(PC) Harris v. Munoz

District Court, E.D. California·Decided August 29, 2025·No. 2:16-cv-00830·Unknown

Opinion

GRADY HARRIS, No. 2:16-cv-0830-TLN-SCR Plaintiff, v. AMENDED FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER JEFF MACOMBER, et al., Defendants. Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Upon review of the parties’ pretrial statements, the remainder of the file, and the objections to the initial pretrial order, this Court makes the following findings and orders:1 JURISDICTION/VENUE This Court has original jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and § 1343(a)(3) because Plaintiff asserts an Eighth Amendment claim. Venue is appropriate in the Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division, under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) because the incident giving rise to the claim occurred in this judicial district. 1 As explained in the concurrently filed order addressing Plaintiff’s motions (ECF Nos. 231 & 232), this order is amended to include the full and accurate names of three of Plaintiff’s incarcerated witnesses. In all other respects, it is unchanged from the Final Pretrial Order filed at ECF No. 229. The parties attended a settlement conference on February 29, 2024 which did not result in settlement. It appears that a further settlement conference is not warranted. JURY/NON-JURY All parties have demanded a jury trial. Accordingly, this matter shall be tried before a jury. The Court shall empanel eight (8) jurors. 1. At all times relevant, Plaintiff was a state prisoner in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) and housed at California State Prison- Sacramento (“CSP-SAC”). 2. On November 21, 2014, Defendants were acting under color of law as Correctional Officers at CSP-SAC. 3. At approximately 12:10 p.m., Defendants Munoz and Fong were assigned to escort Plaintiff across the yard at Facility C. 4. At some point, Defendants Williamson and Leavitt joined the escort. 5. During the escort, Plaintiff was physically restrained by one or more correctional officers. 6. At approximately 12:15 p.m., Plaintiff was seen by C. Teachout, LVN, who completed a CDCR Form 7219 Medical Report of Injury or Unusual Occurrence based on the incident. 7. Plaintiff was charged and found guilty of a Rules Violation Report (“RVR”) for Battery on a Peace Officer, due to his conduct against Defendant Munoz during this prison escort. 1. What, if any, force each Defendant used against Plaintiff during the escort. 2. Whether any forced used against Plaintiff by any Defendant was excessive. 3. Whether Defendant Leavitt witnessed any use of force against Plaintiff. 4. Whether Defendant Leavitt could have prevented any use of force against Plaintiff. 5. What, if any, injuries did Plaintiff suffer as a result of the force used by any Defendant. 6. If liability is found as to any Defendant, whether punitive damages are authorized under the facts of this case. SPECIAL FACTUAL INFORMATION IN TORT ACTION FOR PERSONAL INJURY A. Plaintiff’s version of the November 21, 2014 incident is that while escorting him across the yard, Defendants Munoz, Fong, and Williamson lifted him off his feet, pushed him to the ground, and then punched and kicked him maliciously to cause him harm. He further contends that Defendant Leavitt was present during the escort and failed to intercede when the use of force occurred. B. Defendants’ version is that during the escort Plaintiff turned and tried to head-butt Munoz, and then Plaintiff shoved his elbow into Munoz’s chest. At that point, Munoz used his physical strength to force Plaintiff to the ground and restrain him there. Defendant Fong was escorting Plaintiff with Munoz, but did not use any physical force on Plaintiff. Defendant Williamson was present, but also did not use any physical force on Plaintiff. Defendant Leavitt denies being in the area or that he used any force on Plaintiff. Williamson assisted Plaintiff to his feet after the incident, and continued escorting Plaintiff to the prison medical clinic for an evaluation. C. Plaintiff was age 37 at the time of the incident. A medical evaluation by an LVN shortly after the incident found that Plaintiff had an abrasion on his left cheek, and an abrasion with redness and bleeding at his left shoulder. Plaintiff was not hospitalized, and does not appear to have had any further medical care for his injuries. Because he is a state prisoner, Plaintiff has no economic loss for medical expenses or lost wages. In the second amended complaint, Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages of $10,000 per Defendant. In addition, Plaintiff seeks punitive damages of $10,000 and exemplary damages of $10,000 per Defendant. Defendants seek judgment in their favor along with an award of costs. Trial briefs shall be filed with this court no later than fourteen days prior to the date of trial in accordance with Local Rule 285. A. The parties both anticipate calling the following witnesses in this action: 1. Plaintiff Grady Harris; 2. Defendant Fong; 3. Defendant Munoz; 4. Defendant Leavitt; 5. Defendant Williamson; 6. Correctional Officer M. Thompson; 7. Correctional Officer D. Calderon; 8. Correctional Officer T. Fuller; 9. Correctional Officer E. Cervantes; 10. Correctional Officer B. Vielbig; 11. Sergeant K. Rose; 12. Correctional Officer S. Givens; and, 13. C. Teachout, LVN. B. Plaintiff anticipates calling the following witnesses: See ECF Nos. 176, 195, 208. 1. Inmate Jayshawn Visa Pierce (#G40746); 2. Inmate Raymond Carl Johnson (#K65390); 3. Inmate Morris Gene Ervin (#D30491); 4. Inmate Tylo Felix (#G56081); 5. Andrew Nelson2; 6. Former Inmate Jaquan Jones; 7. Former Inmate Michael Bricker; 8. Former Inmate Nathan Carlson; 2 Plaintiff removed this witness from his Amended Pretrial Statement Witness List and did not provide any declaration as to this witness’s prospective testimony. ECF No. 195. Therefore, the Court will not issue a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum or subpoena for this witness to attend trial. 9. Larry Fink, Private Investigator; 10. Jeff Macomber, Warden of CSP-Sac; and, 11. Correctional Officer Valazquez. C. Defendants’ additional prospective witnesses are: 1. Records Custodian for Plaintiff’s central file records maintained by CDCR; and, 2. Records Custodian for Plaintiff’s Unit Health Records maintained by CDCR. D. No other witness will be permitted to testify unless: (1) the party offering the witness demonstrates that the witness is for the purpose of rebutting evidence which could not be reasonably anticipated at the pretrial conference, or (2) the witness was discovered after the pretrial conference and the proffering party makes the showing required in section E below. E. Upon the post-pretrial discovery of witnesses, the party shall promptly inform the Court and opposing parties of the existence of the unlisted witnesses so that the Court may consider at trial whether the witnesses shall be permitted to testify. The witnesses will not be permitted unless: (1) the witnesses could not reasonably have been discovered prior to pretrial; (2) the Court and the opposing party were promptly notified upon discovery of the witnesses; (3) if time permitted, the party proffered the witnesses for deposition; and (4) if time did not permit, a reasonable summary of the witnesses’ testimony was provided to the opposing party. A. Plaintiff seeks to introduce the following as potential trial exhibits: 1. The second amended complaint (ECF No. 96); 2. An unidentified “online article of prison officer’s death;” 3. Plaintiff’s Health Care Service Request forms; 4. Diagram or map of prison yard; 5. Plaintiff’s Comprehensive Accommodation Chrono for a medical appliance; and, 6. Plaintiff’s medical records related to his injuries. B.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

(PC) Harris v. Munoz, (E.D. Cal. 2025).

(PC) Harris v. Munoz ((PC) Harris v. Munoz) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related