Davis v. City of Reno

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: September 13, 2023
• Docket: 3:22-cv-00326
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 HASAN M. DAVIS, Case No.: 3:22-cv-00326-RCJ-CSD

4 Plaintiff Order

5 v. Re: ECF No. 23, 25, 28

6 RPD TRIPLETT, et al.,

7 Defendants

8 9 Plaintiff has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) (ECF No. 28)1 and 10 pro se amended complaint (ECF No. 25). 11 I. IFP APPLICATION 12 A person may be granted permission to proceed IFP if the person “submits an affidavit 13 that includes a statement of all assets such [person] possesses [and] that the person is unable to 14 pay such fees or give security therefor. Such affidavit shall state the nature of the action, defense 15 or appeal and affiant’s belief that the person is entitled to redress.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). 16 The Local Rules of Practice for the District of Nevada provide: “Any person who is 17 unable to prepay the fees in a civil case may apply to the court for authority to proceed [IFP]. 18 The application must be made on the form provided by the court and must include a financial 19 affidavit disclosing the applicant’s income, assets, expenses, and liabilities.” LSR 1-1. 20 “[T]he supporting affidavits [must] state the facts as to [the] affiant’s poverty with some 21 particularity, definiteness and certainty.” U.S. v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981) 22 23

1 Plaintiff’s prior IFP application (ECF No. 23) should have been denied without prejudice. 1 (quotation marks and citation omitted). A litigant need not “be absolutely destitute to enjoy the 2 benefits of the statute.” Adkins v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948). 3 An inmate submitting an application to proceed IFP must also “submit a certificate from 4 the institution certifying the amount of funds currently held in the applicant’s trust account at the

5 institution and the net deposits in the applicant’s account for the six months prior to the date of 6 submission of the application.” LSR 1-2; see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). If the inmate has been 7 at the institution for less than six months, “the certificate must show the account’s activity for 8 this shortened period.” LSR 1-2. 9 If a prisoner brings a civil action IFP, the prisoner is still required to pay the full amount 10 of the filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The court will assess and collect (when funds exist) an 11 initial partial filing fee that is calculated as 20 percent of the greater of the average monthly 12 deposits or the average monthly balance for the six-month period immediately preceding the 13 filing of the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A)-(B). After the initial partial filing fee is paid, 14 the prisoner is required to make monthly payments equal to 20 percent of the preceding month’s

15 income credited to the prisoner’s account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The agency that has custody 16 of the prisoner will forward payments from the prisoner’s account to the court clerk each time 17 the account exceeds $10 until the filing fees are paid. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). 18 Plaintiff’s certified account statement indicates that his average monthly balance for the 19 last six months was $55 and his average monthly deposits were $27.50. 20 Plaintiff’s application to proceed IFP is granted. Plaintiff is required to pay an initial 21 partial filing fee in the amount of $11 (20 percent of $55). Thereafter, whenever his prison 22 account exceeds $10, he must make monthly payments in the amount of 20 percent of the 23 preceding month’s income credited to his account until the $350 filing fee is paid. 1 II. SCREENING 2 A. Standard 3 Under the statute governing IFP proceedings, “the court shall dismiss the case at any time 4 if the court determines that-- (A) the allegation of poverty is untrue; or (B) the action or appeal--

5 (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (iii) 6 seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. 7 § 1915(e)(2)(A), (B)(i)-(iii). 8 In addition, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, “[t]he court shall review, before docketing, if 9 feasible or, in any event, as soon as practicable after docketing, a complaint in a civil action in 10 which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a 11 governmental entity.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In conducting this review, the court “shall identify 12 cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint-- 13 (1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (2) seeks 14 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)-(2).

15 Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted is 16 provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 17 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) track that language. As such, when reviewing the adequacy of a 18 complaint under these statutes, the court applies the same standard as is applied under Rule 19 12(b)(6). See e.g. Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012). Review under Rule 20 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of America, 232 21 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). 22 The court must accept as true the allegations, construe the pleadings in the light most 23 favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 1 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969) (citations omitted). Allegations in pro se complaints are “held to less 2 stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers[.]” Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 3 (1980) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 4 A complaint must contain more than a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of

5 action,” it must contain factual allegations sufficient to “raise a right to relief above the 6 speculative level.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). “The pleading 7 must contain something more … than … a statement of facts that merely creates a suspicion [of] 8 a legally cognizable right of action.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted). At a minimum, a 9 plaintiff should include “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. at 10 570; see also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). 11 A dismissal should not be without leave to amend unless it is clear from the face of the 12 complaint that the action is frivolous and could not be amended to state a federal claim, or the 13 district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the action. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 14 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995); O’Loughlin v. Doe, 920 F.2d 614, 616 (9th Cir. 1990).

15 B. Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint 16 Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint names as defendants Reno Police Department Officer 17 Triplett, Reno Police Department, and the City of Reno. 18 1. Officer Triplett 19 Plaintiff alleges that Officer Triplett used his handcuffs like a knife tearing into Plaintiff’s 20 left wrist causing pain and blood to pour from his wrist. In addition, he put an unknown grease 21 substance or chemical into Plaintiff’s cut. This occurred during his arrest, and Plaintiff avers that 22 he was not obstructing officers’ commands and was compliant at all times. 23 1 Construing Plaintiff’s pro se allegations liberally, the court finds Plaintiff states a 2 colorable Fourth Amendment excessive force claim by an arrestee against Triplett. See Graham 3 v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395 (1989); see also Smith v. City of Hemet, 394 F.3d 689, 700 (9th 4 Cir. 2005) (en banc).

5 2. Reno Police Department and the City of Reno 6 Plaintiff sues the Reno Police Department and City of Reno. A department of a county, 7 city or town, however, "may not, in the department name, sue or be sued" without statutory 8 authorization. See Wayment v. Holmes, 912 P.2d 816, 819, 112 Nev. 232, 238 (Nev. 1996). The 9 Reno Police Department is a department of the City of Reno, and may not be sued without 10 statutory authorization. If a plaintiff improperly names a city or county department that lacks 11 capacity to be sued, the court may order the proper party (generally the county or city) be 12 substituted into the case. Melendres v. Arpaio, 784 F.3d 1254 (9th Cir. 2015). 13 While the City of Reno may be a proper defendant, a municipality may only be liable for 14 the infringement of constitutional rights under certain circumstances. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc.

15 Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690-95 (1978).“[M]unicipalities may be liable under § 1983 for 16 constitutional injuries pursuant to (1) an official policy; (2) a pervasive practice or custom; (3) a 17 failure to train, supervise or discipline; or (4) a decision or act by a final policymaker.” Horton 18 by Horton v. City of Santa Maria, 915 F.3d 592, 602-03 (9th Cir. 2019). A municipality may not, 19 however, be sued under a respondeat superior theory because it employed an alleged wrongdoer. 20 Id. at 603. “A plaintiff must therefore show deliberate action attributable to the municipality 21 [that] directly caused a deprivation of federal rights.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted, 22 emphasis original). 23 1 “To impose liability on a municipality under Section 1983, a plaintiff must prove: “(1) 2 [the plaintiff] had a constitutional right of which he was deprived; (2) the municipality had a 3 policy; (3) the policy amounts to deliberate indifference to [the plaintiff’s] constitutional right; 4 and (4) the policy is the moving force behind the constitutional violation.” Gordon v. County of

5 Orange, 6 F.4th 961, 973 (9th Cir. 2021) (Gordon II) (internal quotation marks and citation 6 omitted). 7 Plaintiff’s only allegation is that Triplett worked for the Reno Police Department, which 8 is “funded by the City of Reno[.]” He has not included sufficient allegations to hold the city 9 liable under Monell. Therefore, the City of Reno (who would be the proper defendant, and not 10 the Reno Police Department) is dismissed, but with leave to amend to attempt to cure this 11 deficiency. 12 III. CONCLUSION 13 (1) Plaintiff’s prior IFP application (ECF No. 23) is DENIED WITHOUT 14 PREJUDICE.

15 (2) Plaintiff’s current IFP application (ECF No. 28) is GRANTED; however, within 30 16 DAYS Plaintiff must pay, through NDOC, an initial partial filing fee in the amount of $11. 17 Thereafter, whenever his prison account exceeds $10, he is required to make monthly payments 18 in the amount of 20 percent of the preceding month’s income credited to his account until the full 19 $350 filing fee is paid. This is required even if the action is dismissed, or is otherwise 20 unsuccessful. The Clerk must SEND a copy of this Order to the attention of Chief of Inmate 21 Services for the Washoe County Detention Facility, 911 E. Parr Blvd, Reno, NV 89512. 22 (3) Plaintiff is allowed to PROCEED with the Fourth Amendment excessive force claim 23 against Triplett in his amended complaint (ECF No. 25). 1 (4) The City of Reno is substituted as the proper defendant in place of the Reno Police 2 Department; however, the City of Reno is DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. 3 (5) Plaintiff has 30 DAYS from the date of this Order to file a second amended complaint 4 correcting the deficiencies noted above with respect to the City of Reno. The second amended

5 complaint must be complete in and of itself without referring or incorporating by reference any 6 previous complaint. Any allegations, parties, or requests for relief from a prior complaint that are 7 not carried forwarded in the amended complaint will no longer be before the court. If Plaintiff 8 fails to timely file a second amended complaint, this action will proceed only with the Fourth 9 Amendment excessive force claim against Triplett. Alternatively, Plaintiff may file a notice with 10 the court within 30 days indicating that he only wishes to proceed against Triplett. 11 (6) The Clerk of Court shall ISSUE a summons for defendant Triplett, and deliver the 12 same, to the U.S. Marshal for service. The Clerk also shall also SEND sufficient copies of the 13 amended complaint (ECF No. 25) and this Order to the U.S. Marshal for service on the Triplett. 14 The Clerk shall SEND to Plaintiff a USM-285 form. Plaintiff has 21 days to furnish to the U.S.

15 Marshal the required USM-285 form with the relevant information for the defendant. The USM- 16 285 form should be sent to the U.S. Marshal at 400 S. Virginia Street, 2nd floor, Reno, Nevada 17 89501. Within 20 days after receiving from the U.S. Marshal a copy of the USM-285 form 18 showing whether service has been accomplished, if the defendant was not served, and if Plaintiff 19 wants service to be attempted again, he must file a motion with the court providing a more 20 detailed name and/or address for service, or indicating that some other method of service should 21 be attempted. 22 (7) Plaintiff is reminded that under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), service on 23 Triplett must be completed within 90 days of the date of this Order. If Plaintiff requires 1} additional time to meet any of the deadlines set by the court, he must file a motion for extension 2|| of time under Local Rule 1A 6-1 before the expiration of the deadline, and the motion must be 3] supported by a showing of good cause. A motion filed after a deadline set by the court or applicable rules will be denied absent a showing of excusable neglect. 5 (8) Finally, the court notes that Plaintiff has not filed a notice of change of address 6]| indicating his current address at the Washoe County Detention Facility as previously ordered and 7|| as 1s required under Local Rule IA 3-1. The Clerk shall SERVE a copy of this Order on Plaintiff at the Washoe County Detention Facility; however, Plaintiff has 21 days from the date of this Order to file his notice of change of address. If he fails to do so, the undersigned will recommend dismissal of this action without prejudice pursuant to LR IA 3-1. ISSO ORDERED. 12 13]| Dated: September 13, 2023 ce Ss 14 Craig S. Denney 15 United States Magistrate Judge 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23