Yarbrough v. Marin et al
Filing
13
ORDER Directing Clerk of Court to Randomly Assign District Judge to Action; FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS to Dismiss Action, with Prejudice, for Failure to State a Claim, Failure to Obey a Court Order, and Failure to Prosecute, signed by Magistrate J udge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 1/19/18. This case is assigned to District Judge Anthony W. Ishii and Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe. The New Case No. is: 1:17-cv-0185-AWI-BAM. Referred to Judge Ishii. Objections to F&R Due Within Fourteen Days. (Gonzalez, R)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
9
10
EDDIE YARBROUGH,
11
Plaintiff,
12
13
v.
MARIN, et al.,
Case No. 1:17-cv-00185-BAM (PC)
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO
RANDOMLY ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE TO
ACTION
15
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
DISMISS ACTION, WITH PREJUDICE, FOR
FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, FAILURE
TO OBEY A COURT ORDER, AND
FAILURE TO PROSECUTE
16
(ECF No. 12)
17
FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE
14
Defendants.
18
19
I.
Background
20
Plaintiff Eddie Yarbrough (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma
21
pauperis in this civil rights action. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge
22
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.
23
On December 6, 2017, the Court issued a screening order granting Plaintiff leave to file an
24
amended complaint within thirty (30) days. (ECF No. 12.) The Court expressly warned Plaintiff
25
that the failure to file an amended complaint in compliance with the Court’s order would result in
26
a recommendation for dismissal of this action, with prejudice, for failure to obey a court order
27
and for failure to state a claim. (Id. at 13.) Plaintiff’s second amended complaint was due on or
28
before January 8, 2018. Plaintiff has failed to file an amended complaint or otherwise
1
1
communicate with the Court.
2
II.
Failure to State a Claim
3
A.
Screening Requirement
4
The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a
5
governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.
6
§ 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to dismissal if it is frivolous
7
or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or if it seeks monetary
8
relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2); 28 U.S.C.
9
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
10
A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
11
pleader is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not
12
required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
13
conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell
14
Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as
15
true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
16
572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
17
To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires
18
sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable
19
for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S.
20
Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted
21
unlawfully is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the
22
plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
Plaintiff’s Allegations
23
B.
24
Plaintiff is currently housed at California State Prison, Los Angeles County, in Lancaster,
25
California. Plaintiff brings suit against Correctional Officer P. Marin and Correctional Officer E.
26
Gonzalez. The events at issue took place at North Kern State Prison (“KVSP”).
27
28
Plaintiff’s first claim is for a Due Process violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Plaintiff alleges that the RVR 115 on January 11, 2015 from Defendant Marin and Defendant
2
1
Gonzalez resulted in his immediate transfer to another prison. The RVR hearing was held at the
2
California Men’s Colony State Prison even though the RVR occurred at KVSP. Plaintiff alleges
3
that his guilty finding on the RVR was fundamentally unfair because Plaintiff was not given the
4
chance to call his key witness, his cellmate, who had given straight answers to the investigative
5
employee for the I.E. report. He was not allowed to present any evidence. Plaintiff alleges he
6
was given a SHU terms and held in segregated housing for 30 days with loss of good time credits
7
and denied work privileges.1
8
9
In Claim II, Plaintiff alleges cruel and unusual punishment as follows. Defendant
Gonzalez and Defendant Marin fabricated the RVR for indecent exposure with masturbation.
10
They acted with deliberate indifference that exposed Plaintiff to psychological harm and physical
11
harm. Plaintiff alleges that the RVR resulted in physical harm in that at CCI-Tehachapi on May
12
1, 2017, two inmates jumped Plaintiff for having an IEX on his records. These inmates received
13
the RVR information from other CCI-Tehachapi correctional officers as soon as Plaintiff got to
14
CCI-Tehachapi. Plaintiff was then immediately transferred out of CCI-Tehachapi. The RVR in
15
his file means a safety risk and future risk of injury when others learn of the RVR. The District
16
Attorney originally charged plaintiff under the RVR and the trial ended in a hung jury. The
17
District Attorney dismissed the charges when Plaintiff said he wanted to call his witness (former
18
cell mate) Valesquez. Defendant Gonzalez fabricated the RVR and retaliated against Plaintiff
19
after Defendant Gonzalez overheard Plaintiff criticize Correctional Officer Mesa as a “stupid”
20
because Mesa made fun of a mentally ill inmate. Defendant Marin joined in the falsity by signing
21
the fraudulent RVR under oath and testifying under oath at the trial on the RVR.
22
Plaintiff alleges he has been harmed because he has received death threats from inmates
23
and was jumped by inmates, resulting in physical injuries, and also has psychological harm and
24
suicidal thoughts, depression and related health problems. Plaintiff seeks $270,000 against each
25
1
26
27
28
Plaintiff alleges he filed 602 appeals, but Plaintiff believes Officer Mesa intercepted the 602 because it involved
staff misconduct. The failure to exhaust is an affirmative defense, and the defendants bear the burden of raising and
proving the absence of exhaustion. Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 216 (2007); Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 1166
(9th Cir. 2014). “In the rare event that a failure to exhaust is clear on the face of the complaint, a defendant may
move for dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6).” Albino, 747 F.3d at 1166. For purposes of screening, the Court does not
address whether Plaintiff properly exhausted his administrative remedies.
3
1
defendant and punitive damages of $175,000 against each defendant.
2
C.
3
Discussion
1.
4
Due Process – Rules Violation Report
a.
5
Due Process in Disciplinary Hearings
The requirements of due process are flexible and the procedural protections required are
6
as the particular situation demands. Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 224 (2005). Inmates are
7
entitled to certain due process considerations when subject to disciplinary sanctions. Brown v.
8
Oregon Dept. of Corrections, 751 F.3d 983, 987 (9th Cir. 2014). If the inmate is subjected to a
9
significantly sufficient hardship, “then the court must determine whether the procedures used to
10
deprive that liberty satisfied Due Process.” Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003).
11
“Prison disciplinary proceedings are not part of a criminal prosecution, and the full
12
panoply of rights due a defendant in such proceedings does not apply.” Wolff v. McDonnell, 418
13
U.S. 539, 556 (1974). With respect to prison disciplinary proceedings, the minimum procedural
14
requirements that must be met are: (1) written notice of the charges; (2) at least 24 hours between
15
the time the prisoner receives written notice and the time of the hearing, so that the prisoner may
16
prepare his defense; (3) a written statement by the fact finders of the evidence they rely on and
17
reasons for taking disciplinary action; (4) the right of the prisoner to call witnesses in his defense,
18
when permitting him to do so would not be unduly hazardous to institutional safety or
19
correctional goals; and (5) legal assistance to the prisoner where the prisoner is illiterate or the
20
issues presented are legally complex. Wolff, 418 U.S. at 563-71. In addition “[s]ome evidence”
21
must support the decision of the hearing officer. Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455
22
(1985). The standard is not particularly stringent and the relevant inquiry is whether “there is any
23
evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached . . . .” Id. at 455–56 (emphasis
24
added).
25
Plaintiff alleges that he was transferred and his due process hearing was conducted at the
26
transfer prison. Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to have his due process hearing
27
conducted at the originating prison. As long as the minimal procedures required in Wolff are
28
present, Due Process is satisfied.
4
1
Plaintiff alleges Due Process was violated because he did not have the opportunity to call
2
in his key witness, cellmate Velasquez. Plaintiff alleges that witness Velasquez was interviewed
3
by the investigative employee and gave a statement to the investigator which was in the
4
investigator’s report to the hearing officer. Due Process does not require that Plaintiff’s witnesses
5
physically appear at a RVR hearing, as long as the witness’s statement is presented. In Wolff, the
6
Supreme Court stated that witness should be called when permitting him to do so would not be
7
unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals. There are occasions where security
8
interests of the institution may justify the decision not to call witnesses but to find other means to
9
take their testimony such as through interviews or written statements. Brown v. Braxton, 373
10
F.3d 501 (4th Cir. 2004) (holding that corrections officers have discretion in denying requests to
11
call another inmate as a live witness when they believe there are legitimate penological interests
12
served). See, e.g., Espinoza v. Peterson, 283 F.3d 949 (8th Cir. 2002) (prison officials’ refusal to
13
transport prisoner who allegedly was involved in a fight with inmate to testify at inmate’s
14
disciplinary hearing did not violate inmate’s right to procedural due process where transferring
15
witness would have been an obvious security risk.) In Fitzgerald v. Procunier, 393 F. Supp. 335,
16
340 (N.D. Cal. 1975), the plaintiff claimed that his Due Process rights were violated because he
17
was not permitted to call his witnesses. The plaintiff’s investigator, a staff member, reported,
18
albeit briefly, that plaintiff’s witnesses had indeed corroborated his story. The RVR committee
19
declined to hear the plaintiff’s witnesses and chose to believe the victims who had positively
20
identified him as an attacker. The court in Fitzgerald, while acknowledging that the plaintiff’s
21
witnesses would have made a greater impact if they had appeared personally, nonetheless upheld
22
the disciplinary procedure and did not find a Due Process violation.2
23
24
Here, Plaintiff is alleging that his witness should have been personally present at the RVR
hearing. Due Process does not require that each witness be personally present at the hearing.
Plaintiff alleges he was not allowed to present “any evidence,” but this allegation is
25
26
conclusory. Due Process does not require in a disciplinary proceeding that a prisoner be allowed
27
2
28
The Wolff factors did not apply to the disciplinary action at issue as that disciplinary action predated Wolff. The
court nonetheless considered the plaintiff’s claim “that his inability to present witnesses prevented him from
presenting his case in a meaningful way.” Fitzgerald, 393 F.Supp. at 340.
5
1
a full-fledged criminal defense, but merely some minimal defense. All that is required to satisfy
2
Due Process is the hearing be conducted according to the Wolff factors.
3
4
b.
False Evidence/False RVR
To the extent Plaintiff contends that the rules violation report for indecent exposure was
5
false, such claim likewise fails to give rise to a Due Process violation. The issuance of a false
6
RVR or false crime report does not, in and of itself, support a claim under section 1983. See, e.g.,
7
Ellis v. Foulk, No. 14-cv-0802 AC P, 2014 WL 4676530, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 18, 2014)
8
(“Plaintiff’s protection from the arbitrary action of prison officials lies in ‘the procedural due
9
process requirements as set forth in Wolff v. McDonnell.’ ”) (citing Hanrahan v. Lane, 747 F.2d
10
1137, 1140 (7th Cir. 1984)); Solomon v. Meyer, No. 11-cv-02827-JST (PR), 2014 WL 294576, at
11
*2 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 27, 2014) (“[T]here is no constitutionally protected right to be free from false
12
disciplinary charges.”) (citing Chavira v. Rankin, No. C 11-5730 CW (PR), 2012 WL 5914913, at
13
*1 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 26, 2012) (“The Constitution demands due process, not error-free decision-
14
making.”)); Johnson v. Felker, No. 1:12-cv-02719 GEB KJN (PC), 2013 WL 6243280, at *6
15
(E.D. Cal. Dec. 3, 2013) (“Prisoners have no constitutionally guaranteed right to be free from
16
false accusations of misconduct, so the mere falsification of a [rules violation] report does not
17
give rise to a claim under section 1983.”) (citing Sprouse v. Babcock, 870 F.2d 450, 452 (8th Cir.
18
1989) and Freeman v. Rideout, 808 F.2d 949, 951–53 (2d. Cir. 1986)). Accordingly, Plaintiff
19
fails to state a cognizable due process claim.
20
The Ninth Circuit, however, has recognized “a clearly established constitutional due
21
process right not to be subjected to criminal charges on the basis of false evidence that was
22
deliberately fabricated by the government.” Devereaux v. Abbey, 263 F.3d 1070, 1074–75 (9th
23
Cir. 2001); see also Costanich v. Dep’t of Soc. & Health Servs., 627 F.3d 1101, 1111–12 (9th Cir.
24
2010) (relying on Devereaux to hold that a state investigator “who deliberately mischaracterizes
25
witness statements in her investigative report also commits a constitutional violation”). To state
26
such a claim, Plaintiff must point to evidence that supports at least one of the following two
27
propositions: “(1) Defendants continued their investigation of [Plaintiff] despite the fact that they
28
knew or should have known that he was innocent; or (2) Defendants used investigative techniques
6
1
that were so coercive and abusive that they knew or should have known that those techniques
2
would yield false information.” Devereaux, 263 F.3d at 1076 (citation omitted). “The Devereaux
3
test envisions an investigator whose unlawful motivation is illustrated by her state of mind
4
regarding the alleged perpetrator’s innocence, or one who surreptitiously fabricates evidence by
5
using coercive investigative methods.” Costanich, 627 F.3d at 1111. “These are circumstantial
6
methods of proving deliberate falsification.” Id. To establish a substantive due process violation,
7
“a plaintiff must show both a deprivation of liberty and conscience shocking behavior by the
8
government.” Brittain v Hansen, 451 F.3d 982, 991 (9th Cir. 2006) (footnote omitted). The
9
Ninth Circuit has held that in the context of a § 1983 suit against police officers for a due process
10
violation, official conduct “shocks the conscience” when the officer “either consciously or
11
through complete indifference disregards the risk of an unjustified deprivation of liberty.” Tatum
12
v. Moody, 768 F.3d 806, 820–21 (9th Cir. 2014).
13
To the extent Plaintiff intends to pursue a claim in relation to his state court criminal
14
proceedings, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim. Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to
15
satisfy Devereaux. In order to state a claim for a violation of Due Process for the criminal
16
charges, Plaintiff must allege an investigator whose unlawful motivation is illustrated by her state
17
of mind regarding the alleged perpetrator’s innocence, or one who surreptitiously fabricates
18
evidence by using coercive investigative methods. Plaintiff must also allege that he was deprived
19
of a liberty interest without Due Process. Here, Plaintiff was exonerated of the charges and not
20
subjected to additional punishment as a result of the criminal charges.
21
To the extent Plaintiff’s state criminal proceedings have concluded, the Court notes that
22
state prisoners cannot challenge the fact or duration of their confinement in a § 1983 action.
23
Their sole remedy lies in habeas corpus relief. Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 78 (2005).
24
25
c.
False RVR Claim Possibly Heck-Barred
It has long been established that state prisoners cannot challenge the fact or duration of
26
their confinement in a section 1983 action and their sole remedy lies in habeas corpus relief.
27
Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 78 (2005). Often referred to as the favorable termination rule
28
or the Heck bar, this exception to section 1983’s otherwise broad scope applies whenever state
7
1
prisoners “seek to invalidate the duration of their confinement-either directly through an
2
injunction compelling speedier release or indirectly through a judicial determination that
3
necessarily implies the unlawfulness of the State’s custody.” Wilkinson, 544 U.S. at 81; Heck v.
4
Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 482, 486–87 (1994); Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641, 644 (1997).
5
Thus, “a state prisoner’s [section] 1983 action is barred (absent prior invalidation)—no matter the
6
relief sought (damages or equitable relief), no matter the target of the prisoner’s suit (state
7
conduct leading to conviction or internal prison proceedings)—if success in that action would
8
necessarily demonstrate the invalidity of confinement or its duration.” Id. at 81–82.
9
It is unclear if Plaintiff seeks invalidation the “loss of good time credits” to Plaintiff’s
10
sentence or reversal of his RVR conviction. This particular claim may be barred by Heck v.
11
Humpreys, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). Compare Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641, 646 (1987)
12
(holding that § 1983 claim is not cognizable because allegations of procedural defects and a
13
biased hearing officer implied the invalidity of the underlying prison disciplinary sanction of loss
14
of good-time credits) with Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 858 (9th. Cir. 2003) (holding that the
15
favorable termination rule of Heck and Edwards does not apply to challenges to prison
16
disciplinary hearings where the administrative sanction imposed does not affect the overall length
17
of confinement and, thus, does not go to the heart of habeas). Plaintiff alleges that he was
18
subjected to a disciplinary proceeding that was based on false information, and that he was
19
subjected to a hearing in which proper procedures were not followed, resulting in the loss of good
20
time credits. A judgment in favor of Plaintiff on his claim will necessarily imply the invalidity of
21
the disciplinary action, and Plaintiff has not demonstrated that the disciplinary action has been
22
“reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal
23
authorized to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a
24
writ of habeas corpus.” See e.g., Cox v. Clark, 321 Fed. Appx. 673, 676 (9th Cir. 2009)
25
(affirming dismissal of due process claim pursuant to Balisok to the extent that plaintiff sought
26
restoration of good-time credits and the reversal of a disciplinary decision); McCoy v. Spidle,
27
2009 WL 1287872, *7–*8 (E.D. Cal. May 6, 2009) (“A challenge under section 1983, seeking
28
only damages and declaratory relief for procedural due process violations is also barred if the
8
1
nature of the challenge would necessarily imply the invalidity of the deprivation of good-time
2
credits.”).
3
4
5
6
2.
Failure to Protect
Plaintiff alleges that he was injured (“jumped”) when he was moved to another institution
and inmates there found out about the RVR for indecent exposure.
The Eighth Amendment “embodies broad and idealistic concepts of dignity, civilized
7
standards, humanity, and decency.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102 (1976). Conditions of
8
confinement may, however, be harsh and restrictive. See Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347
9
(1981). Nonetheless, prison officials must provide prisoners with “food, clothing, shelter,
10
sanitation, medical care, and personal safety.” Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1107 (9th
11
Cir. 1986). A prison official violates the Eighth Amendment only when two requirements are
12
met: (1) objectively, the official's act or omission must be so serious such that it results in the
13
denial of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities; and (2) subjectively, the prison
14
official must have acted unnecessarily and wantonly for the purpose of inflicting harm. See
15
Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. Thus, to violate the Eighth Amendment, a prison official must have a
16
“sufficiently culpable mind.” See id.
17
Prison officials have a duty under the Eighth Amendment to protect prisoners from
18
violence at the hands of other prisoners because being violently assaulted in prison is simply not
19
part of the penalty that criminal offenders pay for their offenses against society. Farmer, 511 U.S.
20
at 833–34 (quotation marks omitted); Clem v. Lomeli, 566 F.3d 1177, 1181 (9th Cir. 2009);
21
Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1040 (9th Cir. 2005). However, prison officials are liable
22
under the Eighth Amendment only if they demonstrate deliberate indifference to conditions
23
posing a substantial risk of serious harm to an inmate; and it is well settled that deliberate
24
indifference occurs when an official acted or failed to act despite his knowledge of a substantial
25
risk of serious harm. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834, 841 (quotations omitted); Clem, 566 F.3d at 1181;
26
Hearns, 413 F.3d at 1040. To sufficiently state a failure to protect claim, a plaintiff must allege
27
facts “to show that defendants knew of any threats to his safety or deviated from professional
28
standards by disregarding known unsafe conditions.” Cranford v. Ahlin, 610 F. App’x 714, 714
9
1
2
(9th Cir. 2015)
To the extent Plaintiff is alleging that Defendant Gonzalez and Defendant Marin failed to
3
protect him from violence at the hands of other inmates, his claim fails. Plaintiff fails to allege
4
sufficient facts establishing the defendants knew of any threats to Plaintiff’s safety at the other
5
institution, or even that there were specific threats to his safety. There are no allegations that
6
these defendants knew Plaintiff would be moved to another institution, that other correctional
7
officers at that new institution would disclose Plaintiff’s RVR to other inmates, or that other
8
inmates would jump Plaintiff. Plaintiff fails to state facts showing the defendants (1) knew of a
9
particular threat to Plaintiff’s safety before any incident, or (2) “deviated from professional
10
11
12
standards by disregarding known unsafe conditions.”
3.
First Amendment – Retaliation
The First Amendment prohibits government officials from “abridging the freedom of
13
speech . . . or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” Prisoners retain those First
14
Amendment rights not inconsistent with their status as prisoners or with legitimate penological
15
objectives of the corrections system. See Pell v. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 822 (1974). Although
16
a prisoner does not lose all First Amendment protections when he enters prison, id., the “inmate’s
17
‘status as a prisoner’ and the operational realities of a prison dictate restrictions on the
18
associational rights among inmates.” Jones v. N.C. Prisoners’ Labor Union, Inc., 433 U.S. 119,
19
125–26 (1977).
20
Allegations of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment rights to speech or to
21
petition the government may support a section 1983 claim. Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 532
22
(9th Cir. 1985); see also Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135 (9th Cir. 1989); Pratt v.
23
Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995). “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First
24
Amendment retaliation entails five basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some
25
adverse action against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that
26
such action (4) chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did
27
not reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559,
28
567−68 (9th Cir. 2005).
10
1
Plaintiff fails to allege he was engaged in constitutionally protected conduct. Plaintiff
2
alleges that he was engaged in protected activity when he told Officer Mesa that Officer Mesa
3
was stupid for making fun of mentally ill inmate and that Mesa’s job could be in jeopardy. This
4
allegation fails to state any protected conduct, and Plaintiff does not allege that he was chilled in
5
exercise of First Amendment rights.
6
Plaintiff also seems to allege that he was transferred to a different prison based on
7
Defendants Gonzalez’s and Marin’s decision to transfer Plaintiff following asserted misconduct
8
by Plaintiff. Plaintiff's conclusory allegation is not sufficient to demonstrate that Defendants
9
initiated Plaintiff’s transfer because of any constitutionally protected conduct.
10
Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to be housed in or transferred to a particular
11
prison. The Supreme Court has specifically held that a transfer to a different prison does not
12
implicate a liberty interest, and thus does not implicate the Due Process clause. Meachum v.
13
Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 224–25 (1976); Anderson v. Deleon, Case No. C 12–6055 SI PR, 2013 WL
14
892276, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 8, 2013) (“Loss of a prison job, assigning an inmate to a prison far
15
from his family and friends, and the like, which result from interprison transfers, are not
16
constitutionally protected interests.”), citing Olim v. Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238, 247 (1983);
17
Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 530 (9th Cir. 1985) (“An inmate’s liberty interests are
18
sufficiently extinguished by his conviction so that the state may change his place of confinement
19
even though the degree of confinement may be different and prison life may be more disagreeable
20
in one institution than in another.”) Plaintiff cannot state a first amendment claim merely because
21
he was transferred to a less desirable prison without any hearing.
22
III.
Failure to Prosecute and Failure to Obey a Court Order
23
A.
Legal Standard
24
Local Rule 110 provides that “[f]ailure . . . of a party to comply with these Rules or with
25
any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions . . .
26
within the inherent power of the Court.” District courts have the inherent power to control their
27
dockets and “[i]n the exercise of that power they may impose sanctions including, where
28
appropriate, . . . dismissal.” Thompson v. Hous. Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A
11
1
court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action,
2
failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46
3
F.3d 52, 53–54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet,
4
963 F.2d 1258, 1260–61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring
5
amendment of complaint); Malone v. U.S. Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 130–33 (9th Cir. 1987)
6
(dismissal for failure to comply with court order).
7
In determining whether to dismiss an action, the Court must consider several factors:
8
(1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the Court’s need to manage its
9
docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of
10
cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions. Henderson v. Duncan, 779
11
F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440 (9th Cir. 1988).
12
B.
Discussion
13
Here, Plaintiff’s second amended complaint is overdue, and he has failed to comply with
14
the Court’s orders. The Court cannot effectively manage its docket if Plaintiff ceases litigating
15
his case. Thus, the Court finds that both the first and second factors weigh in favor of dismissal.
16
The third factor, risk of prejudice to defendant, also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a
17
presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting an action.
18
Anderson v. Air W., 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor usually weighs against
19
dismissal because public policy favors disposition on the merits. Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d
20
639, 643 (9th Cir. 2002). However, “this factor lends little support to a party whose
21
responsibility it is to move a case toward disposition on the merits but whose conduct impedes
22
progress in that direction,” which is the case here. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products
23
Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1228 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).
24
Finally, the Court’s warning to a party that failure to obey the court’s order will result in
25
dismissal satisfies the “considerations of the alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262;
26
Malone, 833 at 132–33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court’s December 6, 2017 screening
27
order expressly warned Plaintiff that his failure to file an amended complaint would result in
28
dismissal of this action, with prejudice, for failure to obey a court order and for failure to state a
12
1
claim. (ECF No. 12 at 13.) Thus, Plaintiff had adequate warning that dismissal could result from
2
his noncompliance.
3
Additionally, at this stage in the proceedings there is little available to the Court that
4
would constitute a satisfactory lesser sanction while protecting the Court from further
5
unnecessary expenditure of its scarce resources. Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis in this
6
action, making monetary sanctions of little use, and the preclusion of evidence or witnesses is
7
likely to have no effect given that Plaintiff has ceased litigating his case.
8
IV.
9
10
11
Conclusion and Recommendation
Accordingly, the Court HEREBY ORDERS the Clerk of the Court to randomly assign a
district judge to this action.
Further, the Court finds that dismissal is the appropriate sanction and HEREBY
12
RECOMMENDS that this action be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim
13
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, for failure to obey Court orders, and for Plaintiff’s failure to
14
prosecute this action.
15
These Findings and Recommendation will be submitted to the United States District Judge
16
assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen
17
(14) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendation, Plaintiff may file written
18
objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s
19
Findings and Recommendation.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the
20
specified time may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate’s factual
21
findings” on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v.
22
Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
23
24
25
26
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
/s/ Barbara
January 19, 2018
A. McAuliffe
_
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
27
28
13
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?