(PC) Hollis v. York et al, No. 1:2009cv00463 - Document 31 (E.D. Cal. 2010)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending the Dismissal of Certain Claims and Severance of Plaintiff's Cognizable Claims re 25 First Amended Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint, signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 10/14/2010. Referred to Judge Wanger. Objections to F&R due by 11/18/2010. (Jessen, A)
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(PC) Hollis v. York et al Doc. 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 MICHAEL EUGENE HOLLIS, 10 Plaintiff, 11 12 CASE NO. 1:09-cv-00463-OWW-SKO PC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN CLAIMS AND SEVERANCE OF PLAINTIFF’S COGNIZABLE CLAIMS v. RUSSELL YORK, et al., (Doc. 25) 13 Defendants. / 14 15 Plaintiff Michael Eugene Hollis (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in 16 forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is in the custody of 17 the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) and is currently incarcerated 18 in the Lerdo Max/Med Detention Facility (“Lerdo”) in Bakersfield, California. However, the events 19 described in Plaintiff’s complaint took place while Plaintiff was incarcerated at Fresno County Jail 20 (“FCJ”) in Fresno, California. Plaintiff names Margaret Mims (Fresno County Sheriff), John/Jane 21 Doe Jail Commander (detention bureau commander), Dr. Laird (jail medical administrator), Shumate 22 (classification sergeant), Blathers (correctional sergeant), Nichols (correctional corporal), Cartier 23 (correctional corporal), Osborne (correctional officer), Oliver (classification officer), Cunha 24 (correctional officer), Dawson (correctional corporal), Calvert (correctional officer), “Unknown 25 Conspirator” (correctional officer), “Unknown Medical Doctor (jail medical services doctor), and 26 “Unidentified Supervisor” (maintenance supervisor) as defendants. For the reasons set forth below, 27 the Court finds that Plaintiff’s first amended complaint states some cognizable claims. The Court 28 also finds that Plaintiff’s claims are not properly joined and will recommend that they be severed. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 I. Screening Requirement 2 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 3 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 4 Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 5 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 6 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). 7 “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall 8 dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state a 9 claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 10 In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim, the Court uses the same pleading 11 standard used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). Under Rule 8(a), a complaint must 12 contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. 13 R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “[T]he pleading standard Rule 8 announces does not require ‘detailed factual 14 allegations,’ but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me 15 accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. 16 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, 17 accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 18 U.S. at 570). “[A] complaint [that] pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s 19 liability . . . ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.’” Id. 20 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). Further, although a court must accept as true all factual 21 allegations contained in a complaint, a court need not accept a plaintiff’s legal conclusions as true. 22 Id. “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 23 statements, do not suffice.” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). 24 II. Background 25 A. 26 Plaintiff filed the original complaint in this action on March 11, 2009. (Doc. #1.) Plaintiff’s 27 original complaint was screened by the Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a) on October 8, 2009. 28 (Doc. #20.) The Court found that Plaintiff’s original complaint stated some cognizable claims and Procedural Background 2 1 found that the other claims failed to state a cognizable claim for relief. The Court ordered Plaintiff 2 to either file an amended complaint that cured the deficiencies in his non-cognizable claims or notify 3 the Court that he wished to proceed only on the claims found to be cognizable. On January 19, 2010, 4 Plaintiff filed his first amended complaint. (Doc. #25.) This action proceeds on Plaintiff’s first 5 amended complaint. 6 B. 7 Plaintiff divides his complaint into seven separate “claims”: 1) “Denial of Meaningful Access 8 to Federal Court,” 2) “Denial of a Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedy,” 3) “Correctional 9 Officer Harassment/Retaliation,” 4) “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process,” 5) “Mis- 10 Classification,” 6) “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures,” and 7) “Denial of Adequate 11 Lighting.” 12 Factual Background 1. Denial of Meaningful Access to Federal Court 13 Plaintiff’s “Denial of Meaningful Access to Federal Court” claim names Margaret Mims and 14 John/Jane Doe Jail Commander as defendants. Plaintiff claims that the law library policy at FCJ 15 violated Plaintiff’s constitutional right of access to the courts. 16 Plaintiff’s access to courts claim is premised on his “unavoidably substandard” filings in this 17 Court. (Am. Compl. 12, ECF No. 25.1) Plaintiff claims that his filings are substandard because he 18 did not have adequate access to law library resources at FCJ. Plaintiff also complains that he is now 19 incarcerated in Big Spring, Texas, and is unable to litigate his California state law claims because 20 he does not have access to California state law resources.2 21 Plaintiff complains that while at FCJ, he was not allowed to visit the law library and was not 22 allowed to possess hard bound books. Instead, Plaintiff was classified as an “Intensive Management 23 Unit” inmate and was supposed to be able to obtain copies of specifically requested materials and 24 provided with an index to help him request materials. (Am. Compl. 14, ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff also 25 26 27 1 Citations to Plaintiff’s complaint refer to the page numbers as the complaint is electronically docketed. The page numbers used by Plaintiff do not align with the page numbers as the pleading is docketed. 2 28 Plaintiff was incarcerated in Texas at the time he filed his amended complaint. According to the docket, Plaintiff has since been transferred to Bakersfield, California. 3 1 claims that he should have received weekly assistance from inmate law clerks. Plaintiff complains 2 that he did not receive any of those services. Plaintiff does not specifically allege what services he 3 did receive, but concludes that the services provided at FCJ were constitutionally inadequate because 4 “[i]t is clear . . . that none of the requisites of Ninth Circuit constitutionally adequate law library 5 access are met by Defendant Mims and her John/Jane Doe Jail Commander’s unconstitutional 6 institutional policy of denying civil rights litigants in FCJ access to FCJ legal resources.” (Am. 7 Compl. 15, ECF No. 25.) 8 Plaintiff’s access to courts claim also cites the legal standards for stating a claim for 9 retaliation against a prisoner’s exercise of a protected First Amendment right. Plaintiff claims that 10 Mims and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander “have bad faith, retaliatory motives for denying the 11 pursuit of all civil rights damages claims in the FCJ law library.” (Am. Compl. 23, ECF No. 25.) 12 Plaintiff claims that the unconstitutional law library access policy is an attempt to save costs from 13 litigating lawsuits. 14 2. Denial of a Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedy 15 Plaintiff’s “Denial of a Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedy” claim names Margaret 16 Mims, John/Jane Doe Jail Commander, and Laird as defendants. Plaintiff also indicates that he 17 wishes to amend his complaint at a later date to state claims against unidentified FCJ medical 18 services officials. 19 Plaintiff alleges that he arrived at FCJ on August 19, 2008 with “very bad problems with his 20 digestive irregularity.” (Am. Compl. 25, ECF No. 25.) On August 28, 2008, Plaintiff bought an 21 over-the-counter laxative for his medical problem. On August 29, 2008, Plaintiff filed a sick call 22 request because he was experiencing rectal pain and bleeding. Plaintiff claims that his medical 23 problems were related to surgery he received in 2004 to remove an “anal fistula.” (Am. Compl. 25, 24 ECF No. 25.) 25 26 Plaintiff continued to file sick call requests on a daily basis. On September 4, 2008, Plaintiff filed a grievance about his medical problems. The grievance was denied on September 8, 2008. 27 On September 4, 2008, Plaintiff attempted to buy milk of magnesia from the commissary. 28 However, the milk of magnesia was out of stock and Plaintiff began complaining to nurses that he 4 1 was denied a common over-the-counter medication. Plaintiff continued to suffer “sharp cramps, 2 bloating, rectal bleeding, and loss of sleep in his extreme discomfort.” (Am. Compl. 27, ECF No. 3 25.) On September 7, 2008, an unknown correctional officer took Plaintiff to the front of the sick 4 call line and told the nurse that Plaintiff had not had a bowel movement in ten days. The nurse gave 5 Plaintiff four doses of milk of magnesia and warm water. Plaintiff was then sent back to his housing 6 unit “where relief from his very distressing condition followed shortly thereafter.” (Am. Compl. 29, 7 ECF No. 25.) 8 Plaintiff complains that Defendant Laird dismissed Plaintiff’s administrative grievances 9 requesting medical care because Plaintiff’s condition was “mere constipation.” (Am. Compl. 29, 10 ECF No. 25.) 11 3. 12 13 Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation Plaintiff’s “Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation” claim names Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne as defendants. 14 Plaintiff claims that Defendants Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha denied Plaintiff’s requests for 15 legal materials and legal services. Plaintiff requested grievance forms and postage materials but the 16 officers refused to provide Plaintiff with those materials. Plaintiff claims that the officers denied 17 Plaintiff’s requests in retaliation for Plaintiff’s litigious behavior. Plaintiff also complains that the 18 officers were slow to respond to grievances and denied the grievances when they finally addressed 19 them. Plaintiff claims that his access to the FCJ grievance process was denied on five occasions by 20 these officers. 21 Plaintiff claims that on February 8, 2009, he filed a grievance complaining that he feared for 22 his safety because he was housed with “a court-certified criminally insane madman in 24/7 punitive 23 medical lockdown.” (Am. Compl. 42, ECF No. 25.) Instead of addressing Plaintiff’s grievance, 24 Defendants Cunha and Osborne “started talking with the violent man standing right there” and “[i]t 25 was obvious to anyone that these Defendants were placing Plaintiff in danger.” (Am. Compl. 42-43, 26 ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff claims that Defendants were “kiting him out,” meaning that they were 27 attempting to label Plaintiff as a snitch so the “criminally insane” cell mate would attack him. 28 /// 5 1 Plaintiff attempts to hold Defendant Blathers liable for the alleged harassment Plaintiff 2 experienced at the hands of other officers. Plaintiff alleges that Blathers is a supervisory official who 3 ignored Plaintiff’s written requests to talk to her about staff misconduct. 4 4. Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process 5 Plaintiff’s “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process” claim names Blathers, Nichols, 6 Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne as defendants. Plaintiff also alleges that an unidentified classification 7 officer is also liable for disciplining Plaintiff. 8 On February 15, 2009, Cartier sent Osborne and Cunha to trash Plaintiff’s cell. While they 9 were trashing Plaintiff’s cell, they found a toothpick that Plaintiff had made. Plaintiff contends that 10 he was forced to make the toothpick because the commissary does not sell dental floss. The 11 toothpick was made from a staple and a pencil. Cunha served Plaintiff with a “serious major 12 offense” for possessing a weapon. 13 On February 17, 2009, Plaintiff attended a disciplinary hearing conducted by Defendant 14 Nichols. Plaintiff admitted to the facts of the case. Nichols stated that he did not consider the case 15 to be a “serious major offense,” but found Plaintiff guilty of a minor offense. Plaintiff agreed with 16 Nichols’ findings but nonetheless contends that Nichols violated Plaintiff’s due process rights by 17 failing to provide Plaintiff with a paper copy of the findings and punishment imposed for the offense. 18 On February 23, 2009, Plaintiff was scheduled for a court appearance. Plaintiff contends that 19 as he was walking out, Osborne, Cunha and Blathers gave Plaintiff dirty looks. Osborne verbally 20 noted that Plaintiff was “off to see Judge Wanger” in a mocking manner. When Plaintiff returned 21 from court, his housing unit was trashed. Cartier then informed Plaintiff that he was moving. 22 Plaintiff complains that Cartier repeatedly rushed Plaintiff as he was cleaning up his trashed property 23 in preparation for the move. Plaintiff claims that Blathers conspired with the other Defendants to 24 move Plaintiff to disciplinary housing because Blathers thought that Plaintiff had told Judge Wanger 25 about civil rights violations against her staff when Plaintiff had appeared in Court. Plaintiff contends 26 that Blathers' actions were adverse because he was moved to the coldest floor in FCJ. 27 /// 28 /// 6 1 5. Mis-Classification 2 Plaintiff’s “Mis-Classification” claim names Shumate and Oliver as defendants. 3 Plaintiff alleges that he filed a grievance on August 20, 2008 complaining that he was forced 4 to climb stairs to use the restroom, shower, eat meals, access mail service, or leave the housing area. 5 Plaintiff claims that he suffers from post-surgical osteoarthritis and was not given access to his 6 medication. As a result, Plaintiff suffered pain from being forced to climb the stairs. 7 On September 1, 2008, Plaintiff was seen by a registered nurse who recommended that 8 Plaintiff be seen by a physician because his right knee was swollen. Plaintiff was never examined 9 by a physician. On September 2, 2008, Defendant Shumate moved Plaintiff to the fifth floor of the 10 jail, despite the fact that Plaintiff’s knee had swollen to twice its normal size. Plaintiff contends that 11 the “Classification Defendants”3 moved Plaintiff to the Fifth floor in retaliation for filing a grievance 12 about his knee problems. 13 Plaintiff also complains that he was suffering from locked bowels and rectal bleeding during 14 that period. Plaintiff was unable to file a grievance about his medical issues because correctional 15 officers would not provide Plaintiff with the necessary paperwork. When Plaintiff received the 16 necessary paperwork, he filed a grievance and sent it to John/Jane Doe Jail Commander. On 17 September 12, 2008, Plaintiff was called into the classification office by Shumate. Shumate was 18 visibly irate. Plaintiff was then moved to the fourth floor. Plaintiff complains that he was not 19 allowed to sign off on his grievance. 20 On September 12, 2008, Defendant Oliver attempted to house Plaintiff in a medical 21 lockdown cell with a violent murderer. Although Plaintiff was not housed with the violent murderer, 22 Plaintiff complains that the attempt demonstrates that Defendants “were clearly moving swiftly to 23 get some violence into the Disabled American Plaintiff’s life.” (Am. Compl. 66, ECF No. 25.) On 24 September 28, 2008, Defendant Shumate housed Plaintiff in a medical lockdown cell with an inmate 25 that had been fighting “in the North Jail.” (Am. Compl. 66, ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff alleges that 26 Shumate knew that the inmate did not get along with others because Shumate denied the inmate’s 27 28 3 The identity of the “Classification Defendants” is unclear as Plaintiff only specifically identifies Defendant Shumate in this portion of Plaintiff’s complaint. 7 1 request to return to North Jail on those grounds. Plaintiff claims that he was “walking on eggshells” 2 because he was forced to remain in lockdown with the violent inmate and he was disabled and 3 unable to defend himself. 4 On October 19, 2008, Plaintiff was housed with a new cell mate that also had violent 5 tendencies. On December 9, 2008, Plaintiff wrote a letter to Shumate complaining about being 6 housed with gang members and requested to be reclassified. Plaintiff’s request was denied on 7 December 12, 2008. Plaintiff claims that the FCJ inmate handbook bestows upon Plaintiff a right 8 to a classification review. Plaintiff contends that his right to a classification review was denied when 9 his requests were denied. Plaintiff was then housed with another violent inmate on February 2, 2009. 10 Plaintiff contends that Defendant Oliver deliberately placed the violent inmate in Plaintiff’s cell to 11 show Plaintiff what “real jail” looked like. 12 6. 13 14 Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures Plaintiff’s “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures” claim names Margaret Mims, John/Jane Doe Jail Commander, Blathers, Dawson, and Calvert as defendants. 15 Plaintiff claims that Defendant Mims is “pip[ing] in” cold air from outside into the jail 16 through the air vents. (Am. Compl. 72, ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff filed grievances about the cold 17 temperatures and requested extra clothing. Plaintiff contends that Mims and John/Jane Doe Jail 18 Commander refused to issue inmates long underwear or beanies. Plaintiff spoke with a correctional 19 corporal who told Plaintiff that he had to make his request for extra clothing through medical. 20 Plaintiff contends that medical personnel told Plaintiff to request extra clothing through custody. 21 Plaintiff complains that he was getting a runaround. 22 On November 29, 2008, Plaintiff filed a grievance requesting extra clothing that was denied 23 by John/Jane Doe Jail Commander on December 12, 2008. Plaintiff contends that the cold 24 temperatures aggravated his severe osteoarthritis and that he noted these issues in his grievances. 25 On December 2, 2008, Plaintiff was interviewed by Defendants Dawson and Calvert about 26 his grievances. Calvert spoke to Plaintiff about the maintenance issues in FCJ and acknowledged 27 a number of other grievances about the cold temperatures filed by other inmates. Calvert asked 28 /// 8 1 Plaintiff to sign off on the grievance and told Plaintiff that the issue would be resolved soon. 2 Plaintiff complained that it was so cold that both Dawson and Calvert were wearing coats. 3 Plaintiff also alleges that Dawson and Calvert took a temperature reading of the jail but 4 falsified the results. Plaintiff contends that the ambient temperature in his cell was in the low 50s 5 but Dawson and Calvert took a false reading by measuring the temperature in the warmest area of 6 the jail to record a temperature that appeared to be acceptable (64 degrees). 7 7. Denial of Adequate Lighting 8 Plaintiff’s “Denial of Adequate Lighting” claim names Margaret Mims and John/Jane Doe 9 Jail Commander as defendants. Plaintiff also claims that an unknown maintenance supervisor is also 10 liable for the inadequate lighting. 11 Plaintiff alleges that he was housed in a cell with inadequate lighting from March 23, 2009 12 to May 7, 2009. Plaintiff claims that the light in his cell was stuck on the “dim” setting because it 13 was damaged. Plaintiff claims that the light was so dim that it was difficult to see or read from 14 Plaintiff’s bunk. Plaintiff filed numerous administrative grievances complaining about the lighting 15 and spoke with a number of correctional officers about the issue. Plaintiff claims that the unknown 16 maintenance supervisor sent workers to fix the light on multiple occasions, but they did not fix the 17 light. Plaintiff’s light was not fixed until May 7, 2009. Plaintiff complains that there was not 18 enough light to read while Plaintiff was on his bunk. However, Plaintiff admits that the desk in his 19 cell was directly under the dim light and received enough light to read. Plaintiff alleges that he had 20 to constantly argue with his cellmate over who could use the desk area to read. 21 III. 22 23 Discussion A. Denial of Meaningful Access to Federal Court 1. Access to Courts Claims 24 Plaintiff claims that the law library policies at FCJ violated his constitutional right of access 25 to the courts. Prisoners have a constitutional right of access to the courts. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 26 U.S. 343, 346 (1996); Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 821 (1977); Bradley v. Hall, 64 F.3d 1276, 27 1279 (9th Cir. 1995) (discussing the right in the context of prison grievance procedures); Vandelft 28 v. Moses, 31 F.3d 794, 796 (9th Cir. 1994); Ching v. Lewis, 895 F.2d 608, 609 (9th Cir. 1989) (per 9 1 curiam). To establish a violation of the right of access to the courts, a prisoner must establish that 2 he or she has suffered an actual injury, a jurisdictional requirement that flows from the standing 3 doctrine and may not be waived. See Lewis, 518 U.S. at 349. An “actual injury” is “‘actual 4 prejudice with respect to contemplated or existing litigation, such as the inability to meet a filing 5 deadline or to present a claim.’” Id. at 348. 6 Prisoners do not have a right to a law library. Lewis, 518 U.S. at 350. Prisoners have a right 7 of access to the courts and a law library is “merely ‘one constitutionally acceptable method to assure 8 meaningful access to the courts.’” Lewis, 518 U.S. at 351 (quoting Bounds, 430 U.S. at 830)). 9 “[A]n inmate cannot establish relevant actual injury simply by establishing that his prison’s law 10 library or legal assistance program is subpar in some theoretical sense.” Id. Thus, an allegation that 11 a prisoner was denied access to the law library is not sufficient to state a claim for interference with 12 access to the courts. An access-to-courts claim centers around the actual injury a prisoner suffered 13 with respect to contemplated or existing litigation, and not on the fact that the prisoner was denied 14 time in the law library, or was removed from the law library prematurely. 15 The right of access to the courts does not require the State to enable prisoners to discover 16 grievances and litigate effectively once in court. Id. at 354. Further, the right of access to the courts 17 only pertains to attempts by inmates to pursue direct appeals from the convictions for which they 18 were incarcerated such as habeas petitions and civil rights actions. Id. 19 When raising an access to courts claim seeking relief for a lost opportunity to present a legal 20 claim or relief from an unfavorable outcome in a prior legal claim, a plaintiff must show 1) the loss 21 of a non frivolous or arguable claim; 2) the defendant’s acts frustrating the litigation; and 3) that the 22 relief sought is unobtainable in any presently existing suit. Christopher v. Harbury, 536 U.S. 403, 23 413-416 (2002). 24 Plaintiff has not alleged that he suffered any prejudice with respect to a contemplated or 25 existing litigation. Plaintiff has not alleged that he suffered an unfavorable outcome in a prior legal 26 claim or otherwise lost a non-frivolous or arguable claim. Further, Plaintiff’s claim centers around 27 his inability to litigate his claims under California state law, which are presumably tort claims. 28 Plaintiff’s tort claims are not the type of litigation protected by the Constitution through an access 10 1 to courts claim. The constitutional right of access to the courts only pertains to direct appeals from 2 the convictions for which they are incarcerated such as habeas petitions or civil rights actions. 3 Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim against Defendant Mims or Defendant 4 John/Jane Doe Jail Commander for interference with Plaintiff’s constitutional right of access to the 5 courts. 2. Retaliation Claims 6 Plaintiff claims that Defendant Mims and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander implemented the 7 law library policy at FCJ for the purpose of retaliating against inmates who file civil rights claims. 8 In the prison context, allegations of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment rights 9 to speech or to petition the government may support a section 1983 claim. Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 10 F.2d 527, 532 (9th Cir. 1985); see also Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135 (9th Cir. 1989); 11 Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995). “[A] viable claim of First Amendment 12 retaliation entails five basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action 13 against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled 14 the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance 15 a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005). An 16 allegation of retaliation against a prisoner’s First Amendment right to file a prison grievance is 17 sufficient to support a claim under section 1983. Bruce v. Ylst, 351 F.3d 1283, 1288 (9th Cir. 2003). 18 Plaintiff’s conclusions are not supported by any facts. Plaintiff fails to allege any facts 19 regarding the FCJ law library policy implemented by Mims and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander. 20 There are no facts in Plaintiff’s complaint that plausibly support the conclusion that the unidentified 21 policy was implemented with retaliatory intent. Plaintiff fails to state any retaliation claims based 22 on his denied access to the law library. 23 B. 24 Denial of a Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedy 1. Retaliation Claims 25 Plaintiff claims that his right to free speech was violated because the denial of his requests 26 for laxatives was retaliatory. Plaintiff’s allegations do not support a retaliation claim. See discussion 27 supra Part III.A.2 (setting forth legal standards for retaliation claims). Nothing in Plaintiff’s 28 /// 11 1 complaint suggests that the denial of Plaintiff’s medical requests was done with retaliatory motive. 2 Plaintiff fails to state any retaliation claims based on the denial of his requests for laxatives. 3 2. Eighth Amendment/Fourteenth Amendment Claims 4 Plaintiff claims that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated when he was unable to 5 receive over-the-counter medication for his digestive problems. It is unclear whether Plaintiff’s 6 claims should be characterized as Eighth Amendment claims or Fourteenth Amendment claims. 7 Plaintiff alleges that he was held in FCJ as a pre-trial detainee. The Eighth Amendment does not 8 apply to pre-trial detainees because pre-trial detainees are not detained for punitive purposes. See 9 Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 931 (9th Cir. 2004). However, the distinction is largely semantic. 10 If the conditions of Plaintiff’s confinement would violate a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment rights, 11 they would violate a pre-trial detainee’s Fourteenth Amendment rights. Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 12 918, 932 (9th Cir. 2004) (where a civil detainee is held in conditions similar to or more restrictive 13 than the conditions imposed on a criminal detainee, the conditions constitute “punishment” in 14 violation of the detainees Fourteenth Amendment rights). 15 While it is unclear whether Plaintiff was held as a pre-trial detainee at FCJ for the entire time 16 span described in Plaintiff’s complaint and whether Plaintiff’s claims should be characterized as 17 Eighth Amendment or Fourteenth Amendment claims, the same “deliberate indifference” legal 18 standard applies regardless of Plaintiff’s incarceration status. Cloutheir v. County of Contra Costa, 19 591 F.3d 1232, 1241-44 (9th Cir. 2010) (deliberate indifference standard applies to claims that 20 government officials failed to prevent harm). For the purposes of screening Plaintiff’s claims, the 21 Court will use the use the Eighth Amendment standards. 22 The Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of cruel and unusual punishments and 23 “embodies ‘broad and idealistic concepts of dignity, civilized standards, humanity and decency.’” 24 Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102 (1976) (quoting Jackson v. Bishop, 404 F.2d 571, 579 (8th Cir. 25 1968)). A prison official violates the Eighth Amendment only when two requirements are met: (1) 26 the objective requirement that the deprivation is “sufficiently serious,” and (2) the subjective 27 requirement that the prison official has a “sufficiently culpable state of mind.” Farmer v. Brennan, 28 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994) (quoting Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991)). 12 1 The objective requirement that the deprivation be “sufficiently serious” is met where the 2 prison official’s act or omission results in the denial of “the minimal civilized measure of life’s 3 necessities.” Id. (quoting Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981)). The subjective 4 requirement that the prison official has a “sufficiently culpable state of mind” is met where the prison 5 official acts with “deliberate indifference” to inmate health or safety. Id. (quoting Wilson, 501 U.S. 6 at 302-303). A prison official acts with deliberate indifference when he or she “knows of and 7 disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety.” Id. at 837. “[T]he official must both be 8 aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, 9 and he must also draw the inference.” Id. 10 “[D]eliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious illness or injury states a cause of action 11 under § 1983.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105. In order to state an Eighth Amendment claim based on 12 deficient medical treatment, a plaintiff must show: (1) a serious medical need; and (2) a deliberately 13 indifferent response by the defendant. Conn v. City of Reno, 572 F.3d 1047, 1055 (9th Cir. 2009) 14 (quoting Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006)). A serious medical need is shown by 15 alleging that the failure to treat the plaintiff’s condition could result in further significant injury, or 16 the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain. Id. A deliberately indifferent response by the 17 defendant is shown by a purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical 18 need and harm caused by the indifference. Id. In order to constitute deliberate indifference, there 19 must be an objective risk of harm and the defendant must have subjective awareness of that harm. 20 Id. 21 Plaintiff claims that Defendant Laird was aware of Plaintiff’s medical needs because Plaintiff 22 filed numerous administrative grievances requesting treatment. 23 Plaintiff’s grievances because he dismissed Plaintiff’s medical problems as “mere constipation.” 24 Plaintiff claims that his need for medical treatment should have been obvious, even to a lay person. 25 Plaintiff also claims that his need for medical attention was serious because he was suffering 26 substantial discomfort from his digestive problems. Based on the facts alleged, the Court finds that 27 Plaintiff states a plausible claim against Defendant Laird for acting with deliberate indifference 28 toward Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. 13 Defendant Laird dismissed 1 Plaintiff attempts to hold Defendants Mims and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander liable for 2 implementing a policy concerning over-the-counter medications that was deliberately indifferent 3 toward Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. Plaintiff fails to support his claim against Mims and 4 John/Jane Doe Jail Commander with sufficient factual allegations to plausibly draw the conclusion 5 that they acted with deliberate indifference. Plaintiff does not provide a clear explanation of how 6 the policy was deficient or how it was deliberately indifferent toward Plaintiff’s medical needs. 7 Plaintiff only alleges that the commissary did not have laxatives in stock and the FCJ policy failed 8 to ensure that the commissary kept laxatives in stock. Those facts do not support the conclusion that 9 the policy was unconstitutional. There are no facts in Plaintiff’s complaint that plausibly support 10 the conclusion that either Mims or John/Jane Doe Jail Commander was aware of a serious risk to 11 inmate health because of the risk that the commissary would not have laxatives in stock. Plaintiff 12 fails to state any claims against Mims or John/Jane Doe Jail Commander based on the FCJ policy 13 for over-the-counter medications sold in the commissary. 14 15 C. Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation 1. Retaliation Claims 16 Plaintiff claims that Defendants Cartier, Osborne, Cunha, and Blathers retaliated against 17 Plaintiff for filing administrative grievances. Plaintiff’s allegations are sufficient to state claims for 18 retaliation against Defendants Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha. See discussion supra Part III.A.2 19 (setting forth legal standards for retaliation claims). 20 Plaintiff claims that Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha followed a pattern and practice of denying, 21 delaying, or ignoring Plaintiff’s administrative grievances. Plaintiff claims that the officers did not 22 take the grievance process seriously and repeatedly rejected Plaintiff’s grievances for frivolous 23 reasons. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants would often “have words” with Plaintiff regarding his 24 grievances and would give Plaintiff dirty looks as he left his cell. Plaintiff’s allegations demonstrate 25 that Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha were frustrated with Plaintiff’s repeated grievances and their 26 actions had a chilling effect on Plaintiff’s exercise of his First Amendment rights due to the futility 27 in filing grievances. On one occasion, Plaintiff claims that Cunha and Osborne deliberately 28 attempted to set up Plaintiff to be assaulted by his cell mate by labeling Plaintiff as a snitch. Plaintiff 14 1 alleges that their actions were in response to a grievance filed by Plaintiff to notify officials that he 2 feared for his life. Plaintiff also alleges that Cartier ordered Osborne and Cunha to trash Plaintiff’s 3 cell on another occasion. Plaintiff states cognizable claims against Defendants Cartier, Osborne, and 4 Cunha for retaliation based on the events described in his “Correctional Officer 5 Harassment/Retaliation” claim. 6 However, Plaintiff’s only allegation against Defendant Blathers is that Blathers “had a duty 7 to supervise and correct her staff” and ignored Plaintiff’s requests to talk to her about the misconduct 8 of her staff. Nothing in Plaintiff’s complaint suggests that Blathers ignored Plaintiff’s letters with 9 retaliatory intent and Blathers is not liable for the actions of her subordinates under a respondeat 10 superior theory of liability. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. 11 Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 442 U.S. 941 (1979). To state a claim for 12 relief under section 1983 based on a theory of supervisory liability, plaintiff must allege some facts 13 that would support a claim that supervisory defendants either personally participated in the alleged 14 deprivation of constitutional rights; knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them; or 15 promulgated or “implemented a policy so deficient that the policy ‘itself is a repudiation of 16 constitutional rights’ and is ‘the moving force of the constitutional violation.’” Hansen v. Black, 885 17 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989) (internal citations omitted); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th 18 Cir. 1989). Plaintiff fails to state a claim against Defendant Blathers for retaliation based on the 19 events described in his “Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation” claim. 20 2. Eighth Amendment Claims 21 Plaintiff claims that Defendants violated Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. Plaintiff 22 alleges that Defendants Osborne and Cunha deliberately attempted to induce Plaintiff’s cellmate to 23 attack Plaintiff by labeling Plaintiff as a snitch. Plaintiff’s factual allegations are sufficient to 24 support an Eighth Amendment claim against Osborne and Cunha for deliberate indifference to a 25 serious risk to Plaintiff’s safety. 26 Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim against Defendants Cartier or Blathers is unclear. 27 Plaintiff has not alleged that either Cartier or Blathers deliberately exposed Plaintiff to a serious risk 28 to his health or safety. Plaintiff only alleges that Cartier delayed, ignored, or denied Plaintiff’s 15 1 grievances, and Plaintiff does not allege that any of the grievances processed by Cartier concerned 2 any imminent threat to Plaintiff’s well-being. Plaintiff only alleges that Blathers failed to supervise 3 his subordinates. Plaintiff’s vague allegations are not sufficient to plausibly support the conclusion 4 that Cartier or Blathers were aware of a serious risk to Plaintiff’s health or safety and deliberately 5 ignored it. Plaintiff fails to state any Eighth Amendment claim against Cartier or Blathers based on 6 the events described in his “Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation” claim. 7 8 9 3. Due Process Claims Plaintiff claims that the harassment and retaliation that Plaintiff received for filing grievances violated Plaintiff’s due process rights. 10 The Due Process Clause protects prisoners from being deprived of liberty without due 11 process of law. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556 (1974). In order to state a cause of action 12 for deprivation of due process, a plaintiff must first establish the existence of a liberty interest for 13 which the protection is sought. Liberty interests may arise from the Due Process Clause itself or 14 from state law. Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 466-68 (1983). Liberty interests created by state law 15 are generally limited to freedom from restraint which “imposes atypical and significant hardship on 16 the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.” Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484 17 (1995). In determining whether a hardship is sufficiently significant enough to warrant due process 18 protection, the Court looks to: (1) whether the challenged condition mirrored those conditions 19 imposed upon inmates in administrative segregation and protective custody and is thus within the 20 prison’s discretionary authority to impose, (2) the duration of the condition and the degree of 21 restraint imposed, and (3) whether the state’s action will invariably affect the duration of the 22 prisoner’s sentence. Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 861 (9th Cir. 2003). 23 Inmates have no liberty interest in the processing of an inmate appeal because inmates lack 24 a separate constitutional entitlement to a specific prison grievance procedure. Ramirez v. Galaza, 25 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988)). The 26 failure to timely process inmate appeals pursuant to state prison regulations is not an “atypical and 27 significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life.” Nor did the 28 delay, denial, or screening-out of Plaintiff’s inmate appeals, even if erroneous, result in an “atypical 16 1 and significant hardship.” Plaintiff has no protected liberty interest in the vindication of his 2 administrative claims. 3 Defendants Cartier, Osborne, Cunha, or Blathers for denying, ignoring, or refusing to respond to 4 Plaintiff’s administrative grievances. 5 4. Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to state a due process claim against Equal Protection Claims 6 Plaintiff also attempts to raise an equal protection claim under the Fourteenth Amendment. 7 The Equal Protection Clause requires that persons who are similarly situated be treated alike. City 8 of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985). A plaintiff may establish an 9 equal protection claim by showing that the plaintiff was intentionally discriminated against on the 10 basis of the plaintiff's membership in a protected class. See, e.g., Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 11 F.3d 668, 686 (9th Cir.2001). Under this theory of equal protection, the plaintiff must show that the 12 defendants' actions were a result of the plaintiff's membership in a suspect class, such as race. 13 Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1167 (9th Cir.2005). If the action in question does 14 not involve a suspect classification, a plaintiff may establish an equal protection claim by showing 15 that similarly situated individuals were intentionally treated differently without a rational relationship 16 to a legitimate state purpose. Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000); San 17 Antonio School District v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 1 (1972); Squaw Valley Development Co. v. 18 Goldberg, 375 F.3d 936, 944 (9th Cir.2004); SeaRiver Mar. Fin. Holdings, Inc. v. Mineta, 309 F.3d 19 662, 679 (9th Cir.2002). To state an equal protection claim under this theory, a plaintiff must allege 20 that: (1) the plaintiff is a member of an identifiable class; (2) the plaintiff was intentionally treated 21 differently from others similarly situated; and (3) there is no rational basis for the difference in 22 treatment. Village of Willowbrook, 528 U.S. at 564. 23 Plaintiff has not alleged that he was intentionally discriminated against. Plaintiff does not 24 allege that he was a member of any identifiable class and that he was intentionally treated differently 25 from other similarly situated people because of his membership in any identifiable class. Plaintiff 26 fails to state any cognizable equal protection claims based on the events described in his 27 “Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation” claim. 28 /// 17 1 D. 2 Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process 1. Retaliation Claims 3 Plaintiff claims that Defendants Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne retaliated against 4 Plaintiff while Plaintiff was away in Court by trashing Plaintiff’s cell and transferring Plaintiff to the 5 coldest floor in FCJ. Plaintiff claims that Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne believed that 6 Plaintiff was going to Court to complain about their actions. Plaintiff states cognizable claims 7 against Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne for retaliating against Plaintiff’s exercise of his First 8 Amendment rights. See discussion supra Part III.A.2 (setting forth legal standards for retaliation 9 claims). 10 2. Due Process Claims 11 Plaintiff claims that Defendant Nichols violated Plaintiff’s due process rights by failing to 12 provide Plaintiff with written notice of the findings of Plaintiff’s disciplinary hearing for a minor 13 offense. Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable due process claim against Defendant Nichols. See 14 discussion supra Part III.C.3 (setting forth legal standards for due process claims). Plaintiff has not 15 alleged that he was deprived of any constitutionally protected liberty interest. Plaintiff admits that 16 the offense was minor and that Nichols did not impose any disciplinary housing time because 17 Plaintiff was already in lockdown by himself. Plaintiff is not entitled to the procedural protections 18 of the due process clause if there are no protected liberty interests at stake at the disciplinary hearing. 19 In other words, because the hearing and the punishment were not substantial, Plaintiff is not entitled 20 to written copies of the findings and punishment for his offense. Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable 21 claim against Defendant Nichols for violating Plaintiff’s due process rights. 22 3. Equal Protection Claims 23 Plaintiff claims that his equal protection rights were violated. However, Plaintiff does not 24 allege that he was a member of any identifiable class and does not allege that he was discriminated 25 against. See discussion supra Part III.C.4 (setting forth legal standards for equal protection claims). 26 Plaintiff fails to state any cognizable equal protection claims based on the events described in his 27 “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process” claim. 28 /// 18 1 4. Eighth Amendment Claims 2 Plaintiff claims that Defendants violated his Eighth Amendment rights. However, the 3 injuries described in Plaintiff’s “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process” claim do not touch 4 upon the rights protected by the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff does not allege that he was deprived 5 of “the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.” See discussion supra Part III.B.2 (setting 6 forth legal standards for Eighth Amendment claims). Plaintiff fails to state any cognizable Eighth 7 Amendment claims based on the events described in his “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary 8 Process” claim. 9 10 E. “Mis-Classification” 1. Retaliation Claims 11 Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Shumate and Oliver retaliated against Plaintiff for filing 12 grievances. Plaintiff alleges that Shumate transferred Plaintiff to different cells in the jail to force 13 Plaintiff to use stairs, knowing that it caused Plaintiff pain due to his knee problems. Plaintiff 14 alleges that Shumate and Oliver also deliberately housed Plaintiff with violent inmates to instigate 15 violence. Plaintiff states cognizable claims for retaliation against Defendants Shumate and Oliver. 16 See discussion supra Part III.A.2 (setting forth legal standards for retaliation claims). 17 2. Eighth Amendment Claims 18 Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Shumate and Oliver violated Plaintiff’s rights under the 19 Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff contends that Shumate and Oliver deliberately housed Plaintiff with 20 violent inmates in an attempt to instigate violence between the two, and Plaintiff contends that 21 Shumate deliberately housed Plaintiff in areas of the prison that forced him to use stairs, knowing 22 that Plaintiff’s knee problems caused pain when Plaintiff used stairs. Plaintiff states cognizable 23 claims against Defendants Shumate and Oliver for violating Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. 24 See discussion supra Part III.B.2 (setting forth legal standards for Eighth Amendment claims). 25 3. Due Process Claims 26 Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Shumate and Oliver violated Plaintiff’s due process rights 27 by denying Plaintiff’s requests for a classification hearing. See discussion supra Part III.C.3 (setting 28 forth legal standards for due process claims). Plaintiff does not have a protected liberty interest in 19 1 a particular classification. Hernandez v. Johnston, 833 F.2d 1316, 1318 (9th Cir. 1987). 2 Accordingly, the Constitution does not afford Plaintiff any procedural protections with respect to his 3 classification status. In other words, the U.S. Constitution is not violated when Plaintiff does not 4 receive a classification hearing to determine his classification status. To the extent that Plaintiff’s 5 classification status resulted in a threat to Plaintiff’s safety, Plaintiff’s interests are protected by the 6 Eighth Amendment, not the Fourteenth Amendment. See discussion supra Part III.E.2. Plaintiff 7 fails to state any cognizable due process claims based on the denial of his requests for a classification 8 hearing. 9 4. Equal Protection Claims 10 Plaintiff claims that his equal protection rights were violated. However, Plaintiff does not 11 allege that he was a member of any identifiable class and that he was discriminated against. See 12 discussion supra Part III.C.4 (setting forth legal standards for equal protection claims). Plaintiff fails 13 to state any cognizable equal protection claims based on the events described in his “Mis- 14 Classification” claim. 15 16 F. Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures 1. Retaliation Claims 17 Plaintiff claims that Defendant Blathers conspired with others to “retaliatorily[sic] abuse the 18 FCJ disciplinary process and cause the Plaintiff to suffer even greater arthritis misery and cold 19 numbness in his feet. . . .” (Am. Compl. 79, ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff contends that Blathers caused 20 Plaintiff harm by “retaliatorily[sic] manipulating the FCJ Disciplinary Procedure and placing 21 Plaintiff in 40E housing for a month.” (Am. Compl. 79, ECF No. 25.) 22 Plaintiff fails to provide any allegations that clearly explain how Blathers “manipulated” the 23 “FCJ Disciplinary Procedure.” Further, Plaintiff fails to set forth any allegations to support his 24 conclusion that Blathers acted with retaliatory intent. There is nothing in Plaintiff’s complaint that 25 supports the conclusion that Plaintiff was deliberately exposed to cold temperature by Blathers in 26 retaliation for Plaintiff’s administrative grievances. Finally, Plaintiff fails to set forth any factual 27 allegations that support his conclusion that Blathers entered into a conspiracy with other prison 28 officials. Plaintiff cannot proceed against Blathers on a legal claim based on vague conclusions. 20 1 Plaintiff fails to state a retaliation claim against Blathers based on the events described in his 2 “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures” claim. 3 2. Eighth Amendment Claims 4 Plaintiff claims that he was exposed to cold temperatures at FCJ in violation of his rights 5 under the Eighth Amendment. See discussion supra Part III.B.2 (setting forth legal standards for 6 Eighth Amendment claims). 7 Plaintiff alleges that he requested extra clothing or blankets because the temperatures were 8 too cold and Defendant John/Jane Doe Jail Commander denied those requests. Thus, Plaintiff has 9 alleged sufficient facts to support the conclusion that John/Jane Doe Jail Commander was aware of 10 an excessive risk to Plaintiff’s health and responded in a deliberately indifferent manner. Plaintiff 11 states a cognizable claim against Defendant John/Jane Doe Jail Commander for the violation of 12 Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. 13 Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Dawson and Calvert violated Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment 14 rights by recording an inaccurate temperature reading in the jail. Plaintiff alleges that Dawson and 15 Calvert responded to Plaintiff’s administrative grievance about the cold temperatures and were 16 aware of many other grievances from other inmates complaining about the same issue. Plaintiff 17 further alleges that Dawson and Calvert attempted to cover up the issue by recording an inaccurate 18 temperature reading. Plaintiff claims that Dawson and Calvert recorded the temperature at the 19 warmest area in the jail--under a window that was receiving direct sunlight. Plaintiff claims that 20 Dawson and Calvert were aware that their reading was inaccurate and was aware that the jail was 21 too cold because they were wearing coats. When Plaintiff asked Dawson and Calvert to record the 22 temperature inside Plaintiff’s cell, Dawson and Calvert ignored Plaintiff and walked away. Plaintiff 23 has alleged sufficient facts to support the conclusion that Dawson and Calvert were aware of an 24 excessive risk to Plaintiff’s health and deliberately disregarded that risk by attempting to cover-up 25 the situation with an inaccurate temperature reading. Plaintiff states a cognizable claim against 26 Defendants Dawson and Calvert for violating Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. 27 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Blathers and Mims were deliberately indifferent toward the 28 risk to Plaintiff’s health caused by the cold temperatures. However, Plaintiff has alleged no facts that 21 1 support the conclusion that Blathers or Mims were personally aware of any excessive risk to 2 Plaintiff’s health. Plaintiff has not alleged that either Blathers or Mims were personally aware of the 3 conditions in the specific area of the jail where Plaintiff was housed. Further, Plaintiff fails to 4 identify any specific action by either Blathers or Mims that could be characterized as deliberately 5 indifferent. Plaintiff only vaguely alleges that Blathers manipulated the FCJ disciplinary procedure 6 and thereby placed Plaintiff in cold housing for a month. Plaintiff also vaguely alleges that Mims 7 had no policy in place for inmates to get extra clothing. Plaintiff has not alleged any facts that 8 suggest Mims was aware that there was an issue requiring the need for a policy regarding extra 9 clothing. Plaintiff does not allege that he personally informed Mims about any health risks 10 associated with the cold temperatures. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state any cognizable Eighth 11 Amendment claims against Mims or Blathers based on the events described in his 12 “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures” claim. 13 3. 18 U.S.C. § 241 Claims 14 Plaintiff claims that Defendants Blathers, Dawson, and Calvert are liable under 18 U.S.C. 15 § 241 for entering into a conspiracy to expose Plaintiff to cold jail temperatures. Section 241 is a 16 criminal statute. Plaintiff has no private cause of action to enforce Section 241. See Aldabe v. 17 Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). In other words, Plaintiff cannot sue Defendants in a 18 civil lawsuit for violating Section 241. 19 G. 20 Plaintiff claims that the inadequate lighting in his cell violated his rights under the Eighth 21 Amendment. However, Plaintiff’s allegations regarding the lighting in his cell fail to meet the 22 objective, “sufficiently serious” standard for deprivations under the Eighth Amendment and Plaintiff 23 fails to allege facts that support the conclusion that Mims, John/Jane Doe Jail Commander, or the 24 unknown maintenance supervisor acted with deliberate indifference. See discussion supra Part 25 III.B.2 (setting forth legal standards for Eighth Amendment claims). Denial of Adequate Lighting 26 “Adequate lighting is one of the fundamental attributes of ‘adequate shelter’ required by the 27 Eighth Amendment.” Hoptowit v. Spellman, 753 F.2d 779, 783 (9th Cir. 1985). In Hoptowit, the 28 Ninth Circuit upheld the district court’s finding of unconstitutional lighting conditions “based upon 22 1 evidence that the lighting was so poor that it was inadequate for reading and caused eyestrain and 2 fatigue and hindered attempts to insure that basic sanitation was maintained.” Id. Plaintiff vaguely 3 alleges that the light was so dim that Plaintiff “did have problems seeing during cell cleanup.” (AM. 4 Compl. 82, ECF No. 25.) Nothing in Plaintiff’s complaint suggests that it was so dark that his health 5 was at risk from his inability to maintain basic sanitation. Further, Plaintiff does not allege that the 6 light was so inadequate that he could not read. Plaintiff admits that the light was strong enough to 7 read while sitting at the desk in his cell. Plaintiff complains that he got into fights with his cellmate 8 over the use of the desk. Plaintiff also centers his claims upon the allegation that there was not 9 enough light to permit Plaintiff to read comfortably while seated or lying down on his bunk. The 10 Court is unaware of any precedent that suggests that the relevant legal standard for constitutional 11 lighting conditions is whether an inmate can read from the comfort of his or her bunk. 12 Further, Plaintiff fails to allege facts that support the conclusion that any prison official acted 13 with deliberate indifference. Plaintiff attempts to hold Defendant Mims and John/Jane Doe Jail 14 Commander liable for the inadequate lighting, but does not allege that Mims or John/Jane Doe Jail 15 Commander was aware that the light in Plaintiff’s cell was dim. Plaintiff does allege that the 16 unknown maintenance supervisor was aware of the lighting conditions because Plaintiff sent 17 administrative grievances to the maintenance supervisor. However, Plaintiff also alleges that the 18 maintenance supervisor sent workers to try to fix the light on multiple occasions. It took 46 days to 19 fix the light but Plaintiff fails to allege any facts that suggest that they delay was caused by the 20 maintenance supervisor. Plaintiff fails to explain how the maintenance supervisor’s deliberate 21 indifference caused Plaintiff to suffer from inadequate lighting. Plaintiff fails to state any claims 22 based on the events described in his “Denial of Adequate Lighting” claim. 23 H. 24 The Court must give a pro se litigant leave to amend their complaint if it appears that the 25 deficiencies in their claims can be cured by further amendment. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 26 1127 (9th Cir. 2007) (recognizing longstanding rule that leave to amend should be granted even if 27 no request to amend was made unless the court determines that the pleading could not possibly be 28 cured by the allegation of other facts); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1261 (9th Cir. No Leave to Amend 23 1 1992)(dismissal with prejudice upheld where court had instructed plaintiff regarding deficiencies in 2 prior order dismissing claim with leave to amend); Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 3 1987) (pro se litigant must be given leave to amend his or her complaint unless it is absolutely clear 4 that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be cured by amendment). However, the Court has 5 already provided Plaintiff with an opportunity to amend his complaint and provided Plaintiff with 6 the relevant legal standards with which to amend his complaint. Further, the Court informed 7 Plaintiff of the specific deficiencies in many of his claims. Accordingly, the Court finds that the 8 deficiencies in Plaintiff’s claims cannot be cured by further amendment and the Court will 9 recommend that they be dismissed without leave to amend for failing to state a claim. 10 I. 11 Plaintiff’s first amended complaint states cognizable claims against multiple groups of 12 defendants for various transactions and occurrences. Thus, the Court will address the issue of 13 whether Plaintiff’s claims are properly joined in a single lawsuit. Improperly Joined Claims 14 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 18(a) allows a plaintiff to add multiple claims to the lawsuit 15 when they are against the same defendant. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a)(2) allows a 16 plaintiff to join multiple defendants to a lawsuit where the right to relief arises out of the same 17 “transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions” and “any question of law or fact common to all 18 defendants will arise in the action.” However, unrelated claims that involve different defendants 19 must be brought in separate lawsuits. See George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). This 20 rule is not only intended to avoid confusion that arises out of bloated lawsuits, but also to ensure that 21 prisoners pay the required filing fees for their lawsuits and prevent prisoners from circumventing the 22 three strikes rule under the Prison Litigation Reform Act.4 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 23 Plaintiff’s “Denial of a Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedy” claim states a 24 cognizable claim against Defendant Laird for deliberate indifference toward Plaintiff’s medical needs 25 by ignoring and denying Plaintiff’s requests for medical treatment for his digestive problems. 26 /// 27 28 4 The Prison Litigation Reform Act allows prisoners to file complaints without prepayment of the filing fee unless they have previously filed three frivolous suits as a prisoner. 28 U.S.C. §1915(a),(g). 24 1 Plaintiff’s “Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation” claim states cognizable claims 2 against Defendants Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha for retaliating against Plaintiff’s exercise of his 3 protected right to file grievances against the government. Plaintiff also states cognizable claims 4 against Osborne and Cunha for deliberate indifference to a risk to Plaintiff’s safety in violation of 5 Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment rights. 6 7 8 9 Plaintiff’s “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process” claim states cognizable claims against Defendants Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne for retaliation. Plaintiff’s “Mis-classification” claim states cognizable claims against Defendants Shumate and Oliver for retaliation and for the violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Eighth Amendment. 10 Plaintiff’s “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures” claim states cognizable claims 11 against Defendants Dawson, Calvert, and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander for deliberate indifference 12 to an excessive risk to Plaintiff’s health, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. 13 The cognizable claims stated in Plaintiff’s first amended complaint are not properly joined. 14 Plaintiff’s claim against Defendant Laird did not arise from the same transaction, occurrence, or 15 series of transactions as any of Plaintiff’s other claims. Although Plaintiff’s “Correctional/Officer 16 Harassment/Retaliation” claim and his “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process” claim could 17 be joined in a single lawsuit under Rule 18 because they involve the same group of Defendants, those 18 two sets of claims cannot be joined with any other claims. Similarly, Plaintiff’s “Mis-classification” 19 claim and Plaintiff’s “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail Temperatures” claim must be raised in separate 20 lawsuits. In all, Plaintiff has raised four separate sets of claims that must be raised in four separate 21 lawsuits because the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not permit the claims to be joined in a 22 single lawsuit. 23 Accordingly, the Court will recommend that Plaintiff’s claims be severed. The Court will 24 recommend that this action proceed on the first cognizable claim presented in Plaintiff’s first 25 amended complaint: Plaintiff’s claim against Defendant Laird for deliberate indifference toward 26 Plaintiff’s medical needs. The Court will recommend that three separate additional actions be 27 opened for: 28 1. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha for the events 25 1 described in Plaintiff’s “Correctional Officer Harassment/Retaliation” claim and 2 against Defendants Blathers, Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha for the events described 3 in Plaintiff’s “Retaliatory Abuse of the Disciplinary Process” claim; 4 2. 5 Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Shumate and Oliver for the events described in Plaintiff’s “Mis-classification” claim; and 6 3. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Dawson, Calvert, and John/Jane Doe Jail 7 Commander for the events described in Plaintiff’s “Unconstitutionally Cold Jail 8 Temperatures” claim. 9 The Court will recommend that all the other claims in Plaintiff’s first amended complaint be 10 dismissed without leave to amend. 11 IV. Conclusion and Recommendation 12 Plaintiff’s complaint states some cognizable claims. Plaintiff states a cognizable claim 13 against Defendant Laird for deliberate indifference toward Plaintiff’s medical needs. Plaintiff states 14 cognizable claims against Defendants Cartier, Osborne, and Cunha for retaliation. Plaintiff states 15 cognizable claims against Osborne and Cunha for deliberate indifference to a risk to Plaintiff’s 16 safety. Plaintiff states cognizable claims against Defendants Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne 17 for retaliation. Plaintiff states cognizable claims against Defendants Shumate and Oliver for 18 retaliation and for the violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Eighth Amendment. Finally, Plaintiff 19 states cognizable claims against Defendants Dawson, Calvert, and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander 20 for deliberate indifference to an excessive risk to Plaintiff’s health. 21 However, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s cognizable claims are improperly joined and cannot 22 be litigated in a single lawsuit. The Court will recommend that Plaintiff’s claims be severed and this 23 action proceed on Plaintiff’s claim against Defendant Laird. The Court will recommend that three 24 separate actions be opened for Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Blathers, Cartier Cunha, and 25 Osborne; Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Shumate and Oliver; and Plaintiff’s claims against 26 Defendants Dawson, Calvert, and John/Jane Doe Jail Commander. 27 The remaining claims in Plaintiff’s first amended complaint fail to state a claim. Plaintiff 28 was provided with the opportunity to amend and his first amended complaint failed to remedy the 26 1 deficiencies with these claims. The Court will recommend that these claims be dismissed without 2 leave to amend. Accordingly, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 3 1. This action proceed on Plaintiff’s first amended complaint, filed on January 19, 2010, 4 against Defendant Laird for deliberate indifference toward Plaintiff’s medical needs 5 in violation of the Eighth Amendment; 6 2. The remaining cognizable claims in Plaintiff’s first amended complaint be severed, 7 and separate actions be opened for: 8 a. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Blathers, Cartier, Cunha, and Osborne; 9 b. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Shumate and Oliver; 10 c. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants Dawson, Calvert, and John/Jane Doe 11 Jail Commander; and 12 3. 13 Plaintiff’s remaining claims be dismissed for failure to state a claim, without leave to amend. 14 These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 15 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within thirty (30) 16 days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, any party may file written 17 objections with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 18 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections 19 shall be served and filed within ten (10) days after service of the objections. The parties are advised 20 that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 21 Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 22 23 IT IS SO ORDERED. 24 Dated: ie14hj October 14, 2010 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 25 26 27 28 27
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