(PC) Del Rosario v. Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles et al
Filing
12
ORDER DIRECTING Clerk of Court to Randomly Assign District Judge to Action; FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 11/18/2020 recommending that this action be DISMISSED based on Plaintiff's failure to state a cognizable claim upon which relief may be granted re 11 Amended Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint ; referred to Judge Ishii; New Case Number is 1:20-cv-00512 AWI-BAM (PC), Objections to F&R due by 12/7/2020(Martin-Gill, S)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
LEDWIN Q. DEL ROSARIO,
12
13
14
15
Plaintiff,
v.
SUPERIOR COURT OF COUNTY OF
LOS ANGELES, et al.,
Case No. 1:20-cv-0512-BAM (PC)
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO
RANDOMLY ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE TO
ACTION
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING DISMISSAL OF ACTION FOR
FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM
Defendants.
16
17
FOURTEEN-DAY DEADLINE
18
19
Plaintiff Ledwin Q. Del Rosario (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner appearing pro se and in
20
forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff’s complaint, filed
21
on April 10, 2020, was screened and Plaintiff was granted leave to amend. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff’s
22
first amended complaint, filed on November 16, 2020, is currently before the Court for screening.
23
(ECF No. 11.)
24
I.
Screening Requirement and Standard
25
The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a
26
governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.
27
§ 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to dismissal if it is frivolous
28
or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or if it seeks monetary
1
1
2
relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b).
A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
3
pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not
4
required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
5
conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell
6
Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken
7
as true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores,
8
Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
9
To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires
10
sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable
11
for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S.
12
Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted
13
unlawfully is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the
14
plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
15
II.
16
Plaintiff is currently housed in California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, California
17
(“Tehachapi”) The events in the complaint are alleged to have occurred while Plaintiff was housed
18
at Tehachapi. Plaintiff names the following defendants: (1) Jerry E. Powers, Chief Probation
19
Officer, Superior Court of Los Angeles County, (2) Phach Ngo, defense counsel, (3) Catherine
20
Mariano, Deputy District Attorney, (4) Hon Daviann L. Mitchell, Judge Superior Court of Los
21
Angeles County, and (5) Mr. Cates (Warden), of Tehachapi.
22
Allegations in Complaint
Plaintiff alleges violations of access to the courts, due process, and cruel and unusual
23
punishment. All of Plaintiff’s allegations center around his conviction and proceedings in which
24
he plead guilty and was sentenced He alleges his counsel threatened him and Plaintiff was
25
scared. He was convicted of being a three striker when he was not. He alleges prosecutorial
26
misconduct in the plea deal and charging Plaintiff with a serious violent crime. Judge Mitchell
27
knew the charges were not serious and allowed them to proceed. Plaintiff alleges that Warden
28
Cates knows that there are many incarcerated inmates who are wrongfully convicted in prison.
2
1
Plaintiff complains that this “privacy information” has not be submitted to Plaintiff’s central file.1
2
III.
Discussion
3
Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a cognizable claim for relief.
4
A. Plaintiff Cannot Challenge the Duration of Confinement in a § 1983 Action
5
Plaintiff appears to challenge his conviction. “Federal law opens two main avenues to
6
relief on complaints related to imprisonment: a petition for writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. §
7
2254, and a complaint under ... 42 U.S.C. § 1983.” Muhammad v. Close, 540 U.S. 749, 750
8
(2004) (per curiam). “Challenges to the validity of any confinement or to particulars affecting its
9
duration are the province of habeas corpus; request for relief turning on the circumstances of
10
confinement may be presented in a § 1983 action.” Id. (internal citation omitted). Here, plaintiff’s
11
claim relates to the length of his confinement or proceedings in his underlying conviction.
12
Accordingly, his sole federal remedy is by way of a writ of habeas corpus. Preiser v. Rodriguez,
13
411 U.S. 574, 489 (1973) (“Release from custody is not an available remedy under the Civil
14
Rights Act”); Young v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874, 875 (9th Cir. 1989) (“Where prisoner challenges
15
the fact or duration of his confinement, his sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus.”).
16
“[T]o the extent plaintiff challenges his credit calculation and overall length of confinement, such
17
a claim fails in a § 1983 case as a matter of law, unless he was able to have the credit
18
determination overturned through a habeas action first.” Clinton v. Calif. Dep’t of Corr., No. 05-
19
cv-1600 LKK CMK P, 2013 WL 5718739 at *10 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 18, 2013), reversed in part on
20
other grounds by Clinton v. Cooper, 781 Fed.Appx. 582 (9th Cir. 2019).
21
Further, to the extent Plaintiff if seeking damages for an allegedly unconstitutional
22
conviction or imprisonment, “a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the conviction or sentence has
23
been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal
24
authorized to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court's issuance of a
25
26
27
28
1
It is unclear from the Exhibits attached to the complaint when Plaintiff was convicted. He has
attached two documents entitle “Legal Status Summary,” neither of which have Plaintiff’s name
on the forms. The attached Exhibit response to 602 appeal states the Plaintiff Del Rosario was
convicted and sentence to 15 year to life for sexual abuse of a child and continuous sexual abuse
of a child, which are considered to be violent offenses under California’s Penal Code.
3
1
writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254.” Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 487-88 (1994). “A
2
claim for damages bearing that relationship to a conviction or sentence that has not been so
3
invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983.” Id. at 488. Despite being provided relevant pleading
4
and legal standards, Plaintiff has been unable to cure this deficiency. Leave to amend is not
5
warranted.
6
B. Supervisory Liability
7
Plaintiff names Warden Cates in his role as Warden.
8
In general, Plaintiff may not hold a defendant liable solely based upon their supervisory
9
positions. Liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel for the actions or omissions of
10
their subordinates under the theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676–77; Simmons v.
11
Navajo Cty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020–21 (9th Cir. 2010). Supervisors may be held liable only
12
if they “participated in or directed the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to
13
prevent them.” Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989); Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d
14
554, 570 (9th Cir. 2009). Plaintiff may also allege the supervisor “implemented a policy so
15
deficient that the policy ‘itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights' and is ‘the moving force of
16
the constitutional violation.’ ” Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989) (internal
17
citations omitted). Despite being provided relevant pleading and legal standards, Plaintiff has
18
been unable to cure this deficiency. Leave to amend is not warranted.
19
C.
Judicial Immunity
20
Plaintiff is attempting to bring suit against Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge
21
Mitchell based on judicial rulings in Plaintiff's criminal case. However, absolute immunity is
22
generally accorded to judges functioning in their official capacities. See Olsen v. Idaho State Bd.
23
of Med., 363 F.3d 916, 922 (9th Cir.2004). “Few doctrines were more solidly established at
24
common law than the immunity of judges from liability for damages for acts committed within
25
their judicial jurisdiction.” Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 553–54 (1967). Judicial immunity “is an
26
immunity from suit, not just from the ultimate assessment of damages.” Mireles v. Waco, 502
27
U.S. 9, 11 (1991); see also Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 356 (1978) (“A judge will not be
28
deprived of immunity because the action he took was in error, was done maliciously, or was in
4
1
excess of his authority.”). Accordingly, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell is
2
immune from liability arising from her judicial rulings. Plaintiff cannot cure this deficiency.
3
D. Appointed Attorney
4
Insofar as Plaintiff is attempting to bring a claim under Section 1983 against the attorney
5
assigned to represent him, Defendant Ngo, he may not do so. To state a claim under Section 1983,
6
Plaintiff must allege a deprivation of a right secured by the Constitution and laws of the United
7
States “by a person acting under color of state law.” West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988)
8
(citations omitted). Attorneys do not act under color of state law when they perform “a lawyer's
9
traditional functions as counsel to a defendant in a criminal proceeding.” Polk Cty. v. Dodson,
10
454 U.S. 312, 325 (1981) (“[A] public defender does not act under color of state law when
11
performing a lawyer's traditional functions as counsel to a defendant in a criminal proceeding.”);
12
Szijarto v. Legeman, 466 F.2d 864 (9th Cir. 1972) (Attorney, whether retained or appointed, does
13
not act “under color of state law” pursuant to § 1983). Accordingly, Plaintiff cannot state a
14
cognizable Section 1983 claim against Defendant Ngo, defense counsel representing Plaintiff in a
15
criminal proceeding. Plaintiff cannot cure this deficiency.
16
E. Criminal Charges and Prosecutorial Immunity
17
Plaintiff appears to allege that deputy district attorney Mariano is liable for criminally
18
prosecuting Plaintiff.
19
Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Mariano are for actions done in connection with the
20
criminal prosecution of Plaintiff and, therefore, Defendant Mariano, and any other prosecutor, is
21
entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity. See Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 430 (1976) (A
22
prosecutor is entitled to absolute immunity from a Section 1983 action for damages when he or
23
she performs a function that is “intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal
24
process.”); Forte v. Merced Cty., No. 1:15-CV-0147 KJM-BAM, 2016 WL 159217, at *12–13
25
(E.D. Cal. Jan. 13, 2016) (“prosecutorial immunity protects eligible government officials when
26
they are acting pursuant to their official role as advocate for the state”), report and
27
recommendation adopted, No. 1:15-CV-0147-KJM-BAM, 2016 WL 739798 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 25,
28
2016).
5
1
IV.
Conclusion and Order
2
Plaintiff’s first amended complaint fails to state a cognizable Section 1983 claim for relief.
3
Despite being provided with relevant pleading and legal standards, Plaintiff has been unable to
4
cure the deficiencies in his complaint by amendment, and thus further leave to amend is not
5
warranted. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000).
6
7
8
9
10
Accordingly, the Court HEREBY ORDERS the Clerk of the Court to randomly assign a
District Judge to this action.
Furthermore, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be dismissed based on
Plaintiff’s failure to state a cognizable claim upon which relief may be granted.
These Findings and Recommendation will be submitted to the United States District Judge
11
assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen
12
(14) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendation, Plaintiff may file written
13
objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s
14
Findings and Recommendation.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the
15
specified time may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate’s factual findings”
16
on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan,
17
923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
18
19
20
21
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
/s/ Barbara
November 18, 2020
A. McAuliffe
_
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
6
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?