Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00092/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00092-2/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GORDON BULLOCK,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

WASCO STATE PRISON MEDICAL,

 Defendant.

1:14-cv-00092-GSA-PC

 

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO 

AMEND THE COMPLAINT

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO FILE 

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT 

LODGED ON DECEMBER 19, 2014

(Doc. 14.)

I. BACKGROUND

Gordon Bullock (“Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis 

in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint 

commencing this action on December 24, 2013, at the United States District Court for the 

Northern District of California. (Doc. 1.) On January 8, 2014, the case was transferred to the

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. (Doc. 5.) On March 31, 

2014, Plaintiff consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction in this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. '

636(c), and no other parties have made an appearance. (Doc. 11.) Therefore, pursuant to 

Appendix A(k)(4) of the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California, the undersigned shall 

conduct any and all proceedings in the case until such time as reassignment to a District Judge 

is required. Local Rule Appendix A(k)(3).

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On November 13, 2014, the court dismissed the Complaint for failure to state a claim, 

with leave to amend. (Doc. 12.) On December 19, 2014, Plaintiff filed the First Amended 

Complaint, which awaits the court’s requisite screening. (Doc. 13.) On December 19, 2014, 

Plaintiff lodged a proposed Second Amended Complaint. (Doc. 14.)

II. LEAVE TO AMEND – RULE 15(a)

Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may amend the 

party=s pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Otherwise, a party may amend only by leave of the court or by written 

consent of the adverse party, and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Id. Here, 

because Plaintiff has already amended the complaint more than once, Plaintiff requires leave of 

court to file a Third Amended Complaint.

ARule 15(a) is very liberal and leave to amend >shall be freely given when justice so 

requires.=@ AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysis West, Inc., 445 F.3d 1132, 1136 (9th Cir. 

2006) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)). However, courts Aneed not grant leave to amend where 

the amendment: (1) prejudices the opposing party; (2) is sought in bad faith; (3) produces an 

undue delay in the litigation; or (4) is futile.@ Id. The factor of A>[u]ndue delay by itself . . . is 

insufficient to justify denying a motion to amend.=@ Owens v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, 

Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 712, 713 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting Bowles v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757-58 

(9th Cir. 1999)). 

Discussion

The court finds no bad faith or futility in Plaintiff’s proposed amendment. The 

proposed Second Amended Complaint arises from the same events at issue in the Complaint for 

this action. Because the First Amended Complaint awaits the court’s requisite screening and 

has not been served, there will be no undue delay or prejudice to Defendants in allowing

Plaintiff to proceed with the Second Amended Complaint. Therefore, Plaintiff shall be granted 

leave to amend, and the Second Amended Complaint shall be filed.

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III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff is granted leave to amend the complaint;

2. The Clerk is directed to file the proposed Second Amended Complaint which 

was lodged on December 19, 2014; and

3. The Second Amended Complaint shall be screened in due course.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 28, 2015 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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