Galik v. Namgalama et al
Filing
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ORDER and FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 10/13/11 ORDERING the clerk of the court shall randomply assign a District Judge to this action. U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb randomly assigned to this act ion. Also, RECOMMENDING that the claims against defendant Nangalama be dismissed for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Plaintiff's Equal Protection claim against defendant Duc be dismissed for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; and defendants' motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust administrative remedies 37 be denied as to defendant Duc; defendants' summary judgment motion 37 be granted as to plaintiff's due process claim against defendant Duc, and denied as to the 8th Amendement claim against defendant Duc. Motion to dismiss 37 referred to Judge William B. Shubb. Objections due within 21 days. (Plummer, M)
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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KEVIN GALIK,
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Plaintiff,
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vs.
A. NANGALAMA, et al.,
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ORDER AND
Defendants.
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No. 2: 09-cv-0152 KJN P
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
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I. Introduction
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Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action
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pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is defendants’ motion to dismiss and, in
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the alternative, motion for summary judgment, filed June 1, 2011. After carefully considering
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the record, the undersigned recommends that defendants’ motion be denied in part and granted in
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part.
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II. Background
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This action is proceeding on the third amended complaint as to defendants
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Nangalama and Duc. Plaintiff alleges that he received inadequate medical care for several
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problems. Plaintiff does not allege that defendants were directly involved with his medical care
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for these problems. Rather, plaintiff alleges that defendants were aware of the inadequate
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medical care provided by other prison officials and failed to take steps to ensure that he received
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adequate medical care.
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Back Injury
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Plaintiff alleges that he did not receive adequate medical care for a back injury he
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suffered in March 2007. (Dkt. No. 27 at 2.) Plaintiff alleges that between March 5, 2007, and
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August 1, 2007, he submitted eight CDC 7362 forms requesting to be seen for his back injury.
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(Id. at 3.) Plaintiff also alleges that on April 30, 2007, prison officials ordered a back brace for
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him. (Id.) Plaintiff still had not received the back brace on June 7, 2007. (Id. at 4.) On May 15,
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2007, plaintiff requested an x-ray for his back. (Id.) On June 13, 2007, Gabriel Borges ordered
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x-rays of plaintiff’s back. (Id.) On July 19, 2007, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form
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requesting information about the egg crate mattress that had been ordered for his back. (Id. at 4.)
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On July 26, 2007, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form asking about the x-rays that had been
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ordered, but not yet taken. (Id.)
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On August 11, 2007, x-rays were taken of plaintiff’s back. (Id.) On August 13,
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2007, Katherine Blackwell told plaintiff that his back injury had “healed over” and there was
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nothing that could be done to remedy the lost mobility and discomfort he would experience. (Id.)
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Mouth Sores
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On August 28, 2007, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form requesting to be seen
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by medical staff for mouth sores. (Id. at 5.) On April 30, 2008, plaintiff submitted another CDC
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7362 form requesting to be seen by medical staff for mouth sores. (Id.) On April 29, 2008,
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plaintiff was seen by a “doe” defendant for his mouth sores, but no treatment was provided. (Id.)
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Plaintiff submitted CDC 7362 forms requesting treatment for the sores in his mouth on May 19,
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2008, and June 5, 2008. (Id. at 5.) On July 9, 2008, Dr. Wedell examined plaintiff, but provided
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no treatment for his mouth sores. (Id.) On August 5, 2008, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form
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requesting treatment for his mouth sores. (Id.)
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On September 8, 2008, plaintiff went to the emergency room for treatment for his
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mouth sores, but no treatment was provided. (Id. at 6.) The medical staff at the emergency
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room told plaintiff to notify nursing staff if the sores got any worse. (Id.) On October 10, 2008,
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plaintiff was seen by defendant “doe” for follow-up on his mouth sores. (Id.) Plaintiff was again
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instructed to notify nursing staff if his mouth sores got any worse. (Id.)
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Hepatitis C – Allergic Reaction
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Plaintiff alleges that on August 5, 2007, he was prescribed treatment for Hepatitis
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C. (Id.)
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C medication and other medications he was taking. (Id.)
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Plaintiff suffered an allergic reaction as a result of the interaction between his Hepatitis
On October 24, 2007, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form seeking treatment for
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his allergic reaction. (Id.) Between October 21, 2007, and October 27, 2007, plaintiff suffered
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severe burning, itching, and welts and rashes over a large portion of his body. (Id. at 6-7.) On
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October 31, 2007, plaintiff was seen by defendant “doe” for treatment for the allergic reaction.
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(Id. at 6.) Plaintiff alleges that it took approximately eight days for him to be seen by defendant
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“doe” because this defendant determined that the allergic reaction did not meet emergency
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criteria. (Id. at 7.)
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On November 9, 2007, and December 17, 2007, plaintiff submitted CDC 7362
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forms requesting treatment for the rash caused by the allergic reaction. (Id. at 8.) On December
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21, 2007, plaintiff was examined by Dr. Sogge who provided no treatment for the rash. (Id.)
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Hepatitis C – Discontinuation of Treatment
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Plaintiff alleges that on December 25, 2007, his Hepatitis C treatment was
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discontinued. (Id. at 7.) Plaintiff was informed that the treatment was not “in stock” and they
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would have to get more. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that for the Hepatitis C treatment to work, it must
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be administered on a rigid schedule. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that had he voluntarily requested to
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stop the treatment once it began, he would have been subject to disciplinary action. (Id.)
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On December 31, 2007, plaintiff was denied the last two injections for the
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Hepatitis C treatment because defendant “doe” did not have enough time to get the injections
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from the pharmacy. (Id. at 9.)
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On June 5, 2008, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form requesting to be seen by
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medical staff regarding the discontinuation of the Hepatitis C treatment and to have his viral
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levels checked. (Id.) On August 5, 2008, plaintiff submitted another CDC 7362 form requesting
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testing of his viral levels. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that there has been no satisfactory treatment for
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his Hepatitis C since the discontinuation of his treatment. (Id.)
Chest Pains
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On January 5, 2008, plaintiff experienced severe chest pains and notified Housing
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Unit Custody Staff. (Id.) Defendant “doe” determined that plaintiff’s condition did not warrant
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emergency care. (Id.) On January 10, 2008, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form requesting to
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be seen by medical staff for the chest pains. (Id. at 10.) On January 11, 2008, plaintiff was seen
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at the R.N. Line for chest pains and referred to cardiology. (Id.)
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On January 11, 2008, plaintiff experienced severe chest pains and was taken to the
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emergency room where he was given an E.K.G. test. (Id. at 9.) Plaintiff received no other
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treatment. (Id. at 10.)
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On January 17, 2008, defendant “doe” failed to ducat plaintiff for his medical
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appointment and instead recorded plaintiff as a “no show” and that he “refused to come to
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clinic.” (Id.) Plaintiff had never been informed of the appointment. (Id.)
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On January 19, 2008, plaintiff was seen by N.P. Bakewell who noted “possible
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angina.” (Id. at 11.) N.P. Bakewell ordered blood pressure checks and scheduled a follow-up
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appointment. (Id.)
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On March 12, 2008, plaintiff submitted a CDC 7362 form requesting a cardiology
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appointment. (Id.)
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On September 24, 2008, plaintiff was seen by defendant “doe” in the A Facility
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triage area regarding recurring chest pains. (Id.) Defendant “doe” referred plaintiff to “TTA for
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evaluation” and rescheduled plaintiff for the M.O. line. (Id.) Defendant “doe” provided plaintiff
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with no additional treatment for his chest pains. (Id.)
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Medication Refills
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Between January 1, 2007, and October 1, 2008, plaintiff submitted 87 CDC 7362
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forms regarding medication refills. (Id.) Forty of these forms concerned prescriptions that had
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expired for which plaintiff had not received refill prescriptions. (Id.) In the amended complaint,
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plaintiff discusses these requests. (Id. at 11-18.)
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Defendants’ Involvement
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Plaintiff alleges that he had difficulty obtaining medical care due to the lack of a
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standardized processing procedure for 7362 forms, which caused plaintiff to receive untimely
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medical care. (Id. at 19.) Plaintiff also alleges that he received inadequate medical care due to
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improperly trained staff. (Id.) Plaintiff also alleges that the lack of a standardized medication
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refill procedure prevented him from obtaining timely prescription refills. (Id.) Plaintiff also
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alleges that staff shortages caused him to receive inadequate medical care. (Id. at 20.)
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Plaintiff alleges that defendants Duc and Nangalama were aware of the problems
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plaintiff had in obtaining medical care and getting his medications refilled. Plaintiff alleges that
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he informed defendant Duc of these problems through the inmate appeals process and through
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personal communications. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that defendant Nangalama was also aware of
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the problems plaintiff had in obtaining medication refills and receiving treatment. (Id.) Plaintiff
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alleges that defendants took no steps to remedy these problems. (Id.)
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III. Defendant Nangalama
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Plaintiff generally alleges that defendant Nangalama knew of the inadequate
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medical care plaintiff received and failed to act to ensure that he received adequate medical care.
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However, plaintiff does not specifically allege when or how defendant Nangalama was made
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aware of the alleged deprivations. Despite the vagueness of this claim, in an abundance of
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caution, the undersigned ordered service of defendant Nangalama. The undersigned anticipated
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that plaintiff’s claims against defendant Nangalama would be made more clear following
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discovery or other pretrial motions. However, plaintiff’s claims against defendant Nangalama
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have not been clarified.
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In his opposition to defendants’ motion to dismiss or for summary judgment,
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plaintiff’s only argument regarding defendant Nangalama is that he refused to provide plaintiff
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with an x-ray of his back during the months immediately following his March 2007 back injury.
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Plaintiff’s third amended complaint contains no claim that defendant Nangalama denied
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plaintiff’s request for an x-ray. Plaintiff may not amend his complaint by way of an opposition to
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a summary judgment motion.
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In the motion to dismiss, defendants acknowledge that defendant Nangalama
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denied two administrative grievances filed by plaintiff alleging inadequate medical care. After
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reviewing the record, it is not clear whether plaintiff is basing defendant Nangalama’s liability on
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his review of these grievances or on other unspecified communications. At this stage of the
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litigation, the claims against this defendant should be clear.
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Plaintiff’s claims against defendant Nangalama are vague and conclusory, and
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plaintiff has not clarified these claims despite having several opportunities to do so. Without
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knowing how or when plaintiff is claiming defendant Nangalama knew of the alleged
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deprivations, neither defendants nor the court can properly evaluate plaintiff’s claims against this
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defendant. Accordingly, the undersigned recommends that the claims against defendant
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Nangalama be dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) (at any time the court may dismiss a
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claim that fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted).
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IV. Motion to Dismiss
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The undersigned considers the motion to dismiss as to defendant Duc.
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A. Legal Standard
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The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PLRA”) amended 42 U.S.C. § 1997e
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to provide that “[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C.
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§ 1983], or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional
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facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a).
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Exhaustion in prisoner cases covered by § 1997e(a) is mandatory. Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S.
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516, 524 (2002). Exhaustion is a prerequisite for all prisoner suits regarding conditions of
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confinement, whether they involve general circumstances or particular episodes, and whether
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they allege excessive force or some other wrong. Porter, 534 U.S. at 532.
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Exhaustion of all “available” remedies is mandatory; those remedies need not
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meet federal standards, nor must they be “plain, speedy and effective.” Id. at 524; Booth v.
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Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 740 n.5 (2001). Even when the prisoner seeks relief not available in
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grievance proceedings, notably money damages, exhaustion is a prerequisite to suit. Booth, 532
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U.S. at 741. A prisoner “seeking only money damages must complete a prison administrative
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process that could provide some sort of relief on the complaint stated, but no money.” Id. at 734.
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The fact that the administrative procedure cannot result in the particular form of relief requested
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by the prisoner does not excuse exhaustion because some sort of relief or responsive action may
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result from the grievance. See Booth, 532 U.S. at 737; see also Porter, 534 U.S. at 525 (purposes
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of exhaustion requirement include allowing prison to take responsive action, filtering out
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frivolous cases, and creating administrative records).
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However, a prisoner need not exhaust further levels of review once he has either
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received all the remedies that are “available” at an intermediate level of review, or has been
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reliably informed by an administrator that no more remedies are available. Brown v. Valoff, 422
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F.3d 926, 934-35 (9th Cir. 2005). Because there can be no absence of exhaustion unless some
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relief remains available, a movant claiming lack of exhaustion must demonstrate that pertinent
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relief remained available, whether at unexhausted levels or through awaiting the results of the
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relief already granted as a result of that process. Brown, 422 F.3d at 936-37.
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As noted above, the PLRA requires proper exhaustion of administrative remedies.
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Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 83-84 (2006). “Proper exhaustion demands compliance with an
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agency’s deadlines and other critical procedural rules because no adjudicative system can
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function effectively without imposing some orderly structure on the course of its proceedings.”
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Id. at 90-91. Thus, compliance with prison grievance procedures is required by the PLRA to
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properly exhaust. Id. The PLRA’s exhaustion requirement cannot be satisfied “by filing an
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untimely or otherwise procedurally defective administrative grievance or appeal.” Id. at 83-84.
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The State of California provides its prisoners the right to appeal administratively
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“any departmental decision, action, condition or policy which they can demonstrate as having an
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adverse effect upon their welfare.” Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.1(a) (2010). It also provides
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them the right to file appeals alleging misconduct by correctional officers and officials. Id. at
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§ 3084.1(e). In order to exhaust available administrative remedies within this system, a prisoner
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must proceed through several levels of appeal: (1) informal resolution, (2) formal written appeal
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on a 602 inmate appeal form, (3) second level appeal to the institution head or designee, and
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(4) third level appeal to the Director of the California Department of Corrections and
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Rehabilitation. Barry v. Ratelle, 985 F.Supp. 1235, 1237 (S.D. Cal. 1997) (citing Cal.Code
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Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.5). A final decision from the Director’s level of review satisfies the
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exhaustion requirement under § 1997e(a). Id. at 1237-38.
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Non-exhaustion under § 1997e(a) is an affirmative defense which should be
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brought by defendants in an unenumerated motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil
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Procedure 12(b). Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1119 (9th Cir. 2003). Moreover, the court
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may look beyond the pleadings to determine whether a plaintiff exhausted his administrative
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remedies. Id. at 1119-20.
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Although exhaustion is mandatory, an inmate must only exhaust administrative
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remedies “as are available.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Under the Ninth Circuit law, exhaustion is
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excused when improper screening of grievances occurs. Sapp v. Kimbrell, 623 F.3d 813, 822
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(9th Cir. 2010) (citing Nunez v. Duncan, 591 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 2010)). Sapp establishes
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that “improper screening of an inmate’s administrative grievances renders administrative
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remedies ‘effectively unavailable’ such that exhaustion is not required under [§ 1997e(a)].” Id.
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at 823. If prison officials screen out an inmate’s grievances or appeals for improper reasons, the
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inmate cannot pursue the necessary administrative process, and, consequently, his administrative
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remedies become “unavailable.” Id.
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B. Analysis
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Defendants argue that plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies because
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he filed two grievances that did not name defendant Duc. The only evidence offered by
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defendants in support of their claim that plaintiff did not properly exhaust his administrative
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remedies is contained in the declaration of defendant Nangalama attached as an exhibit to the
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motion to dismiss.
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In his declaration, defendant Nangalama states that plaintiff filed two 602 appeals
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regarding his treatment for Hepatitis C and chest pain. (Dkt. No. 37-2 at 3.) Defendant
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Nangalama states that in appeal no. H-07-2603, plaintiff alleged that the Hepatitis C medication
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weakened his immune system and caused an allergic reaction. (Id.) Defendant Nangalama
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interviewed plaintiff regarding this appeal and determined that his access to medical care was
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appropriate. (Id.) Defendant Nangalama states that defendant Duc conducted the second level
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review. (Id.) Defendant Nangalama does not state how he has personal knowledge that
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defendant Duc conducted the second level review. For example, defendant Nangalama does not
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state that he reviewed the relevant appeal, nor is a copy of it attached as an exhibit to defendants’
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motion. This appeal was denied at the Director’s Level. (Id.)
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Defendant Nangalama goes on to state that in plaintiff’s second grievance, no. H9
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08-0202, plaintiff complained of a delay in medical care for his chest pain and Hepatitis C. (Id.)
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Defendant Nangalama interviewed plaintiff on February 1, 2008, and concluded that plaintiff had
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received appropriate medical care. (Id.) Defendant Nangalama goes on to state that defendant
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Duc conducted the second level review. (Id.) Again, defendant Nangalama does not state how
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he knows that defendant Duc conducted the second level review. This appeal was denied at the
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Directors’s Level. (Id.)
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For the following reasons, the undersigned finds that defendants have not met
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their burden of demonstrating that plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies as to his
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claims against defendant Duc. Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1119 (9th Cir. 2003)
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(defendant has the burden of raising and proving the absence of administrative exhaustion).
First, defendants present no evidence that the two grievances filed by plaintiff
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discussed by defendant Nangalama are the only grievances plaintiff filed relevant to this action.
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In his declaration, defendant Nangalama does not address whether plaintiff filed grievances
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regarding his back injury, medication refills or mouth sores. For this reason, the undersigned
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finds that defendants have not demonstrated that plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative
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remedies as to his claims regarding his back injury, medication refills and mouth sores.
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The only evidence provided by defendants regarding plaintiff’s exhaustion of
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remedies as to his claims regarding Hepatitis C and chest pain are defendant Nangalama’s
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statements in his declaration. Defendants admit that plaintiff’s appeals regarding these issues
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were exhausted at the Director’s Level, but argue that they are unrelated to his claims against
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defendant Duc because they did not name this defendant.
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Defendants have presented no evidence that plaintiff’s appeals did not name
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defendant Duc. Defendant Nangalama’s declaration does not contain this information, nor have
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defendants provided copies of the at-issue appeals.
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Moreover, as stated above, plaintiff is basing defendant Duc’s liability based on
his responses to plaintiff’s grievances. Plaintiff is claiming that defendant Duc was aware of the
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alleged inadequate medical care he received as a result of his involvement in the grievances, and
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that defendant Duc failed to take steps to ensure that plaintiff received adequate medical care.
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The undersigned would not find that in order to exhaust his administrative remedies against
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defendant Duc that plaintiff was required to file yet another round of grievances challenging
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defendant Duc’s denial of his earlier grievances. It is unlikely that such duplicative grievances
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would even be permitted.
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For these reasons, defendants’ motion to dismiss based upon plaintiff’s alleged
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failure to exhaust administrative remedies should be denied.
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V. Motion for Summary Judgment
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A. Legal Standard
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Summary judgment is appropriate when a moving party establishes that the
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standard set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) is met. “The judgment sought should
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be rendered if . . . there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and that the movant is
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entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).
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Under summary judgment practice, the moving party
always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court
of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of “the
pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions
on file, together with the affidavits, if any,” which it believes
demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
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Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). “[W]here the nonmoving party will bear the
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burden of proof at trial on a dispositive issue, a summary judgment motion may properly be made
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in reliance solely on the ‘pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on
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file.’” Id. Indeed, summary judgment should be entered, after adequate time for discovery and
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upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of
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an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at
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trial. See id. at 322. “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the
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nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. at 323. In such a
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circumstance, summary judgment should be granted, “so long as whatever is before the district
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court demonstrates that the standard for entry of summary judgment, as set forth in Rule 56(c), is
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satisfied.” Id.
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If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the
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opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually exists. See
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Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). In attempting to
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establish the existence of such a factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the
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allegations or denials of its pleadings but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the
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form of affidavits, and/or admissible discovery material, in support of its contention that the
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dispute exists. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n.11. The opposing party
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must demonstrate that the fact in contention is material, i.e., a fact that might affect the outcome
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of the suit under the governing law, see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248
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(1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pacific Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir.
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1987), and that the dispute is genuine, i.e., the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could
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return a verdict for the nonmoving party, see Wool v. Tandem Computers, Inc., 818 F.2d 1433,
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1436 (9th Cir. 1987).
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In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party
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need not establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the
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claimed factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing
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versions of the truth at trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., 809 F.2d at 630. Thus, the “purpose of summary
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judgment is to ‘pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a
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genuine need for trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) advisory
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committee’s note on 1963 amendments).
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In resolving a summary judgment motion, the court examines the pleadings,
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depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if
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any. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The evidence of the opposing party is to be believed. See Anderson,
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477 U.S. at 255. All reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the facts placed before the
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court must be drawn in favor of the opposing party. See Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587.
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Nevertheless, inferences are not drawn out of the air, and it is the opposing party’s obligation to
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produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be drawn. See Richards v. Nielsen
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Freight Lines, 602 F. Supp. 1224, 1244-45 (E.D. Cal. 1985), aff’d, 810 F.2d 898, 902 (9th Cir.
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1987). Finally, to demonstrate a genuine issue, the opposing party “must do more than simply
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show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts . . . Where the record taken
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as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no
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‘genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 (citation omitted).
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B. Analysis
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In the third amended complaint, plaintiff alleges violations of the Eighth
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Amendment as well as his right to due process and equal protection. (Dkt. No. 27 at 21.)
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Defendants argue that plaintiff does not specifically allege any mistreatment in the
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medical care rendered by defendant Duc. As discussed above, plaintiff is claiming that defendant
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Duc knew of inadequate medical care provided by other prison officials as a result of reviewing
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plaintiff’s administrative grievances and failed to take steps to remedy the inadequate medical
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care. Plaintiff is not proceeding on a theory that defendant Duc personally provided inadequate
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medical care.
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Defendants sued in their individual capacity must be alleged to have: personally
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participated in the alleged deprivation of constitutional rights; known of the violations and failed
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to act to prevent them; or implemented a policy that repudiates constitutional rights and was the
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moving force behind the alleged violations. Larez v. City of Los Angeles, 946 F.2d 630, 646
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(9th Cir. 1991); Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642 (9th Cir. 1989); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040
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(9th Cir. 1989). In addition, where a supervisor has a duty under law to correct unlawful
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conditions, knows about them, and has the authority to rectify same, he can be held personally
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liable under an acquiescence theory when he does nothing in light of his knowledge. Starr v.
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Baca, 2011 WL 2988827 at *4-5 (9th Cir. 2011).
“Although a § 1983 claim has been described as ‘a species of tort liability,’ Imbler
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v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 417, it is perfectly clear that not every injury in which a state official
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has played some part is actionable under that statute.” Martinez v. State of California, 444 U.S.
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277, 285 (1980). “Without proximate cause, there is no § 1983 liability.” Van Ort v. Estate of
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Stanewich, 92 F.3d 831, 837 (9th Cir. 1996).
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The search, which was performed in accordance with this
constitutionally valid strip search policy, was subsequently ratified
by the School Board when Mr. Williams filed a grievance.
Therefore, Williams' only grasp at evoking municipal liability
under § 1983 is to show that this subsequent ratification is
sufficient to establish the necessary causation requirements. Based
on the facts, the Board believed Ellington and his colleagues were
justified in conducting the search of Williams. There was no
history that the policy had been repeatedly or even sporadically
misapplied by school board officials in the past. Consequently, the
School Board cannot be held liable for the ratification of the search
in question, because this single, isolated decision can hardly
constitute the “moving force” behind the alleged constitutional
deprivation.
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Williams v. Ellington, 936 F.2d 881, 884–885 (9th Cir. 1991).
This court is unwilling to adopt a rule that anyone involved in adjudicating
17
grievances after the fact is per se potentially liable under a ratification/acquiescence theory.
18
However, this is not to say that persons involved in adjudicating administrative disputes, or
19
persons to whom complaints are sometimes made can never be liable under a ratification theory.
20
If, for example, a reviewing official’s rejections of administrative grievances can be construed as
21
an automatic whitewash, which may have led other prison officials to have no concern of ever
22
being reprimanded, a ratifying official may be liable for having put a defective policy in place.
23
Certainly factual allegations (as opposed to conclusions) of conspiracy between the line officials
24
and the grievance reviewers could land the reviewers in court.
25
26
Defendant Duc is potentially liable under the Eighth Amendment based on his
review of grievances filed after the fact or based on his review of grievances challenging ongoing
14
1
violations. The only evidence presented by defendants regarding defendant Duc’s review of
2
plaintiff’s grievances is contained in defendant Nangalama’s declaration. However, defendant
3
Nangalama does not state how he has personal knowledge of the grievances reviewed by
4
defendant Duc. See Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London v. American Safety Insurance
5
Services, Inc., 702 F.Supp.2d 1169, 1172 (C.D. Cal. 2010) (“Declarations made upon
6
‘information and belief’ rather than upon personal knowledge are entitled to no weight at
7
summary judgment.”) For example, defendant Nangalama does not state that he personally
8
reviewed defendant Duc’s responses to plaintiff’s grievances.
9
Additionally, defendant Nangalama’s declaration addresses only grievances
10
concerning plaintiff’s treatment for Hepatitis C and chest pains. Defendant Nangalama does not
11
discuss whether plaintiff filed grievances regarding his other at-issue medical problems. For that
12
reason, the undersigned finds that defendants’ summary judgment motion contains no evidence
13
regarding defendant Duc’s alleged denial of grievances concerning plaintiff’s back injury, mouth
14
sores and problems in obtaining medication refills.
15
Assuming defendant Nangalama’s statements regarding defendant Duc’s review
16
of plaintiff’s grievances concerning chest pain and Hepatitis C were based on personal
17
knowledge, the undersigned would find these statements of little evidentiary value. Defendant
18
Nangalama’s statement that defendant Duc determined that plaintiff received appropriate medical
19
care after reviewing plaintiff’s chart does not adequately explain the grounds on which defendant
20
Duc made this decision. For example, the undersigned could not evaluate defendant Duc’s
21
decision to uphold the decision to discontinue plaintiff’s Hepatitis C treatment based on these
22
conclusory statements.
23
Because defendants’ evidence regarding defendant Duc’s review of plaintiff’s
24
grievances is entitled to no weight, the undersigned finds that defendants have not met their
25
burden of demonstrating the absence of genuine issues of material fact as to plaintiff’s Eighth
26
Amendment claim.
15
1
Defendants also argue that there is no liability for the mere review of an appeal.
2
Defendants are correct that plaintiff cannot state a due process claim based on the denial of an
3
appeal. Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d
4
639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988) (inmates lack a separate constitutional entitlement to a specific prison
5
grievance procedure). Accordingly, defendant Duc should be granted summary judgment as to
6
plaintiff’s due process claim based on the denial of his grievances.
7
Although not addressed by defendants in the motion for summary judgment,
8
plaintiff also alleges a violation of his right to equal protection. Plaintiff’s allegations do not
9
state an equal protection claim. Accordingly, plaintiff’s equal protection claim should be
10
dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) (at any time the court may dismiss a claim that fails to
11
state a claim upon which relief may be granted).
12
Defendants also move for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. “The
13 doctrine of qualified immunity protects government officials from liability for civil damages
14 insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of
15 which a reasonable person would have known.” Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, ___, 129 S.
16 Ct. 808, 815 (2009). The defendant bears the burden of establishing qualified immunity.
17 Crawford-El v. Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 586-87 (1998).
18
The Supreme Court in Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194 (2001), outlined a two-step
19 approach to qualified immunity. The first step requires the court to ask whether “[t]aken in the
20 light most favorable to the party asserting the injury, do the facts alleged show the officer's
21 conduct violated a constitutional right?” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201. If the answer to the first
22 inquiry is yes, the second inquiry is whether the right was clearly established: in other words,
23 “whether it would be clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he
24 confronted.” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201.
25
The undersigned need not address the issue of qualified immunity because
26 defendants have not met their initial burden of demonstrating the absence of genuine issues of
16
1 material fact as to plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim.
2
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall appoint
3 a district judge to this action;
4
IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
5
1. The claims against defendant Nangalama be dismissed for failing to state a
6 claim upon which relief may be granted;
7
2. Plaintiff’s Equal Protection claim against defendant Duc be dismissed for
8 failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; and
9
3. Defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust administrative remedies
10 (Dkt. No. 37) be denied as to defendant Duc; defendants’ summary judgment motion (Dkt. No.
11 37) be granted as to plaintiff’s due process claim against defendant Duc, and denied as to the
12 Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Duc.
13
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District
14 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty15 one days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
16 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
17 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the
18 objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The
19 parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to
20 appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
21 DATED: October 13, 2011
22
23
_____________________________________
KENDALL J. NEWMAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
24
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gal152.sj(2)
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