(PC) Hammler v. Director of CDCR ( 2019 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ALLEN HAMMLER, No. 2:17-cv-1949 MCE DB P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 DIRECTOR OF CDCR, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a civil rights 18 action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff claims prison officials failed to provide him with 19 safe living conditions in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Presently before the court is 20 plaintiff’s motion to enforce a court order and his sixth motion requesting injunctive relief. (ECF 21 Nos. 69, 70.) For the reasons set forth below, the court will deny as moot his motion to enforce 22 and recommend that his motion for preliminary injunction be denied. 23 MOTION TO ENFORCE 24 In objections filed on July 1, 2019 (ECF No. 58), plaintiff alleged that inmate Chavez, 25 housed in a neighboring cell, gave plaintiff several pieces of metal and instructed plaintiff to 26 “slash” a correctional officer. Plaintiff stated that he showed the metal to several staff members 27 but was not issued a rules violation report. In light of the allegations in the objections, the court 28 //// 1 directed counsel for defendant to inform the court of plaintiff’s housing status and any measures 2 taken to address plaintiff’s safety concerns. (ECF No. 61.) 3 On July 25, 2019, counsel for defendant filed a response containing the declaration of 4 Correctional Counselor Sanchez, as well as various exhibits related to plaintiff’s recent 5 classification committee hearings and the rules violation report plaintiff received for possession 6 of weapons on June 15, 2019. (ECF No. 64.) Sanchez’s declaration states that he reviewed 7 plaintiff’s central file and housing assignment records. (ECF No. 64 at 1.) Sanchez noted that 8 plaintiff and inmate Chavez are no longer housed in the same building and that they have been 9 documented as enemies of one another. (ECF No. 64 at 3.) Sanchez further stated that plaintiff 10 was endorsed for transfer to California Correctional Institution (CCI) after he completes his 11 Security Housing Unit (SHU) term on October 29, 2019. (ECF No. 64 at 3.) 12 Plaintiff now moves for an order from this court to enforce its July 11, 2019 order (ECF 13 No. 61). Plaintiff argues that the response submitted by counsel for defendant does not address 14 his safety concerns. Plaintiff claims Sanchez’s declaration fails to inform the court that plaintiff 15 has been placed on a list to be sent to California Correctional Institution (CCI).1 Plaintiff states 16 that CCI “is worse than [Kern Valley State Prison] and [Salinas Valley State Prison] together fore 17 [sic] being the designated prison for SNY gangs including Chavez’s gang the ‘Independent 18 Riders.’” (ECF No 69 at 4.) Plaintiff further argues that Sanchez did not speak to plaintiff 19 directly in preparing his declaration. 20 Because defendants have filed a response that complies with the court’s July 11, 2019 21 order, the court will deny plaintiff’s motion to enforce as moot. 22 MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION 23 Plaintiff also moves for injunctive relief and requests an order from this court directing 24 that he be: (1) retained in the SHU and not be placed on a SNY; (2) designated single cell status; 25 (3) placed on video escort; and (4) transferred to the Psychiatric Services Unit (PSU) at California 26 State Prison, Sacramento (CSP-SAC). (ECF No. 70 at 1-2.) 27 1 As stated above, Sanchez indicated in his declaration that plaintiff was endorsed for transfer to 28 CCI after October 29, 2019. (See ECF No. 64 at 3 ¶ 6.) 1 Plaintiff argues that the declaration filed in defendant’s response, shows that CDCR 2 officials are aware of the danger plaintiff faces while housed in the same facility as inmate 3 Chavez. Plaintiff states that officials have placed documentation in his central file stating that he 4 and Chavez are enemies. Plaintiff claims that Chavez is an influential member of a gang and any 5 fellow gang member plaintiff comes into contact with, will act on Chavez’s behalf. Plaintiff 6 argues that it makes no sense to acknowledge that Chavez is a danger to plaintiff, without also 7 finding that plaintiff faces danger from his fellow gang members. Plaintiff states prison officials 8 must be aware that if plaintiff is placed on a SNY yard he will be targeted by a member of the 9 gang. 10 I. Legal Standards 11 A party requesting preliminary injunctive relief must show that “he is likely to succeed on 12 the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the 13 balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Winter v. 14 Natural Res. Def. Council, 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008). The propriety of a request for injunctive relief 15 hinges on a significant threat of irreparable injury that must be imminent in nature. Caribbean 16 Marine Serv. Co. v. Baldridge, 844 F.2d 668, 674 (9th Cir. 1988). 17 Alternatively, under the so-called sliding scale approach, as long as the plaintiff 18 demonstrates the requisite likelihood of irreparable harm and can show that an injunction is in the 19 public interest, a preliminary injunction may issue so long as serious questions going to the merits 20 of the case are raised and the balance of hardships tips sharply in plaintiff’s favor. Alliance for 21 the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131-36 (9th Cir. 2011) (concluding that the 22 “serious questions” version of the sliding scale test for preliminary injunctions remains viable 23 after Winter). 24 The principle purpose of preliminary injunctive relief is to preserve the court’s power to 25 render a meaningful decision after a trial on the merits. See 9 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. 26 Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2947 (3d ed. 2014). Implicit in this required showing is 27 that the relief awarded is only temporary and there will be a full hearing on the merits of the 28 claims raised in the injunction when the action is brought to trial. Preliminary injunctive relief is 1 not appropriate until the court finds that the plaintiff’s complaint presents cognizable claims. See 2 Zepeda v. United States Immigration Serv., 753 F.2d 719, 727 (9th Cir. 1985) (“A federal court 3 may issue an injunction if it has personal jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter 4 jurisdiction over the claims . . . .”). 5 In cases brought by prisoners involving conditions of confinement, any preliminary 6 injunction must be narrowly drawn, extend no further than necessary to correct the harm the court 7 finds requires preliminary relief, and be the least intrusive means necessary to correct the harm.” 8 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)(2). Further, an injunction against individuals not parties to an action is 9 strongly disfavored. See Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 U.S. 100, 110 10 (1969) (“It is elementary that one is not bound by a judgment . . . resulting from litigation in 11 which he is not designated as a party . . . .”).2 12 Further, preliminary injunctive relief is not appropriate until the court finds that the 13 plaintiff’s complaint presents cognizable claims. See Zepeda v. United States Immigration Serv., 14 753 F.2d 719, 727 (9th Cir. 1985) (“A federal court may issue an injunction if it has personal 15 jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter jurisdiction over the claim; [however] it may not 16 attempt to determine the rights of persons not before the court.”). 17 II. Analysis 18 This instant motion is the sixth request for injunctive relief regarding plaintiff’s safety 19 concerns and housing demands filed in this action. (See ECF Nos. 7, 27, 38, 52, 54.) Under 20 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b), a prisoner’s claims are considered frivolous if they 21 “merely repeat [] pending or previously litigated claims.” Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 22 1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (quoting Bailey v. Johnson, 846 F.2d 1019, 1021 (5th Cir. 1988)). 23 24 2 However, the fact that injunctive relief is sought from one not a party to litigation does not automatically preclude the court from acting. The All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 16519(a) permits 25 the court to issue writs “necessary or appropriate in aid of their jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.” The All Writs Act is meant to aid the court in the exercise and 26 preservation of its jurisdiction. Plum Creek Lumber Co. v. Hutton, 608 F.2d 1283, 1289 (9th Cir. 27 1979). The United States Supreme Court has authorized the use of the All Writs Act in appropriate circumstances against persons or entities not a party to the underlying litigation. 28 United States v. New York Telephone Co., 434 U.S. 159, 174 (1977). 1 Sanctions for violation of Rule 11(b) may include dismissal of the plaintiff’s case. See Bell v. 2 Harrington, No. 1:12-cv-0349 LJO GBC PC, 2012 WL 893815 at *9 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 15, 2012). 3 The court previously warned plaintiff that filing further motions for injunctive relief based on 4 arguments previously presented to the court could result in the imposition of sanctions. (ECF No. 5 53 at 4.) 6 While the court takes seriously plaintiff’s safety concerns, plaintiff is not entitled to 7 dictate his housing assignments. See Olim v. Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238, 245 (1983); Meachum 8 v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 225 (1976); Montayne v. Haymes, 427 U.S. 236, 242 (1976) (It is well 9 settled that prisoners have no constitutional right to placement in any particular prison, to any 10 particular security classification, or to any particular housing assignment.). Additionally, it is 11 improper for the court to second guess the decisions of prison officials regarding the day-to-day 12 operation of prisons. See Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 322 (1986) (quoting Bell v. Wolfish, 13 441 U.S. 520, 547 (1979) (Prison officials are entitled to “‘wide-ranging deference in the 14 adoption and execution of policies and practices that in their judgment are needed to preserve 15 internal order and discipline and to maintain institutional security.’”). 16 Plaintiff’s speculative safety concerns regarding gang issues at CCI are not sufficient to 17 show that he is entitled to injunctive relief. See Van Buren v. Willard, No. 1:13-cv-1273 DLB 18 PC, 2014 WL 2524392 at *2 (E.D. Cal. June 4, 2014) (denying injunctive relief to plaintiff with 19 safety concerns regarding his placement on a yard with known enemies because his concern was 20 speculative and did “not demonstrate he was facing real, immediate danger.”); see also Rigsby v. 21 State, No. CV 11-1696 PHX DGC, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44688, 2013 WL 1283778, at *5 (D. 22 Ariz. Mar. 28, 2013) (denying inmate’s motion for injunctive relief based on fear of potential 23 future injury based on past assaults); Chappell v. Stankorb, No. 1:11-cv-1425 LJO, 2012 WL 24 1413889 at *2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 23, 2012) (denying injunctive relief where inmate’s claims of 25 injury based on future housing decisions were nothing “more than speculative.”), report and 26 recommendation adopted, 1:11-cv-1425 LJO 2012 WL 2839816 (E.D. Cal. July 9, 2012). 27 Further, at this stage of the proceedings the court is not able to determine plaintiff’s 28 likelihood of success on the merits. See Barrett v. Belleque, 544 F.3d 1060, 1062 (9th Cir. 2008) 1 | (At the pleading stage, the court is not in a position to determine questions of the claim’s merit 2 | which require submission of evidence, versus only a determination as to whether a claim has been 3 | plausibly stated). Accordingly, the court will recommend that plaintiff's motion for injunctive 4 | relief be denied. 5 I. Conclusion 6 For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to 7 | enforce the court’s July 11, 2019 order (ECF No. 69) is denied as moot. 8 IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that plaintiffs motion for injunctive relief (ECF No. 9 | 70) be denied. 10 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge 11 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days 12 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 13 | objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. The document should be captioned 14 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the 15 | objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The 16 | parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of 17 | the right to appeal the district court’s order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 18 | Dated: September 4, 2019 20 1 ‘BORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 27 DLB:12 28 | DB/prisoner-civil rights/hamm1049.pi(4) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28