Robert Barfield v. Sheriff Doe, Deputy Sheriff Does #1-50, All Unknown Agents, San Diego Detention Center

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 Case No.: 3:24-cv-0630-AJB-SBC ROBERT BARFIELD, 12 ORDER: (1) GRANTING MOTION Plaintiff, 13 TO PROCEED IN FORMA v. PAUPERIS [ECF No. 2] 14 15 (2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT SHERIFF DOE, DEPUTY SHERIFF WITHOUT PREJUDICE FOR 16 DOES #1-50, ALL UNKNOWN FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM 17 AGENTS, SAN DIEGO DETENTION PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a) CENTER, AND 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 18 1915A(b) Defendants. 19 20 21 22 I. INTRODUCTION 23 Plaintiff Robert Barfield (“Plaintiff” or “Barfield”), an inmate currently confined at 24 High Desert State Prison in Nevada and proceeding pro se, has filed a civil action pursuant 25 to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, along with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). ECF Nos. 26 1, 2. Bartfield alleges that while being held at the “San Diego Detention Center” for ten 27 days pending extradition to Nevada, he was confined in an unsanitary holding cell with no 1 mattress, causing him to contract a serious infection. See ECF No. 1 at 3–6. Barfield further 2 alleges that while confined he fell and injured his bicep. See id. For the reasons discussed 3 below, the Court grants Plaintiff’s IFP motion and dismisses the Complaint without 4 prejudice for failure to state a claim. 5 II. MOTION TO PROCEED IFP 6 All parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in a district court of the 7 United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of 8 $405.1 See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). A party may initiate a civil action without prepaying the 9 required filing fee if the Court grants leave to proceed IFP based on indigency. 28 U.S.C. 10 § 1915(a); Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2007). 11 To proceed IFP, plaintiffs must establish their inability to pay by filing an affidavit 12 regarding their income and assets. See Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1234 (9th 13 Cir. 2015). Prisoners seeking to establish an inability to pay must also submit a “certified 14 copy of the [prisoner’s] trust fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for . . . 15 the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint.” 28 U.S.C. 16 § 1915(a)(2). From the certified trust account statement, the Court assesses an initial 17 payment of 20% of (a) the average monthly deposits in the account for the past six months, 18 or (b) the average monthly balance in the account for the past six months, whichever is 19 greater, unless the prisoner has no assets. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(b)(1) & (4). Prisoners 20 who proceed IFP must repay the entire fee in installments regardless of whether their action 21 is ultimately dismissed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2); Bruce v. Samuels, 577 U.S. 82, 84 (2016). 22 In support of his IFP Motion, Plaintiff has provided a copy of his trust account 23 statement and prison certificate authorized by an accounting officer. See ECF No. 2 at 4– 24

25 1 In addition to the $350 statutory fee, civil litigants must pay an additional administrative 26 fee of $55. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) (Judicial Conference Schedule of Fees, District Court Misc. Fee Schedule, § 14 (eff. Dec. 1, 2023)). The additional $55 administrative fee does not apply to 27 persons granted leave to proceed IFP. Id. 1 8. During the six months prior to filing suit, Plaintiff had an average monthly balance of 2 $0.00, average monthly deposits of $4.83, and an available account balance of $0.00 at the 3 time he filed suit. Id. at 4, 9. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s IFP motion is GRANTED, and the 4 Court assesses no partial filing fee. Plaintiff remains obligated to pay the $350.00 fee in 5 monthly installments even if this action is ultimately dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. 6 §§ 1915(b)(1) & (2). 7 III. SCREENING 8 A. Legal Standards 9 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and § 1915A(b), the Court must screen a 10 prisoner’s IFP complaint and sua sponte dismiss it to the extent that it is frivolous, 11 malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks damages from defendants who are immune. See 12 Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir. 2010). “The standard for determining 13 whether Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under 14 § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) is the same as the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) standard for 15 failure to state a claim.” Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012). Rule 16 12(b)(6) requires that a complaint “contain sufficient factual matter . . . to state a claim to 17 relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal 18 quotation marks omitted). And while detailed factual allegations are not required, 19 “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 20 statements, do not suffice” to state a claim. Id. The “mere possibility of misconduct” or 21 “unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed me accusation[s]” fall short of the 22 plausibility standard. Id. 23 Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983 “creates a private right of action against individuals who, 24 acting under color of state law, violate federal constitutional or statutory rights.” Devereaux 25 v. Abbey, 263 F.3d 1070, 1074 (9th Cir. 2001). Section 1983 “is not itself a source of 26 substantive rights, but merely provides a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere 27 conferred.” Graham v. Connor, 40 U.S. 386 U.S. 386, 393–94 (1989) (internal quotation 1 marks omitted). “To establish liability under section 1983, a plaintiff must show both (1) 2 deprivation of a right secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, and (2) 3 that the deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law.” Tsao v. 4 Desert Palace, Inc., 698 F.3d 1128, 1138 (9th Cir. 2012). 5 B. Plaintiff’s Allegations 6 Barfield alleges that he was apprehended in Mexico by Mexican immigration 7 officials. ECF No. 1 at 3. He was then transported to the United States-Mexican border on 8 December 18, 2023, where Mexican officials turned him over to the custody of United 9 States Customs agents and the United States Marshals Service. Id. U.S. Marshals then 10 transported Barfield to the “San Diego Detention Center” where he was detained for ten 11 days, until he was extradited to Nevada on December 27, 2023, pursuant to a warrant for a 12 parole violation. Id. 13 Barfield alleges that when he arrived at the San Diego Detention Center he was 14 placed in a “filthy” holding cell. Id. The cell had a bench and toilet but no mattress. Barfield 15 alleges “urine and feces littered the toilet rim” and there were a “number of unknown 16 substances staining the walls and floors.” Id. Plaintiff was left in the holding cell for the 17 night without a mattress or bedding. Id. at 4. 18 The next day, December 19, 2023, Plaintiff appeared in court. Id. During the 19 proceedings, Barfield asked his attorney to “place on the record” the conditions of his 20 confinement the previous night. Id. The judge then stated on the record that “San Diego 21 Detention Center” officials must provide Barfield with bedding and a mattress upon his 22 return to the facility. Id. 23 Upon Barfield’s return to the detention facility, “Sheriff Doe #1” placed Barfield in 24 a holding cell that was “filth[y] and cold.” Id. Barfield told Sheriff Doe # 1 about the court 25 order, but Barfield was not moved to another cell until approximately 72 hours later. Id. 26 Until he was moved, Plaintiff was forced to sleep on the floor and developed a “pimple” 27 on the back of his head. Id. at 5. At some point, the pimple popped and appeared infected. 1 Id. In addition, Barfield woke up one night to urinate, but was disoriented and dizzy. As a 2 result, he fell backward and, in an attempt to catch himself, grabbed the cell bench 3 awkwardly and “felt his bicep. . . rip in two.” Id. at 5. 4 On December 27, 2023, Barfield was extradited to Nevada. Id. When he arrived, 5 Nevada Department of Corrections intake nurses were “concerned about the infected area 6 [on the back of Plaintiff’s head] and his torn bicep.” Id. at 6. Cultures of the infected area 7 revealed that Plaintiff had Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (“MRSA”). The 8 infection was successfully treated. Id. Plaintiff is “awaiting test[ing]” on his bicep to 9 determine the extent of his injury. Id. 10 C. Discussion 11 Plaintiff raises two claims related to his ten-day detention. He alleges he was 12 subjected to cruel and unusual punishment when he was confined in a dirty holding cell 13 and forced to sleep on the floor, causing him to contract MRSA on the back of his head. 14 Id. at 7. Barfield further claims that he fell and injured his bicep due to the unsafe conditions 15 in his cell. Id. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Id. at 8. 16 1. Rule 8 17 Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain 18 statement of the claims showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). 19 Although the Court must construe a pro se plaintiff’s pleadings liberally, the plaintiff 20 nonetheless must allege a minimum factual and legal basis for each claim that is sufficient 21 to give each defendant “fair notice of what the plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon 22 which it rests.” Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002) see also Brazil v. 23 U.S. Dep’t of the Navy, 66 F.3d 193, 199 (9th Cir. 1995). If a plaintiff fails to set forth 24 allegations sufficient to provide defendants with such notice, the complaint fails to comply 25 with Rule 8 and must be dismissed. See McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177–79 (9th 26 Cir. 1996). 27 Here, while the factual allegations in the Complaint are fairly clear, it is unclear 1 where Plaintiff was confined during his ten-day detention in San Diego. Nor is it clear 2 whether Barfield was detained in county or federal custody. Barfield states that he was 3 confined at “San Diego Detention Center” but the Court is unaware of any facility in the 4 area with that precise proper name.2 Moreover, the unnamed defendants listed by Plaintiff 5 include both “agents” (a term typically associated with federal law enforcement) and 6 “deputy sheriffs” (which suggests those defendants were county employees). The nature of 7 Barfield’s apprehension and subsequent detention also fail to illuminate the matter. 8 Barfield states he was apprehended in Mexico by Mexican immigration officers who 9 transported him to the United States border and turned him over to U.S. Customs agents 10 and U.S. Marshals. These federal agents then transported Barfield to the facility where he 11 was detained for 10 days until his extradition. Barfield states his detention was based on a 12 warrant arising from a parole violation out of Nevada, apparently related to a Nevada state 13 court conviction.3 But none of these facts assist the Court in discerning whether Barfield 14 was confined in federal or county custody. 15

16 2 The Court takes judicial notice that there are both federal and county detention facilities in 17 the region that have similar names, including federal facilities, such as the “Western Regional 18 Detention Center” (see https://www.geogroup.com/FacilityDetail/FacilityID/37 (visited July 2, 2024)) and the “Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego” (see 19 https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/sdc/ (visited July 2, 2024) , and San Diego County 20 facilities, “South Bay Detention Facility” and “San Diego Central Jail” (see https://www.sdsheriff.gov/bureaus/detention-services-bureau/detention-facilities (visited July 2, 21 2024)). See Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)(2) (“The court may judicially notice a fact that is not subject to reasonable dispute because it . . . can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose 22 accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.”) 23 3 The Court takes judicial notice that a Nevada inmate, “Robert T. Barfield,” with the Nevada 24 Department of Corrections inmate number 42963 was convicted of attempted murder and weapons charges in 1994 and was paroled from Nevada prison in 2021. See Nevada Dep’t Corr. 25 Inmate Locator, https://ofdsearch.doc.nv.gov/ (visited July 2, 2024); see also Barfield v. Nevada, 26 20-cv-0105-DWH-VPC (D. Nev. Mar. 29, 2005) at *2–3 (Order denying petition for writ of habeas corpus); see also Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)(2). 27 1 Because it is not clear whether the detention facility where Barfield was held was 2 operated by the United States or County of San Diego, the Court cannot determine what 3 law applies to Barfield’s claims, as explained below. Rule 8(a) requires that a complaint 4 be specific and clear enough for the Court and defendants to understand the nature of 5 plaintiff’s claims. Here, the complaint does not meet this standard. See McHenry, 84 F.3d 6 at 1178. 7 Based on the foregoing, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiff’s Complaint without 8 prejudice for failure to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) and for failure to 9 state a claim. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b). 10 2. Conditions of Confinement Claim 11 If Plaintiff seeks to amend his complaint, he should consider the following 12 standard(s) for raising an Eighth Amendment claim regarding the conditions of 13 confinement when in (a) County custody or (b) federal custody. 14 a. County Custody 15 Assuming arguendo that Barfield was in the custody of the County of San Diego, his 16 claims may arise under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). (“To 17 state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right secured by the 18 Constitution and laws of the United States, and must show that the alleged deprivation was 19 committed by a person acting under color of state law.”). “Persons” covers “state and local 20 officials sued in their individual capacities, private individuals and entities which acted 21 under color of state law, and local governmental entities.” Vance v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, 22 928 F. Supp. 993, 995–96 (N.D. Cal. 1996). 23 To challenge the conditions of confinement under the Eighth Amendment,4 a 24

25 4 The Eighth Amendment applies when a person on parole is detained after a parole 26 violation. See, e.g. Flores v. Mesenbourg, No. 95-17241, 1997 WL 303277, at *1 (9th Cir. June 2, 1997) (holding that a convicted prisoner who was incarcerated for a parole violation “must rely 27 on the Eighth Amendment to support his claim” because “[h]is original conviction is the authority 1 plaintiff must meet both an objective and subjective test. See Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 2 726, 731 (9th Cir. 2000). The objective prong requires a showing that the deprivation was 3 sufficiently serious to form the basis for an Eighth Amendment violation. Id. “[E]xtreme 4 deprivations are required to make out a conditions-of-confinement claim.” Hudson v. 5 McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992). When determining whether the conditions of confinement 6 are sufficiently severe to meet the objective prong, the court must analyze each condition 7 to determine whether that specific condition violates the Eighth Amendment. See Toussaint 8 v. McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1107 (9th Cir. 1986). In doing so, courts also consider the 9 amount of time to which the prisoner was subjected to the condition. See Hearns v. 10 Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1042 (9th Cir. 2005); see also Guillory v. Tilton, 2011 WL 11 4500847, at * 6 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 27, 2011) (stating “[t]he failure to provide a mattress for 12 three nights does not violate the Eighth Amendment”). 13 b. Federal Custody 14 If Plaintiff was in federal custody during the relevant period, Bivens v. Six Unknown 15 Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971) provides a “federal analog” to § 1983. 16 However, Bivens is much “more limited” in the type of claims that can be raised. 17 Hernandez v. Mesa, 589 U.S. 93, 109 (2020). Bivens remedies are, at best, strongly 18 disfavored outside the few contexts in which the Supreme Court has previously approved 19 them. Egbert v. Boule, 596 U.S. 482, 491–92 (2022). 20 The only contexts in which the Supreme Court has recognized a Bivens remedy are 21 for claims seeking damages against federal officials arising from: (1) a violation of the 22

23 under which he was confined after his parole violation”); Flores v. Cnty. of Fresno, 2020 WL 24 4339825, at *3, n.3 (E.D. Cal. July 28, 2020) (noting that individuals incarcerated in a county jail for a parole violation must raise claims alleging inadequate medical care under the Eighth 25 Amendment); Jensen v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 2017 WL 10574058, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 6, 2017) 26 (“Claims by those who have been incarcerated for parole violations arise under the Eighth Amendment.”). 27 1 Fourth Amendment for allegedly unreasonable searches and seizures in connection with 2 unauthorized electronic surveillance (Bivens, 403 U.S. 388); (2) a violation of the Fifth 3 Amendment’s Due Process Clause for gender discrimination in employment (Davis v. 4 Passman, 442 U.S. 228 (1979)); and (3) a violation under the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel 5 and Unusual Punishment Clause for failure to provide constitutionally adequate medical 6 treatment to a prisoner (Carlson v. Green, 446 U.S. 14 (1980)). See Egbert, 596 U.S. at 7 490–91. 8 In deciding whether to find an implied cause of action, the Court first must determine 9 if the case is “meaningfully different from the three cases in which the Court has implied 10 a damages action.” Elgbert, 596 U.S. at 492. If a case presents a new context for a Bivens 11 action, then a damages remedy may only be extended (1) if the plaintiff has no “other 12 adequate alternative remedy” and (2) there are no “special factors” that would cause the 13 court to believe that Congress rather than the courts should authorize a suit for money 14 damages. Id. at 492–93. The Ninth Circuit recently observed that following Egbert, “most 15 claims seeking to expand Bivens are ‘dead on arrival.’” Chambers v. Herrera, 78 F.4th 16 1100, 1103 (9th Cir. 2023) 17 Here, Plaintiff’s claims the unsafe and unsanitary conditions of his confinement 18 violated the Eighth Amendment. Recently, in an unpublished opinion, the Ninth Circuit 19 declined to extend Bivens to an Eighth Amendment claim regarding unsanitary cell 20 conditions because it did not fall within claims authorized by the Supreme Court. Schwarz 21 v. Meinberg, 761 Fed. App’x 732, 733–34 (9th Cir. 2019) (finding cell condition claim 22 presented a “new context” for a Bivens action and identifying the Federal Tort Claims Act 23 as an alternative process available to federal prisoners). The Court further notes that a 24 Bivens claim cannot stand against the United States, or any of its departments, offices, or 25 agencies. See FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471 (1994). “[T]he purpose of Bivens is to deter 26 the officer,” not the agency. Id. at 485; see also Lanuza v. Love, 899 F.3d 1019, 1029–32 27 (9th Cir. 2018) (noting that a claim for damages based on individualized mistreatment by 1 rank-and-file federal officers is what Bivens was meant to address). 2 3. Doe Defendants 3 Finally, the Court notes that, as to individual defendants, Plaintiff names only 4 unknown parties: “Sheriff Doe,” “Deputy Sheriff Does 1–50,” and “All Unknown Agents.” 5 ECF No. 1 at 2. The use of fictitiously named or “Doe” defendants is generally not favored. 6 Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980) (citation omitted). However, 7 amendment is allowed to substitute true names for fictitiously named defendants. Merritt 8 v. County of Los Angeles, 875 F.2d 765 (9th Cir. 1989). 9 While Barfield has asserted claims against an unspecified number of Doe 10 defendants, there can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some 11 affirmative link or connection between a defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. 12 Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371, 376 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th 13 Cir. 1980). To successfully state a claim for relief, Plaintiff must separately identify each 14 Doe defendant (e.g. Doe 1, Doe 2, etc.) and explain the specific actions taken by each 15 individual that deprived him of his constitutional rights. Here, the only individual conduct 16 alleged is that of “Deputy Sheriff Doe #1,” who Barfield alleges ignored his request for a 17 mattress and bedding. ECF No. 1 at 4. As to the other unnamed defendants, Plaintiff has 18 failed to allege any specific facts to show what each, unnamed individual did to violate his 19 rights. Further, Plaintiff is cautioned that even if he successfully states a claim for relief 20 against a Doe defendant, if the defendant remains unidentified, the court will be unable to 21 order service due to the impossibility of serving an unknown individual. Plaintiff should 22 therefore seek to identify any Doe defendants as soon as possible. 23 D. Leave to Amend 24 Given Plaintiff’s pro se status the Court GRANTS him leave to amend. See Rosati 25 v. Igbinoso, 791 F.3d 1037, 1039 (9th Cir. 2015) (“A district court should not dismiss a pro 26 se complaint without leave to amend [pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii)] unless ‘it 27 is absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be cured by 1 amendment.’”) (quoting Akhtar v Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1212 (9th Cir. 2012)). 2 IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDER 3 For the reasons set forth above, the Court hereby: 4 1. GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion to proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) 5 (ECF No. 2); 6 2. ORDERS the Secretary of the Nevada Department of Corrections, or his 7 designee, to collect the $350 filing fee owed in this case by collecting monthly payments 8 from the account in an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month’s 9 income and forward payments to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in the account 10 exceeds $10 in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). ALL PAYMENTS MUST 11 CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE NAME AND CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED TO THIS 12 ACTION; 13 3. DIRECTS the Clerk of the Court to serve a copy of this Order on Nevada 14 Department of Corrections Director, James Dzurenda, at 5500 Snyder Avenue, Bldg. 17; 15 P.O. Box 7011, Carson City, Nevada 89702; 16 4. DISMISSES Plaintiff’s the Complaint for failure to comply with Federal 17 Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) and failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 18 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b); and 19 5. GRANTS Plaintiff forty-five (45) days leave from the date of this Order in 20 which to file a First Amended Complaint which cures the deficiencies of pleading noted in 21 this Order. Specifically, Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint must be complete by itself 22 without reference to any previous version of his pleading; Defendants not named and any 23 claims not re-alleged in the Amended Complaint will be considered waived. See S.D. Cal. 24 CivLR 15.1; Hal Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (noting that 25 claims dismissed with leave to amend which are not re-alleged in an amended pleading 26 may be “considered waived if not repled”); Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., 27 Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1989). 1 If Plaintiff fails to file a First Amended Complaint within forty-five (45) days from 2 ||the date of this Order, the Court will enter a final Order dismissing the case based both on 3 || Plaintiff's failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 4 §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A(b), and his failure to prosecute. See Lira v. Herrera, 427 F.3d 5 |} 1164, 1169 (9th Cir. 2005) (“Ifa plaintiff does not take advantage of the opportunity to fix 6 || his complaint, a district court may convert the dismissal of the complaint into dismissal of 7 entire action.”). 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 ||Dated: July 22, 2024 © 7 er : 10 Hon. Anthony J.Battaglia 11 United States District Judge 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27