Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05593/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05593-0/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BARRY S. JAMESON, 

Plaintiff, CV F 03 5593 REC WMW P

vs. ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO 

FILE AN AMENDED COMPLAINT

SCOTT RAWERS, et al.,

Defendants.

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. Plaintiff seeks relief pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983. This proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 72-302 pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

This action proceeds on the third amended complaint. Plaintiff, an inmate in the

custody of the California Department of Corrections at Pleasant Valley State Prison, brings this

civil rights action against defendant correctional officials employed by the Department of

Corrections for conduct that occurred while plaintiff was housed at Avenal State Prison.

In the third amended complaint on which this action proceeds, plaintiff states that

he is bringing this action on behalf of certain other inmate plaintiffs. There is no indication that

plaintiff is an attorney, or is authorized to practice law in California. This action will therefore

be construed as a civil action brought by plaintiff on his own behalf. The court will not consider

claims brought on behalf of any other individual. 

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It is inappropriate to attach exhibits to a complaint. See Rule 8, Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. Further, the court cannot serve as a repository for the parties' evidence. Originals or

copies of evidence (i.e., prison or medical records, witness affidavits, etc.) should not be submitted

until the course of litigation brings the evidence into question (for example, on a motion for

summary judgment, at trial, or when requested by the court). The court will therefore return

plaintiff’s exhibits. 

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Further, the court notes that throughout the third amended complaint, plaintiff

asserts conclusory allegations and refers the court to his attached exhibits. Plaintiff is advised

that the complaint or amended complaint must be complete in and of itself, without reference to

any other document. Plaintiff is cautioned that the court will only consider allegations included

in the operative amended complaint.1

The court will grant plaintiff an opportunity to file a fourth amended complaint. 

Should plaintiff fail to file a fourth amended complaint, this action will proceed on the third

amended complaint. As noted, the court will not consider any factual allegations not set forth in

the third amended complaint.

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the

conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff's constitutional rights. See

Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). Also, the complaint must allege in specific terms

how each named defendant is involved. There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless

there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant's actions and the claimed

deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir.

1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 

In addition, plaintiff is informed 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

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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 must be sufficiently

alleged. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a

fourth amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the amended complaint must

bear the docket number assigned this case and must be labeled "Fourth Amended Complaint." 

2. The Clerk is directed to return to plaintiff the exhibits attached to the third

amended complaint.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 22, 2005 /s/ William M. Wunderlich 

mmkd34 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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