Parrish v. Solis et al
Filing
79
ORDER by Judge Lucy H. Koh granting in part and denying in part 41 Motion for Summary Judgment; REFERRING CASE TO PRO SE PRISONER SETTLEMENT PROGRAM (Attachments: # 1 cert of service) (mpb, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/28/2012)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
KAHEAL PARRISH,
12
13
Plaintiff,
v.
14
A. SOLIS, et al.,
15
Defendants.
16
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
No. C 11-1438 LHK (PR)
ORDER GRANTING IN PART
AND DENYING IN PART
DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT;
REFERRING CASE TO PRO SE
PRISONER SETTLEMENT
PROGRAM
(Docket No. 41.)
17
Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a complaint under 42 U.S.C.
18
§ 1983, arguing that Defendants used excessive force upon him, in violation of the Eighth
19
Amendment. On December 5, 2011, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff
20
has filed an opposition, and Defendants have filed a reply.1 Having carefully considered the
21
papers submitted, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendants’ motion for
22
summary judgment.
23
24
25
26
27
28
1
On July 16, 2012, the Court offered Plaintiff the opportunity to file a supplemental
opposition, in light of Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 939-41 (9th Cir. 2012). Plaintiff has not
filed a supplemental opposition.
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
BACKGROUND
2
Plaintiff filed this action, alleging that Defendants used excessive force against him,
3
which resulted in Plaintiff’s injuries. In response, Defendants argue that they are entitled to
4
summary judgment because they were justified in their use of force to prevent Plaintiff from
5
committing suicide, and because they are entitled to qualified immunity
6
The following facts are taken in the light most favorable to Plaintiff.
7
Plaintiff was housed at Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”), and is a person with a
8
qualified disability within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Compl. at 3.)2
9
He was a participant in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (“CDCR”)
10
Mental Health Delivery Services (“MHDS”) program at the Enhanced Outpatient (“EOP”) level
11
of care. (Id.) This means he was gravely mentally disabled and/or unable to care for himself.
12
(Id.)
13
In May 2010, Plaintiff was housed in administrative segregation, which is designed for
14
inmates who are EOP and have disciplinary charges pending. (Id. at 6.) Defendant R. Machuca
15
warned Plaintiff that the next time Plaintiff was charged with indecent exposure, Plaintiff would
16
“feel the Green Wall.” (Id. at 7.) Defendant R. Machuca explained to Plaintiff that a partial
17
window covering would be placed over his cell in order to limit his ability to expose himself.
18
(Decl. R. Machuca at ¶ 7.)
19
On June 11, 2010, Plaintiff was charged with indecent exposure, and it was reported to
20
Defendant Machuca. (Compl. at 7; Decl. R. Machuca at ¶ 6.) Around thirty minutes later,
21
Defendant Powell came to the cell door and told Plaintiff that Defendant R. Machuca already
22
warned him about what would happen the next time Plaintiff exposed himself, and told Plaintiff
23
that “your [sic] getting fucked up so you got a ass kicking comming.” (Compl. at 7.)
24
Defendant Powell’s threat caused Plaintiff such distress, fear, and suicidal thoughts that
25
Plaintiff reported to Psychiatric Technician K. Munn that he was feeling suicidal, and Plaintiff
26
requested crisis care. (Id. at 8.) After reading Plaintiff’s suicidal report, Defendant Powell told
27
28
2
Citations to Plaintiff’s complaint will correspond with the pagination in ECF.
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
2
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
K. Munn that “we’ll take care of it.” (Id.) Minutes later, Defendant Powell returned with
2
Defendant R. Machuca, and ordered that Plaintiff submit to handcuffing. (Id.) Defendant R.
3
Machuca observed that Plaintiff had completely covered his windows and turned off his cell
4
light. (Decl. R. Machuca at ¶ 10.) Defendant R. Machuca ordered Plaintiff to uncover his
5
windows and turn on the light. (Id.) Plaintiff refused to do so, and stated that he was feeling
6
suicidal and had already swallowed some metal. (Id.) Defendant R. Machuca repeated the
7
order, and again, Plaintiff stated that he was suicidal but did not comply with the order. (Id.)
8
9
Plaintiff told Defendants several times that he did not want Defendants to “kick his ass,”
and was scared to submit to handcuffing. (Compl. at 8.) Defendant R. Machuca told him, “I told
10
you this would happen next time you played with your dick so let’s go or we’re coming in
11
there.” (Id.) Plaintiff felt paralyzed while his cell door opened, and Defendant Powell charged
12
into Plaintiff’s cell with a 4-5 foot plastic shield in front of him, and rammed the shield into
13
Plaintiff’s body, knocking Plaintiff down to the cell floor. (Id. at 8-9.) Defendant Powell
14
slammed the shield on top of Plaintiff’s body, slammed his own body on top of the shield, and
15
placed Plaintiff in handcuffs. (Id. at 9.) Another officer placed handcuffs on Plaintiff’s ankles
16
while Plaintiff was lying on the ground. (Id.)
17
Defendant R. Machuca began talking to his brother, Defendant A. Machuca, in Spanish,
18
while Defendant Powell straddled Plaintiff’s upper back. (Id.) Plaintiff found it hard to breathe.
19
(Id.) Defendant R. Machuca then pulled down the back of Plaintiff’s underwear and discharged
20
pepper spray to Plaintiff’s anus, testicles, and face. (Id.) Defendants R. Machuca, A. Machuca,
21
and Sanudo began kicking Plaintiff in the legs, lower back, and buttocks. (Id. at 9-10.)
22
Defendant Powell hit Plaintiff with a closed fist in the back of the head approximately five times
23
while calling him names. (Id. at 10.) Defendant R. Machuca was kicking Plaintiff. After 3 to 4
24
minutes of punching and kicking Plaintiff, Defendant R. Machuca told A. Machuca to leave
25
because A. Machuca “shouldn’t be [t]here.” (Id.)
26
Afterward, both Defendants A. and R. Machuca left, and were replaced by non-
27
Defendants Officers Spaulding, R. Chavez, and Reyes. (Id.) Defendant Powell pushed
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
3
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
Plaintiff’s face into the floor just before getting off of Plaintiff’s back, causing Plaintiff to cut his
2
lower lip with his teeth. (Id.) Plaintiff was escorted to a holding cage for evaluation of his
3
injuries. (Id.) Defendant R. Machuca told the medical examiner to only record the injuries
4
where the pepper spray impacted Plaintiff. (Id.)
5
Defendant Salazar was the incident commander who authorized and instructed
6
Defendants to extract Plaintiff from his cell. (Id. at 10-11.) Defendant Salazar also instructed
7
Defendant R. Machuca to keep the record of Plaintiff’s injuries “to a minimum” and not allow
8
Plaintiff to decontaminate from the effects of the pepper spray. (Id. at 11.) Despite Plaintiff’s
9
repeated requests for a shower, all Defendants refused, based on Defendant Salazar’s orders.
10
(Id.) Defendant Salazar then falsified the crime incident reports to state that Plaintiff attempted
11
to attack Defendant Powell by charging at him with clenched fists, and all injuries were the
12
result of an “accidental discharge of pepper spray.” (Id.)
13
Until August 17, 2010, Plaintiff was kept in crisis care on suicide watch when his mental
14
health status was upgraded. (Id. at 11-12.) While in crisis care, Plaintiff continued to suffer
15
from burning skin, eyes and lungs, swollen eyes, painful and bruised legs and torso, swollen cut
16
lip, pained back, head and extensive migraine headaches. Plaintiff also suffered mental,
17
emotional, and psychological trauma. (Id. at 12.)
18
19
20
ANALYSIS
I.
Standard of Review
Summary judgment is proper where the pleadings, discovery and affidavits demonstrate
21
that there is “no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to
22
judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). Material facts are those which may affect
23
the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute
24
as to a material fact is genuine if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to return a
25
verdict for the nonmoving party. Id.
26
27
The party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden of identifying those
portions of the pleadings, discovery and affidavits which demonstrate the absence of a genuine
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
4
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Cattrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). Where the moving
2
party will have the burden of proof on an issue at trial, it must affirmatively demonstrate that no
3
reasonable trier of fact could find other than for the moving party. But on an issue for which the
4
opposing party will have the burden of proof at trial, as is the case here, the moving party need
5
only point out “that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Id.
6
at 325.
7
Once the moving party meets its initial burden, the nonmoving party must go beyond the
8
pleadings, and by its own affidavits or discovery, “set forth specific facts showing that there is a
9
genuine issue for trial.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). The Court is only concerned with disputes over
10
material facts, and “factual disputes that are irrelevant or unnecessary will not be counted.”
11
Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 248. It is not the task of the court to scour the record in search
12
of a genuine issue of triable fact. Keenan v. Allen, 91 F.3d 1275, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996). The
13
nonmoving party has the burden of identifying, with reasonable particularity, the evidence that
14
precludes summary judgment. Id. If the nonmoving party fails to make this showing, “the
15
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323.
16
At the summary judgment stage, the Court must view the evidence in the light most
17
favorable to the nonmoving party: if evidence produced by the moving party conflicts with
18
evidence produced by the nonmoving party, the judge must assume the truth of the evidence set
19
forth by the nonmoving party with respect to that fact. See Leslie v. Grupo ICA, 198 F.3d 1152,
20
1158 (9th Cir. 1999).
21
II.
22
Legal Claim
The arbitrary and wanton infliction of pain violates the Cruel and Unusual Punishments
23
Clause of the Eighth Amendment. Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 5 (1992). When prison
24
officials stand accused of using excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment, the core
25
judicial inquiry is whether force was applied in a good faith effort to maintain or restore
26
discipline, or maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm. Id. at 6-7. In
27
determining whether the use of force was for the purpose of maintaining or restoring discipline,
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
5
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
or for the malicious and sadistic purpose of causing harm, a court may evaluate the need for
2
application of force, the relationship between that need and the amount of force used, the extent
3
of any injury inflicted, the threat reasonably perceived by the responsible officials, and any
4
efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response. Id. at 7. In reviewing these factors,
5
courts must accord prison administrators wide-ranging deference in the adoption and execution
6
of polices and practices to further institutional order and security. Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 F.3d
7
895, 917 (9th Cir. 2001).
8
Taking the evidence in the complaint as true, and drawing all inferences therefrom in
9
Plaintiff’s favor, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Defendants’ use of force
10
was excessive. According to Plaintiff, Defendants R. Machuca, B. Powell, A. Machuca, and J.
11
Sanudo intended to punish Plaintiff for a second indecent exposure incident. Plaintiff’s version
12
of events differs greatly from Defendants’ version of events. Accepting Plaintiff’s account as
13
true, as this Court must, an inference could certainly be drawn that these Defendants assaulted
14
Plaintiff for the purpose of causing harm.
15
Plaintiff alleged that Defendant Salazar authorized and actively prevented Plaintiff’s full
16
injuries from being reported, and prohibited Plaintiff from being decontaminated. Plaintiff also
17
claims that Defendant Salazar falsified the crime incident report to cover-up the actions of
18
Defendants R. Machuca, B. Powell, A. Machuca, and J. Sanudo. Although Defendants dispute
19
Plaintiff’s accusations, Plaintiff raises a genuine dispute of material fact regarding Defendant
20
Salazar’s role and his actions sufficient to survive a motion for summary judgment. See, e.g.,
21
Watkins v. City of Oakland, 145 F.3d 1087, 1093 (9th Cir. 1998) (a supervisor who signed an
22
internal affairs report dismissing complaint against officer despite evidence of the officer’s use
23
of excessive force may be liable for damages).
24
On the other hand, Plaintiff’s allegations against Defendants Solis, Muniz, and Hedrick
25
are too conclusory. He merely alleges that they supported or initiated a “deficient policy.”
26
(Compl. at 11.) Specifically, that policy was authorizing Green Wall prison guard gang
27
members to act against EOP inmates. (Id. at 13.) Plaintiff also claims that other EOP inmates
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
6
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
have previously complained that Defendants R. Machuca and Defendant Powell have used
2
excessive force upon them, and in response, Defendants Solis, Muniz, and Hedrick transfer those
3
inmates to another prison. (Id.) Supervisor defendants are entitled to qualified immunity where
4
the allegations against them are simply “bald” or “conclusory” because such allegations do not
5
“plausibly” establish the supervisors’ personal involvement in their subordinates’ constitutional
6
wrong, Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 675-84 (2009) (noting no vicarious liability under
7
Section 1983 actions).
8
9
Here, although Plaintiff implies that Defendants Solis, Muniz, and Hedrick knew about,
and supported, alleged constitutional violations against other inmates, Plaintiff does not
10
specifically claim that Defendants Solis, Muniz, and Hedrick had any personal knowledge of the
11
underlying alleged constitutional violation challenged here, or that they had any direct
12
responsibility to train or supervise Defendants R. Machuca, B. Powell, A. Machuca, and J.
13
Sanudo. See, e.g., Henry A. v. Willden, 678 F.3d 991, 1004 (9th Cir. 2012) (recognizing that a
14
claim for supervisory liability must plead specific allegations).
15
Recently, in Hydrick v. Hunter, 669 F.3d 937 (9th Cir. 2012), the Ninth Circuit observed
16
that the plaintiff had made “no allegation of a specific policy implemented by the Defendants or
17
a specific event or events instigated by the Defendants that led to these purportedly
18
unconstitutional searches.” Id. at 942. As a result, the Ninth Circuit held that the plaintiff had
19
failed to allege supervisory liability claims. Id. Here, as in Hydrick, Plaintiff does not allege any
20
specific past incidents of the use of excessive force by subordinates of Defendants Solis, Muniz,
21
and Hedrick. Neither does Plaintiff allege any specific incident during which Defendant Solis,
22
Muniz, or Hedrick was given notice of a subordinate’s unconstitutional conduct. Plaintiff’s
23
allegations are generally conclusory recitals. Hydrick makes clear that general allegations failing
24
to describe specific incidents or policies are not enough to survive the Iqbal standard of pleading
25
for a supervisory liability. Thus, Defendants Solis, Muniz, and Hedrick are entitled to summary
26
judgment, and are DISMISSED from this action.
27
Having concluded that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether Defendants
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
7
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
Salazar, R. Machuca, B. Powell, A. Machuca, and J. Sanudo used excessive force against
2
Plaintiff in violation of the Eighth Amendment, the Court next addresses whether they are
3
entitled to qualified immunity. The defense of qualified immunity protects “government
4
officials . . . from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly
5
established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.”
6
Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). A Court considering a claim of qualified
7
immunity must determine whether the Plaintiff has alleged the deprivation of an actual
8
constitutional right and whether such right was clearly established such that it would be clear to
9
a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted. See Pearson v.
10
Callahan, 129 S. Ct. 808, 818 (2009). Regarding the first prong, the threshold question must be,
11
taken in the light most favorable to the party asserting the injury, do the facts alleged show the
12
officer’s conduct violated a constitutional right? Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201 (2001). The
13
inquiry of whether a constitutional right was clearly established must be undertaken in light of
14
the specific context of the case, not as a broad general proposition. Id. at 202. The relevant,
15
dispositive inquiry in determining whether a right is clearly established is whether it would be
16
clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted. Id.
17
The Court finds granting summary judgment on the ground of qualified immunity is
18
improper in this case. A dispute of fact exists as to what occurred when Defendants entered
19
Plaintiff’s cell. Resolving all factual disputes in favor of Plaintiff, the Court concludes
20
Defendants violated Plaintiff’s clearly established right to be free from excessive force. See
21
Martinez v. Stanford, 323 F.3d 1178, 1183 (9th Cir. 2003) (“the law regarding a prison guard’s
22
use of excessive force was clearly established by 1994”). Granting summary judgment on the
23
ground of qualified immunity is “improper if, under the plaintiff’s version of the facts, and in
24
light of the clearly established law, a reasonable officer could not have believed his conduct was
25
lawful.” Schwenk v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187, 1196 (9th Cir. 2000). Here, under Plaintiff’s
26
version of the facts, no reasonable officer could believe that Defendants’ actions were permitted
27
under the Eighth Amendment.
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
8
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
In sum, accepting Plaintiff’s allegations as true, there is a genuine issue of fact as to
2
whether Defendants violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Accordingly, Defendants Salazar,
3
R. Machuca, B. Powell, A. Machuca, and J. Sanudo are not entitled to summary judgment, nor
4
are they entitled to qualified immunity.
5
III.
6
Referral to Pro Se Prisoner Settlement Program
Prior to setting this matter for trial and appointing pro bono counsel to represent Plaintiff
7
for that purpose, the Court finds good cause to refer this matter to Judge Vadas pursuant to the
8
Pro Se Prisoner Settlement Program for settlement proceedings on the claim set forth above.
9
The proceedings will consist of one or more conferences as determined by Judge Vadas. The
10
conferences shall be conducted with Defendants, or their representative, attending by
11
videoconferencing if they so choose. If these settlement proceedings do not resolve this matter,
12
the Court will then set this matter for trial and consider a motion from Plaintiff for appointment
13
of counsel.
14
CONCLUSION
15
16
1.
Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in
part. Defendants Solis, Muniz, and Hedrick are DISMISSED.
17
2.
The instant case is REFERRED to Judge Vadas pursuant to the Pro Se Prisoner
18
Settlement Program for settlement proceedings on the remaining claim in this action, as
19
described above. The proceedings shall take place within one-hundred twenty (120) days of
20
the filing date of this order. Judge Vadas shall coordinate a time and date for a settlement
21
conference with all interested parties or their representatives and, within ten (10) days after the
22
conclusion of the settlement proceedings, file with the Court a report regarding the prisoner
23
settlement proceedings. If these settlement proceedings to do not resolve this matter, Plaintiff
24
can file a renewed motion for appointment of counsel, and the Court will then set this matter for
25
trial.
26
27
3.
The Clerk of the Court shall mail a copy of the Court file, including a copy of
this order, to Judge Vadas in Eureka, California.
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
9
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
1
4.
2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
3
4
The instant case is STAYED pending the settlement conference proceedings.
8/27/12
DATED: _________________
LUCY H. KOH
United States District Judge
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment; Referring Case to Pro Se
Prisoner Settlement Program
10
G:\PRO-SE\SJ.LHK\CR.11\Parrish438msjdeny.wpd
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?