Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02432/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02432-4/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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1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICO TOMAZ,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-2432 MCE GGH P

vs.

YOLO COUNTY SHERIFF’S

DEPARTMENT, et al.,

Defendants. FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

 /

By order filed on March 24, 2006, plaintiff was ordered to show cause, within

thirty days, why defendant City of West Sacramento’s insurance carrier should not be dismissed

as an individually named defendant from this case as unnecessary and, further, to show any

separate colorable grounds for suing the carrier. Plaintiff was cautioned that failure to show

cause would result in a recommendation that this entity be dismissed as a defendant in this

action. 

Plaintiff has responded and asserted that the insurance carrier, GAB Robbins,

failed to investigate his complaints of assault against a West Sacramento Police Officer, which

he made from a Yolo County jail, contending that insurance carriers have a duty/legal obligation

to take eyewitness statements and interview police officers involved in an assault and to

determine if a police officer accused of assault has any previous record of assaults or infractions. 

Case 2:05-cv-02432-MCE -GGH Document 14 Filed 06/29/06 Page 1 of 3
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 Nor does plaintiff address how a private insurance carrier may be deemed a state actor in 1

order for plaintiff to name such an entity as a defendant under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In order to state

a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that: (1) defendant was acting under color of state

law at the time the complained of act was committed; and (2) defendant’s conduct deprived

plaintiff of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United

States. 42 U.S.C. § 1983; see West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

2

Plaintiff has provided no basis for his claim that the insurance carrier for a police

officer who allegedly assaulted him has any duty to plaintiff, an uninsured claimant, once he files

an administrative grievance against the officer. Any duty to defend or represent an insured, in this

case, the accused officer, which would include investigating a claim, arises from a contractual

agreement between the insured officer and/or his or her agency and the insurance carrier. See,

e.g., Bodell v. Wallbrook Ins. Co., 119 F.3d 1411 (9 Cir. 1997). Plaintiff makes no showing th

that the insurance carrier is under a legal duty to provide services on his (plaintiff’s) behalf at the

time he filed a grievance. 

1

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that defendant City of West

Sacramento’s insurance carrier be dismissed as a separate and individually named defendant in

this action. 

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3

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty

days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written

objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned

“Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections

shall be served and filed within ten days after service of the objections. The parties are advised

that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District

Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

DATED: 6/28/06

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

____________________________________

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:009

toma2432.fsc

Case 2:05-cv-02432-MCE -GGH Document 14 Filed 06/29/06 Page 3 of 3