Bayramoglu v. Cate et al
Filing
8
ORDER OF PARTIAL DISMISSAL AND SERVICE. Signed by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on 10/30/13. (Attachments: # 1 Certificate/Proof of Service)(fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/30/2013)
1
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
2
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
3
FIKRI BAYRAMOGLU,
No. C 13-1094 YGR (PR)
Plaintiff,
4
ORDER OF PARTIAL DISMISSAL
AND SERVICE
vs.
5
6
MATTHEW CATE, et al.,
7
Defendants.
_______________________________________/
8
INTRODUCTION
10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
9
Plaintiff, a state prisoner, filed a pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
11
against a number of officials at the California Training Facility ("CTF") in Soledad, California,
12
where Plaintiff was formerly incarcerated. Plaintiff names the following as Defendants: California
13
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") Secretary Matthew Cate; CTF Warden
14
Ben Curry; CTF Lieutenants C. C. Hancock and J. Vera; CTF Appeals Coordinator A. P. Santiago;
15
CTF Correctional Officers D. Branch, C. B. Tucker, K. Huffman, and H. K. Huihui. Plaintiff seeks
16
monetary damages. Plaintiff has been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
17
18
19
BACKGROUND
I.
Case No. C 11-3556 YGR (PR).
The claims in this action were previously filed in Plaintiff's prior civil rights action, Case
20
No. C 11-3556 YGR (PR). In an Order dated January 10, 2013, the Court transferred that action to
21
the Central District. The Court noted in its January 10, 2013 Order that his action had been
22
transferred twice before, "apparently because [P]laintiff assert[ed] that some of the actions described
23
occurred in multiple districts." (Jan. 10, 2013 Order in Case No. C 11-3556 YGR (PR) at 1.)
24
Prior to transferring that action, in an Order dated December 21, 2011, the Court served
25
claims against Defendants Hancock, Vera, Santiago, and Branch under the First and Eighth
26
Amendments. On March 19, 2102, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint. Thereafter, Defendants
27
filed a "Motion for Screening of First Amended Complaint; Request to Vacate Current Scheduling
28
Order and Set New Schedule in this Case."
1
In its January 10, 2013 Order, the Court reviewed Plaintiff's Amended Complaint, which
2
stated that he "was at all times relevant to this action a prisoner incarcerated at the Chuckawalla
3
State Prison." (Jan. 10, 2013 Order at 1 (citing Am. Compl. at 5).) The Court determined that "[a]
4
substantial part of the events of omissions giving rise to the claims occurred, and the defendants
5
named reside, in Riverside County, which lies within the venue of the Central District of
6
California." (Id. (citing 28 U.S.C. § 84(b)).) The Court found that venue properly belonged in the
7
Central District and ordered the Clerk to transfer the action to that district. (Id.) The Court
8
dismissed without prejudice any claims related to actions occurring in the Northern and Eastern
9
Districts. Thus, the operative complaint in his prior action would have only contained claims
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
related only to actions occurring in the Central District. The Court instructed Plaintiff that if he
11
sought relief on his Northern or Eastern District claims, he "may file separate civil rights actions in
12
those districts." (Id. at 2.) Finally, the Court stated: "Any new action filed here in the Northern
13
District may raise only those claims related to alleged constitutional violations that occurred here in
14
the Northern District." (Id.)
15
II.
The Instant Action
On March 11, 2013, Plaintiff filed the instant action containing his Northern District claims
16
17
from the aforementioned prior action, Case No. C 11-3556 YGR (PR). Therefore, the Court will
18
review the instant complaint below.
DISCUSSION
19
20
21
I.
Standard of Review
A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks
22
redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.
23
§ 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that
24
are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary
25
relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. Id. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings
26
must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988).
27
28
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only "a short and plain statement of the
claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." "Specific facts are not necessary; the statement
2
need only '"give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it
2
rests."'" Erickson v. Pardus, 127 S. Ct. 2197, 2200 (2007) (citations omitted). Although in order to
3
state a claim a complaint "does not need detailed factual allegations, . . . a plaintiff's obligation to
4
provide the 'grounds of his 'entitle[ment] to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a
5
formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. . . . Factual allegations must be
6
enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.
7
Ct. 1955, 1964-65 (2007) (citations omitted). A complaint must proffer "enough facts to state a
8
claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 1974. The United States Supreme Court has
9
recently explained the "plausible on its face" standard of Twombly: "[w]hile legal conclusions can
10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
1
provide the complaint's framework, they must be supported by factual allegations. When there are
11
well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether
12
they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1950 (2009).
To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements:
13
14
(1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and
15
(2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v.
16
Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
17
II.
Legal Claims
18
A.
Retaliation
19
On May 21, 2008, Plaintiff filed a "staff complaint" against CTF Sergeant E. Banales.
20
(Compl. at 3.) Plaintiff claims that Defendant Hancock retaliated against Plaintiff by issuing a
21
"bogus" disciplinary charge for "threatening" Sgt. Banales after Plaintiff filed the aforementioned
22
staff complaint. (Id.) Plaintiff claims that Defendant Vera found him guilty of "Threatening Staff,"
23
and Plaintiff was assessed a sixty-day loss of good time credits as well as five months in the Secure
24
Housing Unit ("SHU"). (Id.) Plaintiff also claims that Defendant Santiago conspired with them by
25
denying his appeal of the guilty finding. (Id. at 2-3.) Plaintiff claims that these actions violated his
26
First and Fourteenth Amendments.
27
The fact that a prisoner may have been innocent of disciplinary charges does not raise a due
28
process issue; the Constitution demands due process, not error-free decision-making. See Ricker v.
3
1
Leapley, 25 F.3d 1406, 1410 (8th Cir. 1994). Therefore, Plaintiff's claim that Defendants Hancock
2
and Vera violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights by disciplining him for charges of which he is
3
innocent does not state a cognizable claim for relief.
4
Meanwhile, Plaintiff's allegations that the aforementioned disciplinary measures were taken
5
for statements he made in his "staff complaint," and that these statements were protected by the First
6
Amendment. When liberally construed, these allegations state a cognizable claim against
7
Defendants Hancock, Vera, and Santiago under the First Amendment for retaliation for Plaintiff's
8
exercise of his First Amendment rights. See generally Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68
9
(9th Cir. 2005) (footnote omitted).
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
B.
Claims Related to Administrative Appeals
11
Plaintiff claims that Defendant Santiago failed improperly processed and denied appeals of
12
administrative grievances. The denial or failure to process administrative grievances to process
13
administrative is not a cognizable claim for relief because there is no constitutional right to a prison
14
administrative appeal or grievance system. See Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir.
15
2003); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). Therefore, the Court does not find
16
cognizable Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Santiago for denying administrative appeals and
17
improperly processing them. Accordingly, Plaintiff's claim is DISMISSED.
18
C.
Excessive Force
19
Plaintiff alleges that after he was found guilty of the aforementioned disciplinary charge,
20
Defendant Branch -- who was one of the "segregation officers" at the SHU -- read him his "CDC
21
114 lock-up order," "slammed [him] up against the wall," said "All you do is file a 602 . . . cuff up,"
22
and applied handcuffs on him unnecessarily tightly as well as high on his arms. (Compl. at 4.)
23
When liberally construed, this claim is cognizable as a violation of the Eighth Amendment against
24
Defendant Branch for the use of excessive force.
25
D.
Supervisory Liability
26
Plaintiff has sued Defendant Tucker as the "supervisor" of Defendant Hancock. Meanwhile,
27
the Court assumes Plaintiff has named Defendants Cate and Curry, the CDCR Secretary and CTF
28
Warden, respectively, because they are responsible for running the prison and should be liable for
4
1
the alleged retaliatory actions of their subordinates. This is a respondeat superior claim, that is, he
2
seeks to hold Defendants Tucker, Cate and Curry liable as the superiors of the persons he contends
3
violated his rights. This is, however, not a proper basis for Section 1983 liability. See Taylor v.
4
List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). The supervisory liability claim against Defendants
5
Tucker, Cate and Curry is DISMISSED.
6
E.
Placement in the SHU
7
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Huffman and Huihui are liable because of their involvement
in placing him in the SHU constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
9
However, it is well established that the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual
10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
8
punishment is not violated by classification programs which pursue "important and laudable goals"
11
and are instituted under the state's authority to operate correctional facilities. See Neal v. Shimoda,
12
131 F.3d 818, 833 (9th Cir. 1997) (classification program designed to treat and reduce recidivism of
13
sex offenders is well within state's authority to operate correctional facilities and does not violate
14
contemporary standards of decency). Nor does misclassification inflict pain so as to be cruel and
15
unusual punishment violative of the Eighth Amendment. See Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237,
16
1255-56 (9th Cir. 1982) overruled on other grounds, Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995); Ramos
17
v. Lamm, 639 F.2d 559, 566-67 (10th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 1041 (1981). Accordingly,
18
Plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim against Defendants Huffman and Huihui relating to his
19
placement in the SHU is DISMISSED.
CONCLUSION
20
21
For the foregoing reasons, the Court orders as follows:
22
1.
Plaintiff's complaint states a cognizable claim against Defendants Hancock, Vera,
23
and Santiago under the First Amendment for retaliation for Plaintiff's exercise of his First
24
Amendment right. In addition, Plaintiff has stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim against
25
Defendant Branch for the use of excessive force. Plaintiff's remaining claims are DISMISSED, as
26
explained above.
27
2.
28
The Clerk of the Court shall mail a Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of
Service of Summons, two copies of the Waiver of Service of Summons, a copy of the complaint and
5
1
all attachments thereto (Docket No. 1) and a copy of this Order to the following prison officials at
2
CTF: Lieutenants C. C. Hancock and J. Vera; Appeals Coordinator A. P. Santiago; and
3
Correctional Officer D. Branch. The Clerk of the Court shall also mail a copy of the complaint
4
and a copy of this Order to the California State Attorney General's Office and to Deputy Attorney
5
General Virginia Irene Papan, who represented these Defendants in Case No. C 11-3556 YGR
6
(PR).1 Additionally, the Clerk shall mail a copy of this Order to Plaintiff.
7
3.
Defendants are cautioned that Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires
them to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service of the summons and complaint. Pursuant
9
to Rule 4, if Defendants, after being notified of this action and asked by the Court, on behalf of
10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
8
Plaintiff, to waive service of the summons, fail to do so, they will be required to bear the cost of
11
such service unless good cause be shown for their failure to sign and return the waiver form. If
12
service is waived, this action will proceed as if Defendants had been served on the date that the
13
waiver is filed, except that pursuant to Rule 12(a)(1)(B), Defendants will not be required to serve
14
and file an answer before sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was sent.
15
(This allows a longer time to respond than would be required if formal service of summons is
16
necessary.) Defendants are asked to read the statement set forth at the foot of the waiver form that
17
more completely describes the duties of the parties with regard to waiver of service of the summons.
18
If service is waived after the date provided in the Notice but before Defendants have been
19
personally served, the Answer shall be due sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for
20
waiver was sent or twenty (20) days from the date the waiver form is filed, whichever is later.
21
22
4.
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:
23
a.
No later than sixty (60) days from the date their answer is due, Defendants
24
shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion. The motion must be
25
supported by adequate factual documentation, must conform in all respects to Federal Rule of Civil
26
Procedure 56, and must include as exhibits all records and incident reports stemming from the
27
28
1
The Court notes Defendant Vera has retired; therefore, Attorney Papan would be able to
inform the Court as to where this Defendant can be served.
6
1
events at issue. A motion for summary judgment also must be accompanied by a Rand2 notice so
2
that Plaintiff will have fair, timely and adequate notice of what is required of him in order to oppose
3
the motion. Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 935 (9th Cir. 2012) (notice requirement set out in Rand
4
must be served concurrently with motion for summary judgment). A motion to dismiss for failure to
5
exhaust available administrative remedies must be accompanied by a similar notice. Stratton v.
6
Buck, 697 F.3d 1004, 1008 (9th Cir. 2012); Woods, 684 F.3d at 935 (notice requirement set out in
7
Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108 (9th Cir. 2003), must be served concurrently with motion to
8
dismiss for failure to exhaust available administrative remedies).
If Defendants are of the opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment,
10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
9
they shall so inform the Court prior to the date the summary judgment motion is due. All papers
11
filed with the Court shall be promptly served on Plaintiff.
12
b.
Plaintiff's opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the Court
13
and served on Defendants no later than twenty-eight (28) days after the date on which Defendants'
14
motion is filed.
15
c.
Plaintiff is advised that a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56 of the
16
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will, if granted, end your case. Rule 56 tells you what you must do
17
in order to oppose a motion for summary judgment. Generally, summary judgment must be granted
18
when there is no genuine issue of material fact -- that is, if there is no real dispute about any fact that
19
would affect the result of your case, the party who asked for summary judgment is entitled to
20
judgment as a matter of law, which will end your case. When a party you are suing makes a motion
21
for summary judgment that is properly supported by declarations (or other sworn testimony), you
22
cannot simply rely on what your complaint says. Instead, you must set out specific facts in
23
declarations, depositions, answers to interrogatories, or authenticated documents, as provided in
24
Rule 56(e), that contradicts the facts shown in the defendant's declarations and documents and show
25
that there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial. If you do not submit your own evidence in
26
opposition, summary judgment, if appropriate, may be entered against you. If summary judgment is
27
granted, your case will be dismissed and there will be no trial. Rand, 154 F.3d at 962-63.
28
2
Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998).
7
1
Plaintiff also is advised that a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust available
2
administrative remedies under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) will, if granted, end your case, albeit without
3
prejudice. You must "develop a record" and present it in your opposition in order to dispute any
4
"factual record" presented by the defendants in their motion to dismiss. Wyatt, 315 F.3d at 1120
5
n.14. You have the right to present any evidence to show that you did exhaust your available
6
administrative remedies before coming to federal court. Such evidence may include:
7
(1) declarations, which are statements signed under penalty of perjury by you or others who have
8
personal knowledge of relevant matters; (2) authenticated documents -- documents accompanied by
9
a declaration showing where they came from and why they are authentic, or other sworn papers such
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
as answers to interrogatories or depositions; (3) statements in your complaint insofar as they were
11
made under penalty of perjury and they show that you have personal knowledge of the matters state
12
therein. In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust, the court can decide disputed
13
issues of fact with regard to this portion of the case. Stratton, 697 F.3d at 1008-09.
14
(The Rand and Wyatt/Stratton notices above do not excuse Defendants' obligation to serve
15
said notices again concurrently with motions to dismiss for failure to exhaust available
16
administrative remedies and motions for summary judgment. Woods, 684 F.3d at 935.)
17
18
d.
date Plaintiff's opposition is filed.
19
20
21
Defendants shall file a reply brief no later than fourteen (14) days after the
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.
5.
Discovery may be taken in this action in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil
22
Procedure. Leave of the Court pursuant to Rule 30(a)(2) is hereby granted to Defendants to depose
23
Plaintiff and any other necessary witnesses confined in prison.
24
25
26
6.
All communications by Plaintiff with the Court must be served on Defendants or
their counsel, once counsel has been designated, by mailing a true copy of the document to them.
7.
It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the Court
27
informed of any change of address and must comply with the Court's orders in a timely fashion.
28
Pursuant to Northern District Local Rule 3-11 a party proceeding pro se whose address changes
8
1
while an action is pending must promptly file a notice of change of address specifying the new
2
address. See L.R. 3-11(a). The Court may dismiss without prejudice a complaint when: (1) mail
3
directed to the pro se party by the Court has been returned to the Court as not deliverable, and
4
(2) the Court fails to receive within sixty days of this return a written communication from the pro
5
se party indicating a current address. See L.R. 3-11(b).
6
8.
Extensions of time are not favored, though reasonable extensions will be granted.
7
Any motion for an extension of time must be filed no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the
8
deadline sought to be extended.
9
IT IS SO ORDERED.
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California
10
11
DATED:
October 30, 2013
YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
G:\PRO-SE\YGR\CR.13\Bayramoglu1094.service.wpd
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?