(PC) Razaq v. California Department of Corrections

District Court, E.D. California·Decided September 29, 2020·No. 1:20-cv-01116·Unknown

Opinion

KAHLILULLAH RAZAQ, Case No.: 1:20-cv-01116-BAM (PC) Plaintiff, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REGARDING DISMISSAL OF ACTION FOR CORRECTIONS, et al., FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM Defendants. (ECF No. 15) FOURTEEN-DAY DEADLINE Plaintiff Kahlilullah Razaq (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint and granted him leave to amend. (ECF Nos. 1, 10.) Plaintiff’s first amended complaint, filed on September 21, 2020, is currently before the Court for screening. (ECF No. 15.) I. Screening Requirement and Standard The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to dismissal if it is frivolous or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or if it seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b). A complaint must 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)). 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) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. II. Allegations in Complaint Plaintiff is currently housed in Calipatria State Prison, in Calipatria, California. The events in the complaint are alleged to have occurred while Plaintiff was housed at California Correctional Institute in Tehachapi, California (“CCI”). Plaintiff names as defendants: (1) California Department of Corrections (“CDCR”), (2) John Doe 1, Warden, (3) John Doe 2, Correctional Officer, and (4) John Does 3–50, Correctional Officers. Plaintiff asserts Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment violations and negligence. In claim 1, Plaintiff is considered to be separated sensitive needs yard (“SNY”), which is separated from the general population. Plaintiff alleges that at CCI, safety procedures are secure due to the high security level of “180 design where nothing or nobody is allowed movement without direction and correctional officers knowledge and assistance.” (ECF No. 15, pp. 3–4 of 9.) Plaintiff became the victim of an assault with a deadly weapon and battery with a weapon by inmate Roman. Plaintiff sustained an injury to his neck. In claim 2, Plaintiff alleges negligence of cruel and unusual punishment by way of “correctional officer (Green Wall) allowing inmates to do their violent bidding.” (ECF No. 15, p. 4 of 9.) Plaintiff alleges he is a victim of the correctional officers’ negligence based on that “they have knowledge of how to allow other inmates to assault another weaker than your average inmate.” Plaintiff alleges that he was not accidently stabbed: “there is no way that an inmate can accidently be stabbed, sliced or otherwise assaulted on a level 4 180 security designed building.” (ECF No. 15, p. 4 of 9.) All movement is controlled by the tower control booth. John Doe 1 (Warden) knew of the situation of Plaintiff’s assault and injury because of Plaintiff’s grievance. John Doe 2 (tower guard) allowed “the assault by way of electronically opening Plaintiff’s door, being cause due purpose of injury to Plaintiff.” John Does 3–50 “who responded in concert to discreetly neglect the 602 grievance” which Plaintiff alleges falls under a tort act of negligence. Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief, compensatory and punitive damages. III. Discussion Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to state a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Despite being provided the relevant pleading and legal standards, Plaintiff has been unable cure the pleading deficiencies. A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 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.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted). Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. at 1974). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Id.; see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556–57. Although Plaintiff's complaint is short, it is not a plain statement of his claims. As a basic matter, the complaint does not clearly state what happened, when it happened or who was involved. In fact, the first amended complaint includes fewer factual allegations than Plaintiff’s original complaint. Plaintiff was forewarned that any subsequently pleading supersedes the original complaint. It is unclear in the first amended complaint what happened, when it happened and who was involved. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. Plaintiff has been unable to cure this deficiency. B. Supervisor Liability Plaintiff is attempting to impose liability against Defendant John Doe 1, Warden, based on his role as supervisor, which Plaintiff may not do. Liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel for the actions or omissions of their subordinates under the theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676−77; Simmons v. Navajo Cty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020−21 (9th Cir. 2010); Ewing v. Cty. of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 2009); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). Supervisors may be held liable only if they “participate

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(PC) Razaq v. California Department of Corrections, (E.D. Cal. 2020).

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