Opinion
Case No.: 1:19-cv-0100- DAD- JLT
02-11-2019
CONRAD WOOD, Plaintiff, v. ANDREW BASSET, et al., Defendants.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS DISMISSING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND K-9 HERO AS A DEFENDANT IN THIS ACTION
Conrad Wood asserts that Andrew Basset and K-9 Hero with the Kern County Sheriff's Department are liable for excessive force when he was not resisting apprehension. (Doc. 1)
Previously, the Court found the facts alleged were sufficient to support a claim for excessive force against Basset, but Plaintiff failed to allege a cognizable claim against Hero. (Doc. 3) Plaintiff informed the Court he wishes to proceed only on the claim found cognizable. (Doc. 4) Therefore, as discussed below, the Court recommends the action proceed only on the claims for excessive force against Andrew Basset. I. Screening Requirement
When an individual seeks to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court is required to review the complaint and shall dismiss a complaint, or portion of the complaint, if it is "frivolous, malicious or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
A plaintiff's claim is frivolous "when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or not there are judicially noticeable facts available to contradict them." Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992). In other words, a complaint is frivolous where the litigant sets "not only the inarguable legal conclusion, but also the fanciful factual allegation." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). II. Pleading Standards
General rules for pleading complaints are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A pleading must include a statement affirming the court's jurisdiction, "a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and . . . a demand for the relief sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a).
A complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of the plaintiff's claim in a plain and succinct manner. Jones v. Cmty. Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). The purpose of the complaint is to inform the defendant of the grounds upon which the complaint stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme Court noted,
Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. A pleading that offers labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement.Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Vague and conclusory allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Court clarified further,
[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to "state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." [Citation]. A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. [Citation]. The plausibility standard is not akin to a "probability requirement," but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. [Citation]. Where a complaint pleads facts that are "merely consistent with" a defendant's liability, it "stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of 'entitlement to relief.'Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (citations omitted). When factual allegations are well-pled, a court should assume their truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; legal conclusions are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. The Court may grant leave to amend a complaint to the extent deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). III. Section 1983 Claims
An individual may bring an action for the deprivation of civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section 1983"), which provides in relevant part:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.42 U.S.C. § 1983. A plaintiff must allege facts from which it may be inferred (1) he was deprived of a federal right, and (2) a person or entity who committed the alleged violation acted under color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988); Williams v. Gorton, 529 F.2d 668, 670 (9th Cir. 1976).
A plaintiff must allege a specific injury was suffered, and show causal relationship between the defendant's conduct and the injury suffered. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-72 (1976). Thus, Section 1983 "requires that there be an actual connection or link between the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by the plaintiff." Chavira v. Ruth, 2012 WL 1328636 at *2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 17, 2012). An individual deprives another of a federal right "if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts, or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do so that it causes the deprivation of which complaint is made." Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). In other words, "[s]ome culpable action or in action must be attributable to defendants." See Puckett v. Corcoran Prison - CDCR, 2012 WL 1292573, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 13, 2012). IV. Factual Allegations
Plaintiff alleges that on April 30, 2017, he ran from Officer Basset at approximately 12:30 a.m. (Doc. 1 at 3) He alleges Officer Basset released his K-9 partner, Hero, though "the officer never told [Plaintiff] he would release his K-9 [i]f [Plaintiff] didn't stop." (Id.) Plaintiff asserts that when Hero caught him, he was "able to grab ahold (sic) of the dog so he did not bite." (Id.) According to Plaintiff, once Basset caught up with Plaintiff, "he told [Plaintiff] to release his dog and then punched [him] in the face." (Id.) Plaintiff asserts he then fell on his back and Hero bit him on the stomach. (Id.)
Plaintiff asserts Basset commanded Hero to let him go, and Plaintiff "then rolled over and prowned (sic) out and was not resisting." (Doc. 1 at 3) He alleges Officer Basset then let Hero bite Plaintiff two more times, on his right forearm and right bicep. (Id.) Plaintiff asserts he has "a loss of feeling in [his] forearm and [his] fingers now cramp and lock up" when he writes. (Id.) In addition, he asserts that his fingers go numb. (Id.) V. Discussion and Analysis
Based upon the foregoing facts, Plaintiff asserts Basset and Hero are liable for the use of excessive force. (Doc. 1 at 3)
The Supreme Court of the United States determined the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects individuals who have not yet been convicted of a crime "from the use of excessive force that amounts to punishment." Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 388 (1989). However, allegations of excessive force during an arrest are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits arrests without probable cause or other justification. Id. ("claim[s] that law enforcement officials used excessive force in the course of making an arrest, investigatory stop, or other 'seizure' ... are properly analyzed under the Fourth Amendment's 'objective reasonableness' standard"); see also Chew v. Gates, 27 F.3d 1432, 1440 (9th Cir. 1994) ("the use of force to effect an arrest is subject to the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable seizures"). The Supreme Court explained:
As in other Fourth Amendment contexts ... the "reasonableness" inquiry in an excessive force case is an objective one: the question is whether the officers' actions are "objectively reasonable" in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their underlying intent or motivation. An officer's evil intentions will not make a Fourth Amendment violation out of an objectively reasonable use of force; nor will an officer's good intentions make an objectively unreasonable use of force constitutional.Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97 (1989) (internal citations omitted). In applying this standard, the Ninth Circuit instructs courts to consider "the totality of the circumstances and . . . whatever specific factors may be appropriate in a particular case." Bryan v. MacPherson, 630 F.3d 805, 826 (9th Cir. 2010).
In Graham, the Supreme Court set forth factors to be considered in evaluating whether the force used was reasonable, "including the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight." Id., 490 U.S. at 396 (citing Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 8-9 (1985). In addition, Court may consider "whether officers administered a warning, assuming it was practicable." George v. Morris, 736 F.3d 829, 837-38 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 381-82 (2007). Ultimately, the "reasonableness" of the actions "must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight." Graham, 490 U.S. at 396.
A. Liability of the K-9
As an initial matter, Plaintiff is unable to state a claim against Hero, the police dog. Dogs are not amenable to suit, and do not qualify as government actors under Section 1983. See Andrade v. City of Burlingame, 847 F. Supp. 760, 764 (N.D. Cal. 1994) (explaining the police dog was neither a defendant in the case, "nor could it be," and the police dog was also not a government actor for purposes of a Fourth Amendment violation). Rather, the "key question" is whether the handlers acted intentionally. See id.; Kerr v. City of West Palm Beach, 875 F.2d 1546 (11th Cir. 1989); see also Mendoza v. Block, 27 F.3d 1357, 1362-63 (9th Cir. 1994) (use of a police dog is a factor for an excessive force claim against the police officers). Accordingly, the Court RECOMMENDS the claim against Hero be DISMISSED without leave to amend.
B. Liability of Officer Basset
Significantly, the Ninth Circuit determined that "improper encouragement of a continuation of the [dog] attack by officers could constitute excessive force." Watkins v. City of Oakland, 145 F.3d 1087, 1090-93 (9th Cir. 1998). Likewise, the Eleventh Circuit determined that when the plaintiff "did not pose a threat of bodily harm to the officers or to anyone else" and "was not attempting to flee or to resist arrest," a reasonable officer would not believe that allowing the dog to bite the plaintiff was reasonable use of force. See Priester v. City of Riviera Beach, 208 F.3d 919, 927 (11th Cir. 2000).
Plaintiff alleges that after he was in the prone position and "was not resisting," Officer Basset let Hero bite him. (Doc. 1 at 3) Thus, Plaintiff was not actively resisting and ceased attempting to evade the arrest. Significantly, Plaintiff contends Officer Basset allowed Hero to bite him both before and after he surrendered. Further, the facts alleged suggest Plaintiff was not a danger to others when Hero bit his forearm and bicep, given Plaintiff's prone position and lack of resistance. Assuming all facts alleged as true, the facts alleged support a claim for excessive against Officer Basset. See Watkins, 145 F.3d at 1090-93; Priester, 208 F.3d at 927. VI. Findings and Recommendations
For the reasons set forth above, and in the Court's prior order, the Court finds Plaintiff is unable to proceed upon his claim for excessive force against Hero, the police dog.
Accordingly, the Court RECOMMENDS:
1. Plaintiff's claim for excessive force against Hero be DISMISSED;
2. K-9 Hero be terminated as a defendant in this action; and
3. The action proceed only upon Plaintiff's claims under Section 1983 for excessive force, against Andrew Basset.
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)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the court. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Plaintiff is advised 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); Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 834 (9th Cir. 2014). IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: February 11 , 2019
/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE