Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00860/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00860-3/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

ALFONSO HALL,

Plaintiff,

v.

D. SMITH, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:15-cv-00860-BAM-PC

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO AMEND

(ECF NO. 15)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO FILE 

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT 

LODGED ON FEBRUARY 29, 2016

(ECF NO. 16)

Plaintiff Alfonso Hall is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has consented to magistrate judge jurisdiction pursuant to 

28 U.S.C. § 636(c).1 Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a second 

amended complaint, filed on February 29, 2016. (ECF No. 15.) On the same date, Plaintiff 

lodged with the Court a proposed second amended complaint. (ECF No. 16.)

This action was initiated by civil complaint filed on June 8, 2015. On December 16, 

2015, an order was entered, finding that the complaint stated a claim for relief against Defendant 

Smith for excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment, but failed to state any other 

claims for relief. (ECF No. 10.) Plaintiff was directed to either file an amended complaint or 

notify the Court of his intention to proceed against Defendant Smith only. On January 12, 2016, 

Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint. On February 29, 2016, Plaintiff filed the motion for 

leave to file a second amended complaint that is now before the Court. 

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

complaint once, as a matter of course, at any time before a responsive pleading is served. 

Otherwise, a party may amend only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party, 

and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Id. Because Plaintiff has already 

amended his complaint, he requires leave of court to file a second amended complaint.

 

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Plaintiff filed a consent to proceed before a magistrate judge on June 22, 2015. (ECF No. 8.)

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“Rule 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 “need 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 “[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)).

Plaintiff requests leave to file a second amended complaint to correct errors in the first 

amended complaint, and to include references to an exhibit filed in support of the second 

amended complaint. The proposed second amended complaint arises from the same events 

documented in the first amended complaint. 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’s motion for leave to file a second amended complaint should be granted.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint, filed on February 29, 2016, 

is GRANTED; and

2. The Clerk is directed to file the second amended complaint lodged with the Court on 

February 29, 2016.

 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 9, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-00860-LJO-BAM Document 20 Filed 09/09/16 Page 2 of 2