Miller v. Akanno et al

Filing 14

First Screening ORDER DISMISSING AMENDED COMPLAINT, WITH LEAVE TO AMEND, for Failure to State a Claim, signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 3/6/13. Amended Complaint Due Within Thirty Days. (Attachments: # 1 Amended Complaint Form)(Marrujo, C)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 GERALD LEE MILLER, JR., 10 Plaintiff, 11 12 CASE NO. 1:12-cv-01013-LJO-SKO PC FIRST SCREENING ORDER DISMISSING AMENDED COMPLAINT, WITH LEAVE TO AMEND, FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM v. DR. J. AKANNO, M.D., et al., 13 (Doc. 13) Defendants. THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE / 14 15 16 First Screening Order I. Screening Requirement and Standard 17 Plaintiff Gerald Lee Miller, Jr., a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed 18 this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on June 22, 2012. On January 22, 2013, 19 Plaintiff filed an amended complaint as a matter of right. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Plaintiff seeks 20 damages and injunctive relief for the violation of his rights under the United States Constitution. 21 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 22 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 23 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 24 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 25 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). 26 “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall 27 dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state a 28 claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 1 1 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader 2 is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but 3 “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, 4 do not suffice,” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic 5 Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (2007)), and courts “are not required to 6 indulge unwarranted inferences,” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) 7 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal 8 conclusions are not. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. 9 Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are still entitled to have their pleadings 10 liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor, Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 11 1113, 1121-23 (9th Cir. 2012); Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010), but Plaintiff’s 12 claims must be facially plausible to survive screening, which requires sufficient factual detail to 13 allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged, 14 Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 15 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully is not sufficient, and mere 16 consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 17 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. 18 II. Discussion 19 A. 20 Plaintiff, who is incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP), bring this actions against 21 Dr. J. Akanno, Lab Technician Japee, and Health Care Services Chief Executive Officer L. D. 22 Zamora for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment and denial of medical care in violation 23 of the Eighth Amendment. Allegations 24 Plaintiff alleges that on July 13, 2011, he was given contaminated food at Calipatria State 25 Prison, and he continues to suffer from health problems as a result. While still at CSP-Calipatria, 26 a biopsy was ordered for Plaintiff. However, before it was done, he was transferred to KVSP. 27 On December 14, 2011, Plaintiff requested to see a doctor at KVSP because he was still sick 28 and suffering. Plaintiff was told that he was scheduled for the biopsy within a few weeks. On 2 1 December 23, 2011, Plaintiff’s stomach problems worsened and he was unable to eat without 2 vomiting, so he was placed on dicyclomine by Dr. Chen. 3 4 On January 7, 2012, Plaintiff was transferred away from KVSP for a civil jury trial.1 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Akanno was once a party to the case.2 5 Plaintiff was transferred back to KVSP on February 3, 2012, still suffering from illness and 6 stomach pain. Plaintiff was taken to the medical triage area on February 7, 2012, where he was 7 given a GI cocktail for his stomach pain, scheduled for a follow-up with Defendant Akanno within 8 two weeks, and returned to his housing unit. 9 On February 14, 2012, Defendant Akanno refused to see Plaintiff, purportedly because 10 Plaintiff refused a blood pressure check. Plaintiff was subsequently seen by Defendant Akanno on 11 March 28, 2012, and a blood test was ordered. 12 Defendant Japee drew Plaintiff’s blood on April 16, 2012, but refused to label the tube, in 13 violation of prison policy. Plaintiff alleges that a mix-up occurred as a result and he was denied 14 medical treatment. 15 16 On April 24, 2012, Plaintiff’s blood test came back negative, and on May 1, 2012, Plaintiff put in a request to see a doctor but was never summoned for an appointment. 17 On May 22, 2012, Plaintiff was seen by Defendant Akanno, who refused to do anything for 18 Plaintiff and requested that Plaintiff leave his office. Plaintiff stated to Defendant Akanno that he 19 knew there were other procedures and tests which could be run, such as the biopsy that had been 20 ordered but never performed. Defendant Akanno did not respond to that statement but told Plaintiff 21 that he refused medical treatment on April 24, 2012, and on May 2, 2012. Plaintiff said that the 22 institution was on lock-down, inmates had to be escorted, and building officers would notify inmates 23 in advance of medical escorts, but Plaintiff was never told he had medical appointments on those 24 dates and he did not refuse the appointments. 25 26 27 1 The Court takes judicial notice of case number 1:08-cv-01233-BTM-W MC, in which a jury trial commenced on January 9, 2012, at the federal courthouse in Sacramento. 2 28 The Court takes judicial notice of the fact that Defendant Akanno was a defendant in case number 1:08-cv01233-BTM-W MC, and prior to trial, he was granted summary judgment. 3 1 2 3 4 B. Claims 1. Retaliation Plaintiff alleges that he is being denied medical treatment in retaliation against him for litigating the suit against Defendant Akanno. 5 Allegations of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment rights to speech or to petition 6 the government may support a section 1983 claim. Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 532 (9th Cir. 7 1985); see also Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135 (9th Cir. 1989); Pratt v. Rowland, 65 8 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995). “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First Amendment 9 retaliation entails five basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action 10 against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled 11 the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance 12 a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005); accord 13 Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1114-15 (9th Cir. 2012); Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262, 1269 14 (9th Cir. 2009). 15 Plaintiff’s amended complaint contains no facts supporting his conclusory claim that 16 Defendants Akanno and Japee retaliated against him for litigating another case against Akanno. 17 Speculative allegations do not suffice to support a claim for relief. 18 19 2. Medical Care a. Legal Standard 20 The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects prisoners not only from 21 inhumane methods of punishment but also from inhumane conditions of confinement. Morgan v. 22 Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 847, 114 23 S.Ct. 1970 (1994) and Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347, 101 S.Ct. 2392 (1981)) (quotation 24 marks omitted). While conditions of confinement may be, and often are, restrictive and harsh, they 25 must not involve the wanton and unnecessary infliction of pain. Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (citing 26 Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347) (quotation marks omitted). 27 Prison officials have a duty to ensure that prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food, 28 clothing, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety, Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th Cir. 4 1 2000) (quotation marks and citations omitted), but not every injury that a prisoner sustains while in 2 prison represents a constitutional violation, Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (quotation marks omitted). 3 To maintain an Eighth Amendment claim, inmates must show deliberate indifference to a substantial 4 risk of harm to their health or safety. E.g., Farmer, 511 U.S. at 847; Thomas, 611 at 1151-52; Foster 5 v. Runnels, 554 F.3d 807, 812-14 (9th Cir. 2009); Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045; Johnson, 217 F.3d at 6 731; Frost v. Agnos, 152 F.3d 1124, 1128 (9th Cir. 1998). 7 “To establish . . . [a] violation, a plaintiff must satisfy both an objective standard - that the 8 deprivation was serious enough to constitute cruel and unusual punishment - and a subjective 9 standard - deliberate indifference.” Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 985 (9th Cir. 2012). For 10 claims arising out of medical care in prison, Plaintiff must first show the existence of an objectively 11 serious medical need, and then show deliberate indifference to that need. Snow, 681 F.3d at 985; 12 Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122; Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). 13 b. Deficiencies 14 Plaintiff may be able to amend to state a cognizable claim for denial of medical care, but at 15 this juncture, his allegations are too conclusory to support a claim. The Constitution does not require 16 medical staff at Kern Valley State Prison to continue with the course of treatment prescribed at 17 Plaintiff’s prior institution, and the decision to forego the biopsy is not sufficient to support a claim. 18 Snow, 681 F.3d at 987-88; Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122. It appears from Plaintiff’s amended 19 complaint that he is being seen and blood tests have been ordered on more than one occasion. While 20 Plaintiff alleges that more can and should be done for him, there is simply no sufficient factual 21 support for a claim that Defendant Akanno is acting with deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s 22 medical needs. 23 Likewise, although Plaintiff alleges that his negative blood test results are inaccurate because 24 medical staff are mixing up the results, there is no underlying factual support for that claim, which 25 appears to be speculative on Plaintiff’s part. Further, the fact that Defendant Japee did not label 26 Plaintiff’s tube in front of Plaintiff is not sufficient to support a claim against Japee. 27 /// 28 /// 5 1 3. Claims Against Defendant Zamora 2 Plaintiff’s claims for relief against Defendant Zamora arise out of Zamora’s action in denying 3 Plaintiff’s inmate appeal at the third and final level of review in February 2012. (Amend. Comp., 4 ¶¶46-49.) However, the existence of an inmate appeals process does not create any substantive 5 rights and Plaintiff’s disagreement with the denial of his appeal does not support a claim for relief. 6 Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 7 1988). Further, the involvement of appeals coordinators in reviewing a complaint of misconduct 8 generally does not provide a basis upon which to impose liability against them because they were 9 not involved in the underlying violation at issue. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 609 (7th Cir. 10 2007). 11 Although Plaintiff’s word choice indicates his intent to pursue claims against Defendant 12 Zamora for retaliation and for denial of medical care, there are no facts which support either claim. 13 Rather, the sole basis for Plaintiff’s claims is his belief that his appeal was wrongfully denied and 14 that does not suffice to support a claim under section 1983. 15 4. Conspiracy 16 Finally, Plaintiff alleges that officials at KVSP and CSP-Calipatria are conspiring to violate 17 his rights. However, there are no facts supporting the existence of an agreement or a meeting of the 18 minds to violate Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, and no conspiracy claim lies against any of the 19 named defendants. Avalos v. Baca, 596 F.3d 583, 592 (9th Cir. 2010); Franklin v. Fox, 312 F.3d 20 423, 441 (9th Cir. 2001). 21 III. Conclusion and Order 22 Plaintiff’s amended complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under 23 section 1983. The Court will provide Plaintiff with the opportunity to file a second amended 24 complaint. Akhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1212-13 (9th Cir. 2012); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 25 1130 (9th Cir. 2000); Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448-49 (9th Cir. 1987). Plaintiff may not 26 change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated claims in his second amended complaint. 27 George, 507 F.3d at 607. 28 /// 6 1 Plaintiff’s second amended complaint should be brief, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), but it must state 2 what each named defendant did that led to the deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, Iqbal, 3 556 U.S. at 676-77. Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to raise 4 a right to relief above the speculative level. . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). 5 Finally, an amended complaint supercedes the original complaint, Lacey v. Maricopa County, 6 693 F.3d 896, 907 n.1 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc), and it must be “complete in itself without reference 7 to the prior or superceded pleading,” Local Rule 220. 8 Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 9 1. 10 Plaintiff’s amended complaint is dismissed, with leave to amend, for failure to state a claim under section 1983; 11 2. The Clerk’s Office shall send Plaintiff a civil rights complaint form; 12 3. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a 13 second amended complaint; and 14 4. If Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint in compliance with this order, 15 this action will be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim under section 16 1983. 17 18 19 20 IT IS SO ORDERED. 21 Dated: ie14hj March 6, 2013 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7

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