Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01530/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01530-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ARTHUR LITTLEFIELD, JR., )

)

)

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

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FRESNO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT )

CLERK’S OFFICE, et al., )

)

)

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Defendants. )

 )

1:06cv1530 OWW DLB

ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT 

WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

Plaintiff Arthur Littlefield, Jr., (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in

forma pauperis in this civil rights action. Plaintiff filed his complaint on October 27, 2006, and

names the Fresno County Superior Court Clerk’s Office and the Director of Operations of the

Fresno County Superior Court as Defendants. 

DISCUSSION

A. Screening Standard

The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a

governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The

Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are

legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or

that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1),(2); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). If the Court determines that the complaint fails to

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state a claim, leave to amend may be granted to the extent that the deficiencies of the complaint

can be cured by amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

B. Failure to State a Claim

A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon

which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in

support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. See Hishon v. King & Spalding,

467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984), citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957); see also Palmer v.

Roosevelt Lake Log Owners Ass'n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a

complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in

question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the

pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor. 

Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969).

C. Plaintiff’s Allegations

Plaintiff has filed a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He names the Fresno

County Superior Court Clerk’s Office and the Director of Operations of the Fresno County

Superior Court as Defendants. He appears to allege that due to Defendants’ “erroneous record

keeping,” he was subject to a probation search when, in fact, he was not on probation at the time

of the search. Complaint, at 3. Although he mentions his Fourth Amendment rights, he does not

appear to complaining of a constitutional violation. Rather, his claim seems to be one for

negligence and is focused on the allegedly erroneous record keeping of the Defendants. He

requests $500,000 in damages, $500,000 in punitive damages, and $500 for every day that the

probation hold was in place (155 days). 

D. Section 1983 Claims

The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides:

Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes

to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the

deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the

Constitution . . . shall be liable to the party injured in an action at

law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress. 

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 To the extent Plaintiff is attempting to challenge his conviction, or raise a constitutional challenge which 1

could entitle him to an earlier release, his sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411

U.S. 475 (1973); Young v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874 (9th Cir. 1990). Moreover, when seeking damages for an allegedly

unconstitutional conviction or imprisonment, “a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the conviction or sentence has been

reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such

determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254.” 

Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 487-88 (1994). “A claim for damages bearing that relationship to a conviction or

sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983.” Id. at 488. 

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42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute plainly requires that there be an actual connection or link between

the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See

Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362

(1976). The Ninth Circuit has held that “[a] person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a

constitutional right, within the meaning of section 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates

in another’s affirmative acts or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that

causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th

Cir. 1978). In order to state a claim for relief under section 1983, plaintiff must link each named

defendant with some affirmative act or omission that demonstrates a violation of plaintiff’s

federal rights.

Here, Plaintiff simply names the Fresno County Superior Court Clerk’s Office and the

Director of Operations of the Fresno County Superior Court as Defendants. In a conclusive

manner and without factual explanation, he alleges that Defendants engaged in “erroneous record

keeping.” Complaint, at 3. Conclusory allegations, unsupported by facts, are insufficient to

support a cause of action under the civil rights statute. Sherman v. Yakahi, 549 F.2d 1287, 1290

(9th Cir.1977). Plaintiff also fails to name any specific individuals, and fails to allege and link

any individuals with an affirmative act or omission. At best, Plaintiff advances a theory of

negligence, which is insufficient to state a claim under section 1983.1

Plaintiff’s complaint is therefore DISMISSED for Plaintiff’s failure to adequately state a

claim under section 1983. Plaintiff is GRANTED LEAVE TO AMEND to attempt to cure the

above deficiencies. Plaintiff shall file his amended complaint within thirty (30) days of the date

of service of this order. 

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Plaintiff is advised that the Court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make

Plaintiff's amended complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended complaint

be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a general rule,

an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57

(9th Cir. 1967). Once Plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no longer

serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint,

each claim and the involvement of each defendant with respect to Plaintiff’s alleged injuries must

be sufficiently alleged. 

Plaintiff is further advised that failure to file an amended complaint consistent with this

order may result in dismissal of the action.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: November 9, 2006 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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