Davis III v. Gibson et al
Filing
29
FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Recommending This Action Proceed on Plantiff's Due Process Claim Only Against Certain Named Defendants, and All Other Claims and Defendants be Dismissed for Failure to State a Cognizable Claim for Relief 28 , signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 7/10/2018: 21-Day Deadline. (Hellings, J)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
RELMON H. DAVIS, III.,
12
Plaintiff,
13
v.
14
GIBSON, et.al.,
15
Defendants.
16
17
18
19
Case No.: 1:18-cv-00610-LJO-SAB (PC)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDING THIS ACTION PROCEED ON
PLAINTIFF’S DUE PROCESS CLAIM ONLY
AGAINST CERTAIN NAMED DEFENDANTS,
AND ALL OTHER CLAIMS AND DEFENDANTS
BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO STATE A
COGNIZABLE CLAIM FOR RELIEF
[ECF No. 28]
Plaintiff Relmon H. Davis, III. is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s third amended complaint, filed June 25, 2018.
20
21
I.
22
SCREENING REQUIREMENT
23
The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a
24
governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The
25
Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally
26
///
27
///
28
1
1
“frivolous or malicious,” that “fail[] to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that
2
“seek[] monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. §
3
1915(e)(2)(B).
A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is
4
5
entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but
6
“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements,
7
do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,
8
550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally
9
participated in the deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir.
10
11
2002).
Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their pleadings liberally
12
construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor. Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121
13
(9th Cir. 2012) (citations omitted). To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible,
14
which requires sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named
15
defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service,
16
572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The “sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully” is not
17
sufficient, and “facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability” falls short of satisfying
18
the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
19
II.
20
COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS
21
In September 2014, Lieutenant Dicks authorized an administrative segregation placement order
22
and acted as the senior hearing officer at Plaintiff’s Rules Violation Report (RVR) hearing. The RVR
23
was not filed before the hearing and was not complete with the authorizing signature. At the RVR
24
hearing, Plaintiff’s request to postpone the hearing pending the district attorney adjudication was
25
ignored by Defendants Vanderpool, Sanchez, and Olivera. In addition, Defendants Matta and Cambell
26
did not summon Plaintiff to the committee hearing.
27
28
Third yard staff and second watch morning chow dining staff, C. Rodriguez, C. Gutierrez, I.
Martinez, J. Huewe, J. Vargas, K. Halsey, M. Muniz, M. Ortega, L. Munoz, J. Zapata, J. Velasco2
1
Alverez, J. Gamez, L. Ford, M. Cute, and D. Grimsley used excessive force during a ten-minute
2
assault on Plaintiff. Plaintiff was cut intentionally with a sawing motion with handcuffs in the left
3
shoulder blade and right elbow. Plaintiff’s left knee was broken with a wand while Plaintiff was being
4
held down prone on the floor. Plaintiff suffered a broken nose, facial scarring, nerve damage, and
5
internal bleeding.
6
The assault took place after Plaintiff was improperly released to the 3B yard causing the
7
altercation to occur. The classification of July 22, 2015, was without notice to Plaintiff and did not
8
afford him the opportunity to voice his safety concerns. Plaintiff was released to the yard prior to the
9
completion of a pending court case against two of the named correctional staff.
10
11
Plaintiff was denied medical care after the assault and was placed in the security housing unit
in the same bloody clothes with no medical check-up for eleven days.
12
III.
13
DISCUSSION
14
A.
Classification and Placement in Segregated Housing-Due Process
15
Liberty interests may arise from the Due Process Clause itself or from an expectation or interest
16
created by prison regulations. Wilkinson, 545 U.S. at 221. The Due Process Clause does not confer on
17
inmates a liberty interest in avoiding more adverse conditions of confinement, and the existence of a
18
liberty interest created by prison regulations is determined by focusing on the nature of the condition of
19
confinement at issue. Id. at 221-23 (citing Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 481-84 (1995)) (quotation
20
marks omitted). Such liberty interests are generally limited to freedom from restraint which imposes
21
atypical and significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life. Id. at
22
221(citing Sandin, 515 U.S. at 484) (quotation marks omitted); Myron v. Terhune, 476 F.3d 716, 718
23
(9th Cir. 2007).
24
With regard to administrative segregation, due process requires that prison officials hold an
25
informal nonadversary hearing within a reasonable time after the prisoner is segregated, inform the
26
prisoner of the reasons for such placement, and allow the prisoner to present his views. Toussaint v.
27
McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1100 (9th Cir. 1986), abrogated in part on other grounds, Sandin v. Conner,
28
515 U.S. 472. In addition, the decision to segregate an inmate for administrative reasons must be
3
1
supported by “some evidence, id. at 1100, and periodic review is necessary to maintain the
2
confinement, id. at 1101, quoting Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 260, 477 n.9 (1993).
3
With respect to prison disciplinary proceedings, the minimum procedural requirements that must
4
be met are: (1) written notice of the charges; (2) at least 24 hours between the time the prisoner receives
5
written notice and the time of the hearing, so that the prisoner may prepare his defense; (3) a written
6
statement by the fact finders of the evidence they rely on and reasons for taking disciplinary action; (4)
7
the right of the prisoner to call witnesses in his defense, when permitting him to do so would not be
8
unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals; and (5) legal assistance to the prisoner
9
where the prisoner is illiterate or the issues presented are legally complex. Wolff, 418 U.S. at 563-71.
10
In addition “[s]ome evidence” must support the decision of the hearing officer. Superintendent v. Hill,
11
472 U.S. 445, 455 (1985). The standard is not particularly stringent and the relevant inquiry is whether
12
“there is any evidence in the record that could support the conclusion reached . . . .” Id. at 455-56
13
(emphasis added).
14
Here, Plaintiff contends that in July 2015, he was placed in the administrative housing unit at
15
Corcoran State Prison without any notice or opportunity to present his views. Based on Plaintiff’s
16
allegations, viewed liberally, Plaintiff states a cognizable due process claim against Defendants K.
17
Dicks, P. Sanchez, J. Vanderpool, M. Olivera, K. Matta, and T. Cambell.
18
B.
Inmate Appeals Process
19
“The Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause protects persons against deprivations of
20
life, liberty, or property; and those who seek to invoke its procedural protection must establish that one
21
of these interests is at stake.” Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 221 (2005). Plaintiff does not a
22
have protected liberty interest in the processing his appeals, and therefore, he cannot pursue a claim
23
for denial of due process with respect to the handling or resolution of his appeals. Ramirez v. Galaza,
24
334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988)).
25
C.
Excessive Force
26
The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain violates the Cruel and Unusual Punishments
27
Clause of the Eighth Amendment. Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 5 (1992) (citations omitted). For
28
claims arising out of the use of excessive physical force, the issue is “whether force was applied in a
4
1
good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.”
2
Wilkins v. Gaddy, 559 U.S. 34, 37 (2010) (per curiam) (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7) (internal
3
quotation marks omitted); Furnace v. Sullivan, 705 F.3d 1021, 1028 (9th Cir. 2013). The objective
4
component of an Eighth Amendment claim is contextual and responsive to contemporary standards of
5
decency, Hudson, 503 U.S. at 8 (quotation marks and citation omitted), and although de minimis uses
6
of force do not violate the Constitution, the malicious and sadistic use of force to cause harm always
7
violates contemporary standards of decency, regardless of whether or not significant injury is evident,
8
Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 37-8 (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9-10) (quotation marks omitted); Oliver v.
9
Keller, 289 F.3d 623, 628 (9th Cir. 2002).
10
Plaintiff alleges that C. Rodriguez, C. Gutierrez, I. Martinez, J. Huewe, J. Vargas, K. Halsey,
11
M. Muniz, M. Ortega, L. Munoz, J. Zapata, J. Velasco-Alverez, J. Gamez, L. Ford, M. Cute, and D.
12
Grimsley used excessive force on him; however, Plaintiff fails to link these individuals to an
13
affirmative act or omission giving rise to his claim of excessive force. As with Plaintiff’s second
14
amended complaint, Plaintiff’s third amended complaint fails to set forth all of the factual
15
circumstances surrounding the alleged use of excessive force. Plaintiff’s allegations fail to
16
demonstrate that Defendants used force maliciously and sadistically to cause Plaintiff harm, rather
17
than in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline. Indeed, Plaintiff does not provide what if
18
any reasons were given by Defendants for their actions, whether Defendants engaged in other conduct
19
to defuse the use of force, how much force was used, or why Plaintiff believes the amount of force
20
was excessive. The facts as alleged fail to give rise to a plausible inference that the actions of
21
Defendants were malicious and sadistic for the purpose of causing harm to Plaintiff. Plaintiff was
22
previously informed of the deficiencies in this cause of action, but has been unable to cure them.
23
Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable excessive force claim and this claim should be
24
dismissed, without further leave to amend. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79.
25
D.
Medical Treatment
26
While the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution entitles Plaintiff to medical care,
27
the Eighth Amendment is violated only when a prison official acts with deliberate indifference to an
28
inmate’s serious medical needs. Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 985 (9th Cir. 2012), overruled in
5
1
part on other grounds, Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1082-83 (9th Cir. 2014); Wilhelm v. Rotman,
2
680 F.3d 1113, 1122 (9th Cir. 2012); Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). Plaintiff
3
“must show (1) a serious medical need by demonstrating that failure to treat [his] condition could result
4
in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,” and (2) that “the
5
defendant’s response to the need was deliberately indifferent.” Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122 (citing Jett,
6
439 F.3d at 1096). Deliberate indifference is shown by “(a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a
7
prisoner’s pain or possible medical need, and (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Wilhelm, 680 F.3d
8
at 1122 (citing Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096). The requisite state of mind is one of subjective recklessness,
9
which entails more than ordinary lack of due care. Snow, 681 F.3d at 985 (citation and quotation marks
10
omitted); Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122.
11
“A difference of opinion between a physician and the prisoner - or between medical
12
professionals - concerning what medical care is appropriate does not amount to deliberate indifference.”
13
Snow, 681 F.3d at 987 (citing Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); Wilhelm, 680 F.3d
14
at 1122-23 (citing Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1986)). Rather, Plaintiff “must show
15
that the course of treatment the doctors chose was medically unacceptable under the circumstances and
16
that the defendants chose this course in conscious disregard of an excessive risk to [his] health.” Snow,
17
681 F.3d at 988 (citing Jackson, 90 F.3d at 332) (internal quotation marks omitted).
18
As with Plaintiff’s second amended complaint, Plaintiff’s third amended complaint fails to
19
provide sufficient factual details surrounding the alleged denial of medical treatment following the use
20
of force incident. Plaintiff fails to indicate who specifically denied his medical treatment, whether he
21
voiced his need for medical treatment, whether he was ultimately provided treatment, or whether there
22
was a delay in treatment that resulted in injury. Indeed, neither an inadvertent failure to provide
23
medical care, nor mere negligence or medical malpractice, nor a mere delay in medical care (without
24
more) is sufficient to constitute deliberate indifference. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105-06
25
(1976); Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1058-60 (9th Cir. 2004); Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d at
26
332; Shapley v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Commissioners, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1984).
27
Plaintiff was previously informed of the deficiencies in this cause of action, but has been unable to
28
6
1
cure them. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim for deliberate indifference to a
2
serious medical need.
3
D.
Supervisory Liability
4
Plaintiff names Warden Davey as a Defendant in this action.
5
Under section 1983, Plaintiff must prove that the defendants holding supervisory positions
6
personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir.
7
2002). There is no respondeat superior liability, and each defendant is only liable for his or her own
8
misconduct. Iqbal, at 1948-49. A supervisor may be held liable for the constitutional violations of his
9
or her subordinates only if he or she “participated in or directed the violations, or knew of the
10
violations and failed to act to prevent them.” Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989);
11
Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d 554, 570 (9th Cir. 2009); Preschooler II v. Clark County School Board of
12
Trustees, 479 F.3d 1175, 1182 (9th Cir. 2007); Harris v. Roderick, 126 F.3d 1189, 1204 (9th Cir.
13
1997).
14
Plaintiff’s complaint is devoid of any allegations supporting the existence of a supervisory
15
liability claim against Warden Davey. The only basis for such a claim would be respondeat superior,
16
which is precluded under section 1983.
17
IV.
18
RECOMMENDATIONS
19
Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
20
1.
21
22
23
24
This action proceed on Plaintiff’s due process claim against Defendants K. Dicks, P.
Sanchez, J. Vanderpool, M. Olivera, K. Matta, and T. Cambell; and
2.
All other claims and Defendants be dismissed from the action for failure to state a
cognizable claim for relief.
These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge
25
assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty-one (21)
26
days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written
27
objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s
28
Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the
7
1
specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-
2
39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
3
4
IT IS SO ORDERED.
5
Dated:
6
July 10, 2018
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
8
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?