Albert Valdez v. Pleasant Valley State Prison et al

Filing 12

ORDER DISMISSING CASE WITH LEAVE TO AMEND, signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 08/26/2017. Amended Complaint due 30-Day Deadline (Attachments: # 1 Amended Complaint Form)(Martin-Gill, S)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ALBERT VALDEZ, 12 Plaintiff, 13 14 vs. WARDEN OF PVSP, et al., 15 Defendants. 1:16-cv-01599-GSA-PC SCREENING ORDER ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, WITH LEAVE TO AMEND (ECF No. 1.) THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE FOR PLAINTIFF TO FILE AMENDED COMPLAINT 16 17 18 ORDER FOR CLERK TO SEND PLAINTIFF A CIVIL COMPLAINT FORM 19 (Also resolves ECF Nos. 10, 11.) 20 21 I. BACKGROUND 22 Albert Valdez (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis 23 with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On October 13, 2016, Plaintiff filed 24 the Complaint commencing this action at the United States District Court for the Central 25 District of California. (ECF No. 1.) On October 21, 2016, Plaintiff’s case was transferred to 26 this court. 27 On October 31, 2016, Plaintiff consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction in this action 28 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), and no other parties have made an appearance. (ECF No. 9.) 1 1 Therefore, pursuant to Appendix A(k)(4) of the Local Rules of the Eastern District of 2 California, the undersigned shall conduct any and all proceedings in the case until such time as 3 reassignment to a District Judge is required. Local Rule Appendix A(k)(3). Plaintiff’s Complaint is now before the court for screening. 4 5 II. SCREENING REQUIREMENT 6 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 7 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). 8 The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are 9 legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or 10 that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. 11 § 1915A(b)(1),(2). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been 12 paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that the action or 13 appeal fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 14 A complaint is required to contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing 15 that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are 16 not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 17 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell 18 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are 19 taken as true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart 20 Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 21 To state a viable claim, Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 22 ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. 23 Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). While factual allegations are accepted as 24 true, legal conclusions are not. Id. The mere possibility of misconduct falls short of meeting 25 this plausibility standard. Id. 26 III. SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT 27 Plaintiff is presently incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California. The 28 events at issue in the Complaint allegedly occurred at Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) in 2 1 Coalinga, California, when Plaintiff was incarcerated there in the custody of the California 2 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Plaintiff names as defendants the Warden of 3 PVSP; D. Fernandez (Health Care Appeals Coordinator); Dr. Marlyn Conanan; S. Navarro 4 (Health Care Appeals Coordinator); S. Walters (Health Care Appeals Coordinator); Dr. A. 5 Delasierra; Dr. J. Chokatos; and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) 6 (cumulatively, “Defendants”). 7 Plaintiff’s allegations follow. On October 23, 2015, Plaintiff was playing handball 8 when he heard a popping sound and felt extreme pain in his ankle. That day, Plaintiff was seen 9 by prison medical staff and an x-ray was ordered. On October 29, 2015, while in excruciating 10 pain, Plaintiff filed a 602 institutional appeal in an effort to receive medical treatment. 11 Defendants did nothing. On November 27, 2015, Plaintiff again filed a 602 appeal. 12 On December 7, 2015, an MRI was performed, revealing an almost complete tear of 13 Plaintiff’s Achilles tendon. Plaintiff suffered in excruciating pain needlessly for 65 days 14 because Defendants were incompetent and simply did not care how much pain Plaintiff 15 suffered or whether Plaintiff would ever walk free of severe pain again. Plaintiff was supplied 16 with faulty crutches by Defendants, causing further injury and severe pain. 17 Defendants knew that Plaintiff’s pain level was severe and unbearable, not only because 18 Plaintiff described his pain level as “10,” but because Defendants are health care professionals 19 that are trained in the medical field. Their acts and omissions had life-altering consequences 20 for Plaintiff. 21 Defendant CCHCS acted with deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s medical care, with 22 malicious and sadistic intent. Defendant Acting Warden of PVSP created an environment in 23 which Defendants were allowed to abuse inmates under his direct control. 24 Fernandez misrepresented Plaintiff’s rights and Defendants’ responsibility while adjudicating 25 an appeal which resulted in delayed medical services to Plaintiff who now faces a life of severe 26 pain and extreme mobility limitations. 27 institution doctor’s prescription to a generic Acetaminophen/Codeine; this violated Defendant’s 28 canons and subjected Plaintiff to further severe pain due to the ineffectiveness of Defendant Defendant Dr. Conanan changed an outside-of- 3 1 Tylenol/Codeine compared to the correct prescription of Morphine that Dignity Health had 2 prescribed after surgery. 3 coordination of Plaintiff’s appeals. 4 management medication prescribed by Plaintiff’s surgeon at Dignity Health, which resulted in 5 Plaintiff suffering extreme post-surgery pain. Defendant Dr. J. Chokatos ignored his duty to 6 follow the surgeon’s post-surgery prescriptions, which resulted in Plaintiff suffering severe 7 pain. Defendants Navarro and Walters were responsible for the Defendant Dr. Delasierra refused to adhere to the 8 Plaintiff suffered injuries in the form of severe pain and suffering, emotional distress, 9 and mental stress, and other injuries. Plaintiff requests monetary damages, a declaratory 10 judgment, costs of suit, and attorney fees. 11 IV. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIMS 12 The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides: 13 Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress . . . . 14 15 16 17 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 18 “[Section] 1983 ‘is not itself a source of substantive rights,’ but merely provides ‘a 19 method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.’” Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 20 393-94 (1989) (quoting Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 n.3 (1979)); see also Chapman 21 v. Houston Welfare Rights Org., 441 U.S. 600, 618 (1979); Hall v. City of Los Angeles, 697 22 F.3d 1059, 1068 (9th Cir. 2012); Crowley v. Nevada, 678 F.3d 730, 734 (9th Cir. 2012); 23 Anderson v. Warner, 451 F.3d 1063, 1067 (9th Cir. 2006). “To the extent that the violation of 24 a state law amounts to the deprivation of a state-created interest that reaches beyond that 25 guaranteed by the federal Constitution, Section 1983 offers no redress.” Id. 26 To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that (1) the defendant acted under 27 color of state law and (2) the defendant deprived him or her of rights secured by the 28 Constitution or federal law. Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 4 1 2006); see also Marsh v. Cnty. of San Diego, 680 F.3d 1148, 1158 (9th Cir. 2012) (discussing 2 “under color of state law”). A person deprives another of a constitutional right, “within the 3 meaning of § 1983, ‘if he does an affirmative act, participates in another’s affirmative act, or 4 omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which 5 complaint is made.’” Preschooler II v. Clark Cnty. Sch. Bd. of Trs., 479 F.3d 1175, 1183 (9th 6 Cir. 2007) (quoting Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978)). “The requisite 7 causal connection may be established when an official sets in motion a ‘series of acts by others 8 which the actor knows or reasonably should know would cause others to inflict’ constitutional 9 harms.” Preschooler II, 479 F.3d at 1183 (quoting Johnson, 588 F.2d at 743). This standard of 10 causation “closely resembles the standard ‘foreseeability’ formulation of proximate cause.” 11 Arnold v. Int’l Bus. Mach. Corp., 637 F.2d 1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981); see also Harper v. City 12 of Los Angeles, 533 F.3d 1010, 1026 (9th Cir. 2008). 13 A. 14 Plaintiff has named as defendant the Warden of PVSP, who holds a supervisory 15 position. Plaintiff is advised that “[l]iability under [§] 1983 arises only upon a showing of 16 personal participation by the defendant. A supervisor is only liable for the constitutional 17 violations of . . . subordinates if the supervisor participated in or directed the violations, or 18 knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them. Liability may not be imposed under a 19 theory of respondeat superior, and there must exist some causal connection between the 20 conduct of each named defendant and the violation at issue. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77; Lemire 21 v. California Dep’t of Corr. and Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1074-75(9th Cir. 2013); Lacey v. 22 Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 915-16 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc); Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 23 1202, 1205-08 (9th Cir. 2011), cert. denied, 132 S.Ct. 2101 (2012). Plaintiff must demonstrate 24 that each defendant, through his or her own individual actions, violated Plaintiff’s 25 constitutional rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676; Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d 554, 570 (9th Cir. 26 2009). 27 Defendants in their supervisory capacity, Plaintiff fails to state a claim. 28 /// Supervisory Liability Therefore, to the extent that Plaintiff seeks to impose liability upon any of the 5 1 B. 2 Plaintiff names California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) as a defendant. 3 Plaintiff is advised that he may not sustain an action against a state agency. The Eleventh 4 Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing suits brought against an unconsenting state. 5 Brooks v. Sulphur Springs Valley Elec. Co., 951 F.2d 1050, 1053 (9th Cir. 1991) (internal 6 citations omitted); see also Tennessee v. Lane, 541 U.S. 509, 517 (2004); Idaho v. Coeur 7 d’Alene Tribe of Idaho, 521 U.S. 261, 267-68 (1997); Clark v. California, 123 F.3d 1267, 1269 8 (9th Cir. 1997). The Eleventh Amendment bars suits against state agencies as well as those 9 where the state itself is named as a defendant. See P.R. Aqueduct & Sewer Auth. v. Metcalf & 10 Eddy, Inc., 506 U.S. 139, 144 (1993); Beentjes v. Placer Cnty. Air Pollution Control Dist., 397 11 F.3d 775, 777 (9th Cir. 2005); Savage v. Glendale Union High Sch., 343 F.3d 1036, 1040 (9th 12 Cir. 2003); see also Lucas v. Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam) 13 (stating that Board of Corrections is agency entitled to immunity); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 14 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) (concluding that Nevada Department of Prisons was a state agency 15 entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity). Because CCHCS is a state agency, it is entitled to 16 Eleventh Amendment immunity from suit. Therefore, Plaintiff fails to state a claim against 17 defendant CCHCS. CCHCS - Eleventh Amendment Immunity 18 C. 19 Plaintiff's allegations against defendants Fernandez, Navarro, and Walters pertain to 20 their review and handling of Plaintiff's inmate appeals. The Due Process Clause protects 21 prisoners from being deprived of liberty without due process of law. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 22 U.S. 539, 556 (1974). In order to state a cause of action for deprivation of due process, a 23 plaintiff must first establish the existence of a liberty interest for which the protection is sought. 24 “States may under certain circumstances create liberty interests which are protected by the Due 25 Process Clause.” Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 483-84 (1995). Liberty interests created by 26 state law are generally limited to freedom from restraint which “imposes atypical and 27 significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.” Id. 28 /// Appeals Process 6 1 “[I]nmates lack a separate constitutional entitlement to a specific prison grievance 2 procedure.” Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (no liberty interest in 3 processing of appeals because no entitlement to a specific grievance procedure), (citing Mann 4 v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988)). “[A prison] grievance procedure is a procedural 5 right only, it does not confer any substantive right upon the inmates.” Azeez v. DeRobertis, 6 568 F. Supp. 8, 10 (N.D. Ill. 1982) accord Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir. 7 1993); see also Massey v. Helman, 259 F.3d 641, 647 (7th Cir. 2001) (existence of grievance 8 procedure confers no liberty interest on prisoner). “Hence, it does not give rise to a protected 9 liberty interest requiring the procedural protections envisioned by the Fourteenth Amendment.” 10 Azeez, 568 F. Supp. at 10; Spencer v. Moore, 638 F. Supp. 315, 316 (E.D. Mo. 1986). 11 Actions in reviewing a prisoner’s administrative appeal generally cannot serve as the 12 basis for liability in a section 1983 action. Buckley, 997 F.2d at 495. The argument that 13 anyone who knows about a violation of the Constitution, and fails to cure it, has violated the 14 Constitution himself is not correct. “Only persons who cause or participate in the violations are 15 responsible. Ruling against a prisoner on an administrative complaint does not cause or 16 contribute to the violation.” Greeno v. Daley, 414 F.3d 645, 656-57 (7th Cir. 2005) accord 17 George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 609-10 (7th Cir. 2007); Reed v. McBride, 178 F.3d 849, 851- 18 52 (7th Cir. 1999); Vance v. Peters, 97 F.3d 987, 992-93 (7th Cir. 1996); Haney v. Htay, No. 19 1:16-CV-00310-AWI-SKO-PC, 2017 WL 698318, at *4–5 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 21, 2017). 20 21 Thus, Plaintiff’s allegations that defendants Fernandez, Navarro, and Walters failed to properly process Plaintiff’s appeals fails to state a cognizable claim. 22 D. 23 “[T]o maintain an Eighth Amendment claim based on prison medical treatment, an 24 inmate must show ‘deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.’” Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 25 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)). The two-part 26 test for deliberate indifference requires the plaintiff to show (1) “‘a serious medical need’ by 27 demonstrating that ‘failure to treat a prisoner=s condition could result in further significant 28 injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,’” and (2) “the defendant=s response to Eighth Amendment Medical Claim 7 1 the need was deliberately indifferent.” Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096 (quoting McGuckin v. Smith, 974 2 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 3 104 F.3d 1133, 1136 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc) (internal quotations omitted)). Deliberate 4 indifference is shown by “a purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible 5 medical need, and harm caused by the indifference.” Id. (citing McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1060). 6 Deliberate indifference may be manifested “when prison officials deny, delay or intentionally 7 interfere with medical treatment, or it may be shown by the way in which prison physicians 8 provide medical care.” Id. Where a prisoner is alleging a delay in receiving medical treatment, 9 the delay must have led to further harm in order for the prisoner to make a claim of deliberate 10 indifference to serious medical needs. McGuckin at 1060 (citing Shapely v. Nevada Bd. of 11 State Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985)). 12 “Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 13 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). “Under this standard, the prison official must not only ‘be aware of the 14 facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists,’ 15 but that person ‘must also draw the inference.’” Id. at 1057 (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 16 U.S. 825, 837 (1994)). “‘If a prison official should have been aware of the risk, but was not, 17 then the official has not violated the Eighth Amendment, no matter how severe the risk.’” Id. 18 (quoting Gibson v. County of Washoe, Nevada, 290 F.3d 1175, 1188 (9th Cir. 2002)). “A 19 showing of medical malpractice or negligence is insufficient to establish a constitutional 20 deprivation under the Eighth Amendment.” 21 insufficient to establish a constitutional violation.” Id. (citing Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 22 1332, 1334 (9th Cir. 1990)). Id. at 1060. “[E]ven gross negligence is 23 “A difference of opinion between a prisoner-patient and prison medical authorities 24 regarding treatment does not give rise to a § 1983 claim.” Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 1337, 25 1344 (9th Cir. 1981) (internal citation omitted). To prevail, a plaintiff “must show that the 26 course of treatment the doctors chose was medically unacceptable under the circumstances . . . 27 and . . . that they chose this course in conscious disregard of an excessive risk to plaintiff’s 28 health.” Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996) (internal citations omitted). 8 1 Plaintiff alleges that defendants Dr. Conanan, Dr. Delasierra, Dr. Chokatos refused to 2 follow the prescription medication recommendations of his outside-of-institution doctor and 3 instead used generic pain medications. 4 Plaintiff has demonstrated that he had serious medical needs because he suffered 5 excruciating pain to his ankle after an incident while playing handball. However, Plaintiff has 6 not shown deliberate indifference by Defendants. Plaintiff has not alleged facts from which the 7 court can infer that any of the Defendants were aware of a substantial risk of serious harm to 8 Plaintiff’s health and consciously and unreasonably disregarded the risk, causing him harm. 9 Nor has Plaintiff shown that the course of treatment the doctors chose was medically 10 unacceptable under the circumstances and that they chose this course of treatment in conscious 11 disregard of an excessive risk to Plaintiff’s health. At most, Plaintiff alleges a difference of 12 opinion between Plaintiff and prison medical authorities regarding treatment, which does not 13 give rise to a § 1983 claim. Therefore, Plaintiff fails to state an Eighth Amendment medical 14 claim against any of the Defendants. 15 E. 16 In addition to money damages, Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief and attorney’s fees. 17 With regard to attorney’s fees, “In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of section[] 18 1983 . . . , the court, in its discretion, may allow the prevailing party . . . reasonable attorney’s 19 fees . . . . “ 42 U.S.C. ' 1988(b). Plaintiff is representing himself in this action. Because 20 Plaintiff is not represented by an attorney, he is not entitled to recover attorney’s fees if he 21 prevails. Gonzales v. Kangas, 814 F.2d 1411, 1412 (9th Cir. 1987). Claims for Declaratory Relief and Attorney’s Fees 22 Plaintiff is not entitled to declaratory relief in this case because it is subsumed by 23 Plaintiff’s damages claim. See Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 565-66 n.8 (9th Cir. 2005) 24 (because claim for damages entails determination of whether officers’ alleged conduct violated 25 plaintiff’s rights, the separate request for declaratory relief is subsumed by damages action); see 26 also Fitzpatrick v. Gates, No. CV 00-4191-GAF (AJWx), 2001 WL 630534, at *5 (C.D. Cal. 27 Apr. 18, 2001) (“Where a plaintiff seeks damages or relief for an alleged constitutional injury 28 that has already occurred declaratory relief generally is inappropriate[.]”) 9 1 V. CONCLUSION AND ORDER 2 The court finds that Plaintiff’s Complaint fails to state any claim upon which relief may 3 be granted under § 1983. The court will dismiss the Complaint for failure to state a claim and 4 give Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint addressing the issues described above. 5 Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “[t]he court should freely 6 give leave to amend when justice so requires.” Accordingly, the court will provide Plaintiff an 7 opportunity to file an amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified above. Lopez v. 8 Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-30 (9th Cir. 2000). Plaintiff is granted leave to file the First 9 Amended Complaint within thirty days. 10 The First Amended Complaint must allege facts showing what each named defendant 11 did that led to the deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a); Iqbal, 12 556 U.S. at 678; Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). 13 demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights by their 14 actions. Id. at 676-77 (emphasis added). Plaintiff must 15 Plaintiff should note that although he has been given the opportunity to amend, it is not 16 for the purpose of changing the nature of this suit or adding unrelated claims. George, 507 F.3d 17 at 607 (no “buckshot” complaints). Plaintiff is not granted leave to add allegations of events 18 occurring after the date he filed the Complaint, October 13, 2016. 19 Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supercedes the original complaint, 20 Lacey, 693 F 3d. at 907 n.1, and it must be complete in itself without reference to the prior or 21 superceded pleading, Local Rule 220. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original 22 complaint, each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. The 23 amended complaint should be clearly and boldly titled “First Amended Complaint,” refer to the 24 appropriate case number, and be an original signed under penalty of perjury. 25 Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 26 1. 27 28 Plaintiff’s Complaint is dismissed for failure to state a claim, with leave to amend; 2. The Clerk’s Office shall send Plaintiff a civil rights complaint form; 10 1 3. Plaintiff is granted leave to file a First Amended Complaint curing the 2 deficiencies identified by the court in this order, within thirty (30) days from 3 the date of service of this order; 4 4. 5 6 Plaintiff shall caption the amended complaint “First Amended Complaint” and refer to the case number 1:16-cv-01599-GSA-PC; and 5. 7 If Plaintiff fails to file a First Amended Complaint within thirty days, this case shall be dismissed for failure to state a claim. 8 9 10 11 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: August 26, 2017 /s/ Gary S. Austin UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 11

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