(PC) Hernandez v. Pedreio, et al., No. 1:2016cv00027 - Document 17 (E.D. Cal. 2017)

Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending that this entire action be dismissed with prejudice re 14 Amended Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint filed by Angel Hernandez ; referred to Judge Drozd; ORDER DISCHARGING 13 Order to Show Cause,signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 10/18/2017. Objections to F&R due by 11/13/2017 (Martin-Gill, S)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 ANGEL HERNANDEZ, Case No. 1:16-cv-00027-DAD-SKO (PC) Plaintiff, 11 (Doc. 14) v. 12 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO DISMISS AMENDED COMPLAINT WITH PREJUDICE FOR FAILURE/INABILITY TO STATE A COGNIZABLE CLAIM Defendants. 10 PEDERIO, et al., 13 TWENTY-ONE (21) DAY DEADLINE 14 15 16 ORDER DISHCARGING ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE 17 (Doc. 13) 18 FINDINGS 19 20 A. Background 21 Plaintiff, Angel Hernandez, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in 22 this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. As discussed below, Plaintiff fails to state 23 any cognizable claims upon which relief may be granted. 24 Plaintiff filed the Complaint in this action on January 8, 2016. (Doc. 1.) The Complaint 25 was screened and dismissed with leave to amend. (Doc. 10.) When Plaintiff did not file an 26 amended complaint within the time provided, an order to show cause issued for Plaintiff to 27 explain why this action should not be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to obey the Court’s order 28 and to state a claim. (Doc. 13.) On April 24, 2017, Plaintiff filed the First Amended Complaint, 1 1 which is before the Court for screening. (Doc. 14.) For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiff 2 fails to state any cognizable claims, despite having previously been given the requisite pleading 3 and legal standards for his claims. Thus, this action should be dismissed with prejudice and 4 further leave to amend need not be extended since futile. 5 B. Screening Requirement 6 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 7 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). 8 The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are 9 legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or 10 that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. 11 § 1915A(b)(1), (2). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been 12 paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or 13 appeal . . . fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 14 15 C. Pleading Requirements 1. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) 16 "Rule 8(a)'s simplified pleading standard applies to all civil actions, with limited 17 exceptions," none of which applies to section 1983 actions. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N. A., 534 18 U.S. 506, 512 (2002); Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 8(a). A complaint must contain "a short and plain 19 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief . . . ." Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 8(a). 20 "Such a statement must simply give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiff's claim is and 21 the grounds upon which it rests." Swierkiewicz, 534 U.S. at 512. 22 Detailed factual allegations are not required, but A[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a 23 cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.@ Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 24 U.S. 662, 678 (2009), quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). 25 Plaintiff’s allegations in the First Amended Complaint are evaluated as to whether they set forth 26 Asufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to >state a claim that is plausible on its face.=@ Iqbal, 27 556 U.S. at 678, quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. Plaintiff’s factual allegations are accepted as 28 true, but legal conclusions are not. Iqbal. at 678; see also Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 2 1 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009); Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556-557. While Aplaintiffs [now] face a higher burden of pleadings facts . . . ,@ Al-Kidd v. Ashcroft, 2 3 580 F.3d 949, 977 (9th Cir. 2009), the pleadings of pro se prisoners are still construed liberally 4 and are afforded the benefit of any doubt. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010). 5 However, "the liberal pleading standard . . . applies only to a plaintiff's factual allegations," Neitze 6 v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 330 n.9 (1989), "a liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint may 7 not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled," Bruns v. Nat'l Credit 8 Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) quoting Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 9 268 (9th Cir. 1982), and courts are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences, Doe I v. Wal- 10 Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation 11 omitted). The “sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and 12 “facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability” fall short of satisfying the 13 plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S. Ct. at 1949; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. 2. 14 Linkage and Causation Section 1983 provides a cause of action for the violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional or 15 16 other federal rights by persons acting under color of state law. Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d 17 1087, 1092 (9th Cir 2009); Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006); 18 Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). “Section 1983 is not itself a source of 19 substantive rights, but merely provides a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere 20 conferred.” Crowley v. Nevada ex rel. Nevada Sec’y of State, 678 F.3d 730, 734 (9th Cir. 2012) 21 (citing Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 393-94, 109 S.Ct. 1865 (1989)) (internal quotation 22 marks omitted). To state a claim, Plaintiff’s allegations are evaluated by whether alleged facts 23 demonstrate the existence of a link, or causal connection, between each defendant’s actions or 24 omissions and a violation of Plaintiff’s federal rights. Lemire v. California Dep’t of Corr. and 25 Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1074-75 (9th Cir. 2013); Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1205-08 (9th Cir. 26 2011). Plaintiff’s allegations must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the 27 deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). 28 /// 3 1 D. 2 Plaintiff is currently incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) in Delano, 3 California, but complains of events that occurred while he was held as a pretrial detainee at the 4 Kings County Jail (“KCJ”) in Hanford, California. Plaintiff names KCJ Commander, Kimberly 5 Pedreiro; Assistant Sheriff, Robert Jack Thayer; Sergeant S. Henderson; the Kings County Board 6 of Supervisors; and Kings County Superior Court Judge Donna Tarter as Defendants in this 7 action. Plaintiff alleges that, on April 30, 2014, Sgt. Henderson placed Plaintiff in Administrative 8 9 Summary of the First Amended Complaint Segregation (“Ad-Seg”) at KCJ. Plaintiff asked why and Sgt. Henderson told him it was done at 10 CMDR Pedreio’s direction. Plaintiff ended up being held in KCJ’s Ad-Seg for twenty-eight 11 months, despite filing numerous grievances protesting that he was placed in Ad-Seg without 12 notice and a hearing. Plaintiff alleges that, since he was placed in Ad-Seg without notice and a 13 hearing, his rights to due process, free speech, freedom of association, and freedom from cruel 14 and unusual punishment were violated. 15 Despite having been informed that many of his allegations and claims were not capable of 16 being corrected to state cognizable claims, Plaintiff persists in asserting the same litany of claims. 17 He has made little, if any, changes to his factual allegations, and none of his claims are 18 cognizable. Thus, it appears that Plaintiff is unable to correct the deficiencies in his pleading and 19 the action should be dismissed without extending further leave to amend. Further, Plaintiff’s 20 allegations challenging his gang classification at KCJ need not be considered since no such 21 allegations were stated in his original Complaint and including them in the First Amended 22 Complaint exceeds the leave to amend Plaintiff was granted. (See Doc. 10, p. 15 (prohibiting 23 change of the nature of suit by adding new, unrelated claims in the first amended complaint).) 24 /// 25 /// 26 // 27 // 28 // 4 1 E. 1. 2 3 Legal Standards Due Process The Due Process Clause protects Plaintiff against the deprivation of liberty without the 4 procedural protections to which he is entitled under the law. Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 5 221, 125 S.Ct. 2384 (2005). To state a claim, Plaintiff must first identify the interest at stake. 6 Wilkinson, 545 U.S. at 221. Liberty interests may arise from the Due Process Clause itself or 7 from state law. Id. The Due Process Clause does not confer on inmates a liberty interest in 8 avoiding more adverse conditions of confinement, and under state law, the existence of a liberty 9 interest created by prison regulations is determined by focusing on the nature of the condition of 10 confinement at issue. Id. at 221-23 (citing Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 481-84, 115 S.Ct. 11 2293 (1995)) (quotation marks omitted). Liberty interests created by prison regulations are 12 generally limited to freedom from restraint which imposes atypical and significant hardship on 13 the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life. Wilkinson, 545 U.S. at 221 (citing 14 Sandin, 515 U.S. at 484) (quotation marks omitted); Myron v. Terhune, 476 F.3d 716, 718 (9th 15 Cir. 2007). 16 “It is plain, that the transfer of an inmate to less amenable and more restrictive quarters for 17 nonpunitive reasons is well within the terms of confinement ordinarily contemplated by a prison 18 sentence. Accordingly, administrative segregation is the sort of confinement that inmates should 19 reasonably anticipate receiving at some point in their incarceration.” Toussaint v. McCarthy, 801 20 F.2d 1080, 1091-92 (9th Cir.1986). With respect to placement in administrative segregation, due 21 process requires only that prison officials hold an informal nonadversary hearing within a 22 reasonable time after the prisoner is segregated, inform the prisoner of the charges against him or 23 the reasons for considering segregation, and allow the prisoner to present his views. Id., 801 F.2d 24 at 1100-01 (quotation marks omitted), abrogated in part on other grounds, Sandin v. Conner, 515 25 U.S. 472, 115 S.Ct. 2293 (1995); accord Bruce v. Ylst, 351 F.3d 1283, 1287 (9th Cir. 2003). 26 Prisoners are not entitled to detailed written notice of charges, representation by counsel or 27 counsel substitute, an opportunity to present witnesses, or a written decision describing the 28 reasons for placing the prisoner in administrative segregation. Toussaint, 801 F.2d at 1100-01 5 1 (quotation marks omitted). Further, due process does not require disclosure of the identity of any 2 person providing information leading to the placement of a prisoner in administrative segregation. 3 Id. (quotation marks omitted). 4 Prisoners may be housed in Administrative Segregation to protect them from other 5 inmates, to protect other inmates from the segregated prisoner, or as here, pending investigation 6 of disciplinary charges, transfer, or re-classification. See Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460, 468 7 (1983) B overruled in part on other grounds by Sandin (finding no liberty interest in freedom from 8 state action taken within the sentence implied). 9 Here, Plaintiff’s exhibits reveal that he was placed in Ad-Seg pending investigation into 10 criminal charges (see Doc. 14, pp. 9-13) and his allegations acknowledge that he was criminally 11 charged in Kings County Superior Court (case no. 14CM1997) in connection with events 12 surrounding an attempted murder of custody staff. Under these circumstances, Plaintiff had no 13 liberty interest in remaining in the general population and thus cannot state a cognizable claim. 14 Further, A[a]n inmate does not retain rights inconsistent with proper incarceration,@ and 15 Afreedom of association is among the rights least compatible with incarceration.@ Overton v. 16 Bazzetta, 539 U.S. 126, 131 (2003). Accordingly, A[s]ome curtailment of that freedom must be 17 expected in the prison context.@ Id. Since Plaintiff does not have a cognizable claim based on his 18 placement in Ad-Seg, he similarly does not have a claim based on the curtailment of his right to 19 speak and associate with inmates in the general population while confined in Ad-Seg. 20 21 3. Younger Abstention Plaintiff’s claims pertaining to his Ad-Seg placement are likewise not cognizable under § 22 1983 if the release of Plaintiff’s legal materials to prosecutors resulted in criminal charges, for 23 which proceedings are ongoing. See Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 43-54, 91 S.Ct. 746 (1971) 24 (reaffirming the long-standing principle that federal courts sitting in equity cannot, absent 25 exceptional circumstances, enjoin pending state criminal proceedings). “Younger abstention is a 26 jurisprudential doctrine rooted in overlapping principles of equity, comity, and federalism.” San 27 Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee v. City of San Jose, 546 28 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir. 2008) citing Steffel v. Thompson, 415 U.S. 452, 460-73, 94 S.Ct. 1209 6 1 (1974) (explaining the history and purposes of the doctrine); Younger, 401 U.S. at 43-49 2 (discussing the jurisprudential background of abstention); Gilbertson v. Albright, 381 F.3d 965, 3 970–75 (9th Cir.2004) (en banc) (tracing the Supreme Court's application of the doctrine). Federal courts “must abstain under Younger if four requirements are met: (1) a state- 4 5 initiated proceeding is ongoing; (2) the proceeding implicates important state interests; (3) the 6 federal plaintiff is not barred from litigating federal constitutional issues in the state proceeding; 7 and (4) the federal court action would enjoin the proceeding or have the practical effect of doing 8 so, i.e., would interfere with the state proceeding in a way that Younger disapproves.” Id. citing 9 Gilbertson, 381 F.3d at 978; AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Roden (“ABC ”), 495 F.3d 1143, 1149 10 (9th Cir.2007); see also Green v. City of Tucson, 255 F.3d 1086, 1093 (9th Cir.2001) (en banc) 11 (“[I]n addressing Younger abstention issues, district courts must exercise jurisdiction except when 12 specific legal standards are met, and may not exercise jurisdiction when those standards are met; 13 there is no discretion vested in the district courts to do otherwise.”), overruled in other part by 14 Gilbertson, 381 F.3d 965. “An exception to that general rule exists if there is a ‘showing of bad 15 faith, harassment, or some other extraordinary circumstance that would make abstention 16 inappropriate.’ ” Id., quoting Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass'n, 457 17 U.S. 423, 435, 102 S.Ct. 2515 (1982). The criminal action against Plaintiff in Kern County Superior Court (case no. 18 19 14CM1997), which Plaintiff was placed in Ad-Seg pending investigation, is ongoing.1 There are 20 few if any more important state interests than enforcing its criminal laws. Plaintiff states no 21 allegations to show that he would be barred from litigating federal constitutional issues in the 22 state proceeding and this Court finds none. A finding in Plaintiff’s favor in this action would 23 have the practical effect of undermining the State’s criminal action against Plaintiff since it would 24 necessarily hinge on the propriety of the investigation into the criminal charges against Plaintiff -- 25 which Younger disallows. Plaintiff fails to state any allegations to suggest, let alone show, that 26 bad faith, harassment, or other extraordinary circumstance exists to make abstention 27 1 28 Judicial notice is taken of the Kings County Superior Court record in case number 14CM1997. Fed. Rules Evid. Rule 201, 28 U.S.C.A.; Harris v. County of Orange, 682 F.3d 1126, 1131-32 (2012). 7 1 inappropriate. Thus, this Court must abstain from deciding Plaintiff’s claims regarding his 2 placement in Ad-Seg under Younger. 3 4 4. Cruel & Unusual Punishment The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from inhumane methods of punishment and 5 from inhumane conditions of confinement. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994); Morgan v. 6 Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006). Thus, no matter where they are housed, prison 7 officials have a duty to ensure that prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food, clothing, 8 sanitation, medical care, and personal safety. Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th Cir. 9 2000) (quotation marks and citations omitted). To establish a violation of the Eighth 10 Amendment, the prisoner must “show that the officials acted with deliberate indifference. . . .” 11 Labatad v. Corrections Corp. of America, 714 F.3d 1155, 1160 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Gibson v. 12 County of Washoe, 290 F.3d 1175, 1187 (9th Cir. 2002)). 13 The deliberate indifference standard involves both an objective and a subjective prong. 14 First, the alleged deprivation must be, in objective terms, “sufficiently serious.” Farmer at 834. 15 Second, subjectively, the prison official must “know of and disregard an excessive risk to inmate 16 health or safety.” Id. at 837; Anderson v. County of Kern, 45 F.3d 1310, 1313 (9th Cir. 1995). 17 Objectively, extreme deprivations are required to make out a conditions of confinement 18 claim and only those deprivations denying the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities are 19 sufficiently grave to form the basis of an Eighth Amendment violation. Hudson v. McMillian, 20 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992). Although the Constitution “ ‘does not mandate comfortable prisons,’ ” 21 Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991) (quoting Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 349), “inmates are 22 entitled to reasonably adequate sanitation, personal hygiene, and laundry privileges, particularly 23 over a lengthy course of time,” Howard, 887 F.2d at 137. 24 Some conditions of confinement may establish an Eighth Amendment violation “in 25 combination” when each would not suffice alone, but only when they have a mutually enforcing 26 effect that produces the deprivation of a single, identifiable human need such as food, warmth, or 27 exercise -- for example, a low cell temperature at night combined with a failure to issue blankets. 28 Wilson, 501 U.S. at 304-05(comparing Spain v. Procunier, 600 F.2d 189, 199 (9th Cir. 1979) 8 1 (outdoor exercise required when prisoners otherwise confined in small cells almost 24 hours per 2 day), with Clay v. Miller, 626 F.2d 345, 347 (4th Cir. 1980) (outdoor exercise not required when 3 prisoners had regular access to dayroom)). To say that some prison conditions may interact in 4 this fashion is far from saying that all prison conditions are a seamless web for Eighth 5 Amendment purposes. Id. Amorphous “overall conditions” cannot rise to the level of cruel and 6 unusual punishment when no specific deprivation of a single human need exists. Id. Further, 7 temporarily unconstitutional conditions of confinement do not necessarily rise to the level of 8 constitutional violations. See Anderson, 45 F.3d 1310, ref. Hoptowit, 682 F.2d at 1258 9 (abrogated on other grounds by Sandin, 515 U.S. 472 (in evaluating challenges to conditions of 10 confinement, length of time the prisoner must go without basic human needs may be 11 considered)). Thus, Plaintiff’s factual allegations regarding the conditions to which he was 12 subjected during his confinement on management cell/ASU must be evaluated to determine 13 whether they demonstrate a deprivation of a basic human need individually or when combined. 14 Plaintiff alleges that he was in Ad-Seg for “20 plus months” and that while in Ad-Seg, he 15 was confined to his cell 23 hours a day; the one hour out of his cell was for dayroom, outside 16 yard, phone call, shower, and cell cleaning. (Doc. 14, pp. 5-6.) Plaintiff alleges that any 17 conversation was like a yelling contest with other inmates. (Id.) Plaintiff complains that his cell 18 had no window and that the exercise yard is a concrete yard a little bigger than a cell that was 19 covered by a black tarp. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges he was held with inmates who have mental 20 problems causing them to throw feces, walk around covered in feces, put their urine on the 21 phones and tables, dig through garbage cans, defecate in the showers, and scream at all time of 22 the day and night. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges he was fully restrained on every movement and was 23 subjected to hot and cold temperatures in his cell, including cold showers and that his medical 24 needs were “an issue, a rash on [his] scalp, back pain, etc.” (Id.) Plaintiff also alleges that, in 25 Ad-Seg, he could not go to church, get a job, and attend programs, school, drug & alcohol classes, 26 he ate in his cell, and all of his visits were non-contact via a T.V. screen. (Id.) 27 28 These living conditions are certainly not desirable. However, they do not show deprivation of a basic human necessity, let alone that any of the named defendants were 9 1 subjectively aware of any such deprivation and failed to take corrective action. Plaintiff thus fails 2 to state a cognizable claim under the Eighth Amendment. 3 4 5 5. Immunity a. Judicial Immunity Plaintiff’s allegations against Judge Tarter are unavailing. Judge Tarter is entitled to 6 absolute immunity from damages for judicial acts, absent very limited exceptions not presented 7 here. Cleavinger v. Saxner, 474 U.S. 193, 199-200, 106 S.Ct. 496 (1985); Stump v. Sparkman, 8 435 U.S. 349, 355-56, 98 S.Ct. 1099 (1978); Crowe v. County of San Diego, 608 F.3d 406, 430 9 (9th Cir. 2010); Simmons v. Sacramento County Superior Court, 318 F.3d 1156, 1161 (9th Cir. 10 11 12 13 14 2003); Schucker v. Rockwood, 846 F.2d 1202, 1204 (9th Cir. 1988). b. Quasi-judicial Immunity The Kings County Board of Supervisors is entitled to quasi-judicial immunity for their ruling on the claim filed by Plaintiff under the California Tort Claims Act. The Supreme Court has extended absolute judicial immunity to other public officials who 15 perform activities that are “functionally comparable” to those of judges. Butz v. Economou, 438 16 U.S. 478, 513, 98 S.Ct. 2894 (1978); see also Sellars v. Procunier, 641 F.2d 1295, 1303 (9th 17 Cir.1981) (“If an official’s role is functionally equivalent to that of a judge, the official will be 18 granted equivalent immunity.”). Such activities are sometimes referred to as “quasi-judicial.” 19 See, e.g., Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 420, 96 S.Ct. 984 (1976). “Absolute immunity 20 flows not from rank or title . . . but from the nature of the responsibilities of the individual 21 official.” Cleavinger v. Saxner, 474 U.S. 193, 201, 106 S.Ct. 496 (1985). 22 The Court has outlined a list of factors to consider in determining whether an official's 23 functions are quasi-judicial in nature: (1) the need to insulate the official from harassment or 24 intimidation; (2) the presence of procedural safeguards to reduce unconstitutional conduct; (3) 25 insulation from political influence; (4) the importance of precedent in the official's decision; (5) 26 the adversary nature of the process; and (6) whether error may be corrected on appeal. Id. at 202, 27 106 S.Ct. 496 (citing Butz, 438 U.S. at 512, 98 S.Ct. 2894). This list of factors is non-exhaustive, 28 however, and an official need not satisfy every factor to be entitled to absolute quasi-judicial 10 1 immunity. See Olsen v. Idaho State Bd. of Med., 363 F.3d 916, 923 (9th Cir.2004) (noting that 2 the Butz factors are “nonexclusive”). There is a great need to protect public officials from harassment or intimidation. 3 4 Unconstitutional conduct and error are subject to review via the courts, and although their 5 decisions do not necessarily equate to precedent, the decision is the initial step in an adversarial 6 process between the municipal entity they represent and the injured party. Thus, Plaintiff cannot 7 state a cognizable claim against the Kings County Board of Supervisors. 6. 8 Inmate Grievances Plaintiff appears to continue to grieve the processing and reviewing of his grievances 9 10 pertaining to his placement in Ad-Seg at KCJ. However, he is not entitled to a specific grievance 11 procedure. Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (no liberty interest in 12 processing of appeals because no entitlement to a specific grievance procedure), citing Mann v. 13 Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). “[A prison] grievance procedure is a procedural right 14 only, it does not confer any substantive right upon the inmates.” Azeez v. DeRobertis, 568 F. 15 Supp. 8, 10 (N.D. Ill. 1982) accord Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir. 1993); see 16 also Massey v. Helman, 259 F.3d 641, 647 (7th Cir. 2001) (existence of grievance procedure 17 confers no liberty interest on prisoner). “Hence, it does not give rise to a protected liberty interest 18 requiring the procedural protections envisioned by the Fourteenth Amendment.” Azeez v. 19 DeRobertis, 568 F. Supp. at 10; Spencer v. Moore, 638 F. Supp. 315, 316 (E.D. Mo. 1986). Actions in reviewing prisoner’s administrative appeal generally cannot serve as the basis 20 21 for liability under a ' 1983 action. Buckley, 997 F.2d at 495. The argument that anyone who 22 knows about a violation of the Constitution, and fails to cure it, has violated the Constitution is 23 not correct. “Only persons who cause or participate in the violations are responsible. Ruling 24 against a prisoner on an administrative complaint does not cause or contribute to the violation.” 25 Greeno v. Daley, 414 F.3d 645, 656-57 (7th Cir.2005) accord George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 26 609-10 (7th Cir. 2007); Reed v. McBride, 178 F.3d 849, 851-52 (7th Cir.1999); Vance v. Peters, 27 97 F.3d 987, 992-93 (7th Cir.1996). 28 // 11 1 Plaintiff may “state a claim against a supervisor for deliberate indifference based upon the 2 supervisor’s knowledge of and acquiescence in unconstitutional conduct by his or her 3 subordinates.” Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1207 (2011). However, as discussed above, 4 Plaintiff fails to allege unconstitutional conduct by subordinates so as to be able to state a claim 5 based upon the supervisor’s knowledge of and acquiescence in unconstitutional conduct by such 6 subordinates. RECOMMENDATION 7 8 Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint fails to state a cognizable claim against any 9 of the named Defendants. Given Plaintiff’s persistence in attempting to state a causes of 10 action that he as previously been advised are not actionable, it appears futile to allow 11 further amendment. Plaintiff should not be granted leave to amend as the defects in his 12 pleading are not capable of being cured through amendment. Akhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 13 1202, 1212-13 (9th Cir. 2012). 14 15 16 Accordingly, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this entire action be dismissed with prejudice. These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States 17 District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. ' 18 636(b)(l). Within twenty-one (21) days of service of these Findings and 19 Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the Court. The document 20 should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” 21 Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in 22 the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. Nov. 23 18, 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 24 25 ORDER On April 20, 2017, an order issued for Plaintiff to show cause why this action 26 should not be dismissed based on his failure to obey the Order which dismissed 27 Plaintiff’s original Complaint and granted him leave to file an amended complaint. (Doc. 28 13.) Plaintiff’s response, filed a few days after the First Amended Complaint, is deemed 12 1 sufficient. (Doc. 15.) Accordingly, the order to show cause which issued on April 20, 2017, is 2 3 HEREBY DISCHARGED. 4 5 6 7 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: October 18, 2017 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13 .

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