(PC) Singleton v. Baugham ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DEVON SINGLETON, No. 2:18-cv-2633 TLN DB P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER 14 D. BAUGHAM, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a civil rights 18 action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff brings claims against the defendants for retaliation, 19 failure to protect, and filing a false report. Before the court is plaintiff’s first amended complaint 20 (“FAC”) for screening. (ECF No. 12.) For the reasons stated below plaintiff’s complaint will be 21 dismissed with leave to amend. The findings and recommendations filed on November 29, 2018 22 (ECF No. 11) will be vacated. 23 PENDING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 24 By order dated October 19, 2018, the court screened the plaintiff’s initial complaint and 25 determined it did not contain any cognizable claims. (ECF No. 8.) Plaintiff was given thirty days 26 leave to file an amended complaint and warned that failure to file an amended complaint would 27 result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed. (See ECF No. 8.) Those thirty days 28 //// 1 passed without plaintiff filing an amended complaint and the court recommended that this action 2 be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with court orders. (ECF No. 11.) 3 Plaintiff filed objections to the findings and recommendations stating that he had filed an 4 amended complaint but that it may have been held up by delays to mail sent from prisons. (ECF 5 No. 14 at 1.) Plaintiff’s amended complaint, dated November 5, 2020, was received by the court 6 on December 6, 2018. (ECF No. 12.) In light of these facts, the court will vacate findings and 7 recommendations filed November 29, 2018 (ECF No. 11) and screen plaintiff’s FAC. 8 SCREENING 9 I. Legal Standards 10 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 11 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 12 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims 13 that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be 14 granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 15 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) & (2). 16 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 17 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 18 Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an 19 indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 20 490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully 21 pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. Rule 8(a)(2) of 22 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the claim 23 showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of what 24 the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 25 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 26 However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must 27 contain more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain 28 factual allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic, 1 550 U.S. at 555. In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the 2 allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 3 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all 4 doubts in the plaintiff’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 5 The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows: 6 Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the deprivation 7 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, 8 or other proper proceeding for redress. 9 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute requires that there be an actual connection or link between the 10 actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See 11 Monell v. Dept. of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976). “A 12 person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the meaning of § 13 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts or omits to perform 14 an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.” 15 Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 16 Moreover, supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the actions of 17 their employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, therefore, when a named defendant 18 holds a supervisorial position, the causal link between him and the claimed constitutional 19 violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); 20 Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and conclusory allegations 21 concerning the involvement of official personnel in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See 22 Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 23 II. Analysis 24 A. Allegations in the Complaint 25 The complaint is written in unclear language that makes it challenging to discern what the 26 plaintiff intends to allege. Though the complaint is divided into two claims (ECF No. 12 at 3-4) 27 the factual allegations in the two sections are connected and the complaint appears to state three 28 possible claims. Plaintiff names as defendants: warden D. Baugham, correctional officer L. 1 Watkins, correctional officer T. Castech, and correctional sergeant M. Saavedra. (Id. at 3.) The 2 complaint’s “Supporting Facts” sub-section in the “Claim 1” section states the following, 3 verbatim: 4 Plaintiff, De’von-Samuel James-Singleton Perkins was set up by the Defendant 5 correctional officer Watkins, Defendant worked in the housing united the plaintiff was house in Fac-B-4, Plaintiff was a A.D.A./Yard Worker) the Defendant did not 6 like that the Plaintiff had the job & work around any staff at the prison. The defendant 1st told staff & inmates that if the Plaintiff was giving up information he 7 would give the plaintiff a brake & back off. 2nd the Defendant went to inmates liked “Rodney Mitchell” & stated how the plaintiff & other staff had outside 8 relation, also how long they knew each other, saying things that place the plaintiff in a state of danger. 3rd the Defendant told staff & inmates that the Plaintiff had 9 made open threats or threaten his family after finding out the Plaintiff 602 the Defendant & also written a letter to the “co-defendant D. Baugham & after doing 10 so Sgt. Elder address the Plaintiff on & about the letter & was told to use the 602 Inmates Appeal way & that he know that he didn’t threat the Defendant nor the 11 Defendant family & let the Plaintiff move to Fac B-3-Block. After the hearing on 7-3-18 the Defendant had the Plaintiff cell rehit saying the Plaintiff took something 12 & place it in the cell knowing the Plaintiff had came back from a 602 hearing knowing the Plaintiff didn’t have anything on his person. It was to harass the 13 Plaintiff. Defendant Watkins found ways to keep staff & inmate questioning the Plaintiff action. Do to Defendant staging everything c/o Watkins knowingly 14 “solicitated the violence” & their for “created danger”, on August 1st 2018 at 09:35:00 do to the “state created danger” & “solicitated to violence the plaintiff & 15 “Rodney Mitchel” ended up in an incident. That was all do to correctional Watkins on August 1st the statement of 16 correctional sergeant M. Saavedra, made it as this what the incident was over. When I ask correctional office T. Castech she didn’t write down the question I ask nor ask 17 the question right she written a false document & false statement to help cover up what took place & what was said. 18 Knowing I understood that correctional officer Watkins: “is liable under, “solicitated to violated” & state created danger” & “substantial risk of serious 19 harm” U.S. State District Court 2018, 2018 U.S. Dist. Lexis 44915:, Cuevas v. U.S. March 19, 2018; assault made possible by officer’s action is actionable Northington 20 v. Jackson 973 F.2s 1518, 1525 “Fischel v. Armitage, 128 F.3d 50-59 2d cir 1991) Snider v. Dylag 188, F.3d 51, 55 (2d cir 199). 21 (ECF No. 12 at 3-4, 6.) 22 In the section of complaint quoted above, plaintiff appears to allege the following: on an 23 unspecified date, plaintiff and inmate Rodney Mitchell1 had an altercation. (Id. at 6.) Defendant 24 Watkins made other inmates and staff suspicious of the plaintiff by telling them that plaintiff had 25 an “outside relation” to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) staff. 26 27 1 Plaintiff also refers to an inmate named “Rodney Mitchel” in the complaint. (ECF No. 12 at 6.) From the facts alleged, these appear to be the same individual but it is not clear which spelling is 28 correct. The spelling “Rodney Mitchell” will be used for the remainder of this order. 1 (Id. at 4.) Defendant Watkins did not like that the plaintiff had a job as an “A.D.A./Yard 2 Worker”. (Id. at 3.) 3 Additionally, Plaintiff seems to claim that defendant Watkins falsely accused the plaintiff 4 of threatening defendant Watkins and his family, but no additional details are clearly alleged. (Id. 5 at 4.) There is some suggestion in the complaint that defendant Watkins took actions to harass 6 the plaintiff. (Id.) Plaintiff only states that his cell was searched by CDCR staff following a 602 7 hearing. (Id.) It is unclear how plaintiff claims defendant Watkins was involved. (Id.) Plaintiff 8 also appears to allege that defendant Castech submitted a false report. (Id. at 6.) This section of 9 plaintiff’s complaint may contain additional allegations but, due to the writing in the complaint, it 10 is impossible to determine if plaintiff alleges additional relevant facts. 11 The “Claim 2” section of plaintiff’s complaint again alleges that defendant Castech made 12 a “false document & false statement.” (Id. at 5.) As best can be discerned, this claim is 13 connected with a question that defendant Castech did not ask in an investigation. (Id. at 4.) 14 However, the details of this and any other allegations plaintiff intended to make in this section are 15 not clearly stated. 16 B. Does Plaintiff State Cognizable Claims? 17 Plaintiff fails to state any claims for relief cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. There are 18 three possible claims that plaintiff may have intended to bring. These claims are: (1) an 19 allegation that defendant Castech filed a false report, (2) a First Amendment claim against 20 defendant Watkins for retaliation against plaintiff due to his job, and (3) an Eighth Amendment 21 claim against defendant Watkins for failure to protect the plaintiff resulting in the plaintiff’s 22 incident with inmate Mitchell. The legal basis for each claim will be analyzed individually. 23 1. Filing a False Report 24 Plaintiff claims that defendant Castech submitted a false report. Plaintiff is advised that 25 the falsification of a disciplinary report does not state a stand-alone constitutional claim. See 26 Luster v. Amezcua, No. 1:16-cv-0554-DAD-GSA-PC, 2017 WL 772141, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 27 27, 2017). As plaintiff’s claim against defendant Castech appears only to be that the defendant 28 //// 1 filed a false report, this allegation does not constitute a constitutional violation on its own. As 2 such, this is not a cognizable claim under § 1983. 3 2. First Amendment - Retaliation 4 Plaintiff appears to claim that defendant Watkins retaliated against the plaintiff in 5 violation of the First Amendment. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Watkins spread information 6 about the plaintiff’s connection with CDCR staff due to defendant Watkins in retaliation for 7 plaintiff’s job assignment. (ECF No. 12 at 3.) 8 To state a claim for retaliation in violation of his First Amendment rights, plaintiff must 9 show the following five basic elements: “(1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse 10 action against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner's protected conduct, and that such action 11 (4) chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not 12 reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 13 (9th Cir. 2005) (footnote omitted). 14 Plaintiff does not allege any facts which show he was engaged in “protected conducted” 15 or that defendant Watkins chilled plaintiff’s First Amendment rights. As such, plaintiff does not 16 allege sufficient facts to state a claim against defendant Watkins for retaliation under the First 17 Amendment. 18 3. Eighth Amendment – Failure to Protect 19 Plaintiff may also seek to make an Eighth Amendment failure to protect claim against 20 defendant Watkins based on plaintiff’s altercation with inmate Mitchell. 21 To state a claim for failure to protect, a prisoner must “show that the officials acted with 22 deliberate indifference to threat of serious harm or injury to an inmate.” Labatad v. Corrections 23 Corp. of America, 714 F.3d 1155, 1160 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Gibson v. County of Washoe, 290 24 F.3d 1175, 1187 (9th Cir. 2002)). A failure to protect claim under the Eighth Amendment 25 requires a showing that “the official [knew] of and disregard[ed] an excessive risk to inmate . . . 26 safety.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832-33 (1994). 27 Plaintiff claims that by giving information to others about plaintiff’s “outside relation” to 28 CDCR staff, defendant Watkins threatened plaintiff’s safety. (ECF No. 12 at 4.) Specifically, 1 plaintiff appears to allege that his altercation with inmate Mitchell was related to defendant 2 Watkins telling inmates and staff about plaintiff’s “outside relation” to CDCR staff. (Id. at 6.) 3 However, plaintiff does not allege any facts to support a connection between the incident 4 involving inmate Mitchell and defendant Watkins’ actions. Further, the complaint does not 5 include any facts that show that defendant Watkins knew of and disregarded excessive risk to the 6 plaintiff. 7 As such, plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts to state an Eighth Amendment claim 8 against defendant Watkins for failure to protect the plaintiff. 9 AMENDING THE COMPLAINT 10 As stated above, plaintiff has failed to allege sufficient facts to state a claim for which 11 relief can be granted under § 1983. Plaintiff will be given the opportunity to amend his 12 complaint. 13 Plaintiff should carefully review the legal standards for the claims set out above. Plaintiff 14 must identify a defendant and allege facts that support each factor of the legal claim. Plaintiff 15 should plainly and simply state these supporting facts. It should be clear how each allegation in 16 plaintiff’s complaint is related to and supports the associated claim. Plaintiff is reminded that he 17 can only allege claims against different defendants if those claims are related to each other. 18 Plaintiff is advised that he must adhere to the following standards for stating claims for 19 relief under § 1983: 20 • Plaintiff must clearly identify each defendant and describe just what that defendant 21 did that violated his constitutional rights. 22 • Plaintiff must identify as a defendant only persons who personally participated in a 23 substantial way in depriving plaintiff of a federal constitutional right. Johnson v. 24 Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (a person subjects another to the 25 deprivation of a constitutional right if he does an act, participates in another’s act 26 or omits to perform an act he is legally required to do that causes the alleged 27 deprivation). “Vague and conclusory allegations of official participation in civil 28 //// 1 rights violations are not sufficient.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 2 (9th Cir. 1982) (citations omitted). 3 • Plaintiff must make a short, plain statement of the facts supporting each claim. 4 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 5 • Plaintiff may allege multiple claims against a single defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 18(a). However, he may not bring a claim against one defendant in the same case 7 as an unrelated claim against another defendant. Unrelated claims against 8 different defendants belong in different suits.” George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 9 (7th Cir. 2007) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)). 10 • Any amended complaint must show the federal court has jurisdiction, the action is 11 brought in the right place, and plaintiff is entitled to relief if plaintiff’s allegations 12 are true. It must contain a request for particular relief. In a civil rights case under 13 § 1983, the relief available includes monetary damages and appropriate injunctive 14 relief. Plaintiff may not seek release from custody in a § 1983 action. 15 • An amended complaint must be complete in itself without reference to any prior 16 pleading. E.D. Cal. R. 220. Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the 17 original pleadings are superseded. 18 //// 19 //// 20 //// 21 //// 22 //// 23 //// 24 //// 25 //// 26 //// 27 //// 28 //// 1 CONCLUSION 2 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 3 1. The findings and recommendations filed on November 29, 2018 (ECF No. 11) are 4 vacated. 5 2. Plaintiff's first amended complaint (ECF No. 12) is dismissed with leave to amend. 6 3. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an amended 7 complaint that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal 8 Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice. The amended complaint 9 must bear the docket number assigned to this case and must be labeled “Second 10 Amended Complaint.” 11 4. Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be 12 dismissed. 13 | Dated: May 24, 2021 14 15 16 ORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 17 18 19 20 21 22 DB:14 23 || DB:1/Orders/Prisoner/Civil Rights/S/sing2633.scrn2 24 25 26 27 28