Opinion
3:10-cv-00615-RCJ-VPC.
December 16, 2010
ORDER
This is a prisoner civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted (docket #2). Based on the information regarding plaintiffs financial status in the Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, plaintiff is required to pay an initial installment of the filing fee pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
The grant of in forma pauperis status adjusts the amount of the filing fee that plaintiff must prepay — plaintiff has already prepaid his initial installment of $4.60, instead of having to prepay the full $350 filing fee for this action. The entire $350 filing fee will, however, remain due from plaintiff, and the institution where plaintiff is incarcerated will collect money toward the payment of the full filing fee when petitioner's institutional account has a sufficient balance, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The entire $350 filing fee will remain due and payable, and will be collected from plaintiff's institutional account regardless of the outcome of this action. The court now screens the complaint.
I. Screening Standard
Pursuant to the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), federal courts must dismiss a prisoner's claims, "if the allegation of poverty is untrue," or if the action "is frivolous or malicious," "fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted," or "seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. Nietzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Id. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989).
Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted is provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and the court applies the same standard under Section 1915(e)(2) when reviewing the adequacy of a complaint or amended complaint. Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Laboratory Corp. of America, 232 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000). A complaint must contain more than a "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;" it must contain factual allegations sufficient to "raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1965 (2007). "The pleading must contain something more . . . than . . . a statement of facts that merely creates a suspicion [of] a legally cognizable right of action." Id. In reviewing a complaint under this standard, 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 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to plaintiff and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969).
Allegations in a pro se complaint are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980); Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972) ( per curiam); see also Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). All or part of a complaint filed by a prisoner may be dismissed sua sponte, however, if the prisoner's claims lack an arguable basis either in law or in fact. This includes claims based on legal conclusions that are untenable ( e.g. claims against defendants who are immune from suit or claims of infringement of a legal interest which clearly does not exist), as well as claims based on fanciful factual allegations ( e.g. fantastic or delusional scenarios). See Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 327-28; see also McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991).
To sustain an action under section 1983, a plaintiff must show (1) that the conduct complained of was committed by a person acting under color of state law; and (2) that the conduct deprived the plaintiff of a federal constitutional or statutory right." Hydrick v. Hunter, 466 F.3d 676, 689 (9th Cir. 2006).
II. Instant Complaint
Plaintiff, who is incarcerated at Ely State Prison ("ESP"), has sued correctional officers Minnix, Perkins, Horsley, Deeds, Postman, and Does 1-4. Plaintiff claims the following: on January 31, 2010, officers forcefully extracted a number of inmates from their cells who were involved in a series of inmate protests. During the protest, defendant officers and other officers extracted plaintiff from his cell. Minnix lined up officers outside plaintiff's cell and instructed Perkins to turn off the video camera, which he did. They entered plaintiffs cell and used chemical agents, and after plaintiff was fully restrained, punched him repeatedly, broke his nose, cut his lips, smashed his head on the floor and against walls repeatedly, and rammed his head into several sallyport doors. At some point Minnix attached a dog leash to plaintiffs cuffs and pulled it forcefully through the food slot in plaintiffs cell door, cutting his arms. Plaintiff suffered injuries including concussion, swollen eyes, lips, heavily bruised face, broken nose, loosened teeth, and "disjointed" fingers and thumbs. Minnix prevented medical personnel from rendering assistance, aside from wiping some blood from plaintiffs face. When plaintiff was returned to his cell, John Doe #4, the senior shift officer, ignored his requests for medical attention and a shower. He asked the floor officer for a medical kite and was told "the senior will not let me give you anything." Plaintiff received no medical aid for five days. Plaintiff continues to suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision and light sensitivity. Plaintiff claims that defendants used excessive force against him and were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights.
With respect to plaintiffs excessive force claims, the Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of cruel and unusual punishments and "embodies broad and idealistic concepts of dignity, civilized standards, humanity and decency." Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 102 (1976). "[W]henever prison officials stand accused of using excessive physical force in violation of the [ Eighth Amendment], the core judicial inquiry is . . . whether force was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and sadistically to cause harm." Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 6-7 (1992); see also Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 320-21 (1986); Watts v. McKinney, 394 F.3d 710, 711 (9th Cir. 2005); Martinez v. Stanford, 323 F.3d 1178, 1184 (9th Cir. 2003); Marquez v. Gutierrez, 322 F.3d 689, 691-92 (9th Cir. 2003); Clement v. Gomez, 298 F.3d 898, 903 (9th Cir. 2002); Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 F.3d 895, 900 (9th Cir. 2001) ( per curiam); Schwenk v. Hartford, 204 F.3d 1187, 1196 (9th Cir. 2000); Robins v. Meecham, 60 F.3d 1436, 1441 (9th Cir. 1995); Berg v. Kincheloe, 794 F.2d 457, 460 (9th Cir. 1986). When determining whether the force is excessive, the court should look to the "extent of injury . . ., the need for application of force, the relationship between that need and the amount of force used, the threat `reasonably perceived by the responsible officials,' and `any efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response.'" Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7 (quoting Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321); see also Martinez, 323 F.3d at 1184. Although the Supreme Court has never required a showing that an emergency situation existed, "the absence of an emergency may be probative of whether the force was indeed inflicted maliciously or sadistically." Jordan, 986 F.2d at 1528 n. 7; see also Jeffers, 267 F.3d at 913 (deliberate indifference standard applies where there is no "ongoing prison security measure"); Johnson v. Lewis, 217 F.3d 726, 734 (9th Cir. 2000). Moreover, there is no need for a showing of serious injury as a result of the force, but the lack of such injury is relevant to the inquiry. See Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7-9; Martinez, 323 F.3d at 1184; Schwenk, 204 F.3d at 1196. Plaintiff states Eighth Amendment excessive force claims against defendants.
With respect to plaintiff's medical claim, a detainee or prisoner's claim of inadequate medical care does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment unless the mistreatment rises to the level of "deliberate indifference to serious medical needs." Id. at 106. The "deliberate indifference" standard involves an objective and a subjective prong. First, the alleged deprivation must be, in objective terms, "sufficiently serious." Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994) (citing Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991)). Second, the prison official must act with a "sufficiently culpable state of mind," which entails more than mere negligence, but less than conduct undertaken for the very purpose of causing harm. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837. A prison official does not act in a deliberately indifferent manner unless the official "knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety." Id.
In applying this standard, the Ninth Circuit has held that before it can be said that a prisoner's civil rights have been abridged, "the indifference to his medical needs must be substantial. Mere `indifference,' `negligence,' or `medical malpractice' will not support this cause of action." Broughton v. Cutter Laboratories, 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980), citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06. "[A] complaint that a physician has been negligent in diagnosing or treating a medical condition does not state a valid claim of medical mistreatment under the Eighth Amendment. Medical malpractice does not become a constitutional violation merely because the victim is a prisoner." Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. at 106; see also Anderson v. County of Kern, 45 F.3d 1310, 1316 (9th Cir. 1995); McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1050 (9th Cir. 1992) ( overruled on other grounds), WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133, 1136 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc). Even gross negligence is insufficient to establish deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. See Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 (9th Cir. 1990). A prisoner's mere disagreement with diagnosis or treatment does not support a claim of deliberate indifference. Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989).
Delay of, or interference with, medical treatment can also amount to deliberate indifference. See Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006); Clement v. Gomez, 298 F.3d 898, 905 (9th Cir. 2002); Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 744 (9th Cir. 2002); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131 (9th Cir. 1996); Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996); McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992) overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133, (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc); Hutchinson v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 394 (9th Cir. 1988). Where the prisoner is alleging that delay of medical treatment evinces deliberate indifference, however, the prisoner must show that the delay led to further injury. See Hallett, 296 F.3d at 745-46; McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1060; Shapley v. Nev. Bd. Of State Prison Comm'rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985) (per curiam). Plaintiff states Eighth Amendment medical claims against defendants Minnix and John Doe #4.
III. Conclusion
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiffs application to proceed in forma pauperis (docket #2) is GRANTED. Plaintiff Jacob Ramie Pratt, Inmate No. 88813, will be permitted to maintain this action to conclusion without prepayment of the full filing fee. Plaintiff has paid an initial installment of the filing fee in the amount of $4.60. Plaintiff will not be required to pay fees or costs, other than the filing fee, or give security therefor. This Order granting in forma pauperis status shall not extend to the issuance and service of subpoenas at government expense.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, even if this action is dismissed, or is otherwise unsuccessful, the full filing fee shall still be due, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, as amended by the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act of 1996.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, as amended by the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act of 1996, the Nevada Department of Corrections shall pay the Clerk of the United States District Court, District of Nevada, 20% of the preceding month's deposits to plaintiff's account (in months that the account exceeds $10.00), until the full $350 filing fee has been paid for this action. The Clerk shall send a copy of this order to Albert G. Peralta, Chief of Inmate Services, Nevada Department of Prisons, P.O. Box 7011, Carson City, NV 89702. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall detach and file the complaint (docket #2-1).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiffs claims MAY PROCEED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant(s) shall file and serve an answer or other response to the complaint within thirty (30) days following the date of the early inmate mediation. If the court declines to mediate this case, an answer or other response shall be due within thirty (30) days following the order declining mediation.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties SHALL DETACH, COMPLETE, AND FILE the attached Notice of Intent to Proceed with Mediation form on or before thirty (30) days from the date of entry of this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that henceforth, plaintiff shall serve upon defendants, or, if an appearance has been made by counsel, upon their attorney(s), a copy of every pleading, motion, or other document submitted for consideration by the Court. Plaintiff shall include with the original paper submitted for filing a certificate stating the date that a true and correct copy of the document was mailed to the defendants or counsel for defendants. If counsel has entered a notice of appearance, the plaintiff shall direct service to the individual attorney named in the notice of appearance, at the address stated therein. The Court may disregard any paper received by a district judge or a magistrate judge that has not been filed with the Clerk, and any paper which fails to include a certificate showing proper service.
DATED this 16th day of December, 2010. NOTICE OF INTENT TO PROCEED WITH MEDIATION
___________________________ Name ___________________________ Prison Number ___________________________ Address ___________________________ ___________________________ UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA _______________________________, ) Case No. ___________________ Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) _______________________________ ) ) _______________________________ ) Defendants. ) _________________________________) This case may be referred to the District of Nevada's early inmate mediation program. The purpose of this notice is to assess the suitability of this case for mediation. Mediation is a process by which the parties meet with an impartial court-appointed mediator in an effort to bring about an expedient resolution that is satisfactory to all parties. 1. Do you wish to proceed to early mediation in this case? ___ Yes ___ No 2. If no, please state the reason(s) you do not wish to proceed with mediation? _______________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. List any and all cases, including the case number, that plaintiff has filed in federal or state court in the last five years and the nature of each case. (Attach additional pages if needed). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. List any and all cases, including the case number, that are currently pending or any pending grievances concerning issues or claims raised in this case. (Attach additional pages if needed). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Are there any other comments you would like to express to the court about whether this case is suitable for mediation. You may include a brief statement as to why you believe this case is suitable for mediation. (Attach additional pages if needed). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ This form shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court on or before thirty (30) days from the date of this order. Counsel for defendants: By signing this form you are certifying to the court that you have consulted with a representative of the Nevada Department of Corrections concerning participation in mediation.Dated this _____ day of ________________________, 20 ____.
__________________________________________ Signature __________________________________________ Name of person who prepared or helped prepare this document