Barstad v. State of Washington

1 Aug 09, 2022 2 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 4 JAMES BENJAMIN BARSTAD, No. 4:21-cv-05105-SMJ 5 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY 6 JUDGMENT v. 7 STATE OF WASHINGTON, sued 8 jointly and severally, in personal/private/"Individual" and 9 official/public/de facto/"Person"al capacities, et al., 10 Defendants. 11 12 Before the Court is Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 13 29. After review of the file, the Court grants the motion and enters judgment in 14 favor of the Defendants. 15 BACKGROUND 16 Plaintiff is currently an inmate in the custody of the Washington State 17 Department of Corrections. Plaintiff claims that Defendants—the state of 18 Washington, Governor Inslee, and Superintendent Uttecht—failed to protect him 19 from contracting COVID-19 when he was housed at the Coyote Ridge Corrections 20 Center. He alleges that Defendants inflicted “unnecessary punishment” and 1 unlawful restraint because he now suffers from “diminished lung capacity, 2 shortened life expectancy and unnecessary mental anguish and physical suffering.” 3 In his complaint, Plaintiff states that he seeks $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 in damages 4 for “each occurrence” with 18% interest. ECF No. 1-2. 5 Defendants then filed their motion for summary judgment, accompanied by 6 a statement of facts, two declarations in support of the motion, and a dispositive 7 motion notice to pro se plaintiff. ECF Nos. 29–33. Plaintiff filed a short brief in 8 opposition but did not include any additional evidence. See ECF No. 37. 9 LEGAL STANDARD 10 The Court must grant summary judgment if “the movant shows that there is 11 no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as 12 a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A fact is “material” if it “might affect the 13 outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 14 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). A dispute about a material fact is “genuine” if “the evidence 15 is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. 16 The moving party bears the initial burden of showing no genuine dispute of 17 material fact exists because a reasonable jury could not find in favor of the 18 nonmoving party. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 325 (1986); 19 Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 588 n.10, 587 20 (1986). If the moving party makes this showing, the nonmoving party then bears 1 the burden of showing a genuine dispute of material fact exists because reasonable 2 minds could differ on the result. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248–51; Matsushita 3 Elec. Indus., 475 U.S. at 586–87. 4 The nonmoving party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of its 5 pleading and must instead set forth specific facts, and point to substantial probative 6 evidence, tending to support its case and showing a genuine issue requires trial 7 resolution. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248–49. The Court must enter summary 8 judgment against the nonmoving party if it fails to make a showing sufficient to 9 establish an element essential to its case and on which it would bear the burden of 10 proof at trial. See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322. 11 In ruling on a summary judgment motion, the Court must view the evidence 12 in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See Tolan v. Cotton, 572 U.S. 13 650, 657 (2014) (quoting Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157 (1970)). 14 Thus, the Court must accept the nonmoving party’s evidence as true and draw all 15 reasonable inferences in its favor. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. The Court may 16 not assess credibility or weigh evidence. See id. 17 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, at least two elements must be met: 18 (1) the defendant must be a person acting under color of state law, (2) and his 19 conduct must have deprived the plaintiff of rights, privileges or immunities secured 20 by the constitution or laws of the United States. Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 1 535 (1981). Implicit in the second element is a third element of causation. See Mt. 2 Healthy City School Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 286-87 (1977); 3 Flores v. Pierce, 617 F.2d 1386, 1390-91 (9th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 4 875 (1980). That plaintiff may have suffered harm, even if due to another’s 5 negligent conduct, does not in itself, necessarily demonstrate an abridgment of 6 constitutional protections. Davidson v. Cannon, 474 U.S. 344 (1986). 7 DISCUSSION 8 A. Plaintiff’s Claims Against Washington State and the Individual Defendants in their Official Capacities Are Barred by The Eleventh 9 Amendment 10 “Section 1983 provides a federal forum to remedy many deprivations of civil 11 liberties, but it does not provide a federal forum for litigants who seek a remedy 12 against a State for alleged deprivations of civil liberties.” Will v. Michigan Dept. of 13 State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 66 (1989). “The Eleventh Amendment bars such suits 14 unless the State has waived its immunity, Welch v. Texas Dept. of Highways and 15 Public Transportation, 483 U.S. 468, 472–473 (1987) (plurality opinion), or unless 16 Congress has exercised its undoubted power under § 5 of the Fourteenth 17 Amendment to override that immunity.” Id. In passing Section 1983, Congress did 18 not abrogate the States’ Eleventh Amendment immunity. Id. (citing Quern v. 19 Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 342 (1979); see also Johnson v. Washington, 2019 WL 20 5223048, at *1 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 17, 2019), report and recommendation adopted, 1 2019 WL 5213116 (W.D. Wash. Oct. 16, 2019) (“Neither states, nor entities that 2 are arms of the state, are ‘persons’ for purposes of § 1983.”). And government 3 officials sued in their official capacities are likewise protected from suit because the 4 suit is “in substance, a suit against the Government over which the court, in the 5 absence of consent, has no jurisdiction.” Larson v. Domestic & Foreign Commerce 6 Corp., 337 U.S. 682, 688 (1949). Plaintiff’s claims against the State of Washington, 7 Governor Inslee in his official capacity, and Superintendent Uttecht in his official 8 capacity, are therefore barred by the Eleventh Amendment. Lucas v. Dep’t of 9 Corrections, 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995). As such, Washington State is entitled 10 to summary judgment. The individual defendants are also entitled to summary 11 judgment as to the claims brought against them in their official capacity. 12 B. Plaintiff Fails to Present Evidence Demonstrating Personal Participation of the Individual Defendants 13 Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must prove that the particular defendant 14 has caused or personally participated in causing the deprivation of a particular 15 protected constitutional right. Arnold v. IBM, 637 F.2d 1350, 1355 (9th Cir. 1981); 16 Sherman v. Yakahi, 549 F.2d 1287, 1290 (9th Cir. 1977). To be liable for “causing” 17 the deprivation of a constitutional right, the particular defendant must commit an 18 affirmative act, or omit to perform an act, that he or she is legally required to do, 19 and which causes the plaintiff’s deprivation. Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 20 (9th Cir. 1978). 1 The inquiry into causation must be individualized and focus on the duties and 2 responsibilities of each individual defendant whose acts or omissions are alleged to 3 have caused a constitutional deprivation. Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 633 (9th 4 Cir. 1988); see also Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 370–71, 375–77 (1976). The 5 plaintiff must set forth specific facts showing a causal connection between each 6 defendant’s actions and the harm allegedly suffered by plaintiff. Aldabe v. Aldabe, 7 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980); Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371. 8 Barstad asserts that due to their supervisory positions, Superintendent Uttecht 9 and Governor Inslee were responsible for implementing policies and executive 10 orders that Department staff were required to carry out. But defendants in a 42 11 U.S.C. § 1983 action cannot be held liable based on a theory of respondeat superior 12 or vicarious liability. Polk County v. Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 325 (1981); Bergquist 13 v. County of Cochise, 806 F.2d 1364, 1369 (9th Cir. 1986) (abrogated on other 14 grounds by City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378 (1989)). “At a minimum, a § 15 1983 plaintiff must show that a supervisory official at least implicitly authorized, 16 approved, or knowingly acquiesced in the unconstitutional conduct.” Bellamy v. 17 Bradley, 729 F.2d 416, 421 (6th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 845 (1984). A 18 defendant cannot be held liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 solely on the basis of 19 supervisory responsibility or position. Monell v. Department of Social Services of 20 1 City of New York, 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978); Padway v. Palches, 665 F.2d 965 (9th 2 Cir. 1982). 3 Barstad argues that staff were not properly wearing masks and that new 4 inmates continued to be brought into the facility which increased his risk of “cross 5 contamination.” ECF No. 1-2 at 12. But Barstad provides no evidence to show 6 Superintendent Uttecht or Governor Inslee knowingly participated or acquiesced to 7 any unconstitutional conduct against him. Even assuming Plaintiff’s grievances rise 8 to the level of a constitutional violation, none of his allegations, nor his exhibits to 9 his complaint, indicate that either Defendant was aware of prison staff not properly 10 wearing masks nor that Plaintiff was exposed to new inmates who may have been 11 carrying the virus.. Accordingly, the Court finds that Superintendent Uttecht and 12 Governor Inslee are entitled to summary judgment on all the claims against them. 13 C. The Individual Defendants are Entitled to Qualified Immunity 14 Even if Defendants Uttecht and Inslee were not entitled to summary 15 judgment for lack of personal participation, they would be entitled to qualified 16 immunity. “The doctrine of qualified immunity protects government officials ‘from 17 liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly 18 established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would 19 have known.’” Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009) (quoting Harlow v. 20 Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, (1982)). To determine whether an official is entitled 1 to qualified immunity, courts generally apply a two-part inquiry: “First, do the facts 2 the plaintiff alleges show a violation of a constitutional right? Second, was the right 3 ‘clearly established’ at the time of the alleged misconduct.” Carrillo v. Cty. of L.A., 4 798 F.3d 1210, 1218 (9th Cir. 2015) (citations omitted). “An officer cannot be said 5 to have violated a clearly established right unless the right’s contours were 6 sufficiently definite that any reasonable official in his shoes would have understood 7 that he was violating it, meaning that existing precedent placed the statutory or 8 constitutional question beyond debate.” Id. (quoting City & Cty. of S.F. v. Sheehan, 9 135 S. Ct. 1765, 1774 (2015)). 10 Here, Plaintiff has not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate a violation 11 of his constitutional rights. As noted, he has failed to show the personal involvement 12 of the individual Defendants. He has also failed to establish a violation of his Eighth 13 Amendment rights prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. “[A] prison official 14 violates the Eighth Amendment only when two requirements are met.” Farmer v. 15 Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834 (1994). First, the inmate must show that the alleged 16 deprivation at the hands of prison officials was, “objectively, sufficiently serious” 17 and “result[ed] in the denial of the minimal civilized measures of life’s necessities.” 18 Id. While judgments regarding this requirement “should be informed by objective 19 factors to the maximum possible extent,” the Supreme Court has held that “[n]o 20 static ‘test’ can exist by which courts determine whether conditions of confinement 1 are cruel and unusual” because the Eighth Amendment “must draw its meaning 2 from the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing 3 society.” Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 346 (1981). “[C]onditions that cannot 4 be said to be cruel and unusual under contemporary standards are not 5 unconstitutional.” Id. at 347. 6 While Defendant did contract COVID-19 while incarcerated, testing positive 7 on June 21, 2020, he fortunately suffered a relatively minor case, and his medical 8 records demonstrate that he recovered with no lingering complications. Notably, 9 Plaintiff’s medical records demonstrate that his case of COVID-19 was initially 10 asymptomatic and that he was visited by medical providers multiple times. ECF No. 11 30 at 2. Then, on June 29, 2020, Plaintiff reported a slight cough and headache, but 12 no other symptoms. Id. He also noted that he had a history of Chronic Obstructive 13 Pulmonary Disease and that at some point prior to his incarceration, he smoked one 14 pack of cigarettes a day for 30 days. Id. Plaintiff was then monitored pursuant to the 15 COVID-19 protocol in place and reported on a daily basis that he had no additional 16 symptoms, besides noting that his allergies were bothering him. Id. On July 16, 17 2020, Plaintiff was released from medical isolation. Id. 18 His next medical visit, on August 27, 2020, was completely unrelated to 19 COVID-19; he instead reported hand pain. Id. Next, on March 21, 2021, he visited 20 medical for high blood pressure, noting at that time that he did not have any chest 1 pains or new medical problems. Id. Between May 3, 2021 and June 8, 2021, Plaintiff 2 attended various appointments regarding his hand and hip pain. Id. Also, between 3 January 1, 2020 and July 8, 2020, Plaintiff filed three health services kites, which 4 regarded requests for prescription refills, a flu shot, and hand treatment. Id. at 3. 5 Most recently, Plaintiff notified the Court that he had contracted COVID-19 a 6 second time, though he provides no support for this claim or evidence that this 7 occurrence was any more severe than his previous case. ECF No. 37 at 2. As 8 evidenced by this summary, Plaintiff’s case of COVID-19 was relatively tame, even 9 if unpleasant, and almost all of Plaintiff’s medical concerns over the past few years 10 had nothing to do with COVID-19 and instead focused on unrelated conditions. 11 Thus, any injury stemming from the alleged but unsupported allegations in 12 Plaintiff’s complaint did not rise to level of an Eighth Amendment violation. 13 Second, even if Plaintiff had sufficiently demonstrated the violation of a 14 constitutional right, the specific contours of that right were not so clearly established 15 that any reasonable official in Defendants’ shoes would have understood that they 16 were violating Plaintiff’s rights in failing to ensure staff were wearing masks at all 17 times or in allowing new inmates to be brought to Plaintiff’s facility. The only 18 relevant case Plaintiff cites in support is Matter of Williams, 496 P.3d 289 (Wash. 19 2021), a case published after the events at issue here and interpreting the 20 Washington State Constitution’s cruel and unusual punishment provision, which 1 Plaintiff acknowledges “is more protective [than] the Eighth Amendment to the 2 U.S. Constitution.” ECF No. 37 at 7. This case, having been decided after the events 3 here and interpreting the Washington State Constitution, is insufficient to place the 4 individual defendants on notice that their actions violated the U.S. Constitution, and 5 so these defendants are entitled qualified immunity on these claims. 6 D. Permitting Plaintiff to File His First Amended Complaint Would be Futile 7 Plaintiff has filed a motion for leave to file a first amended complaint, ECF 8 No. 17. In his motion, he attached the proposed amended complaint, which 9 incorporates and supplements his initial complaint. Id. at 49–59. But the Court has 10 considered the contents of the proposed amendment and nothing in this supplement 11 changes the analysis above, rendering amendment futile. See Saul v. United States, 12 928 F.3d 829, 843 (9th Cir. 1991). In particular, the Court reiterates that Plaintiff’s 13 relatively moderate reaction to contracting COVID-19 bars the relief he seeks, 14 including the proposed claim seeking injunctive. To be sure, COVID-19 is a serious 15 health concern, both for those who are incarcerated and those who are not. But the 16 facts presented by Plaintiff do not establish that he had anything but a routine case 17 of COVID-19, nor do they establish that any of the defendants have violated any of 18 Plaintiff’s rights. Accordingly, the Court denies the motion. 19 // 20 // 1 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 2 1. Plaintiff's Motion to File a First Amended Complaint, ECF No. 17, is 3 DENIED. 4 2. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 29, is 5 GRANTED. 6 3. All claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, with all parties to 7 bear their own costs and attorney fees. 8 4. All pending motions are DENIED AS MOOT. 9 5. All hearings and other deadlines are STRICKEN. 10 6. The Clerk’s Office is directed to ENTER JUDGMENT in 11 Defendants’ favor and CLOSE this file. 12 IT IS SO ORDERED. The Clerk’s Office is directed to enter this Order and 13 || provide copies to Plaintiff and all counsel. 14 DATED this 9" day of August 2022. ry 15 (ead hrendur} 7 16 SALVADOR MENDOZAIR. United States District Judge 17 18 19 20