1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 10 TOR AHMADD BISHOP, No. 2:20-cv-2032-EFB P 11 Plaintiff, 12 v. ORDER 13 G. DODSON, et al., 14 Defendants. 15 16 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. 17 § 1983, seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 2. 18 Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis 19 Plaintiff’s application makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) and (2). 20 Accordingly, by separate order, the court directs the agency having custody of plaintiff to collect 21 and forward the appropriate monthly payments for the filing fee as set forth in 28 U.S.C. 22 § 1915(b)(1) and (2). 23 Screening Requirements 24 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 25 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 26 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 27 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 28 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). 1 A claim “is [legally] frivolous where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” 2 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 3 Cir. 1984). “[A] judge may dismiss [in forma pauperis] claims which are based on indisputably 4 meritless legal theories or whose factual contentions are clearly baseless.” Jackson v. Arizona, 5 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989) (citation and internal quotations omitted), superseded by statute 6 on other grounds as stated in Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000); Neitzke, 490 7 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, 8 has an arguable legal and factual basis. Id. 9 “Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the 10 claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of 11 what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 12 544, 555 (2007) (alteration in original) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 13 However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more 14 than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual 15 allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. (citations 16 omitted). “[T]he pleading must contain something more . . . than . . . a statement of facts that 17 merely creates a suspicion [of] a legally cognizable right of action.” Id. (alteration in original) 18 (quoting 5 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216 (3d 19 ed. 2004)). 20 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to 21 relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. 22 Corp., 550 U.S. at 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content 23 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 24 misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 556). In reviewing a complaint 25 under this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, 26 Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trs., 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), as well as construe the pleading 27 in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff’s favor, Jenkins v. 28 McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 1 Screening Order 2 Plaintiff’s complaint (ECF No. 1) includes the following allegations: On June 1, 2020, 3 correctional officer Dodson cracked open plaintiff’s cell door. Plaintiff was talking to a porter 4 and went to pick up a can of soda from the ground. Dodson, acting with “a lack of awareness,” 5 slammed the door shut, causing injuries to plaintiff’s hand. ECF No. 1 at 3. The porter to whom 6 plaintiff was speaking had to notify Dodson of his “mistake.” Id. Plaintiff was in extreme pain 7 but did not receive medical attention for ten days, by which time his finger had become infected 8 and required twelve staples. Plaintiff attributes this, in part, to the “negligence” of nurse Saji, but 9 does not specify what Saji did or failed to do in response to plaintiff’s requests for medical 10 attention. Id. at 6. Plaintiff turned to the administrative appeals process for relief, but 11 correctional counselor Jacinto interfered by 1) reading plaintiff’s appeal, and 2) delaying the 12 mailing of plaintiff’s appeal by six days. Id. at 5. Plaintiff asserts Eighth Amendment claims of 13 deliberate indifference and First and Fourteenth Amendment claims of being denied his right to 14 petition the government and for having his mail read. As discussed below, the allegations are not 15 sufficient to survive screening. 16 With respect to Dodson, plaintiff has failed to sufficiently allege that he acted with the 17 deliberate indifference required for an Eighth Amendment claim. For such a claim to proceed, 18 Dodson must have been aware that closing plaintiff’s cell door exposed plaintiff to a substantial 19 risk of serious harm. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). Instead, plaintiff has 20 alleged that Dodson made a “mistake” and was simply not aware. These allegations suggest that 21 Dodson did not act with a culpable state of mind, and thus, do not rise to the level of a 22 constitutional violation. 23 With respect to Saji, plaintiff has failed to state a claim of deliberate indifference to 24 medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. “Prison officials are indifferent to 25 prisoners’ serious medical needs when they deny, delay, or intentionally interfere with medical 26 treatment.” Hamilton v. Endell, 981 F.2d 1062, 1066 (9th Cir. 1992). Plaintiff falls short of 27 stating such a claim because 1) he has failed to allege what Saji did or did not do to violate his 28 rights, and 2) he labels the claim as one of “medical negligence.” ECF No. 1 at 6. The required 1 indifference for an Eighth Amendment claim must be substantial; mere malpractice, or even gross 2 negligence, does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Estelle v.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 10 TOR AHMADD BISHOP, No. 2:20-cv-2032-EFB P 11 Plaintiff, 12 v. ORDER 13 G. DODSON, et al., 14 Defendants. 15 16 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. 17 § 1983, seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 2. 18 Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis 19 Plaintiff’s application makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) and (2). 20 Accordingly, by separate order, the court directs the agency having custody of plaintiff to collect 21 and forward the appropriate monthly payments for the filing fee as set forth in 28 U.S.C. 22 § 1915(b)(1) and (2). 23 Screening Requirements 24 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 25 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 26 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 27 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 28 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). 1 A claim “is [legally] frivolous where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” 2 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 3 Cir. 1984). “[A] judge may dismiss [in forma pauperis] claims which are based on indisputably 4 meritless legal theories or whose factual contentions are clearly baseless.” Jackson v. Arizona, 5 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989) (citation and internal quotations omitted), superseded by statute 6 on other grounds as stated in Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000); Neitzke, 490 7 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, 8 has an arguable legal and factual basis. Id. 9 “Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only ‘a short and plain statement of the 10 claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of 11 what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 12 544, 555 (2007) (alteration in original) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 13 However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more 14 than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual 15 allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. (citations 16 omitted). “[T]he pleading must contain something more . . . than . . . a statement of facts that 17 merely creates a suspicion [of] a legally cognizable right of action.” Id. (alteration in original) 18 (quoting 5 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216 (3d 19 ed. 2004)). 20 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to 21 relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. 22 Corp., 550 U.S. at 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content 23 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 24 misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 556). In reviewing a complaint 25 under this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, 26 Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trs., 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), as well as construe the pleading 27 in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff’s favor, Jenkins v. 28 McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 1 Screening Order 2 Plaintiff’s complaint (ECF No. 1) includes the following allegations: On June 1, 2020, 3 correctional officer Dodson cracked open plaintiff’s cell door. Plaintiff was talking to a porter 4 and went to pick up a can of soda from the ground. Dodson, acting with “a lack of awareness,” 5 slammed the door shut, causing injuries to plaintiff’s hand. ECF No. 1 at 3. The porter to whom 6 plaintiff was speaking had to notify Dodson of his “mistake.” Id. Plaintiff was in extreme pain 7 but did not receive medical attention for ten days, by which time his finger had become infected 8 and required twelve staples. Plaintiff attributes this, in part, to the “negligence” of nurse Saji, but 9 does not specify what Saji did or failed to do in response to plaintiff’s requests for medical 10 attention. Id. at 6. Plaintiff turned to the administrative appeals process for relief, but 11 correctional counselor Jacinto interfered by 1) reading plaintiff’s appeal, and 2) delaying the 12 mailing of plaintiff’s appeal by six days. Id. at 5. Plaintiff asserts Eighth Amendment claims of 13 deliberate indifference and First and Fourteenth Amendment claims of being denied his right to 14 petition the government and for having his mail read. As discussed below, the allegations are not 15 sufficient to survive screening. 16 With respect to Dodson, plaintiff has failed to sufficiently allege that he acted with the 17 deliberate indifference required for an Eighth Amendment claim. For such a claim to proceed, 18 Dodson must have been aware that closing plaintiff’s cell door exposed plaintiff to a substantial 19 risk of serious harm. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). Instead, plaintiff has 20 alleged that Dodson made a “mistake” and was simply not aware. These allegations suggest that 21 Dodson did not act with a culpable state of mind, and thus, do not rise to the level of a 22 constitutional violation. 23 With respect to Saji, plaintiff has failed to state a claim of deliberate indifference to 24 medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. “Prison officials are indifferent to 25 prisoners’ serious medical needs when they deny, delay, or intentionally interfere with medical 26 treatment.” Hamilton v. Endell, 981 F.2d 1062, 1066 (9th Cir. 1992). Plaintiff falls short of 27 stating such a claim because 1) he has failed to allege what Saji did or did not do to violate his 28 rights, and 2) he labels the claim as one of “medical negligence.” ECF No. 1 at 6. The required 1 indifference for an Eighth Amendment claim must be substantial; mere malpractice, or even gross 2 negligence, does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 3 106 (1976). 4 With respect to Jacinto, plaintiff has not stated a claim based on the isolated incident of 5 reading and delaying the mailing of plaintiff’s administrative appeal. See Davis v. Goord, 320 6 F.3d 346, 351 (2d. Cir. 2003) (holding that “an isolated incident of mail tampering is usually 7 insufficient to establish a constitutional violation.”); Smith v. Maschner, 899 F.2d 940, 944 (10th 8 Cir. 1990) (holding that an isolated incident of mail interference, absent any evidence of improper 9 motive, does not give rise to a constitutional violation); Watkins v. Curry, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10 123356, 2011 WL 5079532, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 25, 2011) (citing Lingo v. Boone, 402 F. Supp. 11 768, 773 (C.D. Cal. 1975) (“Absent evidence of a broader plan or course of conduct to censor 12 plaintiff’s mail unconstitutionally, an honest error by prison officials does not justify relief under 13 § 1983.”)). Further, there are no constitutional requirements regarding how a grievance system is 14 operated, even if plaintiff claims that Jacinto interfered with the proper processing of his appeal. 15 See Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003); Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 16 (8th Cir. 1993). 17 Leave to Amend 18 Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed with leave to amend. If plaintiff chooses to file an 19 amended complaint it should observe the following: 20 Any amended complaint must identify as a defendant only persons who personally 21 participated in a substantial way in depriving him of a federal constitutional right. Johnson v. 22 Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (a person subjects another to the deprivation of a 23 constitutional right if he does an act, participates in another’s act or omits to perform an act he is 24 legally required to do that causes the alleged deprivation). The complaint should also describe, 25 in sufficient detail, how each defendant personally violated or participated in the violation of his 26 rights. The court will not infer the existence of allegations that have not been explicitly set forth 27 in the amended complaint. 28 ///// 1 The amended complaint must contain a caption including the names of all defendants. 2 || Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). 3 Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by alleging new, unrelated claims. See 4 || George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). 5 Any amended complaint must be written or typed so that it so that it is complete in itself 6 || without reference to any earlier filed complaint. E.D. Cal. L.R. 220. This is because an amended 7 || complaint supersedes any earlier filed complaint, and once an amended complaint is filed, the 8 || earlier filed complaint no longer serves any function in the case. See Forsyth v. Humana, 114 9 | F.3d 1467, 1474 (9th Cir. 1997) (the “‘amended complaint supersedes the original, the latter 10 | being treated thereafter as non-existent.’”) (quoting Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 11 | 1967)). 12 Finally, the court notes that any amended complaint should be as concise as possible in 13 | fulfilling the above requirements. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Plaintiff should avoid the inclusion of 14 | procedural or factual background which has no bearing on his legal claims. 15 Conclusion 16 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 17 1. Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is GRANTED; 18 2. Plaintiff shall pay the statutory filing fee of $350. All payments shall be collected 19 in accordance with the notice to the California Department of Corrections and 20 Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith; 21 3. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed with leave to amend within 30 days from the 22 date of service of this order; and 23 4. Failure to comply with this order may result in dismissal of this action for the 24 reasons stated herein. 25 || DATED: October 23, 2020. oat Sie Ln A? _ 26 EDMUND F. BRENNAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 27 28