Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01407/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01407-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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 In California, physicians “recommend” medical marijuana instead of prescribing it.

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT FULTON STERNER, M.D.,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 08cv1407 - IEG - JMA

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND

DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’

MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE

PLEADINGS (Doc. No. 28)

vs.

SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT;

POLICE CHIEF WILLIAM LANDSDOWN;

DETECTIVE KIMBER L. HAMMOND;

DETECTIVE CONRADO DECASTRO;

DETECTIVE SCHUYLER BOYCE;

DETECTIVE MARK CARLSON; SAN

DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE;

DISTRICT ATTORNEY BO DUMANIS;

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ATTO

MOSLER; DOES 1-40,

Defendant.

Defendants move the Court for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c).

The present case involves an undercover investigation of plaintiff’s medical practice related to his

recommendations of medical marijuana to patients.1

 Plaintiff opposed and defendants filed a reply.

BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

Plaintiff has practiced as a licensed physician in California for nearly twenty-five years.

Defendants are the San Diego Police Department, various detectives of the S.D.P.D., the Office of the

San Diego District Attorney, District Attorney Dumanis, and Deputy District Attorney Mosler.

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In 2005, plaintiff alleges agents searched several medical cannabis cooperatives in the San

Diego area. During the search, agents allegedly seized medical records of patient-members of the

cooperatives, including written physician recommendations to medicinally use cannabis. Plaintiff

alleges defendants initiated an undercover investigation based solely on the frequency plaintiff’s name

appeared among the seized recommendations.

Detectives from the San Diego Police Department initiated an undercover investigation of

plaintiff. Detectives posed as patients, visited plaintiff’s office, and sought recommendations to use

marijuana for medical purposes. Detectives videotaped and audio-taped these visits.

Defendant Mosler forwarded the result of this undercover investigation – including the audio

and videotapes – to the Medical Board of California (“MBC”) to investigate whether plaintiff had

violated the California Medical Practices Act. The MBC conducted an independent investigation and

filed an “Accusation” charging plaintiff with negligence and engaging in fraud. According to

defendants, the MBC proceeding is ongoing.

B. Procedural Background

On July 31, 2008, Plaintiff filed a complaint alleging defendants (1) violated his First

Amendment rights; (2) violated due process and equal protection by conspiring to violate his rights

(“§ 1985 claim”); and (3) failed to prevent the objectives of this alleged conspiracy (“§ 1986 claim”).

He seeks damages, an injunction, and declaratory relief. 

Defendants San Diego District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Dumanis, and Deputy

District Attorney Mosler filed an answer on September 30, 2008. Defendants San Diego Police

Department, Police Chief Landsown, Detective Hammond, Detective Decastro, Detective Boye, and

Detective Carlson filed an answer on November 18, 2008.

On November 17, 2008, the District Attorney Office, Dumanis, and Mosler filed a motion for

judgment on the pleadings and/or requesting a stay of proceedings until after MBC has completed its

investigation. Defendants request the Court take judicial notice of the MBC Accusation. The

remaining defendants filed a notice of joinder to the motion on November 24, 2008.

//

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LEGAL STANDARD

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) provides, “[a]fter the pleadings are closed but within

such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings.” Judgment on

the pleadings is proper when the moving party clearly establishes on the face of the pleadings that no

material issue of fact remains to be resolved. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c); Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard

Feiner and Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1550 (9th Cir.1990).

“A judgment on the pleadings is properly granted when, taking all the allegations in the

pleading as true, the moving parties are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Smith v. National

Steel & Shipbuilding Co., 125 F.3d 751, 753 (9th Cir.1997); George v. Pacific-CSC Work Furlough,

91 F.3d 1227, 1229 (9th Cir.1996) (citing Yanez v. United States, 63 F.3d 870, 872 (9th Cir.1995)).

DISCUSSION

A. The First Amendment Claim

Plaintiff alleges defendants initiated the investigation to retaliate against his advocacy of

medical marijuana, a right he claims is protected by Conant v. Walters, 309 F.3d 629 (9th Cir. 2002).

This claim incorporates both a claim of retaliatory investigation and a claim of retaliatory prosecution.

 Defendants raise three issues with regard to the first amendment claims: (1) whether a

retaliatory investigation can be the basis of a First Amendment claim; (2) whether defendant must

allege a lack of probable cause to support a claim of retaliatory prosecution; and (3) whether

defendants Mosler and Dumanis are entitled to qualified immunity. Before reaching these issues, the

Court must discuss Conant.

a. Conant v. Walters

In Conant, the Ninth circuit upheld an injunction prohibiting the federal government from

either revoking a physician’s prescription license or conducting an investigation of a physician based

solely on the physician’s recommendation of medical marijuana. 309 F.3d at 636. In that case, a class

of patients and physicians sought to enjoin enforcement of a federal policy to revoke prescription

licenses of physicians who recommended marijuana to patients. Id. at 633. Conant upheld the

injunction because a physician’s candid discussion of the cost-benefit of medical marijuana with his

patient is speech protected by the First Amendment. Id. at 636. The court found “punishing

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physicians for recommending medical marijuana was both content and viewpoint discrimination.”

Denny v. Drug Enforcement Admin., 508 F. Supp. 2d 815 (E.D. Cal. 2007) (discussing Conant). The

court weighed the impact of the injunction on the government’s ability to investigate criminal conduct,

but found the injunction did not limit investigations when the government had a good faith belief it

had substantial evidence of criminal conduct. Id.

b. Retaliatory Investigation

i. Parties’ Arguments

Defendants argue plaintiff cannot base his claim upon the investigation alone. Defendants cite

two cases that found it unclear whether an investigation can violate a constitutional right: Hartman

v. Moore, 547 U.S. 250, 262 n. 8 (2006); Seven Star, Inc. v. Elluz Corp., 933 F.2d 791, 793 n.2 (9th

Cir. 1991). Defendants then contend plaintiff does not allege he incurred any expenses because of the

investigation and did not suffer “adverse consequences.” Finally, defendants contend plaintiff cannot

allege a chilling effect because a reasonable doctor, who is not breaking the law, would not be chilled.

Plaintiff argues a retaliatory investigation violates the First Amendment, citing Conant.

According to plaintiff, Conant only allows investigations premised on “good cause” to believe

“substantial evidence” exists. Plaintiff also cites United States v. Mayer, 503 F.3d 740 (9th Cir.

2007); United States v. Steele, 461 F.2d 1148 (9th Cir. 1972); and Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d

1334, 1338 (9th Cir. 1986). Plaintiff disputes defendants’ claim there were no “adverse

consequences” of the investigation, arguing his freedom of speech has been chilled.

ii. Analysis

A plaintiff must show three elements to sustain a First Amendment retaliation claim: “(1)

defendants possessed an impermissible motive to interfere with his First Amendment rights, (2)

defendants' conduct would have chilled a physician of ordinary firmness from future First Amendment

activities, and (3) the defendants would not have engaged in the conduct in question but for the

retaliatory motive.” Denny v. Drug Enforcement Admin., 2008 WL 1808289 at *5 (E.D. Cal. April

22, 2008) (citing Hartman, 547 U.S. at 258-60). First, plaintiff has alleged defendants possessed an

impermissible motive to interfere with his recommendation of marijuana to his patients, a right

recognized by Conant. Second, defendants’ allegedly retaliatory undercover investigation would chill

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a physician of ordinary firmness from engaging in the recommendations of the drug in the future.

“Physicians are particularly easily deterred by the threat of governmental investigation” due to the

“disparity of benefits and burdens.” Conant, 309 F.3d at 640 (Kozinski, J. concurring). Specifically,

the court reasoned the benefit of recommending marijuana is significantly outweighed by the threat

of continued undercover investigations. Id. In the instant case, surreptitious and retaliatory police

investigations would chill the speech of even the most law-abiding physician of ordinary firmness.

Third, plaintiff has sufficiently alleged the impermissible motive caused the conduct. 

In Gibson, the court found the plaintiffs sufficiently pled a §1983 claim when they alleged

members of the LAPD engaged in frequent low-altitude helicopter flights over their residence in order

to inhibit political activities. 781 F.2d at 1338. The court reasoned the plaintiffs properly alleged

discrete acts of surveillance and intimidation directed solely at silencing them. Id. 

Further, defendants’ position would give the police a license to retaliate through investigative

procedures. Without evoking a parade of horribles, it takes little imagination to envision police abuse

of investigative procedures to affirmatively chill speech. Defendants’ request for dismissal due to a

lack of actual damages is spurious. The Supreme Court held a court may award nominal damages in

§1983 cases even if plaintiff fails to prove actual, economic injury. Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247

(1978). For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds an investigation may constitute a First Amendment

violation, therefore, defendants’ motion is DENIED as to the retaliatory investigation claim.

c. Retaliatory Prosecution

i. Parties’ Arguments

Defendants argue, to the extent plaintiff bases his claim on a theory of retaliatory prosecution,

he must allege MBC lacked probable cause to file the Accusation in order to show the connection

between defendants’ alleged animus and the MBC’s action. Hartman, 547 U.S. at 262. Defendants

note Judge Houston recently applied Hartman to an MBC enforcement action based upon DEA

information. Sterner v. DEA, 05-CV-0196-JAH (POR) (S.D. Cal. June 1, 2007). Further, defendants

argue plaintiff failed to implicitly allege probable cause because there is no basis for comparing the

facts alleged to the Accusation filed by MBC.

Plaintiff argues Hartman is distinguishable and inapplicable because the instant case involves

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a retaliatory investigation and a retaliatory prosecution. Plaintiff argues that applying the Hartman

pleading requirement would encourage the government to violate injunctions in the future.

Alternatively, plaintiff argues he sufficiently pled a lack of probable cause by alleging he has

legally practiced medicine in California for nearly twenty-five years, required patients “provide . . .

records documenting the medical condition,” and “completed a thorough patient history and physical

examination.” (Compl. ¶¶ 3, 12, 14.) Alternatively, plaintiff requests leave to amend.

ii. Analysis

The Hartman court distinguished the pleading requirements for an ordinary retaliation claim

from the requirements in a retaliatory prosecution claim. 547 U.S. 250. In ordinary retaliation cases,

a “plaintiff must show a causal connection between a defendant’s retaliatory animus and subsequent

injury.” Id. at 259. However, in retaliatory prosecution cases, a plaintiff must demonstrate a causal

connection “between the retaliatory animus of one person and the action of another.” Id. at 262. To

meet this burden, plaintiff must allege a lack of probable cause to initiate the prosecution. Hartman

applies in the administrative context. Sterner, 05-CV-0196-JAH (POR) (S.D. Cal. June 1, 2007). 

Plaintiff has not sufficiently pleaded a lack of probable cause. Under California law, probable

cause is “a suspicion founded upon circumstances sufficiently strong to warrant a reasonable man in

the belief that the charge is true.” Lee v. Levison, 173 Cal. 166, 169 (1916). Plaintiff never explicitly

or implicitly states the MBC lacked probable cause to file the accusation. Accordingly, the retaliatory

prosecution claim is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

d. Qualified Immunity of Mosler and Dumanis

i. Parties’ Arguments

Defendants Deputy District Attorney Damon Mosler and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis

argue they are entitled to qualified immunity. Defendants apply a two-part test: (1) whether the

official violated a constitutional right and (2) whether the right was clearly established such that a

reasonable official would have known he was engaging in unlawful conduct. First, defendants

reiterate the investigation alone did not violate any constitutional rights. Second, defendants argue

the right is not clearly established, citing Hartman, 547 U.S. at 262, n. 8; Seven Star, Inc. v. Elluz

Corp., 933 F.2d 791, 793 n.2 (9th Cir. 1991).

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Plaintiff argues given the specificity and detail provided by the Conant court, defendants

Mosler and Dumanis should have understood they were violating the law.

ii. Analysis

Qualified immunity shields government officials performing discretionary functions from

liability for civil damages unless their conduct violates clearly established statutory or constitutional

rights. Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635, 640 (1987). First, the Court must determine whether,

under the facts alleged, the officer’s conduct violated a constitutional right. Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S.

194, 2000 (2001). Second, the court must inquire whether the right was clearly established. Id. This

second inquiry consists of determining whether a reasonable official would understand he is violating

a specific right. Id.

As set forth above, plaintiff has stated a claim for the violation of a constitutional right.

Further, although Conant involved a federal agency only, the court prohibited all investigation of

doctors based solely on their recommendation of medical marijuana to their patients. Plaintiff alleges

defendants based this investigation solely on the frequency with which plaintiff recommended

marijuana. Mosler and Dumanis should have been aware of Conant and should have known they were

allegedly violating a constitutional right. Therefore, they are not entitled to qualified immunity.

2. The § 1985(3) claim and §1986 claim

i. Parties’ Arguments

Defendants argue the § 1985 claim fails as a matter of law because plaintiff fails to show

doctors who recommend marijuana to their patients are a suspect or quasi-suspect class, a prerequisite

for § 1985 protection. Defendants cite Denny, 508 F. Supp. at 837, in which a court found physicians

who recommend marijuana to patients are not a suspect class. Defendants also note a § 1986 claim

must be based on a valid §1985 claim.

Plaintiff alleges the defendants conspired to violate his rights, “motivated [b]y a discriminatory

animus against physicians who support the medical use of cannabis.” (Compl. ¶ 33.) Plaintiff argues

the Conant injunction acts as a governmental determination that physicians who support the medical

use of cannabis warrant special federal protection.

ii. Analysis

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To sustain a §1985(3) claim, plaintiff must demonstrate “racial or perhaps otherwise classbased, invidiously discriminatory animus.” Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102 (1971). The

Ninth Circuit extends this protection “beyond race only when the class in question can show that there

has been a governmental determination that its members require and warrant special federal assistance

in protecting their civil rights.” Schultz v. Sunberg, 759 F.2d 714, 718 (9th Cir. 1985). A

“governmental determination” has occurred only if courts “designated the class in question a suspect

or quasi-suspect [class]” or Congress “indicated . . . the class required special protection.” Id.

The Conant court did not designate doctors recommending marijuana a suspect or quasisuspect class. Similarly, Congress has never indicated the doctors in question require special

protection. Instead, Congress has passed legislation making it illegal to use, possess, transport, or

cultivate marijuana for any purpose. 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a), 844. Without a “governmental

determination,” plaintiff cannot make out an essential element of a § 1985(3) claim. Accord, Denny,

508 F. Supp. 2d at 837. A § 1986 claim cannot survive without a valid §1985 claim. The Court

GRANTS defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings for both the § 1985 and §1986 claims.

3. Injunctive and Declaratory Relief

i. Parties’ Argument

Defendants argue injunctive relief is not a separate cause of action and is only available after

a plaintiff can make a showing some independent legal right has been infringed. Defendants then

argue declaratory relief is not available to determine whether defendants’ past conduct was legal,

especially when plaintiff seeks damages for the same past conduct.

Plaintiff argues he is entitled to an equitable remedy because the violation of his rights is ongoing and cannot adequately be redressed through other forms of relief. Plaintiff argues defendants

chilled his speech, making him fearful of explaining the medical benefits of marijuana to patients. 

ii. Analysis

To obtain injunctive relief, a plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) irreparable injury; (2) remedies

at law, such as monetary damages, are inadequate; (3) the balance of hardships weighs in favor of an

injunction; and (4) “the public interest would not be disserved by an injunction.” eBay, Inc. v.

MercExchange, LLC, 547 U.S. 388 (2006). The doctor’s emotional distress caused by the

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investigation, and fear of exercising his freedom of speech, is irreparable. Monetary damages may

be inadequate because they cannot reassure Plaintiff that similar investigative tactics will not be used

in the future. In a similar case, the Conant court already balanced the hardships and public interest

in upholding an injunction. The existence of an “another adequate remedy does not preclude a

judgment for declaratory relief in cases where it is appropriate.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 57. 

Generally, declaratory relief is inappropriate where the alleged constitutional injury has

already occurred. Saum v. Widnall, 912 F. Supp. 1384 (D. Colo. 1996). Plaintiff may allege

continuing or current adverse effects from the past enforcement or an immediate threat of repeated

injury from subsequent enforcement. City of Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 105 (1983). Here,

plaintiff has alleged a continuing effect from the past enforcement, the chilling of his first amendment

rights. He fears future enforcement and has allegedly curbed his speech. At the pleading stage, this

is sufficient.

4. Damages

i. Parties’ Arguments

Defendants argue plaintiff failed to allege he lost income by turning away patients. According

to defendants, no reasonable physician would turn away patients if he was not violating the law or

ethical standards for physicians. Defendants also claim plaintiff does not allege any damages incurred

defending against the MBC Accusation.

Plaintiff requests “an award of monetary damages . . . for injuries suffered by Plaintiff as a

result of defendants’ violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional and civil rights including general and

specific damages according to proof.” (Compl., Prayer for Relief ¶ 3.) Plaintiff argues chilling the

exercise of speech can cause both economic and non-economic harms.

ii. Analysis

As previously noted, a plaintiff need not show actual, economic damages in a §1983 action.

Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247. Further, plaintiff need not specify the precise amount of damages

claimed. It is enough he claims monetary damages from the injuries. Again, the precise amount of

damages is a question for later proceedings. 

Finally, defendants argument asserting plaintiff had no reason to turn away patients if he was

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obeying the law flies in the face of First and Fourth Amendment case law and is completely irrelevant

to the issue of damages. Citizens can be damaged by retaliatory investigations, regardless of whether

or not they “have something to hide.”

B. Requested Judicial Notice

Rule 201 of the Federal Rules of Evidence allows the Court to take judicial notice of matters

that are “capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy can not

reasonably be questioned.” Per defendants’ request, the Court takes judicial notice of Judge

Houston’s order in Sterner v. DEA and the MBC Accusation because it is easily verifiable on the

MBC website.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE plaintiff’s §1985 claim

and §1986 claim because amendment would be futile. The Court DISMISSES WITHOUT

PREJUDICE plaintiff’s claim based upon a retaliatory prosecution. At oral argument, counsel

indicated the MBC proceedings are going forward on January 26, 2009. In order to give plaintiff time

to evaluate the outcome of these proceedings, the Court GRANTS LEAVE TO AMEND within 90

days of this order to cure the deficiencies stated herein.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 21, 2009

IRMA E. GONZALEZ, Chief Judge

United States District Court

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