Tracy Taylor v. Hubbard et al
Filing
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ORDER GRANTING Plaintiff's Motion to Amend, DIRECTING Clerk's Office to File Lodged Second Amended Complaint, and ORDERING Defendants to File a Responsive Pleading and an Opposition OR Statement of Non-Opposition to Plaintiff's Motions for Injunctive Relief 38 , 40 ; ORDER DENYING Plaintiff's Request for a Quick Decision 30 THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE, signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 5/15/12. (Hellings, J)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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TRACY TAYLOR,
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Plaintiff,
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CASE NO. 1:10-cv–00404-BAM PC
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
TO AMEND, DIRECTING CLERK’S OFFICE
TO FILE LODGED SECOND AMENDED
COMPLAINT, AND ORDERING DEFENDANTS
TO FILE A RESPONSIVE PLEADING AND AN
OPPOSITION OR STATEMENT OF NONOPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTIONS FOR
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
v.
SUSAN HUBBARD, et al.,
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Defendants.
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(ECF No. 38, 40)
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ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST
FOR A QUICK DECISION
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(ECF No. 30)
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THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE
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I.
Procedural History
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Plaintiff Tracy Taylor is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil
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rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1 (the Religious Land Use and
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Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000) (“RLUIPA”). This action is proceeding on the first amended
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complaint, filed July 16, 2010, against Defendants Harrington and Wegman for violation of the Free
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Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, and Defendant Harrington for violation of RLUIPA. On
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January 9, 2012, Plaintiff filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and protective order and a
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request for a quick decision. (ECF No. 29, 30.) On March 23, 2012, Plaintiff filed a motion to
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amend his complaint, a motion for a preliminary injunction and/or protective order, and a second
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amended complaint was lodged. (ECF Nos. 38, 39, 40.) On March 30, 2012, Defendants filed a
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statement of non-opposition to Plaintiff’s motion to file an amended complaint and requested an
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extension of time to file a responsive pleading. (ECF No. 42.) On April 2, 2012, the Court partially
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granted Defendants Harrington and Wegman’ s request to extend time to file an answer to the
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complaint until after the Court decided Plaintiff’s motion to amend. (ECF No. 43.)
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II.
Motion to Amendment
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Plaintiff moves to amend his complaint to correct the name of Defendant Wegman and to add
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Defendant Cate. Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may amend the
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party’s pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served.
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Otherwise, a party may amend only by leave of the court or by written consent of the adverse party,
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and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). “Rule 15(a) is very
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liberal and leave to amend ‘shall be freely given when justice so requires.’” Amerisource Bergen
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Corp. v. Dialysis West, Inc., 465 F.3d 946, 951 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)).
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However, courts “need not grant leave to amend where the amendment: (1) prejudices the opposing
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party; (2) is sought in bad faith; (3) produces an undue delay in the litigation; or (4) is futile.” Id.
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The factor of “‘[u]ndue delay by itself . . . is insufficient to justify denying a motion to amend.’”
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Owens v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 712,13 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting Bowles
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v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757-58 (9th Cir. 1999)).
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Defendants have filed a statement of non-opposition to Plaintiff’s motion to amend the
complaint. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion to file a second amend complaint shall be granted.
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Plaintiff also requests a hearing on his motion for a preliminary injunction. Additionally,
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Plaintiff has filed a request that his motion for a preliminary injunction be heard immediately. At
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the time that Plaintiff filed his request for an immediate decision, service of process had not been
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effected upon Defendants in this action. The Local Rules provide for a motion, an opposition, and
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a reply. Now that Plaintiff’s second amended complaint has been screened, the Court shall order
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Defendants to file an opposition or a statement of non-opposition to Plaintiff’s motions for injunctive
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relief. Local Rule 230(l).
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At this stage of the proceedings, the Court finds that a hearing is not necessary and Plaintiff’s
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motion shall be addressed once Defendants are afforded an opportunity to file an opposition to the
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motion and Plaintiff to file a reply. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request for an immediate decision and
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motion for a hearing shall be denied.
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III.
Screening Requirement
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The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a
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governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The
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Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally
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“frivolous or malicious,” that “fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that “seeks
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monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
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A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader
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is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but
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“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements,
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do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (citing Bell
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Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1964-65 (2007)).
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Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are still entitled to have their pleadings
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liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor, but the pleading standard is now
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higher, Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (citations omitted), and to survive
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screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires sufficient factual detail to
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allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged,
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Iqbal, 556 U.S. at , 129 S. Ct. at 1949-50; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir.
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2009). The “sheer possibility that a has defendant acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and “facts that
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are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability” falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard.
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Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. at 1949; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
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Further, under section 1983, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally
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participated in the deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002).
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Although a court must accept as true all factual allegations contained in a complaint, a court need
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not accept a plaintiff’s legal conclusions as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S. Ct. at 1949.
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“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements,
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do not suffice.” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955).
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IV.
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Second Amended Complaint Allegations
Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Cate is responsible for implementing and enforcing
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California Code of Regulations, tit. 15 section 3190, which denies Plaintiff access to the religious
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items needed for his religious beliefs. Under the current policy, Plaintiff is required to purchase his
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religious items from departmentally approved vendors. Plaintiff claims that most of his religious
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items can only be purchased from retail stores by his family and friends and then mailed to him in
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prison. Additionally, each time Plaintiff is transferred to a different prison, that prison is allowed
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to disapprove of the religious items that have previously been approved by the prior institution under
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section 3190. This has resulted in Plaintiff’s religious items being confiscated and not returned to
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Plaintiff.
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Plaintiff states that he is required to use tobacco in his Wheel of Love Ceremony and since
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2009, he has been denied access to tobacco by Defendants Wegman and Harrington. On or around
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February 11, 2009, Defendant Wegman had correctional officers confiscate all of Plaintiff’s religious
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items, and Plaintiff has been unable to practice his prayers, adoration rituals, cleansing rituals, and
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Wheel of Love Ceremony. Defendant Wegman banned Plaintiff from possessing tobacco in his cell,
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carrying tobacco on his person, required Plaintiff to purchase tobacco from one vendor in limited
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quantities, and required Plaintiff’s tobacco to be stored in the prison chapel office and only to be
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issued to Plaintiff one cigarette or one pipe full of tobacco at a time. Plaintiff contends that, to
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perform his Wheel of Love Ceremony, he is required to have one abalone shell full of tobacco in his
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cell to be burned each day. The vendor that Plaintiff is required to purchase his religious tobacco
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from does not sell tobacco in a can or pouch.
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On or around February 5, 2010, Defendant Wegman received cigars Plaintiff had ordered
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from the approved vendor and she has refused to release them to Plaintiff for use in his Wheel of
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Love Ceremony. Additionally, Plaintiff believes that he must carry a pouch of tobacco, other herbs,
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and a medallion on his person. Plaintiff states that the ban on tobacco violates his free exercise
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rights and California Penal Code Section 5030.1.
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On or around February 24, 2009, Defendant Harrington passed the regulations that limited
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Plaintiff to purchasing religious products from a single vendor, limited the amount of product that
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can be purchased, and prohibiting Plaintiff from having tobacco in his cell or on his person. Plaintiff
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states that he is exempt from the regulations regarding possession of tobacco by inmates under
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California Penal Code Section 5030.1. Plaintiff is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, and
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monetary damages.
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V.
Discussion
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A.
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“Prison walls do not form a barrier separating prison inmates from the protections of the
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Constitution.” Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 84 (1987). Nevertheless, prisoners’ constitutional
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rights are subject to substantial limitations and restrictions in order to allow prison officials to
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achieve legitimate correctional goals and maintain institutional security. O’Lone v. Estate of
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Shabazz, 482 U.S. 342, 348 (1987); Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 529, 546-47 (1979).
First Amendment Free Exercise
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“Inmates . . . retain protections afforded by the First Amendment, including its directive that
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no law shall prohibit the free exercise of religion.” O’Lone, 482 U.S. at 348 (internal quotations and
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citations omitted). The protections of the Free Exercise Clause are triggered when prison officials
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substantially burden the practice of an inmate’s religion by preventing him from engaging in conduct
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which he sincerely believes is consistent with his faith. Shakur v. Schriro, 514 F.3d 878, 884-85 (9th
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Cir. 2008); Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 737 (9th Cir. 1997), overruled in part by Shakur, 514
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F.3d at 884-85.
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Plaintiff’s allegations are sufficient to state a claim against Defendants Cate, Harrington, and
Wegman for violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
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B.
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To state a claim under RLUIPA a plaintiff must show that a person acting under color of state
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law “imposed a substantial burden on his religious exercise.” Florer v. Congregation Pidyon
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Shevuyim N.A., 639 F.3d 916, 921 (9th Cir. 2011). Under RLUIPA, a plaintiff bears the initial
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burden of setting forth a prima facie claim that the “policy and its punitive sanctions designed to
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coerce him to comply with that policy constitute a subst antial burden on the exercise his religious
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beliefs.” Warsoldier v. Woodford, 418 F.3d 989, 994 (9th Cir. 2005). Once the initial burden is met
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
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then the burden shifts to defendant to show that any substantial burden on plaintiff’s “exercise of his
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religious beliefs is both in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive
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means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.” Warsoldier, 418 F.3d at 995 (quoting
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42 U.S.C § 2000cc-1(a); § 2000cc-2(b)). RLUIPA is to be broadly construed in favor of protecting
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the inmates right to exercise his religious beliefs. Warsoldier, 418 F.3d at 995.
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While Plaintiff does not specifically address RLUIPA in his second amended complaint, the
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Court previously found a RLUIPA claim against Defendant Harrington. Liberally construed,
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Plaintiff’s complaint states a claim against Defendants Cate and Harrington for violation of RLUIPA.
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C.
Official Capacity Claims
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Plaintiff brings suit against Defendants Cate and Harrington in their official capacities.1 A
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suit brought against prison officials in their official capacity is generally equivalent to a suit against
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the prison itself. McRorie v. Shimoda, 795 F.2d 780, 783 (9th Cir. 1986). Therefore, prison
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officials may be held liable if “‘policy or custom’ . . . played a part in the violation of federal law.”
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McRorie, 795 F.2d at 783 (quoting Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166, 105 S. Ct. 3099, 3105
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(1985). The official may be liable where the act or failure to respond reflects a conscious or
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deliberate choice to follow a course of action when various alternatives were available. Clement v.
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Gomez, 298 F.3d 898, 905 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 389, 109
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S. Ct. 1197, 1205 (1989); see Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006);
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Waggy v. Spokane County Washington, 594 F.3d 707, 713 (9th Cir. 2010). Plaintiff’s allegations
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are sufficient to state a cognizable official capacity claim against Defendants Cate and Harrington.
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D.
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Plaintiff brings this action against Defendants for violation of California Penal Code Section
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5030.1. A private right of action under a criminal statute has rarely been implied. Chrysler Corp.
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v. Brown, 441 U.S. 281, 316, 99 S. Ct. 1705, 1725 (1979). Where a private right of action has been
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implied, “there was at least a statutory basis for inferring that a civil cause of action of some sort lay
State Law Claims
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Although Plaintiff alleges an official capacity claim against Defendant W egman, Plaintiff’s official
capacity claim against Defendant W egman was dismissed, with prejudice, in the order issued November 15, 2011.
(ECF No. 23.)
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in favor of someone.” Chrysler Corp., 441 U.S. at 316, 99 S. Ct at 1725 (quoting Cort v. Ash, 422
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U.S. 66, 79, 95 S. Ct. 2080 (1975); see Sohal v. City of Merced Police Dep’t, No. 1:09-cv-0160-
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AWI-DLB, 2009 WL 961465, * (E.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2009) (“[t]his court and courts of this circuit
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routinely dismiss claims based on violation of state criminal statutes where the language of the
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statute does not confer a private right of action”). The Court has reviewed the criminal statute in its
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entirety and can find no indication of a private right of action. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s claim for
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violation of the California Penal Code is not cognizable.
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VI.
Conclusion and Order
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Plaintiff’s second amended complaint states a cognizable claim against Defendant Cate, in
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his official capacity, and Defendant Harrington, in his individual and official capacities, for
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violations of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and RLUIPA, and against Defendant
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Wegman, in her individual capacity, for violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First
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Amendment. Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
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1.
Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a second amended complaint is GRANTED IN
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PART AND DENIED IN PART as follows:
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a.
Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a second amended complaint is
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GRANTED, and the Clerk of the Court is directed to file the second amended
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complaint, lodged March 23, 2012; and
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b.
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2.
Plaintiff’s motion for a hearing is DENIED, without prejudice;
This action shall proceed on Plaintiff’s second amended complaint, lodged March 23,
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2012, against Defendant Cate, in his official capacity, and Defendant Harrington, in
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his individual and official capacities, for violations of the Free Exercise Clause of the
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First Amendment and RLUIPA, and against Defendant Wegman, in her individual
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capacity, for violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.;
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3.
Plaintiff’s state law claim is dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim;
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4.
Plaintiff’s request for a quick decision, filed January 9, 2012, is DENIED; and
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Within thirty days from the date of service of this order, Defendants shall file a
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responsive pleading and an opposition or statement of non-opposition to Plaintiff’s
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motions for a preliminary injunction, filed January 9, 2012, and March 23, 2012.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
10c20k
May 15, 2012
/s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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