Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02549/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-02549-5/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 

COLEMAN KENYATTA SMITH, Jr., 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

J. GROVE, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:18-cv-2549-EFB P 

ORDER 

Plaintiff proceeds without counsel in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On 

March 10, 2020, the court dismissed plaintiff’s third amended complaint with leave to amend. 

ECF No. 17. Plaintiff has since filed a filed an unsigned, single-paragraph document with the 

court. ECF No. 18. It is not clear whether plaintiff intended for this to serve as a fourth amended 

complaint. 

Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners seek 

redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915A(a). The court must identify cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion 

of the complaint, if the complaint “is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which 

relief may be granted,” or “seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such 

relief.” Id. § 1915A(b). 

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Case 2:18-cv-02549-TLN-JDP Document 19 Filed 04/03/20 Page 1 of 2
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The court cannot conduct the required screening of plaintiff’s complaint because plaintiff 

has not signed it. See ECF No. 1. Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that 

“[e]very pleading, written motion, and other paper . . . be signed by at least one attorney of record 

in the attorney’s name—or by a party personally if the party is unrepresented.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 

11(a). Because plaintiff did not sign the filing (ECF No. 18), it will be disregarded. Within thirty 

days, plaintiff may file an amended complaint that is signed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 3 (“A civil 

action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.”). Failure to comply with this order 

may result in an order closing this case. 

To facilitate the filing of an amended complaint that complies with the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure, the court will direct the Clerk of the Court to send plaintiff a form complaint. If 

plaintiff chooses to file an amended complaint, he shall do so using the court’s form. 

 It is THEREFORE ORDERED that: 

1. The Clerk of the Court shall note on the docket that plaintiff’s March 26, 2020 

filing (ECF No. 18) is disregarded; 

2. The Clerk of the Court shall mail to plaintiff this court’s form complaint for 

section 1983 actions by prisoners; and 

3. Failure to file an amended complaint within 30 days from the date of this order 

may result in the dismissal of this action for the reasons stated in the court’s March 

9, 2020 screening order. 

DATED: April 3, 2020.

Case 2:18-cv-02549-TLN-JDP Document 19 Filed 04/03/20 Page 2 of 2