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an order filed on October 5, 2005. 

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RONALD DWANE BROOK,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S- 04-1254 GEB GGH P

vs.

TOM L. CAREY, Warden, et al., ORDER &

Defendants. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 /

Introduction

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983. Pending before the court are: 1) plaintiff’s September 14, 2005, motion to compel

discovery to which defendants filed an opposition on November 18, 2005 ; plaintiff’s reply was 1

filed on December 2, 2005; 2) defendants’ December 5, 2005, motion to dismiss which plaintiff

opposed on December 23, 2005; 3) plaintiff’s motion for a protective order, filed on March 21,

2006, to stay his deposition and discovery responses, pending resolution of the first two motions

set forth above; 4) plaintiff’s June 22, 2006, motion for appointment of counsel.

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 See Findings and Recommendations (at pp. 2-5), filed on February 2, 2005, in 2

adjudicating plaintiff’s June 30, 2004, motion for preliminary injunctive relief, which was denied

in the Order, adopting the Findings and Recommendations. See Order, filed on March 28, 2005.

2

Second Amended Complaint

To the extent that the second amended complaint, filed on July 20, 2005, upon

which this case proceeds, mirrors the allegations of the first amended complaint, this court will

borrow from its prior presentation of plaintiff’s claims. To the extent that the allegations of the 2

second amended complaint differ, modifications are made. Plaintiff proceeds against defendants

Warden Carey, Dr. Traquina, Dr. McIntyre, Dr. Cheung and Correctional Officer Cervantes. 

On July 22, 2003, plaintiff submitted a medical request form to the dentist’s

office, complaining of pain in his jaw, pain in his teeth near the site of an extraction, an inability

to eat or sleep properly, and expressing concern that the condition would become serious and

inoperable. Second Amended Complaint (SAC), p. 2. On August 5, 2003, plaintiff received

notice from the medical department that his name was being placed on a waiting list. SAC, pp.

2-3 & Exhibit 2 (to SAC). On October 15, 2003, plaintiff filed an administrative appeal with the

dentist’s office complaining of delay in medical treatment. Id., at 3. On November 15, 2003,

plaintiff filed another medical request form with the dental office, reiterating his request of July

22, 2003. Id. 

On November 17, 2003, plaintiff filed another administrative appeal that

concerned the dental office for delay of medical treatment, which included a request to defendant

Cervantes that he assign a log number to the new appeal, plaintiff’s original not having been

returned, and requesting that the new appeal be processed. Id. & Exhibits 1 and 3. Plaintiff

believes defendant Cervantes read the appeal and attached note and was aware that plaintiff was

claiming a serious medical need which might result in “irreparable damage.” Id. 

On November 19, 2003, defendant Cervantes returned the 11/17/03 appeal to

plaintiff with instructions to send it for informal review directly to the dental clinic. Id. Plaintiff

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 California State Prison-Solano in Vacaville. 3

 Chief Medical Officer. 4

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alleges that “when circumstances are such that regular appeal time limits may” pose a risk to an

inmate’s safety “or cause other serious and irreparable harm, the appeal shall be processed at the

second level and completed within five days.” SAC, p. 4. On November 20, 2003, plaintiff resubmitted his appeal to the appeals coordinator, defendant Cervantes, reminding him that

plaintiff’s earlier attempt for a response at the informal level from the dental clinic had failed,

asking again that the appeal be logged and processed properly, asserting that the appeal

concerned a serious medical condition which delay was making worse, and asking defendant

Cervantes not to prevent him from receiving treatment. Id. & Exhibit 4. 

On November 23, 2003, plaintiff received notice from the dental clinic that his

second request for dental care had been received and that his name was being placed on a waiting

list for dental treatment in chronological order. Id. & Exhibit 2. The following day plaintiff

filed a State Board of Control claim. Id. & Exhibit 5. 

On November 26, 2003, plaintiff’s 11/17/03 appeal was once again returned to

him by defendant Cervantes with the following notation: “Try this, send 602 directly to medical

appeals analyst at primary clinic. Your 602 will be tracked by medical appeals analyst”; plaintiff

did as he was instructed. SAC, pp. 4-5 & Exhibit 6. Plaintiff sent the appeal as instructed on

November 30, 2003. Id., at 5 & Exhibit 7. 

On December 7, 2003, plaintiff sought a copy of a memorandum setting forth the

wait times for medical care at CSP-Solano. Id. Plaintiff obtained a memorandum of medical 3

care waiting periods, dated December 10, 2003, and signed by defendant CMO Traquina. Id., & 4

Exhibit 8. On December 19, 2003, plaintiff’s appeal was partially granted at the informal level

with the result that his name was placed on a waiting list and plaintiff was to be seen in

chronological order. Id. & Exhibit 1. That same day, plaintiff returned the appeal to the medical

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appeals analyst for first level review, as defendant Cervantes had instructed that the appeal would

be tracked by the medical appeals analyst. Id. The appeal was returned on December 29, 2003,

with a screening form indicating that plaintiff needed to send it on to the regular inmate appeals

office for a log number, after which that office would forward the appeal to the medical appeals

analyst for first level review; plaintiff did as instructed that same day. SAC, at 5-6 & Exhibit 9. 

On January 3, 2004, the appeal was returned to plaintiff with a screening form

indicating that he had to wait seven days before submitting the appeal because he had already

submitted an appeal on December 29th. SAC, at 6 & Exhibit 10. Plaintiff immediately returned

the appeal for processing and complained of the delay. Id. & Exhibit 11. 

On January 6th and 7th, 2004, plaintiff enlisted the help of non-defendant

Housing Officer Walker, to receive attention for his serious dental problem, and Officer Walker

apparently called the dental office on both days. Id. & Exhibit 12. On January 8, 2004, plaintiff

received notice that his 11/17/03 appeal had been given a log number, CSP-S-04-00040, and

would be processed at the first formal level in the medical department. Id. 

On February 3, 2004, not having received any response, plaintiff, threatening to

sue, again sought the assistance of Officer Walker, who called the dentist’s office a third time, at

about 11:30 a.m.. SAC, at 7. After the third call, Walker wrote plaintiff a pass for 12:30 p.m.

that same day to the dental clinic for triage. Id. & Exhibit 13. Plaintiff alleges that denial of

medical care until a lawsuit is threatened constitutes fraud. Id. 

Defendant Cheung interviewed and examined plaintiff, on February 3, 2004, and

stated that he was scheduling a dental appointment. Id. 

Thereafter, on February 6, 2004, plaintiff was escorted for a dental examination by 

defendant Cheung, who “took a complete set of x-rays of plaintiff’s teeth, including the hinge

area of the jaw,” told plaintiff that his receding gum line was due to the many years’ of tooth

brushing and the migration of his teeth on either side of a tooth extraction site; defendant said

there was no other dental problem. Id., at 7-8. Defendant Cheung conceded that a one-tooth

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partial or bridge would solve plaintiff’s problems with his teeth and jaw, but averred that the

state would not pay for a bridge. Id., at 8. 

Plaintiff explained that the hinge of his jaw was loose and his jaw muscles were

weak and that the pain in his jaw caused his fear that he was developing cancer or an otherwise

irreparable problem. Id. Defendant Cheung said he would put plaintiff’s name on a waiting list

to see an oral surgeon with whom plaintiff should discuss his jaw problems. Id. Plaintiff asked

defendant Cheung to remove a sharp point in a tooth that kept cutting his tongue; defendant used

a power tool to smooth away the point. Id. Defendant Cheung ended the appointment with the

advice that rubbing toothpaste on his teeth with his fingers would dull plaintiff’s pain. Id. 

Plaintiff was examined, on February 17, 2004, by an oral surgeon, Dr. Jennings,

not a defendant, who found plaintiff’s teeth and gums to be in good condition with no obvious

problems, but diagnosed plaintiff as having TMJ and prescribed an exercise to cure the problem, 5

telling plaintiff how to do the exercise(s) and when (each morning and evening for ten seconds). 

Id., at 9. When plaintiff asked, Dr. Jennings informed him that doing the prescribed exercises

would have prevented the TMJ. Id. Plaintiff alleges that denial of dental care can lead to loss of

teeth, loss of bone density, deformity, infection and even death. Id. & Exhibit 14. 

Defendant McIntyre, on March 5, 2004, partially granted plaintiff’s 

11/17/03 appeal at the first formal level, stating that plaintiff had been seen by a doctor. Id. &

Exhibit 15. On April 4, 2004, plaintiff submitted a medical request form for dental care. SAC,

at 10. On April 8, 2004, defendant Traquina granted the 11/17/03 appeal in full at the second

formal level, stating that plaintiff’s medical problems were being treated. Id. & Exhibit 16. 

On April 25, 2004, plaintiff filed an appeal, requesting the dental care defendant

Traquina stated that plaintiff was, or was to be, receiving. Id. On May 10, 2004, plaintiff’s 

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 Plaintiff’s exhibit indicates that the appeal was returned because it had been granted by 6

the institution and there was nothing to be reviewed.

 The form itself indicates that the request was made on August 3, 2004. 7

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appeal was returned, informing plaintiff that his name was not on the dental care waiting list. Id.

& Exhibit 17. 

On June 1, 2004, N. Grannis, Chief of Inmate Appeals (not a defendant), refused

to review the 11/17/03 appeal at the third or director’s level, which is required by the State Board

of Control. SAC, at 10 & Exhibit 18. On June 11, 2004, plaintiff received acknowledgment of 6

his complaint (about defendant Traquina and his alleged denial of dental care for plaintiff)

having been filed with the state medical board; on June 14, 2004, plaintiff was informed in a

notice from the medical board that his complaint did not come within the board’s jurisdiction,

but that his complaint would be forwarded to Dept. of Corrections Health Care Servs. Div. Id. &

Exhibits 19 and 20. 

On July 1, 2004, plaintiff filed a CDC Form 7362 medical request seeking dental

care; on July 14, 2004, plaintiff received a “dental receipt” for the form. SAC, at 11 & Exhibit

21. On August 13, 2004, plaintiff filed another request for dental care on a CDC Form 7362; on 7

the same day, he was informed that he was already on the waiting list. Id. & Exhibit 22.

Plaintiff alleges that defendant Carey was aware of plaintiff’s appeal and Board of

Control claim, thus knowing of his need for medical care and his difficulty in obtaining it, but

failed to act for plaintiff. SAC, at 11. Defendant Carey is, and has been, aware of the medical

department’s unconstitutional policy of denying inmates medical care but fails to rectify it,

despite his power and legal duty to do so. Id. Defendant Carey’s failure to prevent a policy of

denial or delay of medical care to plaintiff constituted deliberate indifference to plaintiff’s serious

medical condition in violation of the Eighth Amendment and his due process rights under the

Fourteenth Amendment; in failing to ameliorate the policy, Carey has ratified the conduct of the

other defendants. SAC, at 11-12. Defendant Carey’s failure to prevent the unconstitutional

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 These two incomplete documents, which appear to be the partial declarations of two 8

inmates, other than plaintiff, complaining of the dental care, or lack thereof, they received at

CSP- Solano, must be disregarded/stricken because they are partial, unsigned and lack any

foundation or authentication. 

7

medical care policy amounted to negligence under state law and violated plaintiff’s rights under

the state constitution. SAC, at 12. Defendant Carey knew his failure to prevent the policy of

denied or delayed medical care violated plaintiff’s state and federal rights and state and federal

laws. SAC, at 12 & Exhibits 23 and 24. Plaintiff also alleges that defendant Carey has direct

8

supervisory responsibility over the other defendants and that he ratified their conduct. SAC, at

12.

Plaintiff alleges that all defendants delayed or denied medical care to prisoners. Id. 

Plaintiff alleges that defendant Cervantes violated state and federal laws by, in essence,

practicing medicine without a license, misdirecting appeals and using his own judgment to assess

the seriousness of plaintiff’s medical condition. SAC, at 13. Defendants Traquina, McIntyre,

Cheung and Cervantes were deliberately indifferent to plaintiff’s serious medical condition in

violation of the Eighth Amendment and of his due process rights under the Fourteenth

Amendment, as well as state law, and were aware of violating plaintiff’s rights. Id. Defendants

violated plaintiff’s rights under the state constitution, and were negligent under state law;

defendants knew that the unconstitutional policy of delayed or denied medical care caused pain

and suffering to plaintiff. SAC, at 14. Defendants knew or should have known that their denied

or delayed medical care could lead to irreparable physical damage to plaintiff; defendants

disregarded a substantial risk of serious harm to plaintiff. Id. Defendants relied on untrained

staff to determine the seriousness of plaintiff’s condition. Id. Defendants’ delay in processing

his medical appeals denied his needed medical care. Id., at 14-15. Defendants also retaliated

against him by denying medical care because he filed an appeal against dental staff. SAC, at 16. 

Defendants’ actions and omissions were tantamount to intimidation and coercion in violation of

Cal. Civil. Code § 52.1. Id. Defendants’ delay in processing his appeals violated his First

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Amendment right of access to the courts and his due process rights. Id. Defendant fears further

retaliation from the filing of this lawsuit. SAC, at 17.

Defendant alleges that defendant Cervantes committed fraud when he

intentionally made the false statement, on which he intended for plaintiff to rely, and on which

plaintiff justifiably relied to his detriment (delay in medical care), that the medical appeals

analyst would track the 11/17/03 appeal. Id. Defendant Cheung committed fraud when he

intentionally made the false statement that plaintiff could not have a one-tooth partial because the

state would not pay for it, a statement upon which plaintiff justifiably relied to his injury in the

form of denied dental care. SAC, at 17-18. Defendant McIntyre committed fraud when she

made an intentionally false statement that plaintiff had been given a full opportunity to explain

his appeal issues, stating the plaintiff’s dental concerns had been addressed thoroughly on

February 17, 2004. SAC, at 18. Plaintiff justifiably relied on the statement, as defendant

McIntyre intended, to his detriment in the form of denied dental care. Id. Defendant Traquina

committed fraud by stating that plaintiff was being treated by the oral surgeons and would be reevaluated at given intervals, on which this defendant intended that plaintiff would rely and not

pursue further dental treatment. Id. Plaintiff did justifiably so rely and was harmed by being

denied medical care. Id. Defendant Traquina also committed fraud by stating that the 11/17/03,

appeal was granted in full, intending that plaintiff would rely on the statement and not pursue

further medical care, which plaintiff justifiably did, suffering harm from the delay/denial of

medical care. Id. Each defendant conspired to deprive plaintiff of his constitutional rights in

violation of 42 U.S.C.§ 1985. Plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief as well as money

damages. SAC, at 19-21.

Motion to Dismiss

Defendants move to dismiss certain of plaintiff’s claims, under Fed. R. Civ. P.

12(b)(6), for failure to state a cognizable claim against any defendant for fraud and conspiracy,

and for failure to state any claim as to defendant Carey, and, under non-enumerated Fed. Rule of

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Procedure 12(b), for failure to exhaust administrative remedies as to plaintiff’s fraud and

conspiracy allegations against defendants. Motion to Dismiss (MTD), pp. 1, 3-11. Specifically

as to defendant Carey, defendants move for the dismissal of defendant Carey on the ground that

there is no vicarious liability under § 1983, contending that plaintiff has failed to allege a causal

connection between defendant Carey and plaintiff’s injuries. Id., at 1-3. Defendants also allege,

in one section of the motion, that defendant Carey is “entitled to summary judgment” (p. 11) on

the same ground. MTD, pp. 11-14. The court will construe the inapposite reference to summary

judgment as inadvertent, since, inter alia, this motion was noticed as a motion to dismiss,

pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. 12(b)(6) and non-enumerated Fed. Civ. R. P. 12(b), and not as a motion

for summary judgment, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56. 

Legal Standard for Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim

A complaint should not be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) unless it appears

beyond doubt that plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts consistent with his allegations which

would entitle him to relief. NOW, Inc. v. Schiedler, 510 U.S. 249, 256, 114 S. Ct. 798, 803 

(1994); Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73, 104 S. Ct. 2229, 2232 (1984), citing Conley

v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S. Ct. 99, 102 (1957), Cervantes v. City of San Diego, 5 F.3d

1273, 1274-75 (9th Cir. 1993). Dismissal of the complaint, or any claim within it, “can be based

on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a

cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990);

see also Robertson v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 749 F.2d 530, 534 (9th Cir. 1984). 

In considering a motion to dismiss, the court must accept as true the allegations of

the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740, 96 S.

Ct. 1848, 1850 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the party opposing the

motion and resolve all doubts in the pleader’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421,

89 S. Ct. 1843, 1849, reh’g denied, 396 U.S. 869 (1969). The court will “‘presume that general

allegations embrace those specific facts that are necessary to support the claim.’” NOW, 510

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U.S. at 256; 114 S. Ct. at 803, quoting Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S.555, 561, 112 S.

Ct. 2130, 2137 (1992). Moreover, pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than

those drafted by lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S. Ct. 594, 596 (1972). A

motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim should not be granted unless it appears beyond

doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle him to

relief. See Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73, 104 S. Ct. 2229, 2232 (1984), citing

Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S. Ct. 99, 102 (1957); see also Palmer v. Roosevelt

Lake Log Owners Ass’n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). 

The court may consider facts established by exhibits attached to the complaint. 

Durning v. First Boston Corp., 815 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 1987). The court may disregard

allegations in the complaint if they are contradicted by facts established by exhibits attached to

the complaint. Durning v. First Boston Corp., 815 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 1987). 

Furthermore, the court is not required to accept as true allegations that contradict facts which

may be judicially noticed. Mullis v. United States Bankruptcy Ct., 828 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir.

1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1040 (1988). The court need not accept as true conclusory

allegations, unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions of fact. Western Mining

Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1031 (1981). The court

need not accept legal conclusions “cast in the form of factual allegations.” Western Mining

Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1031 (1981). 

A pro se litigant is entitled to notice of the deficiencies in the complaint and an

opportunity to amend, unless the complaint’s deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See

Noll v. Carlson, 809 F. 2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 1987). 

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 “In all averments of fraud or mistake, the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake 9

shall be stated with particularity.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), in relevant part.

11

Discussion

Fraud

As to plaintiff’s claims of fraud, defendants contend that, under Fed. R. Civ. P.

9(b), allegations of fraud must be specifically pleaded. MTD, p. 5. They correctly observe that 9

“[c]laims of fraud or mistake should include 1) the time, place and content of fraud; 2) intent to

deceive (scienter); and 3) facts showing falsity.” MTD, p. 5, citing Wood v. Apodaca, 375 F.

Supp.2d 942, 949 (N.D. Cal. 2005). A plaintiff must explain why a statement is false or

misleading; furthermore, “a statement or omission must be shown to have been false or

misleading when made.” In re Stac Electronics Securities Litigation, 89 F.3d 1399, 1404 (9 Cir. th

1996) [emphasis in original]. 

Plaintiff has alleged defendant Cervantes committed fraud with the following

notation in his November 26, 2003 appeal response: “Try this, send 602 directly to medical

appeals analyst at primary clinic. Your 602 will be tracked by medical appeals analyst.” SAC,

pp. 4-5 & Exhibit 6. Plaintiff sent the appeal as instructed on November 30, 2003. Id., at 5 &

Exhibit 7. On December 19, 2003, plaintiff’s appeal was partially granted at the informal level

with the result that his name was placed on a waiting list and plaintiff was to be seen in

chronological order. Id. & Exhibit 1. That same day, plaintiff returned the appeal to the medical

appeals analyst for first level review, as defendant Cervantes had instructed that the appeal would

be tracked by the medical appeals analyst. Id. When plaintiff returned the appeal to the medical

appeals analyst for first level review, as instructed by defendant Cervantes, it was returned on

December 29, 2003, with a screening form indicating that plaintiff needed to send it on to the

regular inmate appeals office for a log number, after which that office would forward the appeal

to the medical appeals analyst for first level review. 

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 Defendants state that they have attached a copy of the DOM section at issue but the 10

court could not locate that particular section among defendants’ attachments. In addition,

defendants cited § 52050.18.1, obviously an error, as well as the correct section, 54050.18.1. 

The court was able to access the DOM on-line on the CDCR website and sets forth the section

herein in its entirety: “54050.18.1 Removable Dental Prostheses

Limited dental prosthetic services shall be provided when facilities are available and approved by

the CD or delegated subordinate. Limited prosthetics shall consist of: • Providing economical

appliances necessary for improved mastication. • Replacing missing anterior teeth. 

Acrylic, removable partial dental prosthesis is the appliance of choice when the remaining teeth

are sound and: • Anterior teeth are to be replaced. • The patient does not have at least eight

functioning posterior teeth. Appliance with cast metal framework may be used in those cases

where the acrylic appliance will not suffice. A complete denture shall be the appliance of choice

when the prognosis for a partial denture is dubious.”

12

As defendants note, plaintiff conceded that his appeal was initially partially

granted by the medical appeals analyst (to whom plaintiff submitted the appeal immediately upon

its return from defendant Cervantes, following his instructions). MTD, p. 6. In his opposition,

plaintiff references the relevant paragraphs of his second amended complaint, but does not

provide a sufficient basis for his allegations of fraud in this context. Opp., p. 12. Primarily, he

contends the allegations of fraud are part of the retaliation to which he was subjected for

exercising his right to appeal his grievances through the administrative appeal process. Id. 

Defendants are correct that plaintiff has failed to meet his burden under Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b), with

respect to his specific allegation that defendant Cervantes committed fraud by suggesting or

advising plaintiff that the medical appeals analyst would track his 602 appeal. 

As to his allegations that defendant Cheung committed fraud when he made the

“false” statement that plaintiff could not have a one-tooth partial because the state would not pay

for it (SAC, at 17-18), as defendants point out, plaintiff does not set forth facts demonstrating

how such a statement was fraudulent. As defendants assert, plaintiff offers no assertion that the

state would pay for a one-tooth partial bridge. MTD, p. 6. 

Defendants request that the court take judicial notice of the Department of

Operations Manual (DOM) § 54050.18.1, which this court does, pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 201. 10

MTD, p. 6, n. 1. To the extent that plaintiff may have sought a permanent or fixed partial bridge,

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the DOM at § 54050.18 states: “Dentists shall not attempt to provide case or laboratory

processed crowns or fixed prosthetics except in those very rare instances where no other

treatment is suitable.” Plaintiff asserts neither in his second amended complaint nor in his

opposition the basis for his belief that the statement by defendant Cheung was false. Moreover,

he does not claim to have had any missing anterior (front) tooth so that on the face of it, with

respect to DOM 54050.18.1, defendant Cheung’s assertion may well have been correct in the

dental condition that plaintiff presented, or, at worst, not a comprehensive response. In any

event, plaintiff does not make out an allegation of fraud on these facts, nor does he ameliorate

and sufficiently support it in his opposition.

 Plaintiff alleges that defendant McIntyre “committed fraud when she

intentionally made the false statement that the plaintiff had been given the opportunity to fully

explain his appeal issues, and that the plaintiff’s dental concerns were being thoroughly

addressed on February 17, 2004.” SAC, at 18. Plaintiff justifiably relied on the statement, as

defendant McIntyre intended, to his detriment in the form of denied dental care. Id. Earlier in

the allegations, plaintiff claims that, on March 5, 2004, defendant McIntyre partially granted

plaintiff’s 11/17/03 appeal at the first formal level, stating that plaintiff had been seen by a

doctor. SAC, at 9 & Exhibit 15. Although defendants aver that it is unclear where or when the

statement at issue took place or how or why it could be characterized as false or fraudulent (opp.,

p. 7), the March 5, 2004 appeal response by defendant McIntyre contains, inter alia, the following

findings: “On February 17, 2004, you were interviewed by J. Jennings, D.D.S., Oral Surgeon. At

that time, you were provided with an opportunity to fully explain your appeal issues... Results of

this inquiry reveal that during the aforementioned interview, your dental concerns were

thoroughly addressed.” Exhibit 15 to SAC; p. 8 of Exh. 1 to defendant Cervantes’ declaration. 

Thus, although plaintiff’s allegations are not as clear as they could be, the court logically infers

that he is referring to the part of the statement contained in the March 5, 2004 appeal response as

fraudulent. 

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At the time of the partial grant at the first formal level, on March 5, 2004, plaintiff

had been triaged (Feb. 3, 2004) and examined by defendant Dr. Cheung (Feb. 6, 2004), and had

been seen by the oral surgeon, Dr. Jennings (not a defendant) on Feb. 17, 2004. SAC, at 7-9;

Opp., p. 7. Defendant Cheung had x-rayed his teeth and jaw area and had filed down a sharp

tooth on Feb. 6, 2004; Dr. Jennings had examined his jaw, diagnosed his condition and

prescribed a jaw exercise on Feb. 17, 2004. As defendants contend, that plaintiff may dispute

whether or not his dental concerns had been addressed at the time of his examination, does not

mean that defendant McIntyre’s statement to that effect was either intentionally or

unintentionally untrue. 

Defendants also argue that plaintiff’s statement that he relied on defendant

McIntyre’s (March 5, 2004) representations, as part of his claim of fraud, is belied by his

submission, on April 4, 2004, of a medical request form for dental care. Opp., p. 7; SAC, at 10. 

On April 8, 2004, defendant Traquina granted the 11/17/03 appeal in full at the second formal

level, stating that plaintiff’s medical problems were being treated. SAC, at 10 & Exhibit 16. 

Moreover, the court observes, it is evident in the April 8, 2004, second level response by

defendant Traquina to the 11/17/03 appeal, granting the appeal in full, as plaintiff asserts, that

plaintiff had appealed the first level response, a fairly clear indication of plaintiff’s not having

relied on the first level response. In any event, plaintiff does not adequately make out a claim of

fraud against defendant McIntyre so as to be able to proceed on such a claim, nor does his

opposition enhance any such allegation. 

As to defendant Traquina, plaintiff has alleged that he committed fraud by stating

that plaintiff was being treated by the oral surgeons and would be re-evaluated at given intervals,

on his April 8, 2004, second formal level response, to plaintiff’s 11/17/03 appeal. SAC, at 9, 18

& Exhibit 16. Defendant Traquina also committed fraud by stating that the 11/17/03, appeal was

granted in full, intending that plaintiff would rely on the statement and not pursue further medical

care, which plaintiff justifiably did, suffering harm from the delay/denial of medical care. SAC,

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at 18. Plaintiff alleges that Traquina intended that plaintiff would rely on this response and not

pursue further dental treatment, which plaintiff did justifiably to his harm. Id. 

On April 25, 2004, plaintiff filed an appeal, requesting the dental care defendant

Traquina stated that plaintiff was, or was to be, receiving. Id. On May 10, 2004, plaintiff’s

appeal was returned, informing plaintiff that his name was not on the dental care waiting list. Id.

& Exhibit 17. 

Again, as defendants note, plaintiff has set forth facts insufficient for a claim of

fraud. Opp., pp. 7-8. When Traquina made the statements in the April 8, 2004 appeal response,

plaintiff had been seen by defendant Dr. Cheung and by the oral surgeon Dr. Jennings (in

February, 2004). Plaintiff sets forth insufficient facts that indicate that the statement was

demonstrably false when it was made; the fact that plaintiff’s name was not on the dental care

waiting list when plaintiff sought further medical attention two and half weeks following the

response might support a claim of inadequate medical care, but does not rise to the level of

showing fraud on the part of defendant Traquina. Defendants also argue that plaintiff’s claim of

having relied on the response as an assurance that he would be re-evaluated on an on-going basis

by an oral surgeon is belied by the plaintiff having sought further medical care a couple of weeks

thereafter. 

As defendants further contend, plaintiff’s identified dental problems had been

addressed. Opp., p. 8. He complained of a sharp tooth, which had been pared down. Plaintiff

had been informed that his receding gum line came from years of tooth brushing and migration of

the surrounding teeth around an extraction cite. He had been diagnosed with TMJ and been

provided an exercise for the condition. Although plaintiff was quite apparently not satisfied with

the treatment he received with respect to his TMJ and apparently wanted a one-tooth bridge, he

has not shown how the dental condition(s) of which he complains were made worse by any of the

allegedly fraudulent statements made by defendants. Plaintiff’s claims of fraud cannot be

conflated with any claims of retaliation by the defendants in the form of denied or delayed dental

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care for plaintiff’s having filed appeal grievances, as there is a heightened pleading standard for

claims of fraud under Fed. R. Civ. 9(b). Plaintiff’s fraud claims should be dismissed.

Conspiracy

 As to his claims of conspiracy, plaintiff must make some showing of an

agreement or a meeting of the minds on the part of defendants to violate his constitutional rights. 

Woodrum v. Woodward County, 866 F.2d 1121, 1126 (9th Cir. 1989), citing Fonda v. Gray, 707

F.2d 435 (9th Cir. 1983). Conspiracy allegations must be supported by material facts and not be

merely conclusory statements. Lockary v. Kayfetz, 587 F. Supp. 631 (N. D. Cal. 1984). 

Defendants are correct in their contention that a claim of conspiracy under § 1983

must set forth specific facts that support the existence of the claimed conspiracy. Opp., p. 9,

citing Burns v. County of King, 883 F.2d 819, 821 (9 Cir. 1989). To the extent that he claims th

that defendants engaged in a conspiracy to deprive him of needed dental care, plaintiff does not

show the requisite factual specificity to support such a claim. Sanchez v. City of Santa Ana, 936

F.2d 1027, 1039 (9 Cir. 1990), citing Karim-Panahi v. Los Angeles Police Dept., 839 F.2d 621, th

626 (9 Cir. 1988). Vague and conclusory allegations are not sufficient to support a claim for th

civil rights violations based on conspiracy. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir.

1982); see also Pena v. Gardner, 976 F.2d 469, 471 (9th Cir. 1992). 

Nor does plaintiff make out any claim of conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1985,

where there is no indication in the allegations that plaintiff was discriminated against because he

is a member of a particular race or suspect class. Burns v. County of King, 883 F.2d at 821. 

Defendants contend that plaintiff’s claim that defendants conspired to enforce an unconstitutional

policy does not explain what the overall policy was. Opp., p. 9. However, it is fairly evident that

the allegedly unconstitutional policy plaintiff seeks to implicate throughout his complaint is one

whereby an inmate at CSP-Solano, in particular, he, is deprived of adequate medical care for

what he alleges is a serious medical condition due to defendants’ denials of requests for dental

care or delays of such treatment (and in retaliation for the filing of grievances re: dental care). 

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But plaintiff must state facts, to state a claim of conspiracy, that show an agreement or a meeting

of the minds on the part of defendants to violate his constitutional rights, and this he has failed to

do; nor has he enhanced these allegations in his opposition. Woodrum v. Woodward County,

866 F.2d at 1126 (9th Cir. 1989), citing Fonda v. Gray, 707 F.2d 435 (9th Cir. 1983). Plaintiff’s

claims of conspiracy, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, should be dismissed. 

Liberality in granting a plaintiff leave to amend “is subject to the qualification that

the amendment not cause undue prejudice to the defendant, is not sought in bad faith, and is not

futile.” Thornton v. McClatchy Newspapers, Inc., 261 F.3d 789, 799 (9 Cir. 2001), quoting th

Bowles v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757 (9th Cir.1999). In this case, the court can discern no manner

in which plaintiff might be able to cure the defects of his fraud and conspiracy allegations and

will recommend dismissal of all such claims without leave to amend. Because the court will

recommend dismissal on that ground, the court need not reach defendants’ contention that

plaintiff’s claims of fraud and conspiracy have not been administratively exhausted. 

In addition, and for the same reason, any claim that plaintiff has purported to bring

pursuant to § 1985 should be dismissed without leave to amend.

Moreover, the court finds that any claim plaintiff purports to make under Cal. Civ.

Code § 52.1 should be dismissed. Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1 requires “an attempted or completed act

of interference with a legal right, accompanied by a form of coercion.” City and County of San

Francisco v. Ballard, 136 Cal. App.4th, 39 Cal. Rptr. 3d 1 (2006) [citations omitted] (dismissal

of claim without leave to amend was proper). Plaintiff must allege conduct that rises to the level

of a threat of violence. Id. Plaintiff has failed completely to satisfy the state civil statute’s

requirement of a showing of a threat or coercion on the part of defendants, even assuming he has

sufficiently alleged that a legal right had been interfered with by defendants. This claim should

be dismissed without leave to amend. 

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Defendant Carey

Defendants are correct that plaintiff has failed to show any personal involvement

by defendant Carey in the deprivations of his constitutional rights that plaintiff alleges. 

The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows:

Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes

to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the

deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the

Constitution . . . shall be liable to the party injured in an action at

law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress. 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute requires that there be an actual connection or link between the

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

Monell v. Department of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362

(1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the

meaning of § 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts or

omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which

complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).

Moreover, supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the

actions of their employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, therefore, when a named

defendant holds a supervisorial position, the causal link between him and the claimed

constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862

(9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 442 U.S.

941 (1979). As noted, supra, vague and conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of

official personnel in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673

F.2d at 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Plaintiff’s claim for money damages against defendant Carey in his

individual capacity should be dismissed.

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26 Monell v. Department of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 98 S. Ct. 2018 (1978). 11

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However, plaintiff also seeks prospective injunctive relief. Just as it is not

necessary to allege Monell policy grounds when suing a state or municipal official in his or her 11

official capacity for injunctive relief related to a procedure of a state entity, Chaloux v. Killeen,

886 F.2d 247 (9th Cir. 1989), it follows that it is not necessary to allege the personal involvement

of a state official when plaintiffs are attacking a state procedure on federal grounds that relates in

some way to the job duties of the named defendant. All that is required is that the complaint

name an official who could appropriately respond to a court order on injunctive relief should one

ever be issued. Harrington v. Grayson, 764 F. Supp. 464, 475-477 (E.D.Mich. 1991); Malik v.

Tanner, 697 F. Supp. 1294, 1304 (S.D.N.Y. 1988). (“Furthermore, a claim for injunctive relief,

as opposed to monetary relief, may be made on a theory of respondeat superior in a § 1983

action.”); Fox Valley Reproductive Health Care v. Arft, 454 F. Supp. 784, 786 (E.D. Wis. 1978). 

See also, Hoptowit v. Spellman, 753 F.2d 779 (9th Cir. 1985), permitting an injunctive relief suit

to continue against an official’s successors despite objection that the successors had not

personally engaged in the same practice that had led to the suit. However, because a suit against

an official in his or her official capacity is a suit against the state, policy or procedure of the state

must be at issue in a claim for official capacity injunctive relief. Haber v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 25,

112 S. Ct. 358, 361-62 (1991). In this case, the court finds that plaintiff has alleged that the

defendants have implemented an unconstitutional policy at CSP-Solano with respect to

effectuating dental care. Warden Carey is a proper defendant in his official capacity only. 

Plaintiff’s claim for money damages against defendant Carey should be dismissed; however,

defendants’ motion should be denied as to defendant Carey in his official capacity.

Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel

Plaintiff has moved, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 34(b) and

37(a), for an order compelling production, and/or further production, of his first and second

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 These requests are not plainly identified in plaintiff’s motion, but are identified both 12

defendants’ opposition and plaintiff’s reply thereto.

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requests for production of documents, on February 6, 2005, and on July 14, 2005; he also moves

that the defendants be compelled to admit or deny documents submitted to defendants on March

16, 2005. Motion to Compel (MTC) at 1 & plaintiff’s attached declaration. Such responses as

have been forthcoming are evasive and incomplete and have contained, plaintiff avers, meritless

objections on the grounds that the requests are vague, ambiguous, overbroad, seek privileged

material, irrelevant and not calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, and are

available through plaintiff’s medical or central file or the law library. MTC, plaintiff’s decl., p.

6. 

Although the parties have corresponded in an apparent effort to resolve their 

differences in this matter, see Exhibits to MTC; Exhs. to Reply, they have evidently not been

successful.

First Set of Production Requests

At issue in plaintiff’s first set of requests for production of documents are: nos. 1,

3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.12

Request No. 1: Any and all grievances, complaints, or other

documents received by the defendants or their agents at CSPSolano concerning mistreatment of inmates by defendants

Traquina, McIntyre, Cheung, or Cervantes, and any memoranda,

investigative files, or other documents created in response to any

such documents, since January 1, 2003.

Response: Defendants object to this request on the grounds that it

is vague, overbroad, and is not relevant nor calculated to lead to the

discovery of admissible evidence. Defendant[] objects to this

document request to the extent that it calls for information that is

protected by the official information and Exemption to the

Freedom of Information Act privileges. Defendants object to this

request to the extent that it calls for confidential information

protected by the privacy rights of staff and inmates guaranteed by

the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and

applicable state statutes, such as Penal Code sections 832.7 and

6126.3. Finally, Defendants object to this request to the extent that

it calls for confidential information that would jeopardize the

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safety and security of the institution, staff and inmates.

The scope of discovery under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1) is broad. Discovery may be

obtained as to any unprivileged matter “relevant to the claim or defense of any party....” Id. 

Discovery may be sought of relevant information not admissible at trial “if the discovery appears

reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” Id. The court, however,

may limit discovery if it “....is unreasonably cumulative or duplicative,” or can be obtained from

another source “that is more convenient, less burdensome, or less expensive”; or if the party who

seeks discovery “has had ample opportunity by discovery ...to obtain the information sought”; or

if the proposed discovery is overly burdensome. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(2)(i)(ii) and (iii).

The court need not assess the propriety of the several privileges asserted because

the court finds that the probative value of the requests is greatly outweighed by the burden to

seek and produce the requested documentation. Plaintiff attacks a policy, which on its face,

greatly discourages CDCR dentists from performing bridge work. There is no need to present

evidence that in practice as well, CDCR will not perform the requested bridge work. In terms of

plaintiff’s allegations of delay, plaintiff’s facts speak for themselves and would not be greatly

aided, if at all, by attempting to produce evidence at trial that other inmates also suffered delay

which would have to be assessed in light of their individual facts and circumstances. Holding

several trials within a trial is seldom efficacious. Moreover, in practical terms, someone in the

dental department where plaintiff resides would have to take the time to acquire and produce

documents which have every potential to be voluminous – all for the very slim value, and

probable lack of any value, these documents may have to plaintiff’s case. The court will not task

CDCR with mindless duties which would have a present detrimental effect on the provision of

medical/dental services.

Plaintiff’s request is denied.

Request No. 3: All sick call request sheets (CDC form 7263)

submitted by the plaintiff form [sic] the period January 1, 1998 to

the date of your response.

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Response: The request is objected to on the grounds that Plaintiff’s

medical file is equally available to plaintiff for inspection and

copying pursuant to prison policies and procedures. 

Plaintiff contends that he has never been able to locate any CDC form 7263 sick

call requests in his medical file. Defendants concede that “in the past” that “it was not prison

custom” to keep such forms beyond the day they were used because the form was basically

intended to reserve a medical or dental appointment; following any such appointment, any

information related to it would be recorded in the inmate’s medical file. Opposition (Opp.), p. 4. 

Current policy provides that the 7263 medical request forms, according to defendants, be placed

in an inmate’s medical file, including dental care requests. Id. Therefore, defendants aver, the

forms would be available for him to see in his own medical file. 

Plaintiff, however, counters that he does not have adequate access to his medical

files, which span thirty years, by being limited to one 15-minute period every three months. 

Reply, p. 1. In any event, he asserts that he was unable to find any such medical form request in

his October 7, 2005 review of his medical files. Id., at 6. Plaintiff seeks copies of his request for

dental care forms to demonstrate how often he requested such dental care.

The court finds that defendants’ unsupported assertions are too vague that the past

practice of discarding medical request forms has ended. They do not provide plaintiff or the

court with any specific date as to when this practice ended. Defendants must specify the date

upon which such practice was discontinued and provide plaintiff with evidence to support that

assertion. Moreover, defendants must provide plaintiff with any copy of a medical request form

which plaintiff submitted on or after July 22, 2003, seeking dental care, and must provide proof

of service of having done so within thirty days. As modified herein, plaintiff’s motion as to this

request is granted. 

Request No. 5: Any and all Logs, Lists, or other documentation

reflecting grievances filed by CSP-Solano inmates against the

defendants from January 1, 1998 to the date of your response. 

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Response: Defendants object to this request on the grounds that it is vague, 

overbroad, and is not relevant nor calculated to lead to the

discovery of admissible evidence and it violates the privacy rights

of inmates not involved in this lawsuit. Defendants object to this

document request to the extent that it calls for information

protected by the official information and Exemption to the

Freedom of Information Act privileges. Defendants object to this

request to the extent that it calls for confidential information

protected by the privacy rights of staff and inmates guaranteed by

the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and

applicable state statutes, such as Penal Code sections 832.7 and

6126.3. Finally, Defendants object to this request to the extent that

it calls for confidential information that would jeopardize the

safety and security of the institution, staff and inmates.

For the reasons set forth in response to plaintiff’s request no. 1, plaintiff’s request

is denied.

Request No. 6:

Any and all documents created by any CSP-Solano staff member in

response to a grievance filed by the plaintiff concerning his

medical care.

Response: This request is objected to on the grounds that this

information would be part of Plaintiff’s central and medical files,

portions of which are equally available to Plaintiff for inspection

and copying pursuant to prison policies and procedures.

To defendants’ assertion that this material is equally accessible to plaintiff in his

central and medical files, defendants add, in their opposition, that the number of inmates at CSPSolano who bring lawsuits makes such a request burdensome. Opp., p. 6. Plaintiff alleges that

not all the memoranda, interoffice communications, and staff instructions are attached to the

inmate appeals, nor are they placed in the inmates central or medical files. Reply, p. 8. Plaintiff

has also contended that his access to his prison files is extremely limited. 

That plaintiff’s request may be burdensome appears to be outweighed by the

relevance of such a request should there be any documentation responsive to the request which is

not contained in plaintiff’s files. Defendants must provide any documentation responsive to this

request that is not contained in plaintiff’s central or medical prison files, or provide plaintiff with

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a verification that no such document exists, within thirty days. Defendants must file proof of

having done as directed with the court within the same time frame. Defendants should redact any

private or personal information, such as any other inmate’s name, number or other identifying

information, or any information as to defendants or non-defendant staff, such as home addresses,

social security number, phone number, etc., should there be any contained in any such

documentation before producing it. As modified by the court, the motion as to this request is

granted.

Request No. 7

Any and documents created by any CSP-Solano staff member from

January 1, 1998 to date concerning the plaintiff’s medical care and

not included in items 4, 5, or 6 of this request.

The court will not set forth defendants’ objections to this request because, having

interposed certain objections and without waiving same, defendants aver that they “do not

believe such documents exist.” The court cannot compel production of documents not within the

custody, possession or control of a party. The motion as to this request must be denied. 

Request No. 8: Any and all Waiting Lists, Appointment Lists, or

Treatment Schedules generated by the Dental or Medical

department [sic] containing the plaintiff’s name from the period of

January 1, 1998 to the date of response. 

For the same reasons as set forth with respect to Request No. 7, the motion as to

this request must be denied. 

Request No. 9: Copies of all current licenses for all dental staff at

CSP-Solano.

Response: Defendants object to this request on the grounds that it

is overbroad and is not relevant nor calculated to lead to the

discovery of admissible evidence. Defendants object to this

document request to the extent that it calls for information that is

protected by the official information and Exemption to the

Freedom of Information Act privileges. Defendants object to this

request to the extent that it calls for confidential information

protected by the privacy rights of staff and inmates guaranteed by

the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and

applicable state statutes, such as Penal Code sections 832.7 and

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which the court reviewed on the CDCR website. 

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6126.3. Finally, Defendants object to this request to the extent that

it calls for confidential information that would jeopardize the

safety and security of the institution, staff and inmates. 

Notwithstanding and without waiving these objections, Defendants

will produce true and correct copies of current licenses of

Defendants Traquina and Cheung, and will produce a copy of

McIntyre’s licensing information which was obtained from the

California Department of Consumer Affairs website.

Defendants assert that they have provided true and correct copies of defendants’

Traquina’s and Cheung’s licenses to practice dentistry as well as a copy of defendant McIntyre’s

licensing information obtained from the state Department of Consumer Affairs. Opp., p. 7. 

Upon plaintiff’s further inquiry with respect to special training or licenses in his May 23, 2005,

letter, defendants stated that they would look for any such information and now assert that all

responsive documents have been produced. Defendants’ point that, as phrased, plaintiff’s request

for any license could include such irrelevant documents as a driver’s license is well-taken. 

Plaintiff’s motion as to this request is denied. 

Request No. 10: Copies of all Drug enforcement [sic]

Administration [sic] certificates for dentists with the pharmacy.

Response:

Defendant objects to this request on the grounds that it is vague,

ambiguous, overbroad, and not relevant nor reasonably calculated

to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Defendants cannot

respond to this request as they do not understand to what Plaintiff

is referring.

According to defendants, plaintiff later clarified his request in his April 25, 2005

letter (see plaintiff’s exhibits to MTC, pp. 40-43), that records are required to be kept by CDCR

of current drug enforcement administration certificates for dentists with the pharmacy. Opp., p.

7, citing DOM § 54050.1(11). When defendants raised the question as to how such a certificate 13

relating to pharmaceuticals relates to the issues implicated in this action, plaintiff did not

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respond. Opp., pp. 7-8, citing defendants’ May 4, 2005, letter and plaintiff’s May 23, 2005, letter

(Exhibits to MTC, at pp. 31-32, 39-41). In his reply, plaintiff states that he believed that by their

letter response, defendants had simply dropped objections on grounds of relevance. Reply, pp.

11-12. Plaintiff avers that such certificates would be relevant to prove that there is no legal

reason a dentist could not prescribe pain medication if a diagnosis warranted such treatment. Id.,

at 12. Plaintiff goes on to assert that “dentists working in the pharmacy could possibly testify

concerning the amount of pain medication prescribed by the dental department over the period of

time the plaintiff was seeking medical care.” Id. Plaintiff’s explanation for needing copies of

the Drug Enforcement Agency (or Administration) certificates issued to CSP-Solano dentists

appears to be unreasonably wide of the mark. His claim is not any defendant, or other party,

prescribed pain medication for his dental or TMJ conditions but that such prescriptions were not

filled. The motion as to this request is denied.

Request No. 15: The personel [sic] files or [sic] defendants Carey,

Traquina, McIntyre, Cheung, and Cervantes.

Response: Defendants object to this request on the grounds that it

is vague, overbroad and is not relevant nor calculated to lead to the

discovery of admissible evidence and it violates the privacy rights

of inmates not involved in the lawsuit. Defendants object to this

document request to the extent that it calls for information that is

protected by the official information and Exemption to the

Freedom of Information Act privileges. Defendants object to this

request to the extent that it calls for confidential information

protected by the privacy rights of staff and inmates guaranteed by

the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and

applicable state statutes, such as Penal Code sections 832.7 and

6126.3. Finally, Defendants object to this request to the extent that

it calls for confidential information that would jeopardize the

safety and security of the institution, staff and inmates. 

Plaintiff, recognizing the confidentiality and privacy issues raised by this request,

seeks to task the court with the burden of an in camera review of defendants’ entire personnel

files to discern whether the information therein contains any evidence of motive, habit, intent and

absence of mistake. Reply, pp. 12-13, citing, inter alia, Fed. R. Evid. 401 and 404(b). The

motion as to this overly burdensome and insufficiently supported request is denied. 

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Request No. 16: Any and all current licenses and certivicates [sic]

of training held by defendants.

Response: [Duplicates the objections in response to Request No.

15, with the following addition]

Particularly, the terms “licenses” and “certificates of training” are

vague, overbroad, and ambiguous as such terms are not limited in

any way related to the issues in this case. Notwithstanding and

without waiving these objections, Defendants will produce true and

correct copies of current licenses of Defendants Traquina and

Cheung, and will produce a copy of McIntyre’s licensing

information which was obtained from the California Department of

Consumer Affairs website.

Having reviewed the arguments of both parties, it appears that plaintiff has

narrowed his request to one relating to his allegation that defendant Cervantes practiced medicine

without a license. Defendant Cervantes in plaintiff’s request for admissions conceded that he

had no medical license. MTC, Response to Request for Admission no. 5, p. 48. Plaintiff seeks

information as to whether defendants Carey or Cervantes hold a Medical Technical Assistant’s

license, Emergency Medical Technician’s license, nurse’s license or any other type of

certification or license which would indicate the level of any medical training they might possess

to make determinations as to plaintiff’s medical condition. 

This court has recommended defendant Carey’s dismissal from this action in his

individual and/or supervisory capacity, finding that this action should proceed against him for

prospective relief only in his official capacity. Plaintiff could simply have directed an

interrogatory toward defendant Cervantes to elicit the information he seeks. Notwithstanding, as

to defendant Cervantes only, plaintiff’s motion as to this request, as narrowed herein, is granted,

and defendants are directed to produce a copy of any certificate or license of medical or dental

training defendant Cervantes has earned, or to inform plaintiff specifically that he does not have

any such certificate, license or training, and to file proof of service of any production and/or

response, all within thirty days.

Request No. 17: Minutes of the monthly dental staff meetings from

the period January 1, 1998 to the date of response.

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Request No. 18: Minutes of the Chief [sic] dentist’s meetings from

the period January 1, 1998 to the date of the response.

Request No. 19: Dental statistics quarterly summery [sic] reports

from the period January 1, 1998 to the date of response.

Response: [The response to Request Nos. 17, 18, 19 each

duplicates the objections interposed in response to Request No. 15,

with each preceding the following statement]

Notwithstanding and without waiving these objections, Defendants

are not aware that such documents exist.

As plaintiff has been informed above, the court cannot compel defendants to

produce any document or tangible item not within their custody, possession or control. 

Defendants represent that documents responsive to plaintiff’s requests do not exist. These

requests must be denied. 

Request No. 20: Any and all notifications of pending law suit [sic]

received by the defendants from the period of January 1, 1998 to

the date of the response.

Response: Defendants object to this request on the grounds that it

is vague as to the term “notifications,” overbroad and is not

relevant nor calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible

evidence. In their positions as prison personnel, particularly

Warden Carey, Defendants are subject to constant litigation by

prisoners, and such cases are not necessarily relevant to the issues

in this case.

After reviewing the parties’ arguments on this request, the court finds that

plaintiff would have been better served by asking defendants to identify in response to an

interrogatory, any lawsuit pending, from January, 1, 1998 to the present, brought by an inmate

against any defendant related to the issues raised by his own lawsuit, i.e., inadequate dental care

and/or retaliation for filing grievances concerning dental treatment. As worded, the production

request is confusing, overbroad, vague, burdensome and unlikely to produce the results sought by

plaintiff. Plaintiff, in his subsequent correspondence, sought to clarify the request, seeking to

emphasize its relevance. The court notes that in the second set of requests for documents,

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Request No. 11, plaintiff did tailor his request and has received production of the “docket reports

of cases involving denial or delay of medical care naming Defendants during the relevant time

period, that were obtained online from the Pacer system.” See plaintiff’s June 22, 2006 filing,

appending defendants’ responses to his second set of requests for production of documents. 

Therefore, the motion as to this request is denied as moot.

Second Set of Request for Production of Documents

Plaintiff’s second set of requests for production in essence mirror plaintiff’s first

set, but were an effort, plaintiff contends, to clarify certain requests made in the first set. Reply,

p. 18. Plaintiff concedes their essentially duplicative nature. 

On November 30, 2005, the court ordered that as to the second set of production

requests by plaintiff, although defendants were granted an extension of time to file their

responses because they had inadvertently failed to respond timely, the court also stated that

defendants had thereby waived all objections, with the exception of those based on attorneyclient privilege or related to institutional security. 

Having reviewed the requests and responses, the court finds that plaintiff’s second

set of requests were either responded to appropriately by defendants in the first set of responses,

have been addressed and either denied or granted, as modified, herein, or have received a

substantive response and production by defendants. Plaintiff’s motion with respect to the second

set of requests for production of documents is denied as moot.

Requests for Verification 

The court has also reviewed plaintiff’s requests for verification by defendants

Traquina, Cervantes, and McIntyre of the authenticity of documents submitted to them by

plaintiff. The undersigned has also reviewed defendants’ responses. As defendants contend,

they have conceded that the documents submitted that were in plaintiff’s central file are genuine,

but as to certain of the documents and to the extent the document was not to be found in

plaintiff’s central file, when a particular defendant had not authored/drafted that document, has

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averred that he or she is not the proper person to verify the document. Opp., p. 13. The court

will deny plaintiff’s requests for verification. 

Plaintiff’s Motion for Protective Order

Plaintiff moves the court for a protective order, relieving him of the obligation to

be deposed, upon defendants’ request/notice of a deposition, or to respond to defendants’

requests for production of documents. More broadly, plaintiff seeks an order staying discovery,

until defendants’ motion to dismiss and plaintiff’s motion to compel is resolved. 

The Federal Rules provide that good cause is required in order for a party to

obtain a protective order. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c); Kiblen v. Retail Credit Co., 76 F.R.D. 402, 404

(E.D. Wash. 1977). “Good cause” exists when justice requires the protection of “a party or

person from any annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense.” Fed. R.

Civ. P. 26(c). To prevail on a motion for a protective order, the party seeking the protection has

the burden to demonstrate “particular and specific demonstration[s] of fact, as distinguished from

conclusory statements . . . .” Id.; Twin City Fire Ins. Co. v. Employers Ins. of Wausau, 124

F.R.D. 652, 653 (D.Nev. 1989); Kamp Implement Co. v. J.I. Case Co., 630 F. Supp. 218, 219

(D.Mont. 1986). The determination must be made on a case-by-case basis. Skellerup Ind. Ltd. v.

City of Los Angeles, 163 F.R.D. 598, 601 (C.D. Cal. 1995). 

In requesting the stay of discovery, to which defendants have filed no response,

plaintiff avers, inter alia, that he seeks an order of protection from having to respond to discovery

requests that may become unnecessary, should the motion to dismiss be granted. However, this

is an incorrect premise because defendants’ motion only goes to plaintiff’s claims of fraud and

conspiracy and seeks dismissal outright of only one defendant; moreover, by plaintiff’s filing of

June 22, 2006, wherein he seeks appointment of counsel, plaintiff states that he has since

“submitted” to a deposition taken by defendants. Plaintiff’s motion is denied as moot. 14

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contention, defendants were proceeding pursuant to a court order in deposing plaintiff. See

Discovery Order filed on February 10, 2005.

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Motion for Appointment of Counsel

Plaintiff has repeatedly sought appointment of counsel, on November 12, 2004,

March 8, 2005, June 7, 2005, all of which requests have been denied. Plaintiff has been

previously informed that the United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack

authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United

States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court

may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v.

Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36

(9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the court has repeatedly not found the required exceptional

circumstances. 

Upon the denial of his third request for appointment of counsel, plaintiff filed a

request for reconsideration of that order. By Order, filed on August 16, 2005, the district judge

affirmed this court’s denial of the request. Plaintiff’s fourth request for the appointment of

counsel will therefore also be denied. Moreover, plaintiff has demonstrated in this litigation a

level of competence quite sufficient to proceed in this matter pro se. 

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s September 14, 2005, motion to compel further response and

production with respect to his first set of requests for production is GRANTED in part, as

modified herein, with respect to Request Nos. 3, 6, 16; and DENIED in part, as to Request Nos.

1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20.

2. Plaintiff’s September 14, 2005, motion to compel further response and

production with respect to his second set of requests for production is denied as moot;

3. Plaintiff’s September 14, 2005, motion to compel further verification of

document authenticity by defendants is denied. 

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4. Plaintiff’s March 21, 2006, motion for a protective order is denied as moot;

and

5. Plaintiff’s June 22, 2006 motion for appointment of counsel is denied.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that 

1. Defendants’ December 5, 2005 motion to dismiss be granted in part and

dismissed in part as follows:

a.) Granted as to plaintiff’s claims of fraud and conspiracy and these

claims be dismissed as to all defendants;

b.) Granted as to plaintiff’s claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1985, and

these claims be dismissed;

c.) Granted as to defendant Carey, in his individual capacity only, for

money damages, and this claim be dismissed;

d.) Denied as to defendant Carey, in his official capacity, and this matter

proceed as to this defendant on a claim for relief in the form of prospective injunctive relief only; 

2. Plaintiff’s claims pursuant to Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1 be dismissed;

3. This matter proceed only as to plaintiff’s claims against defendants under the

First and Eighth Amendments, and any supplemental state law negligence claim.

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, plaintiff may file written

objections with the court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate

Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections

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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: 7/12/06

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

 

 GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:009

broo1254.mtd+

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