SILVERMAN v. MENDIBURU (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Jacob Silverman, a former California state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging excessive force. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1056 (9th Cir. 2004). We vacate and remand.

The district court determined that Silverman failed to submit competent evidence, such as a declaration or affidavit, sufficient to establish a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether defendants used excessive force. However, Silverman filed a verified complaint and opposition papers, including a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury. The district court should have considered these filings as competent evidence in ruling on defendants’ motion for summary judgment. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746 (providing that a written unsworn declaration or statement subscribed as true under penalty of perjury may substitute for an affidavit); Keenan v. Hall, 83 F.3d 1083, 1090 n.1 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[A] verified complaint may be treated as an affidavit to oppose summary judgment[.]”).

We vacate and remand for further proceedings on Silverman’s excessive force claim. We do not consider in the first instance whether defendants are entitled to qualified immunity.

The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.

VACATED and REMANDED.