Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-01130/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-01130-4/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SIDNEY ROSS DEEGAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

DANIEL E. CUEVA, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:23-cv-1130 DJC CKD P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. On June 17, 2024, the court recommended 

that this action be dismissed for plaintiff’s failure to file a third amended complaint. Because 

plaintiff filed a third amended complaint on August 7, 2024, however, the court’s findings and 

recommendations will be vacated. 

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

governmental entity or 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).

The court has reviewed plaintiff’s third amended complaint and finds that plaintiff may 

proceed on claims against defendants Carter and Mathews arising under the Eighth Amendment 

for exposing plaintiff to harmful conditions of confinement.

Case 2:23-cv-01130-DJC-CKD Document 14 Filed 10/02/24 Page 1 of 4
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At this point, plaintiff has two options: proceed on the claims identified above or file a 

fourth amended complaint in an attempt to cure deficiencies with respect to the other claims and 

defendants in plaintiff’s third amended complaint. If plaintiff chooses to proceed on the claims 

described above, the court will construe this as a request to voluntarily dismiss the additional 

claims and defendants pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1)(i) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

With respect to plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief, the Eighth Amendment protects 

inmates from exposure to a substantial risk of serious physical harm. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 

U.S. 825, 834 (1994). The court accepts plaintiff’s representation that asbestos remains to some

degree at CMF and that black mold exists as well. But plaintiff does not point to anything 

specific indicating that he has been subject to enough exposure and / or the type of exposure to 

amount to a violation of the Eighth Amendment. To state a claim for injunctive relief under the 

Eighth Amendment, plaintiff would have to provide details as to where he encounters black mold 

or asbestos and then show that the nature of the contact with either substance amounts to a 

substantial risk of serious harm. 

Also, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make 

plaintiff’s fourth amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that any amended 

complaint be complete without reference to any prior pleading. 

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

1. The court’s June 17, 2024, findings and recommendations are vacated. 

2. Plaintiff can proceed immediately on the claims described herein. In the alternative, 

plaintiff may choose to file a fourth amended complaint to fix the deficiencies with respect to the 

remaining claims.

3. Within 21 days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete and return the 

attached Notice of Election form notifying the court whether he wants to proceed on the screened 

third amended complaint or whether he wants time to file a fourth amended complaint.

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4. If plaintiff fails to return the attached Notice of Election within the time provided, the 

court will construe this failure as consent to dismiss the deficient claims and proceed only on the 

cognizable claims identified above. 

Dated: October 2, 2024

1

deeg1130.option

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:23-cv-01130-DJC-CKD Document 14 Filed 10/02/24 Page 3 of 4
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SIDNEY ROSS DEEGAN, JR.,

 Plaintiff,

v.

DANIEL E. CUEVA, et al.,

 Defendants

No. 2:23-cv-1130 DJC CKD P

NOTICE OF ELECTION 

Check only one option:

_____ 1. Plaintiff wishes to proceed on a claims arising under the Eighth Amendment against 

defendants Mathews and Carter

_____ 2. Plaintiff wants time to file a fourth amended complaint.

DATED: 

____________________ 

 Plaintiff

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