Freeman v. Ducey ( 2021 )

1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 Benjamin Freeman, No. CV-20-00287-TUC-RM 10 Plaintiff, ORDER 11 v. 12 Douglas Ducey, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 Pending before the Court are Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File an Amended 16 Complaint (Doc. 17) and Motion for Leave to File a Supplemental Complaint (Doc. 19). 17 Defendant responded to both of Plaintiff’s Motions (Docs. 22, 23), and Plaintiff replied 18 (Doc. 29). Also pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Defendant’s 19 Responses to Plaintiff’s Motions for Leave to File an Amended Complaint and a 20 Supplemental Complaint. (Doc. 26.) Defendant responded to Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike 21 (Doc. 27), and Plaintiff replied (Doc. 35).1 22 I. Background 23 On June 26, 2020, Plaintiff, who is confined in the Arizona State Prison Complex 24 (“ASPC”)-Tucson, filed a pro se civil rights Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 25 (Doc. 1.) On July 28, 2020, the Court granted Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma 26 Pauperis,2 ordered Defendant Shinn to answer the claims for prospective injunctive relief 27 1 Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 45) will be addressed separately. 2 The Court recognized that Plaintiff has accumulated three strikes for purposes of 28 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) but nevertheless allowed him to proceed in forma pauperis, finding that he met the imminent danger exception. (Doc. 6 at 1–4.) 1 only, and dismissed the remaining claims and Defendants. (Doc. 6.) On October 26, 2 2020, Defendant Shinn filed an Answer to Plaintiff’s Complaint. (Doc. 10.) 3 II. Motion to Strike 4 Plaintiff moves pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f)(2) to strike 5 Defendant’s Responses to his Motions for Leave to File Amended and Supplemental 6 Complaints, arguing that the Responses are premature. Plaintiff contends that Defendants 7 “jumped the gun” by filing “immaterial, irrelevant and impertinent Responses” before 8 they had been served with copies of the Amended Complaint or Supplemental Complaint 9 pursuant to Rule 5(b). Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s Motion should be denied because 10 responses to motions are not pleadings for purposes of Rules 7(a) and 12(f) of the Federal 11 Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 27 at 1.) 12 A party may file a motion to strike (1) “only if it is authorized by statute or rule, 13 such as Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(f)” or (2) if it seeks to strike “any part of a 14 filing or submission on the ground that it is prohibited (or not authorized) by a statute, 15 rule, or court order.” LRCiv 7.2(m)(1). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) provides 16 that a court “may strike from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, 17 immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter” either “on its own” or “on motion made 18 by a party[.]” Rule 12(f) specifically relates to striking matters from pleadings and does 19 not authorize courts to strike “documents that are not pleadings.” Silva v. West, 333 20 F.R.D. 245, 247 (N.D. Fla. 2019) (citing Wimberly v. Clark Controller Co., 364 F.2d 225, 21 227 (6th Cir. 1966)); see also Sidney-Vinstein v. A.H. Robins Co., 697, F.2d 880, 885 (9th 22 Cir. 1983) (holding that the district court erred in striking a motion to reconsider under 23 Rule 12(f) because the motion was not a pleading). 24 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7(a)(1)–(7) lists only the following as pleadings: 25 (1) a complaint; (2) an answer to a complaint; (3) an answer to a counterclaim designated 26 as a counterclaim; (4) an answer to a crossclaim; (5) a third-party complaint; (6) an 27 answer to a third-party complaint; and (7) a reply to an answer, if the court orders one. A 28 response to a motion is not a pleading. Calkins v. Shapiro & Anderson, L.L.P., No. 05- 1 0815-PHX-ROS, 2005 WL 3434718, at *3 (D. Ariz. Dec. 13, 2005). 2 The Court may not strike Defendant’s Responses pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 3 Procedure 12(f) because the Responses are not pleadings.3 Nor may the Court strike the 4 Responses under LRCiv 7.2(m)(1) as prohibited or unauthorized by a statute, rule, or 5 court order. Defendant was authorized pursuant to Local Rule of Civil Procedure 7.2(c) 6 to respond to Plaintiff’s Motions, and Defendant’s Responses are timely. Therefore, the 7 Court will deny Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike. 8 III. Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint 9 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) provides that, except in circumstances not 10 present here, “a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party’s written 11 consent or the court’s leave.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). Because Plaintiff does not have 12 Defendant’s written consent to amend his complaint, Plaintiff requires the Court’s leave. 13 See id. 15(a)(2). District courts have discretion to determine whether to grant or deny 14 leave to amend, Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962); however, leave should freely 15 be given “when justice so requires,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). The Ninth Circuit has 16 directed that the above-stated policy “be applied with extreme liberality.” Morongo Band 17 of Mission Indians v. Rose, 893 F.2d 1074, 1079 (9th Cir. 1990). “This liberality in 18 granting leave to amend is not dependent on whether the amendment will add causes of 19 action or parties.” DCD Programs, Ltd. v. Leighton, 833 F.2d 183, 186 (9th Cir. 1987). In 20 ruling on a motion to amend, a court must consider whether there has been “‘undue 21 delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, repeated failure to cure 22 deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing party 23 by virtue of allowance of the amendment, futility of amendment, etc.’” Eminence 24 Capital, LLC v. Aspeon, Inc., 316 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th Cir. 2003) (quoting Foman, 371 25 U.S. at 182). “Absent prejudice, or a strong showing of any of the remaining Foman 26 factors, there exists a presumption under Rule 15(a) in favor of granting leave to amend.” 27 Id. 28 3 Plaintiff’s reliance on Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(b)(1) is likewise not applicable as that rule applies only to serving pleadings rather than motions. 1 Plaintiff has not previously amended his Complaint, and his Motion to Amend is 2 timely pursuant to the deadline set in the Court’s Scheduling Order for moving to amend 3 pleadings. (Doc. 11 at 2.) The Court finds no evidence of undue delay, bad faith, or 4 dilatory motive on Plaintiff’s part. Furthermore, the Court does not find, at this early 5 stage of the proceedings, that Defendant would be prejudiced by Plaintiff’s requested 6 amendment. Although Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) reasserts claims 7 from his original complaint, the FAC includes new facts in support of those claims, and 8 the Court does not find that the requested amendment would be futile. Additionally, 9 although Defendant Shinn argues that “none of [Plaintiff’s] new allegations implicate 10 him or the claims that are presently before the Court,” the argument is insignificant, 11 because a plaintiff may litigate new claims added in an amended complaint, so long as 12 they are administratively exhausted prior to the amendment. Cano v. Taylor, 739 F.3d 13 1214, 1220 (9th Cir. 2014) (holding that “claims that [arise] as a cause of action prior to 14 the filing of the initial complaint may be added to a complaint via an amendment, as long 15 as they are administratively exhausted prior to the amendment”). The Court will grant 16 Plaintiff leave to amend under Rule 15(a)(2) and will order the Clerk of Court to file 17 Plaintiff’s FAC (currently lodged at Doc. 18). Plaintiff’s FAC supersedes his original 18 complaint; thus, the latter will be treated as non-existent. Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 19 1002, 1005 (9th Cir. 2010). 20 IV. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints 21 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief 22 against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 23 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). On review, the Court must dismiss a complaint or any portion of it if 24 a plaintiff has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim 25 upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is 26 immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)–(2). 27 A pleading must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 28 pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8 does 1 not demand detailed factual allegations, it does “demand[] more than an unadorned, the 2 defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 3 (2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 4 conclusory statements, do not suffice. Id. 5 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a 6 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 7 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content 8 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 9 misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for 10 relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its 11 judicial experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Thus, although a plaintiff’s specific 12 factual allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must assess 13 whether there are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id. at 681. 14 As the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed, courts 15 must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 16 (9th Cir. 2010). A complaint filed by a pro se prisoner “‘must be held to less stringent 17 standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 18 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)). Nevertheless, conclusory and vague allegations 19 will not support a cause of action, and “a liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint 20 may not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled.” Ivey v. Bd. of 21 Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 22 V. First Amended Complaint 23 In his FAC, Plaintiff names the following individuals as Defendants: Arizona 24 Governor Douglas Ducey; Arizona Department of Corrections (“ADC”) Director David 25 Shinn; Nurse Riley; Physician Assistant Natalyie Weizel; Health Services Director 26 Richard Pratt; Doctor Natalie Bell; Centurion Health; Deputy Warden David Neil; 27 Deputy Warden Martinez; Warden Pacheco; and Captain Baker. (Doc. 18 at 3.) Plaintiff 28 sues all of the above-named Defendants in their individual capacities, and states that he is 1 also suing Ducey, Shinn, and Centurion Health in their official capacities. (Id.) Plaintiff 2 designates all counts as Eighth Amendment threat-to-safety claims. (Id. at 7–20.) Plaintiff 3 seeks monetary and injunctive relief. (Id. at 22–24.)4 4 In Count I, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Shinn, Pacheco, and Neil acted with 5 deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s safety by failing to develop and implement a 6 comprehensive plan to prevent and manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus in 7 Arizona’s prisons and to address “overcrowding, double-bunking, and social distancing” 8 in the Manzanita Unit where Plaintiff is housed. (Id. at 7.) Plaintiff claims that Defendant 9 Shinn knows that the Manzanita Unit was originally built to house 24 female prisoners 10 but now houses 48 double-bunked male prisoners, and in Count I(A) he alleges that 11 social distancing in the unit is impossible because only two feet separate him from his 12 cellmate and only four feet separate him from the neighboring prisoner’s cell. (Id. at 7– 13 8.) In Count I(B), Plaintiff alleges that the air ducts in the Manzanita Unit recirculate “all 14 kinds of junk,” including COVID-19, and Defendants have failed to clean them. (Id.) In 15 Count I(C), Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Ducey, Shinn, Pacheco, Neil, and Baker 16 acted with deliberate indifference by providing only staff and administrators with face 17 masks but failing to provide prisoners with face masks until July 2020. (Id. at 9.) In 18 Count I(D), Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Ducey and Shinn act with deliberate 19 indifference by failing to consider, create, and/or revise prison reduction tools—such as 20 home arrest, work furlough, or compassionate leave programs—to abate the risk of 21 COVID-19 infections. (Id. at 9.) Plaintiff similarly alleges in Count I(F) that Defendant 22 Ducey acts with deliberate indifference by refusing to consider, or instruct Shinn to use, 23 measures such as home arrest, compassionate release, and early release programs to 24 reduce the prison population and prevent the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable inmates. 25 4 Plaintiff also requests that the Court order Defendants to immediately reduce the prison population by releasing prisoners who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and placing them on 26 home arrest, work furlough, or other preexisting programs that will shorten their sentences of incarceration. (Id. at 22.) As previously stated in the screening of Plaintiff’s 27 original Complaint, the Court cannot order Plaintiff’s release, or any other prisoner’s release, in a § 1983 action. See Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 488–90 (1973) (if a 28 prisoner seeks relief that will result in immediate or speedier release, his exclusive remedy is a petition for habeas corpus). 1 (Id. at 14–17.) 2 In Count I(E), Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Ducey, Shinn, Pacheco, Neil, and 3 Baker failed “to scrutinize and micromanage their employees” to ensure proper 4 implementation of Infectious Disease Symptoms Check (“IDSC”) protocols. (Id. at 7, 5 11.) Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that employees’ temperatures are checked and noses 6 are swabbed every three days instead of daily as required; that staff are allowed to enter 7 the unit and interact with prisoners before the results of their health check are available; 8 and that correctional officers fail to wear masks when interacting with prisoners. (Id. at 9 11–12.) Plaintiff further alleges that, due to Defendants’ failure to demand employees’ 10 strict compliance with IDSC protocols, prisoners have become ill and died; Plaintiff 11 provides specific examples of instances in which alleged breaches of IDSC protocols 12 resulted in prisoners becoming infected with COVID-19. (Id. at 12; see also id. at 16–17.) 13 Plaintiff further claims in Count I that Defendants know that the Manzanita Unit is 14 equipped with only three toilets, three showers, and three face bowls for 48 prisoners, 15 resulting in prisoners waiting in line to use the facilities. (Id. at 7-8.) Plaintiff states that 16 waiting to use the restroom is a “bad experience on a daily basis for [him]” because he 17 suffers from “celiac[] disease, extreme flatulence, constipation[,] and from colonoscopies 18 and endoscopies in 2019-2020.” (Id. at 7.) Plaintiff further indicates that he has 19 repeatedly soiled himself while waiting in line to use the toilets, and then must wait in 20 line in soiled clothing to use the showers. (Id. at 7–8.) 21 In Count II, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Weizel acted with deliberate 22 indifference by failing to authorize a consultation with a pulmonary specialist. (Id. at 19.) 23 Plaintiff states that he informed Weizel, Shute, and Bell in 2018 and 2019 that he 24 experiences heart palpitations and shortness of breath when he is exposed to second-hand 25 cigarette smoke. (Id.) He also explained to Defendants that he smoked for 42 years prior 26 to 2007, when he was stabbed in the lungs and was told that he could lose a lung if he 27 continued to smoke. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that Weizel scheduled him for cardiology 28 consultations but not a pulmonology consultation. (Id.) 1 In Count III, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Riley also acted with deliberate 2 indifference by failing to schedule Plaintiff for a pulmonology consultation. (Id. at 20.) 3 Plaintiff alleges that he informed Riley of the same facts he explained to Shute and Bell 4 and also told Riley that a cardiologist reported in March 2020 that Plaintiff’s heart is in 5 good condition but that Plaintiff may benefit from a pulmonology consultation. (Id.) 6 Plaintiff further alleges that Riley’s failure to schedule a pulmonology consultation 7 resulted in Plaintiff experiencing coughing, sneezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. 8 (Id.) 9 VI. Discussion 10 A cause of action exists under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against “[e]very person who, 11 under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State . . . 12 subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the deprivation 13 of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws[.]” To prevail 14 on a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must show that (1) acts by the defendants (2) under color of 15 state law (3) deprived him or her of federal rights, privileges, or immunities, and (4) 16 caused him or her damage. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1163–64 (9th 17 Cir. 2005) (quoting Shoshone-Bannock Tribes v. Idaho Fish & Game Comm’n, 42 F.3d 18 1278, 1284 (9th Cir. 1994)). Additionally, a plaintiff must allege (1) that he or she 19 suffered a specific injury as a result of the conduct of a particular defendant and (2) an 20 affirmative link between the injury and the conduct of that defendant. Rizzo v. Goode, 21 423 U.S. 362, 371–72, 377 (1976). 22 A suit against a defendant in his or her individual capacity seeks to impose 23 personal liability upon the official. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165–66 (1985). 24 For a person to be liable in his or her individual capacity, “[a] plaintiff must allege facts, 25 not simply conclusions, that show that an individual was personally involved in the 26 deprivation of his [or her] civil rights.” Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th 27 Cir. 1998). There is no respondeat superior liability under § 1983; thus, a defendant’s 28 position as the supervisor of a person who allegedly violated a plaintiff’s constitutional 1 rights does not make him or her liable. Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 2 1989). A supervisor is liable in his or her individual capacity “only for constitutional 3 violations from his [or her] subordinates if the supervisor participated in or directed the 4 violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them.” Id. 5 In contrast, a suit against a defendant in his or her official capacity represents only 6 another way of pleading an action against the entity that employs the defendant. Graham, 7 473 U.S. at 165. That is, the real party in interest is not the named defendant but instead 8 the entity that employs the defendant. Id. at 166. To bring a claim against a person in his 9 or her official capacity, a plaintiff must show that the constitutional deprivation resulted 10 from the entity’s policy, custom, or practice. Id.; see also Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. 11 Of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978). 12 Because the real party in interest in an official-capacity suit is not the named 13 defendant but instead the entity that employs the defendant, Graham, 473 U.S. at 166, “a 14 suit against a state official in his or her official capacity . . . is no different from a suit 15 against the State itself.” Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989). 16 Neither a State nor a state official sued in his or her official capacity may be sued for 17 damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Will, 491 U.S. at 71; see also Gilbreath v. Cutter Bio., 18 Inc., 931 F.2d 1320, 1327 (9th Cir. 1991) (“‘arms of the State’ such as the Arizona 19 Department of Corrections are not ‘persons’ under section 1983”). A state official may be 20 sued in his or her official capacity under § 1983 only for prospective declaratory or 21 injunctive relief. Will, 491 U.S. at 71 n.10; see also Coalition to Defend Affirmative 22 Action v. Brown, 674 F.3d 1128, 1134 (9th Cir. 2012). 23 A. Defendants Pratt, Centurion Health, and Martinez 24 Plaintiff does not connect any of the allegations in his FAC to Defendants Pratt, 25 Centurion Health, or Martinez. The Court will therefore dismiss these Defendants. 26 B. Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment Threat-To-Safety Claims 27 The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain constitutes cruel and unusual 28 punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102– 1 03 (1976). A convicted prisoner’s threat-to-safety claim arises under the Eighth 2 Amendment. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 n.16 (1979). To state a threat-to-safety 3 claim, a prisoner must allege (1) that he or she was incarcerated under conditions posing 4 a substantial risk of harm and (2) that prison officials were “deliberately indifferent” to 5 those risks. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1993). Deliberate indifference 6 requires more than mere negligence or an ordinary lack of due care for the prisoner’s 7 safety. Id. at 835. To adequately allege deliberate indifference by a prison official, the 8 prisoner must state facts to support that the prison official knew of, but disregarded, an 9 excessive risk to the prisoner’s health or safety. Id. at 837. Specifically, the prison official 10 “must both [have been] aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a 11 substantial risk of serious harm exist[ed], and he [or she] must also [have] draw[n] the 12 inference.” Id. 13 “The Constitution ‘does not mandate comfortable prisons,’ but neither does it 14 permit inhumane ones . . . .” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 832 (quoting Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 15 U.S. 337, 349 (1981)). Deprivations denying the minimal civilized measure of life’s 16 necessities, occurring through deliberate indifference by prison officials, are sufficiently 17 grave to sustain an Eighth Amendment claim. Keenan v. Hall, 83 F.3d 1083, 1089 (9th 18 Cir. 1996) (internal quotations omitted). In other words, “[p]rison officials have a duty to 19 ensure that prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food, clothing, sanitation, medical 20 care, and personal safety.” Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th Cir. 2000). “The 21 circumstance, nature, and duration of a deprivation of these necessities must be 22 considered in determining whether a constitutional violation has occurred.” Id. “The 23 more basic the need, the shorter the time it can be withheld.” Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 24 1237, 1259 (9th Cir. 1982). 25 1. Plaintiff’s Access-to-Sanitation Claim in Count I 26 Subjecting a prisoner to “severe and prolonged” lack of sanitation “can constitute 27 an infliction of pain within the meaning of the Eighth Amendment.” Anderson v. Cty. of 28 Kern, 45 F.3d 1310, 1314 (9th Cir. 1995). A temporary delay in allowing a prisoner to 1 use a restroom falls short of a constitutional deprivation, but the Eighth Amendment is 2 implicated if a prison’s restroom facilities are so inadequate that they inescapably result 3 in prisoners urinating or defecating into their clothing. Johnson, 217 F.3d at 733; see also 4 Santos v. Corr. Corp. of Am., No. CV 11-630-PHX-JAT, 2011 WL 1375158, at *2–3 (D. 5 Ariz. Apr. 12. 2011) (prisoner did not allege sufficiently serious deprivation where he 6 was denied use of a toilet for one hour and thirty-five minutes, causing him to relieve 7 himself in a bucket); Saenz v. Reeves, No. 1:09-CV-00557-BAM PC, 2012 WL 4049975, 8 at *14 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 13, 2012) (“[D]enying Plaintiff access to a toilet and water for 9 five and one half hours on one occasion and four and one half hours on a separate 10 occasion, while he was kept in a holding cell, are not sufficient to rise to the level of a 11 sufficiently serious deprivation to violate the Eighth Amendment.”); Salinas v. Cty. of 12 Kern, No. 118CV00235BAMPC, 2018 WL 5879703, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2018) 13 (“Plaintiff’s allegation that he was denied access to a restroom and water for 14 approximately nine hours on a single day is insufficient to state a claim upon which relief 15 may be granted.”). To state a claim under the Eighth Amendment, a plaintiff must allege 16 not only a sufficiently serious deprivation but also that “the defendant officials had actual 17 knowledge of the plaintiffs’ basic human needs and deliberately refused to meet those 18 needs.” Johnson, 217 F.3d at 734. A plaintiff may prove such knowledge through 19 inference from circumstantial evidence. Id. 20 Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged that any of the named individuals were 21 personally involved in his alleged lack of access to sanitation facilities in the Manzanita 22 Unit so as to state an Eighth Amendment claim against the defendants in their individual 23 capacities. However, liberally construed, Plaintiff has stated an Eighth Amendment claim 24 for prospective injunctive relief against Defendant Shinn in his official capacity. The 25 Court will require Defendant Shinn to answer the access-to-sanitation claim in Count I 26 for prospective injunctive relief only. 27 . . . . 28 . . . . 1 2. Counts I(A) and I(C) 2 In Counts I(A) and I(C), and throughout Count I, Plaintiff avers that: (1) he is 3 vulnerable to COVID-19; (2) he cannot socially distance more than two feet from his 4 cellmate and more than four feet from his neighboring prisoner’s cell; (3) the Manzanita 5 Unit houses double its capacity; (4) the ADCRR’s IDSC plan fails to address social 6 distancing; (5) the IDSC plan “is a product of” Defendant Shinn and was implemented by 7 him; and (6) prisoners, including vulnerable prisoners such as himself, did not receive 8 face masks until July 2020. Liberally construed, Plaintiff has stated an Eighth 9 Amendment claim for prospective injunctive relief against Defendant Shinn in his official 10 capacity, and the Court will require Defendant Shinn to answer the above-stated claims 11 for prospective injunctive relief only. 12 Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to support a conclusion that Defendant 13 Ducey was aware of and disregarded a substantial risk of harm to Plaintiff’s safety. 14 Knowing about the risks of COVID-19 to prisoners, having access to opinions from 15 national public health experts, such as from the CDC, and possible knowledge of the 16 number and manner of all prisoner deaths is insufficient to support a conclusion that 17 Defendant Ducey was deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s safety. The Court will 18 therefore dismiss Defendant Ducey with respect to these claims. The Court will also 19 dismiss Defendants Pacheco, Baker, and Neil with respect to these claims, because 20 Plaintiff fails to provide factual specificity as to how their actions or inactions contributed 21 to his injuries, such as whether they had any input or authority to include or exclude 22 COVID-19 prevention strategies in the IDSC plan. 23 3. Count I(B) 24 Plaintiff does not specify which particular named defendants are responsible for 25 the grievance he alleges in Count I(B). See Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371–72, 377. Even if the 26 Court liberally construed the allegations in Count I(B) as being asserted against all of the 27 named defendants, Plaintiff fails to provide sufficient factual specificity about any 28 defendant’s awareness of the condition or maintenance history of the air ducts in the 1 Manzanita Unit. The Court will therefore dismiss Count I(B) of Plaintiff’s FAC. 2 4. Count I(E) 3 Plaintiff’s allegations in Count I(E) are too vague and conclusory to support a 4 finding that Defendants Ducey, Shinn, Pacheco, Neil, and Baker were aware of, and 5 disregarded, a substantial risk of harm to Plaintiff’s health and safety. First, although 6 Plaintiff states that the IDSC plan “is a product of” and was implemented by Defendant 7 Shinn, Plaintiff fails to allege whether Defendant Shinn was aware of the alleged 8 violations of the IDSC plan by ADC employees. Plaintiff does state that Defendants 9 Pacheco, Neil, and Baker make reports to him, but Plaintiff does not specify whether 10 those reports disclosed information regarding the alleged violations of the IDSC plan. 11 Second, although Plaintiff states that the workplaces of Defendants Pacheco, Neil, and 12 Baker are in the prison complex or housing unit where he is incarcerated, Plaintiff again 13 fails to allege whether they were aware of the alleged violations of the IDSC plan by 14 ADC employees. There is no respondeat superior liability for § 1983 claims and, here, 15 Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged whether any named Defendant was aware of any 16 noncompliance with the IDSC plan and failed to act. See Taylor, 880 F.2d at 1045. 17 Therefore, the Court will dismiss Count I(E) of Plaintiff’s FAC. 18 C. Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment Medical Care Claims 19 Not every claim by a prisoner that he or she has not received adequate medical 20 treatment states a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105. “Under 21 42 U.S.C. § 1983, to maintain an Eighth Amendment claim based on prison medical 22 treatment, a [prisoner] must show ‘deliberate indifference to serious medical needs’ [by 23 the defendant(s)].” Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Estelle, 24 429 U.S. at 104). The Ninth Circuit requires a prisoner to make two showings to meet the 25 above test for deliberate indifference: (1) a serious medical need by demonstrating that 26 failure to treat his or her condition could result in further significant injury or unnecessary 27 and wanton infliction of pain, and (2) a deliberately indifferent response to the need by 28 the defendant(s). Id. 1 “Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 2 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). To act with deliberate indifference, the defendant must know 3 of, but disregard, an excessive risk to the prisoner’s health or safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 4 837. Specifically, the defendant “must both be aware of facts from which the inference 5 could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he [or she] must also 6 draw the inference.” Id. In the context of prison medical treatment, deliberate 7 indifference may be shown by “(a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s 8 pain or possible medical need and (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Jett, 439 F.3d at 9 1096. Additionally, deliberate indifference may be shown “when prison officials deny, 10 delay[,] or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or . . . by the way in which 11 prison physicians provide medical care.” Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 394 12 (9th Cir. 1988) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104–05). 13 Deliberate indifference requires more than mere negligence or an ordinary lack of 14 due care for the prisoner’s safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835; see also Broughton v. Cutter 15 Lab’ys, 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (claims of “[m]ere ‘indifference,’ ‘negligence,’ 16 or ‘medical malpractice’” will not support a cause of action under § 1983). A prisoner’s 17 “complaint that a physician has been negligent in diagnosing or treating a medical 18 condition does not state a valid claim of medical mistreatment under the Eighth 19 Amendment.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. Furthermore, a difference of medical opinion as 20 to treatment of a prisoner does not amount to deliberate indifference to that prisoner’s 21 serious medical needs. Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989) (explaining that 22 the prisoner had been seen by a variety of medical personnel, such as “a physician’s 23 assistant, prison doctors, and outside physicians on numerous occasions”). 24 Plaintiff’s allegations in Count II are too vague and conclusory to support a 25 finding that Defendants Bell and Weizel were deliberately indifferent to his serious 26 medical needs. Although Plaintiff states that his medical records “detail[] his diminishing 27 lung capacity” and that he informed Defendants Bell and Weizel that he experiences 28 heart palpitations and shortness of breath when he inhales cigarette smoke coming from 1 neighboring cells, Plaintiff alleges that one of his previous medical providers, Dr. Seth, 2 stated only that Plaintiff may benefit from a pulmonary consultation. This information is 3 insufficient to infer that a substantial risk existed if Plaintiff was not seen by a 4 pulmonologist. As previously stated in this Court’s first screening order, Plaintiff’s 5 allegations, at most, suggest that Defendants Bell and Weizel were negligent in failing to 6 examine Plaintiff’s lungs, or negligent in failing to diagnose his condition correctly, and 7 mere negligence does not amount to deliberate indifference. See Broughton, 622 F.2d at 8 460; Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. The Court will therefore dismiss Defendants Bell and 9 Weizel and Count II in Plaintiff’s FAC. 10 Likewise, Plaintiff’s allegations in Count III are too vague and conclusory to 11 support a finding that Defendant Riley was deliberately indifferent to his serious medical 12 needs. Plaintiff alleges that Riley checked his heart rate and temperature and listened to 13 his chest and lungs with a statoscope before determining that Plaintiff did not meet the 14 criteria for a pulmonary consultation. These allegations do not show that Defendant Riley 15 failed to respond to Plaintiff’s possible need for a pulmonary consultation but merely that 16 Riley determined Plaintiff did not meet the criteria for such a consultation. Plaintiff’s 17 allegations suggest, at most, that Defendant Riley was negligent in failing to diagnose his 18 condition correctly and, again, negligence does not amount to deliberate indifference. See 19 Broughton, 622 F.2d at 460; Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. Furthermore, although Dr. Seth’s 20 report stated that Plaintiff may benefit from a pulmonary consultation, Defendant Riley’s 21 difference in medical opinion does not amount to deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s 22 serious medical needs. See Sanchez, 891 F.2d at 242. The Court will therefore dismiss 23 Defendant Riley and Count III of Plaintiff’s FAC. 24 D. Plaintiff’s Due Process Claims 25 Although Plaintiff designates all counts as Eighth Amendment threat-to-safety 26 claims, the Court will construe Counts I(D) and I(F) as due process claims, as Plaintiff 27 alleges that Defendants are depriving him and other prisoners of opportunities to either 28 reduce their sentences or serve the remaining portion of them outside the prison setting. 1 In conducting due process analysis, “[t]he threshold question . . . is whether a 2 constitutionally protected interest is implicated.” Baumann v. Ariz. Dep’t of Corr., 745 3 F.2d 841, 843 (9th Cir. 1985) (citing Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 223–24 (1976)). 4 “Not every ‘grievous loss’ suffered at the hands of the state will [invoke] the procedural 5 protection of constitutional due process.” Id. at 834 (citing Meachum, 427 U.S. at 224). 6 Additionally, “[t]here is no constitutional or inherent right of a convicted person to be 7 conditionally released before the expiration of a valid sentence.” Greenholtz v. Inmates of 8 Neb. Penal and Corr. Complex, 442 U.S. 1, 7 (1979). However, a state may “create[] a 9 protected liberty interest by placing substantive limitations on official discretion.” Olim v. 10 Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238, 249 (1983). “If the decisionmaker is not ‘required to base its 11 decisions on objective criteria,’ but instead ‘can deny the requested relief for any 12 constitutionally permissible reason or for no reason at all,’ . . . the [s]tate has not created 13 a constitutionally protected liberty interest.” Id. (quoting Conn. Bd. of Pardons v. 14 Dumschat, 452 U.S. 458, 467 (1981) (Brennan, J., concurring)). Moreover, published 15 prison regulations “that place no substantive limitations on official discretion” likewise 16 do not create a constitutionally protected liberty interest. Olim, 461 U.S. at 249–50; see 17 also Baumann, 745 F.2d at 844. 18 In Arizona, the ADC director has discretion to authorize that an inmate be 19 temporarily removed from custody “for the purpose of employing the inmate in any work 20 directly connected with the administration, management[,] or maintenance of the prison 21 or institution in which the inmate is confined, for purposes of cooperating voluntarily in 22 medical research that cannot be performed at the prison or institution, or for participating 23 in community action activities directed toward delinquency prevention and community 24 betterment programs.” A.R.S. §§ 31-233(A) and 41-1604.11(A). “Under specific rules 25 established by the [ADC] director for the selection of inmates, [he or she] may also 26 authorize furlough, temporary removal[,] or temporary release of any inmate for 27 compassionate leave, for the purpose of furnishing to the inmate medical treatment not 28 available at the prison or institution, for purposes preparatory to a return to the 1 community within ninety days of the inmate’s release date or for disaster aid, including 2 local mutual aid and state emergencies.” A.R.S. §§ 31-233(B) and 41-1604.11(B). 3 Furthermore, under Arizona law, the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency (“ABEC”) 4 has discretionary authority to release an inmate on work furlough, A.R.S. § 41- 5 1604.11(C), or to a home release program, A.R.S. § 41-1604.13(B). 6 Discretion is emphasized again in Rule 8.1 under ADC’s Department Order 1002, 7 which governs the temporary release of inmates who “may be authorized by the Director 8 or designee for a supervised discretionary release for up to 90 calendar days prior to a 9 designated release, for purposes preparatory to a return to the community” if they “are 10 statutorily eligible pursuant to A.R.S. § 31-2333(A) or (B) or A.R.S. § 41-1604.11(A) or 11 (B).”5 Furthermore, Rule 8.9 provides that the temporary release of an inmate “is a 12 privilege, not a right of the inmate/offender,” and that the authorization for a temporary 13 release of an inmate is “determined at the sole discretion of the Director or designee, 14 contingent upon [the Time Computation Unit’s] verification of statutory eligibility.”6 15 As previously stated in the screening order of Plaintiff’s initial complaint, an 16 inmate’s interest in parole does not by itself trigger due process protections because there 17 is no entitlement to reduction of a valid sentence. See Conn. Bd. of Pardons, 452 U.S. at 18 464. But if a state statute mandates parole via specified criteria, an interest protected by 19 the Due Process Clause may arise. Greenholtz, 442 U.S. at 12. Thus, in Greenholtz, the 20 Supreme Court held that the Nebraska parole board did not violate the plaintiffs’ due 21 process rights because the board followed the state parole statutes, which afforded the 22 plaintiffs an opportunity to be heard and informed them of the reasons why they were 23 denied parole. Id. 24 In Arizona, a prisoner “who has been certified eligible for parole or absolute 25 discharge from imprisonment” under A.R.S. §§ 31-412(B) or 41-1604.09 must be given 26 “an opportunity to apply for release on parole or for an absolute discharge from 27 5 Department Order 1002 – Inmate Release Eligibility System, ADCRR, 28 https://corrections.az.gov/sites/default/files/policies/1000/1002_031021.pdf. 6 Id. 1 imprisonment.” A.R.S. § 31-411(A) (emphasis added). In addition, a prisoner “who is 2 eligible for release on parole or for absolute discharge from imprisonment shall be given 3 an opportunity to be heard,” either before a hearing officer designated by the Board or by 4 the Board itself. A.R.S. § 31-411(B) (West 2012) (emphasis added). 5 Plaintiff thus has no constitutionally protected liberty interest in custodial release 6 on work furlough and home arrest. Additionally, his susceptibility to the COVID-19 virus 7 does not create a due process right to parole or early or temporary release. Therefore, 8 Defendant Ducey’s failure to consider, instruct, or even recommend that home arrest, 9 work furlough, and other early release tools be utilized and created by Defendant Shinn 10 and the ABEC for Plaintiff and other prisoners does not violate Plaintiff’s constitutional 11 rights. Defendant Shinn’s failure to revise, consider, and/or create the use of these tools 12 likewise does not violate Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Accordingly, the Court will 13 dismiss Counts I(D) and I(F) in Plaintiff’s FAC. 14 VII. Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Complaint 15 A. Supplemental Complaint 16 In Counts I and II of his supplemental complaint, Plaintiff avers the following: 17 On October 27, 2020, Defendant Espinoza scheduled Plaintiff for a COVID-19 test, 18 given that Plaintiff had an upcoming offsite capsule endoscopy appointment. (Doc. 20 at 19 4.) Plaintiff’s COVID-19 test result was negative. (Id.) Defendant Hines initiated 20 Plaintiff’s capsule endoscopy appointment. (Id.) Requests for offsite medical 21 consultations by Defendant Hines go to the Facility Health Administrators, K. Switzer 22 and B. Richey, for their authorization. (Id.) Such requests are ultimately approved by 23 John Doe and Jane Doe, the Utilization Management Team. (Id.) On October 29, 2020 at 24 4:00 a.m., Defendants John Doe #1 and #2 (hereinafter “JDs 1 and 2”), who are medical 25 transport officers, arrived at the Manzanita Unit to transport Plaintiff to his capsule 26 endoscopy appointment in Phoenix at the Maricopa County Hospital. (Doc. 20 at 4, 7). At 27 the time of their arrival, JDs 1 and 2 were wearing masks; upon their departure from 28 ASPC-Tucson, they immediately removed their masks and did not wear them during the 1 two-hour trip to the hospital. (Id. at 7, 15.) Plaintiff wore his mask during this time. (Id. at 2 7.) 3 At the conclusion of Plaintiff’s capsule endoscopy, JDs 1 and 2, without masks, 4 transported Plaintiff to the Alhambra Detention Center Intake (“ADCI”) for an eight-hour 5 layover to be monitored by hospital staff. (Id. at 4, 8.) The ADCI is where newly arrested 6 parole violators who have not been tested for COVID-19 and county prisoners are held. 7 (Id. at 8.) JDs 1 and 2 dropped Plaintiff off at the ADCI, where Plaintiff was among 8 unmasked and non-COVID-19 tested prisoners. (Id.) When JDs 1 and 2 returned to the 9 ADCI, Plaintiff was escorted out of the ADCI by a correctional officer and an unmasked 10 prisoner. (Id.) Then, JDs 1 and 2, wearing masks, escorted Plaintiff to the transport van, 11 but, when leaving the ADCI parking lot, they removed their masks. (Id.) In the van, 12 Plaintiff sat in the back, within three to four feet from JDs 1 and 2. (Id.) On their way 13 back to ASPC-Tucson, JDs 1 and 2 told Plaintiff that they spent their day having 14 breakfast at Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles, socializing with females at a female cyclist/spin 15 class, and visiting unmasked friends, all while not wearing masks themselves and not 16 practicing social distancing. (Id. at 9, 15.) Nearing ASPC-Tucson two hours after leaving 17 Phoenix, JDs 1 and 2 put their masks back on. (Id. at 9.) 18 Upon entering the Manzanita Unit, Plaintiff went directly to the medical unit 19 because he was not feeling well. (Id.) Defendant John Doe Unit Nurse took Plaintiff’s 20 temperature; however, he failed to test Plaintiff for COVID-19. (Id.) Plaintiff continued 21 to feel ill that same night and again went to the medical unit, but Officer Maldonado 22 and/or C.O. II told Plaintiff to fill out a Health Needs Request (“HNR”) because the two 23 on-duty nurses were busy, although they were “actually sitting on their rears doing 24 nothing.” (Id. at 9, 15.) On November 3, 2020, Plaintiff submitted an HNR stating that he 25 had been experiencing a scratchy throat and runny nose since November 1, 2020. (Id. at 26 10.) On November 4, 2020, Plaintiff received a response from the medical unit 27 instructing him to gargle with warm water and salt and to submit another HNR if his 28 symptoms worsen. (Id.) On November 6, 2020, Plaintiff submitted another HNR stating 1 that he had a sore throat. (Id.) 2 On or about November 6, 2020, Plaintiff’s dormitory was placed under quarantine. 3 (Id.) Each time there was a prisoner newly infected with COVID-19, a two-week 4 quarantine extension was imposed by the prison. (Id. at 11.) On or about November 7, 5 2020, Plaintiff’s condition worsened, as he threw up, coughed, and sneezed, experienced 6 chills and a fever, and laid on his back for 12 hours without moving and without eating or 7 drinking. (Id. at 10.) Plaintiff asked C.O. II Barns to initiate an ICS and told him that he 8 wanted to self-quarantine to avoid infecting other prisoners. (Id.) Plaintiff was taken to 9 the medical unit where Defendant Jane Doe Unit Nurse checked his heart rate and blood 10 pressure. (Id. at 10, 14.) At that time, Plaintiff was not tested for COVID-19. (Id. at 10.) 11 Plaintiff was then placed in solitary confinement, not medical isolation. (Id.) On 12 November 10, 2020, Plaintiff was tested for COVID-19, 12 days after Plaintiff’s return 13 from his offsite medical appointment. (Id. at 6, 10.) During these 12 days, Plaintiff ate in 14 his housing unit’s cafeteria, sitting within one foot of other inmates, and slept within 15 three feet of other inmates who were not wearing masks. (Id. at 12.) On November 16, 16 2020, while in solitary confinement and still “sick and feeling the full effects of COVID- 17 19,” staff informed Plaintiff that he and about 10 other infected prisoners had to return to 18 their 48-man dormitory, where 28 uninfected prisoners were housed. (Id. at 10–11.) 19 On November 25, 2020, Plaintiff submitted an informal medical complaint, which 20 C.O. III Deebum sent to C.O. IV Stangl. (Id. at 12.) C.O. Deebum ignored Plaintiff’s 21 reminder that his complaint was a medical one. (Id.) C.O. III Vance, Plaintiff’s C.O. III, 22 was on vacation due to the Thanksgiving holiday and thus Plaintiff had to locate C.O. 23 Deebum to submit his complaint. (Id.) On November 30, 2020, Plaintiff received a 24 response from C.O. IV Stangl, which stated that he needed to have submitted his informal 25 complaint within 10 working days from the date of the action that caused the complaint 26 and thus that Plaintiff’s complaint was filed outside that time frame. (Id.) On December 27 3, 2020, Plaintiff submitted a grievance response to C.O. IV Stangl informing him that 28 during that time frame he was infected with COVID-19, his dormitory was placed under 1 quarantine, and thereafter he was placed in solitary confinement. (Id. at 12–13.) On 2 December 8, 2020, Plaintiff received a response from C.O. IV Stangl stating that his 3 grievance was being returned to him unprocessed because it did not have an assigned 4 case number and was submitted outside the appropriate time frame. (Id. at 13.) On 5 December 12, 2020, Plaintiff submitted an Inmate Grievance Appeal to the ADC 6 Director, David Shinn, and received a response from C.O. IV Stangl stating that Plaintiff 7 could not appeal an unprocessed grievance. (Id.) 8 Based on these events, Plaintiff alleges Eighth Amendment claims against: (1) 9 Defendants Hines, K. Switzer, Padovano, Espinoza, B. Richey, Unit Nurses John Doe 10 and Jane Doe, John Doe and Jane Doe from the Utilization Management Team, 11 Centurion Health, Centurion Director Dr. Wendy Orm, and A. Thrush for their failure to 12 test Plaintiff, as well as other prisoners, upon their return from offsite medical 13 appointments and to medically isolate them from the general population to avoid 14 spreading COVID-19; (2) JDs 1 and 2, his medical transport officers, for their failure to 15 wear face masks during the 10 hours they travelled together on October 29, 2020 and 16 their failure to follow CDC guidelines and the ADCRR’s protocols requiring them to 17 undergo health checks before entering each ADC facility; and (3) Deputy Warden Neil 18 for his failure to (i) take charge of the ADCRR’s COVID-19 Management Strategy IDSC 19 plan, (ii) follow CDC guidelines to make sure no prisoners returned from offsite medical 20 appointments without first getting tested for COVID-19 and being medically isolated, and 21 (iii) strictly comply with ADC’s policies and practices. (Id. at 5, 7, 9, 11, 15–16.) Plaintiff 22 also lists the following individuals as defendants: Director of Offender Services Canson 23 McWilliams, Director of Health Services Richard Pratt, Appeals Officer L. Purden, 24 General Counsel C.R. Glynn, C.O. IV Michoff, and David Shinn. (Id. at 1–2.) 25 B. Discussion 26 Plaintiff requests that the Court grant him leave to file his supplemental complaint, 27 given that it adds new claims that have occurred since the filing of his original complaint. 28 (Doc. 19.) Defendant Shinn asks that the Court deny Plaintiff’s request because his new 1 claims are unrelated to him, have not been properly exhausted, consist of unsupported 2 speculation about the actions of medical and prison staff causing him to be infected with 3 the COVID-19 virus, and allege nothing more than isolated acts of negligence. (Doc. 23.) 4 In his Reply, Plaintiff argues that his new claims are not unrelated; his exhaustion efforts 5 have been significantly thwarted by C.O. IV Stangl, who has exhibited a pattern of 6 refusing to process valid past grievances; he could not file a timely grievance due to 7 contracting COVID-19; and his medical-related grievance should have been addressed by 8 a medical provider rather than C.O. IV Stangl. (Doc. 29 at 1–6.) 9 1. Relationship Between Initial and Supplemental Claims 10 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(d), a court may permit a party to 11 supplement a complaint in order to set out “any transaction, occurrence, or event that 12 happened after the date of the pleading to be supplemented.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(d). That 13 is, Rule 15(d) permits the filing of a supplemental pleading to “introduce[] a cause of 14 action not alleged in the original complaint and not in existence when the original 15 complaint was filed,” United States v. Reiten, 313 F.2d 673, 674–75 (9th Cir. 1963), and 16 allows persons participating in these new events to be added if necessary, Griffin v. Cty. 17 Sch. Bd. of Prince Edward Cty., 377 U.S. 218, 227 (1964). While granting leave to file a 18 supplemental complaint is favored, “it cannot be used to introduce a separate, distinct[,] 19 and new cause of action.” Planned Parenthood of S. Ariz. v. Neely, 130 F.3d 400, 402 20 (9th Cir. 1997) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). 21 Construed liberally, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s supplemental complaint does 22 not involve a new and distinct action, as his new claims relate to defendants developing 23 inadequate procedures to prevent and manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus—his 24 chief complaint in his initial pleading. Therefore, Defendant’s argument that the claims in 25 Plaintiff’s supplemental complaint do not relate to him does not support a denial of leave 26 to file the supplemental complaint. 27 2. Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies 28 The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) requires a prisoner to “exhaust 1 available administrative remedies before bringing a federal action concerning prison 2 conditions.” Griffin v. Arpaio, 557 F.3d 1117, 1119 (9th Cir. 2009); 42 U.S.C. § 3 1997e(a).7 This requirement extends to cases where a plaintiff seeks a remedy not 4 available through the administrative process, such as monetary damages. Booth v. 5 Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 733–34 (2001). A prisoner’s “[c]ompliance with prison grievance 6 procedures . . . is all that is required by the PLRA to properly exhaust.” Jones v. Bock, 7 549 U.S. 199, 218 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). “If a prisoner had full opportunity 8 and ability to file a grievance timely, but failed to do so, he has not properly exhausted 9 his administrative remedies.” Marella v. Terhune, 568 F.3d 1024, 1028 (9th Cir. 2009) 10 (per curiam). Proper exhaustion under the PLRA is mandatory and cannot be satisfied 11 “by filing an untimely or otherwise procedurally defective administrative grievance or 12 appeal.” Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 83–84 (2006). Furthermore, if a prisoner 13 includes newly added claims in his amended complaint based on conduct that occurred 14 after the filing of his initial complaint, the above-stated exhaustion requirement likewise 15 applies—that is, the prisoner must “show that the new claims were exhausted before 16 tendering the amended complaint.” Akhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1210 (9th Cir. 2012). 17 “[F]ailure to exhaust is an affirmative defense under the PLRA.” Jones, 549 U.S. 18 at 216. The defendant bears the initial burden to show that there was an available 19 administrative remedy and the prisoner failed to exhaust it. Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 20 1162, 1172 (9th Cir. 2014). Once the defendant makes that showing, the burden shifts to 21 the prisoner, who must show either that he did in fact exhaust the administrative remedies 22 or that “something in his particular case . . . made the existing and generally available 23 administrative remedies effectively unavailable to him.” Id. The ultimate burden, 24 however, remains with the defendant. Id. The administrative remedies “must indeed be 25 ‘available’ to the prisoner.” Ross v. Blake, 136 S.Ct. 1850, 1856 (2016). Aside from that 26 qualifier, “the PLRA’s text suggests no limits on an inmate’s obligation to exhaust— 27 irrespective of any ‘special circumstances.’” (Id.) In other words, the PLRA’s 28 7 This requirement extends but is not limited to suits under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 1171 (9th Cir. 2014). 1 “mandatory language means a court may not excuse a failure to exhaust, even to take 2 such circumstances into account.” (Id.) 3 Section 2.2 under ADC Department Order 802 specifies that a prisoner must 4 initiate his or her informal complaint “within ten workdays from the date of the action 5 that caused the complaint.”8 This rule applies to both medical and non-medical 6 complaints.9 If the prisoner is unable to resolve his or her complaint informally, the 7 prisoner may proceed with a formal grievance and thereafter an appeal.10 The decision of 8 the latter process “is final and constitutes exhaustion of all remedies within the 9 Department.”11 10 In his supplemental complaint, Plaintiff alleges that he did not receive a COVID- 11 19 test upon his return from his offsite medical appointment on October 29, 2020, despite 12 alleging that he was possibly exposed to the virus (Doc. 20 at 8, 10, 14–15), and that his 13 COVID-19 test was delayed until November 10, 2020. (Id. at 10).12 On November 25, 14 2020, Plaintiff submitted an informal medical complaint about these grievances to C.O. 15 III Deebum, who then gave it to C.O. IV Stangl. (Id. at 12; see also Doc. 23-1 at 7–9.) On 16 November 30, 2020, C.O. IV Stangl returned Plaintiff’s complaint unprocessed on the 17 grounds that it was not timely submitted. (Doc. 20 at 12; see also Doc. 23-1 at 6.)13 18 Plaintiff subsequently attempted to utilize the formal grievance and appeal processes, but 19 8 Department Order 802 – Inmate Grievance Procedure, ADCRR, https://corrections.az.gov/sites/default/files/policies/800/0802_020721.pdf. 20 9 Id. 10 Id. 21 11 Id. 12 Plaintiff avers that he was tested for COVID-19 on November 10, 2021 (Doc. 20 at 22 10); however, Defendant states that Plaintiff received a positive COVID-19 test on November 13, 2020, thus making that the date of the action that caused his complaint 23 (Doc. 23 at 2). Additionally, C.O. IV Stangl states in his response to Plaintiff’s informal complaint that the date of Plaintiff’s offsite medical appointment occurred on October 31, 24 2021 (Doc. 23-1 at 6), presumably indicating that it is the date of the action that caused his complaint. For purposes of Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File a Supplemental 25 Complaint, the Court accepts that Plaintiff’s offsite medical appointment occurred on October 29, 2020 and that he was tested for COVID-19 on November 10, 2020—as 26 stated in his proposed supplemental complaint—and will thus use these dates in evaluating the parties’ arguments. 27 13 Although C.O. IV Stangl’s response states that Plaintiff submitted his complaint to C.O. III Vance on November 30, 2020, the Court finds that Plaintiff submitted his 28 complaint on November 25, 2020, given that Plaintiff avers that C.O. III Vance was on vacation and that he gave his complaint to C.O. Deebum on that date. (Doc. 20 at 12.) 1 his attempts failed.14 2 Within the 10-workday periods after both October 29, 2020 and November 10, 3 2020, Plaintiff contends that he felt ill due to a COVID-19 diagnosis; his dormitory was 4 placed under quarantine; he was placed in solitary confinement; quarantine extensions 5 were imposed by the prison each time a prisoner was newly infected with COVID-19; 6 and his C.O. III (Vance) was on vacation at the time he wanted to initiate the grievance 7 process. (Doc. 20 at 9–12.) Moreover, Plaintiff argues that his informal complaint should 8 have been reviewed by a medical provider. (Doc. 29 at 5.) Additionally, the Court notes 9 that Plaintiff has previously averred that he has no access to legal resources during 10 quarantine periods (Doc. 13), and so it is unknown if access to complaint forms are 11 likewise inaccessible during such periods. Thus, the Court finds that there is insufficient 12 information to determine whether the above-stated circumstances “made the existing and 13 generally available administrative remedies effectively unavailable to [Plaintiff],” see 14 Albino, 747 F.3d at 1172, or whether Plaintiff had “full opportunity and ability to file 15 [his] grievance timely,” see Marella, 568 F.3d at 1028. Therefore, Defendant’s failure-to- 16 exhaust argument does not support denying Plaintiff leave to file his proposed 17 supplemental complaint. 18 3. Failure to State a Claim 19 The Court will nonetheless deny Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File a 20 Supplemental Complaint because Plaintiff’s proposed supplemental complaint fails to 21 state a claim against any of the defendants named therein. 22 Defendants Hines, K. Switzer, Espinoza, B. Rickey, and John and Jane Doe from the 23 Utilization Management Team 24 Plaintiff alleges that the above-named defendants failed to develop adequate 25 COVID-19 screening procedures upon the return of prisoners, such as himself, from 26 offsite medical appointments. However, these allegations are too vague and conclusory to 27 14 Plaintiff’s formal grievance was returned unprocessed as it was untimely and without 28 an assigned case number, and his appeal was returned on the ground that appealing an unprocessed grievance is prohibited. (Doc. 20 at 12–13; see also Doc. 23-1 at 2–5.) 1 support a conclusion that the named defendants were deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s 2 alleged immediate need for a COVID-19 test or medical isolation. Plaintiff merely 3 describes the roles that each defendant played in arranging his offsite endoscopy 4 appointment, which neither shows that the defendants were aware of his suspected 5 exposure to the COVID-19 virus throughout that day nor the fact that he was feeling ill 6 upon his return from his appointment. 7 Defendants John and Jane Doe (Unit Nurses) 8 Plaintiff alleges that Unit Nurses John Doe and Jane Doe failed to test Plaintiff for 9 COVID-19. These allegations are likewise too vague and conclusory to support a 10 conclusion that these defendants were deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s medical 11 needs. Other than stating that these defendants checked his temperature, heart rate, and 12 blood pressure, Plaintiff provides no additional factual specificity regarding his medical 13 visits with them, such as how or why they determined that he did not need to be tested for 14 COVID-19 and whether he informed them about his suspected exposure to the virus the 15 day of his offsite medical appointment. With the limited facts Plaintiff provides, the 16 defendants’ decision to not test Plaintiff for COVID-19, at most, amounts to negligence, 17 which is not equivalent to deliberate indifference. See Broughton, 622 F.2d at 460; 18 Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. 19 Defendants A. Thrush, Padovano, and Dr. Wendy Orm 20 Plaintiff alleges that the above-named defendants failed to develop adequate 21 COVID-19 screening procedures for prisoners returning from offsite medical 22 appointments. However, Plaintiff does not connect any of these defendants to the events 23 detailed in his supplemental complaint, nor does he state that they had any knowledge of 24 those events. 25 Defendants JDs 1 and 2 (Medical Transport Officers) 26 Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to support a conclusion that JDs 1 and 2 27 were aware of and disregarded a substantial risk of harm to Plaintiff’s safety. Plaintiff 28 merely suspects that these defendants exposed him to COVID-19 because of their actions 1 throughout the day when they transported him to his medical appointment. At most, 2 Plaintiff’s allegations suggest that JDs 1 and 2 were negligent in failing to wear their face 3 masks at all times; however, their negligence does not amount to deliberate indifference. 4 See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. 5 Defendant Neil 6 Plaintiff likewise fails to allege facts to support a conclusion that Defendant Neil 7 was aware of and disregarded a substantial risk of harm to Plaintiff’s safety. Specifically, 8 Plaintiff fails to state whether Defendant Neil had any knowledge of the events detailed 9 in his supplemental complaint. Plaintiff merely states that Defendant Neil knew that the 10 only way prisoners became infected with COVID-19 is by prison employees bringing the 11 virus into the prison (Doc. 20 at 11), which is unrelated to Plaintiff’s overall concern 12 about prisoners possibly becoming infected with the virus during their offsite medical 13 appointments. 14 Defendant Centurion Health 15 To state a claim under § 1983 against a private entity performing a traditional 16 public function, such as providing medical care to prisoners, a plaintiff must allege facts 17 to support that his or her constitutional rights were violated as a result of a policy, 18 decision, or custom promulgated or endorsed by the private entity. Tsao v. Desert Palace, 19 Inc., 698 F.3d 1128, 1138–39 (9th Cir. 2012). A private entity is not liable merely 20 because it employs persons who allegedly violated a Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Id. at 21 1139. Here, Plaintiff does not allege that any of the events described in his supplemental 22 complaint resulted from a policy, decision, or custom of Defendant Centurion Health. 23 Defendants McWilliams, Pratt, L. Purden, C.R. Glynn, C.O. IV Michoff, and Shinn 24 Plaintiff lists the above-named individuals in his supplemental complaint but does 25 not connect any of them to the events detailed in his supplement nor state that they had 26 any knowledge of those events. 27 Because Plaintiff’s proposed supplemental complaint fails to state a claim against 28 any of the defendants named therein, the Court will deny leave to file the supplemental 1 |} complaint on grounds of futility. 2 IT IS ORDERED: 3 (1) Plaintiff's Motion to Strike Defendant’s Responses to Plaintiff's Motions for 4 Leave to File an Amended Complaint and a Supplemental Complaint (Doc. 26) is 5 denied. 6 (2) Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint (Doc. 17) is 7 granted. The Clerk of Court is directed to file Plaintiff's proposed First Amended 8 Complaint (lodged at Doc. 18). 9 (3) Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File a Supplemental Complaint (Doc. 19) is 10 denied. 11 (4) All Defendants except Defendant Shinn in his official capacity are dismissed 12 without prejudice. 13 (5) Defendant Shinn in his official capacity must answer Count I for prospective 14 injunctive relief only, as set forth above. 15 (6) Plaintiff's claims for money damages are dismissed without prejudice. 16 Dated this 4th day of June, 2021. 17 18 19 — 42h □ 20 Honorable Rostsiary □□□□□□□ 21 United States District □□□□□ 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 28 -