Goodlow V Broomfield
1
2
3
4
5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
6 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
7
SHERODE GOODLOW,
8 Case No. 24-cv-06902-DMR (PR)
Plaintiff,
9 ORDER OF PARTIAL DISMISSAL
v. WITH LEAVE TO AMEND; AND
10 SERVING COGNIZABLE CLAIM
WARDEN BROOMFIELD, et al.,
11
Defendant.
12
13 I. INTRODUCTION
14 Plaintiff Sherode Goodlow, a state prisoner currently incarcerated at San Quentin
15 Rehabilitation Center (“San Quentin”), formerly known as San Quentin State Prison, has filed a
16 civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, representing himself and alleging constitutional
17 violations that took place at San Quentin. Dkt. 1. His motion for leave to proceed in forma
18 pauperis will be granted in a separate Order. Dkt. 6.
19 Plaintiff names as Defendants the following employees at San Quentin: Correctional
20 Officers Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Smith, Santos, Chohan, and McCaffrey; and Warden
21 Broomfield. Dkt. 1 at 2-4.1 Plaintiff seeks monetary and punitive damages. Id. at 16.
22 The court now conducts its initial review of the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
23 Venue is proper in this judicial district because most of the events giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims
24 in his complaint are alleged to have occurred at San Quentin, which is located here. See 28 U.S.C.
25 § 1391(b).
26
27
1 Page number citations refer to those assigned by the court’s electronic case management
II. DISCUSSION
1
A. Standard of Review
2
A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks
3
redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.
4
§ 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims
5
that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek
6
monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. Id. at § 1915A(b)(1), (2).
7
Pleadings submitted by pro se plaintiffs must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police
8
Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988).
9
To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements:
10
(1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that
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the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v.
12
Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). Further, liability may be imposed on an individual defendant if the
13
plaintiff can show that the defendant proximately caused the deprivation of a federally protected
14
right. Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 634 (9th Cir. 1988); Harris v. City of Roseburg, 664 F.2d
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1121, 1125 (9th Cir. 1981). A person deprives another of a constitutional right within the meaning
16
of section 1983 if they engage in an affirmative act, participates in another’s affirmative act or
17
fails to perform an act which they are legally required to undertake, that causes the deprivation of
18
which the plaintiff complains. Leer, 844 F.2d at 633; see, e.g., Robins v. Meecham, 60 F.3d 1436,
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1442 (9th Cir. 1995) (finding that a prison official’s failure to intervene to prevent Eighth
20
Amendment violation may be basis for liability). The inquiry into causation must be
21
individualized and focus on the duties and responsibilities of each individual defendant whose acts
22
or omissions are alleged to have caused a constitutional deprivation. Leer, 844 F.2d at 633.
23
A supervisor may be liable under section 1983 upon a showing of (1) personal
24
involvement in the constitutional deprivation or (2) a sufficient causal connection between the
25
supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the constitutional violation. Redman v. Cnty. of San Diego,
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942 F.2d 1435, 1446 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc) (citation omitted). A supervisor therefore generally
27
“is only liable for constitutional violations of his subordinates if the supervisor participated in or
1 directed the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them.” Taylor v. List,
2 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). “‘Supervisory liability is imposed against a supervisory
3 official in [their] individual capacity for [their] own culpable action or inaction in the training,
4 supervision, or control of [their] subordinates, for [their] acquiescence in the constitutional
5 deprivations of which the complaint is made, or for conduct that showed a reckless or callous
6 indifference to the rights of others.’” Preschooler II v. Clark Cnty. Sch. Bd. of Trs., 479 F.3d
7 1175, 1183 (9th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted). Under no circumstances is there respondent
8 superior liability under section 1983. Taylor, 880 F.2d at 1045.
9 Finally, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 8 requires that a complaint set forth “a short
10 and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Additionally, Rule
11 8(e) requires that each averment of a pleading be “simple, concise, and direct.” See McHenry v.
12 Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1179 (9th Cir. 1996) (affirming dismissal of complaint that was
13 “argumentative, prolix, replete with redundancy, and largely irrelevant”). While the federal rules
14 require brevity in pleading, a complaint nevertheless must be sufficient to give the defendants “fair
15 notice” of the claim and the “grounds upon which it rests.” Erickson v. Pardus, 127 S. Ct. 2197,
16 2200 (2007) (quotation and citation omitted). A complaint that fails to state the specific acts of
17 the defendant that violated the plaintiff’s rights fails to meet the notice requirements of Rule 8(a).
18 See Hutchinson v. United States, 677 F.2d 1322, 1328 n.5 (9th Cir. 1982).
19 B. Background
20 In his complaint, Plaintiff alleges the following constitutional violations involving
21 Defendants retaliating against him for filing 602 inmate grievances (“grievances” or “602’s”) at
22 San Quentin. See Dkt. 1 at 10-14.
23 Plaintiff alleges that on an unknown date, possibly sometime before July, 2022, “because
24 [he] chose[] to exercise his constitutional rights to “file prison grievances against prison staff,”
25 unnamed San Quentin officers “were trying to place his life in grave danger by repeatedly
26 assigning [young] gang members inside of his cell.” Id. at 12. Plaintiff claims he spoke with an
27 unnamed sergeant in San Quentin’s Badger Unit about the situation, and the inmate was moved.
1 Smith, who works in [San Quentin’s] Badger Unit,” where he was being housed. Id.
2 Plaintiff lists several instances of alleged retaliation in 2022, and chronologically, it seems
3 that the first one took place on July 3, 2022. Id. at 13. Plaintiff alleges that on that date Defendant
4 Smith stopped him at “chow release” and told him he had legal mail. Id. at 13. Plaintiff claims
5 that legal mail is “normally passed out at approximately 7:45 - 8:30 pm, and not during chow
6 time.” Id. Plaintiff alleges Defendant Smith “proceeded to berate Plaintiff for all of the
7 grievances he has filed” and “reminded him that he was in prison.” Id. Defendant Smith told
8 Plaintiff “this is not a country club” and to “suck it up!” and “stop w[h]ining!” Id.
9 On July 4, 2022, during Plaintiff’s “canteen hours,” Defendants McCaffrey and Smith
10 “accosted” the person working at the canteen who collects inmates’ ID’s and retrieved Plaintiff’s
11 ID. Id. at 13. Defendants McCaffrey and Smith then allegedly approached Plaintiff and said,
12 “You are not allowed to shop because you are L.O.P. (meaning Lost of Privilege).” Id. Plaintiff
13 informed Defendants McCaffrey and Smith that he was “C-Status,” which meant he was “allowed
14 to shop within the prison canteen,” but instead they “denied [him] the right to shop at the canteen
15 as every other similar situated inmate.” Id.
16 Plaintiff further alleges that at 12:30 pm the same date, he attempted to use the law library
17 but Defendant Smith stopped him and told him he could not do so. Id. at 13. Plaintiff told
18 Defendant Smith he was allowed to use the library and asked Defendant Smith to show him a rule
19 or memo that said otherwise. Id. Defendant Smith told Plaintiff to check in with Correctional
20 Officer Hertudo, a non-party, and after Plaintiff did so Officer Hertudo allowed Plaintiff inside the
21 library. Id. After an hour, at approximately 1:30 pm, another non-party named Correction Officer
22 Auramson entered the law library and told Plaintiff to return back to Badger Unit, where he was
23 met by Defendant Smith. Id. at 14. Defendant Smith informed Plaintiff that he was “no longer
24 allowed to attend the law library without [Defendant Smith’s] permission.” Id. When Plaintiff
25 asked to “see the memo that makes such [a] claim,” Plaintiff alleges Defendant Smith became
26 “irate” and “ordered Plaintiff to repeat what [Defendant Smith] had just said.” Id. Plaintiff alleges
27 his “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was triggered,” and “after he repeated what Defendant Smith
1 Thereafter, Plaintiff filed a grievance stemming from this incident, and Reviewing Authority L.
2 Bravo, a non-party, “acknowledged that between 12:30 and 3:00 hours, weekdays only, inmates,
3 including Plaintiff, are allowed to utilize the law library.” Id. at 14.
4 Plaintiff states while he was at Badger Unit’s dayroom on July 6, 2022, Defendants
5 Malikan, Forter, and Gonzalez were locking all cell doors in that unit when Plaintiff asked them if
6 he could first use the restroom “since the unit[’]s dayroom is not equip[ped] with a bathroom.” Id.
7 at 10. Plaintiff informed Defendant Gonzalez he “suffer[red] from sever[e] bladder issues” and
8 could not wait, but Defendant Gonzalez denied Plaintiff the right to use the restroom. Id. Plaintiff
9 alleges Defendant Gonzalez told the Plaintiff he had to “wait until unlock,” which was in fifteen
10 minutes. Id. Plaintiff informed Defendants Malikan, Forter, and Gonzalez he would file a
11 grievance, to which Defendant Malikan allegedly responded, “Go ahead. Make sure you spell my
12 name right.” Id. Plaintiff alleges that two weeks prior he had spoken to Defendant Broomfield
13 (San Quentin’s warden) about the lack of toilet in the dayrooms. Id. at 11. Defendant Broomfield
14 told Plaintiff he would “look into it,” but Plaintiff alleges that it was to no avail and “the
15 unconstitutional act continued to take place.” Id.
16 On July 8, 2022, Defendant Malikan used the P.A. system to make the following
17 announcement: “I will be locking the bars, so if you have to take a ‘shit!’ do it now. I will not be
18 unlocking the bars, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!” Id. at 11. Plaintiff alleges that at around
19 8:45 pm on the same day, inmate Beaver’s and Plaintiff’s “power was mysteriously turned off.”
20 Id. Plaintiff alleges that he and inmate Beaver had both recently filed prison grievances against
21 staff in Badger Unit, and they were the only inmates out of 467 inmates who were affected by the
22 power outage. Id. Plaintiff states the power outage happened on a Friday so, they “had to wait
23 until Monday to have [their power] turned back on.” Id. at 11.
24 On July 18, 2022, “because of Plaintiff’s grievances,” unnamed San Quinten staff installed
25 a toilet in the “Pill Call Yard” of Badger Unit. Id at 12. However, Plaintiff alleges “inmates [still]
26 ha[d] to wait until the hourly unlock to use such restroom.” Id. Plaintiff claims San Quentin
27 acknowledged the problem but “failed to properly correct it.” Id.
1 Unit. Id. at 11. Unnamed prison staff ordered Plaintiff to enter Badger Unit’s dining hall. Id.
2 While waiting, Plaintiff had to use the restroom, but the dining hall did not have a restroom. Id.
3 Plaintiff alleges he “summoned the assistance from [Correctional Officers] Vong, and Pelte,” who
4 are non-parties, as well as Defendants Santos and Chohan “to use the restroom.” Id. Plaintiff also
5 “alerted Defendants about his serious medical condition,” but they said no and “told [him] to go sit
6 back down.” Id. Plaintiff alleges Defendant Santos laughed and said, “Hey! [D]on’t get him
7 upset. He likes to file a lot of 602’s.” Id. The other correctional officers laughed, and one
8 unnamed officer responded, “Ya! We all know about him.” Id. at 11-12. Plaintiff alleges he
9 requested to speak with a supervisor but was denied, which “led [to Plaintiff] having to result to
10 obtaining a bottle that was located within the din[]ing hall and urinate inside of it in front of
11 inmates.” Id. at 12. Once the inmates were released from the dining hall, Plaintiff informed
12 Defendant Gonzalez about the incident but Defendant Gonzalez “recklessly (dis)regarded
13 [Plaintiff’s] claims and allowed this kind of behavior to occur.” Id. Plaintiff informed Defendant
14 Gonzalez that he would be filing a grievance on this matter. Id. Apparently, Plaintiff did file such
15 a grievance, and on September 30, 2022, an investigation into Plaintiff’s claims were made but
16 Defendant Broomfield concluded that no misconduct had occurred on July 28, 2022. Id.
17 On January 17, 2023, Plaintiff states he filed a “Reasonable Accommodation Request” to
18 be moved out of Badger Unit “because of the retaliatory action [he] received from correctional
19 officers at [San Quentin].” Id. at 14. Specifically, Plaintiff made such an accommodation request
20 “because of the constant threats and retaliation he was receiving from such officers.” Id. Plaintiff
21 was moved to North Block on January 20, 2023. Id.
22 C. Legal Claims
23 Plaintiff alleges the present action arises under the 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and his claims
24 include violations of the First and Eighth Amendments. Dkt. 1 at 3.
25 1. First Amendment
26 To state a claim for First Amendment retaliation against a government official, a plaintiff
27 must demonstrate that (1) he engaged in constitutionally protected activity; (2) as a result, he was
1 continuing to engage in the protected activity; and (3) there was a substantial causal relationship
2 between the constitutionally protected activity and the adverse action. Mulligan v. Nichols, 835
3 F.3d 983, 988 (9th Cir. 2016).
4 The prisoner must prove all elements of a viable retaliation claim, including the absence of
5 legitimate correctional goals for the conduct about which he complains. Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d
6 802, 806 (9th Cir. 1995). Retaliation claims brought by prisoners must be evaluated in light of
7 concerns over “excessive judicial involvement in day-to-day prison management, which ‘often
8 squander[s] judicial resources with little offsetting benefit to anyone.’” Id. at 807 (quoting Sandin
9 v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 482 (1995)). In particular, courts should “‘afford appropriate deference
10 and flexibility’ to prison officials in the evaluation of proffered legitimate penological reasons for
11 conduct alleged to be retaliatory.” Id. (quoting Sandin, 515 U.S. at 482). The prisoner also must
12 show that the constitutionally protected activity in which he was engaged was a substantial or
13 motivating factor for the alleged retaliatory action. See Hines v. Gomez, 108 F.3d 265, 267-68
14 (9th Cir. 1997) (inferring retaliatory motive from circumstantial evidence). The prisoner need not
15 prove a total chilling of his First Amendment rights to state a claim for retaliation; that his First
16 Amendment rights were chilled, though not necessarily silenced, is enough.” Rhodes v. Robinson,
17 408 F.3d 559, 569 (9th Cir. 2005). But the prisoner at least must allege that he suffered harm,
18 since harm that is more than minimal will almost always have a chilling effect. Id. at 567-68 n.11.
19 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Smith’s actions amounted to retaliation against him for
20 filing grievances, including pulling Plaintiff from the chow line and berating him for all the
21 grievances he had filed, see Dkt. 1 at 13, telling Plaintiff to “suck it up!” and “stop w[h]ining!” see
22 id., not allowing Plaintiff to shop at the canteen; id., and trying to keep Plaintiff from accessing the
23 law library. Id. As a result, Plaintiff alleges that some of Defendant Smith’s actions “triggered his
24 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Id. Plaintiff also claims that he filed a “Reasonable
25 Accommodation Request” to be moved out of Badger Unit due to these acts of retaliation. Id. at
26 14. Accommodations were made, and Plaintiff was moved to another unit on January 20, 2023.
27 Id. Liberally construed, Plaintiff states a cognizable First Amendment retaliation claim against
1 Plaintiff has not stated a cognizable constitutional claim against the remaining Defendants,
2 including Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Santos, Chohan, and McCaffrey.
3 Plaintiff’s allegations of retaliation against the aforementioned Defendants lack a demonstration of
4 a substantial causal relationship between the constitutionally protected activity and the adverse
5 action. Because it appears possible that Plaintiff may be able to correct this deficiency, the court
6 DISMISSES his First Amendment claim against Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter,
7 Gonzalez, Santos, Chohan, and McCaffrey with leave to amend. If Plaintiff chooses to amend his
8 complaint and re-plead this claim against Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez,
9 Santos, Chohan, and McCaffrey, he must proffer enough facts to state a plausible claim that
10 Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Santos, Chohan, and McCaffrey acted in
11 retaliation as a result of Plaintiff filing grievances.
12 To the extent that Plaintiff’s complaint states a claim against Defendants of verbal
13 harassment and threats, such a claim is DISMISSED. See Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 738
14 (9th Cir. 1997) (Allegations of verbal harassment and abuse fail to state a claim cognizable under
15 42 U.S.C. § 1983.); see also Gaut v. Sunn, 810 F.2d 923, 925 (9th Cir. 1987) (mere threat does not
16 constitute constitutional wrong, nor do allegations that naked threat was for purpose of denying
17 access to courts compel contrary result).
18 2. Eighth Amendment
19 The Constitution does not mandate comfortable prisons, but neither does it permit
20 inhumane ones. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832 (1994). The treatment a prisoner
21 receives in prison and the conditions under which he is confined are subject to scrutiny under the
22 Eighth Amendment. See Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 31 (1993).
23 In determining whether a deprivation of a basic necessity is sufficiently serious to satisfy
24 the objective component of an Eighth Amendment claim, a court must consider the circumstances,
25 nature, and duration of the deprivation. The more basic the need, the shorter the time it can be
26 withheld. See Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th Cir. 2000). Substantial deprivations of
27 shelter, food, drinking water or sanitation for four days, for example, are sufficiently serious to
1 state of mind to establish an Eighth Amendment violation depends on the nature of the claim. A
2 prison official violates the Eighth Amendment when two requirements are met: (1) the deprivation
3 alleged must be, objectively, sufficiently serious, Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834 (citing Wilson v. Seiter,
4 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991)), and (2) the prison official possesses a sufficiently culpable state of
5 mind, id. (citing Wilson, 501 U.S. at 297).
6 In prison-conditions cases, the necessary state of mind is one of “deliberate indifference.”
7 See, e.g., Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834 (inmate safety); Helling, 509 U.S. at 32-33 (inmate health);
8 Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976) (inmate health).
9 Neither negligence nor gross negligence will constitute deliberate indifference. See
10 Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835-36 & n.4; see also Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106 (establishing that deliberate
11 indifference requires more than negligence). A prison official cannot be held liable under the
12 Eighth Amendment for denying an inmate humane conditions of confinement unless the standard
13 for criminal recklessness is met, i.e., the official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to
14 inmate health or safety. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. The official must both be aware of facts
15 from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must
16 also draw the inference. See id. An Eighth Amendment claimant need not show, however, that a
17 prison official acted or failed to act believing that harm actually would befall an inmate; it is
18 enough that the official acted or failed to act despite his knowledge of a substantial risk of serious
19 harm. See id. at 842. This is a question of fact. See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 842. A heightened
20 pleading standard applies to the subjective prong of Eighth Amendment claims: the Plaintiff must
21 make nonconclusory allegations supporting an inference of unlawful intent. Alfrey v. United
22 States, 276 F.3d 557, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2002) (applying standard to Bivens Eighth Amendment
23 claim).
24 Although the Eighth Amendment protects against cruel and unusual punishment, this does
25 not mean that federal courts can or should interfere whenever prisoners are inconvenienced or
26 suffer de minimis injuries. See, e.g., Holloway v. Gunnell, 685 F.2d 150 (5th Cir. 1985) (no claim
27 stated where prisoner forced to spend two days in hot dirty cell with no water); Evans v. Fogg, 466
1 refuse strewn cell and for two days in flooded cell). Federal courts instead should avoid
2 enmeshing themselves in the minutiae of prison operations in the name of the Eighth Amendment.
3 See Wright v. Rushen, 642 F.2d 1129, 1132 (9th Cir. 1981).
4 Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez Santos, Chohan, Vong, and
5 Pelte did not let Plaintiff use the restroom on July 6, 2022 and July 28, 2022. Dkt. 1 at 10-12.
6 Plaintiff alleges Defendant Broomfield knew about the issue but did not address it. Id. at 11-12,
7 21. Plaintiff alleges he has “sever[e] bladder issues” that are documented. Id. at 10. Plaintiff also
8 alleges he informed Defendants of his medical issue, but his claims were disregarded. Id. at 10,
9 12. Finally, Plaintiff names Defendant Smith but does not link this defendant to his alleged Eighth
10 Amendment violation.
11 Plaintiff’s allegations do not demonstrate Defendant Smith’s personal involvement in the
12 constitutional deprivation, and his allegations against Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter,
13 Gonzalez, Santos, Chohan, Vong, and Pelte do not state a claim under this standard. Plaintiff’s
14 claims fail to state a substantial, objective serious offense. Plaintiff only states Defendants
15 Malikan, Forter, and Gonzalez told him to wait fifteen minutes on July 6, 2022, see id. at 10, and
16 Defendants Santos, Chohan, Vong, and Pelte did not allow Plaintiff to use the restroom while a
17 random search was being conducted on July 28, 2022, see id. at 12. Because such allegations do
18 not seem to rise to a level of an Eighth Amendment violation, this claim is DISMISSED with
19 leave to amend. Plaintiff must show that these Defendants’ actions amounted to deliberate
20 indifference in violation of the Eighth Amendment. In an amended complaint, Plaintiff must
21 provide more detail establishing that the named Defendants had a culpable state of mind, and that
22 he suffered as a result of Defendants’ actions, i.e., how the denial of the restroom for a short span
23 of time was sufficiently serious. Accordingly, his claims against Defendants Broomfield,
24 Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Santos, Smith, Chohan, Vong, and Pelte are DISMISSED with leave to
25 amend.
26 III. CONCLUSION
27 For the foregoing reasons, the court orders as follows:
1 Smith.
2 2. The court DISMISSES with leave to amend Plaintiff’s First Amendment retaliation
3 claim against Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Santos, Chohan, Vong, and
4 Pelte.
5 3. The court DISMISSES with leave to amend Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim
6 against Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Santos, Smith, Chohan, Vong, and
7 Pelte.
8 4. If Plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he must file the amended
9 complaint within twenty-eight (28) days of the date of this Order. The amended complaint must
10 include the caption and civil case number used in this Order—Case No. 24-cv-06902-DMR
11 (PR)—and the words “AMENDED COMPLAINT” on the first page. He must use the court’s
12 complaint form and answer all the questions on the form in order for the action to proceed.
13 Because an amended complaint completely replaces the previous complaints, Plaintiff must
14 include in his amended complaint all the claims he wishes to present, including any amended
15 claims (i.e., the aforementioned First and Eighth Amendment claims) as well as the First
16 Amendment claim against Defendant Smith, which the court has already found cognizable. See
17 Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Plaintiff may not incorporate material
18 from the prior complaint by reference. Failure to file an amended complaint in accordance with
19 this Order in the time provided will result in the following: (1) the dismissal of his First
20 Amendment claim against Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter, Gonzalez, Santos, Chohan,
21 Vong, and Pelte, and his Eighth Amendment claim Defendants Broomfield, Malikan, Forter,
22 Gonzalez, Santos, Smith, Chohan, Vong, and Pelte; (2) the initial complaint (Dkt. 1) remaining the
23 operative complaint; and (3) this action proceeding in accordance with this Order.
24 5. The Clerk of the Court shall serve Correctional Officer Defendant Smith at San
25 Quentin. Service on the listed defendant shall proceed under the California Department of
26 Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (“CDCR”) e-service pilot program for civil rights cases from
27 prisoners in CDCR custody. In accordance with the program, the Clerk is directed to serve on
1 Report of E-Service Waiver form and a summons. The Clerk shall serve by mail a copy of this
2 order on Plaintiff.
3 No later than forty (40) days after service of this order via email on CDCR, CDCR shall
4 provide the court a completed CDCR Report of E-Service Waiver advising the court if the
5 defendant listed in this order will be waiving service of process without the need for service by the
6 United States Marshal Service (“USMS”) or if defendant will decline to waive service or could not
7 be reached. CDCR also shall provide a copy of the CDCR Report of E-Service Waiver and of the
8 notice of assignment of prisoner case to a magistrate judge and accompanying magistrate judge
9 jurisdiction consent or declination to consent form to the California Attorney General’s Office,
10 which, within twenty-one (21) days, shall file with the court a waiver of service of process for
11 any defendant(s) who are waiving service and, within twenty-eight (28) days thereafter, shall file
12 a magistrate judge jurisdiction consent or declination to consent form as to any defendant(s) who
13 waived service.
14 Upon receipt of the CDCR Report of E-Service Waiver, the Clerk shall prepare for each
15 defendant who has not waived service according to the CDCR Report of E-Service Waiver a
16 USM-285 form. The Clerk shall provide to the USMS the completed USM-285 form and copies
17 of this order, summons, operative complaint and notice of assignment of prisoner case to a
18 magistrate judge and accompanying magistrate judge jurisdiction consent or declination to consent
19 form for service upon each defendant who has not waived service. The Clerk also shall provide to
20 the USMS a copy of the CDCR Report of E-Service Waiver.
21 6. The defendant shall answer the complaint in accordance with the Federal Rules of
22 Civil Procedure. The following briefing schedule shall govern dispositive motions in this action:
23 a. No later than sixty (60) days from the date their answer is due, the
24 defendant shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion. The motion must
25 be supported by adequate factual documentation, must conform in all respects to Federal Rule of
26 Civil Procedure 56, and must include as exhibits all records and incident reports stemming from
27
1 the events at issue. A motion for summary judgment also must be accompanied by a Rand2 notice
2 so that the plaintiff will have fair, timely and adequate notice of what is required of him in order to
3 oppose the motion. Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 935 (9th Cir. 2012) (notice requirement set out
4 in Rand must be served concurrently with motion for summary judgment). A motion to dismiss
5 for failure to exhaust available administrative remedies must be accompanied by a similar notice.
6 However, the court notes that under this Circuit’s case law, in the rare event that a failure to
7 exhaust is clear on the face of the complaint, the defendant may move for dismissal under Rule
8 12(b)(6) as opposed to the previous practice of moving under an unenumerated Rule 12(b) motion.
9 Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162, 1166 (9th Cir. 2014) (overruling Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108,
10 1119 (9th Cir. 2003), which held that failure to exhaust available administrative remedies under
11 the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), should be raised by a defendant as an
12 unenumerated Rule 12(b) motion). Otherwise, if a failure to exhaust is not clear on the face of the
13 complaint, the defendant must produce evidence proving failure to exhaust in a motion for
14 summary judgment under Rule 56. Id. If undisputed evidence viewed in the light most favorable
15 to the plaintiff shows a failure to exhaust, the defendant is entitled to summary judgment under
16 Rule 56. Id. But if material facts are disputed, summary judgment should be denied and the
17 district judge rather than a jury should determine the facts in a preliminary proceeding. Id. at
18 1168.
19 If the defendant is of the opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment,
20 the defendant shall so inform the court at least seven (7) days prior to the date the summary
21 judgment motion is due. All papers filed with the court shall be promptly served on the plaintiff.
22 b. The plaintiff’s opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the
23 court and served on the defendant no later than twenty-eight (28) days after the date on which the
24 defendant’s motion is filed.
25 c. The plaintiff is advised that a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56
26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will, if granted, end your case. Rule 56 tells you what you
27
1 must do in order to oppose a motion for summary judgment. Generally, summary judgment must
2 be granted when there is no genuine issue of material fact—that is, if there is no real dispute about
3 any fact that would affect the result of your case, the party who asked for summary judgment is
4 entitled to judgment as a matter of law, which will end your case. When a party you are suing
5 makes a motion for summary judgment that is properly supported by declarations (or other sworn
6 testimony), you cannot simply rely on what your complaint says. Instead, you must set out
7 specific facts in declarations, depositions, answers to interrogatories, or authenticated documents,
8 as provided in Rule 56(c), that contradict the facts shown in the defendant’s declarations and
9 documents and show that there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial. If you do not submit
10 your own evidence in opposition, summary judgment may be entered against you. If summary
11 judgment is granted, your case will be dismissed and there will be no trial. Rand, 154 F.3d at 962-
12 63.
13 The plaintiff also is advised that—in the rare event that the defendant argues that the
14 failure to exhaust is clear on the face of the complaint—a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust
15 available administrative remedies under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a) will, if granted, end your case, albeit
16 without prejudice. To avoid dismissal, you have the right to present any evidence to show that
17 you did exhaust your available administrative remedies before coming to federal court. Such
18 evidence may include: (1) declarations, which are statements signed under penalty of perjury by
19 you or others who have personal knowledge of relevant matters; (2) authenticated documents—
20 documents accompanied by a declaration showing where they came from and why they are
21 authentic, or other sworn papers such as answers to interrogatories or depositions; (3) statements
22 in your complaint insofar as they were made under penalty of perjury and they show that you have
23 personal knowledge of the matters state therein. As mentioned above, in considering a motion to
24 dismiss for failure to exhaust under Rule 12(b)(6) or failure to exhaust in a summary judgment
25 motion under Rule 56, the district judge may hold a preliminary proceeding and decide disputed
26 issues of fact with regard to this portion of the case. Albino, 747 F.3d at 1168.
27 (The notices above do not excuse the defendant’s obligation to serve similar notices again
1 motions for summary judgment. Woods, 684 F.3d at 935.)
2 d. The defendant shall file a reply brief no later than fourteen (14) days after
3 the date the plaintiff’s opposition is filed.
4 e. The summary judgment motion shall be deemed submitted as of the date the
5 reply brief is due. No hearing will be held on the motion unless the court so orders at a later date.
6 7. Discovery may be taken in this action in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil
7 Procedure. Leave of the court pursuant to Rule 30(a)(2) is hereby granted to the defendant to
8 depose the plaintiff and any other necessary witnesses confined in prison.
9 8. All communications by the plaintiff with the court must be served on the
10 defendant’s counsel by mailing a true copy of the document to them.
11 9. It is the plaintiff’s responsibility to prosecute this case. The plaintiff must keep the
12 court informed of any change of address and must comply with the court’s orders in a timely
13 fashion. Pursuant to Northern District Local Rule 3-11, a pro se party whose address changes
14 while an action is pending must promptly file a notice of change of address specifying the new
15 address. See L.R. 3-11(a). The court may dismiss without prejudice a complaint when: (1) mail
16 directed to the pro se party by the court has been returned to the court as not deliverable, and
17 (2)the court fails to receive within sixty days of this return a written communication from the pro
18 se party indicating a current address. See L.R. 3-11(b).
19 10. Upon a showing of good cause, requests for a reasonable extension of time will be
20 granted provided they are filed on or before the deadline they seek to extend.
21 11. The Clerk shall include a copy of a blank complaint form with a copy of this Order
22 to the plaintiff.
23 IT IS SO ORDERED.
24 Dated: July 23, 2025
25 ______________________________________
DONNA M. RYU
26 Chief Magistrate Judge
27