Garcia v. Biter et al

Filing 28

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDING ACTION PROCEED AGAINST DEFENDANTS HERNANDEZ, MOSQUEDA, AND BAKER ON FIRST AND EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIMS, AND OTHER CLAIMS AND DEFENDANTS BE DISMISSED re 21 signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 12/17/2014. Referred to Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill; Objections to F&R due by 1/23/2015.(Lundstrom, T)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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FELIPE GARCIA,
Plaintiff,

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v.

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M. BITER, et al.,
Defendants.

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Case No. 1:13-cv-00599-LJO-SKO (PC)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDING ACTION PROCEED
AGAINST DEFENDANTS HERNANDEZ,
MOSQUEDA, AND BAKER ON FIRST
AND EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIMS,
AND OTHER CLAIMS AND DEFENDANTS
BE DISMISSED
(Doc. 21)

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THIRTY-DAY OBJECTION DEADLINE

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_____________________________________/
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18 I.

Screening Requirement and Standard

19

Plaintiff Felipe Garcia, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed this

20 civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on April 25, 2013. Plaintiff filed an amended
21 complaint as a matter of right on October 11, 2013, and the Court granted Plaintiff’s motion for
22 leave to file his proposed second amended complaint on January 13, 2014. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a).
23 On April 24, 2014, the Court found Plaintiff’s First and Eighth Amendment claims against
24 Defendant Hernandez cognizable and ordered him to either file a third amended complaint curing
25 the deficiencies in his other claims or notify the Court of his willingness to proceed only on his
26 cognizable claims against Hernandez. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. On May 7, 2014, Plaintiff filed a third
27 amended complaint.
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The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a

2 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a).
3 The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are
4 legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that
5 seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),
6 (2). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court
7 shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to
8 state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
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A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the

10 pleader is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not
11 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
12 conclusory statements, do not suffice,” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937
13 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (2007)), and
14 courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences,” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572
15 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). While factual
16 allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
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Under section 1983, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated

18 in the deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). This
19 requires the presentation of factual allegations sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief. Iqbal,
20 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). Prisoners
21 proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their pleadings liberally construed and
22 to have any doubt resolved in their favor, Blaisdell v. Frappiea, 729 F.3d 1237, 1241 (9th Cir.
23 2013); Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010), but nevertheless, the mere possibility of
24 misconduct falls short of meeting the plausibility standard, Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d
25 at 969.
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1 III.

Discussion

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A.

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Plaintiff brings this action against Warden Martin Biter; Correctional Officers R.

Summary of Third Amended Complaint

4 Hernandez, Baker, and J. Mosqueda; and Staff Psychologist Nina Hudspeth for violating his rights
5 under the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and under
6 42 § 1985(3) while he was at Kern Valley State Prison (“KVSP”). Plaintiff’s claims arise from
7 events which occurred between June 2012 and January 2013, and he is seeking monetary damages
8 and declaratory relief.
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On June 12, 2012, Plaintiff returned to KVSP following court proceedings in San Diego,

10 and he, along with several other inmates, was escorted to administrative segregation (“ad-seg”).
11 Plaintiff is a level IV inmate and he was housed with inmate Jaco, a level III inmate, and he
12 alleges Defendant Baker ignored their incompatibility.
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On June 21, 2012, Defendant Hernandez escorted Plaintiff to an institutional classification

14 committee hearing, during which Associate Warden Pfeiffer informed the committee members
15 that Plaintiff was returning to CCI after being “out to court” for a lawsuit against peace officers.
16 Pfeiffer ordered that Plaintiff remain in ad-seg without a rules violation against him, using the
17 “excuse” that there was no bed space. (3rd Amend. Comp., ¶17.) When they exited the hearing
18 room, Defendant Hernandez, who was present during the committee meeting, said loudly in front
19 of Defendant Mosqueda, Officer Villegas, and several waiting inmates,, “We got us a hot one!”
20 (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that in prison, “hot one” means a prisoner with issues such as staff assaults,
21 snitching, and/or sex offenses. (Id.)
22

On June 25, 2012, Officer Huff searched and inventoried Plaintiff’s and Jaco’s property,

23 found no contraband, and issued them several personal items allowable in ad-seg. Defendant
24 Hernandez subsequently escorted Plaintiff to a safety cell, where Plaintiff was given the
25 opportunity to retrieve from his three boxes of property the legal material relating to his habeas
26 petition and civil appeal. Defendant Hernandez took the legal material for a contraband search.
27 During the search, Defendant Hernandez spotted and read a section 1983 case filed by a sex
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1 offender against the San Diego County Jail, Munoz v. Kolender.1 Plaintiff alleges the case
2 included a description of “graphic and nefarious acts by Munoz,” and Defendant Hernandez later
3 conspired with Defendant Mosqueda, Defendant Baker, and inmates Escalante and Allen to spread
4 false rumors about Plaintiff’s association with and/or conviction relating to the Munoz case, in an
5 attempt to have Plaintiff stabbed or otherwise assaulted. (Id., ¶¶19, 20.)
6

In July 2012, Defendant Hernandez escorted Plaintiff to the law library for his two-hour

7 time allotment. All inmates are escorted with restraints and law library time occurs inside a small
8 metal cage. After Plaintiff’s time was up, Defendant Hernandez asked him to sign a log book and
9 then opened the cage door without handcuffing Plaintiff. Plaintiff stayed in the cage and informed
10 Defendant he had not been handcuffed. Plaintiff alleges Defendant Hernandez said brusquely, “I
11 could have set you up and said you attacked me.” (Id., ¶21.) When Plaintiff returned to his cell,
12 he told his cellmate, Jaco, about the incident.
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Plaintiff alleges that between June 21, 2012, and August 29, 2012, he remained in ad-seg,

14 purportedly because of lack of bed space in the two SNYs (sensitive needs yards). Plaintiff
15 alleges that Defendants Mosqueda, Baker, and Hernandez would comment to Plaintiff that
16 jailhouse lawyers had nothing coming and to stop filing legal papers.
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Plaintiff had accumulated approximately thirty-five pounds of legal papers, which he

18 would wrap in a sheet and use as a work-out weight. Plaintiff alleges that inmate Escalante would
19 borrow to the work-out weight and Plaintiff believes it was during this time Escalante retrieved
20 Plaintiff’s copy of Munoz v. Kolender. Inmate Escalante told the other inmates that the rumors
21 being spread by Defendants Mosqueda, Baker, and Hernandez were true and he had the paperwork
22 to prove it, which caused Plaintiff to be subjected to continuous threats and retaliation.
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On one of their yard days, inmate Jaco began acting strangely and hinted Plaintiff should

24 not return to any of the SNY yards but would not say why. Once they were inside their individual
25 exercise cage, inmate Jaco became really nervous and kept looking at inmate Escalante’s cellmate.
26 While they were doing pushups, inmate Jaco kept reaching for his waistband. Plaintiff felt
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The Court takes judicial notice of Munoz v. Kolender, 208 F.Supp.2d 1125, 1128 (S.D. Cal. 2002), a civil rights case
brought by a civil detainee who had been found to be a sexually violent predator.

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1 something was not right and ceased working out. Plaintiff asked Jaco what was wrong but Jaco
2 kept looking around and said “nothing” in a low voice. (Id., ¶24.)
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The next day during yard, inmate Jaco stayed in their cell. When Plaintiff returned, his

4 cellmate was gone and he found a note from Jaco saying, “I’m sorry. They wanted me to slice
5 you, and I have a family and want to go home. I still don’t know why.” (Id., ¶25.)
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Plaintiff alleges that he had been “out to court” in San Diego regarding an excessive force

7 case and he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) as a result of the incident.
8 (Id., ¶26.) Plaintiff alleges he had to relive the experience in court while watching a videotape of
9 the beating in the presence of the officers, defenseless in handcuffs and leg restraints. Plaintiff
10 alleges his PTSD was triggered by the court proceedings, and it was aggravated by the constant
11 verbal threats and his cellmate’s actions and note. Plaintiff alleges that he thought the retaliation
12 was occurring because he filed a timely appeal in his court case, and he wrote a letter to the judge
13 informing her of the retaliation and requesting dismissal of his appeal.
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On August 20, 2012, Plaintiff submitted a written request for mental health care, and on

15 August 21, 2012, Plaintiff was interviewed by Defendant Hudspeth, a staff psychologist. Plaintiff
16 alleges that he told Defendant Hudspeth he was being targeted by prison guards in retaliation
17 against him for filing lawsuits and complaints, his life was in immediate danger due to the rumors
18 being spread, and a hit had been placed on his life gang members. Plaintiff alleges that due to lack
19 of privacy, he did not disclose the accusations against him or the existence of the Kolender case.
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Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Hudspeth excused herself and went into a room where

21 Defendants Hernandez and Mosqueda were present with other officers. After Defendant Hudspeth
22 returned, she informed Plaintiff she was denying his request for mental health treatment. Plaintiff
23 became frustrated and said he was suffering from PTSD from an assault by 10 deputies in 2006
24 while he was handcuffed; he had to relive those events during trial in his civil case; and he became
25 a sensitive needs yard inmate, discontinued his gang activity, educated himself, stayed free of
26 discipline for two years, and was awaiting a custody reduction which might allow him to have
27 family visits. Plaintiff said that because of the rumors, he was being placed in a position where if
28 attacked, he would defend himself and if they used a weapon, he knew how to take it away and
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1 use it. Defendant Hudspeth denied his request for help, told him to put in another request the next
2 week, and left, reentering the room where the officers were gathered. Plaintiff alleges that in
3 denying his request for mental health care, Defendant Hudspeth acted with deliberate indifference
4 to his mental health and risk for suicide.
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Approximately twenty minutes after Plaintiff was returned to his cell, he was restrained

6 and escorted to Sergeant Morales’ office. Sergeant Morales told Plaintiff that they searched his
7 cell while he was talking to Defendant Hudspeth because Hudspeth thought Plaintiff had a weapon
8 and was reluctant to return to the sensitive needs yards. Plaintiff was distrustful, but he took a
9 chance and told Sergeant Morales that Officer Villegas and Defendants Baker, Hernandez, and
10 Mosqueda had conspired to spread rumors that he had been convicted of a sex crime. Plaintiff
11 asked Sergeant Morales to check his computer to verify that Plaintiff had not been convicted of
12 any sex crimes, and he explained that Defendants Mosqueda and Baker told the sensitive needs
13 yard gang members that Plaintiff had some kind of “foul” charges and Defendant Hernandez “had
14 read the paperwork,” which Plaintiff believes was the Munoz case. (Id., ¶34.) Sergeant Morales
15 said, “Look, Garcia, I cannot hold you in ad-seg. Give me something.” (Id.)
16

On August 28, 2012, Officer Perez served Plaintiff with a rules violation report for

17 possession of a weapon which was authored by Defendant Hernandez. Plaintiff postponed the
18 hearing pending referral to the District Attorney.
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That night, Plaintiff told Defendant Baker he was homicidal. Defendant Baker continued

20 passing out dinner trays and he stopped in front of calls 126 and 127, telling the inmates inside,
21 both of whom were gang members, “The weirdo is leaving.” (Id., ¶35.) Plaintiff alleges that in
22 prison, “weirdo” means crazy, unstable, and/or sex offender rapist.
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Plaintiff was placed in a holding cell, and he could hear the chatter begin, which included

24 the comments, “he must of [sic] felt it,” “he got away again,” and “we’ll get him.” (Id., ¶36.)
25 Plaintiff’s neighbor was also asked, “What did you tell him?” (Id.) Plaintiff then knew something
26 was up and it was not just his imagination.
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Plaintiff was kept overnight in the CTC (Correctional Treatment Center) and the next

28 morning, he was escorted back to ad-seg to pick up his property. Sergeant Morales and Defendant
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1 Hernandez were loading Plaintiff’s property on a cart. Plaintiff saw his three boxes but did not see
2 his new television.

Plaintiff informed Sergeant Morales and Defendant Hernandez that his

3 television was missing and they reentered the property room. After about five minutes, Defendant
4 Hernandez told Plaintiff he would look for it and send it to Plaintiff later. However, Plaintiff still
5 never received his personal television.
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After loading his property into a golf cart, Officer Perez and Defendant Mosqueda drove

7 Plaintiff to ad-seg. Defendant Mosqueda escorted him inside and said in a loud voice within
8 earshot of other inmates, “That’s what happens to people like you.” (Id., ¶38.) Plaintiff asked him
9 what he was talking about and said he had not done anything. Defendant Mosqueda said these
10 investigations take time and “they’ll get you.” (Id.) Plaintiff then knew Defendant Mosqueda was
11 part of campaign of harassment.
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Plaintiff continued to suffer from PTSD and on August 30, 2012, he was taken down from

13 a hanging noose by Officer Perez. Plaintiff was transported to Delano Regional Hospital for a
14 neck injury and suicidal ideation.
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On September 11, 2012, Plaintiff filed an inmate appeal and staff complaints regarding the

16 harassment and actions of Defendants Hernandez, Baker, Villegas, and Mosqueda, but he has
17 received no response.
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On the same day, Plaintiff informed Associate Warden Pfeiffer during a classification

19 committee meeting of the ongoing harassment, and Pfeiffer suggested Plaintiff file an inmate
20 appeal.
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On November 6, 2012, Plaintiff informed Defendant Biter during a classification

22 committee meeting of the harassment and Biter told him to file an inmate appeal. Plaintiff told
23 Defendant Biter he did and Biter said, “Well, you think you’re a lawyer; you should know,” which
24 got a laugh from the other committee members. Plaintiff tried to explain that he had not received
25 a response and Defendant Biter said, “That’s it,” and had Plaintiff escorted out.
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On December 13, 2012, Plaintiff again appeared before Defendant Biter for a committee

27 meeting. Defendant Biter said they were just there to correct a 128 C 3 and a 128 MH 11, and he
28 did not want to hear Plaintiff’s complaints about his officers.
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Plaintiff was subsequently housed in the CTC for five days and then taken to another yard.

2 Plaintiff began receiving treatment for PTSD, and he endured comments and looks from officers
3 and inmates until he was transferred to another prison on January 11, 2013.
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B.

Claims
1.

Allegations in Paragraphs 10 Through 13

As an initial matter, Plaintiff added to his third amended complaint sweeping allegations

7 regarding system-wide, multi-prison corruption involving harassment, use of force, and retaliation;
8 and allegations regarding the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s
9 (“CDCR’s”) racially discriminatory hiring policy. These conclusory, broad allegations fail to
10 support any viable claims for relief under section 1983; they violate the screening order, which
11 informed Plaintiff he may not add new, unrelated in his third amended complaint; they violate
12 joinder rules prohibiting unrelated claims against unrelated parties; and Plaintiff lacks standing to
13 challenge CDCR’s hiring policies. Fed. R. Civ. P. 18, 20, 21; e.g., Hollingsworth v. Perry, __
14 U.S. __, __, 113 S.Ct. 2652, 2661-63 (2013) (discussing Article III standing requirements); Lujan
15 v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 559-61, 112 S.Ct. 2130 (1992); Blaisdell, 729 F.3d at
16 1244; McCollum v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 647 F.3d 870, 882
17 (9th Cir. 2011). Accordingly, the Court recommends the claims Plaintiff attempts to assert in
18 paragraphs 10 through 13 be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim.
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2.

First Amendment Retaliation Claims

Allegations of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment rights to speech or to

21 petition the government may support a section 1983 claim. Silva v. Di Vittorio, 658 F.3d 1090,
22 1104 (9th Cir. 2011); Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 532 (9th Cir. 1985); see also Valandingham
23 v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135 (9th Cir. 1989); Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995).
24 “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First Amendment retaliation entails five basic
25 elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2)
26 because of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled the inmate’s
27 exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance a legitimate
28 correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005); accord Watison v.
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1 Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1114-15 (9th Cir. 2012); Silva, 658 at 1104; Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d
2 1262, 1269 (9th Cir. 2009).
Given the leniency to which Plaintiff is entitled at the pleading stage, Plaintiff’s allegations

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4 suffice to support a claim that Defendants Hernandez, Mosqueda, and Baker spread rumors about
5 him after Hernandez learned Plaintiff had returned from litigating a case against officers in San
6 Diego and found a civil rights case filed by a sexually violent predator in Plaintiff’s legal
7 material.2 E.g., Blaisdell, 729 F.3d at 1241; Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1123. However, there are no
8 facts alleged which support a claim that Defendants Hudspeth and Biter retaliated against Plaintiff
9 for engaging in protected First Amendment conduct, and Defendant Biter may not be held liable
10 for the conduct of his subordinate employees simply because he is the warden. Crowley v.
11 Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977 (9th Cir. 2013); accord Lemire v. California Dep’t of Corr. and
12 Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1074-75 (9th Cir. 2013); Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 915-16
13 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc).
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3.

Eighth Amendment Claims

The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment protects

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16 prisoners not only from inhumane methods of punishment but also from inhumane conditions of
17 confinement. Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Farmer v.
18 Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 847, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994) and Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347,
19 101 S.Ct. 2392 (1981)) (quotation marks omitted). While conditions of confinement may be, and
20 often are, restrictive and harsh, they must not involve the wanton and unnecessary infliction of
21 pain. Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (citing Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347) (quotation marks omitted).
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As set forth in the first screening order, the exhibits attached to Plaintiff’s second amended complaint demonstrate
that he is barred from litigating a claim that he was falsely accused by Defendant Hernandez of possessing a deadly
weapon, resulting in the issuance of the rules violation report. (2 nd Amend. Comp., p. 35.) “[A] state prisoner’s §
1983 action is barred (absent prior invalidation) - no matter the relief sought (damages or equitable relief), no matter
the target of the prisoner’s suit (state conduct leading to conviction or internal prison proceedings) - if success in that
action would necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of confinement or its duration,” Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74,
81-2, 125 S.Ct. 1242, 1248 (2005), and Plaintiff was found guilty of the rules violation he was charged with, resulting
in a loss of time credits affecting the length of his sentence. (2nd Amend. Comp., p. 35.) Thus, that allegation does
not form part of Plaintiff’s viable retaliation claim.

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Prison officials have a duty to ensure that prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food,

2 clothing, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety, Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th
3 Cir. 2000) (quotation marks and citations omitted), but not every injury that a prisoner sustains
4 while in prison represents a constitutional violation, Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (quotation marks
5 omitted). To maintain an Eighth Amendment claim, inmates must show deliberate indifference to
6 a substantial risk of harm to their health or safety. E.g., Farmer, 511 U.S. at 847; Thomas v.
7 Ponder, 611 F.3d 1144, 1151-52 (9th Cir. 2010); Foster v. Runnels, 554 F.3d 807, 812-14 (9th
8 Cir. 2009); Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045; Johnson, 217 F.3d at 731; Frost v. Agnos, 152 F.3d 1124,
9 1128 (9th Cir. 1998).
10

Plaintiff’s allegations are sufficient to state a claim against Defendants Hernandez,

11 Mosqueda, and Baker for spreading rumors about him which endangered his safety around other
12 inmates on the sensitive needs yard. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 833; Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036,
13 1040 (9th Cir. 2005). However, Plaintiff’s allegations do not support his claim that Defendant
14 Hudspeth was deliberately indifferent to his mental health needs or that Defendant Biter was
15 deliberately indifferent to his safety. Vague and/or conclusory allegations do not suffice to
16 support a claim that a prison official knowingly disregarded a substantial risk of harm to an
17 inmate’s health or safety, Blantz v. California Dep’t of Corr. and Rehab., 727 F.3d 917, 926-27
18 (9th Cir. 2013), and the mere allegation that Defendant Hudspeth denied Plaintiff’s request for
19 mental health treatment does not provide a basis for a claim under section 1983, Snow v.
20 McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 987 (9th Cir. 2012), overruled in part on other grounds, Peralta v.
21 Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1082-83 (9th Cir. 2014); Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1122-23 (9th
22 Cir. 2012).

At best, Plaintiff’s allegations indicate a mere disagreement with Defendant

23 Hudspeth’s opinion that he was not then in need of mental health treatment. Even if Defendant
24 Hudspeth was incorrect in her assessment and/or was not as sensitive to his situation as she could
25 or should have been, no claim lies. Snow, 681 F.3d at 985; Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122.
26

Likewise, Defendant Biter’s disinterest in hearing Plaintiff’s after-the-fact complaints

27 about his officers does not provide a basis for liability, as there are no facts demonstrating that
28 Biter knew of and disregarded a substantial risk of harm to Plaintiff’s safety. Plaintiff’s factual
10

1 allegations were substantially similar between his second and third amended complaints, and at
2 most, his present allegations suggest that Defendant Biter, months after the events which give rise
3 to Plaintiff’s claim against Defendants Hernandez, Mosqueda, and Baker occurred, made a snide
4 comment about his jailhouse lawyering and was not interested in hearing Plaintiff’s verbal
5 complaints about the officers’ behavior.
6

Accordingly, the Court recommends that Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims against

7 Defendants Hudspeth and Biter be dismissed, with prejudice.
8
9

4.

Discrimination Claims

Plaintiff alleges violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

10 and 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) arising out of CDCR’s racially discriminatory hiring policies, which
11 result in racial discrimination and other rights violations against inmates.

As discussed in

12 subsection 1, Plaintiff lacks standing to pursue a claim based on discriminatory hiring practices
13 and his third amended complaint is devoid of any facts which support a claim that he was
14 intentionally treated differently than other similarly situated inmates, based on race or otherwise.
15 City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 439, 105 S.Ct. 3249 (1985);
16 Hartmann v. California Dep’t of Corr. & Rehab., 707 F.3d 1114, 1123 (9th Cir. 2013); Furnace v.
17 Sullivan, 705 F.3d 1021, 1030 (9th Cir. 2013); Shakur v. Schriro, 514 F.3d 878, 891 (9th Cir.
18 2008). Furthermore, Plaintiff alleges no facts which support a claim under section 1985(3) for
19 conspiracy to deprive him of the equal protection of the laws. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425
20 F.3d 1158, 1168 (9th Cir. 2005); Coverdell v. Dep’t. of Soc. and Health Svcs., State of
21 Washington, 834 F.2d 758, 767 (9th Cir. 1987); Bretz v. Kelman, 773 F.2d 1026, 1028-1030 (9th
22 Cir. 1985).
23

In as much as Plaintiff’s second and third amended complaints are substantially similar and

24 neither pleading included facts supporting a the existence of a discrimination claim, the Court
25 recommends Plaintiff’s section 1983 and section 1985(3) discrimination claims be dismissed, with
26 prejudice.
27 ///
28 ///
11

1

5.

2

Declaratory Relief

Finally, in addition to damages, Plaintiff seeks a declaration that his rights were violated.

3 However, because Plaintiff’s claims for damages necessarily entail a determination whether his
4 rights were violated, his separate request for declaratory relief is subsumed by those claims and the
5 Court recommends it be dismissed. Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 565-66 n.8 (9th Cir. 2005)
6 (quotation marks omitted).
7 III.

Conclusion and Recommendation

8

The Court finds that Plaintiff’s third amended complaint states cognizable claims for relief

9 against Defendants Hernandez, Mosqueda, and Baker for violation of the First and Eighth
10 Amendments. However, Plaintiff fails to state any other claims for relief and he fails to state any
11 claims against Defendants Hudspeth and Biter.3 Plaintiff was previously provided with notice of
12 the deficiencies in his claims and further leave to amend is not warranted given the similarity
13 between the factual allegations in his second and third amended complaints. Akhtar v. Mesa, 698
14 F.3d 1202, 1212-13 (9th Cir. 2012); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (9th Cir. 2000); Noll
15 v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448-49 (9th Cir. 1987).
16

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

17

1.

This action for damages proceed on Plaintiff’s third amended complaint against

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Defendants Hernandez, Mosqueda, and Baker for retaliation in violation of the First

19

Amendment and endangering Plaintiff safety in violation of the Eighth

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Amendment;

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2.

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Plaintiff’s claims arising from the allegations set forth in paragraphs 10 through 13
be dismissed, with prejudice, for lack of standing and for failure to state a claim;

23

3.

Plaintiff’s retaliation claim arising from the rules violation report issued by

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Defendant Hernandez, to the extent one is alleged, be dismissed, without prejudice,

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for failure to state a claim;

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27
28

3

The theft of Plaintiff’s television does not support a claim for relief under section 1983. Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S.
517, 533, 104 S.Ct. 3194, 3204 (1984); Barnett v. Centoni, 31 F.3d 813, 816-17 (9th Cir. 1994). It does not appear
that Plaintiff is attempting to state such a claim and he was previously advised of the non-viability of the claim.
However, to the extent that his complaint can be construed to be raising such a claim, the claim should be dismissed.

12

1

4.

2
3

Plaintiff’s section 1983 equal protection claim and section 1985(3) claim be
dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim

5.

4

Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Hudspeth and Biter be dismissed, with
prejudice, for failure to state a claim; and
Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief be dismissed for failure to state a claim.

5

6.

6

These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District

7 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within
8 thirty (30) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file
9 written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate
10 Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within
11 the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, __ F.3d __,
12 __, No. 11-17911, 2014 WL 6435497, at *3 (9th Cir. Nov. 18, 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan,
13 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

December 17, 2014

/s/ Sheila K. Oberto
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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