Human Rights Defense Center v. County of Bernalillo, NM, Complaint, Censorship, 2025
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Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 1 of 17 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER, Plaintiff, vs. COUNTY OF BERNALILLO; CINDY CHAVEZ, County Manager, individually and in her official capacity; STEVEN SMITH, Warden, individually and in his official capacity; ROSANNE OTERO, Deputy Warden, individually and in her official capacity; REYNA MCCANN, Deputy Warden, individually and in her official capacity; and DOES 1-10, individually and in their official capacities, No. Defendants. COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND DAMAGES UNDER THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 INTRODUCTION 1. Plaintiff Human Rights Defense Center (“HRDC” or “Plaintiff”) brings this action to enjoin Defendants from censoring publications and correspondence that it mails to incarcerated persons at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (the “Detention Center”). Defendants have adopted and implemented mail policies, practices, and customs that unconstitutionally prohibit delivery of publications and correspondence mailed by Plaintiff to persons incarcerated at the Detention Center, and that deny due process of law to senders, like Plaintiff, whose mail is censored, by failing to provide adequate notice and an opportunity to challenge each instance of censorship. Defendants’ actions violate Plaintiff’s rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Plaintiff seeks injunctive and declaratory relief, and damages in an amount to be proven at trial pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. [4786753.4] 1 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 2 of 17 JURISDICTION AND VENUE 2. This action is brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1331 (federal question), as this action arises under the Constitution and laws of the United States, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1343 (civil rights), as this action seeks redress for civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 3. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). At least one Defendant resides within this judicial district and the events giving rise to the claims asserted herein all occurred within this judicial district. 4. Plaintiff’s claims for relief are brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which authorizes actions to redress the deprivation, under color of state law, of rights, privileges and immunities secured by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and laws of the United States. 5. This Court has jurisdiction over claims seeking declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202, and Rules 57 and 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as nominal and compensatory damages, against all Defendants, and punitive damages against the individual defendants in their personal capacities. 6. Plaintiff’s claim for attorneys’ fees and costs is predicated upon 42 U.S.C. § 1988, which authorizes the award of attorneys’ fees and costs to prevailing plaintiffs in actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 7. This Court also has supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s claim for breach of contract pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367 because the same alleged acts of Defendants, which form the basis of Plaintiff’s constitutional claims, also form the basis of Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim. 8. [4786753.4] Plaintiff is informed, believes, and based thereon alleges that the individual 2 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 3 of 17 Defendants as described herein acted with reckless disregard for Plaintiff’s rights and/or with the intent to injure, vex, annoy and harass Plaintiff, and subjected Plaintiff to cruel and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of Plaintiff’s rights with the intention of causing Plaintiff injury and depriving it of its constitutional rights. As a result of the foregoing, Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages against the individual Defendants. PARTIES 9. Plaintiff HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER is a not-for-profit charitable organization recognized under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Washington and with principal offices in Boynton Beach, Florida. For over thirty-five years, HRDC has focused its mission on public education, advocacy and outreach to incarcerated persons and the public about the economic and social costs of prisons to society. HRDC accomplishes its mission through advocacy, litigation, and the publication and/or distribution of books, magazines, and other information concerning prisons and prisoner rights. Prison Legal News is a whollyowned project and publishing arm of HRDC. Through its publishing project, HRDC engages in core protected speech and expressive conduct on matters of public concern including: the operation of correctional facilities; prison and jail conditions; the health and safety of incarcerated persons; and the constitutional and human rights of incarcerated persons. HRDC publishes and distributes two monthly magazines covering corrections and criminal legal news and analysis. HRDC also publishes and distributes books about the criminal justice system and legal issues affecting incarcerated persons, which HRDC distributes by mail to incarcerated persons, lawyers, courts, libraries, and the public throughout the United States. 10. Defendant COUNTY OF BERNALILLO (the “County”) is a political subdivision of the State of New Mexico organized and existing under the laws of New Mexico. The County [4786753.4] 3 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 4 of 17 is, and at all relevant times herein was, responsible for the policies, procedures, customs, and practices of the Detention Center and its employees and agents. The Detention Center is and was responsible for adopting and implementing mail policies, procedures, practices, and customs governing incoming mail for incarcerated persons at the Detention Center. 11. Defendant CINDY CHAVEZ is the County Manager of the County, and she has held that position since November 2024. Defendant CHAVEZ is employed by, and is an agent of, the County. She is responsible for overseeing operations of the Detention Center and directly supervising the Warden of the Detention Center. As County Manager, Defendant Chavez is a final policymaker for the County with respect to the operation of the Detention Center, and she is responsible for policies, procedures, practices, and customs governing incoming mail for incarcerated persons. She is sued in her individual and official capacities. 12. Defendant STEVEN SMITH is the Warden of the Detention Center, and he has held this position since April 2024. SMITH is employed by, and is an agent of, the County. he is responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the Detention Center. he is responsible for the hiring, screening, training, supervision, discipline, counseling, and control of the personnel at the Detention Center who interpret and apply mail policies, procedures, practices, and customs. As Warden, SMITH is a policymaker for the County with respect to operation of the Detention Center, and he is responsible for policies, procedures, practices, and customs governing incoming mail for incarcerated persons. He is sued in his individual and official capacities. 13. Defendant ROSANNE OTERO is a Deputy Warden of the Detention Center, and she has held this position since April 2024. Prior to April 2024, OTERO acted as Interim Chief of Corrections for the Detention Center. OTERO is employed by, and is an agent of, the County. [4786753.4] 4 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 5 of 17 She is responsible for the hiring, screening, training, supervision, discipline, counseling, and control of the personnel at the Detention Center who interpret and apply mail policies, procedures, practices, and customs. As Deputy Warden, OTERO is a policymaker for the County with respect to operation of the Detention Center, and she is responsible for policies, procedures, practices, and customs governing incoming mail for incarcerated persons. She is sued in her individual and official capacities. 14. Defendant REYNA MCCANN is a Deputy Warden of the Detention Center. MCCANN is employed by, and is an agent of, the County. She is responsible for the hiring, screening, training, supervision, discipline, counseling, and control of the personnel at the Detention Center who interpret and apply mail policies, procedures, practices, and customs. As Deputy Warden, MCCANN is a policymaker for the County with respect to operation of the Detention Center, and she is responsible for policies, procedures, practices, and customs governing incoming mail for incarcerated persons. She is sued in her individual and official capacities. 15. The true names and identities of Defendants DOES 1 through 10 are presently unknown to HRDC. Each of Defendants DOES 1 through 10 are or were employed by and are or were agents of the County during some or all of the relevant timeframe. Each of Defendants DOES 1 through 10 were personally involved in the adoption and/or implementation of the mail policies, procedures, practices, and customs at the Detention Center, and/or were responsible for the hiring, screening, training, retention, supervision, discipline, counseling, and/or control of the Detention Center staff who interpret and implement these mail policies, procedures, practices, and customs. They are sued in their individual and official capacities. HRDC will seek to amend this Complaint when the true names and identities of Defendants DOES 1 through 10 have been ascertained. 16. [4786753.4] At all times material to this action, the actions of all Defendants as alleged herein 5 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 6 of 17 were taken under the authority and color of state law. 17. At all times material to this action, all Defendants were acting within the course and scope of their employment as agents and/or employees of the County. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 18. For more than thirty-five years, the focus of HRDC’s mission has been public education, advocacy and outreach on behalf of, and for the purpose of assisting, incarcerated persons who seek legal redress for infringements of their constitutionally guaranteed and other basic human rights. HRDC’s mission, if realized, has a salutary effect on public safety. 19. To accomplish its mission, HRDC publishes and distributes books, magazines, and other materials containing news and analysis about prisons, jails and other detention facilities, the rights of incarcerated persons, court rulings, management of prison facilities, prison and jail conditions, and other matters pertaining to the rights and/or interests of incarcerated persons. HRDC’s publications contain political speech and social commentary, which are core First Amendment rights and are entitled to the highest protection afforded by the United States Constitution and the California Constitution. 20. Sending publications through the mail to incarcerated persons is essential to accomplishing the mission of HRDC. The primary aim of HRDC is to communicate with incarcerated persons about developments in the law and protection of one’s health and personal safety while in prison or jail. Reading materials enable incarcerated persons to engage in productive activity rather than sitting idle, thus helping to avoid conflicts and incidents of violence in correctional facilities and encouraging lawful methods of dispute resolution. In addition, reading allows incarcerated persons to keep their minds sharp, helping them prepare to become productive citizens when released back into society. [4786753.4] 6 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 21. Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 7 of 17 HRDC publishes and distributes an award-winning monthly magazine titled Prison Legal News: Dedicated to Protecting Human Rights (“Prison Legal News”), which contains news and analysis about correctional facilities, the rights of incarcerated persons, court opinions, prison and jail conditions, excessive force, and religious freedom. Prison Legal News is published on newsprint bound by two small staples, and is 72 pages long. 22. HRDC also publishes and distributes a second monthly magazine titled Criminal Legal News: Dedicated to Protecting Human Rights (“Criminal Legal News”), which contains news and analysis about individual rights, court rulings, and other criminal legal-related issues. Criminal Legal News is also published on newsprint bound by two small staples, and is 56 pages long. 23. HRDC also publishes and/or distributes several different soft-cover books on criminal justice, health, and legal issues that are of interest to incarcerated persons and others. Pertinent to this case, HRDC does not publish, but is the sole national distributor of Protecting Your Health and Safety (“PYHS”), which describes the rights, protections and legal remedies available to persons concerning their health and safety while they are incarcerated. 24. In addition to its publications, HRDC also communicates with incarcerated persons through the United States Postal Service by mailing them: (a) informational brochure packets (“Info Packs”), which contain a brochure and subscription order form, a book list, and a published books brochure (each of which is a single page); (b) copies of judicial opinions of import to incarcerated persons, which are marked “Court Ruling;” and (c) letters that provide pertinent information about HRDC’s publications and related topics, including subscription renewal letters and follow-up letters to ascertain whether HRDC’s mailings have been delivered as addressed. HRDC encloses a self-addressed, stamped envelope with its informational brochure packets and [4786753.4] 7 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 8 of 17 subscription renewal letters, but does not enclose extra envelopes or stamps with the informational brochure packets, judicial opinions, or other letters that it mails to incarcerated persons. 25. Since 1990, HRDC has sent its publications and books by mail to incarcerated persons and law librarians in more than 3,000 correctional facilities in all fifty states, including at death row housing units and “supermax” prisons, including the federal Administrative Maximum Facility at Florence, Colorado, which is known as the most secure prison in the United States. The publications and books that HRDC distributes are mailed to hundreds of persons incarcerated in New Mexico including at the Rio Arriba County Jail, San Miguel County Detention Center, McKinley County Jail, Valencia County Detention Center, San Juan Adult Detention Center, Dona Ana County Detention Center, FCI La Tuna operated by the US Bureau of Prisons, and the Torrance County Detention Facility and Cibola County Detention Center housing ICE detainees. 26. In 2015, Plaintiff, through its wholly owned project Prison Legal News, filed a complaint against the County, and other individuals who were responsible for operating the Detention Center at that time, in Prison Legal News v. County of Bernalillo, et. al., Case No. 1:15cv-00107-SCY-KBM (D.N.M. 2015) (the “Prior Suit”). In the Prior Suit, Plaintiff alleged that (i) the Detention Center was censoring Plaintiff’s books in violation for the First Amendment, and (ii) the Detention Center was violating the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by failing to give Plaintiff notice of the censorship of its books and an opportunity to appeal those censorship decisions. 27. To resolve the Prior Suit, the parties entered into a settlement agreement (the “2015 Settlement Agreement”). A true and correct copy of the 2015 Settlement Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A. In pertinent part, the 2015 Settlement Agreement obligates the Detention Center as follows: [4786753.4] 8 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 9 of 17 (1) the Defendants will deliver soft cover books sent through the mail directly to individual prisoners at [the Detention Center] as long as the books are sent from publishers and other book distributors; (2) in the event that Defendants refuse to deliver any such book, Defendants will provide written notice of the decisions to censor any book to both the sender and the intended recipient of the book and such notice shall include a reference to the objectionable portion of the book, a description of the way such portion violates [the Detention Center’s] rules, a citation to the [the Detention Center] rule allegedly violated, and information about the procedure to appeal the decision, including the name and address of the person to whom such appeals should be addressed and the date by which appeals must be submitted; (3) Defendants will retain any such censored book(s) for review by the arbiter of appeals until such time as the appeal has been concluded or the time in which an appeal may be filed has expired, if no appeal has been filed . . . (Ex. A, ¶ 2). 28. The Detention Center’s current policy on the delivery of mail (the “Mail Policy”) to individuals in custody at the Detention Center is available on the Detention Center’s public website at https://www.bernco.gov/metropolitan-detention-center/how-to-send-mail-to-an- inmate/ (last visited December 4, 2025). The Mail Policy provides, in pertinent part, as follows: MAIL PROCEDURES: Publications are not accepted and will be returned to the sender. The intended recipient will be notified. Publications are defined as books, magazines, newspapers, periodicals, journals, and newsletters. Lewd material may neither be sent nor received. Lewd material is defined as material characterized by, or intended to excite crude sexual desire; obscene. Lewd Material Includes: a. Written depictions or descriptions of sexual conduct that are obviously offensive and, taken as a whole, have as their dominant theme an appeal to the prurient interest; b. Visual representations (including photographs, drawings, paintings, and computer generated images) of actual or simulated sexual activity to include intercourse, sodomy (oral or anal), sexual acts by instrumentation, bestiality, sadomasochism, masturbation, or ejaculation; c. Visual representations (including photographs, drawings, paintings, and [4786753.4] 9 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 10 of 17 computer generated images) of children, simulated children, or persons described as or presented as children, in sexually suggestive poses or clothing, or with accompanying context that in totality strongly suggests a sexual theme (example: a photograph of a clothed teenage girl with the caption describing her as “jailbait” and referring to sexual activity). Children are persons under the age of eighteen (180 [sic] for the purposes of this policy; d. Nude photographs/depictions, including of the inmate or an acquaintance, friend or family member of the inmate; or e. Sexually explicit materials, including nude pictures, drawings or depictions of genitalia or female breasts. Prohibited material will be returned to the sender and will be logged. The intended recipient will be notified. Violent material or material that threatens facility security and order or public safety may neither be sent nor received. Prohibited material includes: 1. Instructions for the manufacture of drugs, weapons, explosives, or other unlawful substances; 2. Instructions for evading facility security or monitoring, or for otherwise disrupting facility operations; 3. Material urging or encouraging the manufacture of drugs, weapons, explosives, or other unlawful substances; 4. Material urging or encouraging evading facility security or monitoring, or for otherwise disrupting facility operations; 5. Advocacy of the overthrow of the United States, New Mexico, or other state government; 6. Advocacy of terrorism, criminal behavior, racial, religious, or national hatred; 7. Threats or encouragement of bodily harm or revenge against inmates, staff, law enforcement or legal personnel, or any other person, or any material that creates an unsafe environment for the offenders or staff; 8. Material detailing instructions for military, police, correctional, or security tactics for riots, hostage negotiations, use of force situations, emergency drills, and similar. [4786753.4] 10 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 29. Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 11 of 17 The Detention Center’s Mail Policy is unconstitutional on its face as it bans all books and magazines in violation of HRDC’s rights, and the rights of all other publishers, under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. 30. Furthermore, Defendants fail to provide senders of censored mail notice and an opportunity to appeal censorship decisions. Thus, such policies and practices violate HRDC’s Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process. 31. Between July 2025 and November 2025, HRDC sent books, magazines, and Info Packs to individuals confined at the Detention Center. During that time period, one hundred and sixty (160) of those items were returned to the HRDC by the Detention Center. The items returned were addressed to individuals confirmed to still be in custody of the Detention Center on the day HRDC received the returned mail. 32. The one hundred and sixty (160) returned items consisted of: fifty-seven (57) issues of Prison Legal News; sixty (60) issues of Criminal Legal News; thirty-eight (38) Info Packs; and five (5) copies of PYHS. 33. The rejected items were returned to HRDC marked “RETURN TO SENDER,” and many of the items were also marked “TRANSITIONED TO A DIGITAL MAIL SYSTEM.” 34. Defendants failed to provide HRDC with notice and an opportunity to appeal these censorship decisions. Other than the vague markings on the outside of items returned via the United States Postal Service’s Return to Sender service, Defendants did not provide HRDC with notice of the reason any mailing was rejected. Nowhere on the returned items of mail was notice provided of a right to challenge the censorship decision, or any information on whether or how HRDC could appeal Defendants’ decision to refuse to deliver the publication or correspondence to the intended recipient. [4786753.4] 11 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 35. Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 12 of 17 On information and belief, the Detention Center has also failed to deliver over one- hundred additional items mailed by HRDC to persons incarcerated at the Detention Facility, which were not returned to HRDC. 36. Because of Defendants’ actions as described above, HRDC has suffered damages, and will continue to suffer damages, including, but not limited to: the suppression of HRDC’s speech; the impediment of HRDC’s ability to disseminate its message; frustration of HRDC’s nonprofit organizational mission; the loss of potential subscribers and customers; and, the inability to recruit new subscribers and supporters; the loss of reputation; and the cost of printing, handling, mailing, and staff time, among other damages. 37. Defendants, and other agents of the Detention Center, are responsible for or personally participated in, creating and implementing these unconstitutional polices, practices, and customs, or for ratifying and adopting them. Further, Defendants are responsible for training and supervising the employees of the Detention Center, whose conduct has injured and continues to injure HRDC. 38. Defendants’ actions and inactions were and are impermissibly motivated, and were and are all committed under color of state law with deliberate indifference to HRDC’s rights. 39. Defendants’ actions and inactions were and are undertaken with reckless disregard for Plaintiff’s rights and/or motivated by ill motive and intent, and were and are all committed under color of law with deliberate indifference to HRDC’s rights. 40. Plaintiff will continue to send its books and magazines to subscribers, customers, and other individuals imprisoned at the Detention Center. 41. Defendants’ unconstitutional policy, practices, and customs continue to violate HRDC’s rights, and they were and are the moving force behind the injuries HRDC suffered as a [4786753.4] 12 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 13 of 17 direct result of the constitutional violations. As a result, HRDC has no adequate remedy at law. 42. Defendants’ conduct prohibiting or not delivering HRDC’s mailed publications and correspondence to persons incarcerated at the Detention Center violates the First Amendment by censoring HRDC’s freedom of speech and expression, and has a chilling effect on future speech and expression directed at the persons incarcerated at the Detention Center. 43. HRDC is entitled to declaratory relief as well as injunctive relief prohibiting Defendants from refusing to deliver publications from HRDC and other similarly-situated senders not associated with Amazon or Barnes & Noble, without legal justification, and prohibiting Defendants from censoring mail without due process of law. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Violations of the First Amendment (Free Speech)—42 U.S.C. § 1983) 44. HRDC re-alleges and incorporates the allegations of paragraphs 1 through 43 of the Complaint as if fully set forth herein. 45. Defendants’ acts described above constitute violations of HRDC’s right to communicate with persons incarcerated at the Detention Center under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. 46. The conduct of Defendants was objectively unreasonable and was undertaken recklessly, intentionally, willfully, with malice, and with deliberate indifference to the rights of others. 47. HRDC’s injuries and the violations of its constitutional rights were directly and proximately caused by the policies and practices of Defendants, which were and are the moving force of the violations. 48. Defendants’ acts described above have caused damages to HRDC, and if not enjoined, will continue to cause damage to HRDC. [4786753.4] 13 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 49. Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 14 of 17 HRDC seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, and nominal and compensatory damages against all Defendants. HRDC also seeks punitive damages solely against the individual Defendants in their individual capacities. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Violation of the Fourteenth Amendment (Due Process)—42 U.S.C. § 1983) 50. HRDC re-alleges and incorporates the allegations of paragraphs 1 through 49 of the Complaint as if fully set forth herein. 51. HRDC has a constitutionally-protected liberty interest in communicating with persons incarcerated at the Detention Center by sending publications and correspondence to them via the United States Postal Service, a right clearly established under existing case law. 52. HRDC has a right under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to receive notice and an opportunity to object and/or appeal Defendants’ decisions to prevent the publications and correspondence mailed by HRDC from reaching the incarcerated persons at the Detention Center to whom they were mailed. 53. Defendants have failed to give HRDC sufficient notice of the censorship of its publications and correspondence, and an opportunity to be heard with respect to that censorship. In doing so, Defendants have deprived and continue to deprive HRDC of liberty and property without due process of law, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 54. The conduct of Defendants was objectively unreasonable and was undertaken recklessly, intentionally, willfully, with malice, and with deliberate indifference to the rights of others. 55. HRDC’s injuries and the violations of its constitutional rights were directly and proximately caused by the policies and practices of Defendants, which were and are the moving [4786753.4] 14 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 15 of 17 force of the violations. 56. Defendants’ acts described above have caused damages to HRDC, and if not enjoined, will continue to cause damage to HRDC. 57. HRDC seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, and nominal and compensatory damages against all Defendants. HRDC also seeks punitive damages solely against the individual Defendants in their individual capacities. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF (Breach of Contract for Violating the Terms of the 2015 Settlement Agreement) 58. HRDC re-alleges and incorporates the allegations of paragraphs 1 through 57 of the Complaint as if fully set forth herein. 59. The 2015 Settlement Agreement is a legally binding contract between Plaintiff and Defendants. 60. Plaintiff has performed all of its obligations under the terms of the 2015 Settlement Agreement. 61. Pursuant to the terms of the 2015 Settlement Agreement, Defendants are obligated to deliver books mailed by Plaintiff to individuals incarcerated at the Detention Center. (Ex. A, ¶ 2). Defendants have breached the 2015 Settlement Agreement by failing to deliver books mailed by Plaintiff to individuals incarcerated at the Detention Center. 62. Pursuant to the terms of the 2015 Settlement Agreement, Defendants are obligated to provide Plaintiff with sufficient notice and an opportunity to appeal the censorship of books mailed by Plaintiff to individuals incarcerated at the Detention Center. (Ex. A, ¶ 2). Defendants have breached the 2015 Settlement Agreement by failing to provide Plaintiff with sufficient notice and an opportunity to appeal the censorship of Plaintiff’s books. 63. [4786753.4] As a result of the breaches described in paragraphs 61 and 62, Plaintiff has 15 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 16 of 17 suffered damages. REQUEST FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff respectfully requests relief as follows: 1. A declaration that Defendants’ policies, practices, and customs violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution; 2. A preliminary and permanent injunction preventing Defendants and their employees, agents, and any and all persons acting in concert with them from further violation of HRDC’s civil rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution; and providing other equitable relief; 3. Nominal damages for each violation of HRDC’s rights by the Defendants; 4. Compensatory damages in an amount to be proved at trial; 5. Punitive damages against the individual Defendants in an amount to be proved at 6. Costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 and under other trial; applicable law; and 7. Any other relief that this Court deems just and equitable. December 4, 2025 ROSEN BIEN GALVAN & GRUNFELD LLP By: /s/ Ernest Galvan Ernest Galvan, Cal. Bar No. 196065 Benjamin Bien-Kahn, Cal. Bar No. 267933 Attorneys for HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER 101 Mission Street, Sixth Floor San Francisco, California 94105-1738 Telephone: (415) 433-6830 Facsimile: (415) 433-7104 * Pro Hac Vice Application to be filed [4786753.4] 16 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No. Case 1:25-cv-01208 December 4, 2025 Document 1 Filed 12/04/25 Page 17 of 17 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER By: /s/ Jonathan P. Picard Jonathan P. Picard, Fla. Bar No. 105477 P.O. Box 1151 Lake Worth, FL 33460 Attorney for HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER Telephone: (561) 360-2523 Facsimile: (561) 828-8166 * Pro Hac Vice Application to be filed December 4, 2025 IVES & FLORES P.A. By: /s/ Laura Schauer Ives Laura Schauer Ives, SB# 12463 Attorney for HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER 925 Luna Circle NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Telephone: (505) 364-3858 Facsimile: (505) 364-3050 [4786753.4] 17 COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF Case No.






