Grizzle v. San Diego, County of et al
Filing
79
ORDER (1) Adopting In Part and Rejecting in Part 74 Report and Recommendation; (2)Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants' 64 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Judge Janis L. Sammartino on 8/3/2018. (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service)(mpl)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
ELLIOT SCOTT GRIZZLE,
Case No.: 17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
Plaintiff,
12
ORDER (1) ADOPTING IN PART
AND REJECTING IN PART REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATION; (2)
GRANTING IN PART AND
DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’
MOTION TO DISMISS
vs.
13
14
15
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, et al.
Defendants.
16
17
(ECF Nos. 64, 74)
18
19
20
Presently before the Court is Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis’s Report and
21
Recommendation, (“R&R,” ECF No. 74). Judge Lewis recommends that the Court grant
22
in part Defendants County of San Diego and Sheriff William Gore’s Motion to Dismiss,
23
(“MTD,” ECF No. 64). Defendants filed an Objection to the R&R, (“Obj.,” ECF No. 75),
24
to which Plaintiff filed a Reply, (“Reply,” ECF No. 76).
Having considered the Parties’ arguments and the law, as well as all supporting
25
26
documents, the Court rules as follows.
27
///
28
///
1
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
BACKGROUND
2
Judge Lewis’s Report and Recommendation contains a complete and accurate
3
recitation of the relevant portions of the factual history underlying Plaintiff’s Complaint.
4
(See R&R 2–4.)1 This Order incorporates by reference the background and arguments as
5
set forth therein.
6
As to the procedural history, Plaintiff filed a Complaint against thirty-one
7
defendants: thirty individuals and the County of San Diego (“County”). All Defendants
8
except for the County moved to dismiss the complaint, (“First MTD,” ECF No. 55). Judge
9
Lewis issued a Report and Recommendation, (“First R&R,” ECF No. 63), which the Court
10
adopted in part, (“Prior Order,” ECF No. 73). The present Motion to Dismiss addresses
11
many of the same arguments made previously.
12
LEGAL STANDARD
13
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) set forth a district
14
court’s duties regarding a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation. The district court
15
“shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report . . . to which objection
16
is made,” and “may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or
17
recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(c); see also
18
United States v. Raddatz, 447 U.S. 667, 673–76 (1980). In the absence of a timely
19
objection, however, “the Court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the
20
face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 advisory
21
committee’s note (citing Campbell v. U.S. Dist. Court, 501 F.2d 196, 206 (9th Cir. 1974)).
22
ANALYSIS
23
Plaintiff alleges, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, that Defendants violated his (1)
24
Fourteenth Amendment right to due process, (2) Eighth Amendment right to sleep, and (3)
25
26
27
28
1
Pin citations refer to the CM/ECF page number electronically stamped at the top of each page.
2
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
Eighth Amendment right to exercise.2 (“Compl.,” EFC No. 1.) Defendants move to
2
dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint on three grounds: (1) Plaintiff’s due process rights were not
3
violated when he was placed into administrative segregation; (2) Plaintiff’s Eighth
4
Amendment rights were not violated as a result of San Diego County Jail’s (“SDCJ”) yard
5
time policy for inmates housed in administrative segregation; and (3) the County of San
6
Diego (“the County”) is not a proper defendant in this case. Judge Lewis recommends this
7
Court grant Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss as to Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim for
8
sleep deprivation, and deny the remainder of Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. Defendants
9
have filed an Objection to the R&R. Therefore, this Court will review, de novo, those parts
10
of the R&R to which Defendants object and will review for clear error the parts of the R&R
11
to which the Parties do not object.
12
I.
Placement in Administrative Segregation
13
Plaintiff claims that his procedural due process rights were violated when he was
14
placed in administrative segregation without notice of the reason for his placement, a
15
hearing, or an opportunity to respond to the reasons for his placement. (Compl. 17.)
16
Defendants argue, as they previously have, (see First MTD 4), that Plaintiff does not
17
possess a liberty interest in being free from administrative segregation, and therefore
18
Plaintiff fails to show a specific constitutional right that has been violated. (See MTD 6;
19
R&R 11–12.)
20
In analyzing the present Motion to Dismiss, Judge Lewis deferred to the Court’s
21
previous order regarding the prior motion because Defendants made similar arguments as
22
before. (See R&R 12; Prior Order 3–5.) Specifically, the Court found:
23
Plaintiff should have received (1) an informal, nonadversary hearing within a
reasonable time after being placed in administrative segregation for
administrative purposes, (2) a written decision describing the reasons for
24
25
26
2
27
28
Plaintiff brings his second and third causes of actions under the Eighth Amendment. However, as stated
in the Court’s Prior Order, because Plaintiff was a pretrial detainee, he is protected by the Fourteenth
Amendment. (See Prior Order 5.) The Court analyzes Plaintiff’s claims under the Fourteenth
Amendment. (See id.)
3
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
placing him in administrative segregation, and (3) an opportunity to present
his view. Plaintiff did not receive any of these recognized rights upon being
placed in administrative segregation. The Court finds the denial of an
informal, nonadversary hearing within a reasonable time after administrative
segregation is a constitutional violation.
2
3
4
5
(Prior Order 4) (citations omitted).
6
Defendants do not object to Judge Lewis’s recommendation regarding Plaintiff’s
7
due process allegations. The Court again finds that Plaintiff adequately alleges that his due
8
process rights were violated and finds no clear error in Judge Lewis’s recommendation.
9
The Court ADOPTS the R&R and DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss this claim.
10
II.
Conditions of Detention
11
Plaintiff argues that his Eighth Amendment right to protection from cruel and
12
unusual punishment was violated. (Compl. 17–18.) Specifically, Plaintiff claims that he
13
suffered from sleep deprivation and was denied yard time while detained in administrative
14
segregation. (Id.) Defendants argue, as they previously have, that Plaintiff’s inability to
15
sleep and timing of his recreation do not implicate constitutional violations. (MTD 7–9.)
16
Again in his R&R, Judge Lewis deferred to the Court’s prior order. There, the Court
17
determined that Plaintiff’s sleep deprivation allegation was insufficient to implicate a
18
constitutional violation, and Plaintiff’s allegation that he was denied yard time was
19
sufficient to implicate a constitutional violation. (See R&R 18–20; Prior Order 5–12.)
20
Plaintiff does not object to Judge Lewis’s recommendation regarding his sleep deprivation
21
claim. Therefore, that finding is reviewed for clear error. Defendants object to Judge
22
Lewis’s recommendation to uphold the Court’s determination that Plaintiff sufficiently
23
alleged he was denied yard time. Therefore, the Court reviews that issue de novo.
24
25
A. Sleep Deprivation
Plaintiff argues that he was deprived of sleep because his detention cell was
26
constantly illuminated and loud.
27
illumination and noise are incidental to detention, and there are adequate penological
28
justifications for such conditions. (MTD 7.) Judge Lewis deferred to the Court’s previous
(Compl. 11–13, 15, 17.)
Defendants argue that
4
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
finding that Plaintiff failed to allege a sufficient sleep deprivation claim because
2
Defendants provided a penological justification for the constant illumination, and Plaintiff
3
failed to allege the extent of sleep deprivation caused by other detainees’ loud noises, or
4
articulate how the noise was excessive. (See R&R 14–15; Prior Order 5–9.) Neither party
5
objected to Judge Lewis’s recommendation. The Court reaffirms its previous ruling. Thus,
6
the Court ADOPTS the R&R and GRANTS Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss this claim.
7
B. Denial of Yard Time
8
Plaintiff asserts that the only scheduled recreational time for administrative
9
segregation inmates is from 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Plaintiff also asserts that the lights in
10
the cells are dimmed during two blocks of time per day, one of which is also from 1:00
11
a.m. to 3:30 a.m. (Compl. 12.) He also asserts that he has no access to outdoor exercise.
12
(Id.) Plaintiff alleges that the timing of the exercise during sleeping hours and the lack of
13
outdoor exercise are constitutional violations. (Id.) Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s
14
discontent with the timing of exercise is not a valid claim and, due to SDCJ’s urban setting,
15
the lack of outdoor exercise is not a violation. (MTD 8.) Judge Lewis deferred to the
16
Court’s prior order because Defendants made similar arguments in the prior motion. (See
17
R&R 15; Prior Order 9–12.) The Court previously held that Plaintiff adequately alleges
18
constitutional violations because he claims he was forced to choose between two
19
constitutionally protected rights—sleep and exercise, and he was not provided with outdoor
20
exercise. (Prior Order 9–12.)
21
1. Plaintiff’s Choice Between Sleep and Exercise
22
Plaintiff alleges that his constitutional rights were violated because he was forced to
23
choose between sleep and exercise. (Compl. 15.) He argues the only time he is permitted
24
exercise, from 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., is during one of the two blocks of time where the
25
lights are dimmed in his cell. (Id.) Defendants argue, as they did previously, that the
26
timing of Plaintiff’s recreation is not a violation because Plaintiff has been allotted time to
27
exercise even if the timing is unappealing to Plaintiff. (MTD 8.) Judge Lewis deferred to
28
the Court’s finding that Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged that there is a constitutional
5
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
violation because he was forced to choose between two constitutional rights. (R&R 18–
2
19.)
3
Defendants object and argue Plaintiff was not forced to choose between two
4
constitutionally protected rights.
5
exclusively choose between sleep and yard time because he may be able to sleep during
6
the day when the lights are not dimmed. (Obj. 2–4.) Further, Defendants claim that
7
because Plaintiff failed to assert that he has an exclusive choice, Defendants do not carry
8
the burden of proving a penological justification for allegedly making Plaintiff choose
9
between sleep and exercise. (Id.)
They argue Plaintiff failed to assert that he must
10
“[A]n inmate cannot be forced to sacrifice one constitutionally protected right solely
11
because another is respected.” Allen v. City of Honolulu, 39 F.3d 936, 938–39 (9th Cir.
12
1994). In Allen, the plaintiff “had at least six hours per week outside his cell and could
13
choose whether to spend the time in recreation area or in the law library.” Allen, 39 F.3d
14
at 939. The court held the plaintiff “should not have to forego outdoor recreation to which
15
he would otherwise be entitled simply because he exercises his clearly established
16
constitutional right of access to the courts.” Id.
17
Here, Plaintiff alleges that the only times the lights are dimmed in his cell for sleep
18
are between 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Compl. 12.) He further
19
alleges that he is only allowed to exercise between 1:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., the same
20
allotted time slot as the first segment of dimmed lights for sleep. (Id.) Plaintiff also claims
21
that after 7:00 a.m., “bright lights are back on, T.V. turned on very loud, and day programs
22
started . . . until 9:45 p.m./10:45 p.m. and then starts over again.” (Id.)
23
Under California law, Plaintiff must be provided a minimum of three hours of
24
recreation time over a period of seven days. See CAL. CODE REGS. tit. 15, § 1065(a); see
25
also Cal. Penal Code § 6030. If Plaintiff exercises only two days of the week, he would
26
accumulate five hours of recreation time, which fulfills the minimum amount of recreation
27
time required by law. (See Prior Order 5.) However, even if Plaintiff chooses to exercise
28
only two days a week, he is forced on those days to choose exercise over sleeping with
6
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
dimmed lights. Plaintiff is entitled to confinement conditions which do not result in chronic
2
sleep deprivation. See Keenan v. Hall, 83 F.3d 1083, 1090 (9th Cir. 1996). Plaintiff’s
3
allegations reasonably imply that there are few opportunities for constitutionally protected
4
sleep, other than between the 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. block, given the schedule outlined in
5
his Complaint. (See Compl. 12.) The days Plaintiff foregoes sleeping with dimmed lights
6
in order to exercise results in a total of only two and a half hours of dimmed lighting per
7
day to sleep.
8
confinement conditions which do not result in chronic sleep deprivation. See Keenan, 83
9
F.3d at 1090. Thus, Plaintiff must choose between exercise and constitutionally protected
10
As alleged, these conditions interfere with Plaintiff’s entitlement to
sleep.
11
Next, Defendants argue that “the Court puts the burden on Defendants to present
12
valid justification for the inconvenient recreation time,” when “it is Plaintiff’s burden to
13
present adequate facts to support his claim.” (Obj. 2–3.) Defendants are referring to the
14
Court’s prior order, where the Court stated, “what is lacking is Moving Defendants’
15
assertion of any valid reason for scheduling the recreation time during the exact period the
16
lights are dimmed to permit sleeping.” (Prior Order 11.) As the Supreme Court has held,
17
“if a restriction or condition is not reasonably related to a legitimate goal—if it is arbitrary
18
or purposeless—a court permissibly may infer that the purpose of the governmental action
19
is punishment that may not constitutionally be inflicted upon detainees qua detainees.”
20
Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 539 (1979).
21
Here, Plaintiff states sufficient allegations that his confinement conditions forced
22
him to choose between constitutionally protected sleep and exercise. Defendants have not
23
provided any penological justification as to how the conditions are related to a legitimate
24
goal. The Court affirms its previous finding that Plaintiff has sufficiently stated a claim
25
that the choice between two protected rights is a violation of his Fourteenth Amendments
26
rights. Therefore, the Court OVERRULES Defendants’ Objections, ADOPTS the R&R,
27
and DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss this claim.
28
///
7
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
2. Plaintiff’s Lack of Outdoor Exercise
2
Plaintiff claims he was denied access to outdoor exercise for eight months. (Compl.
3
1, 12.) He alleges that SDCJ allows detainees in administrative segregation to exercise
4
only in a recreation yard, which is an enclosed room with no direct sunlight. (Id.) In their
5
Motion to Dismiss, Defendants argue that the jail’s “urban environment limits the facility
6
from having traditional recreation yard that is completely open to the environment,” and
7
jails are only meant to house detainees for “short periods of time.” (MTD 10.) Therefore,
8
they argue the lack of outdoor exercise does not violate Plaintiff’s constitutional rights.
9
Judge Lewis deferred to the Court’s prior ruling because Defendants made similar
10
arguments as in their previous motion. (See R&R 14.) The Court previously held that
11
Plaintiff stated a sufficient constitutional violation because the denial of outdoor exercise
12
was not temporary and the urban setting was not an excuse to deprive Plaintiff of adequate
13
outdoor exercise. (Prior Order 12.) Defendants object to Judge Lewis’s ruling on the
14
grounds that jails are different in nature than prisons, so the constitutional standards for the
15
two are different. (Obj. 4.) Specifically, Defendants argue that jails are “only made to
16
house prisoners temporarily,” and therefore to use the same constitutional standards for
17
prisons that “involve long term housing,” would be improper. (Id.) Although Defendants
18
make the same argument as before, the Court briefly addresses the issue.
19
In Spain v. Procunier, 600 F.2d 189, 200 (9th Cir. 1979), the court held that
20
depriving inmates of outdoor recreation violates the Eighth Amendment right against cruel
21
and unusual punishment. The Spain court further stated that “[t]he cost or inconvenience
22
of providing adequate [exercise] facilities is not a defense to the imposition of cruel
23
punishment.” Id. In Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1133 (9th Cir. 2000), the court found
24
that the prisoner sufficiently stated a constitutional violation when he was denied all
25
outdoor exercise for a period of 45 days.
26
Here, it is irrelevant that, as Defendants allege, the primary distinction between jails
27
and prisons is that the former “house prisoners temporarily.” While this may be true
28
generally, here, Plaintiff claims he was denied outdoor exercise while being detained at
8
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
SDCJ for eight months. Plaintiff’s alleged harm is greater than the plaintiff’s harm in
2
Lopez, where the court found the deprivation of outdoor exercise of 45 days amounted to
3
cruel and unusual punishment. See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1133. Thus, the Court reaffirms its
4
finding that Plaintiff has alleged a constitutional violation in being denied outdoor exercise
5
for eight months. (See Prior Order 11–12.)
6
Defendants’ Objection, ADOPTS the R&R, and DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
7
this claim.
8
III.
Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES
The County as a Proper Defendant
9
The County moves to dismiss itself from the Complaint, arguing it is an improper
10
Defendant in this action. The County argues that Plaintiff fails to point to a policy that
11
caused his alleged harm, and that municipalities cannot be held vicariously viable for the
12
actions of individual deputies. (MTD 4.) Judge Lewis found that Plaintiff sufficiently
13
alleges that the County is a proper defendant. (R&R 9.) The County objects to this finding.
14
(Obj. 5–7.) The Court reviews the County’s liability de novo.
15
A. Legal Standard
16
Although municipalities are immune from § 1983 suits based on vicarious liability,
17
municipalities may be held liable under § 1983 if the government entity subjects a person
18
to a deprivation of rights or causes a person to be subjected to such deprivation. See Monell
19
v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of City of N.Y., 436 U.S. 658, 691–92 (1978).
20
Generally, there are three ways in which a plaintiff can show that a municipality is
21
liable under § 1983: the plaintiff may prove that (1) “a city employee committed the alleged
22
constitutional violation pursuant to a formal governmental policy or a longstanding practice
23
or custom which constitutes the standard operating procedure of the local governmental
24
entity”; (2) “the individual who committed the constitutional tort was an official with final
25
policy-making authority and that the challenged action itself thus constituted an act of
26
official government policy”; or (3) “an official with final policy-making authority ratified
27
a subordinate’s unconstitutional decision or action and the basis for it.”
28
Delmore, 979 F.2d 1342, 1346–47 (9th Cir. 1992) (quotation marks and citations omitted).
Gillette v.
9
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
Only one of the three prongs must be satisfied for each cause of action for the municipality
2
to be liable for that respective cause of action. The Court analyzes the County’s liability
3
for each of Plaintiff’s causes of action.
4
B. Placement in Administrative Segregation
5
Plaintiff sufficiently alleges that his due process rights under the Fourteenth
6
Amendment were violated when he was placed in administrative segregation, see supra
7
section I. Plaintiff argues the County is liable for the due process violations under the third
8
Gillette prong because Sheriff Gore delegated the duty of investigating and correcting the
9
alleged due process violation to an administrative sergeant. (“Opp’n,” ECF No. 70, at 4.)
10
Plaintiff states that by delegating those duties, Sheriff Gore ratified the decisions of the
11
administrative sergeant, who was a subordinate. (Id.); see Cal. Penal Code § 831.5
12
(“Custodial officers of a county shall be employees of, and under the authority of, the
13
sheriff . . . .”). Judge Lewis found that “any violation of Plaintiff’s rights was ratified by
14
Sheriff Gore once his administrative sergeant was made aware of the facts and failed to
15
take action to cure the violation.” (R&R 11.) Therefore, Judge Lewis found the County to
16
be a proper defendant because Plaintiff sufficiently alleged facts to prove liability under
17
the third Gillette prong. (Id.) Defendants object to Judge Lewis’s finding by arguing that
18
Sheriff Gore did not ratify any of the actions leading to the alleged violation because
19
Plaintiff did not provide facts or allegations supporting his contention that Sheriff Gore
20
approved any of his subordinates’ actions. (Obj. 7–8.)
21
Under the third Gillette prong, a plaintiff must show that an official possessed “final
22
policy-making authority,” and “ratified a subordinate’s unconstitutional decision and the
23
basis for it.” 979 F.2d at 1347.
24
1. Final Policymaking Authority
25
Final policy-making authority can be established “only where the decisionmaker
26
possesses final authority to establish municipal policy with respect to the action ordered.”
27
Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 481 (1986). The decision maker must be
28
“responsible for establishing final government policy respecting such activity before the
10
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
municipality can be held liable.” Id. at 483. “Authority to make municipal policy may be
2
granted directly by a legislative enactment . . . [and] whether an official had final
3
policymaking authority is a question of state law.” Id. Under California law, “the sheriff
4
shall take charge of and be the sole and exclusive authority to keep the county jail and
5
prisoners in it.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 26605. Decisions regarding the housing of prisoners
6
falls under the sheriff’s authorization. See Cal. Penal Code § 4000, Cal. Gov’t Code
7
§§ 26605, 26610.
8
Here, Plaintiff alleges that Sheriff Gore exercised his final policy-making authority
9
by “implement[ing] . . . an official government policy” of SDCJ. (Opp’n 3–4.) Plaintiff
10
also states that Sheriff Gore is “overall responsible for the jail and all its policies and
11
procedures.” (Compl. 3.) Given California law and Plaintiff’s allegations, Plaintiff
12
adequately shows that Sheriff Gore possesses final authority to establish municipal policy
13
as it relates to the county jail.
14
2. Ratification
15
Under the second element of the test, ratification can be established “if a particular
16
decision by a subordinate was cast in the form of a policy statement and expressly approved
17
by the supervising policymaker . . . [or] if a series of decisions by a subordinate official
18
manifested a ‘custom or usage’ of which the supervisor must have been aware.” Gillette,
19
979 F.2d at 1348 (quoting City of St. Louis v. Praprotnik, 485 U.S. 112, 130 (1988)).
20
“[T]he unconstitutional discretionary actions of municipal employees generally are not
21
chargeable to the municipality under section 1983.” Id. at 1347 (citing Praprotnik, 485
22
U.S. at 126). “If the authorized policymakers retain the authority to measure the official’s
23
conduct for conformance with their policies, or if they approve a subordinate’s decision
24
and the basis for it, their ratification would be chargeable to the municipality because their
25
decision is final.”
26
Praprotnik, 485 U.S. at 127).
Bouman v. Block, 940 F.2d 1211, 1231 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing
27
Here, Plaintiff alleges he was immediately placed in administrative segregation upon
28
arrival to SDCJ. (Compl. 11.) Plaintiff asked why he was placed in confinement, but was
11
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
denied an adequate answer. (Id.) Plaintiff filed multiple requests and grievances asking
2
why he was placed in administrative segregation, but never received responses. (Id.) On
3
March 30, 2017, Plaintiff wrote Sheriff Gore a letter explaining that his placement in
4
administrative segregation violated his due process rights and that there was a lack of
5
response to his grievances. (Id.) Plaintiff’s letter to Sheriff Gore was sent to SDCJ
6
administration for review. (Opp’n 12–13.) Sergeant Boorman, administrative sergeant of
7
the SDCJ, sent Plaintiff a response letter regarding his grievances. (Id.) Although Sergeant
8
Boorman addressed some of Plaintiff’s concerns, he did not address Plaintiff’s due process
9
concerns relating to his placement in administrative segregation. (See id.) Plaintiff alleges
10
that none of his concerns were remedied. (Compl. 17.)
11
Plaintiff claims that he placed Sheriff Gore on notice of the alleged due process
12
violations with the letters and grievances he submitted, and Sheriff Gore delegated the
13
decision-making authority to Sergeant Boorman. (Id.) However, Plaintiff has not alleged
14
sufficient facts to show that Sheriff Gore expressly approved of Sergeant Boorman’s
15
response letter. Moreover, there are no facts alleged to show that Sergeant Boorman’s
16
discretion to respond to Plaintiff’s grievances was a part of a series of decisions that
17
manifested a custom or usage of which Sheriff Gore must have been aware. Plaintiff shows
18
that Sergeant Boorman responded to Plaintiff’s grievance, but does not sufficiently allege
19
that Sheriff Gore deliberately or affirmatively ratified Sergeant Boorman’s conduct.
20
Stating that Sergeant Boorman had discretion to make decisions relating to Plaintiff’s
21
grievance is insufficient to show that Sheriff Gore approved of those decisions. See
22
Gillette, 979 F.2d at 1348 (holding that plaintiff failed to establish ratification because he
23
only proved that the policymaker did not overrule a subordinate’s discretionary decision).
24
Therefore Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged that the County can be liable for the due
25
process violations under the third Gillette prong.3 Accordingly, the Court SUSTAINS
26
27
3
28
Likewise, Plaintiff fails to allege facts to show that the County is liable for the due process violations
under the first and second Gillette prongs. Plaintiff does not show that Sergeant Boorman’s conduct was
12
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
Defendants’ Objection, REJECTS Judge Lewis’s recommendation, GRANTS
2
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, and DISMISSES the County as a defendant for Plaintiff’s
3
due process claim WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
4
C. Denial of Plaintiff’s Yard Time
5
Plaintiff sufficiently claims that his Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated
6
when he was forced to choose between sleep and exercise and when he was deprived of
7
outdoor exercise, see supra section II. Plaintiff alleges that the County is liable for these
8
violations under the first and second Gillette prongs. (Compl. 11; Opp’n 3–4.)
9
1. First Gillette Prong: Governmental Policy or Longstanding Practice
10
Plaintiff argues the first Gillette prong is met because an official governmental
11
policy or a longstanding practice caused his constitutional violations. (Compl. 11.)
12
Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants “established and ordered” a “day program”
13
schedule, which the jail followed for detainees in administrative segregation.
14
Defendants argue that Plaintiff has not shown there is a governmental policy or
15
longstanding practice because “Plaintiff does not cite to any official County policy that
16
allows for deputies to violate the Eighth or Fourteenth Amendment.” (MTD 4.)
(Id.)
17
A municipality is liable for constitutional violations if a plaintiff can “prove that a
18
city employee committed the alleged constitutional violation pursuant to formal
19
governmental policy or a longstanding practice or custom which constitutes the standard
20
operating procedure of the local entity.” Gillette, 979 F.2d at 1346 (internal quotation
21
marks omitted) (quoting Jett v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 491 U.S. 701, 737 (1989)). Once
22
a policy or practice is found, the municipality can only be held liable if it was deliberately
23
indifferent to the plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See Castro v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 833
24
F.3d 1060, 1076 (9th Cir. 2016) (en banc) (citing City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378,
25
26
27
28
in accordance with a governmental policy or longstanding practice under the first prong. Moreover,
Plaintiff alleges that Sergeant Boorman did not remedy his constitutional violation, but, Sergeant Boorman
is not an official with policymaking authority. Thus, Plaintiff fails to meet the second prong.
13
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
392 (1989)). The Court first determines whether Plaintiff sufficiently alleges that there
2
was a policy, longstanding practice or custom that led to his constitutional deprivations,
3
and second determines whether the County was deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s
4
constitutional rights.
5
An official policy “often refers to formal rules or understanding—often but not
6
always committed to writing—that are intended to, and do, establish fixed plans of action
7
to be followed under similar circumstances consistently over time.” Pembaur, 475 U.S. at
8
480–81. However, if a formal policy is not presented, “a plaintiff may be able to prove the
9
existence of a widespread practice that, although not authorized by written law or express
10
municipal policy, is ‘so permanent and well settled as to constitute a custom or usage with
11
the force of law.’” Praprotnik, 485 U.S. at 127 (quoting Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398
12
U.S. 144, 167–68 (1970)). “Liability for improper custom may not be predicated on
13
isolated or sporadic incidents; it must be founded upon practices of sufficient duration,
14
frequency and consistency that the conduct has become a traditional method of carrying
15
out policy.” Trevino v. Gates, 99 F.3d 911, 918 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing Bennett v. City of
16
Slidell, 728 F.2d 762, 767 (5th Cir. 1984)). “Normally, the question of whether a policy
17
or custom exists would be a jury question.” Id. at 920.
18
Here, Plaintiff alleges that the “established and ordered” schedule for detainees in
19
administrative segregation caused him to choose between two constitutional rights, and
20
denied him access to outdoor yard time. (See Compl. 11–18.) Although Plaintiff does not
21
provide a written or formal policy, he alleges there was a longstanding practice by virtue
22
of the implemented schedule. Plaintiff outlines in his Complaint the exact schedule that
23
all sheriff deputies followed throughout Plaintiff’s detention in administrative segregation.
24
(Id. at 11–12, 17–18.)4 A schedule that is allegedly followed by all sheriff deputies for at
25
26
4
27
28
Plaintiff alleges the following schedule: From Sunday through Thursday, televisions are shut off at 9:45
p.m. (and are shut off at 10:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). At 11:00 p.m. all detainees walk to their
cell door for a count. At 12:00 a.m. razors are passed out. At 1:00 a.m. the razors are collected. From 1:00
a.m. to 3:30 a.m., the detainees in administrative segregation are allowed to go to the recreational yard.
14
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
least an eight-month time period reasonably suggests that the schedule was well settled and
2
not random. The Court finds that Plaintiff adequately alleges that the schedule was a
3
custom or longstanding practice implemented by SDCJ.
4
Next, Plaintiff must allege sufficient facts that County acted deliberately indifferent
5
to his constitutional rights. See Castro, 833 F.3d at 1076. A municipality is deliberately
6
indifferent when a “plaintiff can establish that the facts available to city policymakers put
7
them on actual or constructive notice that the particular omission [or act] is substantially
8
certain to result in the violation of the constitutional rights of their citizens.” Mendiola-
9
Martinez v. Arpaio, 836 F.3d 1239, 1248–49 (9th Cir. 2016) (alteration in original)
10
(internal quotations omitted) (quoting Castro, 833 F.3d at 1076); see also Farmer v.
11
Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 841 (1994) (holding that the deliberate indifference standard for
12
municipalities is premised on “obviousness or constructive notice”).
13
In Castro, the court found that the county’s failure to comply with its own proper
14
sobering cell standards,5 which were outlined in the county code, was sufficient to show
15
that it “knew of the risk of the very type of harm that befell [the plaintiff].” 833 F.3d at
16
1077. The county had constructive knowledge that substantial harm could occur because
17
it had implemented, in the county code, policies to prevent the type of harm that the plaintiff
18
experienced. Therefore, the county’s failure to comply with its own polices showed
19
deliberate indifference because “the ordinance adopted by the [c]ounty [was] a policy that
20
explicitly acknowledge[d] the relevant substantial risks of serious harm.” Id.
21
Here, the issue is whether Sheriff Gore, who was the relevant policymaker, received
22
actual or constructive notice that the implemented schedule and practices were
23
24
25
26
27
28
At 3:30 a.m. detainees must walk to the cell door for another count. Around 4:00 a.m. or 4:30 a.m.
breakfast is served. At 7:00 a.m. the televisions are turned back on and the day program begins. The cell
lights are dimmed from 1:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. At all other times the lights are
set to the “bright” setting. (Compl. 11–12.)
5
“A sobering cell is generally defined as a cell with a padded floor and standard toilet with a padded
partition on one side for support. It must allow for maximum visual supervision of prisoners by staff.”
Castro, 833 F.3d at 1077.
15
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
substantially certain to result in the deprivation of detainees’ access to outdoor yard time
2
and force detainees to choose between constitutionally protected sleep and exercise.
3
Plaintiff alleges that he put Sheriff on actual notice of his concerns in his letter, and despite
4
this, SDJC continued to follow the implemented schedule for all detainees in administrative
5
segregation. (Compl. 11, 16, 18.) Taking Plaintiff’s allegations as true, Sheriff Gore, as
6
the relevant policymaker, had actual and constructive notice that the implemented schedule
7
violated Plaintiff’s right to outdoor yard time. See CAL. CODE REGS., tit. 24 § 1231.2.10
8
(2018) (“An outdoor exercise area or areas must be provided in every Type II and Type III
9
facility.”).6 Like in Castro, where the county’s failure to conform to approved ordinances
10
constituted as deliberate indifference, Plaintiff’s allegations that Sheriff Gore’s failed to
11
conform to the approved requirements suggests the County was deliberately indifferent.
12
Similarly, Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged that Sheriff Gore knew from Plaintiff’s notice,
13
and should have known, that the implemented schedule’s consequence of forcing detainees
14
to choose between constitutionally protected sleep and exercise violated their rights.
15
Plaintiff alleges sufficient facts that the County, through its schedule and customs derived
16
from it, was deliberately indifferent to his constitutional rights. Plaintiff adequately alleges
17
the County is liable for these claims.7 Therefore, the Court ADOPTS Judge Lewis’s
18
recommendation, and DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the County as a defendant
19
for Plaintiff’s claims that he was forced to choose between two constitutional rights and
20
denied access to outdoor exercise.
21
///
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Type II facility means “a local detention facility used for the detention of person pending arraignment,
during trial and upon a sentence of commitment.” Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities,
Title 24 § 13-102(a). Plaintiff alleges that he was detained at SDCJ before trial. (Compl. 10.) Thus, it is
likely that SDCJ classifies as a Type II facility.
7
Plaintiff also argues that the County is liable for his second and third cause of action under the second
Gillette prong. However, because Plaintiff sufficiently alleges that the County is liable for those two
causes of action under the first Gillette prong, the Court does not analyze the causes of actions under the
second prong.
6
16
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
IV.
Sheriff Gore as a Proper Defendant
2
Defendants previously moved to dismiss Sheriff Gore as an individual defendant.
3
(See First MTD 9.) Judge Lewis found that Plaintiff did not sufficiently allege that Sheriff
4
Gore was an affirmative participant, and therefore he was not a proper individual
5
defendant. (See First R&R 14–15.) Plaintiff objected, and the Court reviewed Sheriff
6
Gore’s liability, de novo, and held that Sheriff Gore was a proper defendant under
7
supervisory liability. (See Prior Order 13–15.) Judge Lewis did not analyze Sheriff Gore’s
8
liability in the present R&R. In Defendants’ Objection to Judge Lewis’s R&R, Defendants
9
again claim that Sheriff Gore is not a proper defendant. (Obj. 8.) Defendants argue that
10
Sheriff Gore cannot be held liable in his individual capacity, and naming him as a defendant
11
in his official capacity is duplicative given that the County is already named. (Id.) Plaintiff
12
argues that naming both Sheriff Gore and the County is not duplicative because there are
13
separate causes of action pleaded, and Sheriff Gore may be individually held liable for the
14
actions of his subordinates. (Reply 6.) Because the Court already discussed Sheriff Gore’s
15
liability and Defendants do not provide new arguments, the Court does not repeat that
16
analysis here.
17
Although Plaintiff argues that it is not duplicative to name Sheriff Gore in both his
18
individual and official capacity, Defendants are correct that Plaintiff does not specify
19
whether he is naming Sheriff Gore in his individual capacity. (See Obj. 9.) “In many cases
20
the complaint will not clearly specify whether officials are sued personally, in their official
21
capacity, or both. ‘The course of proceedings’ in such cases typically will indicate the
22
nature of the liability sought to be imposed.” Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 167 n.14
23
(quoting Brandon v. Holt, 469 U.S. 464, 469 (1985)). This is true here. In subsequent
24
pleadings, Plaintiff is to specify the capacity under which he is suing Sheriff Gore. If
25
Plaintiff makes allegations against Sheriff Gore in his official capacity and against the
26
County, and the two are duplicative, the claims against Sheriff Gore will be dismissed. See
27
Rivera v. Cnty. of San Bernardino, CV 16-795 PSG (KSx), 2017 WL 5643153, at *3 n.2
28
(C.D. Cal. Mar. 8, 2017) (dismissing with prejudice claims against Sheriff Gore in his
17
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
official capacity as duplicative of those against the County); Vance v. Cnty. of Santa Clara,
2
928 F. Supp. 993, 996 (N.D. Cal. 1996) (“[I]f individuals are being sued in their official
3
capacity as municipal officials and the municipal entity itself is also being sued, then the
4
claims against the individuals are duplicative and should be dismissed.”).
At this stage, the Court OVERRULES Defendants’ Objection, and DENIES
5
6
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Sheriff Gore.
7
CONCLUSION
8
Given the foregoing, the Court ADOPTS IN PART the R&R, (ECF No. 74),
9
GRANTS IN PART Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, (ECF No. 64), and DISMISSES
10
Plaintiff’s sleep deprivation claim, and the County as a defendant for Plaintiff’s due process
11
claim WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The Court DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
12
Plaintiff’s claims regarding the choice between sleep and exercise, the denial of outdoor
13
yard time, the placement in administrative segregation, and the naming of the County as a
14
proper defendant for all other claims not dismissed. In its prior order, the Court dismissed
15
without prejudice Defendants Brewer, Camalleri, Cole, Davida, M. Ellsworth, Epps,
16
Froisted, Hepler, Huerta, Johns, LoveLace, LoveLace, McKemmy, Mondragon, Moon,
17
Navarro, Newlander, Oliver, Olsen, Sims, Warren, and White. (Prior Order 16.)
18
If Plaintiff wishes to re-allege his sleep deprivation claim that has been dismissed
19
without prejudice or re-allege claims against the dismissed Defendants, Plaintiff MAY
20
FILE an amended complaint on or before September 5, 2018. Plaintiff is cautioned that
21
should he choose to file a First Amended Complaint, it must be complete by itself, comply
22
with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), and that any claim, against any and all defendant
23
not re-alleged will be considered
24
25
26
///
27
///
28
///
18
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
1
waived. See Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc) (noting
2
that claims dismissed with leave to amend which are not re-alleged in an amended pleading
3
may be “considered waived if not repled”). If Plaintiff chooses not to file a First Amended
4
Complaint by September 5, 2018, the case will proceed on Plaintiff’s remaining claims.
5
6
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: August 3, 2018
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
19
17-CV-813-JLS (PCL)
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?