Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-01753/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-01753-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MERDICE MINIFIELD,

Plaintiff,

v.

M. WHITE; et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 10-1753 MHP (pr)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH

LEAVE TO AMEND

Merdice Minifield, an inmate at the California Medical Facility, filed a pro se civil

rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which is now before the court for review pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. 

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any case in which a

prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental

entity. See 28 U.S.C. §1915A(a). The court must identify any cognizable claims, and

dismiss any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See

28 U.S.C. §1915A(b)(1),(2). 

The statement of the claim in the complaint is largely illegible, and that makes it

impossible for the court to determine whether the complaint states a claim upon which relief

may be granted. Plaintiff must file an amended complaint that complies with the following

directions.

Case 3:10-cv-01753-MHP Document 4 Filed 04/28/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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First, he must write legibly. If the court cannot read his handwriting, it cannot

determine that he states a claim. That, in turn, will cause the court to dismiss his action.

Second, he must allege where the events and omissions giving rise to his claim

occurred, i.e., the name of the prison. Although the form complaint instructed the plaintiff to

state the place of employment of each defendant, plaintiff failed to do so. He needs to

provide the addresses in his amended complaint. He should also state the date or

approximate date on which the incidents occurred.

Third, plaintiff needs to link each defendant to his claim by alleging facts showing the

basis for liability for each individual defendant. He should not refer to them as a group (e.g.,

"the defendants"); rather, he should identify each involved defendant by name and link each

of them to his claim by explaining what each defendant did or failed to do that caused a

violation of his constitutional rights. See Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 634 (9th Cir. 1988)

(liability may be imposed on individual defendant under § 1983 only if plaintiff can show

that defendant proximately caused deprivation of federally protected right). Plaintiff is

cautioned that there is no respondeat superior liability under Section 1983, i.e. no liability

under the theory that one is responsible for the actions or omissions of an employee. 

The complaint is DISMISSED with leave to amend. The amended complaint must be

filed no later than May 28, 2010, and must include the caption and civil case number used in

this order and the words AMENDED COMPLAINT on the first page. Plaintiff is cautioned

that his amended complaint must be a complete statement of his claims and will supersede

existing pleadings. See London v. Coopers & Lybrand, 644 F.2d 811, 814 (9th Cir. 1981)

("a plaintiff waives all causes of action alleged in the original complaint which are not

alleged in the amended complaint.") Failure to file the amended complaint by the deadline

will result in dismissal of this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 27, 2010 _____________________

 Marilyn Hall Patel

United States District Judge

Case 3:10-cv-01753-MHP Document 4 Filed 04/28/10 Page 2 of 2