(PC) Hernandez v. California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation ( 2023 )

1 2 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 PETER HERNANDEZ, Case No. 1:23-cv-00394-SAB (PC) 6 Plaintiff, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT 7 TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN A DISTRICT v. JUDGE TO THIS ACTION 8 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION 9 CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITAITON, RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF et al., ACTION 10 Defendants. (ECF No. 9) 11 12 13 Plaintiff Steven Ranae Glenn Candler is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this 14 civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United 15 States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. Plaintiff’s 16 complaint in this action was filed on March 16, 2023. (ECF No. 1.) 17 On April 28, 2023, the Court screened the complaint, found that Plaintiff failed to state a 18 cognizable claim for relief, and granted Plaintiff thirty days to file an amended complaint. 19 (ECF No. 8.) 20 Plaintiff failed to file an amended complaint or otherwise respond to the April 7, 2023 21 order. Therefore, on June 7, 2023, the Court issued an order for Plaintiff to show cause why the 22 action should not be dismissed. (ECF No. 9.) Plaintiff has failed to respond to the order to 23 show cause and the time to do so has now passed. Accordingly, dismissal of the action is 24 warranted. 25 I. 26 SCREENING REQUIREMENT 27 1 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 2 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 3 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 4 “frivolous or malicious,” that “fail[] to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that 5 “seek[] monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 6 1915(e)(2)(B); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). 7 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader 8 is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but 9 “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 10 statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. 11 v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant 12 personally participated in the deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 13 934 (9th Cir. 2002). 14 Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their pleadings 15 liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor. Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 16 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2012) (citations omitted). To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be 17 facially plausible, which requires sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer 18 that each named defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss 19 v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The “sheer possibility that a defendant 20 has acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and “facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s 21 liability” falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d 22 at 969. 23 II. 24 SUMMARY OF ALLEGATIONS 25 The Court accepts Plaintiff’s allegations in his complaint as true only for the purpose of 26 the screening requirement under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 27 On May 12, 2022, Warden L. Lundy and “Doe” Defendants on the Program Status Report 1 thick dark prison blues in 100 plus degree summer desert heat with no shade for more than 7 2 hours. As a result, Plaintiff suffered first degree burns and emotional distress. T. Valdez and H. 3 Moseley condoned and ratified the search policies in grievance responses. Plaintiff submitted a 4 government claim but received no response. 5 Plaintiff seeks injunctive and declaratory relief, as well as damages. 6 III. 7 DISCUSSION 8 A. Conditions of Confinement/Exposure to Heat 9 The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual 10 punishment, interpreted as the “unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain” that is “grossly 11 disproportionate to the severity of the crime” and “totally without penological justification.” U.S. 12 Const. Amend. VIII; see also Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S 337, 345-46 (1981) (internal citations 13 omitted); Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). Undeniably the Eighth Amendment does 14 not require comfortable prisons, but it does require humane ones. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 832. 15 A prisoner pursuing an Eighth Amendment conditions of confinement claim must establish 16 both an “objective component” and a “subjective component.” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. The 17 objective component relates to the seriousness of the challenged conditions while the subjective 18 component speaks to the state of mind of the officials responsible for the alleged violation. Id.; see 19 also Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991) (rejecting a reading that the Eighth Amendment 20 allows liability on prison officials solely because of the presence of objectively inhumane prison 21 conditions). The objective component requires a prisoner to demonstrate “unquestioned and 22 serious deprivations of basic human needs” or of the “minimal civilized measure of life's 23 necessities.” Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347; accord, Wilson, 501 U.S. at 308. Basic human needs 24 include “food, clothing, shelter, medical care and reasonable safety” as well as “warmth [and] 25 exercise.” Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 32 (1993); Wilson, 501 at 304. 26 Under the subjective prong, a correctional official must have “acted with a sufficiently 27 culpable state of mind” with regard to the condition at issue. Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 8 1 511 U.S. at 834; Wilson, 501 U.S. at 303. Negligence is not enough. Wilson, 501 U.S. at 305. 2 Deliberate indifference is equivalent to “subjective recklessness” as it is used in criminal law and 3 requires the correctional official to “both be aware of facts from which the inference could be 4 drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Farmer, 5 511 U.S. at 837. 6 To be a serious deprivation, the prisoner must at the very least show that a condition of his 7 confinement “pose[s] an unreasonable risk of serious damage to his future health” or 8 safety. Helling, 509 U.S. at 35. Generally, only the most severe deprivations under the objective 9 prong will support an Eighth Amendment violation but the standard “draw[s] its meaning from 10 the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society” because “no static 11 ‘test’ can exist.” Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 346 (citations omitted). Consequently, “[m]ore modest 12 deprivations can also form the objective basis of the violation, but only if such deprivations are 13 lengthy or ongoing.” Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 732 (9th Cir. 2000). 14 Plaintiff contends that he and other inmates were placed in the prison yard in 100- degree 15 heat for approximately in their heavy prison blues and as a result he suffered first degree burns 16 and emotional distress. Exposure to excessive heat may constitute cruel and unusual punishment 17 in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Johnson, 217 F.3d at 729-30, 732; see also Douglas v. 18 Smelosky, No. 3:10-cv-14640GPC-BGS, 2014 WL 3534702, at *9 (S.D. Cal. July 16, 2014) 19 (“[e]xtreme heat conditions can be sufficiently serious to satisfy the objective requirement of an 20 Eighth Amendment claim”); Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730, 738 (2002) (“knowingly subject[ing] 21 inmate to unnecessary exposure to the heat of the sun, to prolonged thirst and taunting, and to a 22 deprivation of bathroom breaks” violated the Eighth Amendment). 23 With regard to the objective component, as stated by one district court, “[a] first degree burn 24 does not ordinarily constitute an urgent medical condition … [r]ather, first degree burn, unlike 25 more serious second or third degree burns, is one that creates a mild redness in the skin but without 26 blistering or any necrosis of the skin or surrounding tissue.” Calhoun v. New York City Dep’t of 27 Correction, No. 10 Civ. 182(LAK)(HBP), 2014 WL 144659, at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 14, 2014) 1 (citation omitted); see also Johnson v. Havener, 534 F.2d 1232, 1233 (6th Cir. 1976) (nothing 2 physician’s assessment that a first degree burn is “one which merely produces a redness of the 3 skin, similar to sunburn”). 4 District courts have found that allegations of a first degree burn were insufficient to satisfy 5 the objective component of a deliberate indifference claim. Cole v. Fischer, No. 08CV512,2009 6 WL 3734343, *4 (W.D.N.Y. No. 4, 2009) (finding that resulting back pain from second degree 7 burns did not constitute a sufficiently serious injury); Pressley v. Green, No. 02 Civ. 5261(NRB), 8 2004 WL 2978279, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 21, 2004) (granting summary judgment finding that 9 plaintiff’s second degree burns to the chest and blistering did not constitute a sufficiently serious 10 injury); but see, Walker v. Vargas, No. 11 Civ. 9034(ER), 2013 WL 4792765, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. 11 Aug. 26, 2013). 12 Here, Plaintiff alleges only that he suffered a first degree burn and emotional distress as a 13 result of his exposure to the heat. Plaintiff does not set forth any lasting injury or complications 14 as a result of his sunburn. Nor does Plaintiff allege any other circumstances that the conditions 15 at California Correctional (CCF) were constitutionally unsafe. In addition, Plaintiff has failed to 16 demonstrate that any Defendant knew of a serious threat to Plaintiff’s health and ignored it. The 17 simple fact that the Warden and other officials ordered Plaintiff and other inmates into the yard 18 during cell searches does not demonstrate subjective knowledge of a serious risk to Plaintiff’s 19 health and safety. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim for relief. 20 B. State Law Claims 21 Plaintiff seeks to bring a claim for state law negligence under California Government Code 22 section 815.2. 23 As an initial matter, in order to proceed with a state law claim, Plaintiff is informed that 24 violation of state tort law, state regulations, rules and policies of the CDCR, or other state laws 25 are not sufficient to state a claim for relief under § 1983. Although the Court may 26 exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims, Plaintiff must first have a cognizable 27 1 claim for relief under federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367. Here, the Court has yet to find a 2 cognizable claim. 3 Moreover, under section 815.2, “[a] public entity, as the employer, is generally liable for 4 the torts of an employee committed within the scope of employment if the employee is 5 liable.” Thomas v. City of Richmond, 9 Cal.4th 1154, 1157 (1995). Section 815.2 does not, in of 6 itself, create a standalone cause of action. Instead, it is the basis by which a plaintiff can bring a 7 suit for negligence on the part of an employee against the public entity employer. 8 Here, Plaintiff fails to set for sufficient facts to demonstrate that any Defendant acted with 9 negligence. Accordingly, even if Plaintiff stated a cognizable federal law claim, his state claim 10 fails. 11 C. CDCR as Defendant 12 Claims for damages against the state, its agencies, or its officers for actions performed in 13 their official capacities are barred under the Eleventh Amendment, unless the state waives 14 its immunity. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 169 (1985) (Eleventh Amendment bars a 15 damages action against a State in federal court); see also Will v. Michigan Dep’t of State Police, 16 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989). Indeed, the Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing 17 a Section 1983 lawsuit in which damages or injunctive relief is sought against a state, its 18 agencies (such as CDCR) or individual prisons, absent “a waiver by the state or a valid 19 congressional override....” Dittman v. California, 191 F.3d 1020, 1025 (9th Cir. 20 1999); Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100 (1984) (“It is clear ... that 21 in the absence of consent a suit in which the State or one of its agencies or departments is named 22 as the defendant is proscribed by the Eleventh Amendment.”). 23 For the reasons discussed above, Plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against Defendant 24 CDCR is barred by the Eleventh Amendment. 25 IV. 26 FAILURE TO OBEY COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE 27 Here, the Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint, and on April 28, 2023, an order issued 1 providing Plaintiff with the legal standards that applied to his claims, advising him of the 2 deficiencies that needed to be corrected, and granting him leave to file an amended complaint 3 within thirty days. (ECF No. 8.) Plaintiff did not file an amended complaint or otherwise respond 4 to the Court’s April 28, 2023 order. Therefore, on June 7, 2023, the Court ordered Plaintiff to 5 show cause within fourteen (14) days why the action should not be dismissed. (ECF No. 9.) 6 Plaintiff failed to respond to the June 7, 2023 order and the time to do so has passed. 7 Local Rule 110 provides that “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Rules 8 or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions 9 . . . within the inherent power of the Court.” The Court has the inherent power to control its 10 docket and may, in the exercise of that power, impose sanctions where appropriate, including 11 dismissal of the action. Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000). 12 A court may dismiss an action based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action, failure to 13 obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 14 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 15 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order to file an amended 16 complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to 17 comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone v. 18 United States Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with 19 court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for lack of 20 prosecution and failure to comply with local rules). 21 “In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, the district court is 22 required to consider several factors: ‘(1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of 23 litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; 24 (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less 25 drastic sanctions.’ ” Carey, 856 F.2d at 1440 (quoting Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423). These 26 factors guide a court in deciding what to do, and are not conditions that must be met in order for 27 a court to take action. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1 In this instance, the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of the litigation and the 2 Court’s need to manage its docket weigh in favor of dismissal. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) 3 Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d at 1226. Plaintiff was ordered to file an amended 4 complaint within thirty days of April 28, 2023 and has not done so. Plaintiff’s failure to comply 5 with the order of the Court by filing an amended complaint hinders the Court’s ability to move 6 this action towards disposition. This action can proceed no further without Plaintiff’s compliance 7 with the order and his failure to comply indicates that Plaintiff does not intend to diligently litigate 8 this action. 9 Since it appears that Plaintiff does not intend to litigate this action diligently there arises 10 a rebuttable presumption of prejudice to the defendants in this action. In re Eisen, 31 F.3d 1447, 11 1452-53 (9th Cir. 1994). The risk of prejudice to the defendants also weighs in favor of dismissal. 12 The public policy in favor of deciding cases on their merits is greatly outweighed by the 13 factors in favor of dismissal. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to move this action forward. In order 14 for this action to proceed, Plaintiff is required to file an amended complaint curing the deficiencies 15 in the operative pleading. Despite being ordered to do so, Plaintiff did not file an amended 16 complaint or respond to the order to show cause and this action cannot simply remain idle on the 17 Court’s docket, unprosecuted. In this instance, the fourth factor does not outweigh Plaintiff’s 18 failure to comply with the Court’s orders. 19 Finally, a court’s warning to a party that their failure to obey the court’s order will result 20 in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; 21 Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court’s April 28, 2023, order 22 requiring Plaintiff to file an amended complaint expressly stated: “If Plaintiff fails to file an 23 amended complaint in compliance with this order, the Court will recommend to a district judge 24 that this action be dismissed consistent with the reasons stated in this order.” (ECF No. 8.) In 25 addition, the Court’s June 7, 2023, order to show cause specifically stated: “Plaintiff’s failure to 26 comply with this order will result in a recommendation to dismiss the action for the reasons stated 27 above.” (ECF No. 9.) Thus, Plaintiff had adequate warning that dismissal would result from her 1 V. 2 ORDER AND RECOMMENDATION 3 The Court has screened Plaintiff's complaint and directed Plaintiff to file an amended 4 |complaint within thirty days. Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s order to file an 5 |amended and has not responded to the Court’s order to show why the action should not be 6 | dismissed. In considering the factors to determine if this action should be dismissed, the Court 7 finds that this action should be dismissed for Plaintiff's failure to obey the April 28, 2023 and 8 | June 7, 2023 orders and failure to prosecute this action. 9 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be dismissed for 10 | Plaintiff's failure to comply with a court order and failure to prosecute. 11 This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the district judge assigned to this 12 | action, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this Court’s Local Rule 304. Within fourteen 13 | (14) days of service of this Recommendation, Plaintiff may file written objections to this findings 14 recommendation with the Court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to 15 | Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” The district judge will review the magistrate 16 |judge’s Findings and Recommendations pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The parties are 17 | advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights 18 appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 19 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 20 IS SO ORDERED. OF. nf ee 22 Pated: _ July 6, 2023 _ ef 33 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 24 25 26 27 28