1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 GINA CARUSO, CASE NO. 1:15-CV-780 AWI EPG (PC)
10 Plaintiff ORDER ON SUPPLEMENTAL 11 v. MOTIONS IN LIMINE
12 OFFICER G. SOLORIO, OFFICER C. LOPEZ, SGT. G. INGRAM, and (Doc. Nos. 327, 329, 330, 331, 332) 13 OFFICER D. MARTINEZ,
14 Defendants
15 16 17 This case arises out of an encounter between incarcerated Plaintiff Gina Caruso (“Caruso”) 18 and Defendant prison guards G. Solorio (“Solorio”), C. Lopez (“Lopez”), D. Martinez 19 (“Martinez”), and Sgt. G. Ingram (“Ingram”) (collectively “Defendants”).1 The operative 20 complaint is the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”). The SAC contains two viable claims 21 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, an Eighth Amendment claim for excessive force and a Fourth 22 Amendment claim for an unreasonable search. Currently before the Court are Caruso’s four 23 supplemental motions in limine and Defendants’ two supplemental motions in limine. Hearing on 24 the motions was held on January 4, 2022, and the Court took all supplemental motions under 25 submission following the hearing. This order now resolves the parties’ respective supplemental 26 motions. 27 1 The parties are familiar with the facts of this case. A thorough description of the facts can be found in the Court’s 28 order on Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. See Caruso v. Solorio, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51994 (E.D. Cal. 1 I. PLAINTIFF’S SUPPLEMENTAL MOTIONS 1. Supplemental Motion in Limine No.1/Motion in Limine No. 7 -- Exclude Evidence 2 of Plaintiff’s Disciplinary Violation for Drug Distribution Arising from the July 3 2013 Incident (Doc. No. 329) Plaintiff’s Argument 4 Caruso argues that her drug distribution disciplinary violation should be excluded under 5 Federal Rules of Evidence 402, 403, and 404. The disciplinary violation is irrelevant because it 6 does not offer any probative value on either of the two existing claims. Any intention that she 7 may have had with respect to the drug bindles has no relevance to the claims that the jury will 8 decide. While the Court has ruled that Defendants can testify about what they knew about Caruso 9 prior to the July 2013 incident, there is no indication that Defendants’ actions were impacted by 10 whether Caruso intended to use the drugs for personal use or for distribution. Moreover, the drug 11 distribution disciplinary violation does not bear on a permitted Rule 404 purpose. Instead, the 12 evidence is being offered only to show that Caruso is a bad person. Evidence of the disciplinary 13 violation is highly prejudicial and that prejudice substantially outweighs any relevance as it would 14 likely bias the jury against her. Moreover, the jury will already be informed that as a result of the 15 July 2013 incident, Caruso pled guilty in state court to possession of narcotics in violation of Cal. 16 Health & Safety Code § 11377(a), and the jury will already know that she has been in jail for the 17 last 7 years, meaning they will know she is a felon. Any additional evidence would be needlessly 18 cumulative. 19 Defendants’ Opposition 20 Defendants argue that Caruso pled guilty to both a rules violation in prison and to a 21 criminal charge in superior court. The guilty plea to the rules violation is relevant to Caruso’s 22 credibility and motive, which is distinguishable from the Court’s earlier exclusion of Caruso’s old 23 felony and misdemeanor convictions. The bindles recovered from Caruso had notes to various 24 inmates and were packaged for distribution. Caruso had more of an incentive to try to prevent 25 these bindles from being discovered, not just because she had drug debts to repay, but also 26 because a rules violation for distribution caries a heavier punishment (loss of 151-190 days of 27 credit forfeiture, compared to 91 to 120 days forfeiture for mere possession). Caruso was non- 28 1 compliant with the search because of her intent to distribute narcotics, which caused Defendants to 2 change their response. Her disobedience to orders created an emergent condition which did not 3 give the Defendants time to confirm the cuff-in-front chrono and ultimately to perform a pat-down 4 search. Defendants argue that they are not using a prior incident to prove Caruso acted in 5 accordance with her past behavior. Here guilty plea for distribution goes directly to motive, 6 opportunity, intent, preparation, and plan for that day. Further, Caruso herself identified the rules 7 violation in her exhibit list, which shows that she intends to present the evidence at trial. 8 Discussion 9 The parties have already agreed via stipulation and have language regarding the 10 admissibility of Caruso’s state law criminal conviction for possession of narcotics. The dispute 11 between the parties has to do with the admissibility of evidence surrounding a prison rules 12 violation/disciplinary write-up for drug distribution. The rules violation does not appear to have 13 relevance to Caruso’s two causes of action. Caruso has never denied that she had several drug 14 bindles (bound in one bundle), the jury will hear she pled guilty to possession in state court, and 15 the jury will hear that drug bindles were found during the strip search. To hear that she was 16 disciplined for drug distribution does add an additional danger of prejudice/bias against Caruso 17 because drug dealing has a greater societal stigma than drug possession. 18 Defendants wish to admit the rules violation in order to explain Caruso’s actions and 19 classify them as resistive. That Court agrees that Caruso may have had a motive to resist 20 discovery of the drug bindles if she knew that she would lose significant amounts of good time 21 credit. However, Defendants do not cite any evidence that Caruso knew either that she would lose 22 good time credit or the amount of good time credit that could be lost. Moreover, Caruso was 23 already in custody by the Defendants and they were going to search her. Discovery of the drug 24 bindles was inevitable and likely to occur quickly because Lopez saw Caruso put the drug bindles 25 in Caruso’s underwear/buttocks and the drug bindles were between Caruso’s buttocks, not in her 26 anal cavity. Given the situation that was actually occurring, which meant inevitable discovery, as 27 well as the absence of any evidence that Caruso knew she could lose around six months of credit 28 for distribution of drugs, the Court finds that the limited probative value that the rules violation 1 may have is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice that naturally flows from 2 the jury being informed that Caruso received and pled guilty to a drug distribution rules violation. 3 Ruling 4 Caruso’s first supplemental motion in limine is granted pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 403, and 5 evidence concerning the July 2013 rules violation for drug distribution is excluded. 6 2. Supplemental Motion in Limine No. 2/Motion in Limine No. 8 – Exclude 7 Disciplinary History or Questioning About Drug Activity By Prisoner Witnesses 8 (Doc. No. 330) Plaintiff’s Argument 9 Caruso argues that evidence of prior drug activity by her prisoner witnesses should be 10 excluded for the same reasons that the Court excluded evidence of prior drug trafficking activities 11 by her. Such evidence has very little, if any, probative value on the two claims left in this case. 12 What little probative value that may exist is outweighed by the highly prejudicial impact it will 13 have on the jury. To the extent that Defendants seek to cross-examine the prisoner witnesses 14 about bias or undue influence, they can simply ask whether the witnesses were promised anything 15 in exchange for their testimony. Moreover, should Defendants question any prisoner witnesses 16 about their prior drug activity, those witnesses will be required to invoke the Fifth Amendment 17 privilege against self-incrimination because the questions may call for the possible admission of 18 drug use or activity that could serve as the basis for possible criminal prosecution. This could 19 have devastating consequences, particularly to those who are programming or who have up- 20 coming hearings. The mere assertion of the Fifth Amendment privilege could cause the jury to 21 have an adverse view of the witnesses. 22 Defendants’ Opposition 23 Defendants argue that this motion in limine is covered by Plaintiff’s prior motion in limine 24 No. 3. The Court ruled that without specific instances of discipline, no ruling can be made as to 25 inmate witnesses. The Court thus deferred ruling. Once again, Caruso provides no specific 26 instances of disciplinary history and only broadly argues that drug-related evidence would be 27 unduly prejudicial under Rule 403. Defendants argue that they should not be prevented from 28 1 providing evidence to help the jury make necessary credibility determinations to the extent 2 permissible under Federal Rules of Evidence 404, 607, 608, and/or 609. Defendants must be 3 given the opportunity to explore the issue of bias beyond merely asking if the witnesses were 4 promised anything for their testimony. 5 Discussion 6 Caruso’s prior motion in limine No. 3 sought to exclude the criminal and disciplinary 7 histories of herself and her inmate witnesses. As to the inmate witnesses, because Caruso 8 identified no specific instances of disciplinary or criminal history, the Court held that no rulings 9 could be made and thus, deferred the issue. That continues to be the case with respect to 10 disciplinary violations and criminal histories. There may be sufficient relevance and an 11 appropriate evidentiary rule that would make prior disciplinary violations (for example if a witness 12 was written up by one of the Defendants) or criminal convictions (for example, a non-stale felony) 13 admissible. Until a particular inmate’s criminal conviction and disciplinary history is disclosed, 14 the Court will continue to defer ruling on this matter.2 15 With respect to concerns about Defendants questioning the inmate witnesses about the 16 witness’s own drug activity in prison, such blanket questions are not probative of the claims being 17 made by Caruso, and past drug activity in general is not necessarily inherently probative of either 18 credibility or bias. Further, a general question about drug activity could capture instances in 19 which the witness was not prosecuted or did not admit the underlying conduct, thereby raising 20 potential Fifth Amendment concerns.3 Finally, there is a clear Fed. R. of Evid. 403 concern in 21 terms of undue prejudice and bias against the witnesses and Caruso from the inmate witnesses 22 discussing their drug activity. Therefore, general questions about drug activity by the inmate 23 witnesses, as opposed to asking about convictions or disciplinary violations, will be excluded. 24 Ruling 25 Rulings on an inmate witness’s criminal convictions and prison rules violations are 26 2 The Court notes that at the January 4, 2022 hearing, Plaintiff’s counsel agreed that deferral was appropriate. 27 3 To the extent that a conviction or disciplinary violation is final, but the witness never admitted to the underlying 28 conduct, and to the extent such a violation or conviction is otherwise admissible, questions can be limited to asking 1 reserved until trial and the particular conviction or violation is disclosed to the Court. This 2 supplemental motion is granted with respect to questions about general drug trafficking or drug 3 possession activity by inmate witnesses, and such questions are excluded. 4 3. Supplemental Motion in Limine No. 3/Motion in Limine No. 9 – Exclude Evidence 5 of Plaintiff’s Reputation (Doc. No. 331) 6 Plaintiff’s Argument 7 Caruso argues that she expects Defendants to admit evidence about her reputation for drug 8 trafficking. For example, Defendant Lopez testified that Plaintiff was known among prisoners as 9 the “Godmother” because of her reputation for selling drugs. Ingram also testified that he heard 10 that Caruso was involved in drug trafficking. This reputational evidence should be excluded for 11 the same reasons that the Court excluded evidence of prior drug trafficking activities. Such 12 evidence has very little probative value to the two remaining claims. Lopez and Ingram’s 13 knowledge of Caruso’s reputation is based on her prior drug trafficking activities, and her prior 14 drug trafficking activities were excluded as part of the Court ruling on Plaintiff’s motion in limine 15 No. 6. Moreover, reputational evidence regarding Caruso’s drug trafficking activity is 16 inadmissible hearsay. Reputational evidence of Caruso as a drug trafficker is not appropriate 17 character evidence because it relates to her skills as a drug trafficker, not a human quality or trait. 18 Defendants’ Opposition 19 Defendants argue that this motion is repetitive of Plaintiff’s motion in limine No. 6. Any 20 knowledge of Caruso’s drug trafficking prior to the July 2013 incident serves as the basis for 21 Defendants’ actions that day. Lopez testified that Caruso was under investigation and suspected 22 of possessing narcotics, that a tip was received that Caruso had contraband, and that Caruso was 23 on a list of inmates being monitored for suspected drug activity. Defendants state that they will 24 limit their testimony in accordance with the Court order on Plaintiff’s motion in limine No. 6. 25 This necessarily includes Caruso’s reputation for drug trafficking prior to July 2013. Other 26 witnesses will not be asked about her reputation as a drug dealer unless Caruso opens the door. 27 This evidence will not be presented as character or hearsay evidence, but only presented to show 28 what Defendants’ knew, why they searched Caruso’s cell, and why they acted on the tip. 1 Discussion 2 In Caruso’s motion in limine No. 6, the Court excluded evidence regarding Caruso’s prior 3 prison drug trafficking activity, but did permit Defendants to testify about any information 4 concerning Caruso in their possession prior to the July 22, 2013 search. That ruling is not being 5 challenged. What Caruso has specifically identified as a concern is testimony by Ingram and 6 Lopez. The Court views Ingram and Lopez’s testimony as falling within the parameters set by its 7 ruling on motion in limine No. 6. Testimony about what Lopez and Ingram knew about Caruso, 8 including reputational information, would affect how the officers treated Caruso and viewed 9 Caruso’s actions, and why the officers acted on the tip and searched the cell. That is, it is 10 information in the defendants’ possession that explains their actions. Lopez and Ingram’s 11 reputational knowledge of Caruso would not be offered for the truth of the matter asserted and 12 could be the subject of an appropriate limiting instruction.4 However, the nature of the 13 reputational testimony does not need to be extensive or detailed. In particular, there is no need for 14 Lopez to testify that she understood Caruso to be known as “the Godmother.” It is one thing for 15 two Defendants to testify that they believed that Caruso had a reputation for drug dealing; it is 16 another to call her “the Godmother.” Such explicit testimony crosses the line set by Fed. R. of 17 Evid. 403 and would be unduly prejudicial. 18 With respect to questions of witnesses other than the Defendants about Caruso’s reputation 19 for drug dealing, there are obvious Rule 403 concerns of undue bias and prejudice. Moreover, 20 Defendants have stated that the do not intend to ask such questions (so long as Caruso does not 21 open the door). Given Defendants’ representations and the Rule 403 concerns, questions to non- 22 Defendant witnesses regarding Caruso’s reputation for drug dealing will be excluded. 23 Ruling 24 This supplemental motion is denied with respect to testimony by Lopez and Ingram that, 25 generally, they were aware that Caruso had a reputation for drug dealing in prison. However, this 26 4 The following limiting instruction may be appropriate: “You are to consider the testimony about Caruso’s reputation 27 only for the limited purposes of explaining what information the officers had about Caruso and how that information may have affected the officers’ conduct that day.” The parties are free to stipulate to a different limiting instruction or 28 propose their own separate instruction. However, the parties must first meet and confer in order to attempt to submit a 1 supplemental motion is granted in that details regarding Caruso’s reputation is unnecessary and 2 excluded, including but not limited to testimony that Caruso was known as “the Godmother.” 3 This supplemental motion is also granted with respect to questions of non-Defendant witnesses 4 regarding Caruso’s reputation for drug dealing. 5 4. Supplemental Motion in Limine No. 4/Motion in Limine No. 10 – Exclude 6 Evidence of Prior Rulings Regarding the Cell Phone Search (Doc. No. 332) 7 Plaintiff’s Argument 8 Caruso argues that, similar to prior rulings, the Court should preclude the parties from 9 making arguments about the dismissed Fourth Amendment cell phone search claim and any 10 evidence that is relevant only to that dismissed claim. Caruso argues that certain details about the 11 search are relevant to the remaining Fourth Amendment search claim. The timing of when the cell 12 phone was retrieved is disputed and relevant to the parties’ credibility. Solorio claims that she 13 removed the phone after the drugs were removed from Caruso’s possession, but in actuality, 14 Lopez removed the phone before Caruso’s clothing was removed and the drug bindle detected. 15 Defendants’ Opposition 16 Defendants argue that the Court has already addressed this issue in Defendants’ motion in 17 limine No. 2. Defendants agree that any evidence about a claim being brought and dismissed, as 18 well as evidence that is related only to that dismissed claim, should be excluded. Defendants 19 argue that, contrary to Caruso’s motion, Caruso does not explain how evidence about the search 20 that yielded the cell phone is relevant to her existing Fourth Amendment claim. Both officers 21 contend that Solorio retrieved the cell phone after the drug bindle was recovered. Evidence 22 regarding the cell phone search would only confuse the jury. Defendants contend that any 23 evidence regarding the cell phone search should be excluded. However, if Caruso insists on 24 presenting such evidence to the jury, Defendants must be permitted to clarify that the cell phone 25 search has already been found to be reasonable and that they should not weigh any evidence 26 surrounding the cell phone search; this can be accomplished through an instruction by the Court. 27 Discussion 28 The parties agree as to the substantive aspect of the motion. The jury should not be 1 informed about any claim that was dismissed or for which summary judgment was granted, and 2 any evidence whose only relevance relates to a “resolved claim” should be excluded. The 3 proponent of any evidence that relates to a “resolved claim” must be prepared in the face of an 4 objection to explain what relevance the evidence has to claims or issues that have not been 5 resolved. This is essentially the ruling with respect to Defendants’ motion in limine No. 2, and the 6 Court detects no reason why that ruling should not apply. 7 In terms of the evidence surrounding the “cell phone search,” i.e. the bodily search of 8 Caruso that yielded the cell phone, Defendants contend that all evidence of the cell phone search 9 excluded. However, at this point, it appears to the Court that evidence relating to the cell phone 10 search is relevant to setting a timeframe, explaining what happened in the cell leading up to the 11 strip search at issue,5 and describing any additional movement of the handcuffs/Caruso’s cuffed 12 arms during that cell phone search that caused her pain. It does not appear to the Court that great 13 detail would need to be provided regarding the cell phone search itself, although detail would be 14 appropriate to describe pain caused by moving the handcuffs/Caruso’s cuffed arms. To address 15 potential jury confusion regarding the cell phone search and Caruso’s active Fourth Amendment 16 claim, a limiting instruction can be given.6 17 Other relevance is not apparent. With respect to Caruso’s argument that evidence is 18 relevant to assessing credibility, the Court does not detect sufficient probative value. The parties 19 are asserting two diametrically opposed versions of events. Defendants’ version of the drug bindle 20 search is consistent with their version of the cell phone search in that, if a mere pat-down and non- 21 strip search retrieval of the drug bindle occurred, then retrieval of the phone after the drug bindle 22 was discovered is plausible because the drug bindle was secreted in Caruso’s buttocks and the cell 23
24 5 This statement accepts Caruso’s version of events, which has the cell phone search occurring before the drug bindle search. Defendants version of events has the cell phone search occurring after the drug bindle search. 25 6 The following limiting instruction may be appropriate: “You are about to hear testimony concerning one search of 26 Plaintiff Gina Caruso. This particular search does not form the basis of Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment unreasonable search claim. You are not to consider evidence concerning this particular search in determining whether Plaintiff’s 27 Fourth Amendment rights were violated.” The parties are free to stipulate to a different limiting instruction or propose their own separate limiting instruction. However, before submitting a separate limiting instruction, the parties must 28 first meet and confer in order to attempt to submit a stipulated instruction. 1 phone was secreted in the front of Caruso’s underwear near (but not in) her vagina. Conversely, 2 Caruso’s version of the drug bindle search is consistent with her version of the cell phone search. 3 Because the cell phone was secreted in Caruso’s underwear near her vaginal area, the cell phone 4 search would have had to occurred before the drug bindle search, otherwise the cell phone would 5 have fallen out on its own when Solorio pulled Caruso’s pants down. Ultimately, the jury will 6 have to determine which version of the drug bindle search occurred, and there is nothing about one 7 parties’ version of the cell phone search that clearly undermines the other parties’ version of 8 events. 9 Ruling 10 This supplemental motion is granted in that the parties are not to inform the jury of any 11 claims that were brought but resolved before trial, evidence that has relevance only to a dismissed 12 claim is excluded, and the proponent of any evidence that appears to relate to a resolved claim 13 must be prepared to explain relevance apart from the dismissed claim in the face of an objection. 14 With respect to Caruso’s request to admit evidence relating to the cell phone search, limited 15 evidence may be presented that establishes a timeframe, describes Defendants’ actions in the cell, 16 and describes any pain or harm experienced during the search while Caruso was handcuffed.7 17 18 II. DEFENDANTS’ SUPPLEMENTAL MIL’s (Doc. No. 327) 1. Supplemental Motion No. 1 -- Preclude Evidence or Argument about the 19 Reasonableness of the Search at Issue, Because Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment 20 Claim is Limited to Alleged Cross-Gender Viewing Defendants’ Arguments 21 Defendants argue that Caruso herself has acknowledged that her claim is limited to the 22 cross-gender viewing nature of the search. In her deposition, she stated that she was challenging a 23 cross-gender strip search. However, Caruso’s trial brief and opposition trial brief make it clear 24 that Caruso intends to introduce evidence and argue generally about the reasonableness of the 25 search at issue. Consistent with Ninth Circuit precedent, Caruso should be limited to arguing 26 whether she was strip searched, whether intimate areas of her body were exposed to men, whether 27 28 1 the exposure was not inadvertent, occasional, casual, and/or restricted; and that emergency 2 circumstances did not justify the cross-gender strip-search. In the screening process, the 3 Magistrate Judge explained that it was the allegation that Defendants intentionally left Caruso’s 4 shorts down after the search was over that stated a claim. Also, in denying summary judgment, 5 the Court found that under Caruso’s version of events Defendants had conducted an intrusive 6 cross-gender strip search in the absence of an emergency. Caruso should not be permitted to argue 7 that there was no legitimate penological purpose for the search, nor should she be permitted to 8 confuse the issues with general challenges to the reasonableness of the search. Such arguments do 9 not go the reasonableness of Caruso’s remaining Fourth Amendment claim. 10 Plaintiff’s Opposition 11 Caruso argues that she has repeatedly alleged in this case, through the SAC and 12 disclosures, that she was subjected an illegal strip and cavity search that violated the Fourth 13 Amendment. Neither the Court nor the Magistrate Judge has ever ruled on the merits of the 14 Fourth Amendment illegal cavity search claim, nor did the Court’s summary judgment order limit 15 the nature of the Fourth Amendment claim. Further, the dismissal of the Eighth Amendment 16 sexual assault claim did not address or limit evidence of the cavity search from being presented on 17 the Fourth Amendment claim. The Fourth Amendment does apply to the reasonableness of 18 searches in prison. For purposes of a body cavity search, the presence of medical personnel or 19 medical training is relevant to analyzing whether the search was conduct in a reasonable manner. 20 Evidence of the cavity search is relevant to show the search went far beyond a pat-down search. It 21 is also relevant to analyzing the Bell v. Wolfish factors. Finally, evidence regarding the cavity 22 search is crucial to explaining Caruso’s emotional injuries arising from the search and why it was 23 so emotionally traumatizing for her. 24 Discussion 25 From the briefing and the arguments of the parties at the hearing, it is apparent to the Court 26 that there is a dispute about what Fourth Amendment unreasonable search claims are actually at 27 issue in this case. Caruso appears to contend that she has two Fourth Amendment claims, one 28 based on a strip search and one based on a cavity search. Defendants contend that Caruso has one 1 Fourth Amendment unreasonable search claim based on a cross-gender strip search, for which 2 evidence of “reasonableness” is improper. The Court is not satisfied with either party’s position. 3 In the SAC, Caruso identifies “Claim 2” as “4th Amendment reasonable standard, abusive 4 cross gender strip search cavity search, conducted in . . . cell, illegal search & seizure, violation of 5 PRIA, unconstitutional search cross-gender.” SAC at Claim 2 (p.4). The “supporting facts” 6 section of Claim 2 explains that Martinez held Caruso’s right arm, Lopez held Caruso’s left arm, 7 and Solorio looked in Caruso’s shorts and underwear. See id. Ingram then instructed the officers 8 to move a table and push Caruso face down on the table, bending her over at the waist. See id. 9 Ingram instructed the officers to hold Caruso down, while Ingram held Caruso’s neck. See id. & 10 10:2. Solorio then removed Caruso’s underwear leaving her buttocks and vaginal area fully 11 exposed. See id. at 10:2-3. Solorio then allegedly: 12 . . . conducted a cavity search on me reaching into my butt and removing a small plastic bag. The search was conducted in the middle of my 8-man room in view of 13 everyone, it was a cross-gender strip search where 2 men Mr. G. Ingram (Sgt.) and Mr. D. Martinez (C/O) held me down with force against my will allowing an illegal 14 cavity search to be performed on me by Mrs. G. Solorio (C/O) right in the middle of 8-man room by bending me over table face down holding me there with 15 excessive force in order to conduct illegal cavity search on my person. 16 Id. at 4-10. After the bindle was retrieved, Caruso was stood up and was going to be taken to the 17 ISU office. Caruso alleged that she was left standing naked from the waist down and she “asked 18 to please pull up my underwear and shorts several times before Mr. G. Ingram instructed Mrs. C. 19 Lopez (C/O) to pull my shorts up . . . .” Id. at 14-16. 20 In the Magistrate Judge’s screening order of the SAC, the relevant facts were summarized 21 as: 22 Plaintiff alleges that she was strip-searched in view of other prisoners and male correctional officers. . . . Plaintiff alleges that . . . she was left standing naked from 23 the waist down. She asked several times for someone to pull her shorts up. Eventually defendant Ingram instructed defendant Lopez to pull her shorts up, but 24 defendant Lopez did not pull them up all the way. Instead, defendant Lopez told Plaintiff to pull them up, which she knew Plaintiff could not because Plaintiff’s 25 hands were handcuffed behind her back. 26 Doc. No. 24 at 3:18-25. The screening order concluded that the allegations in the SAC, including 27 the allegation that Defendants intentionally left Caruso’s shorts down, was sufficient to state a 28 plausible Fourth Amendment violation. See id. at 8:25-9:1. The screening order concluded that 1 the SAC stated cognizable claims against Defendants “for excessive force in violation of the 2 Eighth Amendment and an unreasonable search in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” Id. at 3 9:13-15. No other claims were found to be cognizable, and all other claims and defendants were 4 dismissed. Id. at 9:16-17. 5 In the wake of Williams v. King, 875 F.3d 500 (9th Cir. 2017), the Magistrate Judge issued 6 findings and recommendation (“F&R”) to the undersigned that were meant to implement the 7 previous screening orders. See Doc. No. 45 at 2:10-12. The F&R’s analysis of the unreasonable 8 search claim was identical to the analysis in the original screening order. Cf. id. at 8:25-1010 with 9 Doc. No. 24 at 7:22-9:11. The F&R ultimately recommended that “all claims and all defendants, 10 except for Plaintiff’s claims against Ingram, Martinez, Lopez, and Solorio for excessive force in 11 violation of the Eighth Amendment and for an unreasonable search in violation of the Fourth 12 Amendment” be dismissed. Doc. No. 45 at 10:16-19. 13 No objections to the F&R were filed, and the Court adopted the F&R. See Doc. No. 53. 14 Thus, “[a]ll claims and defendants, except for Plaintiff’s claims against defendants Ingram, 15 Martinez, Lopez, and Solorio for excessive force in violation of the Eight Amendment and for an 16 unreasonable search in violation of the Fourth Amendment,” were dismissed. Id. at 2:1-4. 17 In deposition testimony, Caruso described the search at issue.8 Caruso testified that, while 18 Lopez and Martinez were holding her up under her arms, Solorio started a pat down search and 19 then pulling and looking down Caruso’s underwear at Caruso’s buttocks. See Caruso Depo. 20 19:18-20:19. As Solorio was looking down Caruso’s underwear, Solorio stated, “I see it, I see it,” 21 and went to reach her hand down Caruso’s underwear. See id. at 20:19-21. Solorio stopped 22 reaching and put on gloves, while Ingram pulled a table over to Caruso. See id. at 20:22-25. 23 Ingram then instructed Lopez and Martinez to bend Caruso over the table. See id. at 21:3-7. 24 Caruso was pushed faced down on the table with her hands cuffed behind her back, and Ingram, 25 Lopez, and Martinez holding Caruso down on the table. See id. Solorio eventually got her gloves 26 on. See id. at 21:18-19. Solorio pulled Caruso’s underwear and shorts down all the way to the 27 8 For clarity, the search at issue is the search that yielded the drug bindles. As noted above, the Court granted 28 summary judgment on the search that yielded the cell phone. 1 ground leaving Caruso’s buttocks sticking up in the air and Caruso naked from the waist down. 2 See id. at 21:19-23. Caruso began crying for the Defendants to stop, that they did not have to do 3 this, and that she would give them the bindle. See id. at 21:23-24.9 Solorio “went in [Caruso’s] 4 butt twice,” since “[s]he couldn’t get [the bindle] the first time she went in because the glove got 5 stuck going between the butt cheeks.” Id. at 21:24-25; see id. at 22:2-8. While retrieving the drug 6 bindle, Solorio “grazed” Caruso’s anus, but did not penetrate the anus. See id. at 62:4-10. Caruso 7 testified that she was willing to do a strip search and never refused to do a strip search, but she 8 only wanted it done in the normal place for strip searches and in accordance with proper 9 procedures. See id. at 22:8-20. After the drug bindle was retrieved, Ingram ordered the others to 10 stand Caruso up. See id. at 22:21-22. Caruso was standing naked from the waist down and asked 11 three times for someone to pull her shorts and underwear up before Ingram ordered Lopez to do 12 so. See id. at 22:22-23:3. After Caruso’s shorts were pulled up, Defendants placed Caruso in a 13 wheelchair for transport to the ISU office. See id. at 23:12-24:12. 14 In their summary judgment motion, Defendants argued that the search was reasonable, 15 Solorio conducted a pat-down search, male staff were present because of Caruso’s resistance and 16 sitting on the floor, the drug bindles posed a threat to institutional safety, permitting a delay would 17 have allowed Caruso to dispose of or secrete the contraband, and Caruso was afforded some 18 privacy because the search occurred in her cell. See Doc. No. 187 at 4:3-7:28. Caruso argued that 19 there were numerous disputed issues of material fact, including how much clothing was removed, 20 whether Caruso’s naked body was exposed, whether male staff participated in the search or could 21 observe the search, whether the search was visible to others from the doorway of the cell, whether 22 Caruso posed a threat to others, and whether Defendants could have conducted a search in another 23 location. See Doc. No. 200 at 14:14-15:25. Caruso did not argue that she was subjected to a 24 cavity search (the term “cavity” or “cavity search” is not used in Caruso’s opposition), nor did she 25 cite her deposition testimony that Solorio grazed her (Caruso’s) anus. See id. Both sides argued 26 27 9 This portion of Caruso’s deposition was handwritten in by Caruso as part of the deposition review/correction 28 process. 1 the four Bell v. Wolfish factors for reasonableness.10 Nevertheless, it was apparent from the 2 arguments of the parties that the presence of male staff and whether clothing was removed were 3 sharply contested issues. Thus, the Court accepted Caruso’s version of events and found that 4 some form of strip search occurred, although the Court expressly did not classify the search at 5 issue. See Doc. No. 234 at 15:14-26. Because the Court found that some form of strip search 6 occurred with the direct participation of two male guards and in the absence of an emergency, 7 Byrd applied, set the standard, and indicated that a Fourth Amendment violation occurred. See id. 8 From the above, the Court concludes that there is one search at issue. The search involved 9 bending Caruso over a table while being held down by two male guards (Ingram and Martinez) 10 and one female guard (Lopez), while another female guard (Solorio) pulled Caruso’s underwear 11 down to her ankles and then twice reached between Caruso’s buttocks to retrieve a drug bindle. 12 Solorio reached between Caruso’s buttocks twice because the first time her glove got stuck on 13 Caruso’s buttocks. In the process of attempting to retrieve the drug bindle, Solorio grazed 14 Caruso’s anus, but did not penetrate it. The search ended when Solorio retrieved the bindle, 15 Caruso stood up, and her shorts were pulled back up. It is unclear exactly how to classify this 16 search. It is more intrusive than strip searches described in some case, see Cookish v. Powell, 945 17 F.2d 441, 444 n.5 (1st Cir. 1991), but is comparable to the strip search described in Byrd. See 18 Byrd, 629 F.3d at 1137. 19 The Court does not find that there are multiple searches at issue, i.e. one strip search and 20 one cavity search. First, the screening order for the SAC and the F&R found that a claim for “an 21 unreasonable search,” not “unreasonable searches,” was plausibly stated. Neither the screening 22 order nor the F&R discussed a cavity search as having occurred. Instead, the screening order 23 described a strip search and found particularly troubling the allegation that Caruso had to ask 24 multiple times for her shorts to be pulled up after the drug bindle had been retrieved and she was 25 left standing naked from the waist down. Second, while the SAC does use the term “cavity 26
27 10 The Court notes that Caruso relied on Byrd page 1146 for the assertion that “It is well established in the Ninth Circuit that cross-gender searches are especially problematic under the Fourth Amendment.” Doc. No. 200 at 14:15- 28 16. 1 search,” the allegations described Solorio as reaching into Caruso’s “butt.” This allegation does 2 not necessarily mean that a cavity search occurred as the allegation can describe Solorio reaching 3 between Caruso’s buttocks, which at least from a lay perspective, is not the same as penetrating or 4 “reaching” into the anal cavity. In fact, Caruso’s deposition testimony confirms that the drugs 5 were between her buttocks near her rectal area, that her anus was not penetrated, and, although her 6 anus was grazed, Solorio stopped searching Caruso when the bindle was actually retrieved during 7 the second attempt (the first having failed because Solorio’s glove got stuck on Caruso’s 8 buttocks). Third, Caruso’s opposition to summary judgment did not state that there was a cavity 9 search at issue, and neither the terms “cavity” or “cavity search” are used anywhere in the 10 opposition. See Doc. No. 200. Instead, the focus of the opposition was on some form of a strip 11 search and the Bell factors (although Byrd was cited and relied on), again without an argument that 12 a cavity search had occurred. Finally, the relevant pages of Caruso’s deposition, pages 19 to 23, 13 focus on a strip search occurring, not on a cavity search occurring. 14 Having determined that there is one search at issue, the question becomes how Caruso can 15 demonstrate a Fourth Amendment violation/whether Caruso can argue the reasonableness of the 16 search generally? 17 “The fourth amendment guarantees ‘the right of the people to be secure . . . against 18 unreasonable searches and seizures.’ This right extends to incarcerated prisoners . . . .” 19 Michenfelder v. Sumner, 860 F.2d 328, 332 (9th Cir. 1988). Thus, “[s]earches of prisoners must 20 be reasonable to be constitutional.” Nunez v. Duncan, 591 F.3d 1217, 1227 (9th Cir. 2010). The 21 reasonableness of a particular search is determined by reference to the prison context through 22 application of the balancing test the Supreme Court announced in Bell v. Wolfish. See Nunez, 591 23 F.3d at 1227; Michenfelder, 860 F.2d at 332. In Bell, the Supreme Court explained: 24 The test of reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment is not capable of precise definition or mechanical application. In each case it requires a balancing of the 25 need for the particular search against the invasion of personal rights that the search entails. Courts must consider the scope of the particular intrusion, the manner in 26 which it is conducted, the justification for initiating it, and the place in which it is con-ducted. 27 Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 558 (1979); see Nunez, 591 F.3d at 1227; Michenfelder, 860 F.2d 28 1 at 322. However, “cross-gender strip searches in the absence of an emergency violate an inmate’s 2 right under the Fourth Amendment to be free form unreasonable searches.” Byrd v. Maricopa 3 Cnty. Sheriff’s Dep’t, 629 F.3d 1135, 1146 (9th Cir. 2011). 4 Byrd dealt with a strip search of a male prisoner by a female guard. See Byrd, 629 F.3d at 5 1137, 1142. In the course of the strip search, the female guard slightly moved the prisoner’s penis 6 and scrotum through very thin underwear and ran her hand up to separate his buttocks to ensure no 7 contraband was in Byrd’s anus, again apparently through very thin underwear. See id. at 1137. 8 There was no emergency situation occurring at the time of the search. See id. The Ninth Circuit 9 evaluated the four Bell factors to determine whether a constitutional violation had occurred. See 10 id. at 1141-43. While the last two Bell factors weighed in favor of a reasonableness finding, the 11 first two factors were “so extreme that a conclusion of unreasonableness [was] compelled.” Id. at 12 1143. The Ninth Circuit then evaluated some of its earlier cases and cases from other circuits. 13 See id. at 1143-46. The Ninth Circuit initially noted that courts “throughout the country have 14 universally frowned upon cross-gender strip searches in the absence of an emergency or exigent 15 circumstances.” Id. at 1143. After evaluating the cases, the Ninth Circuit explained: “This litany 16 of cases over the last thirty years has a recurring theme: cross-gender strip searches in the absence 17 of an emergency violate an inmate’s right under the Fourth Amendment to be free from 18 unreasonable searches.” Id. at 1146. The Court reads Byrd as recognizing the rule that cross- 19 gender strip searches of prisoners in the absence of an emergency is unconstitutional. See Napper 20 v. Wong, 419 F. App’x 790, 790-91 (9th Cir. 2011) (parenthetically describing Byrd as holding 21 “cross-gender strip search conducted in the absence of emergency circumstances is 22 unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment.”). 23 Byrd does not, however, expressly explain how to deal with cross-gender strip searches 24 when an emergency exists. The Court cannot read Byrd to imply that the presence of an 25 emergency means that any type of search may be done or that any conduct may occur in the course 26 of the search. Byrd did not indicate that the strip search was otherwise conducted in an 27 unreasonable manner, and did not challenge the dissent’s assertion that the search was conducted 28 “professionally.” See Byrd, 629 F.3d at 1143. The problem was the cross-gender nature of the 1 search. See id. To give effect to the rule that searches must be reasonable, as well as recognizing 2 that an emergency may sanitize one type of search that would otherwise be unconstitutional, the 3 Court concludes that the nature of the emergency becomes a relevant consideration in applying the 4 four Bell factors to a cross-gender strip search conducted during an emergency. 5 In sum, the Fourth Amendment law with respect to searches of a prisoner’s person has 6 been set through cases like Bell, Michenfelder, and Nunez – the search must be reasonable in light 7 of the Bell factors. However, if the search is a cross-gender strip search (or presumably something 8 more intrusive than a strip search), Byrd interjects itself into the general rule. Under Byrd, if there 9 is a cross-gender strip search that is conducted in the absence of an emergency, there is a 10 constitutional violation per se, irrespective of how the Bell factors may be argued by the parties. 11 If there is an emergency, however, then the general rule reverts back, but the search must be 12 reasonable in light of the Bell factors and the emergency encountered. 13 As applied to this case, Caruso’s testimony, if believed, demonstrates that a strip search 14 was conducted in the immediate presence, and with the direct participation and assistance of, two 15 male guards in the absence of an emergency. That is, her testimony triggers the Byrd rule and 16 liability for some form of a cross-gender strip search. However, Caruso is not limited to 17 demonstrating that no emergency existed. Caruso may argue that the strip search was 18 unreasonable under the Bell factors and in consideration of the emergency confronted. Therefore, 19 it is not appropriate to prevent Caruso from presenting evidence that addresses reasonableness 20 under the Bell factors. 21 Ruling 22 Defendants’ supplemental motion to preclude Caruso from arguing the reasonableness of 23 the search is denied, consistent with the above analysis. 24 2. Supplemental Motion No. 2 – Exclude Evidence or Argument Concerning Body 25 Cavity Searches 26 Defendants’ Arguments 27 Defendants argue that the Court has ruled that the only remaining Fourth Amendment 28 claim concerns an intrusive cross-gender strip search. The Court’s summary judgment ruling 1 noted the distinctions between different types of searches. Since the only remaining claim 2 concerns the alleged visual inspection of Caruso while partially unclothed, an alleged body cavity 3 search is not relevant and should be excluded. Moreover, Caruso testified in deposition that 4 Defendants did not penetrate a body cavity in connection with this search. There is no evidence 5 that Defendants specifically inspected one of Caruso’s body cavities, and Defendants deny that 6 Caruso’s private areas were exposed during the search. Caruso was face down on the table at the 7 time of the search and has no personal knowledge as to whether her body cavities were inspected 8 by Defendants. Since there is no evidence that a cavity search occurred, any argument that a body 9 cavity search occurred would be unsupported and unduly prejudicial. 10 Plaintiff’s Opposition 11 Caruso argues that she has evidence that a body cavity search occurred in the form of her 12 own testimony. Caruso testified that Solorio went between her buttocks and grazed her anus while 13 retrieving drug bindles. Caruso would have personal knowledge of whether her body cavities 14 were inspected. The fact that there was no penetration of the anus does not mean that a cavity 15 search did not occur. Further, medical records by Nurse Franco on the day of the incident indicate 16 that Caruso was “caught by ISU today w/heroin in anus.” Further, Caruso reportedly told Dr. 17 Celosse that she was subjected to forced cavity search. This evidence is relevant to the Fourth 18 Amendment claim and should not be excluded. 19 Discussion 20 Caruso can testify about what happened during the search and how it was performed, 21 including where she was touched. Caruso would have felt this search and clearly has firsthand 22 knowledge of it. This evidence is not only relevant to a determination of whether some form of 23 strip search occurred (again, Defendants argue only a pat-down occurred), but also to a 24 determination of the reasonableness of the search as performed and to Caruso’s damages. There is 25 no reason to preclude Caruso’s testimony about where she was touched during the search. 26 In terms of arguing that a “cavity search” occurred, Caruso’s complaint does use the term 27 “cavity search,” see SAC at p.4 Claim 2, and alleged that Solorio conducted a cavity search by 28 “reaching into my butt and removing a small plastic bag . . . .” Id. at 10:4-5. However, as 1 discussed above, Caruso’s opposition to summary judgment focused more on a strip search and 2 never used the terms cavity or cavity search, see Doc. No. 200, Caruso’s deposition testimony 3 described Solorio reaching between Caruso’s buttocks, see Caruso Depo. 21:24-22:8, Caruso’s 4 deposition focused on a strip search, see id. at 22:9-20, and Caruso’s testimony does not 5 adequately describe an intentional cavity search. Caruso admitted that her anus was not penetrated 6 and she does not indicate any kind of probing or lingering by Solorio – rather Solorio “grazed” 7 Caruso’s anus while attempting to remove the drug bindle. See id. at 62:4-10. Solorio reached 8 between Caruso’s buttocks twice because the first time her glove got stuck against Caruso’s 9 buttocks, and Solorio stopped searching/touching Caruso after she retrieved the bindle during the 10 second attempt. See id. at 21:24-22:22. There is no indication that Solorio reached between 11 Caruso’s buttocks to do anything but retrieve the drug bindle. Moreover, Caruso testified that 12 before her pants and underwear were pulled down, Solorio looked in Caruso’s pants and said that 13 she saw the bindle. See Caruso Depo. at 20:18-21. If Solorio saw the bindle, the bindle could not 14 have been inside of Caruso’s anus. To the Court’s knowledge, Caruso has never testified that the 15 drug bindle was any place other than between her buttocks near (not in) her anus. Combined with 16 the description of “grazing,” Caruso’s testimony indicates that Solorio happened to graze/touch 17 Caruso’s anus incidentally while retrieving the bindle. It does not suggest that Solorio actively or 18 intentionally searched or attempted to search inside of Caruso’s anal cavity. Incidentally or 19 unintentionally touching/grazing the anus is not the same as searching the anus or anal cavity, 20 although it does clearly relate to the reasonableness of the search that was performed on Caruso. 21 Before Caruso can argue that she was subjected to a “cavity search,” she needs to present a 22 definition of “cavity search,” either controlling case law or regulation, that is consistent with her 23 testimony. Unless she can identify such a definition, using the term “cavity search” is too 24 prejudicial and inflammatory under Fed. R. of Evid. 403. 25 Ruling 26 This motion is denied in that Caruso can testify about what happened to her during the 27 search, including Solorio grazing her anus, as this is relevant to reasonableness of the search, 28 damages, and the nature of the search performed (which is disputed). This motion is granted in 1 | that Caruso is precluded from using the term “cavity search” unless she can demonstrate that her 2 |testimony fits a relevant definition of a “cavity search” because her testimony indicates that the 3 | grazing was merely incidental to retrieving the bindle from between her buttocks. 4 5 ORDER 6 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 7 (1. Plaintiffs’ supplemental motions in limine (Doc. Nos. 329, 330, 331, 332) are GRANTED 8 IN PART and DENIED IN PART as explained above; and 9 |2. Defendants’ supplemental motions in limine (Doc. No. 327) is GRANTED IN PART and 10 DENIED IN PART as explained above. 11 D IT IS SO ORDERED. 13 Dated: _ January 6, 2022 —= Z : Cb it — SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28