Opinion
23-cv-05313 NC (PR)
02-29-2024
EDGAR AGUILAR, Plaintiff, v. NAPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, et al., Defendants.
ORDER OF SERVICE; DIRECTING DEFENDANTS TO FILE DISPOSITIVE MOTION OR NOTICE REGARDING SUCH MOTION; INSTRUCTIONS TO CLERK
NATHANAEL M. COUSINS UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff, a state prisoner, filed a pro se civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, concerning events which occurred at a jail while in the custody of the Napa County Department of Corrections (“NDOC”), where Plaintiff was temporarily housed before his transfer to a state prison. Dkt. No. 1 at 1. Plaintiff consented to magistrate judge jurisdiction. Dkt. No. 3. Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis will be addressed in a separate order.
BACKGROUND
I. Standard of Review
A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of 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 which 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. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).
To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two elements: (1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated and (2) that the violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
II. Plaintiff's Claims
This action involves the confiscation of a hardcover (and perhaps used) book, Garner's Dictionary of Legal Usage, sent to Plaintiff by his wife on July 9, 2023. Dkt. No. 1 at 3. The book was confiscated under NDOC's policy of excluding hardcover and used books. Id. at 5. According to the different levels of responses to Plaintiff's grievance on the matter, the book was placed in his property bag pursuant to that policy and available to be released to a loved one. Id. at 5-6. Plaintiff claims that the categorical ban of hardcover and used books violated his right to free speech under the First Amendment and the excluding and disposal of the book without an opportunity to challenge the exclusion violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process. Id. at 6, 8. Plaintiff seeks damages, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief. Id. at 9-10.
Liberally construed, Plaintiff has stated cognizable claims that his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated by the confiscation of his book under NDOC's policy. See Shaw v. Murphy, 532 U.S. 223, 229 (2001) (prison regulation that impinges on prisoner's First Amendment right to free speech valid only if “reasonably related to legitimate penological interests” under Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987)); Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 435-38)1982) (in some instances, Fourteenth Amendment requires an opportunity “granted at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner” for a hearing appropriate to the nature of the case).
CONCLUSION
1. The Clerk of the Court shall mail a Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service of Summons, two copies of the Waiver of Service of Summons, a copy of the complaint and all attachments thereto, a magistrate judge jurisdiction consent form, and a copy of this order to the Napa County Board of Supervisors, Director Dina Jose, Assistant Director A.J. Alarcon, Lt. Paul R. Fernandez, Sgt. G. Valesi, and R. Norris at the Napa County Department of Corrections (1125 3rd St., Napa, CA 94559). The Clerk of the Court shall also mail a courtesy copy of the complaint and a copy of this order to the Office of the County Counsel for Napa County (1195 Third St., Suite 301, Napa, CA 94559). Additionally, the Clerk shall mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff.
2. Defendants are cautioned that Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires them to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service of the summons and amended complaint. Pursuant to Rule 4, if Defendants, after being notified of this action and asked by the Court, on behalf of Plaintiff, to waive service of the summons, fail to do so, they will be required to bear the cost of such service unless good cause be shown for their failure to sign and return the waiver form. If service is waived, Defendants will be required to serve and file an answer within sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was sent to them. Defendants are asked to read the statement set forth at the bottom of the waiver form that more completely describes the duties of the parties with regard to waiver of service of the summons. If service is waived after the date provided in the Notice but before Defendants have been personally served, the Answer shall be due sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was sent or twenty (20) days from the date the waiver form is filed, whichever is later.
3. No later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date the form is sent from the Court, Defendants shall file their Consent or Declination to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.
4. No later than ninety-one (91) days from the date this order is filed, Defendants shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion with respect to the claims in the complaint found to be cognizable above.
a. Any motion for summary judgment shall be supported by adequate factual documentation and shall conform in all respects to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Defendants are advised that summary judgment cannot be granted, nor qualified immunity found, if material facts are in dispute. If any Defendant is of the opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment, he shall so inform the Court prior to the date the summary judgment motion is due.
b. In the event Defendants file a motion for summary judgment, the Ninth Circuit has held that Plaintiff must be concurrently provided the appropriate warnings under Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 963 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). See Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 940 (9th Cir. 2012).
5. Plaintiff's opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the Court and served on Defendants no later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date Defendants' motion is filed.
Plaintiff is also advised to read Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) (holding party opposing summary judgment must come forward with evidence showing triable issues of material fact on every essential element of his claim). Plaintiff is cautioned that failure to file an opposition to Defendants' motion for summary judgment may be deemed to be a consent by Plaintiff to the granting of the motion, and granting of judgment against Plaintiff without a trial. See Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam); Brydges v. Lewis, 18 F.3d 651, 653 (9th Cir. 1994).
6. Defendants shall file a reply brief no later than fourteen (14) days after Plaintiff's opposition is filed.
7. The motion shall be deemed submitted as of the date the reply brief is due. No hearing will be held on the motion unless the Court so orders at a later date.
8. All communications by the Plaintiff with the Court must be served on Defendants, or Defendants' counsel once counsel has been designated, by mailing a true copy of the document to Defendants or Defendants' counsel.
9. Discovery may be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. No further court order under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(a)(2) or Local Rule 16-1 is required before the parties may conduct discovery.
10. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the Court informed of any change of address by filing a separate paper with the Clerk headed “Notice of Change of Address.” He also must comply with the Court's orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).
11. Extensions of time must be filed no later than the deadline sought to be extended and must be accompanied by a showing of good cause.
IT IS SO ORDERED.