Sinks v. County of Fresno, et al., No. 1:2011cv01990 - Document 16 (E.D. Cal. 2012)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING WITH LEAVE TO AMEND 9 Motion to Dismiss; DECLINES to address causes of action one through six; ORDERS Ms. Sinks to file and serve a Second Amended Complaint within 21 days of the filing of this order; ORDERS the County to file and serve papers in response to the second amended complaint within 14 days after service of second amended complaint; ORDERS Defendants George and Nicole Ozburn to file and serve papers in response to second amended complaint within 14 days after service, signed by District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on 01/20/2012. (21-Day Deadline for Second Amended Complaint) (Martin-Gill, S)
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Sinks v. County of Fresno, et al. Doc. 16 1 2 3 4 5 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 8 LINDA SINKS, CASE NO. CV-F-11-1990-LJO-SKO 9 Plaintiff, 10 ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS (Doc. 9) vs. 11 12 COUNTY OF FRESNO, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 / 15 INTRODUCTION 16 This action arises from a physical altercation that allegedly occurred between plaintiff, Linda 17 Sinks (“Ms. Sinks”), and defendants, George Ozburn (“Mr. Ozburn”) and Nicole Ozburn (“Mrs. 18 Ozburn”) on July 24, 2011. Mr. Ozburn is employed by the County of Fresno Sheriff’s Department as 19 a law enforcement officer. Ms. Sinks alleges that Mr. Ozburn’s actions were within the scope of his 20 employment thus, the County of Fresno (“the County”) is liable for his wrongful acts.1 The County 21 seeks to dismiss Ms. Sinks’ first amended complaint without leave to amend because she has failed to 22 state a Monell claim and any amendment would be futile. For the reasons discussed below, this Court 23 GRANTS WITH LEAVE TO AMEND the County’s motion to dismiss Ms. Sinks’ federal claims, 24 DECLINES TO ADDRESS the remaining state law claims, ORDERS Ms. Sinks to file a second 25 amended complaint, and ORDERS Mr. and Mrs. Ozburn to serve and file response papers to the second 26 amended complaint, thereby adjusting their current briefing schedule. 27 1 28 Ms. Sinks also commences this action against Does 1 through 10. Mr. Ozburn, Mrs. Ozburn, the County, and Does 1 through 10 will be referred to collectively as “defendants.” 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 BACKGROUND 2 Facts2 3 Ms. Sinks owns the Hungry Hut, a fast food restaurant. (Docket #6, ¶ 13-14). Service to 4 customers at the outside counter is through a sliding glass window. (Docket #6, ¶ 13). On Sunday, July 5 24, 2011, Mr. Ozburn and his wife, Mrs. Ozburn, ordered lunch at the outside counter from Angelica, 6 one of Ms. Sinks’ female employees. (Docket #6, ¶ 15). Mrs. Ozburn was not satisfied with her order 7 so Mr. Ozburn yelled at Angelica. (Docket #6, ¶ 15). Ms. Sinks, who was in the back of the restaurant, 8 heard Angelica yell, “Get your hands off me!” (Docket #6, ¶ 15). She then heard Mr. Ozburn yell, 9 “Fucking bitch!” (Docket #6, ¶ 15). 10 When Ms. Sinks approached the sliding glass window, Mr. Ozburn was shaking with anger and 11 stated, “I am a cop.” (Docket #6, ¶ 16). Ms. Sinks tried to close the sliding glass window but Mr. 12 Ozburn propped it open and stated, “You’re not closing this window on me.” (Docket #6, ¶ 16). When 13 Ms. Sinks reached through the window, Mr. Ozburn held her arm and Mrs. Ozburn hit her. (Docket #6, 14 ¶ 16). Mr. Ozburn tore up his burger, threw it at Ms. Sinks through the window, and pushed the sliding 15 glass window off its track. (Docket #6, ¶ 17). Mr. Ozburn kept repeating, “I am a cop, I can do anything 16 I want and I won’t get in trouble for it.” (Docket #6, ¶ 17). When Ms. Sinks asked to see Mr. Ozburn’s 17 badge, he refused to show it. (Docket #6, ¶ 17). Ms. Sinks then went outside and told the Ozburns to 18 leave. (Docket #6, ¶ 18). Mr. Ozburn refused and stated, “I am a cop, I don’t have to.” (Docket #6, ¶ 19 18). Mr. Ozburn then chest-butted Ms. Sinks and punched her in the chest, which resulted in a large 20 bruise. (Docket #6, ¶ 19). Ms. Sinks also developed bruises on her arms from the incident. (Docket 21 #6, ¶ 19). Employees at the Hungry Hut called 911 and officers from the Fresno County Sheriff’s 22 Department arrived. (Docket #6, ¶ 20). The officers were unwilling to arrest Mr. Ozburn so Ms. Sinks 23 made a citizen’s arrest. (Docket #6, ¶ 25). 24 Ms. Sinks further alleges that the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department is covering up the 25 incident. (Docket #6, ¶ 25). On Tuesday, July 26, 2011, Ms. Sinks went to the Fresno County Sheriff’s 26 Station for an interview. (Docket #6, ¶ 22). Detective Newlick told Ms. Sinks, “Your injuries aren’t 27 2 28 The background facts are derived from the complaint. This Court accepts these allegations as true for purposes of the motion. See Lazy Y. Ranch LTD v. Behrens, 546 F.3d 580, 588 (9th Cir. 2008). 2 1 that bad, you don’t need to go to the hospital.” (Docket #6, ¶ 22). Detectives also told Ms. Sinks, “It’s 2 your word against his.” (Docket #6, ¶ 23). Another detective told Ms. Sinks that the bruise on her chest 3 was “self-inflicted.” (Docket #6, ¶ 23). In addition, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department will not 4 allow Ms. Sinks to access the 11 witness statements that they previously told her were obtained at the 5 scene of the incident. (Docket #6, ¶ 26). The Sheriff’s Department now says that no such witness 6 statements exist. (Docket #6, ¶ 26). Ms. Sinks also alleges that the Hungry Hut and its employees are 7 being harassed because the Fresno County Health Department conducts frequent inspections of the 8 restaurant. (Docket #6, ¶ 27). A law enforcement officer informed Ms. Sinks that the County is “one 9 big family” and that “every agency imaginable will be inspecting your business.” (Docket #6, ¶ 27). 10 Procedural History 11 On November 16, 2011, Ms. Sinks commenced the instant action in Fresno County Superior 12 Court. (Docket #1, p. 5). On November 28, 2011, the County removed the action to this Court. (Docket 13 #1). On December 2, 2011, Ms. Sinks filed an amended complaint. (Docket #6). The amended 14 complaint alleges seven claims for relief: (1) assault (against all defendants); (2) battery (against all 15 defendants); (3) negligence (against all defendants); (4) intentional infliction of emotional distress 16 (against Mr. Ozburn and the County); (5) violation of California’s Bane Act, pursuant to Cal. Civ. Code 17 § 52.1 (against all defendants); (6) gender violence, in violation of Cal. Civ. Code § 52.4 (against Mr. 18 Ozburn and the County); and (7) gender discrimination, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“section 1983”) 19 (against Mr. Ozburn and the County). 20 On December 6, 2011, the County filed a motion to dismiss Ms. Sinks’ amended complaint, 21 pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). (Docket #9). Ms. Sinks opposed the motion. (Docket #14). On 22 January 3, 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Ozburn were granted an extension of time in which to file their answer 23 to the complaint. (Docket #13). The January 19, 2012, hearing or oral argument was vacated, pursuant 24 to Local Rule 230(g). Having considered the parties’ arguments and the relevant law, this Court issues 25 this order. 26 27 28 DISCUSSION I. Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Standard A motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) is a challenge to the sufficiency of the 3 1 allegations set forth in the complaint. A Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) dismissal is proper where there is 2 either a “lack of a cognizable legal theory” or “the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable 3 legal theory.” Balisteri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). In considering a 4 motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the court generally accepts as true the allegations in the 5 complaint, construes the pleading in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion, and 6 resolves all doubts in the pleader's favor. Lazy Y. Ranch LTD v. Behrens, 546 F.3d 580, 588 (9th Cir. 7 2008). 8 To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the plaintiff must allege “enough facts to state a 9 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “A 10 claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the 11 reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. 12 Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). “The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks 13 for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. 14 at 556). “Where a complaint pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability, it 15 ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility for entitlement to relief.’” Id. (quoting 16 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). 17 “While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual 18 allegations, a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitlement to relief’ requires more 19 than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” 20 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal citations omitted). Thus, “bare assertions...amount[ing] 21 to nothing more than a ‘formulaic recitation of the elements’...are not entitled to be assumed true.” 22 Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1951. A court is “free to ignore legal conclusions, unsupported conclusions, 23 unwarranted inferences and sweeping legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations.” Farm 24 Credit Services v. American State Bank, 339 F.3d 764, 767 (8th Cir. 2003) (citation omitted). Moreover, 25 a court “will dismiss any claim that, even when construed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, fails 26 to plead sufficiently all required elements of a cause of action.” Student Loan Marketing Ass'n v. Hanes, 27 181 F.R.D. 629, 634 (S.D. Cal. 1998). In practice, “a complaint . . . must contain either direct or 28 inferential allegations respecting all the material elements necessary to sustain recovery under some 4 1 viable legal theory.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 562 (quoting Car Carriers, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 745 F.2d 2 1101, 1106 (7th Cir. 1984)). To the extent that the pleadings can be cured by the allegation of additional 3 facts, the plaintiff should be afforded leave to amend. Cook, Perkiss and Liehe, Inc. v. Northern 4 California Collection Serv. Inc., 911 F.2d 242, 247 (9th Cir. 1990) (citations omitted). 5 With these standards in mind, this Court turns to the County’s challenges to the allegations in 6 Ms. Sinks’ complaint. 7 II. Ms. Sinks’ Monell Claim 8 The County advances three arguments why the claims against the County in Count Seven of the 9 amended complaint should be dismissed for failure to state a Monell claim. First, Mr. Ozburn’s alleged 10 wrongful acts were not performed under color of law. Second, Ms. Sinks has failed to allege facts to 11 show that she was deprived of a constitutional right. Finally, Ms. Sinks has failed to allege an 12 unconstitutional policy, practice, or custom on the part of the County that is in any way connected to Mr. 13 Ozburn’s actions. 14 A. Alleged Wrongful Acts Were Not Performed Under Color of Law 15 The County contends that Ms. Sinks has failed to state a Monell claim because Mr. Ozburn’s 16 alleged wrongful acts were not performed under color of law. 17 “To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) that a right 18 secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged violation 19 was committed by a person acting under the color of State law.” Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 20 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006); Van Ort v. Estate of Stanewich, 92 F.3d 831, 836 (9th Cir. 1996). 21 Municipalities are included among those persons to whom section 1983 applies. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. 22 Servs. of New York City, 436 U.S. 658, 690, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 56 L. Ed. 2d 611 (1978). “[W]hether a[n] 23 . . . officer is acting under color of state law turns on the nature and circumstances of the officer’s 24 conduct and the relationship of that conduct to the performance of his official duties.” Anderson v. 25 Warner, 451 F.3d 1063, 1068 (9th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). “It is 26 firmly established that a defendant in a § 1983 suit acts under color of state law when he abuses the 27 position given to him by the State. Thus, generally, a public employee acts under color of state law 28 while acting in his official capacity or while exercising his responsibilities pursuant to state law.” West 5 1 v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49-50 (1988). 2 The Ninth Circuit has held that there are “three critical requirements” that must be satisfied when 3 determining if an individual who invokes his law enforcement status is acting under the color of state 4 law. Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1068. 5 First, the defendant’s action must have been “performed while the officer is acting, purporting, or pretending to act in the performance of his or her official duties.” [McDade v. West, 223 F.3d 1135, 1140 (9th Cir. 2000)]. Second, the officer’s pretense of acting in the performance of his duties must have had the purpose and effect of influencing the behavior of others. See Van Ort v. Estate of Stanewich, 92 F.3d 831, 839-40 (9th Cir. 1996) (finding no color of state law because the victim had not opened the door based on defendant’s status as a police officer). Third, the challenged conduct must be “related in some meaningful way either to the officer’s governmental status or to the performance of his duties.” [Martinez v. Colon, 54 F.3d 980, 987 (1st Cir. 1995)]. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Id. at 1068-69. “Officers who engage in confrontations for personal reasons unrelated to law 13 enforcement, and do not purport [] or pretend [] to be officers, do not act under color of law.” Huffman 14 v. County of Los Angeles, 147 F.3d 1054, 1058 (9th Cir. 1998) (internal quotation marks and citations 15 omitted). Likewise, “acts of officers in the ambit of their personal pursuits are plainly excluded . . . 16 [from] the words ‘under color of any law.’” Screws v. United States, 325 U.S. 91, 111 (1945). 17 Mr. Ozburn’s alleged wrongful acts were not performed under color of law. To begin with, Mr. 18 Ozburn was not “acting, purporting, or pretending to act in the performance of his . . .official duties.” 19 McDade, 223 F.3d at 1140. Mr. Ozburn was at the Hungry Hut restaurant to have lunch with his wife. 20 While waiting for their order a confrontation ensued between the duo and Hungry Hut employees. 21 Although Mr. Ozburn identified himself as a police officer during the confrontation,3 this alone did not 22 transform his private acts into acts under color of state law. See Van Ort, 92 F.3d at 839 (“Merely 23 because a police officer is recognized as an individual employed as a police officer does not alone 24 transform private acts into acts under color of state law.”); see also Cook v. Morrow, No. C06-04337, 25 2007 WL 3022607, *6-7 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 12, 2007) (officer’s single comment that he was from the 26 27 28 3 During the confrontation, Mr. Ozburn continually stated that he was a cop and that he could do whatever he wanted and would not get in trouble for it because he was a cop. W hen asked to leave, Mr. Ozburn stated, “I am a cop, I don’t have to.” 6 1 Oakland Police Department was not enough to show that the officer was “acting, purporting, or 2 pretending to act in the performance of his official duties”). 3 Moreover, even assuming that Mr. Ozburn was “purporting or pretending to act in the 4 performance of his . . . official duties,” McDade, 223 F.3d at 1140, the effect of his behavior did not 5 influence the behavior of others. Although Mr. Ozburn continually stated that he was a police officer, 6 this proclamation did not prevent employees at the Hungry Hut from calling 911 to summon the Fresno 7 County Sheriff’s Department. Likewise, it did not prevent Ms. Sinks from attempting to close the 8 sliding glass window on Mr. Ozburn, telling him to leave, or making a citizen’s arrest on him. Thus, 9 even assuming Mr. Ozburn was purporting to act in the performance of his official duties, his behavior 10 did not influence the behavior of others. See Van Ort, 92 F.3d at 839-40 (holding that officer’s acts were 11 not under color of law because the officer “exerted no meaningful, physical control over [the victim] on 12 the basis of his status as a law enforcement officer”); cf. Anderson, 451 F.3d at 1069 (holding that off- 13 duty and out of uniform police officer’s act of telling people that he was a cop and to stay back, which 14 they did, was acting under color of state law because the officer’s statements had the effect of 15 influencing the behavior of others). 16 Finally, Mr. Ozburn’s alleged wrongful conduct was not related to his governmental status or to 17 the performance of his duties. Ms. Sinks alleges that Mr. Ozburn held her arm while Mrs. Ozburn hit 18 her and that Mr. Ozburn pushed the sliding glass window off the track, chest-butted Ms. Sinks, and 19 punched her in the chest. This conduct is not related, much less meaningfully related, to Mr. Ozburn’s 20 governmental status as a police officer or to the performance of his duties. Instead, Mr. Ozburn was 21 acting “in the ambit of his personal pursuits.” Screws, 325 U.S. at 111. Because Mr. Ozburn was not 22 acting under color of law, no derivative municipal liability can be imposed. See Monell, 436 U.S. at 23 691.4 Plaintiff has suggested there may be additional facts relevant to this issue. For example, in her 24 opposition, counsel indicates that the video of the incident shows all customers fleeing when Mr. Ozburn 25 announced he was a police officer. (Docket #14, p. 5-6). This fact was not included in the amended 26 27 28 4 Although Mr. Ozburn has not yet moved to dismiss, the reasoning set forth above also dooms the current iteration of Ms. Sinks’ section 1983 claim against Mr. Ozburn, as his personal liability under section 1983 also requires action under the color of law. 7 1 complaint. The Court expresses no opinion as to whether these and/or any additional allegations will 2 cure the defect in the amended complaint. However, plaintiff shall be afforded an opportunity to amend 3 her complaint to add facts relevant to the color of law issue. 4 B. Failure to Allege Facts to Show the Deprivation of a Constitutional Right 5 Next, the County asserts that Ms. Sinks has failed to allege facts to show that she was deprived 6 of a constitutional right because she has failed to state an Equal Protection Claim.5 This Court agrees. 7 Accordingly, even if Mr. Ozburn was acting under color of law, Ms. Sinks has failed to state a Monell 8 claim because she has failed to allege facts to show that she was deprived of a constitutional right. 9 “The Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment confers a federal constitutional right 10 to be free from gender discrimination at the hands of governmental actors.” Lindsey v. Shalmy, 29 F.3d 11 1382, 1385 (9th Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). A section 1983 plaintiff 12 alleging an equal protection violation must prove that: (1) the defendants treated plaintiff differently 13 from others similarly situated; (2) the unequal treatment was based on an impermissible classification; 14 (3) the defendants acted with discriminatory intent in applying this classification; and (4) plaintiff 15 suffered injury as a result of the discriminatory classification. Moua v. City of Chico, 324 F. Supp. 2d 16 1132, 1137 (E.D. Cal. 2004); see Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998 (a section 17 1983 plaintiff alleging denial of equal protection “must show that the defendants acted with an intent 18 or purpose to discriminate against plaintiff based on membership in a protected class.”); Van Pool v. City 19 and County of San Francisco, 752 F. Supp. 915, 927 (N.D. Cal. 1990) (section 1983 plaintiff must prove 20 purposeful discrimination by demonstrating that he “receiv[ed] different treatment from that received 21 by others similarly situated,” and that the treatment complained of was under color of state law). 22 Ms. Sinks alleges that she was harassed, assaulted, and discriminated against by Mr. Ozburn 23 because of her gender. She bases her claim on the allegation that Mr. Ozburn called one of her female 24 employees a “fucking bitch” and then confronted and assaulted Ms. Sinks. She further alleges that other 25 agents of the County of Fresno violated her Fourteenth Amendment rights by harassing her by 26 27 28 5 The County also argues that Ms. Sinks has failed to state a Fourth Amendment and substantive due process claim. Because Ms. Sinks does not allege a Fourth Amendment or due process claim in her complaint nor address these issues in her opposition, the Court declines to address these issues. 8 1 performing frequent health inspections of the Hungry Hut and by covering up the incident that occurred 2 with Mr. Ozburn. Accepting all of these allegations as true, Ms. Sinks fails to allege that she was treated 3 differently from others similarly situated based on her gender. The complaint further lacks facts to show 4 that defendants acted with the intent or purpose to discriminate against Ms. Sinks based on her gender. 5 Accordingly, Ms. Sinks has failed to allege facts to show that she was deprived of a constitutional right 6 which is required in order to state a Monell claim. See Oviatt v. Pearce, 954 F.2d 1470, 1474 (9th Cir. 7 1992) (to impose liability on a local governmental entity for failing to act to preserve constitutional 8 rights, a section 1983 plaintiff must first establish that “he possessed a constitutional right of which he 9 was deprived”). 10 It appears from the complaint that Ms. Sinks may also be alleging a section 1983 claim against 11 the County for its agents’ alleged “cover-up” of the incident.6 (Docket #6, ¶ 75). Neither party addresses 12 this issue in their briefs. Whether this claim is meant to allege a stand-alone constitutional violation or 13 a claim that is derivative of plaintiff’s gender discrimination/equal protection claim is unclear. Because 14 the nature of the alleged violation is unclear, plaintiff’s section 1983 claim cannot survive based on any 15 alleged “cover up.” Plaintiff must clarify the nature of this allegation in any amended pleading. 16 C. Failure to Allege an Unconstitutional Policy, Practice, or Custom 17 Finally, the County argues that Ms. Sinks has failed to state a Monell claim because she has failed 18 to allege an unconstitutional policy, practice, or custom on the part of the County that is in any way 19 connected to Mr. Ozburn’s acts. 20 Municipalities are liable under section 1983 where “the action that is alleged to be 21 unconstitutional implements or executes a policy statement ordinance, regulation or decision officially 22 adopted and promulgated by that body’s officers.” Monell, 436 U.S. at 690. In other words, a 23 municipality may be liable under section 1983 if its deliberate policy caused the constitutional violation 24 alleged. Id. at 694. A failure to train or supervise can amount to a “policy or custom” sufficient to 25 26 27 28 6 Paragraph 25 of the amended complaint alleges that the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department “covered up” the incident that occurred between Mr. Ozburn and Ms. Sinks. (Docket #6, ¶ 25). Ms. Sinks alleges that “the Sheriff’s Department . . . violated [her] civil rights by failing to take action against Officer Ozburn, and also by preventing her from obtaining access to corroborating evidence, including the statements taken by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department officers at the time of the incident.” (Docket #6, ¶ 25). 9 1 impose liability on the County. City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 389-90 (1989). In order to 2 establish municipal liability based on a failure to train, Ms. Sinks must show that (1) she was deprived 3 of a constitutional right; (2) the County had a training policy that amounts to deliberate indifference to 4 the constitutional rights of the person with whom employees are likely to come into contact; and (3) her 5 constitutional injury would have been avoided had the County properly trained those employees. 6 Blankenhorn v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 463, 484 (9th Cir. 2007). 7 Ms. Sinks alleges that she was deprived of her Fourteenth Amendment right to be free from 8 gender discrimination by the wrongful acts of Mr. Ozburn and the subsequent “harassment and cover-up 9 of the incident” by other agents of the County. (Docket #6, p. 11). She alleges generally that “the 10 County failed to use due care in its training, supervision, and employment of defendant Ozburn.” 11 (Docket #6, ¶ 42). These allegations fall far short of Twombly’s pleading requirement that a complaint 12 must “contain either direct or inferential [factual] allegations respecting all the material elements 13 necessary to sustain recovery under some viable legal theory.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 562 (internal 14 quotation marks and citations omitted). Ms. Sinks has failed to allege any factual allegations, other than 15 legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations, to support the existence of a policy or practice 16 that would satisfy Monell. Nor does Ms. Sinks allege facts to suggest that her constitutional injury 17 would have been avoided had the County properly trained Mr. Ozburn. Blankenhorn, 485 F.3d at 484. 18 Accordingly, Ms. Sinks has failed to state a section 1983 claim against the County for the alleged 19 wrongful acts of Mr. Ozburn. 20 D. Leave to Amend 21 The County argues that Ms. Sinks should not be granted leave to amend. Because this Court 22 cannot say “that the allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly 23 cure the deficienc[ies],” Schreiber Distributing Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., Inc., 806 F.2d 1393, 24 1401 (9th Cir. 1986), this Court GRANTS Ms. Sinks leave to amend. 25 Accordingly, this Court GRANTS the County’s motion to dismiss Ms. Sinks’ section 1983 claim 26 with leave to amend. 27 III. Ms. Sinks’ State Law Claims Against the County 28 The County argues that Ms. Sinks cannot maintain her state law claims in Counts One through 1 Six because the alleged wrongful conduct was not performed in the course and scope of Mr. Ozburn’s 2 employment with the Sheriff’s Department. The County further contends that it cannot be held liable 3 for Ms. Sinks’s negligence claims because there is no statute providing for such liability. 4 Where all federal claims are dismissed in an action containing both federal and state law claims, 5 a federal court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. 6 28 U.S.C. § 1367; Notrica v. Board of Sup’rs of County of San Diego, 925 F.2d 1211, 1213-14 (9th Cir. 7 1991); see also Bryant v. Adventist Health System/West, 289 F.3d 1162, 1169 (9th Cir. 2002). When 8 a Court dismisses all claims over which it has original jurisdiction and declines to exercise supplemental 9 jurisdiction over the state-law claims, the Court is not required to provide an explanation for its decision. 10 Ove v. Gwinn, 264 F.3d 817, 826 (9th Cir. 2001). Accordingly, this Court declines to exercise 11 supplemental jurisdiction over Ms. Sinks’ state law claims and will not address them at this time. 12 CONCLUSION AND ORDER 13 For the reasons discussed above, this Court: 14 1. GRANTS WITH LEAVE TO AMEND the County’s motion to dismiss Ms. Sinks’ 15 Seventh Cause of Action; 16 2. DECLINES TO ADDRESS Causes of Action One through Six; 17 3. ORDERS Ms. Sinks to file and serve a second amended complaint within 21 days of the 18 filing of this order to cure the identified deficiencies, consistent with her obligations 19 under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11; 20 4. ORDERS the County to file and serve papers in response to the second amended 21 complaint within 14 days after service of the second amended complaint; and 22 5. ORDERS defendants George and Nicole Ozburn to file and serve papers in response to 23 the second amended complaint within 14 days after service of the second amended 24 complaint, thereby adjusting the current briefing schedule. 25 Plaintiff needs to recognize that this Court is beyond busy. If the facts aren’t there to amend, 26 don’t. 27 IT IS SO ORDERED. 28 Dated: January 20, 2012 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 11 1 b9ed48 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 12
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