(PS) Lintvelt v. Snyder

District Court, E.D. California·Decided May 6, 2024·No. 2:23-cv-02253·Unknown

Opinion

ABRAHAM LINTVELT, No. 2:23-cv-2253-DJC-CSK PS Plaintiff, ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS v. (ECF Nos. 9, 12, 18.) Defendant. Plaintiff Abraham Lintvelt, who proceeds without the aid of counsel, alleges Defendant California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Kenneth Snyder violated Plaintiff’s Fourth Amendment rights during a March 2019 traffic stop.1 (ECF No. 1.) Defendant now moves for judgment on the pleadings, arguing that Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the statute of limitations. (ECF No. 9.) Plaintiff opposes the motion and separately submits an amended complaint, which the Court construed as a motion to amend his Complaint. (ECF Nos. 12, 13.) The Court took the motions under submission without a hearing. (ECF No. 17.) For the reasons that follow, the Court recommends Defendant’s motion for 1 This action proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), Fed. R. Civ. P 72, and Local Rule 302(c)(21). judgment on the pleadings be GRANTED, Plaintiff’s motion to amend be DENIED, and the case be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. A. Facts2 Plaintiff alleges that on March 25, 2019, Defendant California Highway Patrol Officer Kenneth Snyder conducted a traffic stop and search of Plaintiff’s car. (Compl. at 5.) When Plaintiff asked why, Defendant allegedly said it was because Plaintiff said he drove from Hayfork. (Id. at 5-6.) The complaint further alleges Defendant lied on a police report and submitted fraudulent claims as evidence, though it does not provide further detail. (Id. at 6.) Plaintiff alleges other unnamed officers were involved “but probably acted on [Defendant’s] fraudulent claims.” (Id.) The complaint alleges “no traffic citations were later issued,” and the “[p]rosecution dismissed the case September 16, 2020.” (Id.) Plaintiff alleges he was incarcerated, had $250,000 of personal possessions stolen (by a non-party), and suffered mental anguish. (Id.) The complaint’s claim is styled as “fraud to deprive [Plaintiff] of [his] 4th Amendment rights.” (Id. at 4.) Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages. (Id. at 6.) B. Procedural Background Plaintiff filed his Complaint on October 5, 2023. (ECF No. 1.) Defendant filed his Answer on January 10, 2024 (ECF No. 6) and moved for judgment on the pleadings on January 22, 2024, arguing that Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the statute of limitations (ECF No. 9). Plaintiff opposed judgment on the pleadings (ECF No. 10), and Defendant replied (ECF No. 11). On February 12, 2024, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint (ECF No. 12), which the Court construed as a motion to amend (ECF No. 13) and which Defendant opposed (ECF No. 16). After the Court took both motions under submission

2 These facts primarily derive from the original Complaint (ECF No. 1), which are construed in the light most favorable to Plaintiff as the non-moving party. Faulkner v. ADT Sec. Servs., 706 F.3d 1017, 1019 (9th Cir. 2013). However, the court does not assume the truth of any conclusory factual allegations or legal conclusions. Paulsen v. CNF Inc., 559 F.3d 1061, 1071 (9th Cir. 2009). (ECF No. 17), Plaintiff filed a request to submit a “reply” and exhibits in support of his opposition to Defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. (ECF Nos. 18, 18-1, 19.) Defendant did not oppose Plaintiff’s request, and the Court therefor grants Plaintiff’s request to submit his supplemental brief and exhibits. The Court has therefore considered all of Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s submissions in making the following findings and recommendations. After the pleadings are closed, a defendant may move for judgment on the pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c). Gregg v. Hawaii Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 870 F.3d 883, 887 (9th Cir. 2017). In considering a Rule 12(c) motion, the allegations of the non-moving party must be accepted as true and viewed in a light most favorable to that party. Id.; Corrie v. Caterpillar, Inc., 503 F.3d 974, 977 (9th Cir. 2007). Pro se pleadings are to be liberally construed. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & n.7 (9th Cir. 2010) (liberal construction appropriate post Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009)). The court is “not, however, required to accept as true conclusory allegations that are contradicted by documents referred to in the complaint,” or “assume the truth of legal conclusions merely because they are cast in the form of factual allegations.” Paulsen, 559 F.3d at 1071. A judgment on the pleadings is properly granted when, “taking all the allegations in the pleadings as true, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Gregg, 870 F.3d at 887 (reviewing judgment on the pleadings where the plaintiff’s claims were time barred). Unless a party is entitled to amend its pleading as a matter of course, amendment of a pleading requires either the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)-(2). The court is to give leave when justice requires. Id. at 15(a)(2). This leave is limited, however, where the opposing party may suffer undue prejudice, there is bad faith by the movant, futility, or undue delay. Cafasso v. Gen. Dynamics C4 Sys., Inc., 637 F.3d 1047, 1058 (9th Cir. 2011). Prior to dismissal, the court is to tell plaintiff of any deficiencies in the complaint and provide an opportunity to cure—if it appears at all possible the defects can be corrected. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (9th Cir. 2000). However, if amendment would be futile, no leave to amend need be given. Cahill v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 339 (9th Cir. 1996). Although the court may not consider an opposition brief to determine the propriety of a Rule 12 motion, it may consider allegations raised in opposition when deciding whether to grant leave to amend. Cf. Schneider v. Cal. Dep’t of Corrections, 151 F.3d 1194, 1197 n.1 (9th Cir. 1998), with Broam v. Bogan, 320 F.3d 1023, 1026 n.2 (9th Cir. 2003). A. Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings Defendant moves for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c), arguing that Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the statute of limitations. A motion for judgment on the pleadings can only be filed after the pleadings are “closed.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). For Rule 12(c) purposes, the pleadings are closed after the answer is filed. See Doe v. United States, 419 F.3d 1058, 1061 (9th Cir. 2005) (pleadings are closed once a complaint and answer have been filed). The Court finds at the outset that Defendant’s motion is properly brought as a motion for judgment on the pleadings because it was filed after Defendant filed his Answer.3 See id. Liberally construed, the Complaint alleges a Fourth Amendment violation based on the March 2019 search of Plaintiff’s veh

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