holding that pro se complaints should continue to be liberally construed after Iqbal
How later courts described this case
- holding that pro se complaints should continue to be liberally construed after Iqbal
- holding that acts 27 performed by nursing home staff did not constitute state action
- A court 22 “may take notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial 23 system, if those proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue.”
- adopting the practice of using Government Claims Act rather than California Tort Claims 27 Act
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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10 ALLAN THOMAS ROCKWELL, Case No. 1:22-cv-00392-JLT-EPG
11 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Plaintiff,
RECOMMENDING THAT DEFENDANT
12
MICHAEL CHOATE’S MOTION TO
13 v. DISMISS BE GRANTED IN PART;
DEFENDANT DENISE CHOATE’S MOTION
14 TO DISMISS BE GRANTED IN PART;
TUOLUMNE COUNTY, et al.,
15 DEFENDANTS TUOLUMMNE COUNTY
AND MELISSA BROUHARD’S MOTION TO
16 Defendants. DISMISS BE GRANTED IN PART; AND
THAT DEFENDANTS MICHAEL CHOATE
17 AND DENISE CHOATES’ REQUESTS FOR
18 JUDICIAL NOTICE BE DENIED
19 (ECF Nos. 18, 19, 24).
20 OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN
FOURTEEN DAYS
21
22 Plaintiff Allan Thomas Rockwell (“Plaintiff”) proceeds pro se in this civil rights action
23 initiated on April 4, 2022. (ECF No. 1). Before the Court are motions to dismiss filed by
24 Defendants Denise Choate, Michael Choate, Tuolumne County and Melissa Brouhard. (ECF Nos.
25 18, 19, 24). The matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and
26 Local Rule 302(c)(19). For the following reasons, the Court will recommend that Defendants’
27 motions be granted in part, that Defendant Denise Choate, Michael Choate, and Tuolumne
28 County be terminated, and leave to amend be given only regarding Plaintiff’s claims against
Defendant Brouhard.
1 I. BACKGROUND
2 This case primarily arises from an elder abuse investigation conducted by Defendant
3 Tuolumne County concerning an individual under Plaintiff’s care, and the subsequent criminal
4 trial that resulted in Plaintiff’s conviction.
Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint on April 25, 2022. (ECF No. 5).1 Plaintiff
5
alleges that Defendants Michael and Denise Choate, two private citizens, acted in “concert” with
6
Defendant Tuolumne County and Defendant Melissa Brouhard (“Brouhard”), a Tuolumne County
7
Adult Protective Services employee, to deprive Plaintiff of constitutionally protected rights
8
throughout the investigation and criminal trial. Further, Plaintiff alleges numerous state law tort
9
claims generally related to violations against Plaintiff’s person or property caused by Defendants’
10
negligent or willful misconduct.
11
On May 24, 2022, Ms. Choate filed a motion to dismiss all claims as well as a request for
12
judicial notice. (ECF No. 18). On the same day, Mr. Choate filed an identical motion and
13
request.2 (ECF No. 19). Plaintiff filed an opposition to those motions on June 14, 2022. (ECF No.
14
22). Mr. Choate filed a reply to Plaintiff’s opposition on June 23, 2022. (ECF No. 30).3
15
On June 21, 2022, Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard filed a motion to dismiss
16 all claims asserted against them.4 (ECF No. 24). On July 8, 2022, Plaintiff filed an opposition to
17 the motion to dismiss. (ECF No. 40). Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard filed a reply on
18 July 22, 2022. (ECF No. 49).
19
20
21 1 Plaintiff’s first amended complaint was also brought on behalf of G.A.R, a minor. On July 29, 2022, the Court
issued findings and recommendations recommending that all claims brought on behalf of G.A.R. be dismissed
22 without prejudice on the ground that Plaintiff has no authority to proceed on G.A.R.’s behalf. (ECF No. 55). On
October 13, 2022, District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston issued an order adopting the Court’s findings and
23 recommendations, and dismissing all claims brought on behalf of G.A.R. without prejudice. (ECF No. 74). As such,
because Count II only alleges a claim by G.A.R. against Defendant Brouhard, Count II has been dismissed without
24 prejudice.
2 The only difference being that each motion refers to either “Michael Choate” or “Denise Choate” as the relevant
25 defendant.
3 Ms. Choate also filed a reply on June 23, 2022. (ECF No. 29). However, Ms. Choate’s filing only contained a proof
of service.
26
4 On June 29, 2022, Plaintiff filed a request for entry of default against Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard.
(ECF No. 37). On July 14, 2022, the Court issued findings and recommendations recommending that Plaintiff’s
27
request be denied because Plaintiff failed to demonstrate that Defendants were properly and successfully served with
the summons. (ECF No 43). On October 13, 2022, District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston issued an order adopting the
28 Court’s findings and recommendations and denying Plaintiff’s request for entry of default. (ECF No. 75).
1 A hearing on the motions was held on July 29, 2022. (ECF No. 54). Plaintiff appeared
2 telephonically. (Id.) Austin Turner appeared telephonically on behalf of Defendants Tuolumne
3 County and Brouhard. (Id.) Mr. and Ms. Choate, proceeding pro se, also appeared telephonically.
4 (Id.)
II. PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
5
A. Factual Background
6
The amended complaint describes Plaintiff’s relationship with his elderly uncle, Patrick
7
Thomas Oliver (“Oliver”), and the circumstances under which Plaintiff began to care for Oliver in
8
June 2019. (ECF No. 5, p. 7-11). According to Plaintiff, Oliver appointed Plaintiff as Power of
9
Attorney, and Plaintiff “administered expenses for [Oliver’s] benefit.” (Id. at 9-10). At some
10
point, Oliver came to live with Plaintiff at Plaintiff’s residence. (Id. at 8). Around that same time,
11
Plaintiff allowed Mr. and Ms. Choate to stay at his residence as temporary house guests. (ECF
12
No. 5 at 11). Plaintiff contends that Mr. and Ms. Choate began “grooming [Oliver] to turn
13
[Oliver] against Plaintiff.” (Id. at 12).
14
On April 6, 2020, Plaintiff received a phone call from Defendant Brouhard, a Tuolumne
15
County Adult Protective Services employee. (ECF No. 5, p. 13). According to Plaintiff,
16 Defendant Brouhard instructed Plaintiff that he should not return to his residence or contact
17 Oliver and that his Power of Attorney authority had been revoked. (Id.) Plaintiff states that he
18 never received written notification that his authority as Power of Attorney had been revoked. (Id.)
19 Further, Plaintiff claims he was unlawfully evicted during this phone call because Defendant
20 Brouhard told Plaintiff that he would be arrested if he returned to the residence, and at the time,
21 there was a state-mandated moratorium on evictions. (Id. at 1, 13-14). Plaintiff alleges that
22 Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard failed to fully and properly investigate the false
23 allegations against Plaintiff. (Id. at 30).
Prior to receiving the phone call from Defendant Brouhard, Plaintiff believed that Mr. and
24
Ms. Choate vacated the residence. (ECF No. 5, p. 14). However, he learned through a third-party
25
who had spoken with Ms. Choate that Adult Protective Services had requested that Mr. and Ms.
26
Choate stay with Oliver until he was placed in new housing. (Id. at 14-15). Plaintiff alleges that
27
during the period Mr. and Ms. Choate cared for Oliver at the residence, Mr. and Ms. Choate
28
1 invaded Plaintiff’s private space and destroyed many of Plaintiff’s personal belongings. (Id. at
2 15). Further, Plaintiff claims that starting on April 7, 2020, Mr. and Ms. Choate “began to
3 regularly slander, defame, and intimidate Plaintiff with false, misleading, and distorted statements
4 on Facebook in a long term and ongoing negative distortion campaign.” (Id. at 3). According to
Plaintiff, Mr. and Ms. Choate revealed Plaintiff’s private information online, and caused “extreme
5
emotional distress, fear for his safety and the safety of his family and supporters, and loss of
6
worth.” (Id. at 17).
7
Plaintiff’s amended complaint states that “Plaintiff was booked on 20 felony and 1
8
misdemeanor counts of elder abuse and identity theft” on January 19, 2021. (ECF No. 5, p. 19).
9
Plaintiff maintains that he was falsely charged and incarcerated. (Id. at 4, 5). As set forth in
10
Plaintiff’s complaint, Defendant Tuolumne County is responsible for several defects throughout
11
Plaintiff’s criminal trial. (See id. at 19-30). First, a defective warrant resulted in Plaintiff’s
12
unlawful arrest which led to an unfavorable article about Plaintiff that was printed in the local
13
newspaper. (Id. at 19). Plaintiff claims the warrant was defective due to Defendant Tuolumne
14
County and other unnamed actors’ failure “in their fiduciary duties to diligently protect Plaintiff’s
15
rights.” (Id. at 20-21). Second, because Tuolumne County sheriffs refused to perform a civil
16 standby that would enable Plaintiff to peaceably enter the residence, Plaintiff attempted to go to
17 the residence without law enforcement assistance. (Id. at 24). When Plaintiff arrived, Mr. and Ms.
18 Choate called the Sheriff’s Department and Plaintiff was forced to leave before he could access
19 “any of his personal belongings or exculpatory evidence.” (Id. at 24-25). As a result, Plaintiff
20 alleges that sometime around January 19, 2022, he was “falsely arrested and booked while
21 incarcerated in County jail for misdemeanor trespassing.” (Id. at 25). According to Plaintiff, those
22 charges were later dismissed. (Id.) Finally, after Plaintiff was remanded into custody following
23 his conviction, Plaintiff alleges that Mr. and Ms. Choate helped unnamed individuals remove
Plaintiff’s belongings that were stored in a garage in Calaveras County.5 (Id. at 29).
24
25
26
27 5 Plaintiff asserts a stolen property report was denied by a Calaveras County Sheriff’s deputy who “made prejudicial
comments about Plaintiff and refused any further remedy or correspondence.” Neither the deputy nor Calaveras
28 County are named as defendants in this action.
1 B. Summary of Plaintiff’s Claims6
2 1. Constitutional claims
3 Plaintiff alleges various “deprivation of rights” claims against Defendants, presumably
4
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 for violations of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.7 (ECF No. 5,
p. 31-33). According to Plaintiff, Defendants “violated clearly established law by acting
5
consciously, and deliberately indifferent” to Plaintiff’s rights. (Id. at 30) In Count I, Plaintiff
6
alleges that Defendant Brouhard violated his procedural and substantive due process rights by
7
“unlawfully evicting Plaintiff” and allowing Mr. and Ms. Choate to unlawfully live in the
8
residence and become Oliver’s primary caregivers. (Id. at 31). Plaintiff also alleges in Count III
9
that Defendant Tuolumne County negligently failed to properly oversee its employees and failed
10
to protect Plaintiff from various violations, including the issuance of a defective warrant, that
11
resulted in Plaintiff’s unlawful arrest. (Id. at 32). Plaintiff further alleges that Mr. and Ms. Choate
12
“worked in concert” with Defendant Brouhard to “deprive Plaintiff of his protected Rights” by
13
making false, conspiratorial, and perjured statements against Plaintiff which led to Plaintiff’s
14
unlawful eviction and false criminal conviction (Counts IV and V). (Id. at 32-33).
15
2. State law claims
16 Plaintiff’s amended complaint alleges state law negligence claims against Defendants
17 Tuolumne County and Brouhard. (ECF No. 5, p. 37-39, 42-43, 44-45). Plaintiff alleges that
18 Defendant Tuolumne County breached its duty of care to Plaintiff in several ways, including
19 issuing a defective warrant against Plaintiff and overseeing an “incompetent investigation”
20 leading to Plaintiff’s incarceration (Count XIII). (Id. at 38). Plaintiff’s negligence claim against
21 Defendant Tuolumne County also asserts a claim for ineffective representation of counsel based
22 on Plaintiff’s contention that the county public defender assigned to his case was “overworked”
23 and “inexperienced.” (Id. at 38-39). Plaintiff further alleges that because Defendant Brouhard
owed a “fiduciary duty to [Oliver],” Brouhard breached her duty of care to Plaintiff by failing to
24
25
26
6 As discussed previously, supra n.1 at 2, all claims brought on behalf of G.A.R. were dismissed without prejudice.
(See ECF Nos. 55 and 74). Because Count II has been dismissed, the Court will discuss the remaining claims to the
27 extent those claims are brought on behalf of Plaintiff only.
7 Counts I-V are all similarly labeled “Deprivation of Rights,” but only Counts I and II reference 42. U.S.C. § 1983
28 and the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
1 “diligently investigate crucial matters concerning realistic care for [Oliver]” (Count XII). (Id. at
2 37-38). According to Plaintiff, this breach violated Plaintiff’s “right to be properly questioned,
3 vetted, and not unlawfully evicted.” (Id. at 38). Similarly, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Brouhard is
4 liable for intentional interference of property because Brouhard’s failures enabled Ms. and Ms.
Choate to unlawfully stay at the residence (Count XX). (Id. at 42-43). Further, Defendant
5
Brouhard is liable for negligent misrepresentation because Brouhard breached her duty of care by
6
relying on “documents received from the Choates [that] were inaccurate and a gross
7
misrepresentation of facts and information” (Count XXIII). (Id. at 44-45).
8
Additionally, Plaintiff alleges numerous state law tort claims against Mr. and Ms. Choate.
9
(ECF No. 5, p. 33-45). Plaintiff claims that Mr. and Ms. Choate defamed Plaintiff by posting false
10
and slanderous information about Plaintiff on social media, which supported Mr. and Ms.
11
Choate’s narrative that Plaintiff was “abusive” and a “con artist” (Counts VI and VII). (Id. at 33-
12
35). Plaintiff alleges that Mr. and Ms. Choate are liable for slander and libel because they both
13
“intentionally made defamatory statements and communicated them to multiple people publicly
14
and did post and comment these statements on Facebook” (Counts XIV and XV). (Id. at 39-40).
15
Additionally, Plaintiff alleges that Mr. and Ms. Choate “intentionally manufactured false
16 information, misinformation and misleading information that cast false light on Plaintiff” and so
17 are liable for intentional misrepresentation (Counts XXI and XXII). (Id. at 43-44). Plaintiff also
18 alleges claims for invasion of privacy because Mr. and Ms. Choate removed a private photo of
19 Plaintiff from Plaintiff’s private bedroom and posted the photo on social media (Counts VIII and
20 IX). (Id. at 35-36). Further, Plaintiff alleges Mr. and Ms. Choate are liable for intentional
21 infliction of emotional distress because their actions have caused Plaintiff to “lose sleep, peace of
22 mind, sense of security, business opportunities, community service opportunities, income, and
23 personal relationships” (Counts X and XI). (Id. at 36-37).
Finally, Plaintiff alleges various property tort claims against Mr. and Ms. Choate for
24
trespass to chattels and trespass to land (Counts XVI, XVII, XVIII, and XIX). (ECF No. 5, p. 40-
25
42). According to Plaintiff, Mr. and Ms. Choate unlawfully destroyed or otherwise disposed of
26
several of Plaintiff’s personal belongings. (Id. at 40-41). Plaintiff also claims Mr. and Ms. Choate
27
unlawfully moved back into Plaintiff’s residence, “invited friends to unlawfully mine precious
28
1 metals on Plaintiff’s lawfully leased property,” and also hosted “at least one (birthday) party . . .
2 without Plaintiff’s permission.” (Id. at 41-42).
3 Plaintiff seeks $250,000.00 for every deprivation of right claim, $100,000.00 for every
4 tort claim, as well as special and punitive damages. (ECF No. 5, p. 46). Further, Plaintiff
“reserves the right to amend this complaint.” (Id.)
5
III. REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE
6
Mr. and Ms. Choate filed separate requests for the Court to take judicial notice of the fact
7
that Plaintiff was “convict[ed] and sentence[ed] for felonies and a misdemeanor regarding his
8
conduct towards Oliver” as detailed in a news article posted on Bakersfield.com. (ECF Nos. 18,
9
19, p. 2-3). Mr. and Ms. Choate argue that pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 201, the Court
10
may take notice of those facts as they are “generally known within the trial court’s territorial
11
jurisdiction.” (Id. at 2). Additionally, “these facts are mentioned frequently in Plaintiff’s own
12
pleadings, are part of the public record in Tuolumne County Criminal Court, as well as reported
13
by neutral news organizations.” (Id.)
14
Federal Rule of Evidence 201 “provides that a trial court may take judicial notice of an
15
adjudicative fact, provided that the judicially noticed fact [is] not subject to reasonable dispute in
16 that it is ... generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.” Grason Elec. Co. v.
17 Sacramento Mun. Util. Dist., 571 F.Supp. 1504, 1521 (E.D. Cal. 1983) (internal quotation marks
18 omitted) (citing Fed. R. Evid. 201). “[A]judicative facts are those to which the law is applied in
19 the process of adjudication. They are the facts that normally go to the jury in a jury case.” Id.
20 Further, a court may properly take judicial notice of matters in the public record. See U.S. ex rel.
21 Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992) (A court
22 “may take notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial
23 system, if those proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue.”).
Plaintiff opposes Mr. and Ms. Choates’ requests, arguing in his opposition that because
24
Mr. and Ms. Choate “submitted matters outside the operative complaint, in the form of Judicial
25
Notice, then the [C]ourt must either exclude such outside matters from consideration or treat the
26
motion to dismiss as for summary judgment under Rule 56.” (ECF No. 22, p. 4). Plaintiff cites to
27
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(d) which provides that if “matters outside the pleadings are
28
1 presented to and not excluded by the court” when reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion then “the
2 motion must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56.”
3 Here, the offered news article is not an adequate public record of the proceedings at issue.
4 The Court typically takes judicial notice of matters in the public record by notice of an official
document such as a docket entry or abstract of judgment. For that reason, the Court will
5
recommend denying both requests for judicial notice.
6
However, Plaintiff’s complaint itself alleges that he was convicted for financial elder
7
abuse.8 (ECF No. 5, p. 4). The Court will consider that allegation when relevant in connection
8
with the pending motions.
9
IV. DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS
10
A. Defendants Michael and Denise Choates’ Motions to Dismiss
11
Mr. and Ms. Choate filed identical motions that seek to dismiss all of Plaintiff’s claims
12
with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (ECF Nos. 18, 19). First,
13
they argue that Plaintiff’s constitutional claims against Mr. and Ms. Choate fail because
14
Plaintiff’s complaint does not contain any allegations that Mr. and Ms. Choate were employed by
15
any government entity or acted under the color of state law. (Id. at 11-13). Second, the state law
16 tort claims alleged by Plaintiff against Mr. and Ms. Choate are conclusory in nature, or otherwise
17 so vaguely stated that it is difficult to ascertain either the legal or factual basis for the claimed
18 causes of action. (Id. at 14-16). In the event the Court finds dismissal of the federal claims against
19 Mr. and Ms. Choate appropriate, Mr. and Ms. Choate request that the Court decline to exercise
20 supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law tort claims. (Id. at 16-17). Finally, Mr. and
21 Ms. Choate request that all claims be dismissed with prejudice. (Id. at 18).
22 1. Plaintiff’s Opposition
23 In Plaintiff’s opposition, Plaintiff reiterates the legal basis for his constitutional claims
against Mr. and Ms. Choate, stating that, “[i]ndependent actors Michael and Denise Choate”
24
worked in concert with public officials [and] are equally liable for the injuries infringed upon
25
Plaintif[f].” (ECF No. 22, p. 1). Further, Plaintiff contends that Mr. and Ms. Choates’ motions to
26
27
8 Elsewhere in Plaintiff’s complaint, Plaintiff also states that his criminal charges included “20 felony and 1
28 misdemeanor counts of elder abuse and identity theft.” (ECF No. 5, p. 19).
1 dismiss should be reviewed using the standard for summary judgment.9 (Id. at 4). Thus, the
2 motions should be denied as Mr. and Ms. Choate “have not rebutted any of the affidavits and
3 exhibits that are in the operative complaint” nor have they “submitted any evidence on the record
4 that rebuts the material evidence provided by Plaintiff . . . nor have they submitted any
declarations to the contrary.” (Id.) Finally, Plaintiff generally opposes the motions on the ground
5
that, as a pro se litigant, Plaintiff should be allowed to proceed with his claims through discovery
6
and should not be faulted for technical defects. (Id. at 4-7).
7
2. Mr. Choate’s Reply
8
Mr. Choate’s reply notes that Plaintiff’s opposition fails to connect Mr. Choate to any
9
Section 1983 violation. (ECF No. 30, p. 5-6). Additionally, Mr. Choate argues that the exhibits
10
attached to Plaintiff’s amended complaint and opposition fail to demonstrate a factual basis for
11
Plaintiff’s constitutional claims. (Id. at 6). Further, Mr. Choate contends that the discovery
12
process contemplated by Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26 and 37 does not mean, as Plaintiff
13
argues in his opposition, that Plaintiff can defeat a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss on the ground
14
that “much more evidence will be forthcoming at some future date.” (Id. at 8-9).
15
B. Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard’s Motion to Dismiss
16 Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal
17 Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).10 (ECF No. 24-1). According to the motion, Plaintiff’s
18 complaint fails to state a Section 1983 claim against Defendant Brouhard because the factual
19 allegations described in the complaint do not constitute the deprivation of a federal right. (Id. at
20 7). For that same reason, Defendant Brouhard is entitled to qualified immunity. (Id. at 9).
21 Plaintiff’s complaint also fails to show a causal connection between Defendant Brouhard’s
22 actions and any deprivation. (Id. at 7). Further, Plaintiff’s complaint fails to allege Defendant
23 Brouhard acted with deliberate indifference or purpose to harm Plaintiff. (Id. at 8).
24
25
9 Plaintiff also requests the Court “to declare ECF 18 and 19 to be moot” because they failed to address the G.A.R.
26
claims before the deadline for Plaintiff’s response to the Court’s order to show cause regarding those claims expired.
The Court declines this request as the claims brought on behalf of G.A.R. have been dismissed. (ECF Nos. 55 and
27 74).
10 Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard’s motion also addresses Count II, which has been dismissed. (See
28 ECF Nos. 55 and 74).
1 As for the Section 1983 claim against Defendant Tuolumne County, the motion argues
2 that Plaintiff has failed to adequately allege specific customs or policies that caused a
3 constitutional violation as required to impose municipal liability. (ECF No. 24-1, p. 9). While
4 Plaintiff’s complaint describes certain actions by County employees, the allegations are
conclusory and fail to give Defendant Tuolumne County fair notice to defend itself effectively.
5
(Id. at 10). Further, Plaintiff’s complaint fails to allege sufficient facts demonstrating that
6
Defendant Tuolumne County’s actions amounted to deliberate indifference. (Id. at11).
7
Finally, Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard contend that each state law tort claim
8
alleged against them must be dismissed because Plaintiff failed to allege compliance with the
9
Government Claims Act. (ECF No. 24-1, p. 12). Because the Government Claims Act requires an
10
individual who intends to litigate a tort claim against a government entity to file a timely claim
11
with the proper entity, the state law tort claims against Defendant Tuolumne County and
12
Brouhard must be dismissed as Plaintiff does not allege that he filed such a claim. (Id. at 13).
13
Further, a public entity can only be held vicariously liable for the negligence of its employees,
14
and Plaintiff has failed to identify any specific county employee, aside from Defendant Brouhard,
15
who could be liable to Plaintiff for negligence. (Id. at 13-14).
16 As for the state law tort claims specifically alleged against Defendant Brouhard, Plaintiff
17 has not alleged facts that demonstrate Brouhard breached a duty owed to Plaintiff. (ECF No. 24-
18 1, p. 14). In fact, as a mandatory reporter and Adult Protective Services employee, Brouhard
19 acted pursuant to the duty of care she owed Oliver. (Id.) Additionally, Plaintiff’s claim against
20 Defendant Brouhard for intentional interference of property does not appear to be a viable cause
21 of action under California law, and Plaintiff does not allege any facts demonstrating that
22 Brouhard acted intentionally. Finally, Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to establish that
23 Defendant Brouhard is guilty of fraud, corruption, or actual malice as required to state a claim for
negligent misrepresentation. (Id. at 14-15).
24
1. Plaintiff’s Opposition
25
Plaintiff generally opposes Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard’s motion to
26
dismiss, arguing that there are only two elements necessary to state a claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
27
§ 1983, and thus Plaintiff has adequately alleged that Defendants acted under the color of state
28
1 law to violate Plaintiff’s protected rights. (ECF No. 40, p. 1). Plaintiff also contends that, as a pro
2 se litigant, he is “entitled through Discovery documentation of policy and employee handbooks of
3 County employees at minimum” as well as other discovery to further develop the material facts of
4 his claims against Defendants. (Id. at 6).
2. Defendants’ Reply
5
Defendants Tuolumne County and Brouhard contend in the reply that Plaintiff’s only
6
claimed injuries allegedly caused by Defendants are that “(1) Plaintiff was forced to find other
7
housing and (2) criminal charges involving both theft from an elder [Oliver] and identity theft
8
[Oliver] were filed against him and prosecuted, where ultimately, a jury found Plaintiff guilty on
9
17 felony counts and one misdemeanor count.” (ECF No. 49, p. 2). Additionally, Plaintiff failed
10
to adequately rebut the argument that Plaintiff’s state law tort claims against Defendants
11
Tuolumne County and Brouhard must be dismissed due to noncompliance with the California
12
Claims Act. (Id. at 3). Defendants’ reply further contends that Plaintiff’s purported proof of the
13
causal connection between Defendant Brouhard and the alleged constitutional violations suffered
14
by Plaintiff merely demonstrate that Defendant Brouhard acted only to “prevent further elder
15
abuse of [Oliver].” (Id. at 4).
16 V. MOTION TO DISMISS STANDARD
17 In considering a motion to dismiss, the Court must accept all allegations of material fact in
18 the complaint as true. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007). “[T]he court must construe
19 the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, taking all [of the plaintiff’s] allegations
20 as true and drawing all reasonable inferences from the complaint in [the plaintiff’s] favor.” Doe v.
21 United States, 419 F.3d 1058, 1062 (9th Cir. 2005).
22 A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) operates to test the sufficiency of the
23 complaint. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). The first step in testing the
sufficiency of the complaint is to identify any conclusory allegations. Id. at 679. “Threadbare
24
recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not
25
suffice.” Id. at 678 (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). “[A]
26
plaintiff’s obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than labels
27
28
1 and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.”
2 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
3 After assuming the veracity of all well-pleaded factual allegations, the second step is for
4 the court to determine whether the complaint pleads “a claim to relief that is plausible on its
face.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). A claim is facially plausible
5
when the plaintiff “pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference
6
that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. The standard for plausibility is not
7
akin to a “probability requirement,” but it requires “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant
8
has acted unlawfully.” Id. Pleadings of pro se plaintiffs “must be held to less stringent standards
9
than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir.
10
2010) (holding that pro se complaints should continue to be liberally construed after Iqbal). In
11
deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court generally may not consider materials outside the
12
complaint and pleadings. Cooper v. Pickett, 137 F.3d 616, 622 (9th Cir. 1998); Gumataotao v.
13
Dir. of Dep’t of Revenue & Taxation, 236 F.3d 1077, 1083 (9th Cir. 2001).
14
VI. DISCUSSION
15 A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)11
16 As an initial matter, Plaintiff’s complaint is subject to dismissal because it does not
17 contain a short and plain statement of Plaintiff’s claims.
18 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 requires a complaint to contain “a short and plain
19 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). It
20 must also contain “sufficient allegations of underlying facts to give fair notice and to enable the
21 opposing party to defend itself effectively.” Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011).
22 Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each named defendant personally participated in the
23 deprivation of his rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77. A court may dismiss a complaint for failure to
comply with Rule 8(a) if it is “verbose, confusing and conclusory.” Nevijel v. N. Coast Life Ins.
24
25
26
11 A court may raise Rule 8 sua sponte. See Marshall v. United Nations, 2006 WL 1883179, at *3 (E.D. Cal. July 6,
2006) (citing Simmons v. Abruzzo, 49 F.3d 83, 86 (2d Cir. 1995)) (“When a complaint fails to comply with the
27
requirements of Rule 8(a), the district court has the power, on motion or sua sponte, to dismiss the complaint. . .”);
accord Velasco v. Sec. Nat. Mortg. Co., 823 F. Supp. 2d 1061, 1066 (D. Haw. 2011), aff’d, 508 F.App’x 679 (9th
28 Cir. 2013) (holding courts may “sua sponte dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with Rule 8”).
1 Co., 651 F.2d 671, 674 (9th Cir. 1981); Brosnahan v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 765 F. App'x
2
173, 174 (9th Cir. 2019). Additionally, a court may dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with
3
Rule 8(a) if it is “argumentative, prolix, replete with redundancy, and largely irrelevant.”
4 McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996).
5 Plaintiff’s amended complaint violates Rule 8(a). The amended complaint is 148 pages
6 and lists twenty-three claims in total. (See, e.g., ECF No. 5). Plaintiff’s complaint is also
7 confusing and conclusory. There are several pages of factual allegations that are not relevant to
8 the claims against Defendants, but instead appear to challenge the basis of Plaintiff’s conviction.
9 For instance, Plaintiff spends several pages of the amended complaint describing how Plaintiff
10 “had gone over and beyond reasonable care and management of [Oliver’s] affairs” during the
11 time he cared for Oliver. (ECF No. 5, p. 3; see id. at 5-11). Plaintiff also makes several references
to individuals who are not named as defendants in this action, and vaguely accuses them of
12
misconduct against Plaintiff. As an example, Plaintiff mentions a Tuolumne County Sheriff’s
13
Department deputy, but merely states that the named deputy’s failure to interview Plaintiff during
14
the investigation was “prejudicial against Plaintiff.” (Id. at 2). With regards to the constitutional
15
claims against the named Defendants, Plaintiff does not clearly state what specific actions were
16
done or by whom, and how those actions violated a specific right or rule. Instead, Plaintiff uses
17
vague statements such as “deprivation of right” or “violation of right,” which do not give fair
18
notice to Defendants.
19
The Court will allow Plaintiff to amend his complaint, except as to the claims and
20
defendants subject to dismissal, as set forth below. However, Plaintiff’s amended complaint
21
should include a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
22
relief.” It should also explain which claims Plaintiff is bringing and the facts that support those
23 claims. Additionally, Plaintiff’s amended complaint should conform to the page requirements set
24 forth by the Court.
25 B. Plaintiff’s Claims Challenging His Conviction Should Be Dismissed
26 Throughout Plaintiff’s complaint, Plaintiff appears to challenge his state conviction for
27 financial elder abuse in various ways, stating for example that he was “wrongfully charged and
28 convicted for financial elder abuse because the jury believed the prosecution’s argument that
1 Plaintiff had agreed to only [use] $1000 of [Oliver’s] monthly income to cover all of [Oliver’s]
2
expenses.” (ECF No. 5, p. 4).
3
In Heck v. Humphrey, the Supreme Court addressed “whether a state prisoner may
4 challenge the constitutionality of his conviction in a suit for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.”
5 Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 478 (1994). “[T]he Supreme Court held that a court must
6 dismiss a § 1983 claim if (1) it seeks to recover damages for ‘harm caused by actions whose
7 unlawfulness would render a conviction or sentence invalid’ and (2) the plaintiff cannot show that
8 ‘the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order,
9 declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such a determination, or called into
10 question by a federal court's issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.”’ Washington v. Los Angeles
11 Cty. Sheriff's Dep’t, 833 F.3d 1048, 1054 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting Heck, 512 U.S. at 486-87); see
Muhammad v. Close, 540 U.S. 749, 750-51 (2004) (claims which, if successful, would
12
necessarily imply the invalidity of a conviction or sentence must be brought by way of a petition
13
for writ of habeas corpus).
14
“The applicability of the favorable termination rule turns solely on whether a successful
15
Section 1983 action would necessarily render invalid a conviction, sentence, or administrative
16
sanction that affected the length of the prisoner’s confinement.” Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850,
17
856 (9th Cir. 2003). In Smithart v. Towery et. al., 79 F.3d 951, 952 (9th Cir. 1996), the Court held
18
that, “if a criminal conviction arising out of the same facts and is fundamentally inconsistent with
19
the unlawful behavior for which Section 1983 damages are sought, the 1983 action must be
20
dismissed.” But if the “action, even if successful, will not demonstrate the invalidity of any
21
outstanding criminal judgment against the plaintiff, the action should be allowed to proceed, in
22
the absence of some other bar to the suit.” Heck, 512 U.S. at 487.
23 Further, “[u]nder [the] Rooker–Feldman [doctrine], a federal district court does not have
24 subject matter jurisdiction to hear a direct appeal from the final judgment of a state court.” Noel v.
25 Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir. 2003). “The doctrine bars a district court from exercising
26 jurisdiction not only over an action explicitly styled as a direct appeal, but also over the ‘de
27 facto equivalent’ of such an appeal.” Cooper v. Ramos, 704 F.3d 772, 777 (9th Cir.
28 2012) (quoting Noel, 341 F.3d at 1155).
1 In a “de facto” appeal, a “state-court loser” invites district court review and rejection of a
2 state court judgment. See Scheer v. Kelly, 817 F.3d 1183, 1186 (9th Cir. 2016) (internal citations
3 omitted). In analyzing whether a plaintiff is attempting to bring a “forbidden de facto appeal,” the
4 court determines whether a plaintiff “asserts as a legal wrong an allegedly erroneous decision by a
state court, and seeks relief from a state court judgment based on that decision.” Noel, 341 F.3d at
5
1164. If that is the case, a plaintiff is also precluded from litigating any issues that are
6
“inextricably intertwined” with the state court judicial decision from which the forbidden de
7
facto appeal is taken. Id. at 1165.
8
Here, Plaintiff’s complaint repeatedly asserts that his conviction for financial elder abuse
9
is invalid. For example, Plaintiff’s complaint challenges the evidence used against Plaintiff during
10
the criminal trial. Plaintiff also attempts to contradict an apparent argument made by the
11
prosecution—that Oliver only authorized Plaintiff to use $1000.00 per month of Oliver’s funds to
12
cover Oliver’s expenses—by describing, at multiple points, numerous expenditures which,
13
according to Plaintiff, “clearly add up to more than $1000 per month.” (ECF No. 5 at 4-5, 7-11).
14
Plaintiff also includes facts about Oliver’s financial situation and accounts, stating that “[i]t is
15
important to note that the low balances were temporary and were consistent with [Oliver’s]
16 monthly bank balances on certain days of the month.” (Id. at 4). These facts are not directly
17 relevant to Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants in this case but rather attack the prosecution’s
18 theory of the case during the criminal trial.
19 Additionally, Plaintiff alleges facts or makes statements that attempt to call into question
20 the procedural integrity of the criminal trial. Plaintiff vaguely asserts that Tuolumne County
21 Sheriff’s Department deputies prevented Plaintiff from obtaining “exculpatory evidence that
22 Plaintiff needed for trial in the felony case.” (Id. at 25). Plaintiff also states that he “believes he
23 was owed a care of duty by Tuolumne County, prosecuting attorney, Court staff, and cooperating
actors who unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly violated Plaintiff’s guaranteed rights.” (Id. at
24
30).
25
Further, Plaintiff’s negligence claim against Tuolumne County premises liability on,
26
among other things, the “incompetent investigations against Plaintiff causing incarceration” as
27
well as “insufficient representation by an overworked, overbooked public defender who was
28
1 inexperienced at dealing with a case that was highly complex causing the public defender’s office
2
to fail in their assistance of counsel.” (Id. at 38-39). Finally, at the hearing on the pending motions
3
in this case, Plaintiff explained that he wanted to present to this Court all of the transcripts and
4 evidence from the criminal trial, which seems to indicate that Plaintiff’s objective is to challenge
5 the sufficiency of the verdict.
6 To the extent Plaintiff is challenging the fact of his confinement, such challenges must be
7 brought through a petition for habeas corpus following exhaustion of state court appeals. See
8 Nettles v. Grounds, 850 F.3d 922, 933 (9th Cir. 2016) (citing Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475,
9 484, 490-91 (1973)) (“[H]abeas corpus is the exclusive remedy to attack the legality of the
10 conviction or sentence. . .”). To the extent Plaintiff is not challenging the fact of his confinement,
11 but brings claims that, if successful, would necessarily render his conviction or sentence invalid,
those claims can proceed only if Plaintiff demonstrates that the underlying conviction has been
12
reversed, expunged, or otherwise invalidated. Thus, pursuant to Heck, this Court cannot address
13
Plaintiff’s claims challenging his conviction unless Plaintiff’s conviction is reversed, expunged,
14
or otherwise invalidated.
15
Additionally, challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence used to support a state law
16
conviction do not raise a federal claim unless predicated on federal law grounds. See Hiivala v.
17
Wood, 195 F.3d 1098, 1107 (habeas petitioner failed to assert federal claim because petitioner
18
“neither cited the Fourteenth Amendment nor any federal case law involving the legal standards
19
for a federal Constitutional violation predicated upon a claim of insufficiency of the evidence to
20
support a state law conviction.”). Here, Plaintiff is attempting to use a federal case in part to
21
appeal a state court conviction based on the evidence presented. Such arguments do not support a
22
federal claim and are not cognizable in this court.
23 Therefore, the Court recommends dismissing Plaintiff’s claims challenging the duration of
24 his confinement or his underlying conviction without prejudice to Plaintiff later filing a petition
25 for writ of habeas corpus.12
26 //
27
28 12 Such a petition may only be filed after exhaustion of state remedies, among other requirements.
1 C. Section 1983
2
The Civil Rights Act provides:
3
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or
usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be
4
subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction
5 thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the
Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in
6 equity, or other proper proceeding for redress....
7 42 U.S.C. § 1983. “[Section] 1983 ‘is not itself a source of substantive rights,’ but merely
8 provides ‘a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.’” Graham v. Connor, 490
9 U.S. 386, 393-94 (1989) (quoting Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 n.3 (1979)); see also
10 Chapman v. Houston Welfare Rights Org., 441 U.S. 600, 618 (1979); Hall v. City of Los Angeles,
11 697 F.3d 1059, 1068 (9th Cir. 2012); Crowley v. Nevada, 678 F.3d 730, 734 (9th Cir. 2012);
12 Anderson v. Warner, 451 F.3d 1063, 1067 (9th Cir. 2006).
13 To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that (1) the defendant acted under
14 color of state law, and (2) the defendant deprived him of rights secured by the Constitution or
federal law. Long v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006); see also Marsh v.
15
Cty. of San Diego, 680 F.3d 1148, 1158 (9th Cir. 2012) (discussing “under color of state law”). A
16
person deprives another of a constitutional right, “within the meaning of § 1983, ‘if he does an
17
affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative act, or omits to perform an act which he is
18
legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.’” Preschooler II v.
19
Clark Cty. Sch. Bd. of Trs., 479 F.3d 1175, 1183 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Johnson v. Duffy, 588
20
F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978)). “The requisite causal connection may be established when an
21
official sets in motion a ‘series of acts by others which the actor knows or reasonably should
22
know would cause others to inflict’ constitutional harms.” Preschooler II, 479 F.3d at 1183
23
(quoting Johnson, 588 F.2d at 743). This standard of causation “closely resembles the standard
24
‘foreseeability’ formulation of proximate cause.” Arnold v. Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp., 637 F.2d
25
1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981); see also Harper v. City of Los Angeles, 533 F.3d 1010, 1026 (9th Cir.
26 2008).
27
28
1 A plaintiff must demonstrate that each named defendant personally participated in the
2 deprivation of his rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77. In other words, there must be an actual
3 connection or link between the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been
4 suffered by Plaintiff. See Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 695.
1. Monell Liability
5
A county or other local governmental entity may be liable for a constitutional deprivation
6
only where the plaintiff can “satisfy the requirements for municipality liability established
7
by Monell and its progeny.” Mendiola-Martinez v. Arpaio, 836 F.3d 1239, 1247 (9th Cir. 2016)
8
(citing Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of the City of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978)).
9
Under Monell, an entity defendant cannot be held liable for a constitutional violation
10
solely because it employs a tortfeasor. 436 U.S. at 691. An entity defendant can only be
11
held liable for injuries caused by the execution of its policy or custom or by those whose edicts or
12
acts may fairly be said to represent official policy. Id. at 694. “In addition, a local governmental
13
entity may be liable if it has a ‘policy of inaction and such inaction amounts to a failure to protect
14
constitutional rights.’” Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 681 (9th Cir. 2001)
15
(quoting Oviatt v. Pearce, 954 F.2d 1470, 1474 (9th Cir. 1992)).
16 A “policy” is a “deliberate choice to follow a course of action ... made from among
17 various alternatives by the official or officials responsible for establishing final policy with
18 respect to the subject matter in question.” Fogel v. Collins, 531 F.3d 824, 834 (9th Cir. 2008). A
19 “custom” is a “widespread practice that, although not authorized by written law or express
20 municipal policy, is so permanent and well-settled as to constitute a custom or usage with the
21 force of law.” St. Louis v. Praprotnik, 485 U.S. 112, 127 (1988); Los Angeles Police Protective
22 League v. Gates, 907 F.2d 879, 890 (9th Cir. 1990).
23 “Since Iqbal, courts have repeatedly rejected conclusory Monell allegations that lack
factual content from which one could plausibly infer Monell liability.” See e.g., Rodriguez v. City
24
of Modesto, 535 Fed. App’x 643, 646 (9th Cir. 2013) (affirming district court’s dismissal
25
of Monell claim based only on conclusory allegations and lacking factual support).
26
Here, Plaintiff fails to allege any cognizable Monell claim against Tuolumne County.
27
Plaintiff alleges only that Plaintiff was unlawfully arrested “because of customs, policies, and
28
1 practices.” (ECF No. 5, p. 32). This conclusory allegation is insufficient to state a Monell claim
2
against an entity defendant. Moreover, in neither Plaintiff’s opposition nor during the hearing on
3
this motion did Plaintiff identify any potential facts or theories that would support such a claim.
4 Plaintiff fails to identify an express municipal policy or well-settled and permanent custom of
5 Tuolumne County to issue and enforce defective warrants.
6 Thus, Plaintiff fails to state any cognizable claims under § 1983 against Tuolumne
7 County, and the Court recommends dismissal of Count III against Tuolumne County with
8 prejudice and without leave to amend.
9 2. Section 1983 Private-Actor Liability Regarding Choates
10 Mr. and Ms. Choate move to dismiss claims against them in part because they are private
11 persons, not public officials. As discussed above, Section 1983 imposes civil liability on an
individual who “under color [of state law] . . . subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of
12
the United States . . . to the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by the
13
Constitution and laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Private parties are not generally acting under color of
14
state law for the purposes of § 1983. Price v. Hawaii, 939 F.2d 702, 707–08 (9th Cir. 1991)
15
(“Careful adherence to the ‘state action’ requirement preserves an area of individual freedom by
16
limiting the reach of federal law and federal judicial power. It also avoids imposing on the State,
17
its agencies or officials, responsibility for conduct for which they cannot fairly be blamed”).
18
It is clear from Plaintiff’s complaint that Mr. and Ms. Choate are private persons and are
19
not employed by any public entity. Plaintiff alleges that Mr. and Ms. Choate nevertheless acted
20
under the color of state law because they were agents of Tuolumne County Adult Protective
21
Services. To support this theory, Plaintiff asserts that Adult Protective Services requested Mr. and
22
Ms. Choate to remain at the residence and care for Oliver. However, Plaintiff’s amended
23 complaint does not allege that providing such care is traditionally the exclusive prerogative of the
24 state. Indeed, “[c]are of the elderly and infirm has traditionally been a function associated with
25 the family, not with sovereignty.” Taylor v. First Wyoming Bank, N.A., 707 F.2d 388, 390 (9th
26 Cir. 1983) (quoting Musso v. Suriano, 586 F.2d 59, 63 (7th Cir. 1978) (holding that acts
27 performed by nursing home staff did not constitute state action)).
28
1 Further, Plaintiff does not set forth any facts—beyond mere conclusory statements—that
2
indicate that Mr. and Ms. Choate jointly acted with Tuolumne County. See Lockhead v.
3
Weinstein, 24 Fed.App’x 805, 806 (9th Cir. 2001) (“[M]ere furnishing of information to police
4 officers does not constitute joint action”); Deeths v. Lucile Slater Packard Children’s Hosp. at
5 Stanford, 2013 WL 6185175, at *8, 9 (E.D. Ca. Nov. 26 2013) (“Even if [private actor] made
6 false statements to [County] social workers regarding the need to remove [minor] from Plaintiff’s
7 care, supplying information alone does not amount to conspiracy or joint action under color of
8 state law.”). Nowhere in Plaintiff’s opposition to Mr. and Ms. Choate’s motions to dismiss or
9 during the hearing did Plaintiff raise any additional facts or theories that would support Section
10 1983 liability against the Choate defendants. For those reasons, Plaintiff has failed to state any
11 constitutional claims against Mr. and Ms. Choate.
Accordingly, the Court recommends dismissal of Plaintiff’s constitutional claims against
12
Mr. and Ms. Choate with prejudice and without leave to amend.
13
D. Plaintiff’s State Tort Claims Against Mr. and Ms. Choate and Tuolumne County
14
Should Be Dismissed
15 “Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.” Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of
16 America, 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). “Congress as conferred on the district courts original
17 jurisdiction in federal question cases—civil actions that arise under the Constitution, laws, or
18 treaties of the United States.” Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Services, Inc., 545 U.S. 546, 552
19 (2005). Aside from federal question cases, district courts have original jurisdiction over diversity
20 cases that are “between citizens of different States, between U.S. citizens and foreign citizens, or
by foreign states against U.S. citizens” where the amount in controversy meets the statutory
21
requirement. Id. “[I]t is well established—in certain classes of cases—that, once a court has
22
original jurisdiction over some claims in the action, it may exercise supplemental jurisdiction
23
over additional claims that are part of the same case or controversy.” Id. However, “district courts
24
may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction. . .if. . .the district court has dismissed all
25
claims over which it has original jurisdiction.” 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); see also Arbaugh v. Y&H
26
Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 514 (2006) (“[W]hen a court grants a motion to dismiss for failure to state a
27
federal claim, the court generally retains discretion to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, pursuant
28
1 to 28 U.S.C. §1367, over pendent state-law claims.”) (internal citations omitted); Carlsbad
2 Technology, Inc. v. HIF Bio, Inc., 556 U.S. 635, 639-40 (2009) (“A district court’s decision
3 whether to exercise [supplemental] jurisdiction after dismissing every claim over which it had
4 original jurisdiction is purely discretionary.”).
Here, the Court has recommended that the federal law claims against Mr. and Ms. Choate
5
and Tuolumne County—the only claims in this case where the Court has original jurisdiction—be
6
dismissed with prejudice. As Plaintiff has not asserted diversity jurisdiction, the Court would lack
7
original jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims against those defendants.
8
For that reason, the Court will also recommend that Plaintiff’s state law tort claims against
9
Mr. and Ms. Choate13 and Tuolumne County14 be dismissed without prejudice to filing such
10
claims in state court.
11
E. Government Claims Act
12
California’s Government Claims Act15 requires that a claim against the State16 or its
13
employees “relating to a cause of action for death or for injury to person” be presented to the
14
Department of General Services’ Government Claims Program no more than six months after the
15
cause of action accrues. Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 905.2, 910, 911.2, 945.4, 950-950.2. Presentation of
16 a written claim, and action on or rejection of the claim, are conditions precedent to suit. Mangold
17 v. California Pub. Utils. Comm’n, 67 F.3d 1470, 1477 (9th Cir. 1995); State v. Super. Ct. of Kings
18 Cty. (Bodde), 32 Cal.4th 1234, 1245 (Cal. 2004). To state a tort claim against a public entity or
19 employee, a plaintiff must allege compliance with the Government Claims Act. Bodde, 32 Cal.4th
20 at 1245; Mangold, 67 F.3d at 1477; Karim-Panahi v. Los Angeles Police Dept., 839 F.2d 621,
21 627 (9th Cir. 1988).
22 Here, Plaintiff asserts state law claims for negligence, intentional interference with
23 property, and negligent misrepresentation against Defendant Brouhard and is seeking to recover
24
25
13 Plaintiff asserts a total of fourteen tort claims against Mr. and Ms. Choate: Counts VI, VII, XIV, XV, XXI, XXII,
VII, IX, X, XI, XVI, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX. (See summary of Plaintiff’s claims supra, p. 6-7).
14 Plaintiff asserts a single tort claim against Tuolumne County (Count XVII). (Id.)
26
15 This Act was formerly known as the California Tort Claims Act. City of Stockton v. Superior Court, 42 Cal. 4th
730, 741-42 (Cal. 2007) (adopting the practice of using Government Claims Act rather than California Tort Claims
27
Act).
16 “‘State’ means the State and any office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission or agency of the
28 State claims against which are paid by warrants drawn by the Controller.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 900.6.
1 money damages. Although Plaintiff’s allegations are unclear as discussed above, to the extent
2 Defendant Brouhard is a public employee, Plaintiff has not alleged facts demonstrating that he
3 complied with, or excusing his compliance with, the Government Claims Act claims presentation
4 requirement for his state law claims.
Accordingly, the Court recommends that Plaintiff’s state law tort claims against
5
Defendant Brouhard (Counts XII, XX, and XXIII) be dismissed without prejudice for failure to
6
comply with the Government Claims Act. If Plaintiff amends his complaint and wishes to assert
7
claims against a state entity or employee, he should allege facts demonstrating he complied with
8
the Government Claims Act or was excused from compliance.
9
VII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
10
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
11
1. To the extent that Plaintiff’s claims against Mr. and Mrs. Choate and Tuolumne
12
County in Counts IV, V, and XII allege misconduct or violations of due process
13
regarding Plaintiff’s criminal trial and the evidence used against Plaintiff (see
14
discussion supra, p. 15-17), the Court recommends such claims be dismissed without
15
prejudice to Plaintiff challenging the constitutionality of his conviction and sentence in
16 a petition for writ of habeas corpus.
17 2. Defendant Denise Choate’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 18) be GRANTED IN PART
18 and that the federal claim against Ms. Choate (Count V) be dismissed with prejudice,
19 and that the state law tort claims against Ms. Choate (Counts VII, IX, XI, XIV, XVI,
20 XVIII, and XXI) be dismissed without prejudice to filing such claims in state court.
21 3. Defendant Denise Choate’s request for judicial notice (ECF No. 18) be DENIED.
22 4. Defendant Michael Choate’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 19) be GRANTED IN
23 PART and that the federal claim against Mr. Choate (Count IV) be dismissed with
prejudice, and the state law tort claims against Ms. Choate (Counts VI, VIII, X, XV,
24
XVII, XIX, and XXII) be dismissed without prejudice to filing such claims in state
25
court.
26
5. Defendant Michael Choate’s request for judicial notice (ECF No. 18) be DENIED.
27
28
1 6. Defendants Tuolumne County and Melissa Brouhard’s motion to dismiss (ECF No.
2 24) be GRANTED IN PART as follows:
3 a. Plaintiff’s federal claim against Defendant Tuolumne County (Count III) be
4 dismissed with prejudice and without leave to amend;
b. Plaintiff’s state law tort claim against Defendant Tuolumne County be
5
dismissed without prejudice to filing such a claim in state court;
6
c. Plaintiff’s federal claim against Defendant Melissa Brouhard (Count I) be
7
dismissed without prejudice for violation of Rule 8 and with leave to amend;
8
d. Plaintiff’s state law tort claims against Defendant Brouhard (Counts XII, XX,
9
and XXIII) be dismissed without prejudice for lack of compliance with the
10
Government Claims Act and with leave to amend.
11
7. That Defendants Michael Choate, Denise Choate and Tuolumne County be terminated
12
from the docket.
13
8. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff may file a
14
Second Amended Complaint;
15
9. If Plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, Plaintiff shall caption the amended
16 complaint “Second Amended Complaint” and refer to case number 1:22-cv-00392-
17 JLT-EPG. Further, Plaintiff’s amended complaint shall be no more than twenty
18 (20) pages; and
19 10. Failure to comply with this order may result in the dismissal of this action.
20 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States district judge
21 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen
22 (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
23 objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s
Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within
24
fourteen (14) days after service of the objections.
25
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26
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27
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28
1 The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result
2 | in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014)
3 | (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
4
; IT IS SO ORDERED.
6 | Dated: _November 15, 2022 [spe ey
7 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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