Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00244/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00244-2/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

ERIN R. AMIE,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 

CORRECTIONS AND 

REHABILITATION, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:20-cv-0244-JLT (PC)

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FILE A 

RESPONSE

(Doc. 1.)

THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff has filed a complaint asserting constitutional claims against governmental

employees and/or entities. (Doc. 1.) Generally, the Court is required to screen complaints brought 

by inmates seeking relief against a governmental entity or an 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). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that 

may have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the 

action or appeal . . . fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 

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I. Pleading Standard

A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader 

is entitled to relief . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but 

“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 

statements, do not suffice,” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. 

v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)), and courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted 

inferences,” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation 

marks and citation omitted). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are 

not. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.

Prisoners may bring § 1983 claims against individuals acting “under color of state law.” See

42 U.S.C. § 1983, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) (2)(B)(ii). Under § 1983, Plaintiff must demonstrate that 

each defendant personally participated in the deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 

930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). This requires the presentation of factual allegations sufficient to state a 

plausible claim for relief. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 

969 (9th Cir. 2009). Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to have their 

pleadings liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor, Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 

F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (citations omitted), but nevertheless, the mere possibility of 

misconduct falls short of meeting the plausibility standard, Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d 

at 969. 

II. Discussion

Having reviewed the complaint, the Court finds the allegations so vague and conclusory 

that it is unable to determine whether the current action is frivolous or fails to state a claim for 

relief. The complaint does not contain a short and plain statement as required by Federal Rule of 

Civil Procedure 8(a)(2). Although the Federal Rules adopt a flexible pleading policy, a complaint 

must give fair notice and state the elements of the claim plainly and succinctly. Jones v. Cmty. 

Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Plaintiff must allege with at least some 

degree of particularity overt acts taken by the defendants that support plaintiff's claim. Id. 

Though plaintiff’s complaint is accompanied by approximately 90 pages of exhibits, the Court 

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declines to peruse these documents to ascertain the basis of plaintiff’s claim(s). Therefore, 

because plaintiff has failed to comply with the requirements of Rule 8(a)(2), the complaint must 

be dismissed. The Court will, however, grant leave to file an amended complaint.

III. Conclusion

Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted. The Court will 

grant Plaintiff an opportunity to file an amended complaint. Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448-

49 (9th Cir. 1987). If plaintiff does not wish to amend, he may instead file a notice of voluntary 

dismissal, and the action then will be terminated by operation of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i). 

Alternatively, plaintiff may forego amendment and notify the Court that he wishes to stand on his 

complaint. See Edwards v. Marin Park, Inc., 356 F.3d 1058, 1064-65 (9th Cir. 2004) (plaintiff may 

elect to forego amendment). If the last option is chosen, the Court will issue findings and 

recommendations to dismiss the complaint without leave to amend, plaintiff will have an 

opportunity to object, and the matter will be decided by a District Judge. 

If plaintiff opts to amend, he must demonstrate that the alleged acts resulted in a deprivation 

of his constitutional rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677-78. Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual 

matter . . . to ‘state a claim that is plausible on its face.’” Id. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 

555 (2007)). Plaintiff should note that although he has been granted the opportunity to amend his 

complaint, it is not for the purposes of adding new and unrelated claims. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 

605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). Plaintiff should carefully review this screening order and focus his efforts 

on curing the deficiencies set forth above.

Finally, plaintiff is advised that Local Rule 220 requires that an amended complaint be 

complete without reference to any prior pleading. As a general rule, an amended complaint 

supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once an 

amended complaint is filed, the original complaint no longer serves a function in the case. Id.

Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, each claim and the involvement 

of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. The amended complaint should be clearly titled, in 

bold font, “First Amended Complaint,” reference the appropriate case number, and be an original 

signed under penalty of perjury. Plaintiff’s amended complaint should be brief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 

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Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to raise a right to relief 

above the speculative level . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). Accordingly, the 

Court ORDERS that:

1. Within thirty days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff must file either a 

first amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court in this order, 

a notice of voluntary dismissal, or a notice of election to stand on the complaint; and 

2. If plaintiff fails to file a first amended complaint or notice of voluntary dismissal, the 

Court will recommend the action be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to obey a 

court order and failure to state a claim.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 14, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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