1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHRISTOPHER HEIM, No. 2:21-cv-1077 AC P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 V. VOVKULIN, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 18 has requested authority pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF Nos. 1, 19 2, 5. This proceeding was referred to the undersigned by Local Rule 302 and 28 U.S.C. § 20 636(b)(1)(B). Plaintiff has also filed a “Motion for Order of Stay,” ECF No. 8, which seeks an 21 order preventing prison authorities from transferring him to another prison. The undersigned 22 construes this motion as one for preliminary injunctive relief. 23 For the reasons stated below, plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis will be 24 granted, and he will be given the opportunity either to proceed on the cognizable claims in his 25 complaint or to amend the complaint. The undersigned will also recommend that plaintiff’s 26 motion for injunctive relief be denied. 27 //// 28 //// 1 I. APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 2 Plaintiff has submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 3 1915(a). See ECF Nos. 2, 5. Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be 4 granted. 5 Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 6 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By this order, plaintiff will be assessed an initial partial filing fee in 7 accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct 8 the appropriate agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and 9 forward it to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments 10 of twenty percent of the preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. 11 These payments will be forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time 12 the amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 13 1915(b)(2). 14 II. SCREENING REQUIREMENT 15 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 16 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 17 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 18 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 19 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)-(2). 20 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 21 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 22 Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an 23 indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 24 490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully 25 pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th 26 Cir. 1989); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. 27 A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon 28 which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that a plaintiff can prove no set of facts in 1 support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 2 U.S. 69, 73 (1984) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957)); Palmer v. Roosevelt 3 Lake Log Owners Ass’n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a complaint under 4 this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, Hosp. 5 Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light 6 most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff’s favor, Jenkins v. 7 McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 8 III. PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT 9 Plaintiff, an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison (“MCSP”), names two MCSP employees 10 as defendants in this action: V. Vovkulin, a floor staff correctional officer, and P. Covello, the 11 warden. ECF No. 1 at 1-2. Plaintiff alleges that defendants failed to protect him and keep him 12 safe from contracting the COVID-19 virus in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. Id. at 5. 13 Specifically, plaintiff contends that for months, defendant Vovkulin failed to wear his personal 14 protective equipment (“PPE”) and mask or to wear them correctly, and that defendant Covello 15 failed to enforce the COVID-19 procedures and PPE regulations. Id. at 3, 5. 16 On December 4, 2020, Vovkulin came to work infected with COVID-19, and the next 17 day, plaintiff was told that Vovkulin had tested positive for the virus. Shortly thereafter, plaintiff 18 was quarantined, and he, too, contracted the virus. Id. at 5. 19 Plaintiff claims that Vovkulin’s failure to wear his protective gear led to him becoming 20 infected with COVID-19 and led to the spread of COVID-19 throughout MCSP, endangering the 21 entire prison population. Id. For these reasons, plaintiff contends that Vovkulin’s decision to 22 ignore procedures and regulations created to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as Warden 23 Covello’s failure to enforce COVID-19 prevention directives, constituted a failure to protect him 24 and was a threat to his safety in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. Id. Plaintiff asesrts 25 that Officer Vovkulin’s disregard of COVID protocols also constituted actionable negligence. Id. 26 at 3. 27 Plaintiff alleges that COVID-19 has damaged his body both physically and mentally. Id. 28 at 5. He was damaged psychologically because he felt like he was going to die. Id. The virus 1 made him vomit, gave him diarrhea, and took away his appetite. Id. He has experienced weight 2 loss, constant headaches and body aches. Id. at 3. 3 IV. CLAIMS FOR WHICH A RESPONSE WILL BE REQUIRED 4 Construing the complaint in the light most favorable to plaintiff as the law requires,1 it 5 states cognizable claims against defendant Vovkulin under the Eighth Amendment and for 6 negligence under state law. Accordingly, Officer Vovkulin will be required to respond to the 7 complaint. 8 A. Eighth Amendment: Deliberate Indifference to Health and Safety 9 1.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHRISTOPHER HEIM, No. 2:21-cv-1077 AC P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 V. VOVKULIN, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 18 has requested authority pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF Nos. 1, 19 2, 5. This proceeding was referred to the undersigned by Local Rule 302 and 28 U.S.C. § 20 636(b)(1)(B). Plaintiff has also filed a “Motion for Order of Stay,” ECF No. 8, which seeks an 21 order preventing prison authorities from transferring him to another prison. The undersigned 22 construes this motion as one for preliminary injunctive relief. 23 For the reasons stated below, plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis will be 24 granted, and he will be given the opportunity either to proceed on the cognizable claims in his 25 complaint or to amend the complaint. The undersigned will also recommend that plaintiff’s 26 motion for injunctive relief be denied. 27 //// 28 //// 1 I. APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 2 Plaintiff has submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 3 1915(a). See ECF Nos. 2, 5. Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be 4 granted. 5 Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 6 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By this order, plaintiff will be assessed an initial partial filing fee in 7 accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct 8 the appropriate agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and 9 forward it to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments 10 of twenty percent of the preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. 11 These payments will be forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time 12 the amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 13 1915(b)(2). 14 II. SCREENING REQUIREMENT 15 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 16 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 17 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 18 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 19 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)-(2). 20 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 21 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 22 Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an 23 indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 24 490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully 25 pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th 26 Cir. 1989); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. 27 A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon 28 which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that a plaintiff can prove no set of facts in 1 support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 2 U.S. 69, 73 (1984) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957)); Palmer v. Roosevelt 3 Lake Log Owners Ass’n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a complaint under 4 this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, Hosp. 5 Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light 6 most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff’s favor, Jenkins v. 7 McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 8 III. PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT 9 Plaintiff, an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison (“MCSP”), names two MCSP employees 10 as defendants in this action: V. Vovkulin, a floor staff correctional officer, and P. Covello, the 11 warden. ECF No. 1 at 1-2. Plaintiff alleges that defendants failed to protect him and keep him 12 safe from contracting the COVID-19 virus in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. Id. at 5. 13 Specifically, plaintiff contends that for months, defendant Vovkulin failed to wear his personal 14 protective equipment (“PPE”) and mask or to wear them correctly, and that defendant Covello 15 failed to enforce the COVID-19 procedures and PPE regulations. Id. at 3, 5. 16 On December 4, 2020, Vovkulin came to work infected with COVID-19, and the next 17 day, plaintiff was told that Vovkulin had tested positive for the virus. Shortly thereafter, plaintiff 18 was quarantined, and he, too, contracted the virus. Id. at 5. 19 Plaintiff claims that Vovkulin’s failure to wear his protective gear led to him becoming 20 infected with COVID-19 and led to the spread of COVID-19 throughout MCSP, endangering the 21 entire prison population. Id. For these reasons, plaintiff contends that Vovkulin’s decision to 22 ignore procedures and regulations created to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as Warden 23 Covello’s failure to enforce COVID-19 prevention directives, constituted a failure to protect him 24 and was a threat to his safety in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. Id. Plaintiff asesrts 25 that Officer Vovkulin’s disregard of COVID protocols also constituted actionable negligence. Id. 26 at 3. 27 Plaintiff alleges that COVID-19 has damaged his body both physically and mentally. Id. 28 at 5. He was damaged psychologically because he felt like he was going to die. Id. The virus 1 made him vomit, gave him diarrhea, and took away his appetite. Id. He has experienced weight 2 loss, constant headaches and body aches. Id. at 3. 3 IV. CLAIMS FOR WHICH A RESPONSE WILL BE REQUIRED 4 Construing the complaint in the light most favorable to plaintiff as the law requires,1 it 5 states cognizable claims against defendant Vovkulin under the Eighth Amendment and for 6 negligence under state law. Accordingly, Officer Vovkulin will be required to respond to the 7 complaint. 8 A. Eighth Amendment: Deliberate Indifference to Health and Safety 9 1. Applicable Law 10 “[W]hen the State takes a person into its custody and holds him there against his will, the 11 Constitution imposes upon it a corresponding duty to assume some responsibility for his safety 12 and general well-being.” DeShaney v. Winnebago County, 489 U.S. 198, 199-200 (1989) (citing 13 Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 317 (1982) (“When a person is institutionalized – and 14 wholly dependent on the State [,] . . . a duty to provide certain services and care does exist.”)). 15 The DeShaney Court further explained: 16 [W]hen the State by affirmative exercise of its power so restrains an individual’s liberty that it renders him unable to care for himself, and at the same time fails to 17 provide for his basic human needs – e.g., food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and 18 reasonable safety – it transgresses the substantive limits on state action set by the Eighth Amendment and the Due Process Clause. 19 20 DeShaney, 489 U.S. at 200 (citations omitted). 21 The Eighth Amendment requires prison officials to “take reasonable measures to 22 guarantee the safety of [ ] inmates.” Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 526-27 (1984). “[A] 23 claimant need not show that a prison official acted or failed to act believing that harm would 24 actually befall an inmate; it is enough that the official acted or failed to act despite his knowledge 25 of a substantial risk of serious harm.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 842 (1994). The 26 objective prong of the deliberate indifference test may be satisfied by a showing that the inmate 27 1 See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976); Akhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1212 (9th Cir. 28 2012). 1 was exposed to a substantial risk of some range of serious harm; the harm actually suffered need 2 not have been the most likely result among range of outcomes. Lemire v. California Dep’t of 3 Corr. & Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1076 (9th Cir. 2013). Actual knowledge of the risk can be 4 established by showing that it was “longstanding, pervasive, well-documented, or expressly noted 5 by prison officials in the past, and the circumstances suggest that the defendant-official being 6 sued had been exposed to information concerning the risk and thus must have known about it.” 7 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 842-48 (internal quotation marks omitted). 8 Whether the substantial risk of harm comes from a single source or from multiple sources 9 does not matter. “The question under the Eighth Amendment is whether prison officials, acting 10 with deliberate indifference, exposed a prisoner to a sufficiently substantial risk of serious 11 damage to his future health.” Farmer, 511 U.S. at 843 (citing Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 12 33-34 (1993) (stating Eighth Amendment protects against future harm)). 13 2. Discussion 14 With respect to Plaintiff’s allegation that there was a need for Officer Vovkulin to 15 properly wear his PPE and to observe COVID-19 protocols, the court takes judicial notice of the 16 following relevant background information, most of which was readily available to the public 17 during the period in question. Discovered in 2019, COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease.2 It 18 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected 19 person coughs, sneezes or talks.3 For people who have symptoms, illness can range from mild to 20 severe.4 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that since 2019, in the United 21 States, over seventy-nine million people have contracted the virus, and over nine hundred sixty- 22 five thousand people have died.5 23 2 See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). 24 Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dep’t of Hlth and Hum. Servs, CDC (Mar. 21, 2022), https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/covid-19/index.html. 25 3 See id. 26 4 See id. 5 See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID Data Tracker. Trends in Number of 27 COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the U.S. Reported to CDC, by State/Territory, Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dep’t of Hlth and Hum. Servs, CDC (Mar. 21, 2022), https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data- 28 tracker/support.html. 1 To combat the spread of the disease, since early 2020, basic measures such as wearing 2 masks, social distancing, and thorough handwashing have been recommended in prisons.6 In the 3 past year, tiered vaccination has also become available to combat the continued proliferation of 4 the virus.7 In many places across the nation, particularly in federal, state and local governments, 5 these measures have been mandated in enclosed places of business as well as in the workplace. 6 For example, in November 2020, just before Plaintiff contracted COVID-19, the California 7 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) received a directive from California 8 Correctional Health Care Services regarding the expectations and requirements related to the 9 wearing of PPE.8 That document required all CDCR employees to wear masks at all times with 10 few exceptions.9 11 In this case, plaintiff alleges that for months after COVID-19 had been determined to 12 create a substantial risk of serious harm to inmates, defendant Vovkulin failed to follow COVID- 13 19 suppression protocols created by the State and/or prison officials, i.e., wearing and/or properly 14 using provided PPE when interacting with him and other inmates. See ECF No. 1 at 5. Given the 15 highly contagious and potentially lethal nature of the virus, as well as the fact that it was well 16 known in November 2020 – just before Vovkulin (and then plaintiff) contracted COVID-19 in 17 December 2020 – that wearing PPE could significantly reduce the spread of the virus, plaintiff 18 has stated a cognizable claim that Vovkulin’s failure to wear his PPE when interacting with him 19 constituted deliberate indifference to his health and safety in violation of his Eighth Amendment 20
21 6 See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Guidance on Management of COVID- 19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities (published Apr. 9, 2020), Atlanta, GA: CDC (Mar. 22 21, 2022), https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/86815. 23 7 See California Dep’t of Pub. Hlth. California Has Moved Beyond the Blueprint (published May 18, 2021), Sacramento, CA (Mar. 21, 2022), 24 https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID- 19/Dimmer-Framework-September_2020.pdf. 25 8 See California Correctional Health Care Services. Authorized Facial Coverings for All 26 Employees, Contractors and Visitors Entering CDCR Institutions and DJJ Youth Facilities – Procedure Mask Distribution and Use (Mar. 21, 2022), https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/covid19/wp- 27 content/uploads/sites/197/2020/11/PROCEDURE-MASK-DISTRIBUTION-AND-USE_FINAL- dated-11.19.20-Signed.pdf. 28 9 See id. 1 rights. Therefore, defendant Vovkulin will be required to respond to this claim. 2 B. State Law Negligence Claim 3 The complaint presents a negligence claim against defendant Vovkulin only. ECF No. 1 4 at 3. To state a claim for negligence under California law,10 a plaintiff must show: (1) a 5 defendant’s obligation to conform to a certain standard of conduct (duty); (2) failure to conform 6 to that standard (breach of duty); (3) a close connection between the defendant’s conduct and 7 resulting injuries (proximate cause), and (4) actual loss (damages). See Corales v. Bennett, 567 8 F.3d 554, 572 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing McGarry v. Sax, 158 Cal.App.4th 983, 994 (2008)). 9 For purposes of screening, the same facts that support an Eighth Amendment claim 10 against defendant Vovkulin also support a state law negligence claim. The court has taken 11 judicial notice of the fact that in November 2020, before plaintiff contracted COVID-19, prison 12 employees were given directives to use PPE to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus and 13 information about how to do so.11 The allegation that defendant Vovkulin failed to follow these 14 directives adequately supports breach of a duty. Vovkulin’s contraction of the virus in December 15 2020 and plaintiff’s infection shortly after interacting with him – as evidenced by Plaintiff being 16 required to quarantine after it had been determined that Vovkulin had tested positive for the virus 17 – adequately demonstrates proximate cause. Finally, plaintiff’s weight loss, constant head and 18 body aches, vomiting and diarrhea experienced because of COVID-19 establish actual loss or 19 damages. This claim is suitable for service. 20 V. FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM 21 Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim does not lie against Warden Covello. The 22 complaint’s only allegation regarding Covello is that he “failed to enforce regulations for his 23 10 Where, as here, a district court has original jurisdiction in a civil action, it has supplemental 24 jurisdiction over all other claims in the action related to those over which the court has original jurisdiction if they are part of the same case or controversy. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). A district 25 court’s exercise of supplemental jurisdiction is discretionary. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c). 26 11 See California Correctional Health Care Services. Authorized Facial Coverings for All Employees, Contractors and Visitors Entering CDCR Institutions and DJJ Youth Facilities – 27 Procedure Mask Distribution and Use (Mar. 21, 2022), https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/covid19/wp- content/uploads/sites/197/2020/11/PROCEDURE-MASK-DISTRIBUTION-AND-USE_FINAL- 28 dated-11.19.20-Signed.pdf. 1 officers to wear PPEs.” ECF No. 1 at 5. To state a claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must 2 show that each defendant personally participated the deprivation of his rights. See Ashcroft v. 3 Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009); see Ewing v. City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 4 2009); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). Plaintiff does not allege that Covello 5 was present for, personally involved in, or affirmatively aware of Officer Vovkulin’s allegedly 6 high-risk interactions with plaintiff. 7 To the extent that plaintiff seeks to hold the Warden liable because of his general 8 supervisory responsibilities, the “failure to enforce” allegation is insufficient. No defendant can 9 be liable merely because he or she held a position of general authority or was responsible for 10 supervising others; there is no respondeat superior liability under Section 1983. Taylor v. List, 11 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989); see also Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676. Absent personal 12 participation in a violation of rights, a supervisor or administrator is liable only if there is a 13 sufficient causal connection between the supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the constitutional 14 violation. Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Snow v. McDaniel, 15 681 F.3d 978, 989 (9th Cir. 2012)). Supervisory liability exists even without overt personal 16 participation in the offensive act if supervisory officials implement a policy so deficient that the 17 policy “itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights” and is “the moving force of a constitutional 18 violation.” Id. (citing Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989)). Plaintiff’s complaint 19 is devoid of factual allegations showing that Warden Covello implemented a policy that 20 repudiated the rights of inmates to health and safety, or that otherwise caused plaintiff’s exposure 21 to COVID-19 within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 22 Plaintiff will be provided an opportunity to amend this claim if he wishes to do so. In the 23 alternative, plaintiff may elect to proceed against Officer Vovkulin only and dismiss Warden 24 Covello. 25 VI. LEAVE TO AMEND 26 For the reasons set forth above, the Court finds that the complaint does not state a 27 cognizable Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against defendant Warden P. 28 Covello. However, it appears that plaintiff may be able to allege facts to remedy this, and he will 1 be given the opportunity to amend the complaint if he desires. 2 Plaintiff may proceed forthwith to serve defendant V. Vovkulin on his Eighth Amendment 3 and negligence claims. In the alternative, plaintiff may delay serving any defendants at this time 4 and instead amend the complaint. 5 Plaintiff will be required to complete and return the attached notice advising the court how 6 he wishes to proceed. If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, he will be given thirty days to 7 do so. If plaintiff elects to proceed on his cognizable claims against defendant V. Vovkulin 8 without amending the complaint, the court will proceed to serve the complaint. A decision to go 9 forward without amending the complaint will be considered a voluntary dismissal without 10 prejudice of defendant Covello. 11 If plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he must demonstrate how the conditions 12 about which he complains resulted in a deprivation of his constitutional rights. Rizzo v. Goode, 13 423 U.S. 362, 370-71 (1976). Also, the complaint must allege in specific terms how each named 14 defendant is involved. Arnold v. Int’l Bus. Machs. Corp., 637 F.2d 1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981). 15 There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or 16 connection between a defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See id.; Johnson v. Duffy, 17 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). Furthermore, “[v]ague and conclusory allegations of official 18 participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 19 268 (9th Cir. 1982) (citations omitted). 20 Plaintiff is also informed that the Court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make 21 his amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended complaint be 22 complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a general rule, an 23 amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 24 1967), overruled in part on different grounds by Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 928 25 (9th Cir. 2012). Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original complaint no longer 26 serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, 27 each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 28 //// 1 VI. PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 2 Plaintiff has filed a motion for injunctive relief. ECF No. 8. He asks the Court to prevent 3 staff at MCSP from moving him to administrative segregation or to another prison, contending 4 that they may do so in order to prevent him from proceeding with this complaint against MCSP 5 staff. Id. at 1. 6 A. Standards Governing Preliminary Injunctive Relief 7 In evaluating the merits of a motion for preliminary injunctive relief, the court considers 8 whether the movant has shown that “he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to 9 suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his 10 favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Winter v. Natural Resources Defense 11 Council, 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008); see also Stormans, Inc. v. Selecky, 586 F.3d 1109, 1127 (9th Cir. 12 2009). The propriety of injunctive relief hinges on a significant threat of irreparable injury that 13 must be imminent in nature. Caribbean Marine Serv. Co. v. Baldridge, 844 F.2d 668, 674 (9th 14 Cir. 1988); see also Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 15 2011). 16 B. Analysis 17 Plaintiff contends that his placement in administrative segregation and/or transfer to a 18 different prison will prevent him from proceeding with this action. See ECF No. 8 at 1. The 19 contention that either event would prevent plaintiff from being able to “focus on [his] complaint” 20 (see id. at 2) is speculative, and speculative injury will not support injunctive relief. See 21 Caribbean Marine Servs. Co. v. Baldrige, 844 F.2d 668, 674 (9th Cir. 1988) (citing Goldie’s 22 Bookstore, Inc. v. Superior Court, 739 F.2d 466, 472 (9th Cir. 1984)). Even if the asserted injury 23 were not speculative, it would hardly constitute the irreparable harm that is required for injunctive 24 relief to issue. 25 Moreover, plaintiff has no right to be free from placement in administrative segregation or 26 to be transferred to a different institution. See Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 225 (1976); 27 Grayson v. Rison, 945 F.2d 1064, 1067 (9th Cir. 1991). Prison officials are vested with broad 28 authority to transfer inmates, Meachum, 427 U.S. at 227, and courts must afford appropriate 1 deference and flexibility to state officials who are trying to manage a volatile environment. See 2 Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 482 (1995); Myron v. Terhune, 476 F.3d 716, 719 (9th Cir. 3 2007). In sum, the day-to-day operation of state prisons is not the business of federal judges. 4 Lucero v. Russell, 741 F.2d 1129, 1130 (9th Cir. 1984) (citing Meachum, 427 U.S. at 228-29). 5 Accordingly, the balance of equitable considerations does not tip in plaintiff’s favor. 6 For all these reasons, the undersigned recommends that plaintiff’s request for injunctive 7 relief be denied. 8 VII. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY OF THIS ORDER FOR A PRO SE LITIGANT 9 Your request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. You will not be required to pay the 10 entire filing fee immediately. 11 You have stated claims against Officer Vovkulin for negligence and for violation of your 12 Eighth Amendment rights. You have not stated an Eighth Amendment claim against Warden 13 Covello, because you have not provided facts showing that he caused the violation of your Eighth 14 Amendment rights. The Warden can only be liable if he knew of Officer Vovkulin’s COVID-19 15 protocol violations and failed to act to prevent them, or if he created a COVID-19 policy at 16 MCSP that itself clearly violated your constitutional right to health and safety. 17 You have a choice to make. You may either: (1) proceed immediately on your claims 18 against defendant Vovkulin and drop your Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim 19 against defendant Covello, or (2) try to amend the complaint to fix the deliberate indifference 20 claim against Covello. 21 If you want to go forward without amending the complaint, you will be voluntarily 22 dismissing without prejudice your Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Covello. If you 23 choose to amend your complaint, the amended complaint must include all the claims you want to 24 make, including the claims that have already been found to state a claim, because the court will 25 not look at the claims or information in the original complaint. Any claims not in the amended 26 complaint will not be considered. 27 You must complete the attached notification showing what you want to do and return it to 28 the court. Once the court receives notice, it will issue an order telling you what you need to do 1 next (for example, file an amended complaint or wait for defendant Vovkulin to be served on the 2 viable claims). 3 The magistrate judge is recommending denial of your request that MCSP officials be 4 prevented from placing you in administrative segregation or transferring you. Orders granting 5 you relief before you have won your case are limited to situations in which you are facing 6 imminent and irreparable harm. Also, you do not have a constitutional right to be free from 7 administrative segregation or transfer. 8 CONCLUSION 9 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 10 1. The Clerk of the Court shall randomly assign a District Judge to this action. 11 2. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is GRANTED. 12 3. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. Plaintiff 13 is assessed an initial partial filing fee in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). 14 All fees shall be collected and paid in accordance with this Court’s order to the Director of the 15 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith. 16 4. The Court has screened the complaint and finds that plaintiff has not stated a § 1983 17 claim against defendant Warden P. Covello under the Eighth Amendment. 18 5. Plaintiff has the choice to either proceed immediately on his Eighth Amendment and 19 negligence claims against defendant V. Vovkulin, or to amend the complaint. 20 6. Within fourteen days of service of this order, plaintiff shall complete and return the 21 attached form notifying the court whether he wants to proceed on the screened complaint or wants 22 to file an amended complaint. If plaintiff does not return the form, the court will assume that he 23 is choosing to proceed on the complaint as screened and will recommend dismissal without 24 prejudice of the Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against defendant P. Covello. 25 IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction 26 (ECF No. 8) be DENIED. 27 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 28 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days 1 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections 2 || with the Court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings 3 || and Recommendations.” Plaintiff advised that failure to file objections within the specified 4 | time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 5 | (th Cir. 1991). 6 || DATED: March 22, 2022 ~ 7 Htttenr— Lhor—e_ ALLISON CLAIRE 8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 9 10 1] 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHRISTOPHER HEIM, No. 2:21-cv-1077 AC P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE ON HOW TO PROCEED 14 V. VOVKULIN, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 CHECK ONE: 17 Plaintiff would like to proceed immediately on his Eighth Amendment deliberate 18 indifference claim and his negligence claim against defendant V. Vovkulin. Plaintiff understands 19 that by choosing to go forward without amending the complaint, he is voluntarily dismissing his 20 Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against Defendant P. Covello pursuant to 21 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i). 22 Plaintiff would like to amend the complaint. 23
24 DATED: _______________________________ 25 CHRISTOPHER HEIM Plaintiff Pro Se 26 27 28