Clarke v. City of North Las Vegas

Opinion

2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 3 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 4 * * * 5 Karyl Clarke, Case No. 2:24-cv-01046-GMN-DJA 6 Plaintiff, 7 Order v. 8 City of North Las Vegas, et al., 9 Defendants. 10 11 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 Plaintiff is proceeding in this action pro se and has requested 12 authority to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 6). Plaintiff also submitted a complaint. (ECF 13 No. 1-2). Because the Court finds that Plaintiff’s application is complete, it grants the application 14 to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court also screens Plaintiff’s complaint. Because Plaintiff 15 does not allege a claim upon which relief can be granted, the Court dismisses Plaintiff’s 16 complaint with leave to amend. 17 I. In forma pauperis application. 18 Plaintiff filed the affidavit required by § 1915(a). (ECF No. 6). Plaintiff has shown an 19 inability to prepay fees and costs or give security for them. Accordingly, the request to proceed 20 in forma pauperis will be granted under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Court will now review 21 Plaintiff’s complaint. 22 II. Legal standard for screening. 23 Upon granting an application to proceed in forma pauperis, courts additionally screen the 24 complaint under § 1915(e). Federal courts are given the authority to dismiss a case if the action is 25 legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks 26 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 27 When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915, the plaintiff should be given leave to amend 1 complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 2 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 3 Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for dismissal of a 4 complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Review under Rule 5 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 232 F.3d 6 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000). A properly pled complaint must provide a short and plain statement of 7 the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Bell Atlantic Corp. 8 v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Although Rule 8 does not require detailed factual 9 allegations, it demands “more than labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of the 10 elements of a cause of action.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Papasan v. 11 Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986)). The court must accept as true all well-pled factual allegations 12 contained in the complaint, but the same requirement does not apply to legal conclusions. Iqbal, 13 556 U.S. at 679. Mere recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported only by conclusory 14 allegations, do not suffice. Id. at 678. Where the claims in the complaint have not crossed the 15 line from conceivable to plausible, the complaint should be dismissed. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. 16 Allegations of a pro se complaint are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings 17 drafted by lawyers. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & n.7 (9th Cir. 2010) (finding that liberal 18 construction of pro se pleadings is required after Twombly and Iqbal). 19 Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and possess only that power authorized by 20 the Constitution and statute. See Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466, 489 (2004). Under 28 U.S.C. 21 § 1331, federal courts have original jurisdiction over “all civil actions arising under the 22 Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” Cases “arise under” federal law either when 23 federal law creates the cause of action or where the vindication of a right under state law 24 necessarily turns on the construction of federal law. Republican Party of Guam v. Gutierrez, 277 25 F.3d 1086, 1088-89 (9th Cir. 2002). Whether federal-question jurisdiction exists is based on the 26 “well-pleaded complaint rule,” which provides that “federal jurisdiction exists only when a 27 federal question is presented on the face of the plaintiff’s properly pleaded complaint.” 1 district courts have original jurisdiction over civil actions in diversity cases “where the matter in 2 controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000” and where the matter is between “citizens of 3 different states.” Generally speaking, diversity jurisdiction exists only where there is “complete 4 diversity” among the parties; each of the plaintiffs must be a citizen of a different state than each 5 of the defendants. Caterpillar Inc. v. Lewis, 519 U.S. 61, 68 (1996). 6 III. Screening the complaint. 7 Plaintiff sues the City of North Las Vegas, the Clark County School District (“CCSD”), 8 the CCSD Police Department, Superintendent of CCSD Brenda Larsen-Mitchell, CCSD Police 9 Department Commissioner Henry Blackeye, CCSD Principal Chris Stacey, CCSD Police 10 Sergeant Evans, and Police Officer John Doe #2.1 (ECF No. 1-2 at 1, 3, 5). He asserts that the 11 Court has diversity jurisdiction over his claims because he is a citizen of Ohio, while the 12 Defendants are citizens of Nevada. (Id. at 2). He also asserts that the Court has federal question 13 jurisdiction over his claims because he is alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Id.). 14 Plaintiff’s allegations arise from his attempts in September and November of 2022 until 15 November of 2023 to remove his child from school and CCSD’s refusal to honor his requests. 16 Plaintiff alleges that, he contacted Raul P. Elizondo Elementary School—where his child is a 17 student—on September 15, 2022 after learning that his child was being bullied and physically 18 attacked. (Id. at 4). Plaintiff asserts that the school refused to disclose any information to him 19 because Plaintiff was not listed on school documents as a parent. (Id.). Plaintiff submitted court 20 documents to Principal Stacey on November 7, 2022, showing that Plaintiff is responsible for the 21 child. (Id.). But Plaintiff alleges that the school still denied him his parental rights. (Id.). 22 Specifically, on November 7, 2022, Plaintiff requested that Principal Stacey “present the 23 child to Plaintiff,” but Principal Stacey refused. (Id. at 5). Plaintiff alleges that Principal Stacey 24 “orchestrated the secret removal of the child from school and the denial of the child her after 25 school care program.” (Id.). Plaintiff then requested all information related to two bullying 26 27 1 incidents involving his child and asked that the documents be mailed to his home in Columbus, 2 Ohio. (Id.). Plaintiff does not allege whether the school complied with this request. 3 A few days later, Plaintiff informed Principal Stacey via email and telephone that he 4 intended to unenroll his child from school and requested the documents to do so along with all 5 documents that the school had pertaining to his child. (Id.). Plaintiff also contacted the CCSD 6 Police Department to report his concerns over his child’s safety. (Id.). He spoke with CCSD 7 Sergeant Evans, who “reaffirmed support as to [his] rights as a parent…” (Id.). Plaintiff then 8 contacted local police, who explained that they had no jurisdiction over school matters. (Id.). 9 On November 22, 2022, Plaintiff returned to the school and “was immediately 10 greeted/accosted by Principal Chris Stacey with a document.” (Id. at 5-6). Plaintiff does not 11 explain what the document was, but alleges that it contained “numerous errors, false allegations[,] 12 and threats,” which Principal Stacey read out loud in front of the school office. (Id.). Plaintiff 13 alleges that he then contacted CCSD Police about the document and that Sergeant Evans arrived 14 on scene. (Id.). However, Sergeant Evans “refused to take Plaintiff’s criminal complaint 15 pertaining to the physical assault/attack against Plaintiff’s child as well as the illegal conduct by 16 Principal Chris Stacey, for concealing and detaining Plaintiff’s child against Plaintiff’s 17 instructions…” (Id.). Sergeant Evans also denied Plaintiff’s “desire to execute a citizen’s arrest 18 against Principal Chris Stacey,” and refused to retrieve Plaintiff’s child. (Id.). When Sergeant 19 Evans refused, Plaintiff contacted the North Las Vegas Police Department “in an effort to file a 20 criminal complaint against Principal Chris Stacey,” but the North Las Vegas Police Department 21 again told Plaintiff that it had no jurisdiction over school matters. (Id.). 22 Sergeant Evans then informed Plaintiff that Sergeant Evans had contacted the family court 23 and learned that Plaintiff had no rights to the child and told Plaintiff that if he remained within a 24 mile of the school, he would be arrested. (Id.). Plaintiff “immediately went to the child custody 25 court and called Sergeant Evans and requested the name of the individual who told him Plaintiff 26 had no rights to the child,” but Sergeant Evans became “hostile and belligerent; demanding to 27 know [Plaintiff’s] location to exactly in the court [sic] Plaintiff was located.” (Id.). Plaintiff 1 asserts that, after he failed to learn who told Sergeant Evans that Plaintiff had no rights to the 2 child, Plaintiff went back to California.2 (Id. at 7). 3 Several weeks later, Plaintiff went back to the family courthouse for certain documents, 4 but “was detained by Court Marshal[]s…as a result of fabricated information made by [Sergeant] 5 Evans.” (Id.). Plaintiff asserts that he was taken to the local jail by John Doe #2, where he stayed 6 for “3-5 days.” (Id.). Plaintiff alleges that upon his release he was missing his drivers license, 7 which “transporting and/or booking school police officer[s]” confiscated. (Id.). 8 On September 12, 2023, “Clark County school officials made more false allegations 9 against Plaintiff[,] claiming Plaintiff was st[alk]ing the school and/or students…” (Id.). Plaintiff 10 does not explain who made these allegations, how, or in what format or forum. On November 25, 11 2023, “the child was again attacked by a male student,” and CCSD employees (Plaintiff does not 12 state who) obstructed his ability to inquire about the matter (Plaintiff does not state how). (Id.). 13 Plaintiff claims that, while in court (he does not state when), he discovered that Principal Stacey 14 made “false allegations against Plaintiff in an effort to have Plaintiff arrested for violating the 15 order given on or about November 22, 2023.” (Id.). Plaintiff does not explain what Principal 16 Stacey said, when, or what the “order given on or about November 22, 2023” said or from where 17 it originated. 18 Based on these facts, Plaintiff alleges that Principal Stacey and other CCSD employees 19 (Plaintiff does not state who) have conspired to deprive him from participating in his child’s 20 schooling. (Id.). The Court liberally construes Plaintiff’s complaint as alleging three causes of 21 action: (1) unlawful arrest in violation of the Fourth Amendment against Sergeant Evans, John 22 Doe #2, the City of North Las Vegas, CCSD Police Department, and CCSD Police Commissioner 23 Blackeye; (2) violation of the Eighth Amendment against Principal Stacey, the City of North Las 24 Vegas, CCSD, and CCSD Superintendent Larsen-Mitchell; and (3) libel against Principal Stacey, 25 the City of North Las Vegas, CCSD, and CCSD Superintendent Larsen-Mitchell. (Id. at 8-10). 26

27 2 Plaintiff does not explain the discrepancy between his allegations that he lives in Ohio and his 1 A. Unlawful arrest. 2 The Court interprets Plaintiff’s first cause of action as one for unlawful arrest. Plaintiff 3 titles his claim “unconstitutional seizure” and alleges that “Sergeant Evans and JOHN DOE 4 #2…conspired to intentionally stop and deprive Plaintiff of his right to liberty when they 5 wrongfully detained…Plaintiff…by handcuffing, and using their authority, patrol vehicle[,] and 6 jail cell as a physical barrier for imprisonment.” (ECF No. 1-2 at 8). Plaintiff also alleges that 7 the City of North Las Vegas, CCSD Police Department, and CCSD Police Commissioner Henry 8 Blackeye are liable under both a theory of respondeat superior and “because they provided the 9 vehicle, uniform, and auxiliary equipment used to commit the seizure and without it such seizure 10 would have been difficult to accomplish.” (Id. at 9). Finally, Plaintiff alleges that the City of 11 North Las Vegas, CCSD Police Department, and CCSD Police Commissioner Henry Blackeye 12 are liable under a failure-to-train theory, alleging that they are “responsible for the hiring, 13 training, continued training, guidance, and discipline of Defendants Sergeant Evans and JOHN 14 DOE #2…” (Id.). 15 “A claim for unlawful arrest is ‘cognizable under § 1983 as a violation of the Fourth 16 Amendment, provided the arrest was without probable cause or other justification.’” Perez- 17 Morciglio v. Las Vegas Metro. Police Dep’t, 820 F. Supp. 2d 1111, 1120 (D. Nev. 2011) (citing 18 Dubner v. City & Cnty. of S.F., 266 F.3d 959, 964–65 (9th Cir. 2001)). Probable cause exists if, 19 at the time of the arrest, “under the totality of the circumstances known to the arresting officers 20 (or within the knowledge of the other officers at the scene), a prudent person would believe the 21 suspect had committed a crime.” Perez-Morciglio, 820 F. Supp. 2d at 1121 (citing Blankenhorn 22 v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 463, 471–72 (9th Cir. 2007)). 23 1. Sergeant Evans. 24 The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment claim against Sergeant Evans without 25 prejudice because, while Plaintiff alleges that Sergeant Evans threatened to arrest him, Plaintiff 26 does not allege that Sergeant Evans actually arrested him. He claims that family courthouse 27 marshals detained him “as a result of fabricated information made by Sgt. Evans.” (ECF No. 1-2 1 at 7). But Plaintiff provides no further detail about how Sergeant Evans contributed to him being 2 arrested by the family court marshals. 3 2. John Doe #2. 4 The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment claim against John Doe #2. Plaintiff 5 alleges that John Doe #2 took him to the local jail after family court marshals detained him. (ECF 6 No. 1-2 at 7). But again, Plaintiff simply asserts that John Doe #2 transported Plaintiff to the jail 7 after he had been arrested, not that John Doe #2 was the one to arrest him. And Plaintiff does not 8 otherwise bring claims against the family court marshals. 9 3. City of North Las Vegas, CCSD Police Department, and CCSD Police Commissioner Blackeye. 10 11 The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment claims against these three Defendants. 12 Plaintiff cannot bring his Fourth Amendment claim against these Defendants on a theory of 13 respondeat superior because “[t]here is no respondeat superior liability under [§] 1983.” Taylor 14 v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) (cleaned up) (emphasis added). Nor can he bring his 15 Fourth Amendment claim on a theory that these Defendants provided the resources used to arrest 16 him. This is because, although the resources facilitated Plaintiff’s arrest, Plaintiff’s arrest was not 17 a product of Defendants’ provision of resources. While municipal bodies can be sued directly 18 under § 1983, “Congress did not intend municipalities to be held liable unless action pursuant to 19 official municipal policy of some nature caused a constitutional tort.” Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. 20 Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691-92 (1978). To state a claim for municipal or county liability, a plaintiff 21 must allege that “the execution of the government’s policy or custom…inflicts the injury.” City 22 of Canton, Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385 (1989) (internal citations omitted). Defendants’ 23 policy of providing resources to their employees did not cause Plaintiff’s alleged constitutional 24 deprivations. 25 Plaintiff’s claims brought against these Defendants on a failure-to-train theory also fail. 26 While government officials may not be held liable for the unconstitutional conduct of their 27 subordinates under a theory of respondeat superior liability, a supervisor may be held liable in his 1 sufficient causal connection exists between the supervisor’s unlawful conduct and the 2 constitutional violation.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009); Edgerly v. City and 3 County of San Francisco, 599 F.3d 946, 961 (9th Cir. 2010). Supervisors can be held liable for: 4 (1) their own culpable action in the training, supervision, or control of subordinates; (2) their 5 acquiescence in the constitutional deprivation of which a complaint is made; or (3) for conduct 6 that showed a reckless or callous indifference to the rights of others. Edgerly, 599 F.3d at 961. 7 Plaintiff does not allege how these Defendants were personally involved in the constitutional 8 deprivations he alleges. While he alleges that the City of North Las Vegas, the CCSD Police 9 Department, and CCSD Police Commissioner Blackeye were “responsible for the hiring, training, 10 continued training, guidance, and discipline of Defendants Sergeant Evans and JOHN DOE #2,” 11 this allegation is conclusory and does not state sufficient facts to state a colorable claim. 12 B. Eighth Amendment violations. 13 Plaintiff alleges that Principal Stacey, the City of North Las Vegas, CCSD, and CCSD 14 Superintendent Larsen-Mitchell violated the Eighth Amendment. The Eighth Amendment 15 provides that “[e]xcessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and 16 unusual punishments inflicted.” U.S. CONST. amend. VIII. However, Plaintiff alleges no facts 17 that would support an Eighth Amendment claim. Instead, it appears that Plaintiff is attempting to 18 assert his libel claim. The Court thus dismisses Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim and 19 addresses Plaintiff’s libel claim below.3 20

21 3 To the extent Plaintiff is asserting the Eighth Amendment related to his detention after his arrest—which arises more appropriately under the Fourteenth Amendment because Plaintiff was a 22 pretrial detainee—the Court provides the legal standard for these claims below so that Plaintiff may reference them if he chooses to amend his complaint: 23 Inmates who sue prison officials for injuries sustained while in custody may do so under the 24 Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause, or, if the claim is pursued by a pre- trial detainee who is not convicted, under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. Bell 25 v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535-36 (1979) (explaining that under the Due Process Clause, a pre-trial 26 detainee may not be punished prior to conviction); see Gordon v. County of Orange, 888 F.3d 1118, 1124 (9th Cir. 2018) (“medical care claims brought by pretrial detainees ... arise under the 27 Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause rather than the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause.”) (internal citations and quotations omitted). The Due Process 1 C. Libel. 2 Plaintiff alleges that Principal Stacey defamed him when Principal Stacey “composed and 3 verbalized false allegations against PLAINTIFF in a public place.” (ECF No. 1-2 at 9). He 4 alleges that Principal Stacey took these actions in an official capacity as the principal of Raul P. 5 Elizondo Elementary School. (Id. at 10). He alleges that the City of North Las Vegas, CCSD, 6 and CCSD Superintended Larsen-Mitchell are also responsible under a theory of respondeat 7 superior and negligent failure-to-train and failure-to-discipline. (Id.). 8 Libel is a written form of defamation while slander is a spoken form. Flowers v. Carville, 9 292 F.Supp.2d 1225, 1232 n.1 (D. Nev. 2003). To state a claim for defamation, Plaintiff must 10 allege “(1) a false and defamatory statement by [a] defendant concerning the plaintiff; (2) an 11 unprivileged publication a third person; (3) fault, amounting to at least negligence; and (4) actual 12 or presumed damages.” Rosen v. Tarkanian, 453 P.3d 1220, 1225 (Nev. 2019); see also Nev. 13 Rev. Stat. § 200.510(1) (defining libel). 14 1. Principal Stacey. 15 The Court dismisses Plaintiff’s defamation claim against Principal Stacey because 16 Plaintiff does not identify the false statements Principal Stacey allegedly wrote or said. The 17 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 notice pleading standard requires Plaintiff to “give the 18 defendant fair notice of what the …claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atlantic 19 20 21 and restrictions of a detention facility as long as those conditions and restrictions do not amount to a punishment. Bell, 441 U.S. at 535-37. To prevail on a claim that the conditions of 22 confinement violate the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, a plaintiff must meet both the objective and subjective prongs of the test for cruel and unusual punishment under the 23 Eighth Amendment. Morgan v. City of Henderson, No. 2:09-cv-01392-RCJ, 2011 WL 5373979, at *3 (D. Nev. Nov. 4, 2011). To meet the objective prong, an inmate must show that the 24 deprivation caused by the official’s act or omission is sufficiently serious to result in the denial of 25 the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities. Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981). The subjective prong requires that an inmate demonstrate that prison officials acted or 26 failed to act with deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to inmate health or safety. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994) . Deliberate indifference requires that an 27 official be aware of the condition. Id. at 837. 1 Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Without more, Plaintiff’s claim that Principal 2 Stacey defamed him does not provide Principal Stacey with fair notice of Plaintiff’s claims. 3 2. The City of North Las Vegas, CCSD, CCSD Superintendent Larsen- Mitchell. 4 5 Plaintiff’s defamation claims against the City of North Las Vegas, CCSD, and CCSD 6 Superintendent Larsen-Mitchell, brought under theories of respondeat superior, negligent failure- 7 to-train, and negligent failure-to-discipline also fail. Plaintiff’s claims brought via respondeat 8 superior fail because, although Plaintiff alleges that Principal Stacey made the statements in an 9 employment capacity, this allegation is conclusory because Plaintiff has not identified the 10 statements. “[R]espondeat superior liability attaches only when the employee is under the control 11 of the employer and when the act is within the scope of employment.” Molina v. Asher, 618 P.2d 12 878, 879 (Nev. 1980) (emphasis added). While Plaintiff alleges that Principal Stacey read from 13 the “document” in front of school office occupants, Plaintiff’s failure to allege what those 14 statements were or what the document was make it impossible for the Court and for Defendants 15 to determine whether Principal Stacey made those statements in the scope of his employment. 16 Additionally, Plaintiff’s failure-to-train and failure-to-discipline claims fail because they 17 are too conclusory. Plaintiff alleges that these Defendants “failed to properly train, investigate, 18 discipline, and remove employees that are known to them to have engaged and continue to 19 engage in harmful conduct against individuals/parents of Raul P. Elizondo Elementary School.” 20 (ECF No. 1-2 at 10). Plaintiff does not allege which Defendant was responsible for training or 21 disciplining Principal Stacey or how they failed to do so. 22 23 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma 24 pauperis (ECF No. 6) is granted. Plaintiff shall not be required to pre-pay the filing fee. 25 Plaintiff is permitted to maintain this action to conclusion without the necessity of prepayment of 26 any additional fees or costs or the giving of a security therefor. This order granting leave to 27 proceed in forma pauperis shall not extend to the issuance and/or service of subpoenas at ] IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is kindly directed to file the 2 || complaint (ECF No. 1-2) on the docket, but shall not issue summons. 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the complaint (ECF No. 1-2) is dismissed without 4 || prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, with leave to amend. 5 || Plaimtiff will have until September 26, 2024 to file an amended complaint if the noted 6 || deficiencies can be corrected. If Plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, Plaintiff is informed 7 || that the Court cannot refer to a prior pleading (1.e., the original complaint) to make the amended 8 || complaint complete. This is because, generally, an amended complaint supersedes the original 9 || complaint. Local Rule 15-1(a) requires that an amended complaint be complete without reference 10 || to any prior pleading. Once a plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original complaint no 11 || longer serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original 12 || complaint, each claim and the involvement of each Defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 13 || Failure to comply with this order will result in the recommended dismissal of this case. 14 15 DATED: August 27, 2024 OQ Oxy DANIEL J. ALBREGTS 18 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28