Zinser v. State of Nevada Ex Rel Department of Corrections et al
Filing
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ORDER SCREENING AMENDED COMPLAINT. A decision on Plaintiff's 1 Motion/Application for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis is Deferred. Plaintiff has until 2/25/2016 to file a Second Amended Complaint. Plaintiff's 2 Motion to Add P ages is Denied as moot (see Order for claims Dismissed with and without prejudice). Signed by Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey on 1/25/2016. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - Complaint instructions/form and 3 Amended Complaint mailed to Plaintiff - SLD)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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FRED ZINSER,
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Case No. 2:15-cv-01459-JAD-VCF
Plaintiff
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v.
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DANIEL DAWSON, et al.,
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Defendants
Order Screening Amended Complaint and
Denying Motion to Add Pages
[ECF 1, 2]
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Nevada state prisoner Fred Zinser sues the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) and
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several prison officials and employees for a myriad of civil-rights violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1
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Zinser has also submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis and a motion to add pages.2 I
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temporarily defer the IFP application, screen the amended complaint under the Prison Litigation Reform
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Act (PLRA),3 and deny the motion to add pages as moot.4 Having screened his complaint under the
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PLRA, I dismiss some claims with prejudice and give Zinser until February 25, 2016, to amend others
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if he can plead true facts to cure their deficiencies.
Discussion
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A.
The PLRA requires federal courts to conduct a preliminary screening of any case in which a
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Screening Standard
prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or an employee of a governmental
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Zinser submitted a complaint with his application. ECF 1. This complaint is no longer operative.
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ECF 1, 2. Because Zinser’s amended complaint was submitted after his motion to add pages, I
deny the motion to add pages as moot.
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28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
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ECF 2.
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Page 1 of 10
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entity.5 In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are
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frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief
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from a defendant who is immune from such relief.6 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a
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plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) the violation of a right secured by the Constitution or
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laws of the United States, and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under
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color of state law.7 Pro se pleadings, however, must be liberally construed.8
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Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is
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provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and the court applies the same standard
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under § 1915 when reviewing the adequacy of a complaint or an amended complaint. When a court
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dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint
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with directions for curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the
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deficiencies could not be cured by amendment.9
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B.
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Screening of Zinser’s Amended Complaint
Zinser sues multiple defendants for events that allegedly took place while he was incarcerated
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at Nevada’s High Desert State Prison (HDSP).10 He sues correctional officer Daniel Dawson,
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Lieutenant Bean, a John Doe nurse, John Doe correctional officer #1, and John Doe correctional
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officer #2.11 Zinser alleges ten counts and seeks monetary and injunctive relief.12
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See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).
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See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)(2).
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See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
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Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).
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See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995).
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ECF 3 at 1.
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Id.
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Id. at 25, 28.
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Page 2 of 10
Zinser alleges the following: On September 28, 2013, he was attacked by another inmate.13
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Twenty minutes later, John Doe nurse gave Zinser a brief visual inspection and told defendants
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Dawson, Bean, and John Doe correctional officer #1 that Zinser was ok and that he did not need
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medical treatment.14 Defendant Bean then told Zinser that he needed to move to a new unit and
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ordered him push a laundry cart with his property to his new unit.15 Zinser attempted to comply, but
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was unable to due to his injury and he fell repeatedly.16
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Defendant Bean directed defendants Dawson and John Doe correctional officer #1 to
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handcuff Zinser and drag him to his new unit.17 After dragging Zinser several feet, defendant
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Dawson uncuffed Zinser and bent his hand to cause him pain and force him to stand.18 Zinser alleges
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that he begged for medical care, but defendants refused.19 The defendants allegedly continued to
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handcuff and drag Zinser towards the new unit, where he was left in his own urine on the floor; he
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could not lift himself up to get onto his bunk.20
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On October 4, 2013, Zinser’s pleas for medical attention were answered: he was placed on a
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stretcher and taken to the infirmary, where an x-ray revealed that his left hip was broken.21 Zinser
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received hip replacement surgery two days later.22
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Zinser alleges violations of his Eighth Amendment rights.
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Id. at 4.
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Id.
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Id. at 5.
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Id.
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Id.
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Id. at 6.
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Id.
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Id. at 7.
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Id. at 8.
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Id.
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Page 3 of 10
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1.
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Zinser claims that defendants violated his Eighth Amendment right to be free from excessive
Count I: Excessive Force
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force. “[W]henever prison officials stand accused of using excessive force in violation of the
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[Eighth Amendment], the core judicial inquiry is . . . whether force was applied in a good-faith effort
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to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.”23 The Eighth
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Amendment’s prohibition of “cruel and unusual” punishments, however, “necessarily excludes from
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constitutional recognition de minimis uses of physical force, provided that the use of force is not the
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sort “‘repugnant to the conscience of mankind.’”24
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Zinser alleges that defendants Dawson and John Doe correctional officer #1 used excessive
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force when they handcuffed him and dragged him across cement towards a new unit,25 and that
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defendant Dawson used excessive force when he bent Zinser’s hand backwards.26 Zinser also alleges
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that defendant Bean directed the actions of defendants Dawson and John Doe correctional officer #1.
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But Zinser also alleges that he was examined by a nurse who told defendants Bean, Dawson,
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and John Doe correctional officer #1 that Zinser had no significant injury.27 It follows, then, that
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defendants Bean, Dawson, and John Doe correctional officer # 1 were unaware that Zinser could not
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walk. Zinser offers no facts to show that defendants used force maliciously and sadistically to cause
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harm, rather than to maintain or restore discipline.28 The defendants, unaware of Zinser’s injury,
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ordered him to move to a new unit; when he did not comply, they moved him forcibly. Zinser has
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not alleged the defendants had any reason to doubt the legitimacy of the nurse’s diagnosis, other than
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Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 6–7 (1992).
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Id. (citing Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 327 (1986) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97,
106 (1976)).
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ECF 3.
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Id.
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Id. at 4.
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Id.
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Page 4 of 10
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his own protests. “It is obduracy and wantonness, not inadvertence or error in good faith, that
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characterize the conduct prohibited by the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause . . . .”29 Ziner has
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alleged no conduct by these defendants that states an Eighth Amendment excessive-force claim.
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Accordingly, Zinser’s excessive-force claim against defendants Bean, Dawson, and John Doe
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correctional officer #1 is dismissed without prejudice, with leave to amend.
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2.
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Zinser’s count II is duplicative of count I, alleging the use of excessive force. This claim is
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Count II: Intentional Infliction of Pain
dismissed as duplicative.
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3.
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Count III: Deliberate Indifference-Failure to Protect
Zinser alleges defendants Bean, Dawson, and John Doe correctional officers #1 and #2 failed
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to protect him from physical abuse from another inmate.30 Zinser alleges John Doe correctional
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officer #2 was working in the control booth and inadvertently allowed an unknown inmate to enter
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Zinser’s cell and batter him.31
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“Prison officials have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect inmates from physical
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abuse.”32 To establish a violation of this duty, the prisoner must demonstrate that prison officials
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were “deliberately indifferen[t]” to serious threats to [his] safety33 by showing that “the official[s]
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[knew] of and disregard[ed] an excessive risk to [his] safety.”34 This showing involves subjective
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and objective components: “the official must both be aware of facts from which the inference could
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be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and [the official] must also draw the
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Whitley, 475 U.S. at 319.
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ECF 3 at 11.
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Id.
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Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1250 (9th Cir. 1982).
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Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 833 (1994).
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Id. at 837.
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Page 5 of 10
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inference.”35
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Zinser has not alleged that defendant John Doe correctional officer #2 knew of and
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disregarded an excessive risk to his safety. Nor has Zinser alleged that defendants Bean, Dawson,
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and John Doe correctional officer #2 permitted another inmate to enter his cell. Zinser has not stated
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a plausible claim for deliberate indifference. Accordingly, Zinser’s claim that defendants Bean,
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Dawson, and John Doe correctional officers #1 and #2 were deliberately indifferent to a risk to his
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safety is dismissed without prejudice, with leave to amend.
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4.
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Zinser’s count IV is entirely duplicative of count III: he again alleges a failure to protect.
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Count IV: Negligence
Accordingly, count IV is dismissed as duplicative.
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5.
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Zinser’s count V is a restatement of the facts of his other counts with no new theory of a
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Count V: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Constitutional deprivation. Zinser’s count V is dismissed because it states no claim for relief.
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6.
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In count VI, Zinser alleges defendants Bean, Dawson, John Doe correctional officer #1, and
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John Doe nurse were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical need.36 Zinser asserts that John
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Doe nurse was deliberately indifferent for failing to discover his injuries and that defendants Bean,
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Dawson, and John Doe correctional officer #1 were deliberately indifferent for ignoring his pleas for
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further medical attention.
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Count VI: Deliberate Indifference to Zinser’s Serious Medical Needs
Deliberate indifference is satisfied by showing “(a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a
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prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and (b) harm caused by the indifference.”37 Indifference
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“may appear when prison officials deny, delay or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or it
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Id.
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ECF 3 at 17.
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Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).
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Page 6 of 10
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may be shown by the way in which prison physicians provide medical care.”38
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Zinser has not pled facts that suggest that defendants Bean, Dawson, or John Doe
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correctional officer #1 denied, delayed, or intentionally interfered with his medical treatment: a nurse
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was summoned who examined Zinser and diagnosed that no further treatment was needed. Zinser
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cannot demonstrate deliberate indifference on the part of these individuals for relying upon the
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diagnosis of a medical professional, so this claim is dismissed. The dismissal is with prejudice as to
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defendants Bean, Dawson, and John Doe correctional officer #1 because amendment would be futile.
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Zinser also alleges that defendant John Doe nurse was deliberately indifferent for failing to
recognize that his hip was broken.39 “[A] complaint that a physician has been negligent in
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diagnosing or treating a medical condition does not state a valid claim of medical mistreatment under
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the Eighth Amendment. Medical malpractice does not become a constitutional violation merely
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because the victim is a prisoner.”40 Because, as a matter of law, mere negligence is not sufficient to
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establish liability,41 this claim is also dismissed with prejudice against defendant John Doe nurse.
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7.
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In Count VII, Zinser restates the facts of count VI and asserts a negligence claim, which is
Count VII: Negligence to Serious Medical Needs
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not sufficient to establish § 1983 liability.42 Zinser’s count VII is dismissed with prejudice because
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amendment would be futile.
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8.
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Zinser’s count VIII is a restatement of the facts of count VI. Zinser cannot demonstrate that
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defendants denied, delayed, or intentionally interfered with his treatment became a nurse examined
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him and determined that no treatment was necessary. Accordingly, this count is dismissed with
Count VIII: Failure to Summon Adequate Medical Care
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Id. (citation omitted).
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39
ECF 3 at 17.
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40
Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976).
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Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 835 (1994).
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Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835.
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Page 7 of 10
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prejudice because amendment would be futile.
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9.
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Zinser’s count IX is a restatement of the facts of count VI. Zinser asserts that defendants
Count IX: Negligence for Failure to Summon Adequate Medical Care
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were negligent for failing to summon adequate medical care. Mere negligence is not sufficient to
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establish liability for deliberate indifference.43 For that reason, Zinser’s count IX is dismissed with
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prejudice because amendment would be futile.
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10.
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The law does not recognize a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress under 42
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Count X: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
U.S.C. § 1983. Because Count X does not state a viable cause of action, it is dismissed with
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prejudice.
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C.
Leave to Amend
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Zinser is granted leave to file an amended complaint to cure the two possibly curable
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deficiencies I have found: (1) the absence of facts to support his Eighth Amendment excessive-force
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claim against defendants Bean, Dawson, and John Doe correctional officer #1; and (2) the absence of
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facts to support his Eighth Amendment failure-to-protect claim against defendants Bean, Dawson,
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and John Doe correctional officers #1 and #2. Zinser is advised that an amended complaint
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supersedes the original complaint, so any amended complaint he files must be complete in itself.44 If
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Zinser chooses to file an amended complaint to add true facts to support any of these two claims, he
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must:
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•
file the second amended complaint by February 25, 2016;
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include all claims, defendants, and factual allegations that he wishes to pursue in this
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lawsuit because anything left out will be deemed abandoned;
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Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835.
See Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1989)
(holding that “[t]he fact that a party was named in the original complaint is irrelevant; an amended
pleading supersedes the original”); see also Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir.
2012) (holding that for claims dismissed with prejudice, a plaintiff is not required to reallege such
claims in a subsequent amended complaint to preserve them for appeal).
Page 8 of 10
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•
file the second amended complaint on this court’s approved prisoner-civil-rights form
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and write the words “Second Amended” above the words “Civil Rights Complaint” in
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the form’s caption; and
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•
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not include in the second amended complaint any claim or defendant that has been
dismissed with prejudice in the “Conclusion” section of this order.
As a general rule, the use of a “Doe” pleading to identify a defendant is not favored.45
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However, I recognize that there are situations “where the identity of alleged defendants will not be
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known prior to the filing of a complaint.”46 In those situations, “the plaintiff should be given an
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opportunity through discovery to identify the unknown defendants, unless it is clear that discovery
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would not uncover the identities, or that the complaint would be dismissed on other grounds.”47 To
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the extent possible, Zinser should avoid the use of “Doe” pleadings in his second amended
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complaint.
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If Zinser cannot—or chooses not to—file a second amended complaint to cure the
deficiencies in the claims identified above, this action will be dismissed in its entirety.
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Conclusion
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that a decision on plaintiff’s application to proceed
in forma pauperis [ECF 1] is deferred.
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s claims for:
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C
intentional infliction of pain;
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C
negligence;
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cruel and unusual punishment;
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C
negligence to serious medical needs;
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C
failure to summon adequate medical care;
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Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980).
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Id.
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Id.
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Page 9 of 10
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C
negligence for failure to summon adequate medical care; and
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C
intentional infliction of emotional distress
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are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE because amendment would be futile;
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s claims for:
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C
Eighth Amendment violation based on excessive force; and
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C
Eighth Amendment violation based on failure to protect
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are dismissed without prejudice; plaintiff has until February 25, 2016, to file a second amended
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complaint if he can cure the deficiencies identified in these claims while following the instructions
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above. If plaintiff chooses not to file a second amended complaint by February 25, 2016, to
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cure the deficiencies in these Eighth Amendment claims, this action will be dismissed in its
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entirety.
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The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the approved form for filing a § 1983
complaint, instructions for the same, and a copy of his amended complaint [ECF 3].
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion to add pages [ECF 2] is DENIED as
moot.
DATED this 25th day of January, 2016.
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__________________________________
______________________
_ ___ _ _ _ _ _
Jennifer Dorsey
nnifer Dorsey
fe
r
United States District Judge
nited States
d tate
t Judge
dg
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