Harris et al v. County of San Diego et al, No. 3:2018cv00924 - Document 59 (S.D. Cal. 2019)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT COUNTYS REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE; GRANTINGDEFENDANTS MOTIONS TO DISMISS; DENYING PLAINTIFFS REQUEST FORRECONSIDERATION; AND ORDERING PLAINTIFFS TO SHOW CAUSE re 31 Motion to Dismiss; granting 32 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim; granting 33 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim; denying 44 Motion for Reconsideration. Plaintiffs must file their third amended complaint within 21 days of entry of this Order. Plaintiffs attorney is O RDERED to speak with the proposed guardian ad litem and within 21 days of the entry of this Order submit a declaration explaining whether she is willing and qualified to serve as guardian ad litem. Plaintiffs are also ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE why Defendant Hall should not be dismissed within 21 days of entry of this Order. Signed by Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz on 12/5/2019. (sjm)
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Harris et al v. County of San Diego et al Doc. 59 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 FLORENCE HARRIS, et al., Plaintiffs, 12 13 v. 14 COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO; WENDY WRIGHT, M.D.; RADY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL – SAN DIEGO; NATASHA HALL; and DOES 1 THROUGH 20, 15 16 17 18 Defendants. Case No.: 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT COUNTY’S REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE; GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS; DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION; AND ORDERING PLAINTIFFS TO SHOW CAUSE 19 [ECF Nos. 31, 32, 33, 44] 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Pending before the Court are Defendants’ motions to dismiss (ECF Nos. 31, 32, 33) and Plaintiffs’ request for reconsideration (ECF No. 44). For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motions to dismiss and DENIES Plaintiffs’ request for reconsideration. The Court further ORDERS Plaintiffs’ attorney to file a declaration regarding the alternative guardian ad litem and ORDERS Plaintiffs to show cause why Defendant Natasha Hall should not be dismissed for failure to serve her. 28 1 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG Dockets.Justia.com 1 I. BACKGROUND 2 Florence Harris (“Harris”) is the mother of JQ.H and JZ.H, who were born in 3 or around October 2002. (SAC, ¶¶ 3–5.) This lawsuit arises from events in May 4 2011, when it was reported that “a bruise on Plaintiff JQ.H’s hip was inflicted by 5 his mother.” (Id. at ¶ 19.) The second amended complaint (“SAC”) states that “a 6 highly invasive medical examination” was performed on JQ.H. 7 Several hearings were held in state court. (Id. at ¶¶ 20–21.) JQ.H and JZ.H were 8 subsequently “removed from the care, custody, and control of their Mother.” (Id. 9 at ¶ 17.) The children remained out of Harris’s custody from May 2011 until July 10 2019 when she regained custody. (Id. at ¶¶ 17, 21–22; ECF No. 34, Exh. A, ¶ 27.) 11 On May 11, 2018, Harris, JQ.H, and JZ.H filed suit against the County of San 12 Diego (“County”), San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Polinsky 13 Children’s Center Auxiliary, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego (“RCHSD”), Dr. 14 Wendy Wright, and Natasha Hall.1 (ECF No. 1.) The County filed a motion to 15 dismiss the complaint, which RCHSD and Wright joined. (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 9.) This 16 Court granted the motion and granted Plaintiffs leave to amend. (ECF No. 21.) (Id. at ¶ 20.) 17 Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint (ECF No. 22) and then a SAC 18 shortly thereafter (ECF No. 27 (“SAC”)). The SAC asserts violation of federal and 19 state civil rights statutes. The County, Wright, and RCHSD each filed a motion to 20 dismiss the SAC. (ECF Nos. 31, 32, 33.) The County requests judicial notice of 21 Plaintiffs’ failure to submit claims to the County’s Claims Division. (ECF No. 33-2 22 (“County MTD”), Exh. A.) Only Plaintiffs JQ.H and JZ.H responded in opposition 23 to Defendants motions to dismiss. (ECF Nos. 34, 35, 36.) They submitted a 24 proposed third amended complaint as an exhibit to each opposition brief. (Id.) 25 26 27 28 1 The County asserts it has been “erroneously sued as ‘San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’ and ‘Polinsky Childrens Center.’” (See, e.g., ECF No. 6.) Wright and RCHSD state they have been sued under incorrect names. (ECF Nos. 31, 32.) The Clerk is directed to modify the parties as listed in the caption of this Order. 2 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 Harris petitioned to be appointed guardian ad litem for JQ.H and JZ.H, who 2 are still minors. The Court denied her petition. (ECF No. 43.) Plaintiffs moved for 3 reconsideration of the order on the basis that JQ.H and JZ.H had been returned to 4 Harris’s custody. (ECF No. 44.) The Court held oral argument on all of these 5 issues on December 2, 2019. 6 II. REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE 7 In support of its motion to dismiss, the County submitted a declaration by 8 Brent Barnes, Claims and Investigation Supervisor for the Claims and Investigation 9 Division for the County. (County MTD, Exh. A.) The County asks the Court to take 10 judicial notice of the statements contained therein — that Plaintiffs never submitted 11 a government tort claim against the County. 12 A court may take judicial notice of facts “not subject to reasonable dispute.” 13 Fed. R. Evid. 201(b). Facts that “can be accurately and readily determined from 14 sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably questioned” are not subject to 15 reasonable dispute. Id. 201(b)(2). The County has submitted a sworn declaration 16 by “the custodian of the claims records for the County of San Diego.” (County 17 MTD, Exh. A.) “Whether or not a Tort Claim has been presented to a public entity 18 is subject to judicial notice.” Elliot v. Amador Cty. Sch. Dist., 2012 WL 5013288, 19 at *7 (E.D. Cal. 2012); see also, e.g., Kenney v. City of San Diego, 2014 WL 20 325157, at *7 n.5 (S.D. Cal. 2014) (holding the same). Accordingly, the Court 21 GRANTS the County’s request to judicially notice Plaintiffs’ failure to present any 22 claims against the County. 23 Additionally, the Court sua sponte takes judicial notice of Exhibits A–D of the 24 County’s opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration. (ECF No. 52.) These 25 exhibits (hereinafter “Exhibits A–D”) are court documents in the Plaintiffs’ juvenile 26 dependency case and are appropriate for judicial notice because they are directly 27 related to the instant case. U.S. ex rel. Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. 28 Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992). 3 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 III. MOTION TO DISMISS: LEGAL STANDARD 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, each pleading must include a “short and plain statement of the claim.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “Each allegation must be simple, concise, and direct.” A district court may dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with Rule 8 where it fails to provide the defendant fair notice of the wrongs allegedly committed. See Cafasso, United States ex rel. v. Gen. Dynamics C4 Sys., Inc., 637 F.3d 1047, 1059 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing cases upholding Rule 8 dismissals where pleadings were “verbose,” “confusing,” “distracting, ambiguous, and unintelligible,” “highly repetitious,” and comprised of “incomprehensible rambling”). A Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss should be granted only where a plaintiff's complaint lacks a “cognizable legal theory” or sufficient facts to support a legal claim. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). When reviewing a motion to dismiss, the allegations of material fact in the plaintiff's complaint are taken as true and construed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Parks Sch. of Bus., Inc. v. Symington, 51 F.3d 1480, 1484 (9th Cir. 1995). Dismissal is appropriate only where “the complaint fails to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Curry v. Yelp Inc., 875 F.3d 1219, 1224–25 (9th Cir. 2017) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). IV. MOTION TO DISMISS: DISCUSSION 21 22 Id. 8(d)(1). A. Statute of Limitations 23 As a threshold matter, the Court addresses Defendants’ contention that 24 Plaintiffs claims are time-barred. “A claim may be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) 25 on the ground that it is barred by the applicable statute of limitations only when the 26 running of the statute is apparent on the face of the complaint.” Von Saher v. 27 Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, 592 F.3d 954, 969 (9th Cir. 2010) 28 (internal citation and quotation marks omitted). 4 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 A cause of action accrues “when the plaintiffs know or have reason to know 2 of the injury that is the basis of their action.” RK Ventures, Inc. v. City of Seattle, 3 307 F.3d 1045, 1058 (9th Cir. 2002) (citation omitted). Here, Plaintiffs sue for 4 injuries stemming from JQ.H’s May 2011 medical examination and Harris’s 5 subsequent loss of custody over JQ.H and JZ.H. (SAC, ¶¶ 17, 20–22.) At the 6 latest, 7 “disposition/jurisdictional hearing” when “the court asserted jurisdiction over Minor 8 Plaintiffs.” (Id. at ¶ 22.) Plaintiffs initiated this lawsuit on May 11, 2018, nearly 9 seven years after the causes of action accrued. 10 limitations, described below, have all long expired. Plaintiffs’ causes of action accrued at the July 2011 The applicable statutes of 11 But with respect to JQ.H and JZ.H, California tolls the limitations period on 12 causes of action belonging to minors until they are eighteen years old. Cal. Code. 13 Civ. P. § 352(a); Cal. Fam. Code § 6502. This state law extends to federal claims. 14 Bd. of Regents v. Tomanio, 446 U.S. 478, 485 (1980); 42 U.S.C. 1988(a). The 15 statutes of limitations outlined below have all run with respect to Harris’s claims. 16 The minor plaintiffs’ claims, with the exception of their state law claims against the 17 County, are timely due to California’s tolling statute. All state law claims against 18 the County are barred for failure to comply with Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2. 19 1. Federal causes of action 20 Plaintiffs’ federal causes of action are under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, and 21 1986. (SAC, ¶¶ 23–52.) Section 1986 imposes its own one-year statute of 22 limitations. Sections 1983 and 1985 do not contain a statute of limitations. A 23 federal cause of action based on a statute that contains no limitations period 24 requires the federal court to “apply the most closely analogous statute of limitations 25 under state law.” DelCostello v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 159 (1983). 26 Section 1983 claims “are best characterized as personal injury actions.” Wilson v. 27 Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 279 (1985). Section 1985(3) claims are sufficiently similar 28 to § 1983 actions, such that they “are governed by the same statute of limitations.” 5 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 McDougal v. Cty. of Imperial, 942 F.2d 668, 673–74 (9th Cir. 1991). California 2 imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions. Cal. Code 3 Civ. P. § 335.1; see also Mills v. City of Covina, 921 F.3d 1161 (9th Cir. 2019) 4 (applying this statute to § 1983 claims). The limitations period for the § 1983 and 5 § 1985 claims is thus two years. California’s tolling statute applies to the federal 6 claims because it is not inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution or federal law. 42 7 U.S.C. § 1988(a). This extends to the § 1986 statute, which has its own limitations 8 period but no tolling provision. See id. §§ 1986, 1988(a). 9 RCHSD suggests Plaintiffs’ claims against it are based on professional 10 negligence and subject to Cal. Code Civ. P. § 340.5 instead. (ECF No. 32, 16:8– 11 19.) Section 340.5 provides a three-year statute of limitations for professional 12 negligence actions against health care providers. It prevents tolling when the 13 minor plaintiff is over the age of six. Id. JQ.H and JZ.H were eight years old at the 14 time of the alleged injury. Their claims against RCHSD would thus be time-barred 15 if based on professional negligence. The SAC does not set forth enough facts to 16 ascertain under what theory of liability Plaintiffs sue RCHSD. But the Court need 17 not reach this question since it dismisses these claims on other grounds elsewhere 18 in this Order. Plaintiffs are advised to clarify their theory of liability in the future. 19 2. State causes of action 20 Plaintiffs assert state civil rights violations under Cal. Gov. Code § 820.21 21 and Cal. Civ. Code §§ 43, 49, 51, and 52. (SAC, ¶¶ 53–60.) Tort claims against 22 local public entities must be commenced within six months of accrual of the cause 23 of action. Cal. Gov. Code §§ 911.2(a), 915. To commence a claim, the litigant 24 must present it to the Department of General Services and pay either a filing fee 25 or receive a fee waiver. § 911.2(b). Plaintiffs sue the County, which is a local 26 public entity. But, as Plaintiffs’ counsel conceded at oral argument, Plaintiffs never 27 presented their claims against the County in accordance with § 911.2, let alone 28 within six months of accrual of the causes of action. (ECF No. 33-2, Exh. A.) 6 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 California’s tolling statute for minors does not apply to tort claims against public 2 entities and public employees. Cal. Code Civ. P. § 352(b). Accordingly, all state 3 law claims against the County are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE and without 4 leave to amend. 5 As for the remaining moving defendants, Cal. Gov. Code § 820.21 does not 6 apply to them because they are not public employees. The claims under Cal. Civ. 7 Code §§ 43, 49, 51, and 52, are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Cal. 8 Code Civ. P. § 335.1. To the extent that a three-year statute of limitations applies 9 instead, see O’Shea v. Cty. of San Diego, 2019 WL 4674320, at *4 (S.D. Cal. 2019) 10 (explaining that courts are divided on whether a two-year or three-year statute of 11 limitations applies here and collecting cases); (see also ECF No. 32, at 16:8–19), 12 this limitation period has already expired. 13 3. Conclusion 14 Harris’s claims are all time-barred. All state law claims against the County 15 are barred for failure to comply with Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2. The remaining state 16 claims and all federal causes of action asserted by JQ.H and JZ.H are timely. 17 Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES all state law claims against the County WITH 18 PREJUDICE and without leave to amend. The Court DISMISSES all of Florence 19 Harris’s other claims WITHOUT PREJUDICE and GRANTS LEAVE TO AMEND 20 one final time in the event Harris is able to allege facts supporting tolling. 21 B. Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse Have Absolute Immunity Under CANRA Wright and RCHSD both assert immunity under the Child Abuse and Neglect 22 23 24 25 26 27 Reporting Act (“CANRA”), Cal. Penal Code § 11164, et seq. CANRA exists to protect children under the age of eighteen from abuse and neglect. Id. §§ 11164(b), 11165. It requires “mandated reporters” to report suspected child abuse to an appropriate government entity. Id. § 11165.9. Physicians are mandated reporters. Id. § 11165.7(a)(21). 28 7 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 CANRA gives mandated reporters absolute immunity from civil and criminal 2 liability for reporting child abuse. 3 absolutely immune from any liability in the making of the initial report and for the 4 conduct giving rise to the obligation to report. Acre v. Childrens Hosp. L.A., 211 5 Cal. App. 4th 1455, 1484 (2012). This immunity applies only to the state law 6 causes of action. It does not prevent civil liability for federal causes of action. 7 Felder v. Casey, 487 U.S. 131, 139 (1988) (“[A] state law that immunizes 8 government conduct otherwise subject to suit under § 1983 is preempted.”); see 9 also Buckheit v. Dennis, 713 F. Supp. 2d 910, 924 (N.D. Cal. 2010) (finding that 10 11 Id. § 11172(a). Mandated reporters are CANRA immunity does not apply to § 1983). Wright is a physician and thus plainly protected under CANRA. RCHSD is also protected. § 12 11165.7(a)(21). California courts extend CANRA 13 immunity to hospitals when they are sued under a respondeat superior theory. 14 Storch v. Silverman, 186 Cal. App. 3d 671, 681–82 (1986). Plaintiffs’ complaint is 15 vague in its allegations against each defendant, but Plaintiffs appear to be suing 16 RCHSD for the actions of its employee Wright in examining JQ.H and 17 subsequently submitting a child abuse report. (See SAC, ¶¶ 11, 19–20.) This is 18 textbook vicarious liability under respondeat superior. See Perez v. Van Gronigen 19 & Sons, Inc., 41 Cal. 3d 962, 967 (1986) (“Under the doctrine of respondeat 20 superior, an employer is vicariously liable for his employee’s torts committed within 21 the scope of the employment.”). 22 Plaintiffs assert that Wright and RCHSD are not entitled to absolute immunity 23 because they “did not have the required knowledge or reasonable suspicion” to 24 make the child abuse report. (ECF No. 34 (“Opp. to Wright”), 3:13–15; ECF No. 25 36 (“Opp. to RCHSD”), 3:16–17.) In support of this argument, Plaintiffs submit a 26 proposed third amended complaint, which states Wright “never evaluated Plaintiff 27 JQ.H’s hip and therefore was never in a position to determine that a bruise on 28 8 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 Plaintiff JQ.H’s hip was inflicted by his mother whipping him with a belt.”2 (Opp. to 2 Wright, 2:13–16.) A mandated reporter need not personally examine a child in 3 order to make a report. § 11166; Krikorian v. Barry, 196 Ca. App. 3d 1211, 1217 4 (1987). 5 11166(a). Wright’s and RCHSD’s absolute immunity remain intact. Cal. Gov. 6 Code § 820.21 does not supersede Wright’s or RCHSD’s CANRA immunity 7 because § 820.21 applies only to public employees, which both of these 8 defendants are not. Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES WITH PREJUDICE all 9 state law claims against Wright and RCHSD. 10 Knowledge or observation of the suspected child abuse suffices. § C. Remaining Rule 8 and Rule 12(b)(6) Arguments 11 After removing legal conclusions from the SAC, the only facts that remain 12 are the following: (1) JQ.H and JZ.H are the minor children of Florence Harris, 13 (SAC, ¶¶ 4–5, 17); (2) “JQ.H was subject to a highly invasive medical examination,” 14 (id. at ¶ 20); (3) Wright reported that “a bruise on Plaintiff JQ.H’s hip was inflicted 15 by his mother whooping him with a belt,” (id. at ¶ 19); (4) subsequently in May 16 2011, JQ.H and JZ.H were removed from Harris’s custody, (id. at ¶¶ 17, 21); and 17 (5) a court asserted jurisdiction over JQ.H and JZ.H in July 2011, (id. at ¶ 22). 18 Though the Court’s Order is based only on the SAC, the proposed third amended 19 complaint adds two facts: (1) “Defendant Wright never evaluated Plaintiff JQ.H’s 20 hip,” (Opp. to Wright, Exh. A, ¶ 20); and (2) JQ.H and JZ.H were returned to 21 Harris’s custody in July 2019, (id. at Exh. A, ¶ 27). 22 1. First Cause of Action: 42 U.S.C. § 1983 23 Plaintiffs’ first cause of action is under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violation of (1) 24 25 26 27 28 2 Notably, the allegation that Wright never evaluated JQ.H directly contradicts a statement in the original complaint: “Both children were given extensive 22 item full body examinations by the Polinsky children’s center staff and by Dr. Wendy Wright ‘a child abuse specialist’ that included examinations of the children’s genitalia and rectum.” (ECF No. 1, 3:17–21.) It is a well-established principle that a court “may look to prior pleadings in determining the plausibility of an amended complaint.” Royal Primo Corp. v. Whitewater W. Indust., Ltd, 2016 WL 1718196, at *3 (N.D. Cal. 2016) (citing Rodriquez v. Sony Comp. Ent’mt Am., LLC, 801 F.3d 1045, 1054 (9th Cir. 2015)). 9 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 the Fourteenth Amendment right to familial association and due process 2 protections against being “subjected to accusations on the basis of false [and 3 fabricated] evidence,” (SAC, ¶ 24), and (2) the Fourth Amendment freedom from 4 unreasonable seizures, (id. at ¶ 26). 5 a. The SAC fails under Rule 12(b)(6) 6 To state a § 1983 claim, “a plaintiff [1] must allege the violation of a right 7 secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, and [2] must show that 8 the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law.” 9 Naffe v. Frey, 789 F.3d 1030, 1035–36 (9th Cir. 2015) (quoting West v. Atkins, 487 10 U.S. 42, 48 (1988)). The Court takes each in turn. 11 First, children who are taken into state custody may assert only a “Fourth 12 Amendment right to be free from reasonable seizures rather than the Fourteenth 13 Amendment right to familial association.” Keates v. Koile, 883 F.3d 1228, 1236 14 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting Kirkpatrick v. Cty. of Washoe, 792 F.3d 1184, 1189 (9th 15 Cir. 2015)). It is only the parent who may assert a violation of familial association 16 under the Fourteenth Amendment. Id. at 1235–37. The legal standard applied is 17 the same. Id. at 1237. Since Harris has been dismissed from the case, this cause 18 of action is DISMISSED to the extent it alleges a Fourteenth Amendment violation. 19 Only the Fourth Amendment claim may stand. 20 A child’s Fourth Amendment right is “violated if a state official removes 21 children from their parents without their consent, and without a court order, unless 22 information at the time of the seizure, after reasonable investigation, establishes 23 reasonable cause to believe that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily 24 injury, and the scope, degree, and duration of the intrusion are reasonably 25 necessary to avert the specific injury at issue.” Keates, 883 F.3d at 1237. The 26 facts in the SAC — that JQ.H was medically examined, that a child abuse report 27 was filed, and that custody proceedings took place before taking the children out 28 of Harris’s custody — do not amount to a § 1983 Fourth Amendment violation. 10 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 The rest of the SAC is rife with bare legal conclusions that require factual 2 support. For example, Plaintiffs provide no description of what “false evidence was 3 deliberately fabricated by the government.” (SAC, ¶ 24.) Plaintiffs do not state 4 which defendants testified at the juvenile dependency proceedings and what false 5 information they presented. The proposed third amended complaint does not 6 resolve the numerous factual deficiencies. 7 Second, Plaintiffs plead no facts indicating that Wright and RCHSD were 8 acting under color of state law. “An individual acts under color of state law when 9 he or she exercises power ‘possessed by virtue of state law and made possible 10 only because the wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of state law.’” Naffe, 789 11 F.3d at 1036 (quoting United States v. Classic, 313 U.S. 299, 326 (1941)). 12 Plaintiffs allege that Wright and RCHSD are both “officer[s], agent[s], and 13 employee[s]” of the County. (SAC, ¶¶ 10–11.) But Plaintiffs provide no facts 14 supporting this contention. 15 Instead, the facts indicate that Wright is a physician not employed by the 16 state and that RCHSD is a private hospital. “[P]rivate parties are not generally 17 acting under color of state law.” Price v. State of Hawaii, 939 F.2d 702, 707–08 18 (9th Cir. 1991). This Court must engage in “fact bound” analysis to determine 19 whether “the conduct allegedly causing the deprivation of a federal right [is] fairly 20 attributable to the State.” Id. (quoting Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., Inc., 457 U.S. 21 922, 937, 939 (1982)). Plaintiffs have provided no facts about this issue. There is 22 thus no basis to find that Wright and RCHSD acted under color of state law. 23 b. The SAC fails under Rule 8. 24 The SAC fails under Rule 8 as a shotgun pleading. A “shotgun pleading” is 25 one “that violates Rule 8’s requirement of a ‘short and plain statement’ and 26 interferes with the court’s ability to administer justice.” Destfino v. Kennedy, 2008 27 WL 4810770, at *3 (E.D. Cal. 2008) (citing Byrne v. Nezhat, 261 F.3d 1075, 1129– 28 1130 (11th Cir. 2001)). Here, Plaintiffs’ SAC leaves each defendant “with no 11 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 means of determining exactly what each of them is charged with . . . doing.” Id. 2 The SAC “indiscriminately intertwines” the defendants into each cause of action 3 and thus fails to give any of them fair notice. (ECF No. 33 (“County’s MTD”), 7:24– 4 25.) The proposed third amended complaint does not rectify this deficiency. 5 Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim fails under Rules 12(b)(6) and 8. 6 Additionally, the claim fails under Rule 12(b)(6) as against Wright and RCHSD for 7 failure to allege facts indicating that Wright and RCHSD acted under color of state 8 law or that they participated in a conspiracy with state actors. The § 1983 claim is 9 DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE and with leave to amend. 10 11 2. Second Cause of Action: 42 U.S.C. § 1985 a. The SAC fails under Rule 12(b)(6) 12 Plaintiffs’ second cause of action is for conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, 13 42 U.S.C. § 1985. Plaintiffs clarify that this cause of action is under § 1985(3), 14 which is a conspiracy to deprive a person of rights or privileges. (ECF No. 35 15 (“Opp. to County”), 4:18–5:7.) To state a § 1985(3) claim, the plaintiff “must allege 16 (1) a conspiracy, (2) to deprive any person or a class of persons of the equal 17 protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws, (3) an 18 act by one of the conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy, and (4) a personal 19 injury, property damage or a deprivation of any right or privilege of a citizen of the 20 United States.” Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 641 (9th Cir. 1980) (citing Griffin 21 v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102–03 (1971)). The second prong requires “some 22 racial or perhaps otherwise class-based, invidiously discriminatory animus behind 23 the conspirators’ action.” Griffin, 403 U.S. at 102. 24 The SAC provides legal conclusions and recitations of the § 1985(3) 25 elements rather than facts supporting them. Plaintiffs plead no facts alleging racial 26 or class-based animus or their own status as members of a protected class. The 27 SAC thus fails under Rule 12(b)(6). The proposed third amended does not resolve 28 the factual deficiencies. 12 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 b. The SAC fails under Rule 8 2 As discussed with respect to § 1983, this claim also fails to distinguish 3 between the alleged acts of each defendant and thus fails to provide Defendants 4 with sufficient notice as to the charges against them. The few facts pled in the 5 SAC fail Rule 8’s pleading standard. Accordingly, the § 1985 claim is DISMISSED 6 WITHOUT PREJUDICE and with leave to amend. 7 3. Third Cause of Action: 42 U.S.C. § 1986 8 Plaintiffs’ third cause of action is for neglecting to prevent the § 1985 violation 9 alleged in the second cause of action. There is no cause of action under § 1986 10 “absent a valid claim for relief under section 1985.” Trerice v. Pedersen, 769 F.2d 11 1398, 1403 (9th Cir. 1985). Because the § 1985 claim was dismissed above, the 12 § 1986 claim is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE and with leave to amend. 13 4. Fourth Cause of Action: Monell Theory of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 14 Plaintiffs’ final remaining cause of action is a § 1983 claim against the 15 County3 based on a Monell theory of liability. Under Monell v. Department of Social 16 Services, local governments may be held directly liable via § 1983 for (1) 17 constitutional deprivations made by their employees (2) in line with a governmental 18 policy or custom. 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978). As discussed with respect to the first 19 cause of action, Plaintiffs do not allege a constitutional deprivation under the Rule 20 12(b)(6) standard. Additionally, Plaintiffs do not allege facts demonstrating that 21 liability under Monell is plausible. Accordingly, this claim is DISMISSED WITHOUT 22 PREJUDICE and with leave to amend. 23 V. REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION 24 Plaintiffs request reconsideration of this Court’s order denying Harris’s 25 petition to be appointed guardian ad litem for JQ.H and JZ.H (ECF No. 43). (ECF 26 27 28 3 The SAC asserts this claim against defendants “COLA/DCFS,” who are not parties to this case. (SAC, 9:10– 13.) The proposed third amended complaint revises this reference and identifies the County as the defendant. (Opp. to County, Exh. A, 9:23–25.) The Court will interpret this as a claim against the County. 13 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 No. 44.) In determining who to appoint as guardian ad litem, “the court shall 2 consider whether the minor and the guardian have divergent interests.” Cal. Civ. 3 P. § 372(b)(1). California courts have instructed against appointing the parent 4 when there exists “an actual or potential conflict of interest” between parent and 5 child. Williams v. Super. Ct., 147 Cal. App. 4th 36, 50 (2007). The Court must 6 appoint a guardian who will “best protect the child’s interests.” Id. This case 7 centers on Harris’s alleged physical abuse of JQ.H and JZ.H. (SAC, ¶¶ 17–22.) 8 This is a clear conflict of interest between the parent and children. Accordingly, 9 the Court DENIES Plaintiffs’ request for reconsideration. As instructed in oral 10 argument, Plaintiffs’ attorney is ORDERED to confer with proposed alternative 11 guardian ad litem Linda Thomas (see ECF No. 50) and submit a declaration 12 indicating Thomas’s willingness and qualifications to serve as guardian ad litem. 13 The declaration must be filed within 21 days of entry of this order. 14 VI. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE 15 Finally, the Court ORDERS Plaintiffs to show cause as to why Defendant 16 Natasha Hall should not be dismissed for failure to serve her in accordance with 17 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4. Hall has not yet appeared. The docket does not reflect that Hall 18 was properly and timely served. Accordingly, Plaintiff must SHOW CAUSE within 19 21 days of entry of this order why Hall should not be dismissed. See Fed. R. Civ. 20 P. 4; CivLR 4.1(b),(c). If Plaintiffs fail to do so, the Court will dismiss Hall from the 21 case in accordance with Rule 4(m). 22 VII. CONCLUSION 23 For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS the County’s request for 24 judicial notice and GRANTS Defendants’ motions to dismiss (ECF Nos. 31, 32, 25 33). All state law claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE and without leave to 26 amend. The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs leave to amend as to the federal causes of 27 action only. The new third amended complaint is Plaintiffs’ final opportunity to 28 14 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG 1 amend their complaint. Plaintiffs must file their third amended complaint within 21 2 days of entry of this Order. If Plaintiffs fail to do so, a final judgment of dismissal 3 will be entered. The third amended complaint must comply with Local Rule 15.1(c). 4 With regard to further motions to dismiss, Defendants are permitted to incorporate 5 by reference arguments made in the motions to dismiss the SAC. Defendants’ 6 briefs and Plaintiffs’ opposition briefs are limited to ten pages. 7 permitted. The Court will rule without oral argument. 8 9 No reply is Plaintiffs’ request for reconsideration of the order denying Harris’s petition to serve as guardian ad litem (ECF No. 44) is DENIED. Plaintiffs’ attorney is 10 ORDERED to speak with the proposed guardian ad litem and within 21 days of 11 the entry of this Order submit a declaration explaining whether she is willing and 12 qualified to serve as guardian ad litem. Plaintiffs are also ORDERED TO SHOW 13 CAUSE why Defendant Hall should not be dismissed within 21 days of entry of 14 15 this Order. IT IS SO ORDERED. 16 Dated: December 5, 2019 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 15 18-cv-924-BTM-AHG
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