Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_00-cv-01951/USCOURTS-caed-2_00-cv-01951-6/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENNETH CAPOGRECO, et al.,

NO. CIV. S-00-1951 LKK/GGH P

Plaintiffs,

v. O R D E R

R. SANDHAM, et al., 

Defendants.

 /

Pending before the court is defendant’s motion to reconsider

the court’s October 7, 2005 order. The court’s October 7, 2005

order is hereby AMENDED to include the following language: 

The court adopts in full the magistrate judge’s findings and

recommendations, issued on September 2, 2005 as to defendants

Malan, Castro and Tristan and the allegations involving supervisory

liability and involvement with processing plaintiff’s inmate

appeals. That motion, therefore, is GRANTED.

As to defendant Park, the court also adopts the magistrate

judge’s findings and recommendations relative to that defendant’s

Case 2:00-cv-01951-LKK -GGH Document 172 Filed 03/27/06 Page 1 of 3
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motion for summary judgement as to his involvement with processing

plaintiff’s inmate appeal and defendant's motion in that regard is

GRANTED. 

The court, however, declines to adopt the findings and

recommendations as to Park’s supervisory liability. Defendant Park

was the director of the dental department at High Desert State

Prison. As discussed in the court’s October 7, 2005 Order,

plaintiff alleges that he waited a year to have a cavity filled and

that the delay in treatment caused the condition of his cavity to

worsen. The court found there was a disputed fact as to whether

the delay in treatment amounts to deliberate indifference. See

Order filed October 7, 2005 at 3:19-4:4. 

To hold defendant Park liable in his official capacity,

plaintiff must show that a policy or custom, or a one time decision

by a governmentally authorized decision maker, played a part in the

violation of federal law. McRorie v. Shimoda, 795 F.2d 780, 783

(9th Cir. 1986). 

Here, it is undisputed that a year passed until plaintiff’s

cavity was filled and that defendant Park was the Director of the

Dental Services at the time. Viewing the record in light most

favorable to plaintiff and drawing all justifiable inferences in

plaintiff’s favor, the court finds that there remains a disputed

material fact. Specifically, a fact finder must determine whether

Park, as director of the dental services, made a decision or

instigated a policy that affected plaintiff’s dental care and

played a part in the constitutional violation. 

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1 The issues of injunctive relief and personal liability are

also to be considered by the magistrate judge.

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For this reason, the court declines to adopt the magistrate

judge’s recommendation as to supervisory liability. Instead, the

court finds that defendant Park may liable in his official capacity

as the Director of the dental services at High Desert Prison.

Therefore, defendants’ motion for summary judgement as to defendant

Park’s liability is DENIED.

The case is remanded to the magistrate judge for further

proceedings consistent with this order.1

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: March 24, 2006.

/s/Lawrence K. Karlton 

LAWRENCE K. KARLTON

SENIOR JUDGE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Case 2:00-cv-01951-LKK -GGH Document 172 Filed 03/27/06 Page 3 of 3