DANA L. CHRISTENSEN, Chief District Judge.
United States Magistrate Judge John Johnston entered his Order, Findings and Recommendations in this matter on August 19, 2016, recommending that Defendants' motions for summary judgment be granted in part and denied in part. Defendants timely filed objections and are therefore entitled to de novo review of those Findings and Recommendations to which they specifically object. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). This Court reviews for clear error those findings and recommendations to which no party objects. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., Inc., 656 F.2d 1309, 1313 (9th Cir. 1981); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). "Clear error exists if the Court is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States v. Syrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000). The parties are familiar with the facts of this case and they will not be repeated here.
Turning to the objections, Defendants contend that Judge Johnston erred in denying Defendants' motions for summary judgment. In their objections, Defendants raise three specific arguments: (1) the Inner-Perimeter Security ("IPS") Team Defendants
As stated, the IPS Defendants argue that they are entitled to qualified immunity based upon the undisputed facts of this case and Judge Johnston's conclusion that the IPS Defendants were not entitled to summary judgment is based on an erroneous conclusion of law. Specifically, Defendants take issue with Judge Johnston's finding that: "Taking the facts in the light most favorable to Mr. Guille, he was completely compliant, and therefore, there was no need for any force." (Doc. 79 at 22.) Defendants raise three specific arguments supporting this general argument. First, Defendants argue that it is undisputed that Guille did not comply with the order to "strip down, cuff up," because he did not remove his underwear. Thus, Defendants argue, use of force was appropriate. The Court disagrees.
The Court recognizes that it is undisputed that Guille did not strip down to his underwear during the search of his cell. However, the Court agrees with Judge Johnston that, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Guille, there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether he was complying with their request to "strip down." Under Guille's version of the facts, he states that he attempted to comply with the IPS Team's order by initially placing his hands open-face through the cuff-port only to have his hands pushed back through by an IPS member. He then took off some of his clothes to show that he was not hiding a weapon and placed his hands again through the cuff-port. According to Guille, after being sprayed with OC spray he repeatedly asked: "What do you want me to do?" Under Guille's version of the facts, he was never specifically ordered to remove his underwear. Thus, taking the facts in the light most favorable to Guille, he was attempting to comply and no use of force was necessary.
Defendants contend that they are entitled to qualified immunity because Guille was not fully complying with the IPS Team's orders and possessed a makeshift weapon, and thus their use of force was reasonable under the circumstances. However, as discussed, there is an issue of fact as to whether Guille was attempting to comply with the IPS Team's orders. Further, Guille states that he did not possess a weapon and it is undisputed that no weapon was found in his cell.
Defendants also contend that Judge Johnston impermissibly substituted his judgment for that of the prison administration. Defendants base this argument on Judge Johnston's alleged finding that the "IPS Defendants should have been satisfied with [Guille]'s refusal to comply with the order that he "strip out." (Doc. 81 at 11.) However, as Judge Johnston actually found, there are issues of fact as to whether Guille was attempting to comply with the IPS Team's orders and whether he was actually refusing their orders. As discussed, it is undisputed that the officers ordered Guille to "strip out." Nevertheless, there is a dispute of fact as to whether the officers specifically told Guille to remove his underwear. Thus, Judge Johnston did not substitute his judgment for that of the prison administration. Judge Johnston only concluded that there are issues of fact precluding summary judgment. Defendants first objection is overruled.
Defendants second objection argues that because the IPS Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity, summary judgment in favor of the non-IPS Defendants is appropriate on the claim of supervisory liability. However, because the Court agrees with Judge Johnston that factual issues remain that prevent summary judgment in favor of the IPS Defendants, the claim of supervisory liability against the non-IPS Defendants survives and Defendants' objection must fail. Defendants' second objection is overruled.
Defendants' last objection argues that the non-IPS Defendants are entitled to summary judgment because there is a lack of a factual dispute as to whether they had knowledge of the IPS Team's alleged unconstitutional conduct. However, contrary to Defendants' argument, there is only a lack of a factual dispute at this point because there is still outstanding discovery in this matter.
Defendants have refused to comply with Guille's discovery requests for the production for all prior grievances, complaints, or other documents received by the non-JPS Defendants concerning complaints of alleged mistreatment of inmates by the IPS Defendants and any documents or investigative reports issued in response to these complaints. Judge Johnston determined that because he recommended that the IPS Defendants' motion for summary judgment be denied, he would recommend denial without prejudice of the non-IPS Defendants' motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. If Guille moved the Court to compel production of these documents, Judge Johnston stated he was inclined to grant this request with some limitations, and then allow the non-IPS Defendants to renew their motion for summary judgment.
The Court agrees with the Judge Johnston that this is the appropriate course of action in this case. Following additional discovery, the non-IPS Defendants will be allowed to renew their motion for summary judgment with a complete record before the Court. Defendants' third objection is overruled.
Accordingly, the Court reviews the remainder of Judge Johnston's Findings and Recommendations for clear error and, finding none,
IT IS ORDERED that:
(1) Judge Johnston's Findings and Recommendations (Doc. 79) are ADOPTED IN FULL.
(2) The IPS Team Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 53) is DENIED.
(3) The Non-IPS Team Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 57) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND SUBJECT TO RENEWAL as to the supervisory liability claims brought against Defendants Leroy Kirkegard, Tom Wood, Chris Conell, and Myron Beeson. The motion is GRANTED as to Defendants Robert Turner, Josh Knight, John Doe Cage Control officer, and with regard to all official capacity claims. Defendants Turner, Knight, and the John Doe Cage Control officer and all official capacity claims against all defendants are DISMISSED.