Samuel Eric Austin v. Cal A. Terhune, Director, and James Williams, Correctional Officer

Samuel Eric Austin, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court’s summary judgment dismissing his claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law. His claims arise from an incident in which a correctional officer allegedly exposed his genitalia to Austin and then filed a false disciplinary report against Austin when Austin complained to prison officials. We reverse and remand for further proceedings with respect to Austin’s retaliation claim. We affirm the judgment of the district court in all other respects.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

At the time of the events in issue, Austin was incarcerated in the California State Prison at Solano. He was housed in the prison’s psychiatric medical housing unit when James Williams, a correctional officer with the California Department of Corrections, came on duty and announced from the control booth that all inmates were to return to their cells and that the cell doors would be locked. Austin requested that Williams allow the inmates to keep their cell doors open because of the heat. According to Austin, Williams responded by calling Austin a “punk bitch” and a “mother fucker,” and telling Austin that he was going to “come down out…