“To state a claim for conspiracy to violate one's constitutional rights under section 1983, 19 the plaintiff must state specific facts to support the existence of the claimed conspiracy.” (citation 20 omitted)
How later courts described this case
- “To state a claim for conspiracy to violate one's constitutional rights under section 1983, 19 the plaintiff must state specific facts to support the existence of the claimed conspiracy.” (citation 20 omitted)
- “The decision to prosecute a particular crime is within the authority of the 17 state, and there appears to be no federal constitutional right to have criminal wrongdoers brought 18 to justice.”
- deliberately spreading rumor 7 that prisoner is snitch may state claim for violation of right to be protected from violence while in 8 state custody
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 JARED ANDREW MARTIN, Case No. 1:22-cv-00889-AWI-BAM (PC)
12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN
13 v. CLAIMS AND DEFENDANTS
14 PFEIFFER, et al., (ECF No. 10)
15 Defendants.
FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE
16
17 Plaintiff Jared Andrew Martin (“Plaintiff”) is a county jail inmate and former state
18 prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action under 42 U.S.C.
19 § 1983. The Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint and granted leave to amend. Plaintiff’s first
20 amended complaint, filed on September 1, 2022, is currently before the court for screening. (ECF
21 No. 10.)
22
I. Screening Requirement and Standard
23
The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a
24
governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.
25
§ 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to dismissal if it is frivolous
26
or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or if it seeks monetary
27
relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b).
28
1 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
2 pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not
3 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
4 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell
5 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as
6 true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
7 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
8 To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires
9 sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable
10 for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S. Secret
11 Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully
12 is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the plausibility
13 standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
II. Plaintiff’s Allegations
14
15 Plaintiff is currently housed at Madera County Jail. The events in the complaint are
16 alleged to have occurred while Plaintiff was housed at Kern Valley State Prison. Plaintiff names
17 as defendants: (1) Christian Pfeiffer, Warden, (2) E. Stark, Associate Warden, (3) County of
18 Kern, (4) City of Delano, (5) D. Castillo, Correctional Officer and (6) Officer Cardenas.
19 Plaintiff alleges violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth
20 Amendments based on the following facts. In claim 1, Plaintiff alleges:
21
“Warden Christian Pfeiffer and Associate Warden E. Stark, The County of
22
Kern and the City of Delano let Kern Valley State Prison employees beat, abuse,
23 torture and terrorize me and try to murder me. None of the officers were fired,
arrested or disciplined. Each time I reported it nothing was done. Every incident
24 was covered up or not dealt with properly. Officer Cardenas was witnessed telling
some inmates to stab me. The witness went to the program office and told prison
25 authorities and CDCR personal [sic]. Grievances were submitted and we did
internal affairs interviews. I do not know the exact date the incident happened or
26
what date we did the interviews because CDCR has refused to give me a copy of
27 my central file. Also the evidence and records I did have in my possession has
[sic] been illegally seized by Madera County sheriffs. The[y] also will not give
28 them to me.”
1
In claim 2, Plaintiff alleges:
2
“These are not conclusory allegations, not only did these things happen I
3 have witnesses and evidence but again Pfeiffer, Stack, Kern County, the City of
Delano, Madera County Sheriffs, Madera County Department of Corrections and
4
CDCR employees, staff and officials are withholding these documents, records,
5 602 grievances and audio recordings of witnesses backing up my claims the cited
officials and supervisors are liable because I made them aware of what was going
6 on they did not stop it. They only tried to cover it up. The plot by Cardenas was
interrupted by this witness. This witnesses [sic] seen [sic] DeLacruz handcuff me
7
for no reason and twist my arms for no reason. These people saw DeLacruz refuse
to feed me, they saw DeLacruz refuse to let people push me in my wheelchair,
8
force me to walk and make me fall down on multiple occasions. DeLacruz used
9 harassing cell searches to steal my medicine and legal paperwork.”
10 Plaintiff alleges these are not different claims but the same people who kept beating and
11 abusing Plaintiff. Northcutt attacked Plaintiff the first time on March 9, 2021 and nothing
12 was done because that is how it is done in prison and Pfeiffer lets it happen.
13 Plaintiff sought help daily from CDCR and prison employees and from Kern
14 County Sheriff and Kern County District Attorney. Plaintiff alleges he is facing false
15 criminal charges and CDCR, the Judge, the Madera County Sheriff and District Attorney
16 are in a conspiracy. Plaintiff wants his central file turned over to him, and documents
17 illegally seized from him. Pfeiffer, Stack, Kern County, the City of Delano, Madera
18 County Sheriffs, Madera County Department of Corrections and CDCR employees, staff
19 and officials are involved in a cover up and conspiracy.
20 In claim 3, Plaintiff alleges:
21 “They saw DeLacruz tell the other inmates he turned off the phones and turned off
the TV because of me. DeLacruz did this so this prisoners would jump on me.
22 The witnesses said ‘DeLacruz trying to get us on you.” Officer DeLacruz gave me
the F.You sign regularly. DeLacruz smashed me in the cell door purposely [sic].
23 These things happened regularly. I have diabetes, COPD, nerve damage in my
legs, arthritis in my hands and hips, a bad disc and a bone sticking out of my spine.
24
I have heart trouble, muscle disease. I get dizzy and fall down, at the prison I saw
25 at least 7 or 8 different doctors and took about 30 different medicines. Everyone
knew how sick I was. Officers Delacruz use to deny me medical treatment, he
26 used to tell the nurses I was faking. Officer D. Castillo used to throw my
medicines in the trash. Castillo tried to push me into a cage for no reason. Castillo
27 on many occasions put his handcuffs on me and twisted my arms for no good
reason, punching me. He would feel on me sexually rubbing me up and my body
28
1 not searching me but feeling me. He also denied me medical treatment several
times. Officer Northcutt hit [me] in the head at least three or four times, slammed
2
my arm on the bars another three or four times, then twisted my arm in a chicken
wing motion. He said, ‘I’m going to kill you’ ‘ you are going to be the next
3
George Floyd.’ Northcutt attack[ed]me again after that day. Both assaults were
4 for no reason. These events happened regularly and often to me at Kern Valley
State Prison. I do not have the times and dates because CDCR and Madera County
5 Department of Corrections are tampering with and withholding evidence, my
central file and legal paperwork. I told Pfeiffer, I told Stark, I wrote Stark, I sent
6
letters to Kern County Sheriff and District Attorney Their refusal do not stop it
7 and makes them liable.
8
As remedies, Plaintiff wants U.S. Attorney assistance and FBI protection and
9
investigations of Kern Valley State Prison. He wants those involved arrested and fined. Plaintiff
10
seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
11
III. Discussion
12
Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to
13
state a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Despite being provided the relevant pleading
14
and legal standards, Plaintiff has been unable to cure most of the deficiencies.
15
A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and 10
16 Pursuant to Rule 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim
17 showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Detailed factual allegations
18 are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
19 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted). Plaintiff must
20 set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on
21 its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). While factual allegations
22 are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Id.; see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556–57; Moss,
23 572 F.3d at 969.
24 Here, Plaintiff’s complaint is short, but it is not a plain statement of his claims showing
25 that he is entitled to relief. As Plaintiff was informed, Plaintiff’s allegations are conclusory and
26 do not state forth the facts of what happened, when it happened, or which defendant was
27 involved. General assertions regarding Plaintiff’s fears that certain CDCR employees are trying
28 to set up Plaintiff are not sufficient. Conclusory allegations of events are not sufficient. For
1 instance, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Castillo denied Plaintiff medical care “several times,” but
2 fails to describe Plaintiff’s serious medical condition, the need for medical care, and whether
3 Defendant was deliberately indifferent. Plaintiff was informed that he must state factual support
4 for each claim. Plaintiff has been unable to cure the deficiencies.
5 Further, alleges that Northcutt and Delacruz did certain actions to Plaintiff. However,
6 neither Northcutt nor Delacruz are named as defendants. Fed.R.Civ.P. 10 (The title of the
7 complaint must name all the parties.) Neither officer is named in this action as a defendant and
8 therefore, the Court does not screen claims against these officers.
9 B. Supervisory Liability
10 To the extent Plaintiff seeks to hold any defendant liable based solely upon their
11 supervisory role, he may not do so. Liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel for
12 the actions or omissions of their subordinates under the theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556
13 U.S. at 676–77; Simmons v. Navajo Cty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020–21 (9th Cir. 2010); Ewing v.
City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 2009); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th
14
Cir. 2002). “A supervisor may be liable only if (1) he or she is personally involved in the
15
constitutional deprivation, or (2) there is a sufficient causal connection between the supervisor’s
16
wrongful conduct and the constitutional violation.” Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977 (9th
17
Cir. 2013) (citation and quotation marks omitted); accord Lemire v. Cal. Dep’t of Corrs. &
18
Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1074–75 (9th Cir. 2013); Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 F.3d 896, 915–16
19
(9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). “Under the latter theory, supervisory liability exists even without overt
20
personal participation in the offensive act if supervisory officials implement a policy so deficient
21
that the policy itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights and is the moving force of a
22
constitutional violation.” Crowley, 734 F.3d at 977 (citing Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646
23
(9th Cir. 1989)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
24
Plaintiff has failed to allege direct participation in the alleged violations by Defendant
25
Pfeiffer and Stark. Plaintiff has failed to allege the causal link between defendants and the
26
claimed constitutional violation which must be specifically alleged. He does not make a sufficient
27
showing of any personal participation, direction, or knowledge on the defendant's part regarding
28
1 any other prison officials’ actions. Plaintiff’s conclusory allegations that Defendants “knew” are
2 insufficient. Plaintiff has not alleged that the Defendant personally participated in the alleged
3 deprivations. Plaintiff has been unable to cure this deficiency.
4 Plaintiff fails to allege what the specific policy is and the causal link between such
5 defendant and the claimed constitutional violation. Conclusory allegations are insufficient.
6 Plaintiff also has failed to plead facts showing that any policy was a moving force behind the
7 alleged constitutional violations. See Willard v. Cal. Dep't of Corr. & Rehab., No. 14-0760, 2014
8 WL 6901849, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 5, 2014) (“To premise a supervisor's alleged liability on a
9 policy promulgated by the supervisor, plaintiff must identify a specific policy and establish a
10 ‘direct causal link’ between that policy and the alleged constitutional deprivation.”). Plaintiff has
11 failed to allege facts demonstrating that the policy itself a repudiation of Plaintiff's Eighth
12 Amendment rights. Plaintiff has been unable to cure this deficiency.
13 C. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 18 and 20
The Court cannot determine if the allegations violate the rules against joinder. Plaintiff
14
may not bring unrelated claims against unrelated parties in a single action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 18(a),
15
20(a)(2); Owens v. Hinsley, 635 F.3d 950, 952 (7th Cir. 2011); George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605,
16
607 (7th Cir. 2007); Mackey v. Price, 2020 WL 7319420, at *3–4 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 11, 2020),
17
report and recommendation adopted, 2021 WL 843462 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2021). Plaintiff may
18
bring a claim against multiple defendants so long as (1) the claim arises out of the same
19
transaction or occurrence, or series of transactions and occurrences, and (2) there are commons
20
questions of law or fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2); Coughlin v. Rogers, 130 F.3d 1348, 1351 (9th
21
Cir. 1997). The “same transaction” requirement refers to similarity in the factual background of a
22
claim. Id. at 1349. Only if the defendants are properly joined under Rule 20(a) will the Court
23
review the other claims to determine if they may be joined under Rule 18(a), which permits the
24
joinder of multiple claims against the same party.
25
In Plaintiff’s first amended complaint, Plaintiff appears to assert numerous instances of
26
alleged violations of his rights. However, Plaintiff was informed that Plaintiff may not raise
27
different claims against different defendants in a single action. Plaintiff may not, in a single case,
28
1 assert a claim related to sexual abuse and also claims about the force used by officers on different
2 occasions and also a denial of medical care “numerous times.” A civil rights case cannot contain
3 a litany of all alleged wrongs against a Plaintiff while Plaintiff was housed at the institution.
4 George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no “buckshot” complaints).
5 D. Monell Liability against County of Kern and City of Delano
6 Plaintiff has named the County of Kern and the City of Delano as defendants.
7 Local governments are “persons” subject to liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 where
8 official policy or custom causes a constitutional tort, see Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs., 436
9 U.S. 658, 690 (1978); however, a city or county may not be held vicariously liable for the
10 unconstitutional acts of its employees under the theory of respondeat superior, see Board of Cty.
11 Comm'rs. of Bryan Cty. v. Brown, 520 U.S. 397, 403 (1997); Monell, 436 U.S. at 691; Fuller v.
12 City of Oakland, 47 F.3d 1522, 1534 (9th Cir. 1995). Local governing bodies therefore may be
13 sued directly under § 1983 for monetary, declaratory or injunctive relief for the violation of
federal rights. See Monell, 436 U.S. at 690. They are absolutely immune from liability for
14
punitive damages under § 1983, however. See City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc., 453 U.S.
15
247, 271 (1981).
16
To impose municipal liability under § 1983 for a violation of constitutional rights
17
resulting from governmental inaction or omission, a plaintiff must show: “(1) that he possessed a
18
constitutional right of which he or she was deprived; (2) that the municipality had a policy; (3)
19
that this policy amounts to deliberate indifference to the plaintiff's constitutional rights; and (4)
20
that the policy is the moving force behind the constitutional violation.” Oviatt By and Through
21
Waugh v. Pearce, 954 F.2d 1470, 1474 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting City of Canton v. Harris, 489
22
U.S. 378, 389 (1989) (internal quotation marks omitted);
23
A local governmental entity may be liable if it has a “policy of inaction and such inaction
24
amounts to a failure to protect constitutional rights.” Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668,
25
681 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting Oviatt v. Pearce, 954 F.2d 1470, 1474 (9th Cir. 1992)). The custom
26
or policy of inaction must be the result of a conscious or deliberate choice to follow a course of
27
action made from among various alternatives by the official or officials responsible for
28
1 establishing final policy with respect to the subject matter in question. City of Canton, 489 U.S. at
2 389; Oviatt, 954 F.2d at 1477 (quoting Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 483-84
3 (1986) (plurality opinion)).
4 Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim. As in the original complaint, here, the first
5 amended complaint does not identified a policy which violated his rights and has not linked any
6 alleged violation of his rights to a policy or practice attributable to the County of Kern or the City
7 of Delano, nor has he provided facts to support that County of Kern, or the City of Delano knew
8 of, and blatantly ignored, the alleged violations committed by officers at Kern Valley State
9 Prison. The allegation that he “told’ them of violations does not state a cognizable claim absent an
10 allegation of each entity’s policy of deliberate indifference. These entities are not liable merely
11 because Kern Valley State Prison is located within their geographical boundaries. Therefore,
12 Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim against these defendants. Plaintiff cannot cure this
13 deficiency.
E. Eighth Amendment
14
1. Excessive Force
15
The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from inhumane methods of punishment and
16
from inhumane conditions of confinement. Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir.
17
2006). The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain violates the Cruel and Unusual
18
Punishments Clause of the Eighth Amendment. Hudson v McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 5 (1992)
19
(citations omitted). Although prison conditions may be restrictive and harsh, prison officials must
20
provide prisoners with food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety.
21
Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832–33 (1994) (quotations omitted).
22
“[W]henever prison officials stand accused of using excessive physical force in violation
23
of the [Eighth Amendment], the core judicial inquiry is...whether force was applied in a good-
24
faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.”
25
Hudson, 503 U.S. at 6-7. Not “every malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal
26
cause of action.” Id. at 9. De minimis uses of physical force do not violate the constitution
27
provided that the use of force is not of a sort “repugnant to the conscience of mankind.” Whitley
28
1 v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 327 (1986) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976).
2 For claims of excessive physical force, the issue is “whether force was applied in a good-
3 faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.”
4 Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7. Relevant factors for this consideration include “the extent of injury... [,]
5 the need for application of force, the relationship between that need and the amount of force used,
6 the threat ‘reasonably perceived by the responsible officials,’ and ‘any efforts made to temper the
7 severity of a forceful response.’ ” Id. (quoting Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 1078, 1085 (1986) ).
8 Finally, because the use of force relates to the prison's legitimate penological interest in
9 maintaining security and order, the court must be deferential to the conduct of prison officials.
10 See Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321–22.
11 Plaintiff alleges he was abused, “tortured” and terrorized, but fails to include any factual
12 allegations of what happened, who was involved and when it happened. Plaintiff’s conclusory
13 allegations are not sufficient.
Plaintiff alleges Castillo twisted his arm while in handcuffs. However, not “every
14
malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal cause of action.” Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9.
15
Plaintiff has failed to allege facts that rise to a constitutional violation.
16
2. Failure to Protect
17
Plaintiff alleges that Cardenas tried to get some inmates to stab Plaintiff.
18
The Eighth Amendment requires that prison officials take reasonable measures to
19
guarantee the safety of prisoners. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. at 832. In particular, prison
20
officials have a duty to protect prisoners from violence at the hands of other prisoners. Id. at 833;
21
Cortez v. Skol, 776 F. 3d 1046, 1050 (9th Cir. 2015); Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1040
22
(9th Cir. 2005); Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1250 (9th Cir. 1982); Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629
23
F.2d 637, 642 & n.3 (9th Cir. 1980).
24
The failure of prison officials to protect inmates from attacks by other inmates or from
25
dangerous conditions at the prison violates the Eighth Amendment when two requirements are
26
met: (1) the deprivation alleged is, objectively, sufficiently serious; and (2) the prison official is,
27
subjectively, deliberately indifferent to inmate health or safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. A prison
28
1 official is deliberately indifferent if he knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health
2 or safety by failing to take reasonable steps to abate it. Id. at 837.
3 A prisoner may state a § 1983 claim under the Eighth Amendment against prison officials
4 only where the officials acted with “deliberate indifference” to the threat of serious harm or injury
5 to an inmate by another prisoner, Berg v. Kincheloe, 794 F.2d 457, 459 (9th Cir. 1986); see also
6 Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135, 1138 (9th Cir. 1989) (deliberately spreading rumor
7 that prisoner is snitch may state claim for violation of right to be protected from violence while in
8 state custody), or by physical conditions at the prison. The official must both be aware of facts
9 from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he
10 must also draw the inference. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. Mere negligent failure to protect an
11 inmate from harm is not actionable under Section 1983. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835.
12 Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged that Defendant Cardenas put him in danger. Plaintiff
13 alleges that Defendant Cardenas arranged for Plaintiff to be stabbed. Construed liberally, the
Court finds that this allegation, if true, sufficiently shows that defendant Cardenas had knowledge
14
of a risk to Plaintiff's safety.
15
3. Sexual Assault
16
Plaintiff alleges he was sexually assaulted.
17
“Sexual harassment or abuse of an inmate by a corrections officer is a violation of the
18
Eighth Amendment.” Wood v. Beauclair, 692 F.3d 1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Schwenk v.
19
Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187, 1197 (9th Cir. 2000) ). “In the simplest and most absolute of terms ...
20
prisoners [have a clearly established Eighth Amendment right] to be free from sexual abuse ....”
21
Schwenk, 204 F.3d at 1197. “In evaluating a prisoner's claim, courts consider whether ‘the
22
officials act[ed] with a sufficiently culpable state of mind’ and if the alleged wrongdoing was
23
objectively ‘harmful enough’ to establish a constitutional violation.” Wood, 692 F.3d at 1046.
24
“[A] prisoner presents a viable Eighth Amendment claim where he or she proves that a prison
25
staff member, acting under color of law and without legitimate penological justification, touched
26
the prisoner in a sexual manner or otherwise engaged in sexual conduct for the staff member's
27
own sexual gratification, or for the purpose of humiliating, degrading, or demeaning the
28
1 prisoner.” Bearchild v. Cobban, 947 F.3d 1130, 1144 (9th Cir. 2020). There are occasions when
2 legitimate penological concerns require invasive searches, and the courts owe prison staff
3 deference because of prisons’ “unique security concerns.” Id. at 1145. Thus, when the assault
4 begins as a legitimate, albeit invasive, penological procedure, the prisoner must show that the
5 official's “conduct exceeded the scope of what was required to satisfy whatever institutional
6 concern justified the initiation of the procedure.” Id.; see Palmer v. O'Connor, No. 2:11–CV–
7 2927–KJN (P), 2013 WL 1326207, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 29, 2013) (“Inmate sexual harassment
8 claims that allege brief inappropriate touching by a correctional official are generally found to be
9 noncognizable, particularly if the alleged touching occurred pursuant to an authorized search.
10 ‘Even if plaintiff believed that there was a sexual aspect to the search, more is needed.’ ”).
11 Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim. Plaintiff alleges that Cardenas would “feel on
12 me sexually rubbing me up and my body not searching me but feeling me.” However, the
13 allegations imply that the touching began as a search and because a search, the Court must give
deference to prison security concerns absent factual allegations of sexual connotations during the
14
search. Plaintiff was informed that he must allege facts but Plaintiff merely makes conclusory
15
allegation that he was sexually touched without any factual support regarding the search.
16
Moreover, this claim appears to be misjoined.
17
4. Deliberate Indifference to Medical Care
18
Plaintiff alleges a claim for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need for throwing
19
away his medication.
20
To allege a claim of deliberate indifference, plaintiff must show he had a serious medical
21
need and defendants were deliberately indifferent to that need. A medical need is serious “if the
22
failure to treat the prisoner’s condition could result in further significant injury or the
23
‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’ ” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir.
24
1992), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997)
25
(en banc). Indications of a serious medical need include “the presence of a medical condition that
26
significantly affects an individual’s daily activities.” Id. at 1059–60. By establishing the
27
existence of a serious medical need, a prisoner satisfies the objective requirement for proving an
28
1 Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994).
2 Deliberate indifference is established only where the defendant subjectively “knows of
3 and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health and safety.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051,
4 1057 (9th Cir. 2004) (emphasis added) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
5 Deliberate indifference can be established “by showing (a) a purposeful act or failure to respond
6 to a prisoner's pain or possible medical need and (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Jett v.
7 Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). Civil recklessness (failure “to act
8 in the face of an unjustifiably high risk of harm that is either known or so obvious that it should
9 be known”) is insufficient to establish an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511
10 U.S. 825, 836–37 & n.5 (1994) (citations omitted).
11 Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim. Plaintiff fails to allege factual support of what
12 the medication was for, whether Plaintiff had a serious medical need, and whether defendant
13 subjectively “knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health and safety.” Indeed,
Plaintiff adds this new claim despite being warned in the screening order that Plaintiff may not
14
change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated claims in his first amended complaint.
15
F. Failure to Investigate
16
To the extent Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Pfeiffer or Stark failed to investigate
17
Plaintiff's claims or failed to investigate properly, that is not a basis for a plausible §1983 claim.
18
Baker v. Beam, 2019 WL 1455321, at *6 (E.D. Cal. 2019). To the degree Plaintiff is trying to
19
hold the individuals or others liable for an independent, unspecified constitutional violation based
20
upon an allegedly inadequate investigation, there is no such claim. See Gomez v. Whitney, 757
21
F.2d 1005, 1006 (9th Cir. 1985) (per curiam) (“[W]e can find no instance where the courts have
22
recognized inadequate investigation as sufficient to state a civil rights claim unless there was
23
another recognized constitutional right involved.”); Page v. Stanley, 2013 WL 2456798, at *8–9
24
(C.D. Cal. June 5, 2013) (dismissing Section 1983 claim alleging that officers failed to conduct
25
thorough investigation of plaintiff's complaints because plaintiff “had no constitutional right to
26
any investigation of his citizen's complaint, much less a ‘thorough’ investigation or a particular
27
outcome”).
28
1 G. Verbal Harassment
2 Plaintiff is advised that mere verbal harassment or abuse, including the use of racial
3 epithets, does not violate the Constitution and, thus, does not give rise to a claim for relief under
4 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Oltarzewski v. Ruggiero, 830 F.2d 136, 139 (9th Cir. 1987). Even verbal
5 threats, without more, do not rise to the level of a constitutional violation. Gaut v. Sunn, 810 F.2d
6 923, 925 (9th Cir. 1987): Puckett v. Baraona, No. 1:21-CV-1448 BAM PC, 2022 WL 268071, at
7 *2 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2022), report and recommendation adopted, No. 1:21-CV-01448 DAD
8 BAMPC, 2022 WL 800988 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 16, 2022) (failure to state a claim for calling Plaintiff
9 a “wetback.”)
10 Plaintiff alleges he was harassed and “terrorized.” Such conclusory allegations do not
11 state a cognizable claim.
12 H. Bringing Criminal Charges
13 Plaintiff seeks criminal charges against Defendants.
Plaintiff has no constitutional right to have another person criminally prosecuted. See
14
Linda R.S. v. Richard D., 410 U.S. 614 (1973) (“a private citizen lacks a judicially cognizable
15
interest in the prosecution or nonprosecution of another”); Johnson v. Craft, 673 F. Supp. 191,
16
193 (D. Miss. 1987) (“The decision to prosecute a particular crime is within the authority of the
17
state, and there appears to be no federal constitutional right to have criminal wrongdoers brought
18
to justice.”); Smith v. Cambpell, No. 1:19-CV-00271 BAM PC, 2020 WL 4570336, at *4 (E.D.
19
Cal. Aug. 7, 2020) (dismissing district attorneys for failure to state a claim for not criminally
20
prosecuting Plaintiff's alleged assailants in state court.)
21
I. False Reports
22
A false report is not a constitutional violation. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants falsified
23
the RVRs and statements. Johnson v. Felker, No. 1:12–cv–02719 GEB KJN (PC), 2013 WL
24
6243280, at *6 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 3, 2013) (“Prisoners have no constitutionally guaranteed right to
25
be free from false accusations of misconduct, so the mere falsification of a report does not give
26
rise to a claim under section 1983.”) (citations omitted). Plaintiff's complaint therefore fails to
27
state a claim based on allegations of a false medical injury report. Sanford v. Eaton, No. 1:20-CV-
28
1 00792 BAM(PC), 2021 WL 1172911, at *7 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 29, 2021)(denying a claim alleging
2 falsified medical report and statements made by Plaintiff), denying to adopt on other grounds,
3 Sanford v. Eaton, No. 1:20-CV00792-JLT BAM(PC), 2022 WL 168530, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 19,
4 2022). Plaintiff does not have a separate claim for false reports.
5 J. Conspiracy
6 Plaintiff is attempting to allege a claim for conspiracy in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
7 A conspiracy claim brought under Section 1983 requires proof of “an agreement or
8 meeting of the minds to violate constitutional rights,” Franklin v. Fox, 312 F.3d 423, 441 (9th
9 Cir. 2001) (quoting United Steel Workers of Am. v. Phelps Dodge Corp., 865 F.2d 1539, 1540–41
10 (9th Cir. 1989) (citation omitted)), and an actual deprivation of constitutional rights, Hart v.
11 Parks, 450 F.3d 1059, 1071 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Woodrum v. Woodward County, Okla., 866
12 F.2d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 1989)). “To be liable, each participant in the conspiracy need not know
13 the exact details of the plan, but each participant must at least share the common objective of the
conspiracy.” Franklin, 312 F.3d at 441 (quoting United Steel Workers, 865 F.2d at 1541).
14
The Ninth Circuit requires a plaintiff alleging a conspiracy to violate civil rights to “state
15
specific facts to support the existence of the claimed conspiracy.” Olsen v. Idaho State Bd. of
16
Med., 363 F.3d 916, 929 (9th Cir. 2004) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)
17
(discussing conspiracy claim under § 1985); Burns v. County of King, 883 F.2d 819, 821 (9th Cir.
18
1989) (“To state a claim for conspiracy to violate one's constitutional rights under section 1983,
19
the plaintiff must state specific facts to support the existence of the claimed conspiracy.” (citation
20
omitted)).
21
Plaintiff's allegations of conspiracy under § 1983 fail to state a claim because his
22
allegations are conclusory and merely speculative. Plaintiff does not provide any specific facts
23
showing that any of the Defendants had an agreement to violate his constitutional rights.
24
IV. Conclusion and Order
25
Based on the above, the Court finds that Plaintiff states a cognizable claim against
26
Defendant Cardenas for violation of the Eighth Amendment for failure to protect. However,
27
Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state any other cognizable claims for relief against any other
28
1 defendants.
2 Accordingly, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
3 1. This action proceed on Plaintiff’s complaint, filed September 1, 2022, (ECF No. 10),
4 against Defendant Cardenas for failure to protect in violation of the Eighth Amendment;
5 and
6 2. All other claims and defendants be dismissed based on Plaintiff’s failure to state claims
7 upon which relief may be granted.
8 * * *
9 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District
10 Judge assigned to the case, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after
11 being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections
12 with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings
13 and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that the failure to file objections within the specified
time may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate’s factual findings” on
14
appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923
15
F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
16
17
IT IS SO ORDERED.
18
19 Dated: September 19, 2022 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28