KENDALL J. NEWMAN, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel. This action proceeds on plaintiff's complaint against defendants D. Davey and E. Callison.
Plaintiff alleges that defendant Davey falsely accused plaintiff in a rules violation report charging plaintiff with participating in a prison riot because plaintiff filed a civil rights complaint alleging deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. Plaintiff claims he was unable to participate in the riot because he does not have the ability to stand or walk without a walker and was not involved. Plaintiff was placed in administrative segregation on November 4, 2011, where he was allegedly forced to live "without functioning utilities, no electrical outlets, no lockers, no table, [and] a clogged up facial sink, filled with black toxic scum water for 25 days before repairing." (ECF No. 1 at 5.) Plaintiff filed an administrative appeal regarding the living conditions, and plaintiff alleges that in reprisal for such appeal, defendant Callison: (1) cut the power to plaintiff's cell for four hours, (2) threw plaintiff's breakfast on the floor on November 24, 2011, and (3) threw a carton of milk inside plaintiff's cell "as if the milk was a baseball" on December 30, 2011. (ECF No. 1 at 6.) On December 16, 2011, plaintiff alleges that defendant Davey and other unnamed officers told plaintiff to withdraw his appeal and when he refused, Davey and these officers surrounded plaintiff "as if [he] would be assaulted if [he] would not withdraw the appeal." (ECF No. 1 at 7.) Plaintiff alleges he was forced against his will to withdraw the appeal by intimidation and to prevent plaintiff from exhausting his administrative remedies.
Defendants move for summary judgment on the grounds that plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies prior to filing the instant action.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act ("PLRA") provides that "[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under section 1983 . . ., or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted." 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). "[T]he PLRA's exhaustion requirement applies to all inmate suits about prison life, whether they involve general circumstances or particular episodes, and whether they allege excessive force or some other wrong."
Proper exhaustion of available remedies is mandatory,
In California, prisoners may appeal "any policy, decision, action, condition, or omission by the department or its staff that the inmate or parolee can demonstrate as having a material adverse effect upon his or her health, safety, or welfare." Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.1(a). On January 28, 2011, California prison regulations governing inmate grievances were revised. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.7. Now, inmates in California proceed through three levels of appeal to exhaust the appeal process: (1) formal written appeal on a CDC 602 inmate appeal form, (2) second level appeal to the institution head or designee, and (3) third level appeal to the Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR"). Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.7. Under specific circumstances, the first level review may be bypassed.
Failure to exhaust is "an affirmative defense the defendant must plead and prove."
A prisoner may be excused from complying with the PLRA's exhaustion requirement if he establishes that the existing administrative remedies were effectively unavailable to him.
Where a prison system's grievance procedures do not specify the requisite level of detail for inmate appeals,
If under the Rule 56 summary judgment standard, the court concludes that plaintiff has failed to exhaust administrative remedies, the proper remedy is dismissal without prejudice.
Summary judgment is appropriate when it is demonstrated that the standard set forth in Federal Rule of Civil procedure 56 is met. "The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
Consequently, if the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually exists.
In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that "the claimed factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties' differing versions of the truth at trial."
In resolving a summary judgment motion, the court examines the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The evidence of the opposing party is to be believed.
By contemporaneous notice provided on September 22, 2014, (ECF No. 22-4), plaintiff was advised of the requirements for opposing a motion brought pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
1. Plaintiff is an inmate in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR").
2. At times relevant to the lawsuit, plaintiff was incarcerated at High Desert State Prison ("HDSP") in Susanville. (ECF No. 1.)
3. Defendants Davey and Callison were correctional officers at HDSP at all relevant times herein.
4. On November 28, 2011, plaintiff filed an inmate appeal alleging he was placed in a cell with no table, desk, or electrical outlet for his television, and no functioning sink. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3.)
5. On November 28, 2011, the appeal was accepted at the first level of review, and was assigned Appeal Log No. HDSP-D-11-01608. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3.)
6. Plaintiff was moved to another cell with a shelf for his television, functioning outlets, and a faucet. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3.)
7. On December 16, 2011, plaintiff withdrew his appeal. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3.)
8. There is no record that plaintiff filed an inmate appeal alleging that he was forced to withdraw Appeal Log No. HDSP-D-11-01608 in retaliation. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3-7.)
9. On November 9, 2011, plaintiff filed an appeal alleging that he was falsely accused of participating in a riot. He requested to resume his program and be released from the ASU. (ECF No. 22-3 at 5.)
10. On November 9, 2011, the appeal was screened out, rejected, and was returned to plaintiff under California Code of Regulations, title 15, section 3084.6(b)(1), because the appeal concerned an anticipated action or decision, and the issues were not appealable until the underlying event occurred. (ECF No. 22-3 at 5.)
11. Subsequently, plaintiff did not resubmit an appeal alleging that he was falsely accused of participating in a riot that was accepted for filing and exhausted through all levels at HDSP. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3-7.)
12. No third level review issued for any of the claims raised in plaintiff's complaint. (ECF No. 22-2 at 3-4.)
13. Between October 31, 2011, and October 10, 2012, only one appeal of plaintiff's was processed to the third level of review, Appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367 (TLR No. 1202482), on August 27, 2012, regarding an alleged misuse of force by Correctional Officer J. Barron. (ECF No. 22-2 at 4.) That Appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367 was denied on October 24, 2012. (ECF No. 22-2 at 4.)
14. Moreover, none of plaintiff's five appeals that were accepted and processed after November 28, 2011, and accepted by October 10, 2012, named defendants Davey and Callison, or alleged facts contained in plaintiff's complaint. (ECF No. 22-3 at 3-4.)
15. None of plaintiff's nine appeals that were received and screened out after November 9, 2011, and received by September 19, 2012, named defendants Davey and Callison, or alleged facts contained in plaintiff's complaint. (ECF No. 22-3 at 5-7.)
Defendants contend that they are entitled to summary judgment because plaintiff failed to exhaust his retaliation claims against defendants Davey and Callison. Defendants contend that the prison appeal system was available to plaintiff, who was aware of, and made extensive use of, the prison appeal system. Defendants argue that plaintiff filed multiple appeals and processed at least one of them through the third level of review, yet failed to properly file an appeal concerning his retaliation claims against defendants through the third level of review.
In his unverified opposition, plaintiff claims that
(ECF No. 24 at 3.) Plaintiff claims he presented an appeal alleging that Callison cut off the power to plaintiff's cell for four hours, but alleges that Callison "balled up the 602 and stated [plaintiff] could not 602 him." (ECF No. 24 at 3.) Plaintiff claims he tried sending it through the U-Save envelope through the mail to the appeals coordinator, but the mail never made it to the appeals office. (ECF No. 24 at 3.) Plaintiff states his "appeals [were] not [accepted] for D. Davey or C/O Callison on several occasions." (ECF No. 24 at 4.) Plaintiff claims he has witnesses to defendant Callison's actions, but plaintiff did not provide any declarations from witnesses addressing Callison's actions in connection with plaintiff's appeals concerning the instant retaliation claims.
No reply was filed.
Proper exhaustion of available remedies is mandatory,
Defendants have adduced evidence that plaintiff failed to file, or to exhaust through the third level of review, any 602 appeal alleging retaliation by defendants Davey or Callison. None of the appeals filed by plaintiff included allegations alleging that defendants Davey or Callison retaliated against plaintiff for filing a civil rights complaint against the warden alleging inadequate medical care. Thus, the burden shifts to plaintiff to demonstrate that he did exhaust such claims or that he is entitled to be excused from exhausting such claims.
As a preliminary matter, the court notes that when a complaint is verified under penalty of perjury, it has the effect of an affidavit to oppose summary judgment "to the extent it is `based on personal knowledge' and `sets forth specific facts admissible in evidence.'"
Moreover, plaintiff submitted copies of appeals he alleged that defendant Callison destroyed or intercepted, none of which bear received stamps from the appeals office. (ECF No. 24 at 8-16.) However, these appeals simply alleged wrongful actions by defendant Callison, i.e. Callison allegedly threw plaintiff's food on the floor (plaintiff alleges Callison destroyed this appeal), and allegedly threw plaintiff's carton of milk through the food port (plaintiff alleges this appeal was not accepted). (ECF No. 24 at 8-16.) Plaintiff objected to defendant Callison's disrespectful and inappropriate conduct, and asked that Callison be reprimanded, and refrain from such cruel punishment. (
In addition, plaintiff's unverified claims are belied by the fact that he was aware of the appeal process, and availed himself of the appeal process while housed at HDSP. Indeed, defendants adduced evidence that plaintiff filed numerous appeals, at least one of which was exhausted through the third level of review.
Finally, plaintiff provided a copy of his appeals contained in appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367. (ECF No. 24 at 27-36.) Plaintiff does not address this appeal in his opposition, but the cover sheet for this exhibit states, "Appeal on the complete crew of correctional officers working with C/O Callison and Associate Warden D. Davey constant retaliation, intimidation & threats." (ECF No. 24 at 26.) On April 30, 2012, plaintiff submitted appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367, in which he claimed that C/O Barron aimed his mini 14 rifle at plaintiff in the chow hall, yelling at plaintiff to get his "ass back to the table." (ECF No. 24 at 29.) Within this appeal, plaintiff also recounted that he was threatened by defendant Callison in January 2012, and that defendant Callison was the officer who threw plaintiff's breakfast on the living quarters floor on November 24, 2011, and turned off plaintiff's power to his cell on December 9, 2011. (ECF No. 24 at 29.) However, fairly read, the focus of plaintiff's initial allegations was his concern that his life was being threatened by various correctional officers, including defendant Callison. (ECF No. 24 at 29-30.) In his request for third level review, dated August 23, 2012, plaintiff broadly alleged that "all threats and incidents of harassment was ... due to [plaintiff] filing a civil rights complaint ... on the HDSP Warden in the Eastern district Court for improper medical care for denying [plaintiff] insulin injections on 11 different occasions." (ECF No. 24 at 30.)
Despite plaintiff's cover sheet for this exhibit, defendant Davey is not mentioned in any of plaintiff's appeals contained in appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367. As set forth above, inmates are now required to name the staff person involved, and to provide all facts regarding the issue being appealed, as well as the relief requested. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §§ 3084.2(3), 3084.2(a)(4). Also, inmates must comply with the applicable procedural rules because administrative exhaustion is governed by the prison grievance process itself, not by the PLRA.
In addition, at the third level of review, plaintiff's appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367 was cancelled. Plaintiff's third level appeal was defined as his claim that on April 13, 2012, Officer Barron aimed his mini 14 rifle at plaintiff in the dining hall and yelled profanities at plaintiff while directing him to go back to his table. (ECF No. 24 at 35.) The third level examiner noted that plaintiff had raised "numerous other allegations of staff misconduct" in section A of the 602 appeal form, but that such allegations would not be addressed because they were not submitted within thirty days of the event or decision being appealed. (ECF No. 24 at 35.) In addition, the examiner noted that plaintiff had added new issues and requests to his appeal, which was inappropriate. (
Thus, to the extent that plaintiff contends that appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367 exhausts the instant retaliation claims against defendant Callison, such contention is unavailing. An inmate now has thirty calendar days to submit his or her appeal from the occurrence of the event or decision being appealed, or "upon first having knowledge of the action or decision being appealed." Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.8(b). Plaintiff's appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367 was signed on April 30, 2012, more than thirty days after defendant Callison's alleged conduct in November and December, 2011. Similarly, plaintiff's effort to include his retaliation claim by raising it in his request for third level review, is unavailing. "Administrative remedies shall not be considered exhausted relative to any new issue, information, or person later named by the appellant that was not included in the originally submitted [appeal] and addressed through all required levels of administrative review up to and including the third level." Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.1(b). In other words, the addition of plaintiff's retaliation allegation in his request for third level review in appeal Log No. HDSP-12-01367 does not exhaust such retaliation claim because new claims are not permitted as the appeal moves through the levels of review. A prisoner does not exhaust administrative remedies when he includes new issues from one level of review to another.
For all of these reasons, defendants Davey and Callison are entitled to summary judgment based on plaintiff's failure to first exhaust his administrative remedies.
In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to assign a district judge to this case; and
IT IS RECOMMENDED that defendants' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 22) be granted; and this action be dismissed in its entirety, without prejudice, based on plaintiff's failure to exhaust administrative remedies.
These findings and recommendations are 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, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any response to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order.