(PC) Dunbar v. California Corrections Department ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 EDDIE LAMAR DUNBAR, No. 2:19-cv-1359 JAM DB 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER 14 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, et al., 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff is a state inmate proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 18 § 1983. Plaintiff claims that officers used excessive force against him, denied him medical 19 treatment, and threatened him. Presently before the court is plaintiff’s third amended complaint 20 for screening. (ECF No. 21.) For the reasons set forth below the court will give plaintiff the 21 option to proceed with the complaint as screened for amend the complaint. 22 SCREENING 23 I. Legal Standards 24 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 25 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 26 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims 27 that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be 28 //// 1 granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 2 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) & (2). 3 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 4 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 5 Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an 6 indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 7 490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully 8 pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. 9 Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and plain 10 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the 11 defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic 12 Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 13 However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must 14 contain more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain 15 factual allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic, 16 550 U.S. at 555. In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the 17 allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 18 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all 19 doubts in the plaintiff’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 20 The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows: 21 Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the deprivation 22 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, 23 or other proper proceeding for redress. 24 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Here, the defendants must act under color of federal law. Bivens, 403 U.S. at 25 389. The statute requires that there be an actual connection or link between the 26 actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See 27 Monell v. Dept. of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 28 (1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the 1 meaning of § 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts or 2 omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which 3 complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 4 Moreover, supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the actions of 5 their employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, therefore, when a named defendant 6 holds a supervisorial position, the causal link between him and the claimed constitutional 7 violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); 8 Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and conclusory allegations 9 concerning the involvement of official personnel in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See 10 Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 11 II. Allegations in the Third Amended Complaint 12 Plaintiff alleges that the events giving rise to the complaint occurred while he was 13 incarcerated at Hight Desert State Prison (HDSP). He has named as defendants: (1) John Doe 1, 14 Investigations Services Unit (ISU) officer; (2) John Doe 2, lieutenant; (3) John Doe 3, sergeant; 15 (4) John Doe 4, warden; (5) John Doe 5, ISU officer; and (6) N. Smith, ISU officer. (ECF No. 21 16 at 2.) 17 Plaintiff alleges that on November 13, 2015 John Doe 1 pointed a handgun at his head and 18 told him to get on the ground and put his hands behind his back. (Id. at 4.) Plaintiff complied 19 with the request. John Doe 1 handcuffed plaintiff and dragged him by his shirt into the scullery 20 so that they were out of view of the surveillance camera. John Doe 1 then turned plaintiff over, 21 put his knee on plaintiff’s throat, and held plaintiff’s head asking, “where is it motherfucker?” 22 Plaintiff claims John Doe 1 continued to apply pressure on his throat until he passed out. 23 When plaintiff regained consciousness, he was surrounded by five officers. Officer Smith 24 slapped plaintiff in the face and said, “Don’t fucking act like you’re passing out. Where is it?” 25 John Doe 1 asked, “where the fuck is it?” (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff nodded his head in the direction of 26 a small bag containing about ten cellphones. John Doe 5 retrieved the bag of cell phones. As 27 plaintiff was lifted off the ground Smith kicked plaintiff in the upper back and told plaintiff he 28 should have made it easier. 1 As plaintiff was escorted out, he looked at Smith and said, “you’re a real bitch.” Smith 2 then rushed at plaintiff screamed obscenities at him, grabbed his neck, and choked plaintiff. The 3 other officers stopped Smith, telling him his actions were being captured on camera. The officers 4 moved plaintiff to the dining area where he was pushed against a wall and Smith punched him in 5 the stomach. 6 Plaintiff alleges he suffered a headache but was denied medical attention. (Id.) After 7 officers learned that plaintiff was making a complaint about the incident, John Doe 1 told plaintiff 8 that if he dropped the complaint, he could get him transferred to the prison of his choice. That 9 same week John Does 2 and 3, coerced plaintiff into saying that he would not follow through with 10 his claims. Plaintiff states that he complied out of fear of retaliation until he was transferred to 11 another institution. 12 After his transfer, he spoke to John Doe 4 by phone regarding the excessive force incident. 13 Plaintiff explained the facts and John Doe 4 stated that he would get back to plaintiff. (Id. at 5-6.) 14 Plaintiff never heard back from John Doe 4. (Id. at 6.) He also claims that John Doe 4 destroyed 15 any records of plaintiff ever being housed at HDSP. 16 III. Does Plaintiff State a Claim under § 1983? 17 A. Excessive Force 18 The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. “[T]he unnecessary and 19 wanton infliction of pain . . . constitutes cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth 20 Amendment.” Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986) (citations and quotations omitted). 21 The use of force is constitutional if used to keep or restore order in the prison; it is 22 unconstitutional if used maliciously or sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm. Id. at 23 320-21 (citing Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d 1028, 1033 (2nd Cir. 1973)). However, not “every 24 malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal cause of action.” Hudson v. McMillian, 25 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992). “The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments 26 necessarily excludes from constitutional recognition of de minimis uses of physical force, 27 provided that the use of force is not of a sort repugnant to the conscience of mankind.” Id. at 9-10 28 (citations and quotations omitted). 1 Among unnecessary and wanton inflictions of pain are those that are totally without 2 penological justification, Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730, 737 (2002) (citing Rhodes v. Chapman, 3 452 U.S. 337, 346 (1981)) (quotation marks omitted), and punitive treatment which amounts to 4 gratuitous infliction of wanton and unnecessary pain is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment, Id. 5 at 738 (quotation marks omitted). However, “prison administrators . . . should be accorded wide- 6 ranging deference in the adoption and execution of policies and practices that in their judgment 7 are needed to preserve internal order and discipline and to maintain institutional security.” 8 Hudson, 503 U.S. at 6 (ellipsis in original) (citation omitted). 9 Plaintiff has alleged that John Doe 1 and N. Smith hit and choked him while he was 10 restrained and not resisting. (ECF No. 21 at 4-5.) Such allegations are sufficient to state a 11 cognizable claim for excessive force in violation of plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. 12 The use of John Does in pleading practice is generally disfavored – but is not prohibited. 13 See Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980); Wakefield v. Thompson, 177 F.3d 14 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999); Lopes v. Viera, 543 F.Supp.2d 1149, 1152 (E.D. Cal. 2008). 15 However, plaintiff is hereby advised that the court cannot order service of a Doe defendant 16 because the United States Marshal cannot serve a Doe defendant. Plaintiff will be required to 17 identify him or her with enough information to locate the defendant for service of process. 18 Plaintiff will be given the “‘opportunity through discovery to identify the unknown (Doe) 19 defendants.’” Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 978 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Gillespie, 629 20 F.2d at 642). Once the identify of a Doe defendant is ascertained, plaintiff must file a motion to 21 amend his complaint only to identify the identified Doe defendant so that service by the United 22 States Marshal can be attempted. However, the court will recommend that any Doe defendant 23 plaintiff fails to identify during the course of discovery be dismissed from this action. 24 B. Failure to State a Claim 25 1. Denial of Medical Treatment 26 Where a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment claim arises in the context of medical care, the 27 prisoner must allege and prove “acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate 28 indifference to serious medical needs.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. An Eighth Amendment medical 1 claim has two elements: “the seriousness of the prisoner’s medical need and the nature of the 2 defendant’s response to that need.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992), 3 overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997) (en 4 banc). 5 A medical need is serious “if the failure to treat the prisoner’s condition could result in 6 further significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin, 974 7 F.2d at 1059 (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104). Indications of a serious medical need include 8 “the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an individual’s daily activities.” Id. 9 at 1059-60. By establishing the existence of a serious medical need, a prisoner satisfies the 10 objective requirement for proving an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 11 825, 834 (1994). 12 If a prisoner establishes the existence of a serious medical need, he must then show that 13 prisoner officials responded to the serious medical need with deliberate indifference. See Farmer, 14 511 U.S. at 834. In general, deliberate indifference may be shown when prison officials deny, 15 delay, or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or may be shown by the way in which 16 prison officials provide medical care. Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 393-94 (9th 17 Cir. 1988). 18 Before it can be said that a prisoner’s civil rights have been abridged with regard to 19 medical care, “the indifference to his medical needs must be substantial. Mere ‘indifference,’ 20 ‘negligence,’ or ‘medical malpractice’ will not support this cause of action.” Broughton v. Cutter 21 Laboratories, 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06); see also 22 Toguchi v. Soon Hwang Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 2004) (“Mere negligence in 23 diagnosing or treating a medical condition, without more, does not violate a prisoner’s Eighth 24 Amendment rights.”); McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (same). Deliberate indifference is “a state of 25 mind more blameworthy than negligence” and “requires ‘more than ordinary lack of due care for 26 the prisoner’s interests or safety.’” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. 27 Finally, mere differences of opinion between a prisoner and prison medical staff or 28 between medical professionals as to the proper course of treatment for a medical condition do not 1 give rise to a § 1983 claim. See Toguchi, 391 F.3d at 1058; Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 2 332 (9th Cir. 1996); Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin v. Oregon, 662 3 F.2d 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981). 4 Plaintiff has alleged that he was denied medical treatment. (ECF No. 21 at 5.) Such an 5 allegation could potentially state a claim for violation of his Eighth Amendment right to adequate 6 medical care. However, the allegation has not been connected to any defendant. In order to state 7 a claim against a defendant the complaint must allege in specific terms how that defendant is 8 involved. There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link 9 or connection between a defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 10 U.S. 362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 11 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). In any amended complaint, plaintiff must connect each alleged 12 deprivation to an identified defendant. 13 2. John Doe 2 and John Doe 3 14 Plaintiff has alleged that John Doe 2 and John Doe 3 “coerced [plaintiff] into saying” that 15 he would not follow through with his “claims on officers.” (ECF No. 21 at 5.) Such allegations 16 are not sufficiently specific to state a claim. Such allegations could potentially state a claim for 17 retaliation1 in violation of plaintiff’s first amendment rights. See Wright v. Clark, No. 1:07-cv- 18 0462 AWI WMW PC, 2009 WL 347293 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 9, 200) (finding plaintiff’s allegation that 19 defendants “removed evidence relevant to one of Plaintiff’s administrative appeals from the file 20 in order to coerce plaintiff into dropping his grievance against staff”). However, as stated in the 21 complaint, there is no allegation that defendants took some adverse action because plaintiff filed a 22 grievance regarding the excessive force incident. Accordingly, this allegation does not state a 23 claim. 24 //// 25 1 “[A] viable claim of First Amendment retaliation entails five basic elements: (1) An assertion 26 that a state actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s 27 protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. 28 Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005). 1 3. Grievance 2 A defendant’s actions in responding to plaintiff’s grievance alone, cannot give rise to any 3 claims for relief under section 1983 for violation of due process. The Ninth Circuit has held that 4 inmates have no protected interest in an inmate grievance procedure arising directly from the Due 5 Process Clause. See Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (“[I]nmates lack a 6 separate constitutional entitlement to a specific grievance procedure”); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 7 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988) (holding that there is no protected liberty interest to a grievance 8 procedure). Prison officials are not required under federal law to process inmate grievances in 9 any specific way. 10 Plaintiff cannot state a claim based on John Doe 4’s alleged failure to follow up with 11 plaintiff regarding his grievance. See Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir. 1993) (an 12 administrative “grievance procedure is a procedural right only, it does not confer any substantive 13 right upon the inmates. Hence, it does not give rise to a protected liberty interest requiring the 14 procedural protections envisioned by the fourteenth amendment . . . Thus, defendants’ failure to 15 process any of [plaintiff’s] grievances, without more, is not actionable under section 1983.” 16 (internal quotations omitted). 17 IV. Amending the Complaint 18 As set forth above, plaintiff has stated a claim for excessive force against John Doe 1 and 19 N. Smith. The complaint fails to state a claim against all other defendants. Accordingly, plaintiff 20 will be given the option to proceed with his potentially cognizable claims or to file an amended 21 complaint. 22 In any amended complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the conditions about which he 23 complains resulted in a deprivation of his constitutional rights. Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 370-71. Also, 24 the complaint must allege in specific terms how each named defendant is involved. Arnold v. 25 Int’l Bus. Machs. Corp., 637 F.2d 1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981). There can be no liability under 42 26 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant’s action 27 and the claimed deprivation. Id.; Johnson, 588 F.2d at 743. Furthermore, “[v]ague and 28 //// 1 conclusory allegations of official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient.” Ivey, 2 673 F.2d at 268. 3 Plaintiff is advised that in an amended complaint he must clearly identify each defendant 4 and the action that defendant took that violated his constitutional rights. The court is not required 5 to review exhibits to determine what plaintiff’s charging allegations are as to each named 6 defendant. If plaintiff wishes to add a claim, he must include it in the body of the complaint. The 7 charging allegations must be set forth in the amended complaint, so defendants have fair notice of 8 the claims plaintiff is presenting. That said, plaintiff need not provide every detailed fact in 9 support of his claims. Rather, plaintiff should provide a short, plain statement of each claim. See 10 Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 11 Any amended complaint must show the federal court has jurisdiction, the action is brought 12 in the right place, and plaintiff is entitled to relief if plaintiff’s allegations are true. It must 13 contain a request for particular relief. Plaintiff must identify as a defendant only persons who 14 personally participated in a substantial way in depriving plaintiff of a federal constitutional right. 15 Johnson, 588 F.2d at 743 (a person subjects another to the deprivation of a constitutional right if 16 he does an act, participates in another’s act or omits to perform an act he is legally required to do 17 that causes the alleged deprivation). 18 In an amended complaint, the allegations must be set forth in numbered paragraphs. Fed. 19 R. Civ. P 10(b). Plaintiff may join multiple claims if they are all against a single defendant. Fed. 20 R. Civ. P. 18(a). If plaintiff has more than one claim based upon separate transactions or 21 occurrences, the claims must be set forth in separate paragraphs. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). 22 The federal rules contemplate brevity. See Galbraith v. County of Santa Clara, 307 F.3d 23 1119, 1125 (9th Cir. 2002) (noting that “nearly all of the circuits have now disapproved any 24 heightened pleading standard in cases other than those governed by Rule 9(b)”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 25 84; cf. Rule 9(b) (setting forth rare exceptions to simplified pleading). Plaintiff’s claims must be 26 set forth in short and plain terms, simply, concisely, and directly. See Swierkiewicz v. Sorema 27 N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002) (“Rule 8(a) is the starting point of a simplified pleading system, 28 which was adopted to focus litigation on the merits of a claim.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. WAU AVY SY EAINE VD MMVI PIC MOPED AV VT 1 Plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make his 2 || amended complaint complete. An amended complaint must be complete in itself without 3 | reference to any prior pleading. E.D. Cal. R. 220. Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, all 4 | prior pleadings are superseded. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, 5 | each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 6 By signing an amended complaint, plaintiff certifies he has made reasonable inquiry and 7 | has evidentiary support for his allegations, and for violation of this rule the court may impose 8 | sanctions sufficient to deter repetition by plaintiff or others. Fed. R. Civ. P. 11. 9 CONCLUSION 10 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 11 1. Plaintiff has stated a cognizable claim against N. Smith and John Doe 1 as set forth in 12 Section HI above. However, plaintiff has failed to state any other claims. 13 Accordingly, plaintiff will be given the opportunity to proceed with the complaint as 14 screened or amend the complaint. 15 2. Within thirty (30) days of the date of this order, plaintiff shall fill out and return the 16 attached form indicating how he would like to proceed in this action. 17 3. Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be 18 dismissed. 19 | Dated: August 3, 2020 21 ORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 23 24 25 26 DB:12 27 | DB:1/Orders/Prisoner/Civil Rights/dunb1359.scn4 28 10 1 2 3 4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 8 9 EDDIE LAMAR DUNBAR, No. 2:19-cv-1359 JAM DB 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE ON HOW TO PROCEED 12 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, et al., 13 Defendant. 14 15 Check one: 16 _____ Plaintiff wants to proceed immediately on his Eighth Amendment claims against 17 defendants N. Smith and John Doe 1. Plaintiff understands that by going forward 18 without amending the complaint he is voluntarily dismissing all other claims and 19 defendants. 20 21 ____ Plaintiff wants to amend the complaint. 22 23 DATED:_______________________ 24 25 Eddie Lamar Dunbar 26 Plaintiff pro se 27 28