(PC) Hightower v. Schwarzenegger, et al, No. 1:2004cv06028 - Document 144 (E.D. Cal. 2010)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Recommending that this Action Proceed Only Against Defendants J. Klarich, K. Nyguen, D. Deering, S. Wu, and A. Santa Cruz and that Defendant Schwarzenegger be Dismissed, signed by Magistrate Judge Sandra M. Snyder on 8/31/2010. Referred to Judge Wanger; Objections to F&R due by 10/4/2010. (Verduzco, M)
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(PC) Hightower v. Schwarzenegger, et al Doc. 144 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 THOMAS HIGHTOWER, 10 Plaintiff, 11 12 CASE NO. 1:04-cv-06028-OWW-SMS (PC) FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDING THAT THIS ACTION PROCEED ONLY AGAINST DEFENDANTS J. KLARICH, K. NYGUEN, D. DEERING, S. WU, AND A. SANTA CRUZ AND THAT DEFENDANT SCHWARZENEGGER BE DISMISSED v. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et. al., 13 Defendants. 14 OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE IN 30 DAYS 15 (Doc. 141) 16 / 17 Findings and Recommendations Following Screening of Third Amended Complaint 18 19 20 I. Procedural History Plaintiff, Thomas A. Hightower (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in 21 formal pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action 22 on July 29, 2004. (Doc. 1.) On February 24, 2006, the Court dismissed Plaintiff’s Complaint, 23 with leave to amend, for failure to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). (Doc. 13.) 24 Plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint on June 28, 2006. (Doc. 21.) On March 8, 2007, the 25 Court dismissed Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint, for failure to state cognizable claims, with 26 leave to amend. (Doc. 23.) On August 13, 2007, Plaintiff filed his Second Amended Complaint. 27 (Doc. 31.) On March 19, 2008, the Court issued Findings and Recommendations to dismiss 28 uncognizable claims and to allow service on cognizable claims, which were adopted on July 8, 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 2008. (Docs. 32, 38.) Defendant Figueroa filed a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) 2 and 12(b)(6), on which Findings and Recommendations to grant have issued and been adopted. 3 (Docs. 69, 116, 121.) Various other Defendants also filed motions to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. 4 P. 12(b) and 12(b)(6). (Docs. 75, 97.) Upon reviewing those motions, it was determined that 5 Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint should be re-screened in light of the new pleading 6 standards that were ushered in by the Supreme Court’s opinion in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, ___ U.S. 7 ___, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). See Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 968-69 (9th 8 Cir. 2009), ref. Iqbal; Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). The Second 9 Amended Complaint was found to be replete with general conclusions – which were insufficient 10 to state cognizable claims in light of Iqbal – and to contain multiple, unrelated claims in violation 11 of Rule 18 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Since it was possible that Plaintiff could 12 amend to state factual allegations, sans conclusions and unrelated claims, to correct the 13 deficiencies in his pleading, the Second Amended Complaint was dismissed with leave to amend. 14 (Docs. 123 and 129.) 15 After requesting and receiving extensions of time, Plaintiff filed the Third Amended 16 Complaint which is presently before the Court. (Doc. 141.) For the reasons that follow, the 17 Court recommends that this action proceed only on Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Dr. 18 Klarich, Dr. Nyguen, Dr. Deering, Dr. Wu, and Capt. A. Santa Cruz under the Eight Amendment 19 for deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs, and against Captain A. Santa Cruz for 20 unconstitutional retaliation under the First Amendment; and that all other claims and Defendants 21 be dismissed with prejudice. 22 II. 23 Screening Requirement The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 24 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 25 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are 26 legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or 27 that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. 28 § 1915A(b)(1),(2). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been 2 1 paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or 2 appeal . . . fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) 3 (emphasis added). A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing 4 that the pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are 5 not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 6 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (ref. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. 7 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted 8 as true, to ‘state a claim that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (quoting 9 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusion are 10 not. Id. at 1949. 11 A. 12 Plaintiff is currently housed at Mule Creek State Prison (“MCSP”) in Ione, California, but 13 complains of acts which occurred while he was housed at California Substance Abuse Treatment 14 Facility and State Prison (“SATF”) in Corcoran, California. Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief and 15 monetary damages. The only Defendants named by Plaintiff in the Third Amended Complaint 16 are: A. Schwarzenegger; Dr. Klarich; Dr. Nyguen; Dr. Deering; Dr. Wu, and A. Santa Cruz. All 17 other previously named Defendants should be dismissed from this action. 18 B. 19 20 Summary of Claims in the Third Amended Complaint Legal Standards1 1. Eighth Amendment – Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs Where a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment claim is one of inadequate medical care, the 21 prisoner must allege and prove “acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate 22 indifference to serious medical needs.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976). Such a 23 claim has two elements: “the seriousness of the prisoner’s medical need and the nature of the 24 defendant’s response to that need.” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir.1991). A 25 medical need is serious “if the failure to treat the prisoner’s condition could result in further 26 significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 27 1 28 Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger are addressed in a separate subsequent subsection. 3 1 1059 (quoting Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104). Indications of a serious medical need include “the 2 presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an individual’s daily activities.” Id. at 3 1059-60. By establishing the existence of a serious medical need, a prisoner satisfies the 4 objective requirement for proving an Eighth Amendment violation. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 5 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). 6 If a prisoner establishes the existence of a serious medical need, he or she must then show 7 that prison officials responded to the serious medical need with deliberate indifference. Id. In 8 general, deliberate indifference may be shown when prison officials deny, delay, or intentionally 9 interfere with medical treatment, or it may be shown by the way in which prison officials provide 10 medical care. Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 393-94 (9th Cir.1988). Deliberate 11 indifference can be manifested by prison guards intentionally denying or delaying access to 12 medical care or intentionally interfering with the treatment once prescribed. Estelle, 429 U.S. at 13 104-05. To establish a claim of deliberate indifference arising from delay, a plaintiff must show 14 that the delay was harmful. See Berry v. Bunnell, 39 F.3d 1056, 1057 (9th Cir.1994) (per 15 curiam); McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059; Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335 (9th 16 Cir.1990); Hunt v. Dental Dep’t, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir.1989). Only delays that cause 17 substantial harm violate the Eighth Amendment. Berry 39 F.3d at 1057 ref Wood, 900 F.2d at 18 1335. 19 As to Dr. Klarich, Plaintiff alleges that he submitted to Defendant Dr. Klarich over a 20 period of almost a year and a half (04/15/2002 - 11/20/2003) and that he presented with obvious 21 indicators of end stage liver disease, respiratory distress, COPD w/emphysema, seizure disorder, 22 spinal disease, and GI disease. (Doc. 141, 3rd Amd. Compl., 10:10-12:14.) Plaintiff alleges that 23 Defendant Dr. Klarich: (1) knew of Plaintiff’s high ammonia levels and mental confusion, yet 24 intentionally disregarded the severity of Plaintiff’s medical status and only prescribed medical 25 cell feedings; (2) knew of Plaintiff’s respiratory distress symptoms of suffocation and black-outs 26 (“obvious indications of acute emphysema, bronchitis, asthma attacks”) and yet failed to 27 prescribe chest x-rays and breathing treatments; (3) and knew of Plaintiff’s degenerative spinal 28 and facet disease, arthritis, bone spurring and the fact that Plaintiff was in obvious acute distress 4 1 from pain, yet only prescribed over the counter Ibuprofen for pain, knowing that this would leave 2 Plaintiff in severe pain at all times. (Id., at ¶¶ 15-25.) These allegations are sufficient to state a 3 cognizable claim against Defendant Dr. Klarich for deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s serious 4 medical needs. 5 Plaintiff alleges that he submitted to Defendant Dr. Nyguen for slightly over a year 6 (09/20/2002 - 11/22/2003) and that he presented with obvious indicators of end stage liver 7 disease, and respiratory distress, COPD w/emphysema, seizure disorder, spinal disease, and GI 8 disease. (Id. at 14:8-15:20, 21:1-22:19.) Plaintiff alleges that Dr. Nyguen: (1) knew of Plaintiff’s 9 high ammonia levels and mental confusion, yet intentionally disregarded the severity of 10 Plaintiff’s medical status (“mental confusion presentation [end stage liver failure indicators]”) 11 and only prescribed over the counter antacids and routine blood work for GI conditions; (2) knew 12 of Plaintiff’s respiratory distress symptoms and yet failed to prescribe chest x-rays or breathing 13 treatments thus causing oxygen deprivation and blackouts; (3) knew of Plaintiff’s degenerative 14 spinal and facet disease, arthritis, bone spurring and realized that Plaintiff presented in obvious 15 acute distress from pain, yet only prescribed over the counter Ibuprofen for pain, knowing that 16 this would leave Plaintiff in sever pain at all times. (Id. at ¶¶ 34-41.) Plaintiff alleges that in 17 August of 2003, he was seen by Defendant Dr. Nyguen for renewal of all medications, including 18 his anti-seizure medication Tegratol and interferon which Defendant Dr. Nyguen had allowed to 19 expire. (Id. at ¶ 58.) Knowing that Plaintiff’s life and health were at risk without these 20 medications, Defendant Dr. Nyguen refused to see Plaintiff, did not renew his medications for 21 weeks, and did not see Plaintiff for a re-scheduled appointment until weeks later. (Id.) On 22 September 15, 2003, Defendant Dr. Nyguen saw Plaintiff for being bedridden due to excessive 23 illnesses secondary to his prescription of Rebetol. (Id. at ¶ 59.) Defendant Dr. Nyguen became 24 hostile and refused to even open Plaintiff’s medical file to review the results of recently taken lab 25 tests, ordered Plaintiff to leave, and ended the appointment without rendering any medical care to 26 Plaintiff. (Id.) These allegations are sufficient to state a cognizable claim against Defendant Dr. 27 Nyguen for deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. 28 5 1 Plaintiff alleges that he submitted multiple times to Defendant Dr. Deering during a 2 period of slightly over a year (09/20/2002 - 11/22/2003) and that he presented with obvious 3 indicators of end stage liver disease, respiratory distress, COPD w/emphysema, seizure disorder, 4 spinal disease, and GI disease. (Id. at 15:21-17:14.) Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Dr. Deering: 5 (1) knew of Plaintiff’s high ammonia levels and mental confusion, yet intentionally disregarded 6 the severity of Plaintiff’s medical status and only prescribed over the counter antacids; (2) knew 7 of Plaintiff’s respiratory distress symptoms (“indicative of acute bronchitis, asthma, emphysema 8 attacks”) and yet failed to prescribe a chest x-ray or breathing treatments thus causing oxygen 9 deprivation and blackouts; (3) knew of Plaintiff’s degenerative spinal and facet disease, arthritis, 10 bone spurring, history of two failed spinal surgeries, and the fact that Plaintiff presented in 11 obvious acute distress from pain, yet only prescribed over the counter Ibuprofen for pain, 12 knowing that this would leave Plaintiff in severe pain at all times. (Id.) These allegations are 13 sufficient to state a cognizable claim against Defendant Dr. Deering for deliberate indifference to 14 Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. 15 Plaintiff alleges that he submitted to Dr. Wu for slightly over a year (09/20/2002 - 16 11/22/2003) and that he presented with obvious indicators of end stage liver disease, and 17 respiratory distress, COPD w/emphysema, seizure disorder, spinal disease, and GI disease. (Id. 18 at 17:16-19:24.) Plaintiff alleges that Dr. Wu: (1) knew of Plaintiff’s high ammonia levels and 19 mental confusion, yet intentionally disregarded the severity of Plaintiff’s medical status and only 20 prescribed medical cell feedings and over the counter antacids; (2) knew of Plaintiff’s respiratory 21 distress symptoms and yet failed to prescribe a chest x-ray or breathing treatments thus causing 22 oxygen deprivation, blackouts, organ damage, brain cell death, and distress for weeks similar to 23 slow suffocation; (3) knew of Plaintiff’s degenerative spinal and facet disease, arthritis, bone 24 spurring, history of two failed spine surgeries, and the fact that Plaintiff presented in obvious 25 acute distress from pain, yet only prescribed over the counter Ibuprofen for pain, knowing that 26 this would leave Plaintiff in severe pain at all times. (Id. at ¶¶ 48-52.) Further, Plaintiff alleges 27 that on April 23, 2003, Dr. Wu saw Plaintiff: (1) knew that he was in severe pain, acknowledged 28 6 1 that hard steel bunks were aggravating his pain from bulging discs, spinal disease, and arthritis, 2 yet denied Plaintiff an extra mattress and pillow for pain management; (2) confirmed carpal 3 tunnel syndrome and arthritis in both hands, but refused to issue wrist braces for pain, “nor 4 medically unassigned status;” and (3) when Plaintiff requested Dr. Wu check on appointments 5 with specialists that were more than a year overdue, Dr. Wu pushed Plaintiff out of his office and 6 told Plaintiff to file a grievance on him, since Plaintiff was so good at it. (Id. at ¶¶ 53-56.) These 7 allegations are sufficient to state a cognizable claim against Defendant Dr. Wu for deliberate 8 indifference to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. 9 Plaintiff’s allegations that, in retaliation for Plaintiff having handed him an inmate appeal 10 regarding prison staff not providing him with food trays hin his cell, Defendant Captain Santa 11 Cruz refused to honor and had Klarich’s medical order for in-cell food trays modified and 12 restricted so as to inflict unnecessary pain on Plaintiff who had difficulty walking which caused 13 painful aggravation of Plaintiff’s carpal tunnel syndrome from trying to carry and balance his 14 food tray in one hand while walking with a cane in the other. (Id. at ¶¶ 26-33) These allegations 15 are sufficient to state a cognizable claim under the Eighth Amendment for deliberate indifference 16 by Defendant Captain Santa Cruz to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs as Defendant Captain Santa 17 Cruz was interfering with medical orders which resulted in substantial harm (i.e. exacerbating 18 Plaintiff’s carpal tunnel syndrome, causing acute pain of Plaintiff’s “blown” lumbar discs, 19 constant GI disease, and wild weight fluctuations (id. at ¶ 32)). 20 21 2. First Amendment – Retaliation Allegations of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment rights to speech or to 22 petition the government may support a section 1983 claim. Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 532 23 (9th Cir. 1985); see also Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135 (9th Cir. 1989); Pratt v. 24 Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995). “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First 25 Amendment retaliation entails five basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some 26 adverse action against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that 27 such action (4) chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did 28 not reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 5677 1 68 (9th Cir. 2005). An allegation of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment right to file 2 a prison grievance is sufficient to support a claim under section 1983. Bruce v. Ylst, 351 F.3d 3 1283, 1288 (9th Cir. 2003). Adverse action is action that “would chill a person of ordinary 4 firmness” from engaging in that activity. Pinard v. Clatskanie School Dist., 467 F.3d 755, 770 5 (9th Cir. 2006); White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1228 (9th Cir. 2000); see also Lewis v. Jacks, 486 6 F.3d 1025 (8th Cir. 2007); Thomas v. Eby, 481 F.3d 434, 440 (6th Cir. 2007); Bennett v. 7 Hendrix, 423 F.3d 1247, 1250-51 (11th Cir. 2005); Constantine v. Rectors & Visitors of George 8 Mason Univ., 411 F.3d 474, 500 (4th Cir. 2005); Gill v. Pidlypchak, 389 F.3d 379, 381 (2d Cir. 9 2004); Rauser v. Horn, 241 F.3d 330, 333 (3d Cir. 2001). Both litigation in court and filing 10 inmate grievances are protected activities and it is impermissible for prison officials to retaliate 11 against inmates for engaging in these activities. However, not every allegedly adverse action will 12 be sufficient to support a claim under section 1983 for retaliation. In the prison context, cases in 13 this Circuit addressing First Amendment retaliation claims involve situations where the action 14 taken by the defendant was clearly adverse to the plaintiff. Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 568 (arbitrary 15 confiscation and destruction of property, initiation of a prison transfer, and assault in retaliation 16 for filing grievances); Austin, 367 F.3d at 1171 (retaliatory placement in administrative 17 segregation for filing grievances); Bruce, 351 F.3d at 1288 (retaliatory validation as a gang 18 member for filing grievances); Hines v. Gomez, 108 F.3d 265, 267(9th Cir. 1997) (retaliatory 19 issuance of false rules violation and subsequent finding of guilt); Pratt, 65 F.3d at 806 20 (retaliatory prison transfer and double-cell status); Valandingham, 866 F.2d at 1138 (inmate 21 labeled a snitch and approached by other inmates and threatened with harm as a result); Rizzo, 22 778 F.2d at 530-32 (retaliatory reassignment out of vocational class and transfer to a different 23 prison). 24 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Santa Cruz became livid on November 14, 2002 when 25 Plaintiff filed an inmate appeal stating that subordinates of Defendant Santa Cruz were refusing 26 to order medical cell feed trays for Plaintiff, despite Defendant Dr. Klarich’s order to do so. 27 (Doc. 141, 3rd Amd. Compl., ¶ 26.) Subsequently, Defendant Santa Cruz refused to follow 28 Defendant Dr. Klarich’s orders, and forced Plaintiff to either pick up a food tray, carry it to his 8 1 cell and back, over a hundred (100) yards one way, or starve. (Id. at ¶¶ 28-31.) Defendant Santa 2 Cruz also ordered Dr. White to change Plaintiff’s “cell feed chrono” from six months to only one 3 month. (Id.) These allegations are sufficient to state a cognizable claim against Defendant Santa 4 Cruz for retaliation. 5 Plaintiff alleges that on July 18, 2003, Plaintiff was seen by Defendant Dr. Nyguen 6 regarding a healthcare request form seeking Defendant Dr. Nyguen to review a “GI Specialist’s 7 report; revisit wheelchair use; a pain management plan; medical disability; pain management via 8 issuance of a chrono for an extra mattress/pillow; and to review why it had been over a year and 9 he had still not had appointments with an orthopedist, dietician, and a pain management clinic. 10 (Id. at ¶ 57.) Defendant Dr. Nyguen told Plaintiff to file an inmate appeal again and because he 11 was not going to treat Plaintiff. (Id.) Plaintiff’s allegations that Defendant Dr. Nyguen denied 12 him medical care, acknowledged that Plaintiff might disagree, and was aware of how to express 13 his disagreement in an inmate appeal does not mean that Plaintiff’s past grievance filing was the 14 impetus for Defendant Dr. Nyguen denying him medical treatment. The mere possibility that 15 acts occurred because of an unconstitutional motive does not provide a basis for the Court to 16 draw a reasonable inference that such was the case. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949. Plaintiff’s 17 allegations do not rise to the level of a facially plausible claim that Dr. Nyguen refused to provide 18 him medical care because of Plaintiff’s past grievance filing activities. Plaintiff fails to state a 19 claim for unconstitutional retaliation against Defendant Dr. Nyguen. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s 20 claim for retaliation against Dr. Nyguen should be dismissed. 21 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Dr. Wu retaliated against him on April 23, 2003 by 22 “rudely and physically” pushing Plaintiff out of his office when Plaintiff asked him to check on 23 appointments with specialists which were a year overdue. (Doc. 141, 3rd Amd. Compl., ¶ 56.) 24 Plaintiff alleges that, as Defendant Dr. Wu was pushing Plaintiff out of the office, he told 25 Plaintiff to file a grievance on him since Plaintiff was so good at that. (Id.) Being pushed out of 26 an office and being told to file a grievance simply do not rise to the level of unconstitutional 27 retaliation. While these allegations show that Defendant Dr. Wu was aware of Plaintiff’s 28 grievance filing proclivities, they do not amount to acts in retaliation for those activities. Once 9 1 again, the mere possibility that acts occurred because of an unconstitutional motive does not 2 provide a basis for the Court to draw a reasonable inference that such was the case. Iqbal, 129 3 S.Ct. at 1949. Plaintiff’s allegations do not rise to the level of a facially plausible claim that Dr. 4 Wu refused to provide him medical care because of Plaintiff’s past grievance filing activities. 5 Plaintiff fails to state a claim for unconstitutional retaliation against Defendant Dr. Wu. 6 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s claim for retaliation against Defendant Dr. Wu should be dismissed. 7 Plaintiff does not state any factual allegations to attempt to show that Defendants Dr. 8 Klarich, Dr. Deering, or Gov. Schwarzenegger engaged in retaliatory acts against him. Any 9 claims of retaliation against Defendants Dr. Klarich, Dr. Deering, or Gov. Schwarzenegger 10 11 12 should be dismissed. 3. Supervisory Liability Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant Schwarzenegger are based solely on the funding of 13 the medical treatment inmates receive in state prisons. Plaintiff seeks money damages from 14 Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger in both his official and individual capacities. 15 “The Eleventh Amendment bars suits for money damages in federal court against a state, 16 its agencies, and state officials in their official capacities.” Aholelei v. Dept. of Public Safety, 17 488 F.3d 1144, 1147 (9th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted). However, the Eleventh Amendment 18 does not bar suits seeking damages against state officials in their personal capacities. Hafer v. 19 Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 30 (1991); Porter v. Jones, 319 F.3d 483, 491 (9th Cir. 2003); Suever v. 20 Connell, 579 F.3d 1047, 1060-61 (9th Cir. 2009). Plaintiff is not allowed to pursue money 21 damages against Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger in his official capacity. 22 Further, evaluating Plaintiff’s claims for money damages against Defendant Governor 23 Schwarzenegger in his individual capacity, requires an “individualized” inquiry such as that 24 applicable to suits seeking damages from individual prison officials. See Williams v. Bennett, 25 689 F.2d 1370, 1383-84 (11th cir. 1982). Supervisory personnel are generally not liable under 26 section 1983 for the actions of their employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, 27 therefore, when a named defendant holds a supervisory position, the causal link between him and 28 the claimed constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 10 1 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 442 2 U.S. 941 (1979). To state a claim for relief under section 1983 based on a theory of supervisory 3 liability, Plaintiff must allege some facts that would support a claim that supervisory defendants 4 either: personally participated in the alleged deprivation of constitutional rights; knew of the 5 violations and failed to act to prevent them; or promulgated or “implemented a policy so 6 deficient that the policy ‘itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights’ and is ‘the moving force 7 of the constitutional violation.’” Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989) (internal 8 citations omitted); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) 9 However, “‘bare assertions . . . amount[ing] to nothing more than a “formulaic recitation 10 of the elements” of a constitutional discrimination claim,’ for the purposes of ruling on a motion 11 to dismiss, [and thus also for screening] are not entitled to an assumption of truth.” ’ ” Moss v. 12 U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1951 (quoting 13 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555)). “Such allegations are not to be discounted because they are 14 ‘unrealistic or nonsensical,’ but rather because they do nothing more than state a legal conclusion 15 - even if that conclusion is cast in the form of a factual allegation.” Id. “Thus, in Iqbal, the 16 Court assigned no weight to the plaintiff’s conclusory allegation that former Attorney General 17 Ashcroft and FBI Director Mueller knowingly and willfully subjected him to harsh conditions of 18 confinement ‘solely on account of [his] religion, race, and/or national origin and for no legitimate 19 penological interest.’” Id. (quoting the plaintiff’s complaint in Iqbal.) 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 To survive a motion to dismiss, [and thus also to state a cognizable] a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” . . . A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. . . . The plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. Where a complaint pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’ ” Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (citations omitted). Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger is deliberately indifferent to “to known serious medical needs in violation of the 8th Amendments cruel and unusual 28 11 1 punishment prohibition; and State Law duties/liabilities vested upon him” (Doc. 141, 3rd Amd. 2 Compl., ¶ 6) because: Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger is responsible for assuring sufficient 3 funding is apportioned to the medical department at SATF (id. at ¶ 6); every named physician 4 defendant in this action indicated to Plaintiff that they refused to prescribe necessary treatments 5 and/or medication for Plaintiff’s serious medical needs due to its cost (id. at ¶ 63); and Defendant 6 Governor Schwarzenegger has publicly admitted that there is a crisis in the medical system of the 7 state’s prisons resulting in unnecessary, preventable deaths (id.). 8 9 “Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to Bivens and § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official’s own individual actions, has 10 violated the Constitution.” Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1948. Plaintiff’s allegations based on the mere 11 possibility of a connection between the alleged lack of medical care Plaintiff received and 12 Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger’s possible involvement in the funding of the prison’s 13 medical care system and/or apportionment of monies to inmates’ medical care and treatment 14 within the funds designated for California prisons, simply are not facially plausible so as to state 15 a cognizable claim against Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger for deliberate indifference 16 specifically to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. 17 18 4. State Law Claims Plaintiff alleges that the actions by the named defendants violated his rights under a 19 plethora of California statutes. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a), in any civil action in which the 20 district court has original jurisdiction, the district court “shall have supplemental jurisdiction over 21 all other claims in the action within such original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case 22 or controversy under Article III,” except as provided in subsections (b) and (c). “[O]nce judicial 23 power exists under § 1367(a), retention of supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims under 24 1367(c) is discretionary.” Acri v. Varian Assoc., Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1000 (9th Cir. 1997). “The 25 district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim under subsection (a) 26 if . . . the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction.” 28 27 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). Plaintiff is advised that the Supreme Court has cautioned that, “if the 28 federal claims are dismissed before trial, . . . the state claims should be dismissed as well.” 12 1 United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726 (1966). 5. Declaratory Relief 2 3 It is well settled that “[a] declaratory judgment, like other forms of equitable relief, 4 should be granted only as a matter of judicial discretion, exercised in the public interest.” Eccles 5 v. Peoples Bank of Lakewood Village, 333 U.S. 426, 431 (1948). “Declaratory relief should be 6 denied when it will neither serve a useful purpose in clarifying and settling the legal relations in 7 issue nor terminate the proceedings and afford relief from the uncertainty and controversy faced 8 by the parties.” United States v. Washington, 759 F.2d 1353, 1357 (9th Cir. 1985). In the event 9 that this action reaches trial and the jury returns a verdict in Plaintiff’s favor, that verdict will be 10 a finding that Plaintiff’s constitutional rights were violated. Further, “‘[a] case or controversy 11 exists justifying declaratory relief only when the challenged government activity is not 12 contingent, has not evaporated or disappeared, and, by its continuing and brooding presence, 13 casts what may well be a substantial adverse effect on the interests of the petitioning parties.’” 14 Feldman v. Bomar, 518 F.3d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Headwaters, Inc. v. Bureau of 15 Land Management, Medford Dist., 893 F.2d 1012, 1015 (9th Cir. 1989) (internal quotations and 16 citation omitted)). Plaintiff’s transfer out of SATF rendered any claims for injunctive and/or 17 declaratory relief moot. Accordingly, a declaration that Defendants violated Plaintiff’s rights is unnecessary such 18 19 that Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief should be dismissed. 20 III. 21 Conclusion and Recommendation Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint states cognizable claims for relief (1) against 22 Defendants Dr. Klarich, Dr. Nyguen, Dr. Deering, Dr. Wu, and Capt. A. Santa Cruz under the 23 Eight Amendment for deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs; and (2) against 24 Captain A. Santa Cruz for unconstitutional retaliation under the First Amendment. However, 25 Plaintiff’s complaint does not state any other cognizable claims upon which relief may be 26 granted. 27 28 Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 1. This action proceed on Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint, filed 13 1 February 23, 2010 against: 2 a. Defendants Dr. Klarich, Dr. Nyguen, Dr. Deering, Dr. Wu, and 3 Capt. A. Santa Cruz for deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s 4 serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment; and b. 5 Defendant Capt. A. Santa Cruz for retaliating against Plaintiff because Plaintiff engaged in protected First Amendment activities; 6 2. 7 All of Plaintiff’s claims, other than as found cognizable immediately 8 above, be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be 9 granted; 3. 10 Defendant Governor Schwarzenegger be dismissed from this action with 11 prejudice based on Plaintiff’s failure to state any claims upon which relief 12 may be granted against him; and 4. 13 Plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief be dismissed with prejudice. These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District 14 15 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 16 thirty (30) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file 17 written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate 18 Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections 19 within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. 20 Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 21 22 IT IS SO ORDERED. 23 Dated: icido3 August 31, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 24 25 26 27 28 14
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