(PC) Driver v. Gibson ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 BILLY DRIVER, JR., No. 2:20-CV-0642-KJM-DMC-P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 KEITH GIBSON, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 18 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s second amended complaint, ECF No. 19 51. 20 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief 21 against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. 22 § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or 23 malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief 24 from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Moreover, 25 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “. . . short and plain 26 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This 27 means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 28 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied if the 1 complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon which it 2 rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). Because Plaintiff must allege 3 with at least some degree of particularity overt acts by specific defendants which support the 4 claims, vague and conclusory allegations fail to satisfy this standard. Additionally, it is 5 impossible for the Court to conduct the screening required by law when the allegations are vague 6 and conclusory. 7 8 I. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS 9 This action proceeds on Plaintiff’s second amended complaint. See ECF No. 51. 10 Plaintiff’s original complaint failed to state cognizable claims because one defendant was 11 immune and there were no facts linking the remaining named defendants to the claimed 12 constitutional violation. See ECF No. 28, pg. 2. Plaintiff’s first amended complaint “largely 13 suffer[ed] from the same defects.” ECF No. 49, pg. 4. Upon Plaintiff’s third attempt, he now 14 names two defendants not listed in any of the previous complaints: (1) Dr. Wynn, a psychiatrist at 15 California Medical Facility; and (2) Dr. Rauf, a psychiatrist at Kern Valley State Prsion. See id. 16 at 2. Plaintiff claims that Defendants violated Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights by not taking 17 him off of his “anti/psychotic medication” prescription. See id. at 3-4. 18 Dr. Wynn 19 Plaintiff alleges the following facts against Dr. Wynn: 20 On February/20th/2020 Doctor Wynn interviewed me for admittance in California Medical Facility . . . program (a) six to nine month 21 program at this interview I notified (DR) Wynn that I was being prescribed anti/psychotic medication [] and that I was not psychotic 22 I also asked (DR) Wynn to : please take me off anti/psychotic drug(s) because I am not psychotic Doctor Wynn then stated to me that what 23 did I expect when I keep telling psychiatrist I was awarded $27.9 billion dollar(s) partially in (A) CDCR pink Hc602 Lo 6 number # 24 LAC-HC 15057051 granted partially on March/25th/2016 I then notified right then and there that in fact I arrived here at CMF tonight 25 with all my property and that I could show him the money awarded to me partially (DR) Wynn said he was not going to take me off 26 medications. 27 Id. at 3 (errors in original). 28 / / / 1 Plaintiff alleges that he is “experiencing chest pain,” “heart palpitations,” and that 2 he is “being constantly peppered [sic] sprayed and beaten.” Id. 3 Dr. Rauf 4 Plaintiff alleges the following facts against Dr. Rauf: 5 On February 4th, 2020 Doctor Rauf was told to take me off pain injection by judge to: which he agreed but I also informed Doctor 6 Rauf that I was being misdianosed on anti/psychotic drug(s) and that I would like to : be taken off anti/psychotic drugs because I am not 7 psychotic . . . But like psychiatrist Doctor Wynn stated psychiatric Doctor Rauf stated prior that what did I expect when I keep telling 8 psychiatrist that I was partially awarded $27.9 billion dollars on pink Hc602 Lo 6 number # LAC-HC 15057051 I then showed Doctor 9 Rauf and my attorney Mary Dederick the partially granted Hc602 Lo 6 number # LAC-HC 15057051 Doctor Rauf said he would take me 10 off injection(s) but not anti/psychotic(s) drug(s) . . . Its because I keep notifying Doctor (s) of partially granted $27.9 billion dollars Hc 602 11 I keep getting forced medicated. 12 Id. at 4 (errors in original). 13 Plaintiff alleges that he is “experiencing chest pain,” “heart palpitations,” and that 14 he is having a “hard time trying to get (a) [sic] court order to: [sic] get my money.” Id. 15 16 II. DISCUSSION 17 The Court finds that Plaintiff’s second amended complaint is deficient. 18 Specifically, Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim does not show that Defendants had a 19 sufficiently culpable mind. 20 The treatment a prisoner receives in prison and the conditions under which the 21 prisoner is confined are subject to scrutiny under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel 22 and unusual punishment. See Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 31 (1993); Farmer v. Brennan, 23 511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994). The Eighth Amendment “. . . embodies broad and idealistic concepts 24 of dignity, civilized standards, humanity, and decency.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102 25 (1976). Conditions of confinement may, however, be harsh and restrictive. See Rhodes v. 26 Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981). Nonetheless, prison officials must provide prisoners with 27 “food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety.” Toussaint v. McCarthy, 28 801 F.2d 1080, 1107 (9th Cir. 1986). A prison official violates the Eighth Amendment only when 1 two requirements are met: (1) objectively, the official’s act or omission must be so serious such 2 that it results in the denial of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities; and (2) 3 subjectively, the prison official must have acted unnecessarily and wantonly for the purpose of 4 inflicting harm. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. Thus, to violate the Eighth Amendment, a prison 5 official must have a “sufficiently culpable mind.” See id. 6 Deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious illness or injury, or risks of serious 7 injury or illness, gives rise to a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105; 8 see also Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. This applies to physical as well as dental and mental health 9 needs. See Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1253 (9th Cir. 1982). An injury or illness is 10 sufficiently serious if the failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further significant 11 injury or the “. . . unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 12 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992); see also Doty v. County of Lassen, 37 F.3d 540, 546 (9th Cir. 1994). 13 Factors indicating seriousness are: (1) whether a reasonable doctor would think that the condition 14 is worthy of comment; (2) whether the condition significantly impacts the prisoner’s daily 15 activities; and (3) whether the condition is chronic and accompanied by substantial pain. See 16 Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 17 The requirement of deliberate indifference is less stringent in medical needs cases 18 than in other Eighth Amendment contexts because the responsibility to provide inmates with 19 medical care does not generally conflict with competing penological concerns. See McGuckin, 20 974 F.2d at 1060. Thus, deference need not be given to the judgment of prison officials as to 21 decisions concerning medical needs. See Hunt v. Dental Dep’t, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir. 22 1989). The complete denial of medical attention may constitute deliberate indifference. See 23 Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1111 (9th Cir. 1986). Delay in providing medical 24 treatment, or interference with medical treatment, may also constitute deliberate indifference. See 25 Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1131. Where delay is alleged, however, the prisoner must also demonstrate 26 that the delay led to further injury. See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1060. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 Negligence in diagnosing or treating a medical condition does not, however, give 2 | rise to aclaim under the Eighth Amendment. See Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. Moreover, a 3 | difference of opinion between the prisoner and medical providers concerning the appropriate 4 | course of treatment does not give rise to an Eighth Amendment claim. See Jackson v. McIntosh, 5 | 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996). 6 Here, Plaintiff seems to have a difference of opinion concerning the appropriate 7 | course of treatment. Plaintiff does not allege facts that demonstrate how Defendants were acting 8 | for the purpose of inflicting harm. At best, Plaintiff's facts suggest negligence claims. Therefore, 9 | Plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim is not cognizable. Further, because Plaintiff has yet to state 10 | acognizable claim in any of his three complaints. Allowing a fourth bite at the apple would 11 | likely be fruitless as well. 12 13 I. CONCLUSION 14 Because it does not appear possible that the deficiencies identified herein can be 15 || cured by amending the complaint, Plaintiff is not entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of 16 | the entire action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 17 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that this action be dismissed 18 | for failure to state a claim. 19 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 20 | Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 14 days 21 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 22 | objections with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of 23 | objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. See 24 | Martinez v. Yist, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 25 | Dated: November 3, 2021 Sx