(PC)Winter v. California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ANDREANA WINTER, ) Case No. 1:21-cv-01194-SAB (PC) ) 12 Plaintiff, ) ) ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO 13 v. ) RANDOMLY ASSIGN A DISTRICT JUDGE TO THIS ACTION, FINDINGS AND 14 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF ) RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDING CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, ) DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION 15 et al., ) ) (ECF No. 7) 16 ) Defendants. ) 17 ) 18 Plaintiff Andreana Winter is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 19 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant 20 to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. Plaintiff filed the instant action on November 6, 21 2020. 22 On November 4, 2021, the Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint, found no cognizable claims, 23 and granted Plaintiff thirty days to file an amended complaint. (ECF No. 6.) Plaintiff did not file an 24 amended complaint or otherwise respond to the Court’s November 4, 2021. Therefore, on December 25 14, 2021, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause as to why the action should not be dismissed. 26 (ECF No. 7.) Plaintiff has not responded to the order to show cause and the time to do so has passed. 27 Accordingly, dismissal is warranted. 28 /// 1 I. 2 SCREENING REQUIREMENT 3 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 4 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 5 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 6 “frivolous or malicious,” that “fail[] to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that “seek[] 7 monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); see 8 also 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). 9 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is 10 entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but 11 “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do 12 not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 13 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated 14 in the deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). 15 Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their pleadings liberally 16 construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor. Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th 17 Cir. 2012) (citations omitted). To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which 18 requires sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is 19 liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 20 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The “sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and 21 “facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability” falls short of satisfying the plausibility 22 standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. 23 II. 24 COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS 25 In July 2019, Plaintiff sought to submit a CDCR Form 1074 in order to correspond with inmate 26 Kohut. The form was submitted to CCI Gates (not named, possible Doe) to which no response was 27 received. 28 /// 1 In mid-November 2019, Plaintiff received a copy of an approved Form 1074 via institutional 2 mail. A couple days later, Plaintiff sent a letter to inmate Kohut as well as a copy of the completed 3 form to advise him of the authorization. The reverse side of the Form 1074 copy contained an 4 advisement/request to Pleasant Valley State Prison mailroom officials so the document would be 5 properly filed. A couple of weeks later, Plaintiff received a response from inmate Kohut, and the 6 envelope bore the stamp “correspondence on file.” Plaintiff sent Kohut a letter the following day. On 7 December 30, 2019, Plaintiff received the letter back with a notice on the envelope that stated there 8 was no Form 1074 on file. On January 2, 2020, Plaintiff meet with Defendant Gaona in an attempt to 9 fix the problem. Plaintiff explained the situation to Gaona and provided copies of the approved Form 10 1074, which contained Gaona’s signature. Gaona retained the documents and Plaintiff was 11 rescheduled to be seen the following week. 12 On January 13, 2020, Plaintiff was summoned and informed by Defendant Gaona that the 13 approval had not yet been entered in either Plaintiff or inmate Kohut’s files. One copy of the Form 14 1074 was returned to Plaintiff, and Plaintiff was directed to return the following week. 15 Plaintiff made repeated attempts to write inmate Kohut throughout the period described 16 following the Form 1074’s approval. Plaintiff received mail from inmate Kohut, but Plaintiff’s mail 17 was returned from Pleasant Valley State Prison with a notation that there was no Form 1074 on file. 18 On January 27, 2020, Plaintiff was advised by Defendant Gaona that the Form 1074 was still 19 not entered in either Plaintiff or inmate Kohut’s files. Plaintiff presented more mail she had received 20 from inmate Kohut which bore the stamp “correspondence on file.” Defendant Gaona advised 21 Plaintiff to submit another Form 1074. Gaona could have looked on the computer and resolved the 22 whole issue. Instead, Gaona chose to give Plaintiff the runaround. 23 In early February 2020, Plaintiff filed an inmate appeal to the appeals coordinator. Plaintiff 24 was subsequently interviewed by Defendant Ollison. Plaintiff presented documentation and Ollison 25 advised Plaintiff that there was Form 1074 in either Plaintiff of Kohut’s files. Plaintiff was later 26 summoned for a follow-up interview and Ollison claimed that measures had been taken in the form of 27 phone calls and e-mails and the issue was resolved. 28 1 On April 3, 2020, an outgoing letter addressed to inmate Kohut was “held up in the unit office 2 at CCWF due to a nightwatch official’s claim of there being no 1074 on file.” Plaintiff filed another 3 inmate appeal and was given assurance by an official that “it would not be recurring.” 4 III. 5 DISCUSSION 6 A. First Amendment-Mail Interference 7 Under the First Amendment, inmates have the right to send and receive mail. See Thornburgh 8 v. Abbott, 490 U.S. 401, 407 (1989); Witherow v. Paff, 52 F.3d 264, 265 (9th Cir. 1995). However, a 9 prison may adopt regulations that impinge on an inmate’s constitutional rights if those regulations are 10 “reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.” Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987); 11 Prison Legal News v. Lehman, 397 F.3d 692, 699 (9th Cir. 2005) (holding that an inmate’s right to 12 send and receive mail “is subject to ‘substantial limitations and restrictions in order to allow prison 13 officials to achieve legitimate correctional goals and maintain institutional security’”). The Turner 14 standard applies to regulations and practices concerning all correspondence between prisoners. 15 Thornburgh, 490 U.S. at 413. 16 When a prison regulation affects outgoing mail as opposed to incoming mail, there must be a 17 ‘closer fit between the regulation and the purpose it serves.’” Witherow, 52 F.3d at 265 (quoting 18 Thornburgh, 490 U.S. at 412). Courts afford greater protection to legal mail than non-legal mail. See 19 Thornburgh, 490 U.S. at 413. A single mistake or occasional mishandling of mail, legal or nonlegal, 20 does not state a claim under section 1983. Reynolds v. Potts, 8 F.3d 29 (9th Cir. 1993) (citations 21 omitted). A claim for negligent mishandling or misdirection of mail is also not actionable under 1983. 22 Rhinehart v. Gomez, 205 F.3d 1352 (9th Cir. 1999) (citing Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 330–32 23 (1986)). Moreover, a plaintiff must be able to show that she was injured; mere delay in receiving or 24 sending mail does not state a cognizable claim. See Reynolds, 8 F.3d at 29; (citing Morgan v. 25 Montanya, 516 F.2d 1367, 1371 (2d Cir. 1975)). Isolated incidents of mail interference without any 26 evidence of improper motive or resulting interference with the right to counsel or access to the courts 27 do not give rise to a constitutional violation, however. See Smith v. Maschner, 899 F.2d 940, 944 28 1 (10th Cir. 1990); Morgan v. Montanye, 516 F.2d 1367, 1370-71 (2d Cir. 1975) (no claim where letter 2 from prisoner's attorney opened out of prisoner's presence in single instance). 3 The handling of inmate mail is governed by the California Code of Regulations, title 15, §§ 4 3130–3147. To correspond with one another, CDCR inmates must submit a form 1074, Request for 5 Correspondence Approval. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3139. “When incoming or outgoing mail, 6 packages, or publications addressed to or being sent by an inmate are withheld or disallowed, the 7 inmate shall be informed via CDCR Form 1819 . . . , Notification of Disapproval- 8 Mail/Packages/Publications, of the reason, disposition, name of official disallowing the 9 mail/package/publication, and the name of the official to whom a grievance can be directed. Cal. Code 10 Regs. tit. 15, § 3136(a). 11 Plaintiff contends that as a result of repeated unjust delays in the communication between 12 Plaintiff and inmate Kohut, Plaintiff’s First Amendment rights were violated. Plaintiff's conclusory 13 allegations of isolated instances of interference with or delay of mail are insufficient to state a 14 cognizable claim. Although allegations of delayed delivery for “an inordinate amount of time” have 15 been held sufficient to state a claim for violation of the First Amendment, see e.g., Antonelli v. 16 Sheahan, 81 F.3d 1422, 1432 (7th Cir. 1996), the Ninth Circuit and other Courts of Appeal have found 17 temporary and/or isolated instances of delay, like those alleged to have occurred in Plaintiff’s 18 complaint, do not offend any First Amendment principles. See Crofton v. Roe, 170 F.3d 957, 961 (9th 19 Cir. 1999) (as amended); Davis v. Goord, 320 F.3d 346, 351 (2d Cir. 2003); Gardner v. Howard, 109 20 F.3d 427, 431 (8th Cir. 1997); Smith v. Maschner, 899 F.2d 940, 944 (10th Cir. 1990); see also 21 Furnace v. Cope, No. 1:16-CV-00420-LJO-BAM PC, 2018 WL 2198716, at *7 (E.D. Cal. May 14, 22 2018) (recommending sua sponte dismissal of prisoner's outgoing mail claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 23 1915A(b)(1), (2) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii)). 24 Furthermore, Plaintiff does not describe the specific actions by each of the several named 25 Defendants. In addition, to the extent certain Defendants are named solely because of their 26 supervisory role, a plaintiff may state a claim for against a supervisor based on the supervisor's 27 knowledge of, and acquiescence in, unconstitutional conduct by his or her subordinates. Starr v. Baca, 28 652 F.3d 1202, 1207 (9th Cir.2011). “A defendant may be held liable as a supervisor under § 1983 ‘if 1 there exists either (1) his or her personal involvement in the constitutional deprivation, or (2) a 2 sufficient causal connection between the supervisor's wrongful conduct and the constitutional 3 violation.’ ” Id. (quoting Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir.1989)). “The inquiry into 4 causation must be individualized and focus on the duties and responsibilities of each individual 5 defendant whose acts or omissions are alleged to have caused a constitutional deprivation.” Leer v. 6 Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 633 (9th Cir.1988). A causal connection is established if a defendant sets in 7 motion a series of acts by others or knowingly refuses to terminate a series of acts by others that the 8 supervisor reasonably should have known would lead to a constitutional violation. Starr, 652 F.3d at 9 1207–08 (citing Dubner v. City & County of San Francisco, 266 F.3d 959, 968 (9th Cir.2001)). “ ‘A 10 supervisor can be liable in his individual capacity for his own culpable action or inaction in the 11 training, supervision, or control of his subordinates; for his acquiescence in the constitutional 12 deprivation; or for conduct that showed a reckless or callous indifference to the rights of others.’ ” 13 Starr, 652 F.3d at 1209 (quoting Watkins v. City of Oakland, 145 F.3d 1087, 1093 (9th Cir.1998)). 14 Moreover, Defendants cannot be held liable simply because they were involved in the appeals process. 15 There is no constitutional right to a prison administrative appeal or grievance system. See Ramirez v. 16 Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). To the 17 extent Plaintiff seeks to hold Defendants liable as supervisors, she has failed to show any personal 18 involvement in the alleged constitutional violation. 19 IV. 20 FAILURE TO OBEY COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE 21 Here, the Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint, and on November 4, 2021, an order issued 22 providing Plaintiff with the legal standards that applied to her claims, advising him of the deficiencies 23 that needed to be corrected, and granting him leave to file an amended complaint within thirty days. 24 (ECF No. 6.) Plaintiff did not file an amended complaint or otherwise respond to the Court’s November 25 4, 2021 order. Therefore, on December 14, 2021, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause within 26 fourteen (14) days why the action should not be dismissed. (ECF No. 7.) Plaintiff failed to respond to 27 the December 14, 2021, order and the time to do so has passed. 28 Local Rule 110 provides that “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Rules or 1 with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions . . . 2 within the inherent power of the Court.” The Court has the inherent power to control its docket and 3 may, in the exercise of that power, impose sanctions where appropriate, including dismissal of the 4 action. Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000). 5 A court may dismiss an action based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey 6 a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th 7 Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 8 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order to file an amended complaint); Carey v. 9 King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring 10 pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone v. United States Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 11 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 12 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules). 13 “In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, the district court is required 14 to consider several factors: ‘(1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s 15 need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring 16 disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions.’ ” Carey, 856 F.2d 17 at 1440 (quoting Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423). These factors guide a court in deciding what to do, and 18 are not conditions that must be met in order for a court to take action. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) 19 Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). 20 In this instance, the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of the litigation and the Court’s 21 need to manage its docket weigh in favor of dismissal. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products 22 Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d at 1226. Plaintiff was ordered to file an amended complaint within thirty 23 days of November 4, 2021 and has not done so. Accordingly, the operative pleading is the November 24 6, 2020 complaint which has been found not to state a cognizable claim. Plaintiff’s failure to comply 25 with the order of the Court by filing an amended complaint hinders the Court’s ability to move this 26 action towards disposition. This action can proceed no further without Plaintiff’s compliance with the 27 order and her failure to comply indicates that Plaintiff does not intend to diligently litigate this action. 28 /// 1 Since it appears that Plaintiff does not intend to litigate this action diligently there arises a 2 rebuttable presumption of prejudice to the defendants in this action. In re Eisen, 31 F.3d 1447, 1452-53 3 (9th Cir. 1994). The risk of prejudice to the defendants also weighs in favor of dismissal. 4 The public policy in favor of deciding cases on their merits is greatly outweighed by the factors 5 in favor of dismissal. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to move this action forward. In order for this action 6 to proceed, Plaintiff is required to file an amended complaint curing the deficiencies in the operative 7 pleading. Despite being ordered to do so, Plaintiff did not file an amended complaint or respond to the 8 order to show cause and this action cannot simply remain idle on the Court’s docket, unprosecuted. In 9 this instance, the fourth factor does not outweigh Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s orders. 10 Finally, a court’s warning to a party that their failure to obey the court’s order will result in 11 dismissal satisfies the “consideration of alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 12 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court’s November 4, 2021 order requiring 13 Plaintiff to file an amended complaint expressly stated: “If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint 14 in compliance with this order, the Court will recommend to a district judge that this action be 15 dismissed consistent with the reasons stated in this order.” (ECF No. 6.) In addition, the Court’s 16 December 14, 2021, order to show cause specifically stated: “Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this 17 order will result a recommendation to dismiss the action.” (ECF No. 7.) Thus, Plaintiff had adequate 18 warning that dismissal would result from her noncompliance with the Court’s order. 19 V. 20 ORDER AND RECOMMENDATION 21 The Court has screened Plaintiff’s complaint and found that it fails to state a cognizable claim. 22 Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s order to file an amended complaint or respond to the 23 Court’s order to show why the action should not be dismissed. In considering the factors to determine 24 if this action should be dismissed, the Court finds that this action should be dismissed for Plaintiff’s 25 failure to state a cognizable claim, failure to obey the November 4, 2021 and December 14, 2021 orders, 26 and failure to prosecute this action. 27 Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Clerk of Court randomly assign a District Judge to this 28 action. 1 Further, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be DISMISSED for Plaintiff 2 || failure to state a claim, failure to comply with a court order, and failure to prosecute. 3 This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the district judge assigned to this actio 4 || pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this Court’s Local Rule 304. Within fourteen (14) days « 5 service of this Recommendation, Plaintiff may file written objections to this findings at 6 ||recommendation with the Court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistra 7 || Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” The district judge will review the magistrate judge’s Findin; 8 || and Recommendations pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to fi 9 || objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. □□□□□□ 10 || 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 11 12 ||IT IS SO ORDERED. A (Fe _ 13 |! pated: _ January 10, 2022 OF 14 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28