# Angelica R. Untalan v. Warren A. Stanley

> District Court, C.D. California · October 15, 2020

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10039255

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, C.D. California
- **Decided:** October 15, 2020
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10039255

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- finding the notice provided under Section 14602.6 23 satisfies due process
- stating that the California Supreme Court has not 10 settled this issue

## Opinion text

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United States District Court
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Central District of California
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ANGELICA R. UNTALAN, Case No. 2:19-cv-07599-ODW-(JEMx)
1100
Plaintiff,
1111
v. ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND
1122 DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’
WARREN A. STANLEY, et al., MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON
1133 THE PLEADINGS [45]
Defendants.
1144
1155 I. INTRODUCTION
1166 Before the Court is a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (the “Motion”) by
1177 Defendants Warren A. Stanley, Joseph Farrow, Tariq D. Johnson, Jonathan Cochran,
1188 Joseph Zagorski, Justin Vaughan, and Paola Trinidad (collectively “Defendants).
1199 (Mot. J. on Pleadings (“Mot.”), ECF No. 45.) On September 9, 2019, Plaintiff
2200 Angelica R. Untalan initiated this action against Defendants. (Compl., ECF No. 1.)
2211 On May 20, 2020, Defendants filed this Motion, which the parties have now fully
2222 briefed. (See Mot.; Opp’n to Mot. (“Opp’n Mot.”), ECF No. 50; Reply in Supp. Mot.
2233 (“Reply”), ECF No. 51.) For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS IN PART
2244 AND DENIES IN PART Defendants’ Motion.1
2255
2266
2277

2288 1 Having carefully considered the papers filed in connection with the Motion, the Court deemed the
matter appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15.
1 II. BACKGROUND
2 Untalan is the registered owner of a 2000 model year Pontiac Grand Am (the
3 “Vehicle”). (Compl. ¶ 20.) On May 12, 2019, Untalan drove her Vehicle on
4 Rosecrans Avenue in Los Angeles County and Defendant Paola Trinidad, an on-duty
5 California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) officer, stopped Untalan’s Vehicle. (Id.) After
6 Trinidad stopped Untalan, she determined that Untalan had never been issued a
7 California driver’s license, and consequently, Trinidad directed the seizure and
8 impoundment of Untalan’s Vehicle pursuant to California Vehicle Code section
9 14602.6 (hereinafter “Section 14602.6”). (Id.)
10 Section 14602.6 authorizes a peace officer to seize and impound a vehicle
11 whenever the officer determines a person is driving a vehicle “without ever having
12 been issued a driver’s license.” Cal. Veh. Code. § 14602.6(a)(1). When an officer
13 impounds a vehicle pursuant to Section 14602.6, the driver of the impounded vehicle
14 must receive notice and the opportunity for a storage hearing. Cal. Veh. Code
15 §§ 14602.6(a)(2), 14602.6(b). The impoundment is for a minimum of thirty days, but
16 an impounded vehicle may be released prior to thirty days if specific conditions are
17 satisfied. Id. § 14602.6(d).
18 On May 14, 2019, Untalan arrived at the CHP South Los Angeles station with a
19 licensed California driver. (Compl. ¶ 24.) Untalan requested that the CHP release her
20 Vehicle, informed the CHP that she had a licensed driver available to take custody of
21 her Vehicle, and expressed her willingness to pay the towing and storage fees owed.
22 (Id.) According to Untalan, the CHP officials refused to release her Vehicle and
23 informed her that it would be impounded for thirty days. (Id.)
24 On May 17, 2019, Untalan’s counsel spoke with Defendant Justin Vaughan, a
25 CHP sergeant, regarding the impound of her Vehicle. (Id. ¶ 26.) Untalan’s counsel
26 informed Vaughan “the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Brewster v. Beck, 859 F.3d 1194
27 (9th Cir. 2017)” required the CHP to release her Vehicle. (Id.) According to Untalan
28 “Vaughan stated he was aware of the Brewster decision but that the decision did not
1 apply to the CHP because Brewster involved the Los Angeles Police Department.”
2 (Id.) Vaughan further stated that the CHP would not release Untalan’s Vehicle prior
3 to the expiration of the thirty-day impound unless she could establish justification for
4 early release pursuant to Section 14602.6. (Id.)
5 On May 23, 2019, Untalan and her counsel met with Defendants Jonathan
6 Cochran and Joseph Zagorski, CHP lieutenants, at the storage hearing required
7 pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 22852 (hereinafter “Section 22852”). (Id.
8 ¶ 27.) Untalan tendered payment of the towing and storage fees and requested that her
9 Vehicle be released to her agent, a licensed California driver. (Id.) Cochran and
10 Zagorski refused to release the Vehicle and cited Section 14602.6 as the basis for their
11 refusal. (Id.)
12 On June 19, 2019, Untalan’s counsel sent a letter to Defendants Warren A.
13 Stanley (CHP commissioner) and Tariq D. Johnson (CHP captain). (Id. ¶ 28.) In the
14 letter, Untalan’s counsel requested that the CHP release her Vehicle and detailed
15 Untalan’s prior attempts to obtain her Vehicle. (Id.) Untalan alleges Stanley and
16 Johnson never responded to her letter. (Id.) Untalan further alleges that “at the end of
17 the [thirty]-day impound period” she did not reclaim her Vehicle because she did not
18 have the funds to pay the accrued towing and storage fees. (Id. ¶ 31.)
19 Untalan contends Defendants refused to release her Vehicle to “punish” her for
20 driving without a license. (Id. ¶ 29.) According to Untalan, Defendants Farrow and
21 Stanley personally approved the “Impound Policy”2 and its application to the seizure
22 and impoundment of Untalan’s Vehicle. (Id. ¶ 30.) Untalan further alleges that
23 Farrow and Stanley were informed the impound of vehicles was inconsistent with
24 federal law, but they continued to authorize the seizure and impoundment of vehicles
25 in contravention of the law. (Id.)
26
27

28 2 Based on the allegations in the Complaint, the policy Untalan refers to is premised on the
California Vehicle Code sections 14602.6 and 22852. (See Compl. ¶¶ 12–19.)
1 On September 1, 2019, Untalan filed a Complaint against Defendants, in their
2 individual capacities, asserting six claims for: (1) unlawful search of person under 42
3 U.S.C. § 1983 and California Civil Code section 52.1(b); (2) unlawful vehicle
4 impound under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (3) violation of substantive and procedural due
5 process under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (4) unlawful takings under 42 U.S.C. § 1983;
6 (5) violation of the Bane Civil Rights Act under California Civil Code section 52.1;
7 and (6) unlawful seizure in violation of article I, section 13 of the California
8 Constitution. (See Compl. ¶¶ 32–57.)
9 Defendants move for judgment on the pleadings as to all claims against
10 Defendant Tariq D. Johnson. (Mot. 5–6.) Defendants also seek judgment on the
11 pleadings on claims two through six as to the other Defendants, Warren A. Stanley,
12 Joseph Farrow, Jonathan Cochran, Joseph Zagorski, Justin Vaughan, and Paola
13 Trinidad. (Mot. 12–25.)
14 III. LEGAL STANDARD
15 After the pleadings are closed, but within such time as to not delay the trial, any
16 party may move for judgment on the pleadings. Fed. R. Civ P. 12(c). The standard
17 applied to a Rule 12(c) motion is essentially the same as that applied to
18 Rule 12(b)(6) motions; a judgment on the pleadings is appropriate when, even if all
19 the allegations in the complaint are true, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
20 matter of law. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555–56 (2007) (“Factual
21 allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level . . . on
22 the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in
23 fact) . . . .” (citations omitted)); Milne ex rel. Coyne v. Stephen Slesinger, Inc., 430
24 F.3d 1036, 1042 (9th Cir. 2005).
25 When ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings, a court should construe
26 the facts in the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and the movant
27 must clearly establish that no material issue of fact remains to be resolved.
28 McGlinchy v. Shell Chem. Co., 845 F.2d 802, 810 (9th Cir. 1988). However,
1 “conclusory allegations without more are insufficient to defeat a motion
2 [for judgment on the pleadings].” Id. If judgment on the pleadings is appropriate, a
3 court has discretion to grant the non-moving party leave to amend, grant dismissal, or
4 enter a judgment. See Lonberg v. City of Riverside, 300 F. Supp. 2d 942, 945 (C.D.
5 Cal. 2004). Leave to amend may be denied when “the court determines that the
6 allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly
7 cure the deficiency.” Schreiber Distrib. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.2d
8 1393, 1401 (9th Cir. 1986). Thus, leave to amend “is properly denied . . . if
9 amendment would be futile.” Carrico v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 656 F.3d
10 1002, 1008 (9th Cir. 2011).
11 IV. DISCUSSION
12 Defendants move for judgment on the pleadings on several grounds.3 First,
13 Defendants argue Johnson is entitled to judgment because Untalan has failed to
14 sufficiently state a claim for supervisory liability. Second, Defendants contend they
15 are entitled to judgment on Untalan’s unlawful impound claim under qualified
16 immunity. Third, Defendants aver they are entitled to judgment on Untalan’s due
17 process claim because (1) they are entitled to qualified immunity, and (2) Untalan has
18 failed to sufficiently allege a due process claim. Fourth, Defendants argue they are
19 entitled to judgment on Untalan’s takings claim because Defendants cannot be liable
20 in their individual capacities for a takings claim. Fifth and finally, Defendants assert
21 they are entitled to judgment on Untalan’s state law claims because (1) Untalan does
22 not allege a valid claim for damages under the California Constitution, (2) Untalan
23
3 Defendants also seek judicial notice of: 1) the storage impound and release procedures, and post-
24
storage hearings; 2) the CHP 215 citation issued to Untalan; 3) the CHP 180 form issued to Untalan;
25 and 4) the post storage hearing report. (Req. Jud. Notice 3, ECF No. 46.) Untalan objected to
Defendants’ Request. (ECF No. 50.) Additionally, Defendants objected to evidence Untalan
26 submitted in support of her Opposition. (ECF No. 52.) As the Court did not rely on any documents
submitted in support of Defendants’ Request for Judicial Notice or Untalan’s Opposition in reaching
27
its decision, Defendants’ Request (ECF No. 46) and Untalan’s objections (ECF No. 50) are moot.
28 Moreover, the Court did not rely on any documents Untalan submitted in support of her Opposition,
consequently, Defendants’ objections thereto (ECF No. 52) are moot.
1 fails to state a claim under the Bane Act, and (3) Untalan’s state law claims are barred
2 by immunity. The Court addresses each argument in turn.
3 A. Supervisory Liability
4 Defendants seek judgment on all federal and state law claims against Johnson
5 on the grounds that Untalan fails to state a supervisory liability claim against him.
6 (Mot. 5–6.) As an initial matter, the Court will evaluate whether Untalan has
7 sufficiently stated claims against Johnson under a theory of supervisory liability.
8 1. Federal Law Claims (Claims One Through Four)
9 Untalan contends she has stated a claim against Johnson, commissioner of the
10 CHP, under the theory of supervisory liability. (Compl. ¶¶ 28–29; Opp’n Mot.)
11 Untalan asserts Johnson “never responded to [her] counsel’s letter” demanding release
12 of Untalan’s Vehicle. (Compl. ¶ 28; Opp’n Mot. 9–10.) According to Untalan
13 “[e]ven though Johnson did not make the initial decision to impound [her] [V]ehicle”
14 she holds him liable as a supervisor because he knew of and acquiesced in the
15 unconstitutional conduct by his subordinates. (Opp’n Mot. 9–10 (citing Starr v. Baca,
16 652 F.3d 1202, 1207 (9th Cir. 2011)).)
17 “A defendant may be held liable as a supervisor under § 1983 ‘if there exists
18 either (1) his or her personal involvement in the constitutional deprivation, or (2) a
19 sufficient causal connection between the supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the
20 constitutional violation.’” Starr, 652 F.3d at 1207 (quoting Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d
21 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989)). “[A] plaintiff must show the supervisor breached a duty to
22 plaintiff which was the proximate cause of the injury.” Id. To state a claim against a
23 supervisor for deliberate indifference, a plaintiff must plausibly allege a supervisor’s
24 “knowledge of” and “acquiescence in” the unconstitutional conduct by his
25 subordinates. Id.
26 The Ninth Circuit’s reasoning in Starr is illustrative. The plaintiff Dion Starr,
27 an inmate in the Los Angeles County Jail, brought a § 1983 claim against the Los
28 Angeles County Sheriff for damages that resulted from a violent attack he allegedly
1 suffered while incarcerated. See id. at 1204. The court engaged in a two-step process
2 to determine whether the Starr could state a § 1983 claim against the sheriff for
3 deliberate indifference to the actions by his subordinates. Id. at 1216. First, the court
4 evaluated the allegations in the complaint and determined that the factual allegations
5 were neither “bald” nor “conclusory.” See id. at 1216, 1209–12 (citing over twenty
6 well-pleaded allegations in the complaint regarding the sheriff’s knowledge of and
7 acquiescence in the unconstitutional conduct of his subordinates). Second, the court
8 determined the well-pleaded allegations plausibly suggested the sheriff was
9 deliberately indifferent to unconstitutional conduct of his subordinates. Id. at 1216.
10 In this case, Untalan’s factual allegations concerning Johnson and the extent of
11 his knowledge fall short of the level found sufficient in Starr because she does not
12 sufficiently allege Johnson’s knowledge. (Compare Compl., with Starr, 652 F.3d
13 at 1209–12.) Untalan alleges her counsel sent a letter to Johnson on June 19, 2019,
14 which detailed her unsuccessful attempts to obtain her Vehicle from the CHP, and that
15 Johnson never responded to that letter. (Compl. ¶ 28.) In conclusory fashion, Untalan
16 contends that, because her counsel mailed a letter to Johnson, he was “informed” her
17 Vehicle was wrongfully impounded. (See id.) This allegation is insufficient to
18 demonstrate Johnson’s knowledge, and Untalan does not provide any other allegations
19 that could plausibly suggest Johnson had “knowledge of” unconstitutional violations
20 by his subordinates.
21 In sum, Untalan has not alleged any facts that plausibly suggest Johnson was
22 deliberately indifferent to any alleged unconstitutional conduct by his subordinates.
23 Therefore, the Court GRANTS the Motion as the § 1983 claims against Johnson
24 (Counts One through Four). As it is not clear that amendment would be futile, the
25 Court GRANTS Untalan leave to amend. See Leadsinger, Inc. v. BMG Publ’g, 512
26 F.3d 522, 532 (9th Cir. 2008) (ruling that leave to amend is proper when amendment
27 is not futile).
28
1 2. State Law Claims
2 Next, Defendants contend California Government Code section 820.8 bars
3 Untalan’s state law claims against Johnson. (Mot. 5–6.) Under section 820.8 “a
4 public employee is not liable for an injury caused by the act or omission of another
5 person.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 820.8. Section 820.8 codifies the prevailing view that
6 public employees are only liable in tort for acts or omissions in which they are
7 immediately, directly, and personally involved. See, e.g., Martinez v. Cahill, 215 Cal.
8 App. 2d 823, 824 (1963).
9 Untalan offers no opposition to Defendants’ section 820.8 argument, and
10 therefore impliedly concedes that the state law claims against Johnson are precluded.
11 See Silva v. U.S. Bancorp, No. 5:10-cv-01854-JHN (PJWx), 2011 WL 7096576, at *4
12 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 6, 2011) (“[T]he Court finds that Plaintiff concedes his . . . claim
13 should be dismissed because he failed to address Defendants’ arguments in his
14 Opposition.”); Conservation Force v. Salazar, 677 F. Supp. 2d 1203, 1211 (N.D. Cal.
15 2009) (“Where plaintiffs fail to provide a defense for a claim in opposition, the claim
16 is deemed waived.” (citing Loricchio v. Office of U.S. Trustee, 313 F. App’x. 51, 52
17 (9th Cir. 2009))).
18 Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the Motion as to the state law claims against
19 Johnson (Counts One, Five, and Six). As Untalan failed to oppose, and thus conceded
20 her claims should be dismissed, she is denied leave to amend.
21 B. Unlawful Vehicle Impound
22 Defendants move for judgment on Untalan’s claim for unlawful impound under
23 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Count Two). (Mot. 6–12.) Untalan contends the seizure and thirty-
24 day impoundment of her Vehicle violated her Fourth Amendment rights because the
25 officers acted without a warrant, and an exception to the warrant requirement did not
26 apply. (Compl. ¶ 38.) Defendants claim they are entitled to qualified immunity
27 because they did not violate clearly established law. (Mot. 6–12.)
28
1 “[O]fficers are not entitled to qualified immunity if (1) the facts taken in the
2 light most favorable” to the party alleging injury demonstrate “the officers’ conduct
3 violated a constitutional right and (2) the right was clearly established at the time of
4 the alleged violation.” Thompson v. Rahr, 885 F.3d 582, 586 (9th Cir. 2018) (internal
5 quotation marks and brackets omitted); see also Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201
6 (2001). The Court may address these prongs in either order. Pearson v. Callahan,
7 555 U.S. 223, 239 (2009). Dismissal is only appropriate where a court “can
8 determine, based on the complaint itself, that qualified immunity applies.” Groten v.
9 California, 251 F.3d 844, 851 (9th Cir. 2001).
10 1. Untalan Adequately Alleges the Officers Violated a Constitutional Right
11 The first step in a qualified immunity analysis is, “[t]aken in the light most
12 favorable to the party asserting the injury, do the facts alleged show the officer’s
13 conduct violated a constitutional right?” Saucier, 533 U.S. at 201. Here, Untalan’s
14 version of the facts, taken in a light most favorable to Untalan and reading the
15 Complaint liberally, sets out a violation of Untalan’s Fourth Amendment rights.
16 The Fourth Amendment protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures.”
17 U.S. Const. amend. IV. The Ninth Circuit has held that “[thirty]-day impounds under
18 section 14602.6 are seizures for Fourth Amendment purposes.” Sandoval v. Cnty. of
19 Sonoma, 912 F.3d 509, 515 (9th Cir. 2018), cert. denied, 140 S. Ct. 142 (2019); see
20 also Brewster 859 F.3d at 1196 (a seizure is “a meaningful interference with an
21 individual’s possessory interests in [her] property.” (quoting Soldal v. Cook Cnty., 506
22 U.S. 56, 61 (1992)). Here, Untalan does not appear contest the initial seizure, only the
23 thirty-day impound. (See generally Opp’n Mot.) Therefore, the issue before the
24 Court is whether the thirty-day impound was reasonable in light of the allegations in
25 the Complaint.
26 Even if the initial seizure of Untalan’s Vehicle did not violate the Fourth
27 Amendment, “[a] seizure is justified under the Fourth Amendment only to the extent
28 that the government’s justification holds force. Thereafter, the government must
1 cease the seizure or secure a new justification.” Brewster, 859 F.3d at 1197. In
2 Brewster, the Ninth Circuit explained that the exigency that justified the initial seizure
3 of a vehicle “vanish[es] once the vehicle arrive[s] in impound and [the vehicle’s
4 registered owner] show[s] up with proof of ownership and a valid driver’s license.”
5 Id. at 1196. In Sandoval, the court expanded upon its holding in Brewster, and found
6 that once the registered owner of the vehicle is “able to provide a licensed driver who
7 could take possession” of the vehicle, the initial justification for the seizure dissipates.
8 Sandoval, 912 F.3d at 516–517.
9 Here, the exigency that justified the initial seizure of Untalan’s Vehicle was that
10 she was driving without a license. (Compl. ¶ 23; see Mot. 4.) However, Untalan
11 alleges that two days after her Vehicle was seized, she “appeared at the CHP South
12 Los Angeles station with a licensed California driver.” (Compl. ¶ 24.) While at the
13 station, Untalan requested the CHP release her Vehicle, informed the CHP that a
14 licensed driver was available to take custody of the Vehicle, and expressed her
15 willingness to pay all towing and storage fees owed. (Id.) Nevertheless, “CHP
16 officials refused to release the [V]ehicle, stating it would be impounded for 30 days
17 pursuant to the Impound Policy.” (Id.)
18 The allegations, taken in the light most favorable to Untalan, state a violation of
19 Untalan’s Fourth Amendment rights. See Brewster, 859 F.3d at 1197; see also
20 Sandoval, 912 F.3d at 516–517. Once Untalan arrived at the CHP station with a
21 licensed driver who was prepared to take custody of the Vehicle, the “exigency that
22 justified the seizure vanished.” See Brewster, 859 F.3d at 1196. Moreover,
23 Defendants have not provided any valid justification for the continued seizure after
24 Untalan arrived at the station with a licensed driver.
25 2. Untalan’s Allegations Sufficiently Implicate a Clearly Established Right
26 The Court now turns to the second step of the qualified immunity analysis, i.e.,
27 whether the contours of the Fourth Amendment rights at issue were sufficiently clear
28 that “every reasonable official” would have understood that what he was doing
1 violated the Fourth Amendment. Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 741 (2011)
2 (internal quotation marks omitted). “The right the official is alleged to have violated
3 must have been ‘clearly established’ in an appropriately particularized sense.”
4 Calabretta v. Floyd, 189 F.3d 808, 812 (9th Cir. 1999). “We begin by looking to
5 binding precedent from the Supreme Court or [the Ninth Circuit].” Martinez v. City of
6 Clovis, 943 F.3d 1260, 1275 (9th Cir. 2019). “[A] case directly on point” is not
7 required to show the right in question was clearly established, “but existing precedent
8 must have placed the statutory or constitutional question beyond debate.” al-Kidd,
9 563 U.S. at 741.
10 Untalan relies on Brewster and Sandoval, two Ninth Circuit decisions issued
11 before her Vehicle was impounded, to demonstrate that her allegations implicate a
12 clearly established right. (Opp’n Mot. 11–12.) Untalan contends these cases clearly
13 established that continued possession of an impounded vehicle violates the Fourth
14 Amendment unless the government provides a new justification for the prolonged
15 seizure. (Id.) The Court agrees.
16 Brewster and Sandoval clearly established that a thirty-day seizure requires
17 compliance with the Fourth Amendment, and a prolonged seizure requires a new
18 justification after the initial justification for the seizure (i.e., driving without a license)
19 dissipates. Brewster, 859 F.3d at 1197; Sandoval, 912 F.3d at 516–517 (finding
20 continued impoundment unreasonable once the registered owner provides a licensed
21 driver willing to take possession of the vehicle).
22 In Brewster the Ninth Circuit addressed the question: is a “30-day impound of a
23 vehicle . . . a ‘seizure’ requiring compliance with the Fourth Amendment[?]” Id. at
24 1195. The court answered in the affirmative, and noted that it is “well established that
25 ‘a seizure lawful at its inception can nevertheless violate the Fourth Amendment
26 because its manner of execution unreasonably infringes possessory interests.’” Id. at
27 1196 (quoting United States v. Jacobsen, 466 U.S. 109, 124 (1984)). The court
28 reasoned “the exigency that justified the seizure vanished once the vehicle arrived in
1 impound and [the plaintiff] showed up with proof of ownership and a valid driver’s
2 license.” Id. Thus, Brewster holds that officers are required to secure a new
3 justification for the continued possession of an impounded vehicle once the vehicle’s
4 owner arrives with proof of ownership and a valid driver’s license. See generally id.
5 In Sandoval, the Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of the
6 plaintiffs on their claim that a thirty-day impound violated their Fourth Amendment
7 rights. 912 F.3d at 513. As in this case, the plaintiffs in Sandoval were stopped by
8 officers, and their vehicles were impounded under Section 14602.6 because the
9 drivers did not have valid California driver’s licenses. Id. at 513–514. Relying on
10 Brewster, the Ninth Circuit in Sandoval rejected the defendant’s argument that a
11 thirty-day impound is justified simply because the vehicle’s registered owner does not
12 have a valid driver’s license. Id. at 516–517.
13 Based upon the Ninth Circuit’s decisions in Brewster and Sandoval, the Court
14 finds that every reasonable official would have understood that the continued seizure
15 of Untalan’s Vehicle after she appeared at the CHP station with a licensed California
16 driver who could take possession of her Vehicle violated Untalan’s Fourth
17 Amendment rights. As evidenced by Untalan’s factual allegations, the exigency
18 warranting the initial seizure was discharged. See Sandoval, 912 F.3d at 516–517.
19 Thereafter, Defendants were required to establish a new justification for their
20 continued seizure of her Vehicle—which they did not.
21 The Court finds that Defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity on
22 Untalan’s second claim. Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion is DENIED as to
23 Untalan’s claim for unlawful vehicle impound (Count Two).
24 C. Due Process
25 Next, Defendants seek judgment on Untalan’s due process claim for failure to
26 state a claim. (Count Three). (Mot. 12–18.) Defendants assert several arguments for
27 why the thirty-day impoundment was not a violation of due process: (1) the notice
28 was sufficient; (2) the Section 22852 storage hearing satisfied constitutional standards;
1 (3) the thirty-day impoundment was not a “punitive sanction”; and (4) requiring
2 payment of towing and storage fees to reclaim possession of her Vehicle was not a “de
3 facto monetary penalty.” (See Mot. 17–21; Compl. ¶¶ 39–46.) The Court will
4 address each in turn.
5 1. Notice
6 Untalan contends the notice Defendants provided was constitutionally
7 inadequate because it: did not inform her that the thirty-day impound was imposed to
8 “punish” her; did not state the crime she committed; and failed to adequately explain
9 that her Vehicle was impounded. (Opp’n Mot. 15–22; Compl. ¶¶ 39–46.) Defendants
10 argue notice given pursuant to Sections 14602.6 and 22852 satisfies due process.
11 (Mot. 14.)
12 “A primary purpose of the notice required by the Due Process Clause is to
13 ensure that the opportunity for a hearing is meaningful.” City of West Covina v.
14 Perkins, 525 U.S. 234, 240 (1999). A governmental agency is not required to provide
15 individualized noticed of a plaintiff’s legal rights or remedies beyond what is provided
16 in “generally available state statutes and case law.” Id. at 241. “Once the property
17 owner is informed that [her] property has been seized, [s]he can turn to these public
18 sources to learn about the remedial procedures available to h[er].” Id. “When a
19 statute fixes the time and place of meeting of any board or tribunal, no special notice
20 to parties is required. The statute is itself sufficient notice.” Id. (quoting Reetz v.
21 Michigan, 188 U.S. 505, 509 (1903)); see also Salazar v. City of Maywood, 414 F.
22 App’x 73, 75 (9th Cir. 2011) (finding the notice provided under Section 14602.6
23 satisfies due process); see also Salazar v. Schwarzenegger, No. CV07-1854 SJO
24 (VBKx), 2008 WL 11357881, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 8, 2008) (same).
25 Untalan’s allegations that the notice she received violated due process have no
26 merit. (See Compl. ¶ 18; see also Opp’n Mot. 15.) Untalan does not contend
27 Defendants failed to provide her with notice, that the notice failed to cite to Section
28 14602.6, or that the notice was inconsistent with Sections 14602.6 and 22852. (See
1 generally Compl.) Instead, Untalan’s argument is that the notice she received does
2 not meet more rigid requirements she believes are necessary to satisfy due process.
3 (See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 45.) Despite Untalan’s allegations to the contrary, the statute
4 itself is sufficient notice to satisfy due process. See Perkins, 525 U.S. at 241;
5 Schwarzenegger, 2008 WL 11357881, at *5.
6 2. Storage Hearing
7 Untalan alleges the Section 22852 post-deprivation storage hearing (“Storage
8 Hearing”) violated due process because the Storage Hearing was not conducted by a
9 neutral party, and the Storage Hearing was not before a judicial or quasi-judicial
10 officer. (Complaint ¶ 45; Opp’n Mot. 22–24.) Defendants contend due process is not
11 violated merely because the hearing examiner is employed by CHP. (Mot. 15.)
12 First, there is no requirement that a neutral party conduct the Storage Hearing
13 for the process to comport with due process. The Ninth Circuit has rejected Untalan’s
14 very argument, stating it “is simply not the law” that a hearing examiner affiliated
15 with the impounding agency violates due process. David v. City of Los Angeles, 307
16 F.3d 1143, 1147 (9th Cir. 2002), rev’d on other grounds, 538 U.S. 715 (2003); see
17 also Spokane Cnty. Legal Servs., Inc. v. Legal Servs. Corp., 614 F.2d 662, 668 (9th
18 Cir. 1980) (the existence of an employer-employee relationship between the hearing
19 examiner and the agency “did not render the proceedings either unfair or violative of
20 due process.”).
21 Second, there is no requirement that the Storage Hearing be held before a
22 judicial or quasi-judicial officer to satisfy due process. “The fundamental requirement
23 of due process is the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful
24 manner.” Matthews v. Eldrige, 424 U.S. 319, 333 (1976) (internal quotation marks
25 omitted). “There is no constitutional requirement that the decisionmaker be an
26 uninvolved person when a property interest protected by due process is at stake.”
27 Jordan v. City of Lake Oswego, 734 F.2d 1374, 1376 n.1 (9th Cir. 1984). Untalan
28 fails to cite to any controlling authority to support her argument that in the context of a
1 storage hearing, due process requires a judicial or quasi-judicial officer to conduct the
2 hearing. As such, the Court finds the storage hearing did not violate due process
3 merely because it was not before a judicial or quasi-judicial officer.
4 3. “Punitive sanction,” and the Payment of Towing and Storage Fees
5 Untalan contends the thirty-day impoundment constituted a “punitive sanction”
6 in violation of due process. (Compl. ¶ 43.) Defendants assert no case cited by
7 Untalan supports this theory.4 (Mot. 16.) The Court agrees, the cases Untalan cites to
8 support this position are inapposite. (See Compl. ¶ 43.)
9 Untalan also alleges the CHP required her to pay fees to reclaim her Vehicle,
10 which she describes as a “de facto” monetary penalty in violation of due process.
11 (Compl. ¶ 44.) Again, there is no support for this position. In the Ninth Circuit,
12 requiring the payment of storage and towing fees does not violate due process.
13 Goichman v. Rheuban Motors, Inc., 682 F.2d 1320, 1325 (“[T]he government’s
14 considerable interest in retaining possession of the vehicle as security for the owner’s
15 payment of towing and storage charges outweighs the private interests that would be
16 served by the procedure.”)
17 None of Untalan’s myriad theories underlying her third claim for violation of
18 due process have merit. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion as to
19 Untalan’s due process claim (Count Three).5 As it is not clear that amendment would
20 be futile, Untalan is granted leave to amend. See Leadsinger, 512 F.3d at 532.
21 D. Unlawful Taking
22 Defendants move for judgment on Untalan’s unlawful takings claim (Count
23 Four). (Mot. 18.) Untalan alleges that, because “Defendants physically took
24 possession of the [Vehicle]” for a public purpose and without compensating her, the
25
4 For instance, Kokesh v. Sec. & Exch. Comm’n, 137 S. Ct. 1635 (2017), addressed the issue of
26 whether a disgorgement was a “sanction” subject to a five-year statute of limitations. United States
v. Bajakajian, 524 U.S. 321 (1998), involved the forfeiture of money pursuant to a federal statute
27
that required travelers to report when they were transporting more than $10,000 in currency. Bell v.
28 Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520 (1979), concerned the conditions of confinement for pretrial detainees.
5 In light of the Court’s determination, Defendants’ qualified immunity argument is moot.
1 thirty-day impound constituted a “Taking” under the Takings Clause of the Fifth
2 Amendment. (Compl. ¶ 48.) Defendants contend they are not liable in their
3 individual capacities for takings damages and Untalan’s Vehicle was not taken for a
4 “public use.” (Mot. 18–20.)
5 Neither party cites to binding precedent concerning whether Defendants may be
6 liable in their individual capacities for a takings claim. And it appears the Ninth
7 Circuit has not addressed this issue. However, the Fourth and Sixth Circuits have held
8 that a Fifth Amendment takings claim cannot be brought against individuals sued in
9 their personal capacities. See Langdon v. Swain, 29 F. App’x 171, 172 (4th Cir. 2002)
10 (“[T]akings actions sound against governmental entities rather than individual state
11 employees in their individual capacities.”); see also Vicory v. Walton, 730 F.2d 466,
12 467 (6th Cir. 1984) (“Plaintiff may not maintain [a takings clause] action against these
13 defendants who neither have nor claim the eminent domain power, nor any power
14 similar to it.”). Other district courts in this circuit have agreed. See Bridge Aina Le’a,
15 LLC v. State of Hawaii Land Use Comm’n, 125 F. Supp. 3d 1051, 1079 (D. Haw.
16 2015); United States v. Sandwich Isles Commc’ns, Inc., No. CV 18-00145 JMS-RT,
17 2019 WL 4017233, at *5 (D. Haw. Aug. 26, 2019).
18 The Court is persuaded by these courts and agrees that monetary relief is
19 unavailable against Defendants in their individual capacities for a takings claim. See
20 Bridge Aina Le’a, LLC, 125 F. Supp. 3d at 1078–80. The Court therefore GRANTS
21 Defendants’ Motion as to Untalan’s unlawful takings claim (Count Four). Untalan is
22 denied leave to amend. See Carrico, 656 F.3d at 1008.
23 E. Bane Act
24 Defendants seek judgment on Untalan’s claim under California Civil Code
25 section 52.1 (the “Bane Act”) (Count Five). (Mot. 21.) Untalan contends her rights
26 were “interfered with by threat, intimidation, or coercion” in violation of the Bane
27 Act. (Compl. ¶ 53.) Defendants argue that Untalan fails to state a claim under the
28
1 Bane Act, and even if she does state a claim, Defendants are immune under California
2 Government Code sections 820.6, 821.6, and 820.2. (Mot. 21–25.)
3 The Bane Act was enacted to address hate crimes. See Reese v. Cnty. of
4 Sacramento, 888 F.3d 1030, 1040 (9th Cir. 2018). The Bane Act “civilly protects
5 individuals from conduct aimed at interfering with rights that are secured by federal or
6 state law, where the interference is carried out ‘by threats, intimidation, or coercion.’”
7 Id. (quoting Venegas v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 153 Cal. App. 4th 1230, 1238 (2007)).
8 A plaintiff may bring a claim under the Bane Act “against public officials who are
9 alleged to interfere with protected rights.” Id. In addition to alleging a constitutional
10 violation, to state a claim under the Bane Act a plaintiff must allege “a specific intent”
11 to violate the plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Id. at 1043.
12 The Court has already determined that Untalan has sufficiently alleged a
13 violation of her Fourth Amendment rights. Thus, here, Untalan need only allege that
14 Defendants impounded her Vehicle “with specific intent to violate [her] Fourth
15 Amendment rights.” Sandoval, 912 F.3d at 520. But, even taken in the light most
16 favorable to Untalan, her allegations fail to demonstrate Defendants impounded her
17 Vehicle with “a specific intent” to violate her Fourth Amendment rights. (See
18 generally Compl.) Therefore, the Court finds that Untalan has failed to state a claim
19 for violation of the Bane Act.
20 Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion as to Untalan’s Bane
21 Act claim (Count Five).6 As it is not clear that amendment would be futile, Untalan is
22 granted leave to amend. See Leadsinger, 512 F.3d at 532.
23 F. Unlawful Seizure Under the California Constitution
24 Defendants move for judgment on Untalan’s sixth and final claim for violation
25 of article I, section 13 of the California Constitution (Count Six). (Mot. 20.) Untalan
26 alleges she is entitled to damages for Defendants’ warrantless seizure. (Compl. ¶¶ 55–
27

28 6 In light of the Court’s determination, Defendants’ remaining arguments concerning immunity
under California Government Code sections 820.6, 821.6 and 820.2 are moot.
1 57.) Defendants seek judgment on the basis that no authority supports that an
2 individual may bring a private right of action for damages under this section of the
3 California Constitution. (Mot. 20–21.)
4 Article I, section 13 of the California Constitution protects against unreasonable
5 searches and seizures. The California Supreme Court has not decided whether
6 article I, section 13 creates a private right of action for damages, and federal courts are
7 split on this issue. Estate of Osuna v. Cnty. of Stanislaus, 392 F. Supp. 3d 1162,
8 1178–79 (E.D. Cal. 2019) (collecting cases); see Julian v. Mission Cmty. Hosp., 11
9 Cal. App. 5th 360, 392 (2017) (stating that the California Supreme Court has not
10 settled this issue).
11 Nevertheless, even if a private right of action existed, the California Court of
12 Appeal has held a thirty-day impoundment pursuant to the provisions of Section
13 14602.6 does not constitute an unlawful seizure under the California Constitution.
14 Alviso v. Sonoma Cnty. Sheriff’s Dep’t, 186 Cal. App. 4th 198, 214 (2010). Untalan
15 fails to cite to any controlling authority to the contrary on this issue.
16 Therefore, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion as to Untalan’s claim for
17 violation of article I, section 13 of the California Constitution (Count Six). Because
18 Untalan’s claim fails as a matter of law, she is denied leave to amend. See Carrico,
19 656 F.3d at 1008.
20 V. CONCLUSION
21 For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN
22 PART Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (ECF No. 45) as follows:
23 1. The Motion is GRANTED with leave to amend the federal claims
24 (Counts One through Four), and without leave to amend the state law
25 claims (Counts One, Five, and Six) as to Untalan’s claims against
26 Johnson;
27 2. The Motion is DENIED as to Untalan’s unlawful vehicle impound claim
28 (Count Two);
1 3. The Motion is GRANTED with leave to amend as to Untalan’s due
2 process claim (Count Three);
3 4. The Motion is GRANTED without leave to amend as to Untalan’s
4 unlawful takings claim (Count Four);
5 5. The Motion is GRANTED with leave to amend as to Untalan’s Bane
6 Act claim (Count Five);
7 6. The Motion is GRANTED without leave to amend as to Untalan’s
8 claim under article I, section 13 of the California Constitution (Count
9 S1X).
10 If Untalan chooses to amend her pleadings, she shall file a First Amended
11 || Complaint (“FAC”) in conformance with this Order no later than twenty-one (21)
12 || days from the date of this Order. If Untalan files a FAC, Defendants shall file a
13 || response no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the FAC filing.
14
15 IT IS SO ORDERED.
16
17 October 15, 2020
18 4“
19 Gill: Ya biti
20 OTIS D. WRIGHT, II
1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10039255. Public record. Not legal advice.