Hardin v. Wilson et al

Filing 9

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Dismissing the Action Without Prejudice, signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 2/12/2018. Referred to Chief Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill. Objections to F&R due within 14 days. (Hall, S)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JEFFREY T. HARDIN, 12 Plaintiff, v. 13 14 DAVID WILSON, et al., Defendants. 15 16 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No.: 1:17-cv-01232 - LJO - JLT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS DISMISSING THE ACTION WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiff initiated this action by filing a complaint on September 14, 2017. (Doc. 1) The Court 17 18 finds Plaintiff is unable to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, as his claim is barred by the 19 Younger abstention doctrine. In addition, the defendants are entitled to prosecutorial immunity. 20 Therefore, the Court recommends Plaintiff’s complaint be DISMISSED without prejudice. 21 I. Pleading Standards 22 The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure set forth the applicable standards for pleading complaints. 23 A pleading stating a claim for relief must include a statement affirming the court’s jurisdiction, “a short 24 and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and . . . a demand for the relief 25 sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 26 The Federal Rules adopt a flexible pleading policy, and pro se pleadings are held to “less stringent 27 standards” than pleadings by attorneys. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 521-21 (1972). 28 A complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of the plaintiff’s claim in a plain and 1 1 succinct manner. Jones v. Cmty Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Further, a 2 plaintiff must identify the grounds upon which the complaint stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 3 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme Court noted, Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. A pleading that offers labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement. 4 5 6 7 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 8 Conclusory and vague allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 9 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Court clarified further, [A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” [Citation]. A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. [Citation]. The plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. [Citation]. Where a complaint pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’ 10 11 12 13 14 15 Iqbal, 566 U.S. at 678 (citations omitted). When factual allegations are well-pled, a court should 16 assume their truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; legal 17 conclusions in the pleading are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. The Court has a duty to dismiss a case at any time it determines an action fails to state a claim, 18 19 “notwithstanding any filing fee that may have been paid.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915e(2). Accordingly, a court 20 “may act on its own initiative to note the inadequacy of a complaint and dismiss it for failure to state a 21 claim.” See Wong v. Bell, 642 F.2d 359, 361 (9th Cir. 1981) (citing 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal 22 Practice and Procedure, § 1357 at 593 (1963)). However, leave to amend a complaint may be granted 23 to the extent deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 24 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 25 II. 26 Factual Allegations Plaintiff alleges that on August 4, 2010, he “was arrested and charged with murder and sent to 27 jail.” (Doc. 1 at 1) David Wilson, with the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the 28 action. (Id.) Plaintiff was convicted by a jury of first degree murder in January 2013 and sentenced to 2 1 serve “26 years to life.” (Id. at 1-2) Plaintiff appealed this conviction. (Id. at 2) Plaintiff’s conviction of first degree murder was “reversed on account of prejudicial 2 3 prosecutorial error.” See People v. Hardin, 2016 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 5231 at *83 (July 15, 2016). 4 Plaintiff alleges the reversal was due to “prosecuting attorney David Wilson misstating a law / rule on 5 insanity, violating court rules and regulations.” (Doc. 1 at 2) According to Plaintiff, this demonstrates 6 “vindictive prosecutorial misconduct.” (Id.) Plaintiff reports that on November 9, 2016, he “was transferred back to Lerdo Detention Facility 7 8 in Kern County Superior Court Jurisdiction in Case Number BF133303A.” (Doc. 1 at 2) Plaintiff’s 9 case is now awaiting a new trial.1 10 III. Discussion and Analysis 11 A. Younger abstention 12 In general, federal courts are required to abstain from interfering on ongoing state criminal 13 matters. Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 43-45 (1971). This abstention doctrine applies if four 14 conditions are met: “(1) a state-initiated proceeding is ongoing; (2) the proceeding implicates important 15 state interests; (3) the federal plaintiff is not barred from litigating federal constitutional issues in the 16 state proceeding; and (4) the federal court action would enjoin the proceeding or have the practical 17 effect of doing so, i.e., would interfere with the state proceeding in a way that Younger disapproves.” 18 San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Comm. v. City of San Jose, 546 F.3d 19 1087, 1092 (9th Cir.2008). 20 First, it is clear the state criminal proceedings are ongoing, and Plaintiff is in the custody of the 21 state. Second, the state criminal proceedings implicate important state interests. Indeed, in Kelly v. 22 Robinson, 479 U.S. 36, 49 (1986), the Court held, “This Court has recognized that the States’ interest in 23 administering their criminal justice systems free from federal interference is one of the most powerful 24 of the considerations that should influence a court considering equitable types of relief.” Likewise, in 25 26 27 28 1 The Court may take notice of facts that are capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned. Fed. R. Evid. 201(b); United States v. Bernal-Obeso, 989 F.2d 331, 333 (9th Cir. 1993). The accuracy of state court records cannot reasonably be questioned, and judicial notice may be taken of court records. Mullis v. United States Bank. Ct., 828 F.2d 1385, 1388 n.9 (9th Cir. 1987); Valerio v. Boise Cascade Corp., 80 F.R.D. 626, 635 n.1 (N.D. Cal. 1978), aff’d 645 F.2d 699 (9th Cir. 1981); see also Colonial Penn Ins. Co. v. Coil, 887 F.2d 1236m 1239 (4th Cir. 1989). Therefore, judicial notice is taken of the docket in Case No. BF133303A. 3 1 Younger, the Supreme Court held, “Since the beginning of this country’s history Congress has, subject 2 to few exceptions, manifested a desire to permit state courts to try state cases free from interference by 3 federal courts.” Younger, 401 U.S. at 43. Plaintiff clearly challenged the actions of the prosecutor by appealing the action in state court, 4 5 which resulted in the new trial. Thus, he has a full and fair opportunity to raise the federal claims in 6 state court. Commc’ns Telesys. Int'l v. Cal. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 196 F.3d 1011, 1019 (9th Cir.1999). 7 Finally, it appears Plaintiff’s complaint seeks to insert the federal court into the ordinary course of state 8 criminal proceedings and, if permitted, would threaten the autonomy of the state court. B. 9 Prosecutorial Immunity 10 As a deputy district attorney, Mr. Wilson enjoys absolute immunity when acting in the scope of 11 his duties in the investigation and pursuit of a criminal prosecution. See Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 12 409, 430-31 (1976); Botello v. Gammick, 413 F.3d 971, 976 (9th Cir. 2005) (it is “well established that 13 a prosecutor has absolute immunity for the decision to prosecute a particular case”); Demery v. 14 Kupperman, 735 F.2d 1139, 1144 (9th Cir.1984) (prosecutors are absolutely immune from civil 15 liability for post-litigation as well as pre-litigation handling of case). 16 “Functions for which absolute prosecutorial immunity have been granted include the lawyerly 17 functions of organizing and analyzing evidence and law, and then presenting evidence and analysis to 18 the courts and grand juries on behalf of the government; they also include internal decisions and 19 processes that determine how those functions will be carried out.” Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 20 896 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Buckley v. Fitzsimmons, 509 U.S. 259, 273 (1993). Significantly, as the 21 Ninth Circuit explained, “[p]rosecutors are absolutely immune from liability for the consequences of 22 their advocacy, however inept or malicious, because it is filtered through a neutral and detached judicial 23 body…” Id. (emphasis added). Thus, though Plaintiff believes the prosecutor in his action acted in a 24 vindictive manner through erroneously stating the law to the jury, he remains immune to suit. 25 Likewise, to the extent Plaintiff believes the evidence did not support his original conviction, the 26 prosecutor is immune from suit for the decision to pursue a conviction for first degree murder. 27 IV. 28 Findings and Recommendations Based upon the facts alleged, it does not appear the deficiencies can be cured by amendment, 4 1 and leave to amend would be futile. See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130; See Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 2 1448-49 (9th Cir. 1987). Plaintiff is unable to proceed on his claim for malicious prosecution in this 3 Court in light of the Younger abstention doctrine and prosecutorial immunity that is enjoyed by the 4 deputy district attorney and Kern County District Attorney’s Office. Accordingly, the Court 5 RECOMMENDS: 6 1. Plaintiff’s complaint be DISMISSED without prejudice; 7 2. The Clerk of Court be DIRECTED to close this action. 8 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the 9 case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local Rules of 10 Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within fourteen days after 11 being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the 12 court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 13 Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised failure to file objections within the specified time may waive 14 the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991); 15 Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 834 (9th Cir. 2014). 16 17 18 19 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: February 12, 2018 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 5

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