1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 NORVELL ANDREW, Case No.: 1:22-cv-01290-KES-CDB 12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISMISS CERTAIN CLAIMS AND 13 v. DEFENDANTS FOLLOWING SCREENING OF PLAINTIFF’S SECOND AMENDED 14 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al., COMPLAINT
15 Defendants. 14-DAY OBJECTION DEADLINE
16 17 Plaintiff Norvell Andrew is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in 18 this civil rights action. 20 This Court issued its First Screening Order on July 20, 2023. (Doc. 19.) Plaintiff was 21 directed to do one of the following: (1) file a first amended complaint curing the deficiencies 22 identified in the screening order; or (2) provide written notice that he wished to proceed on the 23 claims found cognizable by the Court; or (3) file a notice of voluntary dismissal. (Id. at 15-16.) 24 Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint on August 14, 2023. (Doc. 21.) On March 22, 25 2024, a document titled “Amended Complaint/Supplemental Complaint” was lodged with the 26 Court. (Doc. 27.) 27 On May 6, 2024, the Court issued its Second Screening Order. (Doc. 35.) The Court found 1 against Defendants Barnes, Beaudreau, Bennett, Cervantes, Ceja, Ciolli, Dewilde, Heldman, 2 Haslett, Lopez, Lyons, McClure, Schaffer, Scott, Simpson, Vandenover, and Zaragoza, as well as 3 Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference to serious medical needs claims against Defendants 4 Palenteghi and Spheres. (Id. at 11-17.) However, the Court also found Plaintiff failed to allege 5 any other cognizable claim against any other named defendant. (Id.) Plaintiff was directed to do 6 one of the following within 21 days of the date of service of the order: (1) to notify the Court in 7 writing that she does not wish to file a second amended complaint and was willing to proceed 8 only on the Eighth Amendment claims found cognizable (referenced above), the remaining claims 9 against any defendant to be dismissed; or (2) to file a second amended complaint curing the 10 deficiencies identified by the Court in the screening order; or (3) to file a notice of voluntary 11 dismissal. (Id. at 18-19.) 12 When Plaintiff failed to respond to the Second Screening Order within 21 days, on June 5, 13 2024, the Court issued an Order to Show Cause (OSC) why the matter should not be dismissed 14 for her failure to obey a court order. (Doc. 37.) And, when Plaintiff failed to respond to the OSC 15 within 14 days as directed, the Court issued Findings and Recommendations to dismiss this action 16 for a failure to obey courts orders and failure to prosecute. (Doc. 38.) 17 Plaintiff then filed a document titled second amended complaint on July 1, 2024. (Doc. 18 39.) 19 On July 8, 2024, the Court issued its “Order Vacating Findings and Recommendations To 20 Dismiss This Action For Plaintiff’s Failure To Obey Courts Orders And Failure To Prosecute; 21 Order Striking Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint Filed July 1, 2024; Order Directing 22 Plaintiff To Re-File Second Amended Complaint Within 21 Days.” (Doc. 41.) 23 Plaintiff then filed a document titled “Motion to Reconsider” on July 23, 2024. (Doc. 43.) 24 On July 26, 2024, construing Plaintiff’s previous filing to be objections to the earlier 25 Findings and Recommendations, the Court directed the Clerk of the Court to provide Plaintiff 26 with a copy of the July 8, 2024, order, and another blank civil rights complaint form. (Doc. 44 at 27 1-4.) It also extended the deadline for Plaintiff to re-file her second amended complaint within 21 1 Second Screening Order issued May 6, 2024, and the Court’s July 8, 2024, order,” a 2 recommendation that this action be dismissed for her failure to obey courts orders and failure to 3 prosecute would result. (Id. at 4, emphasis omitted.) 4 On August 19, 2024, Plaintiff re-filed her second amended complaint. (Doc. 45.) 6 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 7 governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). 8 The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the complaint is frivolous or malicious, 9 fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant 10 who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). The Court should dismiss a complaint if 11 it lacks a cognizable legal theory or fails to allege sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal 12 theory. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). 14 A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) 15 “Rule 8(a)’s simplified pleading standard applies to all civil actions, with limited 16 exceptions.” Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 513 (2002). A complaint must contain 17 “a short and plain statement of the claims showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. 18 Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “Such a statement must simply give the defendant fair notice of what the 19 plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Swierkiewicz, 534 U.S. at 512 (internal 20 quotation marks & citation omitted). 21 Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a 22 cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 23 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Plaintiff must 24 set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim that is plausible on its face.’” 25 Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). Factual allegations are accepted as true, but legal 26 conclusions are not. Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). 27 The Court construes pleadings of pro se prisoners liberally and affords them the benefit of 1 liberal pleading standard . . . applies only to a plaintiff’s factual allegations,” not his legal 2 theories. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 330 n.9 (1989). Furthermore, “a liberal interpretation 3 of a civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially 4 pled,” Bruns v. Nat’l Credit Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (internal 5 quotation marks & citation omitted), and courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted 6 inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation 7 marks & citation omitted). The “sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully” is not 8 sufficient to state a cognizable claim, and “facts that are merely consistent with a defendant’s 9 liability” fall short. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (internal quotation marks & citation omitted). 10 B. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens 11 Prisoners may bring claims under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 for violations of constitutional 12 or other federal rights by persons acting “under color of state law.” Section 1983 “provides a 13 cause of action for the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the 14 Constitution and laws of the United States.” Wilder v. Va. Hosp. Ass’n, 496 U.S. 498, 508 (1990) 15 (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1983). A civil rights action under section 1983 is the proper remedy for a 16 constitutional challenge to the conditions of imprisonment. See Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 17 475, 499 (1973) (“[A] § 1983 action is a proper remedy for a state prisoner who is making a 18 constitutional challenge to the conditions of his prison life, but not to the fact or length of his 19 custody”). 20 An action under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Fed. Bureau of Narcotics 21 (403 U.S. 388 (1971)) is the federal analog to suits brought against state officials under section 22 1983. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676–77 (quoting Hartman v. Moore, 547 U.S. 250, 254, n.2 (2006)). 23 Bivens actions and section 1983 claims “are identical save for the replacement of a state actor 24 under § 1983 by a federal actor under Bivens.” Van Strum v. Lawn, 940 F.2d 406, 409 (9th Cir. 25 1991). Pursuant to Bivens, under limited circumstances, federal actors can be liable for a violation 26 of an individual’s civil rights. Minneci v. Pollard, 565 U.S. 118, 122–23 (2012). A plaintiff may 27 sue a federal officer in his or her individual capacity for damages for violating the plaintiff's 1 a right secured by the Constitution of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged 2 violation was committed by a federal actor. Kandi v. Mgmt. & Training Corp., No. 1:16-cv- 3 00794-BAM (PC), 2017 WL 2081117, at *3 (E.D. Cal. May 15, 2017) (citing inter alia West v. 4 Atkins, 487 U.S. 42 (1988)). 5 C. Linkage and Causation 6 Section 1983 provides a cause of action for the violation of constitutional or other federal 7 rights by persons acting under color of state law. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983. To state a claim under 8 section 1983, a plaintiff must show a causal connection or link between the actions of the 9 defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by the plaintiff. See Rizzo v. Goode, 10 423 U.S. 362, 373-75 (1976). The Ninth Circuit has held that “[a] person ‘subjects’ another to the 11 deprivation of a constitutional right, within the meaning of section 1983, if he does an affirmative 12 act, participates in another’s affirmative acts, or omits to perform an act which he is legal required 13 to do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 14 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (citation omitted). 15 D. Supervisory Liability 16 Liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel for the actions or omissions of 17 their subordinates under the theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77; see e.g., 18 Simmons v. Navajo Cty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020-21 (9th Cir. 2010) (plaintiff required to 19 adduce evidence the named supervisory defendants “themselves acted or failed to act 20 unconstitutionally, not merely that subordinate did”), overruled on other grounds by Castro v. 21 Cnty. of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060, 1070 (9th Cir. 2016); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 22 (9th Cir. 2002) (“In order for a person acting under color of state law to be liable under section 23 1983 there must be a showing of personal participation in the alleged rights deprivation: there is 24 no respondeat superior liability under section 1983”). 25 Supervisors may be held liable only if they “participated in or directed the violations, or 26 knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them.” Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th 27 Cir. 1989). “The requisite causal connection may be established when an official sets in motion a 1 ‘series of acts by others which the actor knows or reasonably should know would cause others to 2 inflict’ constitutional harms.” Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d 554, 570 (9th Cir. 2009). Accord 3 Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1205-06 (9th Cir. 2011) (supervisory liability may be based on 4 inaction in the training and supervision of subordinates). 5 Supervisory liability may also exist without any personal participation if the official 6 implemented “a policy so deficient that the policy itself is a repudiation of the constitutional 7 rights and is the moving force of the constitutional violation.” Redman v. Cty. of San Diego, 942 8 F.2d 1435, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991) (citations & quotations marks omitted), abrogated on other 9 grounds by Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1970). 10 To prove liability for an action or policy, the plaintiff “must ... demonstrate that his 11 deprivation resulted from an official policy or custom established by a ... policymaker possessed 12 with final authority to establish that policy.” Waggy v. Spokane County Washington, 594 F.3d 13 707, 713 (9th Cir. 2010). When a defendant holds a supervisory position, the causal link between 14 such defendant and the claimed constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. 15 Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979). Vague and conclusory allegations concerning the 16 involvement of supervisory personnel in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Bd. 17 of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 19 A. Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint 20 Plaintiff names the United States of America and the following individuals, employed at 21 the United States Penitentiary in Atwater, California, as defendants in this action: 22 Andrew Ciolli Kimberly Bennett 23 Unit Manager Schafer 24 Lieutenant Zaragoza Lieutenant Heldman 25 Lieutenant Dewilde Lieutenant Lemur 26 Technician Vandenover Counselor Lyons 27 Counselor Haslett Counselor Beaudreau 1 Captain Scott Officer Simpson 2 Officer Ceja Officer Lopez 3 Officer Barnes 4 Officer McClure Case Manager Bollinger 5 Doctor Palentghi Nurse Spheres 6 Nurse Young 7 Nurse Placencia 8 (Doc. 45 at 1-6.) Plaintiff seeks to have her “left eye” and “left hand” “fixed, to be transferred to 9 “FCC Yazoo,” “$5,007,000 in damages,” and “15 days a month in First Step Act time” for every 10 months she has been “in SHU & unable to program …” (Id. at 20.) 11 B. Plaintiff’s Factual Allegations 12 Claim One 13 Plaintiff states on about February 20, 2020, she arrived at USP Atwater and was assigned 14 to a cell with an active gang member. (Doc. 45 at 3.) Plaintiff was told she could not live with the 15 gang member due to her sexuality. (Id.) Defendant Barnes then placed Plaintiff in a single cell. 16 (Id.) Plaintiff states she was housed alone for about two weeks until March 5, 2020, when 17 Defendant Lyons approached her assigned cell and told her to pack her belongings because she 18 was moving to another cell with Inmate Brooks.1 (Id. at 3, 19.) Plaintiff asserts she advised Lyons 19 that her life would be in danger if she was housed with Brooks and that she did not wish to die in 20 prison. (Id. at 19.) Lyons advised her she could go into the cell with Brooks, or she would go to 21 the security housing unit (SHU). (Id.) Plaintiff chose the SHU “over being stabbed.” (Id.) Lyons 22 had Plaintiff moved to the SHU and wrote an incident report indicating she refused to program. 23 (Id.) Plaintiff states she was released from the SHU “about March 12, 2020,” and Lyons was 24 going to house her with Brooks. (Id.) However, Plaintiff alleges that Brooks and another inmate 25 were already assigned to that cell. (Id.) She was subsequently moved to Unit 6B. (Id.) 26 On or about March 11, 2020, Defendant Haslett informed Plaintiff she had to have a 27 1 Various pages associated with Claims 1 and 2 are out of numerical order; therefore, page reference citations will 1 cellmate, then moved Plaintiff to Unit 6A with inmate James Ladson. (Id. at 7.) Ladson advised 2 Plaintiff that his Jewish faith would not allow him to be housed with a homosexual. (Id.) Ladson 3 and Plaintiff approached correctional officers and advised them of the situation and asked to be 4 moved. (Id.) They were told to speak with the lieutenant. (Id.) Defendant Lemur told Plaintiff to 5 tell the correctional officer to place her in a single cell if one was available. (Id.) If a cell was not 6 available, Lemur told Plaintiff that she and Ladson “had to tough it out until” the following day 7 because he could not move her “from unit to unit.” (Id.) Lemur also advised Plaintiff that if a cell 8 was available, but officers refused to move her, to “tell the officer to call Lemur.” (Id.) Plaintiff 9 and Ladson approached Defendant Haslett on their return to the housing unit. (Id.) After listening 10 to their explanation, Haslett stated that because neither Plaintiff nor Ladson were “in his unit,” he 11 was going home. (Id.) Plaintiff contends “both unknown officers,” Lemur and Haslett were 12 “negligent to” her safety, failed to protect her, and she “suffered several serious injuries” as a 13 result. (Id. at 7-8.) 14 On or about March 17, 2020, Plaintiff spoke with Defendant Bollinger and advised 15 Bollinger that her life was in danger and that she needed to be housed with another inmate “who 16 is alright with plaintiff’s sexual preferences.” (Doc. 45 at 8.) When Bollinger advised Plaintiff 17 that he was not responsible for cell moves, she pleaded with him to move her. (Id.) He stated he 18 would call Defendant Schafer and see if he (Bollinger) could move Plaintiff. (Id.) Schafer advised 19 Bollinger not to move Plaintiff and that Plaintiff was trying to manipulate the system. (Id.) 20 Plaintiff asked Bollinger to review an incident report of April 20, 2016, in which she was caught 21 having sex with her cellmate Alfredo Cuellar, and advised Bollinger she was not seeking a single 22 cell but was offering to move in with another transgendered inmate, James Mitchell. (Id.) When 23 Bollinger advised Schafer of Plaintiff’s statements, Schafer told Plaintiff she was not moving, and 24 that Mitchell was not going to receive a cellmate. (Id.) Later, Plaintiff spoke with Defendants 25 Vandenover and Zaragoza about the situation. (Id.) They advised her they were not responsible 26 for cell moves and that she should speak with her unit team. (Id.) Plaintiff spoke with Schafer 27 again and asked to be moved. (Id.) Schafer refused the request. (Id. at 8-9.) Plaintiff then spoke 1 Plaintiff asserts she then spoke with Defendant Bennett and explained the situation. (Id.) Bennett 2 advised Plaintiff to return “when something happens” and that Plaintiff “should get a knife.” (Id.) 3 On or about March 18, 2020, Plaintiff spoke with Defendant Beaudreau and explained the 4 situation. (Doc. 45 at 9.) Beaudreau advised Plaintiff neither she nor Ladson could be moved 5 pursuant to Schafer’s order. (Id.) Plaintiff informed Beaudreau that Ladson had pulled a knife on 6 her and gave her 22 hours to leave their cell. (Id.) She explained she had followed the chain of 7 command and repeatedly spoke to her unit team about the situation and was not trying to 8 manipulate the system. (Id.) When Beaudreau called Schafer about Plaintiff’s explanation, 9 Schafer refused to move Plaintiff again. (Id. at 9-10.) Plaintiff states she later spoke with 10 Defendant Ciolli, explaining she had followed the chain of command, giving Ciolli “all the 11 information [she] had explained at each level.” (Id. at 10.) While speaking with Ciolli, Schafer 12 “came over & listened.” (Id.) Schafer whispered in Ciolli’s ear following Plaintiff’s explanation 13 and then Ciolli told Plaintiff to come and see him the following day. (Id.) Plaintiff asserts she told 14 Ciolli that she might be dead by then. (Id.) 15 On or about March 19, 2020, Plaintiff went to medical. (Doc. 45 at 10.) When she 16 returned to her cell, Ladson entered and stabbed her in the face and began to beat her with a lock. 17 (Id.) She contends the United States of America, Schafer, Lyons, Vandenover, Zaragoza, Haslett, 18 Beaudreau, Ciolli, Bollinger, Bennett, Scott, and Lemur were negligent for failing to protect her 19 from being assaulted. (Id. at 10-11.) 20 On or about March 21, 2020, Defendants Ceja and Lopez approached Plaintiff’s cell with 21 inmate Jefrontys Clyburn and ordered Plaintiff to submit to restraints. (Doc. 45 at 11.) Clyburn 22 immediately told Ceja and Lopez that he could not live with Plaintiff because he is an active gang 23 member, and his gang brothers would kill him for living with “a faggot.” (Id.) When Plaintiff 24 refused to submit to the restraints, Ceja and Lopez left with Clyburn. (Id.) Shortly thereafter, 25 Defendant Simpson arrived and ordered Plaintiff to submit to restraints “for a cellmate.” (Id.) 26 Plaintiff refused and told Simpson she had just been stabbed and beaten two days before. (Id.) 27 Plaintiff advised him she could not defend herself and if Clyburn were housed with her then she 1 on paper’’ and that was all that mattered. (Id.) Plaintiff continued to refuse and asked to speak 2 with the lieutenant. (Id.) An hour later, Defendant Cervantes2 approached Plaintiff’s cell, 3 screaming “cuff-up.” (Id. at 11-12.) She attempted to speak with Cervantes, but he screamed 4 again. (Id. at 12.) Cervantes told Plaintiff that “there are no women housed at USP Atwater” and 5 repeated that she and Clyburn were compatible on paper. (Id.) Cervantes advised Plaintiff that if 6 she did not submit to restraints, she would be sprayed with mace, placed in restraints, and then 7 housed with Clyburn. (Id.) Plaintiff submitted. (Id.) When Clyburn was placed in the cell, he was 8 uncuffed first. (Id.) He turned and began punching Plaintiff; she fell and he kicked her. (Id.) 9 Cervantes sprayed mace on Clyburn to no effect and Clyburn continued his assault “until he was 10 tired.” (Id.) Clyburn told Cervantes that the next time Cervantes placed him in a cell with 11 someone he did not wish to live with, Clyburn would kill that individual. (Id.) Clyburn then 12 submitted to restraints. (Id.) Plaintiff contends Defendants Ceja, Lopez, Simpson, and Cervantes 13 were negligent and failed to protect her. (Id. at 12-13.) 14 On or about April 21, 2020, while being escorted to the shower, Plaintiff’s cellmate Ira 15 Taylor began conversing with one of “his gang brothers name[d] Tim.” (Doc. 45 at 13.) When 16 Tim learned Taylor was housed with “the gay dude,” he advised Taylor that he needed to move 17 out of the cell he shared with Plaintiff. (Id.) Plaintiff asserts Defendants Barnes and McClure 18 overheard the exchange. (Id.) When Barnes and McClure advised the inmates in the area to 19 submit to restraints, Taylor refused while Plaintiff complied. (Id.) Taylor advised Barnes and 20 McClure that he was “Black Guerrilla family and had been given an order[] to move out of the 21 cell” with Plaintiff. (Id.) Despite a direct order from Barnes and McClure, Taylor refused to be 22 restrained and told them he “was not going to get stabbed to live with a faggot that he (Taylor) 23 was not having sex with.” (Id.) Taylor advised them that if he was returned to the shared cell, he 24 would assault Plaintiff. (Id. at 13-14.) Plaintiff was returned to her cell and Taylor remained in the 25 shower area for about an hour. (Id. at 14.) 26 Defendants Heldman and Dewilde arrived with the “take down team.” (Id.) They spoke 27 2 Cervantes is not named as a defendant in the second amended complaint. Cervantes’s name appears only in the 1 with Taylor. (Id.) Taylor was restrained and returned to the shared cell by Heldman, Dewilde and 2 Officer Gibson.3 (Id.) Plaintiff refused to submit to restraints and told Heldman and Dewilde her 3 life was in danger. (Id.) Dewilde started his camera and Plaintiff explained she was not refusing a 4 cellmate but wished to be safe. (Id.) Heldman gave Plaintiff “several orders to submit to 5 restraints” but Plaintiff refused. (Id.) She begged them not to force Taylor into the cell because 6 her life was in danger. (Id.) Heldman gave Plaintiff one final order, stating she would be sprayed 7 with mace. (Id.) Plaintiff submitted. (Id.) Taylor was placed in the cell, his handcuffs were 8 removed, and he immediately turned and began punching and kicking Plaintiff. (Id.) Helman 9 sprayed Taylor with mace and opened the cell door. (Id. at 14-15.) Several officers physically 10 removed Taylor from Plaintiff. (Id. at 15.) Plaintiff was placed in the shower then “pulled out to 11 see medical staff.” (Id.) Plaintiff asserts Defendant Placencia “did nothing at all because he 12 (Placencia) was about to go home.” (Id.) Plaintiff states Heldman apologized to her in the shower 13 area, telling Plaintiff that he thought she was “playing games.” (Id.) Later that night, Vandenover 14 stated to Plaintiff that she had been assaulted three times in less than a month. (Id.) When Plaintiff 15 agreed, he asked her if the assaults were because she “is gay,” and Plaintiff replied affirmatively. 16 (Id.) When Vandenover asked Plaintiff if she would like to “go to the RHU program,” she stated 17 she would. (Id.) Vandenover advised Plaintiff she would have to “sign on for protective custody” 18 and provided Plaintiff with a form. (Id.) She completed the form and “was then left in SHU for a 19 total of 8 months and shipped to U.S.P. Big Sandy.” (Id.) Before she left USP Atwater, 20 Vandenover advised Plaintiff she did not qualify for the RHU program. (Id.) Plaintiff asked to be 21 returned to general population, but Vandenover denied her request. (Id.) Plaintiff advised 22 Vandenover that she “signed on [to] protective custody because she was tricked to do so by 23 Vandenover himself.” (Id. at 15-16.) Plaintiff states she told Vandenover she had repeatedly 24 spoken with him and Zaragoza before “any of the assaults took place requesting a transgender 25 cellmate,” and both told Plaintiff that she would remain housed alone until another transgender 26 person arrived. (Id. at 16.) 27
3 1 Claim Two 2 On March 19, 2020, Plaintiff was assaulted and taken to medical. (Doc. 45 at 19.) She saw 3 Defendants Palentghi and Young. (Id.) Plaintiff contends when Palentghi saw her the doctor 4 “began cracking jokes.” (Id.) Palentghi stitched Plaintiff’s eye and began swabbing the stab 5 wound on her face with Q-tips and peroxide. (Id.) Each time the Q-tip came away it was a vibrant 6 blue color. (Id.) Plaintiff states Palentghi told her she “must be a Crip because she bleeds blue.” 7 (Id.) Palentghi continued to swab the area and the Q-tips continued to come away blue. (Id.) 8 Finally, Palentghi told Plaintiff that he had “gotten most of it” and sent her to the SHU. (Id. at 19, 9 16.) When Plaintiff removed the bandage and looked in the mirror, she saw “something hard & 10 blue sticking out of her face.” (Id. at 16.) She began poking, prodding, and squeezing and a “blue 11 substance which was colored pencil lead” came out of her face. (Id.) Defendant Simpson 12 responded to Plaintiff’s call for assistance. (Id.) Plaintiff showed Simpson the “lead that was 13 protruding from her face” and he returned shortly with restraints and escorted Plaintiff back to 14 medical. (Id.) Plaintiff was again seen by Palentghi and Young. (Id.) Palentghi swabbed and 15 squeezed the wound and more lead was removed. (Id.) The Q-tip constantly came away blue. (Id.) 16 After about an hour, Palentghi “tired of swabbing” and told her she “should be good because most 17 colored pencils are non-toxic.” (Id. at 16-17.) Plaintiff asserts that by then her left hand, face and 18 left eye were extremely painful. (Id. at 17.) She requested pain medication and told Palentghi that 19 her hand was broken. (Id.) Palentghi ordered an x-ray for her hand and 800 milligram Ibuprofen. 20 (Id.) Plaintiff contends Palentghi “completely ignored [her] eye” and sent her to the SHU. (Id.) 21 On or about March 21, 2020, Plaintiff was assaulted by Clyburn and taken to medical. 22 (Doc. 45 at 17.) She was seen by Nurse Spheres and Palentghi. (Id.) Stitches were “reapplied” to 23 her left eye because the wound was “reaggravated” by the assault. (Id.) Plaintiff states she 24 complained to Spheres that her left eye was “jumping & twitching & was off center.” (Id.) 25 Spheres told Plaintiff she probably had an orbital fracture and that it would be expensive to fix. 26 (Id.) Plaintiff was advised her hand was broken and given an Ace bandage to wrap the hand. (Id.) 27 Plaintiff states her face was examined and she was placed on Tylenol 3 for pain and sent back to 1 On April 21, 2020, Plaintiff was assaulted by Taylor and taken to medical. (Doc. 45 at 2 17.) She was seen by Placencia “who did nothing because he was going to go home.” (Id.) 3 Plaintiff contends she was “denied medical treatments in all 3 incidents for over 4 years.” 4 (Doc. 45 at 17-18.) She asserts her eye is “off center & continues to jump & twitch & cause her to 5 have headaches if she attempts to make eye contact.” (Id. at 18.) She maintains her hand is 6 “deformed & often cramp[s].” (Id.) Plaintiff states Spheres, Palentghi, Young and Placencia were 7 deliberately indifferent to her medical needs. (Id.) 8 C. Plaintiff’s Claims 9 Plaintiff titles her first claim “Negligence, Failure to Protect, Right to Medical, Cruel & 10 Unusual Punishment” (Doc. 45 at 3) and her second claim as “Cruel & Unusual Punishment, 11 Right to Medical Care, Deliberate Indifference” (id. at 19). The Court construes the second 12 amended complaint to assert the following claims: Eighth Amendment failure to protect (Claim 13 One) and Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference to serious medical needs (Claim Two). 14 Eighth Amendment: Failure to Protect 15 Prison officials have a duty “to take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of 16 inmates, which has been interpreted to include a duty to protect prisoners.” Labatad v. 17 Corrections Corp. of America, 714 F.3d 1155, 1160 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Farmer, 511 U.S. at 18 832-33 & Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1040 (9th Cir. 2005)). To establish a violation of 19 this duty, a prisoner must “show that the officials acted with deliberate indifference to threat of 20 serious harm or injury to an inmate.” Labatad, 714 F.3d at 1160 (citing Gibson v. Cnty. of 21 Washoe, 290 F.3d 1175, 1187 (9th Cir. 2002)). 22 A failure to protect claim under the Eighth Amendment requires a showing that “the 23 official [knew] of and disregard[ed] an excessive risk to inmate ... safety.” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 24 837. “Whether a prison official had the requisite knowledge of a substantial risk is a question of 25 fact subject to demonstration in the usual ways, including inference from circumstantial 26 evidence, ... and a factfinder may conclude that a prison official knew of a substantial risk from 27 the very fact that the risk was obvious.” Id. at 842 (citations omitted). The duty to protect a 1 the safety and well-being of the prisoner. Id. at 832-33; Frost v. Agnos, 152 F.3d 1124, 1128 (9th 2 Cir. 1998). As “only the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain implicates the Eighth 3 Amendment,” plaintiff must allege facts showing the defendant acted with a “sufficiently 4 culpable state of mind.” Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 297 (1991) (internal quotations marks, 5 emphasis & citations omitted). 6 To state a claim, the Eighth Amendment requires allegations sufficient to plausibly show 7 that prison officials were deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of harm or safety. Farmer, 8 511 U.S. at 847. The objective component of an Eighth Amendment requires that a prisoner show 9 he was deprived of something “sufficiently serious.” Foster v. Runnels, 554 F.3d 807, 812 (9th 10 Cir. 2009) (quoting Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834). The state of mind requirement under the subjective 11 component of the Eighth Amendment standard has been defined as “deliberate indifference” to an 12 inmate's health or safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. Under the “deliberate indifference” standard, a 13 prison official cannot be found liable for denying an inmate humane conditions of confinement 14 unless the official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety. Id. at 837. 15 Liberally construing the second amended complaint, Plaintiff plausibly alleges Eighth 16 Amendment failure to protect claims against Defendants Barnes, Beaudreau, Bennett, Bollinger, 17 Ceja, Ciolli, Dewilde, Haslett, Heldman, Lemur, Lopez, Lyons, McClure, Schaffer, Scott, 18 Simpson, Vandenover, and Zaragoza. Those individuals had knowledge of a substantial risk of 19 harm or safety to Plaintiff and disregarded the risk presented by individuals housed with Plaintiff 20 on various occasions, resulting in harm to Plaintiff. See, e.g., Williams v. Bryant, No. 2:22-cv- 21 01293-JDP (PC), 2023 WL 3937863, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2023) (finding transgendered 22 plaintiff plausibly alleged failure to protect claims against defendant to whom she expressed 23 safety concerns and offered details concerning who would attack her, but where her concerns 24 were ignored and she was attacked three days later); Garraway v. Ciufo, No. 1:17-cv-00533- 25 ADA-GSA (PC), 2023 WL 1446823, at *2-4 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 1, 2023) (denying defendants’ 26 motion for reconsideration concerning denial of a motion for judgment on the pleadings 27 concerning federal prisoner’s Eighth Amendment failure to protect claim in Bivens context). 1 Because Plaintiff did not name Cervantes as a defendant in this action, she has failed to 2 state a cognizable Eighth Amendment failure to protect claim against Cervantes. Further, Plaintiff 3 fails to allege an Eighth Amendment failure to protect claim against any other defendant. 4 Eighth Amendment: Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs 5 Prison officials violate the Eighth Amendment if they are “deliberate[ly] indifferen[t] to [a 6 prisoner’s] serious medical needs.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). “A medical need 7 is serious if failure to treat it will result in ‘“significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton 8 infliction of pain.”’” Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1081-82 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Jett v. 9 Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 10 (9th Cir. 1992), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th 11 Cir. 1997) (en banc)). 12 To maintain an Eighth Amendment claim based on medical care in prison, a plaintiff must 13 first “show a serious medical need by demonstrating that failure to treat a prisoner’s condition 14 could result in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain. Second, 15 the plaintiff must show the defendants’ response to the need was deliberately indifferent.” 16 Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1122 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096 17 (quotation marks omitted)). 18 As to the first prong, indications of a serious medical need “include the existence of an 19 injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find important and worthy of comment or 20 treatment; the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an individual’s daily 21 activities; or the existence of chronic and substantial pain.” Colwell v. Bannister, 763 F.3d 1060, 22 1066 (9th Cir. 2014) (citation & internal quotation marks omitted); accord Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 23 1122; Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (“Examples of serious medical needs 24 include ‘[t]he existence of an injury that a reasonable doctor or patient would find important and 25 worthy of comment or treatment; the presence of a medical condition that significantly affects an 26 individual’s daily activities; or the existence of chronic and substantial pain”). 27 As to the second prong, deliberate indifference is “a state of mind more blameworthy than 1 safety.’” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835 (quoting Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986)). 2 Deliberate indifference is shown where a prison official “knows that inmates face a substantial 3 risk of serious harm and disregards that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate it.” 4 Id. at 847. In medical cases, this requires showing: (a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a 5 prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and (b) harm caused by the indifference. Wilhelm, 680 6 F.3d at 1122 (quoting Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096). “A prisoner need not show his harm was 7 substantial; however, such would provide additional support for the inmate’s claim that the 8 defendant was deliberately indifferent to his needs.” Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096 (citing McGuckin, 974 9 F.2d at 1060). 10 Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard. Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1060 11 (9th Cir. 2004). “Under this standard, the prison official must not only ‘be aware of the facts from 12 which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists,’ but that person 13 ‘must also draw the inference.’” Id. at 1057 (quoting Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837). “‘If a prison 14 official should have been aware of the risk, but was not, then the official has not violated the 15 Eighth Amendment, no matter how severe the risk.’” Id. (quoting Gibson, 290 F.3d at 1188). 16 To prevail on a deliberate-indifference claim, a plaintiff must also show that harm resulted 17 from a defendant’s wrongful conduct. Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122; see also Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096; 18 Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 746 (9th Cir. 2002) (prisoner alleging deliberate indifference 19 based on delay in treatment must show delay led to further injury). 20 Liberally construing the second amended complaint, Plaintiff plausibly alleges Eighth 21 Amendment deliberate indifference to serious medical needs claims against Defendants Palentghi, 22 Placencia and Spheres. Plaintiff fails to allege a claim against Defendant Young as she merely 23 asserts that she was seen by Young on March 19, 2020. No facts indicate Young took any action 24 or inaction amounting to deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs. 25 The United States of America 26 As noted above, Plaintiff names the United States of America as a defendant in this action. 27 (Doc. 45 at 12.) Plaintiff was previously advised that the “United States cannot be sued as a 1 rights” and that the “United States … is immune from liability.” (See Doc. 19 at 8 [First 2 Screening Order].) The Court will recommend the United States of America be dismissed from 3 this action. 4 Futility of Amendment 5 Plaintiff has been afforded numerous opportunities to correct the deficiencies in her 6 pleadings. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). Accordingly, the Court 7 finds granting Plaintiff further leave to amend would be futile. Hartman v. CDCR, 707 F.3d 1114, 8 1129-30 (9th Cir. 2013). 9 Summary of Screening Analysis 10 In sum, liberally construed, Plaintiff’s second amended complaint asserts the following 11 cognizable claims: (1) Eighth Amendment failure to protect claims against Defendants Barnes, 12 Beaudreau, Bennett, Bollinger, Ceja, Ciolli, Dewilde, Haslett, Heldman, Lemur, Lopez, Lyons, 13 McClure, Schafer, Scott, Simpson, Vandenover, and Zaragoza; and (2) Eighth Amendment 14 deliberate indifference to serious medical needs claims against Defendants Palentghi, Placencia, 15 and Spheres. Plaintiff fails to allege any other cognizable claim against any other named 16 defendant. Therefore, the Court will recommend this action proceed on the claims noted above. 17 Further, it will recommend that Defendant United States of America and Defendant Young be 18 dismissed from this action. 20 For the reasons stated above, the Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to: 21 1. Terminate “Lazarith, Unit Manager,” “Cervantes, Lt.,” and “Carillo, Case Manager” 22 on the docket for this action as these individuals are not named as defendants in 23 Plaintiff’s second amended complaint; 24 2. Add “Lieutenant Dewilde,” “Lieutenant Lemur,” “Doctor Palentghi,” “Nurse 25 Placencia,” and “Nurse Spheres,” as defendants on the docket for this action; and 26 3. Correct “Barnette” to “Bennett,” and “McCullum” to “McClure.” 27 Further, the Court RECOMMENDS that: 1 amended complaint: (1) Eighth Amendment failure to protect claims against 2 Defendants Barnes, Beaudreau, Bennett, Bollinger, Ceja, Ciolli, Dewilde, Haslett, 3 Heldman, Lemur, Lopez, Lyons, McClure, Schafer, Scott, Simpson, Vandenover, and 4 Zaragoza; and (2) Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference to serious medical needs 5 claims against Defendants Palentghi, Placencia, and Spheres; 6 2. Any remaining claims be DISMISSED; 7 3. Defendant United States of America be DISMISSED; and 8 4. Defendant Young be DISMISSED. 9 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the district judge assigned to 10 || this case, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 14 days of the date of service of these 11 | Findings and Recommendations, a party may file written objections with the Court. The 12 | document should be captioned, “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 13 | Recommendations.” Failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of 14 | rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. 15 | Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 16 | IT IS □□ ORDERED. M Dated: _ September 27, 2024 | V Vv D i 18 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 18