Khan v. Payton ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 MUHAMMAD KHAN, 11 Case No. 20-03086 BLF (PR) Plaintiff, 12 ORDER OF SERVICE; DIRECTING v. DEFENDANT TO FILE 13 DISPOSITIVE MOTION OR NOTICE REGARDING SUCH 14 MOTION; INSTRUCTIONS TO M. PAYTON, CLERK 15 Defendant. 16 17 18 Plaintiff, a state prisoner currently housed at the Correctional Training Facility in 19 Soledad, filed the instant pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against 20 Correctional Officer M. Payton for the violation of Plaintiff’s rights while he was at San 21 Quentin State Prison’s Reception Center (“SQSP”). Dkt. No. 1. On September 9, 2020, 22 the Court screened the complaint and found it stated cognizable claims under the Free 23 Exercise clause of the First Amendment and the Eighth Amendment, and exercised 24 supplemental jurisdiction over a state law claim for intentional infliction of emotional 25 distress. Dkt. No. 12 at 3-4. The Court granted leave to amend with respect to a retaliation 26 claim under a third cause of action. Id. at 4. Plaintiff was advised that if he did not file an 27 amended complaint in the time provided, the action would proceed on the three cognizable 1 Accordingly, the Court will order service on Defendant on the cognizable claims. 2 3 DISCUSSION 4 A. Standard of Review 5 A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a 6 prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a 7 governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any 8 cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim 9 upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune 10 from such relief. See id. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must, however, be liberally 11 construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). 12 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential 13 elements: (1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was 14 violated, and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the 15 color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 16 B. Plaintiff’s Claims 17 In an initial screening order, the Court found the complaint set forth the following 18 claims: Plaintiff claims that he was held at the San Quentin State Prison’s 19 Reception Center (“RC”) for processing from March 2018 through June 20 2018, until he was transferred out to Avenal State Prison (“ASP”). Dkt. No. 1 at 5-6. Plaintiff is a Muslim and has practiced the religion for 21 several years. Id. at 6. On April 20, 2018, Plaintiff received a religious diet card, permitting him to receive a halal diet. Id. at 7. In early May 2018, 22 Plaintiff signed up to participate in Ramadan, which began on or around 23 May 13, 2018. Id. at 8. When it was time for Plaintiff to pick up his meal, he was called down on the intercom to pick up a bag from the RC’s office; 24 the bag contained a hot dinner and breakfast for the following morning. Id. 25 at 8-9. On Friday, June 8, 2018, Plaintiff felt sick and did not fast, opting to go to dinner at the usual time. Id. at 9. He submitted a sick call slip. Id. 26 After returning from dinner, he went to the first floor office and informed had gone to dinner, and that he only needed to pick up the breakfast meal 1 that night. Id. He received his meals over the weekend as usual by 4 2 different correctional officers stationed in the office. Id. at 10. On Monday, June 11, 2018, Plaintiff was let out of his cell to pick up his meal 3 for the night, having fasted all day. Id. When he arrived at the office, he saw a bag on the desk with his name written on the side, as always. Id. 4 When Plaintiff asked for his meal, Defendant Payton refused to give it to 5 him. Id. Even after Plaintiff informed Defendant that he has been fasting and was famished, Defendant Payton told him to turn around, placed 6 handcuffs on him, and forced him onto the bench/chair inside the office 7 near the door. Id. She then stated, “You’re not getting your meal anymore,” while hitting Plaintiff’s chest with her hand multiple times. Id. 8 Plaintiff informed Defendant that she was denying his constitutional rights and that he wanted to speak to a “Sgt/Lt.” Id. Defendant Payton told 9 Plaintiff to go back to his cell, and the “LT” would come talk to him. Id. 10 The next day, June 12, 2018, Plaintiff was again denied his meal package by Defendant Payton. Id. at 11. On the morning of June 13, 2018, Plaintiff 11 was transferred to ASP. Id. at 12. At ASP, Plaintiff filed an inmate 12 grievance regarding the denial of his Ramadan meals and the violation of his religious rights, which was forwarded to SQSP. Id. Plaintiff claims that 13 “[a]s a form of retaliation” he was placed on “appeal restriction,” which limited Plaintiff to submitting one appeal every 30 calendar days; the 14 restriction was approved by the “OOA” and sent to A. Andres at SQSP. Id. 15 He appealed he matter to the third level of review, which denied it sometime in March 2019. Id. at 13. 16 17 Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff claims Defendant Payton: (1) deliberately denied Plaintiff his Ramadan meals and disregarded his right to 18 freely practice his religion under the First Amendment; (2) caused pain and suffering in violation of the Eighth Amendment by denying him meals for 19 two days; (3) “influenced his 22/appeals and due process by levying 20 reprisals against Plaintiff for taking part in protected conduct”; and (4) is liable for state claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Dkt. 21 No. 1 at 14-16. Liberally construed, Plaintiff states a cognizable claim under the First Amendment for the denial of meals necessary for the free 22 exercise of his religion. See Ward v. Walsh, 1 F.3d 873, 877 (9th Cir. 23 1993) (Jewish inmate claiming denial of kosher diet), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1192 (1994); Moorish Science Temple, Inc. v. Smith, 693 F.2d 987, 990 (2d 24 Cir. 1982) (Muslim inmate claiming denial of proper religious diet). 25 Plaintiff has also stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim for the deprivation of food for two days. See Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731, 26 732-733 (9th Cir. 2000). The Court will also exercise supplemental emotional distress. United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715 (1966). 1 Dkt. No. 12 at 2-3. In accordance with the foregoing, this action will proceed on claims 1, 2 2, and 4. The retaliation claim under the “third cause of action” is DISMISSED for failure 3 to state a claim and will be stricken from the complaint. 4 5 CONCLUSION 6 For the reasons state above, the Court orders as follows: 7 1. The Clerk of the Court shall mail a Notice of Lawsuit and Request for 8 Waiver of Service of Summons, two copies of the Waiver of Service of Summons, a copy 9 of the complaint, Dkt. No. 1, all attachments thereto, and a copy of this order upon 10 Defendant Correctional Officer M. Payton at San Quentin State Prison (San Quentin, 11 CA 94974). The Clerk shall also mail a copy of this Order to Plaintiff. 12 2. Defendants are cautioned that Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil 13 Procedure requires them to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service of the 14 summons and the amended complaint. Pursuant to Rule 4, if Defendants, after being 15 notified of this action and asked by the Court, on behalf of Plaintiff, to waive service of the 16 summons, fail to do so, they will be required to bear the cost of such service unless good 17 cause shown for their failure to sign and return the waiver form. If service is waived, this 18 action will proceed as if Defendants had been served on the date that the waiver is filed, 19 except that pursuant to Rule 12(a)(1)(B), Defendants will not be required to serve and file 20 an answer before sixty (60) days from the day on which the request for waiver was sent. 21 (This allows a longer time to respond than would be required if formal service of summons 22 is necessary.) Defendants are asked to read the statement set forth at the foot of the waiver 23 form that more completely describes the duties of the parties with regard to waiver of 24 service of the summons. If service is waived after the date provided in the Notice but 25 before Defendants have been personally served, the Answer shall be due sixty (60) days 26 from the date on which the request for waiver was sent or twenty (20) days from the date 1 the waiver form is filed, whichever is later. 2 3. No later than ninety-one (91) days from the date this order is filed, 3 Defendants shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion with 4 respect to the claims in the amended complaint found to be cognizable above. 5 a. Any motion for summary judgment shall be supported by adequate 6 factual documentation and shall conform in all respects to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of 7 Civil Procedure. Defendants are advised that summary judgment cannot be granted, nor 8 qualified immunity found, if material facts are in dispute. If any Defendant is of the 9 opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment, he shall so inform the 10 Court prior to the date the summary judgment motion is due. 11 b. In the event Defendants file a motion for summary judgment, the 12 Ninth Circuit has held that Plaintiff must be concurrently provided the appropriate 13 warnings under Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 963 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). See 14 Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 940 (9th Cir. 2012). 15 4. Plaintiff’s opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the Court 16 and served on Defendants no later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date Defendants’ 17 motion is filed. 18 Plaintiff is also advised to read Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 19 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) (holding party opposing summary judgment 20 must come forward with evidence showing triable issues of material fact on every essential 21 element of his claim). Plaintiff is cautioned that failure to file an opposition to 22 Defendants’ motion for summary judgment may be deemed to be a consent by Plaintiff to 23 the granting of the motion, and granting of judgment against Plaintiff without a trial. See 24 Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53–54 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam); Brydges v. Lewis, 18 25 F.3d 651, 653 (9th Cir. 1994). 26 5. Defendants shall file a reply brief no later than fourteen (14) days after 1 6. The motion shall be deemed submitted as of the date the reply brief is due. 2 || No hearing will be held on the motion unless the Court so orders at a later date. 3 7. All communications by the Plaintiff with the Court must be served on 4 || Defendants, or Defendants’ counsel once counsel has been designated, by mailing a true 5 || copy of the document to Defendants or Defendants’ counsel. 6 8. Discovery may be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil 7 || Procedure. No further court order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(a)(2) or Local 8 || Rule 16-1 is required before the parties may conduct discovery. 9 9. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the 10 || court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court’s orders in a 11 || timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to 22 prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 5 13 10. Extensions of time must be filed no later than the deadline sought to be S 14 || extended and must be accompanied by a showing of good cause. 15 IT IS SO ORDERED. A 16 || Dated: __ October 20, 2020 fede Lye frcessen/ 5 BETH ABS N A EEMAN = United States District Judge Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 PRO.SEIBLFICR 20\03086Khan_sve 26 27