O'Keefe v. Cate
Filing
282
ORDER signed by District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on 9/29/2017 ADOPTING 272 Findings and Recommendations; GRANTING 257 Motion for Summary Judgment as to the plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claims against all defendants in their individual capa cities, including the plaintiff's claim for punitive damages, and as to the plaintiff's claims against Defendants Spearman and Silva in their official capacities; ORDERING that this case proceed solely on the plaintiff's claim for inju nctive relief against Defendants Deputy Director of CDCR Statewide Mental Health Program (Belavich), Sirkin, Wynn and Howlin in their official capacities; REFERRING this matter back to Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman for further proceedings. (Michel, G.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
TIMOTHY O’KEEFE,
12
13
14
15
No. 2:11-cv-2659 KJM KJN P
Plaintiff,
v.
ORDER
JERRY BROWN, et al.,
Defendants.
16
17
18
Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed this civil rights action
19
seeking relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to a United States Magistrate
20
Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.
21
On July 25, 2016, the magistrate judge filed findings and recommendations, which
22
were served on all parties and which contained notice to all parties that any objections to the
23
findings and recommendations were to be filed within fourteen days. Plaintiff and defendants
24
have filed objections to the findings and recommendations.
25
In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C) and Local Rule 304,
26
this court has conducted a de novo review of this case. The magistrate judge recommends that
27
defendants’ motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 257, be granted in all respects except as to
28
plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief against defendants Sirkin, Howlin and the Deputy Director
1
1
of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations’ (CDCR) Statewide Mental
2
Health Program. For the reasons set forth in this order, the court adopts the recommendations
3
except that the action will also proceed against defendant Wynn on plaintiff’s official capacity
4
claim for injunctive relief.
5
I.
BACKGROUND
6
As set forth by the magistrate judge, this action is proceeding on Eighth
7
Amendment claims that defendants have failed to provide him with mental health treatment for
8
paraphilia, exhibitionism and voyeurism. Plaintiff initially raised these claims in a letter to the
9
court dated October 5, 2011, which was the initial pleading in this action. See ECF No. 1.
10
Plaintiff sought to proceed against former California Department of Corrections and
11
Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary Matthew Cate, the CDCR’s Chief Psychiatrist and the CDCR’s
12
Chief Psychologist. Id. In a letter filed November 5, 2011, plaintiff sought to proceed on the
13
same claim against former Secretary Cate, the Chief Psychiatrist of CDCR, the Warden of Salinas
14
Valley State Prison (SVSP) where plaintiff was then incarcerated, the Chief Psychiatrist at SVSP,
15
and California Governor Jerry Brown. ECF No. 5.
16
On January 27, 2017, as required by court order, ECF No. 18, plaintiff filed a
17
second amended complaint on the court’s form for § 1983 actions. ECF No. 21. The second
18
amended complaint again raised the Eighth Amendment issue raised in plaintiff’s letters, and
19
named Governor Brown, former Secretary Cate, the Chief Psychiatrist of CDCR and the Chief
20
Psychologist of CDCR as defendants. Id. In the second amended complaint, plaintiff sought
21
injunctive relief requiring defendants to provide him with mental health care for his conditions.
22
Id. at 12.
23
On January 2, 2013, the magistrate judge granted a defense motion to dismiss and
24
granted plaintiff leave to amend. ECF No. 69. The principal basis for the dismissal was the
25
finding that plaintiff was precluded by the class action in Coleman v. Brown, Case No. 2:90-0520
26
KJM DB P, and that plaintiff had named the moving defendants based on their supervisorial roles
27
in the prison system rather than based on their direct involvement in the events complained of.
28
See id. at 13. For that reason, plaintiff was granted leave to file a third amended complaint “to
2
1
name as defendants those persons responsible for the alleged denial of plaintiff’s personal mental
2
health care.” Id.
3
On January 28, 2013, plaintiff filed a third amended complaint. ECF No. 72.
4
Plaintiff raised the same claim, alleging that he was not receiving adequate mental health
5
treatment for exhibitionism, voyeurism and paraphilia. ECF No. 80 at 1. He named as
6
defendants the Chief Psychiatrist of CDCR, the Warden of R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility
7
(RJD), where he was then housed, and two psychologists at RJD, Greenwald and McCarthy. Id.
8
Again, plaintiff sought injunctive relief only. Id. By order filed May 6, 2013, the third amended
9
complaint was dismissed with leave to amend on the ground that plaintiff had left RJD, was
10
temporarily housed at California Medical Facility (CMF), and was allegedly on his way to Mule
11
Creek State Prison (MCSP). Id. at 2. Plaintiff was instructed to “name as defendants those
12
persons at the prison where plaintiff is permanently housed who are responsible for the alleged
13
denial of personal mental health care.” Id. at 3. By order filed June 12, 2013, the magistrate
14
judge reinstated plaintiff’s third amended complaint because plaintiff had returned to RJD. See
15
ECF No. 84. Subsequently, on December 20, 2013, the third amended complaint was dismissed
16
with leave to amend because plaintiff had been transferred to California State Prison-Corcoran
17
(Corcoran) and evidence suggested he was not going to be returned to RJD. See ECF No. 110 at
18
2-3.
19
Plaintiff filed a fourth amended complaint on January 16, 2014. ECF No. 113.
20
The fourth amended complaint raised the same claim, now against California Governor Jerry
21
Brown, then Secretary of CDCR Jeffery Beard, then CDCR Director of Mental Health Timothy
22
Belavich, prison officials and mental health workers at Corcoran, and prison officials and
23
psychologists at RJD. See id. The magistrate judge screened the complaint and ordered service
24
on defendant Belavich and the five Corcoran defendants as individuals “who may be able to
25
respond to plaintiff’s request for injunctive relief.” See id. at 2, 7, 9.
26
On April 29, 2014, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the fourth amended
27
complaint for failure to state a claim and failure to exhaust administrative remedies. See ECF No.
28
168 (citing ECF No. 135). Plaintiff sought leave to amend on the grounds that he was once again
3
1
facing transfer to a new prison. ECF No. 168 at 2. The magistrate judge found his claims
2
regarding conditions at Corcoran were moot and granted him leave to file a fifth amended
3
complaint raising claims based on conditions at his next place of incarceration, Correctional
4
Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad, California. Id.
5
Plaintiff filed his fifth amended complaint on November 14, 2014, again seeking
6
injunctive relief. ECF No. 171 at 15. For the first time, plaintiff expanded his prayer for relief to
7
include a request for punitive damages in the amount of $10,000, but did not seek compensatory
8
damages. Id. at 15. On January 23, 2015, the court found colorable the same Eighth Amendment
9
claim that has been raised in every complaint filed in this action. Id. at 2. The court ordered
10
service of the fifth amended complaint on defendant Belavich and five defendants at CTF. Id. at
11
3. It is these defendants who have filed the motion for summary judgment that is the subject of
12
the findings and recommendations now before the court.
13
II.
14
ANALYSIS
A.
Plaintiff’s Claim for Injunctive Relief
15
1.
16
The magistrate judge finds there are material factual disputes as to “whether
Serious Medical Need
17
plaintiff’s latent voyeurism and latent exhibitionism constitute serious medical needs.” ECF No.
18
272 at 8. Defendants contend “latent exhibitionism and voyeurism are not serious medical
19
needs” within the meaning of Eighth Amendment jurisprudence because (1) “a latent,
20
asymptomatic mental health problem should not be construed as an ‘injury’”; and (2) while latent
21
those conditions do not affect plaintiff’s day-to-day life. ECF No. 273 at 2-3.
22
“A ‘serious’ medical need exists if the failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could
23
result in further significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” Doty v.
24
County of Lassen, 37 F.3d 540, 546 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050,
25
1059 (9th Cir. 1992)). As the magistrate judge correctly noted, “‘[e]xamples of serious medical
26
needs include “[t]he existence of an injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find
27
important and worthy of comment or treatment, the presence of a medical condition that
28
significantly affects an individual’s daily activities; or the existence of chronic and substantial
4
1
pain.”’” ECF No. 272 at 8 (quoting Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 2000) (in
2
turn citing McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059-60). Defendants’ objection parses this test too closely.
3
As the magistrate judge found, there is evidence in the record that two mental health professionals
4
opined that plaintiff should receive treatment for exhibitionism and voyeurism while in prison
5
even though there is apparent agreement that those conditions are latent while plaintiff is
6
incarcerated. ECF No. 272 at 8. This evidence is sufficient to suggest plaintiff’s exhibitionism
7
and voyeurism may be a serious medical need even if plaintiff does not act on the impulses
8
created by these conditions during imprisonment. Defendants presented a different medical
9
opinion to support their motion for summary judgment. After review, the court agrees with the
10
magistrate judge that these differing medical opinions create material disputes of fact as to
11
whether, while latent, plaintiff’s exhibitionism and voyeurism constitute a serious medical need.
12
Defendants’ objections are overruled.
13
2.
14
Defendants also raise an objection to an asserted finding by the magistrate judge
Deliberate Indifference
15
that there is “a dispute of material fact regarding defendants’ subjective deliberate indifference.”
16
ECF No. 273 at 9. In their motion for summary judgment, defendants argue that because plaintiff
17
was seen by mental health professionals twice a week, he cannot prove defendants were
18
deliberately indifferent to his need for treatment of his exhibitionism and voyeurism. ECF No.
19
257-1 at 5-6. Defendants contend plaintiff’s claim amounts to no more than a difference of
20
opinion over the proper course of mental health treatment and does not rise to the level of a
21
constitutional violation. Id. at 6; see also ECF No. 272 at 9. It is undisputed that plaintiff has not
22
been treated for exhibitionism or voyeurism during any time relevant to this litigation. The
23
magistrate judge correctly finds that if these two conditions are serious medical needs, a material
24
issue in dispute, then defendants’ failure to provide treatment could amount to more than a
25
difference of opinion and could constitute deliberate indifference. ECF No. 272 at 9. This
26
finding is correct and supported by the record.
27
28
Defendants also contend they cannot be found to be deliberately indifferent in
these circumstances, where the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
5
1
does not offer treatment of these conditions in CDCR prisons to inmates who are not exhibiting
2
symptoms of the conditions. Defendants rely on Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1081 (9th Cir.
3
2014). Their reliance is misplaced. In Peralta, the Ninth Circuit held that lack of resources could
4
be a defense to an individual Eighth Amendment damages action, but “is not a defense to a claim
5
for prospective relief because prison officials may be compelled to expand the pool of existing
6
resources in order to remedy continuing Eighth Amendment violations.” Peralta, 744 F.3d at
7
1083. Peralta does not support defendants’ position, at least as far as plaintiff’s prayer for
8
injunctive relief is concerned.
9
Resolution of plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief requires resolution of the
10
primary factual dispute between the parties: whether plaintiff’s exhibitionism and voyeurism
11
constitutes a serious medical need. Because of that dispute, defendants are not entitled to
12
summary judgment on this claim.
13
Defendants also contend the magistrate judge has misstated plaintiff’s claims for
14
injunctive relief, arguing that plaintiff in fact only seeks the broad systemic changes the
15
magistrate judge and defendants both recognize are unavailable to plaintiff in this action because
16
of the class action lawsuit, Coleman v. Brown, Case No. 2:90-0520 KJM DB P. ECF No. 273 at
17
5. This objection is without merit. Plaintiff alleges he is not receiving adequate psychiatric care
18
for his diagnoses of exhibitionism and voyeurism, and that the absence of adequate care is
19
causing him injury, including “chronic suicidal thinking.” ECF No. 171 at 4. The magistrate
20
judge correctly observes that systemic relief for treatment of those two conditions is unavailable
21
in this action in light of plaintiff’s complaint, but that individual injunctive relief may be available
22
to plaintiff. ECF No. 272 at 15. This issue has been addressed in several of the magistrate
23
judge’s orders identified above. There is no claim for systemic relief in this action, and it is clear
24
plaintiff is proceeding solely on his own individual claim for injunctive relief.
25
Defendants have presented evidence that they do provide treatment for
26
exhibitionism, but that such treatment is available only for inmates who engage in exhibitionism
27
while incarcerated. Id. at 6 (quoting Decl. of R. Schwartz, ECF No. 257-10 ¶ 3). Defendants also
28
have presented evidence that the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) provides specialized
6
1
treatment programs, but only to individuals on parole. ECF No. 272 at 6 (quoting Decl. of R.
2
Schwartz, ECF No. 257-10 ¶ 6). Thus, the record suggests that there are clinicians available in
3
both CDCR and through DSH who could provide treatment to plaintiff, but that he does not meet
4
the current institutional criteria for such treatment in that he has not engaged in exhibitionism and
5
he is not yet on parole.
6
3.
7
The question remains, however, which, if any, defendants are potentially liable on
Proper Defendants
8
plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief. The magistrate judge finds “[a]ll that is required in an
9
action for injunctive relief, such as the instant action, is to name an official who could
10
appropriately respond to a court order on injunctive relief should one ever be issued.” ECF No.
11
272 at 16 (citing Harrington v. Grayson, 764 F.Supp. 464, 475-77 (E.D.Mich. 1991) and Malik v.
12
Tanner, 697 F.Supp. 1294, 1304 (S.D.N.Y. 1988)). Defendants do not squarely address this
13
finding in their objections, resting instead on their contention that plaintiff has not shown any
14
defendant was deliberately indifferent to his medical conditions. See ECF No. 273, passim.
15
Plaintiff has named all defendants in both their individual and their official
16
capacities. ECF No. 171 at 2. While any claims against defendants in their individual capacities
17
must be supported by facts showing their personal involvement in the events complained of, the
18
same is not true for claims against defendants in their official capacities. “[I]t is not necessary to
19
allege the personal involvement of a state official when plaintiffs are attacking a state procedure
20
on federal grounds that relates in some way to the job duties of the named defendant. All that is
21
required is that the complaint name an official who could appropriately respond to a court order
22
on injunctive relief should one ever be issued.” Allgire v. Castro, 2005 WL 1458720, slip op. at 1
23
(E.D. Cal. 2005). “However, because a suit against an official in his or her official capacity is a
24
suit against the state, policy or procedure of the state must be at issue in a claim for official
25
capacity injunctive relief.” Id. (citing Haber v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 25 (1991)).
26
The record supports the magistrate judge’s implied finding that injunctive relief is
27
available to plaintiff only, if at all, against defendants Belavich, Howlin, Sirkin and Wynn, or
28
their successors, any or all of whom would be capable of responding to an order granting
7
1
plaintiff’s request for injunctive relief. Any remaining claim against these four defendants is
2
against them only in their official capacities. As the parties have not fully briefed the standards
3
applicable to plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief against defendants in their official capacities,
4
the matter will be referred back to the assigned magistrate judge for further proceedings on that
5
claim.
6
B.
Damages
7
The magistrate judge finds the operative fifth amended complaint contains no
8
charging allegations against defendant Belavich; that defendants failed to move for summary
9
judgment on the sole operative allegation against defendants Howlin and Sirkin, a finding
10
defendants object to; and that the other three defendants were not involved in the decisions to
11
deny plaintiff mental health treatment for exhibitionism and voyeurism. For these reasons, the
12
magistrate judge recommends that the motion for summary judgment be granted as to damages
13
claims against all defendants except defendants Howlin and Sirkin. ECF No. 272 at 10-15. He
14
then recommends summary judgment for defendants Howlin and Sirkin on any damages claim on
15
the grounds of qualified immunity. Id. at 17-19.
16
As discussed above, while plaintiff has made no claims for compensatory damages
17
the fifth amended complaint does include a claim for punitive damages. Defendants seek
18
summary judgment on this claim on the grounds of qualified immunity “in the event that the
19
Court has not dismissed Plaintiff’s claims for punitive damages.” ECF No. 257-1 at 8. The
20
magistrate judge finds defendants Sirkin and Howlin entitled to qualified immunity because their
21
reliance on CDCR policy and practice, under which plaintiff does not qualify for treatment of
22
exhibitionism or voyeurism, was reasonable. He does not address the qualified immunity defense
23
as to the other three defendants, because he finds them entitled to summary judgment on the
24
merits of plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims against them insofar as plaintiff seeks money
25
damages, i.e., in their individual capacities.
26
The standard for punitive damages requires a showing that “the defendant's
27
conduct is . . . motivated by evil motive or intent, or when it involves reckless or callous
28
indifference to the federally protected rights of others.” Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56 (1983).
8
1
The court is satisfied that the question raised by this action is whether the failure to provide
2
plaintiff with treatment for his exhibitionism and voyeurism, which requires prison officials to
3
make an exception to existing program criteria for treatment of these conditions, violates
4
plaintiff’s constitutional rights. It is settled that the constitutionality of the existing criteria as a
5
general matter is not at issue in this action. The sole question is whether defendants should be
6
required to make an exception to existing policy and protocols in order to treat plaintiff and
7
whether the failure to do so violates plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment right to adequate mental health
8
treatment. Assuming without deciding that plaintiff might have stated a claim for punitive
9
damages, a finding the court does not make, the court agrees with the magistrate judge’s finding
10
that reasonable prison mental health officials would have relied on CDCR policy and practice and
11
would not have understood that failing to provide plaintiff with this treatment violated his
12
constitutional rights. Defendants, therefore, are entitled to qualified immunity on plaintiff’s claim
13
for punitive damages.
14
III.
15
CONCLUSION
For all of the foregoing reasons, all defendants are entitled to summary judgment
16
on plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims against them in their individual capacities, including
17
plaintiff’s claim for punitive damages. For the reasons set forth in the magistrate judge’s findings
18
and recommendations, defendants Spearman and Silva are entitled to summary judgment on
19
plaintiff’s claims against them in their official capacities. This action will proceed solely on
20
plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief against defendants Belavich, Howlin, Sirkin and Wynn in
21
their official capacities. The magistrate judge’s recommendation that plaintiff’s official capacity
22
claim against defendants Sirkin, Howlin, and the Deputy Director of CDCR’s Statewide Mental
23
Health Program in their official capacities survive summary judgment is adopted for the reasons
24
set forth in this order. In addition, plaintiff’s official capacity claim against defendant Wynn for
25
injunctive relief is also denied. The magistrate judge’s recommendation that defendant’s motion
26
for summary judgment, ECF No. 257, be otherwise granted is adopted for the reasons set forth in
27
this order and the findings and recommendation to the extent they are consistent with this order.
28
9
1
This matter is referred back to the assigned magistrate judge for further
2
proceedings which may, in his discretion, include a settlement conference, a further motion with
3
specified briefing for summary judgment, or an evidentiary hearing on the merits of plaintiff’s
4
claim for prospective injunctive relief.
5
6
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: September 29, 2017.
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
10
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?