Swanson v. County of Contra Costa ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 JESSE SWANSON, Case No. 21-cv-06419-JST 8 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 9 v. DISMISS; DENYING LEAVE TO FILE THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT; 10 JESSICA STANDISH, et al., DENYING AS MOOT DEFENDANTS’ REQUEST TO STRIKE; ADDRESSING 11 Defendants. MISCELLANEOUS FILINGS 12 Re: ECF Nos. 51, 58, 59, 61-64 13 14 Plaintiff, a pretrial detainee housed at Martinez Detention Facility, has filed this pro se 15 action. This order addresses the following pleadings: (1) Defendants’ motion to dismiss the 16 second amended complaint, ECF No. 51; (2) Plaintiff’s proposed third amended complaint, ECF 17 No. 62; (3) Defendants’ motion to strike the proposed third amended complaint, ECF No. 63; 18 (4) Plaintiff’s letters docketed on March 8 and March 13, 2024, ECF Nos. 58, 59; (5) Jodie Dye- 19 Jones’ request that Plaintiff be appointed counsel, ECF No. 61. 20 DISCUSSION 21 I. Procedural Background 22 Plaintiff commenced this pro se action by filing a complaint alleging that the medical 23 treatment provided by Contra Costa County, Contra Costa County doctor Jessica Standish, and 24 Contra Costa County doctor Elizabeth Hollandberry for his bloody bowel movements violated the 25 Fourteenth Amendment’s prohibition on deliberate indifference to a pretrial detainee’s serious 26 medical needs, the Bane Act, and the obligation to summon medical care set forth in Cal. Gov’t 27 Code § 845.6; and also constituted state-law negligence. The complaint also alleged that the water 1 high levels of acid. See generally ECF No. 1. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. 2 ECF No. 17. The Court granted in part and denied in part the motion to dismiss in a reasoned 3 order. The Court dismissed the negligence claim against Contra Costa County with prejudice, and 4 dismissed the Cal. Gov’t Code § 845.6 claim, the Fourteenth Amendment claim, the Bane Act 5 claim, and the Monell claim with leave to amend. The Court declined to exercise supplemental 6 jurisdiction over the sole remaining state-law negligence claim because, with the dismissal of the 7 Fourteenth Amendment claim, the Court had dismissed all claims over which it had original 8 jurisdiction. ECF No. 25. 9 Plaintiff filed an amended complaint. ECF No. 28. The amended complaint again named 10 as defendants the County of Contra Costa, Contra Costa County doctor Jessica Standish, and 11 Contra Costa County doctor Elizabeth Hollandberry. The amended complaint also named as 12 defendants fifteen Contra Costa County nurses, providing just their first names: Stephanie, Jackie, 13 Malora, Andrea, Severa, Lizelle, Samira, Kurjinder, Valerie, Karima, Mark, Megan, Dan, Jen, and 14 Gabriel. The amended complaint set forth the following four claims for relief. First, defendants 15 Standish, Hollandberry, and Contra Costa County were deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s 16 serious medical needs, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, when defendants Standish and 17 Hollandberry failed to provide medication or fluids to treat his bloody stools and when they 18 rescheduled his colonoscopy because he did not finish the GoLytely; when defendant 19 Hollandberry attempted to inflict medical torture on Plaintiff by insisting that he drink two gallons 20 of GoLytely; and when Contra Costa County jail medical staff failed to check his vitals or offer 21 fluids when he reported having bloody stools. Second, defendants Contra Costa County, Standish, 22 Hollandberry, and jail medical staff used threats, intimidate, and coercion to interfere with 23 Plaintiff’s state and federal constitutional rights and with state law, in violation of the Bane Act, 24 Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1, when they demanded that Plaintiff drink two gallons of GoLytely prior to 25 his colonoscopy even though he was already having clear bowel movements and when they took 26 away his colonoscopy when he failed to do so. Third, defendants Contra Costa County, Standish, 27 Hollandberry, and jail medical staff violated their duty to summon medical care, as required by 1 bleeding by summoning medical or offering emergency care. Fourth, defendants Contra Costa 2 County, CNA Mark, nurse Megan, and Dr. Brett Curtis denied him access to the courts, in 3 violation of the First Amendment, when they altered his medical records and contaminated his 4 medication in an attempt to portray Plaintiff as a drug addict with previous rectal bleeding issues. 5 See generally ECF No. 28. 6 Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. The Court granted the 7 motion to dismiss as follows. The Court dismissed Contra Costa County with prejudice because 8 the amended complaint again failed to set forth allegations from which it could be reasonably 9 inferred that the alleged violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights resulted from a Contra Costa 10 County policy, practice, or custom. The Court dismissed the Bane Act claim with prejudice 11 because the amended complaint’s allegations failed to state the elements of a Bane Act claim: the 12 claim that Plaintiff’s colonoscopy was cancelled because Plaintiff did not comply with the 13 colonoscopy preparation instructions was not a violent act; Plaintiff ultimately received the 14 colonoscopy; and the three-week delay in receiving the colonoscopy did not harm Plaintiff. The 15 Court dismissed the Cal. Gov’t Code § 845.6 claim with prejudice because the amended complaint 16 challenged the manner in which care was provided, which is outside the scope of Section 845.6. 17 The Court dismissed the denial of access to the courts claim with prejudice because the amended 18 complaint did not allege, and could not establish, actual injury. The Court dismissed the 19 Fourteenth Amendment claim with leave to amend, identifying the following deficiencies in the 20 claim: 21 As an initial matter, it is unclear what injury Plaintiff has suffered. The amended complaint implies that the injury suffered is Plaintiff’s 22 ulcerative colitis, yet it is unclear how failure to offer medication and/or fluids, failure to check Plaintiff’s vitals, and rescheduling 23 Plaintiff’s colonoscopy by three weeks caused the ulcerative colitis. Plaintiff has not identified a medication that treats ulcerative colitis 24 or plausibly alleged how fluids would prevent or address ulcerative colitis. 25 The amended complaint’s allegation that defendants Standish and 26 Hollandberry failed to provide/prescribe medication and fluids fails to state a cognizable Fourteenth Amendment claim. The amended 27 complaint does not explain how these failures put Plaintiff at a high bleeding; or how fluids would address ulcerative colitis or otherwise 1 address/resolve the internal bleeding. It is also unclear what is meant by providing fluids, i.e., if Plaintiff believes that he required 2 more fluids than he could access at the jail. And it is unclear how not providing fluids put Plaintiff at a high degree of risk of suffering 3 serious harm. 4 The allegation that defendant Hollandberry attempted to inflict medical torture on Plaintiff by insisting that he drink two gallons of 5 GoLytely also fails to state a Fourteenth Amendment claim. There is no allegation from which it can be reasonably inferred that 6 drinking two gallons of GoLytely would put Plaintiff at substantial risk of suffering serious harm. Plaintiff describes having severe 7 abdominal pain from drinking GoLytely, and states that the directions stated that Plaintiff could stop drinking the GoLytely after 8 he had watery stool without solid matter. However, there is no allegation that defendant Hollandberry knew that drinking more of 9 the GoLytely than was listed on the instructions would put Plaintiff at substantial risk of suffering serious harm. Nor was Defendant 10 Hollandberry present when Plaintiff was experiencing severe abdominal pain. It was nurses Stephanie, Gabriel, Jen, and Dan who 11 insisted that Plaintiff fulfill defendant Hollandberry’s instructions despite his complaints of pain. Finally, it is unclear how defendant 12 Hollandberry’s instructions caused him injury beyond the abdominal pain. 13 The Fourteenth Amendment claim against defendant nurses Jackie, 14 Malora, Andrea, Severa, Lizelle, Samira and Kurjinder also fails as a matter of law. Failing to check Plaintiff’s vitals or offer him fluids 15 did not put Plaintiff at serious risk of substantial harm. Plaintiff’s vitals would not have put medical staff on notice of Plaintiff’s 16 ulcerative colitis. To the extent that Plaintiff was at risk of dehydration from his bloody diarrhea, the dehydration alleged did 17 not pose a substantial risk of serious harm to Plaintiff and it does not appear that Plaintiff needed fluids in addition to what he could 18 access at the jail. 19 ECF No. 41 at 9-10. The Court granted Plaintiff leave to amend the Fourteenth Amendment claim 20 to address the identified deficiencies. Id. 21 II. Second Amended Complaint 22 The second amended complaint (“SAC”) again names as defendants Contra Costa County 23 doctors Jessica Standish and Elizabeth Hollandberry, and the fifteen Contra Costa County nurses 24 named in the amended complaint, providing just their first names: Stephanie, Jackie, Malora, 25 Andrea, Severa, Lizelle, Samira, Kurjinder, Valerie, Karima, Mark, Megan, Dan, Jen, and Gabriel. 26 In the body of the SAC, the SAC also names Dr. Brett Curtis and Dr. Lili Wang as defendants. 27 A. Factual Allegations 1 Martinez Detention Facility, Plaintiff began to have frequent bloody diarrhea and rectal bleeding. 2 Plaintiff informed jail medical staff of his condition and was told to keep medical staff updated if 3 his condition worsened. For the next month, Plaintiff unsuccessfully attempted to get help from 4 the jail medical staff. 5 In May 2020, defendant Standish conducted an anal examination, determined that 6 Plaintiff’s bleeding was internal, and did not prescribe any medications. 7 On May 26, June 2, and June 29, Plaintiff was taken to the Contra Costa Regional Medical 8 Center (“CCRMC”), where he was examined by Dr. Lili Wang. Dr. Wang diagnosed Plaintiff 9 with liver disease, and informed him that chronic bloody diarrhea is normal with aging. Dr. Wang 10 did not prescribe any medications. 11 On May 24, 2020, custody staff notified defendant Jackie that Plaintiff had reported rectal 12 bleeding and she did not respond. In June 2020, on six occasions, Plaintiff asked the custodial 13 deputies to contact the MDF medical department “for any kind of medical assistance.” On all six 14 occasions, the medical staff never responded. Specifically, defendant Malora did not respond on 15 June 2, 2020; defendant Andrea did not respond on June 3, 2020; defendant Severa did not 16 respond on June 5, 2020; defendant Lizelle did not respond on June 9, 2020; defendant Samira did 17 not respond on June 11, 2020; and defendant Kurjinder did not respond on June 24, 2020. 18 In late June 2020, defendant Hollandberry dismissed Plaintiff’s condition as hemorrhoids 19 without examining him. Around that same time, Plaintiff was advised that he was scheduled for a 20 colonoscopy on July 6, 2020. To prepare for the colonoscopy, Plaintiff was put on a liquid diet 21 and instructed to drink two gallons of GoLytely, a powerful laxative. During the time that 22 Plaintiff was preparing for his colonoscopy, several deputies advised Plaintiff that drinking two 23 gallons of GoLytely was too much to consume to prepare for a colonoscopy. Several inmates who 24 read the GoLytely instructions advised Plaintiff that GoLytely consumption should stop when the 25 user defecates clear watery fluid. After finishing about a gallon of GoLytely, Plaintiff “believes 26 he developed clear watery stool.” On July 5, 2020, Plaintiff was visited by defendants Stephanie, 27 Gabriel, Jen and Dan, all of whom asked Plaintiff if he had finished two gallons of GoLytely. 1 GoLytely was causing him severe abdominal pain and he already had clear watery fluid. These 2 defendants advised Plaintiff that his colonoscopy would be cancelled if he did not finish all two 3 gallons. Plaintiff did not finish the required two gallons and his colonoscopy was cancelled. 4 In mid-July 2020, custody staff intervened and got Plaintiff a colonoscopy. On July 30, 5 2020, Plaintiff underwent a colonoscopy and six biopsies. The attending physician, Dr. Thomas 6 Hargrave, diagnosed Plaintiff with ulcerative colitis, and prescribed him a daily enema for ten 7 days and 4.8 grams Mesalamine daily. Dr. Hargrave stated that Plaintiff’s condition could have 8 been prevented with Maalox. 9 In August 2020, Plaintiff was moved to West County Detention Facility (“WCDF”), 10 Building 4. At WCDF, Plaintiff experienced deliberately indifferent medical treatment as follows. 11 On February 8, 2021, defendant Valerie told Plaintiff that she did not file his medical request in 12 his booking file because she was in charge of filing whatever she wanted in Plaintiff’s booking 13 file. Deputy Cain informed defendant Valerie that this inaction violated department policy which 14 required that all medical requests be recorded in an inmate’s file. On March 22, 2021, defendant 15 Karima changed the categorization of Plaintiff’s grievance to a request, which prevented the 16 grievance from being reviewed by a supervisor. On April 10, 2021, when distributing medication, 17 defendant Mark brought Plaintiff his enema bottle in a bag that also contained Subutex and was 18 labeled with the name “Simon J.,” which is the name of an inmate housed in Building 8. On April 19 18, 2021, defendant Megan dumped medical waste from other inmates in the bag that contained 20 Plaintiff’s medication, and snatched the bag back from Plaintiff when she realized that Deputy 21 Allen was observing her. 22 Upon obtaining his medical file, Plaintiff learned that defendant Curtis has made a false 23 entry in his file. Specifically, defendant Curtis falsely reported that Plaintiff had disclosed 24 stomach problems to doctors at Stanford University and Marin General Hospital. Defendant 25 Curtis’s action was an indication that WCDF medical staff are conscious of their guilt in failing to 26 provide Plaintiff with appropriate medical care because Defendant Curtis’ action was an attempt 27 “to create the appear that [Plaintiff] was a drug addict whose lifestyle led to his illness” and “to 1 B. Legal Cause of Action 2 The SAC alleges the following actions and inactions violated the Fourteenth Amendment 3 because they were deliberate decisions that resulted in Plaintiff’s condition “progress[ing] 4 unnecessarily”: (1) Defendants failed to respond to Plaintiff’s request for medical assistance over a 5 month-long period in April through May 2020; (2) defendants Standish, Hollandberry and Wang 6 failed to prescribe medication; and (3) “non-responses by the other medical staff.” ECF No. 50 at 7 10. Specifically, Defendants could have slowed the progression of Plaintiff’s ulcerative colitis by 8 “prioritizing [Plaintiff’s] illness for treatment;” and their failure to “prioritize [Plaintiff’s] chronic 9 bloody diarrhea diagnosis and treatment” resulted in Plaintiff’s ulcerative colitis progressing to an 10 unnecessary advanced stage, and leaving him at greater risk for other diseases. ECF No. 50 at 11. 11 Plaintiff seeks a declaration that Defendants violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to medical 12 care; a declaration that the creation of a false medical record violated Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 13 § 2266; compensatory and punitive damages for Plaintiff’s physical and emotional damages; and 14 any other relief deemed appropriate. ECF No. 50 at 12-13. 15 III. Motion to Dismiss 16 A. Legal Standard 17 A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of a complaint. See 18 Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir. 2001). Under the “notice pleading” standard of the 19 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a complaint must provide a short and plain statement of the 20 plaintiff’s claims showing entitlement to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); see also Paulsen v. CNF, 21 Inc., 559 F.3d 1061, 1071 (9th Cir. 2009). 22 “[A] court may dismiss a complaint as a matter of law for (1) lack of cognizable legal 23 theory or (2) insufficient facts under a cognizable legal claim.” SmileCare Dental Grp. v. Delta 24 Dental Plan of Cal., 88 F.3d 780, 783 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted). However, a complaint 25 will survive a motion to dismiss if it contains “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is 26 plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). 27 In making this determination, a court reviews the contents of the complaint, accepting all 1 See Cedars-Sinai Med. Ctr. v. Nat’l League of Postmasters of U.S., 497 F.3d 972, 975 (9th Cir. 2 2007). Notwithstanding this deference, the reviewing court need not accept as true conclusory 3 allegations that are contradicted by documents referred to in the complaint, Paulsen, 559 F.3d at 4 1071, and need not accept as true legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations, see 5 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). A claim does not suffice if it tenders only “‘naked 6 assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.’” Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 7 550 U.S. at 557). “In sum, for a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss, the non-conclusory 8 factual content, and reasonable inferences from that content, must be plausibly suggestive of a 9 claim entitling the plaintiff to relief.” Moss v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009) 10 (quotations and citation omitted). 11 A court is justified in denying leave to amend when a plaintiff “repeated[ly] fail[s] to cure 12 deficiencies by amendments previously allowed.” Carvalho v. Equifax Info. Servs., LLC, 629 13 F.3d 876, 892 (9th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Indeed, a “district 14 court’s discretion to deny leave to amend is particularly broad where plaintiff has previously 15 amended the complaint.” Cafasso, U.S. ex rel. v. Gen. Dynamics C4 Sys., Inc., 637 F.3d 1047, 16 1058 (9th Cir. 2011) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 17 In ruling on a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b), the court “may generally 18 consider only allegations contained in the pleadings, exhibits attached to the complaint, and 19 matters properly subject to judicial notice.” Outdoor Media Group, Inc. v. City of Beaumont, 506 20 F.3d 895, 899 (9th Cir. 2007) (citation and quotation marks omitted). 21 B. Parties’ Briefing 22 Defendants allege that the second amended complaint fails to plead a Fourteenth 23 Amendment claim for the following reasons. First, Defendants argue that the second amended 24 complaint repeats allegations made in prior complaints that the Court has already found fail to 25 state a claim for deliberate indifference under the Fourteenth Amendment. Second, Defendants 26 argue that Plaintiff’s claim that he was denied care in April and May 2020 is contradicted by the 27 allegations in the SAC that indicate that he was provided care during that time period. 1 defendant Standish examined Plaintiff in May and concluded that Plaintiff’s bleeding was internal; 2 Plaintiff was seen at Contra Costa County Medical Center on May 26, June 2, and June 29, 2020 3 for medical evaluation; and Plaintiff was scheduled for a July 6, 2020 colonoscopy. Third, 4 Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s claim that defendants Standish and Hollandberry failed to 5 prescribe him medication fails to address the deficiencies identified by the Court in dismissing the 6 amended complaint, namely what medication was needed to address Plaintiff’s condition. Fourth, 7 Defendants argue that the SAC fails to state a claim against defendant Standish for her 8 examination and diagnosis of internal bleeding, as the diagnosis was correct and Plaintiff was 9 scheduled for a colonoscopy soon after being seen by defendant Standish. Fourth, Defendants 10 argue that defendant nurses Jackie, Malora, Andrea, Severa, Lizelle, Samira, and Kurjinder’s 11 alleged failure to respond to Plaintiff’s requests for medical attention in May and June 2020 fails 12 to state a Fourteenth Amendment claim because Plaintiff was receiving other medical treatment 13 for his colon issue and had already been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Fifth, Defendants argue 14 that the allegations that defendant nurse Valerie did not file a medical request in his booking file, 15 that defendant nurse Mark brought Plaintiff an enema bottle in a big that contained Subetex, and 16 that defendant nurse Megan dumped medical waste in the bag containing Plaintiff’s medication 17 fail to state Fourteenth Amendment claims because Plaintiff does not allege how these actions 18 substantially increased Plaintiff’s risk for ulcerative colitis or risk for harm. Sixth, Defendants 19 argue that the allegation that nurses Stephanie, Gabriel, Jen and Dan told Plaintiff to finish two 20 liters of GoLytely fails to state a Fourteenth Amendment claim because the Court has previously 21 found that there is no allegation from which it can be reasonably inferred that drinking two gallons 22 of GoLytely would put Plaintiff at substantial risk of suffering serious harm. See generally ECF 23 No. 51. 24 In his 2-page opposition, Plaintiff argues that not receiving medication constitutes a lack of 25 treatment. He also provides the name and badge number of deputies that he states can testify as to 26 the defendants’ behavior, and states that his account of the relevant events is corroborated by the 27 deputies’ incident reports, referred to as “Red Book Notes.” Plaintiff attaches to his opposition a 1 Finally, he argues that Defendants would consider it deliberate indifference if, for three-and-a-half 2 months, a doctor refused to provide treatment to a family member experiencing rectal bleeding. 3 Plaintiff attaches to his opposition the referenced article and “Red Book Notes” wherein deputies 4 recorded each time Plaintiff reported having rectal bleeding, and reporting that the deputies 5 notified nurses of Plaintiff’s reports. See generally ECF No. 53. 6 In response, Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s opposition consists of two arguments – that 7 the facts alleged in his SAC are true and that not receiving medication is a lack of treatment – and 8 that Plaintiff has otherwise failed to oppose the arguments and assertions in the motion to dismiss. 9 Defendants argue that the failure to oppose constitutes a waiver or abandonment of these issues, 10 warranting dismissal of these claims. Defendants argue that the Court must disregard the 11 attachments to the opposition because, on a motion to dismiss, the Court is limited to considering 12 the allegations in the pleadings, the complaint and attached exhibits, and matters properly subject 13 to judicial notice. See generally ECF No. 55. 14 C. Analysis 15 When a pretrial detainee challenges conditions of his confinement, the proper inquiry is 16 whether the conditions amount to punishment in violation of the Due Process Clause of the 17 Fourteenth Amendment. See Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 n.16 (1979). To prevail on a 18 claim that a prison official is deliberately indifferent to a pretrial detainee’s safety, the detainee 19 must show that (1) the prison official made an intentional decision with respect to the conditions 20 under which the pretrial detainee was confined; (2) those conditions put the pretrial detainee at 21 substantial risk of suffering serious harm; (3) the prison official did not take reasonable available 22 measures to abate that risk, even though a reasonable official in the circumstances would have 23 appreciated the high degree of risk involved—making the consequences of the prison official’s 24 conduct obvious; and (4) by not taking such measures, the prison official caused the pretrial 25 detainee’s injuries. Gordon v. Cty. of Orange, 888 F.3d 1118, 1124-35 (9th Cir. 2018). With 26 respect to the third element, the prison official’s conduct must be objectively unreasonable, a test 27 that will necessarily turn on the facts and circumstances of each particular case. Id. at 1125. “The 1 words, the pretrial detainee must “prove more than negligence but less than subjective intent— 2 something akin to reckless disregard.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 3 Applying this legal standard, the Court finds that the second amended complaint again fails to 4 state a claim for relief for the following reasons. 5 1. Fourteenth Amendment Violation 6 The SAC alleges the following actions and inactions violated the Fourteenth Amendment: 7 Defendants failed to respond to Plaintiff’s request for medical assistance over a month-long period 8 in April through May 2020, presumably when defendants Jackie, Malora, Andrea, Severa, Lizelle, 9 Samira, and Kurjinder each did not respond on a single occasion to a request for “any kind of 10 medical assistance;” defendants Standish and Wang failed to prescribe Plaintiff medications; and 11 “non-responses by other medical staff.” 12 In screening the prior complaints, the Court repeatedly found that vague allegations 13 regarding a need for “medication” or “medical treatment” do not state Fourteenth Amendment 14 violations because it is unclear what medication or medical treatment was needed but not 15 provided. ECF Nos. 25, 41. There are no allegations from which it can be reasonably inferred 16 that failing to provide unspecified medical attention or medication caused Plaintiff’s ulcerative 17 colitis to progress unnecessarily. 18 The SAC again fails to identify the medical assistance or medication that was needed but 19 not provided that would have prevented Plaintiff’s ulcerative colitis from progressing, and the 20 Court is unaware of any medical treatment that prevents ulcerative colitis from progressing. The 21 SAC claims that the medical community knows that ulcerative colitis progression but can be 22 slowed, and cites to a medical study in support this claim. ECF No. 50 at 14. However, this study 23 does not support Plaintiff’s claim. Plaintiff incorrectly cites the title as “Early Intervention in 24 Ulcerative Colitis Is Ready for Primetime.” ECF No. 50 at 14. Rather, the study is titled “Early 25 Intervention in Ulcerative Colitis: Ready for Prime Time?” and “summarize[s] the literature 26 evidence on early intervention in patients with [ulcerative colitis], highlighting strengths and 27 limitations of this approach,” ultimately concluding that that the “available evidence does not 1 http://mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/8/2646 (permalink at https://perma.cc/PXA5-WEDP) (last visited 2 August 25, 2024) (emphasis added). Moreover, this article explores whether there is evidence 3 supporting the use of early biologic interview in patients with ulcerative colitis. Given that 4 Plaintiff was not diagnosed with ulcerative colitis until July 30, 2020, a reasonable official in 5 Defendants’ positions could not have known that they should have taken actions, including 6 biologics, to slow the progression of Plaintiff’s ulcerative colitis during the May through July 7 2020 time period. In addition, the SAC acknowledges that Plaintiff was provided medical 8 treatment promptly after he reported bloody diarrhea in mid-April 2020: Plaintiff was seen by 9 physicians twice in May 2020 and three times in June 2020; had a colonoscopy scheduled for 10 early July 2020; and was monitored regularly by deputies and nurses. 11 Defendants Jackie, Malora, Andrea, Severa, Lizelle, Samira, and Kurjinder. The 12 Court cannot reasonably infer from the SAC’s allegations that defendants Jackie, Malora, Andrea, 13 Severa, Lizelle, Samira, and Kurjinder knew that failing to respond on a single occasion to 14 Plaintiff’s report of rectal bleeding put Plaintiff at substantial risk of suffering serious harm. 15 Plaintiff’s rectal bleeding was an ongoing problem that he reported to medical staff via deputies 16 multiple times a day, and Plaintiff was receiving medical treatment for the rectal bleeding 17 (although not the type of medical treatment he thinks was needed).1 And, as discussed above, 18 Plaintiff has not identified what medical attention was needed and not provided, and the record 19 indicates that Plaintiff was receiving medical treatment for his reports of bloody diarrhea, albeit 20 not at the pace or in the manner he believes would have been appropriate. 21 Defendants Hollandberry and Wang. Defendants Hollandberry and Wang’s failure to 22 prescribe medication to Plaintiff during the April through June 2020 period does not state a 23 Fourteenth Amendment claim. Plaintiff does not specify what medication was needed, and the 24 article he cites finds that there is no evidence supporting early intervention with biologics for 25 ulcerative colitis patients. And, as discussed above, the record indicates that Plaintiff was 26 1 The medical records that Plaintiff attached as exhibits to his first amended complaint indicate 27 Plaintiff had rectal bleeding on a near daily basis, and sometimes multiple times a day, and that he 1 receiving medical treatment for his reports of bloody diarrhea, albeit not at the pace or in the 2 manner he believes would have been appropriate. 3 Defendants Stephanie, Gabriel, Jen and Dan. The allegation that defendants Stephanie, 4 Gabriel, Jen, and Dan insisted that Plaintiff finish two gallons of GoLytely in order to proceed 5 with his July 6, 2020 colonoscopy does not state a Fourteenth Amendment claim. The Court has 6 previously found that there is no allegation from which it can be reasonably inferred that drinking 7 two gallons of GoLytely would put Plaintiff at substantial risk of serious harm. ECF No. 41 at 10. 8 Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES the claims against MDF nurses Stephanie, Gabriel, Jen, and 9 Dan. These claims are DISMISSED with prejudice as Plaintiff has repeatedly failed to cure 10 deficiencies by amendments previously allowed. 11 Defendants Valerie and Karima. The allegations that defendant Valerie refused to file a 12 medical request in a booking file as required by department policy and that defendant Karima 13 changing the categorization of Plaintiff’s grievance to a request so that Plaintiff’s grievance was 14 not reviewed by a superior officer fail to state a Fourteenth Amendment claim for the following 15 reasons. First, there are no facts alleged from which it can be reasonably inferred that these 16 actions put Plaintiff at substantial risk for serious harm. Second, the failure to abide by jail 17 regulations does not support a claim under section 1983, as Section 1983 only provides a cause of 18 action for the deprivation of federally protected rights. Cf. Barrios v. Torres, No. 1:20-CV-01234- 19 ADA-CDB (PC), 2023 WL 2696657, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 29, 2023) (collecting cases that hold 20 that failure to abide by statute statutes or prison regulations does not state claim under Section 21 1983). Third, to the extent that Plaintiff was denied access to the prison grievance system due to 22 defendant Karima’s action, this fails to state a Section 1983 claim because a prisoner has no 23 constitutional right to an effective grievance or appeal procedure. See Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 24 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding that prisoner has no constitutional right to effective 25 grievance or appeal procedure); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988) (“There is no 26 legitimate claim of entitlement to a grievance procedure.”). Fourth, these claims violate the 27 joinder rule set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2) provides that all persons 1 jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, 2 occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences; and (B) any question of law or fact common 3 to all defendants will arise in the action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). The upshot of these rules is 4 that “multiple claims against a single party are fine, but Claim A against Defendant 1 should not 5 be joined with unrelated Claim B against Defendant 2.” George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th 6 Cir. 2007). The claims against defendants WCDF nurses Valerie and Karima arise out of different 7 occurrences than the alleged denial of medical care by the MDF defendants for Plaintiff’s 8 ulcerative colitis. 9 Defendants Mark and Megan. The allegations that WCDF nurse Mark brought Plaintiff 10 his enema bottle in a bag that contained Subetex and appeared to be intended for another inmate, 11 and that WCDF nurse Megan dumped medical waste in a bag that contained Plaintiff’s 12 medication, fail to state a Fourteenth Amendment violation for the following reasons. First, there 13 are no facts alleged from which it can be reasonably inferred that these actions put Plaintiff at 14 substantial risk for serious harm. Second, Plaintiff has not alleged that these actions caused him 15 injury. Third, these claims violate the joinder rule set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2) as these 16 claims arise out of different occurrences than the alleged denial of medical care by the MDF 17 defendants for Plaintiff’s ulcerative colitis. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES the claims 18 against WCDF nurses Mark and Megan. 19 Defendant Curtis. With respect to the claim against defendant Curtis, the Court 20 DISMISSES this claim with prejudice. As the Court noted in its order dismissing the amended 21 complaint, defendant doctor Curtis treated Plaintiff in January 2014, over seven years before 22 Plaintiff commenced this action. ECF No. 41 at 16 (citing to ECF No. 28 at 39). Even assuming 23 arguendo that, in 2014, defendant Curtis deliberately falsified his report of his examination of 24 Plaintiff, it is unclear how this false statement exposed Plaintiff to a substantial risk of serious 25 harm in 2020, and how such an incident is related to the alleged failure to treat Plaintiff’s 26 ulcerative colitis while at MDF from May to July 2020. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES the 27 claims against WCDF doctor Brett Curtis. 1 contention, devoid of specifics, that he should have been provided with more medical treatment at 2 a faster pace states, at most, a difference of opinion between a prisoner-patient and prison medical 3 authorities regarding medical treatment, which does not give rise to a Section 1983 claim. 4 Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981). The Court GRANTS Defendants’ 5 motion to dismiss the Fourteenth Amendment claims. This dismissal is with prejudice, as Plaintiff 6 has repeatedly failed to cure deficiencies by previously-allowed amendments. 7 2. State-Law Claim 8 With the dismissal of the Fourteenth Amendment claim, the only claim remaining in this 9 action is the state-law claim that defendant Curtis violated Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2266 by 10 creating a false medical record. The Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over this 11 claim because the Court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction. See 12 Sanford v. MemberWorks, Inc., 625 F.3d 550, 561 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3)) 13 (citation omitted) (original brackets) (“[I]n the usual case in which all federal-law claims are 14 eliminated before trial, the balance of factors to be considered under the pendent jurisdiction 15 doctrine—judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity—will point toward declining to 16 exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims.”).2 17 IV. Plaintiff’s Request for Leave to File Third Amended Complaint (ECF No. 62) and Defendants’ Request to Strike ECF No. 62 (ECF No. 63) 18 19 Plaintiff has filed a complaint at ECF No. 62, which the Court construes as requesting 20 leave to file a third amended complaint.3 Dkt. No. 62. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a) is to be applied 21 liberally in favor of amendments and, in general, leave shall be freely given when justice so 22 23 2 In addition, the Court notes that this claim likely fails as a matter of law. Violations of the Medical Practice Act, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2000 et seq. are enforced by the Medical Board of 24 California. To the extent that Plaintiff believes that defendant Curtis has violated the Medical Practice Act, he should file a complaint with the Medical Board of California. 25 3 Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a), a party may amend its pleading once as a matter of course no later than 21 days after serving it, or if the pleading is one to which a responsive pleading is 26 required, 21 days after service of a responsive pleading or 21 days after service of a motion under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f), whichever is earlier. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1). However, in all other cases, 27 a party may amend its pleading only with the opposing party’s written consent or the court's leave. 1 requires. See Janicki Logging Co. v. Mateer, 42 F.3d 561, 566 (9th Cir. 1994). However, “a 2 district court need not grant leave to amend where the amendment: (1) prejudices the opposing 3 party; (2) is sought in bad faith; (3) produces an undue delay in litigation; or (4) is futile.” 4 AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysist West, Inc., 465 F.3d 946, 951 (9th Cir. 2006). The Court 5 DENIES Plaintiff leave to file the proposed amended complaint because it fails to address the 6 deficiencies identified above and seeks to raise new claims that should be filed in a separate 7 action. 8 In the proposed third amended complaint, Plaintiff again sues defendants Standish and 9 Hollandberry, and names new defendants Martinez Detention Facility, West County Detention 10 Facility, Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston, and Contra Costa County Institution. 11 Plaintiff also seeks to add a co-plaintiff, inmate Scott Briar Collier, inmate number 2418510, in 12 this proposed third amended complaint. Dkt. No. 62 at 2. The proposed third amended complaint 13 makes the general allegation that he has been denied proper medical treatment by defendants 14 Standish, Hollandberry, and “all nurses from Contra Costa County institutional medical staff;” that 15 he has been bleeding for three years from his colon, which is “a failure of medical malpractice and 16 also with phycological (sic) and physical pain and suffering which violates my constitutional 17 rights;” and that the jail’s use of a new mail system, Pigeonly, whereby inmates receive non-legal 18 mail electronically, violated his right to confidentially receive legal mail and P.C. 3999.9. ECF 19 No. 62 at 2-3. In a letter attached to the proposed third amended complaint, Plaintiff also alleges 20 that deputies have been threatened with losing their jobs should they assist him in printing out 21 “Red Book notes/documents.” ECF No. 62 at 4-6. Plaintiff also requests that the Court forward 22 all the pleadings he has filed in this action to “appeal’s judge’s.” 23 The proposed third amended complaint suffers from numerous deficiencies. First, to the 24 extent that Plaintiff is raising claims regarding the failure to treat his ulcerative colitis or 25 rectal/colon bleeding during the May to July 2020 period, the Court has already dismissed these 26 claims with prejudice for the reasons set forth above. Second, the proposed third amended 27 complaint is vague and conclusory. It does not specify what each individual did (or did not do) 1 denied proper medical treatment or suffered medical malpractice is insufficient to give a defendant 2 fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests, as is required by Fed. R. Civ. 3 P. 8. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (citations omitted). Third, the proposed third 4 amended complaint violates the joinder rule set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2) because the 5 claims based on inadequate medical treatment arise out of a separate series of occurrences from, 6 and do not share any question or law of fact common to, the claims regarding Plaintiff’s legal 7 mail. If Plaintiff seeks relief regarding Contra Costa County’s use of the Pigeonly mail service, he 8 must raise these claims in a separate action. 9 In light of the Court’s denial of Plaintiff’s request to file a third amended complaint, the 10 Court DENIES as moot Defendants’ motion to strike ECF No. 62. 11 V. Miscellaneous Filings (ECF Nos. 58, 59, 61, 64) 12 Plaintiff and his girlfriend have filed pleadings with the Court at ECF Nos. 58, 59, 61, 64. 13 In ECF Nos. 58, 59, Plaintiff reports that he has not received mail from the Court; asks whether he 14 will ever receive a trial or help; reports that he continues to experience rectal bleeding, will have to 15 take pills and use a rectal enema bottle daily for the rest of this life, and that doctors have told him 16 that the bleeding cannot be stopped; alleges that he was denied medical care and ignored for three- 17 and-a-half months; alleges that doctors are interfering with his mail and his grievances; states that 18 he is unwilling to sue the deputies because they are his witnesses; and states that he is only asking 19 for full medical and full dental for the rest of his life, not monetary damages. ECF Nos. 58, 59. 20 Plaintiff has attached to ECF No. 58 various inmate request forms that he has submitted to 21 deputies complaining about his condition, writeups of his interactions with medical staff, and 22 writeups regarding his belief that the medical care provided is inadequate. ECF No. 58. In ECF 23 No. 61, docketed on March 15, 2024, Plaintiff’s girlfriend, Jody Dye-Jones, who has submitted 24 numerous declarations to the Court in this action, requests that the Court appoint Plaintiff counsel 25 because Plaintiff’s situation satisfies the exceptional circumstances requirement for the following 26 reasons: attorney Andrew Chan Kim filled out paperwork for Plaintiff to proceed pro se in this 27 action without Plaintiff’s consent; Mr. Kim abandoned Plaintiff; Plaintiff is incapable of 1 understand how to present himself in this action; Plaintiff was formerly assisted by another inmate 2 who cannot assist Plaintiff any longer; Ms. Dye-Jones has contacted numerous attorneys and law 3 firms and been unable to find counsel to represent Plaintiff; Plaintiff would win this case if he 4 were represented by counsel; and others have successfully sued Contra Costa County for the 5 conduct of which Plaintiff complains. ECF No. 61. In ECF No. 64, Ms. Dye-Jones states that she 6 has sent Plaintiff three pieces of legal mail, all of which had been returned to her with the 7 instructions that they should be sent to Pigeonly, and stating that two of these mail pieces had been 8 opened. ECF No. 64. 9 The Court has found that Plaintiff’s claims regarding the medical treatment received for his 10 ulcerative colitis during the May to July 2020 time period fail to state a Fourteenth Amendment 11 violation. Plaintiff’s allegations in ECF Nos. 58 and 59 are similar to the allegations presented in 12 his complaints and do not change the Court’s analysis. In light of the Court’s dismissal of this 13 action with prejudice, any request for appointment of counsel is moot.4 If Plaintiff wishes to 14 pursue his claims regarding Contra Costa County’s mail policy and use of Pigeonly, Plaintiff must 15 file a separate action. The Clerk is directed to send Plaintiff two copies of the Court’s civil rights 16 complaint form. 17 CONCLUSION 18 For the reasons set forth above, the Court ORDERS as follows. 19 1. The Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss the second amended 20 complaint. ECF No. 51. 21 2. The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s request for leave to file a the proposed third 22 amended complaint docketed at ECF No. 62. ECF No. 62. If Plaintiff wishes to pursue his claims 23 regarding Contra Costa County’s mail policy and use of Pigeonly, Plaintiff must file a separate 24 action. The Clerk is directed to send Plaintiff two copies of the Court’s civil rights complaint 25 form. 26 3. The Court DENIES as moot Defendants’ motion to strike ECF No. 62. ECF No. 27 1 63. 2 4. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of Defendants and against Plaintiff, 3 terminate all pending motions as moot, and close the case. 4 This order terminates ECF Nos. 51, 62, 63. 5 IT IS SO ORDERED. ® 6 || Dated: August 26, 2024 7 JON S. TIGAR 8 nited States District Judge 9 10 11 12 13 © 15 16 = 17 Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28