(PC) Wilson v. High Desert State Prison

• Court: District Court, E.D. California
• Decided: February 28, 2025
• Docket: 2:25-cv-00309
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHRISTOPHER JOHN WILSON, No. 2:25-cv-0309 CSK P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE 14 HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 I. INTRODUCTION 18 Plaintiff appears pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 19 42 U S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 20 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. 21 Plaintiff submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 22 Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. Plaintiff is required to pay the 23 statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By separate 24 order, the Court will direct the appropriate agency to collect twenty percent of the preceding 25 month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account and forward it to the Clerk of the Court 26 each time the amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 27 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). 28 /// 1 For the following reasons, plaintiff is ordered to show cause why this action should not be 2 dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies; in the alternative, he may file an 3 amended complaint provided he has exhausted administrative remedies as to at least one claim 4 prior to January 23, 2025, or he may seek voluntary dismissal if he has not exhausted 5 administrative remedies as to any claim by January 23, 2025. 6 II. SCREENING STANDARDS 7 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 8 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 9 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner raised claims that are legally 10 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 11 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). 12 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 13 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 14 Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous when it is based on an 15 indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 16 490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully 17 pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th 18 Cir. 1989), superseded by statute as stated in Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (9th Cir. 19 2000) (“[A] judge may dismiss [in forma pauperis] claims which are based on indisputably 20 meritless legal theories or whose factual contentions are clearly baseless.”); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 21 1227. 22 Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and plain 23 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the 24 defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic 25 Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 26 In order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more than “a 27 formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual allegations 28 sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic, 550 U.S. at 555. 1 However, “[s]pecific facts are not necessary; the statement [of facts] need only ‘give the 2 defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Erickson v. 3 Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (quoting Bell Atlantic, 550 U.S. at 555, citations and internal 4 quotations marks omitted). In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as 5 true the allegations of the complaint in question, Erickson, 551 U.S. at 93, and construe the 6 pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 7 (1974), overruled on other grounds, Davis v. Scherer, 468 U.S. 183 (1984). 8 III. BACKGROUND 9 Plaintiff filed his complaint on January 23, 2025. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff raises claims 10 concerning medical treatment at High Desert State Prison (“HDSP”), and his need for: spinal 11 surgery since he arrived at HDSP on September 24, 2024; x-ray and other medical treatment for 12 his right hand injury suffered on November 18, 2024; and medical treatment for an ankle injury 13 incurred on January 4, 2025. (Id. at 5-8.) Named as defendants are HDSP, Warden of HDSP, B. 14 Wheeler, ADA Coordinator, Dr. Stokmanis, hiring authorities, and “others.” (Id. at 1, 5.) In his 15 complaint, plaintiff confirms that there is a grievance procedure at HDSP, claims he has filed an 16 appeal or grievance concerning all of the claims in his complaint, and answers yes to the question 17 “Is the process completed?” (Id. at 2.) But plaintiff then writes “not yet still in process at this 18 time on a few grievance log #’s, but the ADA disability accommodation is final and was 19 approved,” but as of January 2, 2025, nothing has been done. (Id.) Plaintiff acknowledges that 20 the “court may not excuse an inmate’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies prior to bringing 21 suit under the PLRA even to take ‘special’ circumstances into account.” (Id. at 12.) 22 IV. LEGAL STANDARDS REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE EXHAUSTION 23 Section 1997e(a) of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PLRA”) provides that 24 “[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any 25 other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until 26 such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a); Ross v. 27 Blake, 578 U.S. 632, 643 (2016). Prisoners are required to exhaust the available administrative 28 remedies prior to filing suit. See Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 211 (2007). The exhaustion 1 requirement applies to all prisoner suits relating to prison life. See Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 2 516, 532 (2002). As discussed in Ross, there are no “special circumstances” exceptions to the 3 exhaustion requirement. 578 U.S. at 639. 4 When it is clear on the face of the complaint that a plaintiff failed to exhaust 5 administrative remedies, dismissal without prejudice is proper. Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 6 1166 (9th Cir. 2014); Davis v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr. and Rehab., 474 F. App’x 606, 607 (9th Cir. 7 2012) (district court properly dismissed case where it was clear on face of complaint that 8 administrative remedies were not exhausted prior to filing). 9 VI. CALIFORNIA’S ADMINISTRATIVE EXHAUSTION PROCESS 10 The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) provides inmates 11 the right to administratively grieve and appeal any “policy, decision, action, condition, or 12 omission by the [CDCR] or departmental staff that causes some measurable harm to their health, 13 safety, or welfare.” 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3481(a) (eff. June 1, 2020).1 14 The healthcare grievance process consists of two levels of review. At the first level, the 15 inmate submits the claim by filling out Form CDCR 602 HC's Section A and submitting the Form 16 602 to the institution’s Health Care Grievance Office (“HCGO”). 15 Cal. Code Regs. 17 § 3999.227(b). In Section A, the inmate is required to “document clearly and coherently all 18 information known and available to him or her regarding the issue,” including “any involved staff 19 member’s last name, first initial, title or position, and the date(s) and description of their 20 involvement.” 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3999.227(g). If the inmate does not have information to 21 identify the involved staff member(s), the prison regulations instruct the inmate to “provide any 22 other available information that may assist in processing the health care grievance.” 15 Cal. Code 23 Regs. § 3999.227(g)(2). The HCGO shall process the grievance and return it to plaintiff within 24 45 business days after the grievance is received. 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3999.228(i). If an inmate 25 is dissatisfied with the first level/HCGO decision, the inmate may appeal the decision to the 26 1 The regulations addressing the administrative remedies process for California prisoners were 27 substantially rewritten in 2020. On March 25, 2020, and effective June 1, 2020, 15 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 3084-3084.9 were repealed and replaced with the renumbered and amended provisions 28 at sections 3480 through 3487. 1 second and final level by completing and signing CDCR Form 602 HC Section B, and submitting 2 the appeal to the Health Care Correspondence and Appeals Branch (“HCCAB”) within 30 3 calendar days, plus five calendar days for mailing from the date noted on the CDCR 602 HC in 4 the “Date closed and mailed/delivered to grievant” section on page 1 of 2. 15 Cal. Code Regs. 5 § 3999.229(a). The HCCAB review constitutes the final disposition of a health care grievance 6 and exhausts administrative remedies. 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3999.230(h). Prisoners cannot add 7 new claims during the grievance process. 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3999.229(a)(3). However, the 8 HCCAB may, in its discretion, address new issues not previously included in the original health 9 care grievance. 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3999.230(i). A headquarters/HCCAB level disposition 10 addressing new issues exhausts administrative remedies. 15 Cal. Code Regs. § 3999.230(j). Only 11 issues addressed in the headquarters/HCCAB level review are deemed exhausted. 15 Cal. Code 12 Regs. § 3999.230(i)–(j). 13 VI. ANALYSIS 14 It is clear from the face of the complaint that plaintiff did not exhaust available 15 administrative remedies as to all of his claims prior to filing this action. The United States 16 Supreme Court requires prisoners to “properly exhaust administrative remedies” by following the 17 procedural rules defined “by the prison grievance process.” Bock, 549 U.S. at 218. As set forth 18 above in detail, California prisoners are required to pursue administrative remedies by filing a 19 Form 602 grievance through the final level of review before filing a complaint in federal court. 20 Filing a request for accommodation under the ADA does not exhaust administrative remedies for 21 purposes of bringing a § 1983 action in federal court because it does not comply with the required 22 CDCR administrative grievance process. 23 However, because plaintiff also states that “a few grievances were still in process” and 24 “other grievances still in process” (ECF No. 1 at 2), it may be that one or more grievances 25 addressing plaintiff’s medical needs may have been resolved at the final level of review at the 26 time plaintiff filed this action on January 23, 2025. If plaintiff exhausted one or more of those 27 grievances by January 23, 2025, plaintiff may amend his complaint to raise only those claims that 28 were exhausted by January 23, 2025. If he has exhausted at least one of his claims, plaintiff is 1 cautioned that failure to amend to only raise such exhausted claim will only delay this action. 2 Accordingly, plaintiff is ordered to show cause why this action should not be dismissed 3 for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The dismissal would be without prejudice. 4 Therefore, if plaintiff exhausts his administrative remedies in the future, he could refile the 5 complaint. If plaintiff had not exhausted any of his claims prior to January 23, 2025, he may opt 6 to voluntarily dismiss this action, which would also be without prejudice. 7 VII. GUIDANCE REGARDING AMENDMENT 8 If plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he is informed that he is not required to 9 provide exhibits, and he is not required to cite legal authorities. Rather, plaintiff should focus on 10 the facts supporting his claim; that is, who did what to violate his constitutional rights. To state a 11 claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) the violation of a federal constitutional or 12 statutory right; and (2) that the violation was committed by a person acting under the color of 13 state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th 14 Cir. 2002). An individual defendant is not liable on a civil rights claim unless the facts establish 15 the defendant’s personal involvement in the constitutional deprivation or a causal connection 16 between the defendant’s wrongful conduct and the alleged constitutional deprivation. See Hansen 17 v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743-44 (9th Cir. 18 1978). That is, plaintiff may not sue any official on the theory that the official is liable for the 19 unconstitutional conduct of his or her subordinates. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). 20 The requisite causal connection between a supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the violation of the 21 prisoner’s constitutional rights can be established in a number of ways, including by 22 demonstrating that a supervisor’s own culpable action or inaction in the training, supervision, or 23 control of his subordinates was a cause of plaintiff’s injury. Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1208 24 (9th Cir. 2011). 25 Plaintiff is encouraged to use the Court’s § 1983 complaint form to assist him in filing an 26 amended complaint raising only claims for which he has exhausted his administrative remedies 27 by January 23, 2025, if any, and in setting forth only facts, not legal citations or arguments. 28 If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the conditions 1 about which he complains resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See, e.g., 2 West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). Also, the complaint must allege in specific terms how 3 each named defendant is involved. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371 (1976). There can be no 4 liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a 5 defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371; May v. Enomoto, 633 6 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980). Furthermore, vague and conclusory allegations of official 7 participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 8 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 9 In addition, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to 10 make plaintiff’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended 11 complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This requirement exists 12 because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Ramirez 13 v. Cnty. of San Bernardino, 806 F.3d 1002, 1008 (9th Cir. 2015) (“an ‘amended complaint 14 supersedes the original, the latter being treated thereafter as non-existent.’” (internal citation 15 omitted)). Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no longer serves any 16 function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, each claim 17 and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 18 A. Eighth Amendment Medical Claims 19 Plaintiff is provided the following standards governing Eighth Amendment medical 20 claims. A prisoner’s claim of inadequate medical care does not constitute cruel and unusual 21 punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment unless the mistreatment rises to the level of 22 “deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.” Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 23 2006) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)). Deliberate indifference may be 24 shown by the denial, delay, or intentional interference with medical treatment or by the way in 25 which medical care is provided. Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 394 (9th Cir. 1988). 26 The two-part test for deliberate indifference requires plaintiff to show (1) “a ‘serious medical 27 need’ by demonstrating that failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further 28 significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,’” and (2) “the defendant’s 1 response to the need was deliberately indifferent.” Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. A defendant does not 2 act in a deliberately indifferent manner unless the defendant “knows of and disregards an 3 excessive risk to inmate health or safety.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). 4 Negligence allegations are insufficient. Deliberate indifference “requires more than 5 ordinary lack of due care.” Colwell v. Bannister, 763 F.3d 1060, 1066 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting 6 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835). The indifference to the prisoner’s medical needs must be substantial -- 7 negligence, inadvertence, or differences in medical judgment or opinion do not rise to the level of 8 a constitutional violation. Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004) (negligence 9 constituting medical malpractice is not sufficient to establish an Eighth Amendment violation). 10 B. California State Law Claims 11 Finally, plaintiff raises a medical malpractice claim under state law. (ECF No. 1 at 18.) 12 Although the court may exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims, plaintiff must 13 first have a cognizable claim for relief under federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367. Moreover, if a 14 plaintiff pursues state law claims, the plaintiff must clearly identify each claim and demonstrate 15 compliance with the California Government Claims Act as to each claim. Cal. Gov’t Code § 810, 16 et seq. The Government Claims Act requires that a tort claim against a public entity or its 17 employees be presented to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board 18 no more than six months after the cause of action accrues. Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 905.2, 910, 911.2, 19 945.4, 950, 950.2 (2011). A plaintiff may file a written application for leave to file a late claim 20 up to one year after the cause of action accrues. Cal. Gov’t Code § 911.4. 21 Compliance with this “claim presentation requirement” constitutes an element of a cause 22 of action for damages against a public entity or official. State v. Superior Court (Bodde), 32 Cal. 23 4th 1234, 1244 (2004). Thus, timely presentation of a claim under the Government Claims Act 24 must be pled in the complaint. Id. at 1237, 1240; see also Mangold v. Cal. Pub. Utils. Comm’n, 25 67 F.3d. 1470, 1477 (9th Cir. 1995). The plaintiff must present facts demonstrating compliance, 26 rather than simply conclusions suggesting as much. Shirk v. Vista Unified School Dist., 42 Cal. 27 4th 201, 209 (2007), as modified (Oct. 10, 2007). Such requirements also apply to state law 28 claims included in a federal action under § 1983. See Volis v. Housing Auth. of the City of L.A. 1 Emps., 670 F. App’x 543, 544 (9th Cir. 2016). 2 To be timely, a claim must be presented to the Board “not later than six months after the 3 accrual of the cause of action.” Cal. Govt. Code § 911.2. Thereafter, “any suit brought against a 4 public entity” must be commenced no more than six months after the public entity rejects the 5 claim. Cal. Govt. Code, § 945.6, subd. (a)(1). Federal courts must require compliance with the 6 California Government Claims Act for pendant state law claims that seek damages against state 7 employees or entities. Willis v. Reddin, 418 F.2d 702, 704 (9th Cir. 1969); Mangold, 67 F.3d at 8 1477. State tort claims included in a federal action, filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, may 9 proceed only if the claims were presented in compliance with the applicable exhaustion 10 requirements. Karim-Panahi v. Los Angeles Police Department, 839 F.2d 621, 627 (9th Cir. 11 1988); Butler v. Los Angeles County, 617 F. Supp. 2d 994, 1001 (C.D. Cal. 2008). 12 VIII. ORDERS 13 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 14 1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 6) is granted. 15 2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. Plaintiff 16 is assessed an initial partial filing fee in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 17 § 1915(b)(1). All fees shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to the 18 Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed concurrently 19 herewith. 20 3. Within thirty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall show cause why this action 21 should not be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies; in the alternative: 22 (a) plaintiff may file an amended complaint raising only claims for which he 23 exhausted administrative remedies by January 23, 2025. If plaintiff chooses to file an amended 24 complaint raising only exhausted claims, he should complete the attached Notice of Election and 25 submit the Notice and his amended complaint to the court. Plaintiff’s amended complaint shall 26 comply with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and 27 the Local Rules of Practice. The amended complaint must also bear the docket number assigned 28 to this case and must be labeled “Amended Complaint.” Plaintiff shall include only facts, no 1 | legal arguments or citations. 2 OR 3 (b) if plaintiff has not exhausted administrative remedies as to any claim by 4 | January 23, 2025, he may request voluntary dismissal of this action. 5 4. Failure to respond to this order will result in a recommendation that plaintiff’ s 6 || complaint be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. 7 5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the form for filing a civil rights 8 | complaint by a prisoner. 9 Dated: February 28, 2025 10 cq ~ : CHI SOO KIM UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE /l/wils0309.fte.sua 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 CHRISTOPHER JOHN WILSON, No. 2:25-cv-0309 CSK P 11 Plaintiff, 12 v. NOTICE OF ELECTION 13 HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON, et al., 14 Defendants. 15 16 17 Plaintiff submits the following document in compliance with the court’s order 18 filed on ______________ (date). 19 Amended Complaint 20 (Check this box if submitting an Amended Complaint) 21 OR 22 Plaintiff voluntarily dismisses this action without 23 prejudice. 24 (Check this box if plaintiff has not exhausted administrative 25 remedies as to any claim by January 23, 2025.) 26 DATED: ________________________________ 27 Plaintiff 28