24-cv-00544-RMI
05-23-2024
CHRISTOPHER LEE VITTI, Plaintiff, v. KEVIN BRIAN JONES, et al., Defendants.
ROBERT M. ILLMAN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
ORDER RE: DEFENDANTS' MOTIONS TO DISMISS
RE: DKT. NOS. 11, 14, 15
ROBERT M. ILLMAN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Mr. Vitti, proceeding pro se, has filed this civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985. Compl. (Dkt. 1). Mr. Vitti alleges that the County of Del Norte (“County”), the California Superior Court of Del Norte County (“Superior Court”), employees of the County and the Superior Court, and a California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) Officer violated Mr. Vitti's constitutional rights under the First, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Amendments in addition to his rights under several provisions of the California Civil Code. See Id. at 9 - 23. In three Motions to Dismiss, Defendants request dismissal of Mr. Vitti's Complaint pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Defs.' Mots. (Dkts. 11, 14, 15). For the reasons stated below, the Motions to Dismiss are granted. Mr. Vitti is granted leave to amend his Complaint as described herein.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Vitti alleges the following facts: In September of 2022, Mr. Vitti was pulled over by a CHP Officer although he “broke no laws and committed no crime.” Compl. (Dkt. 1) at 5. Seeking to contest the resulting ticket and charges, Mr. Vitti requested an in-person jury trial at the California Superior Court in Del Norte County. Id. On January 9, 2023, Commissioner Jones presided by Zoom over Mr. Vitti's traffic hearing. Id. Mr. Vitti appeared in person. Id. Contrary to Mr. Vitti's request for a jury trial, Commissioner Jones acted as the sole adjudicator. Id. This, Mr. Vitti alleges, was the first violation of his constitutional rights, specifically, the right to a trial by jury under the Sixth and Seventh Amendments. Id.
During his traffic hearing, Mr. Vitti's phone was “unlawfully seized” by Commissioner Jones. Id. at 9. Although Mr. Vitti was “completely silent” and was not “talking or audio emitting” from his device, Commissioner Jones ordered court staff to confiscate his phone. Id. at 6. Mr. Vitti attempted to explain that he needed his phone to mount his defense, but Commissioner Jones insisted that Mr. Vitti relinquish his phone to the court. Id. Ms. Williams and Ms. Hisoire, both clerks of the court, “told Mr. Vitti to hand over his phone” (Id. at 10) and Deputy Emsaeel, the bailiff, approached Mr. Vitti and “asked [him] for his phone but backed off” (id. at 9-10). Deputy Emsaeel also “asked the judge if Mr. Vitti [would get] his phone back” after the hearing (Id. at 6). Commissioner Jones said he would. Id. Eventually, a CHP Officer “aggressively seized” Mr.
Vitti's phone and, in the process of doing so, “committed battery by taking Mr. Vitti's phone.” Id. at 9-10. Mr. Vitti's phone was returned to him at the conclusion of the proceedings. See id. at 6. Mr. Vitti alleges that the confiscation of his phone violated his Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Id.
Without his phone, Mr. Vitti was required to defend his case from memory. Id. at 6. During the proceeding, Commissioner Jones “rushed” Mr. Vitti, did not give him enough time for oral argument, and allowed him to speak “only ten words at a time.” Id. at 6, 9. Mr. Vitti alleges that by restricting his oral arguments, Commissioner Jones violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Surprised by the chaos in court, Mr. Vitti remarked that the proceedings were “bonkers.” Id. at 6. Commissioner Jones told Mr. Vitti that he was being disrespectful and charged him with contempt of court. Id. Mr. Vitti was given a sticky note with the date and time for the contempt hearing by one of the court clerks. Id. Ultimately, Commissioner Jones found Mr. Vitti guilty of the traffic violations and levied fines against him. Id. at 12.
After the traffic hearing, Mr. Vitti submitted a records request to the Superior Court for transcripts and video footage of the traffic proceedings. Id. at 7. The request was denied. Id. Eventually, Mr. Vitti paid $25 to receive the Superior Court's records of his traffic proceeding. Id. Mr. Vitti also submitted a request for Deputy Emsaeel's body camera footage from the District Attorney's Office and, through County Counsel, the Sheriff's Office. Id. These requests were denied “and then approved but not given anywhere near on time for a fair trial.” Id. at 15. Mr. Vitti alleges that unidentified District Attorneys were uncommunicative and refused to help him obtain the evidence he needed to prepare for his contempt hearing. Id. at 7. He also alleges that the Sherriff's Office intentionally deleted the body camera footage, though he later received the footage he requested. Id. at 8.
Mr. Vitti's contempt of court hearing was held on February 9, 2023. Id. Commissioner Jones presided over the hearing and the contempt charges were dropped. Id. On March 23, 2023, Mr. Vitti received the body camera footage. Id. at 8. Mr. Vitti alleges that the County and its employees violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights as well as the California Public Records Act by completing his records request in an untimely manner. See id. at 13-16.
Mr. Vitti filed this Complaint in federal court on January 29, 2024. Id. at 1. On March 4, 2024, CHP Officer Adam Sept filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Def.'s Mot. (Dkt. 11). Defendants Deanna Emsaeel, Diana Stanley, Katherine Micks, Todd Zocchi, Edwin Miramontes and the County of Del Norte, (collectively, the “County Defendants”) soon followed suit. Def.'s Mot. (Dkt. 14). The final Motion to Dismiss was filed on March 5, 2024, by Kevin Brian Jones, Esperanza Esparza, Courtney Williams, Veronica Hisoire, and the Superior Court (collectively, the “Court Defendants”) who raised additional issues under Rule 12(b)(1) and Rule 12(b)(6). Defs.' Mot. (Dkt. 15). All parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge. (Dkts. 10, 13, 15).
LEGAL STANDARDS
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Kokkonen v. Guardian Live Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 374, 377 (1994). As such, the burden of establishing subject matter jurisdiction rests upon the party asserting it. Id. Because subject matter jurisdiction involves a court's power to hear a case, it can never be forfeited or waived. United States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 630 (2002). Further, courts have “an independent obligation to determine whether subject matter jurisdiction exists, even in the absence of a challenge from any party.” Ruhgras AG v. Marathon Oil Co., 526 U.S. 574, 583 (1999); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3).
A jurisdictional attack under Rule 12(b)(1) may be either facial or factual. White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214, 1242 (9th Cir. 2000). “In a facial attack, the challenger asserts that the allegations contained in the complaint are insufficient on their face to invoke federal jurisdiction.” Safe Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004). When addressing a facial attack, the court must assume the factual allegations of the complaint are true and determine whether, as alleged, they establish subject matter jurisdiction. Savage v. Glendale High Union Sch. Dist. No. 205, 343 F.3d 1036, 1039 n.1 (9th Cir. 2003). A motion to dismiss for a facially inadequate complaint is granted only if the nonmoving party fails to allege an element necessary for subject matter jurisdiction. Id.
A complaint must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 8(a)(2). Although the Federal Rules do not require “detailed factual allegations,” plaintiffs must state “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). The “facial plausibility standard” asks for “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. Instead, a plaintiff must plead “factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id.
During this inquiry, the court must construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, accepting as true all properly pleaded factual allegations and drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. See e.g., Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969); see also Everest & Jennings, Inc. v. American Motorists Ins. Co., 23 F.3d 226, 228 (9th Cir. 1994). However, courts are not required to presume the truth of inferences that are unreasonable or of conclusory legal statements cast as factual allegations. See Western Mining Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981); Miranda v. Clark Cty., Nev., 279 F.3d 1102, 1106 (9th Cir. 2002) (“[C]onclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences will not defeat a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.”); see also Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 987 (“Nor is the court required to accept as true allegations that are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences.”), as amended, 275 F.3d 1187 (9th Cir. 2001).
Pro se litigants are entitled to liberal construction of their pleadings. Eldridge v. Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1137 (9th Cir. 1987) (“[T]he allegations of [a Pro se litigant's complaint] however inartfully pleaded are held to less stringent standards that formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.”); see also Hoffman v. Preson, 26 F.4th 1059, 1063 (9th Cir. 2022) (“We construe Pro se complaints liberally and afford the petitioner the benefit of any doubt.”). However, even a liberal construction of a complaint “may not supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled.” Litmon v. Harris, 768 F.3d 1237, 1241 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Pena v. Gardner, 976 F.2d 469, 471 (9th Cir. 1992)).
Thus, courts may disregard allegations that are contradicted by other allegations in a complaint or by facts established in exhibits attached to the complaint. See Durning v. First Boston Corp., 815 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 1987). Furthermore, courts are not required to accept as true allegations that contradict facts which may be judicially noticed. See Mullis v. United States Bankruptcy Ct., 828 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir. 1987). In adjudicating a motion to dismiss, courts may also consider matters of public record, including pleadings, orders, and other papers filed with the court. Mack v. South Bay Beer Distributors, 798 F.2d. 1279, 1282 (9th Cir. 1986).
When a complaint is dismissed for failure to state a claim, “leave to amend should be granted unless the court determines that the allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly cure the deficiency.” Schreiber Dist. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.2d 1393, 1401 (9th Cir. 1986); see also Skhtar v. Mesa, 698 F.3d 1202, 1212 (9th Cir. 2012) (“A district court should not dismiss a Pro se complaint without leave to amend unless it is absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be cured by amendment.”).
DISCUSSION
As an initial matter, although Defendants Micks, Miramontes, Stanley, and Esparza are identified in the caption of the Complaint and listed as defendants for certain claims, Mr. Vitti does not allege any facts connecting these Defendants to his various claims. See generally Compl. (Dkt. 1). The court cannot discern whether and to what extent these Defendants were involved in the events at issue. Mr. Vitti is entitled to a “liberal construction” of his pleadings, but the court cannot go so far as to “supply the essential elements of a claim.” See Litmon, 768 F.3d at 1241. The claims against Defendants Micks, Miramontes, Stanley, and Esparza are therefore DISMISSED with leave to amend in accordance with this order.
I. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Several of Mr. Vitti's claims are precluded for want of subject matter jurisdiction. These include all claims against the Court Defendants, the official-capacity claims against the District Attorney Zocchi and Officer Sept, and all claims seeking injunctive relief. The court will address each of the jurisdictional bars in turn.
A. Eleventh Amendment Immunity
The Eleventh Amendment bars suits against “a state, an arm of the state, its instrumentalities, or its agencies.” Franceschi v. Schwartz, 57 F.3d 828, 831 (9th Cir. 1995); see also Dittman v. California, 191 F.3d 1020, 1025-26 (9th Cir. 1999); Brown v. California Dep't. of Corrections, 554 F.3d 747 (9th Cir. 2009) (holding that, with respect to §1983 actions, California has not waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity). The Eleventh Amendment's grant of immunity typically extends to state employees who are sued in their official capacities. Ulaleo v. Paty, 902 F.2d 1395, 1398 (9th Cir. 1990); see also Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165 (1985) (reasoning that official-capacity suits “generally represent only another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an agent” and “in all respects other than name, [are] to be treated as a suit against the entity”). Eleventh Amendment immunity bars suit regardless of the relief sought with one notable exception: those suits for “prospective, non-monetary relief against state officers.” Pennhurst State Sch. Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100 (1984); see also Porter v. Jones, 319 F.3d 483 (9th Cir. 2003) (“[S]uits against an official for prospective relief are generally cognizable, whereas claims for retrospective relief (such as damages) are not.”).
State superior courts are “arms of the state” entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity. Simmons v. Sacramento County Super. Ct., 318 F.3d 1156, 1161 (9th Cir. 2003). This immunity extends to superior court employees. Id. Further, in California, District Attorneys possess Eleventh Amendment immunity when acting in their prosecutorial capacity (see Weiner v. San Diego Cty., 210 F.3d 1025, 1030 (9th Cir. 2000)) and official-capacity suits are similarly barred when brought against California Highway Patrol Officers (Sims v. Lee, 651 Fed. App'x 570 (9th Cir. 2016)). Accordingly, Mr. Vitti's claims against the Superior Court are barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity. His official-capacity claims for damages against Superior Court employees and CHP Officer Sept are similarly barred, as are the official-capacity claims for damages brought against District Attorney Zocchi who, as discussed in Section II(B)(3), infra, acted in his prosecutorial capacity in relation to the claims at issue. As such, these claims are DISMISSED without leave to amend.
B. Standing for Injunctive Relief
In addition to his claims for damages, Mr. Vitti seeks injunctive relief. See Compl. (Dkt. 1) at 23. Mr. Vitti requests this court order (1) that the Superior Court properly apply state and federal law; (2) that Del Norte County provide jury trials upon request, regardless of the nature of the proceeding; (3) that county employees address Mr. Vitti with respect; and (4) that Del Norte County change its policies regarding records requests and adequately train their employees in accordance with that policy. However, Mr. Vitti has failed to allege sufficient facts to establish standing for injunctive relief.
To invoke federal jurisdiction, Mr. Vitti must allege a “personal stake in the outcome” of this matter and that he has “sustained or is immediately in danger of sustaining some direct injury” that is “real and immediate, not conjectural or hypothetical.” City of Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 101-102 (1983) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). With respect to injunctive relief, “past exposure to illegal conduct does not in itself” suffice; Mr. Vitti must also allege “continuing, present adverse effects.” Id. at 102 (quoting O'Shea v. Littleton, 414 U.S. 488, 495-496 (1974)); see also O'Shea, 414 U.S. at 495-496 (holding that plaintiffs could not establish standing for injunctive relief by alleging that they “anticipate violating lawful criminal statutes and being tried for their offenses” and, as a result, would find themselves before a tribunal whose procedures allegedly violated the Constitution).
Mr. Vitti's traffic proceedings have concluded, and his contempt charges have been dropped. He does not allege that he is currently engaged in proceedings of any kind before the Superior Court. Even construing Mr. Vitti's Complaint to allege that he might again be brought before the Superior Court and its employees for adjudication of traffic violations, “such speculation is insufficient to establish the existence of a present, live controversy” of the kind necessary to convey standing. See Lyons, 461 U.S. at 104 (quoting Ashcroft v. Mattis, 431 U.S. 171 (1977)). Regarding Mr. Vitti's claims against the County Defendants for a delay in providing public records, Mr. Vitti similarly does not allege an ongoing harm sufficient to convey standing for injunctive relief. He has received the records he requested and does not allege that he has a pending records request before the County Defendants. Accordingly, Mr. Vitti has failed to allege that he has standing to seek the injunctive relief requested in this action. Mr. Vitti's claims seeking injunctive relief are hereby DISMISSED with leave to amend in accordance with this order.
C. The Rooker-Feldman Doctrine
Mr. Vitti's claims against the Court Defendants in their individual and official capacities are further barred by the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, which prohibits federal district courts from presiding over de facto appeals of state court decisions. See Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1158 (9th Cir. 2003). “A de facto appeal exists when ‘a federal plaintiff asserts as a legal wrong an allegedly erroneous decision by a state court and seeks relief from a state court judgment based on that decision.'” Bell v City of Boise, 709 F.3d 890, 897 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Noel, 341 F.3d at 1161). The Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies even when a plaintiff's “challenge to the state court decision involves federal constitutional issues.” Worldwide Church of God v. McNair, 80 F.2d 888, 890 (9th Cir. 1986) (citing Feldman, 460 U.S. at 484-86 for the proposition that “this rule applies even though, as here, the challenge is anchored to alleged deprivations of federally protected due process and equal protection rights” (internal citations omitted)); see also Eicherly v. O'Leary, 721 Fed. App'x 625, 627 (2018) (holding that plaintiffs' claims for alleged constitutional violations during state court proceedings by superior court judges were barred by Rooker-Feldman because the “relief sought amounts to a declaration that the state court judgments were invalid”).
When a plaintiff brings a de facto appeal in federal district court, those claims that are “inextricably intertwined” with the state court's decision are also precluded from the court's review. See Noel, 341 F.3d at 1165. Where, as here, a plaintiff's § 1983 claims against court employees in their individual capacities “succeed[] only to the extent that the state court wrongly decided the issues before it” and “federal relief can only be predicated upon a conviction that the state court was wrong” jurisdiction is improper. See Cooper v. Ramos, 704 F.3d 772, 782 (9th Cir. 2012) (quoting Pennzoil Co. v. Texaco, 481 U.S. 1, 25 (1987)).
Mr. Vitti alleges that he was deprived of certain constitutional rights by Commissioner Jones and his clerks and that, because of these deprivations, an erroneous judgement was entered against him. Mr. Vitti now asks this court to review Commissioner Jones' decision, find it was based on unconstitutional procedural and legal errors, and award Mr. Vitti damages and injunctive relief accordingly. At bottom, Mr. Vitti's claims complain of legal wrongs committed by the state court and seek relief from the decisions of that court. As such, Mr. Vitti's claims against the Court Defendants are a forbidden de facto appeal, barred by the Rooker-Feldman doctrine.
To grant the relief Mr. Vitti seeks against Commissioner Jones and his court clerks in their individual capacities this court would have to determine that Mr. Vitti's traffic court proceedings were conducted in contravention of the Constitution. Thus, Mr. Vitti's individualcapacity claims against the Court Defendants are indistinguishable from his official-capacity claims-both seek relief that “amounts to a declaration that the state court judgments were invalid.” See Eicherly, 721 Fed. App'x at 627. Accordingly, this court lacks jurisdiction over all claims against Court Defendants; these claims are DISMISSED without leave to amend.
II. Failure to State a Claim
At this juncture, the following claims remain: Mr. Vitti's § 1983 and 1985 claims against Officer Sept and Deputy Emsaeel for violations of the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments; Mr. Vitti's § 1983 and 1985 claims against District Attorney Tod Zocchi for violations of the Fourteenth Amendment; Mr. Vitti's § 1983 and 1985 claims against the County for violations of the Fourteenth Amendment; and Mr. Vitti's state law claims against these same defendants.
A. Plaintiff's § 1985 Claims
Mr. Vitti fails to allege any facts to support a claim for relief under § 1985 of the Civil Rights Act. To state a claim under § 1985, plaintiffs must allege (1) a conspiracy, (2) to deprive any person or a class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws, (3) an act by one of the conspirators in furtherance of the conspiracy, and (4) a personal injury, property damage or a deprivation of any right or privilege of a citizen of the United States. Griffin v. Brekenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102-103 (1971). To satisfy the second element, a plaintiff must identify a legally protected right and that the deprivation of that right was motivated by “some racial, or perhaps otherwise class-based, invidiously discriminatory animus behind the conspirators' action.” Id. at 102; see also Sever v. Alaska Pulp Corp., 978 F.2d 1529, 1536 (9th Cir. 1992). Mr. Vitti does not allege that any of the named Defendants were involved in a conspiracy. Nor does the Complaint contain any allegations that Mr. Vitti is a member of a protected or quasi-protected class. Indeed, Mr. Vitti's Complaint is devoid of any factual allegations addressing the required elements of a § 1985 claim. Mr. Vitti's § 1985 claims are therefore DISMISSED with leave to amend in accordance with this order.
B. Plaintiff's § 1983 Claims
Plaintiff's remaining § 1983 claims are barred because he has failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and by qualified and prosecutorial immunity.
1. Plaintiff's Claims Against the County
As an initial matter, Mr. Vitti brings this suit against Deanna Emsaeel in her official capacity only. “[W]hen both a local government officer and the government entity are named in an action under section 1983, and an officer is named in their official capacity only, the officer is a redundant defendant and should be dismissed upon the request of the defendant.” Luke v. Abbot, 954 F.Supp. 202, 203 (C.D. Cal. 1997) (citing Monell v. Dep't Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978) and Vance v. Cty. of Santa Clara, 928 F.Supp. 993, 996 (N.D. Cal. 1996)). Because the County has requested as much, (Defs.' Mot. (Dkt. 15) at 19) the court DISMISSES Deputy Emsaeel as a redundant defendant.
As for Mr. Vitti's claims against the County of Del Norte, Mr. Vitti has failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. A local government may be liable for constitutional torts committed by its officials according to municipal policy, practice, or custom. See Monell, 436 U.S. at 690-91 (1978). However, the County is only subject to § 1983 liability if its policies “caused the particular constitutional violation at issue.” King v. Cnty. Of Los Angeles, 885 F.3d 548, 558 (9th Cir. 2018) (quoting Streit v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 236 F.3d 552, 559 (9th Cir. 2001)). As such, a plaintiff must “go beyond the respondeat superior theory of liability and demonstrate that the alleged constitutional deprivation was the product of a policy or custom of the local governmental unit.” Kirkpatrick v. Cty. of Washoe, 843 F.3d 784, 793 (9th Cir. 2016); see also Pasadena Republican Club v. Western Justice Ctr., 985 F.3d 1161, 1172 (9th Cir. 2021). The “policy or custom” requirement applies irrespective of the relief sought. Los Angeles Cty. v. Humphries, 562 U.S. 29, 34 (2010).
In his Complaint, Mr. Vitti repeatedly states that the County “has a policy, custom, or practice” of denying the rights at issue, or of “fail[ing] to train their employees” regarding these rights. See e.g., Compl. (Dkt. 1) at 10, 11, 15. However, Mr. Vitti does not accompany these conclusory allegations with any supporting factual matter. Conclusory allegations, unsupported by allegations of fact, are insufficient to satisfy this court's pleading standards. See Miranda, 279 F.3d at 1106. Accordingly, Mr. Vitti's claims against the County of Del Norte are DISMISSED for failure to state a claim.
Plaintiff's claims against the County are incapable of amendment. Mr. Vitti alleges that the County violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights when Deputy Emsaeel, at the direction of Commissioner Jones, held Mr. Vitti's phone for the duration of his hearing. However, the County cannot be held liable for Commissioner Jones' facially valid orders. See Arnold v. Cty. Of El Dorado, No. S-10-3119 KJM GGH PS, 2011 WL 5884248 *3 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 23, 2011) report and recommendation adopted 2012 WL 2681535 (E.D. Cal. July 6, 2012) (holding that a county “cannot be subject to liability for its failure to overrule, countermand, challenge, or otherwise interfere with a Judge's facially valid order” because the Judge is a state actor who is beyond the County's control) (citation omitted) (cleaned up)). When bailiffs execute a Judge's orders, they are state actors beyond the County's control. Id.; cf. Haldane v. Chagnon, 345 F.2d 601, 604 (“A court's bailiff is required by law to preserve order in the courtroom, to protect the court, and to comply with directions given him [or her] by the judge during the course of judicial proceedings.”). In short, the County is not responsible for Commissioner Jones' orders and Mr. Vitti cannot state a § 1983 claim against the County for alleged constitutional violations over which it had no authority or control.
Mr. Vitti's Eighth Amendment claim against the County is incapable of amendment because Mr. Vitti was not convicted of a crime or in custody when his phone was seized. See Castro v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060, 1067-68 (9th Cir. 2016) (citing Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 (1979)). This claim is better styled as a Fourth Amendment excessive force claim. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 368, 388 (1989) (holding that claims 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). Insofar as Mr. Vitti alleges Deputy Emsaeel used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, his claims are conclusory, unsupported by sufficient factual matter, and contradicted by other allegations in the Complaint. It is clear from the Complaint that Deputy Emsaeel did not have any physical contact with Mr. Vitti who alleges that Deputy Emsaeel “asked [him] for his phone but backed off”, accepted the phone from Officer Sept after it was seized, and held it for the duration of the proceedings. See Compl. (Dkt. 1) at 6. These facts are confirmed and reiterated in Mr. Vitti's Response to the Motions to Dismiss. See Pl.'s Opp. (Dkt. 19) at 3. The facts alleged in the Complaint preclude any possibility that Deputy Emsaeel used excessive force. As such, any amendment of this claim would be futile.
Finally, Mr. Vitti alleges that the County violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights by failing to respond to his records requests in a timely manner. However, there is no constitutional right to receive government records. Houchins v. KQUED, Inc., 438 U.S. 1, 15 (1978) (“Neither the First Amendment nor the Fourteenth Amendment mandates a right of access to government information or sources of information within the government's control.”). Additionally, alleged violations of state law-in this instance, the California Public Records Act (“CPRA”)-cannot sustain a § 1983 claim. See Galen v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 477 F.3d 652, 662 (9th Cir. 2007) (“Section 1983 requires [Plaintiff] to demonstrate a violation of federal law, not state law”); see also Dayton v. James, No. 2:16-cv-1735-KJM-KJN PS, 2017 WL 68240, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Jan 6, 2017) (holding that violations of the CPRA cannot support a Fourteenth Amendment due process claim under § 1983). Thus, Mr. Vitti cannot state a § 1983 claim for relief against the County for failing to provide him with government records.
To the extent Mr. Vitti's claims are based on a purported failure of prosecutors to provide “Brady material,” or to prosecute certain violations of California law, the prosecutors were state actors, and the County is not responsible. See Weiner v. San Diego Cnty., 210 F.3d 1025, 1031 (9th Cir. 2000) (holding that because district attorneys are state officers when exercising their prosecutorial functions, § 1983 claims against the county fail because the state is the relevant actor, not the county). As discussed in Section I(A), supra, and Section II(B)(3), infra, District Attorney Zocchi was acting in his prosecutorial capacity when he allegedly failed to provide evidence to Mr. Vitti. Thus, official capacity claims against Mr. Zocchi for these decisions are barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity because the state is the relevant actor. Individual-capacity claims, as discussed below, are barred by prosecutorial immunity.
Accordingly, any amendment of Mr. Vitti's claims against the County of Del Norte would be futile and all claims against the County are DISMISSED without leave to amend.
2. Plaintiff's Claims Against District Attorney Zocchi
Having found that there is no constitutional right to access government records, it follows that Mr. Vitti's claims against District Attorney Zocchi for allegedly withholding government records fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. To bring a § 1983 action, the plaintiff must allege some violation of federal constitutional or statutory rights. Galen, 477 F.3d at 662. Here, Mr. Vitti has failed to do so.
Additionally, to the extent Mr. Vitti alleges that Mr. Zocchi failed to provide “Brady material”, or withheld evidence to which he was entitled, or to communicate with him about his case, Mr. Zocchi is protected from suit by prosecutorial immunity. A state prosecutor “enjoys absolute immunity from § 1983 suits for damages when he acts within the scope of his prosecutorial duties.” Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 420 (1976); see also Ray v. Lara, 31 F.4th 692, 699 (9th Cir. 2022) (“[P]rosecutors enjoy absolute immunity for activities that are intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process.” (internal citation and quotation marks omitted)). Protected activities include those that are “preliminary to the initiation of a prosecution and actions apart from the courtroom.” Burns v. Reed, 500 U.S. 478, 491 (1991). Prosecutorial immunity applies to a prosecutor's decisions regarding Brady material and discovery information. See Broam v. Bogan, 320 F.3d 1023, 1030 (9th Cir. 2003) and Griffin v. Asla, No. 3:21-cv-01036-MO, 2022 WL 4237275 *6 (D. Or. Sept. 14, 2022), aff'd 2023 WL 7411535 (9th Cir. November 9, 2023). Accordingly, Plaintiff's claims against Mr. Zocchi in his individual capacity are barred by prosecutorial immunity and are DISMISSED without leave to amend.
As mentioned in Section I(A), supra, Plaintiff's official-capacity claims against Mr. Zocchi are improper because they are barred by the Eleventh Amendment. The prosecutorial immunity analysis under § 1983 may guide the immunity analysis under the Eleventh Amendment. See Ceballos v. Garcetti, 361 F.3d 1168, 1183 n. 11 (9th Cir. 2004) reversed and remanded on other grounds by Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006). The court has found that Mr. Zocchi acted in his prosecutorial capacity with respect to Mr. Vitti's requests for evidence; thus, Mr. Vitti's official-capacity claims for damages against Mr. Zocchi are barred by the Eleventh Amendment.
3. Plaintiff's Claims Against Officer Sept
Mr. Vitti brings three § 1983 claims against Officer Sept in his individual capacity for violation of Mr. Vitti's Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. All three claims fail because Mr. Vitti does not allege sufficient facts to support his claims and because Officer Sept is protected by qualified immunity.
“Qualified immunity shields a police officer from civil damages under Section 1983 ‘unless the officer[] violated a clearly established constitutional right.” Seidner v. de Vries, 39 F. 4th 591, 595 (9th Cir. 2022) (quoting Monzon v. City of Murrieta, 978 F.3d 1150, 1156 (9th Cir. 2020)). In conducting the qualified immunity analysis, the court must ask “(1) did the officer violate a constitutional right, and (2) was that right ‘clearly established at the time of the events at issue'?” Id. Even if a plaintiff has alleged violations of a clearly established right, officers are entitled to qualified immunity if they made a reasonable mistake as to what the law requires. Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 205 (2001) (“If the officer's mistake as to what the law requires is reasonable, [] the officer is entitled to qualified immunity.”); see also Wilkins v. City of Oakland, 350 F.3d 949, 955 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Qualified immunity [] provides ample protection to all but the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law.” (internal citations and quotation marks omitted)). The “existence of a statute or ordinance authorizing particular conduct is a factor which militates in favor of the conclusion that a reasonable officer would find that conduct constitutional.” Grossman v. City of Portland, 33 F.3d 1200, 1209 (9th Cir. 2010). However, “such a statute will not shield the official where it ‘authorizes official conduct which is patently violative of fundamental constitutional principles[.]” Id.
Here, Mr. Vitti was in clear violation of Court Local Rule 2.7(c), which states that cellular phones not specifically authorized by the court must be turned off prior to entering the courtroom or be subject to confiscation. See Def.'s Request for Judicial Notice (Dkt. 12) at 18-19. Given the Superior Court's rules prohibiting Mr. Vitti's conduct, the Commissioner's order that Mr. Vitti's phone be confiscated, and the assurances given by the Commissioner that Mr. Vitti would be reunited with his phone after the hearing, Officer Sept acted as any reasonable Officer would. Court Local Rule 2.7(c) and the Commissioner's order are not “patently violative of foundational constitutional principles.” See Grossman, 33 F.3d at 1209. Thus, even assuming Mr. Vitti could allege that Officer Sept violated a “clearly established right,” Officer Sept would be entitled to qualified immunity because his belief that he acted lawfully was reasonable.
Pursuant to Federal Rules of Evidence 201(b), the court takes judicial notice of Del Norte Superior Court Rule 2.7(c) and grants Defendant Sept's Request for Judicial Notice No. 3.
Unlawful enforcement of an otherwise lawful order, however, demonstrates unreasonable behavior and will stip an officer of qualified immunity. See Pierce v. Multnomah Cty., Or., 76 F.3d 1032, 1037 (9th Cir. 1996); Chew v. Gates, 27 F.3d 1432, 1450 (9th Cir. 1994). Mr. Vitti alleges that, in seizing his phone, Officer Sept violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, stating that Officer Sept “aggressively seized” Mr. Vitti's phone and “committed a battery” against him. First, as noted above, Mr. Vitti's Eighth Amendment claims are better styled as a Fourth Amendment excessive force claims. See Castro, 833 F.3d at 1067-68 and Graham, 490 U.S. at 388. Second, Mr. Vitti's conclusory allegations that Officer Sept “committed a battery” and “aggressively seized” the phone are unsupported by sufficient factual matter to state a claim for relief. Accordingly, Mr. Vitti has failed to state a claim of excessive force under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. Mr. Vitti's Eighth Amendment claim is DISMISSED without leave to amend, as its defects are irredeemable. Mr. Vitti's Fourth Amendment claims for damages against Officer Sept in his individual capacity are DISMISSED as barred by qualified immunity. The court GRANTS Mr. Vitti leave to amend his Complaint with respect to his Fourth Amendment excessive force claim.
C. Plaintiff's State Law Claims
Having dismissed all of Plaintiff's federal claims, the court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Mr. Vitti's state-law causes of action. See Gini v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dep't., 40 F.3d 1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 1994); see also Schultz v. Sundberg, 759 F.2d 714, 718 (9th Cir. 1985) (“Generally, dismissal of federal claims before trial dictates that the pendant state claims should also be dismissed.”). Accordingly, Plaintiff's state-law claims are DISMISSED without prejudice.
CONCLUSION
In sum, the court DISMISSES without leave to amend all claims against the Court Defendants in their official and individual capacities for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court DISMISSES with leave to amend all claims against Diana Stanley, Katherine Micks, and Edwin Miramontes for failure to state a claim. The court DISMISSES without leave to amend all claims against District Attorney Tod Zocchi for failure to state a claim and as barred by prosecutorial immunity. The court DISMISSES without leave to amend all claims against Deanna Emsaeel in her official capacity as redundant of Plaintiff's claims against the county. The court DISMISSES without leave to amend all claims against the county of Del Norte for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The court DISMISSES without leave to amend all claims against Officer Sept as barred by qualified immunity apart from Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment excessive force claim, which is dismissed with leave to amend. The court DISMISSES without prejudice Plaintiff's state-law claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff is GRANTED leave to amend in accordance with this order. Plaintiff shall have 45 days
from the date of this order to file an amended complaint; Plaintiff is ORDERED to plead all relevant facts and allegations anew. The instant Complaint is dismissed in its entirety; its provisions shall not be incorporated by reference into future filings.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
