Ross v. Bolin

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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11 DAVID R. ROSS, Case No. 1:21-cv-01753-JLT-SAB

12 Plaintiff, ORDER SCREENING FIRST AMENDED

COMPLAINT

13 v.

(ECF No. 7)

14 NINA BOLIN, et al.,

15 Defendants.

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18 David R. Ross (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed

19 this action against Nina Bolin and Ursula Dean, Operations Managers for the Department of

20 Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on December 10, 2021. (ECF No. 1.) On February

21 22, 2022, the Court screened the complaint and found Plaintiff failed to allege sufficient facts to

22 state a claim. (ECF No. 6.) On March 18, 2022, Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint. (ECF

23 No. 7.) The first amended complaint is now before this Court for screening.

24 I.

25 SCREENING REQUIREMENT

26 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a

27 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The

28 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally

1 “frivolous or malicious,” that “fail[] to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that

2 “seek[] monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. §

3 1915(e)(2)(B).

4 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the

5 pleader is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not

6 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere

7 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal (Iqbal), 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)

8 (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly (Twombly), 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). “Vague and

9 conclusory allegations of official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient to

10 withstand a motion to dismiss.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268

11 (9th Cir. 1982); see also Jones v. Cmty. Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984)

12 (finding conclusory allegations unsupported by facts insufficient to state a claim under § 1983).

13 Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the

14 deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002).

15 Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their pleadings

16 liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor. Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d

17 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2012) (citations omitted). To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be

18 facially plausible, which requires sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer

19 that each named defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678–79; Moss

20 v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The “sheer possibility that a defendant

21 has acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and “facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s

22 liability” falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d

23 at 969.

24 As a general rule, the Court must limit its review to the operative complaint and may not

25 consider facts presented in extrinsic evidence. See Lee v. City of L.A., 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th

26 Cir. 2001). Materials submitted as part of the complaint, however, are not “outside” the

27 complaint and may be considered. Id.; Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., Inc., 896

28 F.2d 1542, 1555 n.19 (9th Cir. 1990). Moreover, the Court is not required to accept as true

1 conclusory allegations which are contradicted by exhibits to the complaint. See Sprewell v.

2 Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001), amended on denial of reh’g, 275 F.3d

3 1187 (9th Cir. 2001); Steckman v. Hart Brewing, Inc., 143 F.3d 1293, 1295–96 (9th Cir. 1998).

4 A plaintiff can also “plead himself out of a claim by including unnecessary details contrary to his

5 claims.” Sprewell, 266 F.3d at 988. Leave to amend may be granted to the extent that the

6 deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by amendment. Cato v. U.S., 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th

7 Cir. 1995).

8 II.

9 COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS

10 The Court accepts Plaintiff’s allegations in the first amended complaint as true only for

11 the purpose of the sua sponte screening requirement under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

12 Plaintiff is currently and was at all relevant times a state prisoner at Correctional Training

13 Facility. (ECF No. 7 at 7.) Defendants Bolin and Dean are employees at the IRS. (Id. at 2, 8.)

14 Plaintiff purports to sue both Defendants in their official and individual capacities. (Id. at 8.)

15 Plaintiff alleges his Economic Impact Payment (“EIP”) stimulus check for $1,200 was

16 deposited “into an unknown account[,] allowing someone [Plaintiff] did not know to have access

17 to [his EIPs] or use [his] social security [number] illegally.” (Id. at 9, 11.) Plaintiff submitted an

18 IRS form 3911 to start a legal trace to find the missing payments. (Id. at 8.) He claims this

19 completed the administrative process. (Id.)

20 Plaintiff alleges Bolin knew his EIPs were deposited into an “unknown account,” told

21 Plaintiff to file the Form 3911, but ultimately did not do anything to find Plaintiff’s lost EIP

22 payments.1 (ECF No. 7 at 9.) Plaintiff alleges Dean also knew Plaintiff’s EIPs were deposited

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1 The Court notes Plaintiff’s original complaint included supporting exhibits that Plaintiff has removed from his

24 amended complaint: a copy of Plaintiff’s inmate account statement showing transactions from April 1, 2021, through

July 6, 2021, and two letters from the IRS — one signed by Bolin and the other signed by Dean. Plaintiff’s inmate

25 account statement reflects an EIP payment in the amount of $1,400 was deposited into Plaintiff’s account on April

13, 2021. (Ex. A, ECF No. 1 at 10.) The IRS letter signed by Dean is dated August 24, 2021. (Ex. B, ECF No. 1 at

14–15.) The letter acknowledges receipt of Plaintiff’s January 13, 2021 inquiry and indicates an additional sixty days

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was required for the IRS to send Plaintiff a complete response to his inquiry. (Id.) The IRS letter signed by Bolin is

dated August 26, 2021, and addresses Plaintiff’s January 10, 2021 inquiry. (Ex. C, ECF No. 1 at 12–13.) This letter

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indicates an EIP of $1,200 was deposited on November 12, 2020, into an account, number 1281434751645, after

Plaintiff’s personal information was submitted via the “Non-Filers tool” on the IRS website to obtain the EIP. (Id.)

28 While an amended complaint supersedes its prior iteration, “a plaintiff may not controvert what [he] has already

1 into an “unknown account” and similarly failed to find the payments. (Id.) Plaintiff submitted a

2 number of 3911 forms, written letters of complaint, and 1040 tax returns. (Id. at 11.) But the

3 only response Plaintiff received is notice that additional time is required to respond to his inquiry.

4 (Id.) Plaintiff has received such letters for the past fourteen months, but never received his EIPs.

5 (Id.)

6 Plaintiff claims Defendants’ actions amount to cruel and unusual punishment in violation

7 of the Eighth Amendment. (Id. at 10.) Plaintiff also claims Defendants violated his equal

8 protection rights by failing to “treat Plaintiff equally as any other U.S. Citizen” and instead

9 discriminating against Plaintiff and treating him differently, presumably due to his incarcerated

10 status. (Id.) Plaintiff asks the Court to order the IRS to locate and pay him the $1,200 missing

11 EIPs that were applied to the “unknown account,” and punitive damages for hardship. (Id. at 11.)

12 III.

13 DISCUSSION

14 A. Proper Defendant

15 Plaintiff purports to sue Defendants Bolin and Dean in their official and individual

16 capacities. (Id. at 8.) “[A]n official capacity suit is tantamount to a claim against the government

17 entity itself,” and the Court shall construe it as such. Klebanowski v. Sheahan, 540 F.3d 633, 637

18 (7th Cir. 2008); see also Kentucky v. Graham, 4733 U.S. 159, 165–66 (1985) (suing a public

19 employee in her official capacity under § 1983 is equivalent to suing the entity itself); Zinda v.

20 Johnson, 463 F. Supp. 2d 45, 48 (D.D.C. 2006) (granting motion to substitute US for individual

21 defendants as proper party defendant in plaintiff’s tax claim).

22 Furthermore, to the extent he seeks to sue Bolin and Dean in their individual capacities,

23 the tax code provides that any suit related to recovering any internal revenue tax “may be

24 maintained only against the United States and not against any officer or employee of the United

25 States . . . .” 26 U.S.C. § 7422(f)(1); see also Zinda, 463 F. Supp. 2d at 48 (“[S]uits for tax

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unequivocally told a court” to avoid dismissal of a defective cause of action. See Soo Line R. Co. v. St. Louis Sw.

Ry. Co., 125 F.3d 481, 483 (7th Cir. 1997) (discussing judicial admissions). Thus, to the extent the amended

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complaint asserts allegations contradicted by the facts asserted in Plaintiff’s prior exhibits, the Court may judicially

notice the prior exhibits and need not accept the contradicted allegations as true. See Sprewell, 266 F.3d at 988;

28 Steckman 143 F.3d at 1295–96.

1 refunds or damages should be brought against the United States”). For this reason, as well,

2 Plaintiff has named the wrong defendants and Plaintiff’s individual capacity claims against Bolin

3 and Dean fail. The United States is the proper party defendant.

4 B. Tax Refund Claim

5 The first amended complaint does not attempt to assert a cause of action for tax refund

6 pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7422 (and instead only asserts causes of action under the Eighth and

7 Fourteenth Amendments); however, liberally construing the allegations, it appears the remedy

8 Plaintiff seeks is recovery of certain tax refunds in the form of Economic Impact Payments under

9 the CARES Act, which would implicate a cause of action pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7422.2

10 Accordingly, the Court shall grant Plaintiff leave to amend the complaint to assert a tax refund

11 cause of action pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7422, and provides the following legal standard pertaining

12 to Plaintiff’s claim.

13 1. Jurisdiction

14 “It is well settled that the United States is a sovereign, and, as such, is immune from suit

15 unless it has expressly waived such immunity and consented to be sued.” Gilbert v. DaGrossa,

16 756 F.2d 1455, 1458 (9th Cir. 1985). “The waiver of sovereign immunity is a prerequisite to

17 federal-court jurisdiction.” Tobar v. U.S., 639 F.3d 1191, 1195 (9th Cir. 2011). If a plaintiff

18 cannot establish that its action against the United States falls within a waiver of sovereign

19 immunity, the action must be dismissed. See Dunn & Black, P.S. v. U.S., 492 F.3d 1084, 1088

20 (9th Cir. 2007).

21 Congress has waived the United States’ sovereign immunity with respect to civil actions

22 seeking a refund or credit on overpaid taxes. See 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(1); see also Imperial Plan,

23 Inc. v. U.S., 95 F.3d 25, 26 (9th Cir. 1996). However, individuals bringing such suits must meet

24 a number of requirements for the waiver of sovereign immunity to apply. Congress has specified

25 that:

26 No suit or proceeding shall be maintained in any court for the

recovery of any internal revenue tax alleged to have been

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2 Plaintiff also alleges, as discussed herein, certain facts that appear to address jurisdiction and administrative

28 requirements under the tax code.

1 erroneously or illegally assessed or collected . . . until a claim for

refund or credit has been duly filed with the Secretary, according to

2 the provisions of law in that regard, and the regulations of the

Secretary established in pursuance thereof.

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4 26 U.S.C. § 7422(a).

5 Simply put, before filing suit in federal court for credit or refund of overpaid taxes, a

6 taxpayer must first comply with the tax refund scheme established in the Code by filing an

7 administrative claim with the IRS. U.S. v. Clintwood Elkhorn Min. Co., 553 U.S. 1, 4 (2008);

8 Omohundro v. U.S., 300 F.3d 1065, 1066 (9th Cir. 2002); see 26 U.S.C. § 7422(a). More

9 specifically, the taxpayer must file a claim for refund, which the IRS then either rejects or does

10 not act upon within six months. Thomas v. U.S., 755 F.2d 728, 729 (9th Cir. 1985) (citations

11 omitted).

12 Treasury Regulations establish a number of additional requirements for claims for tax

13 refunds. “If the refund claim does not meet the requirements of the Code and the regulations, the

14 suit must be dismissed because filing pursuant to the rules is a jurisdictional prerequisite.” Boyd

15 v. U.S., 762 F.2d 1369, 1371 (9th Cir. 1985) (citations omitted); see Washington v. U.S., No. 20-

16 cv-5801-TSH, 2021 WL 199279, at *5–8 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 20, 2021) (dismissing refund-related

17 cause of action for failure to show plaintiff made a proper administrative claim with the IRS);

18 Trakhter v. U.S., No. 20-cv-02282-SI, 2020 WL 3971621 (N.D. Cal. July 14, 2020) (dismissing

19 refund suit for failure to comply with jurisdictional prerequisites); Catholic Answers, Inc. v. U.S.,

20 No. 09-CV-670-IEG (AJB), 2009 WL 3320498, at *6 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 14, 2009) (“Filing a claim

21 for refund in compliance with 26 U.S.C. § 7422(a) and Treasury Regulation § 301.6402-2(b)(1) is

22 a jurisdictional prerequisite to a suit for a refund.”) (citation omitted).

23 For example, a refund claim “must set forth in detail each ground upon which a credit or

24 refund is claimed and facts sufficient to apprise the Commissioner of the exact basis thereof.” 26

25 C.F.R. § 301.6402-2(b); see also Provenzano v. U.S., 123 F. Supp. 2d 554, 557–58 (S.D. Cal.

26 2020) (dismissing plaintiff’s suit for refund for failure to comply with jurisdictional prerequisites,

27 including a failure to “provide sufficient detail” in the claim submitted to the IRS). Dunn &

28 Black, P.S., 492 F.3d at 1091 (“[T]he taxpayer cannot recover in its suit for refund on a different

1 ground than that set forth in the claim for refund.”) (emphasis in original) (citation omitted).

2 “The statement of the grounds and facts must be verified by a written declaration that it is made

3 under the penalties of perjury,” or it “will not be considered for any purpose as a claim for refund

4 or credit.” 26 C.F.R. § 301.6402-2(b).

5 The refund claim must also be filed with the IRS within the time limits established by the

6 Internal Revenue Code. N. Life Ins. Co. v. U.S., 685 F.2d 277, 279 (9th Cir. 1982) (“The filing

7 of a timely claim is jurisdictional for a refund suit and cannot be waived.”); see also Clintwood

8 Elkhorn Min. Co., 553 U.S. at 5 (quoting U.S. v. Dalm, 494 U.S. 596, 602 (1990)) (“unless a

9 claim for refund of a tax has been filed within the time limits imposed by § 6511(a), a suit for

10 refund . . . may not be maintained in any court.”). The IRS regulations require that the

11 administrative claim must be filed within three years from the time the return was filed or two

12 years from the time the tax was paid, whichever expires later. See 26 U.S.C. § 6511(a); 26 C.F.R.

13 § 301.6402-2(a).

14 For some claims, Treasury Regulations require that the refund claim be made on a

15 specific, prescribed form. 26 C.F.R. § 301.6402-2(b), (c); see also 26 C.F.R. § 301.6402-2(a)(2)

16 (“if a taxpayer is required to file a claim for credit or refund using a particular form, then the

17 claim, together with appropriate supporting evidence, shall be filed in a manner consistent with

18 such form, form instructions, publications, or other guidance found on the IRS.gov Web site.”).

19 For example, individuals can claim an income tax refund on the individual’s income tax return or,

20 if the individual has already filed a Form 1040 or 1040A, on a Form 1040X. 26 C.F.R. §

21 301.6402-3.

22 These requirements were “devised, not as traps for the unwary, but for the convenience of

23 government officials in passing upon claims for refund and in preparing for trial.” Tucker v.

24 Alexander, 275 U.S. 228, 231 (1927). Accordingly, when assessing suits for refund, courts

25 remain “mindful that the basic purpose of § 7422(a) and the accompanying regulations are ‘to

26 afford the Service an opportunity to consider and dispose of the claim without the expense and

27 time which would be consumed if every claim had to be litigated’ . . . and ‘to prevent surprise on

28 the facts.’ ” Lemoge v. U.S., 378 F. Supp. 228, 232 (N.D. Cal. 1974) (citations omitted).

1 In the first amended complaint, Plaintiff alleges he submitted a 1040 tax form in late 2020.

2 (ECF No. 7 at 10.) Plaintiff also alleges he submitted the IRS form he was directed to submit, the

3 Form 3911. (Id. at 11.) Further, Plaintiff alleges his inquiry into the status of his EIP payments

4 and submission of the Form 3911 exhausted the administrative process. An independent review

5 of the IRS.gov website confirms the Form 3911 is the only form a taxpayer must submit with

6 respect to recovering purportedly missing EIPs.3 Therefore, Plaintiff appears to have complied

7 with the administrative requirements that he timely file a claim for refund.

8 Plaintiff does not allege, however, any facts describing the details asserted in his claim.

9 For example, Plaintiff does not indicate whether he verified by written declaration that his claim

10 was submitted under penalty of perjury; he does not attach any documents to support his assertion

11 of submitting an administratively-compliant claim; and he does not identify what evidence, if any,

12 he submitted to the IRS with his administrative claim. 26 C.F.R. § 301.6402-2(b); Provenzano,

13 123 F. Supp. 2d at 557–58; Dunn & Black, P.S., 492 F.3d at 1091. This is significant because, as

14 the Court noted, a taxpayer cannot recover in a lawsuit “for refund on a different ground than that

15 set forth in the claim for refund.” Dunn & Black, P.S., 492 F.3d at 1091 (emphasis and citation

16 omitted). In other words, Plaintiff can only sue in this Court based on substantially the same

17 claim presented to the IRS. See Catholic Answers, Inc., 2009 WL 3320498, at *6 (“If the

18 grounds raised in a refund suit are at ‘variance’ with those presented to the IRS in a claim for

19 refund, the added grounds must be disregarded.”) (citations omitted). Plaintiff has not provided

20 any information regarding the content of his refund claim, and so he has provided no plausible

21 basis for this Court to conclude that the case falls within the waiver of sovereign immunity

22 necessary to establish jurisdiction. Moreover, without knowing what information Plaintiff

23 provided in his refund claim, the Court cannot conclude that he satisfied the basic purpose of 26

24 U.S.C. § 7422(a), which is to give Defendants an opportunity to understand and evaluate the

25 specific facts of the claim. See Lemoge, 378 F. Supp. at 232. Thus, Plaintiff has not alleged

26 sufficient facts to establish the Court has jurisdiction over this action.

27 ///

28 3 See IRS, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit (last visited Mar. 22, 2022).

1 2. Claim for Economic Impact Payments

2 The CARES Act, codified in part at Section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.

3 § 6428, establishes a mechanism for the IRS to issue EIPs to eligible individuals in the form of a

4 tax credit. Scholl v. Mnuchin, 489 F. Supp. 3d 1008, 1020 (N.D. Cal. 2020), appeal dismissed,

5 No. 20-16915, 2020 WL 9073361 (9th Cir. Nov. 20, 2020). Specifically, the CARES Act

6 established a tax credit for eligible individuals in the amount of $1,200 ($2,400 if filing a joint

7 return), plus $500 multiplied by the number of qualifying children. 26 U.S.C. § 6428(a). The tax

8 credit was authorized to be distributed as an advance refund on 2020 taxes. 26 U.S.C. § 6428(f).

9 The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) authorized a second tax credit of

10 $600, which also was authorized to be paid as an EIP. 26 U.S.C. §§ 6428A(a), (f). The

11 American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARPA) directed EIPs in the amount of $1,400 to eligible

12 individuals. 26 U.S.C. §§ 6428B(a)–(d). Finally, Congress provided that “[n]o refund or credit

13 shall be made or allowed under this subsection after December 31, 2020.” 26 U.S.C. §

14 6428(f)(3)(A).

15 The CARES Act also has a reconciliation provision between the advance refund and the

16 tax credit such that if a taxpayer receives an advance refund of the tax credit, then the amount of

17 the credit is reduced by the aggregate amount of the refund. 26 U.S.C. § 6428(e). Finally, the

18 CARES Act delegates to the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to “prescribe such regulations

19 or other guidance as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including any

20 such measures as are deemed appropriate to avoid allowing multiple credits or rebates to a

21 taxpayer.” 26 U.S.C. § 6428(h).

22 Plaintiff claims he was supposed to receive EIPs 1 and 2, for a total combined amount of

23 $1,800.4 (ECF No. 7 at 6, 8–9.) This allegation suggests Plaintiff is referring to the EIPs

24 distributed pursuant to the CARES Act and the CAA in the amounts of $1,200 and $600,

25 respectively. 26 U.S.C. §§ 6428(a), (f). However, the amended complaint only asserts factual

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4 Plaintiff does not appear to seek recovery of the third EIP (in the amount of $1,400 pursuant to the ARPA). 26

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U.S.C. §§ 6428B(a)–(d). Indeed, Plaintiff’s inmate trust account statement indicates he received an EIP in the

amount of $1,400 on April 13, 2021, which was likely this third stimulus payment pursuant to ARPA. (ECF No. 1 at

28 10.)

1 allegations with respect to Plaintiff’s missing payment of $1,200, i.e., the EIP Plaintiff allegedly

2 should have received pursuant to the CARES Act. (See ECF No. 7 at 10–11.) The amended

3 complaint does not set forth any allegations pertaining to Plaintiff’s failure to receive a separate

4 EIP check for $600, pursuant to the CAA, nor does Plaintiff allege that he requested the IRS to

5 locate his EIP in the amount of $600. Therefore, to the extent Plaintiff seeks to assert a claim for

6 a tax refund, the Court may only reasonably infer at this time that Plaintiff seeks to recover the

7 EIP for $1,200 under the CARES Act, as detailed in the amended complaint.

8 C. Constitutional Claims

9 The first amended complaint attempts to assert only two causes of action, both of which

10 are civil rights claims pursuant to § 1983: (1) violation of Plaintiff’s right to be free from cruel

11 and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and (2) violation of Plaintiff’s equal

12 protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. These claims fail for multiple reasons, which

13 the Court shall address herein.

14 1. Constitutional Claims Against the United States

15 As the Court noted, pursuant to the tax code, Plaintiff may not sue the individual federal

16 employees because only the United States is the proper defendant. 26 U.S.C. § 7422(f)(1); Will

17 v. Mich. Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989). Construing Plaintiff’s claims for

18 constitutional violations as asserted against the United States, Plaintiff’s claims fail because the

19 United States has sovereign immunity.

20 As the Court previously noted, “[t]he doctrine of sovereign immunity bars those suits

21 against the United States that are not specifically waived by statute.” Jackson v. Bush, 448 F.

22 Supp. 2d 198, 200 (D.D.C. 2006) (citing U.S. v. Sherwood, 312 U.S. 584, 586 (1941)). Plaintiff

23 has cited no statute, and the Court knows of none, that waives sovereign immunity on the facts of

24 this case. Indeed, it is well settled “that Congress has not waived immunity for suits seeking

25 monetary damages that arise under the Constitution.” Jackson, 448 F. Supp. 2d at 201; see Clark

26 v. Library of Cong., 750 F.2d 89, 102–03 (D.C. Cir. 1984).

27 Accordingly, to the extent Plaintiff purports to sue the United States for constitutional

28 violations, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over these claims, and they fail as a matter

1 of law.

2 2. Civil Rights Claims Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983

3 As previously noted, Defendants Bolin and Dean are employees of the IRS and are

4 therefore federal, not state, Defendants. As noted by the Supreme Court, § 1983 applies to state

5 and local officers, while Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971),

6 infers a parallel damages action against federal officers. Hartmann v. Moore, 547 U.S. 250, 254

7 n.2 (2006) (citations and quotations omitted). Thus, although more limited in some respects, a

8 Bivens action is the federal analog to suits brought against state officials under § 1983. Id.

9 (citations omitted).

10 Accordingly, to the extent Plaintiff seeks to assert a claim against Defendants Bolin and

11 Dean, he cannot seek to recover through § 1983, but must assert a Bivens action. Plaintiff’s

12 claims asserted pursuant to § 1983 therefore fail.

13 3. Civil Rights Claims Pursuant to Bivens

14 In Bivens, the Supreme Court “established that the victims of a constitutional violation by

15 a federal agent have a right to recover damages against the official in federal court despite the

16 absence of any statute conferring such a right.” Hartmann, 547 U.S. at 254 n.2 (quoting Carlson

17 v. Green, 446 U.S. 14, 18 (1980)). To prevail on a Bivens claim, a plaintiff must show: (1) he

18 was deprived of a right secured by the Constitution; and (2) the defendant acted under color of

19 federal law. Morgan v. U.S., 323 F.3d 776, 780 (9th Cir. 2003). The factors necessary to

20 establish a Bivens violation will vary with the constitutional provision at issue. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at

21 676. Importantly, the Supreme Court has held that a Bivens-based cause of action cannot be

22 maintained against a federal agency but only against individual federal employees. F.D.I.C. v.

23 Meyer (Meyer), 510 U.S. 471, 484–85 (1994); see also W. Radio Servs. Co. v. U.S. Forest Serv.,

24 578 F.3d 1116 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing Meyer for ruling that no Bivens remedy is available against

25 a federal agency).

26 a. Bivens Claims Asserted Against the IRS (Official Capacity Claims)

27 Here, Plaintiff purports to sue employees of the IRS. As the Court noted, to the extent

28 Plaintiff sues Defendants Bolin and Dean in their official capacity, his claims are construed as

1 asserted against the IRS. Klebanowski, 540 F.3d at 637; Kentucky, 4733 U.S. at 165–66.

2 However, because Plaintiff cannot maintain a Bivens claim against a federal agency, Meyer, 510

3 U.S. at 484–85, his official capacity claims fail as a matter of law.

4 b. Bivens Claims Asserted Against Bolin and Dean in Their Personal Capacity

5 As the Court has noted, the aforementioned authorities demonstrate Plaintiff may not sue

6 Bolin and Dean, as federal employees of the IRS, in their personal capacity where the only

7 remedy he seeks is recovery of his tax refund (the EIPs). 26 U.S.C. § 7422(f)(1); Will, 491 U.S.

8 at 71. Regardless, even if such claims were permissible, Plaintiff’s constitutional claims fail.

9 i. Eighth Amendment Claim

10 The Eighth Amendment proscribes a freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. U.S.

11 Const. amend. VIII; see also Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976). In general, under the Eighth

12 Amendment, “prison officials must ensure that inmates receive adequate food, clothing, shelter,

13 and medical care, and must take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the inmates.”

14 Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994) (internal quotations and citations omitted); see also

15 Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 346 (1981) (“the Eighth Amendment prohibits punishments

16 which . . . involve the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain, . . . are grossly disproportionate

17 to the severity of the crime,” or are otherwise “totally without penological justification.”)

18 (citations and internal quotations omitted). The Supreme Court has recognized a Bivens claim

19 may be asserted for Eighth Amendment conditions of confinement violations asserted against

20 prison officials. Carlson, 446 U.S. at 14.

21 Here, however, Plaintiff’s claims are not asserted against prison officials, but employees

22 of the IRS, neither of whom have been alleged to have any control over Plaintiff’s conditions of

23 confinement. In view of these legal standards, any Eighth Amendment claim related to Plaintiff’s

24 prison conditions fails.

25 ii. Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Claim

26 The Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause applies to states. Again,

27 Defendants are alleged to be federal employees of the IRS. Consequently, an equal protection

28 claim against these Defendants cannot lie under the Fourteenth Amendment, but must be asserted

1 pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. See U.S. v. Ayala-Bello, 995 F.3d 710, 714 (9th Cir. 2021),

2 cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 513 (2021) (citing Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497, 499–500 (1954));

3 McLean v. Crabtree, 173 F.3d 1176, 1185 (9th Cir. 1999), as amended on denial of reh’g and

4 reh’g en banc (Apr. 17, 1999) (“The Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause applies to

5 the federal government through the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.”). Therefore,

6 Plaintiff’s Fourteenth Amendment claim necessarily fails.

7 iii. Fifth Amendment Equal Protection

8 Through the Fifth Amendment, the equal protection clause requires that persons who are

9 similarly situated be treated alike. City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 439

10 (1985); Hartmann v. Cal. Dept. of Corrs. and Rehab., 707 F.3d 1114, 1123 (9th Cir. 2013);

11 Furnace v. Sullivan, 705 F.3d 1021, 1030 (9th Cir. 2013); Shakur v. Schriro, 514 F.3d 878, 891

12 (9th Cir. 2008).

13 An equal protection claim may be established by showing that a defendant intentionally

14 discriminated against Plaintiff based on his membership in a protected class, Hartmann v. Cal.

15 Dept. of Corrs. and Rehab., 707 F.3d at 1123, or that similarly situated individuals were

16 intentionally treated differently without a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose,

17 Engquist v. Or. Dept. of Agric., 553 U.S. 591, 601–02 (2008). See also Vill. of Willowbrook v.

18 Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000) (discussing “class-of-one” equal protection claims); Lazy Y

19 Ranch Ltd. v. Behrens, 546 F.3d 580, 592 (9th Cir. 2008); N. Pacifica LLC v. City of Pacifica,

20 526 F.3d 478, 486 (9th Cir. 2008).

21 Specific to Bivens, a plaintiff must plead and prove that the defendant acted with

22 discriminatory purpose. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676 (citing Washington v. Davis, 426 U.S. 229, 240

23 (1976)). “Purposeful discrimination” requires more than “intent as volition or intent as awareness

24 of consequences.” Id. at 676–77 (citing Pers. Adm’r of Mass. v. Feeney, 442 U.S. 256, 279

25 (1979)). It instead involves a decisionmaker’s undertaking a course of action “ ‘because of,’ not

26 merely ‘in spite of,’ [the action’s] adverse effects upon an identifiable group.” Id. at 677.

27 Plaintiff’s allegations do not suggest that he is being treated differently based on any of

28 those impermissible considerations. Rather, Plaintiff only refers to his status as an incarcerated

1 individual. But that is not a protected class. See U.S. v. Whitlock, 639 F.3d 935, 941 (9th Cir.

2 2011) (“Neither prisoners nor ‘persons convicted of crimes’ constitute a suspect class for equal

3 protection purposes.”). Nor does Plaintiff allege he was so similarly situated to the other inmates

4 who received EPIs to raise an inference that Plaintiff was intentionally singled out. See Bishawi

5 v. Ne. Ohio Corr. Ctr., 628 Fed. App’x 339, 345 (6th Cir. 2014) (“Conclusory equal protection

6 claims, without specific factual allegations, are inadequate to state a civil rights claim.”). Thus,

7 even if Plaintiff had asserted a cause of action under the Fifth Amendment — which he did not —

8 Plaintiff’s assertion that he was denied equal protection because of his incarcerated status is

9 speculatory and conclusory, which is insufficient to state a claim.

10 IV.

11 CONCLUSION AND ORDER

12 Based on review of the first amended complaint in this action, Plaintiff has failed to state

13 any cognizable claim for a violation of his federal or state rights in this action. Nonetheless, the

14 Court will grant Plaintiff a final opportunity to amend the complaint to cure the deficiencies

15 identified in this order. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000).

16 If Plaintiff chooses to amend his complaint, the amended complaint should be brief, Fed.

17 R. Civ. P. 8(a), but it must also clearly and concisely set forth the claims Plaintiff wishes to

18 pursue. Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to raise a right

19 to relief above the speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). Further,

20 Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated claims in his first

21 amended complaint, George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no “buckshot”

22 complaints), but may only amend his complaint consistent with this order. Plaintiff should also

23 not attempt to plead causes of action which he acknowledges are barred by some type of

24 immunity.

25 Finally, Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint.

26 Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 927. Absent Court approval, Plaintiff’s first amended

27 complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading.”

28 E.D. Cal. L.R. 220.

1 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

2 1. The Clerk of the Court shall send Plaintiff a civil rights complaint form;

3 2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a

4 second amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court in this

5 order;

6 3, The second amended complaint, including attachments, shall not exceed twenty-

7 five (25) pages in length; and

8 4. If Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint in compliance with this order,

9 the Court will recommend to a District Judge that this action be dismissed

10 consistent with the reasons stated in this order.

11

Db IT IS SO ORDERED. FA. ee

13 | Dated: _ April 1, 2022

4 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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