1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 WILLIAM MEYER, an individual; DANA Case No.: 21-cv-00341-GPC GASCAY; an individual, 12 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND Plaintiffs, 13 DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ v. MOTIONS TO DISMISS 14 PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO; RADY 15 COMPLAINT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL; ELIZABETH
16 REESE, an individual; KAYLA [ECF Nos. 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 56] VALENZUELA, an individual; DR. 17 SHALON NIENOW, an individual; 18 TIFFANY PAUGH, an individual; and DOES 1 through 50 INCLUSIVE, 19 Defendants. 20 Before this Court are Motions to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint 21 (ECF No. 27, “FAC”) filed by Defendant Dr. Shalon Nienow (ECF No. 31), Defendants 22 Rady Children’s Hospital (“Rady”) and Elizabeth Reese (ECF No. 32), Defendants Kayla 23 Valenzuela and Tiffany Paugh (ECF No. 35), and Defendant San Diego County (ECF 24 No. 36). The parties have fully briefed the issue. The Court finds this matter suitable for 25 disposition without oral argument. Based on the FAC, the moving papers, and applicable 26 law, the Court DENIES IN PART and GRANTS IN PART Defendants’ Motions to 27 1 Dismiss. The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs leave to file a Second Amended Complaint in 2 accordance with this Order. 3 I. BACKGROUND AND ALLEGATIONS IN THE FAC 4 Plaintiffs are the parents of a non-party minor child, M.M., who has suffered a long 5 and complicated medical history of repeated injury, chronic pain, and other symptoms 6 related to a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlo Syndrome, hypermobile type (“hEDS”). FAC at 9. 7 Due to the complexity of her condition and uncertainty or disagreement among her 8 treating physicians as to the condition’s causes, M.M. was treated at various hospitals in 9 2017-2019, including Rady’s outpatient pain program, Kaiser Permanente San Diego, 10 Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles, and Mt. Sinai in New York. Id. at 10-13. In mid- 11 December 2018, Plaintiffs were notified that San Diego County received a referral 12 alleging abuse and neglect of M.M. Id. ¶ 42. At that time, Defendant Kayla Valenzuela, a 13 Protective Services Worker (“PSW”) with the County, interviewed Plaintiffs individually 14 as well as with M.M. Id. 15 Plaintiffs allege that in the days leading up to January 29, 2019, “HHSA workers 16 including but not limited to, Ms. Valenzuela, Ms. Paugh and Ms. Reese, met and 17 consulted with Dr. Nienow and together with her came up with the idea that M.M. would 18 be placed in a video surveillance capable room at Rady, at the direction of Dr. 19 Nienow . . . ” Id. ¶ 44. This surveillance was prompted by a request from “KPSD and/or 20 the County” that “Rady and/or Dr. Nienow and/or Ms. Reese” review M.M.’s medical 21 record and conduct an investigation for Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, also known as 22 Fictitious Disorder Imposed on Another. Id. ¶ 46. Plaintiffs were not informed that they 23 were being recorded, and Defendants did not obtain a warrant or judicial authorization for 24 the recording. Id. ¶ 54-55. 25 M.M. was transferred from Mt. Sinai and admitted to Rady on or around January 26 29, 2019, based on decisions made by Kaiser and Dr. Bolognese, M.M.’s treating 27 1 physician at Mt. Sinai. Id. ¶ 45. At that time, Plaintiffs were “intensely questioned” about 2 M.M.’s medical history. Id. ¶ 47. Plaintiffs allege that “Rady, by order of Dr. Nienow, 3 and with the County, Ms. Valenzuela, Ms. Reese, and Ms. Paugh’s knowledge and 4 approval, placed two video camera recording devices in M.M.’s private hospital room 5 and set the Devices to record for 24 hours per day . . . for approximately 37 consecutive 6 days starting on or around January 29, 2019.” Id. ¶ 53. Plaintiffs allege that “Dr. Nienow, 7 with the approval of Ms. Valenzuela, Ms. Paugh, and each of their supervisors, 8 intentionally delayed medical intervention of M.M.’s behalf in order to continue the use 9 of the Devices hoping, without factual foundation, to find [Plaintiffs] responsible for 10 M.M.’s medical condition.” Id. ¶ 61. Plaintiffs also allege that Dr. Nienow, Ms. Reese, 11 Ms. Valenzuela, Ms. Paugh, Rady, and/or the County failed to acknowledge, investigate, 12 or understand the complexities of hEDS. Id. ¶ 62. “In fact, Dr. Nienow never even spoke 13 with, nor met with, Ms. Gascay, Mr. Meyer, or M.M.” Id. 14 On February 15, 2019, Plaintiffs were notified that the first referral was closed 15 with no findings of abuse. Id. ¶ 42. However, on February 28, 2019, Plaintiffs were 16 informed that they were the subject of another child abuse complaint alleging that “they 17 did not support M.M.’s psychiatric or dietary needs” and were interviewed individually 18 by Defendant Valenzuela. Id. ¶ 49. In February 2019, after reviewing M.M.’s medical 19 history, Dr. Nienow reported to the “County, Ms. Valenzuela and her supervisor, and/or 20 Rady” that M.M.’s condition “was so dire M.M. may die.” Id. ¶ 59. On March 7, 2019, 21 “the County, HHSA, and its agents” removed Plaintiff Meyer from the hospital, 1 “stating 22 there were judicial orders to temporarily remove M.M. from [Plaintiffs’] custody.” Id. 23 ¶ 50. On March 8, 2019, Plaintiffs were summoned to a juvenile dependency hearing in 24 the juvenile court of San Diego County. Id. ¶ 51. During the pendency of the juvenile 25
26 1 Plaintiff Gascay was not present at M.M.’s bedside at the time. Id. 27 1 court proceedings, M.M. remained a patient at Rady and continued to suffer from 2 symptoms relating to hEDs. Id. ¶ 64. Plaintiffs remained removed from M.M. while 3 awaiting the trial. Id. Throughout 2019, “Rady and its agents” “performed various tests 4 and medical procedures on M.M. without [Plaintiffs’] knowledge and/or consent” and 5 without allowing Plaintiffs to be near M.M. Id. This included an “invasive swallow test” 6 in or around April 2019, prompted by M.M.’s difficulties swallowing and eating by 7 mouth. Id. ¶ 63. Plaintiffs were not made aware of this test until after it had occurred. Id. 8 The trial in juvenile court concluded on February 5, 2020, with a ruling in favor of 9 Plaintiffs. Id. ¶ 65. On May 1, 2020, Plaintiffs submitted a Notice of Government Claim 10 to the County of San Diego pursuant to California Government Code sections 910 et seq. 11 Id. ¶ 2. On September 28, 2020, the County of San Diego rejected Plaintiffs’ claims. Id. 12 Plaintiffs filed their Complaint on February 25, 2021. Id. Plaintiffs filed the instant First 13 Amended Complaint on June 14, 2021. ECF No. 27. In the FAC, Plaintiffs allege five 14 claims for relief against all Defendants: violation of civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 15 §1983 (one count of “deception in the presentation of evidence” and one count of 16 unwarranted/non-consensual medical procedures/treatment and invasion of privacy), 17 violation of state civil rights pursuant to Cal. Civ. Code § 43, violation of the Tom Bane 18 Civil Rights Act (Cal. Civ. Code §52.1), intentional infliction of emotional distress, and 19 intrusion into private affairs. 20 II. LEGAL STANDARDS GOVERNING MOTION TO DISMISS 21 Defendants bring their respective Motions to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of 22 Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 12(b)(6). A Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss tests the legal 23 sufficiency of a complaint, i.e. whether the complaint lacks either a cognizable legal 24 theory or facts sufficient to support such a theory. Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 25 (9th Cir. 2001) (citations omitted). For a complaint to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to 26 dismiss, it must contain “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to 27 1 relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting 2 Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). In reviewing the motion, the 3 Court accepts the allegations in the complaint as true and construes the pleadings in the 4 light most favorable to the non-moving party. Manzarek v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. 5 Co., 519 F.3d 1025, 1031 (9th Cir. 2008). However, threadbare recitals of the elements of 6 a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice. Iqbal, 556 7 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). The court is also not required to accept as 8 true mere legal conclusions. Id. Determination of whether a complaint states a plausible 9 claim is “context specific, requiring the reviewing court to draw on its experience and 10 common sense.” Id. at 663-64. Dismissal without leave to amend is improper unless it is 11 clear that amendment would be futile. Id. 12 III. DISCUSSION 13 A. Rooker-Feldman Doctrine Does Not Bar the Court’s Jurisdiction 14 At the outset, the Court pauses to address Defendants’ assertion that the Rooker- 15 Feldman doctrine “bars Plaintiffs from asking this Court to review the juvenile court’s 16 findings.” ECF No. 35-1 at 14; ECF No. 36-1 at 6. “The Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars 17 lower federal courts from exercising jurisdiction ‘to review the final determinations of a 18 state court in judicial proceedings.’” Benavidez v. County of San Diego, 993 F.3d 1134, 19 1142 (9th Cir. 2021) (quoting Doe & Assocs. Law Offices v. Napolitano, 252 F.3d 1026, 20 1029 (9th Cir. 2001). Plaintiffs cannot approach a federal court to obtain what is, in 21 substance, appellate review of a state judgment. Id. (citing Johnson v. De Grandy, 512 22 U.S. 997, 1005-06 (1994)). “[F]or Rooker-Feldman to apply, a plaintiff must seek not 23 only to set aside a state court judgment; he or she must also allege a legal error by the 24 state court as the basis for that relief.” Benavidez v. County of San Diego, 2019 WL 25 581647 (S.D. Cal., Feb. 12, 2019) (citing Kougasian v. TMSL, Inc., 359 F.3d 1136, 1140 26 (9th Cir. 2004). “If, on the other hand, a federal plaintiff asserts as a legal wrong an 27 1 allegedly illegal act or omission by an adverse party, Rooker-Feldman does not bar 2 jurisdiction.” Id. (quoting Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1164 (9th Cir. 2003)). A plaintiff 3 alleging extrinsic fraud on a state court is not alleging a legal error by the state court, but 4 rather, a wrongful act committed by an adverse party. Id. (citing Kougasian, 359 F.3d at 5 1140-41.). The Ninth Circuit upheld analysis by the court in Benavidez that found the 6 Rooker-Feldman doctrine did not bar the district court’s consideration of the case. 7 Benavidez, 993 F.3d at 1143. 8 Here, as in Benavidez, Plaintiffs are not seeking reversal or abrogation of the state 9 court judgment itself. Rather, they seek damages flowing from wrongs that, inter alia, 10 they allege adverse parties perpetuated via deception of the juvenile court itself, as well 11 as wrongs committed by adverse parties in the events surrounding the juvenile court 12 proceedings. Therefore, Plaintiffs’ claims are not a de facto appeal of the juvenile 13 court’s orders, and Defendants are incorrect that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars this 14 Court’s jurisdiction. 15 B. Plaintiffs’ Federal Claims: First Cause of Action (Section 1983 Claims) 16 Plaintiffs allege two counts of violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against all 17 Defendants: (1) deception in the presentation of evidence and Monell related claims; and 18 (2) unwarranted/non-consensual medical procedures/treatment and invasion of privacy 19 and Monell related claims. FAC at 20, 32. Plaintiffs claim punitive damages under the 20 claim of deception in the presentation of evidence. 21 To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) 22 violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and (2) that 23 the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. Long v. 24 County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006). “The first inquiry in any § 25 1983 suit . . . is whether the plaintiff has been deprived of a right secured by the 26 Constitution and laws.” Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 140 (1979). Even if a plaintiff 27 1 can plausibly plead a violation of their rights secured by law, that plaintiff must also 2 plead that the violation occurred under color of state law. 3 In general, private parties do not act under color of state law unless they satisfy the 4 two-part test laid out by the Supreme Court in Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., Inc., 457 5 U.S. 922, 936 (1982): “First, the deprivation must be caused by the exercise of some right 6 or privilege created by the State or by a rule of conduct imposed by the state or by a 7 person for whom the State is responsible . . . Second, the party charged with the 8 deprivation must be a person who may fairly be said to be a state actor.” In other words, 9 “the state-action element in § 1983 excludes from its reach merely private conduct, no 10 matter how discriminatory or wrongful.” Caviness v. Horizon Cmty. Learning Ctr., Inc., 11 590 F.3d 806, 812 (9th Cir. 2010). A person may become a state actor by conspiring with 12 a state official, by engaging in joint activity with state officials, or by becoming so 13 closely related to the State that the person’s actions can be said to be those of the State 14 itself (i.e. that the relationship becomes “symbiotic”). Price v. State of Hawaii, 939 F.2d 15 702, 708 (9th Cir. 1991). “Joint action exists where the government either (1) affirms, 16 authorizes, encourages, or facilitates unconstitutional conduct through its involvement 17 with a private party, or (2) otherwise has so far insinuated itself into a position of 18 interdependence with the non-governmental party, that it is recognized as a joint 19 participant in the challenged activity.” Laberre v. University Professional and Technical 20 Employees, CWA 9119, 493 F. Supp. 3d 964, 970 (S.D. Cal. 2020), appeal docketed, No. 21 20-56173 (9th Cir. Nov. 6, 2020) (citing Belgau v. Inslee, 975 F.3d 940, 947 (9th Cir. 22 2020)). 23 1. Count One: Deception in the Presentation of Evidence 24 The Ninth Circuit recognizes a constitutional right under the Due Process Clause 25 of the Fourteenth Amendment “to be free from judicial deception and fabrication of 26 evidence in the context of civil child custody cases.” Benavidez v. County of San Diego, 27 1 993 F.3d at 1146 (citing Costanich v. Dep’t of Soc. And Health Servs., 627 F.3d 1101, 2 1108 (9th Cir. 2010)). “To successfully allege a violation of the constitutional right to be 3 free from judicial deception, [plaintiffs] must make out a claim that includes (1) a 4 misrepresentation or omission (2) made deliberately or with a reckless disregard for the 5 truth, that was (3) material to the judicial decision.” Id. at 1147. 6 Since Plaintiffs allege this count against all Defendants, the Court will analyze the 7 sufficiency of Plaintiffs’ pleadings with regard to each Defendant in turn. 8 a. Deception Claim Against Dr. Nienow 9 Plaintiffs’ Count One allegations focus primarily on the actions of Ms. Valenzuela 10 and her supervisor in presenting a fraudulent application in support of a protective 11 custody warrant and statement of probable cause to the juvenile court. FAC ¶ 74. Dr. 12 Nienow is mentioned only as having “reviewed and approved” certain “reports and/or 13 other documents” filed with the juvenile court. Id. ¶ 81. The FAC does not adequately 14 allege that Dr. Nienow herself made any misrepresentations or omissions to the juvenile 15 court, let alone that such misrepresentations or omissions were made deliberately or with 16 a reckless disregard for the truth, or that they were material to the court’s decision. In 17 fact, certain allegations in the FAC seem to cut against a plausible pleading of liability on 18 the part of Dr. Nienow: “For example . . . Ms. Valenzuela completely fabricated and 19 twisted her reporting of the substance of her conversations with Dr. Nienow, to such an 20 extent that when Dr. Nienow testified at the Trial in October 2019, that [sic] she did not 21 make such statements.” Id. ¶ 86. The Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to state a 22 claim of judicial deception in the presentation of evidence pursuant to §1983 against Dr. 23 Nienow that is plausible on its face. There is insufficient factual content in the FAC for 24 the Court to draw the reasonable inference that Dr. Nienow is liable for the misconduct 25 alleged. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. 26 27 1 Plaintiffs further allege that “the individual Defendants [sic] wrongful conduct, 2 collectively and each of them, was intentional, malicious, wrongful, and despicable, and 3 done with conscious disregard . . .” thereby entitling Plaintiffs to punitive damages. Since 4 the Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim against Dr. Nienow under count 5 one of their Section 1983 cause of action, Plaintiffs have also failed to make the requisite 6 showing for punitive damages. Count one of Plaintiffs’ Section 1983 claims is 7 DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE as to Defendant Dr. Nienow. Because leave to 8 amend must be granted unless it is apparent that a plaintiff will not be able to sufficiently 9 plead a claim no matter what facts are alleged, the Court grants Plaintiffs leave to amend 10 this claim in a Second Amended Complaint. 11 b. Deception Claim Against Rady and Ms. Reese 12 Defendants Rady Children’s Hospital and Ms. Reese argue in their Motion to 13 Dismiss (ECF No. 32-1) that Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claims against them must fail because 14 they are private parties, and Plaintiffs do not, and cannot, show that Rady and/or Ms. 15 Reese acted “under color of state law.” ECF No. 32-1 at 14. The Court discusses 16 whether Plaintiffs have adequately pled Rady and Ms. Reese to be “state actors” in its 17 analysis of count two below. As to this count of judicial deception, however, the Court 18 finds that Plaintiffs have again failed to plead sufficient facts indicating any plausible tie 19 between Rady and/or Ms. Reese and Plaintiffs’ generalized allegations of judicial 20 deception. At most, Plaintiffs state that Ms. Reese “reviewed and approved” unspecified 21 “reports and/or other documents.” FAC ¶ 81. Plaintiffs do not allege facts tying Ms. 22 Reese or Rady to any statement or omission made to the juvenile court, and do not show 23 that if such a statement or omission existed, it was made deliberately or with reckless 24 disregard for the truth, nor do Plaintiffs show that the juvenile court relied on any 25 statement or omission by Ms. Reese or Rady. As such, Plaintiffs have failed to allege 26 facts against Rady or Ms. Reese sufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss. The Court 27 1 HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE this claim as to Defendants Rady 2 Children’s Hospital and Ms. Reese. Given that Plaintiffs may be able to sufficiently 3 plead a claim, the Court will grant Plaintiffs leave to amend this claim as to Defendants 4 Rady Children’s Hospital and Ms. Reese. 5 c. Deception Claim Against Ms. Valenzuela 6 The majority of Plaintiffs’ allegations under this count turn on the alleged actions 7 of Ms. Valenzuela in preparing the Application for Protective Custody Warrant and 8 Statement of Probable Cause (“the Warrant Application”) submitted to the juvenile 9 court. FAC ¶ 74. Specifically, Plaintiffs assert that Ms. Valenzuela “represented that all 10 of the facts set out in the Statement of Cause were true . . . [but] she knowingly inserted 11 false statements attributed to others, fabricated statements of third parties, and described 12 interactions and events that in fact never happened,” including conversations with Dr. 13 Nienow. Id. ¶ 86. According to Plaintiffs, Ms. Valenzuela filed a fraudulent Warrant 14 Application with the intention that the juvenile court rely on her representations in 15 granting the Warrant and detaining M.M. from her parents’ custody. Id. ¶ 87. The 16 juvenile court then did so. Plaintiffs also allege the Ms. Valenzuela further re-used many 17 of the same allegedly fraudulent representations in preparing the Detention Report, 18 including specifically that Plaintiffs subjected M.M. to unnecessary medical procedures, 19 and that there were no known organic causes for M.M.’s symptoms. Id. ¶¶ 92-93. 20 At this early stage of litigation, the Court does not weigh the factual plausibility or 21 credibility of a plaintiff’s allegations. Taking Plaintiffs’ allegations as true and reading 22 them in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the Court finds that Plaintiffs 23 have sufficiently alleged facts supporting a violation of their constitutional rights by Ms. 24 Valenzuela pursuant to a claim of judicial deception, because Plaintiffs have alleged a 25 misrepresentation/omission made deliberately to the juvenile court that was material to 26 the court’s decision. 27 1 Turning to whether this alleged violation was carried out under color of state law, 2 Plaintiffs allege that Ms. Valenzuela was a PSW “with HHSA and/or the County, and . . 3 . was an officer, agent, and/or employee of, HHSA and/or the County . . .” FAC at 6. 4 Taking these allegations as true, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged 5 Ms. Valenzuela to have been acting under color of state law as a County employee 6 acting within the scope of her responsibilities. 7 Ms. Valenzuela argues that the doctrine of qualified immunity applies to bar her 8 liability under § 1983. ECF No. 35-1 at 9. To determine whether an official is entitled to 9 qualified immunity, a court considers whether there has been a violation of a 10 constitutional right, and whether that right was clearly established by controlling 11 precedent at the time of the official’s alleged misconduct. O’Doan v. Sanford, 991 F.3d 12 1027, 1036 (9th Cir. 2021) (citing Jessop v. City of Fresno, 936 F.3d 937, 940 (9th Cir. 13 2019)). If the answer to either question is no, qualified immunity shields the official 14 from liability. Qualified immunity “balances two important interests—the need to hold 15 public officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to 16 shield officials from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties 17 reasonably.” Id. (citing Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009)). The right to be 18 free from judicial deception and the fabrication/misrepresentation of evidence in 19 proceedings involving child abuse was clearly established at the time of Ms. 20 Valenzuela’s alleged actions. Costanich v. Dept. of Soc. and Health Servs., 627 F.3d 21 1101, 1114 (9th Cir. 2010) (“[G]oing forward, officials who deliberately fabricate 22 evidence in civil child abuse proceedings which result in the deprivation of a protected 23 liberty or property interest are not entitled to qualified immunity . . .”). 24 While government officials are entitled to raise the qualified immunity defense on 25 a motion to dismiss the complaint, it is not always wise for a court to dismiss a claim 26 with prejudice where the factual record has not yet been developed, keeping in mind the 27 1 stricture that the federal courts may not dismiss a complaint unless it is clear that no 2 relief could be granted under any set of facts that could be proved consistent with the 3 allegations. Wong v. United States, 373 F.3d 952, 956-57 (9th Cir. 2004). Therefore, this 4 Court declines to decide at this stage of the litigation whether qualified immunity would 5 act as a bar to Ms. Valenzuela’s liability because, while Plaintiffs have sufficiently 6 alleged facts to survive a motion to dismiss, there has been no determination of whether 7 Ms. Valenzuela actually violated Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights. Without such a 8 determination, the Court finds it premature to decide the issue of qualified immunity, 9 and HEREBY DENIES Ms. Valenzuela’s motion to dismiss as to the claim of judicial 10 deception. 11 d. Deception Claim Against Ms. Paugh 12 Ms. Paugh is alleged to be a PSW with the County of San Diego whose duties 13 include the “investigation, detention, placement, and services of children entrusted to the 14 custody, care, and control of the County and/or HHSA.” Id. ¶ 13. In their allegations of 15 judicial deception, Plaintiffs mention Ms. Paugh by name only twice: once to assert that 16 any reasonable social services/government agent in her position would know it is a 17 fundamental due process violation to fabricate or suppress evidence, and once to assert 18 that Ms. Paugh had the affirmative duty to be honest and accurate in any representations 19 to the juvenile court and its officers. Id. ¶¶ 71-72. Nowhere in the FAC do Plaintiffs 20 allege that Ms. Paugh made, or participated in deliberately or recklessly making, false 21 material statements to the juvenile court. Plaintiffs’ inclusion of Ms. Paugh in a group 22 pleading under this cause of action is insufficient to support an entitlement to relief, even 23 under a liberal pleading standard. Since it is possible, at this stage, that Plaintiffs might 24 be able to sufficiently plead particular actions by Ms. Paugh supporting a claim to relief 25 stemming from judicial deception, the Court HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT 26 PREJUDICE this claim against Ms. Paugh. Plaintiffs will be permitted to amend their 27 1 pleading with regard to Ms. Paugh, though Plaintiffs are advised against putting forward 2 an indiscriminate group pleading that is not sufficiently supported by factual allegations 3 relating to the specific Defendant at issue, as here. 4 e. Deception Claim Against San Diego County 5 This Court assumes that Plaintiffs’ use of the phrase “entity Defendants” 6 encompasses San Diego County, though the FAC does not clearly identify when the 7 allegations pertain to the County and when they might pertain to other entities. Based 8 upon the following analysis, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have failed to allege 9 sufficient facts supporting Monell liability against the County. 10 i. Legal Standard for Monell Liability 11 A municipality may not be sued under § 1983 for an injury inflicted solely by its 12 employees or agents under a theory of respondeat superior. Monell v. Dept. of Soc. Serv. 13 of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978). Instead, municipalities may only be held 14 liable under § 1983 for constitutional violations resulting from official county policy or 15 custom. Id. at 694. “The Supreme Court has made clear that policies can include written 16 policies, unwritten customs and practices, failure to train municipal employees on 17 avoiding certain obvious constitutional violations, and in rare instances, single 18 constitutional violations are so inconsistent with constitutional rights that even such a 19 single instance indicates at least deliberate indifference of the municipality.” Benavidez, 20 993 F.3d at 1153. 21 Failure to train as a basis for Monell liability cannot be premised on mere 22 negligence, but requires a failure that amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights of 23 those who deal with municipal employees. Id. (citing to City of Canton v. Harris, 489 24 U.S. 378, 388-89 (1989)). “To allege a failure to train, a plaintiff must include sufficient 25 facts to support a reasonable inference (1) of a constitutional violation; (2) of a 26 municipal training policy that amounts to a deliberate indifference to constitutional 27 1 rights; and (3) that the constitutional injury would not have resulted if the municipality 2 properly trained their employees.” Id. (citing Blankenhorn v. City of Orange, 485 F.3d 3 463, 484 (9th Cir. 2007)). “A municipality’s culpability for a deprivation of rights is at 4 its most tenuous where a claim turns on a failure to train.” Id. (citing Connick v. 5 Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 61 (2011)). Generally speaking, a single instance of unlawful 6 conduct is insufficient to state a claim for municipal liability under § 1983. Id. “Single 7 acts may trigger municipal liability where ‘fault and causation’ were clearly traceable to 8 a municipality’s legislative body or some other authorized decisionmaker.” Id. 9 ii. Monell Liability: Deception in the Presentation of 10 Evidence 11 The FAC alleges that the entity Defendants had a duty to use reasonable care in 12 training their employees and agents to protect Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights, and that 13 the entity Defendants had a regular custom or practice of including false, exaggerated, 14 misleading, or untrue factual statements and omitting or withholding exculpatory 15 evidence before the court. FAC ¶¶ 79-80. When the individual Defendants engaged in 16 deception in the presentation of evidence to the juvenile court, they were allegedly 17 acting in accordance with the entity Defendants’ established customs and practices. Id. ¶ 18 81. The entity Defendants are alleged to have engaged in these customs and practices 19 “on an ongoing and continuous basis since at least 2005, if not earlier.” Id. ¶ 97. The 20 entity Defendants are “aware that the individual Defendants make false statements 21 and/or suppress known exculpatory evidence . . . Yet, the entity Defendants . . . made a 22 knowing and conscious decision to refrain from promulgating the policy and recurrent 23 training to prevent such misconduct.” Id. ¶ 103. This includes a failure to train 24 employees on the “rights of parents and children to not be lied about in court filed 25 documents.” Id. “The Entity Defendants’ failure to adopt the necessary prophylactic 26 policies and training was the moving force behind the violations of Plaintiffs’ 27 1 constitutional rights.” Id. ¶ 108. Plaintiffs thus variously characterize their theory of the 2 County’s liability as a policy, practice, failure to train, and as a single incident that 3 indicates a failure to adequately train. See Benavidez, 993 F.3d at 1153 (summarizing 4 plaintiff’s similar theory of Monell liability). 5 First, Plaintiffs do not point to any specific stated policy regarding deception in the 6 presentation of evidence. The assertion that the County has a policy/custom/practice of 7 including false statements or withholding exculpatory evidence from the state court is a 8 bare legal conclusion that is not entitled to a presumption of truth. As to the failure to 9 train, Plaintiffs allege in a conclusory fashion that the decision to refrain from training 10 has been ongoing, but provide no factual assertions supporting even faint plausibility. 11 Plaintiffs offer their own experiences in support of the failure to train theory, but this is 12 insufficient to support a plausible claim to relief. Id. at 1155 (finding that single incident 13 exception did not apply and that “micromanaging of municipal policies should be 14 avoided.”) Ultimately, none of Plaintiffs’ allegations provide sufficiently targeted factual 15 support for Monell liability. Therefore, the Court HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT 16 PREJUDICE this cause of action as to San Diego County. Plaintiffs are permitted leave 17 to amend, with a caution that such claims moving forward must be made with greater 18 specificity and factual support. 19 2. Count Two of First Claim for Relief: Unwarranted/Non- 20 Consensual Medical Procedures/Treatment and Invasion of 21 Privacy 22 The Court now turns to a consideration of Plaintiffs’ second “count” pursuant to 23 § 1983. Parents have a constitutional right to be present at their children’s medical 24 examinations and to receive notice in advance of such examinations. Benavidez, 993 25 F.3d at 1134; Mann v. County of San Diego, 907 F.3d 1154, 1161 (9th Cir. 2018) 26 (holding that parents have a due process right to notice and consent that is not dependent 27 1 on the invasiveness, environment, or investigatory purpose of the examination). This 2 right does not turn on whether the medical examination is investigatory in nature or not. 3 Id. An exception exists for emergency medical situations where action without consent 4 is needed to protect the child’s health, or where there is a reasonable concern that 5 material physical evidence might dissipate. Id. 6 As for Plaintiffs’ constitutional right to privacy, the Supreme Court has recognized 7 that “one aspect of the ‘liberty’ protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth 8 Amendment is ‘a right of personal privacy, or a guarantee of certain areas or zones of 9 privacy.’” Carey v. Population Servs. Int’l, 431 U.S. 678, 684 (1977) (quoting Roe v. 10 Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 152 (1973)). The Ninth Circuit has stated that this right of personal 11 privacy includes “at least two constitutionally protected privacy interests: the right to 12 control the disclosure of sensitive information and the right to independence in making 13 certain kinds of important decisions.” Parents for Privacy v. Barr, 949 F.3d 1210, 1222 14 (9th Cir. 2020). These decisions are related to “the most intimate of human activities and 15 relationships,” such as marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, raising 16 children, and education. Forbes v. County of San Diego, No. 20-cv-00998-BAS-JLB, 17 2021 WL 843175, at *6 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 4, 2021). 18 The allegations in this section of the FAC focus primarily on intrusive and 19 unconsented medical care. FAC ¶¶ 117, 119, 123, 127. Plaintiffs also mention a 20 violation of their right to privacy as part of a longer list of rights that the entity and 21 individual Defendants had a duty to recognize and respect. Id. ¶¶ 117, 123. However, the 22 FAC provides few specific allegations describing the ways in which Defendants, 23 whether collectively or individually, violated Plaintiffs’ rights to control the disclosure 24 of sensitive information or to make the kinds of important decisions laid out by the 25 Ninth Circuit as constitutionally protected. The Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to 26 adequately plead violations of their constitutionally protected right to privacy against 27 1 any of the Defendants. Consequently, the Court HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT 2 PREJUDICE the particular claim of violation of privacy pursuant to § 1983 as to all 3 Defendants. However, finding that the Plaintiffs can overcome the identified 4 deficiencies, Plaintiffs are granted leave to amend. 5 The Court now turns to an analysis of Plaintiffs’ claims of unwarranted/non- 6 consensual medical procedures and treatment, and related Monell claims, as to each 7 Defendant. 8 a. Medical Treatment Claim Against Dr. Nienow 9 Plaintiffs do not state any specific allegations against Dr. Nienow under this 10 medical treatment claim, nor does the relevant portion of the FAC even name her. As Dr. 11 Nienow correctly points out, liability under § 1983 requires a showing of “personal 12 participation in the alleged rights deprivation.” Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th 13 Cir. 2002). Plaintiffs have not made this showing. In fact, the FAC itself cuts against 14 Plaintiffs’ claim when it states that Dr. Nienow failed to investigation, acknowledge, or 15 understand hEDS and its effect on M.M., and that “Dr. Nienow never even spoke with, 16 nor met with, Ms. Gascay, Mr. Meyer, or M.M.” FAC ¶ 62. The Court HEREBY 17 DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE this claim against Dr. Nienow. Plaintiffs will be 18 granted leave to amend. 19 b. Medical Treatment Claim Against Rady and Ms. Reese 20 The Court first analyzes Plaintiffs’ allegations against Ms. Reese under this cause 21 of action. For their claim to survive a motion to dismiss, Plaintiffs must adequately allege 22 that Ms. Reese violated their right to be present during their child’s medical procedures, 23 and that she did so under color of state law. Plaintiffs do not allege that Ms. Reese was 24 involved with the “invasive swallow test” they identify (FAC at 19), nor do they provide 25 further details linking Ms. Reese to any other medical procedures related to M.M. 26 Plaintiffs therefore have failed to sufficiently allege a violation attributable to Ms. Reese. 27 1 The Court also finds it doubtful that Plaintiffs have adequately alleged Ms. Reese to be 2 acting under color of state law. Plaintiffs allege that Ms. Reese facilitated 3 “communication between the County and all other entities . . . collaborating with 4 investigating agencies . . . [and] acting as a liaison between the County and M.M.’s 5 treatment team.” FAC at 5. These scant allegations, without more, do not show that Ms. 6 Reese’s actions were “fairly attributable to the state.” Belgau, 975 F.3d at 946. The Court 7 HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s claim of non- 8 consensual/unwarranted medical procedures as to Ms. Reese. The Court grants Plaintiffs 9 leave to amend. 10 The Court now turns to whether Plaintiffs have successfully stated a claim under 11 § 1983 against Rady. Plaintiffs allege that “[i]n or around April 2019, without 12 [Plaintiffs’] knowledge or consent, and without providing [Plaintiffs] an opportunity to be 13 near M.M. for support, Rady performed an invasive swallow test on M.M. . . . [Plaintiffs] 14 were only made aware of this test after the test was performed.” FAC ¶ 63. As to Rady’s 15 state actor status, Plaintiffs allege that Rady is a medical center “the specific form of 16 which is presently unknown, acting on behalf of, and for the benefit of, the County, and 17 was and is, acting as a public entity.” Id. ¶ 8. Plaintiffs further allege that “on information 18 and belief, a contract exists between Rady and the County, contracting Rady and its 19 agents as investigators of child abuse and/or neglect on behalf of and/or in collaboration 20 with the County and its agents.” Id. ¶ 13. Plaintiffs allege that “[o]n information and 21 belief . . . KPSD and/or the County requested Rady . . . [to] conduct an investigation for 22 Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy . . .” Id. ¶ 46. The Court finds that, taking these 23 allegations as true and in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the FAC has sufficiently 24 alleged a violation of Plaintiffs’ right to be present at their child’s medical examinations 25 and to receive notice of such examinations, because this right is not abrogated by the 26 examination’s invasiveness or its investigatory nature. Mann, 907 F.3d at 1162 (holding 27 1 that the County is required to notify parents even where examinations may have a health 2 objective as well as an investigatory objective). 3 Next, the Court looks to whether Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged Rady to be a 4 state actor under the legal standard discussed above, supra Section III.A. The FAC states 5 that Rady acted “by authorization and approval of the County and its agents” and further 6 allege that “Defendant Rady is paid money by the County for its investigatory and 7 ‘expert’ services, and regularly cooperates in joint action with HHSA to investigate 8 allegations of child abuse.” FAC ¶ 120. Whether this allegation supports Rady’s 9 characterization as a state actor is a close call. An assertion that an entity engages in 10 “joint action” with the state is conclusory, without more. However, the allegation that 11 “Defendant Rady regularly and systematically performed non-consensual and 12 unwarranted investigatory medical services in collaboration with HHSA . . . pursuant to 13 contract, and at the behest and direction of HHSA” is, at this stage, sufficient to allege the 14 requisite nexus between state and private entity. Id. ¶ 119. The Court finds that Plaintiffs 15 have sufficiently alleged facts that, taken as true, state a plausible entitlement to relief 16 against Defendant Rady for violating their right to be present at medical procedures 17 carried out on M.M. The Court HEREBY DENIES Defendant Rady’s motion to dismiss 18 as to this particular claim. 19 c. Medical Treatment Claim Against Ms. Valenzuela and Ms. 20 Paugh 21 Plaintiffs do not allege facts tying either Ms. Valenzuela or Ms. Paugh to the 22 alleged swallow test or any other medical procedure carried out on M.M. As such, the 23 Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to allege sufficient facts against Ms. Valenzuela or 24 Ms. Paugh plausibly entitling Plaintiffs to relief due to violations of Plaintiffs’ right to be 25 present during their child’s medical procedures. The Court HEREBY DISMISSES 26 27 1 WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiffs’ claims against Ms. Valenzuela and Ms. Paugh as to 2 unwarranted/non-consensual medical procedures. Plaintiffs are granted leave to amend. 3 d. Medical Treatment Claim Against San Diego County 4 Plaintiffs do not allege specific facts linking the County to any potential violation 5 of their right to be with M.M. during a medical procedure or treatment. At most, the FAC 6 alleges that Rady “performed various tests and medical procedures on M.M. without 7 [Plaintiffs’] knowledge and/or consent” and that this was carried out with the County’s 8 “authorization and approval.” FAC ¶ 64. The FAC also contains generalized allegations 9 that Defendants collectively had in place, inter alia, “the custom and/or practice of 10 subjecting children to unwarranted non-consensual medical examinations,” and “the 11 custom and/or practice of barring a parent from being in close proximity to their child 12 during medical care, diagnosis, or treatment.” Id. at 34-35. Here again the FAC does little 13 more than recite the elements of its legal claim in a conclusory fashion, without pointing 14 to factual support. This is insufficient to satisfy Rule 12(b)(6)’s requirements or to meet 15 the standard set out by Monell. As such, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to state 16 a plausible claim to relief as against Defendant San Diego County under “count two” of 17 their §1983 claim. The Court HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE this claim 18 as to San Diego County. Plaintiffs are granted leave to amend. 19 C. Plaintiffs’ State Law Claims 20 a. Compliance with California Tort Claims Act 21 With regard to the public entity and public employee Defendants in this case (San 22 Diego County, Ms. Valenzuela, and Ms. Reese), the Court looks to whether Plaintiffs’ 23 action complies with the requirements of the California Tort Claims Act (“Claims Act”). 24 Cal. Gov’t. Code §§ 905, 950.2. Under the Claims Act, a plaintiff may not maintain an 25 action for damages against a public entity or public employee unless the plaintiff first 26 presents a written claim to the public entity within six months of the date that the cause of 27 1 action accrued. County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court, 127 Cal.App.4th 1263, 1267 2 (Ct. App. 2005). “The general rule is that a cause of action accrues when it is complete 3 with all of its elements—those elements being wrongdoing, harm, and causation.” 4 Jackson v. City of San Diego, 2019 WL 3306296 (citing Pooshs v. Philip Morris USA, 5 Inc., 51 Cal.4th 788, 797 (2011) (quotations omitted)). Under California law, a plaintiff’s 6 failure to file a timely claim under the Tort Claims Act deprives a district court of 7 jurisdiction to hear those claims. See Creighton v. City of Livingston, 628 F. Supp. 2d 8 1199, 1225 (E.D. Cal. 2009) (“Presentation of a timely tort claim is a jurisdictional 9 prerequisite to maintaining a cause of action against a public entity.”). 10 Public entity and public employee Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ state claims are 11 barred because, among other reasons, Plaintiffs failed to file their government claim 12 within six months of their claims’ accrual. According to Defendants, this would have 13 been six months after Plaintiffs learned of the information of the warrant application, 14 and/or six months after Plaintiffs discovered the existence of the video recordings. ECF 15 No. 35-1 at 27. 16 In the FAC, Plaintiffs fail to adequately plead compliance with the California Tort 17 Claims Act. The FAC merely states that Plaintiffs filed their Complaint before this Court 18 on February 25, 2021, “within six-months [sic] of receiving notice of The County of San 19 Diego’s rejection.” FAC ¶ 2. This statement, however, does not address the preliminary 20 requirement that a government claim be filed within six months of the claim’s accrual. 21 Since failure to timely present claims would act as a jurisdictional bar to Plaintiffs’ state 22 law causes of action against the public entity and public employee Defendants, the Court 23 HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiffs’ state law claims as against 24 Defendants San Diego County, Defendant Valenzuela, and Defendant Paugh. Plaintiffs 25 26 27 1 should amend their Complaint in order to properly allege compliance, or plead excused 2 noncompliance, with the California Tort Claim Act’s presentation requirements.2 3 b. Second Cause of Action: Cal. Civ. Code § 43 4 Before discussing this and Plaintiff’s other state law claims against the remaining 5 Defendants, the Court notes that where no federal claim remains against a Defendant, a 6 federal court has discretion to refrain from exercising jurisdiction over pendant state law 7 claims. See 28 U.S.C. §1367(c)(3); Ove v. Gwinn, 264 F.3d 817, 826 (9th Cir. 2001). 8 However, since the Court does not dismiss Plaintiff’s claims with prejudice at this stage, 9 the Court will proceed to analysis of the sufficiency of the allegations supporting 10 Plaintiff’s state law claims even where the Court has dismissed the federal law claims, 11 above. 12 Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated Plaintiffs’ rights including “the right of 13 protection from personal and physical insult and violation, from defamation and from 14 injury to personal relation, as set forth in California Civil Code § 43. California Civil 15 Code § 43 codifies the common law torts of assault, battery, and invasion of privacy. 16 Marsh v. San Diego Cty., 432 F. Supp. 2d 1035, 1057-58 (S.D. Cal. 2006). Thus, the 17 Court’s analysis of Plaintiffs’ purported claims is the same as, and collapses into, its 18 analysis of Plaintiffs’ common law tort claims of intentional infliction of emotional 19 distress (“IIED”) and intrusion into private affairs, see infra Sections III.B.d, III.B.e. See 20
21 22 2 Since the state law claims were not clearly alleged to be in compliance with the claims presentation requirement, and the Court therefore disposed of the state law claims against 23 the public entity and public employee Defendants on that ground, the Court need not 24 decide Defendants Valenzuela and Paugh’s motion to strike Plaintiffs’ second, third, and fourth causes of action pursuant to California’s anti-SLAPP statute. ECF No. 35-1 at 31. 25 However, the Court reserves consideration of Defendants’ request until such time as 26 Plaintiffs may plead state law claims that survive the Tort Claims presentation requirements. 27 1 Franklin v. S. Cal. Permanente Med. Grp., No. 05-0330, 2006 WL 5309515, fn. 1 2 (C.D.Cal. Nov. 7, 2006) (Cal. Civ. Code §43 “do[es] not give rise to causes of action 3 distinct from the common law torts at issue here, and thus [it] do[es] not change the 4 analysis”). 5 c. Third Cause of Action: Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, Cal. 6 Civ. Code § 52.1 7 Plaintiffs allege violations of their rights pursuant to the Tom Bane Civil Rights 8 Act (“Bane Act”) against all Defendants. FAC at 40. The Bane Act was enacted in 1987 9 to address hate crimes. Reese v. County of Sacramento, 888 F.3d 1030, 1040 (9th Cir. 10 2018). “The Bane Act civilly protects individuals from conduct aimed at interfering with 11 rights that are secured by federal or state law, where the interference is carried out ‘by 12 threats, intimidation, or coercion.’” Id. (quoting Venegas v. County of Los Angeles, 153 13 Cal.App.4th 1230, 1239 (2007)). The doctrine of qualified immunity does not apply to 14 causes of action under Civil Code § 52.1. Venegas, 153 Cal.App.4th at 1232. 15 Allegations of interference carried out by threats, intimidation, or coercion are thus 16 central elements of a Bane Act claim. In their FAC, Plaintiffs do not allege threats, 17 intimidation, or coercion from any of the Defendants. At most, Plaintiffs assert that 18 Defendants violated their rights “by obtaining or attempting to obtain, [sic] evidence and 19 testimony by duress, fraud, and/or undue influence, in juvenile dependency investigations 20 and proceedings.” FAC ¶ 136. This allegation of “duress” is the closest that the FAC 21 comes to alleging any kind of coercion or intimidation. However, these bare legal 22 conclusions are insufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. The Court therefore HEREBY 23 DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the Bane Act cause of action as to all Defendants. 24 Plaintiffs are granted leave to amend. 25 26 27 1 d. Fourth Cause of Action: Intentional Infliction of Emotional 2 Distress 3 A cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress exists where there 4 is “(1) extreme and outrageous conduct by the defendant with the intention of causing, or 5 reckless disregard of the probability of causing, emotional distress; (2) the plaintiff’s 6 suffering severe or extreme emotional distress; and (3) actual and proximate causation of 7 the emotional distress by the defendant’s outrageous conduct.” Hughes v. Pair, 46 8 Cal.4th 1035, 1050 (2009) (citing Potter v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 6 Cal.4th 965, 9 1001 (1993)). A defendant’s conduct is “outrageous” when it is “so extreme as to exceed 10 all bounds of that usually tolerated in a civilized community.” Id. The defendant’s 11 conduct must be intended to inflict injury or “engaged with the realization that injury will 12 result.” Id. “Severe emotional distress means emotional distress of such substantial 13 quality or enduring quality that no reasonable person in civilized society should be 14 expected to endure it.” Id. 15 Plaintiffs base their intentional infliction of emotional distress claims on conduct 16 carried out by “all Defendants” including, among other actions: providing the court false 17 information, wrongfully and unlawfully removing M.M. from their custody, causing 18 M.M. to be physically and mentally examined without her parents’ presence or consent, 19 and videotaping M.M. and Plaintiffs covertly. FAC ¶ 149. Plaintiffs allege that, as a 20 result of this conduct, Plaintiffs suffered physical and emotional distress including 21 “mental anguish, anxiety, worry, shock, grief, nervousness, and humiliation.” Id. ¶ 152. 22 The FAC does not specifically allege conduct by any of the Defendants that would rise to 23 the level of “extreme and outrageous conduct” that would exceed the bounds of 24 tolerability within a civilized society. As a result of the scattershot and generalized 25 allegations, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to plead facts supporting a plausible 26 claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Nor have Plaintiffs adequately 27 1 alleged the severity of their distress stemming from Defendants’ actions. At this time, the 2 Court does not consider whether any immunities shield particular Defendants from 3 liability under this cause of action, due to the general deficiency of Plaintiffs’ pleading. 4 The Court HEREBY DISMISSEES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the entirety of this cause of 5 action as to all Defendants. Plaintiffs are given leave to amend. 6 e. Fifth Cause of Action: Intrusion into Private Affairs 7 Plaintiffs allege that they had a reasonable expectation of privacy upon entering 8 M.M.’s private hospital room, and that “all Defendants” intentionally intruded into 9 Plaintiffs’ private affairs without Plaintiffs’ consent or knowledge by placing covert 10 recording devices in M.M.’s hospital room for about thirty consecutive days. FAC ¶ 156. 11 Plaintiffs allege during the time of the covert recording, they took private phone calls, ate 12 in the room, and changed clothes, and therefore the recording was an “unconsented-to 13 physical and sensory intrusion, the nature and scope of which is highly offensive to a 14 reasonable person.” Id. ¶ 157. 15 There are two elements to the common law tort of intrusion in California. “First, 16 the defendant must intentionally intrude into a place, conversation, or matter as to which 17 the plaintiff has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Second, the intrusion must occur in 18 a manner highly offensive to a reasonable person.” Hernandez v. Hillsides, 47 Cal.4th 19 272, 286 (2009). As to the first element, “the expectation of privacy must be ‘objectively 20 reasonable.’” Id. (citing Shulman v. Group W Productions, Inc., 18 Cal.4th 200, 232 21 (1998)). The second element involves a determination as to whether the alleged intrusion 22 is highly offensive under the particular circumstances, taking into account factors such as 23 the degree and setting of the intrusion and the intruder’s motives and objectives. Id. 24 “Even in cases involving the use of photographic and electronic recording devices, which 25 can raise difficult questions about covert surveillance, California tort law provides no 26 bright line on offensiveness; each case must be taken on its facts.” Id. 27 1 The question before the Court in this fact-specific inquiry is whether Plaintiffs 2 have adequately pled supporting facts and allegations of an objectively reasonable 3 expectation of privacy and an intrusion that was highly offensive to a reasonable person. 4 Plaintiffs were visitors to M.M.’s hospital room, and though the room had an element of 5 excludability that would have allowed Plaintiffs to keep out certain visitors, Plaintiffs 6 have not adequately alleged that they had a reasonable expectation of privacy as to the 7 particular Defendants here, who were all medical professionals and/or individuals 8 involved in the investigation of alleged abuse and neglect. Plaintiffs have not adequately 9 alleged that it would be objectively unreasonable for the Defendants, all of whom were 10 hospital personnel or closely linked to the functions of the hospital, to “enter” the hospital 11 room, including through surveillance. Plaintiffs have also not adequately alleged, beyond 12 a bare legal conclusion, that the intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable 13 person. Even taking all of Plaintiffs’ allegations as factually true and viewing the 14 pleadings in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have 15 failed to allege facts sufficient to state a claim for intrusion of privacy. The Court 16 HEREBY DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE this cause of action as to all 17 Defendants. Plaintiffs have leave to amend. However, any amendment should state with 18 more clarity how the specific Defendants are each alleged to have violated Plaintiffs’ 19 rights under this cause of action. 20 D. Defendants Valenzuela and Paugh’s Request for Judicial Notice 21 Defendants Valenzuela and Paugh request that this Court take judicial notice of the 22 contents of Exhibits A-D (including records from state court proceedings and a copy of 23 the government tort claim presented by Plaintiffs to the County), attached to their Motion 24 to Dismiss and Anti-SLAPP Motion to Strike. ECF No. 35-2 at 1. On October 8, 2021, 25 Plaintiffs filed an opposition to Defendants’ Request for Judicial Notice. ECF No. 55. 26 27 1 A court may take judicial notice of matters of public record without converting a 2 motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment, but a court may not take judicial 3 notice of a fact that is subject to reasonable dispute. Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 4 668, 689 (9th Cir. 2001). On a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, when a court takes 5 judicial notice of another court’s opinion, it may do so ‘not for the truth of the facts 6 recited therein, but for the existence of the opinion, which is not subject to reasonable 7 dispute over its authenticity.’” Id. at 690 (quoting Southern Cross Overseas Agencies, 8 Inc. v. Wah Kwong Shipping Group Ltd., 181 F.3d 410, 426-27 (3d. Cir. 1999). 9 At this stage, the Court declines to entertain the request for judicial notice and need 10 not decide the scope of judicial notice available because the Court did not rely on any of 11 the aforementioned exhibits—either their contents or their “existence”—in promulgating 12 the instant Order on Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss. Since the Court did not rely on the 13 exhibits, Defendants’ request for judicial notice is denied as moot. By the same token, 14 Plaintiffs’ request for limited discovery on the issues presented in Defendants’ request is 15 also denied as moot. Furthermore, because the Court did not consider either the 16 Defendant’s request for judicial notice or Plaintiffs’ Objection (ECF No. 55), Defendants 17 Paugh and Valenzuela’s ex parte Motion to Strike the Objection (ECF No. 56) is also 18 denied as moot. Plaintiffs are cautioned, however, that in future they must timely file 19 according to the deadlines set by this Court. 20 IV. CONCLUSION 21 For the reasons stated above, the Court HEREBY DENIES Defendant 22 Valenzuela’s motion to dismiss as to the claim of judicial deception. The Court also 23 HEREBY DENIES Defendant Rady Children’s Hospital’s Motion to Dismiss as to the 24 claim of “non-consensual medical procedures,” i.e. violation of Plaintiffs’ right to be 25 present and/or notified of medical procedures carried out on their minor child. All other 26 claims are HEREBY DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The Court GRANTS 27 1 || Plaintiffs leave to file a Second Amended Complaint correcting the deficiencies noted 2 above. Plaintiffs must file this Second Amended Complaint on or before November 12, 3 2021. The Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Objection is DENIED as moot. ECF No. 56. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 Dated: October 20, 2021 <
7 United States District Judge 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 21-cv-00341-GPC