(PC) Washington v. Newsome

District Court, E.D. California·Decided November 17, 2021·No. 1:21-cv-00840·Unknown

Opinion

FRANKIE K. WASHINGTON, ) Case No. 1:21-cv-00840-SAB (PC) ) Plaintiff, ) ) ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO v. ) RANDOMLY ASSIGN A DISTRICT JUDGE TO THIS ACTION ) FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Defendant. ) RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF ACTION ) ) (ECF Nos. 10, 11) ) )

Plaintiff Frankie K. Washington is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. Plaintiff’s complaint in this action was filed on January 5, 2021, in the Sacramento Division of this Court. (ECF No. 1.) On May 25, 2021, the complaint was transferred to the Fresno Division. (ECF No. 5.) On September 15, 2021, the Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint and granted Plaintiff leave to file a first amended complaint. (ECF No. 10.) Plaintiff failed to file an amended complaint or otherwise respond to the Court’s September 15, 2021 order. Therefore, on October 25, 2021, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause within fourteen days why the action should not be dismissed. (ECF No. 11.) Plaintiff failed to respond to the Court’s October 25, 2021 order and the time to do so has now passed. Therefore, dismissal is warranted. I. The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that “fail[] to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that “seek[] monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(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)). Moreover, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their pleadings liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor. Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2012) (citations 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 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The “sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and “facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability” falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. II. The Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF), is the largest women’s prison in the world, and it has become the most dangerous prison in the world because the Governor allows eight women to be crammed into a cell that is insufficient in space causing inmates to become restricted both mentally and physically. It is not possible for the inmates to social distance which places them in danger of contracting the COVID-19 virus. There are not enough medical beds at the facility to support everyone becoming infected with COVID-19. The staff are not wearing enough protective equipment because face masks are not enough, and inmates are not provided a sufficient supply of soap and sanitizer. Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, “[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Prisoners are required to exhaust the available administrative remedies prior to filing suit. Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 211 (2007); McKinney v. Carey, 311 F.3d 1198, 1199-1201 (9th Cir. 2002). Exhaustion is required regardless of the relief sought by the prisoner and regardless of the relief offered by the process, Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741 (2001), and the exhaustion requirement applies to all suits relating to prison life, Porter v. Nussle, 435 U.S. 516, 532 (2002). Prisoners are required to exhaust before bringing suit. Booth, 532 U.S. at 741. From the face of Plaintiff’s Complaint, it appears clear that Plaintiff filed suit prematurely and in such instances, the case may be dismissed. Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 1169 (9th Cir. 2014) (en banc) (where failure to exhaust is clear from face of complaint, case is subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6)); Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1120 (9th Cir. 2003) (“A prisoner’s concession to nonexhaustion is a valid ground for dismissal....”) (overruled on other grounds by Albino, 747 F.3d at 1168-69); see also Nordstrom v. Ryan, 762 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2014) (“Dismissal for failure to state a claim under § 1915A ‘incorporates the familiar standard applied in the context of failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).’ ”) (quoting Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2012)). It appears on the face of Plaintiff’s complaint that he has not exhausted her administrative remedies pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 41 U.S.C. § 1997 (e)(a), before filing this lawsuit. Plaintiff indicates in the complaint that he did not file an appeal or grievance or complete the process to exhaust his administrative remedies. (ECF No. 1 at 2.) Plaintiff has answered “no” to the question “Is the process completed?” (Id.) Plaintiff states “[s]ome of us are being told not to file a 602 grievance because we will be given a compass risk assessment score. Staff and inmates are testing positive for Covid-19, and 602 appeals would put us all at great risk of contracting the virus. We don’t have enough time.” (Id.) (citation omitted). Thus, it appears on the face of the complaint that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies before filing suit. Although it appears Plaintiff contends he is excused from exhausting the administrative remedies, in this instance, and at this time, the Court need not determine the issue. Irrespec

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