(PC) Blackwell v. Jenkins ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 RODNEY KARL BLACKWELL, No. 2:19-cv-00442 TLN DB P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 A. JENKINS, 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis (IFP) with a civil 18 rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The action proceeds on plaintiff’s First Amended 19 Complaint (FAC), as screened by the court, filed November 21, 2019. (ECF No. 22.) Plaintiff 20 asserts claims against defendant, A. Jenkins, under the First and Eighth Amendments. 21 Before the court is defendant’s motion to revoke plaintiff’s IFP status. (ECF No. 42.) For 22 the reasons set forth below, this court will recommend that defendant's motion be granted. 23 BACKGROUND 24 Plaintiff filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on September 24, 2019. (ECF No. 25 16.) On November 6, 2019, the court granted plaintiff’s motion to proceed IFP but dismissed 26 plaintiff’s complaint with leave to amend. (ECF No. 19.) Plaintiff filed his FAC on November 27 21, 2019. (ECF No. 22.) Following the screening process, plaintiff elected to proceed on his 28 First and Eighth Amendment claims against defendant. (ECF No. 30.) Plaintiff voluntarily 1 dismissed all other claims and defendants. (ECF No. 30.) 2 In his FAC, plaintiff alleges that defendant retaliated against plaintiff for filing a 3 grievance against the defendant. (ECF No. 22 at 11.) Plaintiff claims that defendant retaliated by 4 conducting searches of the plaintiff’s cell and instructing other correctional officers to perform 5 cell searches as well. (ECF No. 22 at 11.) On November 5, 2020, defendant filed a motion to 6 revoke plaintiff’s IFP status. (ECF No. 42.) Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion on 7 January 29, 2021. (ECF No. 49.) Defendant filed a reply to plaintiff’s opposition on February 5, 8 2021. (ECF No. 50.) 9 MOTION TO REVOKE IFP 10 I. In Forma Pauperis Statute 11 Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) is part of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). The PLRA 12 was intended to eliminate frivolous lawsuits, and its main purpose was to address the 13 overwhelming number of prisoner lawsuits. Cano v. Taylor, 739 F.3d 1214, 1219 (9th Cir. 2014). 14 Section 1915(g) provides: 15 In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding under this section if the prisoner has, 16 on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States 17 that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the 18 prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. 19 The plain language of the statute makes clear that a prisoner is precluded from bringing a 20 civil action or an appeal in forma pauperis if the prisoner has previously brought three frivolous 21 actions or appeals (or any combination thereof totaling three). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 22 1176, 1178 (9th Cir. 1999). Section 1915(g) should be used to deny a prisoner's IFP status “only 23 when, after careful evaluation of the order dismissing [each] action, and other relevant 24 information, the district court determines that [each] action was dismissed because it was 25 frivolous, malicious or failed to state a claim.” Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 26 2005); see also Knapp v. Hogan, 738 F.3d 1106, 1109 (9th Cir. 2013) (To determine whether a 27 dismissal qualifies as a strike, a “reviewing court looks to the dismissing court's action and the 28 reasons underlying it.”). A dismissal qualifies as a strike only where the entire action was 1 dismissed for a qualifying reason under the PLRA. Washington v. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 2 Dep’t, 833 F.3d 1048, 1055, 1057 (9th Cir. 2016) (citing Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 3 1054 (9th Cir. 2007)). A denial of a plaintiff’s application to proceed IFP is a dismissal for 4 purposes of § 1915(g). O’Neal v. Price, 531 F.3d 1146, 1153 (9th Cir. 2008). When an appellate 5 court denies a plaintiff’s request to proceed IFP, the denial is also a dismissal for purposes of § 6 1915(g). Knapp v. Hogan, 738 F.3d 1106, 1110 (9th Cir. 2013). This applies even if the 7 appellate court relies on a district court’s representation that the plaintiff’s appeal was not taken in 8 good faith to deny plaintiff’s request to proceed IFP. Id. The denial of IFP status by an appellate 9 court counts as a dismissal for purposes of § 1915(g) even if the case is eventually dismissed for 10 other reasons. Richey v. Dahne, 807 F.3d 1202, 1208 (9th Cir. 2015). 11 This “three strikes rule” was part of “a variety of reforms designed to filter out the bad 12 claims [filed by prisoners] and facilitate consideration of the good.” Coleman v. Tollefson, 135 13 S. Ct. 1759, 1762 (2015) (quoting Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 204 (2007)). If a prisoner has 14 “three strikes” under § 1915(g), the prisoner is barred from proceeding IFP unless he meets the 15 exception for imminent danger of serious physical injury. See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d at 16 1052. To meet this exception, the complaint of a “three-strikes” prisoner must plausibly allege 17 that the prisoner was faced with imminent danger of serious physical injury at the time his 18 complaint was filed. See Williams v. Paramo, 775 F.3d 1182, 1189 (9th Cir. 2015); Andrews v. 19 Cervantes, 493 F.3d at 1055. 20 Defendants have the burden to “produce documentary evidence that allows the district 21 court to conclude that the plaintiff has filed at least three prior actions that were dismissed 22 because they were ‘frivolous, malicious or fail[ed] to state a claim.’” Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 23 at 1120 (quoting § 1915(g)). Once a defendant meets their initial burden, it is plaintiff's burden to 24 explain why a prior dismissal should not count as a strike. Id. If the plaintiff fails to meet that 25 burden, plaintiff's IFP status should be revoked under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Id. 26 II. Analysis 27 Defendant contends that plaintiff accrued strikes for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) in 28 the following four cases: (1) Blackwell v. York, No. 2:08-CV-05750-UA-AGR (C.D. Cal.); (2) 1 Blackwell v. Glick, No. 2:08-CV-00791-UA-AGP (C.D. Cal.); (3) Blackwell v. Peabody, No. 99- 2 15342 (9th Cir.); (4) Blackwell v. Roe, No. 97-56501 (9th Cir.). (ECF No. 42 at 3.) The 3 defendant also notes that in Blackwell v. Taxdahl 1:09-cv-00642-LJO-GSA PC (E.D. Cal.) the 4 district court found that Blackwell v. Los Angeles County, No. 2:05-cv-1743-UA-MAN (C.D. 5 Cal.) also constituted a strike. (Id.) However, defendant does not contend that this case should be 6 considered a strike. (Id.) 7 A. Dismissals Defendant Claims Are Strikes 8 Each of the four cases must be examined separately to determine if the defendant has 9 provided sufficient documentary evidence to conclude the case’s dismissal should be considered a 10 strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d at 1121. 11 1. Blackwell v. York, No. 2:08-CV-05750-UA-AGR (C.D. Cal.) 12 Plaintiff brought a § 1983 claim against a clerk for the Los Angeles Superior Court for 13 allegedly failing to timely file plaintiff’s notice of appeal. (Ex. 2 to Request for Judicial Notice 14 (ECF No. 43 at 85-86).)1 The district court found that plaintiff failed to state a claim as the 15 defendant fell under the protections of quasi-judicial immunity. (Id.) Thus, the court denied 16 plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed IFP. (Id.) When an application to proceed IFP is denied 17 for failure to state a claim, it is dismissed for failure to state a claim for purposes of § 1915(g). 18 O’Neal, 531 F.3d at 1153. Accordingly, this dismissal qualifies as a strike. 19 2. Blackwell v. Glick, No. 2:08-CV-00791-UA-AGP (C.D. Cal.) 20 Plaintiff brought a § 1983 claim against an attorney in the Los Angeles Office of County 21 Counsel for allegedly using his position to influence the decision made by a state court. (Ex. 1 to 22 Request for Judicial Notice (ECF No. 43 at 5-6).) The district court found that plaintiff had not 23 alleged the defendant “deprived him of a right secured by the Constitution and laws of the United 24 States.” (Id.) As such, the court found plaintiff had failed to state a claim and the court denied 25 1 Defendant requests the court take judicial notice of the records and decisions from the prior 26 cases discussed herein. (ECF No. 43 at 1-2.) This court may consider plaintiff’s litigation history 27 because it is a matter of public record that is not subject to dispute. Fed. R. Evid. § 201; See MGIC Indem. Corp. v. Weisman, 803 F.2d 500, 504 (9th Cir. 1986). Therefore, the court will 28 grant defendant’s request. 1 plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed IFP. (Id.) When an application to proceed IFP is denied 2 for failure to state a claim, it is dismissed for failure to state a claim for purposes of § 1915(g). 3 O’Neal, 531 F.3d at 1153. Accordingly, this dismissal qualifies as a strike. 4 3. Blackwell v. Peabody, No. 99-15342 (9th Cir.) 5 Plaintiff appealed the decision of the United States District Court for the Eastern District 6 of California. (Ex. 3 to Request for Judicial Notice (ECF No. 43 at 157-159).) The district court 7 certified that the appeal was not taken in good faith. (Id.) The appellate court reviewed the 8 record and confirmed that plaintiff was not entitled to IFP status. (Id.) The appellate court later 9 dismissed plaintiff’s appeal for failure to prosecute when he failed to pay the filing fee. (Id. at 10 159.) An appellate court’s reliance on a district court’s finding that an appeal was not taken in 11 good faith is “equivalent to a finding of frivolity.” Knapp, 738 F.3d at 1110. Even if the 12 dismissal of an appeal occurs later for another reason, the rejection of IFP status because an 13 appeal is frivolous counts as a dismissal and a strike for purposes of § 1915(g). Richey, 807 F.3d 14 at 1208. 15 Here, the appellate court dismissed the appeal because the plaintiff did not pay the filing 16 fee. However, under Richey, this later dismissal does not preclude this case from being 17 considered a strike. Richey, 807 F.3d at 1208. The rejection of plaintiff’s request for IFP status 18 due to the district court’s finding that the appeal was not taken in good faith means the case was 19 dismissed as frivolous for purposes of § 1915(g). Accordingly, this dismissal qualifies as a strike. 20 4. Blackwell v. Roe, No. 97-56501 (9th Cir.) 21 Plaintiff appealed the decision of the United States District Court for the Central District 22 of California. (Ex. 4 to Request for Judicial Notice (ECF No. 43 at 161).) The district court 23 certified that the appeal was not taken in good faith. (Id.) The appellate court reviewed the 24 record and determined that plaintiff was not entitled to IFP status. (Id.) The appellate court 25 subsequently dismissed plaintiff’s appeal for “failure to comply with the rules requiring 26 processing the appeal to hearing.” (Id. at 162.) The rules discussed in the previous section 27 regarding the rejection of IFP status by an appellate court also apply to this case. 28 Here, the appellate court’s determination that plaintiff was not entitled to IFP status as the 1 appeal was not taken in good faith means the case was dismissed as frivolous for purposes of § 2 1915(g). Given that plaintiff’s request for IFP status was denied because the appeal was found to 3 be frivolous, it does not matter that plaintiff’s appeal was later dismissed on other grounds. 4 Accordingly, this dismissal qualifies as a strike. 5 B. Imminent Danger Exception 6 In plaintiff’s opposition to defendant’s motion to revoke IFP status, plaintiff argues that 7 even if he is found to have accrued three strikes, he should be permitted to proceed IFP as he is in 8 imminent danger of serious physical injury. (ECF No. 49 at 6.) Plaintiff claims that the 9 defendant and other CDCR officers “were beating inmates with brass knuckles.” (Id.) However, 10 the imminent danger exception only applies if, at the time the complaint is filed, the plaintiff 11 alleges he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d at 12 1055. Thus, only the allegations made in plaintiff’s complaint can be considered for determining 13 if the imminent danger exception applies. 14 In his complaint, plaintiff does not allege that he is in imminent danger of any physical 15 injury. (See ECF No. 22.) Plaintiff’s complaint includes an allegation that plaintiff witnessed 16 defendant assault another inmate. (ECF No. 22 at 22.) However, the alleged assault of another 17 individual is not sufficient on its own to support plaintiff’s claim that he is in imminent danger of 18 serious physical injury. The facts alleged in plaintiff’s complaint do not indicate that the plaintiff 19 is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. As such, plaintiff does not meet the 20 requirements for the imminent danger exception. 21 C. Revocation of Plaintiff’s IFP Status 22 Defendant has met his burden to produce documentary evidence of prior dismissals which 23 allows the court to conclude that plaintiff has accrued three strikes under § 1915(g). Plaintiff has 24 not met his burden to explain why the prior dismissals should not be considered strikes. 25 In his opposition, plaintiff does not directly address any of the four cases that defendant 26 contends are strikes. (See ECF No. 49.) Plaintiff claims that Blackwell v. Los Angeles County, 27 No. 2:05-cv-1743-UA-MAN (C.D. Cal.) should not be considered a strike. (ECF No. 49 at 3.) 28 However, defendant only mentions that another court previously found that case qualified as a 1 strike. (ECF No. 42 at 3.) Defendant does not appear to claim that it should be considered a 2 strike in this case, nor is it necessary for defendant to do so given he has presented four other 3 cases where plaintiff accrued strikes. 4 Plaintiff also claims that some of the cases that defendant contends are strikes should not 5 be considered strikes as they were dismissed because “the court declined to exercise supplemental 6 jurisdiction over them.” (ECF No. 49 at 5.) Plaintiff does not identify which cases he believes 7 this applies to. (Id.) From the records and decisions before the court, it does not appear that any 8 of the cases were dismissed when a court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction. (See 9 ECF No. 43.) The evidence presented shows that plaintiff has four prior cases that were 10 dismissed as frivolous or failing to state a claim. Plaintiff has not explained why any of these 11 four prior dismissals should not be considered strikes. Thus, plaintiff has failed to meet his 12 burden. 13 Plaintiff accrued at least three strikes for the purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) prior to the 14 filing of this action. Plaintiff also does not fall under the imminent danger exception. 15 Accordingly, the undersigned will recommend that defendant’s motion to revoke plaintiff’s IFP 16 status be granted. 17 CONCLUSION 18 For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 19 1. Defendant’s motion to revoke plaintiff’s IFP status (ECF No. 42) be granted; and 20 2. This action be dismissed without prejudice unless plaintiff pays the full filing fee for 21 this action ($400.00) by the deadline for filing objections to these findings and 22 recommendations. 23 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge 24 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within thirty days after 25 being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with 26 the court and serve a copy on all parties. The document should be captioned “Objections to 27 Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the objections shall be 28 filed and served within seven days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that 1 | failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of the right to appeal the 2 | district court’s order. Martinez v. Y1st, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 3 | Dated: March 3, 2021 4 5 6 ORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 7 8 9 10 | pLB:14 DLB □ □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28