Opinion
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
JOHN F. MOULDS, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on plaintiff's claims raised in the complaint filed July 30, 2009, arising from allegations that while at Mule Creek State Prison ("MCSP"), defendants violated his Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights by facilitating a race-motivated attack on plaintiff, a black inmate, by a white inmate; attempting to cover-up the incident by issuing a falsified Rules Violation Report ("RVR"); and violating plaintiff's due process rights at the hearing on the RVR by denying plaintiff's request to call a witness. Plaintiff also claims that his rights under the Equal Protection clause were violated when he was removed from the Enhanced Outpatient Program ("EOP"), a mental health program, on account of his race. This matter is before the court on defendants' motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff opposes the motion.
FACTS
All facts are undisputed unless noted otherwise. At all times relevant to this action, plaintiff, a black inmate, was housed at MCSP. Inmate Clem, a white inmate and not a party to this action, was also housed at MCSP. Defendant Bishop was a correctional officer at MCSP. Lieutenant Kudlata was a senior hearing officer at MCSP.
It is undisputed that on November 28, 2008, plaintiff and Clem were involved in an altercation near plaintiff's cell. It is also undisputed that after the altercation, plaintiff was transferred to Administrative Segregation ("AdSeg") and charged with Battery on an Inmate, while Clem was merely returned to his assigned housing and not charged with any violations. It is further undisputed that plaintiff sustained an injury on his left hand and Clem sustained an injury on his face.
All remaining facts are in dispute. Plaintiff states that on the day in question, he was watching television with his cellmate when Clem approached his cell door. Pl.'s Dep. at 40. Plaintiff had never met or interacted with Clem in the past. Id . In the conversation that ensued, Clem accused plaintiff of being in possession of one of Clem's music CDs; plaintiff denied the accusation and told Clem to step away from the cell door. Id . Clem responded angrily, saying "What you mean get away from your door? Nigger, I'll get your door cracked and come in there and kick your ass." Id . Clem then called out to Bishop, "Bishop, open F-ing 114." Id; Pet., Ex. A at 31. After Clem yelled again to Bishop to open the door, plaintiff's cell door opened and Clem stepped inside. Pet., Ex. A at 31. Plaintiff claims he feared for his safety and responded by acting in self-defense, punching Clem one time in the face with his left hand. Id.
Defendants dispute this version of events. In the RVR issued following the incident, Bishop states that while he was releasing inmates into the dayroom, he believed he saw plaintiff's cellmate flash the cell lights to communicate a desire to be released from the cell to shower. Bishop Decl., ¶ 5. After hearing an inmate yell to open the door and upon believing that he saw a cell light flash, Bishop opened the door. Id . ¶ 6. Bishop then maintains that he saw plaintiff step out and strike Clem, a Building 5 porter who was standing near the cell door, in the facial area one time with his right hand. Id . ¶ 11; Pet., Ex. A at 28. Plaintiff was ordered to the ground, handcuffed and eventually rehoused in AdSeg while Clem was returned to his assigned housing. Pet., Ex. A at 28.
On the evening of November 28, 2008, plaintiff filed a 602 inmate grievance form. In the grievance, plaintiff repeated the allegations aforementioned. See Pet., Ex. A at 31. Plaintiff's appeals were denied at all levels of review. See Pet., Ex. A at 14-16; 22-26.
California prison regulations provide administrative procedures in the form of one informal and three formal levels of review to address an inmate's claims. See Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §§ 3084.1-3084.7. Administrative procedures generally are exhausted once a plaintiff has received a "Director's Level Decision, " or third level review, with respect to his issues or claims. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.5.
On December 18, 2008, a hearing was held as a result of the pending battery charge against plaintiff. See Pet. at 12. Defendant Lieutenant Kudlata was the senior hearing officer. Id. at 5. During the hearing, plaintiff claims Kudlata was biased against him and denied plaintiff the right to call his cellmate as a witness. Id . Relying upon Bishop's statement and plaintiff's medical record, plaintiff was found guilty of battery and assessed a 90-day loss of behavioral credit. Id. at 12.
On February 10, 2009, plaintiff was removed from EOP by the Institutional Classification Committee ("ICC"). Pl.'s Dep., Ex. C. Neither defendant was part of the ICC and neither made the decision to remove plaintiff from EOP. Bishop Decl. ¶ 13; Kudlata Decl. ¶ 6.
Plaintiff asserts that he was removed from EOP due to the false disciplinary charge and conviction. See Pl.'s Dep. at 15. Per plaintiff, once Bishop opened the cell door, it produced a "domino effect" that eventually resulted in plaintiff's removal from EOP. That is, plaintiff argues that because he was forced to administratively appeal the incident, he was no longer found to be in need of mental health care. Id.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARDS UNDER RULE 56
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a) provides that "[t]he court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). A shifting burden of proof governs motions for summary judgment under Rule 56. Nursing Home Pension Fund, Local 144 v. Oracle Corp. (In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig.) , 627 F.3d 376, 387 (9th Cir. 2010). Under summary judgment practice, the moving party
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 was revised and rearranged effective December 10, 2010. However, as stated in the Advisory Committee Notes to the 2010 Amendments to Rule 56, "[t]he standard for granting summary judgment remains unchanged."
always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, " which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986) (quoting then-numbered Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)). "Where the non-moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party need only prove that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party's case." In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig. , 627 F.3d at 387 (citing Celotex Corp. , 477 U.S. at 325); See also Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 advisory committee's notes to 2010 amendments (recognizing that "a party who does not have the trial burden of production may rely on a showing that a party who does have the trial burden cannot produce admissible evidence to carry its burden as to the fact").
If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the opposing party must establish that a genuine dispute as to any material fact actually does exist. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp. , 475 U.S. 574, 585-86 (1986). To overcome summary judgment, the opposing party must demonstrate the existence of a factual dispute that is both material, i.e., it affects the outcome of the claim under the governing law, See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); Fortune Dynamic, Inc. v. Victoria's Secret Stores Brand Mgmt., Inc. , 618 F.3d 1025, 1031 (9th Cir. 2010), and genuine, i.e., "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party, '" FreecycleSunnyvale v. Freecycle Network , 626 F.3d 509, 514 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting Anderson , 477 U.S. at 248). A party opposing summary judgment must support the assertion that a genuine dispute of material fact exists by: "(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations..., admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or (B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(1)(A)-(B). However, the opposing party "must show more than the mere existence of a scintilla of evidence." In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig. , 627 F.3d at 387 (citing Anderson , 477 U.S. at 252).
"The court need consider only the cited materials, but may consider other materials in the record." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(3). Moreover, "[a] party may object that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible in evidence." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(2).
In resolving a summary judgment motion, the evidence of the opposing party is to be believed. See Anderson , 477 U.S. at 255. Moreover, all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the facts placed before the court must be viewed in a light most favorable to the opposing party. See Matsushita , 475 U.S. at 587; In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig. , 627 F.3d at 387. However, to demonstrate a genuine factual dispute, the opposing party "must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.... Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no genuine issue for trial.'" Matsushita , 475 U.S. at 587 (citation omitted).
On November 12, 2009, the court advised plaintiff of the requirements for opposing a motion pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Rand v. Rowland , 154 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc), cert. denied, 527 U.S. 1035 (1999), and Klingele v. Eikenberry , 849 F.2d 409 (9th Cir. 1988).
DISCUSSION
Defendants seek summary judgment on the following grounds: (1) Bishop did not violate plaintiff's Eighth Amendment rights; (2) plaintiff cannot maintain an action for damages against defendants because plaintiff suffered de minimus injuries; (3) plaintiff is barred from maintaining this suit by Heck v. Humphreys , 512 U.S. 477 (1994); (4) defendants were not involved in the decision to remove plaintiff from EOP; and (5) defendants are entitled to qualified immunity.
1. Heck Bar
The court turns first to defendants' Heck argument. Defendants argue that plaintiff's claim is barred by Heck because a judgment in plaintiff's favor would necessarily characterize plaintiff's actions as self-defense, calling into question the validity of the battery conviction. The court agrees.
In Heck, the Supreme Court held that, where a plaintiff's successful prosecution of a section 1983 claim would imply the invalidity of a sentence or conviction, the plaintiff must first prove that the underlying conviction has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by an authorized state tribunal, or called into question by the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. "Heck, in other words, says that if a criminal conviction arising out of the same facts stands and is fundamentally inconsistent with the unlawful behavior for which section 1983 damages are sought, the 1983 action must be dismissed." Smithart v. Towery , 79 F.3d 951, 952 (9th Cir. 1996). In applying Heck, a district court therefore must "consider whether a judgment in favor of the plaintiff would necessarily imply the invalidity of [the plaintiff's] conviction or sentence; if it would, the complaint must be dismissed unless the plaintiff can demonstrate that the conviction or sentence has already been invalidated." 512 U.S. at 486-87.
Plaintiff's section 1983 claim stems from the altercation between him and fellow inmate Clem. Plaintiff alleges that Bishop opened the cell door to facilitate Clem's attack on plaintiff. As a result of this incident, plaintiff claims Bishop falsely charged plaintiff with battery on an inmate. Plaintiff received a hearing on this disciplinary charge and was found guilty, due, in part, to Kudlata's bias against plaintiff, thereby receiving a 90 day credit forfeiture of behavioral credit as a penalty. In so finding, the hearing officer credited as true Bishop's version of the incident, wherein plaintiff initiated the physical altercation by striking Clem, and relied on medical records. The result of a prison disciplinary hearing constitutes a conviction for purposes of applying Heck. Edwards v. Balisok , 520 U.S. 641, 646 (1997). Accordingly, plaintiff's section 1983 claim must be dismissed if it calls into question the validity of either his conviction for battery or resulting sentence. Id .; See Sharp v. Morrison, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 72649, *13-15 (E.D. Cal. July 19, 2010).
Assuming plaintiff has a liberty interest to be free from loss of good time credits, he is entitled to due process protections under the Fourteenth Amendment as follows: 1) written notice of the charges; 2) a statement of the evidence relied upon by the prison officials and the reasons for disciplinary action; 3) an opportunity to call witnesses and present documentary evidence when permitting him to do so would not unduly threaten institutional safety and goals, and 4) assistance from staff when the inmate is illiterate or the issues presented in the charge are complex. Wolf v. McDonnell , 418 U.S. 539, 563-66, 570 (1974). Due process is satisfied as long as there is some evidence to support the decisions of the disciplinary board. Cato v. Rushen , 824 F.2d 703, 704 (9th Cir. 1987) (citing Superintendent, Massachusetts Correctional Institution v. Hill , 472 U.S. 445, 448 (1985)).
If the court were persuaded by plaintiff's charges and granted him relief on his due process claims, it would render the rules violation and subsequent good-time credit forfeiture invalid. Such a claim may not be brought under section 1983 "unless and until the conviction or sentence is reversed, expunged, invalidated, or impugned by the grant of writ of habeas corpus." Butterfield v. Bail , 120 F.3d 1023, 1025 (9th Cir. 1997). Plaintiff's claim is barred by the favorable termination rule under Edwards v. Balisok , 520 U.S. 641, 648 (1997).
In Edwards, a prisoner brought a claim under section 1983 challenging a loss of good-time credits based on alleged due process violations at his disciplinary proceeding because the hearing officer refused to ask questions of requested witnesses, denied him the right to present evidence on his own behalf, and lied about the nonexistence of witness statements. 520 U.S. at 646-47.
The Supreme Court has spoken loud and clear that the only remedy in federal court for a prisoner seeking restoration of lost good-time credits is habeas corpus, not section 1983. Preiser v. Rodriguez , 411 U.S. 475, 500 (1973); Heck , 512 U.S. at 487 (1994). This is because a suit challenging deprivation of good-time conduct credits necessarily challenges the duration of the inmate's confinement, and Congress has determined that habeas corpus is the appropriate remedy for prisoners attacking the validity of the fact and length of their confinement. Preiser , 411 U.S. at 487-88, 490; See also Wolff v. McDonnell , 418 U.S. 539, 570-71 (1974) (explaining there is a protected liberty interest in shortened prison sentence which results from good-time credits). A challenge under section 1983, seeking only damages and declaratory relief for procedural due process violations is also barred if the nature of the challenge would necessarily imply the invalidity of the deprivation of good-time credits. Edwards, 502 U.S. at 643 (citing Heck , 512 U.S. at 487).
In Edwards, the Court explained that in response to the obvious procedural defect claimed by Edwards, which was that he had been precluded from submitting witness statements at his disciplinary proceeding, state and federal courts will reinstate good-time credits, absent a new hearing. Edwards , 520 U.S. at 647 (citations omitted). Edwards' claim, however, went further. He claimed that the cause of the exclusion was the deceit and bias of the hearing officer. Edwards claimed the hearing officer lied about the nonexistence of witness statements, intentionally denying him the right to present these witnesses. "A criminal defendant tried by a partial judge is entitled to have his conviction set aside, no matter how strong the evidence against him." Id . (citations omitted). "The due process requirements for a prison disciplinary hearing are in many respects less demanding than those for criminal prosecution, but they are not so lax as to let stand the decision of a biased hearing officer who dishonestly suppresses evidence of innocence. Id . (citing cf. Wolff , 418 U.S. at 570-71).
Here, plaintiff makes the same challenge made by Edwards. Just as the Court concluded in Edwards, this claim necessarily implies the invalidity of the punishment imposed and is not cognizable under section 1983. For plaintiff to prevail, this court must declare the disciplinary conviction invalid due to the bias and dishonesty of the defendants. Such an invalidated conviction must be set aside. Edwards , 520 U.S. at 647. Then, the setting aside of the disciplinary conviction would necessitate return of the forfeited good-time credits and would correspondingly reduce the plaintiff's sentence. This is not a case like Ramirez v. Galaza , 334 F.3d 850 (9th Cir. 2003), where the only consequence of invalidating the disciplinary conviction is the revocation or termination of housing placement, without affecting the length of incarceration.
Based thereon, summary judgment should be granted as to this claim.
2. Removal from the Enhanced Outpatient Program
Defendants also seek dismissal of plaintiff's claim that his removal from EOP violated plaintiff's Equal Protection rights.
The "Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment commands that no State shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, ' which is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike." City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center , 473 U.S. 432, 439, 105 S.Ct. 3249, 87 L.Ed.2d 313 (1985). State prison inmates retain a right to equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Walker v. Gomez , 370 F.3d 969, 974 (9th Cir. 2004) (citing Lee v. Washington , 390 U.S. 333, 334 (1968)).
In the prison context, however, even fundamental rights such as the right to equal protection are judged by a standard of reasonableness-specifically, whether the actions of prison officials are "reasonably related to legitimate penological interests." Turner v. Safley , 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987); See also Jordan v. Gardner , 986 F.2d 1521, 1530 (9th Cir. 1993) (equal protection concerns fall under Turner).
Walker , 370 F.3d at 974.
An equal protection claim may be established by showing that the defendant intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff based on the plaintiff's membership in a protected class, Serrano v. Francis , 345 F.3d 1071, 1082 (9th Cir. 2003), Lee v. City of Los Angeles , 250 F.3d 668, 686 (9th Cir. 2001), or that similarly situated individuals were intentionally treated differently without a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose, Village of Willowbrook v. Olech , 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000); Lazy Y Ranch Ltd. v. Behrens , 546 F.3d 580, 592 (9th Cir. 2008); North Pacifica LLC v. City of Pacifica , 526 F.3d 478, 486 (9th Cir. 2008).
Generally, there can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant's actions and the claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode , 423 U.S. 362 (1976). 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 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Here, plaintiff does not argue that either defendant directly caused him to be removed from EOP. In fact, plaintiff readily admits that the decision to remove him from EOP was made by a mental health professional. See Pl.'s Dep. at 16. Instead, plaintiff argues that due to the altercation with Clem and the subsequent disciplinary hearing and conviction, a "domino effect" existed that eventually led to his removal from EOP.
Examination of the record and the applicable law reveals that plaintiff's claim fails because, first, the link between defendants' actions and his removal from the mental health program is simply too attenuated; and, second, plaintiff's argument that if Clem, a white inmate, was a participant in EOP, he would not have been removed from the program is unsupported by any evidence. To the extent that plaintiff claims defendants discriminated against him because of his race, plaintiff has not alleged any facts demonstrating that he was intentionally discriminated against on the basis of his membership in a protected class, or that he was intentionally treated differently than other similarly situated inmates without a rational relationship to a legitimate state purpose.
Thus, there is no genuine issue as to any material facts regarding plaintiff's Equal Protection claim. Therefore, summary judgment should be granted.
Because the undersigned recommends granting defendants' motion for summary judgment as to both of plaintiff's claims, the court need not address the remaining proposed grounds for dismissal.
For all of the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
1. Defendants' motion for summary judgment be granted;
2. This action be dismissed.
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, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." The parties are advised that failure to file objections 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).