Opinion
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION RE: DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT [ECF No. 32]
MITCHELL D. DEMBIN, Magistrate Judge.
I. INTRODUCTION
This Report and Recommendation is submitted to United States District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Local Civil Rules 72.1 and 72.3(f) of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. For the reasons set forth herein, the Court RECOMMENDS Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment be GRANTED.
II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Ronald Chrisman ("Plaintiff") was a state prisoner formerly incarcerated at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility ("Donovan"). (ECF No. 13 at 3). On July 18, 2011, Plaintiff filed the operative Second Amended Complaint ("SAC"). (ECF No. 13). In his SAC, Plaintiff claims that on February 22, 2009, at Donovan, Defendants Verkouteren, Hice, Samaniego, White, and Mendoza assaulted him and violated his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. ( Id. at 14-15).
On October 4, 2011, Defendants filed an Answer to Plaintiff's SAC. (ECF No. 14). On May 10, 2013, Defendants Hice and Samaniego filed the instant Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF No. 32). On June 14, 2013, Plaintiff filed a Statement of Non-Opposition in response to the Defendants' Motion. (ECF No. 34).
III. STATEMENT OF FACTS
Plaintiff claims that he was assaulted on February 22, 2009, violating his civil rights. (ECF No. 13 at 14-15). Plaintiff alleges that while he was waiting in an outdoor "pill line, " Samaniego asked Plaintiff to button his jacket. (ECF No. 13 at 7). Plaintiff states that he did not comply with Samaniego's request, and that as a result, he was handcuffed, thrown to the ground, and dragged to a "work change" area by several of the correctional officers on duty. ( Id. at 6-8). Plaintiff alleges that the officers then took turns beating him, causing him severe injuries. ( Id. at 8).
In his SAC, Plaintiff made specific claims regarding the participation of Samaniego and Hice in the alleged assault. ( See id. ). He alleged that Samaniego participated in the beating, and that Hice watched the beating without taking any steps to prevent it. ( Id. ). In their Motion for Summary Judgment, Samaniego and Hice present a different set of facts than those alleged by Plaintiff. The version presented by these Defendants is consistent with Plaintiff's deposition testimony. ( See ECF Nos. 32 and 34).
In her Declaration supporting the Motion, Samaniego denies having any physical contact with Plaintiff on the day in question. (ECF No. 32-5 at 2-3). Samaniego admits to monitoring the pill line, and to seeing Plaintiff be taken to the work change area. ( Id. ). However, Samaniego alleges that she did not see Plaintiff again that day, and did not witness the alleged assault. ( Id. ). Plaintiff admits in his deposition that Samaniego was not in the work change area when the alleged assault occurred. (ECF. No. 32-4 at 28-29). Plaintiff claims that Samaniego accompanied him to the work change area, but "she left right away." ( Id. ).
Plaintiff refers to Defendant Samaniego as "the female officer" in his deposition testimony. (See ECF No. 1 at 32-4).
According to Hice's Declaration, he was in an observation tower near the outdoor pill line when he saw Plaintiff fall to the ground. (ECF No. 31-3 at 15-17). Hice further alleges that he stayed in the tower after Plaintiff was taken to the work change area, and did not observe or have knowledge of the alleged assault. ( Id. ). In his deposition, Plaintiff admitted that he did not know where Hice was when the alleged assault occurred. (ECF No. 32-4 at 35-36). When asked whether he knew who Hice was, Plaintiff responded, "not exactly, no." ( Id. at 34).
IV. DISCUSSION
Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes the granting of summary judgment "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The parties bear the same substantive burden of proof as would apply at a trial on the merits, including plaintiff's burden to establish any element essential to his case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322; Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). The party seeking summary judgment bears the initial burden of demonstrating to the court that summary judgment is appropriate. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. The burden then shifts to the non-moving party to provide evidence beyond the pleadings that shows that summary judgment is inappropriate. Id. at 322-24.
To successfully rebut a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party "must point to some facts in the record that demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact and, with all reasonable inferences made in the plaintiff's favor, could convince a reasonable jury to find for the plaintiff." Reese v. Jefferson School Dist. No. 14J, 208 F.3d 736, 738 (9th Cir. 2000) (internal citations omitted). "As to materiality, the substantive law will identify which facts are material." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). Only factual disputes that might affect the outcomes of the suit will properly preclude entry of summary judgment. Id.
In their Motion for Summary Judgment, Defendants Samaniego and Hice allege that no genuine issue exists as to any material fact with respect to the claims against them. (ECF No. 32 at 1-10). Plaintiff admitted in his deposition that Samaniego was not present when he was allegedly assaulted. (ECF No. 32-4 at 28-29). Plaintiff also admitted that he did not know who Hice was, and that he did not see Hice during the alleged assault. ( Id. at 34-36). These admissions are consistent with Declarations provided by Samaniego and Hice denying that they were present at the time of the alleged assault. ( See ECF No. 32-5 and 32-3). There is no evidence before the Court contradicting the fact that Defendants Samaniego and Hice were not present.
Given the facts that Plaintiff now admits, no reasonable jury could find in Plaintiff's favor against these Defendants. See Reese, 208 F.3d at 738. In light of these facts, and Plaintiff's Statement of Non-Opposition to the Motion, there is no genuine issue of material fact with respect to Plaintiff's original claims that Samaniego and Hice violated his civil rights by participating in the alleged assault, and Defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See id. Thus, the Court RECOMMENDS that Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment be GRANTED.
V. CONCLUSION
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
This Report and Recommendation will be submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to this case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties by August 13, 2013. The document shall be captioned "Objections to Report and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed by August 20, 2013. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specific time may waive the right to raise those objections on appeal of the Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
IT IS SO ORDERED.