Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-01475/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-01475-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 1 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICKY GRAY,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

ORDER:

(1) OVERRULING PLAINTIFF’S

OBJECTIONS TO THE

MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT

AND RECOMMENDATION;

[Doc. No. 254]

(2) ADOPTING THE

MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT

AND RECOMMENDATION;

[Doc. No. 252]

(3) GRANTING DEFENDANTS’

MOTION FOR SUMMARY

JUDGMENT;

[Doc. No. 229]

(4) GRANTING IN PART AND

DENYING IN PART

DEFENDANTS’ EX PARTE

APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER

TO SEAL THE COURT FILE

[Doc. No. 256]

vs.

JEANNE WOODFORD et al,

Defendants.

///

///

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 1 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

Plaintiff Ricky Gray, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed the instant

action for alleged violations of his civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On September 15, 2009,

Defendants M. Maldonado and R. Zaragoza filed a motion for summary judgment as to all claims.

(Doc. No. 229.) Plaintiff timely filed an opposition (Doc. No. 241) and Defendants timely replied

(Doc. No. 249). Before the Court is the assigned Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation

(“R&R”), recommending that the Court grant Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No.

252.) On February 26, 2010, Plaintiff filed objections to the R&R. (Doc. No. 254.) On March 12,

2010, Defendants replied to Plaintiff’s objections. (Doc. No. 255.) For the reasons set forth herein,

the Court ADOPTS the R&R in its entirety and GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary

judgment.

Also pending before the Court is Defendants’ ex parte application for an order to seal the court

file. (Doc. No. 256.) Plaintiff filed a timely opposition (Doc. No. 259), and Defendants replied (Doc.

No. 261). For the reasons set forth herein, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART

Defendants’ ex parte application.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff’s fifth amended complaint (“FAC”) arises out of events that allegedly occurred after

his transfer from Lancaster State Prison to Centinela State Prison. Plaintiff claims that Defendant

correctional sergeant Zaragoza, an officer in Receiving and Release at Centinela, improperly withheld

Plaintiff’s personal property in retaliation for an inmate appeal Plaintiff had previously filed against

him for Defendant’s use of disrespectful and abusive language. Plaintiff’s personal property included

a pair of boots, tennis shoes, blue jeans, a clock, typewriter, photo album, CD holder, and headphone

extension cord. 

In the FAC, Plaintiff also asserts claims against Defendant Maldonado for conducting a gang

validation investigation on Plaintiff and placing him in administrative segregation. Plaintiff asserts

that Defendant Maldonado’s conduct was retaliation for Plaintiff’s activity as a jail house lawyer and

submission of staff misconduct complaints. Plaintiff also asserts that he was denied due process

because Defendant Maldonado did not have sufficient evidence to revalidate him as an active member

of the Black Guerilla Family (“BGF”) prison gang.

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 2 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

LEGAL STANDARD

I. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b) - Report and Recommendation

A district judge “may accept, reject, or modify the recommended disposition; receive

further evidence; or return the matter to the magistrate judge with instructions” on a dispositive

matter prepared by a magistrate judge proceeding without the consent of the parties for all

purposes. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b); see also 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). An objecting party may “serve and

file specific written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations,” and “a party may

respond to another party’s objections.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).

In reviewing an R&R, “the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of

the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” 28

U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); United States v. Raddatz, 447 U.S. 667, 676 (1980) (when objections are

made, the court must make a de novo determination of the factual findings to which there are

objections). “If neither party contests the magistrate’s proposed findings of fact, the court may

assume their correctness and decide the motion on the applicable law.” Orand v. United States,

602 F.2d 207, 208 (9th Cir.1979). Objections must, however, be specific, not vague or generalized.

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2) (requiring “specific” objections).

II. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 - Motion for Summary Judgment

A moving party is entitled to summary judgment only if the moving party can demonstrate

that (1) “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact,” and (2) it is “entitled to judgment as a

matter of law.” Fed R. Civ. P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). A

material issue of fact is one that raises a question that a trier of fact must answer to determine the

rights of the parties under the substantive law that applies. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477

U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute is genuine if “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could

return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. at 248. The initial burden is on the moving party to

show that both prongs are satisfied. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. The moving party can satisfy this

burden in two ways: (1) by presenting evidence that negates an essential element of the

nonmoving party’s case; or (2) by demonstrating that the nonmoving party failed to make a

showing sufficient to establish an element essential to that party’s case on which that party will

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 3 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 4 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

bear the burden of proof at trial. Id. at 322–23. If the moving party fails to discharge this initial

burden, summary judgment must be denied, and the court need not consider the nonmoving party’s

evidence. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159–60 (1970). 

If the moving party meets this initial burden, the nonmoving party cannot defeat summary

judgment merely by demonstrating “that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material

facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986);

Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252 (“The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the

nonmoving party’s position is not sufficient.”). Rather, the nonmoving party must “go beyond the

pleadings and by [his] own affidavits, or by ‘the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and

admissions on file,’ designate ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’”

Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). The inferences to be drawn from the facts

must be viewed in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Gibson v. County of Washoe,

Nev., 290 F.3d 1175, 1180 (9th Cir. 2002). “Credibility determinations, the weighing of evidence,

and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge,

[when] he is ruling on a motion for summary judgment.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255.

ANALYSIS

I. Retaliation Claim against Defendant Zargoza

Plaintiff asserts that Defendant Zaragoza improperly refused to issue Plaintiff his property in

retaliation for Plaintiff filing a 602 appeal against him. The Constitution provides protections against

“deliberate retaliation” by prison officials for an inmate exercising his right to petition for redress of

grievances. Soranno’s Gasco, Inc. v. Morgan, 874 F.2d 1310, 1314 (9th Cir. 1989). Because

retaliation by prison officials may chill an inmate’s exercise of his legitimate First Amendment rights,

such conduct is actionable even if it would not otherwise rise to the level of a constitutional violation.

Thomas v. Carpenter, 881 F.2d 828, 830 (9th Cir. 1989). 

In order to withstand a motion for summary judgment, a plaintiff suing prison officials for

retaliation pursuant to Section 1983 must allege sufficient facts to create a triable issue of fact as to

the following five elements: (1) a state actor took some adverse action against an inmate, (2) because

of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that such action (4) harmed the prisoner and (5) was not

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 4 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 5 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

narrowly tailored to advance a legitimate correctional goal. See Rhodes v. Robinson, 380 F.3d 1123,

1130 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 449 (9th Cir. 2000)). 

In the R&R, the Magistrate Judge recommends granting summary judgment on the basis that

there is no triable issue of fact on the issue of causation. The Magistrate Judge concluded that the

timing of Plaintiff’s grievance compared with the timing of Defendant Zaragoza’s conduct did not

give rise to an inference of retaliatory intent. (R&R at 5:20–7:21.) Plaintiff contends that the

Magistrate Judge erred because “the documents presented by plaintiff, don’t support defendant

Zaragoza was unaware Plaintiff filed a complaint,” because Plaintiff gave officer Gonzalez his

complaint against Defendant Zaragoza, and then “officer Gonzalez gave defendant Zaragoza

Plaintiff’s complaint . . . before any property was issued.” (Pl.’s Objections at ¶ 28.) Plaintiff,

however, fails to point to what evidence, if any, supports this assertion. In his opposition, Plaintiff

offers Exhibit 43, which is a 602 grievance he filed alleging retaliatory conduct and the withholding

of personal property. (See Gray Decl., Ex. 43.) While the form is dated March 2, 2004, it did not

originally identify any misconduct by Defendant Zaragoza, nor did it even include Defendant

Zaragoza’s name. There is no evidence that Officer Gonzalez gave this appeal to Defendant Zaragoza,

other than Plaintiff’s self-serving declaration, which is insufficient to create a triable issue of fact. See

Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1061 (9th Cir. 2002) (holding that an

uncorroborated self-serving declaration is insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact). In

addition, the evidence makes clear that Plaintiff failed to identify Defendant Zaragoza in the 602

grievance until he corrected it and resubmitted it to the appeals coordinator’s office, which received

the updated 602 grievance on March 12, 2010, after Defendant Zaragoza processed Plaintiff’s

property. (DeGeus Decl., Ex. B.) There is simply no evidence that Plaintiff had filed a complaint

against Defendant Zaragoza or that Defendant Zaragoza had any knowledge that Plaintiff filed a

complaint against him prior to Defendant Zaragoza’s conduct. Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES

Plaintiff’s objection to the R&R’s analysis and conclusion on the issue of causation. 

Even if Plaintiff established a triable issue of fact on the issue of causation, however, the Court

notes that Plaintiff has failed to establish that a triable issue of fact exists on the element of harm.

“[A]ny retribution visited upon a prisoner due to his decision to engage in protected conduct is

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 5 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

Plaintiff takes issue with the fact that Defendant Zaragoza refused to provide Plaintiff with

his soft-soled “Phat Pharm” boots. However, the evidence demonstrates that Defendant’s conduct in

withholding the boots was proper because they were not permitted under the regulations, and

Plaintiff’s medical chrono for them had expired. (Zaragoza Decl. at ¶ 7.) In addition, Plaintiff takes

issue with Defendant Zaragoza withholding Plaintiff’s typewriter. However, the typewriter was not

permitted because Plaintiff had not received prior approval from Warden Giurbino. (DeGeus Decl., Ex. C at bates nos. 031, 037, 044; Zaragoza Decl., Ex. E; Gray Decl. Ex. 45.) Once Plaintiff obtained

permission from the warden, Plaintiff was permitted to reacquire the typewriter from his family.

(Zaragoza Decl., Ex. E; Gray Decl., Ex. 47.) 

- 6 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

sufficient to ground a claim of unlawful First Amendment retaliation—whether such detriment “chills”

the plaintiff’s exercise of his First Amendment rights or not.” Rhodes, supra, 380 F.3d at 1131. Thus,

“[A] retaliation claim may assert an injury no more tangible than a chilling effect on First Amendment

rights.” Vernon, supra, 255 F.3d at 1127 (emphasis added). However, “[w]ithout alleging a chilling

effect, a retaliation claim without allegation of other harm is not actionable.” Id. (emphasis added).

Plaintiff has failed to offer any evidence that he suffered harm as a result of Defendant

Zaragoza’s actions. Plaintiff has failed to produce any evidence that Defendant Zaragoza’s conduct

prevented or chilled Plaintiff’s protected speech. Indeed, the evidence before the Court demonstrates

quite the contrary. For example, Plaintiff asserted in his deposition that he has filed, on average,

between 30 and 40 602 grievances per year since Defendant’s alleged conduct. (See Gray Depo.,

Aronis Decl., Ex. B at 161:4-6.) Based on this evidence, no reasonable juror could find that Defendant

Zaragoza’s conduct prevented or chilled Plaintiff’s protected speech. The only other harm alleged by

Plaintiff is the deprivation of property. Plaintiff, however, received a majority of his property on

March 3, 2004. For the items Plaintiff did not receive, such items were either not permitted pursuant

to department regulations,1

 or Plaintiff received compensation for such items to his satisfaction on July

2, 2004. (Zaragoza Decl., Ex. 4.) The injury suffered must be such that it “would chill a person of

ordinary firmness” from engaging in the protected activity. Pinard v. Clatskanie School Dist., 467

F.3d 755, 770 (9th Cir. 2006); White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1228 (9th Cir. 2000). Courts have only

found retaliation claims sufficient where the action taken by the defendant was clearly adverse to the

plaintiff. See, e.g., Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 568 (arbitrary confiscation and destruction of property,

initiation of a prison transfer, and assault in retaliation for filing grievances); Bruce v. Y1st, 351 F.3d

1283, 1288 (9th Cir. 2003) (retaliatory validation as a gang member for filing grievances); Hines v.

Gomez, 108 F.3d 265, 267 (9th Cir. 1997) (retaliatory issuance of false rules violation and subsequent

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 6 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 7 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

finding of guilt); Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 806 (9th Cir. 1995) (retaliatory prison transfer and

double-cell status); Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135, 1138 (9th Cir. 1989) (inmate labeled

a snitch and approached by other inmates and threatened with harm as a result); Rizzo v. Dawson, 778

F.2d 527, 530–32 (9th Cir. 1985) (retaliatory reassignment out of vocational class and transfer to a

different prison). The deprivation of personal property which Plaintiff complains of is at most de

minimus, and certainly not so egregious that a reasonable juror could find that such conduct would

chill a person of “ordinary firmness” from exercising his or her First Amendment rights. Accordingly,

the Court also finds that Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate a triable issue of fact on the element of

harm. For these reasons, the Court OVERRULES Plaintiff’s objections, ADOPTS the Magistrate

Judge’s report and recommendation, and GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on

Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant Zaragoza. 

II. Retaliation Claim against Defendant Maldonado

Plaintiff asserts that Defendant Maldonado conducted a gang validation investigation and

placed him in administrative segregation in retaliation for Plaintiff’s activity as a jail house lawyer and

his submission of staff misconduct complaints. (FAC at 20.) Defendant Maldonado asserts that he

began conducting an investigation into Plaintiff’s gang status after Plaintiff allegedly told an officer

that he was a Black Guerilla Family (“BGF”) dropout. (Maldonado Decl. at ¶ 5, Ex. A, B.) 

The Magistrate Judge concluded that the evidence demonstrated that Defendant Maldonado

did not independently initiate the investigation into Plaintiff’s gang status because of Plaintiff’s

exercise of his First Amendment rights. (R&R at 11:13–22.) The Magistrate Judge also concluded that

summary judgment was appropriate because Plaintiff had failed to demonstrate that the initiation of

the investigation did not advance any legitimate penological goal. (Id. at 11:23–12:6.) Plaintiff objects

on several grounds. 

First, Plaintiff asserts that he was not able to interview potential witnesses to satisfy his burden

on summary judgment. This objection is OVERRULED. The proper avenue for Plaintiff to object to

such rulings on discovery motions was by way of objection pursuant to the provisions of Rule 72(a)

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff, however, failed to timely objection to any such

order. He may not do so now. 

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 7 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Plaintiff disputes that he ever told Officer Sidhu that he was a BGF dropout. (Pl.’s Objections

at ¶ 1.) Plaintiff, however, offers only his uncorroborated statement as evidence of this alleged fact.

Without more, and in light of the evidence offered by Defendant Maldonado on the issue, Plaintiff’s

self-identification as a BGF dropout is a fact that is not reasonably in dispute. See Villiarimo v. Aloha

Island Air, Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1061 (9th Cir. 2002) (holding that an uncorroborated self-serving

declaration is insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact). 

- 8 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

Second, Plaintiff asserts that had there been a legitimate penological interest for the

investigation, Defendant would have placed Plaintiff in administrative segregation much sooner. The

undisputed facts demonstrate that on March 16, 2004, Officer Sidhu reported that Plaintiff stated he

was a BGF dropout. (Gray Decl., Ex. 18.) That day, Lieutenant Denault placed Plaintiff in

administrative segregation pending an investigation by Defendant Maldonado into Plaintiff’s current

gang status. (Maldonado Decl. at ¶ 5, Ex. B.)2 In light of Plaintiff’s self-identification, Defendant

Maldonado states that Lieutenant Denault requested that he conduct an investigation into Plaintiff’s

status in the BGF. (Id.) On March 18, 2004, Plaintiff was released to general population. (Id. at ¶ 6.)

Defendant Maldonado states that at that time, he had not yet begun the required investigation. (Id.)

However, Defendant Maldonado states that he began investigating Plaintiff’s gang status thereafter,

which included ordering the search of Plaintiff’s cell on August 4, 2004. (Maldonado Decl. at ¶¶ 5–7.)

On August 9, 2004, the inmate appeals coordinator received a grievance by Plaintiff against Defendant

Maldonado, in which Plaintiff contends that the warden and Defendant Maldonado single out black

inmates when doing gang investigations, and that Defendant Maldonado initiated the gang validation

investigation because of Plaintiff’s litigation history. (DeGeus Decl. at ¶ 13, Ex. G, Ex. H.) 

Plaintiff provides no evidence demonstrating that Defendant Maldonado had any knowledge

of Plaintiff’s litigation history at any time prior to initiating the investigation into Plaintiff’s gang

status. The Court notes that when Maldonado began investigating Plaintiff, Plaintiff had been at

Centinela for less than a month. Plaintiff has not offered any evidence demonstrating that Plaintiff had

filed a complaint against Defendant Maldonado prior to initiation of the gang validation investigation.

Plaintiff also contends that Defendant Maldonado’s investigation was concluded on March 18, 2004

when Plaintiff was released back to general population, and that any investigation that Defendant

Maldonado conducted thereafter was retaliatory in nature. (Pl.’s Objections at 3 (citing Pl.’s

Objections, Ex. A, Ex. B).) Plaintiff’s evidence, however, merely reflects Plaintiff’s transfer back to

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 8 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 9 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

administrative segregation and makes no reference to Maldonado’s investigation. (See Pl.’s

Objections, Ex. B.) Defendant Maldonado states that at the time, Plaintiff’s self-identification as a

BGF dropout, alone, was not enough to retain him administrative segregation. (Maldonado Decl. at

¶ 6.) There is simply no evidence to support Plaintiff’s conclusory assertion that Defendant

Maldonado’s investigation was complete on March 18, 2004. There is also no evidence that Defendant

Maldonado had any knowledge of Plaintiff’s litigation history after March 18, 2004, but before the

search of Plaintiff’s cell on August 5, 2004, which was the subject of Plaintiff’s first grievance against

Defendant Maldonado. (DeGeus Decl. at ¶ 13, Ex. G at bates no. 123.) In light of these facts, the Court

finds that Plaintiff has failed to offer any evidence that could lead a reasonable juror to find that

Plaintiff’s litigation history was the reason for Defendant Maldonado’s investigation. To the contrary,

the evidence calls for the conclusion that the only reason Defendant Maldonado began investigating

Plaintiff’s gang status was in response to Plaintiff identifying himself as a BGF dropout. Based on this

evidence, the Magistrate Judge correctly concluded that Plaintiff failed to demonstrate that a triable

issue of fact exists on the issue of causation.

In addition, Plaintiff fails to offer any evidence to support his contention that the investigation

served no legitimate correctional goal. The law is clear that prisons have a legitimate penological

interest in curtailing gang activity. See Bruce, supra, 351 F.3d at 1289. As he does in his opposition

to the motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff argues in his objections that no legitimate penological

interest could have existed because had there been a legitimate concern, Defendant would have placed

Plaintiff in administrative segregation sooner than March 30, 2005. (Pl.’s Objections at ¶¶ 11–15.) The

evidence reflects that Plaintiff was released back to general population on March 18, 2004. (Pl.’s

Objections, Ex. B.) The evidence, however, demonstrates that the investigation was ongoing.

(Maldonado Decl. at ¶ 10; DeGeus Decl. at ¶ 13, Ex. G, bates no. 123.) Defendant Maldonado states

that he did not have sufficient information to corroborate Plaintiff’s continued active association with

BGF until March 2005, and that once he obtained such information, he placed Plaintiff in

administrative segregation on March 30, 2005. (Maldonado Decl. at ¶ 10.) Even if Plaintiff were

correct that he could have been placed in administrative segregation earlier, that fact alone does not

mean that Defendant Maldonado had no legitimate penological reason for conducting an investigation

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 9 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 10 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

of Plaintiff’s gang status and placing him in administrative segregation on March 30, 2005. Plaintiff

has failed to offer any evidence to demonstrate that there was no legitimate penological reason for

Defendant Maldonado’s investigation. Accordingly, the Court OVERRULES Plaintiff’s objection

and ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation on the retaliation claim against Defendant

Maldonado. 

III. Due Process Claim against Defendant Maldonado

Plaintiff claims that he was denied due process because Defendant Maldonado did not have

sufficient evidence to revalidate him as an active member of the BGF prison gang. Due process claims

like those asserted here by Plaintiff are subject to the “some evidence” standard set forth in

Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455 (1985). See Bruce, supra, 351 F.3d at 1287. As the Ninth

Circuit explained in Bruce, this is the proper standard because placing inmates in administrative

segregation is “an administrative strategy designed to preserve order in the prison and protect the

safety of all inmates.” Id. (citing Munoz v. Rowland, 104 F.3d 1096, 1098 (9th Cir. 1997)). Thus, the

inquiry is whether “there is any evidence in the record” that could support the conclusion that Plaintiff

had ties to the BGF at the time Defendant validated him as a member of the BGF prison gang. Bruce,

supra, 351 F.3d at 1287. The Court is not required to “examine the entire record, independently assess

witness credibility, or reweigh the evidence.” Id.

It is undisputed that Plaintiff had previously been validated as a BGF member, but at the time

he was transferred to Centinela, he was considered inactive. Because of Plaintiff’s inactive status, the

regulations provide that only “one reliable source item identifying the inmate as a currently active

gang member or associate of the prison gang with which the inmate was previously validated” was

required to revalidate Plaintiff. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3341.5(6). “Current activity is defined as,

any documented gang activity within the past six (6) years.” Id. The regulations define numerous

“source items” that may be used to validate an inmate’s association with a prison gang. See Cal. Code

Regs. tit. 15, § 3378(c)(8). 

The Magistrate Judge concluded that there was ample evidence to support Defendant

Maldonado’s conclusion that Plaintiff was actively involved with the BGF, and thus determined that

there was no triable issue of fact on Plaintiff’s due process claim. (R&R at 12:21–14:8.) In his

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 10 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 11 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

opposition, Plaintiff took issue primarily with Defendant Maldonado’s use of confidential informants

to validate Plaintiff as an active BGF member, arguing that the confidential informant statements were

unreliable. (Pl.’s Opp. at ¶ 20.) In his objections, Plaintiff again spends an inordinate amount of time

asserting that Defendant Maldonado improperly relied on confidential informants to support his

validation of Plaintiff as an active BGF prison gang member. (Pl.’s Objections at ¶¶ 17-23.) The

Magistrate Judge, however, disregarded these statements and still concluded that Defendant

Maldonado had more than one reliable source item to revalidate Plaintiff as an active BGF member.

(R&R at 13:13–14:8.) Thus, the issue is whether, after disregarding the confidential informant

statements, some evidence supported Defendant Maldonado’s conclusion that Plaintiff was an active

member of the BGF prison gang. 

The Magistrate Judge identified five source items that did not involve confidential informants

and which she concluded were more than sufficient to support Defendant Maldonado’s validation of

Plaintiff as an active BGF member. However, as previously noted, the regulations require only one

source item to revalidate Plaintiff. The first source item identified by the Magistrate Judge that does

not involve a confidential informant is a confidential memorandum, dated May 12, 2005, which

describes documents and materials found amongst Plaintiff’s property, including literature by BGF

founder George Jackson, that are consistent with BGF training and recruitment. (Maldonado Decl.,

Ex. D bates no. 012.) Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate Judge’s reliance on this source item because

he asserts that no prison official ever told him that he could not possess such materials, and he was

informed that these items would not be used as source items to validate him. (Pl.’s Objections at 14.)

Defendant Maldonado states that he informed Plaintiff that these items would be used as a source item

to corroborate his ongoing membership in the BGF. (Gray Decl., Maldonado’s Response to

Interrogatory No. 11, Ex. 4.) Plaintiff relies on Exhibit F, which is attached to his objections, as

evidence that prison officials told him they would not use the items as source item to corroborate his

association with the BGF prison gang. (Pl.’s Objections, Ex. F.) Exhibit F is a chrono, signed by

Officer Hill, Assistant Gang Investigator at Centinela State Prison. While the chrono describes the

contraband material that was recovered from Plaintiff’s cell and informs Plaintiff that if he is found

with such items again, they will be considered as independent source items, the chrono makes no

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 11 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 12 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

mention of how prison officials intended to treat the recovery of the contraband material. Moreover,

the California Code of Regulations adequately describes the sort of source items that may be used in

determining gang involvement, and in particular, describes what written material evidences gang

activity. See Cal. Code Regs. tit.15, § 3378(c)(8)(B). The items recovered from Plaintiff’s cell clearly

constitute “written material” within the definition of the Regulations. Plaintiff does not deny that he

was in possession of such items, nor does he dispute that these items belonged to him. Plaintiff does

not offer any evidence that the items recovered in the cell search were not proper source items. Thus,

the recovery of these items from Plaintiff’s cell was not only reliable evidence of Plaintiff’s active

involvement within the BGF, it was also a sufficient basis for Defendant Maldonado to revalidate

Plaintiff as an active BGF member. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s objection that the Magistrate Judge

improperly considered this memorandum is OVERRULED. 

Because only one source item was required for revalidation, and this confidential memo

constitutes one source item, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate a triable issue of fact that Defendant

Maldonado lacked “some evidence” to revalidate him. In light of this conclusion, Plaintiff’s objections

to the other four source items relied on by the Magistrate Judge are MOOT. The Court ADOPTS the

Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation, and GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary

judgment on Plaintiff’s due process claim against Defendant Maldonado. 

IV. Ex Parte Application for an Order Sealing the Court File

Defendants’ ex parte application consists of a request for an order by the Court to seal the

entire court file for the purpose of prohibiting both the public and the Plaintiff from viewing

confidential information. Defendants assert that Plaintiff has attached copies of documents from the

confidential portion of his central file to various filings with the Court. Defendants contend that these

documents contain statements from confidential informants and the identities of those informants.

(Defs.’ Ex Parte Application at 3:10–23.)

“Every court has supervisory power over its own records and files, and access has been denied

where court files might have become a vehicle for improper purposes.” Nixon v. Warner Commc’ns,

Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 598 (1978). In assessing the merits of a request to seal, the Court should consider

“the interests advanced by the parties in light of the public interest and the duty of the courts.” Id. at

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 12 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 13 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

602. In making this assessment, there is a strong presumption in favor of access which “may be

overcome ‘only on the basis of articulable facts known to the court, not on the basis of unsupported

hypothesis or conjecture.’” Hagestad v. Tragesser, 49 F.3d 1430, 1434 (9th Cir. 1995) (quoting Valley

Broad. Co. v. U. S. Dist. Court, 798 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1986)). 

Defendants contend that the information contained in Plaintiff’s court filings present a danger

to confidential informants and may chill future prison inmates from cooperating with prison officials

in investigations of other inmates. (Defs.’ Ex Parte Application at 5:1–7.) The Court agrees with

Defendants that confidential information of this nature poses a danger to the informants who provided

statements to prison officials under the guise of confidentiality. See Hudson v. Hedgepeth, 92 F.3d

748, 751 (8th Cir. 1996) (“Prison officials have an interest . . . in preserving institutional safety and

may exclude statements from notices and decisions where there is a risk of revealing the identity of

an informant.”); Mendoza v. Miller, 779 F.2d 1287, 1293 (9th Cir. 1985) (“The government interest

in institutional safety and an efficient disciplinary system are especially implicated when inculpatory

information is provided by confidential informants because, ‘revealing the names of informants . . .

could lead to the death or serious injury of some or all of the informants.’” (citation omitted)), cert.

denied, 476 U.S. 1142 (1986). Moreover, the Court agrees that allowing confidential records to remain

open to the public could have a chilling effect on the cooperation of future prison inmates with CDCR

personnel in investigations of a sensitive nature. (See Fischer Decl. at ¶¶ 14–16.) Plaintiff opposes the

Defendants’ request, asserting that there is no threat to the safety of these confidential informants.

(Pl.’s Opp. at 3:18–24.) Based on the facts before the Court, the Court is not convinced that the

confidential informants are not in any danger as a result of such information’s presence in the public

domain. Thus, the Court finds good cause to seal the documents to which Plaintiff has attached

confidential information. 

Rather than identifying the particular documents that contain the confidential information,

however, Defendants merely state that “the examples are too many to count and catalog” and instead

ask that the Court seal the entire court file. The Court simply cannot deny the public’s right of access

to information that they are entitled to view on grounds that Defendants do not wish to undertake the

burden of providing the Court with the docket entries that contain confidential information.

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 13 of 14
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 14 - 05CV1475-MMA (CAB)

Defendants could have sought relief from the Court when Plaintiff first began filing confidential

information, yet they failed to do so. Accordingly, the Court DENIES Defendants’ request to conceal

the entire court file. However, the Court GRANTS the request to seal docket entries containing

confidential information. Defendants shall, within 7 court days of the date of this order, provide the

Court with a list of docket entries that contain confidential information, identifying with specificity

the particular attachment and how it constitutes confidential information. The Court notes that

Defendants request that the Court restrict Plaintiff from accessing his own filings in this matter on

grounds that Plaintiff was not originally supposed to have access to his confidential file. Defendants

have provided no legal authority for such an extraordinary request, and the Court can find no reason

to grant it. Accordingly, to the extent Defendants request that the Court restrict Plaintiff’s access to

the Court file, the request is DENIED. Upon receipt of the Defendants’ supplemental brief, the Court

shall on its own assess the identified documents for confidentiality. Should the Court agree that such

information identifies confidential witnesses, the Court will restrict access to these documents to case

participants and public terminal users. 

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated herein, the Court hereby: 

1. OVERRULES Plaintiff’s objections to the Magistrate Judge’s report and

recommendation (Doc. No. 254) and ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge’s report and

recommendation (Doc. No. 252) in its entirety;

2. GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. No. 229);

3. GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Defendants’ ex parte application for an

order to seal the court file (Doc. No. 256).

This order disposes of all claims. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS the Clerk of Court to enter

judgment in favor of Defendants Zaragoza and Maldonado, and to terminate the case.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: June 2, 2010

Hon. Michael M. Anello

United States District Judge

Case 3:05-cv-01475-MMA-CAB Document 262 Filed 06/02/10 Page 14 of 14