Case: DRC v. San Benito County

4:19-cv-01833 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: April 4, 2019

Closed Date: May 24, 2019

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Case Summary

This case concerns the ability of a protection and advocacy agency (P&A) to obtain records necessary to investigate alleged abuse and neglect of hospitalized patients with mental illness. A state P&A agency filed a case in federal court to obtain access to these records. Plaintiff Disability Rights California (“DRC”) filed its complaint on April 4, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. After a reassignment, the case was presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez …

Plaintiff Disability Rights California (“DRC”) filed its complaint on April 4, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. After a reassignment, the case was presided over by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Disability Rights California was represented in this matter by itself. The defendants, Alan Yamamoto, the Director of San Benito County Behavioral Health (sued in his official capacity), and the County of San Benito were represented in this matter by Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, P.C.

The suit sought to stop the County of San Benito and its County mental health agency from denying DRC access to witnesses and records. These were needed to carry out an investigation into abuse and neglect of patients with mental illness who are held in the emergency room of a local medical facility, Hazel Hawkins Hospital.

DRC brought the claims on its own behalf under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (hereinafter “PAIMI”), 42 U.S.C. § 10801, et seq. and under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The PAIMI Act provides Plaintiff DRC with the right, duty and authority to investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities, including those with mental illness.

Per the complaint, DRC had received reports that Defendants routinely detained county residents who were in psychiatric crisis in the emergency room of Hazel Hawkins Hospital for excessive periods of time, without providing them with access to appropriate mental health treatment and potentially in violation of due process requirements. DRC made a finding of probable cause to believe that the abuse and neglect of County patients had occurred, which should have permitted them access to these records through its investigations authority. DRC repeatedly requested access to this information, but defendants refused to provide it. Specifically, DRC sought the names and contact information of psychiatric patients held involuntarily at Hazel Hawkins Hospital for more than twenty-four hours.

On April 3, 2019, Defendants’ counsel informed DRC that Defendants would not comply with the request absent a court order. As a result, DRC filed suit the following day seeking the following relief: 1) a declaratory judgment that Defendants violated federal law; 2) injunctive relief requiring Defendants to provide access to all information required for a full investigation and forbidding Defendants from interfering with DRC's statutorily authorized access to information, consistent with federal and state law.

On April 3,2019, counsel for the County filed a case against DRC in state court for declaratory relief, seeking “a judicial determination of [the County’s] duty to disclose confidential patient information.” On April 8, 2019, DRC filed a Motion For Preliminary Injunction. In it, DRC requested that the Court issue a preliminary injunction granting it access to the information described above.

On May 20, 2019, the parties filed a joint motion and stipulation as follows: That 1) Defendants were ordered to provide DRC with the names and contact information of individuals held for more than twenty four (24) hours at Hazel Hawkins Hospital from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, within five business days of the order and on a rolling basis going forward, 2) Defendants were ordered to provide DRC all further access to which DRC is entitled pursuant to statutory authority; 3) the parties agree to dismiss State Court Action; 4) Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction will be removed from the court calendar; and, 6) Defendants will pay to DRC attorneys’ fees and costs. This stipulation and resulting order brought the case to a close.

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Summary Authors

NDRN (4/22/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14881549/parties/disability-rights-california-v-county-of-san-benito/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bird, Melinda Ruth (California)

Fischer, Aaron Joseph (California)

Hadreas, Anne Catherine (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Chan, Eric David (California)

Lin, Sansan (California)

Judge(s)

Rogers, Yvonne Gonzalez (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bird, Melinda Ruth (California)

Fischer, Aaron Joseph (California)

Hadreas, Anne Catherine (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Chan, Eric David (California)

Lin, Sansan (California)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 4:19-cv-01833	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief DRC v. County of San Benito	April 4, 2019	April 4, 2019 Complaint
6 4:19-cv-01833	Notice of Motion and Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof DRC v. County of San Benito	April 8, 2019	April 8, 2019 Pleading / Motion / Brief
31 4:19-cv-01833	Stipulated Judgment and Order DRC v. County of San Benito	May 24, 2019	May 24, 2019 Order/Opinion

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14881549/disability-rights-california-v-county-of-san-benito/

Last updated July 7, 2025, 11:31 p.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT with Exhibit A against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0971-13234501.). Filed byDisability Rights California. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/4/2019) (Entered: 04/04/2019) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons View on PACER	April 4, 2019	April 4, 2019 Clearinghouse
2	Case assigned to Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. Counsel is required to send chambers a copy of the initiating documents pursuant to L.R. 5-1(e)(7). A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. Consent/Declination due by 4/18/2019. (bwS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/4/2019) (Entered: 04/05/2019)	April 4, 2019	April 4, 2019 PACER
3	Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 7/2/2019. Initial Case Management Conference set for 7/9/2019 01:30 PM in San Jose, Courtroom 2, 5th Floor. (dhmS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/5/2019) (Entered: 04/05/2019)	April 5, 2019	April 5, 2019 PACER
	~Util - Case Assigned by Intake	April 5, 2019	April 5, 2019 PACER
4	Summons Issued as to Janet Slibsager, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County of San Benito (dhmS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/5/2019) (Entered: 04/05/2019)	April 5, 2019	April 5, 2019 PACER
5	CONSENT/DECLINATION to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge by Disability Rights California.. (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/5/2019) (Entered: 04/05/2019)	April 5, 2019	April 5, 2019 PACER
6	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Disability Rights California. Motion Hearing set for 5/14/2019 10:00 AM in San Jose, Courtroom 2, 5th Floor before Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi. Responses due by 4/22/2019. Replies due by 4/29/2019. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Melinda Bird in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction with Exhibits A through F, # 2 Proposed Order)(Bird, Melinda) (Filed on 4/8/2019) (Entered: 04/08/2019) 1 Declaration of Melinda Bird in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction with View on PACER 2 Proposed Order View on PACER	April 8, 2019	April 8, 2019 Clearinghouse
7	Order for Reassignment to District Judge. Signed by Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi on 4/9/2019. (vkdlc1S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/9/2019) (Entered: 04/09/2019)	April 9, 2019	April 9, 2019 PACER
	~Util - Notice Assigning/ Reassigning Case (CRJ)	April 9, 2019	April 9, 2019 PACER
8	This case will be randomly reassigned to a District Judge outside the San Jose Division pursuant to the Caseload Rebalancing Pilot Program approved by the Court effective March 1, 2018. For information, visit our web page at http://cand.uscourts.gov/news/225. (bwS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/9/2019) (Entered: 04/09/2019)	April 9, 2019	April 9, 2019 PACER
9	Case REASSIGNED to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Notice: The assigned judge participates in the Cameras in the Courtroom Pilot Project. See General Order No. 65 and http://cand.uscourts.gov/cameras. Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi no longer assigned to case. (Attachments: # 1 Notice of Eligibility for Video Recording) (bwS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/9/2019) (Entered: 04/09/2019)	April 9, 2019	April 9, 2019 PACER
10	AMENDED NOTICE OF MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION by Disability Rights California re 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction (Bird, Melinda) (Filed on 4/10/2019) Modified on 4/11/2019 (jmlS, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 04/10/2019)	April 10, 2019	April 10, 2019 PACER
	Set Motion and Deadlines/Hearings	April 12, 2019	April 12, 2019 PACER
	Set/Reset Deadlines as to 6 10 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction . Motion Hearing set for 5/14/2019 02:00 PM in Oakland, Courtroom 1, 4th Floor before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/12/2019)	April 12, 2019	April 12, 2019 PACER
11	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Disability Rights California re 1 Complaint (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/16/2019) (Entered: 04/16/2019)	April 16, 2019	April 16, 2019 PACER
	Electronic Filing Error	April 16, 2019	April 16, 2019 PACER
12	CLERK'S NOTICE SETTING CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE. Case Management Statement due by 7/8/2019. Initial Case Management Conference set for MONDAY, 7/15/2019 02:00 PM before Hon. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, Courtroom 1, 4th Floor. (Attachments: # 1 Standing Order) (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/16/2019) (Entered: 04/16/2019)	April 16, 2019	April 16, 2019 PACER
13	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Disability Rights California re 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/16/2019) (Entered: 04/16/2019)	April 16, 2019	April 16, 2019 PACER
14	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Disability Rights California re 10 Notice (Other) AMENDED NOTICE OF MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/16/2019) (Entered: 04/16/2019)	April 16, 2019	April 16, 2019 PACER
	REMINDER: This case was reassigned as of April 9, 2019, the correct division is Oakland and the case number should be as follows: 4:19-cv-1833 YGR. Counsel are instructed that all future filings shall bear the initials YGR immediately after the case number instead of VKD. Re: 11 Certificate of Service filed by Disability Rights California, 14 Certificate of Service filed by Disability Rights California, 13 Certificate of Service filed by Disability Rights California, 12 Clerk's Notice, (jmlS, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/16/2019)	April 16, 2019	April 16, 2019 PACER
15	ORDER DIRECTING PARTIES TO MEET AND CONFER. Statement filed with the Court by 4/22/19 setting forth proposed briefing schedule. Signed by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on 4/18/2019. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/18/2019) (Entered: 04/18/2019)	April 18, 2019	April 18, 2019 PACER
16	MOTION to Relate Case under Local Rule 3-12 filed by Disability Rights California. (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/19/2019) (Entered: 04/19/2019)	April 19, 2019	April 19, 2019 PACER
17	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Disability Rights California re 16 MOTION to Relate Case under Local Rule 3-12 (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/22/2019) (Entered: 04/22/2019)	April 22, 2019	April 22, 2019 PACER
18	NOTICE of Appearance by Eric David Chan (Chan, Eric) (Filed on 4/22/2019) (Entered: 04/22/2019)	April 22, 2019	April 22, 2019 PACER
19	NOTICE of Appearance by Sansan Lin (Lin, Sansan) (Filed on 4/22/2019) (Entered: 04/22/2019)	April 22, 2019	April 22, 2019 PACER
20	JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION by Disability Rights California, County of San Benito; San Benito County Behavioral Health; and Alan Yamamoto re 15 Order, Set Deadlines, 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, 10 Notice (Other) (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/22/2019) Modified on 4/23/2019 (jmlS, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 04/22/2019)	April 22, 2019	April 22, 2019 PACER
21	CLERK'S NOTICE SETTING BRIEFING SCHEDULE AND HEARING DATE FOR PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. Set/Reset Deadlines as to 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction . Responses due by 5/6/2019. Replies due by 5/14/2019. Motion Hearing set for 5/28/2019 02:00 PM in Oakland, Courtroom 1, 4th Floor before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/24/2019). (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.), (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/24/2019) (Entered: 04/24/2019)	April 24, 2019	April 24, 2019 PACER
	~Util - Set Motion and Deadlines/Hearings	April 25, 2019	April 25, 2019 PACER
	Clerk's Notice	April 25, 2019	April 25, 2019 PACER
22	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Disability Rights California re 20 Notice (Other), FOR JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 4/26/2019) (Entered: 04/26/2019)	April 26, 2019	April 26, 2019 PACER
23	STIPULATION TO EXTEND TIME TO ANSWER re 1 Complaint filed by County of San Benito, San Benito County Behavioral Health, Alan Yamamoto, Disability Rights California. (Chan, Eric) (Filed on 4/26/2019) Modified on 4/28/2019 (cpS, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 04/26/2019)	April 26, 2019	April 26, 2019 PACER
24	NOTICE of Appearance by Aaron Joseph Fischer (Fischer, Aaron) (Filed on 4/30/2019) (Entered: 04/30/2019)	April 30, 2019	April 30, 2019 PACER
25	ORDER by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers granting 16 Motion to Relate Cases and ORDER RELATING CASES 19-cv-1833-YGR and 19-cv-2124-CRB. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/3/2019) (Entered: 05/03/2019)	May 3, 2019	May 3, 2019 PACER
26	OPPOSITION/RESPONSE (re 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction ) filed byCounty of San Benito, San Benito County Behavioral Health, Alan Yamamoto. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Alan Yamamoto)(Chan, Eric) (Filed on 5/6/2019) (Entered: 05/06/2019)	May 6, 2019	May 6, 2019 PACER
27	REPLY (re 6 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction ) filed byDisability Rights California. (Hadreas, Anne) (Filed on 5/14/2019) (Entered: 05/14/2019)	May 14, 2019	May 14, 2019 PACER
28	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers: Telephone Conference held on 5/15/2019.Total Time in Court: 10. Court Reporter: NOT REPORTED. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Date Filed: 5/15/2019) (Entered: 05/16/2019)	May 15, 2019	May 15, 2019 PACER
29	ORDER SETTING DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT. Response due by 5/27/2019. Signed by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on 5/16/2019. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/16/2019) (Entered: 05/16/2019)	May 16, 2019	May 16, 2019 PACER
30	STIPULATION WITH PROPOSED ORDER filed by County of San Benito, San Benito County Behavioral Health, Alan Yamamoto and Disability Rights California. (Chan, Eric) (Filed on 5/20/2019) Modified on 5/21/2019 (jmlS, COURT STAFF). (Entered: 05/20/2019)	May 20, 2019	May 20, 2019 PACER
31	STIPULATED JUDGMENT AND ORDER. It is further ordered that Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction currently scheduled for hearing on May 28, 2019 is taken off calendar and the Motion for Preliminary Injunction is DENIED as moot, as is the Motion for Remand [Dkt. no. 7 in related case 19-cv-2124-YGR]. Signed by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on 5/24/2019. (fs, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/24/2019) (Entered: 05/24/2019)	May 24, 2019	May 24, 2019 RECAP

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