(PC)Dingle v. Tesluk ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DAVID DINGLE, No. 2:20-cv-1878 DB P 12 Plaintiff, 13 Dr. GREGORY C. TESLUK, et al.. ORDER 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 and finds plaintiff has stated no cognizable claims for relief. Plaintiff 20 will be given the opportunity to file an amended complaint 21 IN FORMA PAUPERIS 22 Plaintiff has submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 23 Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be granted. 24 Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 25 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By this order, plaintiff will be assessed an initial partial filing fee in 26 accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct 27 the appropriate agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and 28 forward it to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments 1 of twenty percent of the preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. 2 These payments will be forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time 3 the amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 4 1915(b)(2). 5 SCREENING 6 I. Legal Standards 7 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 8 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 9 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims 10 that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be 11 granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 12 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) & (2). 13 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. Neitzke 14 v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th Cir. 15 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably 16 meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 17 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, has an 18 arguable legal and factual basis. See Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal 19 Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 20 pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and 21 the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) 22 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 23 However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must contain 24 more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual 25 allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic, 550 26 U.S. at 555. In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the 27 allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 28 //// 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. Gregory C. Tesluk and D. 18 Azevedo, Health Care Grievance Coordinator. Plaintiff also adds ten unnamed “Doe” defendants. 19 Plaintiff’s allegations are brief. He states that during an eye surgery performed by defendant 20 Tesluk, Tesluk improperly placed a shunt, which tore fibers attaching plaintiff’s retina. As a 21 result, plaintiff has substantially impaired vision. Plaintiff claims he filed a grievance in October 22 2019 seeking “remedial care” or “corrective surgery.” However, defendant Azevedo, who is 23 responsible for “coordinating, providing, and/or supervising” plaintiff’s medical care, failed to 24 take any action. Plaintiff also contends Does 1-10 are also responsible for his medical care. 25 For relief, plaintiff seeks corrective surgery and damages. 26 //// 27 //// 28 //// 1 B. Does Plaintiff State Cognizable Claims for Relief? 2 1. Legal Standards for Eighth Amendment Medical Claim 3 The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain constitutes cruel and unusual punishment 4 prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986); Ingraham v. 5 Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 670 (1977); Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105-06 (1976). Neither 6 accident nor negligence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, as “[i]t is obduracy and 7 wantonness, not inadvertence or error in good faith, that characterize the conduct prohibited by 8 the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause.” Whitley, 475 U.S. at 319. 9 What is needed to show unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain “varies according to the 10 nature of the alleged constitutional violation.” Hudson, 503 U.S. at 5 (citing Whitley, 475 U.S. at 11 320). In order to prevail on a claim of cruel and unusual punishment, however, a prisoner must 12 allege and prove that objectively he suffered a sufficiently serious deprivation and that 13 subjectively prison officials acted with deliberate indifference in allowing or causing the 14 deprivation to occur. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298-99 (1991). 15 If a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim arises in the context of medical care, the prisoner 16 must allege and prove “acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference 17 to serious medical needs.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. An Eighth Amendment medical claim has 18 two elements: “the seriousness of the prisoner's medical need and the nature of the defendant's 19 response to that need.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on 20 other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc). 21 A medical need is serious “if the failure to treat the prisoner's condition could result in 22 further significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin, 974 23 F.2d at 1059 (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104). Indications of a serious medical need include 24 “the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an individual's daily activities.” Id. 25 at 1059-60. By establishing the existence of a serious medical need, a prisoner satisfies the 26 objective requirement for proving an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 27 825, 834 (1994). 28 //// 1 If a prisoner establishes the existence of a serious medical need, he must then show that 2 prison officials responded to the serious medical need with deliberate indifference. See Farmer, 3 511 U.S. at 834. In general, deliberate indifference may be shown when prison officials deny, 4 delay, or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or may be shown by the way in which 5 prison officials provide medical care. Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 393-94 (9th 6 Cir. 1988). 7 Before it can be said that a prisoner’s civil rights have been abridged with regard to medical 8 care, “the indifference to his medical needs must be substantial. Mere ‘indifference,’ 9 ‘negligence,’ or ‘medical malpractice’ will not support this cause of action.” Broughton v. Cutter 10 Laboratories, 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06); see also 11 Toguchi v. Soon Hwang Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 2004) (“Mere negligence in 12 diagnosing or treating a medical condition, without more, does not violate a prisoner's Eighth 13 Amendment rights.”); McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (same). Deliberate indifference is “a state of 14 mind more blameworthy than negligence” and “requires ‘more than ordinary lack of due care for 15 the prisoner's interests or safety.’” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. 16 Delays in providing medical care may manifest deliberate indifference. Estelle, 429 U.S. at 17 104-05. To establish a claim of deliberate indifference arising from delay in providing care, a 18 plaintiff must show that the delay was harmful. See Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 745-46 (9th 19 Cir. 2002); Berry v. Bunnell, 39 F.3d 1056, 1057 (9th Cir. 1994); McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059; 20 Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335 (9th Cir. 1990); Hunt v. Dental Dep't, 865 F.2d 198, 21 200 (9th Cir. 1989); Shapley v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Comm'rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 22 1985). In this regard, “[a] prisoner need not show his harm was substantial; however, such would 23 provide additional support for the inmate's claim that the defendant was deliberately indifferent to 24 his needs.” Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). 25 Finally, mere differences of opinion between a prisoner and prison medical staff or between 26 medical professionals as to the proper course of treatment for a medical condition do not give rise 27 to a § 1983 claim. See Toguchi, 391 F.3d at 1058; Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th 28 //// 1 Cir. 1996); Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 2 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981). 3 2. Analysis 4 To state a claim for deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs, plaintiff must show: 5 (1) a serious medical need; (2) how each defendant responded to that need; and (3) why each 6 defendant’s response demonstrates deliberate indifference. Plaintiff’s allegations are too brief to 7 meet any of these standards. 8 With respect to defendant Tesluk, plaintiff fails to show why Tesluk’s error amounts to 9 deliberate indifference instead of negligence. Further, plaintiff does not explain when or where 10 the surgery took place. With respect to defendant Azevedo, plaintiff fails to show how Azevedo 11 was made aware of plaintiff’s serious medical need, just why it has been Azevedo’s responsibility 12 to address plaintiff’s medical need, whether Azevedo has taken any actions in response to 13 plaintiff’s October 2019 grievance, and why Azevedo’s actions or inactions demonstrate 14 deliberate indifference. 15 Finally, plaintiff makes no cognizable claim against the Doe defendants. There is no 16 provision in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for including unnamed or “Doe” defendants in a 17 complaint. The use of Does in pleading practice is generally disfavored – but it is not prohibited. 18 See Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980); Wakefield v. Thompson, 177 F.3d 19 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999); Lopes v. Viera, 543 F. Supp. 2d 1149, 1152 (E.D. Cal. 2008). 20 However, plaintiff must allege facts showing when, where, and how each Doe defendant violated 21 his constitutional rights. See Addis v. Ariz. Dept. of Corrs., No. CV14-1115-PHX-DGC, 2015 22 WL 875233, at *3 (D. Ariz. Mar. 2, 2015). Under § 1983, plaintiff must demonstrate that each 23 defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. See Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 24 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). In other words, there must be an actual connection or link between the 25 actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See 26 Monell v. Dept. of Soc. Serv., 436 U.S. 658, 691, 695 (1978). 27 Plaintiff fails to identify any specific action, or inaction, by any specific unnamed defendant. 28 If he wishes to amend his complaint to allege claims against unnamed individuals, he must 1 identify each individual (for example, by calling them Doe 1 and Doe 2) and explain what each 2 one did. Further, plaintiff must make every effort to determine the identity of each defendant 3 prior to amending his complaint. 4 CONCLUSION 5 This court finds above that plaintiff fails to state any claims for relief cognizable under 42 6 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff will be given the opportunity to file an amended complaint. 7 Plaintiff is warned that in any amended complaint he must include ALL claims he wishes to 8 proceed on in this action. Plaintiff must address the problems with his complaint that are 9 explained above. 10 Plaintiff is advised that in an amended complaint he must clearly identify each defendant and 11 the action that defendant took that violated his constitutional rights. The court is not required to 12 review exhibits to determine what plaintiff’s charging allegations are as to each named defendant. 13 If plaintiff wishes to add a claim, he must include it in the body of the complaint. The charging 14 allegations must be set forth in the amended complaint so defendants have fair notice of the 15 claims plaintiff is presenting. That said, plaintiff need not provide every detailed fact in support 16 of his claims. Rather, plaintiff should provide a short, plain statement of each claim. See Fed. R. 17 Civ. P. 8(a). 18 Any amended complaint must show the federal court has jurisdiction, the action is brought in 19 the right place, and plaintiff is entitled to relief if plaintiff’s allegations are true. It must contain a 20 request for particular relief. Plaintiff must identify as a defendant only persons who personally 21 participated in a substantial way in depriving plaintiff of a federal constitutional right. Johnson v. 22 Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (a person subjects another to the deprivation of a 23 constitutional right if he does an act, participates in another’s act or omits to perform an act he is 24 legally required to do that causes the alleged deprivation). “Vague and conclusory allegations of 25 official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 26 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982) (citations omitted). 27 In an amended complaint, the allegations must be set forth in numbered paragraphs. Fed. R. 28 Civ. P. 10(b). Plaintiff may join multiple claims if they are all against a single defendant. Fed. R. 1 Civ. P. 18(a). If plaintiff has more than one claim based upon separate transactions or 2 occurrences, the claims must be set forth in separate paragraphs. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). 3 The federal rules contemplate brevity. See Galbraith v. County of Santa Clara, 307 F.3d 4 1119, 1125 (9th Cir. 2002) (noting that “nearly all of the circuits have now disapproved any 5 heightened pleading standard in cases other than those governed by Rule 9(b)”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 84; cf. Rule 9(b) (setting forth rare exceptions to simplified pleading). Plaintiff’s claims must be 7 set forth in short and plain terms, simply, concisely and directly. See Swierkiewicz v. Sorema 8 N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002) (“Rule 8(a) is the starting point of a simplified pleading system, 9 which was adopted to focus litigation on the merits of a claim.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. 10 An amended complaint must be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. 11 E.D. Cal. R. 220. Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading is superseded. 12 By signing an amended complaint, plaintiff certifies he has made reasonable inquiry and has 13 evidentiary support for his allegations, and for violation of this rule the court may impose 14 sanctions sufficient to deter repetition by plaintiff or others. Fed. R. Civ. P. 11. 15 For the foregoing reasons, and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as 16 follows: 17 1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is granted. 18 2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. Plaintiff is 19 assessed an initial partial filing fee in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 20 1915(b)(1). All fees shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to 21 the Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed 22 concurrently herewith. 23 3. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed with leave to amend. 24 4. Within sixty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall file an amended complaint 25 that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal Rules of Civil 26 Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice. The amended complaint must bear the 27 docket number assigned this case and must be labeled “First Amended Complaint.” 28 //// 1 Plaintiffs failure to file an amended complaint within the time provided, or otherwise 2 respond to this order, may result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed. 3 5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff a copy of the civil complaint form 4 used in this district. 5 || Dated: November 5, 2020 g ORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 || DLB:9/DLB1/prisoner-civil rights/ding1878.scrn Ita 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28