(PS) Wayne v. Sierra County

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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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11 RICHARD WAYNE, et al., No. 2:25-cv-1113-DAD-CKD (PS)

12 Plaintiffs,

13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

14 SIERRA COUNTY, et al.,

15 Defendants.

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17 Plaintiffs Richard Wayne and Michal Wayne proceed without counsel1 on their first

18 amended complaint (“FAC”) asserting violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

19 (“ADA”), civil rights violations and conspiracy to violate civil rights, a civil RICO claim, and

20 state law claims. (ECF No. 51.) The defendants have appeared and filed motions to dismiss the

21 FAC. The court held a hearing on August 6, 2025. Plaintiffs appeared in person and attorney

22 Mansour Chopan appeared in person on behalf of Richard Maddelena. Other appearances were

23 via Zoom as follows: Mark Gamble and Penny Gamble pro se; attorney Matthew Cate on behalf

24 of Ryan Steinwert; attorney Jason Savlov on behalf of Sierra Brooks Property Owners

25 Association (“SBPOA”) and Rebekah Perez; and attorney Tracy Werner on behalf of Sierra

26 County, Sierra County Board of Supervisors, Sharon Dryden, Paul Roen, Lee Adams, Lila Huer,

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1 Because plaintiffs proceed without counsel, this matter is referred to the undersigned by Local

28 Rule 302(c)(21) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

1 Terry LeBlanc, Mike Fisher, Sandra Grovin, Rhetta Vander Ploeg, Van Maddox, Brandon

2 Pangman, Tim Beals, Joseph Danny Zavala, Bonnie Vierra, Elizabeth Morgan, and Michael

3 Filippini.

4 For the reasons set forth below, the undersigned recommends the motions to dismiss be

5 granted to the extent the FAC fails to state a federal claim upon which relief can be granted.

6 Jurisdiction for this case is premised on 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and plaintiffs have not pleaded a

7 federal claim over which this court has original jurisdiction. This court should decline to exercise

8 supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims in the absence of a cognizable federal claim.

9 As to most of plaintiffs’ federal claims, it clearly appears that granting leave to amend

10 would be futile. However, the undersigned recommends plaintiffs be granted leave to file a

11 further amended complaint presenting a Title II ADA claim against Sierra County, any due

12 process or retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against County official defendants involved

13 with the permitting process, and any related state-law claims. The other federal claims should be

14 dismissed without leave to amend. Defendants SBPOA, Rebekah Perez, Mark Gamble, Penny

15 Gamble, Ryan Steinwert, Richard Maddelena, Sandra Groven, and Mike Fisher should be

16 dismissed from this case at this time.

17 I. Background

18 A. Plaintiffs’ Allegations

19 Plaintiffs initiated this action with their original complaint filed on April 16, 2025. (ECF

20 No. 1.) They filed the operative FAC on May 29, 2025. (ECF No. 51.) The FAC is 70 pages in

21 length, plus exhibits, and pleads causes of action plaintiffs describe as follows: (I) RICO

22 Interference with Interstate Commerce; (II) Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and

23 Defamation; (III) Civil Rights Violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Bane Act, FEHA, ADA,

24 UNRUH, and § 1985; (IV) Takings Clause; and (V) Bane Act. Each cause of action contains

25 multiple “counts” pleaded against individual defendants or groups of defendants.

26 The FAC alleges plaintiffs were builders by trade and purchased affordable land in the

27 Sierra Brooks subdivision. (ECF No. 51 at 11.) In 2016, they notified Sierra County of their

28 disabilities and were afforded no accommodation at any point in the eight years following. (Id. at

1 13.) In 2017, plaintiffs applied for a permit to develop a low-income single-family development.

2 (Id. at 13.) Plaintiffs requested and were granted a Special Use Permit (“SUP”) allowing

3 temporary occupancy of a recreational vehicle during construction of a single-family residence.

4 (Id.)

5 Plaintiffs’ construction efforts were hampered and ultimately their home was “short sold.”

6 (ECF No. 51 at 13.) Plaintiffs allege they discovered county-wide, coordinated illegal activities

7 involving corruption. The defendants named in this suit include their neighbors, the Sierra Brooks

8 Property Owners Association (“SBPOA”) and its Chair, Sierra County and its Board of

9 Supervisors and other employees, the Sheriff, District Attorney, and a journalist. Plaintiffs allege

10 “due process violations, corruption, threats, discriminatory intent, FEHA/UNRUH violations,

11 retaliation for protected speech, malicious and unreasonable inspections, and failures to

12 discharge… statutory duties.” (Id. at 12.)

13 The troubles plaintiffs describe began by 2018, when neighbors submitted false

14 complaints about plaintiffs using water from the creek or camping illegally. (ECF No. 51 at 15,

15 18.) Cal. Fire declared the property to be forestland and threatened to fine the plaintiffs for

16 refusing to comply with its “extortionate” actions, stalling their build project. (Id. at 17.)

17 The SBPOA Chair and board members trespassed on plaintiffs’ property on July 20, 2018.

18 (ECF No. 51 at 18.) The SBPOA Chair made a “threat of fines” in person and over an email. (Id.

19 at 19.) The SBPOA Chair and various County employees surveilled and harassed plaintiffs and

20 communicated among themselves about alleged code violations which were untrue. (Id. at 22.)

21 On August 27, 2018, plaintiffs demanded an investigation of their neighbors for religious

22 harassment, but the SBPOA Board refused to acknowledge the complaint. (ECF No. 51 at 22.)

23 Through documents received in a PRA request, plaintiffs learned that their disabilities, which

24 affected their income, had made them a target. (Id. at 23.) Plaintiffs attempted to file a complaint

25 about intentional false statements, but Sheriff Mike Fisher and DA Larry Allen would not allow

26 plaintiffs to file. (Id.)

27 Plaintiffs’ building process was further delayed when Elizabeth Morgan falsely stated that

28 groundwater was identified on plaintiffs’ proposed site for septic, necessitating approval by the

1 California Water Quality Control Board. (ECF No. 51 at 23-25.) During inspection of the

2 completed septic in August of 2022, Morgan discovered plaintiffs were using a generator and

3 battery system with plans to remain off grid and it was claimed these were “new changes in need

4 of an amendment” to plaintiffs’ permit. (Id. at 25.) Within six weeks, “the SBPOA had again

5 forwarded unsubstantiated anonymous complaints” to the County falsely stating plaintiffs’

6 generator was making a lot of noise. (Id. at 26.) No abatement was ordered but these unfounded

7 complaints were later used to defame plaintiffs during hearings in 2024 regarding their SUP. (Id.

8 at 26-27.)

9 On July 12, 2022, Daniel Zavala came for a “rough” inspection of plaintiffs’ operational

10 systems and made many malicious misstatements and incorrect accusations about changes in

11 plaintiffs’ plans. (ECF No. 51 at 27, 31.) Mr. Zavala refused to inspect to verify parameters and

12 tolerances and demanded that plaintiffs resubmit engineer-stamped plans before he would do so.

13 (Id. at 27.) Mr. Zavala discriminated against plaintiffs, obstructed their building progress, and

14 failed to perform ministerial duties. (Id. at 32-33.) Plaintiffs demanded he produce his

15 certifications, and he denied having to produce them and complained of being harassed. (Id. at

16 36.) Plaintiffs allege the inspector’s searches and Sierra County’s practices had a disparate impact

17 on protected classes. (Id. at 34.)

18 Plaintiffs complained about the inspector but were coerced by defendants Beals and

19 Dryden from the County Board of Supervisors with “threats” and “veiled threats” that they had to

20 work with him. (ECF No. 51 at 35.) This “effectively initiated the taking of Plaintiff’s property

21 and involuntary servitude[.]” (Id.) Plaintiffs’ requests for a video inspection and for an alternate

22 inspector from Truckee were refused and they were accused of “inspector shopping.” (Id. at 37-

23 38, 63.)

24 On May 4, 2023, in retaliation for objecting to Mr. Zavala as inspector and for the

25 previous day’s complaints, it was claimed that plaintiffs’ SUP had expired, and they were

26 effectively evicted from their residence. (ECF No. 51 at 39.) Had video inspection been granted

27 for insulation, the project would have been complete in one month. (Id.) Plaintiffs were never

28 informed of any issues regarding their permits and no hearing was given for them to contest the

1 allegation that permits were expired. (Id.) Plaintiffs tried to file a police report about retaliation

2 and the inspector’s failure to produce credentials and were told it was a civil issue. (Id. at 40.)

3 On May 12, 2023, plaintiffs sent an “ADA ordinance mandated request” to the County’s

4 ADA Ombudsman who deliberately disregarded it and refused to schedule the mandatory

5 conference procedure. (ECF No. 51 at 41.) A County Board of Supervisors vote was held on May

6 16, 2023, at which defendants Dryden and Roen failed to abstain despite having a financial or

7 pecuniary interest in the topic. (Id. at 42, 45.)

8 Plaintiffs filed a claim for damages with the Board of Supervisors for retaliation and Civil

9 Rights issues on June 11, 2023. (ECF No. 51 at 43.) However, the claim was re-routed to the

10 Planning Board, which did not have jurisdiction to hear a claim for damages. (Id. at 43-44.)

11 Plaintiffs demanded recusals of individuals sitting on the Planning Board which did not occur.

12 (Id. at 44.) No effort was made to negotiate or stop the County’s liability for retaliations and

13 instead focus was redirected on the sole issue of the permit decision. (Id. at 43, 45.) A hearsay

14 allegation was made that plaintiffs were living in the house and was never required to be

15 substantiated. (Id. at 54.)

16 Plaintiffs discovered the County had violated statutes regarding storing records about

17 certifications and continuing education. (ECF No. 51 at 49-50, 53.) Plaintiffs contacted Ryan

18 Steinwert who wrote an article fraught with inconsistencies and false statements which showed a

19 preference to public officials and county council by repeating their statements. (Id. at 53-54.)

20 The Sierra County Planning Commission sitting as the Housing Advisory Board and

21 Board of Appeals (“HABBA”) held a special hearing on February 1, 2024. (ECF No. 1 at 395-

22 97.) On February 13, 2024, HABBA issued a written decision denying plaintiffs’ appeal on the

23 basis that plaintiffs failed to present an issue over which the Board had jurisdiction. (Id. at 398.)

24 On February 22, 2024, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Sierra County Board of

25 Supervisors. (Id. at 409.) On April 25, 2024, following a hearing, the Board of Supervisors

26 entered Resolution 2024-058 denying the appeal. (ECF No. 1 at 438-40.2)

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28 2 Plaintiffs incorporate the exhibits to their original complaint by reference throughout the FAC.

1 B. Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss

2 The defendants move to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims on various grounds and some

3 defendants alternately request a more definite statement. Defendants assert failure to comply with

4 Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, failure to plead compliance with pre-suit

5 administrative or state-law processes, immunities including qualified immunity, lack of standing

6 and ripeness, and statute of limitations. Fully briefed motions to dismiss are before the court as

7 follows.

8 • (ECF No. 58) Sierra County and Sierra County Board of Supervisors

9 • (ECF No. 59) Ryan Steinwert, journalist

10 • (ECF No. 60) Sharon Dryden, member of County Board of Supervisors

11 • (ECF No. 61) Lila Heuer, member of County Board of Supervisors

12 • (ECF No. 62) Terry LeBlanc, member of County Board of Supervisors

13 • (ECF No. 63) Lee Adams, member of County Board of Supervisors

14 • (ECF No. 64) Paul Roen, member of County Board of Supervisors

15 • (ECF No. 65) Mark and Penny Gamble, neighbors

16 • (ECF No. 66) Rhetta Vander Ploeg, County Counsel advising the County Board

17 • (ECF No. 67) Sandra Groven, District Attorney

18 • (ECF No. 68) Michael Filippini, member of Planning Commission sitting as the

19 Housing Advisory Board and Board of Appeals

20 • (ECF No. 69) Elizabeth Morgan, County Environmental Specialist

21 • (ECF No. 70) Bonnie Viera, County Permit Technician

22 • (ECF No. 71) Brandon Pangman, County Building Official

23 • (ECF No. 72) Mike Fisher, Sheriff

24 • (ECF No. 73) Van Maddox, County Treasurer and Acting ADA Ombudsman

25 • (ECF No. 74) Daniel Zavala, County Buildings Inspector

26 • (ECF No. 75) Sierra Brooks Property Owners Association & Rebekah Perez as Chair

27 • (ECF No. 98) Tim Beals, County Building Official

28 • (ECF No. 100) Richard Maddelena, Volunteer Fire Fighter

1 II. Rule 12(b)(6) Legal Standard

2 Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure may be warranted

3 for “the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a

4 cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). In

5 evaluating whether a complaint states a claim on which relief may be granted, the court accepts as

6 true the allegations in the complaint and construes the allegations in the light most favorable to

7 the plaintiff. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Love v. United States, 915 F.2d

8 1242, 1245 (9th Cir. 1989). Particularly because plaintiffs proceed pro se, the court liberally

9 construes the pleadings and affords plaintiffs the benefit of any doubt. Bretz v. Kelman, 773 F.2d

10 1026, 1027 (9th Cir. 1985). Nevertheless, courts are not required to accept as true allegations that

11 are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences. Sprewell v.

12 Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001).

13 In ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court may consider material properly submitted as part

14 of the complaint and documents not physically attached to the complaint if their authenticity is

15 not contested and the complaint necessarily relies on them. Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d

16 668, 688-89 (9th Cir. 2001). The court may also take judicial notice of facts not subject to

17 reasonable dispute, including matters of public record. See Fed. R. Evid. 201.

18 III. Discussion

19 A. Exhaustion

20 Several defendants argue plaintiffs bring causes of action for which they failed to exhaust

21 administrative remedies or state-law remedies in the form of a petition for writ of mandate. (E.g.,

22 ECF No. 58 at 17-19.) However, claims under Title II of the ADA do not require exhaustion. See

23 Zimmerman v. Oregon Dep’t of Just., 170 F.3d 1169, 1177-78 (9th Cir. 1999). In addition, the

24 FAC alleges plaintiffs received a “right to sue” letter from DFEH as to their FEHA claims. (ECF

25 No. 51 at 44, 81.)

26 Some of the defendants assert plaintiffs’ claims pertaining to the County’s permitting

27 process are barred because a petition for writ of mandate is the appropriate remedy. (E.g., ECF

28 No. 58 at 15; ECF No. 98 at 24.) Defendants argue such a failure grants preclusive effect to the

1 County’s administrative decisions. See In re Michael K., 185 Cal. App. 4th 1112, 1126 (2010), as

2 modified on denial of reh’g (July 13, 2010). Defendants do not clearly assert which

3 administrative decisions should be granted preclusive effect and how those decisions preclude

4 plaintiffs’ claims. It could be that some of plaintiffs’ claims are barred by a failure to file a

5 petition for writ of mandate, but defendants do not meet their burden to obtain dismissal of any

6 claims on this basis. Plaintiffs do not merely challenge the County’s administrative decisions, and

7 a failure to exhaust the petition for mandate remedy does not bar any potential relief on all claims.

8 Some of the defendants also cite cases requiring exhaustion of procedures under

9 California law for a Takings claim. (E.g., ECF No. 58 at 18.) The Supreme Court has overruled

10 the “state-litigation requirement” for Takings claims. Knick v. Twp. of Scott, Pennsylvania, 588

11 U.S. 180, 185 (2019). For all these reasons, defendants’ motions should be denied to the extent

12 they assert failure to exhaust.

13 B. Takings Claim

14 “The Fifth Amendment’s guarantee that private property shall not be taken for a public

15 use without just compensation was designed to bar Government from forcing some people alone

16 to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a

17 whole.” Armstrong v. United States, 364 U.S. 40, 49 (1960). Claims alleging governmental

18 interference with property rights may fall under the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause. See

19 Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., 544 U.S. 528, 537 (2005) (“if regulation goes too far it will be

20 recognized as a taking”). Setting aside permanent physical invasions and regulations that deprive

21 an owner of all economically beneficial use of the property, regulatory takings challenges are

22 governed by the standards set forth in Penn Central Transp. Co. v. New York City, 438 U.S. 104

23 (1978). See Lingle, 544 U.S. at 538-39. Under Penn Central, a court considers: “(1) the economic

24 impact of the regulation on the claimant; (2) the extent to which the regulation has interfered with

25 distinct investment-backed expectations; and (3) the character of the governmental action.” Murr

26 v. Wisconsin, 582 U.S. 383, 393 (2017) (citation omitted). The relevant focus is on the severity of

27 the burden imposed upon private property rights. Lingle, 544 U.S. at 539.

28 ////

1 The FAC acknowledges the government health and safety inspection regimes imposed on

2 plaintiffs do not constitute takings. (ECF No. 51 at 62.) Instead, plaintiffs allege a taking occurred

3 because of the denial of their “right to refuse an unqualified and abusive inspector[.]” (Id.) They

4 allege they were severely impacted when, for example, Mr. Zavala improperly required

5 resubmission of engineer-stamped plans before he would inspect to verify parameters and

6 tolerances. (Id. at 27.) Plaintiffs informed Mr. Zavala this was an improper process which they

7 could not afford due to their disabilities and Mr. Zavala stated in response “I don’t buy what I

8 can’t afford.” (Id. at 27 & 30.) Otherwise, though, the FAC lacks specific facts to support

9 plaintiffs’ assertions of abuse and discrimination during inspections. Statements that there were

10 malicious misstatements, incorrect accusations, and obstruction and failure to perform ministerial

11 duties are too vague and conclusory to be accepted as true for pleading purposes. See Sprewell,

12 266 F.3d at 988. The court accepts as true plaintiffs’ allegations that they demanded certifications

13 which were not provided. No claim for a regulatory taking arises from their allegation that they

14 were denied their right to refuse an unqualified and abusive inspector.

15 The FAC fails to allege a taking within the meaning of the Fifth Amendment. The

16 defendants’ motions to dismiss should be granted to the extent they seek dismissal of this claim.

17 C. RICO

18 A civil RICO claim requires allegations that establish the following: “(1) conduct (2) of an

19 enterprise (3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering activity (known as “predicate acts”) (5)

20 causing injury to the plaintiff’s ‘business or property.’” Grimmett v. Brown, 75 F.3d 506, 510

21 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing 18 U.S.C. §§ 1964(c), 1962(c)). RICO defines “racketeering activity” to

22 include a host of so called predicate acts, including “any act which is indictable under” the Hobbs

23 Act as well as “any act or threat involving ... extortion ..., which is chargeable under State law and

24 punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.” 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1)(A)-(B); see Sanford v.

25 MemberWorks, Inc., 625 F.3d 550, 557 (9th Cir. 2010).

26 The FAC purports to list predicate acts (see ECF No. 51 at 14) but the list contains various

27 state and federal statutes or Constitutional Amendments rather than specific acts. “Civil rights

28 violations… do not fall within the statutory definition of ‘racketeering activity.’” Bowen v.

1 Oistead, 125 F.3d 800, 806 (9th Cir. 1997). Thus, plaintiffs’ allegations of conspiracy to violate

2 their civil rights and resulting civil rights violations do not support a civil RICO claim. See id.

3 In their reply argument, plaintiffs clarify the predicate acts were acts of extortion using the

4 threat of the law. (ECF No. 79 at 11.) The FAC alleges, for example, “[t]he fines threatened were

5 extortionate in the amount of $10,000.” (ECF No. 51 at 15.) Plaintiffs also allege, for example,

6 “communicat[ion] over wire to threaten plaintiffs with financial harm.” (Id. at 57.)

7 The Hobbs Act criminalizes interference with interstate commerce by extortion, 18 U.S.C.

8 § 1951(a), with extortion being defined as “the obtaining of property from another, with his

9 consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of

10 official right,” 18 U.S.C. § 1951(b)(2). For a state offense to qualify as a predicate act in a RICO

11 suit it must be “capable of being generically classified as extortionate ... [which is] defined as

12 ‘obtaining something of value from another with his consent induced by wrongful use of force,

13 fear, or threats.’” Scheidler v. Nat’l Org. for Women, Inc., 537 U.S. 393, 409 (2003).

14 Thus, extortion by a public official as a RICO predicate act requires that the defendant

15 wrongfully obtain the property of another under color of official right. See Evans v. United

16 States, 504 U.S. 255, 265 (1992); Scheidler, 537 U.S. at 409. Plaintiffs do not allege any

17 defendant wrongfully obtained their money or other property under color of official right.

18 Plaintiffs do not allege facts showing that any defendant made a threat involving extortion.

19 Similarly, no pattern of racketeering activity is alleged. To satisfy the “pattern”

20 requirement, there must be at least two acts of racketeering activity within a ten-year period. 18

21 U.S.C. § 1961(5); see Schreiber Distrib. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., Inc., 806 F.2d 1393,

22 1399 (9th Cir. 1986) (holding that under some circumstances, two acts may not be sufficient)

23 (citing Sedima, S.P.R.L. v. Imrex Co., 473 U.S. 479, 496 n.14 (1985)). A pattern requires the

24 showing of a relationship between the predicates and the threat of continuing activity rather than

25 sporadic activity. H.J. Inc. v. Nw. Bell Tel. Co., 492 U.S. 229, 239 (1989). Continuity requires

26 either “a series of related predicates extending over a substantial period of time [, i.e., closed-

27 ended continuity],” id. at 242, or “past conduct that by its nature projects into the future with a

28 threat of repetition [, i.e., open-ended continuity],” id. at 241.

1 The FAC fails to plead a RICO enterprise with a cohesive structure. See Cedric Kushner

2 Promotions, Ltd. v. King, 533 U.S. 158, 163 (2001). The FAC does not set forth the structure of

3 the alleged enterprise, instead relying on general allegations that the defendants took various steps

4 in furtherance of the enterprise. Plaintiffs argue in reply briefing in opposition to defendants’

5 motions that “Pangman [as County Building Official] was working behind the scenes offering the

6 H.O.A. interpretations on how to obstruct Plaintiffs’ property. These form the basis of an

7 ‘enterprise,” which denied due process and procedural safeguards leading to [defendants] (who

8 were not provably certified) acting with impunity to use ministerial acts with intent of obstructing

9 the project.” (ECF No. 79 at 17-18.) Conclusory allegations of enterprise and common purpose

10 such as this do not suffice to state a claim. Comm. to Protect our Agric. Water v. Occidental Oil

11 & Gas Corp., 235 F. Supp. 3d 1132, 1174-75 (E.D. Cal. 2017); Shaw v. Nissan N. Am., Inc., 220

12 F. Supp. 3d 1046, 1056 (C.D. Cal. 2016) (conclusory allegations that defendants “shared a

13 common fraudulent purpose” in taking certain actions does not satisfy the common purpose

14 requirement).

15 The FAC fails to plead the elements of a civil RICO violation. Accordingly, any RICO

16 conspiracy claim also necessarily fails. See Religious Tech. Ctr. v. Wollersheim, 971 F.2d 364,

17 367 n.8 (9th Cir. 1992) (“Because we find that [the plaintiff] has failed to allege the requisite

18 substantive elements of RICO, the conspiracy cause of action cannot stand.”). The defendants’

19 motions to dismiss should be granted to the extent they seek dismissal of plaintiffs’ RICO claims.

20 D. Federal Civil Rights Statutes (42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985)

21 Plaintiffs assert violations of their rights under the First Amendment (retaliation for

22 protected conduct), Fourth Amendment (right to privacy), and Fourteenth Amendment (due

23 process and equal protection). (See ECF No. 51 at 14, 18, 35.) Plaintiffs also allege conspiracy to

24 violate their civil rights. (Id. at 43.)

25 1. § 1983

26 Actions may be brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to redress violations of plaintiffs’ “rights,

27 privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and [federal] laws” by a person or entity,

28 including a municipality, acting under the color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Monell v. Dep’t

1 of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690-95 (1978). To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a

2 plaintiff must show (1) the defendant committed the alleged conduct while acting under color of

3 state law; and (2) the plaintiff was deprived of a constitutional right as a result of the defendant’s

4 conduct. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988).

5 First, plaintiffs do not plausibly allege several of the defendants acted under color of law.

6 Second, plaintiffs fail to plausibly allege a violation of their rights under any of the First, Fourth,

7 and Fourteenth Amendments, or a conspiracy to violate these rights.

8 As to Ms. Perez and the SBPOA, the SBPOA acted under a private contract between itself

9 and its members. See generally Treo @ Kettner Homeowners Assn. v. Superior Ct., 166 Cal.

10 App. 4th 1055, 1066, 83 Cal. Rptr. 3d 318, 325 (2008) (“an association, with its obligations and

11 restrictions as defined in the CC & R’s, essentially springs into existence when there is a

12 conveyance by the developer of a separate interest coupled with an interest in the common area or

13 membership in the association”). Courts in this circuit recognize that “a private homeowner’s

14 association [in California] is not a state actor for purposes of section 1983.” Kulick v. Leisure

15 Vill. Ass’n, Inc, No. CV 20-6079 DSF (PVC), 2020 WL 5752875, at *1 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 14,

16 2020), report and recommendation adopted sub nom. Kulick v. Leisure Vill. Ass’n, Inc., No. CV

17 20-6079 DSF (PVC), 2020 WL 5749986 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 24, 2020), aff’d, 851 F. App’x 759 (9th

18 Cir. 2021); see also Kulick v. Leisure Vill. Ass’n, Inc., No. CV 19-7630-E, 2019 WL 4918265, at

19 *2 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 2, 2019). Ms. Perez and the SBPOA are private actors.

20 In addition, Mark and Penny Gamble, plaintiffs’ neighbors, and Ryan Steinwert, a

21 journalist, are private actors under the FAC’s allegations. Similarly, plaintiffs do not allege

22 Richard Maddelena took any action in any official capacity or under any official authority. (See

23 ECF No. 51 at 47.) While private individuals can be sued under section 1983 if they conspire with

24 state actors to violate the plaintiff’s civil rights, see Melara v. Kennedy, 541 F.2d 802, 804-05

25 (9th Cir. 1976), plaintiffs have not stated any claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and fail to allege facts

26 showing a violation of their civil rights or a conspiracy to violate their civil rights.

27 ////

28 ////

1 a. Retaliation

2 “To recover under § 1983 for… retaliation, a plaintiff must prove: (1) he engaged in a

3 constitutionally protected activity; (2) as a result, he was subject to adverse action by the

4 defendant that would chill a person of ordinary firmness from continuing to engage in the

5 protected activity; and (3) there was a substantial causal relationship between the constitutionally

6 protected activity and the adverse action.” Blair v. Bethel Sch. Dist., 608 F.3d 540, 543 (9th Cir.

7 2010).

8 Plaintiffs allege they took protected conduct in the form of making complaints. The FAC

9 alleges plaintiff Michal Wayne made several complaints about the County’s deficient process and

10 effects on plaintiffs’ health. (ECF No. 51 at 35-36.) They allege the defendants retaliated against

11 them after their complaints about Mr. Zavala and after asking for credentials to be produced. (Id.

12 at 40, 42.) They further allege Supervisor Dryden’s “statements on July 15, 2022, regarding

13 needing to work with Daniel Zavala had a ‘Chilling Effect,” on plaintiffs right to make

14 complaints.” (Id. at 58.) As to retaliatory intent, plaintiffs allege they discovered through their

15 PRA request that

16 before a no-show scheduled inspection on August 30, 2022, Planning

Officials were engaging in internal communications showing

17 intentional disregard against Plaintiffs. Tim Beals on August 27,

2022, states “if they respond like the others let’s talk as I am done

18 with their constant criticism.” (ECF No. 162:8-11). This

communication implies Mr. Beals held a direct intent to retaliate for

19 Plaintiffs[’] complaints.

20 (Id. at 36.)

21 Plaintiff’s allegations reasonably suggest they engaged in protected conduct, but they do

22 not plead facts showing a chronology of events from which retaliation can be inferred. Missing

23 are specific facts showing a causal connection between plaintiffs’ protected activities and adverse

24 actions allegedly taken by the defendants. See Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262, 1271 (9th Cir.

25 2009) (a plaintiff must show that his protected conduct was the substantial or motivating factor

26 behind the defendant’s conduct). Mere speculation or conclusions that the defendants’ conduct

27 was motivated by a desire to retaliate does not suffice to state a claim. See Frazier v. Dubois, 922

28 F.2d 560, 562 n. 1 (10th Cir. 1990) (“Mere allegations of constitutional retaliation will not

1 suffice; plaintiffs must rather allege specific facts showing retaliation[.]”). Where causation for

2 adverse action allegedly taken by a defendant because of plaintiffs’ complaints is merely

3 conceivable, but not plausible, no claim is stated. See Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570.

4 b. Equal Protection

5 To state a claim for a violation of the Equal Protection Clause under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a

6 plaintiff must generally show the defendants acted with an intent or purpose to discriminate

7 against the plaintiff based upon membership in a protected class. See Thornton v. City of St.

8 Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1166 (9th Cir. 2005).

9 The FAC does not plead facts allowing an inference of intent or purpose to discriminate

10 by any defendant. Plaintiffs’ mere conclusions that the defendants acted with intent or purpose to

11 discriminate do not suffice. See Monteiro v. Tempe Union High Sch. Dist., 158 F.3d 1022, 1026

12 (9th Cir. 1998) (a plaintiff must allege facts demonstrating “intentional unlawful discrimination

13 or… facts that are at least susceptible of an inference of discriminatory intent”). Moreover, the

14 disabled are not a protected class for purposes of equal protection under the Fourteenth

15 Amendment and plaintiffs do not specify another basis for equal protection. See City of Cleburne

16 v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 446 (1985); Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d

17 668, 687 (9th Cir. 2001).

18 c. Due Process

19 To state a procedural due process claim, plaintiffs must allege facts showing the following

20 elements: (1) a deprivation of a constitutionally protected liberty or property interest, and (2) a

21 denial of adequate procedural protections. Kildare v. Saenz, 325 F.3d 1078, 1085 (9th Cir. 2003);

22 see Bd. of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569-70 (1972).

23 As to the specific allegations in the FAC regarding due process, plaintiffs appear to allege

24 a violation of due process under the Fourteenth Amendment at a May 16, 2023, County Board of

25 Supervisors meeting at which defendant Dryden lied, made a great effort to silence opposition,

26 and stopped any chance at rebuttal from the public just before the vote. (ECF No. 51 at 42.)

27 Plaintiffs allege Ms. Perez as Chair of the SBPOA Board violated their right to due process by

28 “not giving notice she was coming as required” and when the SBPOA “refused an investigation

1 into what the plaintiff believed was harassment for racial discrimination at the time.” (Id. at 58.)

2 Defendant Pangman allegedly violated plaintiffs’ right to due process “by not proscribing an

3 immediate hearing or giving notice of the availability for a hearing after there was a dispute on

4 the expiration date issue with their S.U.P.” (Id. at 58.) In their reply argument, plaintiffs also

5 argue Pangman’s HOA interpretations “denied due process and procedural safeguards[.]” (ECF

6 No. 79 at 17-18.)

7 Conclusory assertions of the denial of due process such as those in the FAC do not state a

8 due process claim. Plaintiffs do not identify the constitutionally protected liberty or property

9 interest that forms the basis of their due process claim or a specific process they were owed and

10 which was denied. A protected liberty or property interest may arise from the United States

11 Constitution or from state laws or policies. Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 221 (2005).

12 Plaintiffs had a constitutionally protected property interest in their land and residence, certainly,

13 but they do not plausibly allege they were deprived of that property interest by the defendants’

14 actions without adequate procedural protections. On the facts alleged, any liberty or property

15 interest at stake related to the County’s permitting process.

16 For example, plaintiffs allege the County made an adverse permitting decision based on a

17 hearsay allegation, without a hearing, and that individuals sitting on the Planning Board should

18 have recused themselves, among other challenges. Plaintiffs do not, however, plead facts showing

19 that they held a constitutionally protected liberty or property interest in regard to the SUP permit,

20 the permitting process, or appeal of a permitting decision. Only if there were significant

21 substantive restrictions on the County in making a challenged permitting decision would plaintiffs

22 have such a property interest in that decision. See Shanks v. Dressel, 540 F.3d 1082, 1091 (9th

23 Cir. 2008) (“Only if the governing statute compels a result upon compliance with certain criteria,

24 none of which involve the exercise of discretion by the reviewing body, does it create a

25 constitutionally protected property interest ...”) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted);

26 John Ketch LLC v. San Juan Cnty., 759 F. Supp. 3d 1121, 1133 (W.D. Wash. 2024) (“an

27 applicant does not have a protected property interest in a building permit where the permitting

28 scheme is discretionary”). Plaintiffs do not identify any statutes compelling some non-

1 discretionary result that was not obtained.

2 Plaintiffs may also be asserting a violation of due process based on the alleged re-routing

3 of a complaint for damages they submitted to the Board of Supervisors. Plaintiffs allege they filed

4 a claim for damages with the Board of Supervisors for retaliation and civil rights issues on June

5 11, 2023, and the claim was re-routed to the Planning Board, which did not have jurisdiction to

6 hear a claim for damages. (ECF No. 51 at 43.) The FAC does not specify what constitutionally

7 protected liberty or property interest was at stake. The FAC also does not plead facts or cite any

8 statutes showing a mandatory and non-discretionary requirement for handling the June 11, 2023,

9 claim for damages.

10 In the absence of factual allegations showing a constitutionally protected liberty or

11 property interest, plaintiffs do not state a due process claim. See Shanks, 540 F.3d at 1090-91;

12 Gelber v. City of Willits, No. 23-cv-00681-JSC, 2023 WL 7003241, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 23,

13 2023) (dismissing due process claim because plaintiff “[did] not identify any statutes or

14 ordinances that contain substantive predicates governing official decisionmaking” or “identify

15 any statute with explicitly mandatory language specifying the outcome that must be reached if the

16 substantive predicates are satisfied”).

17 d. Fourth Amendment

18 Plaintiffs allege Ms. Perez’s trespass on their property violated “their right [under the]

19 Fourth Amendment [to be free from] unreasonable searches[.]” (ECF No. 51 at 58.) As set forth

20 above, Ms. Perez is not a state actor for purposes of plaintiffs’ civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C.

21 § 1983. Plaintiffs also allege the County and Mr. Zavala conducted “malicious and unreasonable

22 inspections” (id. at 12) pursuant to which, in the absence of certificates, the County was operating

23 a scheme of conducting unreasonable searches in violation of the Fourth Amendment through

24 inspections (id. at 37).

25 The Fourth Amendment protects “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons,

26 houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures....” U.S. Const. amend.

27 IV. “At [its] very core stands the right of a [person] to retreat into his own home and there be free

28 from unreasonable governmental intrusion.” Silverman v. United States, 365 U.S. 505, 511

1 (1961). “[S]earches and seizures inside a home without a warrant are,” therefore, “presumptively

2 unreasonable.” Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 586 (1980). A consensual search does not

3 violate the Fourth Amendment. See, e.g., Morgan v. United States, 323 F.3d 776, 781 (9th

4 Cir.2003). Consent may be express or implied. Id. The fundamental principle of the Fourth

5 Amendment is reasonableness. Morgan v. United States, 323 F.3d 776, 780-81 (9th Cir. 2003).

6 Under the FAC’s allegations, plaintiffs applied for and received a building permit in

7 connection with which several inspections occurred. Although the court understands plaintiffs to

8 be alleging they did not consent to allegedly unqualified inspectors, the FAC does not plausibly

9 allege a violation of their Fourth Amendment rights on these facts.

10 e. § 1983 Conspiracy

11 “To establish liability for a conspiracy in a [42 U.S.C.] § 1983 case, a plaintiff must

12 demonstrate the existence of an agreement or meeting of the minds to violate constitutional

13 rights.” Crowe v. County of San Diego, 608 F.3d 406, 440 (9th Cir. 2010) (citation omitted). An

14 actual deprivation of constitutional rights must have resulted from the alleged conspiracy.

15 Woodrum v. Woodward County, Okl., 866 F.2d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 1989). As plaintiffs have

16 not stated a claim for a violation of their civil rights under § 1983, their alleged § 1983 conspiracy

17 claim also fails.

18 2. § 1985(3)

19 A claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) claim requires “four elements: (1) a conspiracy; (2) for

20 the purpose of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of the equal

21 protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws; and (3) an act in

22 furtherance of this conspiracy; (4) whereby a person is either injured in his person or property or

23 deprived of any right or privilege of a citizen of the United States.” Sever v. Alaska Pulp Corp.,

24 978 F.2d 1529, 1536 (9th Cir. 1992) (citation omitted). A claim under §1985(3) must be based on

25 “some racial, or perhaps otherwise class-based, invidiously discriminatory animus.” United

26 Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America v. Scott, 463 U.S. 825, 829 (1983).

27 The Sixth Circuit has held that section 1985(3) does not cover disability-based

28 discrimination. Bartell v. Lohiser, 215 F.3d 550, 559 (6th Cir. 2000). But even if plaintiffs are

1 part of some suspect or quasi-suspect class for purposes of a section 1985(3) claim, they do not

2 allege adequate facts to support the claimed conspiracy. Conclusory allegations of conspiracy do

3 not state a claim. See Woodrum v. Woodward County, 866 F.2d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 1989);

4 Karim–Panahi v. Los Angeles Police Dep’t, 839 F.2d 621, 626 (9th Cir. 1988) (“[a] mere

5 allegation of conspiracy without factual specificity is insufficient”). Plaintiffs do not allege facts

6 from which the court can infer a “meeting of the minds” among the defendants. See Gilbrook v.

7 City of Westminster, 177 F.3d 839, 856 (9th Cir. 1999) (“To prove a civil conspiracy, the plaintiff

8 must show that the conspiring parties reached a unity of purpose or a common design and

9 understanding, or a meeting of the minds in an unlawful arrangement.” (internal quotation marks

10 and citation omitted)).

11 E. ADA

12 Although plaintiffs do not plead a distinct cause of action under the ADA, it appears they

13 may seek to proceed under the Title II of the ADA. Under Title II of the ADA, “no qualified

14 individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or

15 be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to

16 discrimination by any such entity.” 42 U.S.C. § 12132. Title II authorizes individuals to seek

17 redress for violations by bringing suits for injunctive relief or money damages. 42 U.S.C. §

18 12133.

19 “To establish a violation of Title II of the ADA, a plaintiff must show (1) she is a qualified

20 individual with a disability; (2) she was excluded from participation in or otherwise discriminated

21 against with regard to a public entity’s services, programs, or activities; and (3) such exclusion or

22 discrimination was by reason of her disability.” Lovell v. Chandler, 303 F.3d 1039, 1052 (9th Cir.

23 2002). To recover monetary damages under Title II of the ADA, a plaintiff must also prove

24 intentional discrimination on the part of the defendants. Duvall v. County of Kitsap, 260 F.3d

25 1124, 1138 (9th Cir. 2001). The standard for intentional discrimination is deliberate indifference,

26 which requires the plaintiff to show that the defendant knew “harm to a federally protected right

27 [wa]s substantially likely” and failed to act upon that likelihood. Id. at 1139.

28

1 Plaintiffs allege they suffered discrimination by reason of their disabilities described as

2 follows: “Michal Wayne is diagnosed with ADHD, CPTSD, and several physical health

3 conditions. Richard Wayne has a congenital spinal defect called scoliosis, degenerated spinal

4 disks, and difficulties communicating with symptoms that are typical of autism.” (ECF No. 51 at

5 13.) Plaintiffs also allege defendant Filippini used a “slur, ‘special ed permit,’” during a hearing

6 which “proved that the planning board absolutely knew plaintiffs [were disabled and] had been

7 asking for accommodations all along[.]” (Id. at 48; see also ECF No. 1 at 254.)

8 The term “disability” means “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one

9 or more major life activities of such individual,” having a record of such impairment, or being

10 regarded as having such an impairment. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1). Major life activities include, but

11 are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping,

12 walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating,

13 thinking, communicating, and working. 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2). “Substantially limited” means a

14 person is “significantly restricted as to condition, manner or duration under which [she] can

15 perform [the] particular major life activity as compared to ... [an] average person in the general

16 population.” Coons v. Sec’y of U.S. Dep’t of Treasury, 383 F.3d 879, 885 (9th Cir. 2004).

17 Plaintiffs do not specifically allege how any of their disabilities substantially limit one or

18 more major life activities. The conditions and symptoms they list are of the type that might or

19 might not substantially limit a person’s life activities, depending on individual circumstances.3

20 See generally, e.g., Weaving v. City of Hillsboro, 763 F.3d 1106, 1113 (9th Cir. 2014)

21 (discussing ADHD). Nevertheless, drawing all reasonable inferences plaintiffs’ favor, they

22 plausibly allege they are qualified individuals.

23 However, plaintiffs do not adequately allege they were excluded from participation in or

24 otherwise discriminated against by reason of their disabilities. Their relevant allegations in the

25 FAC include the following:

26

3 The enabling regulations explicitly list autism as an example of a disabling impairment. 29

27 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(3)(iii). Here, although plaintiffs allege plaintiff Richard Wayne has

“difficulties communicating with symptoms that are typical of autism” that is not the same as

28 alleging he has a diagnosis of autism.

1 On May 12, 2023, Plaintiffs sent an ADA ordinance mandated

request to County Treasurer Van Maddox who was acting as The

2 ADA ombudsman. Plaintiffs requested disability-based assistance

with the planning department and protection from Planning

3 Official’s retaliation. [….] Maddox… deliberately disregarded

Plaintiff’s requests for advocacy based on disabilities and did not

4 perform an individualized investigation of their needs by refusing to

schedule the mandatory conference procedure outlined in Sierra

5 County Resolution 2013-078.

6

(ECF No. 51 at 41 (citations omitted).)

7

And further, “Tim Beals violated plaintiffs’ rights under Title II of the ADA by not

8

providing staff trained to deal with cognitive or mental disabilities and by providing staff that was

9

negligently hired without proper certifications which aggravated plaintiffs’ disabilities.” (ECF

10

No. 51 at 58.) “Brandon Pangman violated Title II of the ADA by not granting an extension

11

necessary for an S.U.P. based on a request for an accommodation for their disabilities under

12

U.N.R.U.H. and the integration mandate of the ADA.” (Id.)

13

It appears plaintiffs may seek to proceed on a theory that they were denied reasonable

14

accommodations. Failure to provide reasonable accommodations can constitute discrimination.

15

Updike v. Multnomah Cnty., 870 F.3d 939, 951 (9th Cir. 2017). “[T]he issue of reasonableness

16

depends on the individual circumstances of each case,” and the determination of reasonableness

17

“requires a fact-specific, individualized analysis of the disabled individual’s circumstances and

18

the accommodations.” Wong v. Regents of Univ. of Cal., 192 F.3d 807, 818 (9th Cir. 1999). The

19

“reasonable modification” provision of the regulations implementing Title II of the ADA states:

20

A public entity shall make reasonable modifications in policies,

21 practices, or procedures when the modifications are necessary to

avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless the public

22 entity can demonstrate that making the modifications would

fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity.

23

24 28 C.F.R. § 35.130.

25 Plaintiffs’ allegations about the denial of reasonable accommodations are vague,

26 conclusory, and lack necessary supporting facts. It is not enough to allege, for example, that they

27 requested and were denied disability-based assistance or that the County never provided

28 reasonable accommodations. Plaintiffs do not state an ADA reasonable accommodation claim

1 because they do not adequately set forth any specific reasonable accommodation they requested

2 and were denied.

3 Plaintiffs identify one alleged reasonable accommodation not granted – an SUP extension

4 – and they allege a mandatory conference procedure was not undertaken. Plaintiffs do not,

5 however, allege any facts showing when they requested an extension as a reasonable

6 accommodation for their disabilities, how they requested it, to whom they made the request, or

7 what type and length of extension they sought which is alleged to constitute a reasonable

8 accommodation. Similarly, they do not allege facts about their “requests for advocacy” that show

9 a mandatory conference procedure should have been initiated.

10 Thus, the FAC lacks specific factual allegations necessary to move plaintiffs’ ADA claim

11 from conceivable to plausible. Merely alleging the ADA was violated when no extension was

12 granted and conference procedures were not initiated does not suffice to state a claim.

13 In addition, the proper defendant for plaintiffs’ Title II ADA claims is the public entity

14 responsible for the alleged discrimination. See Everson v. Leis, 556 F.3d 484, 501 n.7 (6th Cir.

15 2009) (collecting cases). Title II of the ADA does not provide for suit against public officials

16 acting in their individual capacity.4 Id. at 501.

17 Accordingly, defendants’ motions to dismiss should be granted as to plaintiffs’ claims

18 under the ADA. Plaintiffs should be granted leave to amend their ADA claim only against the

19 public entity responsible for the alleged discrimination.

20 F. State-Law Claims

21 As set forth above, it is being recommended that all federal claims over which this court

22 has original jurisdiction be dismissed. The court should decline to exercise supplemental

23 jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ state-law claims in the absence of a cognizable federal claim upon

24 which relief can be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); Acri v. Varian Assocs., Inc., 114 F.3d

25 999, 1000 (9th Cir.), supplemented, 121 F.3d 714 (9th Cir. 1997), as amended (Oct. 1, 1997).

26

27 4 Likewise, no claims lie under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against defendants in their individual capacities

to vindicate rights created by the ADA. See Vinson v. Thomas, 288 F.3d 1145, 1156 (9th Cir.

28 2002).

1 G. Leave to Amend and Dismissal of Defendants

2 Leave to amend should be freely granted when justice so requires. However, “[v]alid

3 reasons for denying leave to amend include undue delay, bad faith, prejudice, and futility.”

4 California Architectural Bldg. Prod. v. Franciscan Ceramics, 818 F.2d 1466, 1472 (9th Cir.

5 1988); see also Klamath-Lake Pharm. Ass’n v. Klamath Med. Serv. Bureau, 701 F.2d 1276, 1293

6 (9th Cir. 1983) (holding that while leave to amend shall be freely given, the court does not have

7 to allow futile amendments).

8 It clearly appears amendment would be futile as to plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment Takings

9 claim, civil RICO and RICO conspiracy claims, and federal civil rights and civil rights conspiracy

10 claims other than procedural due process and retaliation. If plaintiffs believe they can allege

11 further facts to state a plausible Takings claim, civil RICO claim, or other federal civil rights

12 claim, then plaintiffs shall clearly state those additional factual allegations in any objections to

13 these findings and recommendations.

14 The undersigned recommends plaintiffs be granted leave to file a second amended

15 complaint presenting only their claim under Title II of the ADA against the public entity

16 responsible for the alleged violation, their due process and retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C.

17 §1983 against County official defendants involved with the permitting process, and any related

18 state-law claims. Defendants SBPOA, Rebekah Perez, Mark Gamble, Penny Gamble, Ryan

19 Steinwert, Sandra Groven, Mike Fisher, and Richard Maddelena would not be proper defendants

20 for these claims and should be dismissed from this federal case at this time.

21 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only “a short and plain statement of the

22 claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,” in order to “give the defendant fair notice of

23 what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests,” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47

24 (1957). Plaintiffs’ FAC was unwieldy at 70 pages in length plus exhibits and contained

25 extraneous material such as legal argument. The undersigned recommends plaintiffs be given a

26 25-page limit for any further amended complaint they are granted leave to file.

27 IV. Recommendation

28 For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED as follows:

] 1. The motions to dismiss by defendants Sierra Board Property Owners Association,

2 Rebekah Perez, Mark Gamble, Penny Gamble, Sandra Groven, Mike Fisher, Ryan

3 Steinwert, and Richard Maddelena (ECF Nos. 59, 65, 67, 72, 75, 100) be granted on

4 grounds that plaintiffs fail to state a cognizable federal claim against any of these

5 defendants and that the court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over any

6 state-law claims against these defendants, who should be dismissed from the case.

7 2. The motions to dismiss by defendants Sierra County, Sierra County Board of

8 Supervisors, Sharon Dryden, Paul Roen, Lee Adams, Lila Huer, Terry LeBlanc, Mike

9 Fisher, Sandra Grovin, Rhetta Vander Ploeg, Van Maddox, Brandon Pangman, Tim

10 Beals, Joseph Danny Zavala, Bonnie Vierra, Elizabeth Morgan, and Michael Filippini

11 (ECF Nos. 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 98) also be GRANTED.

12 3. Plaintiffs be granted leave to file a second amended complaint presenting only their

13 Title II ADA claim against the public entity responsible for the alleged violation, their

14 due process and retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against County official

15 defendants, and any related state-law claims.

16 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge

17 || assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen (14)

18 || days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written

19 || objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned

20 || “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections

21 | shall be served on all parties and filed with the court within seven (7) days after service of the

22 || objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the

23 || District court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951

24 | F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991).

25 | Dated: August 19, 2025 □□ I / dle ae

26 CAROLYNK. DELANEY

27 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

8, wayn2Sev1 113.mtd

28

23