# Gilles v. The People of the State of California

> District Court, S.D. California · November 1, 2019

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10079887

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, S.D. California
- **Decided:** November 1, 2019
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

1
2
3
4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6
7 MARK CHRISTOPHER Case No.: 19-cv-1075-WQH-KSC
GILLES,
8
ORDER
Plaintiff,
9
v.
10
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
11
OF CALIFORNIA, et al., a.k.a;
12 CITY OF SAN DIEGO (a
corporate legal individual and
13
municipal corporation); SAN
14 DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
(a municipal instrumentality);
15
STEPHEN HICKOX (SDPD
16 Badge #8330; SDPS ID: 7211);
“D. COLLINS” (SDPD Badge
17
#unknown; SDPD ID: 7790
18 (unconfirmed); and DOES 1-10,
inclusive (Municipal Employees;
19
Real Parties in Interest),
20
Defendants.
21
HAYES, Judge:
22
The matters before the Court are 1) the Motion to Remand filed by Plaintiff Mark
23
Christopher Gilles (ECF No. 6); and 2) the Amended Motion to Dismiss filed by
24
Defendants City of San Diego (the “City”), the San Diego Police Department (“SDPD”),
25
SDPD Officer Stephen Hickox, and SDPD Officer Dominic Collins (ECF No. 7).
26
///
27
///
28
1 I. BACKGROUND
2 On June 7, 2019, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in the Superior Court of the State of
3 California, County of San Diego, against the City, SDPD, Officer Hickox, and Officer
4 Collins. (ECF No. 1-2). In the Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that on April 1, 2019, he “set
5 out to conduct a Fourth Amendment audit of the San Diego Police Department’s field
6 officers . . . .” Id. ¶ 26. Plaintiff alleges that he procured two aluminum cans to use as
7 “bait.” Plaintiff rinsed the cans clean and filled one can, labeled “MICKEY’S BEER,” with
8 cream soda. Id. ¶¶ 27-28. Plaintiff took the cans with him to the “Sea Wall” near 1900
9 Abbot Street in Ocean Beach at approximately 6:00 p.m. Id. ¶ 32. About ten minutes later,
10 Officers Hickox and Collins approached him, and Plaintiff “felt apprehensively
11 compelled” to provide Officer Hickox with two expired forms of identification. Id. ¶¶ 32-
12 34. Plaintiff alleges that Officer Hickox “ran a non-consensual check for wants and
13 warrants” then “aggressively seized the aluminum can” and poured its contents into the
14 sand. Id. ¶¶ 34-35. Plaintiff alleges that Officer Hickox cited Plaintiff for having two open
15 containers of beer in violation of San Diego Municipal Code section 63.20.13. Id. ¶ 38.
16 Plaintiff alleges that Officer Hickox provided Plaintiff with a notice to appear in court,
17 which “Plaintiff signed, Under Duress.” Id. ¶ 41. Plaintiff also alleges that he owns the
18 copyright to an original, unpublished work, titled “MARK CHRISTOPHER GILLES;
19 DEARBORN . . . The Man With 2 Family Names . . . Or Is It 3?”. Id. ¶ 108, 112.
20 Plaintiff brings claims for 1) deprivation of rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against
21 Officers Hickox and Collins; 2) conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1985 against Officers Hickox
22 and Collins; 3) deprivation of rights under § 1983 (Monell) against the City and SDPD; 4)
23 copyright infringement against all Defendants; 5) conversion of personal property against
24 all Defendants; and 6) violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”),
25 California Business & Professions Code sections 17200 et seq., against all Defendants.
26 (ECF No. 1-2). Plaintiff seeks damages, including punitive damages; a preliminary and
27 permanent injunction; a declaration that the City’s “officially sanctioned policy is
28 unconstitutional;” a declaration that SDPD’s “de facto policy, of making any arrest that
1 SDPD officers know is not in accordance with law, is unconstitutional;” restitution and
2 costs; and any other relief to which Plaintiff may be entitled. Id.
3 On June 7, 2019, Defendants removed Plaintiff’s state court action to this Court
4 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1441(a) and (c). (ECF No. 1 at 2). On July 11, 2019,
5 Plaintiff filed a Motion to Remand this action to state court. (ECF No. 6). On August 2,
6 2019, Defendants filed a Response in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand. (ECF
7 No. 11). Plaintiff did not file a reply.
8 On July 12, 2019, Defendants filed an Amended Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s
9 Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 7). On July 29,
10 2019, Plaintiff filed a Response in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. (ECF
11 No. 10). On August 5, 2019, Defendants filed a Reply. (ECF No. 12). On August 12, 2019,
12 Plaintiff filed a Sur-Reply. (ECF No. 14).
13 II. MOTION TO REMAND
14 Plaintiff contends that the Court should remand this action to state court, because
15 “Plaintiff chose to assert his claims . . . in the San Diego Superior Court.” (ECF No. 6 at
16 6-7). Plaintiff contends that Defendants removed this action to cause unnecessary delay or
17 prejudice Plaintiff. Id. at 7. Defendants contend that removal was proper because seven of
18 Plaintiff’s eight causes of action could have originally been filed in the district court. (ECF
19 No. 11 at 3). Specifically, Defendants contend that the Court has original jurisdiction over
20 Plaintiff’s § 1983 and § 1985 claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Id. at 2-3. Defendants
21 contend that the Court has exclusive jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s copyright infringement
22 claim and original jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s related unfair competition claim, pursuant
23 to 28 U.S.C. § 1338. Defendants contend the Court may properly exercise supplemental
24 jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s state law conversion claim, because “it arises from the same
25 set of facts as the removable claims and its outcome relies on Plaintiff’s intellectual
26 property claim.” Id. at 3.
27 “Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441, a defendant may remove an action filed in state court to
28 federal court if the federal court would have original subject matter jurisdiction over the
1 action.” Moore-Thomas v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., 553 F.3d 1241, 1243 (9th Cir. 2009); see
2 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). Federal jurisdiction must exist at the time the complaint is filed and
3 at the time removal is effected. Strotek Corp. v. Air Transp. Ass’n of Am., 300 F.3d 1129,
4 1131 (9th Cir. 2002). A party can challenge removal based on lack of subject matter
5 jurisdiction through a motion to remand. 28 U.S.C. § 1447. There is a “strong presumption
6 against removal” such that the removing party “always has the burden of establishing that
7 removal is proper.” Gaus v. Miles, Inc., 980 F.2d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1992). “The removal
8 statute is strictly construed, and any doubt about the right of removal requires resolution in
9 favor of remand.” Moore-Thomas, 553 F.3d at 1244.
10 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, district courts “have original jurisdiction of all civil actions
11 arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” District courts have
12 original and exclusive jurisdiction “of any civil action arising under any Act of Congress
13 relating to . . . copyrights . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a). District courts also have original
14 jurisdiction “of any civil action asserting a claim of unfair competition when joined with a
15 substantial and related claim under the copyright . . . laws.” 28 U.S.C. § 1338(b).
16 Federal courts have supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims that are so
17 related to the federal claims that they form part of the same case or controversy. 28 U.S.C.
18 § 1367(a). “A state law claim is part of the same case or controversy when it shares a
19 common nucleus of operative fact with the federal claims and the state and federal claims
20 would normally be tried together.” Bahrampour v. Lampert, 356 F.3d 969, 978 (9th Cir.
21 2004) (quotation omitted). A district court may decline to exercise supplemental
22 jurisdiction over a state law claim if:
23 (1) the claim raises a novel or complex issue of State law,

24
(2) the claim substantially predominates over the claim or claims over which
25 the district court has original jurisdiction,

26
(3) the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original
27 jurisdiction, or

28
1 (4) in exceptional circumstances, there are other compelling reasons for
declining jurisdiction.
2

3 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). The court, however, “is not required to make a § 1367(c) analysis
4 unless asked to do so by a party.” Acri v. Varian Assocs., Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1000 (9th Cir.
5 1997) (en banc).
6 Plaintiff alleges violations of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985 in his first through fifth
7 causes of action. These are claims under federal laws, which this Court has original subject
8 matter jurisdiction over pursuant to § 1331. See also 28 U.S.C. § 1343 (a district court has
9 original jurisdiction over acts done in furtherance of a conspiracy alleged pursuant to §
10 1985). This Court has exclusive jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s sixth cause of action for
11 copyright infringement under the federal Copyright Act pursuant to § 1338. Plaintiff’s
12 ability to recover for alleged UCL violations in the eighth cause of action depends on
13 Plaintiff’s copyright infringement claim. See ECF No. 1-2 ¶ 174 (alleging that Defendants
14 violated California’s UCL through their “unauthorized use of the main essence of
15 Plaintiff’s copyrighted Work . . .”). The Court has original jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s
16 eighth cause of action under the UCL, because it is joined with Plaintiff’s copyright
17 infringement claim.
18 Plaintiff’s seventh cause of action for state law conversion rests on the allegation
19 that Defendants “substantially interfered with Plaintiff[’s] . . . property by attempting
20 infringement of the main essence” of Plaintiff’s copyrighted work. Id. ¶ 162. Plaintiff’s
21 conversion claim is based on the same facts as Plaintiff’s copyright infringement claim;
22 the claims share a common nucleus of operative fact. Plaintiff’s state law conversion claim
23 is, therefore, “part of the same case or controversy” as Plaintiff’s copyright infringement
24 and UCL claims. The Court may properly exercise supplemental jurisdiction over
25 Plaintiff’s seventh cause of action.
26 Removal was proper under § 1441 because the Court has original jurisdiction over
27 seven of Plaintiff’s causes of action and supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining
28
1 claim. Plaintiff has not asserted a proper basis for this Court to remand the action to state
2 court. Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand is denied.
3 III. MOTION TO DISMISS
4 Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint on the grounds that Plaintiff fails
5 to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
6 Procedure 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 7-1 at 7).1
7 A. Legal Standard
8 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) permits dismissal for “failure to state a
9 claim upon which relief can be granted.” In order to state a claim for relief, a pleading
10 “must contain . . . a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is
11 entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) “is proper only
12 where there is no cognizable legal theory or an absence of sufficient facts alleged to support
13 a cognizable legal theory.” Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 622 F.3d 1035,
14 1041 (9th Cir. 2010) (quotation omitted).
15 “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter,
16 accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
17 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)).
18 “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the
19 court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct
20 alleged.” Id. (citation omitted). However, “a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’
21 of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic
22 recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555
23 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)). A court is not “required to accept as true allegations that are
24

25
26 1 Defendants request that the Court take judicial notice of San Diego Superior Court Case Number: 37-
2019-00024170-CU-MC-CTL. (ECF No. 7-2 at 2). Judicial notice of the requested document is
27 unnecessary for this Order. Defendants’ Request for Judicial Notice is denied. See Asvesta v. Petroustas,
580 F.3d 1000, 1010 n. 12 (9th Cir. 2009) (denying request for judicial notice where judicial notice would
28
1 merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences.” Sprewell
2 v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001).
3 “In sum, for a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss, the non-conclusory factual
4 content, and reasonable inferences from that content, must be plausibly suggestive of a
5 claim entitling the plaintiff to relief.” Moss v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th
6 Cir. 2009) (quotation omitted). If both parties advance plausible alternative explanations,
7 then the “plaintiff’s complaint survives a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6),” because
8 “[t]he standard at this stage of the litigation is not that plaintiff’s explanation must be true
9 or even probable.” Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1216-17 (9th Cir. 2011) (“Plaintiff’s
10 complaint may be dismissed only when defendant’s plausible alternative explanation is so
11 convincing that plaintiff’s explanation is im plausible.”).
12 B. Fourteenth Amendment Claims
13 Defendants contend that Plaintiff’s first through fifth causes of action fail to state a
14 Fourteenth Amendment claim. Defendants contend the Fourteenth Amendment does not
15 apply to excessive force or unlawful arrest cases. (ECF No. 7-1 at 9). Plaintiff contends
16 that he does not raise an excessive force claim. (ECF No. 10 at 11).
17 “Where a particular Amendment provides an explicit textual source of constitutional
18 protection against a particular sort of government behavior, that Amendment, not the more
19 generalized notion of substantive due process, must be the guide for analyzing these
20 claims.” Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 273 (1994) (quotation omitted); see id.
21 (analyzing a claim for an arrest without probable cause under the Fourth rather than
22 Fourteenth Amendment).
23 Plaintiff’s first through fifth causes of action state claims under the Fourth
24 Amendment, not the Fourteenth Amendment. See ECF No. 1-2 ¶¶ 58, 68, 78, 89 (alleging
25 that Defendants “violated [Plaintiff’s] Fourth Amendment right to be secure in his person,
26 against unreasonable seizure . . . applicable to the several states . . . by virtue of the
27 Fourteenth Amendment”). To the extent Plaintiff’s Complaint does allege a violation of
28 the Fourteenth Amendment based on unlawful seizure or arrest, Plaintiff’s claims are
1 dismissed. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Fourteenth Amendment claims in the first
2 through fifth causes of action is GRANTED.
3 C. First Cause of Action - Section 1983 Claim Against Officer Hickox
4 Defendants contend that Plaintiff fails to state a § 1983 claim against Officer Hickox
5 for unlawful seizure and false arrest because the stop and subsequent issuance of an
6 infraction was objectively reasonable. (ECF No. 12 at 4). Defendants further contend that
7 Officer Hickox is entitled to qualified immunity. Id. at 13. Plaintiff contends that the
8 seizure or arrest was unreasonable because it was impossible for the SDPD Officers to
9 determine what type of beverage was in Plaintiff’s hand. (ECF No. 10 at 13).
10 A plaintiff may bring a § 1983 claim for a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the
11 United States Constitution. Dubner v. City & Cnty. of S.F., 266 F.3d 959, 964 (9th Cir.
12 2001). The Fourth Amendment protects the “right of the people to be secure in their
13 persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.” U.S.
14 Const. amend. IV. Courts apply a two-step inquiry to determine whether a defendant
15 violated a plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment right. Brower v. Cnty. of Inyo, 498 U.S. 593, 598-
16 599 (1989). First, the court determines whether any “seizure” occurred. Id. at 598. A Fourth
17 Amendment seizure occurs when there is a “governmental termination of freedom of
18 movement through means intentionally applied.” Id. at 597 (emphasis omitted). Freedom
19 of movement is restrained if, considering all of the circumstances surrounding the
20 encounter, a reasonable innocent person would have believed that he was not free to leave.
21 U.S. v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 553-54 (1980).
22 If a seizure occurred, the Court then determines whether the officer’s actions were
23 objectively reasonable. Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 381 (2007). A limited, brief seizure,
24 like a traffic stop, is objectively reasonable when the officer has “reasonable suspicion,
25 based on objective facts, that the individual is involved in criminal activity.” Brown v.
26 Texas, 443 U.S. 47, 51 (1979). If a seizure constitutes a formal arrest or has the “essential
27 attributes of a formal arrest,” it is unreasonable unless supported by probable cause.
28 Michigan v. Summers, 452 U.S. 692, 700 (1981). In determining whether probable cause
1 exists for an arrest, courts consider “whether at that moment the facts and circumstances
2 within [the officer’s] knowledge . . . were sufficient to warrant a prudent man in believing
3 that the petitioner had committed or was committing an offense.” Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S.
4 89, 91 (1964).
5 The issuance of a notice to appear in court generally does not constitute an arrest.
6 See Karam v. City of Burbank, 352 F.3d 1188, 1194 (9th Cir. 2003). Under California law,
7 however, the issuance of a citation for an infraction, for which the officer requires the
8 person to sign a notice to appear in court, is an “arrest” requiring probable cause.
9 Easyriders Freedom F.I.G.H.T. v. Hannigan, 92 F.3d 1486, 1498 (9th Cir. 1996) (issuance
10 of a citation to a motorcyclist for violating helmet law is an “arrest” for which probable
11 cause is required); Cal. Pen. Code § 853.5(a).
12 Section 63.20.13 of the San Diego Municipal Code provides:
13 It is unlawful for any person . . . within the limits of any beach areas . . . to do
any act or acts contrary to the rules established by the Director for use of the
14
beach area, provided, however, that the rules shall be conspicuously posted in
15 the beach area.

16
Plaintiff alleges that he waited by the “Sea Wall” in Ocean Beach with an open can of beer-
17
colored liquid, labeled “MICKEY’S BEER.” (ECF No. 1-2 ¶¶ 27-29, 32). Plaintiff alleges
18
that there were “rules conspicuously posted in the beach area” prohibiting alcohol. Id. ¶ 38.
19
Plaintiff alleges that he deliberately made the aluminum can look like a can of beer, to use
20
“as bait” for the Officers. Id. ¶ 27. Based on these facts as alleged, a reasonable officer at
21
the scene could suspect Plaintiff had an open beer can in violation of section 63.30.13,
22
sufficient to justify an investigatory seizure. Plaintiff alleges that Officer Hickox then
23
poured cream soda, a beer-like substance, out of the beer can. Id. ¶ 28. Viewing the facts
24
in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, a reasonable officer could have concluded Plaintiff
25
was violating the Municipal Code. Officer Hickox had probable cause to cite Plaintiff for
26
a violation of section 63.30.13. Defendants’ investigatory seizure and subsequent issuance
27
28
1 of a citation to Plaintiff was objectively reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
2 Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the first cause of action against Officer Hickox is granted.
3 D. Second Cause of Action - Section 1983 Claim Against Officer Collins
4 Defendants contend that Plaintiff fails to state a § 1983 claim against Officer Collins,
5 because the Complaint “lacks any allegations of Officer Collins having a fundamental role
6 in the citation which Plaintiff received on April 1, 2019.” (ECF No. 7-1 at 12). Defendants
7 also contend that Officer Collins is entitled to qualified immunity. Id. at 13. Plaintiff
8 contends that Officer Collins participated in the unlawful seizure and arrest by “the act of
9 standing at the ready, in the event that Plaintiff attempted to terminate the encounter . . . .”
10 (ECF No. 10 at 17).
11 To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must show “(1) that a person acting under
12 color of state law committed the conduct at issue, and (2) that the conduct deprived the
13 claimant of some right, privilege, or immunity protected by the Constitution or laws of the
14 United States.” Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 632-33 (9th Cir. 1988) (citations omitted).
15 “A person deprives another ‘of a constitutional right, within the meaning of section 1983,
16 if he does an affirmative act, participates in another’s affirmative acts, or omits to perform
17 an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which [the plaintiff
18 complains].’” Id. at 633 (quoting Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978)
19 (emphasis omitted). The plaintiff must link each defendant’s actions or inactions with the
20 plaintiff’s claims by setting forth “specific facts as to each individual defendant’s” actions.
21 Leer, 844 F.2d at 634. Either personal involvement or integral participation of the officer
22 in the alleged constitutional violation is required before liability may be imposed; liability
23 may not be imposed based solely on an officer’s presence during the incident. Hopkins v.
24 Bonvicino, 573 F.3d 752, 769-70 (9th Cir. 2009); see Chuman v. Wright, 76 F.3d 292, 294
25 (9th Cir. 1996) (being “a mere bystander [to a colleague’s conduct] was insufficient” to
26 support a § 1983 claim).
27 In this case, Plaintiff alleges that Officer Collins approached Plaintiff. (ECF No. 1-
28 2 ¶ 33). Plaintiff does not state any other factual allegations about the actions or inactions
1 of Officer Collins. Plaintiff does not allege facts that show Officer Collins deprived
2 Plaintiff of any protected right. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the second cause of action
3 is granted.
4 E. Third Cause of Action - Section 1985 Claim
5 Defendants contend that Plaintiff’s § 1985 claim fails, because Plaintiff does not
6 state facts that show Officers Hickox and Collins conspired to violate Plaintiff’s Fourth
7 Amendment rights. (ECF No. 7-1 at 13). Plaintiff contends that it can be inferred from the
8 circumstances that Officers Hickox and Collins reached an understanding to work for a
9 common purpose. (ECF No. 10 at 18).
10 Section 1985(3) provides, in relevant part:
11 If two or more persons in any State or Territory conspire, . . . for the purpose
of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of the
12
equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the
13 laws, or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the constituted authorities
of any State or Territory from giving or securing to all persons within such
14
State or Territory the equal protection of the laws . . . the party so injured or
15 deprived may have an action for the recovery of damages, occasioned by such
injury or deprivation, against any one or more of the conspirators.
16

17 “The absence of a section 1983 deprivation of rights precludes a section 1985 conspiracy
18 claim predicated on the same allegations.” Caldeira v. Cnty. of Kauai, 866 F.2d 1175, 1182
19 (9th Cir. 1989).
20 Plaintiff cannot sustain his § 1985(3) claim because he fails to state a § 1983 claim
21 based on the same facts. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s third cause of action is
22 granted.
23 F. Fourth Cause of Action - Section 1983 Claim Against the City
24 Defendants contend that Plaintiff fails to plead a § 1983 claim against the City,
25 because Plaintiff fails to show that the City’s policy or custom caused a violation of
26 Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. (ECF No. 7-1 at 17). Plaintiff contends that the City and
27 SDPD’s policy that “[c]onfiscated alcohol beverage containers not required as evidence
28
1 shall be poured out in front of the person arrested[/]cited or held for disposal at an area
2 station” causes intentional spoliation of evidence. (ECF No. 10 at 23).
3 “To bring a § 1983 claim against a local government entity, a plaintiff must plead
4 that a municipality’s policy or custom caused a violation of the plaintiff’s constitutional
5 rights.” Ass’n for L.A. Deputy Sheriffs v. Cnty. of L.A., 648 F.3d 986, 992-93 (9th Cir. 2011)
6 (citing Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690 (1976)). The plaintiff must show
7 “(1) that he possessed a constitutional right of which he was deprived; (2) that the [City]
8 had a policy; (3) that the policy ‘amounts to deliberate indifference’ to [the plaintiff’s]
9 constitutional right; and (4) that the policy is the ‘moving force behind the constitutional
10 violation.’” Oviatt v. Pearce, 954 F.2d 1470, 1474 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting City of Canton
11 v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 389-91 (1989)).
12 In this case, Plaintiff fails to state facts sufficient to show he was deprived of his
13 Fourth Amendment rights. Plaintiff, therefore, cannot show that the City’s policy or custom
14 deprived him of a Fourth Amendment right. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s
15 fourth cause of action is granted.
16 G. Fifth Cause of Action – Section 1983 Claim Against SDPD
17 Defendants contend Plaintiff’s fifth cause of action fails to state § 1983 claim for the
18 same reasons Plaintiff’s fourth cause of action fails. Defendants contend that Plaintiff’s
19 fifth cause of action against SDPD also fails because SDPD is not a proper Defendant.
20 SDPD is a subsidiary of the City, so any claim against SDPD must be filed against the City.
21 (ECF No. 7-1 at 17). Plaintiff contends that his allegations against SDPD “shall be
22 construed as convertible in name, meaning the same entity” as the City. (ECF No. 10 at
23 28).
24 Plaintiff fails to state facts sufficient to show he was deprived of any constitutional
25 right, as required for a claim based on Monell liability. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
26 Plaintiff’s fifth cause of action is granted.
27 ///
28 ///
1 H. Sixth Cause of Action - Copyright Infringement
2 Defendants contend that Plaintiff’s name is not subject to copyright protection. (ECF
3 No. 7-1 at 19). Defendants contend that Plaintiff fails to state facts to show that Officer
4 Hickox copied Plaintiff’s unpublished written work, “MARK CHRISTOPHER GILLES;
5 DEARBORN . . . The Man With 2 Family Names . . . Or Is It 3?”. Defendants contend that
6 writing Plaintiff’s name on a citation does not constitute a derivative work. Id. at 20.
7 Defendants also contend that SDPD is not a proper defendant. Id. at 17. Plaintiff contends
8 that his name is a character in a copyrighted literary work. (ECF No. 10 at 30).
9 To state a claim for copyright infringement, a plaintiff must show “that he or she
10 owns the copyright and that the defendant copied protected elements of the work.” Cavalier
11 v. Random House, Inc., 297 F.3d 815, 822 (9th Cir. 2002) (citation omitted). “The protected
12 elements of a work are those elements which are ‘original,’ which is to say that they are
13 the product of ‘independent creation, not novelty.’” Jada Toys, Inc. v. Mattel, Inc., 518
14 F.3d 628, 636 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Roth Greeting Cards v. United Card Co., 429 F.2d
15 1106, 1109 (9th Cir. 1970)). A person’s name is not copyrightable, and a name does not
16 become protected “simply because it is embodied in a copyrightable work.” Downing v.
17 Abercrombie & Fitch, 265 F.3d 994, 1004-05 (9th Cir. 2001).
18 Plaintiff makes the conclusory allegation that Defendants “attempted to infringe on
19 the main essence of Plaintiff’s copyrighted Work.” (ECF No. 1-2 ¶ 148). Plaintiff also
20 makes the conclusory allegation that Defendants “have failed to exercise their right and
21 ability to supervise persons within their control to prevent infringement, and they did so
22 with intent to further their financial interest in the infringing of the main essence of
23 “MARK CHRISTOPHER GILLES; DEARBORN . . . The Man With 2 Family Names . .
24 . Or Is It 3?”. Id. ¶ 150. Plaintiff fails to state facts showing that any Defendant attempted
25 to, or did, copy any element of a work protected by copyright. Defendants’ Motion to
26 Dismiss Plaintiff’s sixth cause of action is granted.
27 ///
28 ///
1 I. Seventh Cause of Action - Conversion
2 Defendants contend that Plaintiff fails to state a claim for conversion, because
3 Plaintiff fails to “establish that any property was taken by a wrongful act and [Plaintiff]
4 provided no facts to support damages.” (ECF No. 7-1 at 21). Defendants contend that
5 Plaintiff fails to allege that he complied with the requirement to submit a written claim to
6 the public entity before failing a lawsuit seeking monetary damages against a public
7 employee for violation of state law. Id. at 18. Defendants also contend that SDPD is not a
8 proper defendant. Id. at 17. Plaintiff contends he will “file a tort claim . . . or re-file the
9 amended complaint back in the Superior Court . . . .” (ECF No 10 at 29). Plaintiff contends
10 that his “person is his sole personal property, as well as his legally protected names.” Id. at
11 32.
12 Conversion is the wrongful exercise of dominion over the property of another.
The elements of a conversion claim are: (1) the plaintiff’s ownership or right
13
to possession of the property; (2) the defendant’s conversion by a wrongful
14 act or disposition of property rights; and (3) damages . . . .

15
Lee v. Hanley, 354 P.3d 334, 344 (Cal. 2015).
16
Plaintiff makes the conclusory allegation that Defendants “intentionally and
17
substantially interfered” with Plaintiff’s property by “attempting infringement of his
18
copyrighted Work . . . .” (ECF No. 1-2 ¶ 163). Plaintiff fails to state facts sufficient to show
19
Defendants converted Plaintiff’s property or that Plaintiff was damaged. Defendants’
20
Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s seventh cause of action is granted.
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J. Eighth Cause of Action - UCL Claim
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Defendants contend that Plaintiff has not alleged facts showing Defendants engaged
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in an unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practice. (ECF No. 7-1 at 21). Defendants
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contend that Plaintiff fails to allege that he complied with the requirement to submit a
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written claim to the public entity before failing a lawsuit seeking monetary damages against
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a public employee for violation of state law. Id. at 18. Defendants also contend that SDPD
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is not a proper defendant. Id. at 17.
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1 California’s UCL prohibits “any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practice.”
2 Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, 17203.
3 Plaintiff alleges that Defendants violated the UCL through their “unauthorized use
4 || of the main essence of Plaintiff's copyrighted Work ... .” (ECF No. 1-2). Plaintiff does
5 ||not state a claim for copyright infringement, so his UCL claims fails. See Cel-Tech
6 ||Commuc’ns, Inc. v. L.A. Cellular Tel. Co., 973 P.2d 527, 561 (Cal. 1999) (the UCL
7 ||“borrows violations of other laws and treats them as unlawful practices” that are
8 ||“independently actionable”). Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's eighth cause of
9 || action is granted.
10 CONCLUSION
11 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion to Remand (ECF No. 6) is
12 || DENIED. Defendants’ Amended Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 7) is GRANTED. Plaintiff
13 file any motion for leave to amend the Complaint within 30 days of the date of this
14 || Order. If no motion is filed, the Clerk shall close the case.
15 || Dated: November 1, 2019 itt Z. A a
16 Hon. William Q. Hayes
7 United States District Court
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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10079887. Public record. Not legal advice.