(PC) Thomas v. Chenalo

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedAugust 2, 2022
Docket1:19-cv-01185
StatusUnknown

This text of (PC) Thomas v. Chenalo ((PC) Thomas v. Chenalo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
(PC) Thomas v. Chenalo, (E.D. Cal. 2022).

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ALBERT EUGENE THOMAS, Case No. 1:19-cv-01185-AWI-HBK (PC) 12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO PERMIT PLAINTIFF TO PROCEED ONLY 13 v. ON COGNIZABLE EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIM1 14 CAPTAIN CHENALO, C/O GUERRA, C/O SALAS, C/O MEDINA, C/O #1 (Doc. No. 20) 15 THIRD WATCH, C/O FLOREZ AND PROGRAM SGT. PADILLA, 16 Defendants. 17 18 Plaintiff Albert Thomas is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this 19 civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is proceeding on his Second Amended 20 Complaint filed August 30, 2021. (Doc. No. 20, “SAC”). As more fully set forth below, the 21 undersigned finds the SAC states a cognizable claim for an Eighth Amendment violation against 22 defendants Flores, Salas, Medina, and C/O #1 Third Watch for subjecting Plaintiff to 23 unconstitutional conditions of conferment but no other claims and recommends that Plaintiff be 24 permitted to proceed only on his cognizable claim and all other defendants and claims be 25 dismissed. 26

27 1 This matter was referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. 28 1 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF OPERATIVE PLEADING 2 On June 2, 2021, the undersigned issued a screening order on Plaintiff’s First Amended 3 Complaint (Doc No. 13, “FAC”) and found the FAC stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment 4 claim for cruel and unusual punishment against Defendants Salas and Medina for subjecting 5 Plaintiff to unconstitutional conditions of confinement but no other claim against any other 6 defendant. The Court afforded Plaintiff the opportunity to (1) proceed on his FAC only on his 7 cruel and unusual punishment claim against Salas and Medina; (2) file a second amended complaint 8 to add additional facts in an attempt to make out additional claims or claims against additional 9 defendants, or (3) stand on the current FAC subject to dismissal of claims and defendants consistent 10 with its order. (Doc. No. 15). Plaintiff elected to file a SAC. (Doc. No. 20). 11 The SAC identifies the following defendants in the caption of the pleadings and in the list 12 of defendants: Captain Chenalo, C/O Guerra, C/o Sala, C/O Medina, C/O #1 Third Watch, C/O 13 Floriez, and program Sgt. Padilla. (Doc. No 20 at 1, 4, 5). However, in the SAC Plaintiff states 14 he does not wish to proceed against defendants Chenalo, Guerrera, and Padilla or on his claim of 15 retaliation against any defendants. (Id. at 5).2 Thus, the undersigned only considers the 16 allegations in the SAC as against defendants Florez, Salas, Medina, and C/O #1 Third Watch. 17 The SAC identifies two causes of action: (1) an Eighth Amendment claim for cruel and unusual 18 punishment; and (2) abuse of power and discretion. (Id.). The SAC sets forth the following facts, 19 which are presumed as true at this stage of the proceedings, 20 On June 22, 2019, Plaintiff moved into building A1-126 at North Kern State Prison. 21 (Doc. No. 20 at 5). Plaintiff immediately noticed a “strong odor” coming from his cell and 22 received a shock when he turned on the light. (Id. at 5-6). There was mold and mildew on the 23 walls, the cell was filled with rust, leaking “filthy stinking” water puddled on the floor, and the 24 improperly installed light switch shocked Plaintiff when he turned on or off the light. (Id. at 6-9). 25 Plaintiff complained about the cell’s conditions and requested Florez, Salas, Medina, and C/O #1 26 Third Watch to inspect his cell but they refused. Plaintiff continued to complain about the 27 2 The undersigned previously found the FAC did not a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim against 28 Chenalo, Guerrera and Padilla, nor a First Amendment claim of retaliation. (Doc. No. 17 at 7-8). 1 conditions of his cell to these four defendants and made them each aware that his health was 2 deteriorating due to the cell’s condition. (Id.). But each of the defendants laughed and refused to 3 move Plaintiff. (Id.). Plaintiff continued to make requests to the four named defendants to move 4 him, and even undertook his own search for a new cell, but the defendants refused to transfer 5 Plaintiff to another cell. (Id.). Plaintiff also requested, but was denied, cleaning supplies by 6 these named defendants. (Id.). Finally, Plaintiff placed cardboard between the light switch and 7 the guard around the light switch to avoid getting shocked which Plaintiff informed defendants of, 8 but he still was not given a new cell. (Id. at 9). 9 Soon after moving into his cell, Plaintiff developed an excruciating cough, a sore throat, 10 and experienced pain when breathing. (Id. at 6-7). Plaintiff also had trouble sleeping over an 11 extended period of time because he would wake up from coughing. (Id. at 6). 12 After 48 days, Plaintiff was finally moved into a different cell on August 7, 2019. (Id. at 13 9). But his physical condition continued to deteriorate, and approximately five to six months after 14 he first developed his cough, he was sent to a hospital outside of North Kern State Prison. (Id. at 15 10). Plaintiff was diagnosed with Valley Fever and pneumonia. (Id.). 16 As relief, Plaintiff seeks $50,000 in punitive and $50,000 in compensatory damages from 17 each Defendant. (Id. at 12). 18 APPLICABLE LAW 19 Screening Requirements and Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 20 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, a court is required to screen a prisoner’s complaint that seeks 21 relief against a governmental entity, its officers, or its employees. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). 22 The court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any portion of the complaint that is 23 frivolous or malicious, that fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seeks 24 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 25 1915A(b)(1), (2); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b)(ii) (governing actions proceeding in forma 26 pauperis). 27 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 28 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 1 Cir. 1984). The court may dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably 2 meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 3 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however unartfully pleaded, has an 4 arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989); 5 Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. 6 A claim fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted if it appears that the 7 plaintiff can prove no set of facts supporting the claim that would entitle him to relief. Hishon v. 8 King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Palmer v. Roosevelt Lake Log Owners Ass’n, Inc., 651 9 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981).

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Bluebook (online)
(PC) Thomas v. Chenalo, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pc-thomas-v-chenalo-caed-2022.