Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00520/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00520-6/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

MATTHEW V. SALINAS,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

KENNETH J. POGUE, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:16-cv-00520-GSA-PC

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND THE 

COMPLAINT 

(ECF No. 26.)

ORDER FOR CLERK TO FILE SECOND 

AMENDED COMPLAINT LODGED ON 

JANUARY 30, 2017

(ECF No. 27.)

I. BACKGROUND

Matthew V. Salinas (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On April 14, 2016, Plaintiff 

filed the Complaint commencing this action. (ECF No. 1.) On November 17, 2016, the First 

Amended Complaint was filed pursuant to Plaintiff’s motion for leave to amend. (ECF No. 

25.) On January 23, 2017, Plaintiff filed a motion to file a Second Amended Complaint. (ECF 

No. 26.) On January 30, 2017, Plaintiff lodged a proposed Second Amended Complaint. (ECF 

No. 27.

Plaintiff’s motion to file a Second Amended Complaint is now before the court.

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II. LEAVE TO AMEND – RULE 15(a)

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

party’s pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Otherwise, a party may amend only by leave of the court or by written 

consent of the adverse party, and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Id. Here, 

because Plaintiff has already amended the complaint and no other party has appeared in this 

case, Plaintiff requires leave of court to file a Second Amended Complaint.

“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)). 

Discussion

Plaintiff seeks to amend the complaint to add a Doe Defendant that he has identified 

and wishes to add the Defendant and the allegations against the Defendant. The court finds no 

bad faith or futility in Plaintiff’s proposed amendment. 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 to amend the complaint shall be granted, and the Second 

Amended Complaint shall be filed.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to file a Second Amended Complaint, filed on January 23, 

2017, is GRANTED;

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2. The Clerk is directed to file the proposed Second Amended Complaint which 

was lodged on January 30, 2017; and

3. The Second Amended Complaint shall be screened in due course.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 22, 2017 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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