Williams v. McCoy ( 2024 )

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 * * * 4 RONALD C. WILLIAMS, Case No. 3:22-CV-00376-CLB1 5 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 6 v. [ECF No. 64] 7 K. MCCOY, et al., 8 Defendants. 9 10 This case involves a civil rights action filed by Plaintiff Ronald C. Williams 11 (“Williams”) against Defendants Raphael Brice (“Brice”) and Steffen Moskoff (“Moskoff”) 12 (collectively referred to as “Defendants”). Currently pending before the Court is 13 Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (ECF Nos. 64, 66.)2 Williams opposed the 14 motion, (ECF No. 70), and Defendants replied, (ECF No. 71). For the reasons stated 15 below, the Court grants Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, (ECF No. 64). 16 I. BACKGROUND 17 A. Procedural History 18 Williams is in an inmate in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections 19 (“NDOC”). The events related to this case occurred while Williams was housed at the 20 Southern Desert Correctional Center (“SDCC”) and the Ely State Prison (“ESP”). 21 Pursuant to the Court’s screening order on Williams’s complaint, he is proceeding on a 22 single First Amendment retaliation claim against Defendants.3 (ECF No. 11.) 23 24 1 The parties consented to the undersigned’s jurisdiction to conduct all proceedings and order the entry of a final judgment in accordance with 28 U.S.C.§ 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73. (See ECF No. 35.) 25 2 ECF No. 66 consists of exhibits filed under seal in support of the motion for 26 summary judgment. 27 3 Williams was also permitted to proceed on two other claims against Doe Defendants, however those Does were never identified and therefore those claims cannot 1 On March 5, 2024, Defendants submitted a prior motion for summary judgment. 2 (ECF No. 48.) The motion for summary judgment was denied without prejudice, and a 3 new discovery period was opened during which Williams received unredacted copies of 4 exhibits submitted in support of the motion for summary judgment. (ECF Nos. 55, 61.) 5 Discovery closed on July 1, 2024, (ECF No. 61), and Defendants submitted the instant 6 renewed motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 64.) 7 B. Factual Summary 8 Williams’s complaint alleges that he engaged in protected conduct when he filed a 9 lawsuit and grievances. Williams alleges that Brice and Moskoff took adverse action when 10 they either changed his custody level for no valid reason, which resulted in him being 11 transferred to ESP, a maximum-security prison; repeatedly searched his property for no 12 valid reason, which resulted in false disciplinary charges, conviction, and loss of privileges 13 and good-time credits. Williams alleges that Brice and Moskoff engaged in adverse 14 conduct after he filed the action styled Williams v. Hutchings, 2:21-cv-00123-KJD-DJA. 15 The following facts are undisputed: On January 19, 2021, Williams filed a lawsuit, 16 Williams v. Hutchings, 2:21-cv-000123-KJD-DJA. (ECF No. 64-1.) Ultimately, the 17 operative complaint in that case was dismissed with prejudice, with no defendants having 18 been served. (Id.) Further, none of the Defendants in the instant case were named as 19 defendants in the prior case. (Id.) 20 According to a declaration filed in support of the motion for summary judgment by 21 Defendant Brice, Brice is a current employee of the NDOC and serves as a Correctional 22 Case Work Specialist 2 at SDCC. (ECF No. 64-2.) Brice states that during part of the time 23 relevant to the instant lawsuit, he was assigned case worker for Williams. (Id. at 3.) 24 Williams had been in administrative segregation and classified as close custody for a 25 Notice of Charges (or Offense in Custody) involving a weapon. (Id.) When the Notice of 26 proceed. 27 Williams also named W. George as a defendant; however, the Court dismissed all claims against him without prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) for failure to 1 Charges was dismissed, Brice participated in a classification/re-classification for Williams 2 resulting in a change from close custody to medium custody. (Id.) Specifically, on March 3 1, 2021, Brice recommended that Williams was “clear to return to SDCC/Med/GP level 3 4 pending disciplinary.” (Id.; ECF No. 66-1 at 25.) This means that once Williams had 5 resolved his pending disciplinary for a general infraction, he would be restored to medium 6 custody and returned to the general population. (ECF No. 64-2 at 3.) On March 1, 2021, 7 Williams was moved from Housing Unit 8, where Brice was assigned, to Housing Unit 1. 8 (Id.; ECF No. 64-3 at 5.) On March 2, 2021, Williams was moved from Housing Unit 1 to 9 Housing Unit 2. (ECF No. 64-3 at 5.) On March 3, 2021, Williams was moved back to 10 Housing Unit 8 because he received two new major disciplinary charges for refusing to 11 accept his new cell assignment (Refusal to House) and was returned to close custody 12 and Administrative Segregation. (ECF No. 64-2 at 3; ECF No. 64-3 at 5; ECF No. 66-1 at 13 4.) 14 Brice completed an Administrative Segregation Review with Williams on May 3, 15 2021, and again on June 2, 2021, at which time Brice recommended Williams continue 16 close custody and Administrative Segregation at SDCC. (ECF No. 64-2 at 3-4.) On June 17 8, 2021, Williams had his classification/re-classification hearing and was recommended 18 to transfer to Warm Springs Correctional Center “due to multiple refusals to house at 19 SDCC.” (Id. at 4; ECF No. 66-1 at 26.) Brice did not participate in this classification 20 decision. (Id.) After the classification hearing, case notes were updated indicating 21 Williams was approved to transfer to ESP due to his points and the recent OICs. (ECF 22 No. 66-1 at 26.) Williams was transferred to ESP on June 16, 2021. (ECF No. 64-2 at 4; 23 ECF No. 64-3 at 5; ECF No. 66-1 at 4.) Brice states in his declaration that he was unaware 24 of any lawsuit filed by Williams. (ECF No. 64-2 at 4.) Brice further states he has “not 25 retaliated against Williams at any time or for any reason.” (Id.) 26 On June 7, 2022, Williams was informed he would be considered for the Behavior 27 Modification Unit on the condition of finding a cell mate and to double cell by July 3, 2022. 1 any other institution. (Id. at 28.) On June 21, 2022, he was noted to be “currently double- 2 celled and is displaying positive institutional adjustment.” (Id. at 29.) Williams had a full 3 classification review on July 1, 2022, during which he was recommended to be medium 4 custody at ESP and was awaiting a possible transfer to another institution. (Id. at 28.) The 5 previous day, Williams’s property had been reviewed while he was in the infirmary for 6 safety and security reasons, and a weapon was found by x-ray in his shower shoes by 7 Defendant Moskoff. (ECF No. 66-2 at 2.) 8 II. LEGAL STANDARDS 9 “The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no 10 genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter 11 of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The 12 substantive law applicable to the claim determines which facts are material. Coles v. 13 Eagle, 704 F.3d 624, 628 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 14 248 (1986)). Only disputes over facts that address the main legal question of the suit can 15 preclude summary judgment, and factual disputes that are irrelevant are not material. 16 Frlekin v. Apple, Inc., 979 F.3d 639, 644 (9th Cir. 2020). A dispute is “genuine” only where 17 a reasonable jury could find for the nonmoving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. 18 The parties subject to a motion for summary judgment must: (1) cite facts from the 19 record, including but not limited to depositions, documents, and declarations, and then 20 (2) “show[] that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine 21 dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.” 22 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). Documents submitted during summary judgment must be 23 authenticated, and if only personal knowledge authenticates a document (i.e., even a 24 review of the contents of the document would not prove that it is authentic), an affidavit 25 attesting to its authenticity must be attached to the submitted document. Las Vegas 26 Sands, LLC v. Neheme, 632 F.3d 526, 532-33 (9th Cir. 2011). Conclusory statements, 27 speculative opinions, pleading allegations, or other assertions uncorroborated by facts 1 Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978, 984 (9th Cir. 2007). 2 The moving party bears the initial burden of demonstrating an absence of a 3 genuine dispute. Soremekun, 509 F.3d at 984. “Where the moving party will have the 4 burden of proof on an issue at trial, the movant must affirmatively demonstrate that no 5 reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the moving party.” Soremekun, 509 F.3d 6 at 984. However, if the moving party does not bear the burden of proof at trial, the moving 7 party may meet their initial burden by demonstrating either: (1) there is an absence of 8 evidence to support an essential element of the nonmoving party’s claim or claims; or (2) 9 submitting admissible evidence that establishes the record forecloses the possibility of a 10 reasonable jury finding in favor of the nonmoving party. See Pakootas v. Teck Cominco 11 Metals, Ltd., 905 F.3d 565, 593-94 (9th Cir. 2018); Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz 12 Cos., 210 F.3d 1099, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000). The court views all evidence and any 13 inferences arising therefrom in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Colwell v. 14 Bannister, 763 F.3d 1060, 1065 (9th Cir. 2014). If the moving party does not meet its 15 burden for summary judgment, the nonmoving party is not required to provide evidentiary 16 materials to oppose the motion, and the court will deny summary judgment. Celotex, 477 17 U.S. at 322-23. 18 Where the moving party has met its burden, however, the burden shifts to the 19 nonmoving party to establish that a genuine issue of material fact actually exists. 20 Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, (1986). The 21 nonmoving must “go beyond the pleadings” to meet this burden. Pac. Gulf Shipping Co. 22 v. Vigorous Shipping & Trading S.A., 992 F.3d 893, 897 (9th Cir. 2021) (internal quotation 23 omitted). In other words, the nonmoving party may not simply rely upon the allegations or 24 denials of its pleadings; rather, they must tender evidence of specific facts in the form of 25 affidavits, and/or admissible discovery material in support of its contention that such a 26 dispute exists. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n. 11. This burden 27 is “not a light one,” and requires the nonmoving party to “show more than the mere 1 376, 387 (9th Cir. 2010)). The non-moving party “must come forth with evidence from 2 which a jury could reasonably render a verdict in the non-moving party’s favor.” Pac. Gulf 3 Shipping Co., 992 F.3d at 898 (quoting Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig., 627 F.3d at 387). Mere 4 assertions and “metaphysical doubt as to the material facts” will not defeat a properly 5 supported and meritorious summary judgment motion. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. 6 Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586–87 (1986). 7 When a pro se litigant opposes summary judgment, his or her contentions in 8 motions and pleadings may be considered as evidence to meet the non-party’s burden to 9 the extent: (1) contents of the document are based on personal knowledge, (2) they set 10 forth facts that would be admissible into evidence, and (3) the litigant attested under 11 penalty of perjury that they were true and correct. Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 923 12 (9th Cir. 2004). 13 Upon the parties meeting their respective burdens for the motion for summary 14 judgment, the court determines whether reasonable minds could differ when interpreting 15 the record; the court does not weigh the evidence or determine its truth. Velazquez v. City 16 of Long Beach, 793 F.3d 1010, 1018 (9th Cir. 2015). The court may consider evidence in 17 the record not cited by the parties, but it is not required to do so. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3). 18 Nevertheless, the court will view the cited records before it and will not mine the record 19 for triable issues of fact. Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig., 627 F.3d at 386 (if a nonmoving party 20 does not make nor provide support for a possible objection, the court will likewise not 21 consider it). 22 III. DISCUSSION 23 Williams was allowed to proceed on a single First Amendment retaliation claim 24 against Defendants Brice and Moskoff based on allegations that they engaged in adverse 25 conduct after Williams filed the action styled Williams v. Hutchings, 2:21-cv-00123-KJD- 26 DJA. (See ECF No. 11 at 4-8, 20.) 27 It is well established in the Ninth Circuit that prisoners may seek redress for 1 567 (9th Cir. 2004); Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262, 1269 (9th Cir. 2009). “Prisoners 2 have a First Amendment right to file grievances against prison officials and be free from 3 retaliation for doing so.” Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1114 (9th Cir. 2012). 4 “A prison inmate retains those First Amendment rights that are not inconsistent 5 with his status as a prisoner or with the legitimate penological objectives of the corrections 6 system.” Pell v. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 822 (1974). Within the prison context, a viable 7 retaliation claim has five elements: (1) a state actor took some adverse action against the 8 inmate, (2) because of, (3) the inmate’s protected conduct, and that the action, (4) chilled 9 the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) did not reasonably advance 10 a legitimate correctional goal. Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 567–68. The adverse action must be 11 such that it “would chill or silence a person of ordinary firmness from future First 12 Amendment activities.” Watison, 668 F.3d at 1114 (quoting Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 568). 13 To prevail against Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff must 14 demonstrate a triable issue of material fact on each element of his retaliation claim. 15 Brodheim, 584 F.3d at 1269 n.3. An inmate must submit evidence, either direct or 16 circumstantial, to establish a link between the exercise of constitutional rights and the 17 allegedly retaliatory action. Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 806-07 (9th Cir. 1995). “[A] 18 plaintiff must show that his protected conduct was ‘the “substantial” or “motivating” factor 19 behind the defendant's conduct.’” Brodheim, 584 F.3d at 1271 (quoting Sorrano’s Gasco, 20 Inc. v. Morgan, 874 F.2d 1310, 1314 (9th Cir. 1989)). The plaintiff “need only ‘put forth 21 evidence of retaliatory motive, that, taken in the light most favorable to him, presents a 22 genuine issue of material fact as to [the defendant's] intent.’” Id. (quoting Bruce v. YIst, 23 351 F.3d 1283, 1289 (9th Cir. 2003)). 24 To raise a triable issue as to motive, plaintiff must offer “either direct evidence of 25 retaliatory motive or at least one of three general types of circumstantial evidence [of that 26 motive].” McCollum v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr. and Rehab., 647 F.3d 870, 882 (9th Cir. 2011) 27 (citation and quotation marks omitted). Circumstantial motive evidence may include: “(1) 1 [defendant] expressed opposition to the speech; [or] (3) other evidence that the reasons 2 proffered by the [defendant] for the adverse ... action were false and 3 pretextual.” Id. (internal citation and quotation marks omitted). However, “mere 4 speculation that defendants acted out of retaliation is not sufficient.” Wood v. Yordy, 905 5 (9th Cir. 2014). 6 Defendants contend Williams cannot prevail on his retaliation claim as there is no 7 evidence they were aware of any grievances or the previous lawsuit he filed. (ECF No. 8 64.) The Court agrees. Based on the evidence in the record, there is no causal connection 9 between the alleged retaliatory acts and the filing of grievances or lawsuits. Further, there 10 is no evidence that Brice or Moskoff were involved in transferring Williams to ESP. Finally, 11 Williams’s mere speculation that there is a causal connection is not enough to raise a 12 genuine issue of material fact. Nelson v. Pima Community College, 83 F.3d 1075, 1081- 13 82 (9th Cir. 1996). 14 In response, Williams provides several arguments that are irrelevant to the First 15 Amendment retaliation issue. (See ECF No. 70.) However, Williams does not present any 16 evidence to the Court showing that his First Amendment activity was the substantial or 17 motivating factor behind Defendants’ actions. Specifically, Williams does not show that 18 either Brice or Moskoff knew of his previous lawsuit. Without establishing knowledge of 19 protected activity, Williams’s claim necessarily fails. Therefore, Williams has not carried 20 his burden of demonstrating a genuine issue for trial. As no reasonable jury could 21 conclude that the alleged retaliatory acts occurred because of the filing of grievances or 22 lawsuits, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment.4 Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586. 23 IV. CONCLUSION 24 Consistent with the above, IT IS ORDERED that Defendants’ motion for summary 25 judgment, (ECF No. 48), is GRANTED. 26 27 4 Because the Court has determined that the motion for summary judgment should be granted on merits of this claim, it need not address Defendants’ argument regarding 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court ENTER JUDGMENT 2| accordingly and CLOSE this case. 3 DATED: October 15, 2024 4 » 6 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 oO