Estate of Christopher Temple v. County of Placer

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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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11 ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER TEMPLE, No. 2:23-cv-01713-DAD-CKD

et al.,

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Plaintiffs,

13 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND

v. DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’

14 MOTION TO DISMISS

PLACER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE,

15 et al., (Doc. No. 14)

16 Defendants.

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18 This matter is before the court on defendants’ motion to dismiss filed on December 1,

19 2023. (Doc. No. 14.) On December 18, 2023, defendants’ motion was taken under submission

20 on the papers pursuant to Local Rule 230(g). (Doc. No. 17.) For the reasons explained below,

21 defendants’ motion to dismiss will be granted in part and denied in part.

22 BACKGROUND

23 This action arises from the death of Christopher Temple (the “decedent”) on or about

24 January 11, 2023. On August 14, 2023, the estate of the decedent (the “estate”) and Amber Smith

25 (collectively, “plaintiffs”) filed this suit. (Doc. No. 1.) On November 17, 2023, plaintiffs filed

26 their first amended complaint (“FAC”), asserting claims against defendants County of Placer and

27 Placer County Sheriff’s Office (collectively, the “municipal defendants”), as well as defendants

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1 Sheriff Wayne Woo, Deputy Melissa Adams, Deputy Claudell Vaughan, and Deputy Cody

2 Michael in their individual capacities. (Doc. No. 12 at ¶¶ 9–14.)

3 In their FAC, plaintiffs allege as follows. On January 10, 2023, around 11:50 p.m., the

4 decedent was driving a vehicle in Auburn, California. (Id. at ¶ 22.) The decedent’s vehicle was

5 pulled over by defendant Deputy Vaughan due to expired vehicle registration. (Id. at ¶¶ 23, 24.)

6 Defendant Deputies Michael and Adams then arrived at the scene. (Id. at ¶ 26.) Defendant

7 Vaughan spoke to the decedent through the passenger door of the pulled-over vehicle and then

8 returned to his patrol vehicle to run a records search of the decedent. (Id. at ¶¶ 28, 29.)

9 Defendant Adams approached the driver-side door of the pulled-over vehicle, where the

10 decedent sat in the driver’s seat. (Id. at ¶ 30.) She observed that the decedent’s behavior was odd

11 and suspected that he might have mental health issues. (Id. at ¶ 31.) She asked the decedent if he

12 was on parole, and the decedent responded that he was on probation. (Id. at ¶¶ 32, 33.)

13 Defendant Deputy Adams concluded that the decedent was a known criminal with a disregard for

14 the law and she wanted more control of the situation. (Id. at ¶ 34.) She then reached into the

15 decedent’s vehicle through the opened window and grabbed hold of the decedent’s arms or hands,

16 without warning or explanation. (Id. at ¶ 35.) This confused and frightened the decedent, causing

17 him to reflexively pull away from defendant Adams’s grasp. (Id. at ¶¶ 36, 37.) Defendant

18 Adams ordered the decedent to give her his hands, to which the decedent asked why and told her

19 not to touch him. (Id. at ¶¶ 38, 39.) Defendant Adams struggled with the decedent through the

20 opened window. (Id. at ¶ 40.)

21 As defendant Adams struggled with the decedent, defendants Michael and Vaughan

22 approached the pulled-over vehicle. (Id. at ¶ 42.) Defendant Adams then called out a warning,

23 “Gun! Gun! Gun!,” falsely signaling to defendants Michael and Vaughan that a gun was present

24 where there was none. (Id. at ¶ 43.)

25 Defendants Michael, Adams, and Vaughan (collectively, the “defendant deputies”) backed

26 away from the pulled-over vehicle, unholstered and drew their firearms which they pointed at the

27 decedent. (Id. at ¶¶ 44, 45.) The decedent exited the vehicle holding a two and one-half-inch

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1 blade pocketknife in his right hand. (Id. at ¶ 47.) He then walked approximately 30 feet in front

2 of his pulled-over vehicle and away from the defendant deputies. (Id. at ¶ 48.)

3 Defendant Adams ordered the decedent to drop the knife. (Id. at ¶ 49.) The decedent

4 stopped walking away from the officers, turned to face them, and yelled for them to shoot him.

5 (Id. at ¶¶ 50, 52.) Plaintiffs allege that the defendant deputies knew, or should have known, that

6 the decedent was suffering from a mental disability or mental health crisis. (Id. at ¶ 53.)

7 After an approximately 25-second stand-off, the decedent took a few steps towards the

8 defendant deputies, who backed up slightly, and then he took two large steps towards them. (Id.

9 at ¶¶ 59, 60, 61.) Defendants Adams and Vaughan fired several gunshots at the decedent, striking

10 him. (Id. at ¶ 62.) The decedent fell to the ground in front of the pulled-over vehicle, and he

11 dropped the pocketknife. (Id. at ¶¶ 63, 64.) According to plaintiffs, the defendant deputies had

12 less-lethal options available but failed to use them. (Id. at ¶ 54.)

13 The decedent was injured and bleeding from the gunshots. (Id. at ¶ 65.) The defendant

14 deputies continued to point their firearms at the decedent as he lay on the ground. (Id. at ¶ 66.)

15 They then approached him with firearms pointed at him for approximately 25 seconds. (Id. at ¶¶

16 67, 69.) Defendants Michael and Vaughan verbally noted the pocketknife on the ground but did

17 not move it, despite the opportunity to do so. (Id. at ¶¶ 70, 71.)

18 The defendant deputies backed up from where the decedent was lying on the ground. (Id.

19 at ¶ 72.) The decedent picked himself up from the ground and grabbed the small pocketknife

20 while doing so. (Id. at ¶ 74.) The decedent was visibly limping and took one step towards the

21 defendant deputies. (Id. at ¶ 76.) Defendants Michael and Adams then shot the decedent, striking

22 him with several more gunshots. (Id. at ¶ 78.) Defendant Vaughan did not shoot the decedent a

23 second time. (Id. at ¶ 79.) The decedent fell to the ground next to the pulled-over vehicle and

24 dropped the pocketknife. (Id. at ¶¶ 81, 82.) He sustained approximately seven gunshot wounds

25 in total. (Id. at ¶ 83.)

26 The defendant deputies left the decedent on the ground for approximately 50 seconds after

27 he was shot the second time. (Id. at ¶ 84.) Defendant Vaughan told the dispatcher, “Don’t send

28 in medical yet.” (Id. at ¶ 85.) Defendants Adams and Vaughan applied handcuffs to the

1 decedent’s arms, securing them behind his back, despite it being obvious that handcuffs were

2 unnecessary and would impede access to immediate medical attention. (Id. at ¶¶ 86, 87.) While

3 defendant Adams and Vaughan applied handcuffs, defendant Michael stood over the decedent,

4 pointing a firearm at the decedent’s head. (Id. at ¶ 88.) Defendant Adams began applying CPR

5 techniques to the decedent approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds after the decedent had fallen

6 to the ground following the second volley of gunshots. (Id. at ¶ 90.)

7 The decedent died at the scene. (Id. at ¶ 93.) The decedent’s cause of death was

8 identified as gunshot wounds to the chest and lower torso. (Id. at ¶ 94.)

9 On May 31, 2023, Lieutenant Matthew Hardcastle made findings in Administrative

10 Investigation FN2023-0002, which concluded that the defendant deputies were justified, lawful,

11 and proper in their actions with respect to the January 11, 2023 incident. (Id. at ¶ 97(a)–(d).) The

12 findings further concluded that the defendant deputies complied with the Placer County Sheriff’s

13 Office’s policies regarding the discharge of firearms, rendering medical aid, personal conduct,

14 and use of physical force. (Id.) Captain Brian Silva concurred with these findings,

15 recommending that the defendant deputies be exonerated and that the investigation be closed.

16 (Id. at ¶ 98.)

17 In their FAC, plaintiffs assert a total of thirteen claims: (1) a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim for

18 excessive use of force in violation of the Fourth Amendment asserted by the estate against all

19 defendants; (2) a § 1983 claim for “unreasonable medical care” in violation of the Fourth

20 Amendment asserted by the estate against all defendants; (3) a claim under 29 U.S.C. §§ 701, et

21 seq. for a violation of § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act asserted by the estate against the municipal

22 defendants; (4) a claim under 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, et seq. for a violation of Title II of the

23 Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) asserted by the estate against the municipal defendants;

24 (5) a § 1983 claim for interference with familial association in violation of the Fourteenth

25 Amendment asserted by plaintiff Smith against all defendants; (6) a § 1983 claim for interference

26 with familial association in violation of the First Amendment asserted by plaintiff Smith against

27 all defendants; (7) a claim under Article I, § 13 of the California Constitution for excessive use of

28 force asserted by the estate against all defendants; (8) a claim under Article I, § 13 of the

1 California Constitution for unreasonable medical care asserted by the estate against all

2 defendants; (9) a claim under California Civil Code § 52.1 (the “Bane Act”) asserted by both

3 plaintiffs against all defendants; (10) an assault and battery claim asserted by the estate against all

4 defendants; (11) an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim asserted by the estate against

5 all defendants; (12) a negligence claim asserted by the estate against all defendants; and (13) a

6 wrongful death claim under § 377.60 of the California Code of Civil Procedure asserted by

7 plaintiff Smith against all defendants. (Doc. No. 12.)

8 On December 1, 2023, defendants filed the pending motion to dismiss certain claims

9 asserted in plaintiffs’ FAC. (Doc. No. 14.) On December 12, 2023, plaintiffs filed their

10 opposition to the pending motion to dismiss, and on December 22, 2023, defendants filed their

11 reply thereto. (Doc. Nos. 16, 20.)

12 LEGAL STANDARD

13 The purpose of a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) is to test the legal

14 sufficiency of the complaint. N. Star Int’l v. Ariz. Corp. Comm’n, 720 F.2d 578, 581 (9th Cir.

15 1983). “Dismissal can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of

16 sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901

17 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). A plaintiff is required to allege “enough facts to state a claim to

18 relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “A

19 claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw

20 the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v.

21 Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).

22 In determining whether a complaint states a claim on which relief may be granted, the

23 court accepts as true the allegations in the complaint and construes the allegations in the light

24 most favorable to the plaintiff. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984). However,

25 the court need not assume the truth of legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations.

26 U.S. ex rel. Chunie v. Ringrose, 788 F.2d 638, 643 n.2 (9th Cir. 1986). While Rule 8(a) does not

27 require detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-

28 unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. A pleading is insufficient if it offers

1 mere “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.”

2 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555; see also Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (“Threadbare recitals of the elements

3 of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”). Moreover, it is

4 inappropriate to assume that the plaintiff “can prove facts that it has not alleged or that the

5 defendants have violated the . . . laws in ways that have not been alleged.” Associated Gen.

6 Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. Cal. State Council of Carpenters, 459 U.S. 519, 526 (1983).

7 Leave to amend should be granted “freely” when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ.

8 P. 15(a). The Ninth Circuit maintains a policy of “extreme liberality generally in favoring

9 amendments to pleadings.” Rosenberg Bros. & Co. v. Arnold, 283 F.2d 406, 406 (9th Cir. 1960).

10 “Dismissal without leave to amend is proper if it is clear that the complaint could not be saved by

11 amendment.” Kendall v. Visa U.S.A., Inc., 518 F.3d 1042, 1051 (9th Cir. 2008). To the extent

12 that the pleadings can be cured by the allegation of additional facts, courts will generally grant

13 leave to amend. Cook, Perkiss & Liehe, Inc. v. N. Cal. Collection Serv. Inc., 911 F.2d 242, 247

14 (9th Cir. 1990).

15 ANALYSIS

16 A. Monell Claims

17 Defendants first seek the dismissal of plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims brought against the

18 municipal defendants based on alleged municipal liability under Monell v. Department of Social

19 Services of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978). (Doc. No. 14-1 at 14–18.)

20 It is well-established that “a municipality cannot be held liable solely because it employs a

21 tortfeasor—or, in other words, a municipality cannot be held liable under § 1983 on a respondeat

22 superior theory.” Monell, 436 U.S. at 691; see also Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs v. Brown, 520 U.S.

23 397, 403 (1997). To state a Monell claim against a municipality, a plaintiff must allege facts

24 demonstrating “that an ‘official policy, custom, or pattern’ on the part of [the municipality] was

25 ‘the actionable cause of the claimed injury.’” Tsao v. Desert Palace, Inc., 698 F.3d 1128, 1143

26 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Harper v. City of Los Angeles, 533 F.3d 1010, 1022 (9th Cir. 2008)); see

27 also Mendiola-Martinez v. Arpaio, 836 F.3d 1239, 1247 (9th Cir. 2016) (explaining that in order

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1 to establish municipal liability under § 1983, a plaintiff must show a direct causal link between

2 the municipal policy or custom and the alleged constitutional violation).

3 The Ninth Circuit has recognized four theories for establishing municipal liability under

4 Monell: “(1) an official policy; (2) a pervasive practice or custom; (3) a failure to train, supervise,

5 or discipline; or (4) a decision or act by a final policymaker.” Horton by Horton v. City of Santa

6 Maria, 915 F.3d 592, 602–03 (9th Cir. 2019). “Cases often refer to the fourth theory as

7 ‘ratification’ by a final policymaker.” Thurston v. City of Vallejo, No. 2:19-cv-01902-KJM-CKD,

8 2021 WL 1839717, at *3 (E.D. Cal. May 7, 2021). Although unclear, plaintiffs appear to proceed

9 here under the second, third, and fourth theories.1 For the reasons discussed below, the court

10 finds that plaintiffs’ Monell claims are insufficiently alleged under those theories.

11 1. Practice and Custom

12 To establish liability under the pervasive practice and custom theory, a plaintiff must

13 allege and show a “longstanding practice or custom which constitutes the standard operating

14 procedure of the local government entity.” Trevino v. Gates, 99 F.3d 911, 918 (9th Cir. 1996)

15 (quoting Gillette v. Delmore, 979 F.2d 1342, 1346 (9th Cir. 1992)). “The custom must be so

16 ‘persistent and widespread’ that it constitutes a ‘permanent and well settled city policy.’” Id.

17 (quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 691). “Liability for improper custom may not be predicated on

18 isolated or sporadic incidents; it must be founded upon practices of sufficient duration, frequency

19 and consistency that the conduct has become a traditional method of carrying out policy.” Id.

20 The court acknowledges that “[t]he line between ‘isolated or sporadic incidents’ and

21 ‘persistent and widespread conduct’ is not clearly delineated.” Warkentine v. Soria, No. 1:13-cv-

22 01550-LJO-MJS, 2014 WL 2093656, at *6 (E.D. Cal. May 19, 2014); see also Gonzalez v. Cnty.

23 of Merced, 289 F. Supp. 3d 1094, 1099 (E.D. Cal. 2017) (“It is difficult to discern from the

24 caselaw the quantum of allegations needed to survive a motion to dismiss a pattern and practice

25 claim.”). As previously observed by another judge of this district, “[p]erhaps the most that can be

26 said is that one or two incidents ordinarily cannot establish a policy or custom, while more

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1 Plaintiffs do not appear to proceed under the first theory as they do not allege that a

28 constitutional violation was carried out in accordance with a formal policy.

1 incidents may permit the inference of a policy, taking into account their similarity, their timing,

2 and subsequent actions by the municipality.” J.M. ex rel. Rodriguez v. Cnty. of Stanislaus, No.

3 1:18-cv-01034-LJO-SAB, 2018 WL 5879725, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2018).

4 Here, the FAC contains no factual allegations that, if proven, would show a pattern of

5 other similar incidents. Plaintiffs merely allege that the municipal defendants and defendant Woo

6 “knew or should have known that a substantial number of contacts had occurred between their

7 personnel and persons wherein force had been applied involved mentally ill and/or substance-

8 impaired persons who do not respond in the way persons who are not mentally ill do to orders,

9 commands, brisk and direct language, and escalating force” because Placer County “regularly

10 received calls for assistance with persons undergoing mental health crises and, as a result, officers

11 under their command are on the front lines in dealing with persons with mental health problems,

12 including [the decedent].” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 102.) These allegations lack specificity regarding

13 the nature of these “calls for assistance” and the defendants’ responses to them and are therefore

14 insufficient to give rise to a plausible inference that there is a permanent and well-settled policy.

15 See Brown v. Cnty. of San Bernardino, No. 20-cv-01304-JGB-SHK, 2021 WL 99722, at *5 (C.D.

16 Cal. Jan. 8, 2021) (dismissing a custom, policy, and practice claim where the plaintiff failed “to

17 explain what happened, when, who was involved, any similarities to the facts here, or the

18 Defendants’ subsequent actions”); Rodriguez v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, No. 2:21-cv-06574-VAP-

19 AFM, 2021 WL 6496745, at *4 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 22, 2021) (same); J. A. v. Cnty. of San

20 Bernardino, No. 5:20-cv-02468-VAP-KK, 2021 WL 5046438, at *5 (C.D. Cal. May 20, 2021)

21 (same).

22 Plaintiffs’ allegations therefore fail to support a Monell claim under the “pervasive

23 practice or custom” theory.

24 2. Failure to Train

25 Under Monell, “the inadequacy of police training may serve as the basis for § 1983

26 liability only where the failure to train amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights of persons

27 with whom the police come into contact.” Flores v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 758 F.3d 1154, 1158

28 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388 (1989)). The plaintiff “must

1 demonstrate a ‘conscious’ or ‘deliberate’ choice on the part of a municipality in order to prevail

2 on a failure to train claim.” Price v. Sery, 513 F.3d 962, 973 (9th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted).

3 “Under this standard, [the plaintiff] must allege facts to show that the [municipality] ‘disregarded

4 the known or obvious consequence that a particular omission in their training program would

5 cause [municipal] employees to violate citizens’ constitutional rights.’” Flores, 758 F.3d at 1159

6 (quoting Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 61 (2011)); see also Connick, 563 U.S. at 61 (“A

7 municipality’s culpability for a deprivation of rights is at its most tenuous where a claim turns on

8 a failure to train.”). “[T]he identified deficiency in a [municipality’s] training program must be

9 closely related to the ultimate injury.” City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 391; see also Riggi v. City of

10 Placerville, No. 2:11-cv-00753-MCE, 2011 WL 6396439, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 19, 2011) (“The

11 ‘closely related’ or ‘moving force’ requirement is akin to the tort law causation standard of

12 proximate cause.”) (citing Harper, 533 F.3d at 1026).

13 Ordinarily, plaintiffs must allege a “pattern of similar constitutional violations by

14 untrained employees” in order to state a claim based upon a failure to train. Flores, 758 F.3d at

15 1159 (quoting Connick, 563 U.S. at 62). However, “[a] plaintiff also might succeed in proving a

16 failure-to-train claim without showing a pattern of constitutional violations where ‘a violation of

17 federal rights may be a highly predictable consequence of a failure to equip law enforcement

18 officers with specific tools to handle recurring situations.’” Long v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 442

19 F.3d 1178, 1186 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs, 520 U.S. at 409).

20 Here, defendants argue that “[p]laintiffs have not alleged any pattern of similar

21 constitutional violations, nor have they provided any other factual allegations suggesting

22 deliberate indifference.” (Doc. No. 14-1 at 16.) The court agrees. Plaintiffs fail in their FAC to

23 specifically identify a single prior incident in which Placer County officers committed a

24 constitutional violation similar to those alleged in this case. Although plaintiffs are not required

25 to establish a pattern of constitutional violations, see Long, 442 F.3d at 1186, they have failed

26 here to plausibly allege that the incident at issue qualifies as the rare situation in which the alleged

27 “violation of federal rights [was] a highly predictable consequence of a failure to equip law

28 enforcement officers with specific tools to handle recurring situations,” id. While plaintiffs allege

1 that the municipal defendants and defendant Woo “were or should have been on notice” regarding

2 the inadequacy of their policies and training “because the inadequacies constituted life-

3 threatening decisions and were so obvious and likely to result in the violation of rights of persons

4 coming into contact with their personnel,” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 108), which is an allegation of

5 deliberate indifference, see City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 390, this conclusory allegation lacks any

6 factual support in the FAC. Plaintiffs never explain in their complaint why the alleged

7 inadequacies were “so obvious.” See London v. Heh, No. 22-cv-00491-DKW-KJM, 2024 WL

8 1331949, at *7 (D. Haw. Mar. 27, 2024) (“[The plaintiff] claims that the violation of his

9 constitutional rights was ‘certainly foreseeable’ as a result of the City’s ‘deliberate choice’ to

10 reject implicit racial bias training based on the assumption that racial discrimination ‘may be

11 more of [a] Mainland issue than a local one.’ Notably, however, [the plaintiff] never explains

12 why he believes such violations were ‘certainly foreseeable.’”) (internal citations omitted).

13 In their pending motion to dismiss, defendants also argue that there are no “facts

14 establishing any policy not implemented was a cause of the constitutional violation.” (Doc. No.

15 14-1 at 16.) In their opposition, plaintiffs argue that their allegation that defendants’ “inadequate

16 policies, procedures, and training did proximately cause [the] violation of rights of persons

17 coming into contact with officials, including the officer-involved shooting and death of [the

18 decedent]” suffices at the pleading stage to meet the causation requirement. (Doc. No. 16 at 9)

19 (quoting Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 109). However, these conclusory allegations are insufficient to allege

20 the close causal relationship required for a Monell claim based upon a failure to train.

21 Accordingly, plaintiffs’ Monell claim predicated on a failure to train theory also fails.

22 3. Ratification2

23 Where a municipal liability claim is based on a theory of ratification, the plaintiff must

24 show that an authorized policymaker, acting with “knowledge of [a subordinate’s] alleged

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2 In their opposition, plaintiffs argue that defendants failed to move for dismissal of their claim

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based upon the ratification theory, precluding dismissal of their Monell claim. (Doc. No. 16 at

27 11.) The court disagrees. In moving to dismiss, defendants argue that “plaintiffs’ allegations do

not establish Monell liability,” thus appearing to move for dismissal as to all theories of liability

28 advanced as to plaintiffs’ Monell claims. (Doc. No. 14-1 at 14.)

1 constitutional violation,” where such knowledge was obtained “before the alleged constitutional

2 violations ceased,” nonetheless “approve[d] a subordinate’s decision and the basis for it.”

3 Christie v. Iopa, 176 F.3d 1231, 1239 (9th Cir. 1999) (citations omitted).

4 Here, plaintiffs allege that the municipal defendants and defendant Woo “delegated

5 policymaking authority to their subordinates, including Lieutenant Matthew Hardcastle and

6 Captain Brian Silva, related to review of critical incidents and officer-involved shootings.” (Doc.

7 No. 12 at ¶ 106.) They allege that “through Lieutenant Matthew Hardcastle and Captain Brian

8 Silva’s findings, recommendations, and dispositions of Administrative Investigation FN2023-

9 0002,” the municipal defendants and defendant Woo “ratified defendants Cody Michael, Melissa

10 Adams, and Claudell Vaughan’s actions and inactions related to Christopher Temple.” (Id. at

11 ¶ 107.)

12 However, there are no allegations in plaintiffs’ FAC that any “authorized policymakers”

13 knew of and approved of the defendant deputies’ actions “before the alleged constitutional

14 violations ceased.” Christie, 176 F.3d at 1239. Rather, plaintiffs’ ratification theory of liability is

15 based on the exoneration of the defendant deputies after their encounter with the decedent.

16 Consequently, a violation of the decedent’s constitutional rights was not caused by the purported

17 actions of any policymaker at Placer County or the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, as is required

18 by Monell. See Mueller v. Cruz, No. 13-cv-01274-CJC-JCG, 2015 WL 9455565, at *3 (C.D. Cal.

19 Dec. 23, 2015) (holding that Monell liability could not be established based on the plaintiff’s

20 allegation that the officer in question was exonerated after the alleged use of excessive force

21 occurred); Mitchell v. Cnty. of Contra Costa, 600 F. Supp. 3d 1018, 1033 (N.D. Cal. 2022)

22 (dismissing the plaintiff’s Monell claim based on a ratification theory because the amended

23 complaint did not allege that any authorized policymakers knew of and approved the officers’

24 actions “before the alleged constitutional violations ceased”) (quoting Christie, 176 F.3d at 1239).

25 Accordingly, plaintiffs’ Monell claim based on a ratification theory fails as well.

26 Having concluded that plaintiffs have failed to state claims for Monell liability under any

27 theory, the court will grant the motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims only as asserted against

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1 the municipal defendants. Since it is not clear that amendment of these claims would be futile,

2 leave to amend will be granted. See Cook, 911 F.2d at 247.

3 B. Section 1983 Claims Against Defendant Woo

4 Defendants move to dismiss the § 1983 claims asserted against defendant Woo, arguing

5 that plaintiffs do not allege direct personal participation by defendant Woo in the events which

6 allegedly harmed the decedent and that “[p]laintiffs’ conclusory allegations fall short of the

7 requirement that supervisory liability ‘must be specifically alleged[.]’” (Doc. No. 14-1 at 19, 20.)

8 The court can find no factual allegations in the operative FAC that, if proven to be true,

9 would demonstrate that defendant Woo took any action with respect to the decedent. There are

10 no allegations that defendant Woo participated in the shooting, was anywhere in the vicinity of

11 the shooting, or took personal action to delay the rendering of medical care. The allegations of

12 the FAC appear instead to be premised solely on defendant Woo’s role as a supervisor and

13 policymaker. (See Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 99, 100.)

14 “Under Section 1983, supervisory officials are not liable for actions of subordinates on

15 any theory of vicarious liability.” Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 645–46 (9th Cir. 1989)

16 (citation omitted). “A supervisor may be liable if there exists either (1) his or her personal

17 involvement in the constitutional deprivation, or (2) a sufficient causal connection between the

18 supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the constitutional violation.” Id. (citation omitted).

19 Alternatively, supervisory liability can exist “even without overt personal participation in the

20 offensive act if supervisory officials implement a policy so deficient that the policy ‘itself is a

21 repudiation of constitutional rights’ and is ‘the moving force of the constitutional violation.’” Id.

22 at 646 (citation omitted).

23 Plaintiffs’ allegations supporting their § 1983 claims brought against defendant Woo are

24 the same as those alleged as to the municipal defendants. The central allegation in all four of

25 those § 1983 claims is that these defendants “maintained policies or customs of action and

26 inaction resulting in harm to [the decedent].” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶¶ 113, 119, 138, 145.) However,

27 plaintiffs provide no factual support in the FAC for their conclusion that such “policies or

28 customs of action and inaction” existed. They also fail to detail how these alleged “policies or

1 customs of action and inaction” were the moving force behind the alleged constitutional

2 violations. See Gregory v. Clark, No. 1:11-cv-00151-JLT, 2012 WL 6697955, at *4 (E.D. Cal.

3 Dec. 21, 2012) (dismissing supervisory liability claims where the plaintiff offered “no factual

4 support for his conclusion they implemented such a policy” and “fail[ed] to explain how that

5 policy served as the moving force for alleged constitutional violations”). Furthermore, while

6 plaintiffs contend that their claims against defendant Woo are based on failure to train and

7 ratification theories of liability (Doc. No. 16 at 11–12), these theories fail for the same reasons

8 discussed above.

9 Defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against defendant Woo will

10 therefore be granted. However, because the pleading defects described above could be cured by

11 amendment, dismissal in this regard will be with leave to amend. See Cook, 911 F.2d at 247.3

12 C. Section 1983 Unreasonable Medical Care Claim Against the Remaining Defendants

13 Defendants next move to dismiss plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim for unreasonable medical care

14 against all defendants. (Doc. No. 14-1 at 20.) Having dismissed all § 1983 claims brought

15 against the municipal defendants and defendant Woo, the court will only analyze this claim as

16 brought against defendants Michael, Adams, and Vaughan, who plaintiffs allege “prevented [the

17 decedent] from receiving[] reasonable and necessary medical care[] in violation of the Fourth

18 Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.” (Doc. No. 12 at 16–17.)

19 “[S]uspects have a Fourth Amendment right to ‘objectively reasonable post-arrest

20 [medical] care’ until the end of the seizure.” Est. of Cornejo ex. rel. Solis v. City of Los Angeles,

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3 In their reply, defendants contend that plaintiffs’ “claims against Sheriff Woo are, as a matter of

24 fact and law, official capacity claims.” (Doc. No. 20 at 6.) They further argue that “the claims

are redundant and duplicative where, as here, the local government entity . . . is also named in the

25

lawsuit and has identical allegations asserted against it.” (Id.) Defendants assert that they

previously advanced this argument in their motion to dismiss. (Id.) However, the court has

26

reviewed the motion to dismiss and has not found this argument raised therein. Of course, “[t]he

27 district court need not consider arguments raised for the first time in a reply brief.” Zamani v.

Carnes, 491 F.3d 990, 997 (9th Cir. 2007) (citation omitted). Accordingly, the court declines to

28 consider this argument raised for the first time in defendants’ reply.

1 618 F. App’x 917, 920 (9th Cir. 2015)4 (citation omitted). “This means that officers must ‘seek

2 the necessary medical attention for a detainee when he or she has been injured while being

3 apprehended by either promptly summoning the necessary medical help or by taking the injured

4 detainee to a hospital.’” Id. (citation omitted).

5 Here, plaintiffs allege “[the defendant deputies] failed to provide adequate and necessary

6 post-shooting medical care to [the decedent],” and more specifically, that “[the defendant

7 deputies] left [the decedent] on the ground for approximately 50 seconds after he was shot”;

8 “[Vaughan] told the dispatcher ‘don’t send in medical yet’; “[Adams] and [Vaughan] applied

9 handcuffs to [the decedent]’s arms, securing his arms behind his back” when “[the decedent’s]

10 body was limp and it was obvious that handcuffs were not necessary and would impede access to

11 immediate medical attention which he required”; and “[Adams] began applying [CPR] techniques

12 to [the decedent] approximately two minutes and 30 seconds after he had been shot and fell to the

13 ground following the second volley of gunshots.” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶¶ 84, 85, 86, 87, 90, 91.)

14 In their motion to dismiss, defendants argue that the “deputies did not react immediately”

15 due to “concern[s] about safety and that Temple might attempt[] to get up again.” (Doc. No. 14-1

16 at 21.) Furthermore, they argue that “Adams began CPR approximately 90 seconds later” and

17 that “this is sufficient to show the officers acted reasonably.” (Doc. No. 14-1 at 21–22.)

18 However, as plaintiffs point out (Doc. No. 16 at 13), defendants’ explanation for why the

19 defendant deputies did not react immediately to render medical assistance, as well as their version

20 of the disputed facts, are not persuasive arguments in support of their motion to dismiss. See

21 Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011) (“If there are two alternative explanations, one

22 advanced by defendant and the other advanced by plaintiff, both of which are plausible, plaintiff’s

23 complaint survives a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6).”); Kong v. Trader Joe’s Co., No. 20-

24 56415, 2022 WL 1125667, at *1 (9th Cir. Apr. 15, 2022) (“Defendants’ explanation for the more

25 expensive choice is unavailing at the pleading stage.”).

26 /////

27

4 Citation to this and other unpublished Ninth Circuit opinions in this order is appropriate

28 pursuant to Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3(b).

1 Accordingly, the court will deny defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s second claim

2 brought against defendants Michael, Adams, and Vaughan.

3 D. Rehabilitation Act and ADA Claims

4 Defendants next move to dismiss plaintiffs’ third and fourth claims for relief, which assert

5 violations of § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the ADA. (Doc. No. 14-1 at 22.)

6 “Title II of the ADA prohibits public entities from discriminating on the basis of

7 disability. Section 504 [of the Rehabilitation Act] similarly prohibits disability discrimination by

8 recipients of federal funds.” Payan v. Los Angeles Cmty. Coll. Dist., 11 F.4th 729, 737 (9th Cir.

9 2021) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12132; 29 U.S.C. § 794). “The two laws are interpreted coextensively

10 because ‘there is no significant difference in the analysis of rights and obligations created by the

11 two Acts.’” Id. (quoting K.M. ex rel. Bright v. Tustin Unified Sch. Dist., 725 F.3d 1088, 1098

12 (9th Cir. 2013)).

13 To state a claim for disability discrimination, “the plaintiff must allege four elements: (1)

14 the plaintiff is an individual with a disability; (2) the plaintiff is otherwise qualified to participate

15 in or receive the benefit of some public entity’s services, programs, or activities; (3) the plaintiff

16 was either excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of the public entity’s services,

17 programs, or activities, or was otherwise discriminated against by the public entity; and (4) such

18 exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination was by reason of the plaintiff’s disability.”

19 Thompson v. Davis, 295 F.3d 890, 895 (9th Cir. 2002).

20 With respect to the first element, the ADA defines “disability” as:

21 (A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or

more of the major life activities of such individual;

22

(B) a record of such an impairment; or

23

(C) being regarded as having such an impairment . . . .

24

25 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1). Mental impairments include “[a]ny mental or psychological disorder”

26 including, among other things, “emotional or mental illness.” 28 C.F.R. § 36.105. Plaintiffs

27 appear to assert that the decedent suffered from a disability as defined in subsection (A), alleging

28 /////

1 that the decedent “had a mental impairment that substantially limited one or more major life

2 activities, at all times material herein.” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶¶ 124, 130).

3 The ADA advises that “[t]he definition of disability in this chapter shall be construed in

4 favor of broad coverage of individuals under this chapter, to the maximum extent permitted by

5 the terms of this chapter.” 42 U.S.C. § 12102(4)(A); see also 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(i) (“The

6 term ‘substantially limits’ shall be construed broadly in favor of expansive coverage, to the

7 maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA. ‘Substantially limits’ is not meant to be a

8 demanding standard.”). Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself,

9 concentrating, thinking, and communicating. 42 U.S.C. § 12102 (2)(A). Nonetheless, to properly

10 allege the element of disability, a plaintiff must identify more than the general nature of the

11 disability. See Tennyson v. Cnty. of Sacramento, No. 2:19-cv-00429-KJM-EFB, 2020 WL

12 4059568, at *5 (E.D. Cal. July 20, 2020) (“Although plaintiffs identify the general nature of the

13 disability, more is required to state a claim.”); see also Bresaz v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, No. 14-cv-

14 03868-LHK, 2015 WL 1230316, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 17, 2015) (explaining that where “a

15 plaintiff alleges that he or she is disabled within the meaning of the ADA, courts have generally

16 required the plaintiff to plead the disability with some factual specificity”). “[A] successful

17 plaintiff will usually allege that he or she suffered from a specific, recognized mental or physical

18 illness.” Bresaz v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, 136 F. Supp. 3d 1125, 1135–36 (N.D. Cal. 2015).

19 Defendants contend plaintiffs have not alleged the decedent’s disability with the requisite

20 factual specificity, (see Doc. No. 14-1 at 23), while plaintiffs insist that they have, (see Doc. No.

21 16 at 14). The allegations regarding the decedent’s disability are that: (1) the decedent “had a

22 mental impairment that substantially limited one or more major life activities, at all times material

23 herein,” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶¶ 124, 130); (2) he “struggled with mental health and substance abuse

24 issues during the course of his life, including diagnosed conditions for which he was prescribed

25 medications,” (id. at ¶ 17); and (3) his “disabilities substantially limited major life activities,

26 including, but not limited to, caring for oneself, speaking, concentrating, thinking, and

27 communicating. For example, [the decedent’s] disabilities caused him to become paranoid, easily

28 confused, defensive, agitated, stressed, fearful, and anxious” and “made it difficult for him to

1 process relayed information and to verbalize his own thoughts, feelings, and intentions,” (id. at

2 ¶ 19).

3 The court finds plaintiffs’ allegations in this regard to be vague. Nowhere in the FAC do

4 plaintiffs articulate the “mental impairment” that the decedent allegedly suffered from. As a

5 result, plaintiffs’ allegations are insufficient to plausibly suggest that the decedent had a disability

6 as defined under the ADA. See Sincerny v. City of Walnut Creek, No. 17-cv-02616-HSG, 2017

7 WL 4642432, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2017) (holding that the plaintiff’s allegations of “physical

8 and neurological limitations, including diminished mental capacity,” caused by brain surgery

9 complications, were insufficient); Bresaz, 2015 WL 1230316, at *6 (finding the plaintiffs’

10 allegation that the decedent had a “mental illness,” without more, to be insufficient); Klamut v.

11 California Highway Patrol, No. 15-cv-02132-MEJ, 2015 WL 9024479, at *7 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 16,

12 2015) (“Plaintiff offers no factual allegations to support his claim that he was disabled, such as

13 the type or nature of mental illness from which he suffers. Plaintiff’s allegation that he has a

14 ‘mental illness,’ without more, is a ‘formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action’

15 under the ADA and does not satisfy his pleading obligations.”) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at

16 555).

17 For these reasons, defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ third and fourth claims is

18 granted. Because these deficiencies could be cured by the allegation of additional facts, the court

19 will grant leave to amend as to this claim as well. See Cook, 911 F.2d at 247.

20 E. Article I, § 13 Claims

21 Next, defendants seek dismissal of plaintiffs’ seventh and eighth claims, which allege

22 excessive use of force and unreasonable medical care in violation of Article I, § 13 of the

23 California Constitution. (Doc. No. 14-1 at 27.) This provision states: “The right of the people to

24 be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable seizures and searches

25 may not be violated . . . .” Cal. Const. art. 1, § 13. Defendants argue that this state constitutional

26 provision does not provide a private cause of action for damages. (Doc. No. 14-1 at 27.)

27 The determination of whether a provision of the California Constitution provides for a

28 private right of action is outlined in the California Supreme Court’s decision in Katzberg v.

1 Regents of the University of California, 29 Cal. 4th 300 (2002). The analysis involves a two-step

2 approach. First, the court examines “whether there is evidence from which [it] may find or infer,

3 within the constitutional provision at issue, an affirmative intent either to authorize or to withhold

4 a damages action to remedy a violation,” considering “the language and history of the

5 constitutional provision at issue, including whether it contains guidelines, mechanisms, or

6 procedures implying a monetary remedy, as well as any pertinent common law history.”

7 Katzberg, 29 Cal. 4th at 317. If such intent is found, it must be given effect. Id. Second, “if no

8 affirmative intent either to authorize or to withhold a damages remedy is found, the court shall

9 undertake the ‘constitutional tort’ analysis adopted by Bivens5 and its progeny.” Id. This

10 analysis turns on “whether an adequate remedy exists, the extent to which a constitutional tort

11 action would change established tort law, and the nature and significance of the constitutional

12 provision,” as well as considering “the existence of any special factors counseling hesitation in

13 recognizing a damages action, including deference to legislative judgment, avoidance of adverse

14 policy consequences, considerations of government fiscal policy, practical issues of proof, and the

15 competence of courts to assess particular types of damages.” Id.

16 The California Supreme Court has not determined whether a private cause of action for

17 damages exists under Article I, § 13. Julian v. Mission Cmty. Hosp., 11 Cal. App. 5th 360, 392

18 (2017). Moreover, no California appellate court has decided if a plaintiff can seek damages for

19 violations of this state constitutional provision, nor has the Ninth Circuit. Rios v. Cnty. of

20 Sacramento, 562 F. Supp. 3d 999, 1021 (E.D. Cal. 2021). Federal district courts in California are

21 /////

22 /////

23 /////

24 /////

25 /////

26 /////

27

28 5 Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).

1 divided on this issue.6 Some have found that the common law history implies an affirmative

2 intent on the part of the framers of the California Constitution to authorize damages. See, e.g.,

3 Brewster v. City of Los Angeles, 672 F. Supp. 3d 872, 997 (C.D. Cal. 2023); Fitzpatrick v. City of

4 Los Angeles, No. 21-cv-06841-JGB-SP, 2022 WL 1421319, at *9 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 20, 2022); See

5 Garcia v. Cnty. of Riverside, No. 13-cv-00616-JGB-SP, 2017 WL 11631219, at *5 (C.D. Cal.

6 Apr. 28, 2017); OSJ PEP Tennesse LLC v. Harris, No. 14-cv-03741-DDP-MAN, 2014 WL

7 4988070, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 7, 2014); Smith v. Cnty. of Riverside, No. 05-cv-00512-VAP-SGL,

8 2006 WL 8447071, at *7 (C.D. Cal. May 16, 2006). Others have concluded that no private cause

9 of action is available, citing a lack of affirmative intent on the part of the framers and the

10 availability of alternative remedies. See, e.g., Est. of F.R. v. Cnty. of Yuba, No. 2:23-cv-00846-

11 WBS-CKD, 2023 WL 6130049, at *6–7 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 19, 2023); Novel v. Los Angeles Cnty.

12 Sheriff’s Dep’t, No. 2:19-cv-01922-RGK-AGR, 2019 WL 7940676, at *6 (C.D. Cal. July 23,

13 2019); Roy v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 114 F. Supp. 3d 1030, 1043 (C.D. Cal. 2015); Leon v. City Of

14 Merced, No. 1:14-cv-01129-GEB, 2015 WL 135904, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2015); Brown v.

15 Cnty. of Kern, No. 1:06-cv-00121-OWW-TAG, 2008 WL 544565, at *17 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 26,

16

6 Indeed, this divide has caused many district courts in California to avoid resolving the issue

17 where it has not been adequately briefed by the parties or can be appropriately deferred to a later

stage of the litigation. See Est. of Chivrell v. City of Arcata, 694 F. Supp. 3d 1218, 1233 (N.D.

18

Cal. Sept. 26, 2023) (denying a motion to dismiss such a claim because the moving defendants

19 had raised their challenge to it for the first time in their reply brief and had “not fully briefed the

issue”); Lesher v. City of Anderson, No. 2:21-cv-00386-WBS-DMC, 2021 WL 2682161, at *6

20 (E.D. Cal. June 30, 2021) (“Given the lack of a Katzberg analysis by defendants and the early

stage of these proceedings, the court is not inclined to foreclose this cause of action at this

21 time.”); Rios, 562 F. Supp. 3d at 1024 (“In this situation, the fairest resolution is to deny the

County’s motion to dismiss without prejudice to reasserting at a later date, such as in a motion for

22

summary judgment or for judgment on the pleadings, that a private action is not available.”); John

23 v. Lake Cnty., No. 18-cv-06935-WHA, 2019 WL 859227, at *8 (N.D. Cal. Feb 22, 2019) (“[T]his

order does not finally resolve these important issues of California constitutional law. Resolution

24 of these issues will be made, if need be, on a complete evidentiary record.”). Still another district

court has reviewed these authorities in a somewhat different context and declined to exercise

25

supplemental jurisdiction over an Article 1, § 13 claim, determining that for a district court to

resolve this issue “without further guidance” from the California courts “would be inappropriate.”

26

Gonzalez v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, No. 2:22-cv-08525-MCS-AS, 2023 WL 4247196, at *9 (C.D.

27 Cal. Apr. 20, 2023). Here, the issue has been fairly briefed by the parties and, while the

undersigned would welcome guidance from the California Supreme Court, this litigation must

28 move forward.

1 2008); Manning v. City of Rohnert Park, 06-cv-03435-SBA, 2007 WL 1140434, at *1 (N.D. Cal.

2 Apr. 17, 2007).

3 In the absence of a definitive ruling from the California Supreme Court, this court “must

4 predict how the California Supreme Court would decide the issue using intermediate appellate

5 court decisions, decisions from other jurisdictions, statutes, treatises and restatements as

6 guidance.” Astaire v. Best Film & Video Corp., 116 F.3d 1297, 1300 (9th Cir. 1997). Moreover,

7 “federal courts may look to state supreme court dicta” in making such predictions. Cont’l Cas.

8 Co. v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., No. 14-cv-07326-GW-PLA, 2014 WL 12607694, at *2 (C.D.

9 Cal. Nov. 3, 2014).

10 Plaintiffs do not challenge defendants’ argument that the “plain text” and “legislative

11 history” of Article I, § 13 do not explicitly authorize a private right of action for damages. (Doc.

12 No. 16 at 17.) Instead, they argue that the California Supreme Court’s decision in Katzberg v.

13 Regents of the University of California, 29 Cal. 4th 300 (2002) provides a framework strongly

14 suggesting that damages are available under the state constitutional provision’s common law

15 history. (Doc. No. 16 at 17.)

16 The court finds that the decision in Katzberg itself is a strong indicator that the California

17 Supreme Court would recognize a private cause of action for damages under Article I, § 13. In

18 Katzberg, the California Supreme Court observed that English common law provided a damages

19 remedy for unlawful searches and seizures. See 29 Cal. 4th at 322 (“The prohibition against

20 unlawful searches and seizures originated in the Magna Carta . . . . The civil cause of action was

21 fully developed in England and provided a damage remedy for the victims of unlawful searches at

22 common law.”) (quoting Brown v. State, 89 N.Y.2d 172, 188 (1996)). Furthermore, as

23 recognized by another district court, “the California Supreme Court in Katzberg appeared to

24 contrast the lack of common law support for an action for damages under article I, section 7, with

25 the existence of common law history providing a damages remedy for unlawful searches and

26 seizures.” Brewster, 672 F. Supp. 3d at 997 (citing Katzberg, 29 Cal. 4th at 322).

27 Some courts have criticized this part of Katzberg’s holding as being merely dicta. See Est.

28 of F.R., 2023 WL 6130049, at *6 (“Some courts have recognized a cause of action under § 13

1 based solely on dicta in Katzberg . . . . The court does not find this general common law history to

2 be sufficient evidence of ‘affirmative intent’ to create a private cause of action, and therefore

3 resort to the second step of the Katzberg analysis is appropriate.”); Martin v. Cnty. of San Diego,

4 No. 03-cv-01788-IEG-WMC, 2004 WL 7334370, at *3 (S.D. Cal. May 12, 2004) (dismissing the

5 plaintiff’s claim brought under Article I, § 13, noting that “aside from the dicta in Katzberg,

6 plaintiff cites no evidence of legislative intent, voter intent, or common law history supporting

7 monetary damages for the alleged violations”). However, given that this court’s charge is to

8 predict how the California Supreme Court would decide the issue, the undersigned finds the dicta

9 in Katzberg to provide strong support for concluding that the state high court today would likely

10 hold that a private cause of action for damages exists under Article I, § 13. See Garcia, 2017 WL

11 11631219, at *5 (stating that “the discussion in Katzberg addressing the rights flowing to a victim

12 of an illegal search and seizure provides a strong predictor as to how the California Supreme

13 Court would decide this issue: namely, by inferring a right to damages based on the provision’s

14 derivation from English common law”).

15 Moreover, the court finds the discussion in Harris to be persuasive, where the district

16 court noted that shortly after the adoption of its Constitution, California affirmed by statute that

17 “[t]he Common Law of England, so far as it is not repugnant to or inconsistent with the

18 Constitution of the United States, or the Constitution or laws of the State of California, shall be

19 the rule of decision in all the Courts of this State.” 2014 WL 4988070, at *7 (quoting Cal. Stats.

20 1850, ch. 95). This provision supports the inference that the framers of the California

21 Constitution intended to incorporate common law remedies for unlawful searches and seizures.

22 Because the court finds that the common law history of Article I, § 13 supports the finding

23 of an affirmative intent by the framers to authorize the award of damages for violation of that

24 provision, the court need not undertake the second step of the Katzberg analysis. See Fitzpatrick,

25 2022 WL 1421319, at *9; Garcia, 2017 WL 11631219, at *5.

26 In the alternative, defendants argue that even if Article I, § 13 of the California

27 Constitution does provide a private right of action, defendant Woo is immune from liability

28 pursuant to California Government Code § 820.8. (Doc. No. 14-1 at 27.) That statute states that

1 “[e]xcept as otherwise provided by statute, a public employee is not liable for an injury caused by

2 the act or omission of another person. Nothing in this section exonerates a public employee from

3 liability for injury proximately caused by his own negligent or wrongful act or omission.” Cal.

4 Gov’t Code § 820.8. In their opposition, plaintiffs contend that that § 820.8 is inapplicable

5 because their claim against defendant Woo is based on upon his own acts, not the conduct of his

6 subordinates. (Doc. No. 16 at 22.)

7 The court need not resolve the question of whether defendant Woo is entitled to immunity

8 under § 820.8 with respect to plaintiffs’ claims brought under Article I, § 13 of the California

9 Constitution. This is because, for the reasons discussed below and elsewhere in this order, the

10 court concludes that plaintiffs’ FAC lacks sufficient factual allegations to state any cognizable

11 claims against defendant Woo and all such claims will be dismissed with leave to amend.

12 Accordingly, plaintiffs’ seventh and eighth claims will be dismissed as to defendant Woo

13 only, with leave to amend. See Cook, 911 F.2d at 247. Defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’

14 seventh and eighth claims will otherwise be denied.

15 F. Bane Act Claim Against Defendant Woo

16 The Bane Act provides a private cause of action against any person who, “whether or not

17 acting under color of law, interferes by threat, intimidation, or coercion . . . with the exercise or

18 enjoyment by any individual or individuals of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the

19 United States.” Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1. “The elements of a Bane Act claim are essentially

20 identical to the elements of a § 1983 claim, with the added requirement that the government

21 official had a ‘specific intent to violate’ a constitutional right.” Hughes v. Rodriguez, 31 F.4th

22 1211, 1224 (9th Cir. 2022).

23 Defendants move to dismiss plaintiffs’ Bane Act claim as asserted against defendant Woo.

24 (Doc. No. 14-1 at 30.) As discussed above, the court has concluded that plaintiffs have failed to

25 adequately allege an underlying constitutional violation against defendant Woo. Therefore,

26 plaintiffs’ Bane Act claim against that defendant will also be dismissed. See Martinez v. Diaz,

27 No. 21-cv-00281-JWH-RAO, 2021 WL 8825219, at *8 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 13, 2021) (“Plaintiff’s

28 Bane Act claim against the [certain defendants] fails as Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged an

1 underlying constitutional violation by these defendants.”). However, the court will grant leave to

2 amend as to this claim because amendment does not appear to be futile. See Cook, 911 F.2d at

3 247.

4 G. Negligence Claim Against Defendant Woo

5 In asserting a negligence claim against defendant Woo, plaintiffs allege that he “had a

6 special relationship” with defendants Michael, Adams, and Vaughan, and “owed [the decedent] a

7 duty of care and breached the duty including, among other actions, by maintaining policies or

8 customs of action and inaction which resulted in harm to [the decedent].” (Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 190.)

9 The court construes this claim as a negligent supervision claim.

10 A negligent supervision claim may be properly brought against an individual if a special

11 relationship exists between the supervisor and the deceased. See Est. of Alejandro Sanchez v.

12 Cnty. of Stanislaus, No. 1:18-cv-00977-DAD-BAM, 2019 WL 1745868, at *11 (E.D. Cal. Apr.

13 18, 2019). Here, plaintiffs only allege that defendant Woo had a special relationship with the

14 other defendant deputies, not with the decedent. In any case, district courts in California,

15 including this one, have declined to find a special relationship under such circumstances. See id.

16 (recognizing that “district courts have declined to find such a relationship under circumstances

17 similar to those presented here” and dismissing the plaintiffs’ claim brought against the county

18 sheriff for negligent hiring, retention, training, or supervision because the plaintiffs failed to

19 allege the existence of a special relationship with the decedent); Osuna, 392 F. Supp. 3d at 1183

20 (same); Kendrick v. Cnty. of San Diego, No. 15-cv-02615-GPC-AGS, 2018 WL 1316618, at *11

21 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 14, 2018) (“Here, Plaintiff does not allege a special relationship existed between

22 [the decedent] and Sheriff Gore. Therefore, Sheriff Gore cannot be personally liable for a claim

23 of negligent hiring and supervision . . . .”), aff’d, 776 F. App’x 530 (9th Cir. 2019); Pauu v. Cnty.

24 of San Diego, No. 23-cv-02162-TWR-SBC, 2024 WL 2980793, at *21 (S.D. Cal. June 13, 2024)

25 (“Because Talavera does not allege any facts from which the Court can infer the existence of a

26 special relationship between Talavera and Martinez or Gore, he fails to allege a plausible claim

27 for supervisory liability against them.”).

28 /////

1 Therefore, defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ negligence claim asserted against

2 defendant Woo will be granted, but with leave to amend. See Cook, 911 F.2d at 247.

3 H. Wrongful Death Claim Against Defendant Woo

4 A wrongful death claim may be brought by the “surviving spouse, domestic partner,

5 children, and issue of deceased children” of the decedent. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 377.60(a). The

6 elements required for a wrongful death claim are: “(1) a ‘wrongful act or neglect’ on the part of

7 one or more persons that (2) ‘cause[s]’ (3) the ‘death of [another] person.’” Norgart v. Upjohn

8 Co., 21 Cal. 4th 383, 390 (1999) (quoting Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60). The causation standard

9 for a wrongful death claim is the same as in a negligence claim: the plaintiff “must demonstrate

10 that the defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in bringing about the injury or death.”

11 Sinclair for Tucker v. Twitter, Inc., No. 17-cv-05710-SBA, 2019 WL 10252752, at *7 (N.D. Cal.

12 Mar. 20, 2019), aff’d sub nom. Copeland v. Twitter, Inc., No. 18-17327, 2024 WL 1406742 (9th

13 Cir. Apr. 2, 2024); Sandoval v. Bank of Am., 94 Cal. App. 4th 1378, 1385 (2002) (“[T]he

14 causation element of negligence is satisfied when the plaintiff establishes (1) that the defendant’s

15 breach of duty . . . was a substantial factor in bringing about the plaintiff’s harm and (2) that there

16 is no rule of law relieving the defendant of liability.”).

17 Here, plaintiffs allege, in a conclusory fashion, that “Wayne Woo caused Christopher

18 Temple’s death by wrongful acts and neglect, including, among other actions, by maintaining

19 policies or customs of action and inaction which resulted in harm to Christopher Temple.” (Doc.

20 No. 12 at ¶ 197.) For the reasons already stated above, the court concludes that plaintiffs have

21 failed to adequately allege that defendant Woo was negligent or that his purported conduct of

22 “maintaining policies or customs of action and inaction” directly contributed to the shooting of, or

23 the alleged delay in providing medical care to, the decedent.

24 Accordingly, defendants’ motion to dismiss the wrongful death claim as asserted against

25 defendant Woo will be granted, but with leave to amend. See Cook, 911 F.2d at 247.

26 /////

27 /////

28 /////

1 CONCLUSION

2 For the reasons explained above,

3 1. Defendants’ motion to dismiss (Doc. No. 14) is granted in part and denied in part

4 as follows:

5 a. Plaintiffs’ claims brought under § 1983 (claims one, two, five, and six), as

6 asserted against defendants County of Placer, Placer County Sheriff's

7 Office, and Wayne Woo, are dismissed with leave to amend;

8 b. Plaintiffs’ claims brought under § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II

9 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (claims three and four) are

10 dismissed with leave to amend;

11 Cc. Plaintiffs’ claims brought under Article I, § 13 of the California

12 Constitution (claims seven and eight), as asserted against defendant Wayne

13 Woo, are dismissed with leave to amend;

14 d. Plaintiffs’ Bane Act, negligence, and wrongful death claims (claims nine,

15 twelve, and thirteen), as asserted against defendant Wayne Woo, are

16 dismissed with leave to amend;

17 e. Defendants’ motion to dismiss is otherwise denied; and

18 2. Within twenty-one (21) days from the date of entry of this order, plaintiffs shall

19 file either a second amended complaint, or a notice of their intent not to file a

20 second amended complaint and to proceed only on the claims found to be

21 cognizable in this order or not challenged by defendants.

22 IT IS SO ORDERED.

| Dated: _ August 8, 2024 Dab A. 2, axel

24 DALE A. DROZD

35 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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25