Benyamini v. Swett et al
Filing
114
FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan on 7/12/2018 RECOMMENDING that Defendants' motion for summary judgment 98 be granted; Plaintiff's excessive force claims be dismissed with prejudice; The Clerk be d irected to close this case. Referred to Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. (Cannarozzi, N)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
9
10
ROBERT BENYAMINI,
11
12
13
No. 2:13-cv-735-KJM-EFB P
Plaintiff,
v.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
M. SWETT, et al.,
14
Defendants.
15
16
Plaintiff is proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 which
17
alleges excessive force in a cell extraction. Defendants have filed a motion for summary
18
judgment. ECF No. 98. Plaintiff has filed an opposition (ECF No. 108) and defendants have
19
filed a reply (ECF No. 112). For the reasons that follow, the motion should be granted.
Background
20
21
I.
Plaintiff’s Allegations
22
Plaintiff alleges that, on May 6, 2009, defendants approached his cell and informed him
23
that it was time for the administration of his mandatory medication. ECF No. 1 at 11-12. He
24
claims that he had previously had an allergic reaction to the medication defendants sought to
25
administer, however. Id. Consequently, plaintiff refused to take the medication and defendants
26
were forced to extract him from his cell in order to administer it. Id. Plaintiff alleges that, after
27
his hands had been cuffed behind his back and his feet shackled, defendants beat, stomped, and
28
slammed him against the concrete floor. Id. at 12. Specifically, he alleges that: (1) defendant
1
1
Swett stomped on his foot (id. at 12); (2) defendant Miranda stepped on his neck (id.); (3)
2
defendant carpenter was “banging” his head (id.); and (4) that defendant Perry beat him while his
3
hands were cuffed (id.).
4
II.
5
On May 6, 2009, plaintiff was under a Keyhea1 order requiring him to take antipsychotic
Defendants’ Narrative
6
medication. ECF No. 98-1 at 7. On that day, defendant Carpenter approached plaintiff’s cell and
7
directed him to submit to handcuffs. Id. Plaintiff refused that order. Id. Other officers
8
approached the cell and gave similar orders, but plaintiff persisted in his refusal to submit to
9
handcuffs. Id.
10
Roughly an hour after Carpenter first directed plaintiff to submit to handcuffs, an
11
extraction team gathered outside plaintiff’s cell. Id. at 8. After defendants re-issued their orders,
12
plaintiff finally complied and permitted application of handcuffs. Id. The cell door was then
13
opened and plaintiff was ordered to kneel so that leg restraints could be applied. Id. at 9.
14
Plaintiff resisted this order and defendants Miranda and Swett used their body weight to force him
15
to a prone position. Id. Defendants Carpenter and Perry assisted by placing holds on plaintiff’s
16
legs. Id.
17
A member of the unit medical staff – LVN Bergado – administered plaintiff’s medication.
18
Id. Plaintiff remained combative and verbally threatened staff. Id. at 9-10. After the
19
administration of the medication, plaintiff was returned to his cell. Id. at 10. Bergado observed
20
no external physical injuries to plaintiff as a result of the extraction. Id.
21
After the incident, plaintiff was charged with resisting a peace officer in violation of
22
California Code of Regulations § 3005(d). Id. He was convicted and assessed a ninety-day loss
23
of credit. Id.
24
/////
25
/////
26
27
28
1
Keyhea v. Rushen, 178 Cal.App.3d 526, 542, 223 Cal. Rptr. 746 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986),
sets forth the substantive and procedural safeguards which must be adhered to when the state
seeks to involuntarily medicate state prisoners with long-term psychotropic medications. These
orders are commonly referred to as Keyhea orders.
2
1
Legal Standards
2
I.
3
Summary judgment is appropriate when there is “no genuine dispute as to any material
Summary Judgment
4
fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). Summary
5
judgment avoids unnecessary trials in cases in which the parties do not dispute the facts relevant
6
to the determination of the issues in the case, or in which there is insufficient evidence for a jury
7
to determine those facts in favor of the nonmovant. Crawford-El v. Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 600
8
(1998); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-50 (1986); Nw. Motorcycle Ass’n v.
9
U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 18 F.3d 1468, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1994). At bottom, a summary judgment
10
motion asks whether the evidence presents a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a
11
jury.
12
The principal purpose of Rule 56 is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims
13
or defenses. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24 (1986). Thus, the rule functions to
14
“‘pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for
15
trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (quoting Fed. R.
16
Civ. P. 56(e) advisory committee’s note on 1963 amendments). Procedurally, under summary
17
judgment practice, the moving party bears the initial responsibility of presenting the basis for its
18
motion and identifying those portions of the record, together with affidavits, if any, that it
19
believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323;
20
Devereaux v. Abbey, 263 F.3d 1070, 1076 (9th Cir. 2001) (en banc). If the moving party meets
21
its burden with a properly supported motion, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to
22
present specific facts that show there is a genuine issue for trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e); Anderson,
23
477 U.S. at 248; Auvil v. CBS “60 Minutes”, 67 F.3d 816, 819 (9th Cir. 1995).
24
A clear focus on where the burden of proof lies as to the factual issue in question is crucial
25
to summary judgment procedures. Depending on which party bears that burden, the party seeking
26
summary judgment does not necessarily need to submit any evidence of its own. When the
27
opposing party would have the burden of proof on a dispositive issue at trial, the moving party
28
need not produce evidence which negates the opponent’s claim. See, e.g., Lujan v. National
3
1
Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 885 (1990). Rather, the moving party need only point to matters
2
which demonstrate the absence of a genuine material factual issue. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323-
3
24 (“[W]here the nonmoving party will bear the burden of proof at trial on a dispositive issue, a
4
summary judgment motion may properly be made in reliance solely on the ‘pleadings,
5
depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file.’”). Indeed, summary judgment
6
should be entered, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to
7
make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case,
8
and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See id. at 322. In such a
9
circumstance, summary judgment must be granted, “so long as whatever is before the district
10
court demonstrates that the standard for entry of summary judgment, as set forth in Rule 56(c), is
11
satisfied.” Id. at 323.
12
To defeat summary judgment the opposing party must establish a genuine dispute as to a
13
material issue of fact. This entails two requirements. First, the dispute must be over a fact(s) that
14
is material, i.e., one that makes a difference in the outcome of the case. Anderson, 477 U.S. at
15
248 (“Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law
16
will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.”). Whether a factual dispute is material is
17
determined by the substantive law applicable for the claim in question. Id. If the opposing party
18
is unable to produce evidence sufficient to establish a required element of its claim that party fails
19
in opposing summary judgment. “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element
20
of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Celotex, 477 U.S.
21
at 322.
22
Second, the dispute must be genuine. In determining whether a factual dispute is genuine
23
the court must again focus on which party bears the burden of proof on the factual issue in
24
question. Where the party opposing summary judgment would bear the burden of proof at trial on
25
the factual issue in dispute, that party must produce evidence sufficient to support its factual
26
claim. Conclusory allegations, unsupported by evidence are insufficient to defeat the motion.
27
Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). Rather, the opposing party must, by affidavit
28
or as otherwise provided by Rule 56, designate specific facts that show there is a genuine issue
4
1
for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249; Devereaux, 263 F.3d at 1076. More significantly, to
2
demonstrate a genuine factual dispute the evidence relied on by the opposing party must be such
3
that a fair-minded jury “could return a verdict for [him] on the evidence presented.” Anderson,
4
477 U.S. at 248, 252. Absent any such evidence there simply is no reason for trial.
5
The court does not determine witness credibility. It believes the opposing party’s
6
evidence, and draws inferences most favorably for the opposing party. See id. at 249, 255;
7
Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587. Inferences, however, are not drawn out of “thin air,” and the
8
proponent must adduce evidence of a factual predicate from which to draw inferences. American
9
Int’l Group, Inc. v. American Int’l Bank, 926 F.2d 829, 836 (9th Cir. 1991) (Kozinski, J.,
10
dissenting) (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322). If reasonable minds could differ on material facts at
11
issue, summary judgment is inappropriate. See Warren v. City of Carlsbad, 58 F.3d 439, 441 (9th
12
Cir. 1995). On the other hand, the opposing party “must do more than simply show that there is
13
some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts . . . . Where the record taken as a whole could
14
not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no ‘genuine issue for
15
trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (citation omitted). In that case, the court must grant
16
summary judgment.
17
II.
18
To establish a claim for the use of excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment,
Excessive Force
19
a plaintiff must demonstrate that prison officials applied force maliciously and sadistically to
20
cause harm, rather than in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline. Hudson v.
21
McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 6-7 (1992). In making this determination, the court may evaluate (1) the
22
extent of the inmate’s injuries; (2) the need for application of force; (3) the relationship between
23
that need and the amount of force used; (4) the threat reasonably perceived by the responsible
24
officials; and (5) any efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response. Id. at 7; see also
25
id. at 9-10 (“The Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment necessarily
26
excludes from constitutional recognition de minimis uses of physical force, provided that the use
27
of force is not of a sort repugnant to the conscience of mankind.”) (internal quotation marks and
28
citations omitted). “Unless it appears that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the
5
1
plaintiff, will support a reliable inference of wantonness in the infliction of pain . . . the case
2
should not go to the jury.” Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 322 (1986).
3
4
Analysis
Defendants raise three arguments in support of their motion for summary judgment. First,
5
they argue that plaintiff’s excessive force claims are barred by the Supreme Court’s holding in
6
Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). In Heck the Supreme Court held that:
7
8
9
10
11
[I]n order to recover damages for allegedly unconstitutional
conviction or imprisonment, or for other harm caused by actions
whose unlawfulness would render a conviction or sentence invalid,
a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the conviction or sentence has
been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order,
declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such
determination, or called into question by a federal court's issuance of
a writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
12
Id. at 486-87. They contend that, because plaintiff was found guilty of resisting a peace officer
13
and assessed a ninety-day credit loss, his claims are barred by Heck. Second, they argue that no
14
genuine dispute of material fact exists as to plaintiff’s excessive force claims. They note that a
15
video of the use of force incident exists and blatantly contradicts plaintiff’s allegations. ECF No.
16
98-1 at 15. Finally, defendants argue that they are entitled to qualified immunity. Having
17
reviewed the video evidence, the court finds, for the reasons stated hereafter, that defendants’
18
second argument should be credited. Consequently, it finds it unnecessary to reach the first and
19
third arguments.
20
Attached to defendants’ motion for summary judgment is the declaration of correctional
21
officer C. Drake. ECF No. 98-8. Officer Drake acted as the camera operator for the cell
22
extraction team which undertook to administer plaintiff’s court ordered medication. Id. at 1, ¶ 2.
23
His recording of the incident was attached to his declaration by way of a DVD disc labelled
24
“Exhibit A.” The court has reviewed the recording. The video which runs to - nine minutes and
25
forty seconds – begins with the members of the extraction team identifying themselves. ECF No.
26
98-8, Ex. A at 0:04 – 1:04. Defendant Roth begins the introductions by noting that: (1) it is 8:13
27
a.m. on May 6, 2009; (2) that plaintiff is refusing his court ordered medication; and (3) that all
28
‘custody,’ ‘mental health,’ and ‘medical’ efforts to obtain plaintiff’s compliance in taking his
6
1
medication have proven unsuccessful, thereby necessitating cell extraction to administer it. Id. at
2
0:01 – 0:026. The extraction team proceeds to the door of plaintiff’s cell. Id. at 1:04 – 1:31.
3
There, defendant Roth orders plaintiff to approach the door, submit to restraints, and take his
4
medication. Id. at 1:32 – 1:43. Plaintiff argues that he is allergic to his medication and does not
5
immediately comply with Roth’s orders to submit to restraints. Id. at 1:52 – 2:00. The door to
6
plaintiff’s cell remains closed at this point.
7
After approximately one minute passes, plaintiff complies with orders to don a ‘spit net’
8
and put his hands through the cell slot for the placement of handcuffs. Id. at 2:00 – 3:00. The
9
cell door is then opened and plaintiff is directed to drop to his knees so that leg restraints can be
10
applied. Id. at 3:00 – 3:17. Plaintiff offers limited resistance to this instruction and four officers
11
restrain him in order to apply the leg restraints. Id. at 3:17 – 3:29. None of the officers strike or
12
slam plaintiff during the application of these restraints and, after the leg restraints are applied,
13
plaintiff is helped to his feet. Id. at 3:30 – 3:34. Once plaintiff is fully secured a medical
14
evaluation is ordered. Id. at 4:04. Plaintiff can be heard arguing that he has bruising on his body,
15
though it is not discernable from the video whether he actually has any bruises or whether
16
plaintiff is claiming that he obtained the bruising during the immediate extraction. Id. at 4:19 -
17
4:22. The medical evaluation is quickly completed (id. at 4:24) and plaintiff is directed to get on
18
his knees. Id. at 4:35 – 4:38. The final restraint – a belly chain - is added at this time. Id. at 4:40
19
– 5:50.
20
From 6:05 to 8:11 of the video, officer Drake turns the camera away from the
21
administration of plaintiff’s medication and downward, toward the face of his wrist watch.2 Id. at
22
6:05 – 8:11. Plaintiff can be heard continuing to argue that he is allergic to the medication and
23
that no physician has adequately discussed it with him. Id. at 7:10 – 7:16. Then, plaintiff can be
24
heard telling officers not to grab his wrist and advising them he has a ‘bad wrist.’ Id. at 7:25 –
25
7:31. An order is subsequently given not to grab plaintiff’s hands. Id. at 7:32. The medication
26
having been administered, officers begin removing plaintiff’s restraints in order to return him to
27
28
2
In his declaration, officer Drake states that he panned away from the incident toward his
watch in order to note the time. ECF No. 98-8 at 2, ¶ 16.
7
1
his cell. Id. at 8:12 – 9:05. No officer strikes or slams plaintiff during this time. Plaintiff is
2
placed back in his cell and the door is closed. Id. at 9:07 – 9:12. Lastly, plaintiff’s handcuffs are
3
removed by way of the door slot and extraction is deemed complete. Id. at 9:20 – 9:40.
4
The Supreme Court has held that, where a video conclusively refutes a claimant’s
5
allegations, a court may credit the video evidence. See Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007),
6
(holding that police dash-cam video so “utterly discredited” the plaintiff’s account of a car chase
7
that “no reasonable jury could believe” him). That holding in Scott is directly applicable here.
8
As noted supra, plaintiff alleges that defendants maliciously stomped, struck, and beat him during
9
the May 6, 2009 cell extraction. ECF No. 1 at 11-12. The video indicates that nothing of the sort
10
occurred. The video clearly demonstrates that the defendants applied only the force necessary to
11
place plaintiff in restraints. The video also plainly indicates that plaintiff did not suffer any of the
12
sorts of injuries which would be commensurate with the level of force he alleges in his complaint.
13
At the end of the video, as plaintiff is returned to his cell, there are no obvious marks or bleeding
14
on his body and he appears capable of moving without assistance. The lack of injuries is
15
corroborated by Licensed Vocational Nurse Bergado who noted, in both a declaration
16
accompanying defendants’ motion and a form authored immediately after the extraction, that
17
plaintiff suffered no external injuries. ECF No. 98-6 at 3-4, ¶11; ECF No. 98-6 at 6, Ex A.
18
Finally, although certain portions of the video are rendered less useful by Officer Drake’s focus
19
on his wrist watch, the audio captured during those portions cuts against plaintiff’s allegations.
20
Other than complaints about his “bad wrist,” plaintiff never cries out or states that he is being
21
beaten, stomped, or slammed.
22
Based on the foregoing, the court finds that each of the Hudson factors cuts in favor of the
23
defendants. First, plaintiff suffered no clear injury as a result of the extraction.3 Second, force
24
was clearly required to administer plaintiff’s court ordered medication, as evidenced by the fact
25
that he continued to protest and declare himself allergic to it even as the officers gathered outside
26
27
28
3
Defendants note that, in his deposition, plaintiff was inconsistent about what injuries he
actually suffered during the cell extraction. He was unclear, for instance, whether he had suffered
a back injury during the extraction. ECF No. 98-4 at 12, Ex. A.
8
1
his cell. Third, the video plainly indicates that the officers used only the force necessary to place
2
restraints on plaintiff. Fourth, defendants could reasonably have perceived plaintiff’s refusal to
3
take his medication and refusal to immediately comply with their orders as a threat requiring the
4
use of force. See, e.g., Johnson v. Turmezei, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9175, * 18 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 6,
5
2008) (“Insubordination is a matter taken very seriously within the confines of an institutional
6
setting. Plaintiff’s refusal to comply with the direct orders of defendants created a need for the
7
application of force to gain plaintiff’s compliance, and the force at issue was employed for the
8
very purpose of gaining plaintiff’s compliance with the order. When an inmate refuses to comply
9
with the order of a staff member, a threat may be reasonably perceived by staff.”). Finally, the
10
video evidence shows that defendants tempered their use of force by using only physical holds
11
and verbal orders to gain plaintiff’s compliance.
12
13
14
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, the court finds that no reasonable jury could return a verdict for
plaintiff. Accordingly, it is hereby RECOMMENDED that:
15
1. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 98) be GRANTED;
16
2. Plaintiff’s excessive force claims be dismissed with prejudice; and
17
3. The Clerk be directed to close this case.
18
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge
19
assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days
20
after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
21
objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
22
“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections
23
within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v.
24
Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
25
DATED: July 12, 2018.
26
27
28
9
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?