Duna v. Lima

District Court, D. Nevada·Decided May 16, 2023·No. 2:23-cv-00034·Unknown

Opinion

ANTHONY DUNA, Case No. 2:23-cv-00034-RFB-NJK

Plaintiff, SCREENING ORDER ON v. FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT ALAN LIMA, et al., Defendants. Plaintiff, who is incarcerated in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections (“NDOC”), has submitted a first amended complaint (“FAC”) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (ECF No. 10.) The Court accepts the FAC as the operative complaint in this case. Plaintiff has paid the $402 filing fee in full. Plaintiff has also filed various motions. (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.) The Court first screens Plaintiff’s FAC under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and then considers his motions. Federal courts must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings, however, must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) the violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). In addition to the screening requirements under § 1915A, pursuant to the Prison allegation of poverty is untrue,” or if the action “is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and the court applies the same standard under § 1915 when reviewing the adequacy of a complaint or an amended complaint. When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of America, 232 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000). Dismissal for failure to state a claim is proper only if it is clear that the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle him or her to relief. See Morley v. Walker, 175 F.3d 756, 759 (9th Cir. 1999). In making this determination, the court takes as true all allegations of material fact stated in the complaint, and the court construes them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Warshaw v. Xoma Corp., 74 F.3d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1996). Allegations of a pro se complainant are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980). While the standard under Rule 12(b)(6) does not require detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff must provide more than mere labels and conclusions. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). A formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action is insufficient. Id. Additionally, a reviewing court should “begin by identifying pleadings [allegations] that, because they are no more than mere conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption of truth.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). “While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported with factual allegations.” Id. “When determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief . . . [is] a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. Finally, all or part of a complaint filed by a prisoner may therefore be dismissed sua sponte if the prisoner’s claims lack an arguable basis either in law or in fact. This includes claims based on legal conclusions that are untenable (e.g., claims against defendants who are immune from suit or claims of infringement of a legal interest which clearly does not exist), as well as claims based on fanciful factual allegations (e.g., fantastic or delusional scenarios). See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989); see also McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991). In the FAC, Plaintiff sues multiple Defendants for events that took place while Plaintiff was incarcerated at High Desert State Prison (“HDSP”). (ECF No. 10 at 1.) Plaintiff sues Defendants Alan Lima, Lopez, Kelly, Moka, D. Roudugize, Cody Castillino, Carlos, James Scally, Zungia, Dontae Michael, Dr. Manlang, Migual Porttillo, Thurston Moore, Julie Williams, B. Shields, Couvinger, Johnson, Julie, E. Prunchak, and Shabazz. (Id. at 1-3.) Plaintiff brings three counts and seeks monetary relief. (Id. at 3-7.) The Court will consider Plaintiff’s claims in turn.1 A. Count I In Count I, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Moore, Lima, Kelly, Portillo, Couvinger, Johnson, and Shields tried to move Plaintiff to Unit 8 to house him with an inmate named Saul Farvela, even though Plaintiff had previously reported that Farvela had extorted and sexually assaulted him. (ECF No. 10 at 5.) After refusing a cell move several times, Plaintiff was poisoned. (Id.) Farvela got a cell phone, which he used to send Plaintiff’s father pictures and to tell Plaintiff’s father that correctional officers work for him. (Id.) Plaintiff’s father contacted Defendant Castillino, who had Plaintiff relocated. (Id.) Plaintiff

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