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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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11 RODERICK LYNN WADE, No. 1:22-cv-00123-KES-SAB (PC)

12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF

13 v. CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEFENDANTS

14 B. GATES, et al., (ECF Nos. 25, 27)

15 Defendants.

16

17 Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action.

18 I.

19 BACKGROUND

20 On June 13, 2025, Plaintiff’s complaint was screened. (ECF No. 21.) The screening order

21 found that the complaint only stated claims against Defendants Nege and Montegrande for Eighth

22 Amendment deliberate indifference. Id. at 21. As a result, Plaintiff was given the options of

23 moving forward with the complaint as screened; of filing an amended complaint; of filing a notice

24 of his intent to stand on the complaint, or of voluntarily dismissing this matter in its entirety. Id.

25 at 21-22. Plaintiff was given thirty days to take one of these four courses of action. Id. at 21.

26 Instead of taking one of these courses of action, on July 17, 2025, Plaintiff filed a “motion

27 to reconsider screening.” (ECF No. 22.) In it, Plaintiff identified various Defendants named in

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1 the original complaint, and he appeared to attempt to state why the claims alleged against them

2 are viable. (ECF No. 22 at 3-7.)

3 On the same day, Plaintiff filed a “request for extension of time to respond to

4 reconsideration motion to amend” was docketed. (ECF No. 23.) Therein, Plaintiff appeared be

5 requesting an extension of time to file an amended complaint. Id. at 1.

6 On August 11, 2025, the Court granted Plaintiff’s motion for leave to amend the

7 complaint, and granted Plaintiff thirty days to file an amended complaint. (ECF No. 25.)

8 On September 12, 2025, Plaintiff filed a notice of instant to stand on the original

9 complaint, filed on January 31, 2022. (ECF No. 27.) Thus, the operative complaint is the

10 original complaint, which for the reasons explained below, states only a cognizable claims against

11 Drs. Montegrande and Nege for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need under the Eighth

12 Amendment for failing to address Plaintiff’s pain, suffering, mental anguish and need for medical

13 assistive devices to address his mobility issues.

14 II.

15 SCREENING REQUIREMENT

16 Courts are required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a

17 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The

18 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally

19 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that

20 seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §

21 1915A(b)(1),(2). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been

22 paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that the action or appeal

23 fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).

24 A complaint is required to contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that

25 the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not

26 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere

27 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell

28 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as

1 true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,

2 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). To state a

3 viable claim, Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim

4 to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572

5 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are

6 not. Id. The mere possibility of misconduct falls short of meeting this plausibility standard. Id.

7 III.

8 COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS

9 The events at issue occurred at Plaintiff’s first institution, CCI Tehachapi. Plaintiff alleges

10 he was wrongfully denied cervical spine surgery, mobility equipment, pain medication, and an

11 orthopedic pillow.

12 Plaintiff names six Defendants: 1- Warden B. Cates of California Correctional Institution

13 in Tehachapi, CA (“CCI Tehachapi”); 2- S. Gates, Chief Healthcare Correspondent and Appeals

14 of California Correctional Healthcare Services (CCHCS) in Elk Grove, CA; 3- Dr. U. Baniga,

15 Chief physician1 and surgeon at CCI Tehachapi; 4- Dr. Faye Montegrande, former Physician and

16 Surgeon2 at CCI Tehachapi; 5- Dr. Nege, current physician and surgeon at CCI Tehachapi; 6-

17 Unknown (Doe) Smart Committee3, a CDCR contractor for CCI Tehachapi.

18 At CCI Tehachapi on March 10, 2017 Plaintiff sought treatment for systemic numbness.

19 Compl. ¶ 2. Defendants didn’t provide timely care. Compl. ¶ 3. Plaintiff’s cervical impairment

20 limits daily activities. Compl. ¶ 4. This causes mental and physical anguish. Compl. ¶ 5. Imaging

21 showed severe abnormalities. Compl. ¶ 8. Plaintiff constantly asked for care. Compl. ¶ 11. On

22 May 10, 2017, he complained he was hot and dizzy. Compl. ¶ 12.

23 Since May 10, 2017 Plaintiff submitted forms noting extremity tingling. Compl. ¶ 13. Dr.

24 Montegrande didn’t order an MRI until August 29,2018; symptoms were already worse. Compl.

25 ¶ 14. He has emotional distress. Compl. ¶ 15. The Smart Review Team (SRT)1 denied surgery.

26 Compl. ¶ 16-17. An August 29, 2018 MRI noted severe disc degeneration. Compl. ¶ 20. On

27 October 2, 2018, and February 26, 2020 Drs. Eckermann and Abumeri recommend fusion which

28 1 Variously referred to as the CDCR (John Doe) Smart Review Team, or Smart Review Committee.

1 SRT denied. Compl. ¶ 21–24. He was harmed at CCI Tehachapi; On August 26, 2021 he was

2 transferred to Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. Compl. ¶ 27.

3 Since May 2017 he has numbness, mild paralysis, severe pain, and mobility issues.

4 Compl. ¶ 28. The SRT are employed and/or contracted possibly by CDCR. Compl. ¶ 36. Dr.

5 Montegrande didn’t provide medical equipment and pain medication. Compl. ¶ 38-39. Dr. Nege

6 became active Physician on facility C yard on or about Aug 1, 2019 through Jan 30, 2022 and

7 denied a cane and an orthopedic pillow. Compl. ¶ 41. On July 28, 2021, Dr. Nege issued a cane,

8 mobility vest, Tramadol, and deemed Plaintiff DLT disabled. Compl. ¶ 42.

9 As Chief Medical Officer, CMO Baniga is responsible. Compl. ¶ 43. S. Gates denied

10 Plaintiff’s appeal and is also responsible. Compl. ¶ 45–49. Defendants should have followed the

11 recommendation of Drs. Eckermann and Dr. Abumeri. Compl. ¶ 57. Plaintiff now has mild

12 paralysis and uncontrollable twitching in right hand and fingers. Compl. ¶ 59.

13 Dr. Nege took over for Dr, Montegrande on or about August 1, 2019. Compl. ¶ 63–64.

14 Dr. Nege issued Plaintiff a cane, mobility vest, pain medication, and deemed him disabled on July

15 28, 202. Compl. ¶ 64-66. This equipment was required by the ADA. Compl. ¶ 67.

16 Plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment that the Defendants violated his rights, an

17 injunction against any medical procedures without updated imaging and consulting with outside

18 neurosurgeons, compensatory damages, and punitive damages. Compl. ¶ 78–83.

19 Plaintiff’s alleged injury includes neurological symptoms affecting motor skills, ability to

20 walk, severe pain, and extremity numbness.

21 IV.

22 DISCUSSION

23 A. Official Capacity

24 Plaintiff states he is suing all the Defendants in both their individual and official

25 capacities. Compl. at 3.

26 Although “state officials literally are persons,” an official-capacity suit against a state

27 officer “is not a suit against the official but rather is a suit against the official’s office. As such it

28 is no different from a suit against the State itself.” Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 26 (1991) (quoting

1 Will v. Michigan Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71, 109 S. Ct. 2304, 105 L. Ed. 2d 45

2 (1989)). To the extent Plaintiff seeks to hold any of the Defendants liable in their Official

3 capacities, including members of the Smart Committee, the Eleventh Amendment bars suits for

4 money damages in federal court against state officials in their official capacity. Aholelei v. Dep’t

5 of Public Safety, 488 F.3d 1144, 1147 (9th Cir. 2007).

6 However, it does not bar official capacity suit for prospective injunctive relief, Wolfson v.

7 Brammer, 616 F.3d 1045, 1065-66 (9th Cir. 2010); nor does it bar suit for damages against state

8 officials in their personal capacities. Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. at 30 (1991); Porter v. Jones, 319

9 F.3d 483, 491 (9th Cir. 2003).

10 Here, because Plaintiff was transferred to another prison---Chuckawalla State Prison---he

11 is very likely foreclosed from suing for prospective injunctive relief. Plaintiff has requested both

12 preliminary and temporary injunctions (Compl. ¶ 79). On August 26, 2021, Plaintiff states he was

13 transferred to another prison (Compl. ¶ 27). “Federal Courts are limited to live cases and

14 controversies.” Kittel v. Thomas, 620 F.3d 949, 951 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Flast v. Cohen, 392

15 U.S. 83, 96, 88 S. Ct. 1942, 20 L. Ed. 2d 947 (1968)); see also Deakins v. Monaghan, 484 U.S.

16 193, 199, 108 S. Ct. 523, 98 L. Ed. 2d 529 (1988) (“Article III of the Constitution limits federal

17 courts to the adjudication of actual, ongoing controversies between litigants.”) “Prisoners who

18 have been released from prison or transferred to a different prison may not sue for injunctive

19 relief because they no longer benefit from having the injunction issued.” Rupe v. Cate, 688 F.

20 Supp. 2d 1035, 1043 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 1, 2010) (citing Dilley v. Gunn, 64 F.3d 1365, 1368 (9th Cir.

21 1995)) (other citations omitted). A prisoner’s claim for injunctive relief is moot if there is no

22 reasonable expectation the prisoner will be transferred back to the prison where the harm

23 occurred. Dilley, 64 F.3d at 1369.

24 Plaintiff demonstrates no such reasonable expectation, thus his request for prospective

25 injunctive relief is moot insofar as he seeks to compel the current Defendants to render the

26 cervical fusion surgery or take other corrective action. Compl. ¶ 10. As well, the request for

27 injunctive relief is also moot insofar as it seeks to prohibit Defendants in their official capacity

28 from rendering surgical procedures without first consulting with outside neurosurgeons upon CT

1 Scans and MRI images. Compl ¶ 79.2

2 B. Eighth Amendment-Medical Care

3 In order to prevail on an Eighth Amendment claim for inadequate medical care, a plaintiff

4 must show ‘deliberate indifference’ to his “serious medical needs.” Colwell v. Bannister, 763

5 F.3d 1060, 1066 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104, 97 S. Ct. 285, 50

6 L. Ed. 2d 251 (1976)). “Deliberate indifference 'may appear when prison officials deny, delay or

7 intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or it may be shown by the way in which prison

8 physicians provide medical care.’” Id. (quoting Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 394

9 (9th Cir. 1988)). “The existence of an injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find

10 important and worthy of comment or treatment; the presence of a medical condition that

11 significantly affects an individual's daily activities; or the existence of chronic and substantial

12 pain are examples of indications that a prisoner has a ‘serious’ need for medical treatment.”

13 McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059–60 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on other grounds by

14 WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997). “[A] prison official violates the

15 Eighth Amendment only when two requirements are met. First, the deprivation alleged must be,

16 objectively, ‘sufficiently serious.’’ Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 128 L.

17 Ed. 2d 811 (1994) (quoting Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298, 111 S. Ct. 2321, 115 L. Ed. 2d

18 271 (1991)). Second, a plaintiff must allege that the prison official he seeks to hold liable had a

19 “sufficiently culpable state of mind,” that is, “one of ‘deliberate indifference’ to inmate health or

20 safety.” Id. (quoting Wilson, 501 U.S. at 302-03). A prison official can be held liable only if he

21 “knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety; the official must both be

22 aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm

23 exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Id. at 837.

24 ///

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2 Additionally, Plaintiff sought a third form of injunctive relief against officials at his new facility, who are not

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named Defendants. After filing of the complaint, on October 13, 2022, Plaintiff asked the Court for an injunction

against any surgical procedures at the institution to which he was transferred- Chuckawalla State Prison. ECF No. 10.

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Plaintiff sought to enjoin any such procedures until an updated MRI was obtained and until Plaintiff had the

opportunity to consult with a physician “to determine the right prognosis.” Id. The Court denied the injunction due to

28 lack of jurisdiction over non-defendant Chuckawalla officials. ECF No. 13, 14.

1 Deliberate indifference to a prisoner’ serious illness or injury, or risks of serious injury

2 or illness, gives rise to a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105; see

3 also Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. This applies to physical as well as dental and mental health

4 needs. See Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1253 (9th Cir. 1982), abrogated on other grounds

5 by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 115 S. Ct. 2293, 132 L. Ed. 2d 418 (1995). An injury or

6 illness is sufficiently serious if the failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further

7 significant injury or the “. . . unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974

8 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104

9 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc); see also Doty v. County of Lassen, 37 F.3d 540, 546 (9th

10 Cir. 1994). Factors indicating seriousness are: (1) whether a reasonable doctor would think that

11 the condition is worthy of comment; (2) whether the condition significantly impacts the prisoner’s

12 daily activities; and (3) whether the condition is chronic and accompanied by substantial pain. See

13 Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

14 The requirement of deliberate indifference is less stringent in medical needs cases than

15 in other Eighth Amendment contexts because the responsibility to provide inmates with medical

16 care does not generally conflict with competing penological concerns. See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at

17 1060. Thus, deference need not be given to the judgment of prison officials as to decisions

18 concerning medical needs. See Hunt v. Dental Dep’t, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir. 1989). The

19 complete denial of medical attention may constitute deliberate indifference. See Toussaint v.

20 McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1111 (9th Cir. 1986). Delay in providing medical treatment, or

21 interference with medical treatment, may also constitute deliberate indifference. See Lopez, 203

22 F.3d at 1131. Where delay is alleged, however, the prisoner must also demonstrate that the delay

23 led to further injury. See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1060. Negligence in diagnosing or treating a

24 medical condition does not, however, give rise to a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See

25 Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. Moreover, a difference of opinion between the prisoner and medical

26 providers concerning the appropriate course of treatment does not generally give rise to an Eighth

27 Amendment claim. See Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996).

28 ///

1 1. Individual Capacity, Personal Participation

2 a. The Smart Committee, Group Liability

3 To the extent Plaintiff is seeking to sue individual Smart committee members in their

4 individual capacity, who are currently identified only as DOE, he has not stated a claim. (Compl.

5 ¶¶ 16, 17,18, 19, 24, 25, 36). A Plaintiff may not simply name groups of people when asserting

6 individual capacity claims. He must set forth what each individual DOE did or did not do as

7 merely grouping them together is not sufficient. For example, he must state what DOE 1 did

8 individually, what DOE 2 did individually, identifying them in some way and distinguishing their

9 actions.

10 Moreover, under Section 1983, a plaintiff bringing an individual capacity claim must

11 demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. See Jones

12 v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). There must be an actual connection or link

13 between the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by

14 plaintiff. See Ortez v. Washington Cty, State of Oregon, 88 F.3d 804, 809 (9th Cir. 1996); see

15 also Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989).

16 To the extent Plaintiff is seeking to recover monetary damages against the Smart

17 committee itself, when seeking monetary damages against the State of California or its agencies,

18 or any of the defendants in their official capacity, such claims are barred by the Eleventh

19 Amendment. U.S. Const., Amend. XI; Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 782, 98 S. Ct. 3057, 57 L.

20 Ed. 2d 1114 (1978); Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100, 104 S. Ct.

21 900, 79 L. Ed. 2d 67 (1984); Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 169, 105 S. Ct. 3099, 87 L. Ed.

22 2d 114 (1985). As noted above however, the Eleventh Amendment does not bar suits against state

23 officials in their individual capacities, or for declaratory or injunctive relief in their official

24 capacities. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690 n. 54, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 56 L. Ed. 2d

25 611 (1978).

26 b. S. Gates

27 Here, Plaintiff has not demonstrated the requisite linkage to demonstrate an Eighth

28 amendment medical violation by Defendant S. Gates, Chief Healthcare Correspondent and

1 Appeals of California Correctional Healthcare Services (CCHCS) in Elk Grove, CA. Nor can

2 Gates be liable under a theory of respondeat superior.

3 Supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the actions of their

4 employees. See Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) (holding that there is no

5 respondeat superior liability under § 1983). A supervisor is only liable for the constitutional

6 violations of subordinates if the supervisor participated in or directed the violations. Id.

7 Supervisory personnel who implement a policy so deficient that the policy itself is a

8 repudiation of constitutional rights and the moving force behind a constitutional violation may be

9 liable even where such personnel do not overtly participate in the offensive act. See Redman v.

10 Cnty of San Diego, 942 F.2d 1435, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc). A supervisory defendant may

11 also be liable where he or she knew of constitutional violations but failed to act to prevent them.

12 See Taylor, 880 F.2d at 1045; Starr v. Baca, 633 F.3d 1191, 1209 (9th Cir. 2011).

13 When a defendant holds a supervisory position, the causal link between such defendant

14 and the claimed constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607

15 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and

16 conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of supervisory personnel in civil rights

17 violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

18 “[A] plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official’s own

19 individual actions, has violated the constitution.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009).

20 Plaintiff alleges no participation by S. Gates in the denial of surgery or failure to provide

21 pain remedies or mobility equipment. Plaintiff fails to allege any action or inaction by S. Gates

22 other than denial of his institutional appeal (Compl. ¶ 49), which is not actionable under the

23 Eighth Amendment under the facts here. Absent an alleged defect in the process pursuant to

24 which the institutional proceedings were conducted, caselaw indicates that prisoners have no

25 constitutional interest with respect to institutional grievance proceedings or outcomes. See

26 Muhammad v. Rubia, 2010 WL 1260425, at *3 (N.D. Cal., Mar. 29, 2010).

27 c. Warden B. Cates

28 Warden B. Cates’ is identified as a defendant in the case caption and list of defendants.

1 Compl. at 1–2. Warden Cates’ name is never mentioned again in the complaint. To the extent

2 Plaintiff is attempting to hold Warden Cates liable solely based on his supervisory role as

3 Warden, he may not do so. Liability cannot be imposed on supervisory personnel for the actions

4 or omissions of their subordinates under the theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-

5 77; Simmons v. Navajo Cty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020-21 (9th Cir. 2010).

6 Again, as stated above, supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the

7 actions of their employees. See Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) (holding that

8 there is no respondeat superior liability under § 1983). A supervisor is only liable for the

9 constitutional violations of subordinates if the supervisor participated in or directed the violations.

10 See id. Supervisory personnel who implement a policy so deficient that the policy itself is a

11 repudiation of constitutional rights and the moving force behind a constitutional violation may be

12 liable even where such personnel do not overtly participate in the offensive act. See Redman v.

13 Cnty of San Diego, 942 F.2d 1435, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc). A supervisory defendant may

14 also be liable where he or she knew of constitutional violations but failed to act to prevent them.

15 See Taylor, 880 F.2d at 1045; see also Starr v. Baca, 633 F.3d 1191, 1209 (9th Cir. 2011).

16 When a defendant holds a supervisory position, the causal link between such defendant

17 and the claimed constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607

18 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and

19 conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of supervisory personnel in civil rights

20 violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

21 “[A] plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official’s own

22 individual actions, has violated the constitution.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009).

23 Having failed to establish a causal link, Plaintiff fails to state a claim against Warden

24 Cates.

25 d. U. Baniga, CMO

26 The lone allegation against CMO Baniga is that, “as the (CMO),” he should have known

27 and been aware of “common” symptoms and taken every necessary step so as not to violate

28 Plaintiff’s 8th amendment rights. Compl. ¶ 43, 75. However, Plaintiff simply speculates about

1 CMO Baniga’s involvement solely based on his job title. Plaintiff does not set forth any facts

2 demonstrating CMO Baniga’s involvement in the decision to deny Plaintiff’s surgery or care,

3 including the alleged denial of mobility equipment and pain medication. Thus, Plaintiff fails state

4 a claim against Dr Baniga.

5 e. Dr. Montegrande

6 Plaintiff states that he began experiencing symptoms on the evening of 5/10/2017 and

7 requested immediate treatment. Compl. ¶ 2. Dr. Montegrande ordered an X-Ray on 11/9/2017.

8 Compl. ¶ 13. Several months passed before Dr. Montegrande requested an MRI on 8/29/18.

9 Compl. ¶ 13. Between those times, Plaintiff states he diligently notified CCI medical staff of his

10 on-going symptoms. Compl. ¶ 13. On 8/29/18 Plaintiff was sent for an MRI as a result of the X-

11 Ray Dr. Montegrande had ordered. Compl. ¶ 20. On 10/2/2018 Plaintiff saw Dr. Eckermann, a

12 neurosurgeon, who recommended fusion of his c-spine. Compl. ¶ 21. On 2/3/20 Plaintiff was

13 referred by Dr. Montegrande for another MRI. Compl. ¶ 22. On 2/26/20 he was seen by Dr.

14 Abumeri, another neurosurgeon, who made the same recommendation as Dr. Eckermann. Compl.

15 ¶ 23.

16 Importantly, these recommendations for surgery were sent to the Smart Committee for

17 approval and denied by that committee. Compl. ¶ 24. However, Plaintiff does not allege that he

18 was denied surgery by Dr. Montegrande. The only alleged conduct of Dr. Montegrande

19 potentially giving rise to an Eighth Amendment violation is allegedly delaying treatment for

20 Plaintiff’s pain and failing to provide him with assistive devices. Specifically, Plaintiff claims that

21 Dr. Montegrande failed to provide him with the necessary medical equipment and medication to

22 relieve his pain and mobility issues he was experiencing. Compl. ¶ P38, 40. Plaintiff states that

23 from May of 2017 his condition has caused him “severe pain and mobility issues.” Compl. ¶ 28,

24 29, 38, 60, 71.

25 Plaintiff claims that Dr. Montegrande was aware of Plaintiff’s condition throughout her

26 rotation on facility C yard at CCI yet failed to issue mobility equipment (Compl. ¶ 67) and

27 medication to relieve Plaintiff’s pain (Compl. ¶ 72). As discussed below, this alleged conduct,

28 liberally construed and assumed true at the pleading stage, satisfies both the objective and

1 subjective prongs of the test for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need under the Eighth

2 Amendment.

3 As to the objective prong, Plaintiff was diagnosed with a severe degenerative disc disorder

4 depicted on an August 29, 2018 MRI (Compl. ¶ 20), This ostensibly is a sufficiently serious

5 condition which, if disregarded, could result in further significant injury and/or the unnecessary

6 and wanton infliction of pain. McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (9th Cir. 1992). Further, the factors

7 set forth in Lopez support this finding because: 1- a reasonable doctor would consider the

8 condition worthy of comment, 2- the condition significantly impacted Plaintiff’s daily activities,

9 and 3- the condition was chronic and accompanied by substantial pain. Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1131–

10 32.

11 As to the subjective prong, the allegations establish that Dr. Montegrande’s inaction 6

12 demonstrates a culpable state of mind given that Dr. Montegrande consciously disregarded the

13 known risk of further injury and severe pain. This finding is supported given that Dr.

14 Montegrande was aware of Plaintiff’s ongoing symptoms of numbness, mobility limitations,

15 severe pain, from his initial report on 5/10/2017 through the date she was possibly no longer

16 responsible for his treatment when Dr. Nege became the active physician at CCI Tehachapi on or

17 about 8/1/19. Dr. Montegrande was also aware that these symptoms were supported by the

18 findings on X-Ray and MRI, yet she allegedly did not provide mobility equipment, pain

19 medication, or other medical intervention. Thus, Plaintiff states a plausible claim for deliberate

20 indifference under the Eighth Amendment against Dr. Montegrande.

21 f. Dr. Nege

22 Dr. Nege became the active physician on CCI Tehachapi C yard on or about 8/1/19.

23 Compl, pg 13 . Plaintiff claims that Dr. Nege was deliberately indifferent in denying Plaintiff’s

24 request for a cane and an orthopedic pillow to relieve Plaintiff’s suffering. Compl. ¶ 41. Plaintiff

25 states that on 7/28/21, after many requests by Plaintiff, Dr. Nege finally deemed him “DLT”

26 disabled and issued him an ADA mobility vest, tramadol, and a cane. Compl. ¶ 42, 74.

27 These allegations satisfy the objective and subjective prongs for deliberate indifference for

28 reasons similar to those noted above with respect to Dr. Montegrande. The condition depicted in

1 both the initial 8/29/2018 MRI and subsequent 2/3/2020 MRI, are objectively serious for the same

2 reasons noted above. Subjectively, Dr. Nege’s inaction could be said to demonstrate a culpable

3 state of mind and a conscious disregard of a known risk. This finding is supported on the

4 allegation that after Dr. Nege became the active Physician on facility C yard on or about 8/1/19, it

5 wasn’t until 7/28/21, after many requests from Plaintiff, that Dr. Nege finally provided mobility

6 equipment and pain medication to Plaintiff.

7 Thus, Plaintiff states a plausible claim for deliberate indifference under the Eighth against

8 Dr. Nege.

9 D. ADA Violations

10 Although not specifically stated as a claim in Plaintiff’s complaint, Plaintiff does refer to

11 ADA violations (Compl. ¶ 67, 72).

12 1. Applicable Law

13 Title II of the ADA provides that “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason

14 of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services,

15 programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.” 42

16 U.S.C. § 12132. The ADA defines a disability as: "(A) a physical or mental impairment that

17 substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual; (B) a record of such

18 an impairment; or (C) being regarded as having such an impairment[.]" 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1). To

19 state a claim under Title II of the ADA, the plaintiff must allege: (1) he is an individual with a

20 disability; (2) he is otherwise qualified to participate in or receive the benefit of some public

21 entity's services, programs, or activities; (3) he was either excluded from participation in or

22 denied the benefits of the public entity's services, programs, or activities, or was otherwise

23 discriminated against by the public entity; and (4) such exclusion, denial of benefits, or

24 discrimination was by reason of [his] disability.

25 Neither the ADA nor the Rehabilitation Act provides a basis to sue state officials in their

26 individual capacity. See Vinson v. Thomas, 288 F.3d 1145, 1156 (9th Cir. 2002) (a plaintiff

27 cannot sue state officials in their individual capacity under § 1983 to vindicate rights created by

28 Title II of the ADA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act). Instead, the proper defendant in an

1 ADA action is the public entity responsible for the alleged discrimination. See United States v.

2 Georgia, 546 U.S. 151, 154, 126 S. Ct. 877, 163 L. Ed. 2d 650 (2006). In order to recover

3 monetary damages, the plaintiff must allege intentional discrimination under the "deliberate

4 indifference" standard. Duvall v. Cty. of Kitsap, 260 F.3d 1124, 1138 (9th Cir. 2001) (as

5 amended). “Deliberate indifference requires both knowledge that a harm to a federally protected

6 right is substantially likely, and a failure to act upon . . . the likelihood.” Id. at 1139. This standard

7 is not met “where a duty to act may simply have been overlooked,” but rather “a failure to act

8 must be a result of conduct that is more than negligent[.]” Id.

9 2. Analysis

10 Although “[t]he ADA prohibits discrimination because of disability,” it does not provide a

11 remedy for “inadequate treatment for disability.” Simmons, 609 F.3d at 1022 (citing Bryant v.

12 Madigan, 84 F.3d 246, 249 (7th Cir. 1996) (“[T]he Act would not be violated by a prison’s

13 simply failing to attend to the medical needs of its disabled prisoners . . . . The ADA does not

14 create a remedy for medical malpractice.”)). Moreover, the ADA prohibits discrimination because

15 of disability, not inadequate treatment for disability. See Bryant, 84 F.3d at 249.

16 Here, Plaintiff does not allege that he was denied adequate medical care because of his

17 disability, rather he alleges that he was denied adequate medical care to treat his mobility and

18 pain issues caused by his alleged severe degenerative disc disorder. Again, inadequate treatment

19 alone does not support an ADA claim. See Simmons v. Navajo County, 609 F.3d 1011, 1022 (9th

20 Cir. 2010) (“The ADA prohibits discrimination because of disability, not inadequate treatment for

21 disability.”), overruled in part on other grounds, Castro, 833 F.3d 1060; Bryant v. Madigan, 84

22 F.3d 246, 249 (7th Cir. 1996) (“[The ADA] would not be violated by a prison’s simply failing to

23 attend to the medical needs of its disabled prisoners. . . . The ADA does not create a remedy for

24 medical malpractice.”).

25 Thus, Plaintiff fails to state a claim for a violation of the ADA.

26 E. Negligence

27 Plaintiff may also be asserting that the conduct giving rise to his deliberate indifference

28 claim gives rise to a distinct claim for negligence and/or medical malpractice. Compl. ¶ 58. Or he

1 may be asserting that the conduct was deliberately indifferent under the Eighth Amendment

2 because it was negligent or constituted medical malpractice.3 Compl. ¶ 58. Importantly, Plaintiff

3 has not shown that he has met the requirements to pursue a negligence or medical malpractice

4 claim. To pursue state law claims Plaintiff must have first presented his claim to the state. Here,

5 Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate compliance with the Government Claims Act, which he is

6 required to do. See State of California v. Superior Court, 32 Cal. 4th 1234, 1240, 1237, 13 Cal.

7 Rptr. 3d 534, 90 P.3d 116 (2004) (for claims against the State, timely presentation of a claim

8 under the Government Claims Act is an element of the cause of action and must be pled in the

9 complaint); see also Cal. Gov’t Code § 900.6 (defining “State” as “the State and any office,

10 officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission or agency of the State claims against

11 which are paid by warrants drawn by the Controller”).

12 F. Equal protection

13 Although not specifically alleged as a claim, Plaintiff mentions equal protection. Compl. ¶

14 40.

15 The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment broadly requires the

16 government to treat similarly situated people equally. Hartmann v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr. & Rehab.,

17 707 F.3d 1114, 1123 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S.

18 432, 439, 105 S. Ct. 3249, 87 L. Ed. 2d 313 (1985)). To state an equal protection claim, a plaintiff

19 must typically “‘allege’ defendants acted with an intent or purpose to discriminate against [him]

20 based upon membership in a protected class,’” such as a particular race or religion. Furnace v.

21 Sullivan, 705 F.3d 1021, 1030 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193,

22 1194 (9th Cir. 1998)). “Intentional discrimination means that a defendant acted at least in part

23 because of a plaintiff's protected status.” Serrano v. Francis, 345 F.3d 1071, 1082 (9th Cir. 2003)

24 (emphasis in original). Here, Plaintiff does not set forth sufficient facts to support an equal

25 protection claims.

26

3 This theory is directly refuted by prevailing law. “A showing of medical malpractice or negligence is insufficient

27

to establish a constitutional deprivation under the Eighth Amendment.” Id. at 1060. “[E]ven gross negligence is

insufficient to establish a constitutional violation.” Id. (citing Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 (9th

28 Cir. 1990)).

1 V.

2 ORDER AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3 Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall randomly

4 | assign a District Judge to this action.

5 Further, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

6 1. This action proceed against Defendants Dr. Nege and Dr. Montegrande for

7 deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment; and

8 2. All other claims and Defendants be dismissed from the action for failure to state a

9 cognizable claim for relief.

10 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District

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

12 | (14) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written

13 | objections with the Court, limited to 15 pages in length, including exhibits. The document should

14 | be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is

15 || advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights

16 | appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v.

17 | Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).

18

19

20 IT IS SO ORDERED. DAA Le

21 | Dated: _October 23, 2025 _ ef

STANLEY A. BOONE

22 United States Magistrate Judge

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