Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00955/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00955-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1981 Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ROGER GIFFORD, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

ROBERT PUCKETT, SR., et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:16-cv-0955 TLN AC (PS) 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff is proceeding in this action pro se and in forma pauperis. This proceeding was 

referred to the undersigned by E.D. Cal. R. (“Local Rule”) 302(c)(21).

 On May 26, 2016, the undersigned dismissed plaintiff’s original complaint because it 

violated Fed. R. Civ. P. (“Rule”) 8, and granted plaintiff leave to amend. ECF No. 3. The 

original complaint consisted of 84 pages of allegations and 40 pages of exhibits. See ECF No. 1. 

Plaintiff has now filed a First Amended Complaint. ECF No. 5. 

 The First Amended Complaint, however, is nearly identical to the original complaint. It 

contains the same 84 pages of allegations, although it corrects a paragraph numbering error in the 

original complaint, omits the 40 pages of exhibits and includes a table of contents. See ECF 

No. 5. 

 For the reasons set forth in the court’s prior order (ECF No. 3), the First Amended 

Complaint will also be dismissed on Rule 8 grounds, with leave to amend. However, plaintiff 

Case 2:16-cv-00955-KJM-GGH Document 6 Filed 06/20/16 Page 1 of 2
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will be ordered to limit any amended complaint to 25 pages. 

 Plaintiff is again cautioned that his complaint must contain a “short and plain statement” 

of the basis for federal jurisdiction (that is, the reason the case is filed in this court, rather than in 

a state court), as well as a short and plain statement showing that plaintiff is entitled to relief (that 

is, who harmed the plaintiff, and in what way). See “Rule 8” of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P. 8); Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002) (“Rule 

8(a) is the starting point of a simplified pleading system, which was adopted to focus litigation on 

the merits of a claim”). Forms are available to help pro se plaintiffs organize the complaint in the 

proper way. They are available at the Clerk’s Office, 501 I Street, 4th Floor, Sacramento, CA 

95814, or online at www.uscourts.gov/forms/pro-se-forms. 

 For the reasons stated above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint (ECF No. 5), is DISMISSED for failure to 

comply with Rule 8; and 

 2. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of this order to file an amended complaint 

that complies with the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules 

of this court. 

 a. The amended complaint must not exceed 25 pages in length. Plaintiff shall 

not evade the page requirement by using small type or otherwise failing to comply with Local 

Rule 130 (general format of documents), or by placing allegations in attachments or exhibits, or 

by any other means. 

 b. The amended complaint must bear the docket number assigned this case and 

must be labeled “Second Amended Complaint.” 

 c. Failure to comply with this order may result in a recommendation that this 

action be dismissed. 

DATED: June 17, 2016 

Case 2:16-cv-00955-KJM-GGH Document 6 Filed 06/20/16 Page 2 of 2