Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-02343/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-02343-0/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

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LEO B. TURNER,

Plaintiff,

 v.

SGT. R. COLON,

Defendant. /

No. C 10-04046 CW (PR)

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Leo B. Turner is a prisoner of the State of

California who is incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison

(SVSP). He has filed this civil rights action under 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983. He has been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 

Venue is proper in this Court because the injuries complained

of occurred in SVSP, which is located within the Northern District

of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 1391; 28 U.S.C. § 84.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff alleges that on April 20, 2010, Sergeant R. Colon and

three unknown correctional officers directed all inmates in his unit

to leave their cells in order for certain cell doors to be repaired. 

Plaintiff claims that he and the other inmates were "directed to go

outside without coats or rain jackets even tho [sic] it was storming

and raining outside." (Compl. at 3.) As a result, he "caught a

rispatory [sic] infection, which caused [his] bones, legs and hips

to ache all the time." (Id.) He seeks monetary damages. 

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Case 2:11-cv-02343-KJM-AC Document 6 Filed 10/12/10 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any

case in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity

or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 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. Id.

§ 1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. 

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. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48

(1988). 

DISCUSSION

Neither negligence nor gross negligence is actionable under 

§ 1983 in the prison context. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825,

835-36 & n.4 (1994); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 (9th

Cir. 1990). The applicable standard is one of deliberate

indifference to inmate health or safety under the Eighth Amendment,

see Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834; Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 302

(1991), which requires more than a showing of negligence, see

Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976). A prison official

cannot be held liable under the Eighth Amendment unless the standard

for criminal recklessness is met, that is, the official knows of and

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety. See

Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. And under no circumstances is there

respondeat superior liability under § 1983. See Monell v. Dep't of

Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d

1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989).

Plaintiff's allegations amount to negligence at most, and do

not state a claim for relief under the Eighth Amendment. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief

may be granted. Because amendment would be futile, this action is

DISMISSED with prejudice.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, this action is DISMISSED with

prejudice and without leave to amend. 

The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment, terminate all

pending motions including Plaintiff's motion for appointment of

counsel (docket no. 4), and close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 10/12/2010 

CLAUDIA WILKEN

United States District Judge

Case 2:11-cv-02343-KJM-AC Document 6 Filed 10/12/10 Page 3 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TURNER et al,

Plaintiff,

 v.

COLON et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV10-04046 CW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on October 12, 2010, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle

located in the Clerk's office.

Leo B. Turner K99152

Salinas Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 1020

Soledad, CA 93960

Dated: October 12, 2010

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Nikki Riley, Deputy Clerk

Case 2:11-cv-02343-KJM-AC Document 6 Filed 10/12/10 Page 4 of 4