Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00426/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00426-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD MARTINEZ,

Plaintiff, 

vs. CIV S-08-426 MCE KJM PS

ROBERT MARTINEZ, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is proceeding in this action pro se and in forma pauperis. Plaintiff has

filed a second amended complaint.

The federal in forma pauperis statute authorizes federal courts to dismiss a case if

the action is legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(2). 

A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 

Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28

(9th Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an

indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke,

490 U.S. at 327. 

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A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set

of facts in support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. Hishon v. King &

Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957)); Palmer

v. Roosevelt Lake Log Owners Ass'n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a

complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in

question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the

pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor,

Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 

As with all of plaintiff’s prior complaints, the court finds the allegations in

plaintiff's complaint 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 court has determined that the complaint

does not contain a short and plain statement as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 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. Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646,

649 (9th Cir. 1984). Plaintiff must allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts

which defendants engaged in that support plaintiff's claim. Id. Because plaintiff has failed to

comply with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), the complaint must be dismissed. The

court will, however, grant leave, one last time, for the filing of a second amended complaint.

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must set forth the

jurisdictional grounds upon which the court’s jurisdiction depends. Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 8(a). Further, plaintiff must demonstrate how the conduct complained of has resulted

in a deprivation of plaintiff's federal rights. See Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). 

In addition, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in

order to make plaintiff's amended complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an

amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is

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because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v.

Rhay, 375 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. 

Because of plaintiff’s superfluous and multitudinous filings, by order filed June

20, 2008, a limiting order was placed on plaintiff’s filing. Plaintiff then proceeded to totally

disregard that order and filed eleven more documents not within the parameters of the limiting

order. Those documents will therefore be stricken.

In addition, it appears that although plaintiff does not yet have a viable complaint

on file, he is repeatedly serving defendants with summons in this action. No further summons

will issue pending further order of the court.

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

1. Plaintiff's July 8, 2008 second amended complaint is dismissed.

2. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a

third amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the third amended complaint must bear the docket

number assigned this case and must be labeled "Third Amended Complaint"; plaintiff must file

an original and two copies of the third amended complaint; failure to file a third amended

complaint in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be

dismissed. 

3. Defendants need not file any responsive pleadings pending the court’s review

of the third amended complaint and further order of the court.

4. The documents filed by plaintiff, docket nos. 32-39, 43, 45-46, shall be

stricken from the docket and disregarded.

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5. Plaintiff may file only the following documents:

a. One opposition to any motion filed by defendants (and clearly titled as

such);

b. Only one motion pending at any time. Such motion must be properly

noticed for hearing. Plaintiff is limited to one memorandum of points and authorities in support

of the motion and one reply to any opposition; and 

c. One set of objections to any findings and recommendations.

Failure to comply with this order shall result in improperly documents being

stricken from the record and may result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

6. The Clerk of Court is directed to issue no further summons in this action

pending further order of the court.

DATED: September 24, 2008.

006

martinez3.lta 

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