Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-04908/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-04908-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHANE VERLIN GHOST,

Plaintiff,

 v.

ALAN STILLMEN, et al.,

Defendants. __________________________________

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

) 

No. C 15-4908 JSW (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH

LEAVE TO AMEND

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff, an inmate that the Santa Rita County Jail, has filed this pro se civil rights

complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He has been granted leave to proceed in forma

pauperis in a separate order. The Complaint is now reviewed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1915A, and it is dismissed with leave to amend within twenty-eight days. 

DISCUSSION

I. 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 granted,” or “seeks monetary relief from a

defendant who is immune from such relief.” Id. § 1915A(b). Pro se pleadings must be

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

1990).

Case 4:15-cv-04908-JSW Document 7 Filed 12/29/15 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 2

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only "a short and plain statement

of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." "Specific facts are not

necessary; the statement need only '"give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . . claim

is and the grounds upon which it rests."'" Erickson v. Pardus, 127 S. Ct. 2197, 2200

(2007) (citations omitted). Although in order to state a claim a complaint “does not need

detailed factual allegations, . . . a plaintiff's obligation to provide the 'grounds of his

'entitle[ment] to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic

recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. . . . Factual allegations must

be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atlantic Corp. v.

Twombly, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1964-65 (2007) (citations omitted). A complaint must proffer

"enough facts to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 1974. Pro se

pleadings must be liberally construed. 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).

II. Discussion

Plaintiff claims that he has not received adequate medical care, and he seeks a

“brain scan or M.R.I.” and an “ultra sound of buttocks and anus,” as well as monetary

damages.” From the allegations in the complaint, it appears that he has been in state

prison and is currently in county jail in Santa Rita, California. It further appears that he

has mental health issues, that he has been subject to California’s Sexually Violent

Predator Act, and that he has also been in custody for violating his parole on three

occasions. However, it is impossible to discern from the allegations in his complaint

when and where the inadequate care took place, what medical care he received and from

Case 4:15-cv-04908-JSW Document 7 Filed 12/29/15 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 3

whom, and what his medical needs are. Plaintiff will be given leave to file an amended

complaint in which he clarifies these matters. If these deficiencies are not cured in the

amended complaint, this case will be dismissed. 

CONCLUSION

1. The complaint is DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. Plaintiff shall

file an amended complaint within twenty-eight (28) days from the date this order is

filed. The amendment must include the caption and civil case number used in this order

(No. C 15-4908 JSW (PR)) and the words “COURT-ORDERED FIRST AMENDED

COMPLAINT” on the first page. Because an amended complaint completely replaces

the original complaint, see Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992),

Plaintiff may not incorporate material from the original complaint by reference. Failure

to amend within the designated time and in accordance with this order will result in the

dismissal of this action. 

2. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the

Court informed of any change of address and must comply with the Court's orders in a

timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action under Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 29, 2015

 JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

Case 4:15-cv-04908-JSW Document 7 Filed 12/29/15 Page 3 of 3