Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02045/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02045-4/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff Jeremy Jones is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff filed the instant action on December 22, 2014. On February 27, 2015, the Court 

dismissed Plaintiff‟s complaint for failure to comply with Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure. After receiving extensions of time, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on July 24, 2015. 

I.

SCREENING REQUIREMENT

The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 

governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 

Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 

“frivolous or malicious,” that “fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” or that “seeks 

monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 

JEREMY JONES,

 Plaintiff,

v.

JIMENEZ, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:14-cv-02045-LJO-SAB (PC)

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FILE A 

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT OR NOTIFY 

THE COURT OF WILLINGNESS TO PROCEED 

ON ONE OF CLAIMS FOUND TO BE 

COGNIZABLE

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A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is 

entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but 

“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, 

do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 

550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Plaintiff must demonstrate that each named defendant personally 

participated in the deprivation of his rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-677; Simmons v. Navajo County, 

Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1020-1021 (9th Cir. 2010). 

Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are still entitled to have their pleadings 

liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor, but the pleading standard is now 

higher, Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2012) (citations omitted), and to survive 

screening, Plaintiff‟s claims must be facially plausible, which requires sufficient factual detail to allow 

the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 

556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The “sheer 

possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully” is not sufficient, and “facts that are „merely 

consistent with‟ a defendant‟s liability” falls short of satisfying the plausibility standard. Iqbal, 556 

U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.

II.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS

In September 2010, Plaintiff was transferred confined to a wheelchair to the California 

Correctional Institution (CCI) in Chino, California. Upon his arrival, Plaintiff was placed into a clinic 

holding cell and forced to live on the floor for weeks in anguishing pain due to his disability. Once 

CCI was made aware of imminent civil litigation against prison official at Plaintiff‟s previous 

institution, it was CCI‟s sole purpose to try to prove that Plaintiff was faking his documented injuries. 

Plaintiff‟s wheelchair was confiscated and Doctors Tate and Lee refused to properly evaluate Plaintiff 

and denied treatment. Because Plaintiff was in too much pain to walk, he was deemed a disciplinary 

problem and placed in a management cell and denied all access to any type of medical treatment for 

months. Plaintiff was forced to institute a hunger strike in order to obtain his personal property with 

all the necessary documentation to prove his medical condition. After almost four days, Plaintiff was 

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placed back into the same clinic holding cell and threatened to be force feed by drilling a hole in his 

stomach. Plaintiff then agreed to break the strike if he was given his property and properly evaluated 

according to his valid documentation from his medical records. Once Plaintiff was issued his 

property, he ended the hunger strike only to have his evidence refused to be reviewed by Doctors Tate 

and Lee. Both doctors refused to evaluate or treat Plaintiff and he was placed back on the floor of a 

management cell where he was held hostage anguishing in pain and unable to shower or maintain 

proper hygiene for months. During this time, Plaintiff‟s mental health deteriorated by the inability to 

properly bathe, go to yard, or receive any type of medical care. The physical and mental torture was 

made worse by the fact that Plaintiff‟s toilet constantly leaked soiled water all over his sheets and 

blankets. Plaintiff was then forced to act out in order to get cleaning supplies to clean his living area. 

Plaintiff suffers from two blown disks in his lower back and chronic nerve irritation in both 

legs, which made living on the floor torture, and the constant clean up made it much more 

excruciating. Despite the unsanitary conditions, prison officials refused to move Plaintiff to a different 

cell unless he walked on his own. As long as officials had to obtain a wheelchair, Plaintiff was 

subjected to disciplinary (write-ups) and kept in the unsanitary conditions for a longer period of time. 

As Plaintiff began exercising his right to appeal, the retaliation got worse and included destruction of 

all his non-allowable property that was to be sent home, including nine years of pictures mostly of his 

children growing up that cannot be replaced. The game of trying to “break” Plaintiff or force him to 

walk even carried over to his custody hearing. Plaintiff was told by the Lieutenant that it came from 

the Captain that if he didn‟t walk on his own, the Judge would be told he refused to show up. 

Thankfully, two officers carried Plaintiff to his hearing one on each arm. However, this method of 

ambulation took a major toll on Plaintiff‟s back and a medical code had to be activated with the 

Plaintiff being taken out of his cell on a stretcher. Once at the medical facility, Plaintiff was not only 

denied treatment by Dr. Tate in an emergency situation, but he was humiliated and treated less than a 

human being when he was denied access to a bedside urinal and told to “go ahead and pee on 

yourself.” The situation eventually turned violent when the Plaintiff was maliciously assaulted and 

put into the hospital with another blown disk and a condition called “Costochondritis,” where the 

Plaintiff‟s ribs were pulled away from his chest plate by correctional officers Harris and Chamberlin. 

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In order to receive treatment for this assault, Plaintiff had to remain in the Coleman cell, after he was 

dragged across the yard and thrown in to by officers Harris and Chamberlin, along with sergeant 

Kephart for six days on another hunger strike. Plaintiff was left in the cell without water, blankets, 

sheets or mattress and Plaintiff was required to urinate in a milk carton. 

After Plaintiff obtained the necessary proof to confirm his validated medical condition, 

correctional officer Stowers began putting bugs in his food, and Plaintiff had no choice but to refuse 

his food trays for over a month. Prior to the food contamination, Plaintiff was “sexually harassed” by 

correctional officer Jiminez. Jiminez would “peer” in Plaintiff‟s cell while he was urinating a filed a 

false incident report to cover up her predatory behavior. 

 Not long after the food tampering, Plaintiff was thrown back into a management cell which 

was full of trash on the floor and satanic symbols covered the walls in blood. Plaintiff was not 

provided cleaning supplies which subjected him to all sorts of diseases. Plaintiff‟s mail was thrown 

over the tier and officer Jiminez opened Plaintiff‟s cell door without placing him in restraints trying to 

provoke Plaintiff. Even after Plaintiff was given a bogus security housing term and arbitrarily 

confined and shipped to the segregating housing unit, Jiminez still made it her mission to volunteer for 

overtime in Plaintiff‟s new housing unit just to continue the harassment. The floor staff began 

participating in the retaliation by repeatedly tearing up Plaintiff‟s cell, taking his television, personal 

food, and tampering with his shower chair so he could not shower. Plaintiff was also slammed up 

against the wall.

III.

DISCUSSION

A. Sexual Harassment

The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from inhumane methods of punishment and from 

inhumane conditions of confinement. Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006). In 

some instances, infliction of emotional pain may constitute cruel and unusual punishment prohibited 

by the Eighth Amendment. See Jordan v. Gardner, 986 F.2d 1521, 1525-1531 (9th Cir. 1993 (en 

banc). 

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The Eighth Amendment protects inmates from repetitive and harassing searches and from 

sexual abuse. Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 530 (1984); Schwenk v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187,

1197 (9th Cir. 2000). Sexual assault, coercion, and harassment may violate contemporary standards of 

decency and cause physical and psychological harm. See Jordan, 986 F.2d at 1525-1531. To state a 

claim for sexual harassment under the Eighth Amendment, a prisoner must establish that the alleged 

sexual harassment was egregious, pervasive, and/or widespread. See, e.g., Jordan v. Gardner, 986 

F.2d at 1525-1531 (prison policy requiring male guards to conduct body searches on female 

prisoners); Watson v. Jones, 980 F.2d 1165, 1165-1166 (8th Cir. 1992) (correctional officer sexually 

harassed two inmates on almost daily basis for two months by conducting deliberate examination of 

genitalia and anus). 

Plaintiff has not presented sufficient facts that he was subjected to egregious, pervasive, or 

widespread sexual harassment. Plaintiff contends only that on May 22, 2011, Defendant Jiminez (who 

is female) observed him urinate on one occasion, such allegation does not give rise to a constitutional 

Eighth Amendment claim. Although Plaintiff further contends that Jiminez continued to “come 

around to harass the Plaintiff forcing him to refuse his meds and trays,” such allegations does not 

provide sufficient factual support to find Plaintiff was subjected to egregious, pervasive, or widespread 

sexual harassment. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim based 

on the alleged sexual harassment. 

B. Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Need

While the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution entitles Plaintiff to medical 

care, the Eighth Amendment is violated only when a prison official acts with deliberate indifference to 

an inmate‟s serious medical needs. Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 985 (9th Cir. 2012), overruled 

in part on other grounds, Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1082-83 (9th Cir. 2014); Wilhelm v. 

Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1122 (9th Cir. 2012); Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). 

Plaintiff “must show (1) a serious medical need by demonstrating that failure to treat [his] condition 

could result in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain,” and (2) that 

“the defendant‟s response to the need was deliberately indifferent.” Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122 (citing 

Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096). Deliberate indifference is shown by “(a) a purposeful act or failure to respond 

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to a prisoner‟s pain or possible medical need, and (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Wilhelm, 680 

F.3d at 1122 (citing Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096). The requisite state of mind is one of subjective 

recklessness, which entails more than ordinary lack of due care. Snow, 681 F.3d at 985 (citation and 

quotation marks omitted); Wilhelm, 680 F.3d at 1122. 

1. Doctors Tate and Lee

Plaintiff contends that Doctors Tate and Lee denied him adequate medical treatment and 

confiscated his wheelchair and back brace based on a false report contained in Plaintiff‟s central file 

authored by Doctor Chen which stated that Plaintiff was observed running from a crime scene of a 

riot. Plaintiff contends that he has documentation to demonstrate that he was nowhere near the riot 

and he was in a “proned out” position at the time in question, and Doctors Tate and Lee never 

reviewed his medical file which contains documentation regarding his blown discs in his lower back. 

Because Plaintiff was forced to be carried to his child custody hearing he suffered a medical 

emergency when his back gave out. Plaintiff was taken by stretcher to the medical facility where 

Doctor refused to provide any treatment. Based on a liberal construction of Plaintiff‟s complaint, 

Plaintiff states a cognizable claim for deliberate indifference against Doctors Tate and Lee. 

2. Nurse Grey

Plaintiff further contends that nurse Grey refused to evaluate Plaintiff‟s injuries to cover up the 

staff‟s wrong doing. After Plaintiff was retained in a cell for six days with no food or water, nurse 

Grey was summoned to evaluate Plaintiff and she arrived with three other nurses and encouraged them 

not to provide Plaintiff any real treatment. Nurse Grey took it upon herself to use Plaintiff as a “lab 

rat” to show a rookie nurse how to put in an IV, and Plaintiff felt like a “pin cushion.” On the way to

the hospital, it was discovered that IV was administered properly, and Plaintiff was “rushed almost 4 

bags of fluids before his pressure and heart rate started to come down....” Plaintiff was diagnosed 

with Costocrondritis. Plaintiff‟s allegations against nurse Grey amount to nothing more than potential 

negligence which does not support a finding for “deliberate indifference” in violation of the 

Constitution. Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 (9th Cir. 1990). Accordingly, Plaintiff fails 

to state as cognizable claim against nurse Grey. 

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2. Doctor Garaparthi 

Plaintiff contends that upon his return from the hospital, Dr. Garaparthi refused to follow the 

recommendations from the specialist to put Plaintiff back in his wheelchair or a walker, at the very 

least. Instead, Dr. Garaparthi placed Plaintiff on crutches for a few days and refused to order the use 

of a shower chair. Plaintiff‟s allegations demonstrate only a difference in medical opinion that by 

itself cannot establish deliberate indifference. Further, Plaintiff fails to demonstrate deliberate 

indifference by the alleged refusal of a shower chair. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to demonstrate a 

cognizable claim for deliberate indifference against Dr. Garaparthi.

C. Retaliation

“Prisoners have a First Amendment right to file grievances against prison officials and to be 

free from retaliation for doing so.” Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1114 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing

Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262, 1269 (9th Cir. 2009)). Also protected by the First Amendment is the 

right to pursue civil rights litigation in federal court without retaliation. Silva v. Di Vittorio, 658 F.3d 

1090, 1104 (9th Cir. 2011). “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First Amendment retaliation 

entails five basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action against an 

inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner‟s protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled the 

inmate‟s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance a 

legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005).

Although Plaintiff contends that at the time of his transfer to CCI in September 2010, it was 

well known that Plaintiff had filed previous inmate appeals with the intent of pursuing the action to the 

Court, and he was thereafter not provided adequate medical treatment and was subjected to unsanitary 

conditions of confinement, Plaintiff does not allege sufficient facts to support a claim for retaliation. 

There is no causal connection between any alleged adverse action and the filing of any inmate 

grievance. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim for retaliation. 

D. Conditions of Confinement

The Eighth Amendment‟s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment protects prisoners 

not only from inhumane methods of punishment but also from inhumane conditions of confinement. 

Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 

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847 (1994) and Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981)) (quotation marks omitted). While 

conditions of confinement may be, and often are, restrictive and harsh, they must not involve the 

wanton and unnecessary infliction of pain. Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (citing Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347) 

(quotation marks omitted). Thus, conditions which are devoid of legitimate penological purpose or 

contrary to evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society violate the 

Eighth Amendment. Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (quotation marks and citations omitted); Hope v. 

Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730, 737 (2002); Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 346. 

Prison officials have a duty to ensure that prisoners are provided adequate shelter, food, 

clothing, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety, Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 731 (9th Cir. 

2000) (quotation marks and citations omitted), but not every injury that a prisoner sustains while in 

prison represents a constitutional violation, Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045 (quotation marks omitted). To 

maintain an Eighth Amendment claim, a prisoner must show that prison officials were deliberately 

indifferent to a substantial risk of harm to his health or safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 847; Thomas v. 

Ponder, 611 F.3d 1144, 1150-51 (9th Cir. 2010); Foster v. Runnels, 554 F.3d 807, 812-14 (9th Cir. 

2009); Morgan, 465 F.3d at 1045; Johnson, 217 F.3d at 731; Frost v. Agnos, 152 F.3d 1124, 1128 (9th 

Cir. 1998).

Plaintiff submits that upon his arrival at CCI in a wheelchair, he was repeatedly tortured in an 

effort to require Plaintiff to walk on his own. Plaintiff contends he was housed in a management cell 

for lengthy periods of time (over three months) which consisted of sleeping on the floor without a 

mattress, and he was not able to properly bathe, go to yard or receive any type of medical care. In 

addition, the toilet constantly leaked soiled water all over his sheets and blankets, and bugs were 

intentionally placed in his food, and he was required to implement a hunger strike to receive 

appropriate treatment. Plaintiff also contends Sgt. Wedertz was in charge of his placement and 

housing conditions and “mocked” and “teased” Plaintiff because he was stuck in the living conditions 

until he walked. 

Based on Plaintiff‟s contentions in the first amended complaint, Plaintiff states a cognizable 

claim against Defendants Wedertz, Stowers, and Stratton, for conditions of confinement in violation of 

the Eighth Amendment. 

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E. Excessive Force 

The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain violates the Cruel and Unusual Punishments 

Clause of the Eighth Amendment. Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 5 (1992) (citations omitted). For 

claims arising out of the use of excessive physical force, the issue is “whether force was applied in a 

good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm.” 

Wilkins v. Gaddy, 559 U.S. 34, 37 (2010) (per curiam) (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7) (internal 

quotation marks omitted); Furnace v. Sullivan, 705 F.3d 1021, 1028 (9th Cir. 2013). The objective 

component of an Eighth Amendment claim is contextual and responsive to contemporary standards of 

decency, Hudson, 503 U.S. at 8 (quotation marks and citation omitted), and although de minimis uses 

of force do not violate the Constitution, the malicious and sadistic use of force to cause harm always 

violates contemporary standards of decency, regardless of whether or not significant injury is evident, 

Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 37-8 (citing Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9-10) (quotation marks omitted); Oliver v. 

Keller, 289 F.3d 623, 628 (9th Cir. 2002). 

Plaintiff contends that sergeant Sigston ordered to have Plaintiff “viciously assaulted” by 

correctional officers Chamberlin and Harris while he was in wait restraints. When he was on the 

ground and severely injured, Plaintiff was then dragged across the yard with the physical assistance of 

sergeant Kephart and thrown into a Coleman cell. After Plaintiff was taken to the hospital, it was 

discovered that he suffered a third blown disc as a result of the assault and his ribs were pulled away 

from his chest plate causing a condition called Costocrondritis. 

Plaintiff‟s allegations are sufficient to give rise to a cognizable claim for excessive force 

against Defendants Sigton, Chamberlin, Harris and Kephart. 

F. Due Process Violation/Property Deprivation

Plaintiff contends that after he began filing inmate appeals, the retaliation got worse and almost 

nine years of pictures of his family were destroyed. Plaintiff makes the conclusory allegation that 

certain officers repeatedly tore up his cell and confiscated certain items, including a television, cable, 

earbuds, and threw away certain canteen items. 

Under the Fourth Amendment, a seizure of property “occurs when there is some meaningful 

interference with an individual‟s possessory interest in that property.” United States v. Jacobsen, 466 

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U.S. 109, 113 (1984). The United States Supreme Court has held that “the Fourth Amendment has no 

applicability to a prison cell.” Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 536 (1984). Further, the Court noted, 

“[p]rison officials must be free to seize from cells any articles which, in their view, disserve legitimate 

institutional interests.” Id. at 528 n. 8.

The Due Process Clause protects prisoners from being deprived of property without due 

process of law, Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556 (1974), and prisoners have a protected interest 

in their personal property, Hansen v. May, 502 F.2d 728, 730 (9th Cir. 1974). However, while an 

authorized, intentional deprivation of property is actionable under the Due Process Clause, see Hudson 

v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 532, n.13 (1984) (citing Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 435-

36 (1982)); Quick v. Jones, 754 F.2d 1521, 1524 (9th Cir. 1985), “[a]n unauthorized intentional 

deprivation of property by a state employee does not constitute a violation of the procedural 

requirements of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment if a meaningful postdeprivation 

remedy for the loss is available,” Hudson, 468 U.S. at 533.

Plaintiff‟s allegations indicate that the alleged officers wrongfully and arbitrarily confiscated 

and destroyed his personal property. The unauthorized deprivation of property, be it negligent or 

intentional, does not give rise to a claim for relief under the Due Process Clause. Hudson, 468 U.S. at 

533. Allegations of essentially random and unauthorized deprivations of personal property, do not 

allege a violation of a federal constitutional right. Although such unauthorized deprivations of 

personal property may amount to state law violations, they do not constitute federal due process 

violations. Consequently, Plaintiff‟s allegations regarding the confiscation of his personal property 

fails to give rise to a due process violation under § 1983. 

G. Due Process/Rules Violation Hearing

Plaintiff contends that a due process violation occurred when Chief Lundy allowed the watch 

commander working the night of the alleged incident was allowed to be the hearing officer of the rules 

violation report issued against him, and he was found guilty of a false rules violation. 

“Prison disciplinary proceedings are not part of a criminal prosecution, and the full panoply of 

rights due a defendant in such proceedings does not apply.” Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 556, 

(1974). With respect to prison disciplinary proceedings, the minimum procedural requirements that 

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must be met are: (1) written notice of the charges; (2) at least 24 hours between the time the prisoner 

receives written notice and the time of the hearing, so that the prisoner may prepare his defense; (3) a 

written statement by the fact finders of the evidence they rely on and reasons for taking disciplinary 

action; (4) the right of the prisoner to call witnesses in his defense, when permitting him to do so 

would not be unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals; and (5) legal assistance to 

the prisoner where the prisoner is illiterate or the issues presented are legally complex. Id. at 563-71. 

As long as the five minimum Wolff requirements are met, due process has been satisfied. Walker v. 

Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1420 (9th Cir. 1994), abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 

U.S. 472. In addition “[s]ome evidence” must support the decision of the hearing officer. 

Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S. 445, 455 (1985). The standard is not particularly stringent and the 

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

reached . . . .” Id. at 455-56 (emphasis added). 

Here, Plaintiff‟s claim that he was found guilty of indecent exposure by an impartial hearing 

officer is sufficient to give rise to a due process violation against Chief Lundy. 

H. Supervisory Liability

Supervisory personnel may not be held liable under section 1983 for the actions of subordinate 

employees based on respondeat superior, or vicarious liability. Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 

977 (9th Cir. 2013); accord Lemire v. California Dep‟t of Corr. and Rehab., 726 F.3d 1062, 1074-75 

(9th Cir. 2013); Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 915-16 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). “A 

supervisor may be liable only if (1) he or she is personally involved in the constitutional deprivation, 

or (2) there is a sufficient causal connection between the supervisor‟s wrongful conduct and the 

constitutional violation.” Crowley, 734 F.3d at 977 (citing Snow, 681 F.3d at 989) (internal quotation 

marks omitted); accord Lemire, 726 F.3d at 1074-75; Lacey, 693 F.3d at 915-16. “Under the latter 

theory, supervisory liability exists even without overt personal participation in the offensive act if 

supervisory officials implement a policy so deficient that the policy itself is a repudiation of 

constitutional rights and is the moving force of a constitutional violation.” Crowley, 734 F.3d at 977 

(citing Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989)) (internal quotation marks omitted). 

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Plaintiff names Wardens Gonzalez and Stainer, and Deputy Warden Hughes as Defendants 

based on “green wall” tactics. However, Plaintiff fails to allege anything more than conclusory 

allegations that do not support a finding of liability under section 1983. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to 

state a claim for supervisory liability.

I. Inmate Appeals Process

“The Fourteenth Amendment‟s Due Process Clause protects persons against deprivations of 

life, liberty, or property; and those who seek to invoke its procedural protection must establish that one 

of these interests is at stake.” Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 221 (2005). Plaintiff does not a 

have protected liberty interest in the processing his appeals, and therefore, he cannot pursue a claim 

for denial of due process with respect to the handling or resolution of his appeals. Ramirez v. Galaza, 

334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988)). 

J. Conspiracy

Although Plaintiff makes vague reference to a conspiracy by prison officials to violate his 

constitutional rights, Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable conspiracy claim.

To state a claim for conspiracy under section 1983, Plaintiff must show the existence of an 

agreement or a meeting of the minds to violate his constitutional rights, and an actual deprivation of 

those constitutional rights. Avalos v. Baca, 596 F.3d 583, 592 (9th Cir. 2010); Franklin v. Fox, 312 

F.3d 423, 441 (9th Cir. 2001).

K. Improper Joinder

As Plaintiff was advised in the Court‟s February 24, 2014 screening order, Federal Rule of 

Civil Procedure 20(a)(2) allows a plaintiff to join multiple defendants to a lawsuit where the right to 

relief arises out of the same “transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions” and “any question of 

law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action.” However, unrelated claims that involve 

different defendants must be brought in separate lawsuits. See George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 

(7th Cir. 2007). This rule is not only intended to avoid confusion that arises out of bloated lawsuits, 

but also to ensure that prisoners pay the required filing fees for their lawsuits and prevent prisoners 

from circumventing the three strikes rule under the Prison Litigation Reform Act. 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(g). 

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The fact that claims are premised on the same type of constitutional violation(s) (e.g. excessive 

force) against multiple defendants does not make them factually related. Claims are related when they 

are based on the same precipitating event or on a series of related events caused by the same 

precipitating event. Unrelated claims involving multiple defendants belong in difference suits. 

George v. Smith, 507 F.3d at 607. 

Although the Court has found that Plaintiff states a cognizable claim against Defendants 

Doctors Tate and Lee for deliberate indifference in violation of the Eighth Amendment, a cognizable 

claim against Defendants Wedertz, Stowers, and Stratton for conditions of confinement in violation of 

the Eighth Amendment, a cognizable claim for excessive force against Defendants Sigton, 

Chamberlin, Harris and Kephart, and a cognizable due process violation against Defendant Lundy, the 

incidents are not related and cannot be joined in one action. Accordingly, by way of amendment or 

notice, Plaintiff must choose which claim(s), if any, he wishes to proceed on in this action. If 

Plaintiff‟s amended complaint or notice violates Rule 20 despite this admonition, the Court will decide 

which claims shall proceed and dismiss any and all unrelated claims.

IV.

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Plaintiff‟s complaint states a cognizable claim against Defendants Doctors Tate and Lee for 

deliberate indifference in violation of the Eighth Amendment, a cognizable claim against Defendants 

Wedertz, Stowers, and Stratton for conditions of confinement in violation of the Eighth Amendment, a 

cognizable claim for excessive force against Defendants Sigton, Chamberlin, Harris, and Kephart, and 

a cognizable due process claim against Defendant Lundy. Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged facts 

for any other claims against any of the other named Defendants. The Court will provide Plaintiff with 

the opportunity to file an amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court in this 

order. Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448-49 (9th Cir. 1987). Plaintiff may not change the nature 

of this suit by adding new, unrelated claims in his amended complaint. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 

605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no “buckshot” complaints).

If Plaintiff does not wish to file a second amended complaint and is agreeable to proceeding 

only on the claim of deliberate indifference against Doctors Tate and Lee, OR only the conditions of 

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confinement claim against Defendants Wedertz, Stowers, and Stratton, OR only the excessive force 

claim against Defendants Sigton, Chamberlin, Harris, and Kephart, OR only the due process claim 

against Defendant Lundy, Plaintiff may so notify the Court in writing, and the Court will dismiss the 

other claims and Defendants, and will forward Plaintiff the necessary number of summons and USM285 form(s) for completion and return. Again, Plaintiff is advised that he cannot proceed on all four of 

the claims found to be cognizable in this single action as they are unrelated claims. 

If Plaintiff opts to amend, his amended complaint should be brief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 

Plaintiff must identify how each individual defendant caused the deprivation of Plaintiff‟s 

constitutional or other federal rights: “The inquiry into causation must be individualized and focus on 

the duties and responsibilities of each individual defendant whose acts or omissions are alleged to 

have caused a constitutional deprivation.” Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 633 (9th Cir. 1988). With 

respect to exhibits, while they are permissible if incorporated by reference, Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c), they 

are not necessary in the federal system of notice pleading, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). In other words, it is 

not necessary at this stage to submit evidence to prove the allegations in Plaintiff‟s complaint because 

at this stage Plaintiff‟s factual allegations will be accepted as true.

Although Plaintiff‟s factual allegations will be accepted as true and “the pleading standard 

Rule 8 announces does not require „detailed factual allegations,‟” “a complaint must contain sufficient 

factual matter, accepted as true, to „state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.‟” Ashcroft v. 

Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). 

“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw 

the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing Twombly, 

550 U.S. at 556).

Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. Forsyth v. 

Humana, Inc., 114 F.3d 1467, 1474 (9th Cir. 1997); King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). 

The amended complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded 

pleading.” Local Rule 220. Plaintiff is warned that “[a]ll causes of action alleged in an original 

complaint which are not alleged in an amended complaint are waived.” King, 814 F.2d at 567 (citing 

London v. Coopers & Lybrand, 644 F.2d 811, 814 (9th Cir. 1981)); accord Forsyth, 114 F.3d at 1474. 

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In other words, even the claims that were properly stated in the original complaint must be completely 

stated again in the amended complaint. Finally, Plaintiff is advised that, should he choose to amend, 

he may not bring unrelated claims in the same action. 

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk‟s Office shall send Plaintiff a civil rights complaint form;

2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff must either:

a. File an amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court in this 

order, or

b. Notify the Court in writing that he does not wish to file an amended complaint 

and wishes to proceed only ONE of the claims found to be cognizable; and

3. If Plaintiff fails to comply with this order, this action will be dismissed for failure to 

obey a court order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 11, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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