Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00369/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00369-8/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

RAYMOND MCCOWAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

L. MCKEOWN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:21-cv-00369-DAD-CKD (PC)

ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISMISSING 

CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEFENDANTS

(Doc. No. 35)

Plaintiff Raymond McCowan is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis

in this civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a 

United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.

On October 25, 2022, the assigned magistrate judge screened plaintiff’s second amended 

complaint and found that plaintiff had stated cognizable Eighth Amendment claims against 

defendants McKeown and Stephens-Merrell for use of excessive force and against defendants 

McAllister, Ota, and Harris for deliberate indifference, but that plaintiff had failed to state any 

other cognizable claims against those defendants and named defendants Ikegbu, Lacebal, Lampl, 

Hamamato, Cueva, Benavides, Patterson, Easterling, Corbett, and Fleshman. (Doc. No. 35 at 4–

5.) The magistrate judge concluded “that further amendment of these claims would be futile” 

because the court previously provided plaintiff with the applicable legal standards and plaintiff 

has had multiple attempts to fix the pleading deficiencies identified by the court. (Id. at 4.) The 

Case 2:21-cv-00369-DAD-CKD Document 40 Filed 12/27/22 Page 1 of 3
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magistrate judge also found that defendants Vega, Alenjadre-Loya, Le, and Valdez were 

improperly joined in this action. (Id. at 5.)

Accordingly, on October 25, 2022, the magistrate judge issued findings and 

recommendations recommending that this action proceed only on plaintiff’s use of excessive 

force claims against defendants McKeown and Stephens-Merrell and plaintiff’s deliberate 

indifference claims against defendants McAllister, Ota, and Harris. (Id. at 8.) The findings and 

recommendations also recommend dismissal of plaintiff’s claims brought against defendants 

Ikegbu, Lacebal, Lampl, Hamamato, Cueva, Benavides, Patterson, Easterling, Corbett, and 

Fleshman, without further leave to amend, and dismissal of defendants Vega, Alenjadre-Loya, Le, 

and Valdez as improperly joined, without prejudice to plaintiff filing a separate action against 

those defendants. (Id.) The pending findings and recommendations were served on plaintiff and 

contained notice that any objections thereto were to be filed within fourteen (14) days after 

service. (Id.) No objections have been filed, and the time in which to do so has now passed.

In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), this court has conducted a 

de novo review of the case. Having carefully reviewed the entire file, the court concludes that the 

findings and recommendations are supported by the record and proper analysis. 

Accordingly, 

1. The findings and recommendations issued on October 25, 2022 (Doc. No. 35) are 

adopted in full;

2. This action shall proceed on plaintiff’s use of excessive force claims against 

defendants McKeown and Stephens-Merrell and plaintiff’s deliberate indifference 

claims against defendants McAllister, Ota, and Harris;

3. Plaintiff’s claims against defendants Ikegbu, Lacebal, Lampl, Hamamato, Cueva, 

Benavides, Patterson, Easterling, Corbett, and Fleshman are dismissed;

4. Defendants Vega, Alenjadre-Loya, Le, and Valdez are dismissed from this action 

as improperly joined, without prejudice to plaintiff filing of a separate civil action 

against them;

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5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to update the docket to reflect the termination of 

the following defendants from this action: Ikegbu, Lacebal, Lampl, Hamamato, 

Cueva, Benavides, Patterson, Easterling, Corbett, Fleshman, Vega, AlenjadreLoya, Le, and Valdez; and

6. This action is referred back to the assigned magistrate judge for further 

proceedings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 26, 2022 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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