Torricellas v. Cal. Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation CA4/2 (2023) · DecisionDepot
Torricellas v. Cal. Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation CA4/2
California Court of Appeal Jun 15, 2023 No. E075182Unpublished
Filed 6/15/23 Torricellas v. Cal. Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation CA4/2
See Concurring and Dissenting Opinion
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THERESA TORRICELLAS,
Plaintiff and Appellant, E075182
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIC1509979)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF OPINION CORRECTIONS & REHABILITATION,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Chad W. Firetag, Judge.
Reversed and remanded with directions.
Theresa Torricellas, in pro. per., for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Monica N. Anderson, Senior Assistant Attorney
General, and Misha D. Igra and Martha Ehlenbach, Deputy Attorneys General, for
Defendant and Respondent.
1
Theresa Torricellas is a prison inmate, serving a sentence for second degree
murder of 16 years to life. She alleges that prison staff members placed three false
reports — “chronos” — in her file, and that this caused her to be denied parole. She also
alleges that, when she made requests to amend the chronos pursuant to the Information
Practices Act of 1977 (IPA) (Civ. Code, § 1798 et seq.),1 the Department failed to handle
the requests in conformity with the IPA. Based on these allegations, she filed this action
against the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Department) and the individual
staff members.
Torricellas is in propria persona. When the Department filed a demurrer to her
tort claims, she asked the trial court to appoint counsel for her. It refused. It then
sustained the demurrer, leaving only Torricellas’s IPA claims. After a bench trial, at
which Torricellas appeared via video, the trial court issued a statement of decision
denying her any relief under the IPA and, alternatively, finding that the issues were moot.
Torricellas appeals, contending:
(1) The action is not moot.
(2) The trial court abused its discretion by denying Torricellas’s request for
counsel because it did not consider all of the relevant factors.
(3) The trial court erred by ruling that the chronos had not caused any “adverse”
“determination” within the meaning of the IPA.
1 All further statutory references are to the Civil Code, unless otherwise specified.
2
(4) The trial court erred by ruling that the chronos would not have any “adverse
effect” within the meaning of the IPA.
(5) The trial court erred by ruling that the Department’s grievance procedure —
which an inmate is required to use to seek review of the denial of an IPA request to
amend — is consistent with the IPA.
(6) The trial court erred by failing to find whether Torricellas’s grievances
challenging the denial of her IPA requests to amend were improperly rejected.
(7) The trial court’s statement of decision was defective.
We will hold that the action is not moot.
In a previous appeal by Torricellas involving other defendants, we held that the
trial court abused its discretion in denying her request for counsel. We will adhere to this
holding. However, we cannot say that she was entitled to counsel as a matter of law.
Rather, we will direct the trial court to reconsider the request on remand.
We will also hold that the trial court correctly ruled that the chronos had not
caused any “adverse determination”; whether they had any “adverse effect” was
irrelevant.
Next, we will hold that the Department’s grievance procedure is inconsistent with
the IPA, because it does not require a final determination on a grievance within 60 days,
but that Torricellas does not have standing to obtain an injunction on this ground.
Finally, we will hold that the Department improperly rejected at least two of
Torricellas’s grievances; the trial court erred by failing to make such a finding or to take
3
that fact into account in deciding whether the Department’s grievance procedure is
consistent with the IPA. In all other respects, however, the trial court’s statement of
decision was not defective.
I
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Torricellas is an inmate at the California Institution for Women, a prison operated
by the Department. As of 2014, she worked as a tutor at the prison library.
Phyllis Burkhardt and Pamela Dixson-Stamps were employees of the Department.
Burkhardt was a college coordinator; Dixson-Stamps was an appeals coordinator.
On May 20, 2014, Burkhardt filed a chrono about Torricellas.2 It alleged that
Torricellas had been “rude,” “harsh,” and “disrespectful” to another inmate who was
seeking a textbook for a college class. When Burkhardt confronted her, Torricellas was
“aggressive[].” Torricellas raised her voice and accused Burkhardt of harassing her and
trying to “mess with” her effort to obtain parole. In the chrono, Burkhardt asked that
Torricellas be removed from her position.
2 A chrono is a memo to an inmate’s file to memorialize information about the inmate, “which . . . may include, but is not limited to, documentation of enemies, records of disciplinary or classification matters, pay reductions or inability to satisfactorily perform a job, refusal to comply with grooming standards, removal from a program, records of parole or social service matters.” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3000.) There are multiple types of chronos, each with its own CDC form number. (See Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, §§ 3000 [general chrono], 3213, subd. (e) [custodial counseling chrono], 3287, subd. (c)(6) [medical, psychiatric, dental chrono], 3375, subd. (g) [classification chrono].)
4
On July 14, 2014, Burkhardt filed a second chrono about Torricellas. It alleged
that Torricellas “has consistently exhibited aggressive and callous behavior to staff and
other inmates seeking assistance . . . . On numerous occasions I have counseled this
inmate concerning her behavior to no avail.” Once again, Burkhardt asked that
Torricellas be removed from her position.
On September 22, 2014, Dixson-Stamps filed a third chrono about Torricellas. It
alleged that Torricellas had misused the inmate grievance procedure, including by failing
to follow instructions, filing extraneous documents, and filing “derogatory and slanderous
statements” about prison staff. When “counsel[ed],” Torricellas was “unreceptive” and
“became verbally combative.” She said “she will continue to do things her way, as she
does not agree with the current policies.”
Torricellas challenged the chronos via a series of three procedural vehicles.
First, she filed a grievance as to each of the chronos.3 The Department rejected
each of these grievances for procedural reasons.
Next, she filed requests to amend the chronos pursuant to the IPA. As to the first
two chronos, the Department failed to respond to the request; it rejected the request as to
3 An inmate has the right to file “a written grievance . . . to dispute a policy, decision, action, condition, or omission by the department or departmental staff.” An inmate also has the right to file an appeal from the denial of a grievance. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3481, subd. (a).)
A grievance is sometimes also called an appeal. However, a grievance, unlike an appeal, does not necessarily challenge any earlier ruling or adjudication. Also, a grievance itself can be appealed. To avoid confusion, we will stick with the term grievance.
5
the third. Torricellas appealed by filing grievances. Again, the Department rejected each
of these grievances for procedural reasons.
Finally, Torricellas filed written responses to all three chronos. At the time,
however, these responses were not placed in her file.
On August 21 and October 2, 2014, Torricellas had a parole hearing. The panel
had access to her entire file. It expressly considered, among other evidence, the first two
chronos. Although Torricellas’s written responses were not (yet) in her file, she
submitted them to the panel. In addition, she testified that the chronos were false, and
she introduced a declaration of an inmate eyewitness disputing the truth of the first
chrono.
On October 2, 2014, the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) denied Torricellas
parole for an additional 15 years.
In January 2015, the parole denial was vacated.
In December 2016, Torricellas had a second parole hearing. Although the
outcome is not in the record, evidently she was once again denied parole. She does not
claim that this decision was based on the chronos.
In January 2017, in response to this litigation, on the advice of counsel, the
Department placed Torricellas’s written responses to the three chronos in her file.
6
II
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
In August 2015, Torricellas filed this action against the Department, Burkhardt,
and Dixson-Stamps.
She alleged that, on three occasions, the individual defendants wrote and filed
false and derogatory chronos about her. As a result of the chronos, the Board denied her
parole. Pursuant to the IPA, she made requests to amend the chronos; the Department
erroneously denied (or failed to respond to) them. Her appeals from these denials were
erroneously rejected. Finally, she alleged that the Department’s procedures for making
an IPA request to amend and for seeking review of the denial of a request were
inconsistent with the IPA.
As to each of the three chronos, she asserted causes of action for violation of the
IPA, defamation, and false-light invasion of privacy; as to two of the three, she asserted
causes of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. She sought damages and
injunctive relief.
The trial court sustained a demurrer as to the tort claims; it also sustained a
demurrer as to the IPA claims against the individual defendants. It then granted a motion
for summary judgment as to the claims for money damages. (See Gov. Code, § 844.6,
subd. (a) [governmental immunity to claims for injury to prisoner].)
That left pending only Torricellas’s claims for injunctive relief on her IPA causes
of action. Specifically, she was seeking: (1) redaction or removal of the three chronos
7
from the Department’s files; (2) removal of any documents “‘responsive’ to,” “‘related’
to or referencing” the chronos; (3) an order that the Department “establish a new
regulation and procedures by which a prisoner can obtain . . . review” in conformity with
the IPA; and (4) an order that the Department establish a “procedure for screening . . .
chronos for false, unreliable, or subjective allegations.”
Before trial, the trial court sua sponte issued an order to show cause why the case
was not moot, because Torricellas’s written responses “are now in the file[,] . . . the first
parole hearing was stricken, and there was a subsequent parole hearing . . . .” The parties
filed briefs on the mootness issue. However, the trial court decided to “table” the
mootness issue and resolve it at trial.
In September 2019, the trial court held a bench trial. Torricellas appeared via
video. In October 2019, it issued a proposed statement of decision.
It rejected Torricellas’s IPA claims regarding the chronos to the extent that they
were based on section 1798.45, subdivision (b). That subdivision requires that an
assertedly inaccurate record must be the proximate cause of an adverse determination.
The trial court found that the chronos had not caused the denial of parole.
It also rejected Torricellas’s IPA claims regarding the chronos to the extent that
they were based on section 1798.45, subdivision (c). That subdivision requires a failure
to comply with the IPA “in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual.”
The trial court found no evidence that the written responses that had been placed in her
file would be inadequate to prevent future adverse effects.
8
Alternatively, it ruled, more broadly, that “the issues” were moot, because
Torricellas’s only remedy under the IPA was to have a statement of disagreement placed
in her file, and this had been done.
Finally, it ruled that the Department’s grievance procedure was not inconsistent
with the IPA.
Torricellas filed objections to the proposed statement of decision. The trial court
amended the statement of decision in one minor respect; otherwise, it overruled the
objections. In January 2020, it entered a judgment of dismissal.
III
THE INFORMATION PRACTICES ACT
The IPA requires most state agencies (see § 1798.3, subd. (b)) to “maintain all
records, to the maximum extent possible, with accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and
completeness,” but only “when such records are used to make any determination about
[an] individual.” (§ 1798.18.)
An individual can request the amendment of “a record which the individual
believes is not accurate, relevant, timely, or complete.” (§ 1798.35.) Within 30 days
after a request, the agency must either make the amendment or else tell the individual
why it is refusing and how the individual can request review of the refusal. (Ibid.)
The review must be conducted by the head of the agency or his or her delegate.
(§§ 1798.35, 1798.36.) The agency must complete its review within 30 days, except that
the head of the agency can extend that time by another 30 days. (§ 1798.36.) “If, after
9
such review, the reviewing official refuses to amend the record in accordance with the
request, the agency shall permit the individual to file with the agency a statement . . .
setting forth the reasons for the individual’s disagreement.” (Ibid.) Thereafter, whenever
the agency discloses any of the disputed information, it must also disclose the
individual’s statement of disagreement. (§ 1798.37.)
“An individual may bring a civil action against an agency whenever such agency
does any of the following: [¶] . . .
“(b) Fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with such accuracy,
relevancy, timeliness, and completeness as is necessary to assure fairness in any
determination relating to the qualifications, character, rights, opportunities of, or benefits
to the individual that may be made on the basis of such record, if, as a proximate result of
such failure, a determination is made which is adverse to the individual.
“(c) Fails to comply with any other provision of [the IPA], or any rule
promulgated thereunder, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual.”
(§ 1798.45.)
The relief available in such an action includes an injunction against “any practices
which violate [the IPA].” (§ 1798.47.)
State agencies must adopt procedural regulations or guidelines to implement the
§ 3450) allows “[a]ny person on whom the department maintains a record or file
containing personal information . . . to request amendment to correct outdated, inaccurate
10
or incomplete information.” (Id., subd. (a).) “Requests to amend a record or file shall be
submitted in writing, including documentary evidence to support the proposed
amendment . . . .” (Id., subd. (a)(2).) “Inmates . . . may appeal the denial of a request
using the inmate/parolee [grievance] process . . . .” (Id., subd. (b).) “When an
individual’s appeal of the request decision is denied, they may submit . . . a statement of
disagreement for placement in the record or file.” (Id., subd. (c).)
IV
MOOTNESS
Torricellas contends that the trial court erred by ruling that “the issues” were moot.
The trial court reasoned that the IPA does not authorize a court to require an agency to
amend a record, and therefore her only remedy was to have a statement of disagreement
placed in her file.4 The Department responds that the trial court was correct, but it
provides no reasoned argument in support.
We begin with the plain language of the IPA. It requires an agency to maintain
“records . . . used to make any determination about [an] individual” “with accuracy,
relevance, timeliness, and completeness.” (§ 1798.18.) It allows an individual to bring a
civil action against an agency “whenever” the agency “[f]ails to maintain any record
concerning any individual with such accuracy, relevancy, timeliness, and completeness as
4 Given the reasons for this ruling, it applied only to Torricellas’s claims regarding the accuracy of the chronos; it did not apply to her claims regarding the validity of the grievance procedures. The trial court went on to reject the latter claims on the merits. We conclude that it did not intend to rule that these latter claims were moot.
11
is necessary to assure fairness in any determination . . . if, as a proximate result of such
failure, a determination is made which is adverse to the individual.” (§ 1798.45, subd.
(b).) It then provides that “[a]ny agency that fails to comply with any provision of this
chapter may be enjoined . . . . The court may make any order or judgment as may be
necessary to prevent the use or employment by an agency of any practices which violate
this chapter.” (§ 1798.47.)
Significantly, the IPA also provides: “The rights and remedies set forth in this
chapter shall be deemed to be nonexclusive . . . .” (§ 1798.49.)
These provisions make no express exception for an individual who has filed a
statement of disagreement. Contrariwise, the provision allowing an individual to file a
statement of disagreement does not expressly provide that an individual who does so
cannot file a civil action for amendment.
The trial court evidently reasoned that such an exception is implied: Why would
the IPA allow an individual to go through the elaborate and time-consuming request-for-
amendment/statement-of-disagreement procedure if the same individual could skip that
procedure and just go straight to filing a civil action? And, once an individual has gone
through that procedure, why would the IPA allow the same individual to file a civil
action?
The answer becomes apparent when we look at the background of the IPA.
“Many of the IPA’s approaches to regulating agency information practices are
similar to those of the Federal Privacy Act, and the language of the IPA is in several
12
instances identical to the federal act. [Citation.]” (Hancock, California’s Privacy Act:
Controlling Government’s Use of Information? (1980) 32 Stan.L.Rev. 1001, 1038, fn. 6.)
Like the IPA, the federal Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a) requires an agency’s
records that are used to make a determination regarding an individual to be accurate,
relevant, timely, and complete. (5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(5).) Also like the IPA, it allows an
individual to request amendment of a record. (5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)(2).) If such a request
is denied, it allows the individual to request a review by the agency. (5 U.S.C.
§ 552a(d)(3).) Finally, if the agency still refuses to amend the record after a review, it
requires the agency to allow the individual to file a statement of disagreement. (Ibid.)
Unlike the IPA, however, the federal Privacy Act expressly allows an individual to
bring a civil action for judicial review of an agency’s refusal to amend. (5 U.S.C.
§ 552a(g)(1)(A); see also 5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)(3).) In such an action, “the court may order
the agency to amend the individual’s record in accordance with his request or in such
other way as the court may direct.” (5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(2)(A).)5
The federal courts have held that the request-to-amend procedure is an
administrative remedy. An individual must exhaust this remedy — i.e., must request
amendment and, if amendment is denied, must request review — before asking a court to
5 The IPA, enacted in 1977, was necessarily based on the federal Privacy Act as it then stood. The federal Privacy Act has been amended repeatedly since then. However, these particular provisions remain essentially unchanged. (See 5 U.S.C. former § 552a, Pub.L. 93-579, § 3 (Dec. 31, 1974), 88 Stat. 1897.)
13
order the amendment of a record.6 (Quinn v. Stone (3d Cir. 1992) 978 F.2d 126, 137;
Dickson v. Office of Personnel Management (D.C. Cir. 1987) 828 F.2d 32, 40; Diliberti
v. United States (7th Cir. 1987) 817 F.2d 1259, 1260-1261; Hewitt v. Grabicki (9th Cir.
1986) 794 F.2d 1373, 1377-1378.) “[P]remature review . . . would invade the obligation
to make policy judgments committed in the first instance to the record keeping agency.
[Citation.]” (Dickson v. Office of Personnel Management, supra, 828 F.2d at p. 40.)
However, this administrative remedy is not exclusive; an individual who has exhausted
the procedure and filed a statement of disagreement can still file an action to compel
The drafters of the IPA were aware of the federal Privacy Act. Nevertheless, they
did not adopt its provision allowing exemptions. We can only conclude that they
intended prison records to be subject to the IPA. If the Department feels that public
policy requires inmate records to be exempt from the IPA, it should make that pitch to the
Legislature.
We therefore conclude that the request-for-amendment/statement-of-disagreement
procedure is not the sole remedy under the IPA for an inaccurate record. An individual
who has exhausted that remedy is entitled to file an action for an injunction to amend the
record. Hence, Torricellas’s claims regarding the accuracy of the chronos are not moot.7
V
THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
Torricellas contends that when the trial court denied her request for appointed
counsel, it abused its discretion by failing to consider all of the relevant factors.
7 Torricellas also contends that the trial court erred by ruling that the action was moot, because it had previously denied two motions for summary judgment that were based on mootness. Because we conclude, for other reasons, that the action was not moot, we do not reach this contention.
16
A. Additional Factual and Procedural Background.
1. Torricellas’s request for counsel.
In March 2016, the defendants filed a demurrer. The individual defendants
demurred to all causes of action; the Department demurred to all but the IPA causes of
action.
On November 16, 2016, Torricellas filed an untimely opposition to the demurrer.8
In it, she did not oppose the demurrer on the merits; rather, she asked the trial court to
appoint counsel for her and to take the demurrer off calendar until her request for counsel
could be addressed.
In a declaration, she stated that she was “obstructed [from] meaningful access to
the courts by lack of or adequate law library access & numerous lockdowns, modified
programs and other scheduling that deny [her] access to research & prepare legal
documents for filing in a timely manner.” She testified in some detail to the procedures
that had interfered with her access. She also stated that she had been unable to file
documents because the trial court had improperly denied her requests for fee waivers.
8 The opposition was served by mail on November 10, 2016. Torricellas was entitled to the benefit of the “prison mailbox” or “prison delivery” rule, under which a document is deemed filed on the date the inmate delivers it to prison authorities. (See Silverbrand v. County of Los Angeles (2009) 46 Cal.4th 106, 123-124; In re Lambirth (2016) 5 Cal.App.5th 915, 923-924.) Even so, the deadline for filing an opposition — nine court days before the November 16, 2016 hearing (Code Civ. Proc., § 1005, subd. (b)) — had already run.
The register of actions suggests that the trial court had already ruled before the opposition was filed.
17
Also on November 16, 2016, the trial court sustained the demurrer, with 90 days’
leave to amend. The Department filed an answer to the IPA causes of action.
Torricellas did not file an amended complaint, so the trial court set an order to
show cause (OSC) re: dismissal.
In case management statements filed on April 6, 2017, June 5, 2017, and August
9, 2017, Torricellas once again requested the appointment of counsel. She noted that she
had been unable to appear at hearings at least three times because the prison had failed or
refused to give her telephone access. Again, she complained that she had been unable to
file documents because the trial court had improperly denied her requests for fee waivers.
On August 23, 2017, the trial court denied her requests for counsel9 and dismissed
the action as against the individual defendants with prejudice.
2. The first appeal.
Torricellas filed a notice of appeal from the dismissal of the individual defendants.
In July 2019, we issued our opinion in that appeal. (Torricellas v. Burkhardt (Jul. 22,
2019, No. E069330) [2019 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 4837] [nonpub. opn.].) We held
that the trial court properly sustained the demurrer as to the individual defendants (id. at
pp. [8]-[11]) and, when Torricellas failed to amend, it properly dismissed the action as
against them. (Id. at pp. [11]-[15].) Thus, we affirmed.
9 The present record does not show the reason for the denial. However, in a previous appeal (see part V.A.2, post), we noted that the request for counsel was denied because “the court did not have the resources to grant the request.” (Torricellas v. Burkhardt (Jul. 27, 2020, No. E069330) [2020 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 4750 at pp. [8]- [9]] [nonpub. opn.].)
18
Torricellas filed a petition for review. In October 2019, the Supreme Court
granted the petition and transferred the matter to us “for reconsideration in light of
Yarbrough v. Superior Court (1985) 39 Cal.3d 197 . . . ” (Yarbrough). (Torricellas v.
Burkhardt (Oct. 30, 2019, No. S257541) [2019 Cal. LEXIS 8297 at p. [1]].)
Yarbrough had held that “[i]n an appropriate case, and as a last alternative,
appointment of counsel may be the only way to provide an incarcerated, indigent civil
defendant with access to the courts . . . .” (Yarbrough, supra, 39 Cal.3d at p. 200.) It
also prescribed factors that a trial court must consider in ruling on an indigent prisoner’s
request for the appointment of counsel. (Id. at pp. 205-207.) Subsequent cases have
extended Yarbrough to indigent prisoners who are civil plaintiffs. (Smith v. Ogbuehi
(2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 453, 465-468, and cases cited.)
In July 2020, we issued a new opinion. (Torricellas v. Burkhardt, supra [2020
Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 4750].) We held that, when the trial court denied Torricellas’s
request for appointed counsel, it abused its discretion by failing to consider all of the
relevant factors. (Id. at pp. [28]-[32].) Therefore, we reversed the dismissal and
remanded with directions to determine “(1) whether plaintiff was deprived of her due
process right to court access and (2) whether to grant plaintiff’s request for court-
appointed counsel or order other alternative measures to protect her access to the court
while prosecuting her claims against defendants in this case.” (Id. at pp. [32]-[33].)
19
B. Discussion.
The Department was not a party to the previous appeal. We may assume, without
deciding, that our opinion in that appeal therefore is not the law of the case. (See Bigbee
v. Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co. (1983) 34 Cal.3d 49, 57.) Nevertheless, we remain convinced
that, when the trial court denied Torricellas’s request for appointed counsel, it abused its
discretion by failing to consider all of the factors that the Supreme Court has instructed us
are relevant to such a request. (See Yarbrough, supra, 39 Cal.3d at pp. 205-207; see also
Payne v. Superior Court (1976) 17 Cal.3d 908, 926-927.) Indeed, the Department does
not argue otherwise. Rather, it argues only that the error is forfeited and/or moot.
First, the Department argues that Torricellas forfeited her contention because she
did not request counsel before trial. However, she did request counsel at the demurrer
stage; the trial court denied that request due to lack of resources. This preserved a
contention that she needed counsel in connection with the demurrer.
It also preserved a contention that she needed counsel in connection with trial.
“‘Reviewing courts have traditionally excused parties for failing to raise an issue at trial
where an objection would have been futile . . . .’ [Citation.]” (People v. Gomez (2018) 6
Cal.5th 243, 286-287.) Because the trial court had already denied her request, and
because the reason for that denial had not changed, a renewed request would have been
futile.
20
Second, the Department argues that, while this appeal was pending, Torricellas
waived her present contention. This argument requires some additional procedural
background.
At the Department’s request, we have taken judicial notice of the minute order and
reporter’s transcript from a hearing in the case on September 3, 2021. That was a hearing
on remand after the previous appeal. The Department, having obtained a judgment in its
favor, was no longer a party. The purpose of the hearing was to resolve Torricellas’s
claims that she had not been given access to her legal materials.
The trial court asked Torricellas whether she still wanted counsel or whether, on
the other hand, she would prefer to represent herself, as long as she had access to her
legal materials. At first, she did not give a direct answer. The trial court, however,
pressed her, and eventually she agreed that she would prefer to represent herself, as long
as she had access to her legal materials.10
Accordingly, the trial court ordered that she be allowed access to her legal
materials. It concluded: “[P]ursu[ant] to the remittitur, the Court has determined that per
Yar[b]rough, plaintiff is not seeking counsel, but seeking accommodations, and plaintiff
10 Specifically, she said, “I really just wanted to do my file — my opposition. I wanted . . . the opportunity to get my opposition filed and heard . . . and participate in the hearing on the demurrer process, which I didn’t get. So I don’t feel that I need an attorney for that. . . . [I]f you didn’t want to give me an opportunity to file [an opposition to] the demurrer, . . . then that would be my argument, . . . that as an alternative . . . , then maybe you should appoint counsel . . . .” (Italics added.)
21
is satisfied that these accommodations will allow her to file responses to the legal
arguments made by the attorney general’s office.”
This was a waiver of appointed counsel — but a limited one, in two respects.
First, when it was made, the only defendants were the individual defendants; Torricellas
has never waived appointed counsel in any action against the Department. Second, when
it was made, the only pending issue was the demurrer. Torricellas even indicated that she
was waiving appointed counsel solely in the context of the demurrer. She explained that
she had been denied an opportunity to participate in “the demurrer process,” then
concluded, “So I don't feel that I need an attorney for that” (italics added) — clearly
referring back to “the demurrer process.” The trial court merely found that the
accommodations it was ordering were sufficient to enable Torricellas “to file responses to
the legal arguments made by the attorney general’s office,” not necessarily to fully try the
case.
Third, the Department argues that “the record establishes that Torricellas received
appropriate access to court.” This is essentially a harmless error argument.
As the Department notes, a prisoner is not absolutely entitled to appointed counsel.
(Payne v. Superior Court, supra, 17 Cal.3d at p. 924.) “[A]ccess — not the right to
counsel — is the keystone . . . .” (Yarbrough, supra, 39 Cal.3d at p. 201.) “Meaningful
access to the courts . . . ‘“does not necessarily mandate a particular remedy” to secure
access.’ [Citation.] Rather, ‘[t]he trial court determines the appropriate remedy to secure
access in the exercise of its sound discretion.’ [Citations.] Case law suggests a laundry
22
list of remedies to provide access in this context, including ‘appointment of counsel for
the prisoner.’ [Citations.] Indeed, appointment of counsel is viewed as the remedy to be
considered when other lesser remedies prove inadequate. [Citation.]” (In re William
M.W. (2019) 43 Cal.App.5th 573, 591.)
A prisoner can be denied appointed counsel and required to represent him or
herself, provided that doing so does not deny meaningful access to the courts.
Meaningful access requires that the prisoner can competently represent him or herself.
Such competence involves not only the ability to spot, raise, and argue legal and factual
issues, but also to file documents and to make appearances. (See Apollo v. Gyaami
(2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1468, 1483; see also Watts v. Kidman (7th Cir. 2022) 42 F.4th
755, 760.)11 “[T]he test is not whether ‘a good lawyer may have done better than [the
plaintiff].’ [Citation.] Because if that were the test, ‘[trial] judges would be required to
request counsel for every indigent litigant.’ [Citation.]” (Johnson v. Doughty (7th Cir.
2006) 433 F.3d 1001, 1006.)
The Department focuses on Torricellas’s performance at trial. It notes that she
testified, examined witnesses, introduced exhibits, and filed papers. Torricellas retorts
that other relevant witnesses and exhibits were excluded. She also claims that she was
11 In federal court, an indigent can request pro bono counsel in a civil action under 28 United States Code section 1915(e)(1). The factors relevant to such a request under federal decisions are also relevant to an indigent prisoner’s request for the appointment of counsel under California law. (Smith v. Ogbuehi, supra, 38 Cal.App.5th at p. 470.)
23
unprepared for trial, she had no plan, and, while she did examine and cross-examine
witnesses, she did not do so effectively.
It is hard for us to evaluate these conflicting claims. They require us to compare
the trial that took place to a trial that did not. That, in turn, requires us to imagine that
Torricellas asked questions, made objections, raised arguments, called witnesses, and
introduced exhibits that she never did — the need for which may not be apparent from
this record.
We focus instead on Torricellas’s performance in pretrial proceedings. She failed
to file any opposition to the demurrer on the merits. She did file a request to take the
demurrer off calendar, but she filed it too late. Once the demurrer was sustained, she
failed to file an amended complaint within 90 days. In support of her requests for
counsel, she testified, in some detail, that various prison procedures were preventing her
from doing legal research, from filing papers, and from making telephonic appearances.
This testimony was uncontradicted.
Her difficulties with fee waivers also deserve discussion.
When she filed her complaint, Torricellas filed a request for an initial fee waiver.
The trial court denied it with respect to filing fees, although it granted it in every other
respect. Instead, it ruled that she was required to pay the statutory fee of $450 for filing
the complaint; however, this could be collected as monthly payments taken from her
prison trust account, of up to 20 percent of the balance. Some $260 was duly collected
24
this way. Then, however, there is a docket notation: “Insufficient filing fee: Final
Payment of filing fees . . . in the amount of $190.00.”
Meanwhile, Torricellas filed a request to waive additional fees. In it, she asked
the trial court to reconsider its denial of a waiver of filing fees. The trial court denied the
request because it was not accompanied by a statement of her prison trust account. She
continued to file requests for a waiver of filing fees, but the trial court denied them as
having been already adjudicated.
In her requests for the appointment of counsel, Torricellas testified that, because
her requests for a waiver of filing fees had been denied, she had been unable to file
motions, oppositions, and continuance requests.
We cannot say that the trial court erred by denying a waiver of filing fees.
Torricellas insists that she was absolutely entitled to a fee waiver. Evidently she is
unaware of Government Code section 68635 (even though the trial court cited it in its
order denying a filing fee waiver). That section provides that a prisoner must pay filing
fees; however, if the prisoner submits a certified “statement of account for any moneys
due to the inmate for the six-month period immediately preceding the application,” the
court can allow the fees to be collected as monthly payments of 20 percent of the
prisoner’s trust account. Thus, it would seem that Torricellas’s requests were denied only
because she failed to submit a statement of her prison trust account.12
12 In supplemental briefing, Torricellas claims she did submit a statement of her trust account. However, she provides no citation to the record.
25
On the other hand, we cannot say for certain that this is the case. It is not clear
why the trial court stopped attempting to collect payments from Torricellas’s trust
account. It is also not clear why it ordered that the initial $450 filing fee be collected
from her trust account, but not any subsequent filing fees. Moreover, Torricellas argues
that, once the trial court granted her initial fee waiver, it was not authorized to demand
any subsequent filing fees or any updated prison trust account statements. (See Cal.
Rules of Court, rule 3.55.)
Here is the point. There are two possibilities. First, Torricellas may have been at
fault, e.g., by failing to submit a trust account statement. If so, that is some evidence that
she was not competent to litigate her own case. Second, the trial court may have been at
fault, e.g., by erroneously requiring subsequent filing fees and an updated trust account
statement. If so, then Torricellas’s indigence interfered with her access. Either way,
however, Torricellas’s inability to obtain a filing fee waiver tended to show that she was
denied meaningful access.
We are not holding that Torricellas was absolutely entitled to the appointment of
counsel. On remand, the trial court must evaluate, among all of the other factors,
Torricellas’s current competence to represent herself; it may be much improved since
She also cites Government Code section 68635, subdivision (h), which provides: “An inmate shall not be prohibited from filing pleadings or other papers solely because the inmate has no assets and no means to partially pay the initial filing fee.” However, she was not prohibited from filing papers because she had no assets; she was not prohibited from filing papers because she did not submit a statement of her prison trust account.
26
2016-2017. Moreover, the trial court may conclude that it can provide meaningful access
by means of other procedural vehicles.
We are holding, however, that there is a reasonable probability that, if the trial
court had given Torricellas’s request for appointed counsel due consideration, it would
have granted the request. Hence, we cannot say that its failure to consider all of the
relevant factors was harmless.
VI
ADVERSE DETERMINATION
As mentioned, the trial court rejected Torricellas’s claims challenging the chronos
to the extent that they were made under section 1798.45, subdivision (b), because it found
that the chronos were not the proximate cause of the denial of her parole, and also
because the parole denial had been vacated. Torricellas contends that both reasons were
erroneous.
A. Proximate Causation.
Again, section 1798.45, subdivision (b) permits a civil action based on a failure to
maintain accurate records “if, as a proximate result of such failure, a determination is
made which is adverse to the individual.”
We review the trial court’s finding of lack of causation under the substantial
evidence standard. (Williams v. Wraxall (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 120, 132.) That means
“‘“the power of an appellate court begins and ends with a determination as to whether
there is any substantial evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted,” to support the findings
27
below. [Citation.] We must therefore view the evidence in the light most favorable to
the prevailing party, giving it the benefit of every reasonable inference and resolving all
conflicts in its favor in accordance with the standard of review so long adhered to by this
court.’ [Citation.]” (Bickel v. City of Piedmont (1997) 16 Cal.4th 1040, 1053.)
The transcript of the parole hearing supports the trial court’s finding. The panel
gave an extensive statement of reasons. It noted that: (1) Torricellas had an “unstable
and tumultuous social history,” which included “an extensive substance abuse history”;
(2) she had a criminal history including prostitution, drug crimes and violent crimes such
as battery; (3) the murder was “cruel,” “dispassionate and calculated,” and showed
“callous disregard for human suffering; (4) a psychologist’s report had found “a moderate
to high risk of recidivism”; (5) her conduct at the hearing demonstrated a lack of self-
control;13 (6) her testimony at the hearing was “far-fetched,” showing that “she [wa]s not
to be trusted”; (7) she “lack[ed] understanding” of her crime and was “continuing to
minimize her role”; (8) she did not show “remorse or empathy”; (9) “she ha[d] not
engaged in meaningful self-help nor programming”; and (10) “she ha[d] not identified
nor corrected her deficiencies in character with respect to substance abuse, with respect to
anger, with respect to insight, and with respect to conflict resolution.”
13 “[S]he was agitated, she was angry, she could not sit still, she moved around, she attempted to get out of her seat, being prompted to be put back in her seat by the officer. She was disruptive, she was disrespectful to the process, and . . . exhibited a level of anger that was highly inappropriate . . . .” “[T]he Panel, to a certain degree, became in fear of the situation.”
28
One panel member was concerned that, when asked about why “she seems to find
a lot of [conflict],” she responded — “Maybe it finds me. Whatever.” He felt this was
“dismissive” and showed lack of “self-reflection.” Another was concerned that she had
repeatedly been “manipulati[ve].”
Admittedly, the panel did consider Torricellas’s behavior in prison, as showing
“that she has continued to have conflict with peers, . . . that she lacks the tools in conflict
resolution, in dealing with other humans civilly.” However, her disciplinary history
included 27 major incidents (“115s”) and 63 minor incidents (“128s”). On this record, it
would be absurd to suppose that the three minor incidents shown in the chronos had any
effect on the Board’s ultimate decision.
According to Torricellas, the panel “specifically cited to ostensible issues based on
the [three] chronos . . . .” In the portions of the record that she cites, however, the Board
merely said it had “considered the whole record,” including all of her 115s and 128s, and
had taken into account her behavior in prison. It never specifically cited any of the three
chronos at issue.
Torricellas argues that, absent the chronos, even if the Board would still have
denied parole, it might have denied it for some time less than 15 years. However, the
Board had to deny parole for 15 years, unless it found “by clear and convincing
evidence” that a period of 10 years or less was consistent with public safety. (Pen. Code,
§ 3041.5, subd. (b)(3).) The same analysis applies. In fact, the panel did not find a single
positive factor or mitigating circumstance.
29
Finally, Torricellas takes issue with the panel’s reasoning. As the Department
points out, however, the only way to seek review of a decision to deny parole is to file a
petition for habeas corpus. (In re Roberts (2005) 36 Cal.4th 575, 584.)
B. Vacation of the Denial of Parole.
Separately and alternatively, there was no adverse determination because the
denial of parole had been vacated.
In legal parlance, “vacate” means “nullify or cancel; make void; invalidate . . . .”
(Black’s Law Dict. (11th ed. 2019).) When something is vacated, it is as if it had never
existed. (E.g., Strategic Concepts, LLC v. Beverly Hills Unified School Dist. (2018) 23
Cal.App.5th 163, 165, fn. 2 [unqualified reversal vacates the judgment, leaving the case
“‘as if no judgment had ever been rendered.’”]; People v. Murphy (1980) 108 Cal.App.3d
475, 478 [“The granting of a rehearing . . . has the effect of vacating the previous opinion
and puts the case in the same position as if it had never been decided or submitted . . . .”];
Estate of Edwards (1972) 25 Cal.App.3d 906, 912 [“The effect of an order vacating a
final judgment of divorce is that ‘there never has been a dissolution of the marriage.’”].)
Obviously, as a factual matter, it did exist. As a legal matter, however, it must be
regarded as if it did not exist.
Torricellas argues that a future psychologist may rely on the Board’s findings,
even though they were vacated, and a future Board may, in turn, rely on the
psychologist’s findings. This shows, at most, that there may be some adverse
30
determination in the future. Her claim under section 1798.45, subdivision (b) is not ripe
until that occurs.
Torricellas also argues that the denial of parole continues to cause her “mental,
emotional, and psychological injury.” That is relevant to section 1798.45, subdivision
(c), which requires an “adverse effect.” (See part VII, post.) However, it is irrelevant to
section 1798.45, subdivision (b), which requires an “adverse” “determination.” There is
no longer any such determination.
VII
ADVERSE EFFECT
The trial court also rejected Torricellas’s claims challenging the chronos to the
extent that they were made under section 1798.45, subdivision (c), because it found no
evidence that her statements of disagreement would be inadequate to prevent adverse
effects. Torricellas contends that this was erroneous.
This assumes that Torricellas could have had a meritorious claim under section
1798.45, subdivision (c), if only she could have shown adverse effects. We disagree.
Section 1798.45, subdivision (b) provides a civil action, under certain circumstances,
when a state agency has failed to maintain records “with accuracy, relevance, timeliness,
and completeness,” as section 1798.18 requires. Section 1798.45, subdivision (c) then
provides a civil action, under certain circumstances, when an agency “[f]ails to comply
with any other provision of” the IPA. (Italics added.) Therefore, a claim under section
1798.45, subdivision (c) cannot be based on the maintenance of an inaccurate record in
31
violation of section 1798.18. A claim based on maintenance of an inaccurate record can
be brought only under section 1798.45, subdivision (b).
VIII
THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
A regulation of the Department requires that any appeal from the denial of an IPA
request to amend must be made using the prison grievance procedure. (Cal. Code Regs.,
tit. 15, 3450, subd. (b).) Torricellas contends that the grievance procedure is inconsistent
with the IPA, and therefore the trial court erred by refusing to enjoin this requirement.
A. Additional Factual and Procedural Background.
In her complaint, Torricellas alleged that “the Department[’s] . . . regulation for
seeking amendment of the record . . . fails to comply . . . with the procedure and time
frame set out in the [IPA].”
In her trial brief, she argued that the grievance procedure was “fundamentally
incompatible” with the IPA because:
(1) There was no reasonable probability that a review would be complete within
60 days;
(2) An inmate was limited to filing one grievance every 14 days, and therefore an
inmate with other, non-IPA grievances might be unable to file an IPA grievance; and
(3) The grievance procedure was arbitrary and capricious — it “allows or permits
prison appeals staff to reject or cancel out prisoner appeals for any reason or no reason at
all.”
32
B. Discussion.
1. Applicable law.
Under the IPA, when an individual makes a request to amend, the agency must
“complete such review and make a final determination” within not more than 60 days.
(§ 1798.36.)
At the time of trial, the Department’s grievance regulations provided for a three-
step process: A first level review, conducted by an appeals coordinator; at the inmate’s
request, a second level review, conducted by a higher-level staff member; and, again at
the inmate’s request, a third level review, conducted by an even higher-level staff
The major difference is that the new regulations provide for a two-step process.
Now, a decision on the grievance must be rendered within 60 days after receipt of the
grievance, “unless other statutory or regulatory authority requires a response in less than
60 calendar days.” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3483, subd. (g).) In most cases, an inmate
has 60 days to appeal. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3484, subd. (b)(1).) A decision on the
34
appeal must be rendered within 60 days after receipt, “unless other statutory or regulatory
authority requires a response in less than 60 calendar days.” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15,
§ 3485, subd. (g).) Also, the limitations of one issue per grievance and one grievance per
14 days no longer apply.
Both sides filed their briefs after the new regulations went into effect.
Nevertheless, they cite and discuss only the old regulations. At this point, however,
Torricellas’s challenge to the old regulations is moot. We consider the challenge, but
only as it applies to the new regulations.
2. Additional factual background.
On October 8, 2014, Torricellas filed a grievance challenging the denial of her
IPA requests to amend the first two chronos. On October 16, 2014, the grievance was
canceled at the first level, because it had been submitted more than 30 days after the date
of the second chrono.14 Torricellas admits that she did not challenge the cancellation.
On December 17, 2014, Torricellas filed a grievance challenging the denial of her
IPA request to amend the third chrono. On January 14, 2015, it was rejected at the first
level, because it was not written entirely on the required forms.
Torricellas resubmitted the grievance. It was rejected on February 13, 2015, again
because it was not written entirely on the required form, and also because it duplicated
her earlier grievance regarding the contents of the chrono.
14 The cancellation also noted that the grievance did not include copies of the chronos. Standing alone, however, this would have been grounds for rejection, but not for cancellation.
35
Torricellas resubmitted the grievance again. It was rejected on March 3, 2015,
again because it was not written entirely on the required forms. On March 16, 2015, the
grievance was canceled.
3. The IPA’s requirement of a 60-day review.
The trial court ruled that the mere fact that the Department’s IPA regulation (Cal.
Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3450) provides no timelines did not make it inconsistent with the
IPA’s requirement that any review of the denial of a request to amend be completed
within 60 days.
Torricellas argues that the trial court misconstrued her argument and, as a result,
failed to rule on it.
She is correct. Section 3450 provides that “[i]nmates . . . may appeal the denial of
a request [to amend] using the inmate/parolee appeal process established in these
regulations.” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, § 3450, subd. (b).) In other words, it incorporates
the Department’s grievance regulations as the sole avenue for review of the denial of an
IPA request to amend. Torricellas’s argument was (and is) that the timelines in the
grievance regulations — not in section 3450 itself — are inconsistent with the IPA.
While her trial brief was arguably ambiguous on the point, she made it crystal-clear at
trial. Moreover, after trial, she objected to the statement of decision based on its failure
to address this argument.15
15 In a related argument, Torricellas also argued that the regulation limiting grievances to one every 14 days was incompatible with the IPA, because it could prevent an inmate who had other grievances from filing an IPA grievance. The trial court also
36
Ordinarily, we would remand with directions to reconsider. However, Torricellas
also argues that the grievance requirements are inconsistent with the IPA as a matter of
law.
Again, she is correct. The old regulations gave the Department up to 120 working
days to make a final determination on a grievance (plus the time an inmate takes to
request review). The new regulations give the Department up to 120 calendar days to
make a final determination on a grievance (again, plus the time an inmate takes to request
review). Thus, both are inconsistent with the IPA’s 60-day maximum.
The Department points out that the two 60-day time limits, for its grievance
decision and for its decision on an appeal, both come with the caveat, “unless other
statutory or regulatory authority requires a response in less than 60 calendar days . . . .”
(Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, §§ 3483, subd. (g), 3485, subd. (g).) It argues that they
therefore do not conflict with the IPA. However, the inmate has 60 days to appeal,
leaving the Department with only 60 days total. And because these are two separate time
limits, the Department may use up all (or most) of its 60 days making the grievance
decision, leaving none (or not enough) of its 60 days for the appeal decision. These
regulations do not provide any adequate mechanism for ensuring that the Department
complies with the 120-day time limit of the IPA.
failed to rule on this argument. However, as a result of the adoption of the new regulations, which have no such limitation, it is now moot.
37
The Department also argues, however, that “noncompliance with the IPA’s time
limits, in and of itself, is not an ‘adverse effect.’” We agree. Under the federal Privacy
Act, delay alone is not an adverse effect. (Perry v. Block (D.C. Cir. 1982) 684 F.2d 121,
129.) We allowed Torricellas to file a supplemental brief discussing this issue, but the
only adverse effect of the delay that she asserted was the ultimate denial of the
grievances. There is no causal relationship between the two. We therefore, conclude that
Torricellas has no standing to seek an injunction to remedy delay.
4. Erroneous rejection of grievances.
Torricellas contends that the trial court erred by failing to find whether her
grievances challenging the denial of her IPA requests to amend were improperly
rejected.16
It is true that these two grievances were erroneously rejected.
The first grievance was canceled because it was submitted more than 30 days after
the dates of the first two chronos. However, that grievance did not challenge the contents
of the first two chronos; it challenged the Department’s failure to respond to Torricellas’s
IPA request to amend the first two chronos. The Department was required to act on an
IPA request to amend within 30 days. (§ 1798.35.) Torricellas submitted the requests to
amend on August 27 and 28, respectively. Thus, they were constructively denied on
16 She is not challenging the rejection of her grievances regarding the content of the chronos.
38
September 26 and 27.17 Torricellas filed the grievance on October 8. This was within 30
days after the denial, and thus timely.18
The second grievance was repeatedly rejected, supposedly because it was not
written entirely on the required forms. However, it was. The first two pages consisted of
Form 602 (required) and Form 602-A (permitted). The remainder consisted of crucial
supporting documents (the chrono, the request to amend, and the denial of the request to
amend). These were carefully described as “supporting documents” in the Form 602
itself. The grievance had to include all available supporting documents; if it did not, it
had to be denied. Yet evidently it was denied precisely because it did include them.
At one point, the grievance was rejected for the additional reason that it duplicated
Torricellas’s earlier grievance regarding the contents of the chrono. But it did not. It was
specifically regarding the denial of the IPA request to amend.
It must be remembered, however, that this is an action for violation of the IPA. It
is not an administrative mandate proceeding. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5.) The IPA
does not require an agency to adjudicate every review correctly every time. It merely
provides that, if an agency refuses to amend a record, the individual can file a statement
17 The Department also violated the IPA by failing to “[i]nform [Torricellas] of its refusal to amend the record . . . , the procedures established by the agency for the individual to request a review . . . , and the name, title, and business address of the reviewing official.” (§ 1798.35, subd. (b).) 18 Torricellas suggests that her time to file the grievance was extended under the “service by mail” rule, Code of Civil Procedure section 1013. We need not decide this point, because her grievance was timely even without it.
39
of disagreement. (§ 1798.36.) Also, as we held in part IV, ante, if the individual (1) has
suffered an adverse determination and (2) has exhausted administrative remedies, it
allows the individual to file an action to correct the record. Thus, Torricellas is not
entitled to any relief based on the erroneous rejection of these two particular grievances,
standing alone.
On the other hand, if the grievance procedure is a sham — if the Department does
not genuinely provide review of the refusal of an IPA request to amend — that would be
a violation of the IPA. (§§ 1798.35, subd. (b), 1798.36.) Moreover, if it is a sham,
Torricellas has suffered an adverse effect, because two of her grievances were
erroneously rejected.
The Department argues again that the erroneous rejection of Torricellas’s
grievances was not an adverse effect: “[N]oncompliance with the statute, without
attendant injury, is insufficient. Otherwise, the phrase ‘adverse effect’ would be
superfluous or redundant . . . .” We agree that some violations of the IPA do not
inherently have adverse effects. The quintessential IPA violation is the unauthorized
disclosure of personal information. (§ 1798.24.) If such a violation could be deemed an
adverse effect, without more, even the most banal and inconsequential disclosures would
give rise to litigation. By contrast, the failure to provide a meaningful procedure for
requesting the amendment of a record is akin to the denial of a fair hearing, which is
reversible per se. (Kelly v. New West Federal Savings (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 659, 677.)
40
If Torricellas was denied a fair hearing on her grievances, that in itself is an injury.
Whether she ultimately should have prevailed on them is beside the point.
Moreover, the patently erroneous rejection of these two grievances was at least
some evidence that the procedure was a sham. The complaint had alleged that their
rejection was erroneous. Torricellas objected to the statement of decision because it
concluded that the grievance procedure was adequate without considering whether her
grievances had been rejected for “false,” “pretextual,” or unauthorized reasons.
Therefore, the trial court erred by failing to consider and to make a finding on whether
these two grievances were erroneously rejected. (See In re Marriage of Hardin (1995)
38 Cal.App.4th 448, 453 & 453, fn. 4 [reversing because statement of decision failed to
make necessary findings and failed to consider certain relevant evidence, when appellant
objected to statement of decision].)
The trial court did find generally that the grievance procedure was “fair[],” “that it
set forth a robust and comprehensive appeal process available to any inmate,” and that
Torricellas “was able to take advantage of the process.” However, it did not take into
account the fact that two of her grievances were erroneously rejected.
The trial court must reconsider its ruling that the grievance procedure is fair. If it
determines that the procedure is a sham, it must require the Department to provide a
genuine procedure for the review of the denial of an IPA request to amend.
41
IX
ASSERTEDLY DEFECTIVE STATEMENT OF DECISION
Torricellas contends that the trial court’s statement of decision was defective.
A. Additional Factual and Procedural Background.
On October 17, 2019, the trial court issued a “Statement of Decision.” It stated
that it was the court’s proposed statement of decision, subject to a party’s objection. (See
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(c).)
On November 1, 2019,19 Torricellas filed a request for a statement of decision,
specifying some 40 controverted issues.
Meanwhile, on October 28, 2019, Torricellas had filed a request for an extension
of her time to file objections to the proposed statement of decision. On November 7,
2019, the trial court granted an extension through November 26, 2019. (See Cal. Rules
of Court, rule 3.1590(m).)
On November 26, 2019, Torricellas filed objections.
On December 19, 2019, the trial court overruled all but one of the objections. In
response to that one objection, it amended the statement of decision. Otherwise, it
adopted the proposed statement of decision as the final statement of decision.
19 As noted (see fn. 8, ante), Torricellas was entitled to the benefit of the prison delivery rule. Accordingly, we use the dates when she served her filings, not when they were actually filed.
42
B. Discussion.
Torricellas argues that the trial court’s final statement of decision failed to respond
to the 40 issues that she specified in her request for a statement of decision.
This presumes that her request for a statement of decision was timely. However,
when a trial is concluded either (1) within one day or (2) within less than eight hours over
more than one day, a request for a statement of decision must be made before the matter
is submitted. (Code Civ. Proc., § 632; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(n).)
The record strongly indicates that the trial here was concluded in less than eight
hours. “A nonjury ‘trial shall be deemed to be actually commenced at the beginning of
the opening statement of the plaintiff or counsel . . . .’ [Citation.]” (Bevli v. Brisco (1985)
165 Cal.App.3d 812, 820.) “[J]udicial time off the bench” does not count. (Gorman v.
Tassajara Development Corp. (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 44, 63.)
The record shows that the trial was in session as follows:
Date Start End Elapsed
9/27/19 10:24 a.m. 11:50 a.m. 1:26
1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 2:00
10/4/19 9:35 a.m. 10:41 a.m. 1:06
11:16 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 0:44
1:30 p.m. 1:55 p.m. 0:25
Subtotal: 5:41
43
Admittedly, this subtotal does not include Torricellas’s rebuttal evidence or
closing arguments, the duration of which is not in the record. However, those took up
only 23 pages of the reporter’s transcript. It seems inconceivable that they lasted as much
as 2 hours and 20 minutes, so as to make the trial last more than 8 hours.
Even if there were any room for doubt, we would have to resolve it against
Torricellas. “‘A judgment or order of the lower court is presumed correct. All
intendments and presumptions are indulged to support it on matters as to which the
record is silent, and error must be affirmatively shown.’” (Denham v. Superior Court
(1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 564.) “[I]t is the appellant’s burden to provide an adequate record
on appeal that affirmatively demonstrates error. [Citation.]” (Crasnick v. Marquez
(2016) 248 Cal.App.4th Supp. 1, 9.) Because the record does not show that the trial
lasted longer than eight hours, we must presume it did not.
In sum, Torricellas’s request for a statement of decision was untimely. It follows
that the trial court had no obligation to make any findings on any of the issues that she
specified. (In re Marriage of Katz (1991) 234 Cal.App.3d 1711, 1718.)
Torricellas also argues that the statement of decision misstates facts, in four
respects. Somewhat unhelpfully, the Department does not respond to this argument.
First, she claims that it treated the contents of the chronos as true. She does not
point to any particular passage in the statement of decision in which it supposedly did so,
nor have we found any. The statement of decision specifically says: “During pretrial
44
hearings, the Court found that the underlying facts concerning the chronos were not the
proper subject of this trial. That is, the Court found that the IPA does not require a trial
to determine if the Plaintiff did or did not commit a violation of a prison rule. . . . For
these reasons, the Court did not permit evidence as to the underlying facts of the
chronos.”
Second, she claims that it labeled the chronos “disciplinary reports” when they
were not. Whether the chronos were technically “disciplinary” was not particularly
relevant to the trial court’s reasoning. Torricellas does not explain how the use of this
term was prejudicial. (See Cal. Const. art. VI, § 13; Code Civ. Proc., § 475; Elsner v.
Uveges (2004) 34 Cal.4th 915, 939.) It does not appear that it was.
Third, she claims that it misstated her argument as to why the 2014 parole denial
was an adverse determination. In summarizing Torricellas’s arguments, the trial court
stated: “She argued that the 2014 parole denial remains an adverse determination
because a transcript of the hearing and decision remain in her file.” (Italics added.)
Actually, her argument was that she would suffer an adverse effect because the chronos
remained in her file. She scoffs that a transcript of a parole hearing does not even go in
an inmate’s general file.20 The trial court, however, acknowledged that she was also
making the latter argument. It said: “Plaintiff argued that notwithstanding the fact that
this decision was vacated, the presence of these chronos will result in an adverse effect on
20 Elsewhere in her brief, however, she says: “[T]he [parole] ‘decision’ itself . . . remain[s] in the prison file where it is used and relied on by [Board] officials . . . .” We need not resolve this contradiction.
45
her in the future.” Thus, at worst, the trial court simply came up with an additional
argument for Torricellas that she herself was not making; that could not possibly have
been prejudicial.
Fourth, she claims that it erred by finding that her written responses were
statements of disagreement for purposes of the IPA. This pertains only to the trial court’s
finding that the chronos would have no adverse effect, because her responses were
statements of disagreement and were in the file. In part VII, ante, however, we held that
Torricellas cannot bring a claim for the maintenance of an inaccurate record, even if she
suffered or will suffer an adverse effect.
Thus, Torricellas has not shown that the statement of decision misstated any
material facts.
X
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for further proceedings not
inconsistent with this opinion.
On remand, within 60 days after the issuance of our remittitur (which the trial
court may extend on motion or application), Torricellas may make a new request for the
appointment of counsel. If she fails to make a timely request, or if the trial court both
denies the request and denies any alternative measure, then those aspects of the trial
court’s statement of decision that are not inconsistent with this opinion will stand. If the
trial court either grants the request or grants some alternative measure, then it must vacate
46
the statement of decision and hold a new trial; also, if Torricellas requests, it must vacate
the order sustaining the Department’s demurrer and allow new briefing on the demurrer.
The trial court also must reconsider its ruling that the Department’s grievance
procedure is fair. If it determines that the procedure is a sham, it must require the
Department to provide a genuine procedure for the review of the denial of an IPA request
to amend.
Torricellas is awarded costs on appeal against the Department.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS RAMIREZ P. J.
I concur:
McKINSTER J.
47
[Torricellas v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, E075182]
MENETREZ, J., Concurring and Dissenting.
I would affirm the judgment in its entirety.
First, under Yarbrough v. Superior Court (1985) 39 Cal.3d 197, appointment of
counsel for an indigent, incarcerated party litigating a civil case is “a last alternative” that
is to be used when it is “the only way to provide” the party “with access to the courts.”
(Id. at p. 200.) The Supreme Court emphasized that “access—not the right to counsel—is
the keystone” here. (Id. at p. 201.) Appellant was given meaningful access to the courts:
She appeared at trial, testified, examined witnesses, introduced exhibits, presented
argument, and responded to the proposed statement of decision. Accordingly, any failure
of the superior court to consider all of the relevant factors concerning appointment of
counsel was harmless. This was not the “unusual case” in which the “last alternative” of
appointing counsel was needed in order to give appellant “access.” (Id. at p. 201; see id.
at p. 200.)
Second, I do not believe that appellant has raised the argument that the grievance
procedure is a sham. I therefore would not reverse on that ground.
Because I would affirm the judgment in its entirety, I concur in the judgment in
part and respectfully dissent in part. MENETREZ J.