Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-01715/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-01715-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JUSTIN MERRIMAN,

Plaintiff,

 v.

OFFICER SMITH, OFFICER TIERNEY,

OFFICER ROBINSON, DOES 1 to 50,

Defendants. /

No. C 15-01715 WHA

ORDER OF SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

This is a civil rights case filed by an inmate at San Quentin State Prison. Plaintiff was

granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, although he is represented by counsel.

STATEMENT

Plaintiff Justin Merriman alleges that Officers Smith, Tierney, and Robinson unlocked

the cell of a death row inmate, allowing him to gain access to plaintiff’s cell, where he was

battered and raped. He also alleges that defendants expressed that plaintiff was a “skin-head

racist who deserved extra punishment.” Merriman brings claims under Section 1983 and for

intentional infliction of emotional distress. Merriman alleges that he has been treated in the

mental wing of San Quentin Hospital for post traumatic stress disorder following the alleged

rape.

Merriman also alleges that unnamed prison officials have removed funds from his

inmate trust fund, but that his attempts to resolve this issue through administrative process have

Case 3:15-cv-01715-WHA Document 23 Filed 10/06/15 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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been rebuffed or destroyed by Officer Robinson. He brings a claim for breach of contract and

conversion on that basis.

ANALYSIS

Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners seek

redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.

1915A(a). To survive this preliminary screening, a complaint must state a cognizable claim,

and any claims must not be frivolous, malicious, or seek monetary relief from a defendant

immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. 1915A(b)(1), (2). 

Merriman’s first two complaints were dismissed. The first failed to plead any basis for

equitable tolling of the limitations period, and the second omitted all factual allegations (which

had been included as attachments in the first). Merriman has filed a second amended complaint

(Dkt. No. 22). 

1. SECTION 1983 CLAIM.

To state a claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1)

that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that

the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v.

Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 

Merriman claims that defendants, acting under the color of law, facilitated the rape and

battery of plaintiff by unlocking the cell of a death row and maintaining that Merriman was

deserving of additional punishment. This allegation is sufficient to require a response.

2. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS CLAIM.

In California the elements of a prima facie case for intentional infliction of emotional

distress are “(1) extreme and outrageous conduct by the defendant with the intention of causing,

or reckless disregard of the probability of causing, emotional distress; (2) the plaintiff’s

suffering severe or extreme emotional distress; and (3) actual and proximate causation of the

emotional distress by the defendant’s outrageous conduct.” Davidson v. City of Westminster, 32

Cal. 3d 197, 209 (1982). Merriman’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress arises

out of the same facts as his Section 1983 claim. He also alleges that he has been treated for

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For the Northern District of California

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PTSD resulting from the alleged rape and battery. His allegations are sufficient to survive prescreening.

3. BREACH OF CONTRACT AND CONVERSION CLAIM.

Merriman’s final claim is that unnamed prison staff removed funds from his inmate trust

account and converted those funds to their own personal use. The complaint itself contains only

a conclusory allegation that prison officials took funds from Merriman’s account. Exhibits A

and D to the complaint are letters from Merriman’s mother describing accounting anomalies in

his trust account. These facts are sufficient to require a response from defendants.

CONCLUSION

The Clerk shall please ISSUE SUMMONS and the United States Marshal shall please

SERVE, without prepayment of fees, a copy of the complaint in this matter, and a copy of this

order upon defendants Officer Smith, Officer Tierney, and Officer Robinson. Plaintiff alleges

they can be found at San Quentin State Prison. A courtesy copy of the second amended

complaint and this order shall also be mailed to the California Attorney General’s office.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 6, 2015. 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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