# (PC) Abalos v. Lizarraga

> District Court, E.D. California · May 3, 2022

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10044374

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, E.D. California
- **Decided:** May 3, 2022
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 JESUS ABALOS, No. 2:20-cv-1699 JAM KJN P
12 Plaintiff,
13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
14 JOE LIZARRAGA, et al.,

15 Defendants.
16
17 Plaintiff appears pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42
18 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28
19 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. This action proceeds on plaintiff’s Eighth
20 Amendment claims against defendant Officer C. Parham.1 Defendant’s fully-briefed motion for
21 summary judgment is before the court. In his opposition, plaintiff also seeks appointment of
22 counsel and further discovery. (ECF No. 34 at 5, citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d).) As discussed
23 below, the undersigned recommends that defendant’s motion be granted, and denies plaintiff’s
24 motion for appointment of counsel and motion for relief under Rule 56(d).
25 ////
26 ////
27

28 1 Defendants Lizarraga and J. Scheurer were dismissed at plaintiff’s request. (ECF Nos. 8 & 9.)
1 I. Plaintiff’s Verified Complaint
2 Plaintiff alleges that on October 1, 2018, at Mule Creek State Prison (“MCSP”), plaintiff
3 was found unconscious and unresponsive while on the floor. Defendant Officer C. Parham
4 allegedly put plaintiff in handcuffs and leg restraints with such rough mishandling that plaintiff
5 suffered severe damage to his wrists and ankles, torn flesh, mutilation and destruction of his limbs,
6 mangling to the bones. (ECF No. 1 at 3.)
7 II. Background
8 Plaintiff filed this action on August 25, 2020. Following a failed early settlement conference,
9 defendant filed an answer on April 20, 2021. On April 28, 2021, the court issued its discovery and
10 scheduling order; the parties were allowed to conduct discovery until September 3, 2021, and all
11 pretrial motions were due on or before November 29, 2021. (ECF No. 26.) In such order, plaintiff
12 was also advised of the requirements for opposing a motion for summary judgment, as set forth in
13 Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 1998). (ECF No. 26 at 7, 9.)
14 Plaintiff was deposed on August 25, 2021. (ECF No. 28.) No motions to compel discovery
15 were filed.
16 Defendant’s motion for summary judgment was filed on November 19, 2021; plaintiff failed
17 to file a timely opposition. On December 29, 2021, the undersigned issued plaintiff an order to show
18 cause. On January 18, 2022, plaintiff filed an undated motion for extension of time declaring he had
19 not received the motion. On January 21, 2022, plaintiff filed another motion for extension of time,
20 dated January 15, 2021, in which he stated that COVID-19 breakouts were preventing law library
21 access, and wrote that “the last time [he] got called out was 3-30-21 and [he] was told they would
22 send [him] paperwork, and that [he] needed to find an attorney. Since then he had “not gotten
23 anything,” and was “puzzled as to what to do?” (ECF No. 31 at 2.)
24 On January 26, 2022, defendant was directed to re-serve the motion, and plaintiff was
25 granted an additional sixty days in which to file an opposition. Plaintiff’s opposition was filed on
26 February 28, 2022; defendant’s reply was filed on March 8, 2022.
27 ////
28 ////
1 III. Legal Standard for Summary Judgment
2 Summary judgment is appropriate when it is demonstrated that the standard set forth in
3 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 is met. “The court shall grant summary judgment if the
4 movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to
5 judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).2
6 Under summary judgment practice, the moving party always bears
the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis
7 for its motion, and identifying those portions of “the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,
8 together with the affidavits, if any,” which it believes demonstrate
the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
9
10 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986) (quoting then-numbered Fed. R. Civ. P.
11 56(c).) “Where the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party need
12 only prove that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.” Nursing
13 Home Pension Fund, Local 144 v. Oracle Corp. (In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig.), 627 F.3d 376,
14 387 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 325); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 Advisory
15 Committee Notes to 2010 Amendments (recognizing that “a party who does not have the trial
16 burden of production may rely on a showing that a party who does have the trial burden cannot
17 produce admissible evidence to carry its burden as to the fact”). Indeed, summary judgment
18 should be entered, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to
19 make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case,
20 and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322.
21 “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case
22 necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. at 323.
23 Consequently, if the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to
24 the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually exists. See
25 Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). In attempting to
26

27 2 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 was revised and rearranged effective December 10, 2010.
However, as stated in the Advisory Committee Notes to the 2010 Amendments to Rule 56, “[t]he
28 standard for granting summary judgment remains unchanged.” Id.
1 establish the existence of such a factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the
2 allegations or denials of its pleadings, but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the
3 form of affidavits, and/or admissible discovery material in support of its contention that such a
4 dispute exists. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n.11. The opposing party
5 must demonstrate that the fact in contention is material, i.e., a fact that might affect the outcome
6 of the suit under the governing law, see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248
7 (1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pacific Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir.
8 1987), and that the dispute is genuine, i.e., the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return
9 a verdict for the nonmoving party, see Wool v. Tandem Computers, Inc., 818 F.2d 1433, 1436
10 (9th Cir. 1987).
11 In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not
12 establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the claimed factual
13 dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth at
14 trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., 809 F.2d at 630. Thus, the “purpose of summary judgment is to ‘pierce
15 the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.’”
16 Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) advisory committee’s note on 1963
17 amendments).
18 In resolving a summary judgment motion, the court examines the pleadings, depositions,
19 answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any. Fed. R.
20 Civ. P. 56(c). The evidence of the opposing party is to be believed. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at
21 255. All reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the facts placed before the court must be
22 drawn in favor of the opposing party. See Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587. Nevertheless, inferences
23 are not drawn out of the air, and it is the opposing party’s obligation to produce a factual
24 predicate from which the inference may be drawn. See Richards v. Nielsen Freight Lines, 602 F.
25 Supp. 1224, 1244-45 (E.D. Cal. 1985), aff’d, 810 F.2d 898, 902 (9th Cir. 1987). Finally, to
26 demonstrate a genuine issue, the opposing party “must do more than simply show that there is
27 some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. . . . Where the record taken as a whole could
28 ////
1 not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no ‘genuine issue for
2 trial.’” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 (citation omitted).
3 By contemporaneous notice filed November 19, 2019 (ECF No. 27-1), plaintiff was
4 advised of the requirements for opposing a motion brought pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal
5 Rules of Civil Procedure. See Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc);
6 Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409 (9th Cir. 1988).
7 IV. Undisputed Facts3 (“UDF”)
8 1. Plaintiff is a state prisoner in the custody of the California Department of Corrections
9 (“CDCR”).
10 2. Plaintiff has been housed at Mule Creek State Prison (“MCSP”) from about 2015 to the
11 present. (Pl.’s Dep. at 13.)
12 3. During all times relevant herein, defendant C. Parham was a Correctional Officer at
13 MCSP.
14 4. On October 1, 2018, plaintiff suffered a drug overdose and went man down in his cell.
15 5. In response to a medical alarm, defendant discovered plaintiff unresponsive on the
16 floor of his cell.
17 6. At the direction of medical staff, defendant and two other officers pulled plaintiff out
18 of his cell for emergency medical attention.
19 7. Defendant transported plaintiff to the Treatment and Triage Area (“TTA”) in an
20 emergency response vehicle (“ERV”).
21 8. While transported to the TTA, plaintiff remained unresponsive in the ERV.
22 9. At the TTA, paramedics cut off plaintiff’s shirt to check for injuries.
23 10. Defendant discovered a small blue package tucked in plaintiff’s belly button.
24 11. Paramedics administered Narcan and plaintiff, on a gurney, began thrashing his arms
25 and legs around.
26 12. Despite thrashing his arms and legs around, plaintiff remained unresponsive.
27

28 3 For purposes of summary judgment, the undersigned finds these facts are undisputed.
1 13. To maintain plaintiff’s safety and the safety of the paramedics for transport to an
2 outside hospital, defendant secured each of plaintiff’s limbs by handcuffing them to the gurney
3 handrails in accordance with defendant’s training.
4 14. When applying the handcuffs, defendant did not pinch plaintiff’s skin or overtighten
5 them; defendant applied the handcuffs just tight enough so that plaintiff could not slip his hands
6 and feet through the cuffs or injure the paramedics providing plaintiff with life-saving medical
7 care.
8 15. Defendant did not accompany the paramedics during the transport to the outside
9 hospital.
10 16. Plaintiff sustained lacerations to his wrists and ankles on October 1, 2018.
11 V. The Parties’ Evidence
12 Defendant’s Evidence
13 Defendant provided the following evidence.
14 1. Declaration of defendant Correctional Officer Parham, who declares as follows. On
15 October 1, 2018, he was assigned to Facility A at MCSP, and while conducting his duties as a
16 Security Patrol Officer, he responded to a medical emergency alarm in Building I where plaintiff
17 was housed. Parham found plaintiff “unresponsive on the floor of his cell.” As directed by the
18 medical staff in the housing unit:
19 • Parham and two other officers pulled plaintiff out of his cell for a transport to the
20 TTA for emergency medical care.
21 • Parham transported plaintiff by an emergency response vehicle ERV to the TTA.
22 (ECF No. 27-4 at 2.) During the short transport plaintiff remained unresponsive. About five
23 minutes after arriving at the TTA, paramedics from outside the prison arrived to evaluate plaintiff
24 and they cut away plaintiff’s shirt. When the paramedics cut away plaintiff’s shirt, defendant
25 Parham discovered a small blue package tucked in plaintiff’s navel, which defendant Parham
26 suspected to be an illegal substance. After the paramedics administered Narcan, plaintiff began to
27 thrash his arms and legs around on the gurney, but otherwise remained unresponsive. To
28 maintain plaintiff’s safety and the safety of the paramedics trying to prepare plaintiff for transport
1 to an outside hospital, defendant Parham had to secure each of plaintiff’s arms and legs to the
2 handrails of the gurney with handcuffs in accordance with Parham’s training. Parham declares
3 that in applying the handcuffs, he did not pinch plaintiff’s skin or overtighten them; he applied
4 them just tight enough so that plaintiff would be unable to slip his hands and feet through the
5 cuffs or injure the paramedics providing him with life-saving medical care. (ECF No. 27-4 at 2.)
6 Finally, defendant Parham declares that he did not cause any injuries to plaintiff “when
7 applying the handcuffs,” and that once plaintiff was under the paramedics’ care, defendant
8 Parham “had no further interaction with [plaintiff]” and “did not ride in the ambulance to the
9 outside hospital.” (ECF No. 27-4 at 3.)
10 2. An October 1, 2018 incident report, No. MCSP-A01-18-10-0473, cited plaintiff for
11 possession of a controlled substance, Heroin. (ECF No. 27-4 at 5-11.)
12 3. A CDCR 7219 form, dated October 1, 2018, in which RN S. Oehler, assigned to the
13 TTA, charted that no injuries were found on plaintiff, who was unresponsive. Oehler first saw
14 plaintiff at 1605 (4:05 p.m.) and noted disposition time as 1626 (4:26 p.m.). (ECF No. 27-4 at
15 12.)
16 4. Another CDCR 7219 form dated October 1, 2018, in which RN S. Oehler documented
17 that at 1615 (4:15 p.m.), staff person Samuel Cornell ripped his glove during emergent patient
18 care, and inmate’s blood pooled on Cornell’s thumb nail where Cornell had an open wound in his
19 cuticle. (ECF No. 27-4 at 13.) RN Oehler saw Cornell at 1626 (4:26 p.m.). (Id.) The form does
20 not identify the inmate or indicate where the inmate’s blood came from.
21 5. Various documents related to possession of a controlled substance, including a MCSP
22 Incident Package Processing Cover Sheet. (ECF No. 27-4 at 14-21.)
23 6. Plaintiff’s deposition testimony.
24 Plaintiff’s Evidence
25 Aside from his verified complaint,4 plaintiff provided the following evidence:
26 ////
27
4 The court considers as evidence those portions of the complaint that are based on plaintiff’s
28 personal knowledge. See Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 923 (9th Cir. 2004) (citations omitted).
1 1. Photographs of injuries to his wrists and ankles, taken on various dates in October of
2 2018. (ECF No. 34 at 7-16 (Pl.’s Exhibit A).)
3 2. Medical record showing plaintiff was intubated for likely drug overdose, and “Bilateral
4 wrist laceration. Sutured in the ER. Wound care.” (ECF No. 34 at 17.)
5 3. Medical records stating plaintiff arrived at the emergency department on October 1,
6 2018, at 16:55 (4:55 p.m.), and was admitted to the ICU on October 2, 2018; plaintiff “is at high
7 risk of death due to encephalopathy, overdose and metabolic acidosis,” and contained the
8 following procedure orders: (1) Laceration Complex Repair ordered by Dr. Beffa on October 2,
9 2018; (2) Laceration Simple Repair ordered by Dr. Beffa on October 1, 2018. (ECF No. 34 at
10 18.)
11 4. Emergency Department Physician Note by Dr. Beffa, stating:
12 CHIEF COMPLAINT: Altered mental status; Drug Overdose
(MCSP) Pt found down in cell with balloon of substance in belly
13 button. Pt was given Narcan by Staff, PT became combative. Pt
arrived fighting staff, PT had wounds on wrists from fighting); and
14 Laceration (bilateral wrists).
15 HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: ¶ HPI 50-year-old male who
arrives via ambulance from MCSP who was found down
16 unresponsive in his cell after possible drug overdose. Awakened
extremely agitated and altered after Narcan on scene by ems. Patient
17 was given 2 Versed IM and came to, he became very agitated before
departure. Patient appears diaphoretic and bloody. Correctional
18 officers note the blood is due to patient pulling on his cuffs and
causing lacerations. Stable vitals per emergency personnel. There
19 was an unknown balloon found in patient’s navel, possibly
containing drugs which were confiscated as evidence by prison
20 officials. Patient is agitated and aggressive upon arrival requiring 6
people to restrain him. He additionally sustained Bilateral wrist
21 lacerations during his struggle while in hand cuffs.
22 Prehospital treatment: I instructed emergency personnel to give 2
Versed IM x 2. A total 4 Versed IM was given prior to arrival under
23 my direction as patient too agitated for EMS to care for.
24 (ECF No. 34 at 18-19.) On physical exam, Dr. Beffa noted plaintiff “appears distressed.
25 Agitated and combative.” (ECF No. 34 at 20.)
26 5. Progress Note from October 2, 2018, by hospitalist Dr. Amir Akhzari, who wrote
27 plaintiff reported “pain all over, more on his hands where he has sutures.” (ECF No. 34 at 21.)
28 ////
1 6. Undated progress note from MCSP, physical exam by unidentified health professional
2 noted plaintiff’s bilateral wrist laceration repair with stitches, wound healing well with
3 appropriate approximation, no erythema, edema, discharge or other evidence of infection. (ECF
4 No. 34 at 22.)
5 7. MCSP Progress Note dated November 12, 2018, from LVN Jessica Gonsalves who
6 noted plaintiff came to the clinic for wound care for his right ankle. Gonsalves cleaned the
7 wound, applied medihoney with adhesive foam dressing, and tegaderm on top to keep the
8 dressing from getting wet. Gonsalves noted there was no sign of infection, no redness, no odor,
9 and no pain during dressing change. (ECF No. 34 at 23.)
10 8. MCSP Progress Note dated November 21, 2018; LVN Pelayo’s described applying the
11 same dressing change used by LVN Gonsalves; although there was a small amount of yellow
12 discharge on plaintiff’s old bandage, Pelayo noted there were no signs or symptoms of infection.
13 (ECF No. 34 at 24.)
14 9. Plaintiff sustained lacerations to his wrists and ankles on October 1, 2018. (ECF No.
15 34.)5
16 VI. Legal Standards
17 The use of excessive force by a prison official violates the Eighth Amendment. Hudson v.
18 McMillian, 503 U.S. 1 (1992). Determining whether there has been an Eighth Amendment
19 violation turns upon “‘whether force was applied in a good faith effort to maintain or restore
20 discipline or maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm.’” Id. at 6
21 (quoting Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 320-21 (1986)).
22 To determine whether the use of force violates the Eighth Amendment, the court should
23 consider the “extent of injury . . ., the need for application of force, the relationship between that
24 need and the amount of force used, the threat ‘reasonably perceived by the responsible officials,’
25 and ‘any efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response.’” Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7
26
5 Plaintiff’s opposition, signed under penalty of perjury, is considered evidence, but only as to
27 those matters based on plaintiff’s own personal knowledge or perception. Fed. R. Evid. 602, 701;
see also Johnson v. Meltzer, 134 F.3d 1393, 1399-1400 (9th Cir.1998) (verified motions
28 admissible to oppose summary judgment).
1 (quoting Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321); see also LeMaire v. Maass, 12 F.3d 1444, 1454 (9th Cir.
2 1993) (considering need for application of measure or sanction complained of, relationship
3 between need and measure or sanction used, extent of any injury inflicted and extent of
4 surrounding threat to safety of staff and inmates); Spain v. Procunier, 600 F.2d 189, 195 (9th Cir.
5 1979) (guards may use force only in proportion to need in each situation).
6 VII. Discussion
7 A. No Competent Evidence
8 The undersigned agrees with plaintiff that his injuries were not de minimis. Certainly they
9 are not the typical injuries the undersigned has seen in cases where handcuffs were applied too
10 tightly and caused abrasions. Here, plaintiff sustained lacerations, and at least one wrist
11 laceration required stitches. However, the photographs of plaintiff’s injuries, standing alone, do
12 not demonstrate that such injuries were caused by defendant’s acts or omissions, or that defendant
13 used excessive force during the events of October 1, 2018. Therefore, contrary to plaintiff’s
14 argument (ECF No. 34 at 4), the photographs alone do not demonstrate a genuine material dispute
15 of fact precluding summary judgment. Rather, it is undisputed plaintiff suffered such injuries at
16 some point on October 1, 2018. What remains disputed is how and when such injuries occurred.
17 As argued by defendant, plaintiff adduced no competent evidence that defendant Parham
18 used excessive force during the October 1, 2018 incident. Rather, it is undisputed that defendant
19 Parham handcuffed plaintiff’s arms and legs to the gurney railing in response to a medical
20 emergency. It is undisputed that there was a need for the application of handcuffs given that
21 plaintiff was combative and thrashing about. Even Dr. Beffa noted in plaintiff’s medical record
22 that treatment could not be administered due to plaintiff’s agitated state. Plaintiff adduced no
23 evidence that excessive force was used in applying the handcuffs; rather, he argues they were
24 improperly applied. But plaintiff provided no competent evidence that defendant Parham
25 improperly applied the handcuffs or acted maliciously and sadistically to cause harm when he
26 applied the handcuffs, or that defendant Parham used excessive force in any other way during the
27 events of October 1, 2018. The record evidence demonstrates that handcuffing plaintiff to the
28 gurney railing at the TTA was an appropriate use of force to allow paramedics to treat plaintiff for
1 his life-threatening medical condition.
2 Importantly, plaintiff concedes he was unconscious at the time he sustained the alleged
3 injuries. In his verified complaint, he claims that while plaintiff was “unaware of his
4 surroundings,” defendant Parham “roughly mishandled” plaintiff while placing him in handcuffs
5 and leg restraints. (ECF No. 1 at 3.) In his August 25, 2021 deposition, plaintiff testified that he
6 was unconscious from the time he was removed from his cell all the way through his transport to
7 the hospital, and that he has no idea how or when he sustained the injuries to his wrists and
8 ankles. (Pl.’s Dep. 28:4-8; 42:1-13.)
9 Plaintiff also testified that there was an unidentified inmate witness in the holding cell
10 who told plaintiff that once the officers found the putative drug on plaintiff’s stomach,
11 they started pulling on [plaintiff’s] chains and checking to see if
[plaintiff] had other things on [him], but the way they were pulling
12 on [his] chains and then turning [plaintiff] over was real rough, right,
and the nurse told the officers why you doing that to him, you know.
13 Just check him. You can do it without pulling on him. You’re cutting
him.
14
15 (Pl.’s Dep. at 40-41.)
16 Now, in his verified opposition, plaintiff claims for the first time that he:
17 [w]ill be able to prove at trial that Parham caused the injuries seen in
Ex. A where after Parham placed handcuffs on plaintiff’s
18 unconscious body (wrists) he then both yanked up and down, then
stomped, on the unlocked cuffs, cutting through plaintiff’s skin and
19 tissue.
20 (ECF No. 34 at 2.) Plaintiff declares he will produce the LVN who responded to plaintiff’s
21 overdose, someone he “believes” is named Michelle Thomas, who told plaintiff she was so
22 shocked at the time Parham committed his assault and battery that she froze.6 (Id.) Plaintiff also
23 claims that unidentified inmate witnesses heard this nurse yell at Parham, “that’s not necessary
24 officer, he’s not even conscious.” (Id.) Finally, plaintiff contends that at trial he will prove that
25 “it was not accidental. Parham was overheard and seen actually ‘stepping on’ plaintiff’s cuffs
26 after the nurse tried to get him to stop his ‘yanking up and down’ of plaintiff’s hands and feet,” by
27
6 Unlike other statements plaintiff attributes to putative witnesses, plaintiff did not put this
28 alleged statement in quotations.
1 presenting testimony from unidentified inmate witnesses. (ECF No. 34 at 3.)
2 Unfortunately, plaintiff provides no declarations from any witness to the events of
3 October 1, 2018. Plaintiff’s declaration as to the testimony of LVN Michelle Thomas or other
4 unidentified witnesses is inadmissible hearsay. While plaintiff reiterates what some of these
5 witnesses have allegedly told him, plaintiff’s statements are hearsay and cannot be used to refute
6 defendant Parham’s testimony. Absent the declaration of each witness, the court is unable to
7 determine whether there is a material dispute of fact as to whether defendant Parham used
8 excessive force or caused plaintiff’s injuries. And, because plaintiff concedes he was
9 unconscious during the incident at issue, he cannot personally testify as to who injured him or
10 how he sustained such injuries.
11 In addition, plaintiff fails to address or rebut defendant’s testimony that plaintiff began
12 “thrashing around” after paramedics administered Narcan. Indeed, that plaintiff was
13 “combative,” “extremely agitated,” “agitating and struggling” and “agitated and aggressive upon
14 arrival requiring 6 people to restrain him” is supported by medical records provided by plaintiff.
15 While plaintiff adduced no competent evidence that defendant caused plaintiff’s injuries, plaintiff
16 also fails to rebut the fair inference that such injuries may have resulted from his thrashing and
17 struggling while in handcuffs and under the influence of the drug overdose, either at the MCSP
18 TTA, or during plaintiff’s transport to the hospital.
19 B. No Evidence Rebutting Defendant’s Declaration re Training
20 Defendant Parham, a trained correctional officer, declares that he secured plaintiff’s arms
21 and legs to the handrails of the gurney with handcuffs in accordance with Parham’s training. In
22 his opposition, plaintiff claims, “to his knowledge and belief,” that defendant Parham failed to
23 properly apply the handcuffs. (ECF No. 34 at 2.) But plaintiff provides no competent evidence
24 as to correctional officer training for the proper application of handcuffs during a medical
25 emergency. Plaintiff does not demonstrate he has personal knowledge of such correctional
26 officer training. Thus, plaintiff failed to rebut defendant Parham’s testimony with competent
27 evidence demonstrating what such training entails, or that defendant’s application of handcuffs
28 did not comport with such training. Rather, plaintiff appears to speculate that his injuries were
1 caused by Parham’s failure to “secure and double lock” the handcuffs, but offers no competent
2 evidence to support such theory. Absent such evidence, defendant Parham’s testimony
3 demonstrates he properly applied the handcuffs.
4 Accordingly, because plaintiff fails to demonstrate, by competent evidence, that there
5 remains a triable issue of material fact as to whether defendant Parham used excessive force,
6 improperly applied the handcuffs, or caused the injuries to plaintiff’s wrists and ankles, defendant
7 is entitled to summary judgment.
8 C. Qualified Immunity
9 In light of these findings, the undersigned declines to address the issue of qualified
10 immunity.
11 VIII. Plaintiff’s Rule 56(d) Motion
12 In his opposition, plaintiff declares:
13 that the witnesses mentioned herein will sign declarations/affidavits,
but that current covid restriction and lack of movement, including
14 access to the person who has helped plaintiff thus far, is not possible
at this time. If the court is unwilling to accept this as fact, plaintiff
15 would then request postponement and extension of time to file these
sworn declarations.
16
17 (ECF No. 34 at 4.) Plaintiff contends that his “proof of injury,” “need for further evidence,” and
18 “need for further discovery that plaintiff cannot propound” warrants appointment of counsel.
19 (ECF No. 34 at 4, 5.) Defendant objects that plaintiff’s “self-serving contentions about potential
20 witness testimony are unlikely to exist because they are inconsistent” with plaintiff’s prior version
21 of the October 1, 2018 events because his versions have evolved over time. (ECF No. 35 at 4),
22 (comparing plaintiff’s verified complaint, deposition testimony, and verified opposition.) In
23 addition, defendant argues that plaintiff failed to explain why he did not seek additional time to
24 conduct discovery before the September 3, 2021, discovery deadline.
25 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) allows the court to deny or continue a motion for
26 summary judgment if the defending party establishes that it is unable to properly defend against
27 the motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d). “Rule 56(d) provides a ‘device for litigants to avoid summary
28 judgment when they have not had sufficient time to develop affirmative evidence.’” Stevens v.
1 Corelogic, Inc., 899 F.3d 666, 678 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting United States v. Kitsap Physicians
2 Serv., 314 F.3d 995, 1000 (9th Cir. 2002)).
3 “In particular, ‘[t]he requesting party must show [that]: (1) it has set forth in affidavit
4 form the specific facts it hopes to elicit from further discovery; (2) the facts sought exist; and (3)
5 the sought-after facts are essential to oppose summary judgment.’” Stevens, 899 F.3d at 678
6 (quoting Family Home & Fin. Ctr., Inc. v. Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp., 525 F.3d 822, 827 (9th
7 Cir. 2008)) (alteration and emphasis in original); Tatum v. City and County of Sacramento, 441
8 F.3d 1090, 1100 (9th Cir. 2006).
9 “Though the conduct of discovery is generally left to a district court’s discretion,
10 summary judgment is disfavored where relevant evidence remains to be discovered, particularly
11 in cases involving confined pro se plaintiffs.” Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409, 412 (9th Cir.
12 1988). Thus, summary judgment in the face of requests for additional discovery is appropriate
13 only where such discovery would be “fruitless” with respect to the proof of a viable claim. Jones
14 v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 930 (9th Cir. 2004). Plaintiff, as the party opposing summary judgment,
15 bears the burden “to show what material facts would be discovered that would preclude summary
16 judgment.” Klingele, 849 F.2d at 412; see also Conkle v. Jeong, 73 F.3d 909, 914 (9th Cir. 1995)
17 (“The burden is on the party seeking to conduct additional discovery to put forth sufficient facts
18 to show that the evidence sought exists.”).
19 Moreover, “‘[t]he district court does not abuse its discretion by denying further discovery
20 if the movant has failed diligently to pursue discovery in the past.’” Conkle, 73 F.3d at 914
21 (quoting Cal. Union Ins. Co. v. Amer. Diversified Sav. Bank, 914 F.2d 1271, 1278 (9th Cir.
22 1990)).
23 Has Plaintiff Identified Specific Facts?
24 Here, plaintiff failed to demonstrate that further discovery would uncover specific facts
25 that exist and that such facts would preclude summary judgment. Indeed, plaintiff fails to identify
26 any inmate witness by name, and fails to identify a potential inmate witness who personally
27 observed defendant Parham use excessive force on October 1, 2018. Plaintiff’s cellmate or
28 inmates in neighboring cells could not testify as to what transpired at the TTA. Plaintiff claims
1 that unidentified inmate witnesses overheard the LVN say “that’s not necessary officer, he’s not
2 even conscious” (ECF No. 34 at 2), but plaintiff fails to explain where such inmates were in
3 relation to where plaintiff was being treated in the TTA, or how such testimony would preclude
4 summary judgment.
5 In his deposition, plaintiff claimed he spoke with one inmate witness about a week before
6 the inmate was released and plaintiff got back (Pl.’s Dep. at 35); such inmate was in a holding
7 cell and would testify that after the drugs were found on plaintiff’s stomach:
8 they started pulling on [plaintiff’s] chains and checking to see if
[plaintiff] had other things on [him], but the way they were pulling
9 on [the] chains and then turning [plaintiff] over was real rough, right,
and the nurse told the officers why you doing that to him, you know.
10 Just check him. You can do it without pulling on him. You’re cutting
him.
11
12 (Pl.’s Dep. at 40-41.) But despite plaintiff’s testimony that such witness had been released and
13 contacted plaintiff’s family “saying that if they needed [him] to come to court . . . he was with
14 me,” and plaintiff had the inmate witness’ name “written down in the house” (Pl.’s Dep. at 35),
15 plaintiff did not provide such witness’ name, or explain why he was unable to earlier obtain such
16 witness’ declaration. In addition, plaintiff failed to explain how the witness’ putative testimony
17 would preclude summary judgment. Even assuming that “they” were checking to see if plaintiff
18 had other “things” on him does not demonstrate that their actions were taken maliciously and
19 sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm.
20 As to the potential witness, an LVN plaintiff “believes” is named Michelle Thomas, who
21 allegedly told plaintiff she was so shocked at the time she froze, plaintiff fails to demonstrate how
22 her testimony, if proffered, would preclude summary judgment.
23 Finally, as argued by defendant, the evolving manner in which plaintiff described the
24 putative testimony raises a question as to whether such evidence exists.
25 Based on the above, plaintiff failed to meet his burden to show that additional discovery
26 would uncover specific facts or evidence which would preclude summary judgment. Tatum, 441
27 F.3d at 1100.
28 ////
1 Has Plaintiff Demonstrated Diligence?
2 Most importantly, plaintiff fails to demonstrate any diligence in obtaining discovery in
3 this action. Although plaintiff knew one inmate witness was being released from prison, plaintiff
4 did not obtain a declaration before the inmate’s release or secure his name and contact
5 information. Plaintiff has been housed at MCSP for the duration of this litigation, yet fails to set
6 forth any efforts he took to locate other inmate witnesses. (ECF No. 34, passim.) Indeed, in his
7 August 26, 2021 deposition, taken shortly before the discovery deadline passed, he confirmed he
8 did not know their names, and could only get their names by getting reports of everyone who had
9 appointments at the CTC and who were in the tank. (Pl.’s Dep. at 38.) This statement
10 demonstrates plaintiff knew how to obtain the names, but in his opposition, plaintiff described no
11 efforts to do so. Plaintiff also failed to show he sought the identity of staff involved in the
12 October 1, 2018 incident.
13 As argued by defendant, plaintiff did not file any motion to compel discovery, and did not
14 file any request to extend the time for discovery.
15 Plaintiff’s reliance on “the current covid restriction and lack of movement” fails to explain
16 his lack of diligence prior to the September 3, 2021 discovery deadline.
17 On this record, the undersigned cannot find that plaintiff diligently prosecuted this action,
18 and therefore should not be granted a continuance. Conkle, 73 F.3d at 914; see Nidds v.
19 Schindler Elevator Corp., 113 F.3d 912, 921 (9th Cir. 1996) (lack of diligence precluded finding
20 district court abused discretion in denying further discovery).
21 IX. Appointment of Counsel
22 Plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel. However, in light of the above, the
23 undersigned finds that the appointment of counsel is not appropriate.
24 X. Conclusion
25 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for appointment of
26 counsel (ECF No. 34) is denied; and
27 ////
28 ////
1 IT IS RECOMMENDED that:
2 1. Plaintiffs motion for relief under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d) (ECF No. 34) be denied; and
3 2. Defendant Parham’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 27) be granted.
4 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge
5 || assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within twenty-one days
6 || after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
7 || objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
8 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the
9 || objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The
10 || parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to
11 || appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
12 || Dated: May 3, 2022
i Aectl Aharon
14 KENDALL J.NE
/nball 699.ms UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10044374. Public record. Not legal advice.