Morris

I. Background

10 Jason Morris (hereinafter “Jason”) was a convicted sex offender. While Jason was 11 imprisoned in California’s Wasco State Prison, prison officials placed Jason in a “double” prison 12 cell with a cellmate who had a violent, non-sexual criminal history. By double-celling Jason with 13 a violent prisoner, the prison allegedly placed Jason in harm’s way and contravened reasonable 14 prison policies, which aim to prevent sex offenders from being double-celled with prisoners who 15 have violent, non-sexual criminal histories. On February 7, 2017, Jason was strangled to death by 16 his cellmate. 17 Based on these allegations, Plaintiff Jennifer Morris (hereinafter “Morris”), who was 18 Jason’s wife, sued the following defendants: (1) California Department of Corrections and 19 Rehabilitation (“CDCR”); (2) the secretary of CDCR, Scott Kernan; (3) the warden of California’s 20 Wasco State Prison, John Sutton; and (4) multiple unnamed “Doe” defendants. 21 In Morris’s original complaint, which was filed on November 3, 2017, Morris pleaded the 22 following causes of action: (1) a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim against all defendants for depriving Jason 23 and Morris of their…