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Tuvalu v. Woodford

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jul 29, 2010
389 F. App'x 735 (9th Cir. 2010)

Opinion

No. 08-16807.

Submitted July 19, 2010.

The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).

Filed July 29, 2010.

Tutuila F. Tuvalu, Blythe, CA, pro se.

James Flynn, Deputy Attorney General, AGCA-Office of the California Attorney General, Sacramento, CA, for DefendantsAppellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, John A. Mendez, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 2:04-cv-01724-JAMKJM.

Before: B. FLETCHER, REINHARDT, and WARDLAW, Circuit Judges.



MEMORANDUM

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

Tutuila F. Tuvalu, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court's judgment in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging constitutional violations arising from the prison's family visitation policy. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 853 (9th Cir. 2003) (failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A); Arpin v. Santa Clara Valley Transp. Agency, 261 F.3d 912, 919 (9th Cir. 2001) (summary judgment). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Tuvalu's family association claims because the challenged regulation precluding overnight family visits to prisoners serving life sentences without parole dates is rationally related to legitimate penological interests. See Overton v. Bazzetta, 539 U.S. 126, 133-36, 123 S.Ct. 2162, 156 L.Ed.2d 162 (2003).

The district court also properly granted summary judgment on Tuvalu's equal protection claim because, even assuming that ` Tuvalu raised a triable issue as to whether the prison allows overnight visits to "informants," it is not irrational for prison officials to offer a special privilege to those who provide information about threats to the security of the institution or other g. inmates. See Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89, 107 S.Ct. 2254, 96 L.Ed.2d 64 (1987).

The district court properly dismissed Tuvalu's Eighth Amendment, see Overton, 539 U.S. at 136-37, 123 S.Ct. 2162, and Ex Post Facto Clause claims, see Seling v. Young, 531 U.S. 250, 267, 121 S.Ct. 727, 148 L.Ed.2d 734 (2001).

Tuvalu's conspiracy claim fails because he did not establish an underlying constitutional violation. See Avalos v. Baca, 596 F.3d 583, 592 (9th Cir. 2010).

Tuvalu's remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

Tuvalu's motions to supplement the record are construed as requests for judicial notice and so construed are granted.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Tuvalu v. Woodford

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jul 29, 2010
389 F. App'x 735 (9th Cir. 2010)
Case details for

Tuvalu v. Woodford

Case Details

Full title:Tutuila F. TUVALU, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jeanne S. WOODFORD; et al.…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Jul 29, 2010

Citations

389 F. App'x 735 (9th Cir. 2010)

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