Turner v. Smith et al
Filing
118
ORDER by Judge Charles R. Breyer granting 83 Motion to Dismiss; finding as moot 85 Motion for Order to Show Cause; denying 90 Motion ; denying 98 Motion for Sanctions; finding as moot 100 Motion to Strike ; denying 116 Motion to Disqualify Counsel. ; denying 116 Motion to Appoint Counsel. (crblc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/15/2013)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
No. C 11-05176 CRB
STEPHEN B. TURNER,
Plaintiff,
v.
MELODY SMITH, ET AL.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER (1) GRANTING MOTION TO
DISMISS; (2) DENYING MOTION TO
REVOKE PLAINTIFF’S IFP STATUS;
(3) DENYING MOTION TO STRIKE;
(4) DENYING MOTION FOR
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION;
(5) DENYING MOTION FOR RULE 11
SANCTIONS; (6) DENYING MOTION
TO SHORTEN TIME, DISQUALIFY
COUNSEL, AND/OR APPOINT
COUNSEL
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiff Stephen Turner’s Third Amended Complaint
(TAC) on the following grounds: (1) failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), (2) failure to comply with the mandatory
pre-filing claims-presentation procedures under the California Tort Claims Act, and
(3) improper assertion of unrelated claims against different Defendants under Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure 18(a) and 20(a). MTD (dkt. 83) at 1. Because Turner failed to amend his
complaint in a manner consistent with the Court’s December 3, 2012 Order, the Court
GRANTS Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (MTD).
Defendants also move to revoke Turner’s in forma pauperis (IFP) status (dkt. 90), and
Turner makes the following motions: motion to strike (dkt. 100); motion for a preliminary
injunction (dkt. 85); motion for Rule 11 sanctions (dkt. 98); and motion to shorten time,
1
disqualify defense counsel, and/or appoint counsel (dkt. 116). Because these motions are
2
moot or lack merit, the Court DENIES all five.
3
I.
BACKGROUND
Turner, proceeding pro se, is currently on parole in the State of California. See TAC
4
5
(dkt. 79). He filed the original complaint in this lawsuit on October 24, 2011. See Compl.
6
(dkt. 1). Six days later, he filed a 213-page First Amended Complaint (FAC) including
7
exhibits. See FAC (dkt. 9). At a June 22, 2012 hearing, the Court granted Turner leave to
8
amend and strongly encouraged him to retain counsel. Minutes (dkt. 56) at 1. Turner did not
9
retain counsel, and filed a 160-page Second Amended Complaint (SAC) on September 24,
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
2012. See SAC (dkt. 64). On December 3, 2012, the Court granted Defendants’ Second
11
MTD with leave to amend in a manner consistent with the Court’s Order. See MTD Order
12
(dkt. 75) at 11. Specifically, the Court allowed Turner to amend only the fifteen claims
13
described by the Court in Section III.D of the Order. Id. The Court also instructed that
14
Turner may not replead any causes of action that would require the Court to find that his
15
parole conditions are invalid or that a parole revocation decision was invalid, and that he may
16
not add entirely new causes of action. Id. Turner submitted a 48-page TAC on December
17
28, 2012. See TAC. In accordance with the Court’s instructions, Turner included only those
18
fifteen claims specified in the Court’s December 3, 2012 Order. TAC 25-45.
19
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
20
A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of the claims
21
alleged in a complaint. Ileto v. Glock, Inc., 349 F.3d 1191, 1199-1200 (9th Cir. 2003).
22
“Detailed factual allegations” are not required, but the Rule does call for sufficient factual
23
matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v.
24
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555,
25
570 (2007)). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that
26
allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
27
misconduct alleged.” Id. In determining facial plausibility, whether a complaint states a
28
plausible claim is a “context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its
2
1
judicial experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Allegations of material fact are taken as
2
true and construed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Cahill v. Liberty Mut.
3
Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 337-38 (9th Cir. 1996).
Pro se pleadings are to be liberally construed, and “however inartfully pleaded, must
4
be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Erickson v.
6
Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also
7
Balisteri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 296, 699 (9th Cir. 1990) (noting that “pro se
8
pleadings are liberally construed, particularly where civil rights are involved”). But, a liberal
9
interpretation “may not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled.”
10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
5
Pena v. Gardner, 976 F.2d 469, 471 (9th Cir. 1992) (internal quotation marks and citations
11
omitted). Mere conclusions are not sufficient to state a cause of action. Papasan v. Allain,
12
478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986); see also McGlinchy v. Shell Chem. Co., 845 F.2d 802, 810 (9th
13
Cir. 1988). Nevertheless, a complaint should not be dismissed without leave to amend unless
14
it is clear that the claims could not be saved by amendment. Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d
15
756, 760 (9th Cir. 2007).
16
III.
17
DISCUSSION
Defendants assert that Turner’s TAC must be dismissed because (1) it fails to state a
18
claim upon which relief can be granted, (2) it fails to comply with the administrative
19
exhaustion requirements of the California Tort Claims Act, and (3) it violates Federal Rules
20
of Civil Procedure 18(a) and 20(a) by incorporating unrelated claims against different
21
Defendants. See generally MTD.
22
A.
Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief May Be Granted
23
Dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for “failure to state a claim
24
upon which relief can be granted” may be based on either “the lack of a cognizable legal
25
theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri,
26
901 F.2d at 699. Turner re-alleges substantially the same causes of action previously
27
dismissed by the Court in its December 3, 2012 Order, but has failed to cure the defects
28
previously identified by the Court. Because the Court has given Turner ample opportunity to
3
1
comply with the pleading requirements of Rule 12(b)(6) and he has repeatedly failed to do
2
so, the Court DISMISSES all claims without leave to amend for the reasons stated in the
3
Court’s December 3, 2012 Order:
•
Claim One: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED)—No indication
which, if any, facts support the claim.
•
Claim Two: Intentional Violation of Due Process—Invasion of Privacy (In a
False Light)—No indication which, if any, facts support the claim.1
•
Claim Three: Intentional Violation of Due Process—Invasion of
Privacy—Failure to assert any facts demonstrating that the psychiatric
information at issue was irrelevant to the merits of the hearing.2
•
Claim Six: Intentional Violation of Due Process—Defamation of
Reputation—Cause of action is squarely foreclosed by Supreme Court
precedent. Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 711-12 (1976).
•
Claim Eight: Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242—No private right of action under
criminal statutes. Rockefeller v. U.S. Ct. of App. Office for the Tenth Cir.
Judges, 248 F. Supp. 2d 17, 23 (D.D.C. 2003).
•
Claim Nine: Intentional Violation of the Eight Amendment by Requiring Use
of GPS Tracking Device—Allegations do not rise to the level of an Eighth
Amendment violation.
•
Claim Ten: Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Act (RICO)—No indication which, if any, facts support the claim.
•
4
Claims Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen3—No indication
which, if any, facts support the claims.
5
6
7
8
9
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
1
20
21
22
23
To the extent that these allegations support any cognizable theory of recovery, Turner
may not cast them as amounting to a substantive due process violation under federal law. As
Defendants correctly aver, Turner “cannot, merely by injecting a federal question into an action that
asserts what is plainly a state-law claim, transform the action into one arising under federal law.”
Caterpiller, Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 399 (1987); see also Langford v. Day, 110 F.3d 1380, 1389
(9th Cir. 1996) (litigants cannot “transform a state-law issue into a federal one merely by asserting a
violation of due process”).
2
24
25
26
27
28
Similarly, Turner may not pursue a state law claim of invasion of privacy based on the
public disclosure of private facts because he has offered no facts tending to show that his psychiatric
condition is not a matter of legitimate public concern. MTD at 11 (citing Catsouras v. Dept. of Cal.
Highway Patrol, 181 Cal. App. 4th 856, 868 (2010) (in order to assert a state-law claim of invasion of
privacy, a plaintiff must prove that the public disclosure of private facts is not a matter of legitimate
public concern)).
3
All claims relate to an alleged one-day delay in releasing Turner from the Santa Rita
County Jail in September 2012. TAC 40-45. Despite allegations that he should have been released on
September 9, 2012, Turner concedes that the Deputy Commissioner ordered his release on September
10, 2012. TAC 19.
4
1
Claim Four: Intentional Violation of First and Fourteenth Amendment—Tort of
Malicious Falsehood (Perjury)
2
The Court previously dismissed this cause of action for failure to state a claim because
3
Turner never identified what Defendant Smith supposedly said that was untrue. MTD Order
4
at 8. Turner did not augment his pleading with any additional factual information regarding
5
Smith’s allegedly “inconsistent” statements at Turner’s May 2012 hearing. He did, however,
6
explain that Smith’s allegedly perjured herself at Turner’s May 2010 hearing by stating under
7
oath that she never allowed him to access SF Redbook (a pornographic website). TAC 30.
8
Turner asserts that Smith did allow him to visit SF Redbook in January 2010 to look for his
9
former fiancée. TAC 6.
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
Only in his Opposition to Defendants’ MTD does Turner clarify that the basis for his
11
fourth cause of action is the allegedly harmful effect Smith’s testimony had on the outcome
12
of Turner’s parole revocation hearing. See Opp’n at 23-24. Arguments in a brief are not
13
factual allegations for purposes of a motion to dismiss, and anyway Turner never explains on
14
what basis his parole was ultimately revoked. Thus, the Court has no way of ascertaining
15
whether Smith’s alleged perjury had any effect, injurious or otherwise, on the outcome of
16
those proceedings.
17
Even if the Court were to reach the merits of Turner’s contention that Smith’s alleged
18
perjury had an injurious effect on the outcome of his parole revocation proceedings, no “due
19
process” violation occurred. The law is clear that parolees are not entitled to anything
20
resembling the full panoply of due process rights associated with a criminal trial, see
21
Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 480-90 (1972), and Turner does not dispute that he had a
22
full opportunity to voice his version of events at the parole hearing–regardless of whether
23
Smith’s version was untrue.
24
Furthermore, as fully explained in the Court’s December 3, 2012 Order, Turner may
25
not pursue a claim for money damages under 42 § U.S.C. 1983 based on allegedly wrongful
26
incarceration resulting from a parole-revocation hearing if he does not allege facts showing
27
that the parole board’s decision has been reversed, expunged, set aside, or otherwise called
28
into question. MTD Order at 5 (citing McQuillion v. Schwarzenegger, 369 F.3d 1091, 10975
1
98 (9th Cir. 2004); Schafer v. Moore, 46 F.3d 43, 44-45 (8th Cir. 1995); Littles v. Bd. of
2
Pardons and Paroles Div., 68 F.3d 122, 123 (5th Cir. 1995); McGrew v. Texas Bd. of
3
Pardons & Paroles, 47 F.3d 158, 161 (5th Cir. 1995); Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477,
4
486-87 (1994)).
5
Here, a finding of liability would require the Court to consider the effect of Smith’s
6
allegedly false testimony on the outcome of Turner’s May 2010 and May 2012 parole
7
revocation hearings. Because Turner has not successfully challenged his parole revocation in
8
a collateral proceeding, the Court is barred from reaching the merits of his fourth cause of
9
action under federal law. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES Turner’s fourth claim without
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
leave to amend, but also without prejudice such that Turner may re-file only in the event he
11
succeeds in a collateral attack.
12
Claim Five: Deceitful Conduct in Violation of Due Process
13
Turner re-alleges a due process violation predicated on Defendant Smith’s allegedly
14
fraudulent entries in Turner’s February 2011 parole violation report. TAC 31-33. Again,
15
Turner does not suggest the alleged falsification affected his ability to prepare for, or the
16
merits of, the hearing itself. Even so, a finding of liability would require the Court to
17
consider the effect of Defendants’ allegedly fraudulent actions on the outcome of Turner’s
18
parole revocation hearing. Because Turner has not successfully challenged his parole
19
revocation in a collateral proceeding, the Court is barred from reaching the merits of his fifth
20
cause of action under federal law. See Heck, 512 U.S. at 486-87.
21
Turner also alleges that his April 11, 2012 arrest was predicated on a parole condition
22
(not to associate with his former fiancée) that Defendants knew contravened and violated a
23
court order as well as their promise to the court.4 While Turner is currently challenging those
24
special conditions of parole in state court,5 there is no indication that the matter has been
25
26
27
4
Turner also raised this allegation in his previous complaint, but it was not addressed
specifically in the Court’s December 3, 2012 Order.
5
28
Turner filed Case No. RG11574935 against the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation in Alameda County Superior Court on May 6, 2011. He filed a motion for leave to file
a third amended complaint in that case on March 18, 2013.
6
1
resolved on the merits. Again, as fully explained in the Court’s Order dismissing Turner’s
2
SAC, Heck does not permit a challenge to the procedures or validity of a parole revocation
3
decision unless the parole board’s decision has been reversed, expunged, set aside or called
4
into question. See McQuillion, 369 F.3d at 1097-98.
5
Nor may a plaintiff question the validity of his parole conditions unless and until he
6
shows that the conditions have been invalidated. Moreno v. State of Cal., 25 F. Supp. 2d
7
1060, 1064 (N.D. Cal. 1998). Until Turner can demonstrate that the aforementioned parole
8
condition was invalidated and that his parole revocation allegedly stemming therefrom has
9
been successfully challenged in a collateral proceeding, the Court is barred from reaching the
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
merits of his fifth cause of action. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES Turner’s fifth claim
11
without leave to amend, but also without prejudice such that Turner may re-file only in the
12
event he succeeds in a collateral attack.
13
Claim Seven: Failure to Train and Negligent Supervision
14
Turner re-asserts claims for failure to train and negligent supervision. TAC 34. In
15
order to state a claim under any theory of supervisory liability, a plaintiff must sufficiently
16
allege that an underlying violation of his rights occurred. See Hydrick v. Hunter, 669 F.3d
17
937, 942 (9th Cir. 2012) (“[e]ven under a ‘deliberate indifference’ theory of individual
18
liability, the [p]laintiffs must allege sufficient facts to plausibly establish the defendant’s
19
‘knowledge of’ and ‘acquiescence in’ the unconstitutional conduct of his subordinates”)
20
(emphasis added). As the Court previously explained in its December 3, 2012 Order,
21
Turner’s substantively unchanged allegations do not state a claim under any theory of
22
supervisory liability. MTD Order at 7. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES Turner’s
23
seventh claim without leave to amend.
24
B.
Improper Assertion of Unrelated Claims Against Different Defendants
25
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 18 and 20 regarding joinder presuppose that a
26
plaintiff has properly asserted a right to relief. See Coughlin v. Rogers, 130 F.3d 1348, 1351
27
(9th Cir. 1997) (citing F.R.C.P. 20(a) and League to Save Lake Tahoe v. Tahoe Reg’l
28
Planning Agency, 558 F.2d 914, 917 (9th Cir. 1977)) (joinder of parties and claims is proper
7
1
only when (1) the right to relief arises out of or relates to the same transaction or occurrence,
2
or series of transactions or occurrences; and (2) a question of law or fact common to all
3
parties arises in the action)). Here, Turner asserts a number of different claims, arising out of
4
a number of different events, against a number of different defendants. However, because
5
Turner has failed to adequately allege any set of facts that would confer a right to relief, the
6
Court finds it unnecessary to reach the issue of improper joinder at this time.
7
C.
8
Because Turner’s federal claims have all been eliminated prior to discovery and trial,
9
Turner’s State Law Claims
this Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over his state law claims, and thus
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
need not reach Defendants’ arguments regarding Turner’s failure to meet administrative
11
exhaustion requirements for those claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c); Acri v. Varian Assocs.,
12
Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1001 (9th Cir. 1997) (“[I]n the usual case in which all federal-law claims
13
are eliminated before trial, the balance of factors . . . will point toward declining to exercise
14
jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims.” (quoting Carnegie-Mellon Univ. v. Cohill,
15
484 U.S. 343, 350 n.7 (1988))).
16
IV.
17
Additional Pending Motions
A.
Defendants’ Motion to Revoke Turner’s In Forma Pauperis Status and
Turner’s Motion to Strike
18
Defendants move to revoke Turner’s IFP status on the ground that he received
19
$5,000.00 in a court settlement on October 22, 2012 and, thus, no longer qualifies as an
20
indigent litigant. See Mot. to Revoke IFP (dkt. 90). On January 23, 2013, the defendant in
21
another case currently pending before Judge Chesney made a substantially identical motion.
22
See Motion to Revoke Plaintiff’s IFP Status, Turner v. Tierney, No. 12-6231-MMC (Jan. 23,
23
2013), ECF No. 13.6 Turner moved to strike Defendants’ motion on the grounds that it is
24
duplicative of the January 23, 2013 motion. See Mot. to Strike (dkt. 100). Judge Chesney
25
denied the motion to revoke Turner’s IFP status on March 13, 2013, finding no indication
26
that Turner willfully withheld information relating to the settlement award and concluding
27
28
6
This case is one of nine cases that Turner filed, four of which are currently pending, in
the Northern District of California in the last three years.
8
1
that his economic choices did not warrant revocation. Not. of Ruling (dkt. 113); Order
2
Denying Motion, Turner v. Tierney, No. 12-6231-MMC (Mar. 13, 2013), ECF No. 32. The
3
Court DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Revoke Turner’s IFP Status for the same reasons set
4
forth in Judge Chesney’s order. The Court also DENIES Turner’s Motion to Strike as moot.
5
B.
Turner’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction
6
Turner filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction ordering Defendants to cease their
7
“unlawful miscategorization of Turner as a High Risk Sex Offender.” Mot. for PI (dkt. 85) at
8
1. In light of the Court’s dismissal of Turner’s TAC without leave to amend, he cannot prove
9
a likelihood of success on the merits in the underlying action. Thus, the Court DENIES his
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
Motion for Preliminary Injunction as moot.
11
C.
Turner’s Motion for Rule 11 Sanctions
12
Turner filed a Motion for Rule 11 Sanctions against Defendants and their counsel
13
opposing counsel’s alleged lies about Tuner’s status as a convicted sex offender. Mot. for
14
Sanctions (dkt. 98). Turner’s motion is replete with generalized assertions of
15
“unprofessional and reprehensible conduct,” “libelous and malicious statements,” intentional
16
attempts to “rile and antagonize Turner,” violations of California State Bar rules and the
17
California Penal Code, and “major faux pas.” See id. at 2-5. After carefully reviewing the
18
briefing, the Court DENIES the motion as meritless; there is no indication that counsel’s
19
representations to the Court were “for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause
20
unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation.” F.R.C.P. 11(b)(1).
D.
21
Turner’s Motion to Shorten Time, Disqualify Counsel, and/or Appoint
Counsel
22
Turner filed a Motion to Shorten Time pursuant to Civil Local Rule 6-3, Disqualify
23
Defendants’ Counsel, and/or Appoint Plaintiff’s Counsel. Motion re: Counsel (dkt. 116). In
24
light of the Court’s dismissal of Turner’s TAC in its entirety without leave to amend, the
25
Court also DENIES this motion as moot.
26
V.
CONCLUSION
27
For the foregoing reasons, the Court (1) GRANTS Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss,
28
thus DISMISSING Turner’s TAC in its entirety without leave to amend, (2) DENIES
9
1
Defendants’ Motion to Revoke Turner’s IFP Status, (3) DENIES Turner’s Motion to Strike,
2
(4) DENIES Turner’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (5) DENIES Turner’s Motion for
3
Rule 11 Sanctions, and (6) DENIES Turner’s Motion to Shorten Time, Disqualify Counsel,
4
and/or Appoint Counsel.
5
IT IS SO ORDERED.
6
7
8
CHARLES R. BREYER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated: April 15, 2013
9
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
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?