Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_08-cv-00801/USCOURTS-cand-3_08-cv-00801-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JEFFERY E. WALKER, 

Plaintiff(s),

 vs.

JOHN DOE, et al.,

Defendant(s). 

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No. C 08-0801 CRB (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH

LEAVE TO AMEND

Plaintiff, a prisoner at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, has

filed a pro se complaint for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that, while

he was at the San Francisco County Jail, jail officials denied him adequate mental

health treatment. Plaintiff only names John and Jane Doe defendants.

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

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

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granted," or "seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such

relief." Id. § 1915A(b). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed, however. 

Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).

To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two 

elements: (1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States

was violated, and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting

under the color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

B. Legal Claims

Deliberate indifference to serious medical needs violates the Eighth

Amendment's proscription against cruel and unusual punishment. See Estelle v.

Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). But in order to state a cognizable claim for

damages under § 1983, plaintiff must set forth specific allegations showing how

each defendant's actions and/or omissions were the "actual and proximate cause"

of the deprivation of which plaintiff complains. See Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d

628, 634 (9th Cir. 1988). Plaintiff has not done so.

Plaintiff may have a cognizable claim for damages under § 1983 against

the individual Doe defendants. But in order to proceed, plaintiff must identify

the Doe defendants, and amend his complaint to name them and set forth specific

facts as to how each individual defendant violated his rights. See Wakefield v.

Thompson, 177 F.3d 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999). Plaintiff will be afforded 30

days from the date of this order to identify the unknown Doe defendants and

amend his complaint.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the complaint is dismissed with leave to amend,

as indicated above, within 30 days of this order. The pleading must be simple

and concise and must include the caption and civil case number used in this order

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and the words FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT on the first page. Failure to

file a proper amended complaint within the designated time will result in the

dismissal of this action.

Plaintiff is advised that the amended complaint will supersede the original

complaint and all other pleadings. Claims and defendants not included in the

amended complaint will not be considered by the court. See King v. Atiyeh, 814

F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987).

SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 14, 2008 

CHARLES R. BREYER

United States District Judge

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