Perkins v. City of Modesto

District Court, E.D. California·Decided August 17, 2020·No. 1:19-cv-00126·Unknown

Opinion

JASON B. PERKINS, Case No. 1:19-cv-00126-LJO-EPG Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ v. MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER CITY OF MODESTO, et al., (ECF No. 60) Defendants. Pending before the Court is Defendants’ Motion for Protective Order (ECF No. 60). Defendants seek a protective order with respect to certain police officer personnel and internal affairs investigation (“IA”) files. For the reasons discussed below, the Court grants in part and denies in part the motion. A. Allegations of Amended Complaint Plaintiff filed this civil rights action on January 29, 2019 (ECF No. 1) and filed an amended complaint on June 13, 2019 (ECF No. 22). The amended complaint alleges the following: On November 6, 2017, Plaintiff drove his significant other, Shannon Agnitsch, to the bank and waited in his vehicle, sitting in the driver’s seat in the bank’s parking lot while Ms. Agnitsch entered the bank. Plaintiff’s vehicle was approached by Defendants Jerry J. Ramar and Ryan Olson, on-duty police officers with the Modesto Police Department (“MPD”). Plaintiff was not aware that these officers had approached his vehicle. Officer Ramar unholstered and fired his MPD-issued firearm at Plaintiff without warning and without provocation, shooting at Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s vehicle. Officer Ramar shot at Plaintiff approximately six times, including in the face, chest, left arm, and left shoulder. Officer Olson stood by as Officer Ramar shot Plaintiff, without protesting or intervening, despite the opportunity to do so. Plaintiff required life-saving medical treatment at the scene of the shooting and was transported to the hospital for further treatment, including several surgeries. Plaintiff remained in critical condition for two weeks following the shooting. Plaintiff still has three bullets and/or metal jackets lodged inside his body and has been advised the removal of these remaining bullets/metal jackets would be dangerous. Plaintiff has also undergone two additional surgeries since the shooting and expects that at least a few more surgeries will be needed in the future. His resulting injuries have left him with paralysis in his left hand, right arm, and face. On June 28, 2018, Plaintiff submitted a citizen complaint form to Modesto Police Department, alleging misconduct in connection with the November 6, 2017, officer-involved shooting of Plaintiff. On December 18, 2018, the MPD Shooting Review Board, concluded that Officer Ramar’s discharge of his firearm against Plaintiff was “within policy,” and, as a result that the allegations in Plaintiff’s citizen complaint form were “Unfounded.” On January 29, 2019, Plaintiff filed this action, naming as defendants the City of Modesto, the Modesto Police Department, Galen L. Carroll, Officer Jerry J. Ramar, and Officer Ryan Olson. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff brings claims for use of unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution; and California state law claims of unreasonable force, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violation of the Bane Act. B. Stipulated Protective Orders and Officer Personnel and IA Files On August 6, 2019, the parties filed a stipulation for a protective order (ECF No. 28), and the Court entered the first stipulated protective order on August 6, 2019 (ECF No. 29). On September 9, 2019, the parties filed a second stipulation for a protective order (ECF No. 32) and the Court entered the second stipulated protective order on September 10, 2019 (ECF No. 33). On January 3, 2020, after receiving permission from the Court, Plaintiff filed a discovery motion seeking, among other things, a court order allowing disclosure to the public of officer personnel and IA files that were deemed confidential under the previously entered stipulated protective orders. (ECF No. 44.) Defendants objected to the request for disclosure of these personnel and IA files. Defendants argued that the files are subject to the official information privilege. Defendants did not, however, address the applicability of California Penal Code § 832.7, under which certain peace officer personnel records are no longer confidential under state law and are to be made available for public inspection, with required redactions. On March 23, 2020, the Court entered an order in which it overruled Defendants’ objections to the public disclosure of officer personnel and IA files. (ECF No. 57 at 30-34.) The Court noted that it was unable to determine, based on the information that was before it, whether the personnel and IA files at issue are subject to public disclosure under California Penal Code § 832.7 and, even if not subject to public disclosure under § 832.7, whether there was another compelling reason to keep the files confidential. (ECF No. 57 at 34.) However, the Court granted Defendants leave to file a motion seeking to keep specific officer personnel and IA files confidential and/or proposing redactions to such files prior to public disclosure. The Court also directed Defendants to submit for in camera review the documents Defendants seek to keep confidential. (ECF No. 57.) On May 7, 2020, Defendant filed a motion for protective order. (ECF No. 60.) Defendant also submitted for in camera review those documents Defendants seek to keep confidential. Plaintiff opposes the motion for protective order. (ECF No. 62.) Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c), which sets forth the grounds for protective orders, “was enacted as a safeguard for the protection of parties and witnesses in view of the broad discovery rights authorized in Rule 26(b).” United States v. Columbia Broad. Sys., Inc., 666 F.2d 364, 368-69 (9th Cir. 1982). “Generally, the public can gain access to litigation documents and information produced during discovery unless the party opposing disclosure shows ‘good cause’ why a protective order is necessary.” Phillips ex rel. Estates of Byrd v. Gen. Motors Corp., 307 F.3d 1206, 1210 (9th Cir. 2002). To satisfy this “good cause” standard, the party seeking a protective order must explain the specific prejudice or harm that will result if the information is not protected. Id. at 1211. Here, Defendants seek a protective order with regard to certain officer personnel and IA files. Defendants do not seek to prevent disclosure of these files to Plaintiff. Indeed, those files have already been provided to Plaintiff. Instead, Defendants merely seek to maintain the privacy of certain officer personnel and IA files that are not required to be disclosed under California Penal Code § 832.7. (ECF No. 60-1 at 2.)

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Perkins v. City of Modesto, (E.D. Cal. 2020).

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