(PC) Potts v. Soleimani ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JAMES E. POTTS, 1:19-cv-01574-DAD-GSA-PC 12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDING THAT EITHER: 13 vs. (1) THIS CASE BE DISMISSED FOR 14 M. SOLEIMANI, et al., PLAINTIFF’S FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, 15 Defendants. OR 16 (2) PLAINTIFF’S CLAIMS AGAINST 17 DEFENDANTS DR. A. YOUSSEF AND DR. M. RIZK BE DISMISSED FROM 18 THIS CASE FOR PLAINTIFF’S FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, AND 19 PLAINTIFF’S CLAIMS AGAINST DR. JIM BENTLEY BE TRANSFERRED TO 20 THE SACRAMENTO DIVISION OF THE EASTERN DISCTRICT OF 21 CALIFORNIA 22 OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS 23 I. BACKGROUND 24 James E. Potts (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with this civil rights 25 action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 On October 16, 2019, Plaintiff filed the Complaint 26 27 1 On December 13, 2020, Plaintiff paid the $400.00 filing fee in full for this action. (ECF 28 No. 17.) Therefore, Plaintiff is not proceeding in forma pauperis in this case. 1 commencing this action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. 2 (ECF No. 1.) On October 30, 2019, the case was transferred to the Eastern District of California. 3 (ECF No. 4.) 4 On February 22, 2021, the court dismissed the Complaint for failure to state a claim, with 5 leave to amend. (ECF No. 18.)2 On May 26, 2021, Plaintiff filed the First Amended Complaint, 6 which is now before the court for screening. 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 7 II. SCREENING REQUIREMENT 8 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 9 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 10 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 11 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 12 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). 13 “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall 14 dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that the action or appeal fails to state a claim 15 upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 16 A complaint is required to contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that 17 the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not 18 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 19 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell 20 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken 21 as true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, 22 Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). To state 23 a viable claim, Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim 24 to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 25 26 2 The United States District Court for the Northern District of California transferred the 27 case to the Eastern District of California finding that the acts complained of in the Complaint occurred while Plaintiff was incarcerated at California State Prison Solano and Wasco State Prison, both located in 28 the Eastern District of California. (ECF No. 4.) 1 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal 2 conclusions are not. Id. The mere possibility of misconduct falls short of meeting this 3 plausibility standard. Id. 4 III. SUMMARY OF PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT 5 Plaintiff is a state prisoner presently incarcerated at California State Prison–Solano (CSP- 6 Solano) in Vacaville, California. The events at issue in the First Amended Complaint allegedly 7 occurred at Wasco State Prison (WSP) in Wasco, California and CSP-Solano, when Plaintiff was 8 incarcerated at those two prisons in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and 9 Rehabilitation. Plaintiff names as defendants Dr. A. Youssef, Dr. M. Rizk, and Dr. Jim Bentley 10 (collectively, “Defendants”). 11 Both WSP and CSP-Solano are located in the Eastern District of California. However, 12 WSP is located in the Fresno division of the Eastern District, while CSP-Solano is located in the 13 Sacramento division of the Eastern District. 14 Plaintiff allegations follow: 15 Wasco State Prison (WSP) 16 On or about November 28, 2016, while Plaintiff was incarcerated at WSP, he was 17 transferred from WSP to Dignity Health Mercy Hospital where surgery was performed on his 18 left lung for an adenocarcinoma (Stage II lung cancer). Plaintiff was informed that his cancer 19 was caused by years of smoking tobacco. 20 On or about December 6, 2016, the day after the surgery, Plaintiff was transferred from 21 Dignity Health Mercy Hospital back to WSP. For weeks, months, and years, Plaintiff 22 continuously voiced discomfort and pain in his left lung area. 23 His doctor’s post-surgery instructions were for Plaintiff to be given methadone, 5 mg p.o. 24 b.i.d., Tylenol p.r.n. for pain, omeprazole 20 mg daily, and triamcinolone cream. 25 On June 25, 2018, Ghal Vikas (doctor/oncologist) [not a defendant] authored a final 26 report in which he recommended further chemotherapy to reduce Plaintiff’s risk of cancer 27 recurrence. The report was sent to primary care givers Drs. A. Youssef and Magued Rizk at 28 WSP. 1 Plaintiff complained about pain and discomfort to Doctors Youssef and Rizk and was 2 prescribed a regimen of medications, but they did not stop the pain or discomfort. Plaintiff 3 requested a second opinion, which was denied. 4 In February 2019, Defendants Youssef and Rizk allowed Plaintiff to be interviewed by 5 Dr. Rodriguez, a pain specialist [not a defendant]. Dr. Rodriguez recommended that Plaintiff be 6 treated with the medication Gabapentin, 300 mg. After years of being in pain, Plaintiff’s pain 7 was gone. 8 Because Plaintiff continuously complained about the course of treatment he was 9 transferred to CSP–Solano. 10 California State Prison – Solano (CSP-Solano) 11 On or about February 19, 2019, Plaintiff arrived at CSP–Solano. Plaintiff was instructed 12 by Health Care Staff to report to the Medication window to pick up his medications. On February 13 20, 2019, Plaintiff reported to the Medication window and noticed that he was not given his 14 Gabapentin. Plaintiff questioned why and was told that Dr. Jim Bentley had stopped his pain 15 medication until he could see Plaintiff in person. 16 On or about March 25, 2019, Plaintiff was finally allowed to see Dr. Bentley, who told 17 Plaintiff that as long as he was Plaintiff’s doctor, Plaintiff would never receive this medication. 18 Because of this, Dr. Bentley is a defendant in this case. Dr. Bentley failed to provide Plaintiff 19 with a treatment plan that effectively treated his pain. Dr. Bentley was deliberately indifferent 20 to Plaintiff’s health and safety and subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment. 21 Relief Requested 22 As relief, Plaintiff requests monetary damages and a jury trial. 23 IV. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIMS 24 A. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 25 The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides: 26 Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, 27 or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities 28 secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an 1 action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress . . . . 2 42 U.S.C. § 1983. “[Section] 1983 ‘is not itself a source of substantive rights,’ but merely 3 provides ‘a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.’” Graham v. Connor, 490 4 U.S. 386, 393-94 (1989) (quoting Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 n.3 (1979)); see also 5 Chapman v. Houston Welfare Rights Org., 441 U.S. 600, 618 (1979); Hall v. City of Los Angeles, 6 697 F.3d 1059, 1068 (9th Cir. 2012); Crowley v. Nevada, 678 F.3d 730, 734 (9th Cir. 2012); 7 Anderson v. Warner, 451 F.3d 1063, 1067 (9th Cir. 2006). 8 B. Eighth Amendment Medical Claim 9 “[T]o maintain an Eighth Amendment claim based on prison medical treatment, an inmate 10 must show ‘deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.’” Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 11 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)). The two-part test for 12 deliberate indifference requires the plaintiff to show (1) “‘a serious medical need’ by 13 demonstrating that ‘failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further significant injury 14 or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,’” and (2) “the defendant’s response to the need 15 was deliberately indifferent.” Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096 (quoting McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 16 1059 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133, 17 1136 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc) (internal quotations omitted)). Deliberate indifference is shown 18 by “a purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical need, and harm 19 caused by the indifference.” Id. (citing McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1060). Deliberate indifference 20 may be manifested “when prison officials deny, delay or intentionally interfere with medical 21 treatment, or it may be shown by the way in which prison physicians provide medical care.” Id. 22 Where a prisoner is alleging a delay in receiving medical treatment, the delay must have led to 23 further harm in order for the prisoner to make a claim of deliberate indifference to serious medical 24 needs. McGuckin at 1060 (citing Shapely v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 25 407 (9th Cir. 1985)). 26 “Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 27 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). “Under this standard, the prison official must not only ‘be aware of the 28 1 facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists,’ but 2 that person ‘must also draw the inference.’” Id. at 1057 (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 3 825, 837 (1994)). “‘If a prison official should have been aware of the risk, but was not, then the 4 official has not violated the Eighth Amendment, no matter how severe the risk.’” Id. (quoting 5 Gibson v. County of Washoe, Nevada, 290 F.3d 1175, 1188 (9th Cir. 2002)). “A showing of 6 medical malpractice or negligence is insufficient to establish a constitutional deprivation under 7 the Eighth Amendment.” Id. at 1060. “[E]ven gross negligence is insufficient to establish a 8 constitutional violation.” Id. (citing Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 (9th Cir. 1990)). 9 “A difference of opinion between a prisoner-patient and prison medical authorities 10 regarding treatment does not give rise to a § 1983 claim.” Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 1337, 11 1344 (9th Cir. 1981) (internal citation omitted). To prevail, a plaintiff “must show that the course 12 of treatment the doctors chose was medically unacceptable under the circumstances . . . and . . . 13 that they chose this course in conscious disregard of an excessive risk to plaintiff’s health.” 14 Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996) (internal citations omitted). 15 To state a medical claim against a defendant, Plaintiff must show that the defendant knew 16 about an excessive risk of harm to Plaintiff but ignored the risk or otherwise acted unreasonably, 17 causing harm to Plaintiff. 18 Defendants Dr. A. Yousef and Dr. M. Rizk 19 Defendants Drs. A. Yousef and M. Rizk were Plaintiff’s primary care doctors at WSP. 20 Plaintiff alleges that when he returned to WSP after surgery in 2016, he personally told Dr. 21 Youssef and Dr. Rizk that he was in pain or discomfort and questioned the course of treatment 22 that he was receiving. Defendants Yousef and Rizk offered Plaintiff a regimen of drugs that 23 never worked. In February 2019, defendants Yousef and Rizk allowed Plaintiff to be interviewed 24 by a pain specialist, Dr. Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez recommended that Plaintiff be treated with 25 the medication Gabapentin. Plaintiff alleges that after taking Gabapentin his pain was gone. 26 On or about February 19, 2019, Plaintiff was transferred to CSP-Solano. 27 Defendant Dr. Bentley 28 Defendant Dr. Bentley was a doctor at CSP-Solano when Plaintiff was incarcerated there. 1 Plaintiff arrived at CSP-Solano on February 19, 2019. The next day he went to pick up his 2 medications and was told that Dr. Bentley had stopped Plaintiff’s Gabapentin medication until 3 he could meet with Plaintiff in person. When Plaintiff met with Dr. Bentley, the doctor told 4 Plaintiff that as long as he was Plaintiff’s doctor Plaintiff would never receive Gabapentin. 5 Plaintiff alleges that Dr. Bentley failed to provide Plaintiff with a treatment plan that effectively 6 treated his pain. 7 Discussion 8 Plaintiff’s factual allegations against the Defendants do not show that any of the 9 Defendants acted unreasonably in their treatment of Plaintiff in violation of the Eighth 10 Amendment. Plaintiff alleges that Dr. Yousef and Dr. Rizk treated him with medications that 11 did not work, yet over time they did refer him to a pain specialist who prescribed what Plaintiff 12 states was an effective medication. These facts alone however do not establish that either Dr. 13 Yousef or Dr. Rizk consciously ignored a serious risk to Plaintiff’s health without attempting to 14 ameliorate the risk. Both doctors prescribed pain medication, however in Plaintiff’s opinion the 15 medications prescribed by the pain specialist was a better treatment. 16 Likewise, Plaintiff’s allegations are too factually insufficient and conclusory to suggest, 17 other than by speculation, that Dr. Bentley also ignored an excessive risk to Plaintiff by 18 improperly failing to treat him for his complaints of ongoing pain, thus causing him harm. In 19 this regard, Plaintiff does not allege that he was given no medication for pain by Dr. Bentley, 20 only that he was not given his desired medication. Importantly here, Plaintiff alleges that Dr. 21 Bentley either failed or refused to provide Plaintiff with a treatment plan that effectively treated 22 him for pain. At most then, Plaintiff offers only a difference of opinion with Dr. Bentley, which 23 at most may constitute a claim for negligence which is not actionable in this § 1983 action. 24 Thus, the court finds that Plaintiff fails to state any medical claims against any of the 25 Defendants in violation of the Eighth Amendment. 26 C. Venue 27 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), a civil action, other than one based on diversity jurisdiction, 28 may be brought only in “(1) a judicial district where any defendant resides, if all defendants 1 reside in the same State, (2) a judicial district in which a substantial part of the events or omissions 2 giving rise to the claim occurred, or a substantial part of the property that is the subject of the 3 action is situated, or (3) a judicial district in which any defendant may be found, if there is no 4 district in which the action may otherwise be brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). “For the 5 convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any 6 civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 7 1404(a). Local Rule 120(f) provides that “[w]henever in any action the court finds . . . that the 8 action has not been commenced in the proper court in accordance with this Rule, or for other 9 good cause, the Court may transfer the action to another venue within the District.” 10 Here, this case was transferred to the Fresno division of the United States District Court 11 for the Eastern District of California. Venue for Plaintiff’s claims against two of defendants, Dr. 12 Youssef and Dr. Rizk is found in the Fresno division, but venue for the third defendant, Dr. 13 Bentley, is found in the Sacramento division of the Eastern District. Under the provisions cited 14 above, it is not mandatory for the Court to transfer a civil action from one division of a District 15 to another division of a District where it should have been brought. Therefore, in this case, the 16 Court may, for good cause, transfer the claims against Dr. Bentley to the Sacramento division of 17 the Eastern District. However, the Court may instead decide to keep all of the claims together 18 and proceed with all of Plaintiff’s claims in the Fresno division. 19 Therefore, it shall be recommend that either (1) all of Plaintiff’s claims in this case be 20 dismissed for failure to state a claim, or that (2) Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. Yousef and Dr. 21 Rizk be dismissed from this case for failure to state a claim, and Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. 22 Bentley be transferred to the Sacramento division for further proceedings. In either case, it shall 23 be recommended that Plaintiff’s case in the Fresno division be dismissed for failure to state a 24 claim and closed. 25 V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 26 For the reasons set forth above, the court finds that Plaintiff fails to state any cognizable 27 claims against any of the Defendants. Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 “[t]he court should freely give leave to amend when justice so requires.” Plaintiff shall be granted 1 leave file an amended complaint within thirty days. Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448-49 2 (9th Cir. 1987). Here, the court previously granted Plaintiff leave to amend the complaint, with 3 ample guidance by the court, and Plaintiff has not stated any claims upon which relief may be 4 granted under § 1983. The court is persuaded that Plaintiff is unable to allege any facts, based 5 upon the circumstances he challenges, that would state a cognizable claim under section 1983. 6 “A district court may deny leave to amend when amendment would be futile.” Hartmann v. 7 CDCR, 707 F.3d 1114, 1130 (9th Cir. 2013). The court finds that the deficiencies outlined above 8 are not capable of being cured by amendment, and therefore further leave to amend should not 9 be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000). 10 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that either: 11 1. This case be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to state a claim, and 12 The Clerk be directed to close this case; 13 or 14 2. Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. Yousef and Dr. Rizk be dismissed from this case for 15 failure to state a claim, 16 Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. Bentley be transferred to the Sacramento division 17 for further proceedings, and 18 The Clerk be directed to close this case. 19 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 20 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen 21 (14) days after the date of service of these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file 22 written objections with the court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to 23 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file 24 objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. 25 Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 26 (9th Cir. 1991)). 27 IT IS SO ORDERED. 28 1 Dated: October 20, 2021 /s/ Gary S. Austin 2 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 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