(PC)Davis v. Lynn et al, No. 1:2008cv01245 - Document 39 (E.D. Cal. 2011)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING Defendants' 30 Motion for Summary Judgment signed by Judge Barry T. Moskowitz on 3/29/2011. CASE CLOSED. (Sant Agata, S)
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(PC)Davis v. Lynn et al Doc. 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 FRESNO DIVISION 9 10 ANTHONY DAVIS, CDCR #-T-48683, Civil No. 1:08cv01245-BTM (BLM) 11 Plaintiff, 12 vs. 13 14 15 ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT A. LYNN, Correctional Officer; D. GONSALEZ, Correctional Officer; F. FREGOSA, Correctional Officer, 16 (Dkt No. 30) Defendants. 17 18 Plaintiff Anthony Davis ("Davis"), a state prisoner serving a life sentence for murder and 19 robbery, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action, alleges 20 Eighth Amendment violations arising from a September 15, 2007 incident at Pleasant Valley State 21 Prison. He alleges correctional officers D. Gonzales ("Gonzales")1 and F. Fregosa used excessive force 22 while escorting him to a program office in the prison's Administrative Segregation Unit, and officer A. 23 Lynn failed to protect him from that use of force after she called for backup. Defendants now move for 24 summary judgment in their favor pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. ("Rule") 56, on the grounds that no 25 genuine issue of material fact exists and they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Dkt No. 30.) 26 For the reasons discussed below, the Motion is GRANTED. 27 28 1 Davis named defendant Gonzales with a misspelling of "Gonsalez" in his Complaint, and the name remains misspelled in the docket. 1 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) Dockets.Justia.com 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Davis filed his civil rights Complaint initiating this action on August 22, 2008, naming 3 correctional officers Lynn, Gonzales, and Fregosa (collectively "Defendants"). He alleges defendant 4 Lynn falsely accused him of a "lewd act" directed at her on September 15, 2007, and admitted at his 5 deposition he responded angrily, calling her a "bitch." Officers Gonzales and Fregosa responded to her 6 call for backup assistance to escort Davis to another area. After Davis was handcuffed, those officers 7 walked Davis through a rotunda where Lynn was seated at a podium. Davis claims Gonzales and 8 Fregosa "pushed my face, head and body up against a [wall] hard several times until I was dazed." (Dkt 9 No. 1, Compl. p. 3.) He further alleges they "slammed me down to the ground (face first) while twisting 10 my arms which I was still cuffed up." (Id.) He claims that during the incident, defendant Lynn "was 11 laughing and pointing at me." (Id.) He contends "not only was I hurt physically but their abuse caused 12 me mental and emotional injury as well." (Id.) Davis characterizes Fregosa's and Gonzales' conduct 13 as use of excessive force and Lynn's conduct as a failure to protect him from that use of force, in 14 violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. 15 By Order entered November 26, 2008, this matter was reassigned from the bench of the Eastern 16 District of California to the undersigned visiting judge. (Dkt No. 8.) On February 3, 2009, the Court 17 entered an Order directing the U.S. Marshal to effect service of process. (Dkt No. 10.) Defendants 18 responded to the Complaint on July 8, 2009 with a FED.R.CIV.P. Rule 12(b)(6) Motion To Dismiss for 19 failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and asserted an affirmative defense of qualified 20 immunity for defendant Lynn on the harassment allegations. (Dkt No. 16.) The Court extended Davis' 21 Opposition deadline to September 35, 2009. (Dkt No. 19.) Davis filed no Opposition. 22 By Order entered October 27, 2009, the Court granted in part and denied in part Defendants' 23 Motion To Dismiss. (Dkt No. 21.) The Court dismissed Davis' verbal harassment claim against 24 defendant Lynn for failure to state a constitutional violation. (Id., 4:22-5:5.) Dismissal of the claim on 25 that ground rendered it unnecessary for the Court to reach Lynn's qualified immunity defense to that 26 claim. (Id., 5:7-15.) The Court denied Defendants' Motion To Dismiss the Eighth Amendment use of 27 excessive force claim, finding Davis' factual allegations that he was pushed against a wall multiple times 28 and "slammed" down to the ground even though he was handcuffed were sufficient to state a claim. (Id., 2 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 4:13-16.) Defendants' motion did not challenge Davis' alleged Eighth Amendment failure to protect 2 claim against defendant Lynn, nor did they argue defendant Lynn was entitled to qualified immunity 3 on the failure to protect claim, so those claims also survived dismissal. (Id., 4:17-20.) Defendants 4 answered the Complaint on November 13, 2009. (Dkt No. 22.) 5 Defendants now move for summary judgment on Davis' Eighth Amendment claims, asserting 6 he cannot demonstrate a constitutional violation "because: (1) Fregosa and Gonzales did not apply force 7 maliciously, sadistically, or for the very purpose of causing harm; (2) the force used against Davis was 8 reasonable; (3) no substantial risk of serious harm to Davis's safety existed; (4) Lynn did not act with 9 obduracy and wantonness" and, in addition, "Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity." (Dkt No. 10 30-1, 2:1-6.) By Order entered July 20, 2010, the Court provided Davis with the Klingele / Rand notice 11 alerting him to the consequence, should the Motion be granted, that his case would be terminated 12 without trial, and setting an Opposition deadline of September 10, 2010. (Dkt No. 32.) That Order also 13 explained what he had to do to avoid summary judgment and referred him to the governing civil 14 procedure rules. (Id.) Despite notice of those procedures and consequences, Davis' deadline to oppose 15 the Motion has passed with no response from him. 16 II. 17 18 DISCUSSION A. Legal Standards 1. Civil Rights Complaints 19 The Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section 1983"), creates a procedure to vindicate federal 20 rights violations. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 393-94 (1989) ("[Section] 1983 'is not itself a 21 source of substantive rights,' but merely provides 'a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere 22 conferred' ") (citation omitted). "A person 'subjects' another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, 23 within the meaning of section 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative 24 acts, or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which 25 complaint is made." Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). "Liability under section 1983 26 arises only upon a showing of personal participation by the defendant," acting under color of state law, 27 that deprived the plaintiff of a constitutional or federal statutory right. Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 28 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). There is no respondeat superior liability under Section 1983. Id.; see Monell v. 3 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 Dept. of Soc. Servs, 436 U.S. 658 (1978) (the supervisor of someone who allegedly violated a plaintiff's 2 constitutional rights is not made liable for the violation by virtue of that role). There is no dispute all 3 three named defendants were acting under color of state law as prison officials at the time of the incident 4 giving rise to Davis' Complaint. 5 Federal courts hold a pro se litigant’s pleadings to "less stringent standards than formal pleadings 6 drafted by lawyers." Eldridge v. Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1137 (9th Cir. 1987) (punctuation and citation 7 omitted); see Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007) (per curiam) ("A document filed pro se is 8 to be liberally construed;" a plaintiff's statement of the claim need only give the defendant fair notice 9 of the claim and the grounds on which it rests). However, " 'a liberal interpretation of a civil rights 10 complaint may not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled.' " Bruns v. Nat’l 11 Credit Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 1257 ( 9th Cir. 1997) (citation omitted). Furthermore, the benefit 12 of liberal construction does not entitle pro se pleadings to receive the benefit of every conceivable 13 doubt, but only to the drawing in the plaintiff's favor of "reasonable factual inference[s]." McKinney 14 v. De Bord, 507 F.2d 501, 504 (9th Cir. 1974). 15 The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1996 ("PLRA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997e, modified the 16 processing of pro se prisoners' civil rights complaints. The court may at any time dismiss an action or 17 portions of it, sua sponte or on a party's motion, if the "action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a 18 claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from 19 such relief." 42 U.S.C. § 1983e(c); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The PLRA also restricts the availability 20 and extent of remedies prisoners may seek and requires prerequisite showings to maintain certain 21 claims. For example, a claim for mental or emotional suffering while in custody requires "a prior 22 showing of physical injury" that is more than de minimus. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e); see Oliver v. Keller, 23 289 F.3d 623, 627 (9th Cir. 2002); see also Jackson v. Carey, 353 F.3d 750, 758 (9th Cir. 2003). 24 2. Summary Judgment Standards 25 Any claiming or defending party "may move, with or without supporting affidavits, for summary 26 judgment on all or part of the claim." Rule 56(a), (b). Summary judgment is properly entered "if the 27 pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no 28 genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." 4 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 Rule 56(c); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. 477 2 U.S. 242, 256 (1986). "A material issue of fact is one that affects the outcome of the litigation and 3 requires a trial to resolve the parties' differing versions of the truth." S.E.C. v. Seaboard Corp., 677 F.2d 4 1301, 1306 (9th Cir. 1982). 5 materiality of facts. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. A complete failure of proof concerning an essential 6 element of the non-moving party's case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. See Celotex, 477 7 U.S. at 323. The substantive law defining the elements of the claim controls the 8 The moving party bears the initial "burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue as to any 9 material fact, and for these purposes the material it lodged must be viewed in the light most favorable 10 to the opposing party." Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157 (1970). The movant is not 11 required to produce evidence negating the non-movant's claims. Lujan v. Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n, 497 U.S. 12 871, 885, 888-89 (1990) ("the purpose of Rule 56 is to enable a party who believes there is no genuine 13 dispute as to a specific fact essential to the other side's case to demand at least one sworn averment of 14 that fact before the lengthy process of litigation continues"). If the moving party fails to discharge this 15 initial burden, summary judgment must be denied, "even if no opposing evidentiary matter is presented." 16 Adickes, 398 U.S. at 160. 17 If the movant carries its burden, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to establish facts 18 beyond the pleadings showing there is a genuine issue of disputed material fact so that summary 19 judgment is not appropriate. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324; Adickes, 398 U.S. at 157. "The mere existence 20 of a scintilla of evidence in support of the non-moving party's position is not sufficient" to create a 21 genuine issue for trial. Arpin v. Santa Clara Valley Transp. Agency, 261 F.3d 912, 919 (9th Cir. 2001) 22 (punctuation and citation omitted); see Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 23 574, 587 (1986) (there is no genuine issue for trial if, on the record taken as a whole, a rational trier of 24 fact could not find in favor of the party opposing the motion). The opposing party must "go beyond the 25 pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by 'the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions 26 on file,' designate 'specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.' " Celotex, 477 U.S. at 27 324, quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e); see also Bias v. Moynihan, 508 F.3d 1212, 1218 (9th Cir. 2007) ("To 28 avoid summary judgment, [the plaintiff] was required to present significant probative evidence tending 5 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 to support her allegations") (punctuation and citations omitted). That party may not rest on conclusory 2 allegations or mere assertions (see Taylor, 880 F.2d at 1045), but rather must present probative evidence 3 of specific and material factual issues that "can be resolved only by a finder of fact because they may 4 reasonably be resolved in favor of either party." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 256 (citation omitted). 5 As noted by Defendants, in deciding a summary judgment motion, the Court "may limit its 6 review to the documents submitted for the purposes of summary judgment and those parts of the record 7 specifically referenced therein." Carmen v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1030 (9th 8 Cir. 2001). The Court need not "scour the record in search of a genuine issue of triable fact." Keenan 9 v. Allan, 91 F.3d 1275, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996.) Davis' election not to oppose the Motion means he has 10 not affirmatively designated any genuine issue for trial in response to Defendants' properly-supported 11 motion. However, his Complaint is verified, stating the facts averred there are true under the pains and 12 penalties of perjury. (Dkt No. 1, p. 3) "A verified complaint may be treated as an affidavit to oppose 13 summary judgment to the extent it is 'based on personal knowledge' and 'sets forth specific facts 14 admissible in evidence.' " Keenan v. Hall, 83 F.3d 1083, 1090 n.1 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted); 15 see also Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 922-23 (9th Cir. 2004); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1132 16 n.14 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). Moreover, Davis' sworn deposition testimony, provided as Exhibit A 17 to the Declaration of attorney Ganson authenticating the transcript in support of the Motion, is before 18 the Court and may be considered for its evidentiary value. (Dkt No. 30-7.) 19 The Court accepts the version of disputed material facts most favorable to the non-moving party 20 in ruling on a Rule 56 motion, but only in the sense the non-moving party's version is credited for 21 purposes of identifying the existence of a genuine issue for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. The Court 22 does not make credibility determinations, weigh conflicting evidence, or draw its own inferences in 23 deciding the motion, as those are functions reserved for the trier of fact. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249, 24 255, 249 (the district court’s role on summary judgment is merely to determine whether there is a 25 genuine issue for trial). Considering the evidence from both sides, "[i]f reasonable minds could differ" 26 and there is "evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-moving] party," summary 27 judgment for the moving party is improper. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252; see Lujan, 497 U.S. at 888 28 ("where the [material] facts specifically averred by [the opposing] party contradict facts specifically 6 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 averred by the movant, the motion must be denied"). Conversely, summary judgment must be entered 2 for the moving party "if, under the governing law, there can be but one reasonable conclusion as to the 3 verdict." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250-251; Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325. 4 3. Eighth Amendment Claims 5 The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from inhumane conditions of confinement as well as 6 inhumane methods of punishment. Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006), citing 7 Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994). 8 9 10 11 To be cruel and unusual punishment, conduct that does not purport to be punishment at all must involve more than ordinary lack of due care for the prisoner's interests or safety. . . . It is obduracy and wantonness, not inadvertence or error in good faith, that characterize the conduct prohibited by the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause, whether that conduct occurs in connection with establishing conditions of confinement, supplying medical needs, or restoring official control over a tumultuous cellblock. 12 Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298-99 (1991), quoting Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986). 13 In the excessive force context pertinent to Davis' claims against defendants Fregosa and 14 Gonzales, the Eighth Amendment is violated when prison officials use force against an inmate 15 "maliciously and sadistically for the very purpose of causing harm" rather than in a good faith effort to 16 maintain or restore discipline. Hudson v. McMillian, 530 U.S. 1, 5-7 (1992) (the core judicial inquiry 17 when prison officials are accused of using excessive force is "whether force was applied in a good-faith 18 effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm"). The "malicious 19 and sadistic" standard applies to excessive force claims, rather than the "deliberate indifference" 20 standard applicable to other kinds of Eighth Amendment claims, because prison officials usually have 21 little time to reflect on their actions when responding to a risk of injury to inmates or prison employees. 22 See Whitley, 475 U.S. at 320-21. The infliction of pain in the process of effectuating a prison security 23 measure "does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment simply because it may appear in retrospect 24 that the degree of force authorized or applied for security purposes was unreasonable, and hence 25 unnecessary in the strict sense." Id. at 317, 319. 26 The presence of an emergency situation can be probative of whether force was applied 27 maliciously or sadistically. When an inmate "engages in violent and disruptive behavior, prison officials 28 7 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 are authorized and indeed required to take appropriate measures to maintain prison order and discipline 2 and protect prison staff and other prisoners" from the inmate. LeMaire v. Maass, 12 F.3d 1444, 1458 3 (9th Cir. 1993). As long as the officers acted in good faith to achieve a legitimate penological end, use 4 of force is not prohibited by the Eighth Amendment, even if in hindsight the force used may appear 5 unreasonable. To prevail on the claim, a prisoner plaintiff must produce evidence that supports "a 6 reliable inference of wantonness in the infliction of pain." Whitley, 475 U.S. at 319, 322; see Clement 7 v. Gomez, 298 F.3d 898, 903 (9th Cir. 2002) (a showing of "merely objectively unreasonable force" is 8 insufficient to satisfy the heightened standard of "malicious and sadistic force"). 9 With respect to Davis' Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Lynn: "Prison officials have 10 a duty to take reasonable steps to protect inmates from physical abuse." Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 11 1250 (9th Cir. 1982), abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. O'Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995); see also 12 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 833; Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1040 (9th Cir. 2005). To establish a 13 violation of this duty rising to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation, the prisoner must establish 14 the deprivation alleged is "objectively, sufficiently serious" and that the prison official was "deliberately 15 indifferen[t]" to serious threats to the inmate’s safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834; Hearns, 413 F.3d at 16 1040. To demonstrate a sufficiently culpable state of mind, the prisoner must show that "the official 17 [knew] of and disregard[ed] an excessive risk to inmate . . . safety." Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837 ("the 18 official must both be aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of 19 serious harm exists, and [the official] must also draw the inference"); see also Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 20 F.3d 895, 913 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam). To prove knowledge of the risk, the prisoner may rely on 21 circumstantial evidence. For example, the very obviousness of a substantial risk may be sufficient to 22 establish knowledge. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 842. Prison officials may, however, avoid liability by 23 presenting evidence that they lacked knowledge of the risk. Id. at 844-45. 24 B. Defendants' Summary Judgment Motion Is Granted 25 To prevail on their Motion, Defendants must not only demonstrate the absence of a "genuine 26 issue as to any material fact," but also that they are entitled to judgment as matter of law. FED.R.CIV.P. 27 56(c)(C)(2). The evidence before the Court permits an analysis and conclusion applying that standard, 28 construing the evidence in the light most favorable to Davis. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. 8 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 \\ 2 It is undisputed defendants Fregosa and Gonzales used physical force against Davis while he was 3 handcuffed. Whether the force used could reasonably be found to be "excessive" depends on the 4 consideration of several factors: (1) the need for the force; (2) the relationship between the force needed 5 and the force used; (3) the extent of the plaintiff's injury; (4) the threat reasonably perceived by the 6 prison officials; and (5) any efforts made to temper the severity of the forceful response. Whitley, 475 7 U.S. at 321. Defendants' sworn Declarations describe what each did and the reasons for their conduct. 8 (Dkt Nos. 30-3, 30-4, 30-5.) They also produce authenticated transcript excerpts from Davis' deposition 9 testimony. (Dkt Nos. 30-6, 30-7.) The Court has reviewed all that evidence. 10 As enumerated in Defendants' Statement Of Undisputed Facts with citations to supporting 11 evidence (Dkt No. 30-2), the facts extracted from Davis' deposition and other competent evidence 12 substantiate he was temporarily housed in a cell in One Block on September 15, 2007, after battering 13 another inmate, while staff attempted to find a space for him in Administrative Segregation. He had a 14 verbal confrontation with Lynn, became infuriated, and "disrespected" her, calling her a "bitch" several 15 times in a loud voice. Lynn went to the podium and called for backup. (Dkt No. 30-2, Facts 5-8.) The 16 Sergeant responded to the call by ordering that Davis be escorted to the program office. (Id., Fact 9.) 17 Fregosa and Gonzales and another officer who was not involved in the altercation reported to escort 18 Davis. Each of the defendant officers was shorter or smaller than Davis. The route from the cell to the 19 program office took them near the podium where Lynn was sitting. (Id., Facts 11-13.) Davis admits 20 he is a violent person with anger issues, and he was still very angry with Lynn as they approached the 21 podium. Davis faced Lynn from about ten feet away, raised his voice, and again called her a "lying ass 22 bitch." (Id., Facts 14-16.) Fregosa and Gonzales declare they did not know what Davis was going to 23 do, but it appeared to them he was trying to pull away from them to attack Lynn. (Id., Facts 17, 23-26.) 24 Davis denied he was resisting the escort, but admits he addressed the insult to Lynn. 25 Defendants do not dispute Davis' testimony and Complaint allegations that after he addressed 26 Lynn, he was forced against the rotunda wall about three times, then was taken to the ground, and 27 Gonzales and Fregosa placed their knees on Davis' back. There is also no dispute the entire incident 28 lasted about thirty seconds. Davis testified he did not sustain any physical injuries that required medical 9 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 attention. His injuries – identified at his deposition as bruising and a black eye – healed within a 2 month, and the only treatment he sought was on the day of the incident when he complained of stress 3 and humiliation. (Dkt No. 30-2, Facts 27-30, 40-42.) Both Fregosa and Gonzales declare they used 4 force because they believed Davis' conduct created an immediate threat to institutional safety and 5 security. They declare they acted in a good faith effort to prevent a perceived danger and to maintain 6 and restore discipline without the intention to harm Davis. (Dkt No. 30-2, Facts 31-33, 35-37.) 7 Lynn declares she thought Davis was going to attack her as he approached the podium under 8 escort. She was stunned and frightened, feeling threatened for the first time as a correctional officer by 9 an inmate she believed had an immediate and realistic opportunity to harm her. By the time she 10 regained her composure, the incident was over. (Id., Facts 18-22.) She declares she did not witness any 11 force used against Davis that she believed was excessive or posed a risk of serious harm. (Id., Fact 39.) 12 13 The Court finds the evidence before the Court, construed in the light most favorable to Davis, 14 fails to raise a genuine issue of material fact with respect to his Eighth Amendment claims against 15 defendants Fregosa and Gonzales for use of excessive force or against defendant Lynn for failure to 16 protect him from the use of excessive force. Davis does not dispute the surrounding circumstances that 17 he remained very angry at Lynn and was again verbally abusive with a disrespectful challenge to Lynn's 18 authority while in proximity to her. In the context of Defendants' sworn perception of a breakdown in 19 discipline and control over the inmate and potentially imminent physical danger to the officers, their 20 immediate response was to immobilize Davis and force him face down to the floor until he became 21 compliant. That response does not support a reasonable inference their actions were extraordinary, let 22 alone a sadistic or malicious manoeuver. There is no allegation the officers used any weapons, batons, 23 or chemical spray in the course of regaining control over him nor any evidence the officers planned or 24 otherwise staged the physical altercation Davis' admitted conduct triggered. The undisputed facts also 25 substantiate Davis required no medical treatment. (Dkt No. 30-2, Facts 40, 42.) He does not rebut the 26 reasonable inference his physical injuries were no more than de minimus. The PLRA forecloses 27 recovery for mental or emotional injury suffered while in custody absent "a prior showing of physical 28 injury" that is more than de minimus. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e); Oliver, 289 F.3d at 627; Jackson, 353 F.3d 10 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM) 1 at 758. 2 Davis' claim that Lynn failed to protect him from Fregosa's and Gonzales' use of excessive force 3 necessarily fails along with the failure of the excessive force claim. Moreover, the rapidity with which 4 the unexpected incident transpired, and Lynn's unrefuted sworn testimony she was "stunned" at the 5 moment by the perceived threat Davis posed, foreclose a genuine issue for trial that she was "aware of 6 facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm [to Davis from the 7 escort officers] exist[ed], and [that she] . . . also dr[e]w the inference." Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. 8 Even if the record were construed to conclude a constitutional violation occurred in the use of 9 force, the Court finds the officers would be entitled to qualified immunity for their conduct in subduing 10 Davis. "The doctrine of qualified immunity protects government officials 'from liability for civil 11 damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights 12 of which a reasonable person would have known.' " Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 129 S.Ct. 808, 13 815 (2009); see Wilkinson v. Torres, 610 F.3d 546 (9th Cir. 2010). Defendants do not dispute Davis' 14 deposition testimony describing how they shoved him against the wall and took him down to the ground 15 while he was handcuffed. It is also undisputed Davis remained extremely angry when he was escorted 16 within ten feet of defendant Lynn, and cursed her again as they were passing her station, just after his 17 first verbal confrontation challenging her authority. He himself rated his anger at the time as "ten" on 18 a "scale of one to ten." (Dkt No. 30-7, Davis Depo. p. 26.) Reasonable officers could well have 19 believed themselves justified in using the degree of force they applied to ensure they maintained 20 physical control over Davis. 21 III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER 22 For all the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Defendants' Motion For Summary 23 Judgment is GRANTED as to all remaining claims and all defendants, disposing of this action in its 24 entirety, and judgment shall be entered accordingly. 25 26 IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: March 29, 2011 27 28 Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz United States District Judge 11 E.D. California 1:08cv1245 BTM (BLM)
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