Mc-Intosh v. San Diego County Sheriffs Department et al
Filing
6
ORDER (1) Granting Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis; (2) Denying Motion to Appoint Counsel (3) Dismissing Complaint for Failing to State a Claim Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1). The Court: Denies Plaintiff' ;s Motion to Appoint Counsel without prejudice. (ECF No. 3 ); Grants Plaintiff's Motion to Proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). (ECF No. 5 ); Orders the Secretary CDCR, or his designee, to collect from Plaintiff's trust accou nt the $350 owed in monthly payments in an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month's income to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in Plaintiff's account exceeds $10 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).(Order electronically transmitted to Secretary of CDCR) and Dismisses without prejudice Plaintiff's Complaint in its entirety for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)( ii) and § 1915A(b)(1), and grants him forty-five (45) days leave from the date of this Order in which to file an Amended Complaint which cures all the deficiencies of pleading noted. Signed by Judge Janis L. Sammartino on 9/28/2017. (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
12
NEHEMIAH LANARR MC-INTOSH,
SR., CDCR #AU3829,
vs.
14
16
ORDER:
Plaintiff,
13
15
Case No.: 3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1) GRANTING MOTION TO
PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS;
SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S
DEP’T, et al.,
17
2) DENYING MOTION TO APPOINT
COUNSEL; AND
Defendants.
3) DISMISSING COMPLAINT FOR
FAILING TO STATE A CLAIM
PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. §§
1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) AND 1915A(b)(1)
18
19
20
21
(ECF Nos. 3, 5)
22
Plaintiff Nehemiah Mc-Intosh, Sr., a state inmate since 2014,1 currently
23
24
incarcerated at the California Institution for Men located in Chino, California, and
25
proceeding pro se, has filed a civil rights Complaint (“Compl.”) pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
26
27
28
1
See http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/Results.aspx (website last visited Sept. 27, 2017)
1
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
§ 1983. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff alleges his constitutional rights were violated when he was
2
temporarily housed at the San Diego County Central Jail in 2016. (See Compl. 3.)
3
Plaintiff did not prepay the civil filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) when
4
he filed his Complaint; instead, he filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP”)
5
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). (ECF No. 5.) In addition, Plaintiff has filed a “Request
6
for Appointment of Counsel.” (ECF No. 3.) Having considered these documents and the
7
law, the Court: (1) DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel; (2) GRANTS
8
Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP; and DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE
9
Plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1).
10
11
I.
Motion to Appoint Counsel
Plaintiff seeks appointed counsel in this matter on the grounds that he is indigent.
12
(Plaintiff’s Motion (“Pl.’s Mot.”) 1, ECF No. 3.) However, there is no constitutional right
13
to counsel in a civil case. Lassiter v. Dept. of Social Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981);
14
Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). And while 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1)
15
grants the district court limited discretion to “request” that an attorney represent an
16
indigent civil litigant, Agyeman v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir.
17
2004), this discretion may be exercised only under “exceptional circumstances.” Id.; see
18
also Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). A finding of exceptional
19
circumstances requires the Court “to consider whether there is a ‘likelihood of success on
20
the merits’ and whether ‘the prisoner is unable to articulate his claims in light of the
21
complexity of the legal issues involved.’” Harrington v. Scribner, 785 F.3d 1299, 1309
22
(9th Cir. 2015) (quoting Palmer, 560 F.3d at 970).
23
The Court finds nothing in Plaintiff’s Complaint, or in his Motion to Appoint
24
Counsel suggesting he is incapable of articulating the factual basis for his discrimination
25
claims, which appear “relatively straightforward.” Id. In addition, at this initial stage of
26
the pleadings, Plaintiff has not yet shown a likelihood of success on the merits. See infra
27
Section III. Therefore, the Court finds no “exceptional circumstances” and DENIES his
28
Motion to Appoint Counsel. (ECF No. 3.)
2
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
II.
Motion to Proceed IFP
2
Generally, all parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court
3
of the United States must pay a filing fee of $400. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a).2 An action
4
may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure to prepay the entire fee only if he is granted leave
5
to proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047,
6
1051 (9th Cir. 2007); Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). However,
7
if a prisoner is granted leave to proceed IFP, he remains obligated to pay the entire fee in
8
“increments,” see Williams v. Paramo, 775 F.3d 1182, 1185 (9th Cir. 2015), regardless of
9
whether his action is ultimately dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)–(2); Taylor v.
10
Delatoore, 281 F.3d 844, 847 (9th Cir. 2002).
11
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, as amended by the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”),
12
a prisoner seeking leave to proceed IFP must submit a “certified copy of the trust fund
13
account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the prisoner for the six-month period
14
immediately preceding the filing of the complaint.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2); Andrews v.
15
King, 398 F.3d 1113, 1119 (9th Cir. 2005). From the certified trust account statement, the
16
Court assesses an initial payment of 20% of (a) the average monthly deposits in the account
17
for the past six months, or (b) the average monthly balance in the account for the past six
18
months, whichever is greater, unless the prisoner has no assets. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1),
19
(4). The institution having custody of the prisoner then collects subsequent payments,
20
assessed at 20% of the preceding month’s income, in any month in which the prisoner’s
21
account exceeds $10, and forwards those payments to the Court until the entire filing fee
22
is paid. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
23
In support of his IFP Motion, Plaintiff has submitted a certified copy of his trust
24
account certificate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2) and Civil Local Rule 3.2. Andrews,
25
26
2
27
28
In addition to the $350 statutory fee, all parties filing civil actions on or after May 1, 2013, must pay an
additional administrative fee of $50. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) (Judicial Conference Schedule of Fees,
District Court Misc. Fee Schedule) (May 1, 2013). However, the additional $50 administrative fee is
waived if the plaintiff is granted leave to proceed IFP. Id.
3
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
398 F.3d at 1119. The Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s trust account certificate, but it shows
2
that he has a current available balance of only $3.51. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4) (providing
3
that “[i]n no event shall a prisoner be prohibited from bringing a civil action or appealing
4
a civil action or criminal judgment for the reason that the prisoner has no assets and no
5
means by which to pay the initial partial filing fee.”); Taylor, 281 F.3d at 850 (finding that
6
28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4) acts as a “safety-valve” preventing dismissal of a prisoner’s IFP
7
case based solely on a “failure to pay . . . due to the lack of funds available to him when
8
payment is ordered.”).
9
Therefore, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF No. 5) and
10
assesses no initial partial filing fee per 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). However, the entire $350
11
balance of the filing fees mandated will be collected by the California Department of
12
Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) and forwarded to the Clerk of the Court pursuant
13
to the installment payment provisions set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).
14
III.
Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A(b)
15
A. Standard of Review
16
The Court must screen every civil action brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)
17
and dismiss any case it finds “frivolous or malicious,” “fails to state a claim on which
18
relief may be granted,” or “seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune
19
from relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). Under these statutes, the
20
Court must sua sponte dismiss a prisoner’s IFP complaint, or any portion of it, which is
21
frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks damages from defendants who are
22
immune. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126–27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc)
23
(discussing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)); Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir.
24
2010) (discussing 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)). “The purpose of [screening] is ‘to ensure that
25
the targets of frivolous or malicious suits need not bear the expense of responding.’”
26
Nordstrom v. Ryan, 762 F.3d 903, 920 n.1 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Wheeler v. Wexford
27
Health Sources, Inc., 689 F.3d 680, 681 (7th Cir. 2012)).
28
4
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
“The standard for determining whether a plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon
2
which relief can be granted under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) is the same as the Federal Rule of
3
Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) standard for failure to state a claim.” Watison v. Carter, 668
4
F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012); Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir.
5
2012). Rule 12(b)(6) requires a complaint “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as
6
true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
7
662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted); Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1121.
8
Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the
9
elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”
10
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for
11
relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its
12
judicial experience and common sense.” Id. The “mere possibility of misconduct” or
13
“unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed me accusation[s]” fall short of meeting
14
this plausibility standard. Id.; see also Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969
15
(9th Cir. 2009).
16
Finally, in deciding whether Plaintiff has stated a plausible claim for relief, the
17
Court may consider exhibits attached to his Complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c) (“A
18
copy of a written instrument that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part of the pleading for all
19
purposes.”); Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1555
20
n.19 (9th Cir. 1990) (citing Amfac Mortg. Corp. v. Ariz. Mall of Tempe, Inc., 583 F.2d
21
426 (9th Cir. 1978) (“[M]aterial which is properly submitted as part of the complaint may
22
be considered” in ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss.)).
23
24
25
B. Plaintiff’s Claims
1. Improper Defendants and Municipal Liability
Plaintiff seeks damages against several named and unnamed San Diego Sheriff’s
26
Department deputies as well as the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department generally
27
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Compl. 3–5, 12.) As an initial matter, the Court finds that to the
28
extent Plaintiff names the entire “San Diego County Sheriff’s Department,” his claims
5
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
must be dismissed sua sponte pursuant to both 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) and § 1915A(b) for
2
failing to state a claim upon which § 1983 relief can be granted.
3
Section 1983 provides a cause of action against any “person” who, under the color
4
of state law, deprives an individual of federal constitutional right or limited federal
5
statutory rights. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The term “person” includes state and local officials
6
sued in their individual capacities and local governments. Cortez v. Cnty. of Los Angeles,
7
294 F.3d 1186, 1188 (9th Cir. 2002). Yet, Local law enforcement departments, municipal
8
agencies, or subdivisions of those department or agencies, are not proper defendants
9
under § 1983. See Vance v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, 928 F. Supp. 993, 996 (N.D. Cal. 1996)
10
(“Naming a municipal department as a defendant is not an appropriate means of pleading
11
a § 1983 action against a municipality.”) (citation omitted); Williams v. Gore, No. 12-
12
CV-2952-MMA-WMC, 2013 WL 3864344, at *2 (S.D. Cal. July 23, 2013).
13
While the County of San Diego itself may be considered a “person” and therefore,
14
a proper defendant under § 1983, see Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691
15
(1978); Hammond v. Cnty. of Madera, 859 F.2d 797, 801 (9th Cir. 1988), Plaintiff has
16
not named the County as a Defendant. Moreover, as a municipality, the County may be
17
held liable under § 1983—but only where the Plaintiff alleges facts to show that a
18
constitutional deprivation was caused by the implementation or execution of “a policy
19
statement, ordinance, regulation, or decision officially adopted and promulgated” by the
20
County, or a “final decision maker” for the County. Monell, 436 U.S. at 690; Navarro v.
21
Block, 72 F.3d 712, 714 (9th Cir. 1995). In other words, a “municipality cannot . . . ‘be
22
held liable under § 1983 on a respondeat superior theory.’” Ulrich v. City & Cnty. of San
23
Francisco, 308 F.3d 968, 984 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Monnell, 436 U.S. at 694).
24
“Liability may attach to a municipality only where the municipality itself causes the
25
constitutional violation through ‘execution of a government’s policy or custom. . . .” Id.
26
(quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 694).
27
28
As currently pleaded, Plaintiff’s Complaint fails to state a claim under 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1915(e)(2) and 1915A(b) because he has failed to allege any facts which “might
6
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
plausibly suggest” that the County itself violated his constitutional rights. As noted
2
earlier, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, as a local law enforcement
3
department, is not liable under § 1983. Plaintiff’s claims against local officials in their
4
individual capacity are generally allowed under § 1983, but for reasons articulated in
5
Subsections III.B.2–4, infra, do not state a claim for relief.
6
7
2. Verbal Harassment
Plaintiff claims that he was subjected to “sexual harassment” when he was
8
transported from the George Bailey Detention Facility to the “Southbay region Court
9
house” on December 14, 2016. (Compl. 6.) Specifically, Plaintiff alleged that a
10
transportation officer told Plaintiff that he was going to “bend me over like he had my
11
mom.” (Compl. 19.) Plaintiff also alleges he was called “[i]lliterate and stupid” and that
12
the deputy was going to “fuck me up if I don’t complie [sic].” (Id. at 20 (emphasis
13
omitted).) While the Court notes that Plaintiff also attached responses from the Sheriff’s
14
Department denying those allegations, at this stage the Court construes factual pleadings
15
as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555
16
(2007)).
17
That said, allegations of verbal harassment and abuse, by themselves, fail to state a
18
claim cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 738 (9th
19
Cir. 1997), abrogated on other grounds by Shakur v. Schiro, 514 F.3d 878, 885–86 (9th
20
Cir. 2008); see also, e.g., Keenan v. Hall, 83 F.3d 1083, 1092 (9th Cir. 1996), as
21
amended, 135 F.3d 1318 (9th Cir. 1998) (disrespectful and assaultive comments by
22
prison guard not enough to implicate Eighth Amendment).
23
Thus, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s claims of verbal harassment must be
24
DISMISSED for failing to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2),
25
1915A(b)(1).
26
27
28
3. Grievance Procedures
It appears that Plaintiff also seeks to hold Defendants liable for alleged due process
violations for the manner in which they responded to his administrative grievances. (See
7
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
Compl. 7–8 .) While the Fourteenth Amendment provides that “[n]o state shall . . .
2
deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” U.S. Const.
3
amend. XIV, § 1, “[t]he requirements of procedural due process apply only to the
4
deprivation of interests encompassed by the Fourteenth Amendment’s protection of
5
liberty and property.” Bd. of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569 (1972). State statutes and
6
prison regulations may grant prisoners liberty or property interests sufficient to invoke
7
due process protection. Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 223–27 (1976). However, to
8
state a procedural due process claim, Plaintiff must allege: “(1) a liberty or property
9
interest protected by the Constitution; (2) a deprivation of the interest by the government;
10
11
[and] (3) lack of process.” Wright v. Riveland, 219 F.3d 905, 913 (9th Cir. 2000).
The Ninth Circuit has held that inmates have no protected property interest in an
12
inmate grievance procedure arising directly from the Due Process Clause. See Ramirez v.
13
Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (“[I]nmates lack a separate constitutional
14
entitlement to a specific prison grievance procedure”) (citing Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d
15
639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988) (finding that the due process clause of the Fourteenth
16
Amendment creates “no legitimate claim of entitlement to a [prison] grievance
17
procedure”)). Even the non-existence of, or the failure of prison officials to properly
18
implement, an administrative appeals process within the prison system does not raise
19
constitutional concerns. Mann, 855 F.2d at 640; see also Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d
20
494, 495 (8th Cir. 1993).
21
In addition, Plaintiff has failed to plead facts sufficient to show that Defendants
22
deprived him of a protected liberty interest by allegedly failing to respond to any
23
particular prison grievance in a satisfactory manner. While a liberty interest can arise
24
from state law or prison regulations, Meachum, 427 U.S. at 223–27, due process
25
protections are implicated only if Plaintiff alleges facts to show that Defendants: (1)
26
restrained his freedom in a manner not expected from his sentence, and (2) “impose[d]
27
atypical and significant hardship on [him] in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison
28
life.” Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484 (1995). Here, Plaintiff pleads no facts to
8
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
suggest how Defendants’ allegedly inadequate review or failure to consider inmate
2
grievances restrained his freedom in any way, or subjected him to any “atypical” and
3
“significant hardship.” Id. at 483–84.
4
5
6
Thus, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s due process must be DISMISSED for failing
to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2), 1915A(b)(1).
4. Medical Claims
7
Plaintiff alleges that suffered an injury to his right eye on December 24, 2016.
8
(Compl. 9.) Plaintiff was prescribed an “ice pack” along with pain medication and an
9
order to have x-rays taken. (Id.) The next day when Plaintiff was receiving treatment for
10
an unspecified foot injury, he attempted to seek further treatment for his eye. (Id. at 9–
11
10.) However, Plaintiff claims that he was refused further treatment. (Id. at 10.) Three
12
days later, Plaintiff received an x-ray for his right eye. (Id. at 11.)
13
Only “deliberate indifference to serious medical needs of prisoners constitutes the
14
unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain . . . proscribed by the Eighth Amendment.”
15
Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 103, 104 (1976) (citation and internal quotation marks
16
omitted). “A determination of ‘deliberate indifference’ involves an examination of two
17
elements: (1) the seriousness of the prisoner’s medical need and (2) the nature of the
18
defendant’s response to that need.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir.
19
1991), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th
20
Cir. 1997) (en banc) (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104).
21
First, “[b]ecause society does not expect that prisoners will have unqualified access
22
to health care, deliberate indifference to medical needs amounts to an Eighth Amendment
23
violation only if those needs are ‘serious.’” Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992)
24
(citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 103–04). “A ‘serious’ medical need exists if the failure to treat
25
a prisoner’s condition could result in further significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and
26
wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at
27
104). “The existence of an injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find important
28
and worthy of comment or treatment; the presence of a medical condition that
9
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
significantly affects an individual’s daily activities; or the existence of chronic and
2
substantial pain are examples of indications that a prisoner has a ‘serious’ need for
3
medical treatment.” Id. at 1059–60 (citing Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1337–
4
41 (9th Cir. 1990); and Hunt v. Dental Dept., 865 F.2d 198, 200–01 (9th Cir. 1989)).
5
Even assuming Plaintiff’s medical needs were sufficiently serious, his Complaint
6
fails to include any further “factual content” to show that any named Defendant acted
7
with “deliberate indifference” to his needs. McGuckin, 914 F.2d at 1060; see also Jett v.
8
Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). Here, Plaintiff admits that he was treated
9
for his injury. He was seen by medical personnel and provided x-rays and pain
10
medication. Plaintiff must include “further factual enhancement,” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678
11
(citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557), which demonstrates Defendants’ “purposeful act or
12
failure to respond to [his] pain or possible medical need,” and the “harm [was] caused by
13
[their] indifference.” Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1122 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Jett,
14
439 F.3d at 1096).
15
To be deliberately indifferent, Defendants’ acts or omissions must entail more than
16
an ordinary lack of due care. Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 985 (9th Cir. 2012)
17
(citation and quotation marks omitted); Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122. “A difference of
18
opinion between a physician and the prisoner—or between medical professionals—
19
concerning what medical care is appropriate does not amount to deliberate indifference.”
20
Snow, 681 F.3d at 987 (citing Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989));
21
Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122–23. Further, an “inadvertent failure to provide adequate
22
medical care” does not state a deliberate indifference claim under § 1983. Wilhelm, 680
23
F.3d at 1122 (citations omitted). Instead, Plaintiff must plead facts sufficient to “show
24
that the course of treatment the doctor[] chose was medically unacceptable under the
25
circumstances and that the defendant[] chose this course in conscious disregard of an
26
excessive risk to [his] health.” Snow, 681 F.3d at 988 (citation and internal quotations
27
omitted).
28
10
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
Plaintiff’s Complaint, however, contains no facts sufficient to show that
2
Defendants acted with deliberately indifferent to his plight by “knowing of and
3
disregarding an[y] excessive risk to [Plaintiff’s] health and safety.” Farmer v. Brennan,
4
511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). Thus, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s medical care claims must
5
be DISMISSED for failing to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2) &
6
1915A(b)(1).
7
C. Leave to Amend
8
Because Plaintiff is proceeding without counsel, and he has now been provided
9
with notice of his Complaint’s deficiencies, the Court will grant him leave to amend. See
10
Rosati v. Igbinoso, 791 F.3d 1037, 1039 (9th Cir. 2015) (“A district court should not
11
dismiss a pro se complaint without leave to amend [pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
12
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii)] unless ‘it is absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint
13
could not be cured by amendment.’”) (quoting Akhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1212 (9th
14
Cir. 2012)).
15
CONCLUSION
16
In light of the foregoing, the Court:
17
1.
18
19
20
21
DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel without prejudice. (ECF
No. 3.)
2.
GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1915(a). (ECF No. 5).
3.
ORDERS the Secretary of the CDCR, or his designee, to collect from
22
Plaintiff’s trust account the $350 owed in monthly payments in an amount equal to
23
twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month’s income to the Clerk of the Court each
24
time the amount in Plaintiff’s account exceeds $10 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
25
ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED BY THE NAME AND
26
NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS ACTION.
27
28
11
3:17-CV-00946-JLS-PCL
1
4.
DIRECTS the Clerk of the Court to serve a copy of this Order on Scott
2
Kernan, Secretary, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, P.O. Box
3
942883, Sacramento, California, 94283-0001.
4
5.
DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s Complaint in its entirety
5
for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
6
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and § 1915A(b)(1), and GRANTS him forty-five (45) days leave
7
from the date of this Order in which to file an Amended Complaint which cures all the
8
deficiencies of pleading noted. Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint must be complete by itself
9
without reference to his original pleading, and must comply with Civil Local Rule 8.2(a).
10
Defendants not named and any claim not re-alleged in his Amended Complaint will be
11
considered waived. See Civil Local Rule 15.1; Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner
12
& Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1989) (“[A]n amended pleading supersedes
13
the original.”); Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (noting that
14
claims dismissed with leave to amend which are not re-alleged in an amended pleading
15
may be “considered waived if not repled.”).
16
17
18
19
6.
The Clerk of Court is directed to mail Plaintiff a copy of a court approved
form § 1983 complaint.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: September 28, 2017
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
12
3:17-CV-00946-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?