Toelle v. Jusino

District Court, N.D. California·Decided September 28, 2023·No. 4:23-cv-00194·Unknown

Opinion

LOREN MICHELLE TOELLE, Case No. 23-cv-00194-JST

Plaintiff, ORDER OF PARTIAL SERVICE; v. DISMISSING CERTAIN CLAIMS WITH LEAVE TO AMEND; DENYING T. JUSINO, et al., REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY INJUNCTION; DENYING REQUESTS Defendants. TO INTERVENE; GRANTING REQUESTS FOR DOCUMENTS

Re: ECF Nos. 2, 5, 7-9, 19, 21 Plaintiff, an inmate housed at Federal Correctional Institution – Dublin (“FCI-Dublin”), has filed a pro se action. Her complaint (ECF No. 1) is now before the Court for review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Also pending before the Court are (1) Plaintiff’s motion for emergency injunctive relief, ECF Nos. 2, 5; (2) motions from third parties seeking to be added as interested parties, ECF Nos. 7-9, 21; and (3) Plaintiff’s request for documents, ECF No. 19. Plaintiff has paid the filing fee. ECF No. 6. A. Standard of Review A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings must, however, be liberally construed. See United States v. Qazi, 975 F.3d Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “Specific facts are not necessary; the statement need only “‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (citations omitted). While Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677–78 (2009). A pleading that offers only labels and conclusions, or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action, or naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement does not suffice. Id. B. Screening Complaint 1. Complaint The complaint names as defendants the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA)”, FCI warden T. Jusino; and unknown Federal Bureau of Prison employees. The complaint makes the following allegations. Starting in 2019, FCI-Dublin required inmates to dry- buffed floor tiles with friable asbestos. Inmates faced disciplinary action if they failed inspection. FCI Dublin facilities have toxic mold, and the air and water are contaminated by mold, asbestos, and feces. FCI-Dublin’s facilities also cause Sick Building Syndrome. Due to these building conditions, Plaintiff has suffered hair loss, memory loss, hearing loss, extreme fatigue, daily headaches, stomachaches, muscle pain, and other medical issues associate with mold, asbestos and feces contamination of the air and water. The water pipes at FCI-Dublin routinely break, leading to contaminated water. FCI-Dublin inmates, including Plaintiff, were not warned that the water was contaminated and therefore drank the water. As a result, Plaintiff and other inmates suffer from diarrhea, headaches, and stomachaches. Inmates have been hospitalized due to the contaminated water. On November 5, 2022, Plaintiff sent a letter to defendant EPA, stating that FCI-Dublin is contaminated by mold, asbestos, and bird feces; that she was aware of an inmate being hospitalized as a result of how the contamination affected that inmate’s medical issues. Plaintiff also notified defendants Jusino and the Doe employees that FCI-Dublin is contaminated by mold, asbestos, and bird feces, and that this contamination is dangerous to her health and the to toxic substances, but her request was denied. Defendants see the mold, asbestos, and bird feces contamination daily, and do nothing to protect Plaintiff and others. See generally ECF No. 1. Plaintiff brings suit against defendant EPA pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. § 706(1); 33 U.S.C. § 1365(a)(2); 42 U.S.C. § 7604(a); the Toxic Substance Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601; and the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C § 2201. Plaintiff alleges that defendant EPA failed to carry out their required duties as set forth in the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. Plaintiff alleges that defendant Warden Jusino and the Doe FBOP employees have denied her medical treatment, including the removal from dangerous and toxic substances, and failed to main suitable housing quarters, in violation of the Eighth Amendment and 18 U.S.C. § 4202. ECF No. 1 at 5. Plaintiff requests the following relief: a declaration that defendant EPA failed to meet their statutory obligation to inspect and regulate FCI-Dublin, and that the remaining defendants violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights; order Defendants to immediately provide appropriate medical treatment; monetary damages, including medical monitoring damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, fees, and costs; and any relief the Court deems appropriate. ECF No. 1 at 6. 2. Causes of Action The complaint sets forth two causes of action. In the first cause of action, Plaintiff alleges that the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act impose on defendant EPA ministerial and non-discretionary duties to inspect and regulate properties violate federal statutes in relation to the environment, and that defendant EPA has violated these statutes by failing to comply with its duty to inspect FCI- Dublin. This claim is DISMISSED with leave to amend. Plaintiff has not identified any statutory provision in the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, or the Toxic Substances Control Act that require the EPA to inspect and regulate FCI-Dublin.1

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