Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_16-cv-00158/USCOURTS-cand-5_16-cv-00158-0/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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 Plaintiff has consented to magistrate judge jurisdiction. (Docket No. 3.)

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMAR GOLSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

DR. BIRDSONG and LVN ANDRES, 

Defendants. /

No. C 16-0158 NC (PR)

ORDER OF SERVICE; DIRECTING

DEFENDANTS TO FILE

DISPOSITIVE MOTION OR NOTICE

REGARDING SUCH MOTION

Plaintiff Jamar Golson, a California state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a civil

rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1

 Plaintiff is granted in forma pauperis status in a

separate order. For the reasons stated below, the court directs Defendants to file a dispositive

motion or notice regarding such motion in response to Plaintiff’s claims. 

DISCUSSION

I. Standard of Review

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any case in which a

prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental

entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims,

and dismiss any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief

may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 

Case 5:16-cv-00158-NC Document 5 Filed 03/23/16 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. See Balistreri v.

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

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, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (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, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (citations

omitted). A complaint must proffer “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible

on its face.” Id. at 570. 

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

violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487

U.S. 42, 48 (1988). Liability may be imposed on an individual defendant under § 1983 if the

plaintiff can show that the defendant proximately caused the deprivation of a federally

protected right. Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 634 (9th Cir. 1988). 

II. Legal Claim

Liberally construed, Plaintiff has stated a cognizable claim that Defendants were

deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs.

CONCLUSION

1. The Clerk of the Court shall mail a Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver

of Service of Summons, two copies of the Waiver of Service of Summons, a copy of the

amended complaint and all attachments thereto, a magistrate judge consent form, and a copy

of this order to Dr. Birdsong and LVN Andres at Salinas Valley State Prison. The Clerk

of the court shall also mail a courtesy copy of the complaint and a copy of this order to the

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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California Attorney General’s Office. Additionally, the Clerk shall mail a copy of this order

to Plaintiff.

2. Defendants are cautioned that Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

requires them to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service of the summons and

complaint. Pursuant to Rule 4, if Defendants, after being notified of this action and asked by

the court, on behalf of Plaintiff, to waive service of the summons, fail to do so, they will be

required to bear the cost of such service unless good cause be shown for their failure to sign

and return the waiver form. If service is waived, this action will proceed as if Defendants

had been served on the date that the waiver is filed, and Defendants will not be required to

serve and file an answer before sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver

was sent. Defendants are asked to read the statement set forth at the bottom of the waiver

form that more completely describes the duties of the parties with regard to waiver of service

of the summons. If service is waived after the date provided in the Notice but before

Defendants have been personally served, the Answer shall be due sixty (60) days from the

date on which the request for waiver was sent or twenty (20) days from the date the waiver

form is filed, whichever is later. 

3. No later than sixty (60) days from the date the waivers are sent from the court,

Defendants shall file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion with

respect to the cognizable claims in the complaint. At that time, Defendants shall also file

the magistrate judge consent form.

Any motion for summary judgment shall be supported by adequate factual

documentation and shall conform in all respects to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. Defendants are advised that summary judgment cannot be granted, nor

qualified immunity found, if material facts are in dispute. If Defendants are of the

opinion that this case cannot be resolved by summary judgment, they shall so inform

the court prior to the date the summary judgment motion is due. 

4. Plaintiff’s opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the court and

served on Defendants no later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date Defendants’ motion

Case 5:16-cv-00158-NC Document 5 Filed 03/23/16 Page 3 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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is filed. Plaintiff is advised to read Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and

Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) (holding party opposing summary judgment

must come forward with evidence showing triable issues of material fact on every essential

element of his claim). 

5. Defendants shall file a reply brief no later than fourteen (14) days after

Plaintiff’s opposition is filed. 

6. The motion shall be deemed submitted as of the date the reply brief is due. No

hearing will be held on the motion unless the court so orders at a later date. 

7. All communications by the Plaintiff with the court must be served on

Defendants or Defendants’ counsel, by mailing a true copy of the document to Defendants or

Defendants’ counsel.

8. Discovery may be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. No further court order is required before the parties may conduct discovery.

9. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the

court and all parties 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 for

failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 

NATHANAEL M. COUSINS

United States Magistrate Judge

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