LAWRENCE J. O'NEILL, Chief District Judge.
Plaintiff Jeffrey P. Perrotte is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
On January 18, 2017, the Magistrate Judge issued Findings and Recommendations in favor of Defendant Hebron, finding that the undisputed evidence demonstrated that Plaintiff's third level appeal alleging retaliation failed to name or identify Hebron as a participant. (ECF No. 70.) The Findings and Recommendations were served on Plaintiff and contained notice that objections were to be filed within thirty days, and Plaintiff did not file objections. (ECF No. 77.) On February 28, 2017, the undersigned adopted the Findings and Recommendations, and Defendant Hebron was dismissed from the action. (
On July 10, 2018, the Magistrate Judge filed a Findings and Recommendations recommending that Defendants' motion for summary judgment be granted, and this action proceed only on the retaliation claim against Defendant Johnson for placement of false CDCR Form 128-B in his central file and placement in the administrative security unit and all other claims and Defendant LeFlore be dismissed, without prejudice. (ECF No. 157.) The Findings and Recommendations were served on the parties and contained notice that objections were due within thirty days. (
On September 24, 2018, the undersigned adopted the Findings and Recommendations, noting that no objections were timely filed. (ECF No. 161.) However, on this same date, but after the order adopting was placed on the docket, Plaintiff filed objections. (ECF No. 162.) On September 25, 2018, the undersigned overruled Plaintiff's objections. (ECF No. 163.)
On September 28, 2018, Plaintiff filed a supplemental motion to add additional exhibits to his objections. (ECF No. 164.) Then, on October 15, 2018, Plaintiff filed a motion to alter the judgment. (ECF No. 167.) On November 5, 2018, Defendant Johnson filed an opposition to Plaintiff's motion to alter the judgment. (ECF No. 168.) Both of Plaintiff motions are pending review and will be addressed below.
In his motion to supplement his prior objections with additional evidence, Plaintiff contends: (1) although he did not file an appeal on the issue of retaliation by Johnson in mailing an escape letter the prison was on notice of such claim; (2) he filed complaints regarding the inadequate grievance system; and (3) the assault which took place in the administrative segregation unit would not have occurred absent Johnson's retaliation.
The allegations and evidence submitted by Plaintiff do not alter the Magistrate Judge's July 10, 2018 Findings and Recommendations. Plaintiff has not demonstrated a valid basis to reject and/or reconsider the July 10, 2018, Findings and Recommendations. Namely, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that any other retaliation claims have been exhausted beyond the claim against Defendant Johnson for placement of a false CDCR Form 128-B in his central file and placement in the administrative housing unit as a result. Accordingly, Plaintiff's supplemental objections are overruled.
"To succeed [on a Rule 59(e) motion], a party must set forth facts or law of a strongly convincing nature to induce the court to reverse its prior decision."
Furthermore, "[m]ere doubts or disagreement about the wisdom of a prior decision" is insufficient to warrant granting a Rule 59(e) motion.
In his motion to alter the judgment, Plaintiff repeats arguments that were previously made in this action, including the following: (1) the declarations of CDCR Appeals Coordinator J. Corral and Chief of Office of Appeals M. Voong were false and perjured. (
Plaintiff does not present new law or facts as a basis for altering the Court's prior rulings and judgment in favor of Defendants Hebron, LeFlore, and Johnson on certain claims. Rather, as illustrated above, Plaintiff repeats and expands on arguments already previously in his oppositions and objections to summary judgment. Plaintiff claims that he is prejudiced by the Court's docket in that the September 24, 2018, Findings and Recommendations were adopted prior to ruling on Plaintiff's various pending motions. However, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that it was clear error or manifest injustice for the Court to rule on Defendant Johnson and LeFlore's motion for summary judgment prior to resolving Plaintiff various after-filed motions regarding various matters. Indeed, Plaintiff filed an opposition to Defendants' and objections to the Findings and Recommendations, and there is no basis for reconsideration.
As part of relief in his 59(e) motion, Plaintiff requests to add Sergeant Zinnani "as a conspirator of Johnson's" in the alleged assault. To the extent, Plaintiff seeks leave to amend the complaint, it must be denied.
Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may amend the party's pleading once as a matter of course twenty-one days after serving, or if a response was filed, within twenty-one days after service of the response. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1). Otherwise, a party may amend only by leave of the court or by written consent of the adverse party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). Rule 15(a) is very liberal and leave to amend `shall be freely given when justice so requires.'"
In this instance, Defendants filed an answer on December 15, 2017. Plaintiff did not file a first amended complaint within twenty-one days of Defendants' answer. In addition, the Court's February 7, 2017, discovery and scheduling order set the deadline to amend the pleading as August 7, 2017. Therefore, Plaintiff requires leave of court to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff fails to include a proposed copy of the amended complaint. Local Rule 137(c). Nonetheless, Plaintiff seeks to amend to add Sergeant Zinnani as a Defendant and conspirator of Defendant Johnson in the alleged assault of Plaintiff. However, for the reasons explained in the July 10, 2018, Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff has not exhausted such claim and therefore amendment to include Zinnani as a Defendant would be futile.
Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's supplemental objections to the July 10, 2018 Findings and Recommendations are overruled;
2. Plaintiff's motion to alter the judgment is denied; and
3. Plaintiff's motion to amend the complaint is denied.