Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-01141/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-01141-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRANDON EUGENE HUNTER,

Plaintiff,

v.

BRENNEMAN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:22-cv-1141 CKD P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil action. This proceeding was 

referred to this court by Local Rule 302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and plaintiff has 

consented to have all matters in this action before a United States Magistrate Judge. See 28 

U.S.C. § 636(c).

Plaintiff requests leave to proceed in forma pauperis. As plaintiff has submitted a 

declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), his request will be granted. 

Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 

1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct the appropriate agency to collect the 

initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and forward it to the Clerk of the Court. 

Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments of twenty percent of the preceding 

month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. These payments will be forwarded by 

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Case 2:22-cv-01141-DC-CKD Document 5 Filed 07/26/22 Page 1 of 4
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the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in plaintiff’s account 

exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 

governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 

court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 

“frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 

monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). 

Having conducted the required screening, the court finds that plaintiff may proceed on a

claim arising under the Fourteenth Amendment against defendant Brenneman for excessive use of 

force. With respect to all other claims and defendants, plaintiff’s claims are not actionable.

At this point, plaintiff has two options: 1) proceed on the claim identified above; or 2) 

attempt to cure the deficiencies in plaintiff’s complaint in an amended complaint. In considering 

whether to amend, the court advises plaintiff as follows:

1. There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link 

or connection between a defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 

U.S. 362 (1976). Furthermore, vague and conclusory allegations of official participation in civil 

rights violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

2. In general, plaintiff’s allegations should not be vague or conclusory. Plaintiff must 

point to specific acts in order to establish an actionable claim.

3. The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment does not provide plaintiff with 

any protection as to jail officials simply entering his cell.

 4. In order to state a claim arising under the First Amendment for retaliation, plaintiff 

must point to facts indicating a causal connection between adverse action and protected conduct. 

Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1114 (9th Cir. 2012). 

Finally, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to 

make plaintiff’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended 

complaint be complete in 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 

Case 2:22-cv-01141-DC-CKD Document 5 Filed 07/26/22 Page 2 of 4
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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. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is granted.

2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. All fees 

shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to the Sacramento County Sheriff 

filed concurrently herewith.

3. Plaintiff is granted 21 days within which to complete and return the attached form 

notifying the court whether he wants to proceed on a claim arising under the Fourteenth 

Amendment against defendant Brenneman for excessive use of force or whether he wishes to file 

an amended complaint in an attempt to cure the deficiencies in his original complaint. If plaintiff 

does not return the form, this action will proceed on the claim described above. 

Dated: July 26, 2022

1

hunt1141.op

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:22-cv-01141-DC-CKD Document 5 Filed 07/26/22 Page 3 of 4
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRANDON EUGENE HUNTER,

Plaintiff,

v.

BRENNEMAN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:22-cv-1141 CKD P

PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE OF 

HOW TO PROCEED

Check one:

_____ Plaintiff wants to proceed immediately on a claim arising under the Fourteenth 

Amendment against defendant Brenneman for excessive use of force; or

_____ Plaintiff wants time to file an amended complaint.

DATED:

 

Plaintiff’s Signature

Case 2:22-cv-01141-DC-CKD Document 5 Filed 07/26/22 Page 4 of 4