warden’s mistake rendered prisoner’s administrative remedies 21 “effectively unavailable”
How later courts described this case
- warden’s mistake rendered prisoner’s administrative remedies 21 “effectively unavailable”
- “The California prison 24 system’s requirements ‘define the boundaries of proper exhaustion.’”
- exhaustion 22 excused where futile
- plaintiff not required 23 to proceed to third level where appeal granted at second level and no further relief was available
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 EUGENE RAYFORD, 1:19-cv-00225-AWI-GSA-PC
12 Plaintiff, AMENDED FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS,
13 v. RECOMMENDING THAT DEFENDANTS’
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
14 SHERMAN, et al., BE GRANTED
(ECF No. 44.)
15 Defendants.
OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN
16 FOURTEEN DAYS
17
18 I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
19 Eugene Rayford (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis
20 with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This case now proceeds with Plaintiff’s
21 Second Amended Complaint filed on January 11, 2021, against defendants Stu Sherman
22 (Warden, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison) and Richard Milam
23 (Supervisor of Building Trades) (“Defendants”) for subjecting Plaintiff to adverse conditions of
24 confinement in violation of the Eighth Amendment. (ECF No. 24.)
25 On December 13, 2021, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds
26 that the undisputed facts prove that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies for his
27 allegations prior to 2018, and Defendants were not deliberately indifferent to the conditions in
28 Plaintiff’s housing unit or are entitled to qualified immunity. (ECF No. 44.) On January 24,
1 2022, Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion. (ECF No. 47.) On January 31, 2022,
2 Defendants filed a reply to the opposition. (ECF No. 48.)
3 Defendants’ motion for summary judgment was submitted upon the record on January
4 31, 2022, without oral argument pursuant to Local Rule 230(l), and for the reasons that follow,
5 the court finds that Defendants’ motion for summary judgment should be granted.
6 II. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS1
7 Plaintiff is presently incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, California. At
8 the time of the events at issue, Plaintiff was housed at the California Substance Abuse Treatment
9 Facility and State Prison (“SATF”) in Corcoran, California, in the custody of the California
10 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Plaintiff’s allegations follow.
11 The gravamen of Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint is that contaminated water was
12 leaking into his prison cell due to a systemic problem existing since his arrival at SATF in April
13 2008. Plaintiff’s allegations follow:
14 While housed in cell # 124 in Building 2 at SATF, Plaintiff’s cell leaked severely causing
15 mold to grow on the window ceiling. Plaintiff tried more than once to clean the mold off of the
16 window ceiling, but it would grow back in two days. Correctional Officers at SATF observed
17 the water leaks in Plaintiff’s cell and more than 25 other cells in Building 2 and reported the
18 information, without result. Plaintiff requested a work order but was told, “It would do no good,
19 we already tried.” (Second Amd. Comp., ECF No. 24 at 5:19-20.)
20 Plaintiff requested that supervisory officials be summoned. The next day, while it was
21 raining, an Asian man came and toured the buildings. He observed rainwater leaking into the
22 dayroom with garbage bins placed in the worst areas to capture the water. Plaintiff asked his
23 name and he introduced himself as Tommy Wan, Associate Warden at SATF [not a defendant].
24 Wan told Plaintiff that they are aware of the water problems but due to budget issues they cannot
25
26 1 Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint is verified and his allegations constitute evidence where
they are based on his personal knowledge of facts admissible in evidence. Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 922-23
27 (9th Cir. 2004). The summarization of Plaintiff’s claim in this section should not be viewed by the parties as a ruling
that the allegations are admissible. The court will address, to the extent necessary, the admissibility of Plaintiff’s
28 evidence in the sections which follow.
1 fix the leaks at this time. Wan said that they have requested money from the state to make repairs,
2 but nothing was finalized. He observed water entering Plaintiff’s cell on the back wall and told
3 Plaintiff to “just be patient.” (Id. at 6:11.) Wan told Plaintiff that the leaking problem had been
4 going on since he (Wan) came to the prison. Wan said some cells have standing water in their
5 light fixtures and other cells have water coming out of their ventilation systems.
6 Plaintiff informed Wan, “We used our own sheets and towels in an attempt to soak up or
7 stop the water, [and] since these sheets and towels have now been contaminated, how can we
8 immediately receive new ones?” (Id. at 6:16-19.) Wan said he would have to request new ones.
9 Plaintiff asked Wan, “You mean to tell me that we have to get the contaminated water up with
10 the only sheets and towels we possess, without disinfectant, and we are spreading mold toxin all
11 around the cell and live in it?” (Id. at 6 ¶ 19.) Wan replied, “All I am saying is do your best with
12 what you’ve got. I’ll inform the floor staff to give you some more disinfectant after we leave.”
13 (Id. at 6 ¶ 20.) Wan left with two lieutenants, the facility captain, and a sergeant, to observe other
14 leaking cells.
15 Later that day the floor officers reported to Plaintiff that 2-Block was out of disinfectant,
16 but they had submitted work orders. Mold grew in Plaintiff’s cell and after he washed it the mold
17 came right back in different places. Plaintiff reported the mold infestation to the floor officers
18 who told Plaintiff and his cellmate to depart the cell so they could go inside to see the damage.
19 Once inside the cell one officer stated, “It does smell like mold in here. Have you guys been
20 cleaning up in here?” (Id. at 7 ¶ 23.) Plaintiff stated, “Yes, but the mold keeps growing back. We
21 have been living with this mold infestation for a week or so now.” (Id.) Officers gave Plaintiff
22 and his cellmate disinfectant and a water hose and they cleaned the cell. Two weeks later the
23 mold came back, and they had inadvertently infected other cells with mold due to the wash water
24 seeping into other cells.
25 Plaintiff was left in the same cell for approximately 92 additional days after complaining.
26 In July or August 2008, Plaintiff was moved to a different cell #216. The new cell also leaked
27 contaminated rainwater. It rained approximately 30 times from July 2008-2011, and mold grew
28 in the new cell. Plaintiff was left to eat, sleep, and live in a cell that was known to have harmful
1 mold, the toxic black kind. Plaintiff made several attempts verbally between 2008 and 2011 to
2 Wan as well as to 3 Building floor staff for action to be taken.
3 It was alleged that work orders had been submitted to fix 3 Building roof, but the repairs
4 were never done. Correctional Officer Ibbs [not a defendant], who was one of the 3 Building
5 floor staff, told Plaintiff that “work orders to fix the leaking roof have been backlogged for over
6 10 years now.” (Id. at ¶ 32.) Plaintiff alleges that Defendants violated their own regulations which
7 require that a staff member or inmate shall not use or handle harmful physical agents and toxic
8 or hazardous substances until trained in the safe handling of emergency procedures.
9 On March 26, 2018, Plaintiff filed an administrative appeal on form 602 requesting repair
10 of the roof and removal of the toxic mold because it was triggering Plaintiff’s allergy attacks.
11 The appeal alerted officials that from March 5, 2018 to March 22, 2018, massive amounts of
12 contaminated rainwater leaked from all four walls inside Plaintiff’s cell. Plaintiff repeatedly
13 informed all of the Defendants verbally, through three CDCR 22 forms, and through the 602
14 appeal, that he suffered from asthma and allergy attacks from the unhealthy black mold
15 environment. The appeal was partially granted on April 12, 2018 and May 9, 2018 by Brainard
16 and Hacker [not defendants]; on May 26, 2018 and June 8, 2018, Crane [not a defendant],
17 Sherman and Cisneros [not a defendant] provided the second level response; and on October 24,
18 2018, Voong, Hodges, and John Doe (CDCR Director) [not defendants] provided the third level
19 response, denying Plaintiff’s appeal. Their only solution was to rehouse Plaintiff into another cell
20 known to leak and contain mold.
21 Plaintiff developed asthma and allergies in 2012 while being repeatedly rehoused and
22 exposed to further cell leaks and toxic black mold. Plaintiff wanted the toxic mold to be removed
23 by trained professionals because it was triggering his asthma and allergy attacks. Plaintiff alleges
24 that defendant Sherman and non-defendants Wan, Hacker, Ibbs, Brainard, Crane, Rening,
25 Cisneros, Bastelle, Jimenez, Velasquez, Price, Cruz, Montgomery, Williams, Stohl, Livingston,
26 Lara, Winters, Marales, Chapman, Milam, Barrios, Ayon, Espino, and Cortez knew, or should
27 have known, that Plaintiff suffered from asthma and allergies when kept in unconstitutional
28 conditions of confinement between 2012 and 2018. Plaintiff contends that because he raised
1 concerns third watch staff observed and reported the contaminated rain water and mold in his
2 cell to the third watch Lieutenant (unknown).
3 The Lieutenant came to Plaintiff’s cell #224 and observed standing water in the light
4 fixture, on the floor, and pouring down from all four walls. Plaintiff complained that the
5 conditions he was forced to live in are particularly hazardous for him because he has developed
6 asthma and allergies and is vision impaired. The Lieutenant told Plaintiff, “It’s a systemic
7 problem throughout this prison. The only thing I can do is move you.” (Id. at 16:10-11.)
8 Plaintiff agreed to be moved and was assigned to cell #101 in December 2014. Cell #101
9 leaked even worse than his other cells. Plaintiff informed Mrs. Velasquez and Mrs. Ayon [not
10 defendants] of the problem. Both of them looked in the cell and observed massive amounts of
11 brown rain water coming down the back cell wall. Mrs. Velasquez stated, “The whole prison has
12 this problem.” (Id. at 16:23-24.) Plaintiff stated that he wants to live in a cell that doesn’t leak,
13 and that was the purpose of him moving. Mrs. Ayon stated, “You have received your move, if
14 you refuse this housing assignment, we have no other choice but to write you up for refusing a
15 housing. Your choice! That’s the Lieutenant’s order.” (Id. at 16:26-17:1.) Plaintiff did not want
16 to be disciplined for refusing. He asked Ayon and Velasquez for gloves, towels, and disinfectant
17 to clean up the rain water, but they said “no,” pursuant to policy they only pass out supplies once
18 a month. Both of them walked away laughing.
19 Plaintiff was left in worsening conditions with an extremely low temperature inside his
20 cell and massive amounts of contaminated rain water. While in C-block, Plaintiff received two
21 more cell moves, to cells #128 and #225. Both cells had the same leaking water conditions. C/O
22 Marales and C/O S. Magnia [not defendants] were the building officers there and were
23 summoned or stopped at Plaintiff’s cell #225 and later #117, numerous times and observed
24 contaminated brown rain water coming from upper wall areas and observed blankets and towels
25 placed on the floor in an attempt to stop or soak up the water. Plaintiff used personal soap and
26 toilet paper to try and stop the leaks. When Plaintiff asked to be moved again Magnia said, “Man,
27 this whole building is like this. If you want to move, I suggest you move out of this prison.
28 Because they’re not fixing the problem, every other cell leaks in this building.” (Id. at 19:19-21.)
1 When Plaintiff asked for supplies to remove the black mold, both of them denied his request
2 stating, “Due to policies, we pass out supplies only once a month.” (Id. at 19:27-28.)
3 In 2016, during the rainy season, it rained inside Plaintiff’s cell on Jan. 18, Jan. 19, Jan.
4 22, Jan. 23, Jan. 26, Jan. 31, Feb. 17, Mar. 6, Mar. 10, Apr. 8, Apr. 24, May 5, and May 6.
5 Pursuant to state regulations and due to his department being responsible for the custody and
6 treatment policy, defendant Stu Sherman was required to review and approve all operational
7 plans and procedures within the institution as the institution’s head. On numerous occasions,
8 Sherman, who was the Warden of SATF, and his subordinates visited C-yard. Defendant
9 Sherman observed rain water running from numerous cells onto the day-room floor and standing
10 water in numerous light fixtures, leaving some cells dark. He observed rain water dripping on
11 sleeping areas inside cells and soaking wet beds. Plaintiff contends that defendant Sherman knew
12 that work orders at his institution have been backlogged for years to fix the leaks, prior to when
13 Plaintiff was transferred to SATF in 2008.
14 Defendant Sherman and his subordinates argue that the water entering Plaintiff’s cells is
15 not a problem and repairs will not be done due to staffing and budget issues. Plaintiff has
16 submitted many written notices to Sherman about the leaking cells. At no time has defendant
17 Sherman exercised his supervisory responsibility to prevent the unconstitutional conditions of
18 confinement. Plaintiff was threatened by correctional officers that he would be subject to
19 disciplinary action if he refused a housing assignment, even with unconstitutional conditions of
20 confinement, pursuant to policy.
21 After seven months, Plaintiff was moved to 8 Building, Cell #201. While there, Plaintiff
22 reported severe and persistent leaking directly to Rening, Lara, and Winters [not defendants] who
23 were employed as Facility C, Building 8 officers. Those three officers observed the rain water
24 containing bird feces and bat guano that leaked inside Plaintiff’s cell and ran underneath
25 Plaintiff’s cell door into the day-room. The three officers placed large waste bins to collect rain
26 water in three day-rooms during the rainy season to prevent staff from slipping during count time.
27 The leaks were not only an inconvenience, but had adversely affected Plaintiff’s mental and
28 physical health. Plaintiff suffers physical injuries including asthma development, asthma
1 exacerbation, respiratory infections, cough, wheezing, hypersensitivity, allergies, and breathing
2 problems. Plaintiff also suffers pain and suffering, shame, humiliation, degradation, emotional
3 distress, embarrassment, and mental distress.
4 On January 9, 2018, Plaintiff slipped and fell onto the cell’s cement floor, and the fall
5 resulted in loss of consciousness and a head injury. An EMT came and took Plaintiff away by
6 ambulance. Later that day Warden Sherman visited Plaintiff’s cell and saw a stream of rain water
7 coming out of the cell door into the day room. Plaintiff contends that defendant Sherman
8 approved Plaintiff’s continued housing in the same cell.
9 Plaintiff contends that defendant Richard Milam was employed, or was a contractor with
10 the state at the time the violations of rights occurred. Although defendant Milam was aware of
11 the physical plant problems for years, no progress was made in permanently repairing the roof.
12 Staff in each building reported that they repeatedly submitted work orders but the problem
13 persists. Plaintiff contends that for years he reported the dangerous and unsafe conditions directly
14 to defendant Richard Milam using three CDCR 22 forms and also CDCR 602 forms.
15 Plaintiff reported that the roof leaks contaminated rain water and created dangers to
16 Plaintiff because “it’s causing toxic mold to form.” (Id. at 31:19.) Defendant Milam stated,
17 “CSATF has multiple roof leaks throughout the institution. Due to staffing and budget issues,
18 Plant Operations cannot keep up with the work orders submitted for leaking roofs.” (Id. at 31:24-
19 27.) Plaintiff contends that defendant Milam’s failure to comply with the numerous work orders
20 submitted by Plaintiff and others, failure to examine the severity of the leaks inside Plaintiff’s
21 cells, and failure to remove the mold therein violated the Eighth Amendment by deliberate
22 indifference to Plaintiff’s health and safety. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Milam and Facilities
23 Management knew about the Physical Plant deficiencies and delayed taking action because of
24 the lack of sufficient funds, violating Plaintiff’s right to be free from cruel and unusual
25 punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
26 At no time did the supervisory individuals Sherman, Wan, Hacker, Williams, Ibbs, Stohl,
27 Crane, Livingston, Brainard, Cisneros, Hodges, Voong, Milam, Castelle, or John Doe (Director
28 of CDCR) exercise their responsibility to prevent the risk of harm to Plaintiff. Plaintiff contends
1 that he should not have been subjected to violation of his rights to adequate shelter, sanitation,
2 and personal safety, despite Defendants citing their actions were “due to staffing and budget
3 issues.” (Id. at 13 ¶ 50.)
4 As relief, Plaintiff requests a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, monetary damages
5 including punitive damages, costs of suit, and reasonable attorney’s fees.
6 III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT BASED ON EXHAUSTION
7 A. Legal Standards
8 1. Statutory Exhaustion Requirement
9 Section 1997e(a) of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PLRA) provides that “[n]o
10 action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any other
11 Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such
12 administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Prisoners are
13 required to exhaust the available administrative remedies prior to filing suit. Jones v. Bock, 549
14 U.S. 199, 211, 127 S.Ct. 910, 918-19 (2007); McKinney v. Carey, 311 F.3d 1198, 1199-1201
15 (9th Cir. 2002). Exhaustion is required regardless of the relief sought by the prisoner and
16 regardless of the relief offered by the process, Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741, 121 S.Ct.
17 1819 (2001), and the exhaustion requirement applies to all prisoner suits relating to prison life,
18 Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 532, 122 S.Ct. 983, 993 (2002).
19 “[T]o properly exhaust administrative remedies prisoners ‘must complete the
20 administrative review process in accordance with the applicable procedural rules,’ [ ]—rules that
21 are defined not by the PLRA, but by the prison grievance process itself.” Bock, 549 U.S. at 218
22 (quoting Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 88, 126 S.Ct. 2378, 2386, 165 L.Ed.2d 368 (2006)).
23 See also Marella v. Terhune, 568 F.3d 1024, 1027 (9th Cir. 2009) (“The California prison
24 system’s requirements ‘define the boundaries of proper exhaustion.’”). An untimely or otherwise
25 procedurally defective appeal will not satisfy the exhaustion requirement. Woodford, 548 U.S.
26 at 90. However, the Ninth Circuit has made clear: A grievance need not include legal
27 terminology or legal theories unless they are in some way needed to provide notice of the harm
28 ///
1 being grieved. Griffin v. Arpaio, 557 F.3d 1117, 1120 (9th Cir. 2009). A grievance also need
2 not contain every fact necessary to prove each element of an eventual legal claim. Id.
3 Moreover, the Ninth Circuit has recognized that a grievance suffices to exhaust a claim
4 if it puts the prison on adequate notice of the problem for which the prisoner seeks redress. To
5 provide adequate notice, the prisoner need only provide the level of detail required by the prison’s
6 regulations. Sapp v. Kimbrell, 623 F.3d 813, 824 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Bock, 549 U.S. at 218).
7 The primary purpose of a grievance is to alert the prison to a problem and facilitate its resolution,
8 not to lay groundwork for litigation. Id; Griffin, 557 F.3d at 1120; see also Bock, 549 U.S. at
9 219 (citing Johnson v. Johnson, 385 F.3d 503, 522 (5th Cir. 2004) (“We are mindful that the
10 primary purpose of a grievance is to alert prison officials to a problem, not to provide personal
11 notice to a particular official that he may be sued; the grievance process is not a summons and
12 complaint that initiates adversarial litigation.”). Thus, in this case, the grievance process used at
13 Corcoran State Prison where Plaintiff was incarcerated defines the boundaries of proper
14 exhaustion.
15 A prisoner may be excused from complying with the PLRA’s exhaustion requirement if
16 he establishes that the existing administrative remedies were effectively unavailable to him. See
17 Albino v. Baca (Albino II), 747 F.3d 1172-73 (9th Cir. 2014). When an inmate’s administrative
18 grievance is improperly rejected on procedural grounds, exhaustion may be excused as
19 “effectively unavailable.” Sapp, 623 F.3d at 823; see also Nunez v. Duncan, 591 F.3d 1217,
20 1224–26 (9th Cir. 2010) (warden’s mistake rendered prisoner’s administrative remedies
21 “effectively unavailable”); Ward v. Chavez, 678 F.3d 1042, 1044-45 (9th Cir. 2012) (exhaustion
22 excused where futile); Brown v. Valoff, 422 F.3d 926, 940 (9th Cir. 2005) (plaintiff not required
23 to proceed to third level where appeal granted at second level and no further relief was available);
24 Marella, 568 F.3d 1024 (excusing an inmate’s failure to exhaust because he did not have access
25 to the necessary grievance forms to timely file his grievance). In such a case, “the inmate cannot
26 pursue the necessary sequence of appeals.” Sapp, 623 F.3d at 823.
27 ///
28 ///
1 2. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
2 Administrative Grievance System
3 The Court takes judicial notice of the fact that the State of California provides its prisoners
4 and parolees the right to appeal administratively “any policy, decision, action, condition, or
5 omission by the department or its staff that the inmate or parolee can demonstrate as having a
6 material adverse effect upon his or her health, safety, or welfare.” Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §
7 3084.1(a) (2018). The process is initiated by submitting a CDCR Form 602. Id. at § 3084.2(a)
8
(2018).
9
On January 28, 2011, California prison regulations governing inmate grievances were
10
revised. Cal.Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.7 (2018). Now inmates in California proceed through
11
three levels of appeal to exhaust the appeal process: (1) formal written appeal on a CDC 602
12
inmate appeal form, (2) second level appeal to the institution head or designee, and (3) third level
13
appeal to the Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”).
14
Cal.Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.7 (2018). Under specific circumstances, the first level review may
15
be bypassed. Id. The third level of review constitutes the decision of the Secretary of the CDCR
16
and exhausts a prisoner’s administrative remedies. See id. § 3084.7(d)(3) (2018). Since 2008,
17
medical appeals have been processed at the third level by the Office of Third Level Appeals for
18
the California Correctional Health Care Services. A California prisoner is required to submit an
19
inmate appeal at the appropriate level and proceed to the highest level of review available to him.
20
Butler v. Adams, 397 F.3d 1181, 1183 (9th Cir. 2005); Bennett v. King, 293 F.3d 1096, 1098
21
(9th Cir. 2002). Since the 2011 revision, in submitting a grievance, an inmate is required to “list
22
all staff members involved and shall describe their involvement in the issue.” Cal.Code Regs. tit.
23
15, § 3084.2(a)(3) (2018). Further, the inmate must “state all facts known and available to
24
him/her regarding the issue being appealed at the time,” and he or she must “describe the specific
25
issue under appeal and the relief requested.” Cal.Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.2(a)(4) (2018). An
26
inmate now has thirty calendar days to submit his or her appeal from the occurrence of the event
27
or decision being appealed, or “upon first having knowledge of the action or decision being
28
appealed.” Cal.Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.8(b) (2018).
1 At the time of the events giving rise to the present action in 2018, California prisoners
2 were required to submit appeals within thirty calendar days of the event being appealed.
3 Cal.Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.8(b) (2018). The process was initiated by submission of the appeal
4 to the first formal level. Id. at § 3084.7(a) (2018). Three levels of appeal were involved,
5 including the first formal level, second formal level, and third formal level. Id. at § 3084.7
6 (2018). A final decision at the third level2 of review satisfied the exhaustion requirement under
7 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Id. at § 3084.7(d)(3) (2018); see Lira v. Herrera, 427 F.3d 1164, 1166 (9th
8 Cir. 2005).
9 In order to satisfy § 1997e(a), California state prisoners are required to use this process
10 to exhaust their claims prior to filing suit. Woodford, 548 U.S. at 85 (2006); McKinney, 311
11 F.3d. at 1199-1201. A California prisoner is required to submit an inmate appeal at the
12 appropriate level and proceed to the highest level of review available to him. Butler, 397 F.3d at
13 1183; Bennett, 293 F.3d at 1098.
14 3. Motion for Summary Judgment for Failure to Exhaust
15 The failure to exhaust in compliance with section 1997e(a) is an affirmative defense under
16 which defendants have the burden of raising and proving the absence of exhaustion. Bock, 549
17 U.S. at 216; Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1119 (9th Cir. 2003). On April 3, 2014, the Ninth
18 Circuit issued a decision overruling Wyatt with respect to the proper procedural device for raising
19 the affirmative defense of exhaustion under § 1997e(a). Albino II, 747 F.3d at 1168–69.
20 Following the decision in Albino II, defendants may raise exhaustion deficiencies as an
21 affirmative defense under § 1997e(a) in either (1) a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6)3
22 or (2) a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56. Id. If the court concludes that Plaintiff
23 has failed to exhaust, the proper remedy is dismissal without prejudice of the portions of the
24 complaint barred by § 1997e(e). Bock, 549 U.S. at 223–24; Lira, 427 F.3d at 1175–76.
25 ///
26
27 2 The third level is sometimes known as the Director’s level.
28 3 Motions to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) are only appropriate “[i]n the rare event a failure
to exhaust is clear on the face of the complaint.” Albino II, 747 F.3d at 1162.
1 Summary judgment is appropriate when it is demonstrated that there “is no genuine
2 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.
3 R. Civ. P. 56(a); Albino II, 747 F.3d at 1169 (“If there is a genuine dispute about material facts,
4 summary judgment will not be granted.”) A party asserting that a fact cannot be disputed must
5 support the assertion by “citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including
6 depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations
7 (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or
8 other materials, or showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a
9 genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.”
10 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). In judging the evidence at the summary judgment stage, the court “must
11 draw all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Comite de
12 Jornaleros de Redondo Beach v. City of Redondo Beach, 657 F.3d 936, 942 (9th Cir. 2011). The
13 court must liberally construe Plaintiff’s filings because he is a pro se prisoner. Thomas v. Ponder,
14 611 F.3d 1144, 1150 (9th Cir. 2010).
15 In a summary judgment motion for failure to exhaust administrative remedies, the
16 defendants have the initial burden to prove “that there was an available administrative remedy,
17 and that the prisoner did not exhaust that available remedy.” Albino II, 747 F.3d at 1172. If the
18 defendants carry that burden, “the burden shifts to the prisoner to come forward with evidence
19 showing that there is something in his particular case that made the existing and generally
20 available administrative remedies effectively unavailable to him.” Id. The ultimate burden of
21 proof remains with defendants, however. Id. “If material facts are disputed, summary judgment
22 should be denied, and the district judge rather than a jury should determine the facts.” Id. at
23 1166.
24 In arriving at these findings and recommendations, the court carefully reviewed and
25 considered all arguments, points and authorities, declarations, exhibits, statements of undisputed
26 facts and undisputed facts and responses thereto, if any, objections, and other papers filed by the
27 parties. Omission of reference to an argument, document, paper, or objection is not to be
28 construed to the effect that this court did not consider the argument, document, paper, or
1 objection. This court thoroughly reviewed and considered the evidence it deemed admissible,
2 material, and appropriate.
3 B. Parties’ Undisputed Facts Re Administrative Remedies 4
4 The Court shall address Defendants’ motion based on Plaintiff’s failure to exhaust
5 administrative remedies. In accordance with Local Rule 260(a), on December 13, 2021,
6 Defendants Sherman and Milam submitted the following Statement of Undisputed Facts with
7 references to the supporting evidence. (ECF No. 44-3.) On January 31, 2022, Plaintiff submitted
8 the following Responses to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts. (ECF No. 48.)
9 Unless otherwise noted, the following facts are undisputed by the parties or as determined by the
10 court based on a thorough review of the record.
11 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
12
13 ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES
14
15 1. Plaintiff Eugene Rayford (J-30267) is a Dispute facts. Deny.5
16 California prisoner who filed this lawsuit on
17 February 7, 2019, alleging deliberate
18 indifference with respect to alleged in-cell
19 leaks in Facility C dating back to 2008. (ECF
20 Nos. 1, 24.)
21
22
4 These facts are taken from Defendants’ Separate Statement of Undisputed Facts in
23 Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 44-3 at 1-6). On January 24, 2022,
Plaintiff submitted a response to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Facts, (ECF No. 47 at 55-60 (Exh.
24 G)), and a Statement of Disputed Facts, (ECF No. 47 at 40-51 (Exh. F))). On January 31, 2022,
Defendants submitted a reply to Plaintiff’s Statement of Disputed Facts and a reply to Plaintiff’s response
25 to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Facts. (ECF No. 48.) The court has considered all declarations
and exhibits submitted in support of each statement. Unless otherwise indicated, disputed, duplicative,
26
and immaterial facts are omitted from this statement and relevant objections are overruled.
27
5 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #1 he disputes, nor has he cited evidence
28 supporting his version of the facts. Therefore, Fact #1 remains Undisputed.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 2. Plaintiff submitted four grievances Admitted.
3 regarding in-cell leaks at the California
4 Substance Abuse Treatment Facility & State
5 Prison, Corcoran (SATF): SATF-C-18-
6 00386,SATF-C-18-00605/SATF-C18-01604,
7 SATF-C-18-01800, and SATFC-18-06834.
8 (Decl. Shaw ¶ 5, Ex. A-G.)
9 3. Plaintiff submitted SATF-C-18-00386 on Disputed.6
10 January 8, 2018, regarding alleged in-cell
11 leaks dating back to 2012. (Decl. Shaw, Ex.
12 B)
13 4. SATF-C-18-00386 was canceled for failure Admitted.
14 to comply with time constraints and Plaintiff
15 was informed that if he wanted to appeal his
16 current housing he could file a separate
17 appeal. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. B)
18 5. The cancelation of SATF-C-18-00386 Admitted.
19 informed Plaintiff that he could not resubmit
20 a rejected appeal and, instead, must appeal the
21 cancelation. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. B)
22
6. There is no record of Plaintiff appealing the Admitted.
23
cancelation of SATF-C-18-00386. (Decl.
24
Shaw ¶ 6, Ex. A)
25
26
27
28 6 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #3 he disputes, nor has he cited evidence
supporting his version of the facts. Therefore, Fact #3 remains Undisputed.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 7. Plaintiff submitted SATF-C-18-00605 on Admitted.
3 January 22, 2018, regarding alleged in cell
4 leaks from May 2017, to January 2018.
5 Plaintiff also complained that even though
6 staff were moving him out of leaking cells, the
7 cells he was moved into also leaked. Plaintiff
8 further alleged a slip-and-fall on January 9,
9 2018, because of an in-cell leak. (Decl. Shaw,
10 Ex. C.)
11 8. SATF-C-18-00605 was rejected because it Admitted.
12 combined multiple issues and Plaintiff was
13 instructed to submit the various issues as
14 separate appeals. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. C.)
15 9. Plaintiff resubmitted SATF-C-18-00605 Admitted.
16 and it was canceled because Plaintiff had
17 disregarded appeal staffs’ instructions
18 regarding the rejected appeal. (Decl. Shaw,
19 Ex. C.)
20 10. The cancelation of SATF-C-18-00605 Admitted.
21 informed Plaintiff that he could not resubmit
22 a canceled appeal and, instead, must appeal
23
the cancelation. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. C.)
24
11. Plaintiff then resubmitted SATF-C-18- Admitted.
25
00605, and the appeals office reiterated that he
26
could not resubmit the canceled appeal and
27
must, instead, appeal the cancelation. (Decl.
28
Shaw, Ex. C.)
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 12. Plaintiff submitted SATF-C-18-01604 on Admitted.
3 Mach 16, 2018, to appeal the cancelation of
4 SATF-C-18-00605. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. C.)
5 13. The intuitional and third level reviews Admitted.
6 denied SATF-C-18-01604. (Decl. Shaw, Ex.
7 C; Decl. Mosley, Ex. B.)
8 14. Plaintiff submitted SATF-C-18-01800 on Admitted.
9 March 26, 2018, complaining about in
10 cell leaks occurring in March 2018. (Decl.
11 Shaw, Ex. D.)
12 15. The first level response to SATF-C-18- Disputed facts. B. Action request to SATF-C-
13 01800 recounts that a work order was 18-1800. Defendants did not remove or clean
14 submitted for repairs and Plaintiff was offered the toxic black mold [illegible] nor removed
15 the opportunity to rehouse but refused. (Decl. the bird/bat feces off the roof. Respondent
16 Shaw, Ex. D.) does not appear to contest this. Deny.7
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
7 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #15, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #15 as
28 submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact # 15 remains Undisputed.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 16. The response to SATF-C-18-01800 also Disputed facts. The response to SATF-C-19-
3 explained that “there are multiple roof leaks 01800 confirmed the unsanitary and unsafe
4 throughout the institution. Due to staffing and conditions. But nothing had been done to
5 budget issues Plant Operations cannot keep up remedy the hazardous eating environment or
6 with the work orders submitted for roof leaks. repair the leaks. Other then give/approve
7 Most of these repairs are time consuming due overtime to fitten [sic] the pockets of the
8 to the severe damage; the work orders are defendant R. Milam. (Decl. Rayford) Plaintiff
9 prioritized by the severity of leaks.” (Decl. Deny.8
10 Shaw, Ex. D.)
11 17. Plaintiff was dissatisfied with the first Admitted. Plaintiff request action for relief to
12 level response to SATF-C-18-01800 and SATF-C- 18-01800 was not granted at the
13 appealed to the second level, which was first or second level of review. (Decl. Ex. E &
14 addressed by Defendant Sherman. (Decl. A) Disputed facts or Plaintiff deny.9
15 Shaw, Ex. D.)
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
8 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #16, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #16 as
26
submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact # 16 remains Undisputed.
27
9 Plaintiff has admitted Fact #17. In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #17, Plaintiff has not
28 disputed any part of Fact #17 as submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #17 remains Undisputed.
.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 18. In response to SATF-C-18-01800, Disputed facts: Defendant was placed on
3 Defendant Sherman noted that a work order notice of the fact that mold developed in his
4 was submitted for repairs to Plaintiff’s cell, cell from the massive amounts of leaks. (Ex.
5 that Plaintiff was provided cleaning supplies, A) which made unsanitary and unsafe
6 and that on May 3, 2018, Plaintiff was conditions. Defendant Sherman was aware of
7 rehoused. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. D.) the danger to plaintiffs [sic] health. The
8 conditions made my asthma and allergies
9 worsen. – Plaintiff deny.10
10 19. Plaintiff was dissatisfied with the second Admitted. But disputed facts. Defendant
11 level response to SATF-C-18-01800 and Sherman was consistently unwilling to
12 appealed to the third level. (Decl. Mosley, Ex. provide any relief. (2) The request action for
13 C.) relief to SATF-C-18-1800 was not granted.
14 (Decl. Ex. E and A) Plaintiff deny.11
15 20. The third level response to SATF-C-18- Admitted: But disputed facts. The third level
16 01800 found that no violation of any laws, response improperly denied Plaintiff. They
17 policies, or procedures, with respect to his were consistently unwilling to provide any
18 complaint of in-cell leaks in March 2018 relief. (2) The request action for relief to
19 because a work order was submitted for SATF-C-18- 01800 was not granted at the
20 repairs and Plaintiff was rehoused. (Decl. first or second level of review. (Decl. Ex. E,
21 Mosley, Ex. C.) A) Disputed facts Plaintiff deny.12
22
23
24 10 Plaintiff does not dispute any part of Defendants’ description in Fact #18 of Defendant
Sherman’s response to SATF-C-18-1800. Therefore, Fact #18 remains Undisputed.
25
11 Plaintiff has admitted Fact #19. In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #19, Plaintiff has not
26
disputed any part of Fact #19 as submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact # 19 remains Undisputed.
27
12 Plaintiff has admitted Fact #20. In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #20, Plaintiff has not
28 disputed any part of Fact #20 as submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #20 remains Undisputed.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 21. The third level response to SATF-C-18- Disputed facts: C.C.R., which (Ex A, B)
3 01800 also noted that Plaintiff had attempted requires that Plaintiff “describe the problem
4 to add new issues and requests to the appeal and the action requested” As such, Plaintiff
5 and that those would not be addressed because did provide the requisite level of details in his
6 it was inappropriate to expand an appeal appeal and the Third level of appeal exhausted
7 beyond what was submitted in the initial my administrative remedies with respect to
8 appeal. (Decl. Mosley, Ex. C.) the defendants dates, time, and damages
9 requested. Deny.13
10 22. Plaintiff submitted SATF-C-18-06835 on Disputed facts. Plaintiff deny.14
11 December 2, 2018, complaining about
12 additional in-cell leaks in November and
13 December of 2018. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. E.)
14 23. The first level response to SATF-C-18- Disputed facts. Plaintiff deny.15
15 06835 was completed on December 26, 2018,
16 and notes that Plaintiff was transferred to
17 California State Prison, Sacramento. (Decl.
18 Shaw, Ex. E.)
19
20
21
22
23
24 13 Plaintiff does not dispute any part of Defendants’ description in Fact #21 of the Third
Level response to SATF-C-18-1800. Therefore, Fact #21 remains Undisputed.
25
14 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #22 he disputes, nor has he cited evidence
26
supporting his version of the facts. Therefore, Fact #22 remains Undisputed.
27
15 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #23 he disputes, nor has he cited evidence
28 supporting his version of the facts. Therefore, Fact #23 remains Undisputed.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 24. Plaintiff was informed in the response to Disputed facts. Plaintiff deny.16
3 SATF-C-18-06835 that a work order was
4 submitted to repair his cell and that SATF had
5 received funding for roof repairs, although the
6 official start date for repairs had not been set.
7 (Decl. Shaw, Ex. E.)
8 25. Plaintiff was dissatisfied with the first Disputed facts. Plaintiff deny.17
9 level response to SATF-C-18-06835 and
10 appealed to the second level, where Defendant
11 Sherman denied the appeal. (Decl. Shaw, Ex.
12 E.)
13 26. Plaintiff then appealed SATF-C-18-06835 Disputed facts: with respect to rehousing and
14 to the third level on March 28, 2019 (after he their own grieving system see C.C.R., tit. 15,
15 filed this lawsuit), where the appeal was section 3084.1 (Deny.) I can appeal “any”
16 canceled as duplicative of SATF-C18-01800. decision, action, condition and policy that
17 (Decl. Mosley, Ex. D; ECF No. 1.) adverse effect upon my health.18
18
19
20
21
22
23
24 16 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #24 he disputes, nor has he cited evidence
supporting his version of the facts. Therefore, Fact #24 remains Undisputed.
25
17 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #25 he disputes, nor has he cited evidence
26
supporting his version of the facts. Therefore, Fact #25 remains Undisputed.
27
18 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #26, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #26 as
28 submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #26 remains Undisputed.
1 DEFENDANTS’ UNDISPUTED FACT PLAINTIFF’S RESPONSE
2 27. The third level response to SATF-C-18- “Disputed facts Plaintiff Deny (Decl.
3 06835 noted that Plaintiff was grieving leaks Rayford) (Ex. A, B, C, D)19
4 in a different cell, but Plaintiff was already
5 informed that the prison had obtained funding
6 to repair the roofs in response to this issue.
7 (Decl. Mosley, Ex. D.)
8
9 C. Defendants’ Position
10 Plaintiff filed this lawsuit on February 7, 2019, alleging deliberate indifference with
11 respect to alleged in-cell leaks in Facility C at SATF dating back to 2008. (ECF Nos. 1, 24.)
12 Defendants Milam and Sherman argue that their motion for summary judgment based on
13 exhaustion should be granted for Plaintiff’s claims prior to 2018, because Plaintiff failed to
14 exhaust his administrative remedies for those claims before initiating this action. Defendants
15 contend hat Plaintiff submitted four grievances regarding in-cell leaks at SATF: SATF-C-18-
t
16 386, SATF-C-18-605/SATF-C-18-1604, SATF-C-18-1800, and SATF-C-18-6835. (Decl. Shaw
17 ¶ 5, Ex. A-G.)
18 Plaintiff submitted appeal no. SATF-C-18-00386 on January 8, 2018, regarding in-cell
19 leaks dating back to 2012, but the appeal was cancelled and there is no record that Plaintiff
20 appealed the cancellation. (Decl. Shaw, ¶ 6, Exs. A, B)
21 Plaintiff submitted appeal no. SATF-C-18-605 on January 22, 2018, concerning water
22 leaks from May 2017 to January 2018 and a slip-and-fall on January 9, 2018. (Decl. Shaw, Ex.
23 C.) The appeal was rejected twice, and Plaintiff appealed the cancellation in appeal no. SATF-
24 C-18-1604, but Plaintiff’s appeal of the cancellation was denied at the Third Level of review.
25 (Id.)
26
27
19 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #27 he disputes. Therefore, Fact #27 is
28 Undisputed.
1 Plaintiff submitted appeal no. SATF-C-18-1800 on March 26, 2018. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. D.)
2 The first level recounts that a work order was submitted for repairs and Plaintiff was offered the
3 opportunity to rehouse but refused. (Id.) The response also explained that “there are multiple
4 roof leaks throughout the institution. Due to staffing and budget issues Plant Operations cannot
5 keep up with the work orders submitted for roof leaks.” (Id.) Plaintiff exhausted his remedies
6 to the Third Level of review, but the appeal concerned only in-cell water leaks occurring in March
7 2018. (Id.; Decl. Mosley, Ex. C.)
8 Plaintiff submitted appeal no. SATF-C-18-6835 on December 2, 2018, concerning water
9 leaks in November and December 2018. (Decl. Shaw, Ex. E.) The appeal was not exhausted
10 until after Plaintiff filed this lawsuit, and it was also cancelled as duplicative of appeal no. SATF-
11 C-18-1800. (Decl. Mosley, Ex. D; ECF No. 1.)
12 D. Defendants’ Burden
13 The court finds that Defendants have carried their initial burden to prove that there was
14 an available administrative remedy and that Plaintiff failed to exhaust that remedy for his claims
15 prior to 2018. Therefore, the burden shifts to Plaintiff to come forward with evidence showing
16 that he did exhaust the available remedies for all of his claims against Defendants Sherman and
17 Milam, or that there is something in his particular case that made the existing and generally
18 available administrative remedies effectively unavailable to him.
19 E. Plaintiff’s Opposition
20 In opposition to Defendants’ motion, Plaintiff argues that he exhausted his administrative
21 remedies for his claims in this case with Appeal log no. SATF-C-18-01800. He provides
22 evidence that Appeal log no. SATF-C-18-01800 was accepted at the First Level of appeal review
23 granted in part on April 12, 2018, accepted at the Second Level of review and granted in part on
24 June 8, 2018, and accepted and denied at the Third Level of review on October 26, 2018. (Exhibit
25 A to Opposition, ECF No. 47 at 16-25.)
26 F. Discussion
27 1. Plaintiff’s Claims. In the Court’s order issued on March 9, 2021, the
28 Court found that Plaintiff stated cognizable claims in the Second Amended Complaint against
1 defendants Stu Sherman and Richard Milam for adverse conditions of confinement in violation
2 of the Eighth Amendment, on Plaintiff’s allegations that contaminated water was leaking into his
3 prison cell due to a systemic problem existing since his arrival at SATF in April 2008, but no
4 other claims. (ECF No. 28.)
5 2. Plaintiff’s Grievances
6 The alleged adverse conditions at issue in this case existed from the time Plaintiff arrived
7 at SATF in April 2008, and Plaintiff’s initial Complaint was filed on February 7, 2019. (ECF
8 No. 1; Second Amd. Compl., ECF No. 24 at 1:16-21.) The parties do not dispute that that
9 Plaintiff submitted four grievances regarding in-cell leaks at the California Substance Abuse
10 Treatment Facility & State Prison, Corcoran (SATF): SATF-C-18-00386, SATF-C-18-
11 00605/SATF-C-18-01604, SATF-C-18-01800, and SATF-C-18-06835. (UF No 2; Decl. Shaw,
12 ECF No. 44-8 ¶ 5, Ex. A-G.)
13 Plaintiff submitted SATF-C-18-00386 on January 8, 2018, regarding alleged in-cell leaks
14 dating back to 2012. (UF No. 3; Decl. Shaw, Ex. B)
15 (1) Grievance No. SATF-C-18-00386, filed on January 8, 2018
16 Cell leakage with rain water. Plaintiff is a state prisoner currently incarcerated at
California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran, CA. Defendants are
17 a collection of people who are responsible or work for the California prison
system. Plaintiff alleges that on 4-12-12 thru 1-7-18, he has made countless
18 attempts to receive a civilized standards of decency, he submitted numerous
CCDR 22 forms to the CDC plan ops staff Richard Milam, personally spoken to
19 housing staff in 7, 11, 3, 1, 2, and 8 building where I was housed, personally
spoken to G. Winters, Lara, K. Rening, Morales, Lt. Donald Stohl, Lt. C.
20 Livington, Sergeant Todd, Cpt. M. Hacker, Cpt. J. Ourique, Warden Stu Sherman,
AW Tommy Wan and Cpt. B. Chapman, complaining to them about my cell
21 severely leaking rain water when it rains due to poor prison infrastructure, causing
black mold and mildew to build up on the upper wall, cold air temperature, and
22 the destruction of personal property, legal papers, letters, clothing, books,
pictures. Plaintiff alleges due to this black mold and mildew has worsened my
23 asthma attacks and allergies. Plaintiff alleges that numerous times he has tried to
remedy the poor infrastructure with soap and tissue mixed together. Plaintiff
24 contends that he was subjected to inhumane living conditions by prison officials
deliberately straying from the established policy CCR title 15 3380(a), 3380(b)
25 and (c) and the long recognized as interpreted in Supreme Court order the 8th
Amendment for denying humane conditions of confinement in violation of the
26 cruel and unusual punishments clause of the 8th Amdt. and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
And violation of Cal. Constitution, article 2 § 17. Plaintiff alleges the defendants
27 listed herein and above are in direct violation of my 8th and 14th Amendment
rights and subjected to corporal punishment under the color of authority in
28 ///
violation of my amendment right, p.c. § 5058(a), 5078.3, 5058(3)(a)(2) and 5054, 6253.
1 Also in direct violation, the superintendents, director, chief deputy director.
2 (Exhibit B, Decl. of A. Shaw, ECF No. 44-8 at 9, 10.)
3 This appeal was cancelled and there is no record that Plaintiff appealed the cancellation.
4 (UF Nos. 4-6; Decl. Shaw, ¶ 6, Exhs. A, B). Therefore, Plaintiff did not exhaust his remedies
5 using this appeal.
6
(2) Grievance Nos. SATF-C-18-00605, filed on January 22, 2018, and SATF-C-18-
7
01604
8
I’m appealing that I slip and fell – that it’s a violation of my freedom from cruel
9 and unusual punishment, violation of my 8th Amend. On the date of 1-9-2018,
while cleaning up my cell from the rain water that was profusely leaking gallons
10 of water into my cell from all 4 walls, I slipped and fell down. Officials
deliberately strayed from the established Policy CCR 15 3380(a)(b)&(c) p.c.
11 [illegible]. Into the cell thru cracks in the poor pre-fab walls. I reported the
problem to Donald Stohl verbally on 3d watch 5-17-17, Cruz & T. Price on 5-17-
12 17, Mrs. Velasquez on 5-8-2017, Todd Ibson 6-2-17. Approximately 7-4-17, I
was moved due to those conditions, to C8-126, to the same similar conditions with
13 black mold and mildew build-up. Upon me entering cell 8-126 I notice rain water
on the floor. I informed floor staff, a month later they move me because I
14 complain, to cell C8-201, on the dates of 11-26-2017, 12-20-17, 1-3-18, 1-4-18,
1-8-18, 1-9-18, 1-17-18, 1-19-18 rain water enter my cell again. Again I informed
15 staff K. Reling, B. Winter, Lara. The defendants C. Livington, M. Hacker, J.
Ourique, Stu Sherman, Tommy Wan, B. Chapman all are well aware of this
16 problem, as is plant-ops. They are aware due to numerous complaints, appeals,
work-orders submitted, staff complaints, memos, etc., yet no corrective measures
17 were taken. This constitutes a deliberate indifference to my suffering which
violates my 8th amend rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution that preclude
18 my subjugation to cruel and unusual punishment. It also violates Cal.
Constitution, articles 1 & 17. Furtherly, on 1-9-18 approximately 10:30am water
19 from the rain was leaking profusely inside of my cell, while clean up all the rain
water from the walls and floor. I suffered from a slip and fall inside my cell from
20 the water hitting the back of my head so hard on the concrete floor knocking
myself out unconscious. I suffered a severe bruised left arm. The next day with
21 pain & severe pain on the back of my head. I was taken by ambulance. In
violation of CCR title 15 3430 . . .
22
(Decl. Moseley, ECF No. 44-4 at 20 (Exh. B)).
23
24 This Appeal no. SATF-C-18-00605 was rejected (cancelled) twice, and Plaintiff appealed
25 the cancellation in a new Appeal no. SATF-C-18-01604. Plaintiff completed the Third Level of
26 review with Appeal no. SATF-C-18-01604, where Plaintiff’s request to undo the cancellation
27 was denied at the Third Level of review. (UF Nos. 8-13; Decl. Shaw, ECF No. 44-8, Ex. C;
28 Decl. Moseley, ECF No. 44-4 at 9-10 (Ex. B.))
1 Importantly, the Third Level decision for Appeal no. SATF-C-18-01604 did not exhaust
2 Plaintiff’s remedies for Appeal no. SATF-C-18-00605.20
3 (3) Grievance No. SATF-C-18-1800, filed on March 26, 2018
4 On 3-15-18, 3-17-18, 3-21-18, and 3-22-18, massive amounts of contaminated
rain water leaks badly from all four walls inside my cell. Days after, Petitioner
5 alleged there’s visible and significant amounts of mold [black mold] which has
begun to form around the back cell wall and back cell window. Because of the
6 build-up of the toxic mold/mildew inside my cell has caused me asthma and
allergy attacks. This has caused me health problems. The water intrusion into
7 my cell interior has caused me respiratory problems. Petitioner alleges that as a
result of the significant evidence of rain water settling on top of eight buildings,
8 roof, which has allowed the rain water to settle in (pigeon and bat fecal matter),
which contaminates the water that leaks inside my cell making it also unsanitary
9 and unsafe living conditions. Petitioner alleges that I have written a CDCF 22
form addressing the issue on 3-18-18. Prison officials’ “failure to take reasonable
10 measures to abate the risk” is a violation of CDCR’s Operations Manual regarding
weekly sanitary inspections, and acting contrary to the principles set forth in Title
11 15 § 3060, 3064, 3271, 3301 and 3380(a). Each defendant acted under color of
state law.
12
(Decl. Moseley, ECF No. 44-4 at 56, 58 (Ex. C)). Plaintiff exhausted his remedies at the Third
13
Level of review for this Appeal (Decl. Moseley, ECF No. 44-4 at 48-49 (Exh. C)).
14
(4) Grievance No. SATF-C-18-06835, filed on December 2, 2018
15
Dangerous and unsanitary living conditions. On 11-21-18; 11-22-18; 11-28-18;
16 and 12-1-2018, massive amounts of contaminated rain water leaked badly from
the back of my cell wall. The institution rehoused me in this cell because it had
17 leaking problems with my last cell. Plaintiff was not placed on notice that work
orders have been placed on this cell also. I am being forced to live in leaking
18 cells, is not just an inconvenience. It has adversely affected my mental and
physical health and damaged personal property. I was able to ascertain that the
19 water was actually rain water that leaked into my assigned cell through cracks in
the upper pre-fab walls. On November 29, 2018, G-facility Captain A. Williams
20 toured building while it was raining and I had reported it to her. She stated,
“There’s nothing anyone can do about that, but they should be coming to fix the
21 problem. 8 blocks work orders have been backlogged for years, SATF philosophy
to the problem is to rehouse Plaintiff to the next “known” leaking cell, for
22 temporary solution to the widespread systemic problem. I’m also dealing with
the extremely low temperature inside the cell and it’s become a situation that
23 causes severe mental and emotional stress and depression. On Dec. 1, 2018, C/Os
J. Espino, J. Cortez and T. Ibbs witnessed my cell leaking rain water inside the
24 cell. Prison officials from building staff on up the chain of command are well
aware of this problem. Yet, no corrective measures were taken. This constitutes
25 a deliberate indifference to my suffering, which violates my 8th Amend, rights
under U.S.C.
26
27
28 20 On page 42 of this order, the court discusses why this Third Level decision did not
exhaust Plaintiff’s remedies.
1 (Decl. Moseley, ECF No. 44-4 at 67, 69 (Exh. D.)) This appeal, SATF-C-18-06835, was
2 cancelled as duplicative of appeal no. SATF-C-18-1800. (Decl. Mosley, ECF No. 44-4 at 65-66
3 ( Ex. D)). Therefore, Plaintiff did not exhaust his remedies using this appeal.
4 The parties do not dispute that Plaintiff exhausted his available administrative remedies
5 using Appeal No. SATF-C-18-1800 concerning in-cell water leaks occurring in March 2018. In
6 the Third Level Response of Appeal SATF-C-18- 01800, prison officials found that:
7 “This decision exhausts the administrative remedy available to the appellant within
8 CDCR.”
9 (Exh. C to Moseley Decl. at ECF No. 44-4 at 49; Decl. Pltf. at ECF No. 47 at 25 (Exh. A))
10 In his opposition [titled declaration] to the motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff argues
11 that:
12 “Plaintiff’s grievance (SATF-C-18-1800) was accepted for review and
13 processed on its merits. Thus, Defendants cannot now claim by way of a defense
14 to a Section 1983 complaint, that Plaintiff did not exhaust relating to this appeal
15 (SATF-C-18-1800) that was reviewed on the merits.”
16 (Decl. Pltf., ECF No. 47 at 8:26-9:1.)
17 In addition, the Parties’ Undisputed Fact No. 20 states as follows:
18 “The third level response to SATF-C-18- 01800 found that no violation of
19 any laws, policies, or procedures, with respect to his complaint of in-cell leaks in
20 March 2018 because a work order was submitted for repairs and Plaintiff was
21 rehoused.”
22 (UF No. 20; Exh. C to Moseley Decl. at ECF No. 44-4 at 49.), and Defendants agree in their
23 opposition that:
24 “Plaintiff submitted an appeal regarding in-cell leaks in 2018, SATF-C-18-01800,
25 which was submitted on March 26, 2018, accepted for review, and fully
26 exhausted. (UF Nos. 14-21.)”
27 (ECF No. 44-2 at 8:5-7.)
28 Defendants contend that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his remedies in Appeal no. SATF-C-
1 18-1800 for his claims regarding in-cell leaks before 2018. Plaintiff has not opposed this
2 argument. Plaintiff’s Appeal no. SATF-C-18-1800 plainly states that “[o]n 3-15-18, 3-17-18, 3-
3 21-18, and 3-22-18, massive amounts of contaminated rain water leaks badly from all four walls
4 inside my cell,” and the appeal does not address conditions in his cell occurring during any other
5 date, year, or time period. (Decl. Pltf., ECF No. 47 at 16-19 (Exh. A)).
6 Based on this evidence, the court finds that Plaintiff exhausted his administrative
7 remedies for his claims of in-cell water leakage occurring in March 2018, but he failed to exhaust
8 his remedies for in-cell leakage occurring before 2018.
9 IV. EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIMS
10 The Court next considers the merits of Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims against
11 Defendants Milam and Sherman.
12 A. Summary Judgment Standard
13 Any party may move for summary judgment, and the court shall grant summary judgment
14 if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is
15 entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) (quotation marks omitted);
16 Washington Mut. Inc. v. U.S., 636 F.3d 1207, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011). The dispute must be over a
17 fact that is material, i.e., one that makes a difference in the outcome of the case. Anderson v.
18 Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (1986) (“Only disputes over facts that
19 might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of
20 summary judgment.”). Whether a factual dispute is material is determined by the substantive law
21 applicable for the claim in question. Id. Each party’s position, whether it be that a fact is
22 disputed or undisputed, must be supported by (1) citing to particular parts of materials in the
23 record, including but not limited to depositions, documents, declarations, or discovery; or (2)
24 showing that the materials cited do not establish the presence or absence of a genuine dispute or
25 that the opposing party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact. Fed. R. Civ. P.
26 56(c)(1) (quotation marks omitted). The Court may consider other materials in the record not
27 cited to by the parties, but it is not required to do so. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3); Carmen v. San
28 Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th Cir. 2001); accord Simmons v. Navajo
1 Cnty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1017 (9th Cir. 2010).
2 Plaintiff bears the burden of proof at trial, and to prevail on summary judgment, he must
3 affirmatively demonstrate that no reasonable trier of fact could find other than for him.
4 Soremekun v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978, 984 (9th Cir. 2007). The court must liberally
5 construe pro se pleadings.21
6 Defendants do not bear the burden of proof at trial and in moving for summary judgment,
7 they need only prove an absence of evidence to support Plaintiff’s case. In re Oracle Corp.
8 Securities Litigation, 627 F.3d 376, 387 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
9 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (1986)).
10 In judging the evidence at the summary judgment stage, the court may not make
11 credibility determinations or weigh conflicting evidence, Soremekun, 509 F.3d at 984 (quotation
12 marks and citation omitted), and it must draw all inferences in the light most favorable to the
13 nonmoving party and determine whether a genuine issue of material fact precludes entry of
14 judgment, Comite de Jornaleros de Redondo Beach, 657 F.3d at 942 (quotation marks and
15 citation omitted). Inferences, however, are not drawn out of “thin air,” and the proponent must
16 adduce evidence of a factual predicate from which to draw inferences. American Int’l Group,
17 Inc. v. American Int’l Bank, 926 F.2d 829, 836 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322,
18 106 S.Ct. 2548). If reasonable minds could differ on material facts at issue, summary judgment
19 is inappropriate. See Warren v. City of Carlsbad, 58 F.3d 439, 441 (9th Cir. 1995). The court
20 determines only whether there is a genuine issue for trial. Thomas, 611 F.3d at 1150 (quotation
21 marks and citations omitted).
22 ///
23 In arriving at these findings and recommendations, the court carefully reviewed and
24
25
21 In light of the Ninth Circuit’s directive that a document filed pro se is “to be liberally
26 construed,” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 292, and Rule 8(e) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure that “[p]leadings shall be construed so as to do justice,” see Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S.
27 89, 94, 127 S. Ct. 2197, 2200, 167 L. Ed. 2d 1081 (2007), the court shall strive to resolve this motion for
summary judgment on the merits.
28
1 considered all arguments, points and authorities, declarations, exhibits, statements of undisputed
2 facts and responses thereto, if any, objections, and other papers filed by the parties. Omission of
3 reference to an argument, document, paper, or objection is not to be construed to the effect that
4 this court did not consider the argument, document, paper, or objection. This court thoroughly
5 reviewed and considered the evidence it deemed admissible, material, and appropriate.
6 B. Statement Of Undisputed Facts – Deliberate Indifference Claim
7 In accordance with Local Rule 260(a), on December 13, 2021, Defendants Sherman and
8 Milam submitted the following Statement of Undisputed Facts with references to the supporting
9 evidence. (ECF No. 44-3.) On January 31, 2022, Plaintiff submitted the following Responses
10 to Defendants’ Statement of Undisputed Material Facts. (ECF No. 48.) Unless otherwise noted, the
11 following facts are undisputed by the parties or as determined by the court based on a thorough
12 review of the record.
13
14 DEFENDANT R. MILAM
15
16 28. R. Milam was a Supervisor of Building Admitted. (Decl Rayford, Ex. A, B, C, D)
17 Trades at the California Substance Abuse
18 Treatment Facility & State Prison, Corcoran
19 (SATF), and was responsible for facility
20 maintenance at the prison beginning in 2015.
21 (Decl. Milam ¶ 2.)
22 29. Milam had no responsibilities or authority Denied. No repairs was done on Plaintiff
23 outside of his role as Supervisor of Building cells. (Deny) Disputed facts. (Decl. Rayford,
24 Trades that would affect Plaintiff or his Ex. A, B, C, D.)22
25 housing. (Decl. Milam ¶ 2.)
26
27
22 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #29, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #29 as
28 submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #29 is Undisputed.
1 30. Whenever work orders were submitted Denied: no repairs was ever done by Milam or
2 regarding roof leaks in the prison, Milam or mold removed. Disputed facts: deny. (Decl.
3 other maintenance staff would inspect the leak Rayford)23
4 and patch it. (Decl. Milam ¶ 3.)
5 31. However, due to the number of leaks Disputed facts: (Decl. Rayford Ex A, B, C, D)
6 throughout the prison, the time it takes to ‘It is not clear, however, whether these
7 repair them, and staffing and budget issues, piecemeal steps, supported by little
8 work orders were prioritized by the severity of documentation, constitute an adequate and
9 leaks. (Decl. Milam ¶ 3.) durable solution.’ (deny).24
10 32. Milam did his best to address these leaks, Disputed facts: “It is not clear, however,
11 working overtime and on weekends, but a whether these piecemeal steps, supported by
12 permanent fix required replacement of the little documentation, constitute an adequate
13 entire roof and requests for funding for roof and durable solution.” (Decl. Rayford, Ex. A,
14 replacement were already made prior to when B, C, D, E) (Deny.)25
15 Milam assumed responsibilities for facility
16 maintenance. (Decl. Milam ¶ 4.)
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
23 Plaintiff disputes Fact #30 Defendant Milam’s statement in his declaration that he or
24 other maintenance staff inspected and patched roof leaks. Plaintiff’s declaration is not verified and thus
Fact #30 remains Undisputed.
25
26
24 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #31, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #31 as
submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #31 remains Undisputed.
27
25 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #32, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #32 as
28 submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #32 remains Undisputed.
1 33. Milam had no control over the funding for Disputed facts: All the resources that was
2 roof replacement and did the best he could to available to Milam went to overtime pay that
3 address leaks within the prison with the fatten his pockets. Authorized by Defendant
4 resources available to him while awaiting Sherman (Decl. Ex. A, B, C, D, E) (Decl.
5 approval and funding to replace the roofs. Rayford) Deny.26
6 (Decl. Milam ¶ 5.)
7 34. SATF received funding for roof Plaintiff has (Decl. Rayford Ex. A, B, C) No
8 replacement in 2018, including replacement evidence – of this. Defendant Richard Milam
9 of the roofs for Plaintiff’s housing unit on stated on 4.20.18 that Plant Operations will be
10 Facility C. The prison began replacing the doing roof repairs on C7/8 the weekend of 4-
11 roofs on Facility C in 2019 and has now 28-18 & 4-29- 18. See Pet., Ex. C at p. 1-2.
12 completed repairs. (Decl. Milam ¶ 6.) Deny.27
13
14 DEFENDANT S. SHERMAN
15
16
35. S. Sherman became Warden at the Admitted.
17
California Substance Abuse Treatment
18
Facility & State Prison, Corcoran (SATF), in
19
2013, and retired in 2020. (Decl. Sherman ¶
20
2.)
21
22
23
24
25
26
26 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #33, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #33 as
submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #33 remains Undisputed.
27
27 In Plaintiff’s response to Fact #34, Plaintiff has not disputed any part of Fact #34 as
28 submitted by Defendants. Therefore, Fact #34 remains Undisputed.
1 36. Sherman was aware of roof leaks within Disputed facts: The rest is disputed
2 the prison, but there were approximately (Admitted: Sherman was aware of the leaks
3 4,900 to 5,200 inmates at the prison at any within the prison since his tenure and did
4 given time and Sherman did not have any nothing to abate the risk.) (Decl. Rayford, Ex.
5 specific knowledge as to the issues affecting A, B, C, D) (Decl. Ex. A, B, C, D) Plaintiff
6 Plaintiff outside of matters on which Plaintiff Deny in part.28
7 submitted appeals and pursued through
8 institutional level review. (Decl. Sherman ¶
9 3.)
10 37. Sherman instructed all staff to complete Disputed facts: only when 602’ed. Not when
11 work orders to repair any cell that leaked, to the building staff visibly seen the dangerous
12 rehouse inmates adversely impacted by and unsanitary living conditions. Once a
13 leaking cells, and to provide cleaning supplies month they gave cleaning supplies. Not when
14 as needed to clean cells affected by leaking. it rained (Decl. Rayford Ex. A, B, C, D, E)
15 He also authorized overtime to complete Plaintiff Deny.29
16 repairs. (Decl. Sherman ¶ 4.)
17 38. Moreover, Sherman confirmed with staff Disputed Facts. Supported by little
18 that these steps were followed in response to documentation. (Decl. Rayford Ex. A, B, C,
19 the grievance Plaintiff submitted regarding D, E) Plaintiff Deny.30
20 leaks in 2018, SATF-C-18- 1800. (Decl.
21 Sherman ¶ 5.)
22
23
24 28 Plaintiff has not indicated where in his 57 pages of exhibits his supporting evidence
can be found. Therefore, Fact #36 remains Undisputed.
25
26
29 Plaintiff has not indicated where in his 57 pages of exhibits his supporting evidence
can be found. Therefore, Fact #37 remains Undisputed.
27
30 Plaintiff has not indicated where in his 57 pages of exhibits his supporting evidence
28 can be found. Therefore, Fact #38 remains Undisputed.
1 39. However, due to the number of leaks Admitted facts. (Decl. Rayford, Ex. A, B, C,
2 throughout the prison, the time it takes to D, E) Plaintiff Deny.
3 repair them, and staffing and budget issues,
4 work orders to repair these leaks had to be
5 prioritized by severity. (Decl. Sherman ¶ 6.)
6 40. Moreover, to permanently repair the Disputed facts (Decl. Rayford Ex. A, B, C, D,
7 problem, the roofs needed to be replaced. E) Plaintiff Deny.
8 (Decl. Sherman ¶ 6.)
9 41. A request for funding for roof Disputed Facts. Supported by little
10 replacement, including over $5 million for documentation. Plaintiff Deny.31
11 Facility C roof replacement, was already
12 under submission and pending approval as of
13 the 2011-2012 fiscal year. (Decl. Sherman ¶
14 7.)
15 42. However, Sherman had no control over “Disputed Facts. Supported by little
16 the approval or funding of roof replacement. documentation. (Decl. Rayford Ex. A, B, C,
17 Instead, the funding had to be approved D) Plaintiff Deny.32
18 through the State of California’s budgetary
19 process. (Decl. Sherman ¶ 7.)
20
21
22
23
24
25 31 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #41 he disputes, nor has he cited to any
supporting evidence. Therefore, Fact #41 remains Undisputed.
26
27 32 Plaintiff has not indicated which part of Fact #42 he disputes, nor has he indicated
where in his 57 pages of exhibits his supporting evidence can be found. Therefore, Fact #42 remains
28 Undisputed.
1 43. Sherman continued to direct staff to Disputed facts: (Decl. Rayford, Ex. A, B.)
2 complete work orders for leaking cells, to Inmates had to place a 602 in dispute building
3 prioritize repairs based on the severity of officers witnessing the dangerous and
4 leaks, to rehouse inmates adversely impacted unsanitary living conditions during defendant
5 by leaking cells, and to provide cleaning Sherman tenure. Plaintiff Deny.33
6 supplies as needed while awaiting approval
7 and funding to repair the roofs. (Decl.
8 Sherman ¶ 8.)
9 44. SATF received funding for roof Disputed facts supported by little
10 replacement in 2018, including replacement documentation that the cells do not leak still.
11 of the roofs on Facility C, where Plaintiff was See Pet., Ex. C at p. 1-2 Plaintiff Deny.34
12 housed. The prison began replacing the roofs
13 on Facility C in 2019 and has now completed
14 repairs. (Decl. Sherman ¶ 9.)
15 C. Conditions Of Confinement – Eighth Amendment
16 The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment protects
17 prisoners not only from inhumane methods of punishment but also from inhumane conditions of
18 confinement. Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Farmer v.
19 Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 847, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994) and Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347,
20 101 S.Ct. 2392 (1981)) (quotation marks omitted). While conditions of confinement may be, and
21 often are, restrictive and harsh, they must not involve the wanton and unnecessary infliction of
22 pain. Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (citing Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347) (quotation marks omitted).
23 Thus, conditions which are devoid of legitimate penological purpose or contrary to evolving
24 standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society violate the Eighth Amendment.
25
26 33 Plaintiff has not disputed the fact that Sherman directed staff to follow certain
instructions he gave as stated in Fact #43. Therefore, Fact #43 remains Undisputed.
27
28 34 Plaintiff’s cited evidence (Exh. C at 1, 2) does not address the repairs made in 2019,
which are the subject of Fact #44. Therefore, Fact #44 remains Undisputed.
1 Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (quotation marks and citations omitted); Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730,
2 737, 122 S.Ct. 2508 (2002); Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 346. Prison officials have a duty to ensure that
3 prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food, clothing, sanitation, medical care, and personal
4 safety, Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th Cir. 2000) (quotation marks and citations
5 omitted), but not every injury that a prisoner sustains while in prison represents a constitutional
6 violation, Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (quotation marks omitted).
7 To maintain an Eighth Amendment claim, a prisoner must show that prison officials were
8 deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of harm to his health or safety. E.g., Farmer, 511
9 U.S. at 847; Thomas, 611 F.3d at 1150-51; Foster v. Runnels, 554 F.3d 807, 812-14 (9th Cir.
10 2009); Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045; Johnson, 217 F.3d at 731; Frost v. Agnos, 152 F.3d 1124, 1128
11 (9th Cir. 1998). The deliberate indifference standard involves an objective and a subjective
12 prong. First, the alleged deprivation must be, in objective terms, “sufficiently serious . . . .”
13 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. “[R]outine discomfort inherent in the prison setting” does not rise to
14 the level of a constitutional violation. Johnson, 217 F.3d at 731. Rather, extreme deprivations
15 are required to make out a conditions of confinement claim, and only those deprivations denying
16 the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities are sufficiently grave to form the basis of an
17 Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834; Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9, 112
18 S.Ct. 995 (1992). The circumstances, nature, and duration of the deprivations are critical in
19 determining whether the conditions complained of are grave enough to form the basis of a viable
20 Eighth Amendment claim. Johnson, 217 F.3d at 731. Second, the prison official must “know[]
21 of and disregard[] an excessive risk to inmate health or safety . . . .” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837.
22 Thus, a prison official may be held liable under the Eighth Amendment for denying humane
23 conditions of confinement only if he knows that inmates face a substantial risk of harm and
24 disregards that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate it. Id. at 837-45. Mere
25 negligence on the part of the prison official is not sufficient to establish liability, but rather, the
26 official’s conduct must have been wanton. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835; Frost, 152 F.3d at 1128.
27 Prisoners have a right to sanitation. Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1246 (9th Cir. 1982),
28 abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). When considering the
1 conditions of confinement, the court should consider the amount of time to which the prisoner
2 was subjected to the condition. See Hutto v. Finney, 437 U.S. 678, 686-87 (1978). “[S]ubjection
3 of a prisoner to lack of sanitation that is severe or prolonged can constitute an infliction of pain
4 within the meaning of the Eighth Amendment.” Anderson v. County of Kern, 45 F.3d 1310,
5 1314, as amended, 75 F.3d 448 (9th Cir. 1995). The failure to provide adequate cell cleaning
6 supplies may also amount to unconstitutional punishment where that failure “seriously threatens”
7 the inmate's health. Hoptowit v. Spellman, 753 F.3d 779, 783-85 (9th Cir. 1985) (“Failure to
8 provide adequate cell cleaning supplies, under circumstances [presented in the case], deprives
9 inmates of tools necessary to maintain minimally sanitary cells, seriously threatens their health,
10 and amounts to a violation of the Eighth Amendment.”). A conditions of confinement claim may
11 also arise from the type of “egregious circumstances” alleged by plaintiff in this matter. Walker
12 v. Schult, 717 F.3d 119, 127 (2nd Cir. 2013) (citing, inter alia, LaReau v. MacDougall, 473 F.2d
13 974, 978 (2d Cir.1972)) (“Causing a man to live, eat and perhaps sleep in close confines with his
14 own human waste is too debasing and degrading to be permitted.”); Gaston v. Coughlin, 249
15 F.3d 156, 165-66 (2d Cir. 2001) (inmate stated an Eighth Amendment claim where the area in
16 front of his cell “was filled with human feces, urine, and sewage water” for several consecutive
17 days); Wright v. McMann, 387 F.2d 519, 521-22, 526 (2d Cir. 1967) (placement in cell for thirty-
18 three days that was “fetid and reeking from the stench of the bodily wastes of previous occupants
19 which...covered the floor, the sink, and the toilet,” combined with other conditions, would violate
20 the Eighth Amendment).
21 D. Defendants’ Position
22 Defendants Milam and Sherman argue that they were not deliberately indifferent to the
23 conditions in Plaintiff’s housing unit. Pursuant to Defendants’ Undisputed Fact, Defendants took
24 all steps available to them to address the leaking roofs at SATF, (UF Nos. 28-44; Decl. Milam
25 ¶¶2-6, ECF No. 44-7), but there were multiple roof leaks throughout the prison and, because of
26 staffing and budget issues, staff were unable to keep up with the work orders submitted for roof
27 leaks, which were time consuming due to the severe damage, (UF Nos. 16, 31, 39; Decl. Shaw,
28 Exh. D, ECF No. 44-8; Decl. Milam ¶3, ECF No. 44-7; Decl. Sherman ¶6, ECF No. 44-9).
1 Defendants state that the prison did not have funding to replace the roofs at that time, but a request
2 for approval and funding for roof replacement, including over $5 million for the Facility C roof
3 replacement, was already under submission and pending approval. (UF No. 32, 40, 41; Decl.
4 Milam ¶4, ECF No. 44-7; Decl. Sherman ¶¶6, 7, ECF No. 44-9.) Also, Defendants had no control
5 over the approval or funding for roof replacement because funding had to be approved through
6 the State of California’s budgetary process. (UF Nos. 33, 42; Decl. Milam ¶5, ECF No. 44-7;
7 Decl. Sherman ¶¶6, 7, ECF No. 44-9.) Ultimately, the legislature approved funding for roof
8 replacement at SATF, and the roofs where Plaintiff was housed have since been repaired. (UF
9 Nos. 24, 34, 44; Decl. Sherman Ex. E, ECF No. 44-9; Decl. Milam ¶6, ECF No. 44-7); Decl.
10 Sherman ¶9, ECF No. 44-9.)
11 As evidence, Defendants offer their declarations and the institution’s response to Plaintiff’s
12 Appeals No. SATF-C-18-1800.
13 Defendant Milam declares as follows:
14 “I was a Supervisor of Building Trades at the California Substance Abuse
15 Treatment Facility & State Prison, Corcoran (SATF), and was responsible for
16 facility maintenance at the prison beginning in 2015. I had no responsibilities or
17 authority outside of this role that would affect Plaintiff or his housing. Whenever
18 work orders were submitted regarding roof leaks in the prison, I or other
19 maintenance staff would inspect the leak and patch it. However, due to the number
20 of leaks throughout the prison, the time it takes to repair them, and staffing and
21 budget issues, work orders were prioritized by the severity of leaks. I did my best
22 to address these leaks, working overtime and on weekends, but a permanent fix
23 required replacement of the entire roof and requests for funding for roof
24 replacement were already made prior to when I assumed responsibilities for
25 facility maintenance. I had no control over the funding for roof replacement and
26 did the best I could to address leaks within the prison with the resources available
27 to me while awaiting approval and funding to replace the roofs. SATF received
28 funding for roof replacement in 2018, including replacement of the roofs for
1 Plaintiff’s housing unit, Facility C. The prison began replacing the roofs on
2 Facility C in 2019 and has now completed repairs.”
3 (Milam Decl., ECF No. 44-7.)
4 Defendant Sherman declares as follows:
5 “I became Warden at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility &
6 State Prison, Corcoran (SATF), in 2013 and retired in 2020. I was aware of roof
7 leaks within the prison, but there were approximately 4,900 to 5,200 inmates at
8 the prison at any given time, and I did not have any specific knowledge as to the
9 issues affecting Plaintiff outside of matters on which Plaintiff submitted appeals
10 and pursued through institutional levels of review. I instructed all staff to
11 complete work orders to repair any cell that leaked. to rehouse inmates adversely
12 impacted by leaking cells, and to provide cleaning supplies as needed to clean
13 cells affected by leaking. I also authorized overtime to complete repairs.
14 Moreover, I confirmed with staff that these steps were followed in response to the
15 grievance Plaintiff submitted regarding leaks in 2018, SATF-18-C-1800.
16 However, due to the number of leaks throughout the prison, the time it takes to
17 repair them, and staffing and budget issues, work orders to repair these leaks had
18 to be prioritized by severity. Moreover, to permanently repair the problem, the
19 roofs needed to be replaced. A request for approval and funding for roof
20 replacement, including over $5 million for Facility C roof replacement, was
21 already under submission and pending approval as of the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
22 However, I had no control over the approval or funding of roof replacement
23 Instead, the funding had to be approved through the State of California's budgetary
24 process. I continued to direct staff to complete work orders for leaking cells, to
25 prioritize repairs based on the severity of leaks, to rehouse inmates adversely
26 impacted by leaking cells. and to provide cleaning supplies as needed while
27 awaiting approval and funding to repair the roofs. SATF received funding for
28 roof replacement in 20l8, including replacement of the roofs where Plaintiff was
1 housed, Facility C. The prison began replacing the roofs on Facility C in 2019 and
2 has now completed repairs.”
3 In support of their argument, Defendants also submit as evidence prison officials’
4 response at the First Level of review to Plaintiff’s Appeal No. SATF-C-18-1800.
5 “[T]here are multiple roof leaks throughout the institution. Due to staffing and
6 budget issues, Plant Operations cannot keep up with the work orders submitted
7 for roof leaks. Most of these repairs are time consuming due to the severe damage;
8 the work orders are prioritized by the severity of the leaks.”
9 (Shaw Decl., ECF No. 44-8 at 46-49.)
10 E. Plaintiff’s Opposition
11 Plaintiff contends that Defendants have long been aware of the unsanitary conditions in
12 Facility C cells at SATF, because Plaintiff has informed them repeatedly. Plaintiff submits
13 documentary evidence that he submitted CDCR 22 requests in 2016 concerning rain water on the
14 floor that leaks threw the prison’s infrastructure, to which Defendant Milam responded that a
15 “special repair request had been turned in to Sacramento to replace roofs, [but] work was stopped
16 for safety reasons [and] it is unknown when we will be able to proceed.” (ECF No. 47 at 413-
17 17, 27.) On March 18, 2018, Plaintiff submitted another CDCR 22 request to Warden Stu
18 Sherman, Richard Milam and others that “there are massive amounts of leaks in 8 building, cell
19 201, which is causing hazardous water containing pigeon and bat guano to fall onto the cell
20 floor.” (ECF No. 47 at 29.) In response to his CDCR 22 request, Plaintiff received a
21 memorandum stating that “CSATF has multiple roof leaks throughout the institution. Due to
22 staffing and budget issues Plant Operations cannot keep up with the work orders submitted for
23 leaking roofs.” (ECF No. 47 at 30.)
24 Plaintiff contends that there were sufficient factual allegations contained in his 602
25 Appeal no. SATF-C-18-1800 to place officials on notice of an alleged Eighth Amendment
26 violation and the development of mold/mildew inside of his cells, risking harm to Plaintiff’s
27 asthma, COPD, and allergies, to wit:
28 ///
1 “Because of the build-up of the toxic mold/mildew inside my cell. Has caused
2 me asthma and allergy attacks. This has caused me health problems. The water
3 intrusion into my cell interior has caused me respiratory problems.”
4 (ECF No. 47 at 18.)
5 Plaintiff disputes Defendants’ argument that they provided him adequate shelter,
6 sanitation, and personal safety. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have admitted that they only
7 placed maintenance work orders throughout their tenure as Warden at SATF and Supervisor of
8 Building Trades at SATF, or at best rehoused Plaintiff to another leak-prone cell. As evidence
9 Plaintiff provides evidence that Defendant Sherman “instructed all staff to complete work orders
10 to repair any cell that leaked, to rehouse inmates adversely impacted by leaking cells, and to
11 provide cleaning supplies as needed to clean cells affected by leaking.” (UF No. 37; Decl.
12 Sherman, ECF No. 44-9 at 2 ¶4.)
13 V. DISCUSSION
14 A. Sufficiently Serious Deprivation
15 Extreme deprivations are required to make out a conditions of confinement claim, and
16 only those deprivations denying the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities are
17 sufficiently grave to form the basis of an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834;
18 Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9. The circumstances, nature, and duration of the deprivations are critical
19 in determining whether the conditions complained of are grave enough to form the basis of a
20 viable Eighth Amendment claim. Johnson, 217 F.3d at 731.
21 The more basic the need, the shorter the time it can be withheld. See id. Substantial
22 deprivations of shelter, food, drinking water or sanitation for four days, for example, are
23 sufficiently serious to satisfy the objective component of an Eighth Amendment claim. Id. 732–
24 733. See, e.g., Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1042-43 (9th Cir. 2005) (holding that
25 plaintiff’s allegation that he was confined in administrative segregation for nine months, during
26 which time he was deprived of clean running water, was sufficient to make out a conditions of
27 confinement claim); see Preayer v. Ryan, 2016 WL 5341177 (D. Ariz. 2016) (lack of running
28 ///
1 water for two months sufficient to satisfy the objective component of the deliberate indifferent
2 analysis).
3 Here, the parties do not dispute that whenever it rained at SATF in 2018 the in-cell water
4 leaks in Plaintiff’s cell rose to the level of a sufficiently serious deprivation to make out a
5 conditions of confinement claim.
6 B. Aware of a Substantial Risk of Serious Harm
7 A prison official does not act in a deliberately indifferent manner unless the official
8 “knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety.” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834
9 (1994) (emphasis added). The “official must both be aware of facts from which the inference
10 could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must also draw that
11 inference.” Id. at 837 (emphasis added).
12 Defendants Milam and Sherman have both admitted they were aware that water was
13 leaking into inmates’ cells when it rained, (Milam Decl., ECF No. 44-7; Shaw Decl., ECF No.
14 44-9), and Plaintiff has shown that that he placed Defendants on notice of the adverse conditions.
15 (ECF No. 47 at 13-17, 27.) However, the court finds no evidence that either of the Defendants
16 drew the inference that Plaintiff was at substantial risk of serious harm because of the conditions.
17 Thus, the court finds that Defendants were aware of the adverse conditions but may not have
18 drawn the inference that Plaintiff was at excessive risk of harm.
19 C. Deliberate Indifference
20 The Supreme Court has found that prison officials are not deliberately indifferent to a
21 prisoner’s medical needs unless they act wantonly, see Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104, 97
22 S.Ct. 285 (1976), and whether an official’s conduct “can be characterized as ‘wanton’ depends
23 upon the constraints facing [him],” Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 303, 111 S.Ct. 2321
24 (1991). Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1082 (9th Cir. 2014). The Court has also held that,
25 even if an official knows of a substantial risk, he is not liable “if [he] responded
26 reasonably.” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 844. Id. What is reasonable depends on the circumstances,
27 which normally constrain what actions a state official can take. Id.
28 ///
1 There is no indication in Plaintiff’s evidence that either of the two Defendants had the
2 state of mind necessary to support a claim for deliberate indifference. An official who knows of
3 a substantial risk of harm to an inmate’s health or safety but acts reasonably under the
4 circumstances will not be held liable under the cruel and unusual punishment clause, even if the
5 threatened harm results. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 843 (emphasis added).
6 Even if Defendants knew Plaintiff was at an excessive risk of harm, the court finds no
7 evidence that any of the Defendants acted unreasonably. There is no evidence that Defendants
8 were responsible for the water leaking into the cells, but more importantly, they both lacked the
9 financial authorization authority to resolve the water leaks as this depended on funding approval
10 which was not within their control. Defendants have each declared that they did what they could
11 to remedy the problems, considering the resources available to them. (Milam Decl., ECF No.
12 44-7 at ¶4; Sherman Decl., ECF No. 44-9 ¶¶4,5.) Plaintiff states that he was moved to another
13 cell, but that all of the cells were being flooded with water. As stated above, neither of the
14 Defendants had control over the funding for roof replacement, they had to wait for the funding
15 to be approved through the State of California’s budgetary process. (UF Nos. 33, 42; Decl.
16 Milam ¶5, ECF No. 44-7; Decl. Sherman ¶¶6, 7, ECF No. 44-9.)
17 Therefore, the court finds that Defendants did not act with deliberate indifference to the
18 adverse conditions of confinement suffered by Plaintiff.
19 D. Caused Harm
20 To state a deliberate indifference claim, a causal relationship between Defendants’ acts
21 and Plaintiff’s alleged damages must be shown.
22 Here, Plaintiff alleges that he suffered from respiratory problems, asthma, and allergy
23 attacks because of the mold and mildew on the walls of his cell. However, sweeping conclusory
24 allegations will not suffice to prevent summary judgment. See Berg v. Kincheloe, 794 F.2d 457,
25 460 (9th Cir. 1986). Plaintiff’s evidence does not support his assertion that his respiratory
26 problems resulted from the condition of his cell.
27 Moreover, under Federal Rules of Evidence 701, Plaintiff, a layperson, may not offer
28 medical opinions or conclusions based on his symptoms. Plaintiff’s opinion that he developed
1 respiratory problems because he was housed in a cell with water leaks is evidence of what he
2 believes, not of what caused the symptoms. Only an expert witness with specialized knowledge
3 may determine whether the conditions in Plaintiff’s cell was the cause of Plaintiff’s symptoms
4 or medical condition.
5 Because Plaintiff has not provided evidence that his medical symptoms were due to the
6 water leaks in his cell, or that the condition of his cell was caused by Defendants, Plaintiff fails
7 to establish that he suffered any damages in this case.
8 E. Plaintiff’s Failure to Exhaust Appeal No. SATF-C-18-00605
9 Earlier in this order, the court found that Plaintiff did not exhaust his remedies when he
10 received a Third Level decision for Appeal No. SATF-C-18-01064. Ordinarily, a final decision
11 at the Third Level satisfies the exhaustion requirement under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Cal.Code
12 Regs tit. 15 § 3084.7(d)(3) (2018); see Lira, 427 F.3d at 1166. However, this is not the case
13 when the Third Level decision is procedural in nature and not on the merits of the appeal. The
14 Ninth Circuit has recognized that, where a prisoner fails to administratively appeal the procedural
15 cancellation of a grievance at the third level of review, that prisoner has failed to exhaust.
16 (Johnson v. Davis, No. 20-CV-04023-LHK, 2021 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 241415, at *17-18. (N.D.Cal.
17 Dec. 3, 2021,) (citing see Wilson v. Zubiate, 718 F. App’x 479, 481 (9th Cir. 2017) (affirming
18 district court grant of summary judgment where appeal was cancelled at the third level for lack
19 of jurisdiction, and plaintiff failed to appeal cancellation). Here, the decision to deny reversal of
20 the cancellation was a procedural decision which importantly did not end the remedies available
21 to Plaintiff. A remedy is unavailable if: (1) “it operates as a simple dead end—with officers
22 unable or consistently unwilling to provide any relief to aggrieved inmates”; (2) “an
23 administrative scheme [is] so opaque that it becomes, practically speaking, incapable of use”; or
24 (3) “prison administrators thwart inmates from taking advantage of a grievance process through
25 machination, misrepresentation, or intimidation.” Hunter v. Sorheim No. 2:15-CV-9253-DMG
26 (SK)) 2018 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 49714, at *5-6 (C.D.Cal. Feb. 27, 2018) (quoting Ross v. Blake, 136
27 S. Ct. 632, 643-44 (2016). When Appeal SATF-V-18-01604 was denied, Plaintiff was not at a
28 “dead end” as he still had remedies available to him. But here, Plaintiff did not take up the
1 challenge, and therefore he failed to exhaust his remedies. This left Appeal no. SATF-C-18-1800
2 as the only appeal in which Plaintiff exhausted his remedies concerning in-cell water leaks
3 occurring in March 2018.
4 F. Plaintiff is entitled to neither injunctive relief nor monetary damages
5 In the Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff requested as relief declaratory judgment,
6 injunctive relief, monetary damages including punitive damages, costs of suit, and reasonable
7 attorney’s fees. (ECF No. 24 at 33.) Plaintiff was advised in the Court’s screening order issued
8 on January 28, 2021, that based on the nature of claims at issue in this action, he was not entitled
9 to declaratory relief, injunctive relief, or attorney’s fees, and was therefore confined to seeking
10 money damages for the violations of his federal rights. (ECF No. 26 at 17:18-20.) Of significant
11 additional note, subsequent to that order Plaintiff notified the court that he was transferred from
12 SATF to Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, California. (ECF No. 32.) Plaintiff’s move from
13 SATF mooted Plaintiff’s claims for injunctive relief in this case. See Johnson v. Moore, 948
14 F.2d 517, 519 (9th Cir. 1991) (per curiam) (holding claims for injunctive relief “relating to [a
15 prison’s] policies are moot” when the prisoner has been moved and “he has demonstrated no
16 reasonable expectation of returning to [the prison]”); Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1053
17 (9th Cir. 2007). Here, Plaintiff has demonstrated no reasonable expectation of returning to
18 SATF; therefore, his claims for injunctive relief relating to SATF’s policies are moot.
19 Nor is Plaintiff entitled to monetary damages in this case because of the so-called “cost
20 defense,” a defense recognized by the Ninth Circuit. See, Atayde v. Napa State Hosp., 16-cv-
21 00398-DAD-SAB, 2022 U.S. Dist. Lexis 75399 at *19 (E.D. Cal. April 22, 2022). Defendants
22 argue that they did not act with deliberate indifference because they did not have the ability to
23 repair the infrastructure at SATF that allegedly caused the in-cell leaks. Evidence shows that
24 indeed Defendants had no control over the approval or funding for roof replacement at SATF
25 because funding had to be approved through the State of California’s budgetary process. (Milam
26 Decl., ECF No. 44-7 at ¶4; Sherman Decl., ECF No. 44-9 ¶¶4,5.) This fact underscores that
27 Defendants were not deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s risk of harm because Defendants acted
28 reasonably in the face of the adverse conditions of confinement experienced by Plaintiff.
1 Resource availability is highly relevant to a claim seeking damages against prison officials. (Id.)
2 (citing Peralta, 744 F.3d 1076. Therefore, Plaintiff is not entitled to monetary damages as relief
3 in this case.
4 Based on the foregoing, the court finds that Defendants are entitled to summary judgment,
5 because due to his transfer away from SATF, Plaintiff is unable proceed with claims for
6 injunctive relief as shown above, and he is additionally unable to claim monetary damages for
7 deliberate indifference under the “cost defense.” Therefore, the court shall recommend that
8 Defendants’ motion for summary judgment be granted in full
9 G. Immunity
10 Defendants argue that they are entitled to qualified immunity for their actions against
11 Plaintiff in this case. “Qualified immunity shields government officials from civil damages
12 liability unless the official violated a statutory or constitutional right that was clearly established
13 at the time of the challenged conduct.” Taylor v. Barkes, 575 U.S. 822, 825, 135 S.Ct. 2042,
14 2044 (2015) quoting Reichle v. Howards, 566 U. S. 658, 132 S.Ct. 2088, 2093 (2012). Qualified
15 immunity analysis requires two prongs of inquiry: “(1) whether ‘the facts alleged show the
16 official’s conduct violated a constitutional right; and (2) if so, whether the right was clearly
17 established’ as of the date of the involved events ‘in light of the specific context of the case.’”
18 Tarabochia v. Adkins, 766 F.3d 1115, 1121 (9th Cir. 2014) quoting Robinson v. York, 566 F.3d
19 817, 821 (9th Cir. 2009).
20 As discussed above, the court has found that Defendants did not act with deliberate
21 indifference, nor did they violate Plaintiffs constitutional rights. Therefore, the issue of immunity
22 shall not be addressed.
23 VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
24 The court finds, based on the record before it, that Plaintiff exhausted his available
25 administrative remedies required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) for
26 his claims in this case against Defendants Milam and Sherman arising in 2018. The court also
27 finds that Defendants have submitted evidence that they did not act with deliberate indifference
28 concerning the adverse conditions in Plaintiff’s cell, and Plaintiff did not produce any evidence
1 in response that created a disputed issue of material fact. Accordingly, Defendants are entitled
2 to judgment on Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims against them, and Defendants’ motion for
3 summary judgment, filed on December 13, 2021, should be granted.
4 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
5 1. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, filed on December 13, 2021, be
6 GRANTED; and
7 2. Summary judgment be entered in favor of Defendants, closing this case.
8 These amended findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District
9 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within
10 fourteen (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may
11 file written objections with the court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to
12 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections shall be served
13 and filed within ten days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to
14 file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson
15 v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394
16 (9th Cir. 1991)).
17
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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19 Dated: May 25, 2022 /s/ Gary S. Austin
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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