DEBORAH BARNES, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Before the court is plaintiff's first amended complaint for screening.
The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity.
A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.
However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must contain more than "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;" it must contain factual allegations sufficient "to raise a right to relief above the speculative level."
The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows:
42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute requires that there be an actual connection or link between the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff.
Plaintiff complains of conduct that occurred at California State Prison, Sacramento ("CSP-Sac") in 2017. Plaintiff identifies the following seven defendants: (1) California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR"); (2) CSP-Sac; (3) Scott Kernan, Secretary of the CDCR; (4) M. Voong, Chief, Office of Appeals; (5) H. Liu, Appeals Examiner; (6) David Baughman, Warden, CSP-Sac; and (7) Y. Ayala, Correctional Counselor I at CSP-Sac.
Plaintiff alleges that prior to his placement in administrative segregation ("ad seg") at High Desert State Prison ("HDSP") in early 2017, he was eligible for family overnight visits. His wife and son were approved visitors. In April 2017, his mental health treatment was increased from CCCMS to EOP.
In July 2017, plaintiff was released from ad seg at CSP-Sac. On August 13, 2017, he submitted an application to defendant Ayala to participate in the family visiting program so that his wife and son could visit. Initially, Ayala told plaintiff that EOP inmates could not have family visits. After plaintiff informed Ayala that he had been getting family visits while at other prisons, Ayala told him she would "look into it and get back to him."
On September 8, 2017, Ayala denied plaintiff's application on the basis that the prison did not have a copy of his marriage certificate. Several days later, plaintiff provided Ayala with his copy of his marriage certificate. However, Ayala refused to accept it directly from plaintiff. And, she informed him that due to a pending rules violation report ("RVR") even if his wife submitted the original marriage certificate, his application for family visits would be denied. Plaintiff contends that he was eligible for family visits because he had not yet been found guilty. He argues that Ayala's reasons for denying his application were pretexts for her real reason, that plaintiff was a participant in the EOP program. Plaintiff then filed a staff complaint against Ayala, in which he contended her actions were retaliatory and discriminatory.
On October 24, 2017, defendant Baughman denied plaintiff's complaint and request for family visits. Baughman relied on a February 2017 memorandum issued by defendant Kernan, which "repealed" the portion of the regulations that had permitted plaintiff family visits if he had not yet been found guilty of an RVR. Plaintiff contends Kernan failed to comply with the Administrative Procedures Act in promulgating this change.
Plaintiff appealed to the third level of administrative review. Shortly thereafter, plaintiff submitted another request for family visits to defendant Ayala, which she granted. Defendant Liu later conducted the third level review of plaintiff's appeal. Plaintiff contends he did so under the "supervision" of defendant Voong and "on behalf of" defendant Kernan. Liu denied plaintiff's appeal. Voong reviewed and approved that denial.
Plaintiff states that he had a family visit on May 25, 2018. However, he complains that he was transferred to B unit for his visit because the facilities in A unit, where he and other EOP participants were housed, had inadequate facilities. Plaintiff maintains this amounted to disparate treatment for EOP participants.
Plaintiff also alleges that he attempted to participate in the Prison Industry Authority ("PIA") work program by submitting a request in October 2017. However, Ayala denied that request, telling plaintiff he was ineligible due to his EOP status, and later, in writing, stating he was ineligible due to plaintiff's RVRs. Eventually, plaintiff's request to be placed on the waitlist for a PIA job was granted by a different counselor in January 2018.
Plaintiff alleges defendants' actions aggravated his serious mental disorders of major depression, anxiety, anger, and PTSD. In addition, they caused him to have homicidal and suicidal urges and to go on two hunger strikes.
Plaintiff makes the following claims: (1) defendants discriminated against him based on his mental illness when they refused to allow him to participate in the family visiting program for six months. Plaintiff alleges this discrimination violated the Fourteenth Amendment; the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"); and the Rehabilitation Act ("RA"). (2) Defendants Kernan, Voong, Liu, and Baughman denied plaintiff due process when they violated the Administrative Procedures Act. (3) Defendants were deliberately indifferent to plaintiff's serious mental health disorders in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief and compensatory and punitive damages.
Plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment argument appears to be that he was denied equal protection of the laws based on his mental disability because his participation in the EOP program was the real basis for defendants' denial of family visits. The Equal Protection Clause requires that persons who are similarly situated be treated alike.
Disability, including disability based on mental illness, is not a suspect class for Equal Protection purposes.
"There must be a rational basis for distinctions by prison officials in the application of visitation policies to similarly situated inmates."
Here, plaintiff contends he was not permitted family visits because he participated in the EOP program. However, the facts alleged by plaintiff show that the only person he is alleging engaged in discrimination on that basis is defendant Ayala. He alleges that Ayala initially denied his request for family visits by telling him that he was not permitted them since he was an EOP participant. According to plaintiff, Ayala then used his lack of a marriage license and, after that, his pending RVR as pretexts for discriminating against him based on his EOP status. Plaintiff does not contend that the denial of his appeals based on his pending RVR were pretexts for discrimination.
One basic problem with plaintiff's claim is that, from the facts alleged, it appears that Ayala was not alone in believing, even if it was incorrect, that plaintiff's RVR was a reason that he was not eligible for family visits. Plaintiff fails to show that Ayala relied upon his EOP status to deny him family visits.
Plaintiff also alleges that Ayala refused to place him on the PIA job waitlist based on his disability and that the family visitation room in the EOP unit at CSP-Sac is inadequate. However, plaintiff fails to allege he suffered any injury as a result of these two contentions. First, shortly after Ayala's action, plaintiff was placed on the PIA job waitlist. Second, plaintiff was able to have family visitation in another unit at CSP-Sac. He does not allege that he was denied family visitation in appropriate facilities. Plaintiff fails to state an equal protection claim on either of these bases as well.
Finally, plaintiff's equal protection claim is also invalid because he contends his only injury is mental and emotional distress. Relief for mental and emotional injury is specifically excluded for prisoner actions under § 1983. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e) (prisoner may not maintain an action for damages for mental or emotional injury without a prior showing of physical injury).
Accordingly, this court will recommend dismissal of plaintiff's equal protection claim.
Plaintiff alleges discrimination based on his mental health disability in violation of the ADA and RA. To state claims under both laws, a plaintiff must allege disparate treatment or discrimination.
For the same reasons described in the previous section, plaintiff fails to state any cognizable claims that he was subjected to any discrimination or disparate treatment based on his mental health or participation in the mental health services program. The fact that defendant Ayala may have initially understood that plaintiff's participation in the EOP program prevented him from some activities does not mean his EOP status was the bases for her denial of plaintiff's family visits or that she was intentionally discriminating against plaintiff based on his EOP status. Plaintiff fails to state claims under the ADA and RA. Because relief for mental and emotional injury appear to be permitted under these statutes, this court will give plaintiff leave to amend his ADA and RA claims.
Plaintiff is advised, however, that claims under the ADA and RA are most appropriately brought against the public entity responsible for the alleged discrimination. The proper defendant in an ADA action is the public entity responsible for the alleged discrimination.
To state a claim under the ADA and RA, plaintiff must show: (1) he is a "qualified individual with a disability;" (2) he was either excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of a public entity's services, programs, or activities, or was otherwise discriminated against by the public entity; and (3) such exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination was by reason of his disability.
Plaintiff alleges defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious mental health disorder. Where a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim arises in the context of medical care, the prisoner must allege and prove "acts or omissions sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical needs."
Plaintiff does not show that defendants acted with deliberate indifference to his mental health needs. He does not show defendants denied, delayed, or intentionally interfered with his medical care.
In his final claim, plaintiff alleges defendants Kernan, Voong, Liu, and Baughman denied him due process when Kernan made changes to regulations, and the other defendants relied on those changes, resulting in further denial of plaintiff's right to family visits. According to plaintiff, Kernan's changes were made in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. Initially, the court notes that the Ninth Circuit has declined to recognize a prisoner's constitutional right to receive visits, stating that "it is well-settled that prisoners have no constitutional right while incarcerated to contact visits."
Plaintiff fails to show the changes to the family visitation regulations violated the Due Process Clause. The guarantees of federal due process apply only when a constitutionally-protected liberty or property interest is at stake.
As the Supreme Court stated in
To the extent plaintiff is directly alleging a violation of the Administrative Procedures Act, that issue is a matter of state law, which is not cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Plaintiff fails to state any potentially cognizable claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The court will recommend dismissal of plaintiff's claims under § 1983 that he was denied equal protection and due process in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and his claim for deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment. The court will dismiss with leave to amend plaintiff's claims under the ADA and RA. Plaintiff is advised to carefully choose which defendant or defendants he will seek relief against under the ADA and RA. As described above, an ADA and RA claim may be stated against the public entity or against a prison official in their official capacity.
Further, to state a claim against defendants who denied appeals, a prisoner must show that each of them was personally aware of the conduct complained of and purposefully failed to pursue a remedy.
In an amended complaint, plaintiff must address the problems with his complaint that are explained above. Plaintiff is advised that in an amended complaint he must clearly identify each defendant and the action that defendant took that violated his constitutional rights. The court is not required to review exhibits to determine what plaintiff's charging allegations are as to each named defendant.
If plaintiff wishes to add a claim, he must include it in the body of the complaint. The charging allegations must be set forth in the amended complaint so defendants have fair notice of the claims plaintiff is presenting. That said, plaintiff need not provide every detailed fact in support of his claims. Rather, plaintiff should provide a short, plain statement of each claim.
Any amended complaint must show the federal court has jurisdiction, the action is brought in the right place, and plaintiff is entitled to relief if plaintiff's allegations are true. It must contain a request for particular relief. Plaintiff must identify as a defendant only persons who personally participated in a substantial way in depriving plaintiff of a federal constitutional right.
In an amended complaint, the allegations must be set forth in numbered paragraphs. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). Plaintiff may join multiple claims if they are all against a single defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P. 18(a). If plaintiff has more than one claim based upon separate transactions or occurrences, the claims must be set forth in separate paragraphs. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b).
The federal rules contemplate brevity.
An amended complaint must be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. E.D. Cal. R. 220. Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading is superseded. By signing an amended complaint, plaintiff certifies he has made reasonable inquiry and has evidentiary support for his allegations, and for violation of this rule the court may impose sanctions sufficient to deter repetition by plaintiff or others. Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.
For the foregoing reasons, and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:
Further, IT IS RECOMMENDED that:
These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written objections with the court. The document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of the right to appeal the district court's order.