Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00102/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00102-11/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

SAVON DOONEY DENNIS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-0102 FCD PAN P

vs.

C. HUSKEY, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with an action

filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On May 12, 2006, plaintiff was granted an extension of time

to provide the documents for service on defendant Huskey. However, on May 22, 2006, plaintiff

filed an amended complaint. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide that a party may

amend his or her pleading “once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is

served.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a).

Plaintiff has again named defendants Armaskus, Turner and Sandham who were

previously dismissed as plaintiff failed to state a cognizable claim against them. (See July 13,

2005 Findings and Recommendations; August 19, 2005 Order.) Plaintiff has added a defendant

by the name of C.L. Adams, and in the relief section of his amended complaint, refers to an

unnamed medical assistant and John Does. 

Case 2:05-cv-00102-FCD-EFB Document 28 Filed 07/28/06 Page 1 of 4
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The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows:

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. 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute 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 Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362

(1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the

meaning of § 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).

Moreover, supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the

actions of their employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, therefore, when a named

defendant holds a supervisorial position, the causal link between him and the claimed

constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862

(9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 442 U.S.

941 (1979). Vague and conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of official personnel

in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th

Cir. 1982).

Plaintiff has not provided any charging allegations for any named defendant other

than defendant Huskey. Accordingly, the court will not order service of process on defendants

other than defendant Huskey.

However, the amended complaint states a cognizable claim for relief as to

defendant Huskey pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). If the allegations of

the amended complaint are proven, plaintiff has a reasonable opportunity to prevail on the merits

of this action.

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

1. Service is appropriate for defendant C. Huskey; 

2. The Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff one USM-285 form, one summons,

an instruction sheet and a copy of the amended complaint filed May 22, 2006.

3. Within thirty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete the

attached Notice of Submission of Documents and submit the following documents to the court:

a. The completed Notice of Submission of Documents;

b. One completed summons;

c. One completed USM-285 form for defendant Huskey; and 

d. Two copies of the endorsed amended complaint filed May 22, 2006. 

4. Plaintiff need not attempt service on defendants and need not request waiver of

service. Upon receipt of the above-described documents, the court will direct the United States

Marshal to serve the above-named defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4

without payment of costs. 

DATED: July 27, 2006.

/001; denn0102.1amd

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAVON DOONEY DENNIS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-0102 FCD PAN P

vs.

C. HUSKEY, et al., NOTICE OF SUBMISSION

Defendants. OF DOCUMENTS

 /

Plaintiff hereby submits the following documents in compliance with the court's

order filed :

 completed summons form

 completed USM-285 forms

 copies of the 

 Amended Complaint

DATED: 

 

Plaintiff

Case 2:05-cv-00102-FCD-EFB Document 28 Filed 07/28/06 Page 4 of 4