Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_15-cv-03264/USCOURTS-cand-5_15-cv-03264-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
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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Order of Dismissal

P:\PRO-SE\EJD\CR.15\03264Smith_dism.wpd

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JERRY SMITH,

Plaintiff,

 v.

BRANDY EBERT, 

Defendant.

 

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No. C 15-03264 EJD (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Plaintiff, a state prisoner at San Quentin State Prison (“SQSP”), filed the

instant civil rights action in pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, challenging

conditions of confinement. The Court reviewed the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A and dismissed it with leave to amend to cure deficiencies identified by the

Court. (Docket No. 4.) Plaintiff has filed his first amended complaint (“FAC”). 

(Docket No. 7.) For the reasons that follow, the Court now DISMISSES this action

with prejudice.

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a

Case 5:15-cv-03264-EJD Document 8 Filed 04/08/16 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Order of Dismissal

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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 that 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. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se

pleadings must, however, be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police

Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). 

To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 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 violation was committed by a person acting

under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

B. Plaintiff’s Claims

Plaintiff claims that Defendant Ebert denied him access to the “tentative

ruling” procedure for his case in Marin County Superior Court (Case No.

CV1401048), and thereby denied an opportunity to argue against the entry of a prefiling order declaring him to be a vexatious litigant. (FAC at 3.) In support,

Plaintiff attaches a copy of the second level appeal response on the matter, in which

he complained of the lack of access to tentative rulings from the courts and the

identify of the staff member who denied him access to the prison telephone to obtain

his tentative rulings for two cases, one of which is Case No. CV1401048. (Id.,

Attach. at 1-3.)

Prisoners have a constitutional right of access to the courts. See Lewis v.

Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 350 (1996); Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 821 (1977). To

establish a claim for any violation of the right of access to the courts, the prisoner

must prove that there was an inadequacy in the prison’s legal access program that

caused him an actual injury. See Lewis, 518 U.S. at 350-55. To prove an actual

injury, the prisoner must show that the inadequacy in the prison’s program hindered

his efforts to pursue a non-frivolous claim concerning his conviction or conditions of

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For the Northern District of California

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Order of Dismissal

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confinement. See id. at 354-55. 

According to the second level appeal response, Defendant Ebert is identified

as the staff member who denied Plaintiff access to the telephone. The response also

explains that Defendant Ebert acted in accordance with prison regulations requiring

that an inmate have either a court order or a “CourtCall confirmation” allowing him

access; Plaintiff did not meet the criteria because he had neither documents. (FAC,

Attach. at 2.) Plaintiff’s appeal was granted in part, such that the prison agreed to

work with Marin County Superior Court staff to put in place a court procedure for

inmates to obtain and appear in court regarding the tentative rulings. (Id. at 3.) 

Although it appears that Plaintiff’s allegations against Defendant Ebert are

true, Plaintiff fails to state a claim because he cannot show that Defendant Ebert’s

actions caused him an actual injury. The second level appeal response indicates that

“contrary to [Plaintiff’s] claims in this appeal,” Plaintiff was permitted to appear

before the superior court regarding the tentative rulings: the response refers to the

Marin County court dockets for Cases CV1400857 and CD1401048, “noting

[Plaintiff] appeared before the court regarding both tentative rulings.” (Id. at 3.) 

Because Plaintiff subsequently appeared in court for both tentative rulings, it cannot

be said that an inadequacy in the prison’s program, – i.e., the denial of access to the

prison’s telephone, – hindered Plaintiff’s efforts to pursue a non-frivolous claim

concerning his conviction or conditions of confinement. See Lewis, 518 U.S. at

354-55. 

Plaintiff’s allegations are therefore insufficient to state an access to the courts

claim. Further leave to amend will not be granted since it is clear that no

amendment can cure the defects identified by the Court. See, e.g., Lucas v.

Department of Corrections, 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995). Accordingly, this

action is DISMISSED with prejudice for failure to state a claim. 

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Order of Dismissal

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CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, this action is DISMISSED with prejudice for

failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted. 

The Clerk shall terminate any pending motions and close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: 

EDWARD J. DAVILA

United States District Judge 

Case 5:15-cv-03264-EJD Document 8 Filed 04/08/16 Page 4 of 4