Lucas v. Swarthout et al

Filing 29

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Craig M. Kellison on 11/14/11 ordering plaintiff's complaint is dismissed with leave to amend. Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint within 30 days of the date of service of this order. (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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ISIAH LUCAS, JR.,

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No. CIV S-10-3252-GEB-CMK-P

Plaintiff,
vs.

ORDER

GARY SWARTHOUT, et al.,
Defendants.
/
Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is plaintiff’s complaint (Doc. 1).
The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

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against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C.

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§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or

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malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief

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from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Moreover,

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the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “. . . short and plain

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statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2).

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This means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne,

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84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied

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if the complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon
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which it rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). Because plaintiff must

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allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts by specific defendants which support

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the claims, vague and conclusory allegations fail to satisfy this standard. Additionally, it is

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impossible for the court to conduct the screening required by law when the allegations are vague

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and conclusory.

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I. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS
Plaintiff’s complaint alleges deliberate indifference to his serious mental health by

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prison officials by failing to provide him a single cell based on medical advice. From his

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statements and the attachments to his complaint, it appears that plaintiff was issued a chrono for

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a single cell in 2006. However, a new chrono was issued in 2007, indicating single cell status

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was no longer necessary. In 2010, plaintiff was transferred to California State Prison - Solano

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(CSP-Solano), and went before the classification committee to determine appropriate housing at

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that institution. The committee determined, based on the 2007 chrono, that plaintiff was not

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entitled to single cell status, and was therefore required to take a cellmate. Plaintiff apparently

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appealed that decision, using the inmate grievance system. Through that appeal, plaintiff was

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sent for a reevaluation, and it was again determined that he should be placed in a single cell

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based on his mental health issues. The new single cell chrono was issued October 29, 2010.

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Plaintiff was then transferred again in December 2010, and is no longer housed at CSP-Solano.

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The defendants named in this suit include the warden and associate warden from

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CSP-Solano, two correctional officers, and two inmate appeal coordinators. It is unclear whether

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any of the named defendants were on the committee that denied plaintiff a single cell.

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II. DISCUSSION
Plaintiff’s complaint suffers from several defects. First, from the allegations in

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the complaint and the attachments thereto, it appears that plaintiff’s claim of medical indifference

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would be against the committee members who determined, in July 2010, that plaintiff did not

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qualify for a single cell. However, that decision was based on the 2007 chrono that plaintiff did
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not meet the single cell criteria. If that was the current medical determination before the

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committee, there is no basis for deliberate indifference, as the committee’s determination was

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based on medical opinion and was not arbitrary and capricious.

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The treatment a prisoner receives in prison and the conditions under which the

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prisoner is confined are subject to scrutiny under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel

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and unusual punishment. See Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 31 (1993); Farmer v. Brennan,

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511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994). The Eighth Amendment “embodies broad and idealistic concepts of

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dignity, civilized standards, humanity, and decency.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102

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(1976). Conditions of confinement may, however, be harsh and restrictive. See Rhodes v.

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Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981). Nonetheless, prison officials must provide prisoners with

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“food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety.” Toussaint v. McCarthy,

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801 F.2d 1080, 1107 (9th Cir. 1986). A prison official violates the Eighth Amendment only

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when two requirements are met: (1) objectively, the official’s act or omission must be so serious

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such that it results in the denial of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities; and (2)

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subjectively, the prison official must have acted unnecessarily and wantonly for the purpose of

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inflicting harm. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. Thus, to violate the Eighth Amendment, a prison

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official must have a “sufficiently culpable mind.” See id.

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Deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious illness or injury, or risks of serious

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injury or illness, gives rise to a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See Estelle, 429 U.S. at

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105; see also Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. This applies to physical as well as dental and mental

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health needs. See Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1253 (9th Cir. 1982). An injury or illness is

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sufficiently serious if the failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further significant

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injury or the “unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050,

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1059 (9th Cir. 1992); see also Doty v. County of Lassen, 37 F.3d 540, 546 (9th Cir. 1994).

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Factors indicating seriousness are: (1) whether a reasonable doctor would think that the condition

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is worthy of comment; (2) whether the condition significantly impacts the prisoner’s daily
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activities; and (3) whether the condition is chronic and accompanied by substantial pain. See

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Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

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The requirement of deliberate indifference is less stringent in medical needs cases

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than in other Eighth Amendment contexts because the responsibility to provide inmates with

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medical care does not generally conflict with competing penological concerns. See McGuckin,

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974 F.2d at 1060. Thus, deference need not be given to the judgment of prison officials as to

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decisions concerning medical needs. See Hunt v. Dental Dep’t, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir.

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1989). The complete denial of medical attention may constitute deliberate indifference. See

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Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1111 (9th Cir. 1986). Delay in providing medical

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treatment, or interference with medical treatment, may also constitute deliberate indifference.

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See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1131. Where delay is alleged, however, the prisoner must also

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demonstrate that the delay led to further injury. See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1060.

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Negligence in diagnosing or treating a medical condition does not, however, give

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rise to a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. Moreover, a

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difference of opinion between the prisoner and medical providers concerning the appropriate

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course of treatment does not give rise to an Eighth Amendment claim. See Jackson v. McIntosh,

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90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996).

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Nothing in plaintiff’s complaint can be construed as a claim for deliberate

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indifference against any of plaintiff’s medical providers for failure to properly evaluate his

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medical needs. Rather, he is challenging the housing determination, which he claims is based on

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his mental health status, and the recommendation from his providers that he be placed in a single

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cell. However, that recommendation was issued after the classification committee hearing.

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Second, assuming plaintiff could state a claim for deliberate indifference to his

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medical needs, he fails to identify who is personally responsible for that constitutional violation.

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It does not appear that any of the named defendants are directly responsible for the decision not

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to place plaintiff on single cell status. The defendants named are either supervisory defendants,
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appeals coordinators, or correctional officers.
Supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the actions of their

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employees. See Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) (holding that there is no

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respondeat superior liability under § 1983). A supervisor is only liable for the constitutional

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violations of subordinates if the supervisor participated in or directed the violations. See id. The

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Supreme Court has rejected the notion that a supervisory defendant can be liable based on

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knowledge and acquiescence in a subordinate’s unconstitutional conduct because government

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officials, regardless of their title, can only be held liable under § 1983 for his or her own conduct

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and not the conduct of others. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). Supervisory

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personnel who implement a policy so deficient that the policy itself is a repudiation of

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constitutional rights and the moving force behind a constitutional violation may, however, be

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liable even where such personnel do not overtly participate in the offensive act. See Redman v.

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Cnty of San Diego, 942 F.2d 1435, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc).

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When a defendant holds a supervisory position, the causal link between such

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defendant and the claimed constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v.

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Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir.

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1978). Vague and conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of supervisory personnel

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in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th

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Cir. 1982). “[A] plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the

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official’s own individual actions, has violated the constitution.” Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1948.

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Thus, plaintiff’s indication that he notified the warden and associate warden of the

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housing determination is not sufficient. Only if the housing decision was made by either the

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warden or associate warden, or made at their direction, could these supervisory defendants be

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liable. Knowledge of another’s decision is insufficient.

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Prisoners have no stand-alone due process rights related to the administrative
grievance process. See Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988); see also Ramirez v.
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Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding that there is no liberty interest entitling

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inmates to a specific grievance process). Because there is no right to any particular grievance

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process, it is impossible for due process to have been violated by ignoring or failing to properly

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process grievances. Numerous district courts in this circuit have reached the same conclusion.

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See Smith v. Calderon, 1999 WL 1051947 (N.D. Cal 1999) (finding that failure to properly

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process grievances did not violate any constitutional right); Cage v. Cambra, 1996 WL 506863

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(N.D. Cal. 1996) (concluding that prison officials’ failure to properly process and address

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grievances does not support constitutional claim); James v. U.S. Marshal’s Service, 1995 WL

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29580 (N.D. Cal. 1995) (dismissing complaint without leave to amend because failure to process

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a grievance did not implicate a protected liberty interest); Murray v. Marshall, 1994 WL 245967

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(N.D. Cal. 1994) (concluding that prisoner’s claim that grievance process failed to function

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properly failed to state a claim under § 1983). Prisoners do, however, retain a First Amendment

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right to petition the government through the prison grievance process. See Bradley v. Hall, 64

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F.3d 1276, 1279 (9th Cir. 1995). Therefore, interference with the grievance process may, in

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certain circumstances, implicate the First Amendment.

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Therefore, the appeals coordinators who addressed plaintiff’s inmate grievance are

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not responsible for plaintiff’s housing decision. There is no indication that plaintiff’s attempts to

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file a grievance were thwarted, rather it appears he was successful in obtaining a new evaluation

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through the grievance process. Therefore, the appeals coordinators cannot be liable for the

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determination that plaintiff did not meet the single cell housing criteria at the time of his

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classification committee hearing.

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Finally, to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the plaintiff must allege an actual

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connection or link between the actions of the named defendants and the alleged deprivations.

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See Monell v. Dep’t of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362

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(1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the

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meaning of § 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts, or
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omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which

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

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conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of official personnel in civil rights violations

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are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Rather, the

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plaintiff must set forth specific facts as to each individual defendant’s causal role in the alleged

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constitutional deprivation. See Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 634 (9th Cir. 1988).

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Plaintiff fails to identify who is directly responsible for the decision that he did

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not qualify for single cell housing. As mentioned above, it would appear to be the decision of the

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classification committee, and none of the defendants named in this action are identified as

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members of that committee. Therefore, plaintiff’s complaint is insufficient as presented. At

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best, it appears that plaintiff’s may be able to state a claim for deliberate indifference to his

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medical condition if he can properly allege that he presented to a committee a current chrono that

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he met the criteria for single cell housing and that chrono was deliberately disregarded. If that is

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the case, it would appear this would have happened sometime between October and December

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2010. Otherwise, if the committee decisions were based on a chrono stating plaintiff was not

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eligible for single cell housing, plaintiff cannot claim any committee member was deliberately

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indifferent. If, however, the committee members ignored a chrono, it is possible plaintiff could

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state a claim against members of the committee who made the decision to ignore plaintiff’s

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mental health needs. The wardens, plaintiff’s correctional counselor, and appeals coordinators

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do not appear to have been personally involved any decision regarding plaintiff’s housing.

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III. CONCLUSION
Because it is possible that the deficiencies identified in this order may be cured by

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amending the complaint, plaintiff is entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of the entire

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action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). Plaintiff is

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informed that, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See

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Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Thus, following dismissal with leave to
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amend, all claims alleged in the original complaint which are not alleged in the amended

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complaint are waived. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). Therefore, if

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plaintiff amends the complaint, the court cannot refer to the prior pleading in order to make

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plaintiff's amended complaint complete. See Local Rule 220. An amended complaint must be

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complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. See id.

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If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the

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conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See

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Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). The complaint must allege in specific terms how

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each named defendant is involved, and must set forth some affirmative link or connection

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between each defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d

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164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).

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Finally, plaintiff is warned that failure to file an amended complaint within the

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time provided in this order may be grounds for dismissal of this action. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at

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1260-61; see also Local Rule 110. Plaintiff is also warned that a complaint which fails to comply

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with Rule 8 may, in the court’s discretion, be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b).

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See Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1981).

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed with leave to amend; and

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Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint within 30 days of the date of

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service of this order.

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DATED: November 14, 2011
______________________________________
CRAIG M. KELLISON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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