(PC) Rojas et al v. Brown et al

Filing 38

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Granting #30 Defendants' Motion for Misjoinder and Motion to Dismiss, signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 8/30/2018. Referred to Judge Dale A. Drozd. Objections to F&R due within 14 days. (Hall, S)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

STACY ROJAS, et al.,
Plaintiffs,

12
13
14

v.
EDMUND G. BROWN, JR., et al.,
Defendants.

15
16
17

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Case No.: 1:17-cv-01514 - DAD - JLT
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR
MISJOINDER AND MOTION TO DISMISS
(Doc. 30)

Stacy Rojas, Ivett Ayestas, Sarah Lara, and Claudia (“Isaac”) Medina1 were incarcerated at

18

Central California Women’s Facility. Plaintiffs contend they each were assaulted by employees of the

19

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation while incarcerated at CCWF, and denied

20

medical treatment for their injuries.

21

Defendants Edmund Brown, Scott Kernan, Jason Collier, Gilbert Rubalcava, Israel Trevino,

22

Reynolds, Albert Del Toro, Abdel Dalie, Derral Adams, Officer Valencia, Deborah Johnson, Miguel

23

Herrera, and Janel Espinoza seek misjoinder under Rule 21 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

24

Defendants assert the claims of Medina should not be joined with the claims of Rojas, Ayestas and

25

Lara. In addition, Defendants contend the claims presented are subject to dismissal pursuant to Rule

26

12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 30) Plaintiffs oppose severance of the claims,

27
28

Isaac Medina’s legal name is Claudia Medina. As Plaintiffs do in the First Amended Complaint, the Court will
refer to Medina by his chosen name and the male pronoun. (See Doc. 24 at 2, n.1)
1

1

1

and assert the facts alleged are sufficient to support their claims for relief. (Doc. 34)
The motion was referred to the assigned magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B)

2
3

and Local Rule 302. (Doc. 33) The Court held a hearing on August 29, 2018. For the following

4

reasons, the Court recommends Defendants’ motion for misjoinder be GRANTED, and the motion to

5

dismiss be GRANTED.

6

I.

7

Factual Allegations
Plaintiffs assert they “are all gender non-conforming and/or queer individuals, and are all

8

survivors of sexual trauma and violence.” (Doc. 24 at 2, ¶ 2) Each of the plaintiffs were incarcerated,

9

at some point, at Central California Women’s Facility (“CCWF”), where Plaintiffs contend they

10

suffered violations of their constitutional rights. (See id. at 1-2, ¶¶ 1, 7)

11

A.

12

Plaintiffs allege that Stacy Rojas, Ivett Ayestas, and Sarah Lara shared a cell at CCWF in

13

November 2015. (Doc. 24 at 8, ¶ 36) According to Plaintiffs, on November 7, 2015, “Rojas was

14

performing programming duties near the guard’s desk in Unit 510 at CCWF.” (Id. at 7, ¶ 27) Plaintiffs

15

allege Rojas needed to use the restroom and asked Officer Miguel Herrera to unlock a door, after which

16

Officer Herrara “called Rojas a ‘stupid hoe.’ (sic)” (Id., ¶ 28) Plaintiffs allege, “Rojas told Officer

17

Herrara that his and other guards’ similar comments had been documented for weeks,” and Rojas

18

planned to submit evidence of the abusive comments to the Investigative Services Unit. (Id., ¶ 29)

19

Plaintiffs assert Rojas “immediately demanded to speak to the ISU,” but “the guards either denied or

20

neglected to contact ISU.” (Id., ¶¶ 30-31)

21

Incidents in 2015

Plaintiffs assert that on November 11, 2015, a unit and yard was recall was performed around 2

22

p.m., which directed the prisoners to return to their cells for “a count and dorm check.” (Doc. 24 at 7-8,

23

¶¶ 32-33) Plaintiffs assert that “Rojas, Ayestas, and Lara complied with the unit and yard recall and

24

returned to their cell, which was unlocked.” (Id. at 8, ¶ 34) Plaintiffs assert that after returning to the

25

cell, “Ayestas asked and received permission from a guard to retrieve her laundry that was in the

26

laundry room, not far from her cell.” (Id., ¶ 35) While Ayestas was away, guards ordered Rojas and

27

Lara to exit the cell “and had them stand in the day room while they and other unit staff conducted a

28

destructive search of the cell that Rojas, Ayestas, and Lara shared.” (Id., ¶ 36) According to Plaintiffs,
2

1

Sergeant Jason Collier oversaw the operation—which was conducted by nine to ten correctional

2

officers—and Collier “made comments to Rojas and Lara that led them to believe that officers were

3

searching for the evidence of officer misconduct to which that Rojas had alluded several days earlier.”

4

(Id., ¶¶ 36-37)

5

Plaintiffs report Rojas asked Collier to speak to ISU during the search, and the request was

6

denied. (Doc. 24 at 8, ¶ 37) Plaintiffs assert that instead, “Sergeant Collier began shoving Rojas

7

around” and Rojas was “violently slammed to the ground” by Collier and other officers, and

8

handcuffed. (Id., ¶¶ 39-40) Plaintiffs allege, “With Rojas incapacitated on the ground and in handcuffs,

9

Sergeant Collier performed what is known as a ‘boot-burn’ on Rojas’s back,” explaining this a “boot

10

burn” is performed “by stomping forcefully onto a person’s back and then dragging one’s boot in a

11

grating manner against the skin to create a burning sensation.” (Id. at 9, ¶ 43) Plaintiffs contend

12

Collier “did this for no reason that to unjustifiably punish and cause pain to Rojas,” asserting it was in

13

retaliation for complaints. (Id.) Plaintiffs report that the boot burn caused “severe bruising and

14

lacerations” on Rojas’ back. (Id.)

15

Plaintiffs allege: “As plaintiff Ayestas exited the laundry room, she was commanded to position

16

herself on the ground face down where she was placed in handcuffs by Officer Steven Reynolds.”

17

(Doc. 24 at 8, ¶ 41) (emphasis omitted) Plaintiffs assert then “Lara began taking contemporaneous

18

notes of the guards’ conduct” during the encounter.” (Id., ¶ 42)

19

According to Plaintiffs, “ Guards took Rojas and Ayestas to the Program Office and placed

20

them in isolation cages, which are typically used for brief holding and for programming. The cages do

21

not have a seat and do not provide much room to move.” (Doc. 24 at 9, ¶ 44) Plaintiffs assert Rojas

22

and Ayestas were placed in separate cages. (Id., ¶46)

23

Plaintiffs assert that “[a]fter Rojas and Ayestas were removed, Lara, still in the Unit, requested a

24

grievance form so that she could lodge a formal complaint. The guard told her that they would not

25

provide access to the grievance form and told her to go sit down.” (Doc. 24 at 9, ¶ 47) According to

26

Plaintiffs, Lara insisted upon receiving a form and “Collier responded by yelling at her to ‘sit the fuck

27

down.’” (Id., ¶ 48) Plaintiffs allege that “Lara was startled by his tone and told him so,” and then

28

“Collier grabbed Lara by the wrist,” directing Officer Herrera to place her in handcuffs. (Id., ¶¶ 49-50)
3

1

Plaintiffs contend Officer Herrera handcuffed Lara after he “slammed … Lara on the ground and

2

applied pressure with his foot or knee to her back.” (Id., ¶ 50) Plaintiffs allege:

3
4
5

While plaintiff Lara lay face down on the ground with Officer Herrera applying
pressure on her back, Sergeant Collier approached plaintiff Lara’s right side, where the
pressure applied by Officer Herrera had caused her right breast to protrude. Sergeant
Collier stepped on her exposed breast and applied so much pressure that plaintiff Lara
was left with visible bruises. Plaintiff Lara cried out in pain, pleading with them that
she was complying and imploring them to stop standing on her back and breast.

6
7

(Doc. 24 at 9-10, ¶ 51) Plaintiffs assert that “Sergeant Collier grabbed [Lara] by the handcuffed arms

8

and yanked upwards, wrenching her shoulders,” after which Officers Herrera and Allyson Guinn took

9

Lara to the Program Office. (Id. at 10, ¶¶ 52-54)

10

According to Plaintiffs, once Lara arrived at the Program Office, “she was first forced into the

11

inmate restroom for a strip-search,” which was performed by Officer Guinn. (Doc. 24 at 10, ¶¶ 54-55)

12

They allege, “the search was conducted with the door open and in clear view of Officer Herrera, who

13

was able to observe Lara’s nude body.” (Id., ¶ 55) Plaintiffs contend that during the search, “Officer

14

Guinn located . . . the notes Lara had taken during the assault on Rojas,” and shredded the notes. (Id.,

15

¶56) In addition, Plaintiffs allege “Lara was menstruating at the time and requested the opportunity to

16

change her tampon,” which was not permitted. (Id., ¶ 57) Lara’s closed were disposed of, and she

17

received a muumuu to wear. (Id.) The plaintiffs assert this “muumuu was so large that it slipped off

18

her shoulder,” throughout the time she was in isolation, exposing both Lara’s breast and “graphic

19

scarring” from domestic violence that she had suffered. (Id. at ¶¶ 57-58)

20

Plaintiffs assert Royas, Lara, and Ayestas remained in isolation cages for about 12 hours, and

21

“[t]hey were never released for use of the bathroom, medical treatment, or access to food or water.”

22

(Doc. 24 at 12, ¶ 62) As a result, “Rojas, Lara, and Ayestas were reduced to soiling themselves when

23

they could no longer hold their urine.” (Id., ¶ 64) Plaintiffs allege Ayestas was taken to the bathroom

24

around 11p.m., but “she remained in full view of Lieutenant Timothy Tegtmeyer, a male officer.” (Id.,

25

¶ 66) Plaintiffs allege Ayestas “was ordered to undress and put on a muumuu, which would have

26

caused her to expose herself to Lieutenant Tegtmeyer.” (Id.) According to Plaintiffs, when Ayestas

27

“asked for privacy, Lieutenant Tegtmeyer threatened to put her in Administrative Segregation if she did

28

not undress in front of him.” (Id.) Ayestas “insisted that she not be forced to change in view of male
4

1

officers, Lieutenant Tegtmeyer grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her up against the wall.” (Id., ¶

2

67) Plaintiffs allege Collier grabbed Ayestas and slammed her to the floor, and Ayestas “hit her face

3

on the toilet when she fell.” (Id.) Plaintiffs assert that once Ayestas was on the ground, Collier pinned

4

her down with his knee, “Lieutenant Tegtmeyer held her legs and Sergeant Collier held her arms,” and

5

the two prison officials “proceeded to cut off Ayestas’ clothing.” (Id. at 11-12, ¶¶ 67-69)

6

Plaintiffs assert Lara and Rojas could hear the commotion and screaming, and Rojas attempted

7

hanging with a shoelace. (Doc. 24 at 12, ¶ 72) They report Lara witnessed the attempt, and “began

8

banging loudly on her cage and screaming that Rojas was trying to hang…[but] [t]he officers in the

9

restroom did not respond to her cries for help.” (Id.) Instead, the only response came from an officer

10

“who happened to be passing through the Program Office at the time.” (Id., ¶ 74) Rojas’ cage was

11

opened, and officers took away Rojas’ socks and shoes, dressing “Rojas in a thin smock and a pair of

12

pants, with no layers, underwear, or bra underneath.” (Id., ¶ 75) Rojas did not receive medical care,

13

and was returned to the holding cell, handcuffed. (Id., ¶ 76)

14

According to Plaintiffs, “After several hours, Guards took Rojas and Lara outside in

15

temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Rojas was still wearing the single layer of clothing, wet

16

from having soiled themselves, and no socks or shoes. Lara was clad only in a muumuu, a pair of

17

socks, and sneakers.” (Doc. 24 at 12, ¶ 77) Both Rojas and Lara were handcuffed, and because Lara’s

18

muumuu kept falling, she asked Rojas to pull it up using teeth. (Id. at 13, ¶ 78) In addition, Plaintiffs

19

assert: “Officers Trevino and Reynolds stood with Rojas and Lara and sexually harassed them. The

20

officers verbally compared the sizes of their genitalia, causing plaintiffs Rojas and Lara to fear further

21

sexual abuse.” (Id., ¶ 79)

22

Plaintiffs assert that around 2 a.m., Rojas and Lara were released to Administrative Segregation

23

staff and taken to the prison’s Crisis Center,” where the handcuffs were removed. (Doc. 24 at 13, ¶ 81)

24

Ayestas was already at the Crisis Center, and Plaintiffs report that after all three were processed, they

25

were “placed in Administrative Segregation for about 12 hours.” (Id., ¶¶ 81-82)

26

Plaintiffs allege, “Rojas, Ayestas, and Lara had visible marks from the officers’ abuse.” (Doc.

27

24 at 13, ¶ 83) In particular, Plaintiffs assert that “Rojas had bruising and serious skin lesions” from

28

the boot burn, and “requests for medical attention were ignored.” (Id., ¶¶ 84-85) Plaintiffs assert that
5

1

“Lara’s wrists were visibly injured, and her right breast was clearly bruised,” and “[s]he suffered other

2

bruising and pain from the force with which she hit the ground.” (Id., ¶ 86) Lara contends she “has

3

lasting pain in her wrists, and her hip regularly locks up, causing her pain.” (Id.) Further, Plaintiffs

4

contend: “Ayestas had a black eye from her face hitting the toilet. She had bruises and injury to her

5

back and shoulder from having a knee and the full weight of an officer pressed into her back and having

6

her arm twisted as she was slammed into a wall. She still experiences chronic pain in her back and

7

shoulder from the assault.” (Id., ¶ 87) Finally, Plaintiffs contend they each “had severe emotional

8

reactions to the trauma and harassment.” (Id., ¶ 88)

9

Plaintiffs assert that “Rojas, Ayestas, and Lara began asking for a CDCR form 602 to file a

10

grievance about their abuse, treatment, and segregation” once they were placed in Administrative

11

Segregation. (Doc. 24 at 15, ¶ 94) However, the requested forms were repeatedly denied. (Id., ¶ 94)

12

Plaintiffs allege eventually they filed grievances, but they were “constantly lost or discarded” by

13

guards.” (Id., ¶96) Ayestas’ grievance resulted in an investigation, but she never learned the outcome

14

and “the involved guards were never disciplined.” (Id., ¶¶ 96, 98)

15

B.

16

Isaac Medina, “a transgender prisoner under the custody and control of California Department

17

of Corrections and Rehabilitation,” was incarcerated at CCWF in January 2017. (See Doc. 24, ¶¶ 13,

18

99) Plaintiffs report he “takes medication four times a day, including a transgender hormone treatment

19

and medication to treat seizures, PTSD, pain from an antitransgender attack several months earlier at a

20

different institution.” (Id. at 15, ¶ 101) In addition, Plaintiffs assert that at the time, Medina was

21

disabled and “[h]is accommodations included the use of a walker, and the prohibition of handcuffing

22

him behind his back.” (Id. at 18, ¶ 132)

23

Incidents in 2017

“On January 4, 2017, Medina was moved into restricted custody and assigned to Unit 503.”

24

(Doc. 24 at 15, ¶ 101) Plaintiffs assert that the evening Medina arrived at Unit 503, he requested to be

25

released from the cell by Officer Dalie “to retrieve his medication.” (Id., ¶ 102) According to Plaintiffs,

26

“Officer Dalie accused [Medina] of lying about his medical needs,” and had “other prisoners take

27

Medina’s identification to the nurse to verify Medina’s medical needs.” (Id.) Once Officer Dalie

28

received an affirmative answer, he released Medina to retrieve the medication. (Id.)
6

1

Plaintiffs assert that the next day, “Officer Dalie again scrutinized Medina’s medication needs.”

2

(Doc. 24 at 15, ¶ 103) Plaintiffs allege: “After opening Medina’s cell door, Officer Dalie stood in the

3

doorway and physically intimidated Medina. He told Medina that he knew who Medina was and knew

4

about the anti-transgender attack he suffered.” (Id., ¶ 104) They assert “Medina waited for Dalie to

5

move,” and once he did so, Medina left the cell. (Id., ¶ 105) However, “Officer Dalie trailed Medina

6

and verbally harassed him.” (Id., ¶ 106) Plaintiffs assert Medina asked Dalie to stop and then “asked

7

another guard in the Unit to ask Officer Dalie to stop.” (Id., ¶ 108)

8

According to Plaintiffs, “Following Medina’s request of the other officer, Officer Dalie lunged

9

at him,” and “attempted to grasp Medina and put him in a headlock.” (Doc. 24 at 15, ¶ 109) Plaintiffs

10

assert Medina dodged the grasp, and “Officer Dalie slipped and fell in a pool of water created by a

11

leaking washing machine.” (Id. at 15-16, ¶¶ 110-111) Plaintiffs allege Dalie then “shut Medina’s cell

12

door so that Medina was trapped with him in the Unit,” and “again attempted to get Medina in a

13

headlock.” (Id. at 16, ¶¶ 112-113) Although Medina dodged the headlock, he reports “Officer Dalie

14

gripped [him] and slammed him against the wall.” (Id., ¶ 113) Plaintiffs assert, “Officer Dalie called a

15

code, which alerted other guards to respond to his location,” and Officers Rubalcava, Mendoza,

16

Valencia, and Del Toro responded to the code. (Id., ¶¶ 116-117)

17

Plaintiffs allege, “Sergeant Rubalcava approached Medina, put his arm around Medina’s neck

18

and held him in a chokehold while Officer Dalie attempted to handcuff Medina and Officers Valencia

19

and Mendoza put Medina in leg shackles.” (Doc. 24 at 16, ¶ 117) In addition, Plaintiffs assert:

20
21
22
23
24

After placing Medina in leg shackles and placing Medina’s right hand in the
handcuffs, Officer Dalie began to punch Medina in the side of his abdomen. Officers
then performed an unnecessary and violent maneuver on Medina, known as “tossing.”
With one officer stepping on the chain separating Medina’s leg cuffs, another offer
shoved Medina from behind, causing him to fall forward. He twisted slightly to avoid
falling on his face, and ended up crashing down onto his right side.
Once on the ground, Officer Dalie applied pressure to Medina’s back and
Sergeant Rubalcava choked him again. The officers secured Medina’s left hand in
handcuffs behind his and brought Medina to his feet and pined him again against the
wall.

25
26

(Id., ¶¶ 118-119) According to Plaintiffs, the handcuffing of Medina’s hands behind his back, rather

27

than the front of his body, “caused unnecessary pain” because he “has a known medical requirement

28

that his hands be handcuffed in front of his body or in waist chains.” (Id. at 17, ¶ 120) They also allege
7

1

the offers caused “unnecessary pain by holding Medina’s handcuffed arms straight out behind him and

2

lifting up so that his arms were closer to parallel with the ground.” (Id.)

3

Plaintiffs assert Sergeant Rubalcava “ordered Officer Mendoza, a female guard, to pat down

4

Medina.” (Doc. 24 at 17, ¶ 121) Mendoza contends he “attempted to position himself in a manner that

5

would allow for the pat down, but Sergeant Rubalcava continuously forced Medina against the wall”

6

and another officer “attempted to kick Medina’s legs apart,” despite the leg shackles. (Id., ¶¶ 121-122)

7

He alleges that during the pat down, Officer Mendoza loosened the strong on his sweat pants, which

8

caused his pants to fall and exposed his genitals. (Id., ¶ 123)

9

Medina reports that after the pat down, he was escorted outside by unspecified officers, while

10

he was “in a tank top with his pants down, … both his hands and legs cuffed, and his hands held up in

11

an excruciating manner.” (Doc. 24 at 17, ¶ 124) He alleges he “pleaded with the guards to raise his

12

pants and allow him to cover himself,” but “was again thrown to the ground.” (Id., ¶¶ 126-127)

13

Plaintiffs assert allege Officer Del Toro then approached Medina with a wheelchair, which Medina was

14

placed in “further exposing his genitals.” (Id., ¶ 128) Medina asserts the manner in which he was

15

placed in the wheelchair “kept his hands straight and lifted over the back of the wheelchair” and

16

“caused his feet to drag.” (Id.) Plaintiffs assert that Lieutenant Tegtmeyer “observed the situation …

17

[and] made encouraging remarks to the officers.” (Id. at 18, ¶ 129)

18

Plaintiffs allege Medina was removed from the wheelchair and walked to the Unit A Program

19

Office, where “Sergeant Rubalcava and Officer Valencia slammed plaintiff Medina’s head into the

20

wall, causing his head to bleed.” (Doc. 24 at 18, ¶¶ 130, 131) Plaintiffs assert Medina was placed in

21

the cell “with his hands cuffed behind his back, his legs chained, and his pants pulled down.” (Id.,

22

¶131) He reports that “his pleas to go to the bathroom or have water were ignored.” (Id., ¶ 135)

23

According to Plaintiffs, “About 30 minutes into his confinement, Lieutenant Tegtmeyer came to

24

his cell and began making sexual comments to Medina.” (Doc. 24 at 18, ¶ 137) Specifically, Plaintiffs

25

allege: “He told other guards, in front of Medina, that Medina had not been with a man in a long time.

26

He suggested that he take Medina to a room around the corner to have sex with him. He said no one

27

would know because Medina was already bloodied up from the attack.” (Id.) As a result, “Medina

28

grew concerned that he would be sexually assaulted or raped by Lieutenant Tegtmeyer.” (Id.)
8

1

Plaintiffs allege that after about four hours in the cell, “Medina was released and allowed to go

2

to medical to have an evaluation performed on him.” (Doc. 24 at 18, ¶ 138) Plaintiffs assert Medina’s

3

injuries included “a dislocated shoulder that was so severe that he could see a bone tenting his skin,”

4

and “cuts on his head and ankles.” (Id. at 19, ¶ 139) Plaintiffs report the nurses who evaluated Medina

5

“were visibly distraught,” but “they simply documented [the injuries] and released him back to the

6

officers so that he could be placed in Administrative Segregation.” (Id. at 18-19, ¶ 138) Medina asserts

7

he also now “suffers from carpel tunnel and nerve damage in his wrists,” “loses grip strength

8

intermittently[,] and suffers from chronic pain.” (Id.)
Plaintiffs assert Medina “was denied medical treatment,” and his “co-pay slips requesting

9
10

medical care were ignored.” (Doc. 24 at 19, ¶¶ 140-141) “Medina went on [a] hunger strike to draw

11

attention to his needs” beginning January 10, 2017,” and then “filed a 602 requesting medical care on

12

January 15, 2017.” (Id., ¶¶ 142-143) However, Plaintiffs report that “Medina was not provided

13

medical care until he was moved to California Institute of Women on February 28, 2017.” (Id., ¶ 144)

14

II.

15

Procedural History
Plaintiffs initiated this action by filing a complaint for violations of their civil rights under 42

16

U.S.C. § 1983 and the Americans with Disabilities Act on November 9, 2017. (Doc. 1) The Court

17

issued summons as to all defendants on November 13, 2017. (Docs. 2-5) The same date, the Court

18

issued its new civil case documents, including an “Order Setting Mandatory Scheduling Conference,”

19

which reminded Plaintiffs of the obligation to “diligently pursue service of the summons and

20

complaint.” (Doc. 6 at 2) On February 13, 2018, Plaintiffs filed proofs of service indicating Scott

21

Kerman, Israel Trevino, Abdel Dalie, Jason Collier, Officer Del Toro, Officer Rubalcava, Officer

22

Reynolds, and Governor Brown had been served with the summons and complaint. (Docs. 11-18)

23

However, no proof of service was filed for defendant Timothy Tegtmeyer.

24

On April 23, 2018, the Court issued an order reclassifying this action as a civil matter. (Doc.

25

23) At the same time, the Court ordered Plaintiffs to show cause why the complaint should not be

26

dismissed to the extent defendants were sued in their official capacities, observing that “states cannot

27

be sued in federal court for violating § 1983” and the Eleventh Amendment, “in general, bars suits for

28

damages against state officials in their official capacities because, in effect, this is a claim against the
9

1

entity.” (Id. at 2, citing Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165-166 (1985)) Further, the Court

2

directed Plaintiffs to show cause why their claim for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

3

should not be dismissed because “liability under Title II of ADA may not be imposed on individuals.”

4

(Id., citing Vinson v. Thomas, 288 F.3d 1145, 1156 (9th Cir. 2002). In the alternative, Plaintiffs were

5

directed to file an amended complaint that addressed these deficiencies. (Id. at 3)

6

Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint on May 1, 2018. (Doc. 24) Plaintiffs assert their

7

rights arising under the First and Eighth Amendments to the United States Constitution have been

8

violated by Defendants, including: Scott Kernan, Secretary of the CDCR; Janel Espinoza, Acting

9

Warden of CCWF; Derral Adams, former Acting Warden; Deborah Johnson, Former Acting Warden;

10

Lieutenant Timothy Tegtmeyer; Sergeant Jason Collier; Officer Miguel Herrera; Officer Steven

11

Reynolds; Officer Israel Trevino; Officer Abdel Dalie; Sergeant Rubalcava; Officer Valencia; and

12

Officer Albert Del Toro. (See Doc. 24 at 1-2; id. at 3, ¶ 7) Specifically, Plaintiffs contend the

13

defendants are liable for: (1) excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment; (2) denial of

14

medical care in violation of the Eighth Amendment; (3) sexual abuse and harassment in violation of the

15

Eighth Amendment; (4) retaliation in violation of the First Amendment; and failure to adequately hire,

16

train, supervise, and discipline corrections officers. (Doc. 24 at 21-23) Plaintiffs request “injunctive

17

relief in favor of plaintiffs Ayestas, Lara and Medina from future wrongdoing;” “declaratory relief in

18

favor of plaintiffs Ayestas, Lara and Medina;” and monetary damages for the claims presented. (Id. at

19

24, ¶ 175)

20

On July 16, 2018, Defendants filed the motion now pending before the Court, seeking to have

21

the claims of Rojas, Lara, and Ayestas severed from the claims of Medina. (Doc. 30 at 1-2) In

22

addition, Defendants also challenge the factual sufficiency of Plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to Rule

23

12(b)(6). (Id. at 2) Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motions on August 15, 2018 (Doc. 34), to

24

which Defendants filed their reply on August 22, 2018 (Doc. 35)

25

On August 28, 2018— the eve of the hearing on the motions to dismiss—Plaintiffs filed a proof

26

of service indicating Timothy Tegtmeyer was served with the summons and First Amended Complaint

27
28
10

1

on August 17, 2018.2 (Doc. 36)

2

III.

3

Motion to Sever
Defendants argue that “Plaintiffs’ claims are misjoined and should be severed because the

4

claims arise out of two separate incidents against two separate groups of Defendants.” (Doc. 30-1 at

5

14, emphasis omitted)

6

A.

Joinder of Claims

7

Rule 20 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs the joinder of defendants, and is

8

designed to promote judicial economy and trial convenience. See Mosley v. Gen. Motors, 497 F.2d

9

1330, 1332-33 (8th Cir. 1974). Pursuant to Rule 20(a), joinder of defendants is proper if: “(A) any

10

right to relief is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising

11

out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences; and (B) any question

12

of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2).

13

“The ‘same transaction’ requirement of Rule 20 refers to ‘similarity in the factual background

14

of a claim; claims that arise out of a systematic pattern of events’ and have a ‘very definite logical

15

relationship.’” Hubbard v. Hougland, 2010 WL 1416691, at *7 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 5, 2010) (quoting

16

Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 842-843 (9th Cir. 2000)). In addition, “the mere fact

17

that all [of a plaintiff’s] claims arise under the same general law does not necessarily establish a

18

common question of law or fact.” Coughlin v. Rogers, 130 F.3d 1348, 1351 (9th Cir. 1997). However,

19

“even once [the Rule 20(a)] requirements are met, a district court must examine whether permissive

20

joinder would ‘comport with the principles of fundamental fairness’ or would result in prejudice to

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

In relevant part, Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “[i]f defendant is not served
within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court—on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff—must dismiss the
action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time.” The deadline for
service may be extended “if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure” to serve within the specified time. Id.
The Court issued the summons for Timothy Tegtmeyer on November 13, 2017. (Doc. 4) As a result, Plaintiffs
were required to serve the summons and complaint within ninety days, or no later than February 12, 2018.
Plaintiffs did not request an extension of time and the Court has no information regarding why service was not
completed until August 17, 2018. The Court was prepared to issue an order to show cause to Plaintiffs for their failure to
“diligently pursue service of the summons and complaint” (See Doc. 6 at 1-2) and failure comply with the deadline
imposed by Rule 4(m) after the hearing on the motion now before the Court.
Plaintiffs are cautioned that future failures to comply with the orders of this Court, the Local Rules, and
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure may result in the imposition of sanctions, including terminating sanctions. See,
e.g. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order); Malone v.
U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (imposing terminating sanctions for failure to comply with a court
order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to prosecute and to comply with
local rules).
2

11

1

either side.” Coleman v. Quaker Oats Company, 232 F.3d 1271, 1296 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing Desert

2

Empire Bank v. Ins. Co. of North America, 623 F.2d 1371, 1375 (9th Cir. 1980) (finding the district

3

court did not abuse its discretion when it severed certain plaintiff’s claims without finding improper

4

joinder)).

5

Under Rule 20(b), the district court may sever claims or parties to avoid prejudice. Fed. R. Civ.

6

P. 20(b). Courts have also exercised the discretion to sever where “[i]nstead of making the resolution

7

of [the] case more efficient . . . joinder would instead confuse and complicate the issues for all parties

8

involved.” Wynn v. National Broadcasting Co., 234 F. Supp. 2d 1067, 1088 (C.D. Cal. 2002) (finding

9

that even where Rule 20 requirements for joinder are satisfied, the Court may exercise its discretion

10

“to sever for at least two reasons: (1) to prevent jury confusion and judicial inefficiency, and (2) to

11

prevent unfair prejudice to the [defendants]”).

12

In addition, “[o]n a motion or on its own, the court may at any time, on just terms, add or drop

13

a party” and “sever any claim against a party.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 2. However, “[m]isjoinder of parties is

14

not a ground for dismissing an action.” Id. The proper remedy for misjoinder is to sever misjoined

15

parties and dismiss claims against them, provided that “no substantial right will be prejudiced by the

16

severance.” Coughlin, 130 F.3d at 1350.

17

B.

18

Defendants argue that “Plaintiffs cannot satisfy either prong of Rule 20(a),” because their

19

claims “as well as their respective claims against the individual Defendants, do not rise out of the same

20

transaction or occurrence” and they do not “share common questions of law or fact.” (Doc. 30-1 at 15)

21

Therefore, Defendants contend “the Court should sever Plaintiffs Rojas, Lara, and Ayestas’s 2015

22

claims from Plaintiff Medina’s 2017 claims” pursuant to Rule 21. (Id.) Plaintiffs oppose severance of

23

the claims, arguing the claims “arise out of a systematic pattern of events.” (Doc. 34 at 10)

24
25

Discussion and Analysis

1.

“Same transaction or occurrence”

The first prong in Rule 20 refers to “similarity in the factual background of a claim; claims that

26

arise out of a systematic pattern of events” and have a “very definite logical relationship” arise out of

27

the same transaction and occurrence. Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 842-843 (9th Cir.

28

2000) (Reinhardt, J., concurring) (citation omitted); see also Visendi v. Bank of Am., N.A., 733 F.3d
12

1

863, 870 (9th Cir. 2013) (explaining the first requirement of Rule 20(a) “requires factual similarity in

2

the allegations supporting Plaintiffs’ claims”).

3

Plaintiffs assert their claims satisfy the first prong of Rule 20 because “[t]hey allege that there is

4

a custom and practice employed by guards at Central California Women’s Facility to engage in sexual

5

harassment and degradation, including violent abuse, punitive confinement to a cage meant for

6

programming, denial of basic needs such as water and restroom use, denial of medical care, and

7

retaliation for complaints.” (Doc. 34 at 10) (citations omitted). In addition, Plaintiffs assert their

8

claims—for events “separated by a little less than 14 months”— “share common defendants: lieutenant

9

Timothy Tegtmeyer, Janel Espinoza and Scott Kernan.” (Id.) In support of their contentions that the

10

Rule 20(a) requirements are satisfied, Plaintiffs direct the Courts’ attention to Battison v. City of

11

Electra, 2001 WL 497769, at *2 (N.D. Tex. May 8, 2001) and Kedra v. City of Philadelphia, 454 F.

12

Supp. 652, 662 (E.D. Pa. 1978). (Doc. 34 at 10)

13

In Battison, the plaintiffs alleged that the city had “engaged in a in a pattern or practice of

14

violating the constitutional rights of its citizens by engaging in negligent hiring, supervision, and

15

retention.” Id., 2001 WL 497769, at *1. The court determined “[t]his allegation alone suffices to meet

16

Rule 20(a)’s common transaction or occurrence requirement.” Id. Further, the court observed that

17

“[e]ach individual officer named in the suit participated in more than one of the alleged incidents”—

18

which took place within a six-month period — “and the behavior described on the part of these officers

19

had common characteristics,” including accusations of excessive force, searches and seizures without

20

probable cause, and unlawful censoring of the Plaintiffs’ freedom of expression.” Id. at *1-2. Thus,

21

the court concluded the requirements of Rule 20(a) were satisfied, and denied the defendants’ motion to

22

severe. Id. at *2-3.

23

In Kedra, the plaintiffs were all members of the Kedra family, who identified events that

24

“span[ned] one and one-half years, from December 1975 to February or March 1977.” Id., 454 F.Supp

25

at 657. In December 1975, the plaintiffs alleged three Kedra family members “were handcuffed, struck

26

about the head, face, stomach, abdomen, arms and legs with fists and physical objects, were harassed

27

and threatened with further physical violence.” Id. at 658. The wife of one of the men was then

28

“forcibly” taken from her home to the police headquarters “where she was detained and questioned for
13

1

seventeen hours,” “not advised of her rights,” and “threatened with arrest in an attempt to coerce a false

2

statement from her.” Id. When their mother voluntarily went to the police station, “she was illegally

3

interrogated, coerced into signing a release authorizing the search of her house and forcibly detained for

4

nine hours.” Id. Seven days later, officers went to the Kedra home and demanded entrance. Id. The

5

plaintiffs alleged that the officers broke open the door, blocked the exists, performed a search without a

6

warrant, and then took four family members to the police station. Id. at 658-59. The plaintiffs also

7

alleged one of the family members was arrested and beaten by an officer in June 1976, and another

8

Kedra family member was “threatened with physical violence” in early 1977. Id. at 659. Faced with

9

these facts, the court found the requirements of Rule 20(a) were satisfied, stating:

10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Although the events giving rise to plaintiffs’ claims in this case occurred over a lengthy
time period, they all are “reasonably related.” The complaint sets forth a series of alleged
unlawful detentions, searches, beatings and similar occurrences and charges defendants
with “engag(ing) in a systematic pattern of harassment, threats and coercion with the
intention of . . . depriving plaintiffs of (their) rights”; each of the incidents set forth is
encompassed within the “systematic pattern.” There is no logical reason why the
systematic conduct alleged could not extend over a lengthy time period and, on the face
of these allegations, there is nothing about the extended time span that attenuates the
factual relationship among all of these events. The claims against the defendants “aris(e)
out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences” for
purposes of Rule 20(a), and therefore joinder of defendants in this case is proper.
Id., 454 F.Supp at 662 (modifications in original)

17

Significantly, here, the facts alleged in the complaint do not include allegations of an official

18

“custom and practice” by either the CDCR or officers at CCWF. (See generally Doc. 24) This alone

19

distinguishes the matter before the Court from the facts presented to the Northern District of Texas in

20

Battison. In the First Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs refer to a report issued by the Prison Law Office

21

related to Armstrong et al. v. Brown et al. No. CV-94-02307-CW to allege an unlawful “culture of

22

intolerance” exists at CCWF. (See id. at 2-3, ¶¶ 3-4) (emphasis omitted) However, Plaintiffs offer only

23

the legal conclusions of the law firm concerning retaliation; excessive force; sexual abuse; and “a

24

culture of bigotry, sexual harassment, and casual misogyny.” (Id.) Plaintiffs do not identify what facts

25

were examined to reach these conclusions, and do not themselves allege any facts to support the

26

conclusions of that law firm. Indeed, the only allegation regarding a “practice” is that “[w]ithout

27

remedy in the form of injunctive and declaratory relief against defendant Kernan and defendant

28

Espinioza, … unconstitutional practices will continue and plaintiffs will continue to suffer.” (Id. at 3, ¶
14

1

6) These conclusions, without more, fail to show a common custom or practice that was in place

2

between 2015 and 2017 at CCWF. Moreover, as discussed below, Plaintiffs fail to allege facts

3

sufficient to support their claims for unconstitutional sexual harassment, denial of medical care for

4

serious medical needs, and retaliation. In that manner, Plaintiffs have failed to establish a custom of

5

unconstitutional violations.3
Further, the facts now before the Court must be distinguished from Kedra, where the plaintiffs

6
7

were several family members who faced repeated harassment over the extended period. In addition,

8

and more “importantly [is] the fact that the defendants overlapped” (Doc. 35 at 5), because the same

9

officers were involved in events that occurred in both 1975 and 1977. See Kedra, 45 F.Supp. at 660

10

(identifying each of the officers involved). In contrast, here the incidents in 2015 and 2017 did not

11

involve members of the same family, and only Lieutenant Tegtmeyer had some involvement in both

12

incidents.
Finally, the Court notes that both Kedra and Battison included claims against municipalities,

13
14

which were subject to Monell liability, while no such claim is presented here. This also distinguishes

15

the cases cited by Plaintiffs from the matter before the Court.
The Court is unable to find the two events that occurred at CCFW in 2015 and 2017 establish a

16
17

“systematic pattern” or “series of events,” such that “same transaction” requirement of Rule 20(a) is

18

satisfied. See Hubbard, 2010 WL 1416691, at *7.
2.

19

Conclusion

Because Plaintiffs have not met the same transaction or occurrence requirement of Rule 20(a),

20
21

the Court need not address whether Plaintiffs satisfied the second requirement, that there be a common

22

question of law or fact. Corley v. Google, Inc., 316 F.R.D. 277, 289 (N.D. Cal. 2016).

23

Defendants have demonstrated that severance is appropriate under Rules 20 and 21 of the

24

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Therefore, the Court recommends Defendants’ motion for misjoinder

25

be GRANTED, and the claims of Medina be severed this action.

26

///

27
28

To the extent Plaintiffs now refer to the incidents in both 2015 and 2017 involving “denial of basic needs such as
water and restroom use” (Doc. 34 at 10), a “denial of basic needs” claim is not presented in the First Amended Complaint.
3

15

1
2

IV.

Motion to Dismiss
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a defendant may file a motion to dismiss for a

3

plaintiff’s failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted prior to filing a responsive

4

pleading. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Here, Defendants challenge the merits of each of the claims for

5

relief presented in the First Amended Complaint. (See Doc. 30 at 2; Doc. 30-1 at 18-26)

6

A.

Legal Standards

7

A Rule 12(b)(6) motion “tests the legal sufficiency of a claim.” Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d

8

729, 732 (9th Cir. 2001). Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate when “the complaint lacks a

9

cognizable legal theory or sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal theory.” Mendiondo v.

10

Centinela Hosp. Med. Ctr., 521 F.3d 1097, 1104 (9th Cir. 2008). On a motion filed pursuant to Rule

11

12(b)(6), “review is limited to the complaint alone.” Cervantes v. City of San Diego, 5 F.3d 1273, 1274

12

(9th Cir. 1993).

13

Allegations of a complaint must be accepted as true when the Court considers a motion to

14

dismiss for failure to state a claim. Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740

15

(1976). The Supreme Court explained, “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain

16

sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’”

17

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570

18

(2007)). The Supreme Court explained:

19
20
21
22
23
24

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. 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. 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.
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (internal citations, quotation marks omitted).
A court must construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all

25

doubts in favor of the plaintiff. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). “The issue is not

26

whether a plaintiff will ultimately prevail, but whether the claimant is entitled to offer evidence to

27

support the claims. Indeed it may appear on the face of the pleadings that a recovery is very remote and

28

unlikely but that is not the test.” Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974). However, the Court
16

1

“will dismiss any claim that, even when construed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, fails to plead

2

sufficiently all required elements of a cause of action.” Student Loan Marketing Assoc. v. Hanes, 181

3

F.R.D. 629, 634 (S.D. Cal. 1998). Leave to amend should not be granted if “it is clear that the

4

complaint could not be saved by an amendment.” Livid Holdings Ltd. v. Salomon Smith Barney, Inc.,

5

416 F.3d 940, 946 (9th Cir. 2005).

6

B.

7

Section 1983 “is a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.” Albright v.

8
9
10
11

Section 1983 Claims

Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 271 (1994). In relevant part, Section 1983 provides:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage,
of any State or Territory... 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...

12

42 U.S.C. § 1983. To establish a Section 1983 violation, a plaintiff must show (1) deprivation of a

13

constitutional right and (2) a person who committed the alleged violation acted under color of state law.

14

West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988); Williams v. Gorton, 529 F.2d 668, 670 (9th Cir. 1976).

15

A plaintiff must allege a specific injury was suffered, and show causal relationship between the

16

defendant’s conduct and the injury suffered. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-72 (1976). A

17

person deprives another of a right “if he does an affirmative act, participates in another’s affirmative

18

acts, or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do so that it causes the deprivation of

19

which complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).

20

C.

First Claim for Relief: Excessive Force

21

In the First Amended Complaint, the first claim for relief is raised “[b]y plaintiffs against

22

defendants Lieutenant Tegtmeyer, Sergeant Collier, Officer Herrera, Officer Reynolds, Officer Trevino,

23

Officer Dalie, Sergeant Rubalcava, Officer Valencia, Officer Del Toro in their individual and official

24

capacities.” (Doc. 24 at 21) (emphasis omitted). Specifically, Plaintiffs allege these defendants “while

25

under color of law, used excessive and unnecessary force and in doing so acted maliciously and

26

sadistically for the purpose of causing harm and not in a good faith effort to maintain or restore

27

discipline, causing harm to plaintiffs, in violation of their right under the Eighth Amendment of

28

the United States Constitution to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.” (Id. at 21, ¶ 163)
17

Defendants contend the claim for excessive force “against Officers Reynolds, Trevino and Del

1
2

Toro should be dismissed because there are no facts to suggest they acted with malicious and sadistic

3

purpose to cause harm.” (Doc. 30-1 at 25)
1.

4

Excessive Force under the Eighth Amendment

5

The Eighth Amendment protects inmates from inhumane methods of punishment and

6

conditions of confinement. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994); Morgan v. Morgensen, 465

7

F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006). One of the “basic human needs” that prison officials must provide is

8

personal safety, and prison officials have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect inmates from

9

physical harm. Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1247, 1250-51 (9th Cir. 1982). To constitute cruel

10

and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment, prison conditions must involve “the

11

wanton and unnecessary infliction of pain.” Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981).
“Whether a particular event or condition in fact constitutes ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ is

12
13

gauged against ‘the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.’”

14

Schwenk v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187, 1197 (9th Cir. 2000) (quoting Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 8

15

(1992)). However, the Supreme Court has determined that “when prison officials maliciously and

16

sadistically use force to cause harm contemporary standards of decency are always violated.” Id. (citing

17

Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9). In such circumstances, “the only requirement is that the officer’s actions be

18

‘offensive to human dignity,’” and a physical injury is not necessary to establish a claim. Id. (quoting

19

Felix v. McCarthy, 939 F.2d 699, 702 (9th Cir. 1991)).
The Supreme Court determined that “[n]ot every malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise

20
21

to a federal cause of action.” Wilkins v. Gaddy, 130 S.Ct. 1175, 1178 (2010) (quoting Hudson, 503 U.S.

22

at 9). Factors that can be considered are “the need for the application of force, the relationship between

23

the need and the amount of force that was used, [and] the extent of injury inflicted.” Whitley v. Albers,

24

475 U.S. 312, 321 (1986); Marquez v. Gutierrez, 322 F.3d 689, 692 (9th Cir. 2003). Although the

25

extent of the injury is relevant, the inmate does not need to sustain serious injury. Hudson, 503 U.S. at

26

7; Wilkins, 130 S. Ct. at 1178-79. The prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment necessarily

27

excludes from constitutional recognition de minimis uses of physical force. Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9-10.

28

///
18

1
2

2.

Liability of Officer Reynolds

Defendants contend the claim against Officer Reynolds should be dismissed because “there are

3

no allegations of excessive force against Officer Reynolds,” and “the only allegation is that he placed

4

handcuffs on Plaintiff Ayestas.” (Doc. 30-1 at 26, citing Doc. 24, ¶ 41)

5

In response, Plaintiffs contend they “plead sufficient facts” against Reynolds, because he

6

“played an integral role in the constitutional violations alleged in the complaint.” (Doc. 34 at 24, citing

7

Blankenhorn v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 463, 481 n.12 (9th Cir. 2007)) Plaintiffs observe that the

8

Ninth Circuit determined “integral participation does not require that each officer’s actions themselves

9

rise to the level of a constitutional violation.” (Id., quoting Boyd v. Benton Cty., 374 F.3d 773, 780 (9th

10

Cir. 2004)). Instead, Plaintiffs contend “[i]t is enough” that the individual officers, such as Reynolds,

11

“had some ‘fundamental involvement in the conduct that allegedly caused the violation.’” Id. (quoting

12

Blankenhorn, 485 F.3d at 481 n.12) Thus, Plaintiffs contend “[o]fficers who stand as armed guards

13

during an officer’s unconstitutional search are integrally involved in the violation of constitutional

14

rights,” as is an officer—such as Reynolds— “who handcuffs the person against whom excessive force

15

has been used.” (Id.)

16

Plaintiffs argue that in the First Amended Complaint, they “allege that on November 11, 2015,

17

nine to 10 officers, including Officer Reynolds, participated in the retaliatory search, assault, and post-

18

assault harassment and deprivations of basic human needs.” (Doc. 34 at 24, citing Doc. 24 at ¶¶ 37, 41)

19

Further, Plaintiffs assert they “allege with specificity that officer[] … Reynolds engaged in the post-

20

assault sexual harassment and as a result, was also an integral participation in plaintiffs’ torment,”

21

which included taking Rojas and Lara “outside in exceedingly cold temperatures in thin, soiled

22

clothing.” (Id. at 24-25, citing Doc. 24 ¶ 79)

23

In reply, Defendants contend this action must be distinguished from the facts before the Ninth

24

Circuit in Blankenhorn, because “Plaintiffs are confounding their claims regarding various

25

constitutional violations.” (Doc. 35 at 12-13) Particularly, Defendants observe “[t]he alleged assault,

26

which forms the basis of Plaintiffs’ excessive force claim, and in which Reynolds and Trevino are not

27

alleged to have been involved, occurred around 2:00 p.m. in the housing unit,” and Rojas and Lara

28

were not taken outside with Officer Reynolds until approximately 11:00 p.m. (Doc. 35 at 13, citing
19

1

Doc. 24 at ¶¶ 32, 37-43, 79). Because there are no allegations that Reynolds “participated in any

2

way… in the alleged use of force nine hours earlier,” Defendants conclude the claim for excessive

3

force against Officer Reynolds must be dismissed. (Id.)

4

Notably, in Blankenhorn, the Ninth Circuit addressed a situation in which a pre-trial detainee

5

was tackled by several officers, to determine whether the officers were liable for violations of

6

Blankenhorn’s rights. The officers encountered an individual who they believed was a suspect for

7

trespassing. Id., 485 F3d. at 468-69. When the officers confronted Blankenhorn, he became angry and

8

agitated, but was nonviolent. Id. The officers ordered him to his knees to be handcuffed, but he did not

9

comply. Id. In response, three officers gang-tackled him; took him to the ground; and after the officers

10

were on top of him, an officer punched him in the head and body. Id. at 469-70. The officers

11

handcuffed Blankenhorn and put him in hobble restraints. Id. at 469. Reviewing the officers’ possible

12

“integral participation” during the altercation, the Ninth Circuit found:

13
14
15
16
17
18

Kayano’s help in handcuffing the prone Blankenhorn was, of course, meaningful
participation in the arrest. It is true that Blankenhorn does not claim Kayano used
excessive force in handcuffing him, and Ross, not Kayano, placed the ripp-hobbles on
Blankenhorn’s wrists and ankles. But Kayano’s own declaration indicates that his help
in handcuffing Blankenhorn was instrumental in the officers’ gaining control of
Blankenhorn, which culminated in Ross’s application of hobble restraints. Therefore,
Kayano’s participation was integral to the use of the hobble restraints. [Citation.]
It follows that Gray, who ordered Ross to use the hobble restraints, and Nguyen and
South, who tackled Blankenhorn, also participated in an integral way in the application
of the hobble restraints. Accordingly, Gray, Nguyen, Ross, South, and Kayano may be
held liable for this particular alleged use of excessive force.

19
20
21

485 F.3d at 481 (citing Chuman v. Wright, 76 F.3d 292, 294-95 (9th Cir. 1996)).
Here, in contrast, the only allegation addressing the use of force by Officer Reynolds was: “As

22

plaintiff Ayestas exited the laundry room, she was commanded to position herself on the ground face

23

down where she was placed in handcuffs by Officer Steven Reynolds.” (Doc. 24 at 8, ¶ 41) (emphasis

24

omitted) In contrast to Blankenhorn, the force used was not instrumental in gaining control over

25

Ayestas who, it seems, complied with the command to get on the ground. (See id.) Rather, the only

26

force used by Reynolds was the placing of the handcuffs. Notably, this Court previously observed that

27

“[g]enerally, handcuffing an inmate involves some de minimis use of force.” Washington v.

28

Hernandez, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 207713, at *8 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2017). Indeed, here, there are no
20

1

facts alleged that the handcuffing was tighter than necessary or that Ayestas suffered any lingering

2

injury from the force Reynolds used to cuff her.4 Thus, the facts alleged do not support a claim of

3

excessive force by Ayestas against Reynolds through the placement of handcuffs.

4

Moreover, there are no facts alleged supporting a conclusion that Reynolds used any force—

5

let alone excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment—against plaintiffs Rojas, Lara, or

6

Medina.5,6 Accordingly, the Court recommends the claim for excessive force against Officer

7

Reynolds be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

8
9

3.

Liability of Officer Trevino

In response, Plaintiffs contend there are facts sufficient to support their claim in the First

10

Amended Complaint. (Doc. 34 at 24) As with the claim against Officer Reynolds, Plaintiffs contend

11

Officer Trevino “played an integral role” “in the harassment, assault, and deprivation of constitutional

12

rights.” (Id., emphasis omitted)

13

Significantly, however, the only allegation in the First Amended Complaint relating to Officer

14

Trevino is that he “stood with Rojas and Lara and sexually harassed them,” when the prisoners were

15

taken from the isolation cages and taken outside.” (See Doc. 24 at 13, ¶ 79) The facts alleged do not

16

support a conclusion that Officer Trevino used any force against the any of the plaintiffs, or even the

17

conclusion that he witnessed the use of any force—let alone unconstitutional force— by other officers

18

against the plaintiffs. Given the lack of factual allegations, the Court recommends the first claim for

19

relief, to the extent it is stated against Officer Trevino, be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

20

4.

Liability of Officer Del Toro

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

4
Plaintiffs allege Ayestas’s injuries came from the physical encounter with Lieutenant Tegtmeyer and Officer
Collier in the bathroom. In particular, Plaintiffs allege, “Ayestas had a black eye from her face hitting the toilet. She had
bruises and injury to her back and shoulder from having a knee and the full weight of an officer pressed into her back and
having her arm twisted as she was slammed into a wall. She still experiences chronic pain in her back and shoulder from the
assault.” (Doc. 24, ¶ 87)
5
To the extent Plaintiffs are now attempting to characterize the excessive force claim against Officer Reynolds as a
“failure to protect” claim by Rojas and Lara, this theory of liability is not presented in the First Amended Complaint.
In addition, while Plaintiffs now seem to assert that Officer Reynolds was one of the officers who searched the cell,
and also imply that Reynolds stood as an “armed guard during … [the] unconstitutional search” (Doc. 34 at 24), the
pleadings do not support these conclusions. Plaintiffs fail to identify by name any of the officers who searched the cell while
Sergeant Collier oversaw the operation. Further, is not clear that Reynolds present when force was used against Rojas and
Lara, because Ayestas was handcuffed by Reynolds as she “exited the laundry room” – and Rojas and Lara were in the day
room. (Doc. 24 at 8, ¶¶ 36, 41)
6
There are no facts alleged that Officer Reynolds interacted with Medina in any way during the incident that
occurred in 2017.

21

1

Defendants contend the claim for excessive force against Officer Del Toro should be dismissed,

2

because “Plaintiffs merely alleged that Officer Del Toro approached Plaintiff Medina with a wheelchair

3

and asserted no other allegations.” (Doc. 30-1 at 26)

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

In response, Plaintiffs argue they pled facts sufficient to support a claim for excessive force
against Officer Del Toro, based upon the following allegations:
Plaintiffs allege that on January 5, 2017, Officer Del Toro integrally participated in
plaintiff Medina’s attack by responding to officer Dalie’s code. (FAC at ¶ 116.) Plaintiff
Medina alleged that the officers then present, which at that time included Officer Del
Toro, “performed an unnecessary and violent maneuver on Medina, known as ‘tossing.’
With one officer stepping on the chain separating Medina’s leg cuffs, another officer
shoved Medina from behind, causing him to fall forward.” (FAC at ¶ 118.) Finally,
Officer Del Toro also retrieved a wheelchair for Medina, which officers then set him in
with his handcuffed arms raised over the back of the chair, for the sole purpose of
causing pain. (FAC at ¶ 128.)
(Doc. 34 at 25)
Importantly, however, Plaintiffs now characterize the involvement of Officer Del Toro

13

differently than a plain reading of the allegations in the First Amended Complaint would indicate.

14

Plaintiffs alleged that when “Officer Dalie called a code,” the responding officers were Rubalcava,

15

Mendoza, Valencia, and Del Toro. (Doc. 24 at 16, ¶¶ 115-116) There are no allegations regarding who

16

arrived to the location or when, but Plaintiffs also allege:

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Sergeant Rubalcava approached Medina, put his arm around Medina’s neck and
held him in a chokehold while Officer Dalie attempted to handcuff Medina an Officers
Valencia and Mendoza put Medina in leg shackles.
After placing Medina in leg shackles and placing Medina’s right hand in the
handcuffs, Officer Dalie began to punch Medina in the side of his abdomen. Officers
then performed an unnecessary and violent maneuver on Medina, known as “tossing.”
With one officer stepping on the chain separating Medina’s leg cuffs, another officer
shoved Medina from behind, causing him to fall forward. He twisted slightly to avoid
falling on his face, and ended up crashing down onto his right side.
Once on the ground, Officer Dalie applied pressure to Medina’s back and
Sergeant Rubalcava choked him again. The officers secured Medina’s left hand in
handcuffs behind his and brought Medina to his feet and pined (sic) him again against
the wall.

25

(Doc. 24 at 16-17, ¶¶ 117-119) Thus, from these allegations, it is clear the officers who interacted with

26

Medina at that time included Rubalcava, Dalie, Valencia, and Mendoza. However, there are no facts

27

alleged supporting a conclusion that Officer Del Toro had arrived at the location or was involved in the

28

“tossing.”
22

1

The Court cannot presume, as Plaintiffs would have it, that Officer Del Toro was involved in

2

the “tossing” maneuver when the only allegations related to Officer Del Toro are that he responded to

3

the code and “approached Medina with a wheelchair.” (Doc. 24 at 16-17, ¶¶ 116, 128) Indeed, the

4

allegation that “officers set Medina in a wheelchair” is too vague for the Court to determine which

5

officers placed Medina in the wheelchair, and to what extent force was used to do so. Without

6

additional facts, the Court is unable to find Officer Del Toro used any force—let alone excessive force

7

— upon Medina.

8

Moreover, there are no facts alleged supporting a conclusion that Officer Del Toro use any force

9

upon Rojas, Ayestas, or Lara. Indeed, there are no facts alleged that the officer interacted with these

10

plaintiffs at any point during the incidents in 2015. Accordingly, the Court recommends Defendants’

11

motion to dismiss the first cause of action for excessive force, to the extent it is stated against Officer

12

Del Toro, be GRANTED.

13

D.

Second Claim for Relief: Denial of Medical Care

14

All plaintiffs seek to state a claim for denial of medical care in violation of their Eighth

15

Amendment rights “against defendants Lieutenant Tegtmeyer, Sergeant Collier, Officer Herrera,

16

Officer Reynolds, Officer Trevino, Officer Dalie, Sergeant Rubalcava, Officer Valencia, Officer Del

17

Toro, in their individual and official capacities.” (Doc. 24 at 21-22, emphasis omitted)

18

Defendants contend this claim should be dismissed “because there are no allegations that any of

19

the defendants disregarded Plaintiffs’ serious medical needs.” (Doc. 30-1 at 20, emphasis omitted) In

20

response, Plaintiffs assert the “plead a viable Eighth Amendment denial of medical care claim.” (Doc.

21

34 at 15) (emphasis omitted)

22
23

1.

Eighth Amendment Standards

As individuals in custody must rely upon officials for medical care, “deliberate indifference to

24

serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain . . .

25

proscribed by the Eighth Amendment.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976), (internal citation,

26

quotation marks omitted). To state a cognizable claim for inadequate medical care under the Eighth

27

Amendment, Plaintiffs “must allege acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate

28

indifference to serious medical needs.” Id., 429 U.S. at 106. Thus, the Ninth Circuit explained: “First,
23

1

the plaintiff must show a serious medical need by demonstrating that failure to treat a prisoner’s

2

condition could result in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.

3

Second, the plaintiff must show the defendant’s response to the need was deliberately indifferent.”

4

Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1122 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096

5

(9th Cir. 2006)).

6
7

a.

Serious medical need

A serious medical need exists “if the failure to treat the prisoner’s condition could result in

8

further significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin v. Smith, 974

9

F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1991), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d

10

1133, 1136 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104). Indications of a serious medical need

11

include “[t]he existence of an injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find important and

12

worthy of comment or treatment; the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an

13

individual’s daily activities; or the existence of chronic and substantial pain.” Id. at 1059-60 (citing

14

Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1337-41 (9th Cir. 1990).

15
16

b.

Deliberate indifference

If a plaintiff establishes the existence of a serious medical need, he must then show that officials

17

responded to that need with deliberate indifference. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). In

18

clarifying the culpability required for “deliberate indifference,” the Supreme Court held:

21

[A] prison official cannot be found liable under the Eighth Amendment for denying an
inmate humane conditions of confinement unless the official knows of and disregards an
excessive risk to inmate health or safety; the official must both be aware of facts from
which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exits, and he
must also draw that inference.

22

Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. Therefore, a defendant must be “subjectively aware that serious harm is likely

23

to result from a failure to provide medical care.” Gibson, 290 F.3d at 1193 (emphasis omitted). When a

24

defendant should have been aware of the risk of substantial harm but, indeed, was not, “then the person

25

has not violated the Eighth Amendment, no matter how severe the risk.” Id. at 1188.

19
20

26

Where deliberate indifference relates to medical care, “[t]he requirement of deliberate

27

indifference is less stringent . . . than in other Eighth Amendment contexts because the responsibility to

28

provide inmates with medical care does not generally conflict with competing penological concerns.”
24

1

Holliday v. Naku, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55757, at *12 (E.D. Cal. June 26, 2009) (citing McGuckin,

2

974 F.2d at 1060). Generally, deliberate indifference to serious medical needs may be manifested in

3

two ways: “when prison officials deny, delay, or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or . . .

4

by the way in which prison physicians provide medical care.” Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d

5

390, 393-94 (9th Cir. 1988). A claimant seeking to establish deliberate indifference must show “both

6

(a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and (b) harm

7

caused by the indifference.” Conn v. City of Reno, 592 F.3d 1081 (9th Cir. 2010) (emphasis added).

8
9

2.

Claim by Rojas

Plaintiffs assert that “Rojas suffered a skin lesion from a boot burn,” (Doc. 34 at 17) which was

10

caused by Sergeant Collier. (See Doc. 24 at 9, ¶ 43) In addition, Plaintiffs allege Rojas attempted

11

hanging with a shoelace. (Doc. 24 at 12, ¶ 72) Plaintiffs contend, “The guards did not summon

12

medical care and left Rojas in the[] cell for hours after.” (Doc. 34 at 17, citing Doc. 24 at ¶¶ 76-77, 81)

13

Thus, the Court must determine whether these allegations are sufficient to support a claim by Rojas.

14
15

a.

Serious medical need

Plaintiffs fail to allege facts to support that the injuries suffered by Rojas, both from the boot

16

burn and hanging with a shoelace, were serious medical needs. There is no information regarding the

17

extent of the skin lesion that leads to a conclusion that medical care was reasonably necessary.

18

Likewise, Plaintiffs fail to allege any facts supporting a conclusion that Rojas suffered any physical

19

injury from the hanging attempt, which was stopped by the guards.

20

b.

Deliberate indifference

21

Even assuming Rojas established the existence of a serious medical need, the facts alleged are

22

not sufficient to demonstrate any of the defendants were deliberately indifferent to that medical need.

23

There are no allegations supporting a conclusion that any of the defendants were aware of the skin

24

lesion on Rojas’ back. Similarly, Plaintiffs fail to identify which of the defendants were aware of the

25

attempting hanging. Though Rojas requested medical attention, there are no facts regarding when the

26

requests were made, or two whom. (See Doc. 24 at 13, ¶¶ 84-85) Finally, there also are no facts

27

alleged supporting a conclusion that the defendants were “subjectively aware that serious harm [was]

28

likely to result from a failure to provide medical care” to Rojas. See Gibson 290, F.3d at 1193.
25

1

///

2

3.

Claim by Ayestas

3

In the First Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs allege: “Ayestas had a black eye from her face

4

hitting the toilet. She had bruises and injury to her back and shoulder from having a knee and the full

5

weight of an officer pressed into her back and having her arm twisted as she was slammed into a wall.

6

She still experiences chronic pain in her back and shoulder from the assault.” (Doc. 24 at 13, ¶¶ 86)

7

Further, Plaintiffs assert that “Ayestas suffers from flashbacks and night terrors as a result of the

8

incident” and she “requested treatment for [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] but was initially denied.”

9

(Id. at 14, ¶ 92)

10
11

a.

Serious medical need

Significantly, a black eye and bruising are not sufficient to establish a “serious medical need”

12

within the meaning of the Eighth Amendment. See, e.g., Dallio v. Hebert, 678 F. Supp. 2d 35, 60

13

(N.D. N.Y. 2009) (black eyes, bruising, red spots, kick marks, and lacerations did not constitute a

14

serious medical need); Gerber v. Sweeney, 292 F. Supp. 2d 700, 707-08 (E.D. Penn. 2003) (finding a

15

black eye and laceration were not serious medical needs); Vilchis v. City of Bakersfield, 2012 WL

16

113747, *12 (E.D. Ca. Jan. 13, 2012) (abrasions and contusions to the head and face, with some

17

bleeding, do not amount to a “serious medical need” for purposes of the Eighth Amendment). Thus, the

18

black eye and bruising Ayestas suffered do not establish a serious medical need.

19

On the other hand, this Court, and others, have determined that PTSD is a serious medical need.

20

See, e.g., Dillman v. Vasquez, 2015 WL 881574, at *14 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 27, 2015) (acknowledging

21

“PTSD has been held to constitute a serious medical condition,” and continuing the analysis to

22

determine whether the defendants showed deliberate indifference to the need); see also Bloodworth v.

23

Krall, 2011 WL 1043726, *4 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 22, 2011) (“[d]epression and PTSD certainly constitute

24

serious medical conditions”). Thus, Ayestas has identified a serious medical need within the meaning

25

of the Eighth Amendment.

26
27
28

b.

Deliberate indifference

Although Ayestas carries the burden to identify a serious medical need, she fails to allege when
the condition manifested itself, that any of the named defendants were aware of her PTSD after the
26

1

event, or that they denied her requests for treatment. Without additional facts, the Court is unable to

2

determine the named defendants exhibited deliberate indifference to this medical need.

3
4

4.

Claim by Lara

Plaintiffs allege that “Lara’s wrists were visibly injured, and her right breast was clearly

5

bruised,” and “[s]he suffered other bruising and pain from the force with which she hit the ground.”

6

(Doc. 24 at 13, ¶ 86) Lara contends she “has lasting pain in her wrists, and her hip regularly locks up,

7

causing her pain.” (Id.) Further, they report Lara “experiences flashbacks, anxiety, trouble sleeping,

8

and phantom physical sensation mimicking the pain she experienced that day.” (Id. at 14, ¶ 90)

9

Although “Lara requested treatment for PTSD[,] she never received it.” (Id.)
a.

10
11

Serious medical need

As explained above, bruising is not sufficient to establish a “serious medical need.” See Dallio,

12

678 F. Supp. 2d at 60; Gerber, 292 F. Supp. 2d at 707-08. In addition, it is unclear whether the injury

13

to Lara’s wrists was one that “a reasonable doctor or patient would find important and worthy of

14

comment or treatment.” See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059-60. However, to the extent that the injury

15

caused Lara to have “chronic and substantial pain,” it is a serious medical need. See id. Likewise,

16

Lara’s mental state—to the extent she has untreated PTSD— constitutes a serious medical need.
b.

17

Deliberate indifference

18

Lara fails to allege when she requested treatment for her medical need or to whom she made the

19

request. (See Doc. 24 at 14, ¶ 91) The facts alleged fail to support the conclusion that any of the named

20

defendants knew of her serious medical need or that they were “subjectively aware that serious harm is

21

likely to result from a failure to provide medical care.” Gibson, 290 F.3d at 1193. Thus, the Court is

22

unable to find any of the named defendants exhibited deliberate indifference to Lara’s medical needs.

23

5.

Claim by Medina

24

Plaintiffs allege that about four hours after Medina’s altercation with officers, “[he] was

25

released and allowed to go to medical to have an evaluation performed on him.” (Doc. 24 at 18, ¶ 138)

26

Plaintiffs assert Medina’s injuries included “a dislocated shoulder that was so severe that he could see a

27

bone tenting his skin,” and “cuts on his head and ankles.” (Id. at 19, ¶ 139) Plaintiffs report the nurses

28

who evaluated Medina “were visibly distraught,” but “they simple documented [the injuries] and
27

1

released him back to the officers so that he could be placed in Administrative Segregation.” (Id. at 18-

2

19, ¶ 138) Medina asserts he also now “suffers from carpel tunnel and nerve damage in his wrists,”

3

“loses grip strength intermittently[,] and suffers from chronic pain.” (Id.)
a.

4
5

Serious medical need

The Court finds the allegations sufficient to establish that Medina had a serious medical need,

6

particularly with the dislocated shoulder. Indeed, the allegations demonstrate that unidentified officers

7

believed Medina needed medical treatment and he was taken for treatment.
b.

8
9

Deliberate indifference

Based upon the facts alleged, it is not clear when Medina suffered the dislocated shoulder. The

10

Court cannot presume at what point the injury occurred, or infer from the facts which officers –

11

including the defendants—were aware of the injury he suffered and the need for medical treatment.

12

Without facts identifying when the injury occurred or which officers knew of the injury, the Court is

13

unable to find any of the named defendants exhibited deliberate indifference to Medina’s serious

14

medical needs. In addition, Medina was provided medical care, though he disagrees it was sufficient.

15

In any event, there are no facts alleged to demonstrate that the four-hour delay caused him any harm.
6.

16
17

Conclusion

As Defendants argue, “not only does the amended complaint not contain a single allegation that

18

links the denial of medical care to a particular [d]efendant, Plaintiffs do not allege that any Defendant

19

was responsible for their medical care.” (Doc. 35 at 9) Consequently, the Court recommends the

20

second claim for relief be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

21

E.

Third Claim for Relief: Sexual Abuse and Harassment

22

In the First Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs assert the claim for sexual abuse and harassment is

23

stated “[b]y all plaintiffs against defendants Lieutenant Tegtmeyer, Sergeant Collier, Officer Herrera,

24

Officer Reynolds, Officer Trevino, Officer Dalie, Sergeant Rubalcava, Officer Valencia, Officer Del

25

Toro, in their individual and official capacities.” (Doc. 24 at 22, emphasis omitted) Plaintiffs allege,

26

“defendants Lieutenant Tegtmeyer, Sergeant Collier, Officer Herrera, Officer Reynolds, Officer

27

Trevino, Officer Dalie, Sergeant Rubalcava, Officer Valencia, Officer Del Toro sexually abused and

28

harassed plaintiffs, an act deeply offensive to human dignity and one that serves no legitimate
28

1
2
3

penological purpose,” and in doing so violated Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. (Id., ¶ 168)
1.

Sexual abuse and harassment under the Eighth Amendment7

A sexual assault on an inmate by a prison official implicates the rights protected by the Eighth

4

Amendment. Schwenk, 204 F.3d at 1197; see also Boddie v. Schnieder, 105 F.3d 857, 861 (2d Cir.

5

1997) (“Sexual abuse may violate contemporary standards of decency and can cause severe physical

6

and psychological harm”). For this reason, severe or repetitive sexual abuse of an inmate by a prison

7

officer can be “objectively, sufficiently serious” to constitute an Eighth Amendment violation. Id.; see

8

Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981) (noting the list of conditions held cruel and unusual by

9

the Supreme Court is not exclusive). Sexual abuse of a prisoner by a corrections officer has no

10

legitimate penological purpose, and is “simply not part of the penalty that criminal offenders pay for

11

their offenses against society.” Boddie, 105 F.3d at 861 (quoting, Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834).

12

On the other hand, the Eighth Amendment protections “do not necessarily extend to mere verbal

13

sexual harassment.” Austin v. Terhune, 367 F.3d 1167, 1171 (9th Cir. 2004); Minifield v. Butikofer,

14

298 F. Supp. 2d 900, 903-04 (N.D. Cal. 2004). Courts have determined repeatedly determined such

15

conduct does not satisfy the “unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain” standard under the Eighth

16

Amendment. See, e.g., Blueford v. Prunty, 108 F.3d 251, 256 (9th Cir. 1997) (affirming summary

17

adjudication in favor of the prison officials where “the only arguably sexually harassing conduct… was

18

verbal”); Morales v. Mackalm, 278 F.3d 126, 132 (2d Cir. 2002) (allegations that prison guard asked

19

prisoner to have sex with her and to masturbate in front of her and other female staffers did not rise to

20

level of Eighth Amendment violation); Barney v. Pulsipher, 143 F.3d 1299, 1311 n. 11 (10th Cir. 1998)

21

(allegations that a county jailer subjected female prisoners to severe verbal sexual harassment and

22

intimidation was not sufficient to state a claim under the Eighth Amendment); Zander v. McGinnis,

23

1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 13533, 1998 WL 384625, at *2 (6th Cir. June 19, 1998) (finding a prisoner’s

24

claim that a guard called him “pet names” for ten months failed to support an Eighth Amendment claim

25

“because allegations of verbal abuse do not rise to the level of a constitutional violation”).

26
27
28

7
In the reply brief, Plaintiffs appear to cast the factual allegations as supporting a claim for right to privacy, citing
the instances in which Plaintiffs’ had “their sex organs… intentionally exposed to male guards and other prisoners.” (Doc.
34 at 19) However, the “right to privacy” theory of liability is not present in the First Amended Complaint, which focuses
only upon harassment and abuse.

29

1

///
2.

2
3

Discussion and Analysis

Defendants assert the factual allegations do not support claims against the defendants. (Doc.

4

30-1 at 22-23 Defendants acknowledge that “Rojas and Lara alleged that Defendants Trevino and

5

Reynolds verbally compared the sizes of their genitalia, causing them to fear sexual abuse.” (Id. at 22)

6

Defendants argue, “While such an allegation is vulgar, it does not state an Eighth Amendment

7

violation.” (Id., citing Oltarzewski v. Ruggiero, 830 F.2d 136, 139 (9th Cir. 1987) (holding vulgar

8

language does not state a constitutional deprivation under Section 1983)). In addition, Defendants

9

contend Medina is unable to state a claim for sexual abuse “because the amended complaint only

10

contains allegations that Plaintiff was ‘verbally harassed’ by Defendant Dalie.” (Id. at 22) Therefore,

11

Defendants request dismissal of the third claim for relief.

12

In response, Plaintiffs argue that they “claim far more than the errant comment.” (Doc. 34 at 19)

13

According to Plaintiffs, “the use of degrading epithets for prisoners in women’s prison is pervasive and

14

that the administration knows this and does nothing to correct the behavior of corrections staff.” (Id.,

15

citing Doc. 24, ¶¶ 3-6) In addition, Plaintiffs note the following allegations are presented in the

16

amended complaint:

17
18
19
20

Plaintiff Lara alleges that Officer Herrera stepped on her breast while she was being
assaulted.8 (FAC at ¶ 51.) Plaintiffs Lara, Ayestas and Medina allege that during their
assaults and after, their sex organs were intentionally exposed to male guards and other
prisoners. (FAC at ¶¶ 55, 66-69, 78, 123-128.) Plaintiffs Rojas and Lara allege that
officers Trevino and Reynolds made sexually graphic comments following their
assaults, while Lara’s breast was exposed. (FAC at ¶¶ 78-79.) Plaintiff Medina alleges
that Lieutenant Tegtmeyer made sexually explicit threats to him following his assault,
while his genitals were exposed. (FAC at ¶¶ 131, 137.)

21
22

(Doc. 34 at 19) Plaintiffs maintain, “[t]here is no penological justification for a pervasive sexual

23

harassment, targeting of sex organs during assaults, exposure of sex organs, and threats and taunts

24

implying sexual abuse.” (Id.)
a.

25
26

Claim by Rojas

Rojas alleges that when outside with Lara, Officers Trevino and Reynolds “verbally compared

27
28
8

Plaintiffs actually allege, “Sergeant Collier stepped on her exposed breast,” not Officer Herrera. (Doc. 24, ¶ 51)

30

1

the sizes of their genitalia,” which caused Rojas to fear sexual abuse. (Doc. 24 at 12, ¶ 79) This is the

2

sole allegation addressing sexual abuse or harassment towards Rojas in the First Amended Complaint.

3

However, as discussed above, Eighth Amendment protections “do not necessarily extend to mere

4

verbal sexual harassment.” Austin, 367 F.3d at 1171; Minifield, 298 F. Supp. 2d at 903-04

5

(“Allegations of verbal harassment and abuse fail to state a claim cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983”).

6

Because Rojas has alleged only verbal harassment by Officers Trevino and Reynolds, Rojas fails to

7

state a claim for sexual harassment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Therefore, the Court

8

recommends the third claim for relief, to the extent it is brought by Rojas, be DISMISSED with leave

9

to amend.

10
11

b.

Claim by Lara

Plaintiffs allege that Lara was subjected to the same comments as Rojas by Officers Trevino

12

and Reynolds. (See Doc. 24 at 12, ¶ 79) In addition, Plaintiffs assert that Lara’s breast was exposed on

13

at least two occasions: (1) when Officer Herrera applied pressure to Lara’s back while she was on the

14

ground, and (2) when her muumuu fell as she and Rojas were outside with Officers Trevino and

15

Reynolds. (Doc. 24, ¶¶ 50-51, 78)

16

Importantly, “the Supreme Court has not recognized that an interest in shielding one's naked

17

body from public view should be protected under the rubric of the right of privacy . . . .” See Grummett

18

v. Rushen, 779 F.2d 491, 494 (9th Cir. 1985). Although the Ninth Circuit determined “a prisoner[]

19

[has] limited right to bodily privacy,” such a claim “calls for a highly factual inquiry.” See Hydrick v.

20

Hunter, 500 F.3d 978, 1000 (9th Cir. 2007); Michenfelder v. Sumner, 860 F.2d 328 (9th Cir. 1988).

21

Factors the Court has considered include: “the gender of those prison officials who viewed inmates, the

22

angle and duration of viewing, and the steps the prison had taken to minimize invasions of privacy.”

23

Id., citing Grummett, 779 F.2d at 494-95.

24

For example, in Grummett, the Court considered a claim by male inmates that their right to

25

privacy was violated by female officers viewing them while dressing, showering, being strip searched,

26

or using the toilet. Id., 779 F.2d at 492. The Ninth Circuit assumed “the interest in not being viewed

27

naked by members of the opposite sex is protected by the right of privacy.” Id., 779 F.2d at 494. The

28

Court discussed the circumstances in which female officers were observing male inmates, noting:
31

1
2
3
4
5
6

Female guards are not assigned to positions requiring unrestricted and frequent
surveillance. Rather, the positions to which they are assigned require infrequent and
casual observation, or observation at a distance. Female guards working the tiers walk
past the cells routinely, but do not stop for prolonged inspection. When they are not
walking down the tiers, their view of the inmates in their cells is circumscribed by the
cell bars and by the distance and angle of their stations. Likewise, the observations by
the female correctional officers stationed on the gunrails overlooking the tiers and the
yard areas are obscured by the angle and distance of their locations. Female guards do
not accompany male inmates to the individual or gang showers, and are not stationed
on the tiers where the showers are located. Females are assigned to the more distant
gunrail position overlooking showers, where, again, the surveillance is obscured.

7

Id. at 494-95. The Ninth Circuit concluded that these circumstances were not “so degrading as to

8

require intervention by [the] court,” and there was no constitutional violation. Id. at 495. Likewise,

9

the Court found there was no constitutional violation because the female guards’ viewing of unclothed

10

inmates was “infrequent and irregular,” and the guards were not “stationed at those positions which

11

involve close and prolonged surveillance of disrobed inmates.” Id.

12

In Michenfelder v. Sumner, 860 F.2d 328 (1988), the Ninth Circuit also addressed a claim of a

13

male inmate challenging the stationing of female officers on shower duty and involvement in strip

14

searches as a violation of his right to privacy. Id. at 333-34. The Court indicated “the issue … is

15

whether [the prison’s] female officers regularly or frequently observe unclothed inmates without a

16

legitimate reason for doing so.” Id. at 334. The Ninth Circuit found that a division of responsibilities

17

between male and female guards was a reasonable attempt to accommodate the tension between

18

inmates’ privacy concerns and the prison’s internal security needs and equal employment concerns. Id.

19

In addition, the Court found the right to privacy was not violated due to the limited nature of the

20

guards’ involvement in the searches, because the evidence showed observations were made from video

21

monitors that provided “an indistinct, limited view.” Id. The Court found “[e]vidence of female

22

officers’ role in shower duty likewise did not establish an inappropriate amount of contact with

23

disrobed prisoners.” Id. Accordingly, the Court concluded Michenfelder failed to establish violations

24

of his Fourth and Eighth Amendment rights. Id. at 338.

25

Further, in Somers v. Thurman, 109 F.3d 614 (9th Cir. 1997), the Ninth Circuit considered an

26

male inmate’s claim that his constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment were violated by

27

female officers conducting visual body cavity searches on a regular basis and watching him shower.

28

Id. at 616. Somers also asserted the prison officials “‘pointed at him’ and ‘joked among themselves’
32

1

during the searches and during his showers, behavior he characterize[d] as ‘gawking.’” Id. In

2

evaluating whether to apply the doctrine of qualified immunity, the Court reviewed its decisions in

3

Grummett, Michenfelder, and Sepulveda. See Somers, 109 F.3d at 619-20. The Court observed it

4

never “held that guards of the opposite sex are forbidden from viewing showering inmates.” Id. at

5

620. The Court continued: “Taken together, however, one might read Grummett, Michenfelder, and

6

Sepulveda to suggest that up close, frequent, and intentional viewings by guards of the opposite sex

7

could violate a prisoner’s privacy rights.” Id. The Court found it significant that the actions alleged

8

by Somers “did not involve any physical conduct,” and concluded “gawking, pointing, and joking” did

9

not violate the Eighth Amendment. Id. at 624.

10

With these cases in mind, the facts alleged to support a claim by Lara are not sufficient to

11

support a claim for sexual abuse or harassment in violation of constitutional standards. While Plaintiffs

12

assert in the reply brief that her “sex organs were intentionally exposed to male guards and other

13

prisoners” (Doc. 34 at 19), the facts alleged do not support a conclusion that the exposure was

14

intentional by any of the defendants. Instead, it appears the exposure was caused first by Officer

15

Herrera when he “slammed…. Lara on the ground” to place her in handcuffs, and then due to the

16

muumuu being too large, which was provided by Officer Guinn, who is not a defendant. (See Doc. 24,

17

¶¶ 51, 57-58) Although Lara was subjected to a strip search by Officer Guinn in the view of Officer

18

Herrera, this single search is not sufficient to support a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See

19

Michenfelder, 860 F.2d at 333-34 (finding a male inmate failed to state a claim where he challenged

20

female officers’ duty and involvement in strip searches as a violation of his right to privacy);

21

Grummett, 779 F.2d at 495 (“infrequent and irregular” viewing of prisoners of the opposite sex by

22

guards was not sufficient to support a claim).

23

For example, in Morris v. Newland, this Court considered the claim of an inmate plaintiff that

24

officers violated his constitutional rights because female guards “made sure to observe plaintiff at

25

length in the shower and in his cell.” Id., 2007 WL 707525 at *1 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2007). The

26

defendants moved to dismiss, asserting the plaintiff failed to state a claim. Id. at *2. The Court noted

27

Ninth Circuit authority “implicate[d] circumstances more severe than those set forth… with respect to

28

plaintiff’s cross-gender viewing claims.” Id. at *4. For example, the Court noted that in Somers, the
33

1

Ninth Circuit found the plaintiff failed to state a constitutional violation “even where the female

2

officials had engaged in ‘gawking’ at the plaintiff and had pointed at him in the shower ‘and joked

3

among themselves.’” Id., citing Somers, 109 F.3d at 622. In light of this, the Court found “the[]

4

intentional observation of [the plaintiff] in the shower and in his housing unit in various states of

5

undress” failed to rise to the level of a violation of the Fourth and Eighth Amendments. Id. at *5,

6

adopted by 2007 WL 987846 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2007). Likewise, here, it appears that Lara believes

7

officers intentionally viewed in a state of undress. (See Doc. 34 at 19). Nevertheless, as this Court

8

determined in Morris, the circumstances do not rise to an unconstitutional level.

9

Because, the facts alleged are not sufficient to support Lara’s claim for unconstitutional sexual

10

abuse or harassment, and the Court recommends the third claim for relief, to the extent it is brought by

11

Lara, be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

12
13

c.

Claim by Ayestas

Plaintiffs fail to identify any instances of sexual abuse or harassment by the defendants that

14

was directed toward Ayestas, although she too brings a claim under the third cause of action. (See

15

Doc. 24 at 22) The Court cannot speculate as to the unconstitutional conduct, because Ayestas has a

16

burden to identify a specific injury and show a causal relationship between the defendants’ conduct

17

and that injury. See Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371-72.

18
19
20

Given the lack of factual allegations to support a claim by Ayestas, the Court recommends the
third cause of action, to the extent it is raised by Ayestas, be DISMISSED with leave to amend.
d.

Claim by Medina

21

Plaintiffs allege that Medina had his genitals exposed during a pat down by Officer Mendoza (a

22

female guard), who is not a defendant in this action. (See Doc. 24 at 17, ¶ 123) Specifically, Plaintiffs

23

allege that during the pat down, “Officer Mendoza loosened the strong on [Mendoza’s] sweat pants,

24

which caused his pants to fall and exposed his genitals.” (Id.) Medina reports that after the pat down,

25

he was escorted outside by unspecified officers, while he was “in a tank top with his pants down.” (Id.,

26

¶ 124) In addition, Plaintiffs assert that his genitals remained exposed when Medina was placed in a

27

wheelchair and through the time he was placed in a cell in the Unit A Program office. (Id. at 18, ¶¶

28

130-131) According to Plaintiffs, “About 30 minutes into his confinement, Lieutenant Tegtmeyer came
34

1
2

to [the] cell and began making sexual comments to Medina.” (Doc. 24 at 18, ¶ 137)
Importantly, again, it appears the Eighth Amendment claim by Medina is based primarily upon

3

verbal comments, though some assert his genitals were exposed. However, to the extent Medina

4

believes he suffered an unconstitutional violation, he has not identified what specific actions he

5

believes arise to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation. The Court declines to speculate

6

regarding which specific actions Medina believes violated his rights, or which defendants he seeks to

7

state a claim against. See Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371-72. Accordingly, the Court recommends Medina’s

8

claim for sexual abuse in violation of the Eighth Amendment be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

9
10

F.

Fourth Claim for Relief: Retaliation

The claim for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment is brought “[b]y plaintiffs against

11

defendants Lieutenant Tegtmeyer, Sergeant Collier, Officer Herrera, Officer Reynolds, Officer Trevino,

12

Officer Dalie, Sergeant Rubalcava, Officer Valencia, Officer Del Toro, in their individual and official

13

capacities.” (Doc. 24 at 23, emphasis omitted) According to Plaintiffs, the defendants, “motivated by

14

plaintiffs’ protected activity, retaliated against plaintiffs who were engaged in an effort to access the

15

courts, an act protected under the First Amendment, by assaulting plaintiffs and restricting their access

16

to grievances, thus chilling the plaintiffs’ protected speech.” (Doc. 24 at 23, ¶170)

17

1.

First Amendment legal standards

18

Under the First Amendment, prison officials may not retaliate against prisoners for initiating

19

litigation or filing administrative grievances. Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 568 (9th Cir. 2005).

20

A cognizable claim of First Amendment retaliation entails five basic elements: (1) an assertion that a

21

state actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2) because of (3) the inmate’s protected

22

conduct and that the adverse action (4) chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights and

23

(5) did not reasonably advance a legitimate penological purpose. Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262,

24

1269 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 567-68).

25

A “plaintiff must plead facts which suggest that retaliation for the exercise of protected conduct

26

was the ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor behind the defendant’s conduct.” Harpool v. Beyer, Case

27

No. 2012 WL 4038444 at *11 (E.D. Cal. 2012) (referring to Soranno’s Gasco, Inc., v. Morgan, 874

28

F.2d 1310, 1314 (9th Cir. 1989). In addition, an adverse action is one that “would chill or silence a
35

1

person of ordinary firmness from future First Amendment activities.” White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214,

2

1228 (9th Cir. 2000) (quoting Mendocino Envtl. Center v. Mendocino County, 192 F.3d 1283, 1300

3

(9th Cir. 1999)).

4

2.

5

Claims of Lara and Ayestas

As an initial matter, the Court notes plaintiffs Lara and Ayestas do not identify any actions

6

they took that would be protected by the First Amendment that motivated Defendants.9 Instead,

7

Plaintiffs allege the search and subsequent interactions with officers by Lara and Ayestas were related

8

to Rojas’ requests to speak to the Investigative Services Unit10 regarding verbal abuse by Officer

9

Herrera and during the cell search lead by Officer Collier. (See Doc. 24 at 8, ¶¶ 30-31, 37) Even

10

opposing dismissal of the claim, Plaintiffs do not identify any constitutionally-protected activities by

11

Lara and Ayestas, and instead identify only actions by Rojas and Medina. (See Doc. 34 at 21-22)

12

Because Lara and Ayestas do not allege any facts supporting a conclusion that the defendants

13

took adverse actions because of protected conduct by Lara and Ayestas, they fail to state claims for

14

retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. See Brodheim, 584 F.3d at 1269.

15
16

3.

Claim of Rojas

Plaintiffs contend that Rojas engaged in protected conduct by “ask[ing] to speak to ISU to

17

report harassment.” (See Doc. 34 at 22) Importantly, however, Plaintiffs have not identified any facts

18

supporting a conclusion that speaking to ISU was an activity protected by the First Amendment.

19

Moreover, the Court has not located any authority extending constitutional protection to the right to

20

speak with an ISU officer. Thus, the Court finds Rojas has failed to identify protected conduct that

21

motivated the defendants’ conduct.

22
23
24

4.

Claim of Medina

According to Plaintiffs, “When Medina asked another officer to intervene in the harassing
behavior of officer Dalie, he engaged in protected activity.” (Doc. 34 at 22) However, the Court has

25
26
27
28

9
Plaintiffs allege that after the actions that form the basis for this complaint, Lara and Ayestas requested grievance
forms “were continually denied access to the forms.” (Doc. 24, ¶¶ 94-95) It is not clear who denied the forms. Regardless,
the form requests by Lara and Ayestas clearly could not have motivated the actions already taken by Defendants.
10
The Court is aware of no right of prisoners to speak to ISU officers, and the plaintiffs have failed to cite to any
authority for this proposition. Rather the California Code of Regulations allows the inmate to grieve conditions by
submitting a written complaint. CCR § 3084.1.

36

1

not located any legal authority extending constitutional protection to an inmate’s verbal request for

2

help or intervention.

3

Even assuming the request for another officer to intervene was constitutionally-protected,

4

Plaintiffs fail to allege facts sufficient to support a conclusion that an adverse action by the named

5

defendants was motivated by the request from Medina. Indeed, the facts clearly indicate the actions of

6

Officer Dalie started before the request. According to Plaintiffs, “Officer Dalie accused [Medina] of

7

lying about his medical needs” on January 4, 2017. (Doc. 24 at 15, ¶ 102) The next day, “Officer

8

Dalie again scrutinized Medina’s medication needs.” (Id., ¶ 103) Plaintiffs allege: “After opening

9

Medina’s cell door, Officer Dalie stood in the doorway and physically intimidated Medina.” (Id., ¶ 104)

10

Once Medina left his cell, “Officer Dalie trailed Medina and verbally harassed him.” (Id., ¶ 106) The

11

harassment escalated after Medina asked Dalie to stop and then “asked another guard in the Unit to ask

12

Officer Dalie to stop.” (Id., ¶ 108) Thus, Officer Dalie’s harassment of Medina began before the

13

alleged constitutionally protected activity, and Medina fails to allege facts that establish a causal link.

14

Further, there are no facts alleged that the officers who responded to Dalie’s code were aware of the

15

statement made by Medina, and as a result they could not be motivated by Medina’s request.
5.

16
17

Conclusion

The facts alleged do not support a cognizable claim for retaliation in violation of the First

18

Amendment by any of the named defendants against Plaintiffs. Accordingly, the Court recommends

19

the fourth claim for relief be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

20

G.

Fifth Claim for Relief: Failure to Adequately Hire, Train, Supervise, and Discipline

21

The final claim for relief is brought “[b]y all plaintiffs against defendants Kernan and Espinoza

22

in their official capacities, and defendants Adams and Johnson in their individual capacities.” (Doc.

23

24 at 23, emphasis omitted) Defendants argue the fifth claim for relief should be dismissed, because

24

Plaintiffs “fail[] to allege any specific conduct on the part of any individual supervisory Defendant.”

25

(Doc. 30-1 at 18)

26

1.

27
28

Supervisor liability under Section 1983

Under Section 1983, Plaintiffs must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in
the deprivation of their rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir.2002) (emphasis added).
37

1

Thus, liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel under Section 1983 on the theory of

2

respondeat superior, as each defendant is only liable for his or her own misconduct. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at

3

1948-49(2010); Ewing v. City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 2009). A supervisor may be

4

held liable only if he or she “participated in or directed the violations, or knew of the violations and

5

failed to act to prevent them.” Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989); accord Starr v. Baca,

6

633 F.3d 1191 (9th Cir. 2011); Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d 554, 570 (9th Cir. 2009); Preschooler II v.

7

Clark County School Board of Trustees, 479 F.3d 1175, 1182 (9th Cir. 2007); Harris v. Roderick, 126

8

F.3d 1189, 1204 (9th Cir. 1997).

9

A supervisor’s failure to train subordinates may give rise to individual liability under Section

10

1983 where the failure amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights of persons with whom the

11

subordinates are likely to come into contact. See Canell v. Lightner, 143 F.3d 1210, 1213-14 (9th Cir.

12

1998). To impose liability under this theory, a plaintiff must demonstrate the subordinate’s training

13

was inadequate, the inadequate training was a deliberate choice on the part of the supervisor, and the

14

inadequate training caused a constitutional violation. Id. at 1214; see also City of Canton v. Harris,

15

489 U.S. 378, 391 (1989); Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 681 (9th Cir. 2001).
2.

16
17

Analysis

In the First Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs allege: “defendants Kernan, Espinoza, Adams and

18

Johnson are required to train corrections officers and implement policies that protect the constitutional

19

rights of prisoners, and discipline officers who violate such rights.” (Doc. 24 at 23, ¶ 172) According

20

to Plaintiffs,

21
22
23

[D]efendants Kernan, Espinoza, Adams and Johnson failed in their obligation to
adequately train their corrections officers to refrain from subjecting prisoners to
excessive force and sexual abuse and harassment, violations of plaintiffs’ constitutional
rights, in their obligation to have in place policies that protect the constitutional rights
of prisoner, and in their obligation to discipline officers who violate the constitutional
rights of prisoners.

24
25

(Id. at 23-24, ¶ 173) (emphasis omitted) Plaintiffs contend that due to these actions—or inaction—

26

“defendants Adams and Johnson were and defendants Kernan and Espinoza remain deliberately

27

indifferent to the obvious consequences of their failure to adequately hire, train, supervise, and

28

discipline corrections officers who engage in these constitutional violations.” (Id.) (emphasis omitted)
38

1
2
3

///
a.

Claim against Governor Edmund Brown

Plaintiffs acknowledge they “removed all allegations against … Brown” in the First Amended

4

Complaint. (Doc. 34 at 22, n. 4) However, Edmund G. Brown, Jr. remains identified as a defendant

5

on the Court’s docket. Therefore, the Court recommends Edmund G. Brown, Jr. be DISMISSED

6

without leave to amend and the Clerk of Court be directed to update the docket.

7
8

b.

Claim against Kernan and Espinoza

In a case based on an ongoing violation of federal constitutional or statutory rights, a plaintiff

9

may obtain prospective injunctive relief by naming a state official in his or her official capacity. Ex

10

parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 155-56 (1908); Lawrence Livermore Nat’l Lab., 131 F.3d 836, 839 (9th

11

Cir. 1997) (“When sued for prospective injunctive relief, a state official in his official capacity is

12

considered a ‘person’ for § 1983 purposes.”).

13

Plaintiffs seek to state claims against Scott Kernan, the Secretary of California Department of

14

Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Janel Espinoza, Acting Warden at CCWF, in their official

15

capacities. (See Doc. 24 at 4-5, ¶¶ 14-15) According to Plaintiffs, “Kernan is responsible for ensuring

16

that the CDCR complies with all state and federal laws, and that the civil and legal rights of

17

individuals confined by CDCR are upheld.” (Id. at 4, ¶ 14) In addition, Plaintiffs assert that “Espinoza

18

is responsible for ensuring that CCWF complies with all state and federal laws, and that the civil and

19

legal rights of individuals confined at CCWF are upheld.” (Id., ¶ 15)

20

Plaintiffs assert that Kernan and Espinoza “are required to train corrections officers and

21

implement policies that protect the constitutional rights of prisoners, and discipline officers who violate

22

such rights.” (Doc. 24 at 23, ¶ 172) They assert the defendants “failed in their obligation to adequately

23

train their corrections officers to refrain from subjecting prisoners to excessive force and sexual abuse

24

and harassment, violations of plaintiffs’ constitutional rights, in their obligation to have in place

25

policies that protect the constitutional rights of prisoner, and in their obligation to discipline officers

26

who violate the constitutional rights of prisoners.” (Id. at 23-24, ¶ 173)

27
28

Significantly, there are no facts alleged supporting assertion that Kernan—as the Secretary of
CDCR—has an obligation to train the officers that work at CDCR’s institutions such as CCWF.
39

1

Indeed, such a claim seems dubious. Further, as Defendants contend, Plaintiffs’ claims against Kernan

2

and Espinoza fail because they “have not identified a state policy or procedure at issue to state an

3

official capacity suit for injunctive relief against Secretary Kernan or Warden Espinoza.” (Doc. 30-1 at

4

19, citing Haber v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 25 (1991)). Finally, Plaintiffs have not identified the injunctive

5

relief sought in the First Amended Complaint, such that the Court can determine prospective injunctive

6

relief is a viable and available remedy. Consequently, the Court recommends the claims against

7

Kernan11 and Espinoza be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

8

c.

9

Claim against Wardens Johnson and Adams

Plaintiffs seek to hold former acting wardens Johnson and Adams liable in their individual

10

capacities under Section 1983. (See Doc. 24 at 5, ¶¶ 16-17; id. at 23) According to Plaintiffs, Johnson

11

was the Acting Warden of CCWF when Plaintiffs Rojas, Ayestas and Lara were injured in 2015. (Id.

12

at 5, ¶ 17) They assert Adams “was Acting Warden when Plaintiff Medina was injured” in 2017. (Id.,

13

¶ 16) According to Plaintiffs, as Acting Wardens, Johnson and Adams were “responsible for ensuring

14

that the CCWF complied with all state and federal laws, and that the civil and legal rights of

15

individuals confined at CCWF were upheld.” (Id., ¶¶ 16-17) However, Plaintiffs contend Johnson

16

and Adams “failed in their obligation to adequately train their corrections officers to refrain from

17

subjecting prisoners to excessive force and sexual abuse and harassment, violations of plaintiffs’

18

constitutional rights, in their obligation to have in place policies that protect the constitutional rights of

19

prisoner, and in their obligation to discipline officers who violate the constitutional rights of

20

prisoners.” (Id. at 23-24, ¶ 173)

21

Importantly, Plaintiffs do not allege facts that show Johnson and Adams were aware of any

22

unconstitutional actions by officers at CCWF. As this Court previously observed, “[t]he cases in

23

which supervisors have been held liable under a failure to train/supervise theory involve conscious

24

choices made with full knowledge that a problem existed.” Woodward v. Kokor, 2017 WL 2572456

25

(E.D. Cal. June 13, 2017) (citation omitted); see also Cousin v. Small, 325 F.3d 627, 637 (5th Cir.

26
27
28

11

As alleged, it appears that Kernan has little control over the customs in place at the individual prisons. Rather,
the plaintiffs seem to assert that it is the wardens that have this control. Thus, at least as it now stands, it appears that
Kernan is named purely because he is “where the buck stops” for the CDCR as a whole. If this is the plaintiffs’ design,
naming Kernan simply attempts to impose respondeat superior liability, which is improper.

40

1

2003) (explaining that to impose liability for failure to train, “a plaintiff must usually demonstrate a

2

pattern of violations and that the inadequacy of the training is obvious and obviously likely to result in

3

a constitutional violation”). Here, however, there are no facts alleged regarding the knowledge of

4

Johnson and Adams of a pattern of violations by officers at CCWF. Without such knowledge, the

5

Court is unable to find the defendants exhibited deliberate indifference to the civil rights of prisoners

6

at CCWF. See Canell, 143 F.3d at 1213-14; City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. at 391.
Consequently, the Court finds the facts alleged are not sufficient to support Plaintiffs’ claim for

7
8

failure to train, supervise, and discipline12 against Johnson and Adams, and recommends the fifth

9

claim for relief be DISMISSED with leave to amend.

10
11

V.

Findings and Recommendations
Based upon the foregoing, the Court finds severance of the claims of Rojas, Ayestas, and Lara

12

from the claims of Medina is appropriate. In addition, Plaintiffs have failed to allege sufficient facts—

13

rather than legal conclusions—to support their claims for relief challenged by Defendants above. Thus,

14

the Court RECOMMENDS:

15

1.

Defendant Brown be DISMISSED without leave to amend, and the Clerk of Court be
directed to update the Docket;

16
17

2.

Defendants’ motion for misjoinder be GRANTED;

18

3.

The Clerk of Court be DIRECTED to open a new civil action and docket the First
Amended Complaint (Doc. 24) as the operative pleading in that action;

19
20

4.

severed case;

21
22

The motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) be GRANTED in this action and in the

5.

The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth claims for relief be DISMISSED with leave to
amend within 21 days.

23
24

These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge

25

assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local

26
27
28

In the First Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs indicate the “Fifth Claim for Relief” is for “Failure to Adequately
Hire, Train, Supervise, and Discipline.” However, there are no allegations made regarding the hiring of the defendant
officers. To the extent Plaintiffs intended to state a claim for unlawful hiring practices, the claim fails for a lack of factual
support.
12

41

1

Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within fourteen

2

days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, any party may file written

3

objections. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and

4

Recommendations.” Any reply to objections shall be filed within seven days of the date of service of

5

the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may

6

waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991);

7

Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 834 (9th Cir. 2014).

8
9
10
11

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

August 30, 2018

/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
42