3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA
5 * * *
6 WADE ALAN KNIGHT, Case No. 3:22-cv-00331-MMD-CSD
7 Plaintiff, ORDER SCREENING FIRST AMENDED v. COMPLAINT, GRANTING APPLICATION 8 TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, ELKO COUNTY, et al., AND DIRECTING SERVICE 9 Defendants. 10 11 This action began with a civil-rights complaint and an application to proceed in 12 forma pauperis filed by state prisoner Wade Knight, who is currently held in the custody 13 of the Elko County Sheriff’s office at the Elko County Detention Center (“ECDC”). (ECF 14 Nos. 1-1, 1, 3, 4.) In screening Knight’s Complaint, the Court allowed the medical- 15 indifference and bodily-privacy claims to proceed, dismissed the shower-condition- 16 indifference claim with leave to amend by October 3, 2022, and dismissed the other 17 claims with prejudice and without leave to amend. (ECF No. 5 at 13.) Knight has timely 18 filed his First Amended Complaint (“FAC”). (ECF No. 7.) The Court now screens the FAC 19 under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, grants Knight’s third application to proceed in forma pauperis, 20 and directs that service of process be effectuated. 21 I. SCREENING STANDARD 22 Federal courts must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which an 23 incarcerated person seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of 24 a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the Court must identify 25 any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a 26 claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is 27 immune from such relief. See id. §§ 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings, however, must 28 be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 2 elements: (1) the violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United 3 States; and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under color 4 of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 5 Additionally, under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), a federal court must 6 dismiss an incarcerated person’s claim if “the allegation of poverty is untrue” or if the 7 action “is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or 8 seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. 9 § 1915(e)(2). Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be 10 granted is provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and the Court applies 11 the same standard under § 1915 when reviewing the adequacy of a complaint or an 12 amended complaint. When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff 13 should be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, 14 unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured 15 by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 16 Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See 17 Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 232 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000). Dismissal for failure to 18 state a claim is proper only if the plaintiff clearly cannot prove any set of facts in support 19 of the claim that would entitle him or her to relief. See Morley v. Walker, 175 F.3d 756, 20 759 (9th Cir. 1999). In making this determination, the Court takes as true all allegations 21 of material fact stated in the complaint, and the Court construes them in the light most 22 favorable to the plaintiff. See Warshaw v. Xoma Corp., 74 F.3d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1996). 23 Allegations of a pro se complainant are held to less stringent standards than formal 24 pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980). While the 25 standard under Rule 12(b)(6) does not require detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff must 26 provide more than mere labels and conclusions. See Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 27 544, 555 (2007). A formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action is insufficient. 28 See id. 2 that, because they are no more than mere conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption 3 of truth.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). “While legal conclusions can provide 4 the framework of a complaint, they must be supported with factual allegations.” Id. “When 5 there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then 6 determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief.” Id. “Determining 7 whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief . . . [is] a context-specific task that 8 requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. 9 Finally, all or part of a complaint filed by an incarcerated person may be dismissed 10 sua sponte if that person’s claims lack an arguable basis either in law or in fact. This 11 includes claims based on legal conclusions that are untenable (e.g., claims against 12 defendants who are immune from suit or claims of infringement of a legal interest which 13 clearly does not exist), as well as claims based on fanciful factual allegations (e.g., 14 fantastic or delusional scenarios). See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989); 15 see also McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991). 16 II. SCREENING OF FAC 17 In his FAC, Knight sues five Defendants for events that allegedly took place at 18 ECDC. (ECF No. 7 at 1.) Knight sues Defendants Elko County, Aitor Narvaiza, Adrian 19 Parry, Starla Ricks, and Taylor Crowther. (Id. at 2-3.) Knight brings three claims and seeks 20 monetary relief.1 (Id. at 4-18.) 21 A. Factual allegations2 22 Knight is a state prisoner who has been sentenced to a 16-40-month term within 23 the NDOC but is housed at ECDC while he awaits trial in another case. (Id. at 3-4.) Knight 24 is housed in an open dorm block with 24 other detainees or inmates. (Id. at 4.) The 25 plumbing is damaged in Knight’s dorm block. (Id. at 4.) Only one shower works; the other 26 showers have been shut off by maintenance. (Id.) 27 1Kody Holland prepared or helped prepare the FAC. (ECF No. 7 at 18.) 28 2The Court uses any job title or position that Knight ascribes to Defendants. This 2 present. (Id.) The only working shower does not drain properly. (Id. at 5.) The bottom-tier 3 bathroom—where the one working shower is located—is constantly covered with dirt and 4 feces and has a terrible stench. (Id.) These conditions have existed for over two months.
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3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA
5 * * *
6 WADE ALAN KNIGHT, Case No. 3:22-cv-00331-MMD-CSD
7 Plaintiff, ORDER SCREENING FIRST AMENDED v. COMPLAINT, GRANTING APPLICATION 8 TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, ELKO COUNTY, et al., AND DIRECTING SERVICE 9 Defendants. 10 11 This action began with a civil-rights complaint and an application to proceed in 12 forma pauperis filed by state prisoner Wade Knight, who is currently held in the custody 13 of the Elko County Sheriff’s office at the Elko County Detention Center (“ECDC”). (ECF 14 Nos. 1-1, 1, 3, 4.) In screening Knight’s Complaint, the Court allowed the medical- 15 indifference and bodily-privacy claims to proceed, dismissed the shower-condition- 16 indifference claim with leave to amend by October 3, 2022, and dismissed the other 17 claims with prejudice and without leave to amend. (ECF No. 5 at 13.) Knight has timely 18 filed his First Amended Complaint (“FAC”). (ECF No. 7.) The Court now screens the FAC 19 under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, grants Knight’s third application to proceed in forma pauperis, 20 and directs that service of process be effectuated. 21 I. SCREENING STANDARD 22 Federal courts must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which an 23 incarcerated person seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of 24 a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the Court must identify 25 any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a 26 claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is 27 immune from such relief. See id. §§ 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings, however, must 28 be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 2 elements: (1) the violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United 3 States; and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under color 4 of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 5 Additionally, under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), a federal court must 6 dismiss an incarcerated person’s claim if “the allegation of poverty is untrue” or if the 7 action “is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or 8 seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. 9 § 1915(e)(2). Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be 10 granted is provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and the Court applies 11 the same standard under § 1915 when reviewing the adequacy of a complaint or an 12 amended complaint. When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff 13 should be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, 14 unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured 15 by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 16 Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See 17 Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 232 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000). Dismissal for failure to 18 state a claim is proper only if the plaintiff clearly cannot prove any set of facts in support 19 of the claim that would entitle him or her to relief. See Morley v. Walker, 175 F.3d 756, 20 759 (9th Cir. 1999). In making this determination, the Court takes as true all allegations 21 of material fact stated in the complaint, and the Court construes them in the light most 22 favorable to the plaintiff. See Warshaw v. Xoma Corp., 74 F.3d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1996). 23 Allegations of a pro se complainant are held to less stringent standards than formal 24 pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980). While the 25 standard under Rule 12(b)(6) does not require detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff must 26 provide more than mere labels and conclusions. See Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 27 544, 555 (2007). A formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action is insufficient. 28 See id. 2 that, because they are no more than mere conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption 3 of truth.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). “While legal conclusions can provide 4 the framework of a complaint, they must be supported with factual allegations.” Id. “When 5 there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then 6 determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief.” Id. “Determining 7 whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief . . . [is] a context-specific task that 8 requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. 9 Finally, all or part of a complaint filed by an incarcerated person may be dismissed 10 sua sponte if that person’s claims lack an arguable basis either in law or in fact. This 11 includes claims based on legal conclusions that are untenable (e.g., claims against 12 defendants who are immune from suit or claims of infringement of a legal interest which 13 clearly does not exist), as well as claims based on fanciful factual allegations (e.g., 14 fantastic or delusional scenarios). See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989); 15 see also McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991). 16 II. SCREENING OF FAC 17 In his FAC, Knight sues five Defendants for events that allegedly took place at 18 ECDC. (ECF No. 7 at 1.) Knight sues Defendants Elko County, Aitor Narvaiza, Adrian 19 Parry, Starla Ricks, and Taylor Crowther. (Id. at 2-3.) Knight brings three claims and seeks 20 monetary relief.1 (Id. at 4-18.) 21 A. Factual allegations2 22 Knight is a state prisoner who has been sentenced to a 16-40-month term within 23 the NDOC but is housed at ECDC while he awaits trial in another case. (Id. at 3-4.) Knight 24 is housed in an open dorm block with 24 other detainees or inmates. (Id. at 4.) The 25 plumbing is damaged in Knight’s dorm block. (Id. at 4.) Only one shower works; the other 26 showers have been shut off by maintenance. (Id.) 27 1Kody Holland prepared or helped prepare the FAC. (ECF No. 7 at 18.) 28 2The Court uses any job title or position that Knight ascribes to Defendants. This 2 present. (Id.) The only working shower does not drain properly. (Id. at 5.) The bottom-tier 3 bathroom—where the one working shower is located—is constantly covered with dirt and 4 feces and has a terrible stench. (Id.) These conditions have existed for over two months. 5 (Id.) ECDC Director Parry is aware of the problems with the plumbing in Knight’s dorm 6 block because multiple work orders for repairs were made to her, but she ignored them; 7 she ordered maintenance to turn the showers off due to leaking; and inmates have filed 8 multiple kites complaining about this condition. (Id. at 4-5.) 9 Knight’s dorm block has cameras on the top and bottom tiers that face the 10 bathrooms from above the fire exits. (Id. at 7.) The cameras view inside the bathrooms. 11 (Id.) Knight believes that the cameras have a close and clear view of inmates using the 12 toilets, urinals, and showers. (Id.) Correctional officers wear body cameras and can 13 capture images of inmates using the toilets, urinals, and showers. (Id.) 14 An incident occurred at ECDC wherein one inmate attacked another in the 15 bathroom. (Id. at 7-8.) The video was close enough that the correctional officer reviewing 16 it saw an inmate curl himself into a ball during the attack. (Id. at 8-9.) Knight infers that 17 videos from the cameras could show inmates using the toilets, urinals, and showers. (Id. 18 at 9.) And thus view the inmates’ exposed body parts. Knight believes that anyone can 19 access the videos because the Elko County District Attorney’s Office has a policy of 20 providing anyone who pays the copying charge a complete copy of all reports, photos, 21 and compact disks it receives in connection with a formal charge. (Id. at 7-8.) 22 The video cameras in Knight’s dorm block have been placed according to Elko 23 County policy. (Id. at 9.) Narvaiza and Parry are aware of and determined where the 24 cameras would be placed and know they show the inmates using the toilets, urinals, and 25 showers. (Id. at 9-10.) Parry is female and can view the feed or videos from the cameras. 26 (Id. at 10.) 27 Knight has hepatitis C. (Id. at 11.) Doctors Ricks and Crowther have refused to 28 treat Knight’s condition, saying they don’t treat chronic conditions at ECDC. (Id.) Ricks 2 pulled his blood to determine his genotype, which would allow them to order a proper 3 treatment plan. (Id.) The treatment plan was sent over to the Elko County manager, but 4 approval was delayed six months, and approval was never given. (Id.) 5 Knight has sent Ricks and Crowther kites reminding them they need to reorder his 6 treatment plan and resubmit it to Elko County for approval. (Id.) Knight’s approval for the 7 treatment was delayed and denied because Elko County has a policy not to treat inmates 8 at ECDC who have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C because it is too costly. (Id. at 14.) 9 Knight’s kites about this have been returned saying he will not get treatment because it 10 costs too much. (Id.) Parry is responsible for overseeing documents about medical 11 approvals. (Id. at 11.) When Parry receives approval from Elko County for an inmate’s 12 medical treatment, she provides the paperwork to medical providers authorizing the 13 treatment. (Id.) 14 Parry, Ricks, and Crowther approved Knight to receive an extra mattress because 15 of symptoms suffered from his condition. (Id. at 14.) Knight’s viral loads are not consistent 16 with a healthy person. (Id.) He is “on his death bed.” (Id.) He has muscle failure and 17 fatigue, fluid retention, nausea, excessive viral loads, and liver scarring. (Id. at 15.) 18 Based on these allegations, Knight contends that Defendants were deliberately 19 indifferent to his serious medical needs and the conditions of his confinement, and 20 violated his right to bodily privacy. Knight alleges that he is currently a state prisoner who 21 is housed at ECDC while he awaits trial in another case. It is not clear from the allegations 22 when Knight’s custodial sentence began. Because Knight could have been both a pretrial 23 detainee and, later, a prisoner during the time frames alleged in the FAC, the Court 24 liberally construes the FAC as alleging claims based on the following different theories of 25 liability: (1) Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment deliberate-medical indifference to 26 hepatitis C condition, (2) Eighth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment deliberate 27 indifference to shower conditions, (3) Fourteenth Amendment right to bodily privacy, and 28 (4) municipal liability. The Court addresses each theory in turn. 2 Pretrial detainees may raise inadequate medical care claims under the Fourteenth 3 Amendment’s Due Process Clause. See Gordon v. Cnty. of Orange, 888 F.3d 1118, 1124 4 (9th Cir. 2018). Courts evaluate these claims under an objective deliberate indifference 5 standard. See id. at 1125. The elements of a pretrial detainee’s inadequate medical care 6 claim are: 7 (i) the defendant made an intentional decision with respect to the conditions under which the plaintiff was confined; (ii) those conditions put the plaintiff 8 at substantial risk of suffering serious harm; (iii) the defendant did not take reasonable available measures to abate that risk, even though a reasonable 9 official in the circumstances would have appreciated the high degree of risk involved—making the consequences of the defendant's conduct obvious; 10 and (iv) by not taking such measures, the defendant caused the plaintiff’s injuries. 11 12 See id. The third element requires the defendant’s conduct to be “objectively 13 unreasonable,” a test that turns on the facts and circumstances of each case. Id. A plaintiff 14 must “prove more than negligence but less than subjective intent—something akin to 15 reckless disregard.” Id. 16 Prisoners may raise inadequate medical care claims under the Eighth Amendment, 17 which prohibits the imposition of cruel and unusual punishment and “embodies ‘broad 18 and idealistic concepts of dignity, civilized standards, humanity, and decency.’” Estelle v. 19 Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102 (1976). A prison official violates the Eighth Amendment when 20 he acts with “deliberate indifference” to the serious medical needs of an inmate. Farmer 21 v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 828 (1994). “To establish an Eighth Amendment violation, a 22 plaintiff must satisfy both an objective standard—that the deprivation was serious enough 23 to constitute cruel and unusual punishment—and a subjective standard—deliberate 24 indifference.” Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 985 (9th Cir. 2012), overruled on other 25 grounds by Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 176, 1082-83 (9th Cir. 2014). 26 To establish the objective prong, “the plaintiff must show a serious medical need 27 by demonstrating that failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further 28 significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” Jett v. Penner, 439 2 include those “that a reasonable doctor or patient would find important and worthy of 3 comment or treatment; the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an 4 individual’s daily activities; or the existence of chronic and substantial pain.” Colwell v. 5 Bannister, 763 F.3d 1060, 1066 (9th Cir. 2014). 6 To satisfy the subjective deliberate indifference prong, a plaintiff must show “(a) a 7 purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and 8 (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. “Indifference may appear 9 when prison officials deny, delay or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or it may 10 be shown by the way in which prison physicians provide medical care.” Id. (internal 11 quotations omitted). A prison official may only be held liable if he or she “knows of and 12 disregards an excessive risk to inmate health and safety.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 13 1051, 1057 (9th Cir. 2004). When a prisoner alleges that delay of medical treatment 14 evinces deliberate indifference, the prisoner must show that the delay led to further injury. 15 See Shapley v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985) 16 (holding that “mere delay of surgery, without more, is insufficient to state a claim of 17 deliberate medical indifference”). 18 A municipality like a county can be found liable under § 1983 if it causes the 19 violation at issue. See City of Canton, Ohio v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385 (1989) (citing 20 Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978)). And private entities 21 that contract with a county are treated like municipalities for claims brought under § 1983. 22 See Tsao v. Desert Palace, Inc., 698 F.3d 1128, 1139 (9th Cir. 2012). To state a claim 23 for municipal or county liability, a plaintiff must allege that he suffered a constitutional 24 deprivation that was the product of a policy or custom of the local government unit. See 25 City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 385. “Official municipal policy includes the decisions of a 26 government’s lawmakers, the acts of its policymaking officials, and practices so persistent 27 and widespread as to practically have the force of law.” See Connick v. Thompson, 563 28 / / / 2 employees’ actions. See id. at 60. 3 A policy has been defined as “a deliberate choice to follow a course of action . . . 4 made from among various alternatives by the official or officials responsible for 5 establishing final policy with respect to the subject matter in question.” Long v. Cnty. of 6 Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Monell, 436 U.S. at 690); see 7 also Waggy v. Spokane Cnty. Washington, 594 F.3d 707, 713 (9th Cir. 2010). The weight 8 of authority has established that a “policy can be one of action or inaction” within the 9 meaning of Monell. Waggy, 594 F.3d at 713 (citing City of Canton, 489 U.S. at 388). “Both 10 types of claims require that the plaintiff prove a constitutional violation.” Id. (citing 42 11 U.S.C. § 1983). 12 Based on the allegations, Knight was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2018, 2019, or 13 2020 while he was housed at ECDC. Ricks and Crowther provided the diagnosis and 14 further examined Knight’s blood to determine his genotype so they could formulate an 15 effective treatment plan. But Knight was not approved for treatment because it was too 16 costly. Elko County has a policy not to approve requests for costly hepatitis C treatment. 17 Parry, Ricks, and Crowther approved Knight’s request for an extra mattress to help 18 with his symptoms. Knight has experienced muscle failure and fatigue, fluid retention, and 19 nausea because of his condition. He has excessive viral loads and liver scarring. Knight 20 has filed kites seeking treatment and been to sick calls about his symptoms. But Ricks 21 and Crowther refuse to treat his condition or even see him, saying they don’t treat chronic 22 conditions at ECDC. 23 The Court finds that the allegations are enough for screening purposes to state a 24 colorable claim under the Eighth and the Fourteenth Amendments that Ricks and 25 Crowther were deliberately indifferent to Knight’s serious medical need to treat his 26 hepatitis C condition. The allegations are also enough to state a colorable claim against 27 Elko County under the theory of municipal liability for its policy not to treat hepatitis C 28 conditions due to cost. But the allegations are not enough to state a colorable claim 2 attention beyond the extra mattress that she approved for him. And Knight’s allegation 3 that Parry is the conduit for paperwork associated with medical-treatment approval does 4 not state a claim because he alleges that Elko County decides whether to provide 5 treatment—not Parry—and Elko County delayed and declined to approve his treatment. 6 The medical-indifference claims can therefore proceed against only Ricks and Crowther, 7 and also against Elko County under a theory of municipal liability. 8 C. Deliberate shower-condition indifference 9 A pretrial detainee’s claims challenging unconstitutional conditions of confinement 10 fall under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. See Gordon, 888 F.3d at 11 1124 & n.2. The Court evaluates Fourteenth Amendment conditions-of-confinement 12 claims under the objective deliberate indifference standard. See id. To establish 13 unconstitutional conditions of confinement, a plaintiff must prove that: 14 (i) the defendant made an intentional decision with respect to the conditions under which the plaintiff was confined; (ii) those conditions put the plaintiff 15 at substantial risk of suffering serious harm; (iii) the defendant did not take reasonable available measures to abate that risk, even though a reasonable 16 official in the circumstances would have appreciated the high degree of risk involved—making the consequences of the defendant’s conduct obvious; 17 and (iv) by not taking such measures, the defendant caused the plaintiff’s injuries. 18 19 Id. at 1125; see also Castro v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060, 1071 (9th Cir. 2016). 20 When evaluating the objective reasonableness of the defendant’s conduct, a pretrial 21 detainee may show that “the challenged governmental action is not rationally related to a 22 legitimate governmental objective or that it is excessive in relation to that purpose.” 23 Kingsley v. Hendrickson, 576 U.S. 389, 397-98 (2015). 24 A prisoner’s claim challenging the conditions of his confinement are analyzed 25 under the Eighth Amendment. See Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 31 (1993). A 26 prisoner’s conditions of confinement may, consistent with the Constitution, be restrictive 27 and harsh. See Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981). However, “[p]rison 28 officials have a duty to ensure that prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food, 2 731 (9th Cir. 2000). 3 When determining whether prison conditions meet the objective prong of the 4 Eighth Amendment analysis, the court must analyze each condition separately to 5 determine whether that specific condition violates the Eighth Amendment. See Wright v. 6 Rushen, 642 F.2d 1129, 1133 (9th Cir. 1981). “[T]he deprivation alleged must be, 7 objectively, sufficiently serious” and “a prison official’s act or omission must result in the 8 denial of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 9 825, 834 (1994) (internal quotations and citations omitted). As to the subjective prong of 10 the Eighth Amendment analysis, prisoners must establish prison officials’ “deliberate 11 indifference” to the unconstitutional conditions of confinement to establish an Eighth 12 Amendment violation. Id. When considering the conditions of confinement, the court 13 should consider the amount of time to which the prisoner was subjected to the condition. 14 See Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1042 (9th Cir. 2005). 15 Based on the allegations, only one shower works on Knight’s dorm block. The 16 shower serves 25 inmates. The other showers don’t work because the plumbing is broken 17 and water to them has been shut off. The plumbing has been removed from one shower 18 and a huge hole is present. The drain does not work well in the shower that does work, 19 so Knight encounters detritus from other inmates. The bathroom with the working shower 20 is constantly covered in dirt and feces and smells awful. These conditions have existed 21 for over two months. Multiple work orders were submitted to Parry to correct the problems, 22 but she ignored them. Parry instructed maintenance to shut off some of the showers due 23 to leaking issues. Many inmates have sent Parry kites complaining about the showers. 24 The Court finds that these allegations are enough to state a colorable claim for 25 screening purposes that the showers in Knight’s dorm block constitute sufficiently serious 26 conditions for the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment’s purposes, and Parry was 27 deliberately indifferent to the health and sanitation risks posed by those conditions. The 28 shower-indifference claims can therefore proceed against only Parry. 2 “The right to bodily privacy [under the Fourteenth Amendment] was established in 3 this circuit in 1963.” Vazquez v. Cnty. of Kern, 949 F.3d 1153, 1160 (9th Cir. 2020) 4 (collecting cases). The Ninth Circuit “extended ‘this right to prison inmates in 1985,’” and 5 “held that a pretrial detainee has ‘at least the same right to bodily privacy as a prisoner[.]’” 6 Id. (citing Byrd v. Maricopa Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 845 F.3d 919, 923 (9th Cir. 2017)). 7 “‘When a prison regulation impinges on inmates’ constitutional rights, the regulation is 8 valid if it is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.’” Byrd, 845 F.3d at 923 9 (quoting Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987)) (brackets omitted). Courts consider 10 four factors in determining if a prison regulation can survive a constitutional challenge, 11 whether: (1) “there is a ‘valid, rational connection between the prison regulation and the 12 legitimate governmental interest put forward to justify it’; (2) ‘there are alternative means 13 of exercising the right’; (3) ‘the impact accommodation of the asserted constitutional right 14 will have on guards and other inmates, and on the allocation of prison resources’; and 15 (4) there is an ‘absence of ready alternatives[.]’” Id. at 923–24 (quoting Turner, 482 U.S. 16 at 89-90). 17 Based on the allegations, Elko County has a policy of placing security cameras at 18 ECDC in such a way that they face into the bathrooms in the dorm block and can view 19 inmates using the toilets, urinals, and showers. The views from these cameras are not 20 obscured or distant. Parry and Narvaiza enacted, created, or enforced the policy because 21 they were the officials who decided where the cameras would be placed. Narvaiza is the 22 Sheriff of Elko County and Parry is the director of the ECDC. Female prison staff like 23 Parry are permitted to view the live feeds or videos captured by these cameras. 24 The Court finds that these allegations are enough for screening purposes to state 25 a colorable claim under the Fourteenth Amendment about the camera-placement policy 26 at ECDC. The Fourteenth Amendment claim for violating the right to bodily privacy can 27 therefore proceed against Parry and Narvaiza, and also against Elko County under the 28 theory of municipal liability. 2 Knight has thrice applied for pauper status in this case. (ECF Nos. 1, 3, 4.) Knight’s 3 most recent application is complete and contains updated financial information. (See ECF 4 No. 4.) So the Court denies Knight’s earlier applications as moot. (ECF Nos. 1, 3.) Based 5 on the information provided in Knight’s third application, the Court finds that he is unable 6 to prepay the full filing fee in this action. The Court therefore grants Knight’s third 7 application to proceed in forma pauperis. 8 IV. CONCLUSION 9 It is therefore ordered that Plaintiff Knight’s first two applications to proceed in 10 forma pauperis (ECF Nos. 1, 3) are denied as moot and his third application (ECF No. 4) 11 is granted. Pauper status doesn’t relieve Plaintiff Knight of his obligation to pay the full 12 $350 filing fee under 28 U.S.C. § 1915; it just means that he can do it in installments. 13 Knight will not be required to pay an initial installment of the filing fee. And he is permitted 14 to maintain this action to conclusion without the necessity of prepayment of any additional 15 fees or costs or the giving of security therefore. But the full $350 filing fee will remain due 16 and owing even if this case is later dismissed. 17 To ensure that Plaintiff Knight pays the full filing fee, it is further ordered that the 18 Elko County Sheriff’s Department must pay to the Clerk of the United States District Court, 19 District of Nevada, 20% of the preceding month’s deposits to the account of Wade Alan 20 Knight, #31672 (in months that the account exceeds $10) until the full $350 filing fee has 21 been paid for this action. 22 It is further ordered that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment claims for 23 deliberate medical indifference to hepatitis C condition can proceed against only 24 Defendants Starla Ricks and Taylor Crowther, and also against Elko County under the 25 theory of municipal liability. 26 It is further ordered that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment claims for 27 deliberate indifference to shower condition can proceed against only Defendant Adrian 28 Parry. 2 proceed against only Defendants Aitor Narvaiza and Parry, and also against Elko County 3 under the theory of municipal liability. 4 It is further ordered that each Defendant must be served with a summons and 5 copies of the First Amended Complaint (ECF No. 7) and this order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 4. To accomplish service, Plaintiff Knight has until October 31, 2022 to provide the U.S. 7 Marshal with the required USM-285 forms containing the relevant information as to each 8 Defendant—one Defendant per form. 9 It is further ordered that after Knight receives a copy of the USM-285 forms from 10 the U.S. Marshal showing whether service has been accomplished, he will have 20 days 11 to file a notice with the Court identifying which Defendants were served and which were 12 not served. If Knight wishes to have service again attempted on any unserved Defendant, 13 he must file a motion with the Court identifying the unserved Defendant and specifying a 14 more detailed name or address for the Defendant, or state whether some other manner 15 of service should be attempted. 16 It is further ordered that Knight will serve upon all Defendants or, if an appearance 17 has been entered by counsel, upon each Defendant’s attorney, a copy of every pleading, 18 motion, notice, or other document he submits for the Court’s consideration. If Knight 19 electronically files a document with the Court’s electronic-filing system, no certificate of 20 service is required. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d)(1)(B); Nev. Loc. R. IC 4-1(b); Nev. Loc. R. 5- 21 1. But if Knight mails the document to the Court, he must include a certificate stating the 22 date that a true and correct copy of the document was mailed to each Defendant or their 23 counsel. If counsel has entered a notice of appearance, Knight must direct service to the 24 individual attorney named in the notice of appearance and at the physical or electronic 25 address stated therein. The Court may disregard any document received by a district 26 judge or magistrate judge that has not been filed with the Clerk, and any document 27 received by a district judge, magistrate judge, or the Clerk that fails to include a certificate 28 showing proper service when required. 1 || The Clerk of the Court is directed to: 2 e Send a copy of this order to (1) the Finance Division of the Clerk’s Office and (2) 3 the attention of Chief of Inmate Services for the Elko County Detention Center, 4 775 W. Silver Street, Elko, NV 89801; 5 e Issue summonses for Defendants Elko County, Aitor Narvaiza, Adrian Parry, Starla 6 Ricks, and Taylor Crowther and deliver them to the U.S. Marshal, along with 7 sufficient copies of the First Amended Complaint (ECF No. 7) and this order, for 8 service on Defendants; and 9 e Send Plaintiff Knight five USM-285 forms and a courtesy copy of the First 10 Amended Complaint (ECF No. 7). 11 DATED THIS 3" Day of October 2022. 12
14 MIRANDAM.DU- □□□□□ 15 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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