Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-00185/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-00185-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
G. Church
Defendant
J. Lewis
Defendant
R. Miranda
Defendant
Jose Ramirez-Salgado
Plaintiff
S. Robert
Defendant
W. David Smiley
Defendant
C. Smith
Defendant
W. Vaughn
Defendant
S. Wong
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JOSE RAMIREZ-SALGADO, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

J. LEWIS, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:18-cv-0185 AC P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, has filed this civil 

rights action seeking relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to this court 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. 

 Before this court for its review is plaintiff’s second amended complaint (“SAC”). For the 

reasons stated below, plaintiff will be given a final opportunity to amend his complaint. 

I. RELEVANT PROCEDURAL HISTORY 

 On April 30, 2018, plaintiff filed a first amended complaint (“FAC”) of his own volition. 

See ECF No. 10. The FAC alleged Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claims against 

approximately twelve different named defendants and ten John Does at High Desert State Prison 

and Mule Creek State Prison. See id. at 1-3, 6-22. Specifically, plaintiff alleged that he had been 

deprived of (1) medication for his pain; (2) an assisted mobility device, and (3) sanitary 

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equipment and/or conditions to maintain his catheter. See id. at 17-18. The FAC also made 

cursory allegations of cruel and unusual punishment against the defendants. See id. at 21. 

 On September 5, 2018, the FAC was screened. With respect to plaintiff’s deliberate 

indifference claim, the court found that the FAC had failed: (1) to create a nexus or link between 

the deprivations plaintiff had raised and the actions of specific defendants, and (2) to identify the 

specific, purposeful acts done by each defendant as well as the resulting specific harm needed to 

establish Eighth Amendment violations. See ECF No. 12 at 10. Consequently, it was determined 

that plaintiff’s claims of deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs had not been 

sufficiently pled in order to proceed. See id. at 11. 

 With respect to plaintiff’s cruel and unusual punishment claim, the court found that the 

facts provided did not establish that pain resulting from plaintiff’s treatment was “unnecessary 

and wanton,” nor that the alleged indifference of specific defendants were the actual and 

proximate cause of the constitutional violation. See ECF No. 12 at 11. As a result, it was 

determined that this claim was not cognizable either. See id. at 11-12. 

 Plaintiff was given an opportunity to amend the complaint, and advised regarding the 

deficiencies that needed to be remedied in a Second Amended Complaint. See id. at 13-14. 

II. PLEADING STANDARD 

 A. Generally 

 Section 1983 “provides a cause of action for the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or 

immunities secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” Wilder v. Virginia Hosp. 

Ass’n, 496 U.S. 498, 508 (1990) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1983). Section 1983 is not itself a source 

of substantive rights, but merely provides a method for vindicating federal rights conferred 

elsewhere. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 393-94 (1989). 

 To state a claim under Section 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); Ketchum v. Alameda Cty., 811 F.2d 1243, 1245 (9th Cir. 1987). 

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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 set forth “sufficient factual 

matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. Facial 

plausibility demands more than the mere possibility that a defendant committed misconduct and, 

while factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Id. at 677-78. 

 B. Linkage Requirement 

 Under Section 1983, a plaintiff bringing an individual capacity claim must demonstrate 

that each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. See Jones v. 

Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). There must be an actual connection or link between 

the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See 

Ortez v. Washington County, State of Oregon, 88 F.3d 804, 809 (9th Cir. 1996); see also Taylor 

v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). 

 Government officials may not be held liable for the actions of their subordinates under a 

theory of respondeat superior. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676 (stating vicarious liability is inapplicable in 

Section 1983 suits). Since a government official cannot be held liable under a theory of vicarious 

liability in Section 1983 actions, plaintiff must plead sufficient facts showing that the official has 

violated the Constitution through his own individual actions by linking each named defendant 

with some affirmative act or omission that demonstrates a violation of plaintiff's federal rights. 

Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676. 

III. SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT1

 The SAC asserts claims of deliberate indifference to serious medical need and violations 

of plaintiff’s right to personal safety against several defendants at Mule Creek State Prison 

 

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 In the second amended complaint, plaintiff adds additional defendants to his pleading. 

Compare ECF No. 10 at 1-3, 6-17 (FAC), with ECF No. 15 at 1-18 (SAC). The court will direct 

the Clerk of Court to add the newly-named defendants to the case caption of the docket. 

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(“MCSP”)2 and at High Desert State Prison (“HDSP”)3. See generally ECF No. 15 at 1-2, 18-22. 

Plaintiff also alleges that his rights were violated by J. Lewis, Deputy Director of the California 

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. See id. at 2-3. The constitutional violations at 

MCSP are alleged to have occurred between October 2014 and December 2016. See id. at 2. The 

constitutional violations at HDSP are alleged to have occurred between December 2016 and 

September 2018. See id. at 2. 

IV. DISCUSSION 

 Plaintiff’s SAC suffers from many of the same problems as his FAC. First, a number of 

the defendants are supervisors who appear to have had no direct, specific or active involvement in 

the alleged violations of plaintiff’s rights. See, e.g., ECF No. 15 at 1-11. Instead, the named 

defendants are said to have been either responsible for supervising and/or enforcing prison 

policies and procedures at HDSP and MCSP, or to have been generally responsible for the 

medical care of all inmates at these prisons. See id. at 2-11. As stated above and discussed 

further below, this is insufficient to state a claim for relief. The SAC provides provided specific 

facts and a nexus between those facts and plaintiff’s harm with regard to only one of the 

defendants named in this action. 

 A. Defendant Smiley 

 Plaintiff alleges that when he arrived at MCSP in October 2014, defendant W. David 

Smiley, M.D., “refuse[d] or neglected to treat [him],” despite the fact that defendant Smiley had 

reviewed plaintiff’s file and knew that plaintiff suffered from migraine headaches, shoulder, 

lower back, knee and foot problems that put him in “severe chronic pain.” See ECF No. 15 at 11 

(brackets added). Plaintiff also asserts that his rights were violated when Dr. Smiley denied him 

pain medication and a walker with a seat, even though such a walker would keep plaintiff from 

 

2

 The named defendants at MCSP are: W. David Smiley, M.D. and CEO; S. Robert, R.N. and 

supervisor; C. Smith, M.D., Chief Physician and surgeon; W. Vaughn, M.D. and primary care 

provider, and S. Wong, M.D. and primary care provider. See ECF No. 15 at 3-6. 

3

 The named defendants at HDSP are: G. Church, M.D. and Chief Medical Executive; R. 

Miranda, R.N.P. or P.A.; L. Christenser, R.N.P.; Abdur-Rahman, M.D. and supervisor; Larry 

Gideon, M.D. Chief Physician and surgeon or CMO, and J. Pickett, ADA Associate Warden 

Coordinator. See ECF No. 15 at 6-11. 

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falling and hurting himself. See id. at 11-14. Plaintiff contends that Dr. Smiley’s failure to treat 

him was wanton, sadistic and malicious. See id. at 13. He also alleges that because Dr. Smiley 

“refused, neglected and failed to treat [him],” he was in “constant pain” that “resulted in further 

significant injury,” and that this constitutes a violation of his rights under the Eighth Amendment. 

See id. at 12-13 (brackets added). Plaintiff further asserts that Dr. Smiley’s failure to adequately 

address plaintiff’s bladder problems and provide him with necessary self-catheterization supplies 

and ADA appliances also violated his rights. See id. at 13-15. 

 Construing the complaint liberally,4 the court finds that plaintiff has stated a cognizable 

claim of deliberate indifference to serious medical need with respect to Dr. Smiley. This claim is 

supported by the alleged denial of pain medication, decision not to provide plaintiff a walker with 

a seat, and failure to provide medication, treatment and equipment for plaintiff’s bladder 

condition. 

 B. Remaining Defendants 

 As noted earlier, it appears that most of the remaining defendants were simply supervisors 

and that they had no direct contact or interaction with plaintiff. See generally ECF No. 15 at 1-

11. As a general rule, supervisors cannot be held liable under Section 1983for the actions of their 

subordinates. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676. To state cognizable claims against each of the 

remaining defendants, plaintiff will need to show that each of these prison employees had a 

specific and active hand in violating his rights under the Constitution and that their actions or 

inaction led to his harm. See generally West, 487 U.S. at 48; Ketchum, 811 F.2d at 1245; see also 

Ortez, 88 F.3d at 809; Taylor, 880 F.2d at 1045. 

 Throughout the remainder of the twenty-five-page complaint, plaintiff lodges the same 

allegations he made against Dr. Smiley against the remaining defendants via incorporation by 

reference. See ECF No. 15 at 14-18. Plaintiff also makes general and conclusory allegations of 

deliberate indifference to his safety against the defendants collectively. See id. at 18-22. 

 

4

 This court is obligated to liberally construe the pleadings of pro se litigants. See Estelle v. 

Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976) (stating pro se documents are to be liberally construed); see also 

Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (stating pro se pleadings are held to less stringent 

standard than those drafted by lawyers). 

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However, no specific events or actions regarding plaintiff’s personal safety are mentioned. Id. 

These allegations fail to state a claim that any of the defendants other than Dr. Smiley violated 

plaintiff’s rights. 

V. OPTIONAL LEAVE TO AMEND 

 Plaintiff has a choice to make. He may either (1) proceed immediately on his claim that 

Dr. Smiley violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment by deliberate indifference to his 

medical needs, dismissing all other defendants; or (2) amend the complaint a final time in an 

attempt to state claims against the other defendants. A form is attached to this order, which 

plaintiff should return to the court to indicate which of these two options he chooses. 

If plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, it will take the place of the second 

amended complaint. See Lacey, 693 F.3d at 925 (stating amended complaint supersedes original 

complaint). Any amended complaint should observe the following: 

 An amended complaint must identify as a defendant only persons who personally 

participated in a substantial way in depriving plaintiff of a federal constitutional right. Johnson 

v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978) (a person subjects another to the deprivation of a 

constitutional right if he does an act, participates in another's act or omits to perform an act he is 

legally required to do that causes the alleged deprivation). 

 An amended complaint must also contain a caption including the names of all 

defendants. Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by alleging 

new, unrelated claims. See George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). 

 Any amended complaint must be written or typed so that it is complete in itself without 

reference to any earlier filed complaint. See L.R. 220 (E.D. Cal. 2009). This is because an 

amended complaint supersedes any earlier filed complaint, and once an amended complaint is 

filed, the earlier filed complaint no longer serves any function in the case. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 

F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967) (“The amended complaint supersedes the original, the latter being 

treated thereafter as non-existent.”), overruled on other grounds by Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 

F.3d 896 (2012). 

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 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. Within fourteen days of the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete and file the 

attached Plaintiff’s Notice on How to Proceed form, and 

 2. Should plaintiff opt to amend the second amended complaint, plaintiff shall have thirty 

days from the date of this order to file a third amended complaint. 

DATED: February 20, 2020 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JOSE RAMIREZ-SALGADO, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

J. LEWIS, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:18-cv-0185 AC P 

PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE ON HOW TO 

PROCEED 

 CHECK ONE: 

 Plaintiff would like to proceed immediately on his Eighth Amendment claims against 

defendant W. David Smiley, M.D. By choosing to go forward without amending the complaint, 

plaintiff: (1) consents to the dismissal without prejudice of the claims against defendants J. 

Lewis, S. Robert, C. Smith, W. Vaughn, S. Wong, G. Church, R. Miranda, L. Christenser, AbdurRahman, Larry Gideon, and J. Pickett, and (2) chooses to forego any related and/or potentially 

viable claims against them and any other potential, yet to be named defendants. 

 Plaintiff would like to amend the complaint. 

DATED: 

 _______________________________ 

 JOSE RAMIREZ-SALGADO 

 Plaintiff Pro Se 

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