1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MIGUEL MARTINEZ, No. 2:17-CV-2445-JAM-DMC-P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECCOMMENDATIONS 14 R. CISNEROS, 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 18 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the Court is Defendant Cisneros’s unopposed motion to 19 dismiss, ECF No. 34. 20 In considering a motion to dismiss, the Court must accept all allegations of 21 material fact in the complaint as true. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007). The 22 Court must also construe the alleged facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Scheuer 23 v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974); see also Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 24 738, 740 (1976); Barnett v. Centoni, 31 F.3d 813, 816 (9th Cir. 1994) (per curiam). All 25 ambiguities or doubts must also be resolved in the plaintiff's favor. See Jenkins v. McKeithen, 26 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). However, legally conclusory statements, not supported by actual 27 factual allegations, need not be accepted. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949-50 (2009). 28 In addition, pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by lawyers. 1 See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). 2 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only “a short and plain statement 3 of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief” in order to “give the defendant fair 4 notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atl. Corp v. Twombly, 5 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). However, in order 6 to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain 7 more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual 8 allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. at 555-56. The 9 complaint must contain “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. at 10 570. “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the 11 court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” 12 Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. “The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but 13 it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. (quoting 14 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “Where a complaint pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a 15 defendant’s liability, it ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility for entitlement 16 to relief.” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). 17 In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court generally may not consider materials 18 outside the complaint and pleadings. See Cooper v. Pickett, 137 F.3d 616, 622 (9th Cir. 1998); 19 Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 453 (9th Cir. 1994). The Court may, however, consider: (1) 20 documents whose contents are alleged in or attached to the complaint and whose authenticity no 21 party questions, see Branch, 14 F.3d at 454; (2) documents whose authenticity is not in question, 22 and upon which the complaint necessarily relies, but which are not attached to the complaint, see 23 Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th Cir. 2001); and (3) documents and materials 24 of which the court may take judicial notice, see Barron v. Reich, 13 F.3d 1370, 1377 (9th Cir. 25 1994). 26 Finally, leave to amend must be granted “[u]nless it is absolutely clear that no 27 amendment can cure the defects.” Lucas v. Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995) (per 28 curiam); see also Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiff originally sued three defendants: (1) C. Rios; (2) R. Cisneros; and (3) 3 Davidge. ECF No. 1. Defendant Cisneros originally moved to dismiss Plaintiff’s retaliation 4 claim on January 21, 2020. ECF No. 21. However, on March 30, 2020, Plaintiff filed an 5 amended complaint. ECF No. 24. Defendants subsequently filed a motion to dismiss that 6 complaint, but the Court struck Plaintiff’s amended complaint and Defendants’ motion to dismiss. 7 See ECF Nos. 27 and 28. The Court instructed Plaintiff to file an amended complaint or 8 Defendant Rios and Defendant Davidge would be terminated. ECF No. 28. Plaintiff did not 9 amend his complaint. ECF No. 29. The sole defendant is now Defendant Cisneros, and the 10 operative complaint is the original complaint. See id. Defendant Cisneros has now refiled his 11 motion to dismiss the original complaint. ECF No. 34. 12 13 II. DISCUSSION 14 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Cisneros conspired to validate Plaintiff as a 15 member of a security threat group in retaliation for Plaintiff making Cisneros’s cousin do 16 paperwork and that the validation served no penological purpose. See ECF No. 1, pg. 4. 17 Defendant Cisneros argues that Plaintiff’s allegations are “insufficient to state a retaliation claim 18 under the First Amendment because Plaintiff failed to plead sufficient factual content to support 19 an inference that making Cisneros’s cousin ‘do paperwork’ qualified as protected conduct and 20 that Plaintiff’s validation chilled the exercise of his First Amendment rights.” ECF No. 34-1, pg. 21 3. 22 In order to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for retaliation, the prisoner must 23 establish that he was retaliated against for exercising a constitutional right, and that the retaliatory 24 action was not related to a legitimate penological purpose, such as preserving institutional 25 security. See Barnett v. Centoni, 31 F.3d 813, 815-16 (9th Cir. 1994) (per curiam). In meeting 26 this standard, the prisoner must demonstrate a specific link between the alleged retaliation and the 27 exercise of a constitutional right. See Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995); 28 Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 1989).
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MIGUEL MARTINEZ, No. 2:17-CV-2445-JAM-DMC-P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECCOMMENDATIONS 14 R. CISNEROS, 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 18 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the Court is Defendant Cisneros’s unopposed motion to 19 dismiss, ECF No. 34. 20 In considering a motion to dismiss, the Court must accept all allegations of 21 material fact in the complaint as true. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007). The 22 Court must also construe the alleged facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Scheuer 23 v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974); see also Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 24 738, 740 (1976); Barnett v. Centoni, 31 F.3d 813, 816 (9th Cir. 1994) (per curiam). All 25 ambiguities or doubts must also be resolved in the plaintiff's favor. See Jenkins v. McKeithen, 26 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). However, legally conclusory statements, not supported by actual 27 factual allegations, need not be accepted. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949-50 (2009). 28 In addition, pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by lawyers. 1 See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). 2 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only “a short and plain statement 3 of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief” in order to “give the defendant fair 4 notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atl. Corp v. Twombly, 5 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). However, in order 6 to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain 7 more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual 8 allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Id. at 555-56. The 9 complaint must contain “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. at 10 570. “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the 11 court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” 12 Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. “The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but 13 it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. (quoting 14 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “Where a complaint pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a 15 defendant’s liability, it ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility for entitlement 16 to relief.” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). 17 In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court generally may not consider materials 18 outside the complaint and pleadings. See Cooper v. Pickett, 137 F.3d 616, 622 (9th Cir. 1998); 19 Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 453 (9th Cir. 1994). The Court may, however, consider: (1) 20 documents whose contents are alleged in or attached to the complaint and whose authenticity no 21 party questions, see Branch, 14 F.3d at 454; (2) documents whose authenticity is not in question, 22 and upon which the complaint necessarily relies, but which are not attached to the complaint, see 23 Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th Cir. 2001); and (3) documents and materials 24 of which the court may take judicial notice, see Barron v. Reich, 13 F.3d 1370, 1377 (9th Cir. 25 1994). 26 Finally, leave to amend must be granted “[u]nless it is absolutely clear that no 27 amendment can cure the defects.” Lucas v. Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995) (per 28 curiam); see also Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Plaintiff originally sued three defendants: (1) C. Rios; (2) R. Cisneros; and (3) 3 Davidge. ECF No. 1. Defendant Cisneros originally moved to dismiss Plaintiff’s retaliation 4 claim on January 21, 2020. ECF No. 21. However, on March 30, 2020, Plaintiff filed an 5 amended complaint. ECF No. 24. Defendants subsequently filed a motion to dismiss that 6 complaint, but the Court struck Plaintiff’s amended complaint and Defendants’ motion to dismiss. 7 See ECF Nos. 27 and 28. The Court instructed Plaintiff to file an amended complaint or 8 Defendant Rios and Defendant Davidge would be terminated. ECF No. 28. Plaintiff did not 9 amend his complaint. ECF No. 29. The sole defendant is now Defendant Cisneros, and the 10 operative complaint is the original complaint. See id. Defendant Cisneros has now refiled his 11 motion to dismiss the original complaint. ECF No. 34. 12 13 II. DISCUSSION 14 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Cisneros conspired to validate Plaintiff as a 15 member of a security threat group in retaliation for Plaintiff making Cisneros’s cousin do 16 paperwork and that the validation served no penological purpose. See ECF No. 1, pg. 4. 17 Defendant Cisneros argues that Plaintiff’s allegations are “insufficient to state a retaliation claim 18 under the First Amendment because Plaintiff failed to plead sufficient factual content to support 19 an inference that making Cisneros’s cousin ‘do paperwork’ qualified as protected conduct and 20 that Plaintiff’s validation chilled the exercise of his First Amendment rights.” ECF No. 34-1, pg. 21 3. 22 In order to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for retaliation, the prisoner must 23 establish that he was retaliated against for exercising a constitutional right, and that the retaliatory 24 action was not related to a legitimate penological purpose, such as preserving institutional 25 security. See Barnett v. Centoni, 31 F.3d 813, 815-16 (9th Cir. 1994) (per curiam). In meeting 26 this standard, the prisoner must demonstrate a specific link between the alleged retaliation and the 27 exercise of a constitutional right. See Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1995); 28 Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 1989). The prisoner must also 1 show that the exercise of First Amendment rights was chilled, though not necessarily silenced, by 2 the alleged retaliatory conduct. See Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 449 (9th Cir. 2000), see also 3 Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 569 (9th Cir. 2005). Thus, the prisoner plaintiff must 4 establish the following in order to state a claim for retaliation: (1) prison officials took adverse 5 action against the inmate; (2) the adverse action was taken because the inmate engaged in 6 protected conduct; (3) the adverse action chilled the inmate’s First Amendment rights; and (4) the 7 adverse action did not serve a legitimate penological purpose. See Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 568. 8 For Plaintiff to survive Defendant’s motion to dismiss, making Cisneros’s cousin 9 “do paperwork” would have to be protected conduct, which it is not. As Defendant points out, 10 “Cisneros’s cousin presumably works at the prison and there are a number of reasons why a 11 prison employee may have to ‘do paperwork’ because of an inmate’s actions that are not 12 protected under the Constitution (e.g., paperwork associated with an incident or rules violate 13 report based on inmate misconduct).” ECF No. 34-1, pg. 3. Therefore, Plaintiff’s original 14 complaint fails to state a claim against Defendant Cisneros. 15 The Court has no indication of any facts that could be added to Plaintiff’s 16 complaint to cure Plaintiff’s defect, and Plaintiff has not filed any opposition to Defendant’s 17 motion to dismiss to suggest such facts exist. Because the defect noted above cannot be cured, 18 Plaintiff is not entitled to leave to amend. 19 / / / 20 / / / 21 / / / 22 / / / 23 / / / 24 / / / 25 / / / 26 / / / 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 I. CONCLUSION 2 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that Defendant’s unopposed 3 | motion to dismiss, ECF No. 34, be granted and that this action be dismissed in its entirety. 4 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 5 | Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within 14 days 6 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections 7 | with the Court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of objections. 8 | Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. See Martinez v. 9 | Yist, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 10 11 | Dated: January 31, 2022 Ssvcqo_ 2 DENNIS M. COTA 13 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28