Case law

(PC) Cooper v. Shaffer

District Court, E.D. California · Dec 12, 2023

The undersigned is not aware of any clearly established federal law 9 supporting a theory that for inmates serving indeterminate life sentences continued confinement 10 following parole denials may violate the Eighth … July 28, 2022) 25 (finding there is no clearly established federal law supporting prisoner’s theory that for inmates 26 serving indeterminate life sentences, continued confinement following parole denials may violate

(PC) Foster v. Carrol

District Court, E.D. California · Oct 24, 2019

The appeal was denied incorrectly stating that Level VI inmates do not qualify for 5 work group M. … Plaintiff contends that Title 15 clearly states that enhanced outpatient inmates 6 are qualified for work group M and that he should have been released from custody ten days 7 after being so designated.

Gengler v. US EX REL. DEPT. OF DEFENSE AND NAVY

682 F. Supp. 2d 1117 · District Court, E.D. California · Jan 12, 2010

Because of the defendants' official immunity he received no damages award. No injunction or declaratory judgment was entered in his favor. … Respondents were unable to show by clearly established law that Petitioners were not entitled to enforce the written contract in accordance with its terms.

(PS) Brito v. Congress

District Court, E.D. California · Aug 19, 2025

In 10 reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court accepts as true the factual 11 allegations contained in the complaint, unless they are clearly baseless or fanciful, and 12 construes those allegations in the … The Complaint consists of 27 vague and conclusory allegations that fail to establish Plaintiff’s causes of action. 28 Furthermore, each Defendant is immune from suit.

(PC) Hill v. Ma

District Court, E.D. California · Nov 7, 2024

But even assuming defendant Ma was 4 a state actor, defendant Ma is immune from plaintiff’s suit. See Fry v. … While the comments allegedly attributed to 9 defendant are unacceptable, defendant is entitled to absolute immunity. Id. 10 V.

Dwight Hauer v. Department of State Hospitals—Coalinga

District Court, E.D. California · Feb 17, 2026

A civil 23 detainee’s “right to be protected and confined in a safe institution are [sic] clearly established.” 24 Id. (citing Youngberg v. … Eleventh Amendment Immunity 15 Plaintiff names as a defendant the Department of State Hospitals – Coalinga.

(PC)Laguer v. Arreola

District Court, E.D. California · Jun 30, 2025

Sept. 17, 2015) (“Circumstances common to most 21 prisoners, such as a deficient general education, lack of knowledge of the law, mental illness and 22 disability, do not in themselves establish exceptional circumstances … July 24, 2017) (finding all—or nearly all—prisoner claims based upon civil rights 28 violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 involve defenses of qualified immunity and issues of 1 | supervisory liability). 2

(PC)Vargas v. Internal Revenue Service

District Court, E.D. California · Aug 31, 2022

The court must dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably 7 meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 8 327. … Sovereign immunity extends to agencies of 19 the United States, including the IRS, which is immune from suit in the absence of Congressional 20 authorization. City of Whittier v.

(PC) Lewis v. Gipson

District Court, E.D. California · Sep 2, 2021

Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981). 21 Nor do legal conclusions qualify as facts. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. … It is 20 well established that Congress did not intend to abrogate a state’s Eleventh Amendment immunity 21 in § 1983 damage suits. Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 340-45 (1979).

James N. Anderson, et al. v. California Department of Social Services, et al.

District Court, E.D. California · Aug 18, 2026

Co. v. 14 Waddell & Reed Inc., 360 F.3d 960, 967 (9th Cir. 2004) (stating that “the district court had a duty 15 to establish subject matter jurisdiction over the removed action sua sponte, whether the parties 16 raised … Leave to Amend 26 It clearly appears granting further leave to amend against the State Defendants would be futile 27 based on their immunity from suit.

(PS) White v. City and County of West Sacramento

District Court, E.D. California · Nov 7, 2022

This language clearly 13 demonstrates that Plaintiff was granted leave to amend to cure the deficiencies 14 addressed in the findings and recommendations, and not without limitation as Plaintiff 15 contends. … See generally ECF No. 79-1 (raising insufficient service of process, statute of limitations, and qualified immunity arguments).

(PS) Sears v. Rocket Mortgage, LLC

District Court, E.D. California · Apr 3, 2025

IFP statute requires federal courts to 26 dismiss a case if the action is legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which 27 relief may be granted or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune … The court cannot tell from your complaint what 5 legal harm was done to you because your complaint has too much information in it, and it is not 6 clearly written.

Stock v. Stanislaus County

District Court, E.D. California · Jan 14, 2020

Dep't of Social & Health Servs., 630 F.3d 833, 842 (9th Cir. 2010). 11 In those instances, only qualified, not absolute, immunity is available. Miller v. Gammie, 335 F.3d 12 889, 898 (9th Cir. 2003). … from liability for Plaintiff’s claims; 19 or investigative or discretionary functions, to which qualified immunity would apply; or neither.1 20 As to Defendants Laura Rodriguez, Kimberly Rodriguez, Wilbur, and Ballasch

Maez v. Maez

District Court, E.D. California · Jul 29, 2022

Absolute and Qualified Immunity – Defendant Coronado 13 Additionally, it appears that Defendant Coronado may be entitled to absolute or qualified 14 immunity from suit. … “It has long been 1 established that judges are absolutely immune from liability for acts ‘done in the exercise of their 2 judicial functions.” Miller v.

Shirley

District Court, E.D. California · Feb 19, 2026

Defendants also argue that they are entitled to qualified 8 immunity. … As to Defendants’ argument for qualified immunity, Plaintiff states that “Defendants 6 knew or should have known that the contaminated water was

(PC) Daniel v. Nelson

District Court, E.D. California · Jun 14, 2024

that a 6 state judge generally is “immune from suit for money damages.” … Accordingly, defendant Getty is 19 entitled to judicial immunity as to these claims.

Michael J. Winfield v. Dr. Sam Slubtl, et al.

District Court, E.D. California · May 15, 2026

Mehta was responsible for his 20 cardiac care or was qualified to engage in cardiac surgery to remove the pacemaker. Plaintiff 21 also alleges that Dr. … Plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that 25 defendants were state actors. Florer, 639 F.3d at 922 (citing Flagg Bros., Inc. v.

El-Bey v. Internal Revenue Service

District Court, E.D. California · Nov 21, 2024

Thus, a court may dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is 19 based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are “clearly 20 baseless,” a category encompassing allegations that are “fanciful … plaintiff has failed to 5 demonstrate that the United States has waived its sovereign immunity for these claims.

Vladimir Korostelev v. California Department of Motor Vehicles.

District Court, E.D. California · Sep 12, 2025

Plaintiff’s Allegations 9 On March 19, 2025, plaintiff applied for a REAL-ID compliant driver’s license and 10 provided a valid Employment Authorization which clearly lists his … Among other things, the REAL ID Act of 2005 codified at Title 49 United States Code 18 Section 30301, et seq., establishes standards for the National Driver Register, provides for reports 19 to be made to the Secretary

(PS) Yoonessi v. James

District Court, E.D. California · Jan 14, 2025

Defendant SUNY Buffalo argues it 10 has sovereign immunity. 11 Defendants contend that Plaintiff has the burden of pleading facts sufficient to establish a 12 basis … or absolute immunity; and 4) 11 failure to state a claim.