Doyle v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations et al

Filing 20

ORDER by Judge GONZALEZ ROGERS granting 8 REQUEST FOR SCREENING OF COMPLAINT; denying 14 Motion to Remand (lrc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/19/2013)

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1 2 3 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 8 9 v. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, et al., (Docket Nos. 8, 14) Defendants. 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT HININGER'S MOTION TO SCREEN COMPLAINT; DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO REMAND; DISMISSING CERTAIN CLAIMS; AND SERVING REMAINING COGNIZABLE CLAIMS Plaintiff, 6 7 No. C 12-2769 YGR (PR) SEAN PATRICK DOYLE, / 11 12 On April 10, 2012, Plaintiff Sean Patrick Doyle filed this pro se civil rights complaint in the 13 Monterey County Superior Court. Plaintiff's complaint, which is 106 pages, alleges state law 14 medical and retaliation claims under various statutes, and federal claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 15 1985, 1988, and 1997(e) as well as under the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff names the following 16 Defendants: the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations ("CDCR"); Correctional 17 Training Facility ("CTF") Chief Medical Officer M. Sepulveda; CTF Chief Executive Officer G. 18 Ellis; California Correctional Health Care Services ("CCHCS")1 Chief J. D. Zamola; CCHCS 19 Receiver J. Clarke Kelso, CTF Physician M. Kuersten; and "Doe No. 1 through Doe No. 20." The 20 Court notes that Plaintiff has identified Doe Defendants Nos. 18 through 20 to include "Correctional 21 Corporation of America ["CCA"] (Doe No. 20), and its agents, officers, or employees (Doe[] No. 18 22 and No. 19)."2 (Compl. at 6, 11-L.) Plaintiff seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief. 23 On May 30, 2012, Defendant Damon T. Hininger, who Plaintiff acknowledged as the "Chief 24 25 26 27 28 1 Plaintiff's complaint stated that Defendants Zamola and Kelso were from the "California Prison Health Care Services." (Compl. at 6.) However, the correct name for that agency is the "California Correctional Health Care Services." 2 In naming CCA and its agents as defendants, Plaintiff specifically states: "To the extent that defendants Doe No. 18; Doe No. 19; and Doe No. 20, aka, Corrections Corporation of America [CCA], and their agents or employees, including JOHN FERGUSON, Chairman of the Board of Directors; DAMON T. HININGER, Chief Executive Officer; BRUNO STOLC, Warden, Red Rock Correctional Facility . . . , were and are, at all times set forth hereinafter, independent contractors when they acted as ostensible agents of the defendant CDCR . . . ." (Compl. at 11-O.) 1 Executive Officer" of CCA (compl. at 11-O), removed this case to federal court pursuant to 28 2 U.S.C. § 1446. 3 Initially, this case was incorrectly designated as "440 Other Civil Rights," and assigned to 4 Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal. In an Order dated June 5, 2012, Judge Grewal determined that 5 this case should be designated as a prisoner civil rights action and ordered the Clerk of the Court to 6 properly designate it as such and reassigned it. 7 On June 7, 2012, this case was reassigned to the undersigned. 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 DISCUSSION I. Defendant Hininger's Motion to Screen Complaint Before the Court is Defendant Hininger's request for screening of this complaint under 42 11 U.S.C. § 1915A (Docket No. 8). That motion is now GRANTED as the Court will screen the 12 complaint below. 13 A. 14 A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks Standard of Review 15 redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. 16 § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that 17 are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary 18 relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. Id. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings 19 must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). 20 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: 21 (1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and 22 (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v. 23 Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 24 B. 25 First, the Eleventh Amendment prevents the CDCR, which is a state agency, from being sued Legal Claims 26 in federal court. See Simmons v. Sacramento County Superior Court, 318 F.3d 1156,1161 (9th Cir. 27 2003) (Eleventh Amendment bars suit against state superior court and its employees); Bennett v. 28 California, 406 F.2d 36, 39 (9th Cir. 1969) (California Adult Authority and California Department 2 1 of Corrections not persons within meaning of Civil Rights Act); see also Raygor v. Regents of the 2 University of Minnesota, 534 U.S. 533, 541-42 (2002) (Eleventh Amendment bar includes state law 3 claims brought against a state in federal court under the supplemental jurisdiction statute, 28 U.S.C. 4 § 1367). Therefore, all claims against the CDCR -- state and federal -- will be dismissed. 5 Second, Plaintiff cannot proceed against any Doe Defendants unless he first identifies them. 6 See Wakefield v. Thompson, 177 F.3d 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999) (plaintiff should be given 7 opportunity to identify unknown defendants). As explained above, Plaintiff has identified Doe 8 Defendants Nos. 18 through 20 as the CCA and agents of the CCA. However, all claims against the 9 unidentified Doe Defendants will be dismissed. Should Plaintiff learn these Doe Defendants' United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 identities through discovery, he may move to file an amendment to the complaint to add these Doe 11 Defendants as a named defendant. See Brass v. County of Los Angeles, 328 F.3d 1192, 1195-98 (9th 12 Cir. 2003). 13 Finally, liberally construed, Plaintiff's complaint appears to state cognizable claims for relief 14 under state and federal law against the remaining named defendants and should proceed, as 15 explained below. 16 II. 17 Plaintiff's Motion to Remand Also before the Court is Plaintiff's motion to remand the case to state court for lack of federal 18 removal jurisdiction and consent from all served defendants (Docket No. 14). As mentioned above, 19 Defendant Hininger, the Chief Executive Officer/President of named defendant CCA and the sole 20 served defendant, filed a notice of removal on grounds of federal question jurisdiction. Plaintiff has 21 since filed the aforementioned motion to remand. Plaintiff contends that because Defendant 22 Hininger was not specifically named as a defendant, then he has no standing to remove the action. 23 This contention is without merit. Defendant Hininger, as Chief Executive Officer/President of a 24 named defendant-corporation, is authorized to both receive service, and to act on behalf of the 25 defendant-corporation. In addition, a civil action brought in state court which contains both federal 26 and state law claims may be removed to federal court. See Chicago v. Int'l College of Surgeons, 522 27 U.S. 156, 165-66 (1997) (district court has original jurisdiction over claims arising under federal 28 law, and may exercise supplemental jurisdiction over accompanying state law claims so long as 3 1 those claims constitute "other claims that . . . form part of the same case or controversy" under 28 2 U.S.C. § 1367(a)); Destfino v. Reiswig, 630 F.3d 952, 956-57 (9th Cir. 2011) (failure to join all 3 defendants who were properly served in petition for removal not fatal because district court may 4 allow removing defendants to cure defect by obtaining joinder of all defendants prior to entry of 5 judgment; defendant who was not properly served at time of filing of petition for removal need not 6 join in petition for removal). Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion for remand to state court (Docket No. 7 14) is DENIED. See id. 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the Court orders as follows: 1. Defendant Hininger's request for screening of this complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1915A (Docket No. 8) is GRANTED. 12 2. All state and federal claims against the CDCR are DISMISSED. 13 3. All state and federal claims against the Doe Defendants, except Doe Defendants Nos. 14 18-20, are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. If Plaintiff identifies the aforementioned Doe 15 Defendants, he may move to file an amendment to his complaint to add them as named defendants. 16 4. The Clerk shall mail a Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service of 17 Summons, two copies of the Waiver of Service of Summons, a copy of the complaint and all 18 attachments thereto (docket no. 1) and a copy of this Order to: CTF Chief Medical Officer M. 19 Sepulveda; CTF Chief Executive Officer G. Ellis; CCHCS Chief J. D. Zamola; CCHCS 20 Receiver J. Clarke Kelso, and CTF Physician M. Kuersten. The Clerk of the Court shall also 21 mail a copy of the complaint and a copy of this Order to the State Attorney General's Office in San 22 Francisco as well as Defendant Hininger's counsel. Additionally, the Clerk shall mail a copy of this 23 Order to Plaintiff. 24 5. Defendants are cautioned that Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires 25 them to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service of the summons and complaint. Pursuant 26 to Rule 4, if Defendants, after being notified of this action and asked by the Court, on behalf of 27 Plaintiff, to waive service of the summons, fail to do so, they will be required to bear the cost of 28 such service unless good cause be shown for their failure to sign and return the waiver form. If 4 1 service is waived, this action will proceed as if Defendants had been served on the date that the 2 waiver is filed, except that pursuant to Rule 12(a)(1)(B), Defendants will not be required to serve 3 and file an answer before sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was sent. 4 (This allows a longer time to respond than would be required if formal service of summons is 5 necessary.) Defendants are asked to read the statement set forth at the foot of the waiver form that 6 more completely describes the duties of the parties with regard to waiver of service of the summons. 7 If service is waived after the date provided in the Notice but before Defendants have been personally 8 served, the Answer shall be due sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was 9 sent or twenty (20) days from the date the waiver form is filed, whichever is later. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 6. Defendants shall answer the complaint in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The following briefing schedule shall govern dispositive motions in this action: 12 a. No later than ninety (90) days from the date their answer is due, Defendants 13 shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion. The motion must be 14 supported by adequate factual documentation, must conform in all respects to Federal Rule of Civil 15 Procedure 56, and must include as exhibits all records and incident reports stemming from the 16 events at issue. A motion for summary judgment also must be accompanied by a Rand3 notice so 17 that Plaintiff will have fair, timely and adequate notice of what is required of him in order to oppose 18 the motion. Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 935 (9th Cir. 2012) (notice requirement set out in Rand 19 must be served concurrently with motion for summary judgment). A motion to dismiss for failure to 20 exhaust available administrative remedies must be accompanied by a similar notice. Stratton v. 21 Buck, 697 F.3d 1004, 1008 (9th Cir. 2012); Woods, 684 F.3d at 935 (notice requirement set out in 22 Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108 (9th Cir. 2003), must be served concurrently with motion to 23 dismiss for failure to exhaust available administrative remedies). 24 If Defendants are of the opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment, they 25 shall so inform the Court prior to the date the summary judgment motion is due. All papers filed 26 with the Court shall be promptly served on Plaintiff. 27 28 3 Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998). 5 1 b. Plaintiff's opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the Court 2 and served on Defendants no later than sixty (60) days after the date on which Defendants' motion is 3 filed. 4 c. Plaintiff is advised that a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56 of the 5 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will, if granted, end your case. Rule 56 tells you what you must do 6 in order to oppose a motion for summary judgment. Generally, summary judgment must be granted 7 when there is no genuine issue of material fact -- that is, if there is no real dispute about any fact that 8 would affect the result of your case, the party who asked for summary judgment is entitled to 9 judgment as a matter of law, which will end your case. When a party you are suing makes a motion United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 for summary judgment that is properly supported by declarations (or other sworn testimony), you 11 cannot simply rely on what your complaint says. Instead, you must set out specific facts in 12 declarations, depositions, answers to interrogatories, or authenticated documents, as provided in 13 Rule 56(e), that contradicts the facts shown in the defendant's declarations and documents and show 14 that there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial. If you do not submit your own evidence in 15 opposition, summary judgment, if appropriate, may be entered against you. If summary judgment is 16 granted, your case will be dismissed and there will be no trial. Rand, 154 F.3d at 962-63. 17 Plaintiff also is advised that a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust available 18 administrative remedies under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) will, if granted, end your case, albeit without 19 prejudice. You must "develop a record" and present it in your opposition in order to dispute any 20 "factual record" presented by the defendants in their motion to dismiss. Wyatt, 315 F.3d at 1120 21 n.14. You have the right to present any evidence to show that you did exhaust your available 22 administrative remedies before coming to federal court. Such evidence may include: 23 (1) declarations, which are statements signed under penalty of perjury by you or others who have 24 personal knowledge of relevant matters; (2) authenticated documents -- documents accompanied by 25 a declaration showing where they came from and why they are authentic, or other sworn papers such 26 as answers to interrogatories or depositions; (3) statements in your complaint insofar as they were 27 made under penalty of perjury and they show that you have personal knowledge of the matters state 28 6 1 therein. In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust, the court can decide disputed 2 issues of fact with regard to this portion of the case. Stratton, 697 F.3d at 1008-09. 3 (The Rand and Wyatt/Stratton notices above do not excuse Defendants' obligation to serve 4 said notices again concurrently with motions to dismiss for failure to exhaust available 5 administrative remedies and motions for summary judgment. Woods, 684 F.3d at 935.) 6 7 d. the date Plaintiff's opposition is filed. 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Defendants shall file a reply brief no later than twenty-eight (28) days after e. The motion shall be deemed submitted as of the date the reply brief is due. No hearing will be held on the motion unless the Court so orders at a later date. 7. Discovery may be taken in this action in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil 11 Procedure. Leave of the Court pursuant to Rule 30(a)(2) is hereby granted to Defendants to depose 12 Plaintiff and any other necessary witnesses confined in prison. 13 8. All communications by Plaintiff with the Court must be served on Defendant 14 Hininger's counsel as well as the remaining Defendants or their counsel once counsel has been 15 designated, by mailing a true copy of the document to them. 16 9. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the Court 17 informed of any change of address and must comply with the Court's orders in a timely fashion. 18 Pursuant to Northern District Local Rule 3-11 a party proceeding pro se whose address changes 19 while an action is pending must promptly file a notice of change of address specifying the new 20 address. See L.R. 3-11(a). The Court may dismiss without prejudice a complaint when: (1) mail 21 directed to the pro se party by the Court has been returned to the Court as not deliverable, and 22 (2) the Court fails to receive within sixty days of this return a written communication from the pro 23 se party indicating a current address. See L.R. 3-11(b). 24 10. Extensions of time are not favored, though reasonable extensions will be granted. 25 Any motion for an extension of time must be filed no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the 26 deadline sought to be extended. 27 11. Plaintiff's motion for remand to state court (Docket No. 14) is DENIED. 28 7 1 12. 2 IT IS SO ORDERED. 3 DATED: This Order terminates Docket Nos. 8 and 14. 3/19/13 YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 4 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 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 G:\PRO-SE\YGR\CR.12\Doyle769.service&denyREMAND.wpd 8 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 FOR THE 3 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 4 5 6 SEAN PATRICK DOYLE, 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 Case Number: CV12-02769 YGR Plaintiff, CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE v. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATIONS, ET AL et al, Defendant. / 12 13 I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. 14 15 16 That on March 19, 2013, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle located in the Clerk's office. 17 18 19 20 Sean Patrick Doyle 965 Vista Cerro Drive Paso Robles, CA 93446 21 Dated: March 19, 2013 22 Richard W. Wieking, Clerk By: Lisa Clark, Deputy Clerk 23 24 25 26 27 28 G:\PRO-SE\YGR\CR.12\Doyle769.service&denyREMAND.wpd 9

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