Williams v. Fresno County Department of Social Services et al

Filing 5

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Recommending Dismissing Complaint for Failure to State a Claim and Dismissing Action for Failure to Comply with Court Order and Failure to Prosecute signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 7/19/2021. Referred to Judge Dale A. Drozd. Objections to F&R due within Thirty Days. (Sant Agata, S)

Case 1:21-cv-00596-DAD-SAB Document 5 Filed 07/19/21 Page 1 of 19

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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PRINCE PAUL RAYMOND WILLIAMS,
Plaintiff,

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Case No. 1:21-cv-00596-DAD-SAB
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDING DISMISSING
COMPLAINT FOR FAILURE TO STATE A
CLAIM AND DISMISSING ACTION FOR
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COURT
ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

v.
FRESNO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, et al.,

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Defendants.

(ECF Nos. 1, 4)

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OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN THIRTY
DAYS

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Prince Paul Raymond Williams (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis,

20 filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1986. The matter was referred to
21 a United States magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.
22

Plaintiff’s complaint was screened and on May 28, 2021, a screening order issued finding

23 that Plaintiff had failed to state any cognizable claims in this action and granting him thirty days
24 in which to file an amended complaint. More than thirty days have passed and Plaintiff has
25 neither filed an amended complaint nor otherwise responded to the May 28, 2021 order. For the
26 reasons discussed herein, it is recommended that the complaint be dismissed for failure to state a
27 cognizable claim and this action be dismissed for failure to comply with a court order and failure
28 to prosecute.

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1

I.

2

SCREENING REQUIREMENT

3

Notwithstanding any filing fee, the court shall dismiss a case if at any time the Court

4 determines that the complaint “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which
5 relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from
6 such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1129 (9th Cir. 2000)
7 (section 1915(e) applies to all in forma pauperis complaints, not just those filed by prisoners);
8 Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (dismissal required of in forma pauperis
9 proceedings which seek monetary relief from immune defendants); Cato v. United States, 70
10 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995) (district court has discretion to dismiss in forma pauperis
11 complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)); Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 1998)
12 (affirming sua sponte dismissal for failure to state a claim). The Court exercises its discretion to
13 screen the plaintiff’s complaint in this action to determine if it “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii)
14 fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a
15 defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
16

In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim, the Court uses the same

17 pleading standard used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). A complaint must contain “a
18 short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R.
19 Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the
20 elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”
21 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.
22 544, 555 (2007)).
23

In reviewing the pro se complaint, the Court is to liberally construe the pleadings and

24 accept as true all factual allegations contained in the complaint. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89,
25 94 (2007). Although a court must accept as true all factual allegations contained in a complaint,
26 a court need not accept a plaintiff’s legal conclusions as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “[A]
27 complaint [that] pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability . . . ‘stops
28 short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.’” Id. (quoting

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1 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). Therefore, the complaint must contain sufficient factual content for
2 the court to draw the reasonable conclusion that the defendant is liable for the misconduct
3 alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
4

II.

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COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS

6

Plaintiff brings this action against the Fresno County Department of Social Services

7 Administration, Amanda Ford, Christina Astorga, Delfino Neira, and Justin R. Johnson. Plaintiff
8 alleges violations of the Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment, Seventh Amendment, Ninth
9 Amendment, and violations of Title 18 of the United States Code.
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Plaintiff contends that the defendants have made false allegations and caused abuse of a

11 minor child and false claims of debt and is seeking monetary damages. (Compl. 4, ECF No. 1.)
12 Defendant Ford is a social worker for the Fresno County Department of Social Services and she
13 and Plaintiff are the parents of Aamirah Williams. (Id. at ¶¶ 7, 8.) In mid 2016, Defendant Ford
14 made false allegations of sexual abuse against Plaintiff. (Id. at ¶ 9.) The allegations of sexual
15 abuse have effected Plaintiff’s support and custody in County of Fresno v. Prince Paul Raymond
16 Williams, case no. 14CEFS01741. (Id. at ¶ 10.)
17

On August 25, 2016, Defendant Astorga was assigned a ten day referral to investigate

18 Defendant Ford’s allegations. (Id. at ¶ 11.) On August 26, 2016, Defendant Astorga contacted
19 the Fresno Police Department to investigate the allegations. (Id. at ¶ 12.) The dispatch reported
20 that there had been no reports made with the address provided. (Id.) On August 30, 2016,
21 Defendant Astorga contacted a third party to investigate the allegations.

(Id.)

Defendant

22 Astorga reported that the third party was unsure but that the minor’s mother had disclosed that
23 the minor had been “touched” however there were no visible marks or bruises to indicate abuse.
24 (Id. at ¶ 13.)
25

On August 31, 2016, Defendant Astorga contacted Defendant Ford who alleged that the

26 abuse had occurred at Plaintiff’s residence. (Id. at ¶ 14.) Defendant Astorga spoke with
27 Defendant Ford, a third party, and the minor. (Id. at ¶ 15.)
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Defendant Astorga attempted to contact Plaintiff on September 1, 27, and 28 of 2016.

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1 (Id. at ¶ 16.) Defendant Astorga reported that the referral was closed as the allegations of sexual
2 abuse appeared to be unfounded and the child did not appear to be in any demonstrable danger at
3 the time of the investigation. (Id. at ¶ 17.)
4

On September 1, 2019, Plaintiff emailed Defendants Fresno County Department of Social

5 Services Administration and Neira a notice of complaint against Defendant Ford. (Id. at ¶ 18.)
6 The complaint described Plaintiff’s suffering due to the false accusations made by Defendant
7 Ford. (Id.) On September 3, 2019, Defendant Johnson replied that the correspondence had been
8 received and requested that Plaintiff call to discuss the matter. (Id. at ¶ 19.) Plaintiff was not
9 provided with a remedy for his suffering during the discussion with Defendant Johnson. (Id. at ¶
10 20.)
11

On November 14, 2019, Defendant Ford sent an email to Plaintiff from her Fresno

12 County email that contained a medical billing statement regarding their daughter. (Id. at ¶ 21.)
13 In late 2019, Defendant Ford sent a medical billing statement to Plaintiff regarding their daughter
14 using a County of Fresno envelope. (Id. at ¶ 22.) Defendant Ford replaced the County of Fresno
15 address by writing “Amanda Ford 3718 N. State Fresno, CA 93722.” (Id.)
16

On December 12, 2019, Plaintiff contacted Defendant Mesa to receive a remedy for his

17 suffering. (Id. at ¶ 23.) Defendant Mesa did not provide a remedy. (Id.)
18

On December 23, 2019, Defendant Ford sent Plaintiff an email from a personal email

19 address informing him that she was providing him with notice that if he did not pay the attached
20 medical billing she would make sure it was added to his payback when they went to court. (Id.
21 at ¶ 25.)
22

Plaintiff brings a cause of action for defamation, fraud, negligence, intentional infliction

23 of emotional distress, mail fraud, mail threats, and unjust enrichment. (Id. at pp. 14-17.)
24

For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiff has failed to allege any facts to state a claim for

25 a violation of his federal rights and recommends that the complaint, filed April 9, 2021, be
26 dismissed for failure to state a claim.
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28 ///

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1

III.

2

DISCUSSION

3

For the reasons addressed below, Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim for relief

4 in this matter. The Court recommends that the complaint, filed April 9, 2021, be dismissed for
5 failure to state a claim.
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A.

Jurisdiction

7

Plaintiff states that the basis of jurisdiction in this action is diversity of citizenship.

8 (Compl., p. 3.) Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and their power to adjudicate is
9 limited to that granted by Congress. U.S. v. Sumner, 226 F.3d 1005, 1009 (9th Cir. 2000).
10 District courts have original jurisdiction of all civil actions between citizens of different States in
11 which “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and
12 costs.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). This requires complete diversity of citizenship and the presence
13 “of a single plaintiff from the same State as a single defendant deprives the district court of
14 original diversity jurisdiction over the entire action.” Abrego Abrego v. The Dow Chemical Co.,
15 443 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2006) (citations omitted).
16

Here, Plaintiff alleges that he is a citizen of California and Defendant Ford is also a

17 citizen of California. Further, Plaintiff is suing employees of the Fresno County Department of
18 Social Services.

An individual’s domicile is determined by “physical presence at a given

19 location and an intent to remain there indefinitely.” Lew v. Moss, 797 F.2d 747, 752 (9th Cir.
20 1986). The named defendants, who are employed by the Fresno County Department of Social
21 Services, would reasonably be citizens of California.
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Also, the Fresno County Department of Social Services, as a political subdivision of the

23 County of Fresno, is a citizen of the State of California for diversity purposes. Moor v. Alameda
24 Cty., 411 U.S. 693, 717 (1973) see also Lewis v. AT&T, Inc., No. 2:20-CV-461-KJM-EFB PS,
25 2020 WL 3642360, at *2 (E.D. Cal. July 6, 2020) (county agencies are citizens of State for
26 purpose of diversity of citizenship); 147 A.L.R. 786 (Originally published in 1943) (“Counties
27 have been recognized as corporations, and as such citizens, for the purpose of suits based on
28 diverse citizenship in the Federal court.”)

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Since Plaintiff and the named defendants are all citizens of California, diversity of

2 citizenship does not exist in this action.
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Jurisdiction in this action must therefore be based on a federal question. Pursuant to 28

4 U.S. C. § 1331, federal courts have original jurisdiction over “all civil actions arising under the
5 Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. “A case ‘arises under’ federal law either
6 where federal law creates the cause of action or where the vindication of a right under state law
7 necessarily turns on some construction of federal law.” Republican Party of Guam v. Gutierrez,
8 277 F.3d 1086, 1088 (9th Cir. 2002) (internal punctuation omitted) (quoting Franchise Tax Bd.
9 v. Construction Laborers Vacation Trust, 463 U.S. 1, 8–9 (1983) (citations omitted)). “[T]he
10 presence or absence of federal-question jurisdiction is governed by the ‘well-pleaded complaint
11 rule,’ which provides that federal jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on
12 the face of the plaintiff's properly pleaded complaint.” Republican Party of Guam, 277 F.3d at
13 1089 (citations omitted).
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B.

Section 1983

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Section 1983 provides a cause of action for the violation of a plaintiff’s constitutional or

16 other federal rights by persons acting under color of state law. Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d
17 1087, 1092 (9th Cir 2009); Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006);
18 Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). To state a claim under section 1983, a
19 plaintiff is required to show that (1) each defendant acted under color of state law and (2) each
20 defendant deprived him of rights secured by the Constitution or federal law. Long, 442 F.3d at
21 1185. To state a claim, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in
22 the deprivation of his rights. Jones, 297 F.3d at 934.
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Plaintiff brings this action against Defendant Ford, the mother of his child, for reporting

24 sexual abuse. An individual acts under color of state law under section 1983 where she has
25 “exercised power ‘possessed by virtue of state law and made possible only because the
26 wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of state law.’ ” West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49 (1988)
27 (quoting United States v. Classic, 313 U.S. 299, 326 (1941)). This does not require that the
28 defendant be an employee of the state, but she must be “a willful participant in joint action with

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1 the State or its agents. Private persons, jointly engaged with state officials in the challenged
2 action, are acting see ‘under color’ of law for purposes of § 1983 actions.” Dennis v. Sparks,
3 449 U.S. 24, 27–28 (1980).
4

Although Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Ford is currently a social worker and works for

5 the Fresno County Social Services Administration, there are no factual allegations that would
6 lead the Court to reasonably conclude that Defendant Ford was acting under state law in making
7 her report of the sexual abuse of her daughter in 2016, in mailing or emailing Plaintiff regarding
8 the medical bill for which she was seeking his contribution, or by seeking child support.
9

Further, there is no respondeat superior liability under section 1983, and therefore, each

10 defendant is only liable for his or her own misconduct. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677. Plaintiff’s claims
11 in this action against Defendant Neira, Director of the Fresno County Department of Social
12 Services, and Defendants Johnson and Mesa, social worker supervisors, are based on their
13 supervisory positions in the department. Plaintiff’s allegations that he reached out to them to
14 obtain relief after the alleged false report of sexual abuse and Defendant Ford’s use of her work
15 email and envelopes to seek his contribution for their daughter’s medical expenses does not
16 implicate any involvement by these supervisory employees in the alleged violations. Further,
17 Plaintiff’s conclusory allegations that the defendant knew or should have known is insufficient to
18 link the defendants to any act or failure to act that violated his federal rights.
19

To the extent that Plaintiff is alleging claims based in fraud, the pleading standard of Rule

20 9 would apply. Allegations of fraud of subject to the pleading requirement of Rule 9 of the
21 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 9 provides that “[i]n alleging fraud or mistake, a party
22 must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
23 9(b). This requires a plaintiff to plead with “more specificity including an account of the time,
24 place, and specific content of the false representations as well as the identities of the parties to
25 the misrepresentations.” Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 764 (9th Cir. 2007) (internal
26 punctuation and citations omitted). Initially, Plaintiff’s allegations are insufficient to plead fraud
27 with particularity as required under Rule 9.
28 ///
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To allege fraud with particularity, a plaintiff must set forth more than the neutral
facts necessary to identify the transaction. The plaintiff must set forth what is
false or misleading about a statement, and why it is false. In other words, the
plaintiff must set forth an explanation as to why the statement or omission
complained of was false or misleading. A plaintiff might do less and still identify
the statement complained of; indeed, the plaintiff might do less and still set forth
some of the circumstances of the fraud. But the plaintiff cannot do anything less
and still comply with Rule 9(b)’s mandate to set forth with particularity those
circumstances which constitute the fraud.

6 In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 1541, 1548 (9th Cir. 1994).
7

Plaintiff contends that Defendant Ford made false claims of a debt owed, but the are no

8 facts alleged within the complaint that would reasonably lead to the conclusion that her attempts
9 to have Plaintiff pay the medical bill or to collect child support for their daughter is fraudulent.
10

1.

Fourth Amendment

11

Plaintiff alleges a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment provides

12 that ‘the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
13 unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. U.S. Const. amend. IV. “[T]he Fourth
14 Amendment is enforceable against the States through the Fourteenth Amendment.” Camara v.
15 Mun. Court of City & Cty. of San Francisco, 387 U.S. 523, 528 (1967). “To establish a viable
16 Fourth Amendment claim, a plaintiff must show not only that there was a search and seizure as
17 contemplated by the Fourth Amendment, but also that said search and seizure was unreasonable
18 and conducted without consent.” Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 143 (1978); United States v.
19 Rubio, 727 F.2d 786, 796–97 (9th Cir. 1983).
20

There are no allegations in the complaint that Plaintiff was seized or that there was a

21 search such to implicate the Fourth Amendment. Rather, Plaintiff alleges that that Defendant
22 Astorga conducted an investigation based upon receiving a report of sexual abuse and
23 determined that the claim of sexual abuse was unsubstantiated. Plaintiff has failed to state a
24 claim for violation of the Fourth Amendment.
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2.

Fifth Amendment

26

Plaintiff alleges that the Fifth Amendment was violated. “[T]he Fifth Amendment’s due

27 process clause applies only to the federal government.” Bingue v. Prunchak, 512 F.3d 1169,
28 1174 (9th Cir. 2008). Since all named defendants in this action are municipal employees the

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1 Fifth Amendment’s due process clause does not apply.
2

The Fifth Amendment also provides that “private property [shall not] be taken for public

3 use, without just compensation.” Vance v. Barrett, 345 F.3d 1083, 1089 (9th Cir. 2003). The
4 Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment has been made applicable to the States through the
5 Fourteenth Amendment. Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., 544 U.S. 528, 536 (2005). The Takings
6 Clause “ ‘limits the government’s ability to confiscate property without paying for it,’ and ‘is
7 designed to bar Government from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all
8 fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole.’ ” Vance, 345 F.3d at 1089.
9

To the extent that Plaintiff is attempting to state a claim under the Takings Clause based

10 on his obligations to participate in paying for his daughter’s medical bills or to pay child support,
11 he has failed to do so. Even if he was ordered to pay all or a portion of the medical bill or child
12 support, it would not constitute a taking for public use. Plaintiff cannot state a claim under the
13 Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
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3.

Seventh Amendment

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The Seventh Amendment provides for the right to a trial by jury at suits in common law.

16 U.S. Const. amend. VII. The Seventh Amendment guarantee “appl[ies] to actions enforcing
17 statutory rights, and requires a jury trial upon demand, if the statute creates legal rights and
18 remedies, enforceable in an action for damages in the ordinary courts of law.” Tamosaitis v.
19 URS Inc., 781 F.3d 468, 485 (9th Cir. 2015) (quoting Curtis v. Loether, 415 U.S. 189, 194
20 (1974)).

There are no facts alleged in the complaint that would implicate the Seventh

21 Amendment.
22

4.

Ninth Amendment

23

The Ninth Amendment provides that “the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain

24 rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” Strandberg v.
25 City of Helena, 791 F.2d 744, 748 (9th Cir. 1986). While “[i]t has been argued that the ninth
26 amendment protects rights not enunciated in the first eight amendments[,] “the ninth amendment
27 has never been recognized as independently securing any constitutional right, for purposes of
28 pursuing a civil rights claim.” Strandberg, 791 F.2d at 748; accord Montana Caregivers Ass’n,

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1 LLC v. United States, 526 F. App’x 756, 758 (9th Cir. 2013) (unpublished);1 see also San Diego
2 Cty. Gun Rights Comm. v. Reno, 98 F.3d 1121, 1125 (9th Cir. 1996) (rejecting argument that
3 Ninth Amendment encompasses right to bear firearms). The Ninth Amendment is simply a rule
4 on how to read the constitution.

Montana Caregivers Ass’n, LLC v. United States, 841

5 F.Supp.2d 1147, 1150 (D. Mont. 2012), aff’d, 526 F. App’x 756 (9th Cir. 2013). Causes of
6 action based on the Ninth Amendment fail to state a legal claim. Ralls v. Facebook, 221
7 F.Supp.3d 1237, 1245 (W.D. Wash. 2016).
8

5.

Fourteenth Amendment

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It is unclear if Plaintiff is attempting to state a claim under the Fourteenth Amendment.

10

a.

Due Process

11

“The Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause protects persons against deprivations

12 of life, liberty, or property; and those who seek to invoke its procedural protection must establish
13 that one of these interests is at stake.” Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 221 (2005). The due
14 process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects two distinct but related rights: procedural
15 due process and substantive due process. Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 272 (1994).
The substantive protections of the due process clause bar certain governmental actions

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17 regardless of the fairness of the procedures that are used to implement them. Cty. of Sacramento
18 v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 840 (1998). Therefore, the substantive protections of the due process
19 clause are intended to prevent government officials from abusing their power or employing it as
20 an instrument of oppression. Lewis, 523 U.S. at 846. The Supreme Court has held that “the
21 substantive component of the Due Process Clause is violated by executive action only when it
22 ‘can properly be characterized as arbitrary, or conscience shocking, in a constitutional sense.’ ”
23 Id. at 847.

“[O]nly the most egregious official conduct can be said to be arbitrary in a

24 constitutional sense.” Brittain v. Hansen, 451 F.3d 982, 990 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Lewis, 523
25 U.S. at 846).
“Substantive due process is ordinarily reserved for those rights that are ‘fundamental.’ ”

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Citation to unpublished Ninth Circuit opinions is appropriate pursuant to Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3(b). .

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1 Brittain, 451 F.3d at 990. “The protections of substantive due process have for the most part
2 been accorded to matters relating to marriage, family, procreation, and the right to bodily
3 integrity[;] and the Supreme Court has been reluctant to expand the concept of substantive due
4 process. Albright, 510 U.S. at 271-72. To state a substantive due process claim, a plaintiff must
5 “show both a deprivation of [his] liberty and conscience shocking behavior by the government.”
6 Brittain, 451 F.3d at 991.
7

“The requirements of procedural due process apply only to the deprivation of interests

8 encompassed by the Fourteenth Amendment’s protection of liberty and property.”

Bd. of

9 Regents of State Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569–70 (1972). “[P]rocedural due process
10 claims are resolved by balancing tests, where differing interests can give rise to many differing
11 procedural requirements.” Brittain, 451 F.3d at 1000. “(D)ue process is flexible and calls for
12 such procedural protections as the particular situation demands.” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S.
13 319, 334 (1976) (quoting Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 481 (1972)).
14

Plaintiff has not alleged the deprivation of any property or liberty interest but only asserts

15 vague and speculative deprivation, such as the effect on custody and support matters in his state
16 case. To the extent that Plaintiff is alleging that Defendant Ford is seeking to obtain back child
17 support and for him to pay medical bills for his daughter, there are no facts alleged by which it
18 could reasonably be inferred that Plaintiff is not receiving the process due in his state court case.
19

b.

Equal Protection

20

Plaintiff also mentions violations of his right to equal protection. There are two ways for

21 a plaintiff to state an equal protection claim. A plaintiff can state a claim for violation of the
22 Equal Protection Clause, by showing “that the defendant acted with an intent or purpose to
23 discriminate against him based upon his membership in a protected class.” Serrano v. Francis,
24 345 F.3d 1071, 1082 (9th Cir. 2003). Intentional in this context means that the defendant acted,
25 at least in part, because of the plaintiff’s membership in a protected class. Serrano, 345 F.3d at
26 1082. Alternately, the plaintiff can state a claim by alleging that he was intentionally treated
27 differently than similarly situated individuals and there was no rational basis for the difference in
28 treatment. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1167 (2005); Village of Willowbrook

11

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1 v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000).
2

There are no factual allegations that Plaintiff is a member of a protected class or that any

3 named defendant acted with the intent or purpose to discriminate against him due to his
4 membership in that class. Nor is there any allegation that Plaintiff was intentionally treated
5 differently than other similarly situated individuals. Rather, it appears that Plaintiff’s claims
6 against Defendant Ford are based on their relationship as mutual parents of their daughter and
7 disagreements based upon that relationship. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant Astorga are
8 based on her investigation of an allegation of child abuse in her position as the social worker
9 assigned to investigate the case. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for violations of the Equal
10 Protection Clause.
11

C.

Section 1986

12

Section 1985 prohibits private individuals from conspiring to deprive another person of

13 their civil rights. Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 96 (1971). The section applicable here
14 would be 1985(3) which protects against conspiracies to deprive a person from equal protection
15 of the law. 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). “The elements of a § 1985(3) claim are: (1) the existence of a
16 conspiracy to deprive the plaintiff of the equal protection of the laws; (2) an act in furtherance of
17 the conspiracy and (3) a resulting injury.” Addisu v. Fred Meyer, Inc., 198 F.3d 1130, 1141 (9th
18 Cir. 2000).
19

To state a claim under section 1985(3), a plaintiff allege sufficient facts to show

20 “deprivation of a right motived by ‘some racial, or perhaps otherwise class-based, invidiously
21 discriminatory animus behind the conspirators’ actions.’” RK Ventures, Inc. v. City of Seattle,
22 307 F.3d 1045, 1056 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Sever v. Alaska Pulp Corp., 978 F.2d 1529, 1536
23 (9th Cir. 1992)). The Ninth Circuit requires “either that the courts have designated the class in
24 question a suspect or quasi-suspect classification requiring more exacting scrutiny or that
25 Congress has indicated through legislation that the class required special protection.” Sever, 978
26 F.2d at 1536. “The conspiracy . . . must aim at a deprivation of the equal enjoyment of rights
27 secured by the law to all.” Orin v. Barclay, 272 F.3d 1207, 1217 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting
28 Griffin, 403 U.S. at 102) (emphasis omitted). Section 42 U.S.C. § 1986 provides a cause of

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1 action for damages for violation of section 1985. I.H. by & through Hunter v. Oakland Sch. for
2 Arts, 234 F.Supp.3d 987, 994 (N.D. Cal. 2017); Trerice v. Pedersen, 769 F.2d 1398, 1403 (9th
3 Cir. 1985).
4

There are no facts alleged in the complaint that would implicate the existence of a

5 conspiracy or that Plaintiff is a member of a suspect group. Further, there are no facts alleged to
6 demonstrate any racial or other class based discriminatory animus. Rather the acts alleged in the
7 complaint demonstrate that the disputes at issue are based on Plaintiff’s relationship with
8 Defendant Ford as mutual parents involved in a dispute over their minor daughter. Plaintiff has
9 failed to state a claim under section 1985.
10

D.

Title 18 of the United States Code

11

Plaintiff also alleges violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 242, 245, 1512, 2071. “[T]he fact that a

12 federal statute has been violated and some person harmed does not automatically give rise to a
13 private cause of action in favor of that person.” Touche Ross & Co. v. Redington, 442 U.S. 560,
14 568 (1979) (quoting Cannon v. University of Chicago, 441 U.S. 677, 688 (1979). Rather, the
15 court is to consider if Congress intended to create the private right of action in the statute and
16 begins with the language of the statute itself. Touche Ross & Co., 442 U.S. at 568. “Civil
17 causes of action ... do not generally lie under the criminal statutes contained in Title 18 of the
18 United States Code.” Del Elmer; Zachay v. Metzger, 967 F. Supp. 398, 403 (S.D. Cal. 1997).
19

Here, the sections cited under Title 18 provide for fines and incarceration for criminal

20 offenses and do not set forth a private cause of action nor is there any language that would imply
21 that a cause of action exists to allow Plaintiff to seek a remedy for these criminal statutes in this
22 action.
23

E.

Municipal Liability

24

Plaintiff also brings this action against the County of Fresno Department of Social

25 Services. A local government unit may not be held responsible for the acts of its employees
26 under a respondeat superior theory of liability. Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436
27 U.S. 658, 691 (1978). Rather, a local government unit may only be held liable if it inflicts the
28 injury complained of through a policy or custom. Waggy v. Spokane County Washington, 594

13

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1 F.3d 707, 713 (9th Cir. 2010). A municipality can only be held liable for injuries caused by the
2 execution of its policy or custom or by those whose edicts or acts may fairly be said to represent
3 official policy. Monell, 436 U.S. at 694.
4

Generally, to establish municipal liability, the plaintiff must show that a constitutional

5 right was violated, the municipality had a policy, that policy was deliberately indifferent to
6 plaintiff’s constitutional rights, and the policy was “the moving force” behind the constitutional
7 violation. Bd. of Cty. Comm’rs of Bryan Cty., Okl. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 400 (1997); Burke
8 v. County of Alameda, 586 F.3d 725, 734 (9th Cir. 2009); Gibson v. County of Washoe, Nev.,
9 290 F.3d 1175, 1185-86 (9th Cir. 2002). “The custom or policy must be a ‘deliberate choice to
10 follow a course of action . . . made from among various alternatives by the official or officials
11 responsible for establishing final policy with respect to the subject matter in question.’ ” Castro
12 v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060, 1075 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting Pembaur v. City of
13 Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 483 (1986)). The deliberate indifference standard for municipalities is
14 an objective inquiry. Castro, 833 F.3d at 1076.
15

“A plaintiff may []establish municipal liability by demonstrating that (1) the

16 constitutional tort was the result of a ‘longstanding practice or custom which constitutes the
17 standard operating procedure of the local government entity;’ (2) the tortfeasor was an official
18 whose acts fairly represent official policy such that the challenged action constituted official
19 policy; or (3) an official with final policy-making authority ‘delegated that authority to, or
20 ratified the decision of, a subordinate.’ ” Price v. Sery, 513 F.3d 962, 966 (9th Cir. 2008)
21 (quoting Ulrich v. City & County of San Francisco, 308 F.3d 968, 984–85 (9th Cir. 2002)).
22

A plaintiff seeking to impose liability upon a municipality is required to identify the

23 policy or custom that caused the constitutional injury. Bd. of Cty. Comm’rs of Bryan Cty., Okl.,
24 520 U.S. at 403. A municipality may only be held liable for those deprivations that result “from
25 the decisions of its duly constituted legislative body or of those officials whose acts may fairly be
26 said to be those of the municipality.” Id. at 403–04. “Similarly, an act performed pursuant to a
27 ‘custom’ that has not been formally approved by an appropriate decisionmaker may fairly
28 subject a municipality to liability on the theory that the relevant practice is so widespread as to

14

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1 have the force of law.” Id. at 404.
2

The complaint is devoid of any factual allegations of a policy or custom that violated

3 Plaintiff’s federal rights. Plaintiff has neither set forth any policy or custom nor has he stated a
4 claim for a violation of his federal rights. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against the Fresno
5 County Department of Social Services.
6

F.

Statute of Limitations

7

Federal law determines when a claim accrues, and “[u]nder federal law, a claim accrues

8 when the plaintiff knows or should know of the injury that is the basis of the cause of action.”
9 Douglas v. Noelle, 567 F.3d 1103, 1109 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted); Maldonado v. Harris,
10 370 F.3d 945, 955 (9th Cir. 2004); Fink v. Shedler, 192 F.3d 911, 914 (9th Cir. 1999). Because
11 section 1983 contains no specific statute of limitations, federal courts should apply the forum
12 state’s statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 927 (9th
13 Cir. 2004); Maldonado, 370 F.3d at 954; Fink, 192 F.3d at 914.

California’s statute of

14 limitations for personal injury actions is two years. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1.
15

“Equitable tolling under California law ‘operates independently of the literal working of

16 the Code of Civil Procedure to suspend or extend a statute of limitations as necessary to ensure
17 fundamental practicality and fairness.”

Jones, 393 F.3d at 928 (quoting Lantzy v. Centex

18 Homes, 31 Cal.4th 363, 370 (2003)).

“Under California law, a plaintiff must meet three

19 conditions to equitably toll a statute of limitations: (1) defendant must have had timely notice of
20 the claim; (2) defendant must not be prejudiced by being required to defend the otherwise barred
21 claim; and (3) plaintiff’s conduct must have been reasonable and in good faith.” Fink, 192 F.3d
22 at 916 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
23

Plaintiff’s claims regarding the accusation of sexual abuse accrued in 2016. Plaintiff

24 filed the complaint in this action on April 9, 2021, well more than four years after the claims
25 accrued. The complaint does not allege any facts to demonstrate that equitable tolling would
26 apply in this case. It would appear from the face of the complaint that Plaintiff’s claims
27 regarding the allegations of child abuse are barred by the statute of limitations.
28 ///

15

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1

G.

State Law Claims

2

Plaintiff also alleges claims of defamation, fraud, negligence, intentional infliction of

3 emotional distress, mail fraud, mail threats, and unjust enrichment under California law. The
4 California Government Claims Act requires that a tort claim against a public entity or its
5 employees be presented to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
6 no more than six months after the cause of action accrues. Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 905.2, 910,
7 911.2, 945.4, 950-950.2. Presentation of a written claim, and action on or rejection of the claim
8 are conditions precedent to suit. State v. Superior Court of Kings County (Bodde), 32 Cal.4th
9 1234, 1239 (Cal. 2004); Shirk v. Vista Unified School District, 42 Cal.4th 201, 209 (2007). To
10 state a tort claim against a public employee, a plaintiff must allege compliance with the
11 California Tort Claims Act. Cal. Gov’t Code § 950.6; Bodde, 32 Cal.4th at 1244. “[F]ailure to
12 allege facts demonstrating or excusing compliance with the requirement subjects a compliant to
13 general demurrer for failure to state a cause of action.” Bodde, 32 Cal.4th at 1239.
14

As Plaintiff has not alleged compliance with the Government Claims Act, he has failed to

15 state a claim under California law.
16

IV.

17

DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

18

Plaintiff has failed to comply with the May 28, 2021 order granting him leave to file an

19 amended complaint. A court may dismiss an action based on a party’s failure to prosecute an
20 action, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Ghazali v.
21 Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik
22 v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an
23 order to file an amended complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988)
24 (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised
25 of address); Malone v. United States Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal
26 for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir.
27 1986) (dismissal for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules).
28 ///

16

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1

“In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, the district court is

2 required to consider several factors: ‘(1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of
3 litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants;
4 (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less
5 drastic sanctions.’ ” Carey, 856 F.2d at 1440 (quoting Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421,
6 1423 (9th Cir. 1986)). These factors guide a court in deciding what to do, and are not conditions
7 that must be met in order for a court to take action. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products
8 Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).
9

In this instance, the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of the litigation and the

10 Court’s need to manage its docket weigh in favor of dismissal. In re Phenylpropanolamine
11 (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d at 1226. Plaintiff was ordered to file an amended
12 complaint within thirty days of May 28, 2021. Plaintiff has neither filed an amended complaint
13 nor otherwise responded to the Court’s order.
14

Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the orders of the Court hinders the Court’s ability to

15 move this action towards disposition, and indicates that Plaintiff does not intend to diligently
16 litigate this action.
17

Since it appears that Plaintiff does not intend to litigate this action diligently there arises a

18 rebuttable presumption of prejudice to the defendants in this action. In re Eisen, 31 F.3d 1447,
19 1452-53 (9th Cir. 1994). This risk of prejudice may be rebutted if Plaintiff offers an excuse for
20 the delay. In re Eisen, 31 F.3d at 1453. Plaintiff has not responded to the May 28, 2021 order so
21 the risk of prejudice to the defendants also weighs in favor of dismissal.
22

The public policy in favor of deciding cases on their merits is greatly outweighed by the

23 factors in favor of dismissal. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to move this action forward. This
24 action can proceed no further without Plaintiff’s cooperation and compliance with the order at
25 issue. There is no operative pleading that states a claim in this matter and the action cannot
26 simply remain idle on the Court’s docket, unprosecuted. In this instance, the fourth factor does
27 not outweigh Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s orders.
28

Finally, monetary sanctions are not available to induce compliance because Plaintiff is

17

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1 proceeding in forma pauperis in this action. Additionally, a court’s warning to a party that their
2 failure to obey the court’s order will result in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of
3 alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson,
4 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court’s May 28, 2021 screening order requiring Plaintiff to file an
5 amended complaint expressly stated: “If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint in
6 compliance with this order, the Court will recommend to the district judge that this action be
7 dismissed consistent with the reasons stated in this order” (ECF No. 4 at 17:9-11.) Thus,
8 Plaintiff had adequate warning that dismissal would result from his noncompliance with the
9 Court’s order.
10

The Court finds that the balance of the factors weighs in favor of dismissing this action

11 for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the May 28, 2021 order and failure to prosecute.
12

V.

13

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

14

Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim for a violation of his federal rights in this

15 action. Further, considering the factors to be evaluated in determining whether to dismiss this
16 action for the failure to comply and failure to prosecute, the Court finds that the factors weigh in
17 favor of dismissal of this action
18

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

19

1.

cognizable claim; and

20
21
22
23

Plaintiff’s complaint, filed April 9, 2021 be DISMISSED for failure to state a

2.

This matter be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the May 28, 2021
order and failure to prosecute.

This findings and recommendations is submitted to the district judge assigned to this

24 action, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this Court’s Local Rule 304. Within thirty (30)
25 days of service of this recommendation, Plaintiff may file written objections to this findings and
26 recommendations with the court.

Such a document should be captioned “Objections to

27 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.”

The district judge will review the

28 magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).

18

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1 Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the
2 waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing
3 Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
4
5

IT IS SO ORDERED.

6 Dated:

July 19, 2021
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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