(PC) Soria v. Zuniga ( 2021 )

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 STEVEN JOSEPH SORIA, Case No. 1:18-cv-00635-NONE-JLT (PC) 12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO GRANT DEFENDANTS’ MOTION 13 v. FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT REGARDING PLAINTIFF’S FAILURE TO 14 RAFAEL ZUNGIA, et al., EXHAUST ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES 15 Defendants. (Doc. 38) 16 14-DAY DEADLINE 17 18 Steven Joseph Soria, who was a federal inmate1, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 19 Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). This case proceeds on an 20 Eighth Amendment medical indifference claim against Defendants Lt. A. Herron, Camp 21 Administrator Tammy Allison, Dr. Morales, and Case Manager Coordinator R. Gonzales 22 asserted in Plaintiff’s first amended complaint.2 (See Docs. 7, 10–11). Defendants have filed a 23 motion for summary judgment based on Plaintiff’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies 24 before filing suit. (Doc. 38.) Plaintiff filed his declaration in response, to which Defendants filed 25 a reply. (Docs. 42, 43.) 26 The facts regarding exhaustion are not in dispute, and Defendants are entitled to 27 1 Plaintiff was released from custody on May 24, 2019. (See Doc. 5.) 28 2 According to counsel for the defendants, Dr. Morales is retired from the federal Bureau of Prisons and cannot be located. He has not been served, and claims against him should be dismissed. (See Doc. 38-1 at 2.) 2 Defendants’ motion for summary judgment be GRANTED. 3 I. LEGAL STANDARDS 4 A. Summary Judgment 5 Summary judgment is appropriate when the moving party “shows that there is no genuine 6 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 7 Civ. P. 56(a). The moving party bears the initial burden of proving the absence of a genuine issue 8 of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322–23 (1986). The moving party may 9 accomplish this by presenting evidence that negates an essential element of the non-moving 10 party’s case. Id. Alternatively, the movant can demonstrate that the non-moving party cannot 11 produce evidence to support an essential element of his claim that must be proven at trial. Id.; 12 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(B). “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the 13 non-moving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 14 322–23. 15 If the moving party meets this initial showing, the burden shifts to the non-moving party 16 to establish “specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 17 477 U.S. 242, 250 (1986). The non-moving party cannot simply rely on the pleadings and 18 conclusory allegations in an affidavit. Lujan v. Nat’1 Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 888 (1990); 19 see also Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324. “Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational 20 trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. 21 Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). However, when deciding a motion 22 for summary judgment, the court must view any inferences drawn from the underlying facts in a 23 light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. 24 The Ninth Circuit has “held consistently that courts should construe liberally motion 25 papers and pleadings filed by pro se inmates and should avoid applying summary judgment rules 26 strictly.” Soto v. Sweetman, 882 F.3d 865, 872 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting Thomas v. Ponder, 611 27 F.3d 1144, 1150 (9th Cir. 2010)). While prisoners are relieved from strict compliance, they still 28 must “identify or submit some competent evidence” to support their claims. Soto, 882 F.3d at 2 if based on personal knowledge and specific facts admissible in evidence. Lopez v. Smith, 203 3 F.3d 1122, 1132 n.14 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 4 B. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies 5 The Prison Litigation Reform Act provides that “[n]o action shall be brought with respect 6 to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined 7 in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are 8 available are exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Exhaustion of administrative remedies is 9 mandatory, and “unexhausted claims cannot be brought in court.” Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 10 211 (2007). The exhaustion requirement applies to all inmate suits relating to prison life, Porter 11 v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 532 (2002), regardless of the relief sought by the prisoner or offered by 12 the administrative process, Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741 (2001). “Thus federal prisoners 13 suing under Bivens . . . must first exhaust inmate grievance procedures just as state prisoners 14 must exhaust administrative processes prior to instituting a § 1983 suit.” Porter, 534 U.S. at 524. 15 The PLRA requires “proper exhaustion,” which means that “the prisoner must complete 16 the administrative review process in accordance with the applicable procedural rules, including 17 deadlines, as a precondition to bringing suit in federal court.” Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 88, 18 93 (2006). The rules that must be followed, in other words, “are defined not by the PLRA, but by 19 the prison grievance process itself.” Jones, 549 U.S. at 218. “The level of detail necessary in a 20 grievance to comply with the grievance procedures will vary from system to system . . . , but it is 21 the prison’s requirements, and not the PLRA, that define the boundaries of proper exhaustion.” 22 Id. The exhaustion requirement allows prison officials to have an opportunity to resolve disputes 23 before the filing of a court action against them. Id. at 204. 24 The failure to exhaust administrative remedies is an affirmative defense that the 25 defendant must plead and prove. Id. at 204, 216. The defendant bears the burden of producing 26 evidence that proves a failure to exhaust; summary judgment is appropriate only if the 27 undisputed evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, shows the plaintiff failed 28 to exhaust. Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 1166 (9th Cir. 2014). On a motion for summary 2 administrative remedy, and (2) the plaintiff failed to exhaust that remedy. Id. at 1172. If the 3 defendant makes this showing, the burden shifts to the prisoner to present evidence showing 4 “that there is something in his particular case that made the existing and generally available 5 administrative remedies effectively unavailable to him.” Id. (citation omitted). A prisoner may 6 not file a complaint raising non-exhausted claims. Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th 7 Cir. 2010). 8 The ultimate burden of proof, however, remains with the defendant. Albino, 747 F.3d at 9 1172. “If a motion for summary judgment is denied, disputed factual questions relevant to 10 exhaustion should be decided by the judge.” Id. at 1170. If the court finds that remedies were not 11 available, the prisoner exhausted available remedies, or the failure to exhaust available remedies 12 should be excused, the case proceeds to the merits. Id. at 1131. 13 C. BOP Grievance Process 14 The Federal Bureau of Prisons has established an administrative remedy process through 15 which an inmate can seek formal review of an issue related to any aspect of his 16 confinement. See 28 C.F.R. § 542.10(a). Generally, to exhaust available administrative remedies 17 within this system, an inmate must proceed through four levels: (1) seek informal resolution on a 18 BP-8 form, see 28 C.F.R. § 542.13; Nunez v. Duncan, 591 F.3d 1217, 1219 (9th Cir. 2010); (2) 19 make a formal administrative remedy request to the Warden on a BP-9 form, see 28 C.F.R. § 20 542.14; (3) if not satisfied with the Warden’s decision, appeal to the Regional Director on a BP- 21 10 form, see 28 C.F.R. § 542.15; and (4) if not satisfied with the Regional Director’s response, 22 appeal to the General Counsel on a BP-11 form, see id. A final decision from the Office of 23 General Counsel exhausts the BOP’s administrative remedy process. Id. 24 II. UNDISPUTED FACTS REGARDING EXHAUSTION 25 Plaintiff was incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution in Mendota, California. (1st 26 Am. Compl., Doc. 7 at 10.) His claims arise from an accident that occurred on January 19, 2017, 27 when he was working as a mechanic. (1st Am. Compl., Doc. 7 at 10.) He was inspecting a tractor 28 when the tips of his right index and middle fingers were severed. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that 2 hospital, and denied him emergency surgery to reattach the fingertips, which were disposed of by 3 a staff member. (Id. at 10–12.) 4 That same day, Officer J. Dias drafted Incident Report Number (“IRN”) 2941502, which 5 charged Plaintiff with violating BOP Code 317 for unsafe working conditions. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 6 1, Doc. 38-4 at 2.) On January 25, 2017, the Unit Discipline Committee (“UDC”) held a hearing 7 and found that Plaintiff did not commit a prohibited act under BOP Code 317 but that he did 8 commit a prohibited act under BOP Code 319 for using equipment or machinery contrary to 9 instructions or posted safety standards. Id. Plaintiff was sanctioned to ten days of extra duty, loss 10 of phone privileges for thirty days, and loss of visitation for sixty days. Id. 11 On February 3, 2017, Officer Dias submitted a revised ICN 2941502, charging Plaintiff 12 with violating BOP Code 317 and 319. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 3, Doc. 38-6.) On February 8, 2017, 13 the UDC found that Plaintiff committed the prohibited acts as charged. (Id.) The UDC imposed 14 no additional sanction served finding Plaintiff had “endured enough pain through his injury.” (Id.) 15 On February 10, 2017, Plaintiff filed a request for administrative remedy, AR 893242, 16 requesting that the UDC uphold the first incident report dated January 19, 2017, and to disregard 17 the revised version dated February 2, 2017. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 7, Doc. 38-10 at 4.) Plaintiff 18 contends that the first ICN 2941502 was informally resolved when Plaintiff completed ten extra 19 hours of work on January 28, 2017. (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff exhausted his remedies at all three levels. 20 (Vickers Decl., Ex. 7–14, Docs. 38-10 through 38-17.) 21 On December 18, 2017, Defendant Gonzalez, a Case Management Coordinator, drafted a 22 memorandum advising the warden that the sanctions were not appropriate given the seriousness 23 and potential harm of Plaintiff’s actions and requesting rehearing, which was granted by the 24 warden. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 2, Doc. 38-5; Ex. 3, Doc. 38-6.) 25 On December 19, 2017, Officer Diaz re-drafted IRN 2941502, charging Plaintiff with 26 BOP Code 317 and 319. The UDC determined that Plaintiff had violated BOP Code 317 for 27 failure to follow safety regulations but that he did not violate BOP Code 319. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 28 6, Doc. 38-9.) Plaintiff was sanctioned with “5 days of property restriction and 10 days restriction 2 oneself or others.” (Id.) 3 On January 9, 2018, Plaintiff filed request for administrative remedy AR 929296, seeking 4 expungement of the revised IRN 2941502 dated December 19, 2017, or for the warden to 5 disregard the revised IR. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 15, Doc. 28-18 at 2–3.) Plaintiff argued that staff 6 improperly altered the original content in the revised version, increased a valid sanction, and 7 violating the timing clause of Program Statement 5270.09. (Id.) Plaintiff also complained that he 8 did not receive a copy of the warden’s Advisement of Delay memo. (Id. at 3) Defendants concede 9 that Plaintiff exhausted AR 929296 at all three levels. (Vickers Decl., Ex. 15–22, Docs. 38-18 10 through 38-25.) 11 Plaintiff filed his civil rights complaint on May 9, 2018. (Doc. 1.) The Court screened the 12 complaint and found that the complaint stated a single Eighth Amendment medical indifference 13 claim against Lieutenant Herron. (Doc. 6.) The Court granted Plaintiff leave to file an amended 14 complaint. (Id.) On February 19, 2019, Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint. (Doc. 7.) Upon 15 screening the first amended complaint, the Court found that it stated an Eighth Amendment 16 medical indifference claim against Defendants Lt. Herron, Camp Administrator Allison, Dr. 17 Morales, and R. Gonzalez, with all other claims and defendants to be dismissed. (Doc. 6.) 18 Plaintiff elected to proceed on the claims found cognizable, (Doc. 9), and the Court issued the 19 appropriate findings and recommendations and order adopting the findings and recommendations. 20 (Docs. 10, 11.) 21 III. DISCUSSION 22 Defendants filed the instant motion for summary judgment arguing that, although 23 Plaintiff exhausted AR 893242 and AR 929296, they did not allege that Defendants violated 24 Plaintiff’s constitutional rights to receive medical care. Defendants contend that these two 25 administrative appeals filed by Plaintiff concern challenges to the BOP’s IRN 2941502, which 26 charged Plaintiff with violation of BOP safety codes and for using equipment or machinery 27 contrary to instructions or posted safety standards. 28 Plaintiff contested these charges by filing administrative remedies AR 893242 and AR 2 delaying and denying medical care, including pain medication and reattachment surgery. 3 Moreover, Plaintiff did not initiate or exhaust any administrative remedies with respect to the 4 constitutional violations alleged in this action despite over two years from the date of the 5 accident on January 19, 2017, to his release on May 24, 2019. (Doc. 38-3, ⁋ 30.) 6 In his response, Plaintiff states that he filed forms BP-9, BP-10, and BP-11, which were 7 all denied, resulting in an exhaustion of remedies. (Doc. 42 at 2.) Plaintiff does not otherwise 8 address Defendants’ arguments, nor did he admit or deny facts the Defendants’ statement of 9 undisputed facts as required by Local Rule 260(b), which provides: 10 Any party opposing a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication shall reproduce the itemized facts in the Statement of Undisputed Facts and admit 11 those facts that are undisputed and deny those that are disputed, including with each denial a citation to the particular portions of any pleading, affidavit, 12 deposition, interrogatory answer, admission, or other document relied upon in 13 support of that denial. 14 E.D. Cal. R. 260(b). Additionally, the Court advised Plaintiff of the requirements for opposing a 15 motion for summary judgment in accordance with Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 16 1998). (Doc. 39.) 17 This Court has carefully reviewed AR 893242 and AR 929296, and neither concerns the 18 allegations in Plaintiff’s first amended complaint. Plaintiff’s only reference to his injury is in his 19 appeal on IRN 2941502, in which he argues he was improperly subjected to an increase to his 20 valid sanction upon rehearing. (Doc. 38-20 at 3.) Plaintiff stated, “. . . I had already satisfied ten 21 hours of extra duty as imposed by initial UDC of January 19, 2017 by pulling weeds on January 22 28, 2017 with injured hand still wrapped in bandages.” (Id.) Otherwise, the ARs only concern the 23 accuracy of IRN 2941502 and the sanctions imposed. Neither AR alleges a violation of Eight 24 Amendment rights by delaying and denying medical care, including pain medication and 25 reattachment surgery, by the Defendants. Therefore, the Court finds that exhaustion of AR 26 893242 and AR 929296 does not give rise to the claims raised in this lawsuit. 27 Defendants have met their burden to show that Plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative 28 remedy available to him prior to filing this lawsuit. Albino, 747 F.3d at 1172. Upon the shifting 2 case that made the existing and generally available administrative remedies effectively 3 unavailable to him.” Id. (citation omitted). Accordingly, summary judgment for failure to 4 exhaust administrative remedies should be entered in favor of the Defendant. 5 IV. CONCLUSION 6 For the foregoing reasons, the Court RECOMMENDS that Defendant’s Motion for 7 Summary Judgment (Doc. 38) be GRANTED. 8 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 9 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 14 days after 10 being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections 11 with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned “Objections 12 to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the objections shall be 13 filed and served within 14 days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that 14 failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 15 Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 16 IT IS SO ORDERED. 17 18 Dated: September 8, 2021 _ /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28