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being confined in an area where Valley Fever spores exist is insufficient to state a claim for deliberate indifference
Summary of this case from Jackson v. BeardOpinion
1:13cv00275 DLB PC
04-23-2014
MANSE SULLIVAN, Plaintiff, v. KRAMER, et al., Defendants.
ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT
WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND
Plaintiff Manse Sullivan ("Plaintiff") is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action. Plaintiff filed this action on February 22, 2013. On September 20, 2013, the Court issued a screening order and dismissed the complaint with leave to amend.
On December 13, 2013, Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint ("FAC"). He names former directors of Coalinga State Hospital ("CSH") Norm Kramer and Pam Ahlin, former director of the Department of Mental Health Stephen Mayberg, Director of the Department of Mental Health Cliff Allenby, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as Defendants. A. SCREENING REQUIREMENT
Plaintiff consented to the jurisdiction of the United States Magistrate Judge on March 11, 2013.
The Court is required to screen Plaintiff's complaint and dismiss the case, in whole or in part, if the Court determines it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
A complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. . . ." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but "[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice," Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (2007)), and courts "are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences," Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
Under section 1983, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). This requires the presentation of factual allegations sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The mere possibility of misconduct falls short of meeting this plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969. B. SUMMARY OF PLAINTIFF'S ALLEGATIONS
The only difference between the original complaint and the FAC is that Plaintiff attached the exhibits that were cited within the factual allegations. In the prior screening order, the Court noted that although Plaintiff referenced exhibits throughout his allegations, no exhibits were attached. Accordingly, the following factual allegations are identical to those in the original complaint.
Plaintiff is a 63 year-old African American who is civilly committed at CSH under the Sexually Violent Predator Act. Plaintiff has been at CSH since 2006.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have disregarded the risks of Valley Fever and placed him in an institution that is unfit for human habitation Although Plaintiff has not contracted any form of Valley Fever, he contends that he was not informed of the severe nature of the disease until it became apparent that staff and patients at CSH were infected. Plaintiff believes that Defendants had specific knowledge of the dangers of Valley Fever at least as early as 2002, prior to the construction of CHS, based on information from Pleasant Valley State Prison.
Plaintiff alleges that the medical support services at CSH "substantially depart" from generally accepted risk management practices, i.e., no adequate treatment plan, assessments, psychiatric services, nursing services, emotional rehabilitation, and that this puts patients at risk of Valley Fever. FAC 9. Plaintiff alleges that he has been denied any protective medical health services. Plaintiff is "informed and believes," therefore, that Defendants have acted with deliberate indifference. FAC 10-11. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have failed to properly monitor, retain and supervise the conditions which would cause Plaintiff to suffer serious injuries. He believes that Defendants are therefore directly liable for causing any injuries.
Plaintiff also believes that these customs, policies and practices constitute deliberate indifference. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that there is a custom and/or policy to discriminate against mental health patients at CSH and refuse accommodations. Plaintiff alleges that this has deprived him of the right to sufficient protective treatment and knowledge of the disease prior to, and during, his incarceration at CSH.
Based on these allegations, Plaintiff alleges causes of action for (1) negligence pursuant to California Government Code section "845.5(d);" (2) failure to provide adequate facility equipment pursuant to California Government Code section 855; (3) abuse of a dependent adult pursuant to California Government Code section "845.5(d);" (4) Deliberate indifference in violation of the Eighth Amendment; (5) discrimination in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment; and (6) violation of the First Amendment. C. ANALYSIS
1. Exhibits
In a motion for reconsideration filed with his FAC, Plaintiff cites the Court's footnote in the prior screening order stating that exhibits were not attached. He believes that the exhibits, which are now attached to his FAC, "clearly support[] the contention, the Defendants who are within the complaint are properly cited as those who are liable according to the dangerous conditions of Plaintiff's housing at the hospital." ECF. No. 11, at 2. However, the exhibits do not in any way correct the deficiencies identified in the Court's first screening order.
The motion was denied by separate order.
Exhibit A consists of various reference materials related to Valley Fever in certain prisons within California, including discussions of risk management strategies. The materials do not link any of the Defendants to the claims at issue.
Exhibit B is a Joint Scheduling Conference Statement in Arjang Panah v. United States, where an infected federal prisoner brought a negligence action against the United States. Various theories of the case are underlined, though it is unclear whether Plaintiff intended to draw the Court's attention to those passages. Regardless, a plaintiff's theories in a negligence action against the United States have no bearing on whether Plaintiff states a constitutional claim in this action.
Exhibit C consists of various newspaper articles documenting the Valley Fever outbreak at Pleasant Valley State Prison, and the transfer of at-risk inmates. Again, these newspaper articles do not link any Defendants to the claims at issue.
The final exhibit, Exhibit D, is an Associated Press article indicating that the plaintiff in Panah v. United States settled with the United States for $425,000. The settlement in this action has no relation to the sufficiency of Plaintiff's claims.
Therefore, the exhibits, which are the only difference between his original complaint and FAC, do not correct the deficiencies identified in the prior order and set forth below.
2. Linkage
As explained above, section 1983 provides a cause of action for the violation of Plaintiff's constitutional or other federal rights by persons acting under color of state law. Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d 1087, 1092 (9th Cir 2009); Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006); Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). To state a claim, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77, 129 S.Ct. at 1949; Simmons v. Navajo County, Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020-21 (9th Cir. 2010); Ewing v. City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir. 2009); Jones, 297 F.3d at 934.
Therefore, Plaintiff must link the named defendants to the participation in the violation at issue. Liability may not be imposed on supervisory personnel under the theory of respondeat superior, Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77; Simmons, 609 F.3d at 1020-21; Ewing, 588 F.3d at 1235; Jones, 297 F.3d at 934, and supervisory personnel may only be held liable if they "participated in or directed the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them," Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989); accord Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1205-08 (9th Cir. 2011), cert. denied, 132 S.Ct. 2101 (2012); Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d 554, 570 (9th Cir. 2009). Some culpable action or inaction must be attributable to Defendants and while the creation or enforcement of, or acquiescence in, an unconstitutional policy, as alleged here, may support a claim, the policy must have been the moving force behind the violation. Starr, 652 F.3d at 1205; Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 F.3d 895, 914-15 (9th Cir. 2001); Redman v. County of San Diego, 942 F.2d 1435, 1446-47 (9th Cir. 1991).
In his complaint, all named Defendants are in supervisory positions. In other words, no Defendant had any personal interactions with Plaintiff to form a basis of liability. Therefore, Plaintiff must demonstrate that Defendants "participated in or directed the violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them." Insofar as he cites a policy and/or custom, Plaintiff must demonstrate that the policy or custom was the moving force behind the violation. Moreover, Plaintiff must do more than allege conclusory, speculative allegations. He must set forth facts upon which the requisite liability may be based.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Kramer and Ahlin were in "seats of authority" at CSH when Plaintiff was there, and that they are liable for allowing Plaintiff to be in the area of Valley Fever and hiding it from him. Plaintiff's allegations are not supported by facts, however, and are insufficient to support liability.
As for Defendants Mayberg, Allenby and Schwarzenegger, Plaintiff alleges that they were all aware of the hazards of building in the area, yet allowed the construction to proceed and withheld information from Plaintiff or failed to take appropriate precautions. Again, these allegations lack factual information and are insufficient to support liability.
Insofar as Plaintiff alleges that the members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors were told of the dangers of construction, but failed to it, his allegations are factually insufficient to support liability. Generally, a claim against a local government unit for municipal or county liability requires an allegation that "a deliberate policy, custom, or practice . . . was the 'moving force' behind the constitutional violation . . . suffered." Galen v. County of Los Angeles, 477 F.3d 652, 667 (9th Cir. 2007); City of Canton, Ohio, v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385, 109 S.Ct. 1197 (1989). Alternatively, and more difficult to prove, municipal liability may be imposed where the local government unit's omission led to the constitutional violation by its employee. Gibson, 290 F.3d at 1186. Under this route to municipal liability, the "plaintiff must show that the municipality's deliberate indifference led to its omission and that the omission caused the employee to commit the constitutional violation." Id. Deliberate indifference requires a showing "that the municipality was on actual or constructive notice that its omissions would likely result in a constitutional violation." Id.
Finally, although Plaintiff makes reference to a policy and/or custom of discrimination, his allegations lack factual support.
For the above reasons, Plaintiff fails to link any named Defendant to any alleged constitutional violation.
3. Medical Care
Although Plaintiff cites the Eighth Amendment, as a civil detainee, his right to medical care is protected by the substantive component of the Due Process Clause. Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 315, 102 S.Ct. 2452 (1982). A determination whether Plaintiff's rights were violated requires "balancing of his liberty interests against the relevant state interests." Youngberg, 457 U.S. at 321. Plaintiff is "entitled to more considerate treatment and conditions of confinement than criminals whose conditions of confinement are designed to punish," but the Constitution requires only that courts ensure professional judgment was exercised. Id. at 321-22. A "decision, if made by a professional, is presumptively valid; liability may be imposed only when the decision by the professional is such a substantial departure from accepted professional judgment, practice, or standards as to demonstrate that the person responsible actually did not base the decision on such a judgment." Id. at 322-23; compare Clouthier v. County of Contra Costa, 591 F.3d 1232, 1243-44 (9th Cir. 2010) (rejecting the Youngberg standard and applying the deliberate indifference standard to a pretrial detainee's right to medical care, and noting that pretrial detainees, who are confined to ensure presence at trial, are not similarly situated to those civilly committed).
The professional judgment standard is an objective standard and it equates "to that required in ordinary tort cases for a finding of conscious indifference amounting to gross negligence." Ammons v. Washington Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 648 F.3d 1020, 1029 (9th Cir. 2011), cert. denied, 132 S.Ct. 2379 (2012) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
Plaintiff's complaint is premised on his contention that simply being in an area where Valley Fever is present is sufficient to state a constitutional claim. Plaintiff admits that he has not contracted Valley Fever. Generally, however, the mere fact that he was confined in a location where Valley Fever spores existed is not sufficient to state a claim. The Court recognizes that as a civil detainee, Plaintiff's care is subject to a higher standard. Here, however, there are no factual circumstances that warrant departure from this general proposition.
Moreover, Plaintiff's general references to inadequate treatment are insufficient to state a claim. Plaintiff has not set forth facts related to any specific treatment, or lack thereof, that he received.
Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a claim under the Due Process Clause for inadequate medical treatment.
Plaintiff also cites to the First Amendment when discussing the lack of medical treatment. There are no allegations in his complaint, however, to support a claim under any provision of the First Amendment.
4. Discrimination
The Equal Protection Clause requires that persons who are similarly situated be treated alike. City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985). An equal protection claim may be established in two ways. First, a plaintiff establishes an equal protection claim by showing that the defendant has intentionally discriminated against him on the basis of the plaintiff's membership in a protected class. See, e.g., Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 686 (9th Cir.2001). Under this theory of equal protection, the plaintiff must show that the defendants' actions were a result of the plaintiff's membership in a suspect class, such as race. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1167 (9th Cir.2005).
Absent an allegation that Plaintiff is a member of a protected class or that Defendants acted on the basis of his status as a member of a protected class, Plaintiff may only establish an equal protection claim by showing that similarly situated individuals were intentionally treated differently without a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose. Village of Willowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000); San Antonio School District v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 1, 93 (1972); Squaw Valley Development Co. v. Goldberg, 375 F.3d 936, 944 (9th Cir.2004). To state an equal protection claim under this theory, a plaintiff must allege that: (1) the plaintiff is a member of an identifiable class; (2) the plaintiff was intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated; and (3) there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment. Village of Willowbrook, 528 U.S. at 564.
In his complaint, Plaintiff alleges that he is being discriminated against due to "an actual or perceived mental illness." Compl. 19. He appears to allege that all patients at CSH are discriminated against because they have been placed at an institution where Valley Fever is present. This is insufficient to state a claim.
A person with a mental disability, whether perceived or actual, is not in a protected class under the Equal Protection Clause. City of Cleburne, 473 U.S. at 442. However, the Equal Protection Clause prohibits irrational and invidious discrimination against them. Dare v. California, 191 F.3d 1167, 1174 (9th Cir.1999). The disabled plaintiff must have been treated differently than others similarly situated, by reason of the plaintiff's classification. Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 687 (9th Cir.2001). "'Discriminatory purpose' ... implies more than intent as volition or intent as awareness of consequences. It implies that the decisionmaker ... selected or reaffirmed a particular course of action at least in part 'because of,' not merely 'in spite of,' its adverse effects upon an identifiable group." Personnel Adm'r of Mass. v. Feeney, 442 U.S. 256, 279 (1979) (internal citation omitted).
Plaintiff fails to make any allegations that Defendants' alleged actions were motivated by discriminatory animus towards patients with mental disabilities.
Therefore, Plaintiff fails to state a claim under the Equal Protection Clause.
5. State Law Claims
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a), in any civil action in which the district court has original jurisdiction, the district court "shall have supplemental jurisdiction over all other claims in the action within such original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy under Article III," except as provided in subsections (b) and (c). "[O]nce judicial power exists under § 1367(a), retention of supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims under 1367(c) is discretionary." Acri v. Varian Assoc., Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1000 (9th Cir. 1997). "The district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim under subsection (a) if . . . the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction." 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). The Supreme Court has cautioned that "if the federal claims are dismissed before trial, . . . the state claims should be dismissed as well." United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726 (1966).
At this point, because Plaintiff fails to state any federal claims, the Court does not have jurisdiction over any state claims.
a. California Government Code Sections
Plaintiff states that his negligence claim is brought under California Government Code section 845.5(d). He states that his treatment at CSH "has been conducted with negligence, recklessness and deliberate indifference towards his health and safety as a civilly committed dependent adult." Comp. 18.
As there is no Government Code section 845.5, the Court is unsure of the exact nature of Plaintiff's claim. It appears, however, that he is premising liability on the duty of the State to ensure that wards of the State receive proper medical care. In that regard, Government Code section 854.8 sets forth the liability of a public entity. Subsection (d) states that a public employee is not exonerated from liability for "injury proximately caused by his negligent or wrongful act or omission."
Plaintiff also cites California Government Code section 855, which provides for liability of a public entity "for injury proximately caused by the failure of the public entity to provide adequate or sufficient equipment, personnel or facilities required by any statute. . ."
Again, however, Plaintiff fails to provide sufficient factual information to link any Defendant with any alleged violation. Thus, the Court is unable to find a basis for liability under either of these sections.
b. California Welfare and Institutions Code
Finally, Plaintiff cites to California Welfare and Institutions Code sections 15600, et seq., known as the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act ("EADACPA"). Section 15657 provides for liability for physical abuse or neglect where the defendant acted with recklessness, oppression, fraud or malice in the commission of the abuse.
Plaintiff's conclusory allegations fail to rise to the level of a violation of the EADACPA and he therefore fails to state a claim. D. CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Plaintiff states in his Motion for Reconsideration that he would be "unable to amend his complaint to bring forth no other likely Defendants as those who are directly responsible." ECF No. 11, at 2. He therefore requests that the Court dismiss the action with prejudice so that he may appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
Based on Plaintiff's assertion that he cannot amend to cure the deficiencies, the Court finds that leave to amend is not warranted. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000); Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448-49 (9th Cir. 1987).
Accordingly, this action is DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
This terminates this action in its entirety. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dennis L. Beck
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE