(PC) Banuelos v. Weiss ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JAIME BANUELOS, No. 2:19-cv-2370 DB P 12 Plaintiff, 13 R. WEISS, et al.. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 Defendants. 15 16 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 17 1983. Before the court are plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis and plaintiff’s 18 complaint for screening. For the reasons set forth below, this court grants plaintiff’s motion to 19 proceed in forma pauperis, finds plaintiff has stated a cognizable claim, and gives plaintiff an 20 opportunity to either amend his complaint or proceed on the cognizable claim in his current 21 complaint. In addition, this court recommends some claims be dismissed. 22 IN FORMA PAUPERIS 23 Plaintiff has submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 24 Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be granted. 25 Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 26 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By this order, plaintiff will be assessed an initial partial filing fee in 27 accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct 28 the appropriate agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and 1 forward it to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments 2 of twenty percent of the preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. 3 These payments will be forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time 4 the amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 5 1915(b)(2). 6 SCREENING 7 I. Legal Standards 8 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 9 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 10 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims 11 that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be 12 granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 13 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) & (2). 14 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. Neitzke 15 v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th Cir. 16 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably 17 meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 18 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, has an 19 arguable legal and factual basis. See Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal 20 Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 21 pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and 22 the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) 23 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 24 However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must contain 25 more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual 26 allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic, 550 27 U.S. at 555. In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the 28 allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 1 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all 2 doubts in the plaintiff’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 3 The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows: 4 Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the deprivation 5 of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution . . . shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, 6 or other proper proceeding for redress. 7 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute requires that there be an actual connection or link between the 8 actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See 9 Monell v. Dept. of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976). “A 10 person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the meaning of § 11 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts or omits to perform 12 an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.” 13 Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 14 II. Analysis 15 A. Allegations of the Complaint 16 Plaintiff complains of conduct that occurred at Mule Creek State Prison (“MCSP”) where he 17 is currently incarcerated. Plaintiff identifies two defendants: Dr. R. Weiss and MCSP. 18 Plaintiff states that defendant Weiss is his primary care physician at MCSP. Plaintiff appears 19 to be raising three claims. First, he alleges that on December 4, 2018 and January 30, 2019, 20 defendant Weiss “cancelled plaintiff’s medical and ADA chronos, and medications that were 21 given to plaintiff after surgeries for Arnold-Chiara Malformation.” In addition, plaintiff alleges 22 Weiss cancelled plaintiff’s diabetes medication without explanation even though plaintiff’s “A1C 23 remained high.” (ECF No. 1 at 8.) 24 In his second claim, plaintiff alleges he was seen by Weiss on February 4, 2019 for a lump in 25 his groin. Plaintiff claims that Weiss “fondle[d]” his genitals on the left side even though plaintiff 26 informed Weiss that the lump was on the right side. Plaintiff asked Weiss several times to stop. 27 Weiss ignored him. Plaintiff then placed his hands over his genitals, but Weiss removed them 28 saying, “I know what I’m doing.” 1 Finally, plaintiff states that he filed a staff complaint against Weiss under the federal Prison 2 Rape Elimination Act (“PREA”). Plaintiff contends prison authorities never followed the state 3 and federal law protocols to address his complaint. In addition, plaintiff contends he is being 4 forced to see Weiss for medical care despite his complaint of sexual misconduct. 5 Plaintiff seeks a “proper and complete PREA investigation,” to be assigned a different 6 primary care physician, and damages. 7 B. Does Plaintiff State Cognizable Claims? 8 1. Eighth Amendment Medical Claim 9 Plaintiff’s first claim alleges improper medical care by Weiss in violation of the Eighth 10 Amendment. 11 a. Legal Standards 12 The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain constitutes cruel and unusual punishment 13 prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986); Ingraham v. 14 Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 670 (1977); Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105-06 (1976). Neither 15 accident nor negligence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, as “[i]t is obduracy and 16 wantonness, not inadvertence or error in good faith, that characterize the conduct prohibited by 17 the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause.” Whitley, 475 U.S. at 319. 18 What is needed to show unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain “varies according to the 19 nature of the alleged constitutional violation.” Hudson, 503 U.S. at 5 (citing Whitley, 475 U.S. at 20 320). In order to prevail on a claim of cruel and unusual punishment, however, a prisoner must 21 allege and prove that objectively he suffered a sufficiently serious deprivation and that 22 subjectively prison officials acted with deliberate indifference in allowing or causing the 23 deprivation to occur. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298-99 (1991). 24 If a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim arises in the context of medical care, the prisoner 25 must allege and prove “acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference 26 to serious medical needs.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. An Eighth Amendment medical claim has 27 two elements: “the seriousness of the prisoner's medical need and the nature of the defendant's 28 //// 1 response to that need.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on 2 other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc). 3 A medical need is serious “if the failure to treat the prisoner's condition could result in 4 further significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin, 974 5 F.2d at 1059 (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104). Indications of a serious medical need include 6 “the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an individual's daily activities.” Id. 7 at 1059-60. By establishing the existence of a serious medical need, a prisoner satisfies the 8 objective requirement for proving an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 9 825, 834 (1994). 10 If a prisoner establishes the existence of a serious medical need, he must then show that 11 prison officials responded to the serious medical need with deliberate indifference. See Farmer, 12 511 U.S. at 834. In general, deliberate indifference may be shown when prison officials deny, 13 delay, or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or may be shown by the way in which 14 prison officials provide medical care. Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 393-94 (9th 15 Cir. 1988). 16 Before it can be said that a prisoner's civil rights have been abridged with regard to medical 17 care, “the indifference to his medical needs must be substantial. Mere ‘indifference,’ 18 ‘negligence,’ or ‘medical malpractice’ will not support this cause of action.” Broughton v. Cutter 19 Laboratories, 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06); see also 20 Toguchi v. Soon Hwang Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 2004) (“Mere negligence in 21 diagnosing or treating a medical condition, without more, does not violate a prisoner's Eighth 22 Amendment rights.”); McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (same). Deliberate indifference is “a state of 23 mind more blameworthy than negligence” and “requires ‘more than ordinary lack of due care for 24 the prisoner's interests or safety.’” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. 25 Delays in providing medical care may manifest deliberate indifference. Estelle, 429 U.S. at 26 104-05. To establish a claim of deliberate indifference arising from delay in providing care, a 27 plaintiff must show that the delay was harmful. See Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 745-46 (9th 28 Cir. 2002); Berry v. Bunnell, 39 F.3d 1056, 1057 (9th Cir. 1994); McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059; 1 Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335 (9th Cir. 1990); Hunt v. Dental Dep't, 865 F.2d 198, 2 200 (9th Cir. 1989); Shapley v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Comm'rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 3 1985). In this regard, “[a] prisoner need not show his harm was substantial; however, such would 4 provide additional support for the inmate's claim that the defendant was deliberately indifferent to 5 his needs.” Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). 6 Finally, mere differences of opinion between a prisoner and prison medical staff or between 7 medical professionals as to the proper course of treatment for a medical condition do not give rise 8 to a § 1983 claim. See Toguchi, 391 F.3d at 1058; Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th 9 Cir. 1996); Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 10 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981). 11 b. Analysis 12 To state a claim for deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs, plaintiff must show: 13 (1) a serious medical need; (2) how Weiss responded to that need; and (3) why Weiss’s response 14 demonstrates deliberate indifference. Plaintiff’s allegations are too brief to meet any of these 15 standards. 16 Plaintiff must show that at the time Weiss discontinued his chronos and medications, he had 17 a serious medical need. Plaintiff simply states that he had surgeries, but he fails to inform the 18 court when he had those surgeries, why he required medications as a result of those surgeries, 19 what sort of medical chronos he had, and why he required those chronos. With respect to 20 plaintiff’s diabetes medication, he simply states that his medication should not have been 21 discontinued because his “A1C” was high.1 However, plaintiff provides no information to show 22 just how high his blood sugar was, what medication he was taking, or why that blood sugar level 23 required that diabetes medication. 24 Plaintiff’s allegations are insufficient to state a claim under the Eighth Amendment regarding 25 Weiss’s discontinuation of plaintiff’s medications and medical chronos. Plaintiff will be given an 26 opportunity to amend his complaint to attempt to state an Eighth Amendment medical claim. 27 1 According to the court’s research, a hemoglobin A1c test measures blood sugar. 28 https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/glycated-hemoglobin-test-hba1c 1 2. Eighth Amendment – Sexual Misconduct 2 a. Legal Standards 3 As set out above, the Eighth Amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment. 4 Whether a specific act constitutes cruel and unusual punishment is measured by “‘the evolving 5 standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.’” Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 6 U.S. 337, 346 (1981) (quoting Trop v. Dulles, 356 U.S. 86, 101 (1958) (plurality opinion)). In 7 evaluating a prisoner’s claim, courts consider whether “ ‘the officials act[ed] with a sufficiently 8 culpable state of mind’ and if the alleged wrongdoing was objectively ‘harmful enough’ to 9 establish a constitutional violation.” Hudson, 503 U.S. 1, 8 (1992) (quoting Wilson, 501 U.S. at 10 298, 303). A sexual assault on an inmate by a prison official implicates the rights protected by 11 the Eighth Amendment. Schwenk v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187, 1197 (9th Cir. 2000); Boddie v. 12 Schnieder, 105 F.3d 857, 861 (2d Cir. 1997) (“Sexual abuse may violate contemporary standards 13 of decency and can cause severe physical and psychological harm”). 14 b. Analysis 15 Plaintiff alleges Weiss fondled his genitals despite plaintiff’s numerous protestations and 16 attempts to make him stop. Further, plaintiff alleges there was no medical basis for Weiss’s 17 conduct so it could be inferred that Weiss had a sufficiently culpable state of mind. This court 18 finds plaintiff has stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim for sexual misconduct against 19 Weiss. 20 3. Violation of the PREA 21 Plaintiff alleges that prison officials failed to follow the protocols of the PREA and related 22 California laws after he filed a grievance regarding Weiss. Section 1983 imposes liability on 23 anyone who, under color of state law, deprives a person ‘of any rights, privileges, or immunities 24 secured by the Constitution and laws.’” Blessing v. Freestone, 520 U.S. 329, 340 (1997). “In 25 order to seek redress through § 1983, however, a plaintiff must assert the violation of a federal 26 right, not merely a violation of federal law.” Id. (emphasis in original) (citing Golden State 27 Transit Corp. v. Los Angeles, 493 U.S. 103, 106 (1989)). The PREA, 42 U.S.C. §§ 15601-15609, 28 “authorizes the reporting of incidents of rape in prison, allocation of grants, and creation of a 1 study commission. It does not, however, give rise to a private cause of action.” Porter v. 2 Jennings, No. 1:10-cv-1811-AWI-DLB PC, 2012 WL 1434986, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2012) 3 (collecting cases); Law v. Whitson, No. 2:08-cv-0291-SPK, 2009 WL 5029564, at *4 (E.D. Cal. 4 Dec. 15, 2009); see also Blessing, 520 U.S. at 340-41 (statutory provision gives rise to federal 5 right enforceable under § 1983 where the statute “unambiguously impose[s] a binding obligation 6 on the States” by using “mandatory, rather than precatory, terms”). Since the PREA itself 7 contains no private right of action, nor does it create a right enforceable under § 1983. To the 8 extent plaintiff is attempting to allege that his rights under the PREA have been violated, he 9 cannot state a claim for relief. 10 Plaintiff also cannot state a claim under § 1983 for a violation of the state procedures for 11 considering PREA complaints. Correctional officials retain discretion to review inmate 12 grievances in the order and manner they deem most appropriate. An alleged failure to comply 13 with state regulations does not state a constitutional claim. See Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 14 860 (9th Cir. 2003); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988) (“There is no legitimate 15 claim of entitlement to a grievance procedure.”). 16 Finally, the court notes that plaintiff names only MCSP as the defendant responsible for these 17 violations. A prison is not a proper defendant because § 1983 requires a showing of a violation 18 committed by a “person acting under the color of state law.” 19 CONCLUSION 20 This court finds above that plaintiff has stated a cognizable claim against Weiss for sexual 21 misconduct in violation of the Eighth Amendment. This court further finds that plaintiff has 22 failed to state an Eighth Amendment medical claim against Weiss. Finally, this court finds 23 plaintiff cannot state a claim for a violation of the PREA or related state laws. 24 Plaintiff has a choice. He may proceed on his sexual misconduct claim or he may amend his 25 complaint to attempt to also state claims regarding his medical care. Plaintiff is warned that in 26 any amended complaint he must include ALL claims he wishes to proceed on in this action. 27 If plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he must address the problems with his 28 complaint that are explained above. Plaintiff is advised that in an amended complaint he must 1 clearly identify each defendant and the action that defendant took that violated his constitutional 2 rights. The court is not required to review exhibits to determine what plaintiff’s charging 3 allegations are as to each named defendant. If plaintiff wishes to add a claim, he must include it 4 in the body of the complaint. The charging allegations must be set forth in the amended 5 complaint, so defendants have fair notice of the claims plaintiff is presenting. That said, plaintiff 6 need not provide every detailed fact in support of his claims. Rather, plaintiff should provide a 7 short, plain statement of each claim. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 8 Any amended complaint must show the federal court has jurisdiction, the action is brought in 9 the right place, and plaintiff is entitled to relief if plaintiff’s allegations are true. It must contain a 10 request for particular relief. Plaintiff must identify as a defendant only persons who personally 11 participated in a substantial way in depriving plaintiff of a federal constitutional right. Johnson v. 12 Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (a person subjects another to the deprivation of a 13 constitutional right if he does an act, participates in another’s act or omits to perform an act he is 14 legally required to do that causes the alleged deprivation). “Vague and conclusory allegations of 15 official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 16 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982) (citations omitted). 17 In an amended complaint, the allegations must be set forth in numbered paragraphs. Fed. R. 18 Civ. P. 10(b). Plaintiff may join multiple claims if they are all against a single defendant. Fed. R. 19 Civ. P. 18(a). If plaintiff has more than one claim based upon separate transactions or 20 occurrences, the claims must be set forth in separate paragraphs. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). 21 The federal rules contemplate brevity. See Galbraith v. County of Santa Clara, 307 F.3d 22 1119, 1125 (9th Cir. 2002) (noting that “nearly all of the circuits have now disapproved any 23 heightened pleading standard in cases other than those governed by Rule 9(b)”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 24 84; cf. Rule 9(b) (setting forth rare exceptions to simplified pleading). Plaintiff’s claims must be 25 set forth in short and plain terms, simply, concisely and directly. See Swierkiewicz v. Sorema 26 N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002) (“Rule 8(a) is the starting point of a simplified pleading system, 27 which was adopted to focus litigation on the merits of a claim.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. 28 //// 1 An amended complaint must be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. 2 E.D. Cal. R. 220. Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading is superseded. 3 By signing an amended complaint, plaintiff certifies he has made reasonable inquiry and has 4 evidentiary support for his allegations, and for violation of this rule the court may impose 5 sanctions sufficient to deter repetition by plaintiff or others. Fed. R. Civ. P. 11. 6 For the foregoing reasons, and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as 7 follows: 8 1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is granted. 9 2. Plaintiff has stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Weiss for 10 sexual misconduct. 11 3. Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment medical claims against defendant Weiss are dismissed 12 with leave to amend. 13 4. Plaintiff may choose to proceed on his cognizable claim set out above or he may choose 14 to amend his complaint. 15 a. If plaintiff chooses to proceed on his current Eighth Amendment sexual misconduct 16 claim against defendant Weiss, he shall so notify the court within thirty days. The 17 court will then order service of the complaint on defendant Weiss and will 18 recommend dismissal of plaintiff’s remaining claims against Weiss. 19 b. If plaintiff chooses to amend his complaint, within thirty days from the date of 20 service of this order, he may filed an amended complaint that complies with the 21 requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the 22 Local Rules of Practice. The amended complaint must bear the docket number 23 assigned this case and must be labeled “First Amended Complaint.” Plaintiff’s 24 failure to file an amended complaint within the time provided, or otherwise respond 25 to this order, will result in the case proceeding on plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment 26 sexual misconduct claim against Weiss. The court will then recommend dismissal of 27 plaintiff’s remaining claims. 28 //// 1 5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to randomly assign a district judge to this case and to 2 send plaintiff a copy of the prisoner complaint form used in this district. 3 Further, IT IS RECOMMENDED that: 4 1. Plaintiffs claims under the PREA be dismissed; and 5 2. Defendant Mule Creek State Prison be dismissed. 6 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 7 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days 8 || after being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written objections 9 | with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned “Objections 10 | to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file 11 | objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. 12 | Martinez v. Yist, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 13 | Dated: January 3, 2020 14 15 16 -BORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 17 18 19 | pDLB:9 DLB1/prisoner-civil rights/banu2370.scrn Ita or proceed 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 11