Lemus v. Visalia Police Department ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 IGNACIO LEMUS, Case No. 1:24-cv-00050-JLT-HBK 12 Plaintiff, SCREENING ORDER FINDING COMPLAINT FAILS TO STATE A CLAIM 13 v. AND DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE AN AMENDED COMPLAINT, STAND ON 14 VISALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, and COMPLAINT, OR FILE VOLUNTARY DOES 1-3, DISMISSAL1 15 Defendants. (Doc. No. 1) 16 TWENTY-ONE DAY DEADLINE 17 18 This matter is before the Court for screening. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Plaintiff, 19 Ignacio Lemus, is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 20 alleging various constitutional violations. (Doc. No. 1, “Complaint”). Upon review, the Court 21 finds the Complaint fails to state any claim. The Court affords Plaintiff the option to file an 22 amended complaint or voluntarily dismiss his Complaint before recommending the district court 23 dismiss this action. 24 SCREENING REQUIREMENT 25 A plaintiff may bring an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to remedy violations of “rights, 26 privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and [federal] laws,” that were perpetrated 27 1 This matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302 28 (E.D. Cal. 2022). 1 by a person or entity, including a municipality, acting under the color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 2 1983; see also Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690-95 (1978). Because Plaintiff is 3 proceeding in form pauperis, the Court may dismiss a case “at any time” if the Court determines, 4 inter alia, the action fails to state claim or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is 5 immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii)-(iii). However, a complaint should not be 6 dismissed unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of 7 his or her claim that would entitle him or her to relief. Johnson v. Knowles, 113 F.3d 1114, 1117 8 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 996 (1997). Dismissal for failure to state a claim in this context 9 is governed by the same standard as dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). 10 Barren v. Harrington, 152 F. 3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998). As such, a complaint must contain 11 sufficient factual matter to state a claim to relief that is “plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 12 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). “A complaint is plausible on its face when it contains sufficient facts 13 to support a reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. At 14 this stage, the court accepts the facts stated in the complaint as true. Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. 15 Tr., 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976). The court does not accept as true allegations that are merely 16 conclusory, unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions. Western Mining Council v. 17 Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981). Nor are legal conclusions considered facts. Iqbal, 556 18 U.S. at 678. 19 Because Plaintiff is pro se, the Court liberally construes the pleading in the light most 20 favorable to the Plaintiff. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969); Bernhardt v. L.A. 21 County, 339 F.3d 920, 925 (9th Cir. 2003). If a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other 22 facts, a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal of the 23 action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc); Lucas v. 24 Department of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995). However, it is not the role of the court to 25 advise a litigant on how to cure the defects. Such advice “would undermine district judges’ role 26 as impartial decisionmakers.” Pliler v. Ford, 542 U.S. 225, 231 (2004); see also Lopez, 203 F.3d 27 at 1131 n.13. 28 //// 1 SUMMARY OF THE COMPLAINT 2 As Defendants, the Complaint names: Visalia Police Department, and Does #1, Doe #2 3 and Doe #3. (Doc. No. 1 at 2). The Complaint claims federal question jurisdiction based upon 4 alleged violation of Plaintiff’s 1st, 4th, 6th and 9th Amendments rights stemming from events that 5 occurred on October 6, 2022. (Id. at 3-4). Due to its brevity, the Court recites the facts acts 6 giving rise to Plaintiff claim in full. 7 Visalia Police Department and said agents alleged drug charges, drug possessions, driving without a license, all allegations were fraud with 8 no evidence to support. Made arrest without Miranda rights and called CPS to gain custody of my daughter with fraudulent 9 accusations. Officers fails to show for trial admitting to my attorney on record that they would not be present do to the wrongs they had 10 committed. 11 (Id. at 5, unedited text except original text in capitalization). As relief, Plaintiff seeks 12 $1,000,000,000 for “mental and emotional harm and duress. Wrongful Arrest. Character 13 Defamation. Deprivation of Property. Loss of Daughter’s Custody. Loss of Wages. Trauma.” 14 (Id.). 15 APPLICABLE LAW AND ANALYSIS 16 Liberally construed, the Complaint attempts to allege various claims stemming from 17 Plaintiff’s false arrest on or about October 6, 2022. 18 No Causal Connection as to Doe Defendants 19 The Complaint sues Does 1-3. “As a general rule, the use of ‘John Doe’ to identify a 20 defendant is not favored.” Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980) (citation 21 omitted). While “situations may arise where the identity of alleged defendants cannot be known 22 prior to the filing of a complaint,” Id., a plaintiff must plead sufficient factual detail to allow the 23 court to reasonably infer that each defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 24 at 678. Here, Plaintiff fails to do so. 25 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 a plaintiff must allege: (1) that a right secured by 26 the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged violation was 27 committed by a person acting under color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 28 (1988); Park v. City & County of Honolulu, 952 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2020). Section 1 1983 requires a connection or link between a defendant's actions and the plaintiff's alleged 2 deprivation. Harper v. City of Los Angeles, 533 F.3d 1010, 1026 (9th Cir. 2008). “A person 3 subjects another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the meaning of section 1983, if 4 he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts, or omits to perform an act 5 which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.” 6 Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 915 (9th Cir. 2012). Here, the Complaint is devoid of 7 any factual allegations explaining how any of the Doe Defendant caused the deprivation of 8 Plaintiff’s constitutional rights other than implying that his arrest was false. If Plaintiff chooses 9 to file an amended complaint, he must provide sufficient facts to discern what each Doe 10 Defendant did or failed to do and sufficient facts to identify each Doe Defendant. 11 No Facts to Support False Arrest Claim 12 The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution confers the right to protection 13 from arrest without probable cause. Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S.Ct. 223, 13 L.Ed.2d 142 14 (1964). To state a claim for false arrest under § 1983, a plaintiff must show that he was arrested 15 without probable cause or other justification. Dubner v. City and County of San Francisco, 266 16 F.3d 959, 964-65 (9th Cir. 2001). Probable cause exists if, at the time of the arrest, under the 17 totality of the circumstances known to the arresting officers (or within the knowledge of the other 18 officers at the scene), a prudent person would believe the suspect had committed a 19 crime. Blankenhorn v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 463, 471–72 (9th Cir. 2007)). Plaintiff’s 20 statements that the none of the officers appeared for court because of “the wrongs they had 21 committed” is too vague for this Court to infer that officers did not have probable cause to arrest 22 Plaintiff at an earlier point in time. If Plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he must 23 provide sufficient facts that gives rise to a plausible claim that given the totality of the 24 circumstances known to each named defendant at that time to infer they acted unreasonably in 25 arresting him. 26 No Miranda Claim Available 27 The Complaint makes a passing reference to Miranda in its statement of facts. A cause of 28 action alleging a Fifth Amendment violation predicated upon officer’s failure to question a person 1 in custody without first providing Miranda warnings, 2 is not a cognizable action under § 1983. 2 Chavez v. Martinez, 538 U.S. 760, 772-73 (2003) (Justice Thomas, joined by the Chief Justice 3 and Justices O'Connor and Scalia) (“Chavez's failure to read Miranda warnings to Martinez did 4 not violate Martinez's constitutional rights and cannot be grounds for a § 1983 action”); Id. at 789 5 (Justice Kennedy, joined by Justice Stevens) (“[F]ailure to give a Miranda warning does not, 6 without more, establish a completed violation when the unwarned interrogation ensures.”). Thus, 7 Plaintiff cannot advance a § 1983 claim based on an alleged Miranda violation. 8 Interference With Child Custody 9 “Parents and children have a well-elaborated constitutional right to live together without 10 governmental interference.... That right is an essential liberty interest protected by the Fourteenth 11 Amendment's guarantee that parents and children will not be separated by the state without due 12 process of law except in an emergency.” Wallis v. Spencer, 202 F.3d 1126, 1136 (9th Cir. 2000). 13 While a parent has a “fundamental liberty interest” in companionship with his or her child, for the 14 government's removal of a child “[t]o amount to a violation of substantive due process, ... the 15 harmful conduct must ‘shock [ ] the conscience’ or ‘offend the community's sense of fair play and 16 decency.’ ” Rosenbaum v. Washoe Cnty., 663 F.3d 1071, 1079 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Rochin v. 17 California, 342 U.S. 165, 172–73 (1952)). Th Complaint falls far short of providing facts to 18 support this showing. 19 No Showing of Custom or Policy 20 Plaintiff names Visalia Police Department as a defendant. Municipalities and police 21 departments “may be liable under § 1983 for constitutional injuries pursuant to (1) an official 22 policy; (2) a pervasive practice or custom; (3) a failure to train, supervise, or discipline; or (4) a 23 decision or act by a final policymaker.” Jessen v. Cnty. of Fresno, 808 F. App'x 432, 434–35 (9th 24 Cir. 2020) (citing Horton by Horton v. City of Santa Maria, 915 F.3d 592, 602–03 (9th Cir. 2019) 25 (citing Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978)). 26 The Complaint here contains no such allegations to state a claim against the Visalia Police 27 28 2 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). 1 Department. 2 Defamation Claim Barred Under State Law 3 Under California law, the elements of defamation are: (1) a publication that is (2) false, 4 (3) defamatory, (4) unprivileged, and (5) has a natural tendency to injure or causes special 5 damage. Price v. Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3, 195 Cal. App. 4th 962, 970 (2011). 6 Plaintiff’s state claim for defamation is barred by California Government Code section 821.6, 7 which provides immunity to a public employee “for injury caused by his instituting or 8 prosecuting any judicial or administrative proceeding within the scope of his employment, even if 9 he acts maliciously and without probable cause.” Cal. Gov't Code § 821.6; see Amylou R. v. Cty. 10 of Riverside, 28 Cal. App. 4th 1205, 1210 (1994). Thus, Plaintiff cannot recover for his state law 11 defamation claim. 12 OPTIONS 13 To continue the prosecution of this action, Plaintiff must take one of the following three 14 options within twenty-one days from the date of this Order. First Option: Because the Court 15 cannot determine that the filing of an amended complaint cannot cure the deficiencies identified 16 above, the Court will afford Plaintiff an opportunity to file an amended complaint if he chooses. 17 An amended complaint supersedes (replaces) the original complaint and, thus, the amended 18 complaint must be free-standing and complete. See Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & 19 Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1989). Plaintiff should use the Court’s approved Non- 20 Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint Form to file his amended complaint and he must title it “First 21 Amended Complaint.” For each cause of action and each defendant, Plaintiff must allege facts 22 sufficient to show that the defendant violated his civil rights. Plaintiff may not amend the 23 complaint to add unrelated claims. Second Option: Plaintiff may file a Notice stating he 24 intends to stand on his current Complaint subject to the undersigned recommending the district 25 court dismiss for the reasons stated in this Order. Third Option: Because no defendant has yet 26 been served, Plaintiff may file a Notice of Voluntarily Dismissal without prejudice under Federal 27 Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1). 28 Alternatively, if Plaintiff fails to timely respond to this Court Order, i.e. fails to perform 1 | any of the three options, the undersigned will instead recommend that the district court dismiss 2 | this case as a sanction for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with a court order and for failing to 3 | prosecute this action after its determination that the complaint failed to state a claim. See Local 4 | Rule 110; Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). 5 Accordingly, it is ORDERED: 6 1. Within twenty-one (21) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall 7 | take one of the following actions: (a) file a First Amended Complaint; (b); file a Notice that he 8 || intends to stand on the Complaint as screened subject to the undersigned recommending the 9 | district court dismiss for the reasons stated in this Order; (c) file a Notice to voluntarily dismiss 10 | this action without prejudice under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41. 11 2. If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with this Court Order or seek an extension of 12 | time to comply, the Court will recommend the district court dismiss this action for Plaintiff's 13 | failure to comply with this Court Order and prosecute this action. 14 3. The Clerk of Court shall include a blank non-prisoner civil rights complaint form 15 | for Plaintiffs use as appropriate. 16 '7 | Dated: _ February 27, 2024 Mihaw. Wh. foareh Zaskth 18 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA 9 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28