(PS) Ciurar v. Sodergren ( 2023 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MAGDALINA C. CIURAR, No. 2:20-cv-2089 DAD DB PS 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 STATE OF CALIFORNIA, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff Magdalina C. Ciurar is proceeding in this action pro se. This matter was referred 18 to the undersigned in accordance with Local Rule 302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Pending 19 before the court is defendant Anne Sodergren’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 20 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.1 (ECF No. 13.) For the reasons stated below, 21 the undersigned recommends that defendant’s motion to dismiss be granted and plaintiff’s 22 amended complaint be dismissed without further leave to amend. 23 BACKGROUND 24 Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, commenced this action on October 19, 2020, by filing a 25 complaint and a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis 26 application was granted on April 1, 2021. (ECF No. 3.) Plaintiff is proceeding on an amended 27 28 1 Defendant Sodergren is the sole defendant remaining in this action. (ECF No. 5.) 1 complaint filed on April 28, 2021. (ECF No. 4.) Therein, plaintiff alleges that on August 10, 2 2018, plaintiff pled no contest to violating California Penal Code § 182(a) “conspiracy to commit 3 a crime,” after plaintiff was found at Mule Creek State Prison in possession of two hydrocodone 4 pills when attempting to visit her son. (Am. Compl. (ECF No. 4) at 3.2) Thereafter, defendant 5 Anne Sodergren, “in her official capacity as Interim Executive Office of the Board of Pharmacy” 6 revoked plaintiff’s Pharmacy Technician License. (Id. at 3.) Plaintiff is proceeding on a claim 7 that the defendant’s conduct violated plaintiff’s rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. (ECF 8 No. 5 at 6.) 9 Defendant filed a motion to dismiss on July 21, 2022. (ECF No. 13.) Plaintiff filed an 10 opposition on August 30, 2022. (ECF No. 18.) Defendant filed a reply on September 9, 2022. 11 (ECF No. 19.) Defendant’s motion was taken under submission on September 19, 2022. (ECF 12 No. 20.) 13 STANDARDS 14 I. Legal Standards Applicable to Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) 15 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) allows a defendant to raise the defense, by 16 motion, that the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of an entire action or of specific 17 claims alleged in the action. “A motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction may 18 either attack the allegations of the complaint or may be made as a ‘speaking motion’ attacking the 19 existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact.” Thornhill Publ’g Co. v. Gen. Tel. & Elecs. Corp., 20 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979). 21 When a party brings a facial attack to subject matter jurisdiction, that party contends that 22 the allegations of jurisdiction contained in the complaint are insufficient on their face to 23 demonstrate the existence of jurisdiction. Safe Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 24 (9th Cir. 2004). In a Rule 12(b)(1) motion of this type, the plaintiff is entitled to safeguards 25 similar to those applicable when a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is made. See Sea Vessel Inc. v. Reyes, 26 23 F.3d 345, 347 (11th Cir. 1994); Osborn v. United States, 918 F.2d 724, 729 n. 6 (8th Cir. 27 2 Page number citations such as this one are to the page number reflected on the court’s CM/ECF 28 system and not to page numbers assigned by the parties. 1 1990). The factual allegations of the complaint are presumed to be true, and the motion is granted 2 only if the plaintiff fails to allege an element necessary for subject matter jurisdiction. Savage v. 3 Glendale Union High Sch. Dist. No. 205, 343 F.3d 1036, 1039 n. 1 (9th Cir. 2003); Miranda v. 4 Reno, 238 F.3d 1156, 1157 n. 1 (9th Cir. 2001). Nonetheless, district courts “may review 5 evidence beyond the complaint without converting the motion to dismiss into a motion for 6 summary judgment” when resolving a facial attack. Safe Air for Everyone, 373 F.3d at 1039. 7 When a Rule 12(b)(1) motion attacks the existence of subject matter jurisdiction, no 8 presumption of truthfulness attaches to the plaintiff’s allegations. Thornhill Publ’g Co., 594 F.2d 9 at 733. “[T]he district court is not restricted to the face of the pleadings, but may review any 10 evidence, such as affidavits and testimony, to resolve factual disputes concerning the existence of 11 jurisdiction.” McCarthy v. United States, 850 F.2d 558, 560 (9th Cir. 1988). When a Rule 12 12(b)(1) motion attacks the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact, plaintiff has the burden 13 of establishing that such jurisdiction does in fact exist. Thornhill Publ’g Co., 594 F.2d at 733. 14 II. Legal Standards Applicable to Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) 15 The purpose of a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) is to test the legal 16 sufficiency of the complaint. N. Star Int’l v. Ariz. Corp. Comm’n, 720 F.2d 578, 581 (9th Cir. 17 1983). “Dismissal can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of 18 sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 19 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). A plaintiff is required to allege “enough facts to state a claim to 20 relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “A 21 claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw 22 the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. 23 Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). 24 In determining whether a complaint states a claim on which relief may be granted, the 25 court accepts as true the allegations in the complaint and construes the allegations in the light 26 most favorable to the plaintiff. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Love v. 27 United States, 915 F.2d 1242, 1245 (9th Cir. 1989). In general, pro se complaints are held to less 28 stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 1 520-21 (1972). However, the court need not assume the truth of legal conclusions cast in the 2 form of factual allegations. United States ex rel. Chunie v. Ringrose, 788 F.2d 638, 643 n.2 (9th 3 Cir. 1986). 4 While Rule 8(a) does not require detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an 5 unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. A 6 pleading is insufficient if it offers mere “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the 7 elements of a cause of action.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555; see also Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676 8 (“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 9 statements, do not suffice.”). Moreover, it is inappropriate to assume that the plaintiff “can prove 10 facts which it has not alleged or that the defendants have violated the . . . laws in ways that have 11 not been alleged.” Associated Gen. Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. Cal. State Council of Carpenters, 12 459 U.S. 519, 526 (1983). 13 In ruling on a motion to dismiss brought pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the court is permitted 14 to consider material which is properly submitted as part of the complaint, documents that are not 15 physically attached to the complaint if their authenticity is not contested and the plaintiff’s 16 complaint necessarily relies on them, and matters of public record. Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 17 250 F.3d 668, 688-89 (9th Cir. 2001). 18 ANALYSIS 19 Review of defendant’s motion to dismiss and the amended complaint finds that 20 defendant’s motion to dismiss should be granted for the reasons articulated therein and below. 21 A. Failure to Exhaust 22 “Under federal common law, federal courts accord preclusive effect to state administrative 23 proceedings that meet the fairness requirements of United States v. Utah Construction & Mining 24 Co., 384 U.S. 394 (1966) (the “Utah Construction” standard). Doe v. Regents of the University 25 of California, 891 F.3d 1147, 1154 (9th Cir. 2018). “Because California has adopted the Utah 26 Construction standard, we give preclusive effect to a state administrative decision if the 27 California courts would do so.” Id. at 1155. 28 //// 1 “A § 1983 claim is precluded where a plaintiff has failed to exhaust judicial remedies in 2 state court.” Reel v. City of El Centro, Case No. 22-cv-526-W-(KSC), 2022 WL 14915608, at 3 *10 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 25, 2022). “To exhaust judicial remedies, a party must file a petition for a 4 writ of administrative mandate under California Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.” Freeman 5 v. City of Port Hueneme, 800 Fed. Appx. 562 (9th Cir. 2020). 6 Here, defendant has requested judicial notice of the August 26, 2019 decision of the Board 7 of Pharmacy by Administrative Law Judge Coren D. Wong revoking plaintiff’s Pharmacy 8 Technician License after finding that plaintiff conspired to knowingly posses a controlled 9 substance in Mule Creek State Prison. (Def.’s Req. JDN (ECF No. 14) at 28-40.3) Defendant 10 also seeks judicial notice of the November 4, 2019 decision denying plaintiff’s request for 11 reconsideration. (Id. at 60-61.) As a result of the November 4, 2019 decision, pursuant to 12 California law, plaintiff had “30 days after the last day on which reconsideration can be ordered” 13 to file a petition for writ of mandate in superior court. Cal. Gov. Code § 11523. 14 Here, there is no dispute that plaintiff did not file a petition for writ of mandate. Instead, 15 plaintiff simply alleges that plaintiff “never received the appeal decision in writing,” and was later 16 “told that my request was denied.” (Pl.’s Opp’n (ECF No. 18) at 1.) “Where, as here, 17 administrative mandate lies, failure to exhaust administrative remedies bars a civil action 18 challenging the Administrative [] decision.” Massey v. Biola University, Inc., Case No. 2:19-cv- 19 9626 CJC JDE, 2020 WL 2476173, at *6 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 10, 2020). 20 II. Failure to State a Claim 21 As noted above, plaintiff is proceeding on a claim bought pursuant to the Fourteenth 22 Amendment. “Courts have long recognized that licenses which enable one to pursue a profession 23 or earn a livelihood are protected property interests for purposes of a Fourteenth Amendment 24 analysis.” Jones v. City of Modesto, 408 F.Supp.2d 935, 950 (E.D. Cal. 2005). “The Fourteenth 25 Amendment protects individuals against the deprivation of liberty or property by the government 26 3 “Judicial notice is appropriate for records and ‘reports of administrative bodies.’” United States 27 v. 14.02 Acres of Land More or Less in Fresno County, 547 F.3d 943, 955 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Interstate Natural Gas Co. v. Southern California Gas Co., 209 F.2d 380, 385 (9th Cir. 28 1954)). 1 without due process. A section 1983 claim based upon procedural due process thus has three 2 elements: (1) a liberty or property interest protected by the Constitution; (2) a deprivation of the 3 interest by the government; (3) lack of process.” Portman v. County of Santa Clara, 995 F.2d 4 898, 904 (9th Cir. 1993). A plaintiff may state a substance due process claim where they show 5 “they are unable to pursue an occupation . . . and, second, that this inability is due to actions that 6 substantively were ‘clearly arbitrary and unreasonable, having no substantial relation to the public 7 health, safety, morals, or general welfare.’” Wedges/Ledges of California, Inc. v. City of 8 Phoenix, Ariz., 24 F.3d 56, 65 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting FDIC v. Henderson, 940 F.2d 465, 474 9 (9th Cir. 1991)). 10 Here, the amended complaint alleges in a vague and conclusory manner that plaintiff 11 “should be afforded substantive due process,” and that plaintiff “was not afforded a fair legal 12 process.” (Am. Compl. (ECF No. 4) at 8.) However, “[t]he use of substantive due process to 13 extend constitutional protection to economic and property rights has been ‘largely discredited’” as 14 such conduct is more appropriately “covered by procedural due process[.]” Jones v. City of 15 Modesto, 408 F.Supp.2d 935, 957 (E.D. Cal. 2005) (quoting Armendariz v. Penman, 75 F.3d 16 1311, 1318-19 (9th Cir. 1996)). 17 Even assuming arguendo that substantive due process was at issue, it cannot be said that 18 the decision of the Board of Pharmacy to revoke plaintiff’s license was clearly arbitrary and 19 unreasonable. In this regard, according to the amended complaint’s allegations plaintiff’s license 20 was revoked after plaintiff “pled no contest to violation of Penal Code Section 182, subdivision 21 (a) conspiracy to commit a crime” as a result of plaintiff’s “possession of two hydrocodone pills . 22 . . when preparing to enter Mule Creek prison to visit . . . an inmate.” (Am. Compl. (ECF No. 4) 23 at 3.) “Statutes that require or allow revocation of professional licenses after a licensee has been 24 convicted of a crime routinely pass constitutional muster.” West v. Bailey, No. 11cv1760 MMA 25 (POR), 2012 WL 993301, at *5 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 23, 2012). 26 Moreover, there appears to be no credible allegations that the process afforded plaintiff 27 did not satisfy the requirements of procedural due process. In this regard, after plaintiff’s 28 criminal conviction pursuant to plaintiff’s no contest plea, plaintiff was served with an 1 “ACCUSATION” by the Board of Pharmacy. The Accusation set forth the factual allegations 2 asserted against plaintiff, the causes of action, and the requested relief (the suspension or 3 revocation of plaintiff’s Pharmacy License). (Def.’s RJN (ECF No. 14) at 20-25.) Thereafter, 4 evidence was gathered and a hearing was held at which plaintiff was allowed to present 5 testimony. (Id. at 28-40.) A written decision was then issued, which was served on plaintiff and 6 allowed plaintiff an opportunity to seek reconsideration. (Id. at 28-42.) Plaintiff sought 7 reconsideration and plaintiff’s request for reconsideration was denied. (Id. at 42-61.) Thereafter, 8 plaintiff’s license was revoked. (Id. at 61.) Pursuant to California law plaintiff was permitted to, 9 but did not, file a petition for writ of mandamus in superior court. Cal. Gov. Code § 11523. 10 Plaintiff fails to allege how such conduct violated plaintiff’s right to procedural due 11 process. See generally Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 579 (1975) (“The fundamental requisite of 12 due process of law is the opportunity to be heard.”); Miranda v. City of Casa Grande, 15 F.4th 13 1219, 1225 (9th Cir. 2021) (“The touchstone of procedural due process is notice and an 14 opportunity to be heard.”); State of California ex rel. Lockyer v. FERC, 329 F.3d 700, 708 n.6 15 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Constitutional due process requires that a party affected by government action 16 be given the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.”). 17 Accordingly, the undersigned recommends that defendant’s motion to dismiss be granted.4 18 II. Leave to Amend 19 For the reasons stated above, plaintiff’s amended complaint should be dismissed. The 20 undersigned has carefully considered whether plaintiff may further amend the complaint to state a 21 claim upon which relief can be granted. “Valid reasons for denying leave to amend include 22 undue delay, bad faith, prejudice, and futility.” California Architectural Bldg. Prod. v. Franciscan 23 Ceramics, 818 F.2d 1466, 1472 (9th Cir. 1988); see also Klamath-Lake Pharm. Ass’n v. Klamath 24 Med. Serv. Bureau, 701 F.2d 1276, 1293 (9th Cir. 1983) (holding that while leave to amend shall 25 be freely given, the court does not have to allow futile amendments). 26 4 Defendant’s motion to dismiss also argues that plaintiff lacks standing to seek injunctive relief 27 against defendant Sodergren because it was the Pharmacy Board that revoked plaintiff’s license, not the defendant. (Def.’s MTD (ECF No. 13-1) at 7.) Given the above findings and 28 recommendations, the undersigned need not reach this argument. 1 Here, in light of the deficiencies noted above, the undersigned finds that granting plaintiff 2 | further leave to amend would be futile. 3 CONCLUSION 4 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 5 1. Defendant’s July 21, 2022 motion to dismiss (ECF No. 13) be granted; and 6 2. The April 28, 2021 amended complaint (ECF No. 4) be dismissed without prejudice; 7 | and 8 3. This action be closed. 9 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 10 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within fourteen days 11 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 12 | objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 13 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections 14 | shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of the objections. The parties are 15 | advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the 16 | District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 17 | Dated: January 23, 2023 19 0 -BORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 21 22 23 | DLB:6 DB\orders\orders.pro se\ciurar2089.dism.f&rs 25 26 27 28