Thomas v. Rene Wilkinson , et al

Filing 49

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS, Recommending That Defendant Tehrani's Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss the Claims Against Her as Barred By Statute of Limitations Be Granted 31 , signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 2/10/17: 30-Day Deadline. (Hellings, J)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

JOSH THOMAS,

12

Plaintiff,

13
14

vs.
WILKINSON, et al.,

15

Defendants.

16

1:15-cv-00527-LJO-GSA-PC
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
RECOMMENDING THAT DEFENDANT
TEHRANI’S RULE 12(b)(6) MOTION TO
DISMISS THE CLAIMS AGAINST HER
AS BARRED BY STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS BE GRANTED
(ECF No. 31.)
OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN 30
DAYS

17
18
19

I.

BACKGROUND

20

Josh Thomas (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action

21

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed the complaint commencing this action on April

22

21, 2014, at the Fresno County Superior Court, case number 14CECG01710. (ECF No. 2, Exh.

23

A.) On April 2, 2015, defendant Jasmine A. Tehrani removed the complaint to federal court

24

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1441(a). (ECF No. 2.) This case now proceeds on the original complaint

25

against defendants Jasmine A. Tehrani and Renee Wilkinson, Ph.D.1 (“Defendants”) on

26

Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim and related state claims. (Id.)

27
28
1

Sued as “Rene Wilkinson.” (ECF No. 41 at 1:23-34.)
1

1

On January 19, 2016, the court dismissed Plaintiff’s complaint as barred by the

2

favorable termination doctrine of Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). (ECF No. 15.)

3

Plaintiff appealed the dismissal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. (ECF Nos. 18, 23.) The

4

parties conferred and agreed that Plaintiff’s complaint was not Heck-barred and filed a

5

stipulated motion to dismiss the appeal in the Ninth Circuit. Subsequently the parties filed a

6

joint motion in the district court to vacate the judgment and modify the dispositive order. (ECF

7

Nos. 25-27.) On July 28, 2016, the district court granted the parties’ joint motion, reopened the

8

case and ordered defendant Tehrani to file a responsive pleading within thirty days. (ECF No.

9

28.)

10

On August 29, 2016, defendant Tehrani filed a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss the

11

complaint on the grounds that: (1) Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the applicable statute of

12

limitations; (2) Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the doctrine of res judicata; and (3) Plaintiff

13

failed to exhaust his state law claims with the California Victim Compensation and

14

Government Claims Board pursuant to the Tort Claims Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 810, 900-

15

935.7). (ECF No. 31.) On September 23, 2016, Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion.

16

(ECF No. 35.) On September 29, 2016, defendant Tehrani filed a reply to the opposition.

17

(ECF No. 36.) Defendant Tehrani requests that if the court grants her motion to dismiss, the

18

dismissal count as a “strike” for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

19

Defendant Wilkinson also filed a motion to dismiss on November 11, 2016, pursuant to

20

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12(b)(1) and Rule 12(b)(6) on the following grounds:

21

that Dr. Wilkinson is immune from suit based upon the doctrine of quasi-judicial immunity and

22

California Civil Code section 47(b) and 47(c), and because the Complaint fails to state a claim

23

upon which relief can be granted. (ECF No. 43.) Defendant Wilkinson also requested leave to

24

join in defendant Tehrani’s motion to dismiss. (Id.) Defendant Wilkinson’s separate motion

25

and joinder in this motion will be addressed in a later and separate ruling given that Plaintiff

26

has been granted an extension of time to respond to her motions.
Defendant Tehrani’s motion to dismiss is now before the court. Local Rule 230(l).

27
28

///
2

1

///

2

II.

SUMMARY OF PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS

3

Plaintiff is a currently incarcerated at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville,

4

California. The events at issue occurred while Plaintiff was incarcerated at the California

5

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran, California, in the custody of the California

6

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

7

Plaintiff alleges that Defendants refused to correct inaccurate information in Plaintiff’s

8

psychological evaluation report which led to the repeated denial of his parole. Plaintiff points

9

to the following portion of his evaluation, which erroneously contains information about

10

another inmate named Carranza (Inmate Carranza), discussing Inmate Carranza’s history of

11

violence and substance abuse:

12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Mr. Carranza’s elevated “historical” variables included previous violence
(i.e., life crime), and substance abuse problems (i.e., PCP abuse). There was one
moderately elevated item on relationship instability. Given that the bulk of data
contributing to this estimate is historical, then by definition, this score is not
amenable to significant change regardless of the number of years of his
incarceration.
In the “clinical” or more current and dynamic domain of risk assessment
score, the inmate had one moderate elevation on lack of insight due to his
problems with perceiving his flaws and failures and his tendency to divert
responsibility to external events and others.
(ECF No. 2-1, at 17.)

19

Plaintiff alleges that the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) and Plaintiff’s attorney

20

determined that the mistake caused serious prejudice at Plaintiff’s parole hearing, thus the

21

hearing was postponed.

22

Plaintiff next alleges that he and the Board gave notice to defendant Tehrani, Senior

23

Psychologist and defendant Wilkinson’s supervisor, that defendant Wilkinson made an

24

erroneous reference to another inmate and inserted the other inmate’s (Inmate Carranza) data

25

into Plaintiff’s evaluation, “with no result.” (ECF No. 2-1, at 6.) Plaintiff states that he

26

requested that Inmate Carranza’s information be removed from the report.

27

On January 28, 2009, defendant Tehrani responded to Plaintiff’s request finding that the

28

error did not invalidate the report. Defendant Tehrani said that the typing error had been
3

1

corrected and a revised copy of the report was submitted. She concluded, “The January 2008

2

Psychological Evaluation is valid and will serve as the evaluation on record at the time of the

3

upcoming hearing. A new Psychological Evaluation is not warranted.”2 (ECF No. 2-1, at 21.)

4

Plaintiff argues that defendant Wilkinson then generated the same report, and while he removed

5

Inmate Carranza’s name, Inmate Carranza’s data was left in the report. The Board relied on

6

this report to deny Plaintiff parole. Plaintiff alleges that each time he has a parole hearing the

7

Board reviews Inmate Carranza’s data causing Plaintiff to be denied a parole date.

8

Moreover, as a result of the commingling of data, Plaintiff believes that the Board

9

recommended mental health therapy for Plaintiff. Plaintiff filed a grievance requesting such

10

therapy, but the request was denied. (ECF No. 2-1, at 35-36.)

11

Finally, Plaintiff contends that defendants Wilkinson and Tehrani not only falsified his

12

psychological evaluation report, which the Board relied on to deny parole and order mental

13

health therapy, but “knowingly, willingly and intentionally refused to generate a new

14

Psychological Evaluation Report,” despite a request by the Board and Plaintiff on two

15

occasions. (ECF No. 2-1, at 8.)

16

Based on these allegations, Plaintiff contends that his Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth

17

Amendment rights were violated. He also alleges state law claims for negligence and

18

“intentional tort,” and alleges that Defendants falsified his report in violation of California

19

Penal Code sections 133 and 134.

20
21

Plaintiff requests $2,500,000 dollars in damages.
III.

LEGAL STANDARDS

22

A.

23

In considering a motion to dismiss, the court must accept all allegations of material fact

24

in the complaint as true. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d

25

1081 (2007); Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740, 96 S.Ct. 1848, 48

Rule 12(b)(6) Motion To Dismiss For Failure To State A Claim

26
27
28

2

Defendant Tehrani also explained as follows: “The facts and references made in the report are
individualized and specific to Mr. Thomas; there is no evidence to suggest that the evaluator commingled the
records from two different inmates. The opinions and conclusions, including those pertaining to diagnoses and
violence risk potential, are clearly supported by data gleaned from Mr. Thomas’ file.” (ECF No. 2-1, at 21.)
4

1

L.Ed.2d 338 (1976). The court must also construe the alleged facts in the light most favorable

2

to the plaintiff. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 40 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974),

3

overruled on other grounds by Davis v. Scherer, 468 U.S. 183, 104 S.Ct. 3012, 82 L.Ed.2d 139

4

(1984); Barnett v. Centoni, 31 F.3d 813, 816 (9th Cir. 1994) (per curiam). All ambiguities or

5

doubts must also be resolved in the plaintiff’s favor. See Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411,

6

421, 89 S.Ct. 1843, 23 L.Ed.2d 404 (1969). However, legally conclusory statements, not

7

supported by actual factual allegations, need not be accepted. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,

8

129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949–50, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). In addition, pro se pleadings are held to a

9

less stringent standard than those drafted by lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520,

10

92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972). “The issue is not whether a plaintiff will ultimately

11

prevail but whether the claimant is entitled to offer evidence to support the claims.” Scheuer,

12

416 U.S. at 236.

13

Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires “a short and plain

14

statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief” in order to “give the

15

defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell

16

Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)

17

(quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)). However, in

18

order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must

19

contain more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain

20

factual allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. at 555–

21

56. The complaint must contain “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its

22

face.” Id. at 570. “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that

23

allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct

24

alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability

25

requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted

26

unlawfully.” Id. at 679 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “Where a complaint pleads facts

27

that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability, it ‘stops short of the line between

28

possibility and plausibility for entitlement to relief.” Id. at 680 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at
5

1

557).

2

In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the court generally may not consider materials

3

outside the complaint and pleadings. Cooper v. Pickett, 137 F.3d 616, 622 (9th Cir. 1998);

4

Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 453 (9th Cir. 1994). The court may, however, consider: (1)

5

documents whose contents are alleged in or attached to the complaint and whose authenticity

6

no party questions, see id. at 454; (2) documents whose authenticity is not in question, and

7

upon which the complaint necessarily relies, but which are not attached to the complaint, see

8

Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th Cir. 2001); and (3) documents and

9

materials of which the court may take judicial notice, see Barron v. Reich, 13 F.3d 1370, 1377

10

(9th Cir. 1994).

11

IV.

DEFENDANT TEHRANI’S MOTION TO DISMISS

12

Defendant Tehrani argues that this case should be dismissed on the grounds that: (1)

13

Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations; (2) Plaintiff’s claims are

14

barred by the doctrine of res judicata; and (3) Plaintiff failed to exhaust his state law claims

15

with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board pursuant to the Tort

16

Claims Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 810, 900-935.7). (ECF No. 31.)

17

A.

18

Under Federal Rule of Evidence 201(b), “The court may judicially notice a fact that is

19

not subject to reasonable dispute because it: (1) is generally known within the trial court’s

20

territorial jurisdiction; or (2) can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose

21

accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.” Fed. R. Evid. 201(b); accord United States v.

22

Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908-09 (9th Cir. 2003). “A court shall take judicial notice if requested

23

by a party and supplied with the necessary information.” Id. at 201(c). “[A] court may take

24

judicial notice of its own records.” U.S. v. Author Svcs., Inc., 804 F.2d 1520, 1522 (9th Cir.

25

1986); Reyn’s Pasta Bella, LLC v. Visa USA, Inc., 442 F.3d 741, 746 n. 6 (9th Cir. 2006);

26

Bennett v. Medtronic, Inc., 285 F.3d 801, 803 n.2 (9th Cir. 2002) (“[W]e may take notice of

27

proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if those

28

proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue”) (internal quotation omitted).

Request for Judicial Notice

6

1

Additionally, a court “may take judicial notice of a record of a state agency not subject to

2

reasonable dispute.” City of Sausalito v. O'Neill, 386 F.3d 1186, 1223 n. 2 (9th Cir. 2004);

3

Evans v. CSP Sacramento, No. CIV S-10-1969, 2011 WL 4738472 at *4 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 5,

4

2011) (declaration from VCGCB’s custodian of records that inmate had not filed a claim

5

subject to judicial notice).

6

Defendant requests the court to take judicial notice of the following exhibits:

7

1.

Exhibit A contains true and correct copies of the following docket events from

8

the case Thomas v. California Board of Parole Hearing Commissioners, et al.,

9

No. 1:10-cv-00035-OWW-MJS (E.D. Cal. Jan. 14, 2011) (Ex. A at AGO.001-

10

111):

11

a.

PACER Docket Sheet (Ex. A at AGO.001-006.)

12

b.

Excerpts from “Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas

13

Corpus by a Person in State Custody,” filed January 7, 2010 by Josh

14

Thomas. (Ex. A at AGO.007-093.)

15

c.

Dismiss.” (Ex. A at AGO.094-108.)

16
17

d.

18

“Order Adopting Findings and Recommendations.” (Ex. A at AGO.109110.)

19

e.

20
21

“Findings and Recommendations Regarding Respondent’s Motion to

Order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit,
denying certificate of appealability. (Ex. A at AGO.111.)

2.

Exhibit B is a true and correct copy of the Declaration of Katrina De Caro,

22

Custodian of Records, California Victim Compensation and Government Claims

23

Board (VCGCB), dated April 2, 2015. (Ex. B at AGO.112-114.)

24

(Req. for Judicial Notice, ECF No. 31-2 at 1-2.)

25

The court finds that Exhibit A consists of court records relevant to this case. Such

26

documents are readily capable of judicial notice. The documents in Exhibit B, which pertain to

27

Plaintiff’s exhaustion efforts at the VCGCB, are part of a state administrative proceeding and

28

may also be judicially noticed. These documents are relevant to the court’s determination of
7

1

///

2

the exhaustion issue in defendant Tehrani’s motion to dismiss. Therefore, the court shall grant

3

Defendant’s request for judicial notice.

4
5

B.

Statute of Limitations
1.

Legal Standard

6

In federal court, federal law determines when a claim accrues, and “under federal law, a

7

claim accrues ‘when the plaintiff knows or has reason to know of the injury which is the basis

8

of the action.’” Lukovsky v. City and County of San Francisco, 535 F.3d 1044, 1048 (9th Cir.

9

2008) (quoting Two Rivers v. Lewis, 174 F.3d 987, 991 (9th Cir. 1999); Fink v. Shedler, 192

10

F.3d 911, 914 (9th Cir. 1999)). In the absence of a specific statute of limitations, federal courts

11

should apply the forum state’s statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Lukovsky, 535

12

F.3d at 1048; Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 927 (2004); Fink, 192 F.3d at 914. California's

13

two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions applies to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims.

14

See Jones, 393 F.3d at 927. California’s statute of limitations for personal injury actions

15

requires that the claim be filed within two years. Cal. Code Civ. Proc., § 335.1.

16

In actions where the federal court borrows the state statute of limitations, the court

17

should also borrow all applicable provisions for tolling the limitations period found in state

18

law. See Hardin v. Straub, 490 U.S. 536, 539, 109 S.Ct. 1998, 2000 (1989). Pursuant to

19

California Code of Civil Procedure, § 352.1, a two-year limit on tolling is imposed on

20

prisoners. Section 352.1 provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

21
22
23
24
25

(a) If a person entitled to bring an action, . . . is, at the time the
cause of action accrued, imprisoned on a criminal charge, or in
execution under the sentence of a criminal court for a term less
than for life, the time of that disability is not a part of the time
limited for the commencement of the action, not to exceed two
years.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc., § 352.1.

26

The equitable tolling doctrine also tolls the statute of limitations while exhaustion

27

occurs. Donoghue v. County of Orange, 848 F.2d 926, 930-31 (9th Cir. 1988); Addison v.

28

State of California, 21 Cal.3d 313, 318 (1978). Additionally, whether an inmate is entitled to
8

1

equitable tolling is decided by state law except to the extent that it is inconsistent with federal

2

law. Jones, 393 F.3d at 927. Under California law, equitable tolling is available where there is

3

“timely notice, and lack of prejudice to the defendant, and reasonable and good faith conduct

4

on the part of the plaintiff.” Daviton v. Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., 241 F.3d 1131, 1132

5

(9th Cir. 2001) (quoting Addison, 21 Cal.3d at 319). Equitable tolling applies “to suspend or

6

extend a statute of limitations as necessary to ensure fundamental practicality and fairness.”

7

Jones, 393 F.3d at 927 (quoting Lantzy v. Centex Homes, 31 Cal.4th 363, 370 (2003)).

8

Application of equitable tolling “requires a balancing of the injustice to the plaintiff occasioned

9

by the bar of his claim against the effect upon the important public interest or policy expressed

10

by the . . . limitations statute.” Jones, 393 F.3d at 927 (quoting Lantzy, 31 Cal.4th at 371)).

11

2.

Defendant’s Motion

12

Defendant argues that Plaintiff failed to comply with the applicable statute of

13

limitations. Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s § 1983 claim accrued on January 29, 2008, the

14

date Plaintiff knew or had reason to know of the injury which formed the basis of his

15

complaint, and therefore Plaintiff was required to file his complaint at the latest by January 29,

16

2012, four years after his claim accrued. (ECF No. 2-1 at 6.) Instead, Plaintiff filed his

17

complaint in Fresno County Superior Court on April 21, 2014, more than six years later. (ECF

18

No. 2-1 at 2.) Defendant asserts there is nothing in the complaint to indicate that Plaintiff

19

should be entitled to exhaustion-based equitable tolling, and with respect to the state claims,

20

Plaintiff is not entitled to equitable tolling because he did not file a claim with the VCGCB.

21

Plaintiff argues that Defendant is wrong because section 1983 does not contain a statute

22

of limitations.

23

Complaint. Plaintiff also alleges that his injury was “ongoing” and he suffered damages from

24

January 8, 2008 through 2010.

Plaintiff alleges that he was under imminent danger when he filed the

25

Defendant acknowledges that section 1983 does not contain its own statute of

26

limitations, but asserts that under California state law, the federal court applies California’s

27

four-year statute of limitations for personal injury. Defendant argues that since Plaintiff did not

28

file his lawsuit until April 21, 2014, his claim is barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
9

1

Defendant also argues that Plaintiff is not excused from the statute of limitations because of an

2

imminent danger exception. Defendant also contends that Plaintiff has not cited any statute or

3

case law to support this exception, and Defendant is not aware of any such exception to

4

California’s statute of limitations for personal injury suits. Defendant also asserts that Plaintiff

5

has not identified any imminent physical injury, and Plaintiff’s claim that his situation has been

6

ongoing for over eight years belies his claim that any danger was “imminent.”

7

3.

Discussion

8

As discussed above, “under federal law, a claim accrues ‘when the plaintiff knows or

9

has reason to know of the injury which is the basis of the action.’” Lukovsky, 535 F.3d at

10

1048. “A claim may be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) on the ground that it is barred by the

11

applicable statute of limitations only when ‘the running of the statute is apparent on the face of

12

the complaint.’” Von Saher v. Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, 592 F.3d 954, 969

13

(9th Cir. 2010) (quoting Huynh v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 465 F.3d 992, 997 (9th Cir. 2006)).

14

“‘[A] complaint cannot be dismissed unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove

15

no set of facts that would establish the timeliness of the claim.’” Von Saher, 592 F.3d at 969

16

(quoting Supermail Cargo, Inc. v. U.S., 68 F.3d 1204, 1206 (9th Cir. 1995)). “[W]here the

17

issue of limitations requires determination of when a claim begins to accrue, the complaint

18

should be dismissed only if the evidence is so clear that there is no genuine factual issue and

19

the determination can be made as a matter of law.” Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe v. United

20

States, 895 F.2d 588, 591 (9th Cir. 1990); In re Swine Flu Prod. Liab. Litig., 764 F.2d 637, 638

21

(9th Cir. 1985); Lundy v. Union Carbide Corp., 695 F.2d 394, 397-98 (9th Cir.1982).

22

Here, the Court finds that the running of the limitations period is apparent on the face of

23

Plaintiff’s Complaint. The Complaint alleges that defendant Tehrani “caused the damage to

24

Plaintiff on January 29, 2008, at [a] Board of Parole Hearing,” when a psychological evaluation

25

report for Plaintiff was used even though another inmate’s records had been erroneously

26

commingled with Plaintiff’s records.

27

allegations, it appears that the statute of limitations began to run on January 29, 2008. Plaintiff

28

did not file this lawsuit until more than seven years later, on April 21, 2014. Even if Plaintiff’s

(Complaint, ECF No 2-1 at 6.)

10

Based on these

1

///

2

claim did not accrue until he was denied parole in February 2008, on the face of the complaint,

3

Plaintiff’s claims against defendant Tehrani are still barred.

4

Plaintiff’s argument that he was under “imminent danger” when he filed the complaint

5

and is therefore entitled to tolling of the limitations period is unavailing. The Court knows of

6

no such exception to the running of the statute of limitations for personal injury, and as noted

7

by Defendant, Plaintiff has not cited any statute or case law to support this exception.

8

Plaintiff’s argument that he is not subject to the statute because his injury was “ongoing” is

9

unpersuasive.

Plaintiff fails to support this argument except to claim that his “damages

10

continue from January 8, 2008 – 2010.” (ECF No. 35 at 6.) Plaintiff appears to argue that

11

because his damages continued until 2010, his Complaint was timely filed in 2014. However,

12

because a personal injury claim accrues when the plaintiff knows of the injury, and Plaintiff

13

alleges in the Complaint that defendant Tehrani “caused the damage to Plaintiff on January 29,

14

2008,” this argument fails.

15

Here, it appears beyond doubt that Plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts that would

16

establish the timeliness of his claim. Therefore, Plaintiff’s Complaint should be dismissed as

17

barred by the statute of limitations.

18
19

C.

Res Judicata
1.

Legal Standard

20

The doctrine of res judicata bars the re-litigation of claims previously decided on their

21

merits. Headwaters, Inc. v. U.S. Forest Serv., 399 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2005). Under the

22

doctrine of claim preclusion, a final judgment on the merits of an action precludes the parties or

23

persons in privity with them from litigating the same claim that was raised in that action and all

24

claims arising out of the same transaction or occurrence. See Taylor v. Sturgell, 128 S.Ct.

25

2161, 2171 (2008); Rest.2d Judgments § 18. AThe elements necessary to establish res judicata

26

are: >(1) an identity of claims, (2) a final judgment on the merits, and (3) privity between

27

parties.=@ Headwaters, Inc., 399 F.3d at 1052 (quoting Tahoe-Sierra Pres. Council, Inc. v.

28

Tahoe Reg=l Planning Agency, 322 F.2d 1064, 1077 (9th Cir. 2003)). A[T]he doctrine of res
11

1

judicata (or claim preclusion) >bars all grounds for recovery which could have been asserted,

2

whether they were or not, in a prior suit between the same parties . . . on the same cause of

3

action.=@ Costantini v. Trans World Airlines, 681 F.2d 1199, 1201 (9th Cir. 1982) (quoting

4

Ross v. IBEW, 634 F.2d 453, 457 (9th Cir. 1980) (emphasis added)).

5

When determining, for res judicata purposes, whether a present dispute concerns the

6

same claims as did prior litigation, the Ninth Circuit considers: "(1) whether rights or interests

7

established in the prior judgment would be destroyed or impaired by prosecution of the second

8

action; (2) whether substantially the same evidence is presented in the two actions; (3) whether

9

the two suits involve infringement of the same right; and (4) whether the two suits arise out of

10

the same transactional nucleus of facts", which is the most important factor. Headwaters, Inc.,

11

399 F.3d at 1052. A prior federal habeas decision may have preclusive effect in a separate

12

section 1983 action. Hawkins v. Risley, 984 F.2d 321, 323 (9th Cir. 1993).

13

A defendant relying on res judicata as a defense must plead it as an affirmative defense.

14

Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc. v. University of Ill. Found., 402 U.S. 313, 350, 91 S.Ct.

15

1434, 1453 (1971). However, "if a court is on notice that it has previously decided the issue

16

presented, the court may dismiss the action sua sponte, even though the defense has not been

17

raised," Arizona v. California, 530 U.S. 392, 416, 120 S.Ct. 2304, 2318 (2000), provided that

18

the parties have an opportunity to be heard prior to dismissal, Headwaters, Inc., 399 F.3d at

19

1055. "As a general matter, a court may, sua sponte, dismiss a case on preclusion grounds

20

'where the records of that court show that a previous action covering the same subject matter

21

and parties had been dismissed.'" Id. at 1054-1055 (quoting Evarts v. W. Metal Finishing Co.,

22

253 F.2d 637, 639 n. 1 (9th Cir. 1958)).

23

2.

Defendant’s Motion

24

Defendant argues that the elements necessary to establish res judicata were satisfied

25

when Plaintiff’s federal petition for habeas corpus, Thomas v. California Board of Parole

26

Hearing Commissioners, et al., case number 1:10-v-00035-OWW-MJS (E.D. Cal., Jan. 14,

27

2011), filed on June 7, 2010, was denied, and as a result, Plaintiff is barred from bringing the

28

present § 1983 case.
12

1

///

2

Shared Identity of Claims

3

Defendant argues that the habeas petition and the present case arise out of the same

4

nucleus of facts because Plaintiff argued in both cases that “Dr. Wilkinson’s l[a]ck of insight

5

opinion confl[i]cts with other psychologists’ insight opinion [and] as [a] result[] petitioner’s

6

parole hearing was prejudice[d].”

7

AGO.056.)

8

“evaluation report . . . contained false information,” including “information [that] appl[ied] to

9

Mr. Carranza, not petitioner.” (Id.) Defendant asserts that likewise here, Plaintiff claims that

(Req. for Judicial Notice, ECF No. 31-2, Exh. C at

Defendant asserts that Plaintiff pointed to the fact that his January 2008

10

Rene Wilkinson erroneously inserted a damaging paragraph concerning Mr. Carranza into

11

Plaintiff’s psychological report, and that the error prejudiced him at his parole hearing,

12

resulting in denial of parole. (Id. at 4, 7.)

13

Defendant asserts that Plaintiff also attached substantially the same evidence to both his

14

habeas petition and the complaint in this case, including the January 2008 Board of Parole

15

Hearings psychological evaluation report containing the erroneous reference to “Mr. Carranza.”

16

(Compare ECF No. 2-1 at 17 with Defendant’s Req. for Judicial Notice, Exh. A at AGO.088.)

17

Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s two suits both involve the infringement of the same

18

right: in the present case, Plaintiff alleges a “Loss of Liberty,” (ECF No. 2-1 at 3), and in the

19

habeas petition Plaintiff alleged that “Ms. Wilkinson’s opinion cause[d] petitioner to suffer

20

prejudice . . . [and] petitioner’s due process have and continue to be violated.” (Req. for

21

Judicial Notice, Exh. A at AGO.060.)

22

In addition, Defendant argues that because the habeas petition was denied, the Board of

23

Parole Hearing’s interests would be impaired if defendant Tehrani, an employee of the Board,

24

were forced to defend a lawsuit involving the exact same claims.

25

Final Judgment on the Merits

26

Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s habeas petition reached a final adjudication on the

27

merits, asserting that in Plaintiff’s habeas case, the district court denied Plaintiff’s petition for

28

writ of habeas corpus, finding, inter alia, that Plaintiff’s “claims regarding his 2008 parole
13

1

hearing [were] not cognizable” in light of Swarthout v. Cooke, 131 S. Ct. 859 (2001). (Req.

2

Judicial Notice at AGO.110.) Plaintiff appealed, but the Ninth Circuit denied his certificate of

3

appealability. (Id. at AGO.111.)

4

Privity

5

Defendant argues that the present case and the habeas petition involve parties in privity,

6

because respondents in the habeas petition and defendant Tehrani are all employees of Board of

7

Parole Hearings. Defendant asserts that the respondents to Plaintiff’s habeas petition were the

8

Board of Parole Hearings Commissioners and Ken Clark, a CDCR Warden, and here,

9

defendant Tehrani is a Senior Psychologist for the Board.

10

3.

Plaintiff’s Opposition

11

Plaintiff argues that res judicata does not apply because the habeas petition does not

12

share identity of claims with the present case; the habeas decision was not a final decision on

13

the merits; and defendant Tehrani was not a party in the habeas case.

14

Identity of Claims

15

Plaintiff argues that because the claim at issue in the habeas petition was a due process

16

claim, and the claim in the present case is an Eighth Amendment claim, the two cases do not

17

share identity of claims. Plaintiff asserts that the judgment in the habeas case denied his due

18

process claims as noncognizable, whereas here, he brings completely different claims.

19

Final Judgment on the Merits

20

Plaintiff argues that the habeas petition did not reach a final adjudication on the merits

21

of Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment and state law claims, and therefore the denial of the habeas

22

petition on Plaintiff’s due process claim was not a final judgment on the merits of the claims

23

brought in the § 1983 case.

24

Privity

25

Plaintiff argues that the two cases do not involve the same parties or identity of parties

26

because defendant Tehrani was not a party in the habeas petition, and the petition did not make

27

reference to her name. Plaintiff asserts that the habeas action was against the Board of Parole

28

Hearings and Warden Ken Clark, whereas this case is against defendants Tehrani and
14

1

Wilkinson as individuals, so the parties are not the same.

2

4.

Discussion

3

The court finds that Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims against defendant Tehrani in

4

this § 1983 action are not barred by res judicata, because although identity of claims and

5

privity exist, the denial of Plaintiff’s petition for habeas corpus was not a final judgment on the

6

merits.

7

Identity of Claims

8

“Identity of claims exists when two suits arise from ‘the same transactional nucleus of

9

facts.’” Tahoe-Sierra Pres. Council, 322 F.3d at 1078 (quoting Owens v. Kaiser Found Health

10

Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 714 (9th Cir. 2001). Res judicata bars relitigation of all grounds of

11

recovery that were asserted, or could have been asserted, in a previous action between the

12

parties . . .” Tahoe-Sierra Pres. Council, 322 F.3d at 1078 (quoting United States ex rel.

13

Barajas v. Northrop Corp., 147 F.3d 905 (9th Cir.1998).

14

Here, there is a common transactional nucleus of facts in Plaintiff’s two cases. Both

15

cases arise from Plaintiff’s allegations that another inmate’s information was erroneously

16

inserted into Plaintiff’s psychological evaluation report which the Board considered at

17

Plaintiff’s parole hearing, resulting in denial of parole and violating Plaintiff’s constitutional

18

rights. Plaintiff’s federal habeas petition raised eight different grounds for relief, including a

19

claim that his January 2008 psychological evaluation report conflicted with previous reports

20

and prejudiced his February 2008 parole hearing. In the habeas petition, Plaintiff points out

21

that the report refers to a “Mr. Carranza,” potentially bringing the reliability of the report into

22

question.

23

mistaken information in his psychological report to deny him parole.

Plaintiff asserted that the Board violated his due process rights by relying on

24

In this § 1983 case, Plaintiff proceeds on an Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference

25

claim against Defendants, based on their refusal to correct inaccurate information on Plaintiff’s

26

psychological report, which then led to the denial of Plaintiff’s parole at a hearing in February

27

2008. In the § 1983 case, Plaintiff alleges that in January 2008, defendant Wilkinson, a

28

contractor for the Board of Parole hearings, referred to another inmate, Inmate Carranza, and
15

1

included Inmate Carranza’s data in Plaintiff’s psychological evaluation report. Plaintiff alleges

2

that defendant Tehrani, defendant Wilkinson’s supervisor, was notified of the error and was

3

asked to remove the other inmate’s information from the report, which she did not do. Plaintiff

4

alleges that the Board then relied on the erroneous report to deny him parole at a February 2008

5

hearing. The court finds that Plaintiff’s two cases arise from the same collection of facts and

6

therefore, identity of claims exists.

7

Final Judgment on the Merits

8

Res judicata also requires a final judgment on the merits of Plaintiff’s habeas case.

9

There was no such final judgment here. Plaintiff’s due process claim in the habeas case was

10

not decided on the merits. Plaintiff’s claims concerning the February 2008 parole hearing were

11

denied as non-cognizable for lack of jurisdiction because of an intervening change in the law

12

due to the Supreme Court’s decision in Swarthout.3 (emphasis added.) A dismissal for lack of

13

jurisdiction generally is not a decision on the merits for res judicata purposes. Fed. R. Civ. P.

14

41(b).

15

Privity

16

Even when the parties are not identical, privity may exist if “there is ‘substantial

17

identity’ between parties, that is, when there is sufficient commonality of interest.” Tahoe-

18

Sierra Pres. Council, 322 F.3d at 1081 (quoting In re Gottheiner, 703 F.2d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir.

19

1983) (citation omitted); see also Stratosphere Litigation, 298 F.3d at 1142 n. 3 (finding privity

20

when a party is “so identified in interest with a party to former litigation that he represents

21

precisely the same right in respect to the subject matter involved”) (citation omitted); Shaw v.

22

Hahn, 56 F.3d 1128, 1131–32 (9th Cir. 1995) (finding privity when the interests of the party in

23

the subsequent action were shared with and adequately represented by the party in the former

24
25
26
27

3

In 2011, the United States Supreme Court overruled a line of Ninth Circuit precedent that had
supported habeas review in California cases involving denials of parole by the Board of Parole Hearings and/or the
governor. See Swarthout v. Cooke, 562 U.S. 216, 131 S.Ct. 859, 861 (2011). The Supreme Court held that
federal habeas jurisdiction does not extend to review of the evidentiary basis for state parole decisions. Magee v.
Arnold, No. 2:15-CV-2318 GGH P, 2016 WL 1060203, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 17, 2016)

28
16

1

action); United States v. ITT Rayonier, Inc., 627 F.2d 996, 1003 (9th Cir. 1980) (“[A] ‘privy’

2

may include those whose interests are represented by one with authority to do so.”)) “Courts

3

are no longer bound by rigid definitions of parties or their privies for purposes of applying

4

collateral estoppel or res judicata.” United States v. ITT Rayonier, Inc., 627 F.2d 996, 1003

5

(9th Cir. 1980).

6

Here, none of the parties are named in both actions. However, the defendants or

7

respondents in both actions share a relationship to the Bureau of Parole Hearings and share

8

each other’s interests. Defendants Wilkinson and Tehrani are both employees of the Board and

9

shared in causing the alleged injuries to Plaintiff, based on the same set of facts during which

10

the individual defendants acted in their roles as employees in the interest of the Board.

11

Defendants Wilkinson and Tehrani both had a significant interest in the outcome of the habeas

12

action, even if they were not named as parties. Therefore, the court finds that privity exists for

13

purposes of res judicata.

14
15

D.

CALIFORNIA TORT CLAIMS ACT
1.

Legal Standard

16

California’s Government Claims Act requires that a tort claim against a public entity or

17

its employees be presented to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims

18

Board, formerly known as the State Board of Control, no more than six months after the cause

19

of action accrues. Cal. Gov. Code, §§ 900 et seq. Presentation of a written claim, and action

20

on or rejection of the claim are conditions precedent to suit. State v. Superior Court of Kings

21

County (Bodde), 32 Cal.4th 1234, 1245, 90 P.3d 116, 124, 13 Cal.Rptr.3d 534, 543 (2004);

22

Mangold v. California Pub. Utils. Comm=n, 67 F.3d 1470, 1477 (9th Cir. 1995). To state a tort

23

claim against a public employee, a plaintiff must allege compliance with the Government

24

Claims Act or an excuse for noncompliance. State v. Superior Court, 32 Cal.4th at 1245, 90

25

P.3d at 124, 13 Cal.Rptr.3d at 543; Mangold, 67 F.3d at 1477; Karim-Panahi v. Los Angeles

26

Police Dept., 839 F.2d 621, 627 (9th Cir. 1988).

27
28

2.

Defendant’s Motion

Defendant argues that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his state law claims with the California
17

1

Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) as required under the

2

California Tort Claims Act.4 Defendant provides evidence that Plaintiff did not present his

3

state tort claims to the VCGCB prior to bringing suit. Defendant asserts that the VCGCB has

4

no record of Plaintiff presenting any claims regarding the January 2008 incident at issue in his

5

Complaint.

6

Plaintiff argues that because his claims in this action are not against the State itself or

7

against Defendants in their official capacity, and Plaintiff sought more than $25,000.00 in his

8

complaint, it would have been fruitless for Plaintiff to file a claim with the VCGCB.

9

Nonetheless, Plaintiff asserts that he did exhaust his state law claims by presenting a claim to

10

the VCGCB, and he provides evidence that his claim number G615306 was received by the

11

VCGCB on December 17, 2013, and rejected on December 23, 2013. (ECF No. 35, Appx. 12.)

12

Defendant replies that Plaintiff presents no evidence to show that claim number

13

G615306 to the VCGCB concerns the incident at issue in his Complaint. Defendant submits

14

evidence that the custodian of records of the VCGCB searched VCGCB’s records and was

15

unable to find any claims filed by Plaintiff concerning an incident in January 2008. Defendant

16

argues that even if Plaintiff did submit a relevant claim to the VCGCB on December 17, 2013,

17

that claim would be late because it was presented more than six months after the accrual of his

18

cause of action against defendant Tehrani.

19

3.

Discussion

20

Defendant Tehrani is an employee of the Board of Parole Hearings which, as an agency

21

of the State of California, is a public entity. Therefore, for Plaintiff to state a tort claim against

22

defendant Tehrani, Plaintiff must allege compliance with the California Government Claims

23

Act (GCA). Cal. Govt. Code, §§ 900 et seq.

24

Plaintiff’s Complaint is silent as to whether or not he filed a government claim pursuant

25
26
27

4

The California Tort Claims Act is now known as the Government Claims Act. City of
Stockton v. Superior Court, 42 Cal. 4th 730, 741-42 (Cal. 2007) (adopting the practice of using Government
Claims Act rather than California Tort Claims Act).

28
18

1

to the GCA, and Plaintiff’s evidence that he purportedly filed claim number G615306 with the

2

VCGCB on December 17, 2013, is not sufficient to show that Plaintiff filed a VCGCB claim

3

relevant to his claim in this § 1983 case against defendant Tehrani that meets the requirements

4

of the GCA. The court concurs with defendant Tehrani that Plaintiff presents no evidence to

5

show that his claim number G615306 to the VCGCB concerns the incident at issue in his

6

Complaint or that he timely filed a VCGCB claim no more than six months after accrual of the

7

claim. Plaintiff alleges in the Complaint that an erroneous report generated in January 2008

8

caused denial of parole at his parole hearing in February 2008. Accordingly, Plaintiff was

9

required to file a VCGCB claim, at the latest, no later than six months after his parole was

10

denied at the February 2008 parole hearing. Plaintiff has submitted no evidence that he did so,

11

or that he was excused from doing so. Therefore, the court finds that Plaintiff failed to exhaust

12

his remedies with the VCGCB, and therefore his state tort claims against defendant Tehrani

13

should be dismissed.

14

V.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

15

The court has found that Plaintiff’s claims against defendant Tehrani in this action are

16

not barred by res judicata. However, the court finds that Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims

17

against defendant Tehrani are barred by the statute of limitations, and Plaintiff’s state law

18

claims should be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to exhaust his remedies required by

19

California’s Government Claims Act.5 Therefore, defendant Tehrani’s Rule 12(b)(6) motion to

20

dismiss Plaintiff’s case should be granted as barred by the statute of limitations.

21

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

22

1.

23
24

Defendant Tehrani’s Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims as barred
by the statute of limitations, filed on August 28, 2016, be GRANTED;

2.

The claims against defendant Tehrani be dismissed with prejudice for failure to

25
26
27
28

5

Moreover, once Plaintiff’s federal claims are dismissed, his state law claims fail. Although the
court may exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims, Plaintiff must first have a cognizable claim for
relief under federal law. See 28 U.S.C. ' 1367. The Supreme Court has cautioned that Aif the federal claims are
dismissed before trial, . . . the state claims should be dismissed as well.@ United Mine Workers of America v.
Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726 (1966).
19

1

state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; and

2

3.

3

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

4

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. ' 636(b)(l). Within

5

thirty (30) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, any party may

6

file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to

7

Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections shall be

8

served and filed within ten days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that

9

failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal.

10

Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923

11

F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).

Defendant Tehrani be dismissed from this action.

12
13
14
15

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

February 10, 2017

/s/ Gary S. Austin
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
20