Sandoval v. City of National City

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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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11 ESTATE OF BRIAN UMANA, by and Case No.: 22CV1657-GPC(SBC)

through its successor-in-interest B.U., a

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minor, by and through her guardian ad ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND

13 litem Roberto Umana, individually and as DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’

successor in interest to Brian Umana; MOTION TO DISMISS THE

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MARGARITA CARDENAS, SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

15 individually,

[DKT. NO. 42.]

16 Plaintiffs,

17 v.

18 NATIONAL CITY, a municipal

corporation; NATIONAL CITY POLICE

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DEPARTMENT, an unknown entity;

20 OFFICERS MICHAEL SPORTELLI and

EVAN DAVIS; CORPORAL RYAN

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STINNETT, and DOES 1-20,

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Defendants.

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Before the Court is Defendants’ motion to dismiss the second amended complaint

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(“SAC”) for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).

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(Dkt. No. 42.) Plaintiffs filed an opposition and Defendants replied. (Dkt. Nos. 29, 50.)

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The Court finds that the matter is appropriate for decision without oral argument pursuant

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1 to Local Civ. R. 7.1(d)(1). Based on the reasoning below, the Court GRANTS in part

2 and DENIES in part Defendants’ motion to dismiss.

3 Background

4 On June 2, 2023, Plaintiffs “Estate of Brian Umana, by and through its successor-

5 in-interest B.U., a minor, by and through her guardian ad litem Roberto Umana1,

6 individually and as successor in interest to Brian Umana” and Margarita Cardenas (“Ms.

7 Cardenas”) filed a second amended complaint (“SAC”) against Defendants National City,

8 National City Police Department (“NCPD”), Officers Michael Sportelli (“Sportelli”) and

9 Evan Davis (“Davis”), and Corporal Ryan Stinnett (“Stinnett”) (collectively

10 “Defendants”) for the wrongful death of Brian Umana.2 (Dkt. No. 40, SAC.) B.U. is the

11 daughter of Brian Umana and Ms. Cardenas is the mother of Brian Umana. (Id. ¶¶ 9, 11.)

12 According to the SAC, in the early morning of Friday, October 8, 2021, Brian

13 Umana, (“Brian” or “decedent”), a 28-year-old male suffering from a mental health

14 crisis, was pacing back and forth barefoot and confused in the “rainy haze” on an isolated

15 public sidewalk in National City, California. (Id. ¶ 26.) Defendants Stinnett, Sportelli

16 and Davis responded to a 911 call where the caller stated that a person was walking

17 outside a gated, storage facility and did not seem okay because he was making incoherent

18 and rambling statements. (Id. ¶¶ 26. 29.) Reports indicated a homeless and Hispanic

19 individual pacing alone in the “cold, wet and rain” without any shoes or socks and was

20 not responding and not in the right frame of mind. (Id. ¶ 29.) Upon arrival, Defendants

21 Stinnett, Sportelli and Davis (“Officer Defendants”) found Brian on the sidewalk away

22 from the high barred, locked and gated storage facility and “walking back and forth along

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25 1 Roberto Umana was appointed guardian ad litem for B.U. on February 27, 2023. (Dkt. Nos. 21, 22.)

2 The original complaint was filed on October 25, 2022. (Dkt. No. 1.) Pursuant to the Court’s order on

26 Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on February 24,

2023. (Dkt. No. 12.) Pursuant to a second Court order on Defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended

27 complaint, (Dkt. No. 36), which granted Plaintiffs one final opportunity to amend, Plaintiffs filed a

second amended complaint on June 2, 2023 which is subject to the instant third motion to dismiss. (Dkt.

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1 an isolated rain-soaked sidewalk near a bike path entrance that leads under the State

2 Route 54 overpass.” (Id. ¶ 30.) Brian did not have any shoes on and was talking to

3 himself and was “clearly under mental distress and anguish from a health disability.”

4 (Id.) Brian was also young and only five foot, five inches tall weighing 140 pounds. (Id.

5 ¶¶ 26, 34.)

6 Brian answered when Davis asked his name. (Id. ¶ 31.) Then, instead of fully

7 assessing and deescalating the situation, Sportelli and Davis became aggressive and

8 threatened to use the K9 police dog to harm him and pointed their guns at him. (Id. ¶ 32.)

9 Defendant Davis could see that Brian was carrying a machete by his side. (Id. ¶ 33.)

10 Brian did not resist and started walking away from the Officer Defendants with his back

11 facing them and both hands visible. (Id.) Officer Defendants started shouting and yelling

12 conflicting commands at Brian and threatened to sic the dog on him which caused Brian

13 to become frightened and confused. (Id. ¶ 34.) They announced they represented

14 National City but did not provide any warnings or clear commands for Brian to stay still

15 or that they would shoot him. (Id. ¶¶ 34, 48.)

16 Officer Defendants then ran toward Brian with the K9 police dog, and shot him

17 with at least ten rounds striking his head, back, torso and/or body. (Id. ¶¶ 40, 42 49.)

18 Defendant Stinnett fired a taser while Defendant Sportelli fired an AR-15 semi-automatic

19 rifle, and Defendant Davis fired a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun . (Id. ¶¶ 39, 40, 49.) Ms.

20 Cardenas who lived nearby witnessed and/or heard the incident. (Id. ¶¶ 46, 50.)

21 Despite the serious injuries to Brian, Officer Defendants failed to timely summon

22 medical care or allow medical personnel to treat him which contributed to the harm,

23 injury, pain and suffering and his eventual death. (Id. ¶ 50.) Defendants Sportelli and

24 Davis, and particularly Defendant Stinnett, who was of a higher rank, failed to intervene

25 to prevent the other officers from using excessive force. (Id. ¶ 54.) The SAC alleges the

26 following causes of action:

27 1. First Cause of Action - Excessive Force, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by Estate of Brian

Umana against Defendants Sportelli, Davis and Stinnett;

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2. Second Cause of Action - Monell3 Municipal and Supervisory Liability, 42 U.S.C.

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§ 1983, Failure to Train by Plaintiffs against Defendants National City and NCPD;

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3. Third Cause of Action - Assault/Battery by Estate of Brian Umana against all

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Defendants;

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4. Fourth Cause of Action - Bane Act, Cal. Civ. Code section 52.1 by Estate of Brian

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Umana against all Defendants;

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5. Fifth Cause of Action - Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by all Plaintiffs

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against all Defendants;

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6. Sixth Cause of Action - Deprivation of Medical Care, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by Estate

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of Brian Umana against Defendants Sportelli, Davis and Stinnett;

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7. Seventh Cause of Action - Negligence by all Plaintiffs against all Defendants;

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13 8. Eighth Cause of Action - Wrongful Death, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code section 377.60 et

seq. by B.U. and Ms. Cardenas against all Defendants;

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15 9. Ninth Cause of Action - Substantive Due Process, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 - Fourteenth

Amendment – Interference with Familial Relations by B.U. and Ms. Cardenas

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against all Defendants;

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10. Tenth Cause of Action - Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress by B.U., as

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successor in interest, and Ms. Cardenas against National City and NCPD; and

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11. Eleventh Cause of Action - Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794(a) by Estate of

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Brian Umana against National City and NCPD.4

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22 Defendants move to dismiss on various grounds to which Plaintiffs responded.

23 (Dkt. Nos. 42, 46.) Defendants replied. (Dkt. No. 50.)

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3 Monell v. Dep't of Social Servs. of the City of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978).

26 4 Plaintiffs allege a twelfth cause of action for injunctive relief; however, injunctive relief is not a cause

of action but a relief sought. McDowell v. Watson, 59 Cal. App. 4th 1155, 1159 (1997) (stating that

27 “injunctive relief is a remedy and not, in itself a cause of action”); Jensen v. Quality Loan Serv. Corp.,

702 F. Supp. 2d 1183, 1201 (E.D. Cal. 2010) (“A request for injunctive relief by itself does not state a

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1 Discussion

2 A. Legal Standard as to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)

3 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) permits dismissal for “failure to state a

4 claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Dismissal under Rule

5 12(b)(6) is appropriate where the complaint lacks a cognizable legal theory or sufficient

6 facts to support a cognizable legal theory. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t., 901

7 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2), the

8 plaintiff is required only to set forth a “short and plain statement of the claim showing

9 that the pleader is entitled to relief,” and “give the defendant fair notice of what the . . .

10 claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.

11 544, 555 (2007).

12 A complaint may survive a motion to dismiss only if, taking all well-pleaded

13 factual allegations as true, it contains enough facts to “state a claim to relief that is

14 plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly,

15 550 U.S. at 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual

16 content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable

17 for the misconduct alleged.” Id. “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of

18 action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. “In sum, for a

19 complaint to survive a motion to dismiss, the non-conclusory factual content, and

20 reasonable inferences from that content, must be plausibly suggestive of a claim entitling

21 the plaintiff to relief.” Moss v. United States Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir.

22 2009) (quotations omitted). In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court accepts as

23 true all facts alleged in the complaint, and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the

24 plaintiff. al-Kidd v. Ashcroft, 580 F.3d 949, 956 (9th Cir. 2009).

25 B. Defendants’ Request for Judicial Notice

26 Defendants filed a request for judicial notice of B.U.’s, Ms. Cardenas’ and Roberto

27 Umana’s claims filed pursuant to the California Government Claims Act, California

28 Government Code section 900 et seq., (“Government Claims Act”) and the declaration of

1 Mike Gomez attesting to the claims presented by B.U., Ms. Cardenas and Roberto

2 Umana in March 2022. (Dkt. No. 42-2.) Plaintiffs respond that the Court had previously

3 denied Defendants’ request for judicial notice, and therefore, should deny the request

4 again. (Dkt. No. 46 at 9-10.5) Further, Plaintiffs argue that the March 2022 claims

5 subject to Defendants’ request for judicial notice do not fully encompass their compliance

6 with the Government Claims Act because they submitted additional or supplemental

7 claims in August 2022. (Id. at 10.) In reply, Defendants maintain they conducted a

8 subsequent search after Plaintiffs presented the supplemental claims in the prior motion

9 to dismiss, but no supplemental claims were received by the City. (Dkt. No. 50 at 2-3;

10 Dkt. No. 42-3, Gomez Decl.)

11 “A court may take judicial notice of matters of public record without converting a

12 motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment.” Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250

13 F.3d 668, 689 (9th Cir. 2001) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Under Federal

14 Rule of Evidence 201, the Court “may judicially notice a fact that is not subject to

15 reasonable dispute because it: (1) is generally known within the trial court's territorial

16 jurisdiction; or (2) can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose

17 accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.” Fed. R. Evid. 201. The court may take

18 judicial notice of matters of public record, but it “cannot take judicial notice of disputed

19 facts contained in such public records.” Khoja v. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., 899 F.3d

20 988, 999 (9th Cir. 2018), cert. denied sub nom. Hagan v. Khoja, 139 S. Ct. 2615 (2019).

21 The parties do not dispute the accuracy or authenticity of B.U.’s Ms. Cardenas’

22 and Roberto Umana’s claims in March 2022; in fact, both parties rely on them to support

23 their respective arguments on whether Plaintiffs complied with the Government Claims

24 Act. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ request for judicial notice.6 See City

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5 Page numbers are based on the CM/ECF pagination.

27 6 The Court previously denied Defendants’ request for judicial notice because there was a question as to

what documents supported compliance with the Government Claims Act and Defendants did not address

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1 of Sausalito v. O'Neill, 386 F.3d 1186, 1223 (9th Cir. 2004) (a court “may take judicial

2 notice of a record of a state agency not subject to reasonable dispute.”).

3 C. State Law Claims – Compliance with California Government Claims Act

4 Defendants argue that any state law claims brought as survivor claims7 must be

5 dismissed for failing to comply with the Government Claims Act. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at 8-

6 10.) Plaintiffs respond the Court should deny the motion to dismiss because they

7 complied with the Government Claims Act by submitting additional or supplemental

8 claims in August 2022 which include the survivor claims. (Dkt. No. 46 at 9-10.)

9 Under the Government Claims Act, “no suit for money or damages may be brought

10 against a public entity on a cause of action for which a claim is required to be presented .

11 . . until a written claim therefor has been presented to the public entity and has been acted

12 upon by the board, or has been deemed to have been rejected by the board . . . .” Cal.

13 Gov’t Code § 945.4. “[S]ubmission of a claim to a public entity pursuant to section 900

14 et seq. ‘is a condition precedent to a tort action and the failure to present the claim bars

15 the action.’” Phillips v. Desert Hosp. Dist., 49 Cal. 3d 699, 708 (1989) (quoting Lutz v.

16 Tri–City Hosp., 179 Cal. App. 3d 807, 812 (1986)).

17 Under California’s pleading standard against a public entity under the Government

18 Claims Act, “a plaintiff must allege facts demonstrating or excusing compliance with the

19 claim presentation requirement. Otherwise, his complaint . . . fail[s] to state facts

20 sufficient to constitute a cause of action.” State of Cal. v. Superior Ct., 32 Cal. 4th 1234,

21 1243 (2004); Robinson v. Alameda Cnty., 875 F. Supp. 2d 1029, 1043 (N.D. Cal. 2012).

22 This “must be satisfied even in the face of the public entity's actual knowledge of the

23 circumstances surrounding the claim” because the purposes of the claim presentation

24 requirement are to “provide the public entity sufficient information to enable it to

25 adequately investigate claims and to settle them, if appropriate, without the expense of

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7 Defendants do not challenge that Plaintiffs have complied with the Government Claim Act for their

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1 litigation.” City of Stockton v. Superior Ct., 42 Cal. 4th 730, 738 (2007) (citation

2 omitted). The failure to timely present a claim for money or damages to a public entity

3 bars the plaintiff from bringing suit against that entity. City of Stockton, 42 Cal. 4th at

4 738; State of Cal., 32 Cal. 4th at 1239.

5 Under Government Code section 911.2, “[a] claim relating to a cause of action for

6 death or for injury to person . . . shall be presented . . . not later than six months after the

7 accrual of the cause of action.” Cal. Gov't Code § 911.2(a). The date of accrual for the

8 purposes of section 911.2 is the same as the date of accrual of the underlying cause of

9 action within the meaning of the statute of limitations. Id. § 901. Here, the SAC claims

10 the alleged incident occurred on October 8, 2021. (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶ 26.)

11 The SAC alleges Plaintiffs have complied with the “government tort claims

12 requirements as set forth in California Government Code §§ 900 et seq.” (Id. ¶ 23.)

13 Moreover, the documents subject to the request for judicial notice show that government

14 claims were submitted in March 2022. (See Dkt. No. 42-2.) Therefore, taking the

15 allegations in the SAC as true, and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of

16 Plaintiffs, see al-Kidd, 580 F.3d at 956, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have alleged

17 timely compliance with the Government Claims Act and DENIES Defendants’ motion to

18 dismiss the state law survivor claims.

19 In their motion, Defendants improperly rely on the declaration of Mike Gomez,

20 Risk Manager for National City, a document outside the SAC, stating Plaintiffs’ alleged

21 supplemental claims of August 2022 raising the survivor claims were not located in their

22 database. (Dkt. No. 42-3, Gomez Decl. ¶ 3.) Relying on this declaration, Defendants

23 claim that Plaintiffs did not comply with the Government Claims Act on the survivor

24 claims. In response, Plaintiffs also improperly rely on documents outside the complaint,

25 their August 2022 claims along with a competing proof of service of their prior counsel,

26 Octavio Velarde, declaring that he mailed the application for leave to present the late

27 claims of Nohely Sandoval, Margarita Cardenas, and Roberto Umana on August 12, 2022

28 to the City Clerk of the City of National City, (see Dkt. No. 33-1 at 28). The parties

1 should well know that when ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court may not consider

2 documents outside the complaint, Arpin v. Santa Clara Valley Transp. Agency, 261 F.3d

3 912, 925 (9th Cir. 2001); therefore, the parties’ arguments regarding the supplemental

4 August 2022 claims are not proper at this time.8

5 As such, at this stage of the proceedings, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have

6 alleged compliance with the Government Claims Act and DENIES Defendants’ motion

7 to dismiss. See Lindsay v. Fryson, No. 2:10–cv–02842 LKK KJN PS, 2011 WL

8 2444813, at *10 (E.D. Cal. June 14, 2011), report and recommendation adopted by 2011

9 WL 3555838 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 11, 2011) (while “[a] plaintiff's ‘failure to allege facts

10 demonstrating or excusing compliance with the claims presentation requirement subjects

11 a claim against a public entity’ to dismissal for failure to state a claim,” a court need not

12 resolve factual disputes regarding actual compliance with the CGCA [California

13 Government Claims Act] when ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion).9 10

14 / / /

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16 / / /

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19 8 In reply, Defendants also contend that even if the supplemental claims existed, they would be

untimely; however, that argument also improperly requires the Court to consider documents outside the

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SAC and not proper on a motion to dismiss.

21 9 Lindsay involved facts similar to this case. In that case, the plaintiff alleged he submitted a timely

claim under the Government Claims Act; however, the County argued that the plaintiff did not file a

22 government claim relying on a declaration employed by the County’s Board of Supervisors. Lindsay,

2011 WL 2444813, at *10. The plaintiff also filed a declaration of his former attorney retained to file a

23 government claim on his behalf declaring, under penalty of perjury, that he mailed the completed

government claim form to the County’s Board of Supervisors. Id. The district court concluded that the

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plaintiff sufficiently alleged compliance with the Government Claims Act noting that the court need not

25 and cannot resolve factual disputes about actual compliance on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. Id. at *11.

Similar to the facts in Lindsay, this Court cannot resolve the factual issue of whether Plaintiffs complied

26 with the Government Claims Act.

10 Plaintiffs alternatively argue that the March 2022 claims, themselves, substantially complied with the

27 Government Claims Act on the survivor claims. (Dkt. No. 46 at 11-13.) Because the Court concludes

Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged compliance with the Government Claims Act, the Court need not

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1 D. First Cause of Action-Excessive Force, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as to Defendant

2 Stinnett11

3 Defendants move to dismiss the first claim solely as to Defendant Stinnett arguing

4 the SAC failed to state a claim based on a failure to intervene. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at 12.)

5 Irrespective of the failure to intervene, Plaintiffs respond that Defendants ignore other

6 Fourth Amendment violations by Defendant Stinnett using excessive force when he

7 deployed his taser on the decedent, and alternatively, his integral participation and

8 leadership in the alleged unlawful shooting. (Dkt. No. 46 at 16-21.) In reply, Defendants

9 argue that Plaintiffs have not sufficiently alleged an excessive force claim nor alleged

10 liability as an integral participant under Rule 12(b)(6). (Dkt. No. 50 at 5-8.)

11 Defendants appear to have misconstrued or misunderstood the excessive force

12 claims against Defendant Stinnett. Plaintiffs have not opposed the failure to intervene

13 theory of liability against Defendant Stinnett; instead, they argue that Defendant Stinnett

14 took the lead in directing the excessive force used upon the decedent. (Dkt. No. 46 at 16-

15 21.) While the SAC alleges that Defendant Stinnett failed to intervene, (Dkt. No. 40,

16 SAC ¶ 54), it appears that Plaintiffs are not pursuing that theory of liability but instead

17 are pursuing claims of excessive force, and alternatively, integral participation as to

18 Defendant Stinnett. Given Plaintiffs’ election to proceed on a theory of integral

19 participation rather than a failure to intervene, the Court GRANTS the motion to dismiss

20 the first cause of action on the failure to intervene theory. Cf. Flores v. City of Concord,

21 No. 15-CV-05244-PJH, 2017 WL 3641862, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 24, 2017) (“As to the

22 ‘failure to intervene’ theory, plaintiff cannot simultaneously allege that Officers Halm

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11 Defendants also move to dismiss either Estate of Brian Umana or B.U. as successor in interest as the

26 plaintiffs on the first and second causes of action because survival actions cannot be brought by both the

Estate of Brian Umana and a successor in interest. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at 10-12.) Plaintiff objects but

27 clarifies that B.U., as Brian’s successor in interest, is pursuing his survival claims as alleged in the SAC.

(Dkt. No. 46 at 15-16.) On reply, Defendants do not disagree that B.U., as successor in interest, is the

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1 and Kindorf used excessive force and failed to intervene against themselves, or that

2 Officer Halm both made the false arrest and failed to prevent himself from doing so.”).

3 Although Defendants did not move to dismiss on the excessive force and integral

4 involvement grounds, the Court addresses the arguments raised in the opposition and

5 reply. The Fourth Amendment, which applies to the states through the Fourteenth

6 Amendment, prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement officials.

7 U.S. Const. amend. IV. The Fourth Amendment requires the degree of force to be

8 “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 397

9 (1989). It “requires a careful balancing of the nature and quality of the intrusion on the

10 individual’s Fourth Amendment interests against the countervailing governmental

11 interests at stake.” Id. at 396 (internal quotations and citations omitted). The

12 “reasonableness” of an officer's particular use of force “must be judged from the

13 perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of

14 hindsight.” Id. This test considers the “totality of the circumstances,” including “the

15 severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety

16 of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade

17 arrest by flight.” Id.

18 Here, the SAC alleges that before and after Officer Defendants arrived on the

19 scene, Brian was undergoing a mental health crisis as he was barefoot, confused, pacing

20 alone and talking to himself. (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶¶ 26, 29, 30, 37.) Brian was also a

21 young 28 year old male, around five foot, five inches tall and 140 pounds, a male of short

22 stature. (Id. ¶ 26.) Plaintiffs complain that Brian did not resist, made no threats, but was

23 holding a machete in his hand. (Id. ¶¶ 33, 43.) When Brian started to walk away from

24 the Officer Defendants, they started shouting and yelling conflicting commands

25 threatening to sic a dog on him and had their guns pointed at him. (Id. ¶¶ 32, 34.) Then,

26 Officer Defendants charged after him with a K9 police dog and Defendants Davis and

27 Sportelli shot Brain with at least ten rounds in the back, head, torso and/or body. (Id. ¶¶

28 35, 39, 40, 41, 43.) Defendant Stinnett fired a taser. (Id. ¶ 39.)

1 Taking these allegations as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to

2 Plaintiff, the SAC alleges an excessive force claim against Defendant Stinnett.

3 According to the SAC, no crime had been committed, Brian did not pose an immediate

4 threat to the safety of Officer Defendants, and he was not actively resisting arrest or

5 attempting to evade by flight. While he was holding a machete, Brian was not using it to

6 threaten the Officer Defendants. Despite the lack of an immediate threat, Defendant

7 Stinnett deployed a taser. While it is not asserted whether the taser hit Brian, at this

8 stage, the Court draws all reasonable inferences in favor of Plaintiffs; therefore, Plaintiffs

9 have sufficiently alleged an excessive force claim against Officer Stinnett. See Peck v.

10 Montoya, 51 F. 4th 877, 887-88 (9th Cir. 2022) (“[O]fficers may not kill suspects simply

11 because they are behaving erratically, nor may they ‘kill suspects who do not pose an

12 immediate threat to their safety or to the safety of others simply because they are

13 armed.’”).

14 Alternatively, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant Stinnett was an “integral

15 participant” in the excessive force used upon Brian. (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶¶ 54, 66, 96(g).)

16 “[A]n official whose ‘individual actions’ do ‘not themselves rise to the level of a

17 constitutional violation’ may be held liable under section 1983 only if the official is an

18 ‘integral participant’ in the unlawful act.” Peck, 51 F. 4th at 889 (citation omitted).

19 Acknowledging that the Ninth Circuit has not previously “define[d] the minimum level of

20 involvement for liability under the integral-participant doctrine,” in Peck, the court

21 recently recognized that it has allowed an integral participant to be liable for excessive

22 force in situations where “(1) the defendant knows about and acquiesces in the

23 constitutionally defective conduct as part of a common plan with those whose conduct

24 constitutes the violation or (2) the defendant ‘set[s] in motion a series of acts by others

25 which [the defendant] knows or reasonably should know would cause others to inflict the

26 constitutional injury.’” Id., 51 F. 4th at 889 (citation omitted). For example, in

27 Blankenhorn v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 463 (9th Cir. 2007), the Ninth Circuit held that

28 an officer whose actions were “instrumental” in effectuating a constitutional violation

1 was an integral participant. Id. at 481 n.12 (“it does require some fundamental

2 involvement in the conduct that allegedly caused the violation.”). There, the Ninth

3 Circuit concluded that an officer, who handcuffed the suspect but did not himself use

4 excessive force, which then allowed another officer to place hobble restraints on him, a

5 use of excessive force, may be held liable as an integral participant in that use of force.

6 Id. at 481 & n.12.

7 Here, the SAC alleges that Defendant Stinnett was an integral participant in the use

8 of excessive force. (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶¶ 54, 66, 96(g).) In addition, it claims that

9 Defendant Stinnett was of higher rank than the other officers with responsibility over the

10 scene, and despite the lack of public danger, he joined the others in threatening Brian and

11 escalated the use of force. (Id. ¶¶ 18, 34, 39, 54.) Plaintiffs further contend that

12 Defendant Stinnett unnecessarily escalated the situation without a warning. (Id. ¶¶ 54,

13 64, 65.) The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have stated a claim against Defendant

14 Stinnett as an integral participant in the use of excessive force by Defendants Davis and

15 Sportelli. Therefore, the Court DENIES Defendant’s motion to dismiss the first cause of

16 action of excessive force against Defendant Stinnett.

17 E. Second Cause of Action – Monell, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by Plaintiffs against

18 National City and NCPD

19 Defendants move to dismiss the Monell claims raised by B.U. and Ms. Cardenas,

20 as individuals, because § 1983 actions may only be brought as survivor actions. (Dkt.

21 No. 42-1 at 13.) Plaintiffs explain that their individual Monell claims may be brought

22 because their substantive due process rights to familial associations were violated. (Dkt.

23 No. 46 at 21-22.) In reply, Defendants argue that because the Monell claim is based on

24 excessive force, it is a survivor action, and may not be raised as an individual claim.

25 (Dkt. No. 50 at 8-9.)

26 In the prior order, the Court ruled that because the Monell claims were based on

27 excessive force, they may not be raised in their individual capacities because Fourth

28 Amendment rights are personal rights and may not be raised vicariously. (Dkt. No. 36 at

1 12, 15 (citing Alderman v. United States, 394 U.S. 165, 174 (1969) (“Fourth Amendment

2 rights are personal rights which . . . may not be vicariously asserted.”).) At that time,

3 Plaintiffs did not oppose Defendants’ argument. On this motion, Plaintiffs now argue

4 that their individual Monell claims are based on the Fourteenth Amendment right to

5 familial association which they have alleged in the SAC.

6 “Under § 1983, a decedent’s survivors may bring a claim for the violation of their

7 substantive constitutional rights or those of the decedent.” Cotta v. Cnty. of Kings, 79 F.

8 Supp. 3d 1148, 1158 (E.D. Cal. 2015), rev'd in part on other grounds, 686 Fed. App'x.

9 467 (9th Cir. Apr. 6, 2017). “Courts have recognized that a decedent’s survivor,

10 including a parent, can bring a Monell claim based on the parent’s Fourteenth

11 Amendment right to familial association; such claims are not survivorship claims.”

12 McGinnis v. Cnty. of Sonoma, Case No. 22-cv-06632-SI, 2023 WL 2743578, at *2 (N.D.

13 Cal. Mar. 30, 2023) (citing K.C.A. by and through Purvis v. Cnty. of San Diego, Case

14 No.: 20-CV-2504 W (BLM), 2021 WL 3370790, at *7 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2021) (denying

15 motion to dismiss Monell claim brought by mother and child of decedent for lack of

16 survivorship standing because “Plaintiffs also have individual Fourteenth Amendment

17 rights which would not have been violated had Decedent not died. The County can be

18 held liable under Monell for a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment right to substantive

19 due process.”); Schwartz v. Lassen Cnty. ex rel. Lassen Cnty. Jail (Det. Facility), 838 F.

20 Supp. 2d 1045, 1058 (E.D. Cal. 2012) (denying motion to dismiss Monell claim brought

21 by decedent's mother where “the court can reasonably infer that, based on the particular

22 circumstances as alleged, the facility's employees so obviously lacked training in

23 providing proper medical care that it resulted in Decedent's death and, consequently,

24 Plaintiff's loss of her son's companionship.”); Shelley v. Cnty. of San Joaquin, 996 F.

25 Supp. 2d 921, 932 (E.D. Cal. 2014) (denying motion to dismiss Monell claim brought by

26 decedent's sisters and mother and framing claim as one of substantive due process)).

27 Here, while the facts supporting the Monell cause of action concern the decedent’s

28 Fourth Amendment constitutional right to be free from excessive force, Plaintiffs have

1 also alleged a separate cause of action for violation of their Fourteenth Amendment right

2 of familial relations. See K.C.A. by and through Purvis, 2021 WL 3370790, at *7

3 (denying motion to dismiss Monell claim because “Plaintiffs also have individual

4 Fourteenth Amendment rights which would not have been violated had Decedent not

5 died.”). Accordingly, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motion to dismiss B.U. and Ms.

6 Cardenas’ individual Monell claims.

7 F. Seventh Cause of Action – Negligence

8 Defendants maintain that the seventh claim for negligence as well as negligent

9 hiring, training, and supervision against National City and NCPD must be dismissed as

10 improper defendants because Plaintiffs plead no statutory basis that allows common law

11 claims of negligence against public entities. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at 13-15.) Plaintiffs respond

12 that the SAC clearly alleges they are bringing the negligence claims against the public

13 entity defendants pursuant to California Government Code section 815.2. (Dkt. No. 46 at

14 23.) Further, they summarily contend that they have pleaded facts to support a negligent

15 hiring, training and supervision claim. (Id. at 24.) In reply, Defendants do not meaningly

16 address Plaintiffs’ arguments. (Dkt. No. 50 at 9-10.)

17 The California Tort Claims Act (“CTCA”) provides the exclusive scope of tort

18 liability for government entities and employees. Cal. Gov’t Code § 810, et seq. “[I]n

19 absence of some constitutional requirement, public entities may be liable only if a statute

20 declares them to be liable.” Cochran v. Herzog Engraving Co., 155 Cal. App. 3d 405,

21 409 (1984) (emphasis in original); see also Cal. Gov’t Code § 815; Michael J. v. Los

22 Angeles Cnty. Dept. of Adoptions, 201 Cal. App. 3d 859, 866 (1988) (“Under the Act,

23 governmental tort liability must be based on statute; all common law or judicially

24 declared forms of tort liability, except as may be required by state or federal Constitution,

25 were abolished”).

26 Under the CTCA, a public employee is generally “liable for injury caused by his

27 act or omission to the same extent as a private person.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 820(a).

28

1 California Government Code section 815.2 “makes a public entity vicariously liable for

2 its employee’s negligent acts or omissions within the scope of employment.” Eastburn v.

3 Reg’l Fire Protection Auth., 31 Cal. 4th 1175, 1180 (2003). Section 815.2 also provides

4 that “[e]xcept as otherwise provided by statute, a public entity is not liable for an injury

5 resulting from an act or omission of an employee of the public entity where the employee

6 is immune from liability.” Cal. Gov’t Code § 815.2(b).

7 A public entity can be subject to suit for negligence of an employee under

8 California Government Code section 815.2. See Robinson v. Solano Cnty., 278 F.3d

9 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2002) (reversing district court grant of summary judgment on state

10 law claims of false arrest, false imprisonment, assault and battery, negligence and gross

11 negligence). “California . . . has rejected the Monell rule and imposes liability on

12 counties under the doctrine of respondeat superior for acts of county employees; it grants

13 immunity to counties only where the public employee would also be immune.” Id.

14 Here, contrary to Defendants’ argument, the SAC clearly alleges vicarious liability

15 on the negligence claim against National City and NCPD pursuant to California

16 Government Code section 815.2. (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶ 132.) Moreover, National City

17 and NCPD’s immunity depends upon whether the police officers are immune. Because

18 California denies immunity to police officers who use excessive force, see Robinson, 278

19 F.3d at 1016, Plaintiffs have properly alleged claims of negligence against National City

20 and NCPD.

21 Next, as to the claim for negligent hiring, supervision, training and/or discipline, it

22 is established there is no statutory basis for direct claims against a public entity for

23 negligent hiring and supervision practices. de Villers v. Cnty. of San Diego, 156 Cal.

24 App. 4th 238, 252 (2007) (“We find no relevant case law approving a claim for direct

25

26

12 Section 815.2 provides “[a] public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission

27 of an employee of the public entity within the scope of his employment if the act or omission would,

apart from this section, have given rise to a cause of action against that employee or his personal

28

1 liability based on a public entity’s allegedly negligent hiring and supervision practices.”);

2 Munoz v. City of Union City, 120 Cal. App. 4th 1077, 1111 (2004) (concluding that no

3 statutory basis exists for declaring a governmental entity liable for negligence in its hiring

4 and supervision practices); see also Skeels v. Pilegaard, No. C12-2175, 2013 WL

5 970974, at *9 (N.D. Cal. 2014) (“California courts of appeal have held that no statutory

6 basis exists for a claim of direct liability based on a public entity's negligent hiring,

7 policymaking, and supervision.”). However, a public entity may be vicariously liable for

8 negligent hiring, training, and supervision, through section 815.2(a), by its employees as

9 long as there is a “special relationship” that exists between the supervisors of the public

10 entity and the plaintiff. See C.A. v. William S. Hart Union, 53 Cal. 4th 861, 865, 877

11 (2012) (“Absent such a special relationship, there can be no individual liability to third

12 parties for negligent hiring, retention or supervision of a fellow employee, and hence no

13 vicarious liability under section 815.2”). In C.A., the court explained that “a school

14 district and its employees have a special relationship with the district’s pupils, a

15 relationship arising from the mandatory character of school attendance and the

16 comprehensive control over students exercised by school personnel, ‘analogous in many

17 ways to the relationship between parents and their children.’” Id. at 869. Moreover, a

18 plaintiff must establish that “supervisory and administrative” employees of the

19 government entity “knew or had reason to know of [an employee]’s dangerous

20 propensities and acted negligently in hiring, supervising and retaining [him or] her.”

21 C.A., 53 Cal. 4th at 868-69. Neither party has addressed the “special relationship” issue

22 for the negligent hiring, supervision, training and/or discipline claim.

23 First, the Court notes that the SAC has neither alleged any negligent supervisors as

24 defendants nor alleged a special relationship between the decedent and these unknown

25 supervisors. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not alleged that any of the unknown supervisors

26 knew or should have known about the dangerous propensities of the Officer Defendants.

27 Accordingly, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have not alleged a claim for negligent

28 hiring, supervision, training and/or discipline and GRANTS the motion to dismiss the

1 seventh cause of action on this basis. See Estate of Osuna v. Cnty. of Stanislaus, 392 F.

2 Supp. 3d 1162, 1182 (E.D. Cal. 2019) (granting motion to dismiss for failing to allege

3 existence of a special relationship); Kendrick v. Cnty. of San Diego, No. 15-cv-2615-

4 GPC(AGS), 2018 WL 1316618, at *10 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 14, 2018) (“[A] plaintiff must

5 allege a special relationship in order to bring a negligent hiring claim”).

6 In sum, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motion to dismiss the negligence cause of

7 action as to National City and NCPD but GRANTS dismissal of the negligence claim to

8 the extent it is based on negligent hiring, supervision, training and/or discipline. See

9 Johnson v. Shasta Cnty., 83 F. Supp. 3d 918, 936-37 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 6, 2015) (granting

10 motion to dismiss negligence claim based on County's hiring, training, supervision, or

11 retention of individual police officers but denying motion to dismiss plaintiffs' negligence

12 claims against the individual defendants and County under California Government Code

13 § 815.2).

14 G Eighth Cause of Action - Wrongful Death

15 Defendants seek dismissal of the eighth claim for wrongful death against the public

16 entities because there is no statutory basis for a wrongful death action and the claim

17 should be dismissed as duplicative of the negligence cause of action. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at

18 16.) Plaintiffs disagree arguing the claim is not duplicative of the negligence cause of

19 action because the wrongful death cause of action is based on negligence and on the

20 intentional torts of assault and battery. (Dkt. No. 46 at 25.) In reply, Defendants merely

21 argue that Plaintiffs do not address the statutory basis for the standalone cause of action

22 for wrongful death against a public entity. (Dkt. No. 50 at 10.)

23 The elements of wrongful death include “(1) a ‘wrongful act or neglect’ on the part

24 of one or more persons that (2) ‘cause[s]’ (3) the ‘death of [another] person’ on legal

25 theories of negligence and strict liability.” Norgart v. Upjohn Co., 21 Cal. 4th 383, 390

26 (1999) (quoting Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 377.60).

27 Here, the SAC alleges wrongful death based on negligence and assault and battery.

28 (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶¶ 133, 139, 140.) Because the wrongful death claim is based on

1 negligence as well as intentional torts, it is not duplicative of the negligence cause of

2 action. Moreover, despite Defendants’ argument that Plaintiffs allege no statutory basis

3 for the wrongful death claim, the SAC clearly alleges that the wrongful death cause of

4 action is brought by B.U. and Ms. Cardenas, individually, and against National City and

5 NCPD based on vicarious liability under California Government Code sections 815.2(a).

6 (Dkt. No. 40, SAC at p. 27 l.20; id. ¶ 141.) Thus, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motion

7 to dismiss the wrongful death cause of action. See Nozzi v. Hous. Auth. of City of Los

8 Angeles, 425 Fed. App’x 539, 542 (9th Cir. 2011) (holding that public entities “may be

9 held vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their individual employees”); McKay v.

10 City of Hayward, 949 F. Supp. 2d 971, 988 (N.D. Cal. 2013) (denying summary

11 judgment based on City’s vicarious liability under Government Code section 815.2 for

12 wrongful death and other state law claims); Bremer v. Cnty. of Contra Costa, Case No.

13 15–cv–01895–JSC, 2015 WL 5158488, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 2, 2015) (denying motion

14 to dismiss wrongful death cause of action for not pleading statutory basis against public

15 entity as the plaintiff alleged section 815.2 as the basis for the City’s liability).

16 H. Ninth Cause of Action - Substantive Due Process

17 Defendants move to dismiss B.U. and Ms. Cardenas’ substantive due process

18 claims for failing to allege a judicially enforceable Fourteenth Amendment interest

19 between them and the decedent. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at 16-17.) Plaintiffs disagree. (Dkt. No.

20 46 at 25-27.)

21 A decedent’s child has a “constitutionally protected liberty interest under the

22 Fourteenth Amendment in the ‘companionship and society’ of [his or] her father.” Hayes

23 v. Cnty. of San Diego, 736 F.3d 1223, 1229-30 (9th Cir. 2013). “Likewise, a parent’s

24 right to familial relationships with the child is co-extensive with the child's constitutional

25 right under the Fourteenth Amendment.” Ixta v. Cnty. of Ventura, Case No. 2:22-cv-

26 02468-MCS-AFM, 2023 WL 2626370, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 21, 2023). “This

27 substantive due process claim may be asserted by both the parents and children of a

28 person killed by law enforcement officers.” Moreland v. Las Vegas Met. Police Dep’t,

1 159 F.3d 365, 371 (9th Cir. 1998); Curnow v. Ridgecrest Police, 952 F.2d 321, 325 (9th

2 Cir. 1991) (recognizing that “a parent has a constitutionally protected liberty interest

3 under the Fourteenth Amendment in the companionship and society of his or her child [ ]

4 and that a ‘child's interest in her relationship with a parent is sufficiently weighty by itself

5 to constitute a cognizable liberty interest[.]) (citations omitted).

6 The Supreme Court has made clear that “the mere existence of a biological link

7 does not merit [ ] constitutional protection.” Lehr v. Robertson, 463 U.S. 248, 261-62

8 (1983) (father who “grasps the opportunity to develop a relationship with his offspring . .

9 . and accepts some measure of responsibility for the child's future . . . may enjoy the

10 blessings of the parent-child relationship”). Instead, “judicially enforceable Fourteenth

11 Amendment interests require enduring relationships reflecting an assumption of parental

12 responsibility and ‘stem[ ] from the emotional attachments that derive from the intimacy

13 of daily association, and from the role it plays in promoting a way of life through the

14 instruction of children.’” Wheeler v. City of Santa Clara, 894 F.3d 1046, 1058 (9th Cir.

15 2018) (quoting Lehr, 463 U.S. at 256-61) (noting the plaintiff did not allege his biological

16 mother “raised him, otherwise resumed responsibility for his upbringing, or even

17 maintained consistent contact with him during his childhood”). Therefore, “even

18 biological parents must maintain consistent involvement in a child's life and participation

19 in child-rearing activities for their relationship to be entitled to the Fourteenth

20 Amendment protections . . . .” Id.

21 Here, the SAC alleges that the decedent lived with B.U., his daughter, and Ms.

22 Cardenas, his mother. (Dkt. No. 40, SAC ¶ 25.) He provided them financial resources,

23 household care, and aided with the necessaries of life. (Id. ¶ 147.) B.U. relied on the

24 decedent for his “financial contributions, parental guidance and the necessaries of life.”

25 (Id. ¶ 57.) Plaintiffs allege that as a result of his death, they suffered economic and non-

26 economic damages. (Id. ¶ 147.) Plaintiffs lost the decedent’s love, society,

27 companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral

28 support.” (Id. ¶ 144.) B.U. also lost Brian’s training and parental guidance. (Id.)

1 These allegations, that the decedent lived with B.U. and Ms. Cardenas, thereby

2 maintaining consistent involvement in their lives, and provided them with care, comfort

3 and financial support and provided parental guidance to B.U., support a Fourteenth

4 Amendment interest between them and the decedent. See Bradley-Aboyade v. Crozier,

5 No. 2:19-cv-01098-TLN-AC2020 WL 4475088, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 4, 2020)

6 (allegation that “[w]hile Decedent was living, he assumed responsibilities for Plaintiff's

7 upbringing and maintained consistent contact with Plaintiff both during childhood and

8 adulthood of Plaintiff” sufficient to state a claim under the Fourteenth Amendment); but

9 see Terry v. City of Pasadena Cal., Case No.: CV 18-07730 SJO (RAOx), 2019 WL

10 4139257, at *5 (C.D. Cal. June 17, 2019) (granting motion to dismiss based on allegation

11 that J.H., the biological child of the decedent “whom loved and spent time with him” did

12 not state a claim because Plaintiffs did not allege that the decedent “raised J.H., otherwise

13 resumed responsibility for his upbringing, or even maintained consistent contact with him

14 during his childhood.”). Thus, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motion to dismiss the

15 ninth cause of action.

16 I. Tenth Cause of Action – Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

17 Lastly, Defendants assert that the intentional infliction of emotional distress

18 (“IIED”) cause of action must be dismissed on two grounds. (Dkt. No. 42-1 at 18.)

19 First, B.U., as successor in interest, cannot assert an IIED claim on behalf of the

20 decedent,13 and second, there is no statutory basis to hold a public entity liable for IIED, a

21 common law tort.14 (Id.) Replying to arguments raised in Plaintiffs’ opposition,

22

23

13 In response, Plaintiffs rely on California Code of Civil Procedure section 377.34 which provides that a

24

decedent’s successor in interest may seek pre-death pain and suffering as long as the action is filed

25 between 2022 and 2026. See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 377.34(b) (“Notwithstanding subdivision (a), in an

action or proceeding by a decedent's personal representative or successor in interest on the decedent's

26 cause of action, the damages recoverable may include damages for pain, suffering, or disfigurement if

the action or proceeding was granted a preference pursuant to Section 36 before January 1, 2022, or was

27 filed on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2026.”).

14 In response, Plaintiffs maintain that the SAC alleges that National City and the NCPD are vicariously

28

1 || Defendants concede that the ITED claim has been properly pled. (Dkt. No. 50 at 10, 11.)

2 || As such, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motion to dismiss as moot.

3 ||J. Leave to Amend

4 In the event the Court grants dismissal of a cause of action, Plaintiffs seek leave to

5 ||amend the complaint to include additional facts drawn from the body-worn camera

6 || footage made available after the SAC was filed. (Dkt. No. 46 at 29; Dkt. No. 46-1,

7 Roberto Umana Decl.) Because there had already been two motions to dismiss, in the

8 || prior order, the Court granted Plaintiff one final opportunity to file a second amended

9 ||complaint. (Dkt. No. 36 at 26.) Moreover, adding facts based on the body-worn camera

10 || will not cure the deficiency noted in the Court’s order. To the extent Plaintiffs seek to

11 || file a third amended complaint, they must file the appropriate motion with the Court. On

12 || this motion to dismiss, the Court declines to provide Plaintiff with a fourth opportunity to

13 || state plausible claims when the Court has already provided Plaintiff with guidance on the

14 || pleading standards in its prior orders.

15 Conclusion

16 Based on the above, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendants’

17 || motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. Specifically, the Court GRANTS

18 || dismissal of the failure to intervene theory of liability on the first cause of action for

19 excessive force and negligent hiring, supervision, training and/or discipline theory of

20 || liability on the seventh cause of action for negligence. The Court DENIES the motion to

21 dismiss on all other grounds. Defendants shall file an Answer as provided in the Federal

22 || Rules of Civil Procedure.

23 IT IS SO ORDERED.

24 ||Dated: August 17, 2023 C2. □□

25 Hon. aah Code

26 United States District Judge

27

28