(PS) Scales v. California Bureau of Automotive Repair

• Court: District Court, E.D. California
• Decided: August 19, 2019
• Docket: 2:18-cv-03062
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHARLES SCALES, No. 2:18-cv-03062-MCE-CKD PS 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, 15 Defendant. 16 17 18 Presently pending before the court is defendant’s motions to dismiss and motion to strike.1 19 (ECF No. 4.) After plaintiff failed to provide a sufficient and timely opposition, the court 20 submitted this matter on the briefing, and afforded plaintiff another opportunity to oppose the 21 motion. Plaintiff filed an amended opposition and defendant replied. (ECF No. 15, 16.) Upon 22 review of the parties’ briefing, the record, and the appropriate legal standards, and good cause 23 appearing therefor, THE COURT FINDS AS FOLLOWS: 24 I. BACKGROUND 25 Plaintiff, who proceeds pro se, filed this action on November 27, 2018 and paid the filing 26 fee. (ECF No. 1.) The complaint names the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (“Bureau”) 27 1 This case proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to E.D. Cal. L.R. 302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C. 28 § 636(b)(1). 1 and “Does 1 through 10” as defendants. (ECF No. 1 at 1.) The complaint brings claims against 2 the Bureau pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and California 3 state law, based upon allegations that the Bureau’s employees, Patrick Lufti and Tom Bowden, 4 discriminated against plaintiff due to his race and age, by failing to properly and timely process 5 his consumer complaint against Pep Boys. (See generally ECF No. 1.) 6 The Bureau moves to dismiss the complaint for several persuasive reasons: (1) that the 7 Bureau is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment; (2) that plaintiff failed to properly 8 serve defendant; (3) that the Bureau is not a “person” for purposes of 1983 liability; (4) that 9 plaintiff failed to state a claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; and (5) that plaintiff failed 10 to comply with the California Government Act claims presentation requirement.2 (See generally 11 ECF No. 4.) 12 II. LEGAL STANDARDS 13 A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction – Rule 12(b)(1) 14 Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. A motion to dismiss brought pursuant to 15 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) challenges the court’s subject matter jurisdiction to hear 16 the complaint. A federal court has an independent duty to assess whether federal subject matter 17 jurisdiction exists, whether or not the parties raise the issue. See United Investors Life Ins. Co. v. 18 Waddell & Reed Inc., 360 F.3d 960, 967 (9th Cir. 2004) (stating that “the district court had a duty 19 to establish subject matter jurisdiction over the removed action sua sponte, whether the parties 20 raised the issue or not”); accord Rains v. Criterion Sys., Inc., 80 F.3d 339, 342 (9th Cir. 1996). 21 The court must sua sponte dismiss the case if, at any time, it determines that it lacks subject 22 matter jurisdiction. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). A federal district court generally has original 23 jurisdiction over a civil action when: (1) a federal question is presented in an action “arising 24 under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States” or (2) there is complete diversity of 25 citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332(a). 26 //// 27

28 2 Defendant raises these issues in a different order. 1 B. Insufficient Service of Process – Rule 12(b)(5) 2 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) allows a defendant to move to dismiss an action 3 based on insufficient service of process. If service is insufficient, as defined by Federal Rule of 4 Civil Procedure 4, “the district court has discretion to dismiss an action or to quash service.” S.J. 5 v. Issaquah Sch. Dist. No. 411, 470 F.3d 1288, 1293 (9th Cir. 2006). “Once service is challenged, 6 plaintiffs bear the burden of establishing that service was valid under Rule 4.” Brockmeyer v. 7 May, 383 F.3d 798, 801 (9th Cir. 2004). Rule 4 is a flexible rule that should be liberally 8 construed to uphold service so long as a party receives sufficient notice of the complaint. Chan v. 9 Soc’y Expeditions, Inc., 39 F.3d 1398, 1404 (9th Cir. 1994). Yet, “[n]either actual notice, nor 10 simply naming the person in the caption of the complaint, will subject defendants to personal 11 jurisdiction if service was not made in substantial compliance with Rule 4.” Jackson v. 12 Hayakawa, 682 F.2d 1344, 1347 (9th Cir. 1982) (internal citations omitted). 13 C. Failure to State a Claim – Rule 12(b)(6) 14 A motion to dismiss brought pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) 15 challenges the sufficiency of the pleadings set forth in the complaint. Vega v. JPMorgan Chase 16 Bank, N.A., 654 F. Supp. 2d 1104, 1109 (E.D. Cal. 2009). Under the “notice pleading” standard 17 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a plaintiff’s complaint must provide, in part, a “short and 18 plain statement” of plaintiff’s claims showing entitlement to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); see 19 also Paulsen v. CNF, Inc., 559 F.3d 1061, 1071 (9th Cir. 2009). “To survive a motion to dismiss, 20 a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that 21 is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. 22 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads 23 factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable 24 for the misconduct alleged.” Id. 25 In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the court accepts all of the 26 facts alleged in the complaint as true and construes them in the light most favorable to the 27 plaintiff. Corrie v. Caterpillar, Inc., 503 F.3d 974, 977 (9th Cir. 2007). The court is “not, 28 however, required to accept as true conclusory allegations that are contradicted by documents 1 referred to in the complaint, and [the court does] not necessarily assume the truth of legal 2 conclusions merely because they are cast in the form of factual allegations.” Paulsen, 559 F.3d at 3 1071. The court must construe a pro se pleading liberally to determine if it states a claim and, 4 prior to dismissal, tell a plaintiff of deficiencies in his complaint and give plaintiff an opportunity 5 to cure them if it appears at all possible that the plaintiff can correct the defect. See Lopez v. 6 Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc); accord Balistreri v. Pacifica Police 7 Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990) (stating that “pro se pleadings are liberally construed, 8 particularly where civil rights claims are involved”); see also Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 9 & n.7 (9th Cir. 2010) (stating that courts continue to construe pro se filings liberally even when 10 evaluating them under the standard announced in Iqbal). 11 III. DISCUSSION 12 A. Lack of Jurisdiction – Rule 12(b)(1) 13 The Bureau correctly asserts that it is immune from suit in this matter. (ECF No. 4 at 7- 14 8.) “The Eleventh Amendment bars suits for money damages in federal court against a state, its 15 agencies, and state officials acting in their official capacities.” Aholelei v. Dep’t of Public Safety, 16 488 F.3d 1144, 1147 (9th Cir. 2007). “A state may waive immunity from suit in its own courts 17 without thereby waiving its Eleventh Amendment immunity from suit in federal courts.” Riggle 18 v. State of Cal., 577 F.2d 579, 585 (9th Cir. 1978). While California waived immunity in its own 19 courts (under certain circumstances), it did not waive immunity in federal courts. Id. 20 Here, plaintiff brings claims against a state agency, the California Bureau or Automotive 21 Repair, see Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 9880.1 & 9880.3, seeking $800,000.00 in damages. (ECF 22 No. 1 at 9.) As a state agency, the Bureau is immune from suit for money damages in federal 23 court, and all claims against the Bureau are subject to dismissal. 24 B. Insufficient Service of Process – Rule 12(b)(5) 25 The Bureau also argues that plaintiff failed to properly effectuate service on the Bureau. 26 (See ECF No. 4 at 5-6.) Because the Bureau is immune from suit, this issue is moot. At the same 27 time, plaintiff is cautioned to carefully comply with the instructions set forth in Federal Rule 28 of Civil Procedure 4, when serving any amended complaint in this matter. 1 C. Failure to State a Claim – Rule 12(b)(6) 2 The Bureau persuasively argues that the complaint fails to state any claim and is subject to 3 dismissal. (ECF No. 4 at 8-10.) Yet, contrary to the Bureau’s position, limited leave to amend is 4 appropriate. 5 1. 42 U.S.C. § 1983 6 While not named as defendants, the complaint includes allegations against Patrick Lufti 7 and Tom Bowden, the individuals who processed the underlying consumer complaint that 8 plaintiff filed with the Bureau. “Plaintiff argues that his causes of action alleging violations of 42 9 U.S.C. section 1983 are proper against [the Bureau] due to its employees[’] . . . conduct in 10 discriminating against Plaintiff because of his age and race.” (ECF No. 15 at 2.) 11 However, there is no supervisory liability under section 1983. See Monell v. New York 12 City Dep’t of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 691-94 (1978). As such, the Bureau is not 13 responsible for the conduct of its employees under section 1983. Moreover, in accord with the 14 discussion above, section 1983 “does not provide a federal forum for litigants who seek a remedy 15 against a State for alleged deprivations of civil liberties. The Eleventh Amendment bars such 16 suits unless the State has waived its immunity.” Will v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 17 58, 66 (1989). 18 Nevertheless, in light of plaintiff’s pro se status, and because it is at least conceivable that 19 plaintiff could potentially state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Patrick Lufti and Tom 20 Bowden, the court finds it appropriate to grant plaintiff an opportunity to amend the complaint to 21 add these individuals as named defendants.3 22 2. Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. 23 In the second cause of action, plaintiff seeks to bring a claim under Title VII of the 1964 24 Civil Rights Act. (ECF No. 1 at 6-7.) As the Bureau aptly points out, Title VII “prohibits 25 employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” Ricci v. 26 3 The Bureau also moves to strike paragraph three of the complaint because plaintiff listed “doe” 27 defendants. (ECF No. 4 at 10.) Liberally construed, it seems apparent that plaintiff intended to name Patrick Lufti and Tom Bowden as defendants. Thus, leave to amend is recommended and 28 the motion to strike is denied as moot. 1 DeStefano, 557 U.S. 557, 577 (2009) (emphasis added); (ECF No. 4 at 8). At a minimum, “there 2 must be some connection with an employment relationship for Title VII protections to apply.” 3 Lutcher v. Musicians Union Local 47, 633 F.2d 880, 883 (9th Cir. 1980). 4 Plaintiff concedes that he “never alleged that [he] was an employee [of the Bureau].” 5 (ECF No. 15 at 3.) Rather, plaintiff interacted with the Bureau by filing a consumer complaint 6 (ECF No. 1 at 2-5), an activity which has no connection to an employment relationship. 7 Therefore, plaintiff’s Title VII claim is subject to dismissal. 8 3. Supplemental State Law Claim 9 In the third cause of action, plaintiff seeks money damages from the Bureau under 10 California state law. (ECF No. 1 at 7-8.) The Bureau correctly asserts that this claim necessarily 11 fails. (ECF No. 4 at 9-10.) As a court in the Eastern District of California has observed: 12 The California Tort Claims Act requires that “all claims for money or damages against local public entities” or public employees acting 13 within the scope of that employee’s public employment must be presented to the employer. Cal. Gov.Code §§ 905, 950.2. “[N]o suit 14 for money or damages may be brought against a public entity on a cause of action for which a claim is required to be presented . . . until 15 a written claim therefor has been presented to the public entity and has been acted upon . . . or has been deemed to have been rejected.” 16 Cal. Gov.Code § 945.4; see Maynard v. City of San Jose, 37 F.3d 1396, 1406 (9th Cir.1994) (stating that Tort Claims Act requirements 17 apply to public employees as well); Wilson–Combs v. Cal. Dep't of Consumer Affairs, 555 F.Supp.2d 1110, 1118 (E.D.Cal.2008) 18 (same); Julian v. City of San Diego, 183 Cal.App.3d 169, 175, 229 Cal.Rptr. 664 (1986) (same). 19 Presentation of a timely tort claim is a jurisdictional prerequisite to 20 maintaining a cause of action against a public entity. Ard v. County of Contra Costa, 93 Cal.App.4th 339, 343, 112 Cal.Rptr.2d 886 21 (2001); see also Hernandez v. McClanahan, 996 F.Supp. 975, 977 (N.D.Cal.1998). A plaintiff’s supplemental state law claims [in an 22 action in federal court] against a California public agency are barred unless the plaintiff has complied with the requirements of the Tort 23 Claims Act before commencing a civil action. See Mangold v. Cal. Pub. Util. Comm'n, 67 F.3d 1470, 1477 (9th Cir.1995). 24 25 Creighton v. City of Livingston, 628 F. Supp. 2d 1199, 1224–25 (E.D. Cal. 2009). 26 According to the California Tort Claims Act, “[a] claim relating to a cause of action for 27 death or for injury to person or to personal property or growing crops shall be presented . . . not 28 later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action. A claim relating to any other cause 1 of action shall be presented . . . not later than one year after the accrual of the cause of action.” 2 Cal. Gov't Code § 911.2(a). 3 Regardless of how plaintiff’s claim is characterized under this statute, he failed to present 4 it within the required timeframe. Plaintiff alleges that he was informed in September of 2015 that 5 his consumer complaint with the Bureau was closed. (ECF No. 1 at 4.) However, plaintiff 6 alleges that he did not present his claim to the State of California until April 2, 2018. (See ECF 7 No. 1 at 8, 39-41.) Plaintiff presented his claim over two and one half years after the accrual of 8 the cause of action—well beyond the statutory deadline. As a result, plaintiff’s supplemental 9 state law claim is time-barred and subject to dismissal. 10 D. Leave to Amend 11 As explained, the court recommends that plaintiff be granted leave to amend his section 12 1983 claim to add Patrick Lufti and Tom Bowden as defendants. When filing the amended 13 complaint it shall be captioned “First Amended Complaint,” shall be typed or written in legible 14 handwriting, shall address the deficiencies outlined above, and shall be filed within 28 days of the 15 district judge’s order adopting these findings and recommendations. 16 Plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior complaint or other filing in order 17 to make plaintiff’s first amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended 18 complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. As a general rule, an 19 amended complaint supersedes the original complaint, and once the first amended complaint is 20 filed, the original complaint no longer serves any function in the case. 21 Plaintiff is further advised that “[p]ro se litigants must follow the same rules of procedure 22 that govern other litigants.” King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987) (overruled on 23 other grounds). This includes Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4, which governs service of 24 process. 25 Similarly, Eastern District Local Rule 110 provides that “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party 26 to comply with these Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the 27 Court of any and all sanctions authorized by statute or Rule or within the inherent power of the 28 Court.” Moreover, Eastern District Local Rule 183(a) provides, in part: 1 Any individual representing himself or herself without an attorney is bound by the Federal Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure, these 2 Rules, and all other applicable law. All obligations placed on “counsel” by these Rules apply to individuals appearing in propria 3 persona. Failure to comply therewith may be ground for dismissal, judgment by default, or any other sanction appropriate under these 4 Rules. 5 E.D. Cal. L.R. 183(a). 6 IV. CONCLUSION 7 Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 8 1. Defendant’s motion to dismiss and motion to strike (ECF No 4) be GRANTED IN 9 PART AND DENIED IN PART. 10 2. All claims against the California Bureau of Automotive Repair be DISMISSED 11 WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. 12 3. Plaintiff’s claims pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et 13 seq. and California state law be DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. 14 4. Plaintiff be granted leave to amend his claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to add 15 defendants Patrick Lufti and Tom Bowden. 16 5. Plaintiff be ordered to file and serve a first amended complaint, in accordance with 17 these findings and recommendations, within 28 days. 18 In light of these recommendations, IT IS ALSO HEREBY ORDERED that all pleading, 19 discovery, and motion practice in this action are STAYED pending resolution of the findings and 20 recommendations. With the exception of objections to the findings and recommendations and 21 any non-frivolous motions for emergency relief, the court will not entertain or respond to any 22 motions and other filings until the findings and recommendations are resolved. 23 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to 24 the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after 25 being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with 26 the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to 27 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections shall be served 28 on all parties and filed with the court within fourteen (14) days after service of the objections. 1 | The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right 2 | to appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); 3 | Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991). 4 | Dated: August 19, 2019 Pee a4 if / /, CAN fu fl. ay > CAROLYN K. DELANEY 6 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 7 8 9 10 || 14.scales.3062.order MTD 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28