Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02945/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02945-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HENRY WASHINGTON,

Plaintiff,

v.

M. S. EVANS; et al.,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 05-2945 SI (pr)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Henry Washington, an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison, has filed a pro se civil rights

action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In his complaint, Washington alleges that his inmate grievances

and appeals have not been processed properly by prison and CDC officials. His complaint is now

before the court for review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915A. 

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any case in which a prisoner

seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See

28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and dismiss

any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,

or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. at

1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police

Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).

To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two elements: (1) that a

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

violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487

U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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There is no federal constitutional right to a prison administrative appeal or grievance

system for California inmates. See Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988); Antonelli

v. Sheahan, 81 F.3d 1422, 1430 (7th Cir. 1996). The denial of an inmate appeal is not so severe

a change in condition as to implicate the Due Process Clause itself and the State of California has

not created a protected interest in an administrative appeal system in its prisons. California Code

of Regulations, title 15 sections 1073 and 3084.1 grant prisoners in the county jails and state

prisons a purely procedural right: the right to have a prison appeal. The regulations simply require

the establishment of a procedural structure for reviewing prisoner complaints and set forth no

substantive standards; instead, they provide for flexible appeal time limits, see Cal. Code Regs.

tit. 15, § 3084.6, and, at most, that "no reprisal shall be taken against an inmate or parolee for filing

an appeal," id. § 3084.1(d). A provision that merely provides procedural requirements, even if

mandatory, cannot form the basis of a constitutionally cognizable liberty interest. See Smith v.

Noonan, 992 F.2d 987, 989 (9th Cir. 1993); see also Antonelli, 81 F.3d at 1430 (prison grievance

procedure is procedural right that does not give rise to protected liberty interest requiring

procedural protections of Due Process Clause). 

Washington had no federal constitutional right to a properly functioning appeal system.

An incorrect decision on an administrative appeal or failure to process the appeal in a particular

way therefore did not amount to a violation of his right to due process. The complaint fails to state

a claim upon which relief may be granted.

The complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Leave to amend will

not be granted because it would be futile. This action therefore is dismissed. The clerk shall

close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 19, 2005 _______________________

 SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge