(PC) Arrellano-Lopez v. Gonzales

District Court, E.D. California·Decided August 6, 2024·No. 1:23-cv-00093·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JORGE N. ARRELLANO-LOPEZ, Case No. 1:23-cv-00093-EPG (PC) Plaintiff, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO (1) ASSIGN A DISTRICT JUDGE AND v. (2) ADD DEFENDANTS ON THE DOCKET J. GONZALES, et al., FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THIS CASE PROCEED ON Defendants. PLAINTIFF’S FAILURE-TO-PROTECT CLAIM AGAINST OFFICER J. GONZALES AND PLAINTIFF’S RETALIATION CLAIM AGAINST OFFICER J. HARDIN

OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS Plaintiff Jorge N. Arrellano-Lopez is a prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 Plaintiff’s complaint, as amended, alleges that he was attacked by an inmate in retaliation for filing grievances against a correctional officer, that prison officials failed to protect him from this attack, and that he was subjected to due process violations relating to falsified prison documents. After screening Plaintiff’s initial complaint, the Court determined that only the following claims should proceed: Plaintiff’s claim for failure to protect in violation of the Eighth Amendment against Officer J. Gonzales and Plaintiff’s claim for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment against Officer J. Hardin. (ECF No. 10). The screening order gave

1 Plaintiff has paid the filing fee and is thus not proceeding in forma pauperis. Plaintiff the options of proceeding on these claims, filing an amended complaint, or standing on his complaint and having it review by a district judge. Plaintiff chose to amend his complaint, which is now before the Court for screening. After reviewing the amended complaint, the Court concludes that only the following claims should proceed: Plaintiff’s claim for failure to protect in violation of the Eighth Amendment against Officer J. Gonzales and Plaintiff’s claim for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment against Officer J. Hardin. Thus, the Court will recommend that these claims proceed and that all other claims and Defendants be dismissed. Plaintiff has thirty days from the date of service of these findings and recommendations to file any objections. The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint, or a portion of it, if the prisoner has raised claims that are frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). A complaint is required to contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). A plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). The mere possibility of misconduct falls short of meeting this plausibility standard. Id. at 679. While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Additionally, a plaintiff’s legal conclusions are not accepted as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Pleadings of pro se plaintiffs “must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (holding that pro se complaints should continue to be liberally construed after Iqbal). Plaintiff sues nine prison officials who worked at Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) during the events of the complaint: (1) Correctional Officer (CO) J. Gonzales;2 (2) CO M. Childers; (3) CO C. Vang; (4) Sergeant P. Chavez; (5) Lieutenant P. Chavez;3 (6) Captain R. Kuhn; (7) Warden Ron Godwin; (8) Sergeant F. Nevarez; and (9) CO J. Hardin.4 Because Plaintiff has added Defendants in the amended complaint, the Court will direct the Clerk of Court to add Defendants (1) CO C. Vang; (2) Sgt. P. Chavez; (3) Lt. P. Chavez; (4) Captain R. Kuhn; (5) Warden Ron Godwin; and (6) Sgt. F. Nevarez to the list of defendants on the docket. All of the allegations in the complaint revolve around an incident where Plaintiff was attacked by a fellow inmate.5 Plaintiff filed a prison grievance on May 13, 2021 alleging that he was being continually harassed by Defendant Hardin and that he feared staff retaliation. And he continued to complain thereafter. Defendant Hardin, told Plaintiff that, “He would get his.” On May 20, 2021, at approximately 1600 hours, yard and dayroom program ended. An inmate named Labelle came to Plaintiff’s cell at approximately 1620 hours stating, “I heard you filing paperwork on COs; when your door opens you getting it.” Defendant Gonzales had observed Inmate Labelle in the dayroom earlier and opened Plaintiff’s cell door so that Inmate Labelle could attack Plaintiff as Gonzales knew that Inmate Labelle was not assigned to Plaintiff’s cell and dayroom program had ended. Once Plaintiff’s cell door opened, Inmate Labelle punched Plaintiff in the face, leading Plaintiff to fall backwards hitting the floor. Plaintiff screamed for Inmate Labelle to stop attacking him and for

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