Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01649/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01649-2/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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1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID WAYNE WILSON, No. CIV S-05-1649-GEB-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER

TERESA A. SCHWARTZ, et al.,

Defendants.

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Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is plaintiff’s complaint, transferred from the

Northern District of California on August 17, 2005.

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

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or

malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief

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

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “. . . short and plain

statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). 

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26 Plaintiff so indicates by identifying some named defendants as “Warden.” 1

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This means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne,

84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are

satisfied if the complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds

upon which it rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). Because plaintiff

must allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts by specific defendants which

support the claims, vague and conclusory allegations fail to satisfy this standard. Additionally, it

is impossible for the court to conduct the screening required by law when the allegations are

vague and conclusory. 

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff names the following individuals as defendants: Schwartz; Hernandez;

Harrison; Woodford; Khoury; Mehta; Geraghty; Kearney; Nutelly; Ritter; Hunt; Gomez;

Armstrong; Wagner; Raupe; Smith; Marshall; Pattanechinda; Turner; Diliberto; Grannis; Loftin;

Stocker; Meyers; Cassim; Attygalla; and Donovan. Plaintiff indicates that a number of these

individuals are supervisory personnel. In addition, plaintiff appears to name the California

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Medical Facility, Vacaville, as a defendant. Plaintiff’s complaint consists of a four-page form, a

20-page hand-written attachment entitled “Complaint for Damages (Civil Rights) Demand for

Jury Trial,” and almost 150 pages of attached exhibits. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages as well

as various forms of equitable relief.

II. DISCUSSION

Plaintiff’s complaint suffers from at least two defects. First, it does not contain a

short and plain statement of plaintiff’s claims as required by Rule 8. Second, the complaint

names the California Medical Facility, Vacaville, which is an immune defendant.

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A state’s agency responsible for incarceration and correction of prisoners is a 2

state agency for purposes of the Eleventh Amendment. See Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 782

(1978) (per curiam); Hale v. Arizona, 993 F.2d 1387, 1398-99 (9th cir. 1993) (en banc).

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A. Short and Plain Statement

As discussed above, Rule 8 requires a complaint contain a short and plain

statement of the claim. Plaintiff’s complaint refers to nearly 150 pages of attached documents

which purportedly support the factual allegations against the defendants. This pleading method

does not, however, satisfy the requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) that claims

must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. To the contrary, plaintiff’s complaint would

require the court to comb through almost 150 pages of documents in order to even guess at

plaintiff’s claims. The court is unwilling to do this in part due to limited judicial resources but

also because it is for plaintiff – not the court – to formulate his claims. 

B. Defendant California Medical Facility, Vacaville

The Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing suits brought

against a state both by its own citizens, as well as by citizens of other states. See Brooks v.

Sulphar Springs Valley Elec. Coop., 951 F.2d 1050, 1053 (9th Cir. 1991). This prohibition

 extends to suits against states themselves, and to suits against state agencies. See Lucas v. 2

Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040,

1045 (9th Cir. 1989). 

Here, plaintiff names as a defendant the California Medical Facility, Vacaville,

which is immune under the Eleventh Amendment. By findings and recommendations issued

herewith, the court will recommend that the California Medical Facility, Vacaville, be dismissed

as a defendant to this action. 

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III. CONCLUSION

Because it is possible that the deficiencies identified in this order may be cured by

amending the complaint, plaintiff is entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of the entire

action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). Plaintiff is

informed that, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See

Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Thus, following dismissal with leave to

amend, all claims alleged in the original complaint which are not alleged in the amended

complaint are waived. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). Therefore, if

plaintiff amends the complaint, the court cannot refer to the prior pleading in order to make

plaintiff's amended complaint complete. See Local Rule 15-220. An amended complaint must

be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. See id. 

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the

conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See

Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). The complaint must allege in specific terms how

each named defendant is involved, and must set forth some affirmative link or connection

between each defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S.

362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d

740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 

Finally, plaintiff is warned that failure to file an amended complaint within the

time provided in this order may be grounds for dismissal of this action. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 

1260-61; see also Local Rule 11-110. Plaintiff is also warned that a complaint which fails to

comply with Rule 8 may, in the court’s discretion, be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Rule

41(b). See Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1981). 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed with leave to amend; and

2. Plaintiff shall file a first amended complaint within 30 days of the date of

service of this order.

DATED: November 1, 2005.

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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