JOHN JOHNSTON, Magistrate Judge.
This matter comes before the Court on Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support (Docs. 43 & 44), and Plaintiff D'Wayne Bailey's Motion for Copies/Review (Doc. 41), Motion for Injunction (Doc. 50), and Motion for Production (Doc. 53.)
Bailey originally filed an Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint, Third Amended Complaint, Fourth Amended Complaint, as well as supplements to these complaints, in which he advanced various constitutional claims. See, (Docs. 9, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21.) Pursuant to the screening process mandated by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A, the Court dismissed of all of Bailey's claims, except a portion of Bailey's Equal Protection claim, in which he asserted his rights were violated by purportedly discriminatory practices at the Montana State Prison, which resulted in white inmates receiving preferential treatment in prison program placement and in their appearances before the Parole Board. See, (Doc. 24 at 19-20). See also, (Doc. 31.) All Defendants were dismissed, except Batista, Kirkegard, Beeson, Hopkins, and Odden.
In response to Bailey's surviving claim, the Defendants moved for summary judgment alleging no genuine issue of material of fact exists and requesting Bailey's complaint be dismissed with prejudice. See generally, (Doc. 44.) Bailey timely responded. (Doc. 47.)
All pending motions will be addressed herein.
Bailey's motion seems to request a copy of everything that has been filed in this matter, as well as an order directing the State of Montana to provide him with various documents from state court proceedings. See generally, (Doc. 41.) But, as Bailey himself acknowledges, the Clerk of Court provided a copy of the docket sheet in the present matter and advised Bailey if he wanted copies of specific documents, he was to inform the Court which items he sought and the Clerk would advise him of the cost of furnishing the documents. Id. at 1. Bailey has not complied with this procedure, but rather continues to make requests for a voluminous number of documents. To the extent that this motion is construed as a request for copies, the request will be denied.
Bailey also inquires whether he may move this Court to sanction the Montana state courts and/or review decisions that have been made in his state court proceedings. Id. at 2-3. This Court is unable to provide Bailey the relief sought. Federal district courts, as courts of original jurisdiction, do not serve as appellate tribunals to review errors allegedly committed by state courts. MacKay v. Pfeil, 827 F.2d 540, 543 (9
Bailey also seeks an order from this Court directing the Montana Department of Corrections to place him on single-cell status. (Doc. 50.) Bailey raises several issues that he has already presented to this court including: denial of property, housing placement, and he explains various hardships he has endured while incarcerated in both Montana and California. Id. at 2-6. Attached to Bailey's motion are several documents including a special mailing request; Disciplinary Investigative Notes from April of 2015; correspondence of June 8, 2015, from the MSP Grievance Coordinator regarding Bailey's incompatibility issues with other inmates; and, an April 2015 denial of Bailey's grievance contesting the denial of his request for copies of his main file and his medical file. See, (Doc. 50-1 at 1-4.)
But, as the State points out, this Court has already dismissed these same claims. See, (Doc. 24 at 17-18.) Because the Court has already advised Bailey that he has no right to placement of his choosing, including designation on single-cell status, Bailey's renewed request lacks merit. The Motion for Injunction will be denied.
Bailey also asks this Court to issue an order, pursuant to Fed. Rule. Civ. Pro. 34, and Montana state law, requiring the dissemination of various documents. Specifically, Bailey requests: records from the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole, including correspondence between two of its directors; all documentation concerning Bailey's program/group placement; records from the Nineteenth Judicial District Court, including court orders removing the requirement that Bailey complete anger management and denying Bailey's 2006 motion to withdraw his guilty plea; a copy of all MSP treatment records; a copy of all written statements concerning Bailey; a copy of all the OSR's Bailey sent to Blair Hopkins and/or the MSP treatment unit; all medical information on file; a copy of Bailey's 2017 polygraph results; and, a complete copy of his entire medical file from the California Department of Corrections. (Doc. 53 at 1-3.) Bailey has also filed supplements to his request, outlining his custodial history and difficulties, including the perceived racism and discrimination he has experienced within the Montana Department of Corrections. (Docs. 54, 56, and 57.) Bailey has previously expressed these concerns in this case, as well as in his companion habeas cases.
Rule 34 allows a party to request another party to produce, among other things, documents, electronically stored information, and other tangible things. It limits the production request, however, to items in the responding party's possession, custody, or control. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 34(a)(1). Annette Carter and Montana DOC Director Reginald Michael are not parties to this action. To the extent that Bailey is seeking production of any documents from these individuals, the request is denied.
Bailey has previously been informed that he is not to file discovery requests and/or responses with the Court. See e.g., (Doc. 42 at 2) (wherein Bailey acknowledges the Court returned documents to him and advised the documents needed to be sent to the Defendants); see also, Local Rule 26.2(a) (documents produced in discovery and discovery requests are not to be filed with the Court unless they are relied upon as an exhibit to a motion). Additionally, to the extent that Bailey's filing constitutes a discovery request, it is untimely. See, (Doc. 34 at 8, ¶¶ 3-4) (requiring discovery requests to be served by September 3, 2018, and discovery completion by October 1, 2018).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 states that a party can "move for an order compelling disclosure or discovery," but the Rule also provides that the movant must certify that he has in "good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the person or party failing to make disclosure or discovery in an effort to obtain it without court action." Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(1); see also D. Mont. L.R. 26.3(c). Defendants state that Bailey has not complied with these provisions. (Doc. 55 at 2.) In response, Bailey provides various documents indicating that he has requested items from different individuals and entities over the years.
Additionally, while Rule 37 does not provide a time limit for filing a motion to compel, generally a motion to compel should be filed prior to the discovery cut-off, although courts have discretion to hear a motion to compel after the discovery period has ended. See e.g., Garrett v. City and County of San Francisco, 818 F.2d 1515, 1518 (9
Having considered the parties' arguments and submissions, the Court finds, as explained below, that Defendants' motion for summary judgment should be granted.
"A party is entitled to 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." City of Pomona v. SQM North America Corp., 750 F.3d 1036, 1049 (9
"Where the non-moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party need only prove that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party's case." Oracle Corp., 627 F.3d at 387 (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(B). Summary judgment should be entered, "after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. "[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party's case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial." Id. at 323. In such a circumstance, summary judgment should be granted, "so long as whatever is before the district court demonstrates that the standard for entry of summary judgment, as set forth in Rule 56(c), is satisfied." Id.
"Where the moving party meets that burden, the burden then shifts to the non-moving party to designate specific facts demonstrating the existence of genuine issues for trial." Oracle Corp., 627 F.3d at 387. "[T]he non-moving party must come forth with evidence from which a jury could reasonably render a verdict in the non-moving party's favor." Id. In attempting to establish the existence of this factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the allegations or denials of its pleadings but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the form of affidavits, and/or admissible discovery material, in support of its contention that the dispute exists. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). But "[a] plaintiff's verified complaint may be considered as an affidavit in opposition to summary judgment if it is based on personal knowledge and sets forth specific facts admissible in evidence." Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1132 n.14 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). The opposing party must demonstrate that the fact in contention is material, i.e., a fact "that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law," and that the dispute is genuine, i.e., "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987).
"The court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant and draw all reasonable inferences in the nonmovant's favor." City of Pomona, 750 F. 3d at 1049. It is the opposing party's obligation to produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be drawn. See Richards v. Nielsen Freight Lines, 810 F.2d 898, 902 (9th Cir. 1987). "Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational there of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no genuine issue for trial." Id. (quoting Matsuishita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. V. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986)).
By notice provided November 1, 2018 (Doc. 46), Bailey was advised of the requirements for opposing a motion brought pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc); Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409 (9th Cir. 1988).
In 2005, following a guilty plea to Sexual Intercourse without Consent, in Montana's Nineteenth Judicial District, Lincoln County, Bailey was sentenced to a forty-five year prison sentence. The district court imposed certain parole restrictions upon Bailey which required that before he be considered for parole, he must complete Phases 1 and 2 of the prison Sex Offender Treatment Program ("SOP") and be compliant with Phase 3 of the aftercare treatment. (Doc. 45-2 at 9, ¶ 3.)
After serving a portion of his sentence in Montana, Bailey was transferred to California, pursuant to an Interstate Compact Agreement. In October 2013, Bailey was advised that he would not be able to appear before the Parole Board until he complied with the court-ordered conditions of his sentence and that it appeared some of the required programs may not be available in California. (Doc. 2-1 at 28.) Bailey was informed he would be provided the opportunity to return to Montana to complete the programs, but that it was his choice whether or not to complete the treatment programs and, thus, become parole eligible. Id. at 28-29. In October of 2013, Bailey indicated he intended to return to Montana and complete SOP. See, (Doc. 47-1 at 15) ("I've expressed verbally to two CA correctional counselors that I wish to return to MT to complete the court ordered program"). In August of 2014, Bailey returned to Montana. Bailey began Phase 1 of SOP on October 30, 2014; he completed Phase 1 on March 5, 2015. (Doc. 45-2 at 2, ¶¶ 8-9); see also, Id. at 11-12. On March 5, 2015, Bailey signed up for Phase 2 outpatient treatment.
In February of 2016, the Board of Pardons and Parole informed Bailey that although he had served the minimum time necessary to be considered for parole, he was ineligible for parole and must complete both Phase 1 and 2 of SOP and be compliant with Phase 3 prior to his release consideration. See, (Doc. 25-2 at 1).
On October 24, 2016, Defendants assert Bailey refused placement in SOP Phase 2. (Doc. 45-2 at 4, ¶ 18.)
Bailey generally alleges that white inmates are given preferential treatment in violation the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In support of the first portion of his claim, Bailey alleges that the SOP program director, Blair Hopkins, placed a white inmate, William Hopkins,
As explained below, Bailey has not demonstrated that he was treated differently because of his membership in a protected class or established that he was treated differently from similarly situated individuals without a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose. Moreover, the remaining defendants are all entitled to qualified immunity. The motion for summary judgment should be granted.
The Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment "commands that no State shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, which is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike." City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985). Prisoners are protected under the Equal Protection Clause from invidious discrimination based on race. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556 (1974). An equal protection claim may be established by showing that a defendant intentionally discriminated against a plaintiff based on his membership in a protected class. Hartmann v. Calif. Dep't of Corrs. and Rehab, 707 F.3d 1114, 1123 (9
To avoid summary judgment on a claim of racial discrimination, the plaintiff must "produce evidence sufficient to permit a reasonable trier of fact to find by a preponderance of the evidence that [the challenged action] was racially motivated." Bingham v. City of Manhattan Beach, 341 F.3d 939, 948-49. In the prison context, the right to equal protection is "judged by a standard of reasonableness-specifically, whether the actions of prison officials are `reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.'" Walker v. Gomez, 370 F.3d 969, 974 (9
In response to Bailey's claim that William Hopkins received preferential program placement, the Defendants have supplied additional information that defeats Bailey's claim and entitles them to summary judgment.
At the Montana State Prison, there are two separate tracks for completing Phase 2 of SOP: intensive inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. See, Aff. Hopkins (Doc. 45-2 at 3, ¶ 11.)
In his response to the motion for summary judgment, Bailey does not directly address the fact that he and William Hopkins were in different programs.
In relation to this portion of the claim, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment. Upon review of the additional information, Bailey's claim does not make a threshold showing establishing unequal treatment of similarly situated persons. See City of Cleburne, 473 U.S. at 439. As the Defendants have demonstrated, Hopkins and Bailey were not similarly situated, because they enrolled in two different Phase 2 treatment programs. While Hopkins may have entered Phase 2 before Bailey did, he was enrolled in the intensive treatment program with a shorter waiting list, whereas Bailey enrolled in the outpatient treatment program. Moreover, given the distinct programming tracks that the two men undertook, there is no indication that the placement of either was in any way motivated by the fact that William Hopkins is white and Bailey is black.
The Court concludes that there exists no genuine issue of material fact with respect to this portion of Bailey's Equal Protection claim. See, Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323. In response, Bailey has failed to point to specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial, id. at 324, or identify with reasonable particularity the evidence that precludes summary judgment. Accordingly, the Court will recommend summary judgment be granted in favor of the Defendants as a matter of law on this claim. Id. at 323.
The Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment relative to Bailey's parole hearing claim, because the Parole Board is a quasi-judicial body, of which none of the named defendants are members and over which they have neither power nor control. See, (Doc. 44 at 21-22.) Under Montana law, the Parole Board operates independently and without approval or control of the Montana Department of Corrections. Id. at 22.
Bailey has also argued that a white individual, Anthel Brown, was afforded a parole hearing, even though he had not completed SOP treatment and, thus, was not parole eligible.
As a preliminary matter, this Court would observe that Anthel Brown, who was convicted of Deliberate Homicide in 1976,
But Bailey did not respond to any of the arguments advanced by Defendants. See generally, (Doc. 47.) Thus, Bailey has failed to demonstrate that any of the named defendants played any role or influenced the Parole Board in making its decision not to conduct a parole hearing, but instead advised Bailey of his parole ineligibility in a letter. Moreover, Bailey has failed to point to facts that would tend to demonstrate Brown's 2003 appearance before the Parole Board and Bailey's failure to appear before the Parole Board in January of 2016, was racially motivated. Bailey has provided the Court with no evidence that could support a jury verdict in his favor. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. Or, to put it another way, because there is no genuine issue of material fact, this portion of Bailey's Equal Protection claim should also be resolved, as a matter of law, in the Defendants' favor.
The Defendants assert that they are entitled to summary judgment based upon the doctrine of qualified immunity. Qualified immunity shields public officials "from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violated clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982). To overcome qualified immunity, Bailey must show, "first, [that he] suffered a deprivation of a constitutional or statutory right; and second [that such] right was clearly established at the time of the alleged misconduct." Taylor v. Barker, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S.Ct. 2042, 2044 (2015) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted). This Court has discretion to consider the two factors in reverse order. Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 226 (2009).
All remaining defendants have asserted they are entitled to qualified immunity, because Bailey has not demonstrated any Defendant personally violated his constitutional rights. The Court agrees.
Mike Batista is the former Director of the Montana Department of Corrections, Leroy Kirkegard is the former Warden of the Montana State Prison, and Myron Beeson is the former Associate Warden of Housing of the Montana State Prison. Bailey seems to assert that these individuals supervised others who, in turn, violated Bailey's rights by following a custom and/or policy in place at the Montana State Prison. Bailey contends the result of such custom allowed others to "drag out" his placement in group treatment and in the amount of time it takes for one to complete SOP. See e.g., (Doc. 45-1 at 28-29).
"A defendant may be held liable as a supervisor under § 1983 `if there exists either (1) his or her personal involvement in the constitutional deprivation, or (2) a sufficient causal connection between the supervisor's wrongful conduct and the constitutional violation.'" Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1207 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989)). "The requisite causal connection can be established . . . by setting in motion a series of acts by others or by knowingly refusing to terminate a series of acts by others, which the supervisor knew or reasonably should have known would cause others to inflict a constitutional injury." Id. at 1207-08 (internal citations, quotation marks, and alterations omitted); see also Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 F.3d 896, 915 (9th Cir. 2012) (explaining that claim brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 has a causation requirement with liability extending to those state officials who subject, or cause to be subjected, an individual to a deprivation of his federal rights).
To the extent that Bailey asserts a claim against Myron Beeson, Beeson was only involved in Bailey's housing related claims. As discussed above, those claims have been dismissed,
Bailey has presented no evidence that either Batista or Kirkegard were aware of any procedures in place involving SOP treatment placement.
Bailey also alleges Warden Kirkegard violated his rights in the supervision of Linda J. Moodry, the interstate compact coordinator, and Blair Hopkins, because they were responsible for delaying Bailey's transfer back to Montana from California. See, (Doc. 45-1 at 29; Doc. 47 at 2-3.) All claims relative to Bailey's interstate transfer and purported due process violations, however, have also been dismissed. Thus, there is no surviving claim based upon Kirkegard's purportedly deficient supervision of Moodry or Hopkins.
As discussed above, Bailey alleged Hopkins, as the Director of the Sex Offender Programming, had discriminated against Bailey by allowing William Hopkins to be placed into treatment before Bailey. But, as discussed at length above, Bailey and William Hopkins were on two different Phase 2 treatment tracks and placed into two different programs—outpatient and intensive inpatient. But because Bailey failed to demonstrate that he was deprived of his constitutional right to Equal Protection, he cannot overcome Hopkin's assertion of qualified immunity. Pearson, 555 U.S. at 226. (2009). Accordingly, Hopkins is entitled to qualified immunity.
Sally Odden is an Administrative Officer for the Montana Department of Corrections' Contract Placement Bureau. (Doc. 45-3 at 2, ¶ 2.) Odden collects grievances and transfers them to Contract Placement Bureau Chief, Patrick Smith. Id. at ¶ 4. The Contract Placement Bureau handled two appeals from Bailey. The first involved Bailey's attempt to obtain a difference prison cell assignment. Id. at ¶ 9. The second involved Bailey's attempt to enter SOP. Id. at 3, ¶ 12. Bailey did not assert an Equal Protection violation in either appeal.
Odden does not answer inmate grievances or appeals. Id. at ¶ 6. Likewise, Odden has no control over when inmates may enter SOP or when inmates may be seen by the Parole Board. Id. at 3-4. Odden serves in a purely administrative capacity.
While Bailey alleges that Odden provided him with an incorrect form for one of the grievances, he has failed to demonstrate a causal connection between this purported act by Odden and his asserted Equal Protection violation. Moreover, it appears that Bailey's primary issue with Odden stems from his ongoing housing issues. See e.g., (Doc. 48 at 2) ("Odden may not respond to grievances but she was in [the Administration] . . . and [they] believed that they can force me to live with and get along with inmates [at CCA] and here at MSP . . .") But, as explained above, all of Bailey's housing related claims have been dismissed. Accordingly, Odden also is entitled to qualified immunity.
Based upon the foregoing, the Court issues the following:
1. Bailey's Motion for Copies/Review (Doc. 41) is DENIED.
2. Bailey's Motion for Injunction (Doc. 50) is DENIED.
3. Bailey's Motion for Production (Doc. 53) is DENIED.
1. Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 43) should be GRANTED. The Clerk of Court should be directed to all close this matter and enter judgment pursuant to Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
2. The Clerk of Court should be directed to have the docket reflect that the Court certifies pursuant to Rule 24(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that any appeal of this decision would not be taken in good faith.
The parties may file objections to these Findings and Recommendations within fourteen (14) days after service (mailing) hereof.
This order is not immediately appealable to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Any notice of appeal pursuant to Fed.R.App.P. 4(a), should not be filed until entry of the District Court's final judgment.
