(PC) Figueroa v. Clark. ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 RUBEN FIGUEROA, Case No. 1:22-cv-916-BAM (PC) 12 Plaintiff, SCREENING ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF LEAVE TO FILE AMENDED 13 v. COMPLAINT 14 KEN CLARK, et al., (ECF No. 1) 15 Defendants. THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE 16 Plaintiff Ruben Figueroa (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 17 pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff’s complaint, filed July 18 25, 2022, is currently before the Court for screening. (ECF No. 1.) 19 I. Screening Requirement and Standard 20 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 21 governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. 22 § 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to dismissal if it is frivolous 23 or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or if it seeks monetary 24 relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b). 25 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 26 pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not 27 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 28 1 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell 2 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as 3 true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 4 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 5 To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires 6 sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable 7 for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S. Secret 8 Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully 9 is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the plausibility 10 standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. 11 II. Plaintiff’s Allegations 12 Plaintiff is currently housed at Centinela State Prison in Imperial, California. The events 13 in the complaint are alleged to have occurred at California State Prison in Corcoran, California (“Corcoran”). Plaintiff names the following defendants: (1) Ken Clark, Warden, (2) Paul Silva, 14 Head Supervisor of Corcoran Prison Industry Authority for Diary Milk Processing Plant (“PIA- 15 Dairy”), (3) John Doe, “main boss” at PIA-Dairy, (4) “Pedro” John Doe, assistant main boss at 16 the PTA-Dairy, (5) John Doe, white male, new assistant head boss, (6) John Doe, Facility 3C 17 doctor for Corcoran, (7) Prison Industry Authority Dairy Milk Plant, unknown entity, (8) Susan 18 Doherty, Facility 3C registered nurse, (9) Linda Ortega, Facility 3C registered nurse, (1)Adrian 19 Jaques, Facility 3C LVN nurse. The individuals are sued in their individual capacities, and the 20 Prison Industry Authority Dairy Milk Plant is sued in its individual and official capacities. 21 Plaintiff alleges hazardous and unsafe working prison conditions and denial of medical 22 care in violation of the Eighth Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment.1 Plaintiff alleges as 23 follows. From June 2019 forward, Plaintiff got a job working at the PTA-Dairy milk processing 24 25 1 Plaintiff is a convicted state inmate housed in a state prison facility. Therefore, the appropriate 26 legal standard for Plaintiff’s claims is the Eighth Amendment. The Supreme Court has 27 emphasized that the Eighth Amendment's cruel and unusual punishments clause is the appropriate mechanism for raising claims that challenge inhumane or unsafe conditions of confinement. See 28 Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994). 1 plant at Corcoran. After working for a few months, from February 2020 through July 2022 [sic], 2 Plaintiff gave notice to supervisors Joe2 and Pedro that the air pump machine was broken and did 3 not have a gasket on the lid. The air pump machine is used to spray disinfectant all over the work 4 area, walls, floors, celling, milk tanks, etc. When in operation, hazardous chemical would splash 5 and spray hazardous chemicals in 25-30 foot radius. Supervisors Joe and Pedro both instructed 6 workers to continue to use the broken machine until replaced. This was deliberate indifference to 7 workers health and safety. On July 22, 2020, supervisors ordered Plaintiff to continue to use the 8 malfunctioning air pump machine. Plaintiff was spraying the chemical foam (disinfectant) on 9 each pallet he was working on. The air machine lid was splashing, spewing hazardous chemicals 10 all over and around Plaintiff. Plaintiff did not realize at the time, but hazardous chemical had 11 gotten on his chin/face area, causing chemical burns to appear. When Plaintiff realized the 12 chemical burns were not rashes, he notified his supervisor Joe of the burns and Joe said he would 13 document the incident on necessary forms. On September 2, 2020 while working at PIA dairy processing plant, Plaintiff told the new 14 supervisor, John Doe that Plaintiff needed long protective gloves and protective gear to protect 15 from further chemical burns. These gloves are seldom available and Plaintiff used his own gloves 16 for long periods of time. At times, the only gloves available were for both left handed or both 17 right handed “thereby subjecting Plaintiff and coworkers to health and safety concerns and cruel 18 and unusual work conditions.” 19 On February 24, 2021, Plaintiff was working at the PIA-Dairy processing plant. As he 20 was dumping trash into a commercial metal dumpster, Plaintiff had his left hand on top of the 21 metal bin where the hinge was located. Plaintiff leaned down to grab the trash and the trash hit 22 the lid making the lid fall, smashing, squeezing Plaintiff left hand index finger and either breaking 23 or spraining the finger. The nail came off and it is disfigured and looks horrible. At the same 24 time as the lid smashed Plaintiff’s fingers, a wooden pallet which was on top of the trash can and 25 leaning against the container fell on Plaintiff’s left shoulder/arm creating a small purple bruise. 26 The impact caused serious arm/shoulder pain which still hurts. Plaintiff has not been taken 27 28 2 It is unclear who “Joe” is because Plaintiff has not named a “Joe” defendant. 1 seriously for his injuries. 2 On February 10, 19, and 26, 2021, the air machine which disinfects pallets was still 3 leaking and spraying foam everywhere. It sprayed Plaintiff on both forearms and neck, burning 4 his skin, although these burns were not as severe as the ones to his chin. By this time, several 5 other workers had complained about the hazardous working condition of the still broken air 6 machine. It was used daily and would blow out hazardous chemicals. 7 From March 2, 2021 through the last day of Plaintiff’s work on July 21, 2021,3 Plaintiff 8 was instructed to continue to clean and disinfect the pallets using the same broken air machine. 9 The machine was missing a rubber gasket around the seal. Plaintiff and others continued to 10 inform PIA-Dairy supervisors of the broke air machine. Supervisors instructed to continue with 11 their work and did not ensure safety goggles and other protective gear were worn. Instead, 12 Plaintiff and his coworkers were replaced by workers from another yard/facility. 13 The “entity” was responsible for ensuring the health and safety and well-being of Plaintiff and the employees, yet there were no safety meetings or training on working with hazardous 14 chemicals at the PIA-Dairy milk processing plant. 15 At no time during the time Plaintiff worked for PIA-Dairy milk processing did Defendants 16 Paul Silva, Paul’s son-in-law, Joe (last name unknown),4 Pedro (last name unknown) and John 17 Doe (supervisors) ever intervene to prevent workers from using the broken air foam disinfecting 18 machine. Instead these supervisors ordered inmate workers to continue to use the broken air 19 foam disinfecting machine, despite missing the rubber seal/gasket and splashing hazardous 20 chemicals in a 20-30 foot radius. 21 Defendants Ken Clark, Paul Silva, Paul’s son-in-law, Joe (last name unknown), Pedro 22 (last name unknown) and John Doe (supervisors) each failed for months to remove the broken air 23 foam disinfecting machine, and having full knowledge the machine was broken prior to Plaintiff 24 starting to work at PIA-Dairy. They continued to order workers to use the broken machinery. 25 26 3 The Court notes that the ending dates of Plaintiff’s employment are referred to in the allegations 27 as both in 2021 and 2022. In any amended complaint, Plaintiff should state the correct dates. 4 It is unclear who “Paul’s son-in-law, Joe (last name unknown),” are because these persons are 28 not named as defendants. 1 Each defendant, Defendants Paul Silva, Paul’s son-in-law, Joe (last name unknown), Pedro (last 2 name unknown) and John Doe (supervisors), failed to fill out appropriate work accidents forms 3 on each of the accident days, violating Due Process and not allowing for works compensation. 4 Plaintiff also alleges denial of medical care. Following the incident on July 21, 2020, 5 Plaintiff requested to be seen for the chemical burns on his face/chin. Defendant Susan Doherty 6 did not take the visit seriously because PIA-Diary did not attempt to assist Plaintiff in receiving 7 adequate medical care. On July 27, 2020, Defendant Susan Doherty did not know what the rash 8 was caused from, and Plaintiff explained that shaving around it irritated the area. Defendant’s 9 only medical treatment was to tell Plaintiff not to shave in that area for a few days and issued 10 antibiotic cream since the burn was dark purpose with puss on the outer skin. No other treatment 11 was provided. 12 Plaintiff submitted several medical 7362s about chemical burns occurring at work. 13 Plaintiff’s skin was not healing with the antibiotics nurse Susan Doherty issued. On September 2, 2020, Defendant Susan Doherty stated that the burns appeared to be healing. Plaintiff requested 14 to see a doctor, or dermatologist and skin specialist. Yet, Defendant said that would not occur 15 because it was not an emergency. 16 After the February 24, 2021 accident and injuries on his index finger and nail and left 17 shoulder, Plaintiff submitted several 7362 medical forms explaining what happened. He stated 18 that his fingers are dislocated or broke and wanted an x-ray. Plaintiff at no time ever received an 19 x-ray. Plaintiff was seen on March 1, 2021 by Defendant Linda Ortega regarding cleaning up 20 wounds so that they would not get infected and asked if Plaintiff had a tetanus shot. Plaintiff 21 requested x-rays for his fingers, but nothing was done by Defendant like referring him to a doctor 22 or for x-rays. 23 On July 8, 2021, Plaintiff submitted medical slips 7362s indicating that his left index 24 finger was crooked, and his left arm was weaker due to the pallet hitting his left shoulder. 25 Nothing was done. On July 19, 2021, Plaintiff was scheduled for physical therapy but was left in 26 constant pain ever since accident occurred. On February 24, 2021, after Plaintiff had the work 27 accident, he was sent to the medical office for his injuries. He was bleeding profusely, and 28 1 Plaintiff’s left index fingernail was popping up and detached. Plaintiff Linda Ortega only washed 2 off the blood on hands and fingers. Nothing more was done. Plaintiff said that his fingers were 3 either broken, sprained or dislocated and requested X-rays. Defendant Ortega failed to refer 4 Plaintiff to a doctor or obtain an x-ray. 5 When Plaintiff saw medical, he told each medical defendant of his medical condition such 6 as extreme pain, lack of shoulder arm movement, not receiving x-rays. Neither Defendant Linda 7 Ortega, Susan Doherty nor supervisor Doctor John Doe ever responded reasonably to Plaintiff’s 8 need for medical care. They did not refer Plaintiff to see a medical doctor or for x-rays. 9 Defendant Linda Ortega, Susan Doherty, supervisor Doctor John Doe, Adrian Jaque failed to 10 provide x-rays, follow up treatment, initial emergency care after each accident physical treatment. 11 The CDCR health care system and Policy under Title 15 is inadequate and ineffective. At 12 no time after the accident did Defendants x-ray Plaintiff’s finger or left shoulder/arm to verify the 13 injuries. From February 24, 2021 to February 17, 2022, Plaintiff was in pain from his left shoulder. Plaintiff got treated solely because he was transferred to another institution. 14 Plaintiff saw Defendant Adrian Jaques who “ignored” Plaintiff and prescribed ibuprofen 15 for alleviation of pain and use of capsaicin cream for chemical burns. 16 PIA-Dairy supervisors act with deliberate indifference or reckless disregard to safety by 17 “failing to act” reasonably in response to danger. PIA Dairy supervisors Paul Silva, Joe (unknown 18 last name), Pedro (unknown last name) and John Doe had plenty of time and an opportunity to get 19 a seal gasket for the broken air foam machine, yet failed to take appropriate measures to abate the 20 risk of harm. 21 Plaintiff alleges an Eighth Amendment violation by Ken Clark, Paul Silva, Joe (last name 22 unknown), Pedro (last name unknown), John Doe (white supervisor) by continuously subjecting 23 Plaintiff to unsafe, unhealthy, dangerous work conditions by making Plaintiff continue to use a 24 broken air foam machine missing its rubber plastics gasket. They knew it was broken for 17 25 months. 26 Plaintiff alleges an Eighth Amendment violation by Doctor John Doe, Susan Doherty, 27 Linda Ortega and Adrian Jaques by depriving Plaintiff of a right to adequate medical healthcare. 28 1 Plaintiff alleges that the entity of the PIA-Dairy milk processing plant at Corcoran failed 2 to adequately supervise all PIA-Diary supervisors named as defendants. The PIA-Diary entity 3 trains, hires, oversees, gives orders and allowed broken machinery which repeatedly hurt Plaintiff 4 and continued to be used, even though supervisors knew the machinery was broken. The 5 entity/owners failed to properly train to use the hazardous chemicals and broken foam air 6 machine. The February 24, 2021 accident should not have occurred because the trash bin should 7 have been completely open and not had a big metal storage bin and the pallet which fell should 8 not have been left leaning on the storage bin. 9 Plaintiff alleges his equal protection right under the Fourteenth Amendment were violated 10 by having Plaintiff work in an unsafe, unhealthy and dangerous work conditions. Plaintiff also 11 alleges that his Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated by the medical care he was provided. 12 As remedies, Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief and compensatory and punitive damages. 13 III. Discussion Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to 14 state a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Because he is proceeding pro se, Plaintiff will 15 be granted leave to amend his complaint to the extent that he can do so in good faith. To assist 16 Plaintiff, the Court provides the pleading and legal standards that appear relevant to his claims. 17 A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 18 Pursuant to Rule 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim 19 showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Detailed factual allegations 20 are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 21 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted). Plaintiff must 22 set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on 23 its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). While factual allegations 24 are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Id.; see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556–57; Moss, 25 572 F.3d at 969. 26 Here, Plaintiff’s complaint is not short. It is not a plain statement of his claims showing 27 that he is entitled to relief. Plaintiff’s allegations are conclusory do not state what happened, 28 1 when it happened, or which defendant was involved. General assertions regarding who knew of 2 Plaintiff’s working conditions are not sufficient, and Plaintiff may not merely state the elements 3 of a cause of action without providing any factual allegations in support of his claims. Plaintiff 4 should state his key factual allegations as to each defendant. For instance, must allege who he 5 told what and when regarding the air foam machine and what care he was provided for his 6 injuries. His allegations that “nothing was done” for medical care are insufficient because he also 7 alleges that some kind of care was provided. If Plaintiff files an amended complaint, it should 8 be a short and plain statement of his claims, and must include factual allegations identifying what 9 happened, when it happened and who was involved. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. 10 B. Supervisory Liability 11 To the extent Plaintiff seeks to hold any defendant liable based solely upon their 12 supervisory role, he may not do so. Liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel for 13 the actions or omissions of their subordinates under the theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676–77; Simmons v. Navajo Cty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020–21 (9th Cir. 2010); Ewing v. 14 City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 2009); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th 15 Cir. 2002). “A supervisor may be liable only if (1) he or she is personally involved in the 16 constitutional deprivation, or (2) there is a sufficient causal connection between the supervisor’s 17 wrongful conduct and the constitutional violation.” Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977 (9th 18 Cir. 2013) (citation and quotation marks omitted); accord Lemire v. Cal. Dep’t of Corrs. & 19 Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1074–75 (9th Cir. 2013); Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 F.3d 896, 915–16 20 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). “Under the latter theory, supervisory liability exists even without overt 21 personal participation in the offensive act if supervisory officials implement a policy so deficient 22 that the policy itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights and is the moving force of a 23 constitutional violation.” Crowley, 734 F.3d at 977 (citing Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 24 (9th Cir. 1989)) (internal quotation marks omitted). 25 Plaintiff seeks to hold Ken Clark, Paul, Paul’s son in law, Joe (last name unknown), Pedro 26 (last name unknown) and John Doe (supervisors), responsible for Plaintiff’s injuries from the 27 foam air machine. Plaintiff alleges that each defendant “knew” that the foam air machine was 28 1 broken, Plaintiff has failed to allege direct participation of these defendants in the alleged 2 violations. Plaintiff is attempting to allege that Ken Clark, Paul Silva, Paul’s son-in-law, Joe (last 3 name unknown), Pedro (last name unknown) and John Doe (supervisors) participated in or 4 directed the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them. Plaintiff 5 alleges that the warden “knew” or “should have known” or “absolutely knew” about conditions. 6 Plaintiff merely relies on these supervising Defendants’ responsibilities to ensure the safety and 7 health of the prisoners, but this claim is based on respondeat superior which is not cognizable 8 under section 1983. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677. Such conclusory allegations are insufficient to state 9 the causal link between such defendant and the claimed constitutional violation. 10 To prove liability for an action or policy, the plaintiff “must...demonstrate that his 11 deprivation resulted from an official policy or custom established by a...policymaker possessed 12 with final authority to establish that policy.” Waggy v. Spokane County Washington, 594 F.3d 13 707, 713 (9th Cir.2010). When a defendant holds a supervisory position, the causal link between such defendant and the claimed constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. 14 Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 15 1978). Vague and conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of supervisory personnel in 16 civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 17 1982). In addition, it is unclear what the policy is that is purportedly at issue. Plaintiff's 18 conclusory statements are insufficient to state a cognizable claim against the supervisory 19 defendants. Plaintiff has failed to “demonstrate that his deprivation resulted from an official 20 policy or custom established by a ... policymaker possessed with final authority to establish that 21 policy.” 22 Plaintiff mentions that supervisors should have trained differently or better. A “failure to 23 train” theory can be the basis for a supervisor's liability under § 1983 in only limited 24 circumstances, such as where the failure amounts to deliberate indifference. See City of Canton v. 25 Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 387–90 (1989). To establish a failure to train claim, a plaintiff must show 26 that “ ‘in light of the duties assigned to specific officers or employees, the need for more or 27 different training [was] obvious, and the inadequacy so likely to result in violations of 28 1 constitutional rights, that the policy-makers ... can reasonably be said to have been deliberately 2 indifferent to the need.’ ” Clement v. Gomez, 298 F.3d 898, 905 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Canton, 3 489 U.S. at 390). Plaintiff has not alleged facts demonstrating that defendant was deliberately 4 indifferent to a need for more or different training. 5 C. Linkage 6 The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides: 7 Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes to be 8 subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution . . . shall be liable to the 9 party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress. 10 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute plainly requires that there be an actual connection or link between 11 the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by Plaintiff. See 12 Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976). The 13 Ninth Circuit has held that “[a] person ‘subjects another to the deprivation of a constitutional 14 right, within the meaning of section 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another’s 15 affirmative acts or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the 16 deprivation of which complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 17 Plaintiff must link each named defendant. Plaintiff names the defendants but then uses 18 different terminology to refer to these purported defendants. In addition, Plaintiff must allege 19 factual support for each Defendant. Defendants are entitled to know the conduct they are alleged 20 to have engaged in which violated Plaintiff's rights. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. 21 D. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 18 and 20 22 Plaintiff may not bring unrelated claims against unrelated parties in a single action. Fed. 23 R. Civ. P. 18(a), 20(a)(2); Owens v. Hinsley, 635 F.3d 950, 952 (7th Cir. 2011); George v. Smith, 24 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007); Mackey v. Price, 2020 WL 7319420, at *3–4 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 25 11, 2020), report and recommendation adopted, 2021 WL 843462 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2021). 26 Plaintiff may bring a claim against multiple defendants so long as (1) the claim arises out of the 27 same transaction or occurrence, or series of transactions and occurrences, and (2) there are 28 commons questions of law or fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2); Coughlin v. Rogers, 130 F.3d 1348, 1 1351 (9th Cir. 1997). The “same transaction” requirement refers to similarity in the factual 2 background of a claim. Id. at 1349. Only if the defendants are properly joined under Rule 20(a) 3 will the Court review the other claims to determine if they may be joined under Rule 18(a), which 4 permits the joinder of multiple claims against the same party. 5 Plaintiff may not raise different claims against different defendants in a single action. For 6 instance, Plaintiff may not state unrelated claims of his injury from the chemical burns/medical 7 care with other claims for injury to his fingers/medical care or denial of gloves. The injuries from 8 the chemical burns and the injury to his fingers are separate incidents. Unrelated claims 9 involving multiple defendants belong in different suits. Merely because Plaintiff was working at 10 the same job does not make every injury or incident related. 11 E. Eleventh Amendment Immunity 12 Plaintiff brings suit against the “entity” of the Prison Industry Authority and the “owners” 13 of the Prison Industry Authority. The Prison Industry Authority, or “PIA,” is an agency within the California Department of 14 Corrections and Rehabilitation which, among other things, operates work programs for prisoners. 15 See Cal. Penal Code §§ 2800-2801; Burleson v. California, 83 F.3d 311, 312-13 (9th Cir. 1996) 16 (describing origins of PIA); Jefferson v. Hollingsworth, No. 3:17-CV-1099-BEN-BGS, 2017 WL 17 3396516, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 4, 2017). The PIA is by statute a part of the CDC, now the 18 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”). Burleson v. California, 83 19 F.3d at 312-13 Cal.Penal Code § 2800 (“Commencing July 1, 2005, there is hereby continued in 20 existence within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation the Prison Industry Authority.) 21 The PIA's status as a part of the California correctional system brings it within the ambit of 22 “prison-structured programs.” Burleson v. State of Cal., 83 F.3d at 314. 23 Claims for damages against the state, its agencies or its officers for actions performed in 24 their official capacities are barred under the Eleventh Amendment, unless the state waives its 25 immunity. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 169 (1985) (Eleventh Amendment bars a damages 26 action against a State in federal court); see also Will v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 27 58, 71 (1989). Indeed, the Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing a Section 28 1 1983 lawsuit in which damages or injunctive relief is sought against a state, its agencies (such as 2 CDCR) or individual prisons, absent “a waiver by the state or a valid congressional override ....” 3 Dittman v. California, 191 F.3d 1020, 1025 (9th Cir. 1999). Suits for injunctive relief are also 4 generally barred. See Nat'l Audubon Soc'y v. Davis, 307 F.3d 835, 847 (9th Cir. 2002); Pennhurst 5 State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100 (1984) (“It is clear ... that in the absence of 6 consent a suit in which the State or one of its agencies or departments is named as the defendant 7 is proscribed by the Eleventh Amendment.”). Plaintiff cannot state a claim against the State of 8 California or its officers in their official capacities. 9 F. Eighth Amendment – Deliberate Indifference 10 1. Deliberate Indifference to Safety 11 Plaintiff contends that the air pump machine was a known danger to the individuals who 12 working in the PIA Dairy yet the supervisors never had it fixed. Plaintiff was injured. 13 The Eighth Amendment requires that prison officials take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of prisoners. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. at 832. In particular, prison 14 officials have a duty to protect prisoners from violence at the hands of other prisoners. Id. at 833; 15 Cortez v. Skol, 776 F. 3d 1046, 1050 (9th Cir. 2015); Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1040 16 (9th Cir. 2005); Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1250 (9th Cir. 1982); Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 17 F.2d 637, 642 & n.3 (9th Cir. 1980). 18 The failure of prison officials to protect inmates from dangerous conditions at the prison 19 violates the Eighth Amendment when two requirements are met: (1) the deprivation alleged is, 20 objectively, sufficiently serious; and (2) the prison official is, subjectively, deliberately indifferent 21 to inmate health or safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. A prison official is deliberately indifferent if 22 he knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety by failing to take 23 reasonable steps to abate it. Id. at 837. 24 The facts must show that defendants’ failure to fix the danger caused plaintiff's injury. See 25 Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (a person subjects another to the deprivation 26 of a constitutional right if he does an act, participates in another's act or omits to perform an act 27 he is legally required to do that causes the alleged deprivation). Failure to remediate following 28 1 plaintiff's injury does not support liability, because that cannot have caused plaintiff's injury. 2 Also, no defendant can be liable for an unsafe condition on the basis of his or her general 3 supervisory or administrative responsibilities, as there is no respondeat superior liability under § 4 1983. See Iqbal, 556 U.S at 676; Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1207 (9th Cir. 2011). 5 The claims against some defendants appear to be based on failure to correct dangerous 6 conditions after Plaintiff's injury on July 22, 2020. Failure to correct a dangerous condition only 7 supports an Eighth Amendment claim if it caused plaintiff's particular injury. See generally, Rizzo 8 v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976) (§ 1983 defendant liable only for harms caused by his own 9 actions). If Plaintiff is alleging that he informed his supervisors of the malfunctioning machine 10 before he was injured (and he must say who he told and what he said), plaintiff may amend his 11 complaint to clarify his allegations. 12 Malfunctioning Air Pump Machine 13 Plaintiff alleges that Plaintiff told Supervisor Joe and Pedro that the air pump machine was broken, without the proper gasket, which was causing Plaintiff to be sprayed by hazardous 14 chemicals. On July 22, 2020, they instructed Plaintiff to continue to use the air pump machine. 15 Plaintiff received chemical burns. Plaintiff does not allege that after he told supervisor Joe about 16 the burns that supervisor Joe required that Plaintiff continue to use the broken air pump machine. 17 Plaintiff alleges that on September 2, 2020, he told new supervisor John Doe that Plaintiff 18 needed gloves to use to protect from further chemical burns. Plaintiff complains that the gloves 19 were either right or left handed, and not both. But Plaintiff fails to allege what happened and 20 whether he was injured. 21 Plaintiff alleges that he was sprayed with the air form machine on February 10, 19, and 22 26, 2021, and other dates in March – July, and was injured. But he fails to allege that any prison 23 official is deliberately indifferent because he knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate 24 health or safety by failing to take reasonable steps to abate it. He does not allege who instructed 25 him to use the machine on those dates and how that person knew it placed Plaintiff at risk of 26 safety. Conclusory allegations that a supervisor “has full knowledge” of the potential harm are 27 insufficient. 28 1 February 24, 2021 Trash Bin/Pallet Falling Incident 2 Plaintiff complains that on February 24, 2021, when he was putting trash in the bin, the lid 3 slammed on his fingers and a pallet that had been leaning on the lid smashed onto his shoulder. 4 Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim for this incident. There are no facts that the 5 condition was deliberately set to harm plaintiff or that any defendant knew of the condition of the 6 trash bin. Plaintiff injured himself when he was putting trash in the trash bin, when the lid 7 accidently fell on his fingers. There are no facts that any defendant was responsible for the lid 8 falling on Plaintiff’s fingers or responsible for the pallet being on the bin. At most, there may be 9 the possibility of negligence for the accidental injury to Plaintiff. Neither accident nor negligence 10 constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, as “[i]t is obduracy and wantonness, not inadvertence 11 or error in good faith, that characterize the conduct prohibited by the Cruel and Unusual 12 Punishments Clause.” Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986) 13 2. Deliberate Indifference to Medical Care Plaintiff alleges a claim for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need. 14 To allege a claim of deliberate indifference, plaintiff must show he had a serious medical 15 need and defendants were deliberately indifferent to that need. A medical need is serious “if the 16 failure to treat the prisoner's condition could result in further significant injury or the 17 ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’ ” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 18 1992), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997) 19 (en banc). Indications of a serious medical need include “the presence of a medical condition that 20 significantly affects an individual’s daily activities.” Id. at 1059-60. By establishing the existence 21 of a serious medical need, a prisoner satisfies the objective requirement for proving an Eighth 22 Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). 23 Deliberate indifference is established only where the defendant subjectively “knows of 24 and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health and safety.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 25 1057 (9th Cir. 2004) (emphasis added) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Deliberate 26 indifference can be established “by showing (a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a 27 prisoner's pain or possible medical need and (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Jett v. Penner, 28 1 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). Civil recklessness (failure “to act in the 2 face of an unjustifiably high risk of harm that is either known or so obvious that it should be 3 known”) is insufficient to establish an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 4 U.S. 825, 836-37 & n.5 (1994) (citations omitted). 5 A difference of opinion between an inmate and prison medical personnel—or between 6 medical professionals—regarding appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment is not enough to 7 establish a deliberate indifference claim. Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); 8 Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1058 (9th Cir. 2004). Additionally, “a complaint that a 9 physician has been negligent in diagnosing or treating a medical condition does not state a valid 10 claim of medical mistreatment under the Eighth Amendment. Medical malpractice does not 11 become a constitutional violation merely because the victim is a prisoner.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 12 106. To establish a difference of opinion rising to the level of deliberate indifference, a “plaintiff 13 must show that the course of treatment the doctors chose was medically unacceptable under the circumstances.” Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996). 14 In applying this standard, the Ninth Circuit has held that before it can be said that a 15 prisoner's civil rights have been abridged, “the indifference to his medical needs must be 16 substantial. Mere ‘indifference,’ ‘negligence,’ or ‘medical malpractice’ will not support this cause 17 of action.” Broughton v. Cutter Labs., 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (citing Estelle v. 18 Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105–06 (1976)). Even gross negligence is insufficient to establish 19 deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. See Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 20 (9th Cir. 1990). 21 Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Susan Doherty 22 did not know what caused his rash on July 27, 2020, and she only gave him antibiotic cream. 23 Plaintiff later discovered the chemical burns. Plaintiff’s allegations fail to show Defendant 24 Doherty’s indifference. Plaintiff alleges Doherty did not know what the condition was, but she 25 provided some topical antibiotic cream for the rash. 26 Plaintiff alleges that he saw Defendant Doherty on September 2 and while he wanted to 27 see a doctor, Defendant Doherty thought the burns were healing. A difference of opinion 28 1 between the prisoner and medical providers concerning the appropriate course of treatment does 2 not give rise to an Eighth Amendment claim. See Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 3 1996). 4 Plaintiff alleges that when he injured his fingers on February 24, 2021, he went to medical 5 with bloody fingers and related injuries. He saw Defendant Linda Ortega who only washed off 6 the blood. She refused to refer Plaintiff to a doctor or to get an x-ray. As currently alleged, 7 Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim. Plaintiff was provided care, and a difference of opinion 8 as to whether he needed a doctor or x-rays does not state a cognizable claim. This claim is 9 improperly joined. 10 Plaintiff alleges he Plaintiff saw Defendant Adrian Jaques for his shoulder pain, who 11 “ignored” Plaintiff. However, Defendant Jaques gave Plaintiff pain medication and cream. 12 Plaintiff was provided care, and a difference of opinion as to whether he needed a doctor or x- 13 rays does not state a cognizable claim. This claim is improperly joined. Further, Plaintiff alleges that when Plaintiff saw “medical,” he told each medical 14 defendant of his medical condition such as extreme pain, lack of shoulder arm movement, not 15 receiving x-rays. Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim based on the conclusory allegations. 16 Plaintiff must state factual support as to each defendant and what that defendant did or did not do. 17 Plaintiff must allege the extent of the care he was provided. Plaintiff is reminded that a difference 18 of opinion as to whether he needed a doctor or x-rays does not state a cognizable claim. 19 G. Equal Protection 20 The Equal Protection Clause requires the State to treat all similarly situated people 21 equally. See City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 439, 105 S.Ct. 3249, 87 22 L.Ed.2d 313 (1985). This does not mean, however, that all prisoners must receive identical 23 treatment and resources. See Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 322 n. 2 (1972); Ward v. Walsh, 1 F.3d 24 873, 880 (9th Cir. 1993); Allen v. Toombs, 827 F.2d 563, 568–69 (9th Cir. 1987). 25 “To prevail on an Equal Protection claim brought under § 1983, Plaintiff must allege facts 26 plausibly showing that ‘ “the defendants acted with an intent or purpose to discriminate against 27 [them] based upon membership in a protected class,’ ” (citing Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 28 1 F.3d 1158, 1166 (9th Cir. 2005)) (quoting Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 686 (9th Cir. 2 2001)), or that similarly situated individuals were intentionally treated differently without a 3 rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose, Engquist v. Oregon Department of Agr., 553 4 U.S. 591, 601-02, 128 S.Ct. 2146 (2008); Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564, 5 120 S.Ct. 1073 (2000); Lazy Y Ranch Ltd. v. Behrens, 546 F.3d 580, 592 (9th Cir. 2008); North 6 Pacifica LLC v. City of Pacifica, 526 F.3d 478, 486 (9th Cir. 2008). 7 Plaintiff has not stated a cognizable equal protection claim. Plaintiff does not allege that 8 he was discriminated against because of his membership in any protected class. He also does not 9 allege factual support that he was intentionally treated differently than other similarly situated 10 inmates without a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose. Plaintiff has not provided any 11 factual support for this claim. Fletcher v. Clendenin, No. 1:22-CV-00249 AWI BAM(PC), 2022 12 WL 2791480, at *5 (E.D. Cal. July 15, 2022) (Equal Protection claim dismissed for failure to 13 allege factual support for denial of treatment based on membership in a protected class). H. Title 15 and Policy Violation 14 To the extent that any Defendant has not complied with applicable state statutes or prison 15 regulations, these deprivations do not support a claim under § 1983. Section 1983 only provides a 16 cause of action for the deprivation of federally protected rights. See, e.g., Nible v. Fink, 828 Fed. 17 Appx. 463 (9th Cir. 2020) (violations of Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations do not 18 create private right of action); Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir. 2009) (section 19 1983 claims must be premised on violation of federal constitutional right); Prock v. Warden, No. 20 1:13-cv-01572-MJS (PC), 2013 WL 5553349, at *11–12 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 8, 2013) (noting that 21 several district courts have found no implied private right of action under title 15 and stating that 22 “no § 1983 claim arises for [violations of title 15] even if they occurred.”); Parra v. Hernandez, 23 No. 08cv0191-H (CAB), 2009 WL 3818376, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 13, 2009) (granting motion to 24 dismiss prisoner's claims brought pursuant to Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations); 25 Chappell v. Newbarth, No. 1:06-cv-01378-OWW-WMW (PC), 2009 WL 1211372, at *9 (E.D. 26 Cal. May 1, 2009) (holding that there is no private right of action under Title 15 of the California 27 Code of Regulations). 28 1 I. Declaratory Relief 2 To the extent Plaintiff's complaint seeks a declaratory judgment, it is unnecessary. “A 3 declaratory judgment, like other forms of equitable relief, should be granted only as a matter of 4 judicial discretion, exercised in the public interest.” Eccles v. Peoples Bank of Lakewood Vill., 5 333 U.S. 426, 431 (1948). “Declaratory relief should be denied when it will neither serve a useful 6 purpose in clarifying and settling the legal relations in issue nor terminate the proceedings and 7 afford relief from the uncertainty and controversy faced by the parties.” United States v. 8 Washington, 759 F.2d 1353, 1357 (9th Cir. 1985). If this action reaches trial and the jury returns a 9 verdict in favor of Plaintiff, then that verdict will be a finding that Plaintiff's constitutional rights 10 were violated. Accordingly, a declaration that any defendant violated Plaintiff's rights is 11 unnecessary. 12 J. State Law Claims 13 Plaintiff may be attempting to allege state law claims against Defendants. “California's Government Claims Act requires that a tort claim against a [state] public entity or its employees 14 for money or damages be presented to the California Victim Compensation and Government 15 Claims Board ... no more than six months after the cause of action accrues.” Lopez v. Cate, No. 16 1:10-cv-01773-AWI, 2015 WL 1293450, at *13 (E.D. Cal. 2015) (citing Cal. Gov't Code §§ 17 905.2, 910, 911.2, 945.4, 950–950.2). Such compliance must be affirmatively alleged. “Timely 18 claim presentation is not merely a procedural requirement, but is ... a condition precedent to 19 plaintiff's maintaining an action against defendant and thus an element of the plaintiff's cause of 20 action.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The “obligation to comply with the 21 Government Claims Act” is independent of the obligation to exhaust administrative remedies 22 pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”). McPherson v. Alamo, No. 3:15-cv- 23 03145-EMC, 2016 WL 7157634, at *6 (N.D. Cal. 2016) (citing Parthemore v. Col, 221 Cal. App. 24 4th 1372, 1376 (2013)). 25 Plaintiff does not allege that he presented a claim to the California Government Claims 26 Program (the successor to the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board) within six 27 months of the incidents underlying this action. Thus, Plaintiff's state law claims, to the extent he 28 1 raises any, are not cognizable. Pradia v. Becerra, No. 1:20-CV-01348 JLT (PC), 2021 WL 2 1839613, at *4 (E.D. Cal. May 7, 2021); see Harris v. Escamilla, 736 F. App'x 618, 621 (9th Cir. 3 2018) (affirming dismissal of state-law claim because plaintiff did “not allege[ ] that he submitted 4 an administrative claim before bringing ... lawsuit, as required by the Government Claims Act”) 5 (citation omitted). 6 K. Workers’ Compensation 7 The allegations are unclear about Plaintiff’s claim for workers’ compensation. 8 California's Workers’ Compensation Act grants the Workers’ Compensation Appeals 9 Board exclusive authority to hear claims “[f]or the recovery of [workers’] compensation, or 10 concerning any right or liability arising out of or incidental thereto.” Cal. Labor Code § 5300(a); 11 see also U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. v. Lee Invs. LLC, 641 F.3d 1126, 1134 (9th Cir. 2011). The statute 12 establishes “exclusive jurisdiction within the workers’ compensation system for ‘all disputes over 13 coverage and payment.’ ” Mitchell v. Scott Wetzel Servs., Inc., 227 Cal. App. 3d 1474, 1480, 278 Cal.Rptr. 474 (1991) (quoting Marsh v. McLennan, Inc., 49 Cal 3d 1, 7-8, 259 Cal.Rptr. 733, 774 14 P.2d 762 (1989)). For this reason, other district courts in California have refused to entertain 15 claims involving worker's compensation benefits, brought by inmate workers who have been 16 injured in prison. See, Rodriguez v. State Comp. Ins. Fund, No. 05-cv-2600 LKK GGH, 2006 WL 17 8458934, at *3, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108762 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2006) (“The mere denial of 18 workman's compensation by the State Insurance Compensation Fund does not present a federal 19 question.”); Ledesma v. Cal. Rehab. Ctr., No. 15-cv-2638 FMO JPR, 2016 WL 1165920, at *3, 20 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38971 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 16, 2016), report and recommendation adopted, 21 2016 WL 1170885, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38967 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 24, 2016); Montgomery v. Cal. 22 Worker's Comp. Appeals Bd., No. 10-cv-3076 CL, 2011 WL 2470080, at *3, 2011 U.S. Dist. 23 LEXIS 65812 (D. Or. May 9, 2011), report and recommendation adopted, 2011 WL 2462938, 24 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 65811, (D. Or. June 20, 2011). As the magistrate judge explained in 25 Montgomery, “[r]egardless of the label placed on plaintiff's claims ... [their] gravamen ... relate to 26 denial of worker's compensation benefits which plaintiff believes are due him” and thus they “are 27 barred by the exclusive remedy provided by the California workers’ compensation system.” Id. 28 1 (citations omitted). Because exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the California workers’ 2 compensation system, this Court lacks jurisdiction over plaintiff's worker's compensation claims. 3 L. Doe Defendants 4 Plaintiff names several doe defendants. “As a general rule, the use of ‘John Doe’ to 5 identify a defendant is not favored.” Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980). 6 Plaintiff is advised that John Doe or Jane Doe defendants (i.e., unknown defendants) cannot be 7 served by the United States Marshal until Plaintiff has identified them as actual individuals and 8 amended his complaint to substitute names for John Doe or Jane Doe. 9 IV. Conclusion and Order 10 Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails state 11 a cognizable claim for relief. As Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court will grant Plaintiff an 12 opportunity to amend his complaint to cure the identified deficiencies to the extent he is able to 13 do so in good faith. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000). Plaintiff’s amended complaint should be brief, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), but it must state what 14 each named defendant did that led to the deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, Iqbal, 556 15 U.S. at 678-79, 129 S.Ct. at 1948-49. Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must 16 be [sufficient] to raise a right to relief above the speculative level . . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 17 (citations omitted). Any amended complaint shall be limited to 25 pages in length, including 18 exhibits. Plaintiff may not join unrelated claims. 19 Additionally, Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated 20 claims in his first amended complaint. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no 21 “buckshot” complaints). 22 Finally, Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. 23 Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 F.3d 896, 927 (9th Cir. 2012). Therefore, Plaintiff’s amended 24 complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading.” 25 Local Rule 220. 26 Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 27 1. The Clerk’s Office shall send Plaintiff a complaint form; 28 1 2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file an 2 amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court in this order (or file a notice of 3 voluntary dismissal); 4 3. Any amended complaint shall be limited to 25 pages in length, including 5 exhibits; and 6 4. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint in compliance with this order, the 7 Court will recommend dismissal of this action, with prejudice, for failure to obey a court order 8 and for failure to state a claim. 9 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 11 Dated: August 24, 2022 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _ 12 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28