Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02535/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02535-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES DEAN TAYLOR,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-2535 GEB GGH P

vs.

CATHY PROSPER, 

Defendant. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff did not originally file a complaint. Rather, he filed a motion to

compel. On January 13, 2006, the court issued an order stating that because plaintiff’s

allegations were not made on a complaint form, it was unclear who he intended to name as a

defendant. The court dismissed the motion to compel with thirty days to file a complaint.

On January 26, 2006, plaintiff filed a 1 1⁄2 page “amended” complaint. In this

document, plaintiff states that his statement of the case and relief sought are contained in his

previously filed motion to compel. Plaintiff states that the only defendant in this action is

Warden Prosper.

The court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make plaintiff’s amended

complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended complaint be complete in

Case 2:05-cv-02535-GEB-GGH Document 7 Filed 02/27/06 Page 1 of 2
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itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a general rule, an amended

complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). 

Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no longer serves any function in

the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, each claim and the

involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 

Plaintiff’s January 26, 2006, complaint is dismissed with leave to amend because

it improperly refers to the prior motion to compel to state the relief sought as well as to describe

plaintiff’s allegations and claims. If plaintiff files an amended complaint, it must identify all

defendants, contain all factual allegations and state the relief sought. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s complaint filed January 26, 2006, is dismissed with thirty days to

file an amended complaint; failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation of

dismissal of this action;

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the form for a civil rights

complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

DATED: 2/24/06

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

 

 GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ggh:kj

tay2535.ame

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