Hernandez-Santos v. Administracion de Correccion et al, No. 3:2009cv01816 - Document 15 (D.P.R. 2011)

Court Description: OPINION AND ORDER granting 11 Motion to Dismiss Signed by Judge Daniel R. Dominguez on 3-29-11. (nild)

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Hernandez-Santos v. Administracion de Correccion et al Doc. 15 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO * * * * v. * * * ADMINISTRACION DE CORRECCION, et.,al.,* Defendants. * __________________________________________* TOMAS HERNANDEZ-SANTOS, Plaintiff, CIVIL NO. 09-1816(DRD) OPINION & ORDER Before the Court is Petitioner s 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 prisoner civil rights violations complaint(D.E. #3)1. Defendants filed a Motion To Dismiss The Complaint Pursuant To Federal Rule Of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)(D.E. #11). Court finds the motion to For the reasons discussed below, the dismiss shall be GRANTED; therefore Petitioner s 1983 claim shall be DENIED WITH PREJUDICE. I. BACKGROUND On August 18, 2009, Petitioner, Tomas Hernandez-Soto (hereinafter Petitioner or Hernandez-Soto ) filed a Prisoner s Civil Rights Violation Complaint pursuant to 42, United States Code, Section 1983 (D.E. #3). Said compliant was filed against the Puerto Rico Administration of Corrections, Superintendent William TorresSantiago, social worker Brenda Ramos-Santiago and social worker supervisor Migdalia Cintron (D.E. #3). Petitioner claims that defendants, particularly social worker 1 D.E. is an abbreviation of docket entry number. Dockets.Justia.com Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Brenda Page 2 Ramos-Santiago (hereinafter Ramos-Santiago ), have discriminated against him and caused him mental suffering and damages in the amount of $250,000.00 (D.E. #3 at pages 6-7). Hernandez-Santos, specific claim is that his prison social worker, Ramos-Santiago, has since the year 2006, been denying his repeated request for placement as a maintenance worker within the prison he is housed. Petitioner contends that defendant s denial is done in a whimsical fashion. He further claims that defendant RamosSantiago has acted in arrogant manner towards him.(D.E. #3 at pages 6-7). On July 7, 2010, defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) (D.E. #11). The motion to dismissed is based on the following alternatives: (a) Plaintiff s claim fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; and(b)Defendant s are entitled to immunity under the Eleventh Amendment (D.E. #11). As such the matter is ready for disposition by this Court. II. DISCUSSION STANDARD OF REVIEW Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows a defendant to assert the defense of failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, before pleading, if a responsive pleading is allowed. However, under Section 12 (b)(2) "a complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it appears ... that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief." See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twonbly, 127 Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 3 S. Ct. 1955 (2007) (clarifying former parameters of Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S. Ct. 99, 102 (1957)); see Miranda v. Ponce Fed. Bank, 948 F.2d 41 (1st Cir. 1991); see also Rodriguez-Ortiz v. Margo Caribe, Inc., 490 F.3d 92, 94-95 (1st Cir. 2007). No heightened fact pleading of specifics is required but only enough facts to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face. Bell Atlantic, 127 S.Ct. at 1974.) In recent years, the Supreme Court issued several opinions that changed the standard for a motion to dismiss so that plaintiffs will now have to include more information in their pleadings if they want to survive a 12(b)(6) motion. The first case is Bell Atlantic Corp. V. Towmbly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007), and its progeny Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937 (2009). In order for a plaintiff to prosper in his claim when faced with a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the complaint must contain factual allegations sufficient to raise a right to relief above the speculative level Bell Atlantic Corp. V. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007). Although a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff s obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do Id., at 1964-65. The Supreme Court then reiterated its holdings in Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89 (2007), specific facts are not necessary; the statements need only give the defendants fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests . Finally, the Supreme Court in the case of Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S Ct. 1937 (2009), left no doubt as to how a court must approach a Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 4 motion to dismiss based on Rule 12 (b)(6). that there are two working principles. The Court established First, the tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in a complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions. Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice. Although for purposes of a motion to dismiss we must take all of the factual allegations in the complaint as true, we are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation Iqbal, at 1949-1950. Second, only a complaint that states a plausible claim for relief survives a motion to dismiss. Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief will, as the Court of Appeals observed, be a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense. Iqbal, at 1950. Since Hernandez-Santos, filed his complaint on August 18, 2009, (docket # 3), which is after the Supreme Court s decision of Iqbal (decided on May 18, 2009), this Court must analyze Plaintiff s complaint embattled with a motion to dismiss pursuant to the two prong standard as established by the Supreme Court in Iqbal. Legal Discussion Sufficiency of the pleadings An examination of the pro-se complaint filed by Plaintiff Hernandez-Santos reveals that in its caption Hernandez-Santos is Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 5 suing several co-defendants2. However, the narrative part of the pro-se complaint, is solely addressed to the alleged actions of the prison social worker who handles his case, Brenda Ramos-Santiago. Who in the Plaintiff s opinion failed to obtain for him a particular job within the prison facility in which he is housed. Hernandez- Santos further alleged that defendant Brenda Ramos-Santiago has treated him in a arrogant manner.(docket # 3). A further review of the complaint submitted, reveals that there are no allegations as to any actions or lack thereof as to the Department of Corrections itself, Superintendent William Torres- Santiago and Migdalia Cintron. The Supreme Court has been very clear on the issue of binding defendants, we have noted, petitioners [corporate defendants and/or supervisors] cannot be held liable unless they themselves acted on account of a constitutionally protected characteristic. Iqbal, at 1952. Due to this lack of even a scintilla of allegations, even under the minimal standard of pleadings, defendant can not prosper in his complaint against the Department of Corrections, Torres-Santiago nor Cintron, the last being supervisors. The Court can not make inferences nor assume nor even try to imagine what Plaintiff would have perhaps alleged against these defendants, it can not enter into such a guessing game. Therefore, the Court finds that the Complaint as to the Department of Corrections, William Torres-Santiago and Migdalia Cintron is hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE for failing to 2 Specifically Plaintiff filed his complaint against Administration of Corrections; Superintendent William Torres-Santiago; social worker Brenda Ramos-Santiago; and social worker supervisor Migdalia Cintron. Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) state a plausible claim Page 6 under which relief may be granted as established by the Supreme Court of the United States.3 The Court will now focus its attention on the claim against prison social worker Brenda Ramos-Santiago. Once again even before the Court can evaluate the merits of Plaintiff s 1983 claim it must analyze the pleading itself pursuant to the Supreme Court holdings in Iqbal. Hernandez-Santos has two allegations against defendant RamosSantiago. First he claims that she is arrogant toward him; and second he claims that she has capriciously and repeatedly denied him the prison job he requested. (D.E. #3 at pages 6-7). As to the first allegation of Ramos-Santiago being arrogant towards him. The Court finds that this is a mere opinion expressed by Plaintiff, perhaps out of frustration but nonetheless an opinion. He is passing judgment over a particular way an individual is treating him and this is not a factual allegation nor can it be the basis for a section 1983 claim. treated do not constitute facts. Mere perceptions of how one is being Plaintiff can not expect his claim to prosper based on his perception that his prison social worker is arrogant. To believe that would be to believe in faire tails and this Court is not Disney World. As such based on the allegation that Plaintiff s social worker Ramos-Santiago, is arrogant towards him; this Court finds that his section 1983 fails to plead a plausible claim for relief. 3 The remedy of working in maintenance is overridden by the fact that prior thereto he attempted to flee. Further, working assignments within the confines of a prison constitute a discretional matter. See discussion infra, p. 10. Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Plaintiff s Page 7 final allegation is that Ramos-Santiago has repeatedly, capriciously and without explanation denied him the job placement he continues to request within the prison institution. This final allegation may be construed as a conclusion reached by Hernandez-Santos and as such the Court is not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation. Iqbal, at 1950. However, since Hernandez-Santos is a pro-se litigant that does not have the advice of legal representation, out of an abundance of caution this Court will accept his assertion as a sufficiently plead factual allegation and will proceed to evaluate the merits of the same. Standard of Claims under 42, United States Code, Section 1983. In order to have a valid claim pursuant to 42, United States Code, Section 1983, three elements must be alleged by plaintiff before said claim is cognizable. (1) Plaintiff must allege that the conduct complained about was committed by a person acting under color of state law; 4 (2) that the conduct in question deprived plaintiff of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States ;5 (3) finally, there has to be a showing of a casual connection between the specific defendants and the plaintiff s federal rights deprivation. This may consist of direct acts by the defendant, certain acts performed at defendant s direction, knowledge or consent. Each defendant individually responds for his own acts and omission in light of his 4 5 See Gomez v. Toledo, 446 US 635 (1980). See Parrat v. Taylor, 451 US 527 (1981). Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 8 own duties.6 To prevail in a section 1983 claim, Plaintiff must allege facts sufficient to support a determination (i) that the conduct complained of has been committed under color of state law and (ii) that alleged conduct caused a denial of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States. Romero-Barceló v. Hernández-Agosto, 75 F.3d 23, 32 (1st Cir. 1996). individuals who As an additional corollary, only those participated in the conduct plaintiff of his rights can be held liable. that deprived the Febus-Rodríguez v. Betancourt-Lebrón, 14 F.3d 87, 91-92 (1st Cir. 1994). The second prong of section 1983 itself has two elements. The first element requires that there was, indeed, a deprivation of rights, privileges or Constitution or laws. immunities secured by the United States Votour v. Vitale, 761 F.2d at 819. The second element of the second prong, the causation element, has three components. Fist plaintiff must show, that each of the acts or omissions done by each defendant caused the deprivation of the rights at issue. Gutierrez-Rodríguez v. Cartagena, 882 F.2d 553, 562 (1st Cir. 1989); Figueroa v. Aponte-Roque, 864 F.2d 947, 953 (1st Cir. 1989). Second plaintiff must show, that the defendants conduct or lack thereof was intentional, grossly negligent, or must have amounted to a reckless or callous indifference to the constitutional rights of others. 362(D.P.R. 1997). Velázquez-Martínez v. Colón, 961 F. Supp. Lastly, plaintiff must show an affirmative link between the street-level misconduct and the action or lack thereof, 6 Coon v. Ledbetter, 780 F.2d 1158 (5 th Cir 1986); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S 363, (1976). Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 9 of supervisory officials. Gutierrez-Rodríguez, 882 F.2d at 562. In the case at hand, Hernandez-Soto is claiming a violation of his right due to not receiving a particular prison work assignment7. In other words Plaintiff wishes for this Court to consider the right to work at a particular job while incarcerated as a Constitutionally protected right. Plaintiff is sadly mistaken. Prison work assignments are solely at the discretion of the prison and its officers in the exercise of the broad latitude they are afforded in the management of prisons. 520 (1979). protected same It is well settled that an inmate does not have a property employment. token, Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. continued prison James v. Quinlan, 866 F. 2d 627 (3rd Cir. 1989). By the the or right liberty to earn interest wages in while incarcerated privilege, not a constitutionally guaranteed right. is a A state or federal law or regulation, however, may create such an interest. Hewitt v. Helms, 459 U.S. 460 (1983). The First Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that it is clear that unless state law or regulations are to the contrary, prisoners have no vested property or liberty rights to obtain or maintain prison jobs. Dupont v. Saunders, 800 F. 2d 8,9 (1st Cir. 1986). To date no statutes or administrative regulations have been approved or created to guarantee such a right8. 7 8 The Court notes that by Plaintiff s own admission social worker Ramos-Santiago informed him that he could not receive the requested job because of his prior escape from prison and that he is considered a flight risk. (Docket # 3 at page 6). Plaintiff himself refutes his own allegation that his work denial is a mere whim of Ramos-Santiago. Docket 11 at page 6. Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 10 Having established that prisoners have no vested right to obtain or maintain jobs it is clear that Plaintiff Hernandez-Santos has failed to meet the second prong of a prima facie case pursuant to section 183 therefore the Complaint is Hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. This Court will address one last lingering argument raised by the Defendants, that is Defendants immunity under the Eleventh Amendment. Eleventh Amendment Immunity The Eleventh Amendment bars payment of monetary damages against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Eleventh Amendment bars suits from being brought in federal courts for monetary damages against states, unless the party being sued waives its immunity or consents to being sued. Cruz v. Puerto Rico, 558 F. Supp. 2d 165, 173-175 (D.P.R. 2007). The Eleventh Amendment has been interpreted to bar suits for monetary relief against the agencies or instrumentalities of a state and against its offices in their official capacities. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 169 (1985). In other words Eleventh Amendment immunity extends to arms or alter egos of the State as well as state employees exercising their official duties. Ainsworth Aristocrat Int l pty. Ltd. V. Tourism Co. Of Puerto Rico, 818 F.2d 1034 (1st Cir. 1987). A suit against a state official in his or her official capacity is not a suit against the official rather is a suit against the official s office. As such, it is no different from a suit against the State itself. Will v. Mich. Dep t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989); Cosme-Perez v. Mun. of Juana Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 11 Diaz, 585 F. Supp. 2d 229, 236 (D.P.R. 2008).9 The First Circuit consistently has held that Puerto Rico is considered a State for Eleventh Amendment purposes. Therefore, since Puerto Rico is afforded the same rights as a state and has not waived its claim to Eleventh Amendment Immunity, any private suit against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is barred. Jusino-Mercado v. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 214 F.3d 34, 37 (1st Cir. 2000). Consequently, the Eleventh Amendment bars the recovery of damages in a federal court against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and by the same token, it bars the recovery of damages in official capacity suits brought against Puerto Rico officials where recovery will come from public funds. Culebras Enter. Corp. V. Rivera Rios 813 F.2d 506 at 516 (1st Cir. 1987). The Department of Corrections and its employees in their official capacities function as arms of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and any judgment against the defendants in their official capacity would effectively be a judgment against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Martinez Machicote v. Ramos Rodriguez, 553 F. Supp. 2d 45 (D.P.R. 2007). The Court therefore finds that the defendants are protected by the Eleventh Amendment. As such, Plaintiff Hernandez- Santos claim against the defendants in their official capacity is Dismissed With Prejudice. III. CONCLUSION For the different reasons expressed and explained in this Opinion 9 and Order, the Court concludes that Petitioner TOMAS The defendants have not been sued in their individual capacities. Civil No. 09-1816(DRD) Page 12 HERNANDEZ-SANTOS , claim pursuant to 42, United States Code, Section 1983 is not entitled to relief. It is ordered that Petitioner TOMAS HERNANDEZ-SANTOS complaint under 42, U.S.C. Sec. 1983 (D.E.#3) is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, and Defendants Motion to Dismiss (D.E. # 11) is GRANTED. IT IS SO ORDERED. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 29TH day of March 2011. s/ Daniel R. Domínguez DANIEL R. DOMINGUEZ UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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