Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00741/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-00741-0/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 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILBERT J. ODEN, 

Plaintiff,

 v.

DR. M. YANEZ, et al.,

Defendants. 

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No. C 06-0741 JSW (PR)

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF

TO FILE CIVIL RIGHTS

COMPLAINT FORM AND

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CLERK

(Docket No. 3)

Plaintiff, a prisoner of the State of California, filed a letter in the United States

District Court for the Eastern District of California regarding mental health care and his

retention in administrative segregation by prison officials at Salinas Valley State Prison

which was construed as a civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and transferred

to this Court. He has also filed a motion seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis

(docket no. 3). In this order, the Court dismisses the complaint with leave to amend and

orders Plaintiff to file the Court’s civil rights complaint form within thirty days of the

date of this order. 

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Plaintiff generally complains about the treatment he has received as a “mental

health patient” at Salinas Valley State Prison, including the refusal of his doctor to visit

him in his cell when he was suicidal. His letter also complains that he has been retained

in administrative segregation after being cleared of charges against him. However,

because it is not clear from Plaintiff’s letter to the Court whether he wishes to pursue a

civil rights case (as opposed to the stated purpose therein, that he wishes to inform the

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Court, so that an investigation can be undertaken as to why mental health patients at the

facility are suicidal), this Court will order Plaintiff to file the Court’s complaint form if

he wishes to pursue a civil rights case. 

Because the Court has no general investigatory power and can only resolve cases

and controversies properly before it, the Court now provides Plaintiff with a civil rights

complaint form, in which he may identify any legal claims he wishes to pursue here. If

Plaintiff wishes to pursue such an action, he will be granted leave to amend to submit the

complaint form within thirty days as set forth below. However, if Plaintiff seeks an

investigation by a government agency of the conditions at Salinas Valley, he must pursue

that by contacting them directly. In that case, Plaintiff need not file an amended

complaint and this matter will be dismissed.

DISCUSSION

I Standard of Review

Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners

seek redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must identify cognizable claims or dismiss the

complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint “is frivolous, malicious, or

fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,” or “seeks monetary relief from a

defendant who is immune from such relief.” Id. § 1915A(b). Pro se pleadings must be

liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.

1990). 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 alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state

law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).

II Legal Claims

To state a claim arising under federal law, it must be clear from the face of 

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Plaintiff's well-pleaded complaint that there is a federal question. Easton v. Crossland

Mortgage Corp., 114 F.3d 979, 982 (9th Cir. 1997). While a plaintiff is not required to

plead his evidence “or specific factual details not ascertainable in advance of discovery,”

Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d 1334, 1340 (9th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S.

1054 (1987), a pleading will not be sufficient to state a claim under § 1983 if the

allegations are mere conclusions, Kennedy v. H & M Landing, Inc., 529 F.2d 987, 989

(9th Cir. 1976). And a complaint that fails to state the specific acts of the defendant

which violated the plaintiff's rights fails to meet the requirements of Rule 8(a)(2) of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Hutchinson v. United States, 677 F.2d 1322, 1328 n.5

(9th Cir. 1982). District courts must afford pro se prisoner litigants an opportunity to

amend to correct any deficiency in their complaints. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122,

1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

With regard to the amended complaint, Plaintiff must set forth in his complaint

the actions of each named Defendant which violated Plaintiff's rights. The Court cannot

cull defendants and claims from Plaintiff's pleadings and documentation - Plaintiff must

clearly and succinctly: name each Defendant, state the injury that Defendant caused,

identify the claimed constitutional provision (or other federal right) violated, and request

the sought-after remedy. Without this basic information, the complaint cannot proceed. 

Accordingly, the complaint is DISMISSED. However, Plaintiff is provided with

LEAVE TO AMEND his complaint within thirty days, as set forth below.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons and for good cause shown,

1. Plaintiff’s complaint is DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND, as

indicated above. Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint within thirty days from the

date of this order. The amendment must include the caption and civil case number used

in this order and the words “COURT ORDERED AMENDED COMPLAINT” on the

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first page. Failure to amend within the designated time will result in the dismissal of the

complaint without prejudice. The Clerk is directed to provide Plaintiff with a copy of the

Court’s prisoner civil rights complaint form. 

2. Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original

complaint. "[A] plaintiff waives all causes of action alleged in the original complaint

which are not alleged in the amended complaint." London v. Coopers & Lybrand, 644

F.2d 811, 814 (9th Cir. 1981). Defendants not named in an amended complaint are no

longer defendants. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir.), cert. denied,

506 U.S. 915 (1992). 

3. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the

Court 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 under Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 14, 2006 JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

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