlos Valez, who is confined in the Northern Nevada 17 Correctional Center in Carson City, Nevada, filed a pro se civil rights Complaint pursuant 18 to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and a Motion for Appointment of Counsel and paid the filing and 19 administrative fees. In a September 8, 2020 Order, the Court denied without prejudice the 20 Motion for Appointment of Counsel, dismissed the Complaint because Plaintiff had failed 21 to state a claim, and gave Plaintiff thirty days to file an amended complaint that cured the 22 deficiencies identified in the Order. 23 On September 24, 2020, Plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint. In an October 24 9, 2020 Order, the Court dismissed the First Amended Complaint because Plaintiff had 25 failed to state a claim. The Court gave Plaintiff 30 days to file a second amended complaint 26 that cured the deficiencies identified in the Order. 27 On November 2, 2020, Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 7). The 28 Court will order Defendant Perez to answer Count One of the Second Amended Complaint, 1 give Plaintiff an opportunity to discover the true names of Defendants John Does 1-4, and 2 dismiss the remaining claims and Defendants without prejudice. 3 I. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints 4 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief 5 against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity. 28 6 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff 7 has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which 8 relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from 9 such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)–(2). 10 A pleading must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 11 pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8 does 12 not demand detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the- 13 defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 14 (2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 15 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. 16 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a 17 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 18 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content 19 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 20 misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for 21 relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial 22 experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Thus, although a plaintiff’s specific factual 23 allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must assess whether there 24 are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id. at 681. 25 But as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed, courts 26 must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 27 (9th Cir. 2010). A “complaint [filed by a pro se prisoner] ‘must be held to less stringent 28 1 standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 2 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)). 3 II. Second Amended Complaint 4 In his three-count Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and 5 monetary damages from Defendants Corrections Corporation of America (CCA),1 Warden 6 B. Thomas, Lieutenant Perez, and Correctional Officers John Does 1, 2, 3, and 4. 7 In Count One, Plaintiff alleges he was subjected to excessive force in violation of 8 his Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Plaintiff claims he was awakened on 9 February 2, 2018, by a disturbance in his tier. He contends Defendant Perez, Defendants 10 John Does 1-4, and other prison employees, appeared at his cell door, and Defendant Perez 11 instructed him to strip naked and wait for further instructions. Plaintiff asserts he stripped 12 and stood naked in front of his cell door. He contends Defendant Perez then instructed him 13 to submit to restraints. Plaintiff asserts that when he reached for his underwear, Defendant 14 Perez sprayed him with “O.C. pepper spray” for ten seconds, without warning. He claims 15 immediately afterward, Defendant Perez opened his cell door, and Defendants John Does 16 1-4 rushed in, knocked Plaintiff to the floor, and punched and kicked Plaintiff until he lost 17 consciousness. Plaintiff alleges witnesses told him he was dragged, naked, across the 18 dayroom by Defendants John Does 1-4, who then placed him on the shower floor and 19 turned on the cold water. 20 Plaintiff claims he was then escorted, in his underwear, but without shoes, to the 21 unit office and was evaluated by a nurse. He alleges he complained he could not breathe 22 and had severe pain in his head and midsection. Plaintiff contends he was then returned to 23 his cell, which had been stripped and had no mattress, bedding, or property, and no way to 24 write a medical request for treatment of his injuries. Plaintiff claims that a week later, 25 Defendant Thomas appeared at his cell door, and Plaintiff verbally requested medical 26 treatment and basic necessities such as a mattress and bedding. He alleges his requests 27 28 1 Corrections Corporation of America has changed its name to CoreCivic as part of a rebranding. 1 were denied and he was never treated for his injuries. He claims he suffered bruised ribs, 2 a bloody nose, and a skin rash, and continues to have difficulty breathing, severe 3 headaches, emotional stress, and hypertension. 4 In Count Two, Plaintiff contends he was denied medical care, in violation of his 5 Eighth Amendment rights. He asserts Defendant Thomas was deliberately indifferent to 6 Plaintiff’s serious medical needs when he denied Plaintiff medical care on February 9, 7 2018, for the injuries Plaintiff sustained on February 2, 2018. 8 In Count Three, Plaintiff alleges he was denied his Fourteenth Amendment right 9 to due process relating to “Policies and Training.” He contends Defendants CCA and 10 Thomas are responsible for establishing the policies that allowed Plaintiff to be sprayed 11 with pepper spray for ten seconds; allowed the use of force by Defendants John Does 1-4 12 “without proper training”; and allowed Plaintiff to be placed, without a due process 13 hearing, in a stripped cell without basic necessities, such as a mattress or bedding, for 14 weeks. 15 III. Discussion of Second Amended Complaint 16 Although pro se pleadings are liberally construed, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 17 520-21 (1972), conclusory and vague allegations will not support a cause of action. Ivey 18 v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Further, a liberal interpretation of a 19 civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially 20 pled. Id. 21 To state a valid claim under § 1983, plaintiffs must allege that they suffered a 22 specific injury as a result of specific conduct of a defendant and show an affirmative link 23 between the injury and the conduct of that defendant. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 24 371-72, 377 (1976). There is no respondeat superior liability under § 1983, and therefore, 25 a defendant’s position as the supervisor of persons who allegedly violated Plaintiff’s 26 constitutional rights does not impose liability. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 27 (1978); Hamilton v. Endell, 981 F.2d 1062, 1067 (9th Cir. 1992); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 28 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). “Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to . . . § 1983 suits, 1 a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official’s own 2 individual actions, has violated the Constitution.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676. “A plaintiff must 3 allege facts, not simply conclusions, that show that an individual was personally involved 4 in the deprivation of his civil rights.” Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 5 1998). 6 A. Count One 7 Liberally construed, Plaintiff has stated an excessive force claim in Count One 8 against Defendants Perez and John Does 1-4. The Court will require Defendant Perez to 9 answer Count One. 10 Although Plaintiff has stated a claim against Defendants John Does 1-4, the Court 11 will not require service on those Defendants at this time because it is, in most instances, 12 impossible for the United States Marshal or his designee to serve a summons and complaint 13 upon an anonymous defendant. However, the Court will not dismiss the claim against 14 Defendants John Does 1-4 at this time. 15 The Ninth Circuit has held that where identity is unknown prior to the filing of a 16 complaint, the plaintiff should be given an opportunity through discovery to identify the 17 unknown defendants, unless it is clear that discovery would not uncover the identities, or 18 that the complaint would be dismissed on other grounds. Wakefield v. Thompson, 177 F.3d 19 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999) (citing Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980)). 20 The Court will allow Plaintiff 120 days in which to discover the actual names of Defendants 21 John Does 1-4, through subpoena or otherwise, and to substitute their actual names by 22 filing a “notice of substitution.” See id. The Court may dismiss without prejudice 23 Defendants John Does 1-4 if Plaintiff fails to timely file a notice of substitution, unless 24 Plaintiff seeks and is granted an extension of time. 25 B. Count Two 26 Not every claim by a prisoner relating to inadequate medical treatment states a 27 violation of the Eighth Amendment. To state a § 1983 medical claim, a plaintiff must show 28 (1) a “serious medical need” by demonstrating that failure to treat the condition could result 1 in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain and (2) the 2 defendant’s response was deliberately indifferent. Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th 3 Cir. 2006). 4 “Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 5 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). To act with deliberate indifference, a prison official must both 6 know of and disregard an excessive risk to inmate health; “the official must both be aware 7 of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm 8 exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). 9 Deliberate indifference in the medical context may be shown by a purposeful act or failure 10 to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and harm caused by the 11 indifference. Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. Deliberate indifference may also be shown when a 12 prison official intentionally denies, delays, or interferes with medical treatment or by the 13 way prison doctors respond to the prisoner’s medical needs. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 14 97, 104-05 (1976); Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. 15 Deliberate indifference is a higher standard than negligence or lack of ordinary due 16 care for the prisoner’s safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. “Neither negligence nor gross 17 negligence will constitute deliberate indifference.” Clement v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr., 220 F. 18 Supp. 2d 1098, 1105 (N.D. Cal. 2002); see also Broughton v. Cutter Labs., 622 F.2d 458, 19 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (mere claims of “indifference,” “negligence,” or “medical malpractice” 20 do not support a claim under § 1983). “A difference of opinion does not amount to 21 deliberate indifference to [a plaintiff’s] serious medical needs.” Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 22 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989). A mere delay in medical care, without more, is insufficient to 23 state a claim against prison officials for deliberate indifference. See Shapley v. Nev. Bd. of 24 State Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985). The indifference must be 25 substantial. The action must rise to a level of “unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” 26 Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105. 27 Plaintiff does not allege what he told Defendant Thomas when he sought medical 28 treatment for his week-old injuries; what explanation, if any, Defendant Thomas gave when 1 he denied Plaintiff’s request for medical treatment; or how Defendant Thomas’s denial rose 2 to the level of deliberate indifference to any serious medical needs. Plaintiff’s allegations 3 in Count Two are too vague and conclusory to state a claim against Defendant Thomas. 4 Thus, the Court will dismiss without prejudice Count Two. 5 C. Count Three 6 To state a claim under § 1983 against a private entity performing a traditional public 7 function, such as housing prisoners, a plaintiff must allege facts to support that his 8 constitutional rights were violated as a result of a policy, decision, or custom promulgated 9 or endorsed by the private entity. See Tsao v. Desert Palace, Inc., 698 F.3d 1128, 1138- 10 39 (9th Cir. 2012); Buckner v. Toro, 116 F.3d 450, 452 (11th Cir. 1997) (per curiam). A 11 plaintiff must allege the specific policy or custom and how it violated his constitutional 12 rights. A private entity is not liable merely because it employs persons who allegedly 13 violated a plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See Tsao, 698 F.3d at 1139; Buckner, 116 F.3d 14 at 452. 15 To state a claim based on a policy, custom, or policy, a plaintiff must show that: 16 (1) the plaintiff was deprived of a constitutional right; (2) the entity had a policy or custom; 17 (3) the policy or custom amounted to deliberate indifference to the plaintiff’s constitutional 18 right; and (4) the policy or custom was the moving force behind the constitutional violation. 19 Mabe v. San Bernardino County, Dep’t of Pub. Soc. Servs., 237 F.3d 1101, 1110-11 (9th 20 Cir. 2001). Liability attaches only where “a deliberate choice to follow a course of action 21 is made from among various alternatives by the official or officials responsible for 22 establishing final policy with respect to the subject matter in questions.” Pembaur v. City 23 of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 483 (1986). “It is not sufficient for a plaintiff to identify a 24 custom or policy, attributable to the [entity], that caused his injury. A plaintiff must also 25 demonstrate that the custom or policy was adhered to with ‘deliberate indifference to the 26 constitutional rights of [the jail’s] inhabitants.’” Castro v. County of L.A., 833 F.3d 1060, 27 1076 (9th Cir. 2016) (en banc) (quoting City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 392 28 (1989)). 1 Plaintiff does not identify the specific policies at issue or allege that they were the 2 result of Defendants CCA and Thomas’s deliberate indifference to the likelihood of a 3 deprivation of his constitutional rights. Thus, the Court will dismiss without prejudice 4 Count Three. 5 IV. Warnings 6 A. Address Changes 7 Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule 8 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion for other 9 relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this 10 action. 11 B. Copies 12 Plaintiff must serve Defendant, or counsel if an appearance has been entered, a copy 13 of every document that he files. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a). Each filing must include a certificate 14 stating that a copy of the filing was served. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d). Also, Plaintiff must 15 submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See LRCiv 5.4. Failure to 16 comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice to Plaintiff. 17 C. Possible Dismissal 18 If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these 19 warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 20 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (a district court may dismiss an action for failure 21 to comply with any order of the Court). 22 IT IS ORDERED: 23 (1) Counts Two and Three are dismissed without prejudice. 24 (2) Defendants Corrections Corporation of America and Thomas are dismissed 25 without prejudice. 26 (3) Defendant Perez must answer Count One. 27 (4) Within 120 days from the filing date of this Order, Plaintiff must file a 28 “Notice of Substitution,” substituting the actual names of Defendants John Does 1-4. The 1 Court may dismiss without prejudice Defendants John Does 1-4 if Plaintiff fails to timely 2 file a notice of substitution, unless Plaintiff seeks and is granted an extension of time. 3 (5) The Clerk of Court must send Plaintiff a service packet including the Second 4 Amended Complaint (Doc. 7), this Order, and both summons and request for waiver forms 5 for Defendant Perez. 6 (6) Plaintiff must complete and return the service packet to the Clerk of Court 7 within 21 days of the date of filing of this Order. The United States Marshal will not 8 provide service of process if Plaintiff fails to comply with this Order. 9 (7) If Plaintiff does not either obtain a waiver of service of the summons or 10 complete service of the Summons and Second Amended Complaint on Defendant Perez 11 within 90 days of the filing of the Complaint or within 60 days of the filing of this Order, 12 whichever is later, the action may be dismissed as to Defendant Perez. Fed. R. Civ. P. 13 4(m); LRCiv 16.2(b)(2)(B)(ii). 14 (8) The United States Marshal must retain the Summons, a copy of the Second 15 Amended Complaint, and a copy of this Order for future use. 16 (9) The United States Marshal must notify Defendant Perez of the 17 commencement of this action and request waiver of service of the summons pursuant to 18 Rule 4(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The notice to Defendant must include 19 a copy of this Order. 20 (10) If Defendant Perez agrees to waive service of the Summons and Second 21 Amended Complaint, he must return the signed waiver forms to the United States Marshal, 22 not the Plaintiff, within 30 days of the date of the notice and request for waiver of 23 service pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)(1)(F) to avoid being charged the 24 cost of personal service. 25 (11) The Marshal must immediately file signed waivers of service of the 26 summons. If a waiver of service of summons is returned as undeliverable or is not returned 27 by Defendant within 30 days from the date the request for waiver was sent by the Marshal, 28 the Marshal must: 1 (a) personally serve copies of the Summons, Second Amended 2 Complaint, and this Order upon Defendant pursuant to Rule 4(e)(2) of the Federal 3 Rules of Civil Procedure; and 4 (b) within 10 days after personal service is effected, file the return of 5 service for Defendant, along with evidence of the attempt to secure a waiver of 6 service of the summons and of the costs subsequently incurred in effecting service 7 upon Defendant. The costs of service must be enumerated on the return of service 8 form (USM-285) and must include the costs incurred by the Marshal for 9 photocopying additional copies of the Summons, Second Amended Complaint, or 10 this Order and for preparing new process receipt and return forms (USM-285), if 11 required. Costs of service will be taxed against the personally served Defendant 12 pursuant to Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, unless otherwise 13 ordered by the Court. 14 (12) Defendant Perez must answer Count One of the Second Amended Complaint 15 | or otherwise respond by appropriate motion within the time provided by the applicable 16 | provisions of Rule 12(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 17 (13) This matter is referred to Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine pursuant to 18 | Rules 72.1 and 72.2 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure for all pretrial proceedings as authorized under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 20 Dated this 12th day of November, 2020. 21 22 a 23 _ James A. Teil Org Senior United States District Judge 25 26 27 28