Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-06142/USCOURTS-cand-4_18-cv-06142-1/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

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TRAVON LEON FREEMAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

C. CALDERON, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 18-cv-06142-HSG 

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

On October 15, 2018, Plaintiff, an inmate at Kern Valley State Prison proceeding pro se, 

filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaining of events that took place at 

Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”), where he was previously incarcerated. Dkt. No. 1. On 

January 25, 2019, the Court reviewed the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and dismissed 

it with leave to amend to cure specific deficiencies. Dkt. No. 10. On February 14, 2019, plaintiff 

filed his amended complaint. Dkt. No. 12.

The amended complaint fails to cure the deficiencies identified in the Court’s order of 

dismissal with leave to amend. Plaintiff again alleges that on September 7, 2018, SVSP 

correctional officer C. Calderon used excessive force on him, in violation of the Eighth 

Amendment, when she rammed his dinner tray into his lower right abdomen. The amended 

complaint’s only significant addition to this claim is that this action was done with malicious 

intent, and while yelling “You fucking crips.” Plaintiff alleges that this indicates that Calderon’s 

actions were both discriminatory and a malicious and excessive misuse of force. Dkt. No. 12 at 3. 

As explained in the Court’s January 25, 2019 Order of Dismissal with Leave to Amend, not every 

malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal cause of action. Hudson v. McMillian, 

503 U.S. 1, 9 (1992). An inmate who complains of a push or shove that causes no discernable 

Case 4:18-cv-06142-HSG Document 16 Filed 05/01/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

injury almost certainly fails to state a valid excessive force claim. Id. While the new allegations 

in the amended complaint alleges that Calderon applied force “maliciously and sadistically to 

cause harm,” the extent of the injury here, described by Plaintiff as a “dull numbing . . . like

feeling pain” indicates that the force used was not excessive. Dkt. No. 12 at 3. In sum, the 

amended complaint fails to state a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim.

Accordingly, this case is DISMISSED with prejudice because the amended complaint fails 

to state a cognizable claim for relief. Further leave to amend will not be granted because the Court 

already has explained to Plaintiff the specific deficiencies in his pleading, and he has been unable 

or unwilling to correct them. 

The Clerk shall deny as moot all pending motions, enter judgment, and close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

______________________________________

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

5/1/2019

Case 4:18-cv-06142-HSG Document 16 Filed 05/01/19 Page 2 of 2