Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03054/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03054-6/pdf.json

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

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT J. JONES,

Plaintiff,

 v.

NAPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 07-03054 JSW

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

In an Order dated September 26, 2008, the Court dismissed all of plaintiff Robert J.

Jones’s (“Plaintiff”) claims against defendants County of Napa, Deputy District Attorney Jose

Rossi, and the City of Napa. Plaintiff’s remaining claims are against his soon to be ex-wife

Michelle Jones (“Ms. Jones”) and Thomas Toler, an alleged bail bondsman. In addition to

state-law claims, Plaintiff asserts claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“Section 1983”) against Ms.

Jones and Toler.

To state a claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must allege that (1) a person acting

under color of state law (2) deprived him of a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the

Constitution or federal statute. Id. Generally, private parties do not act under color of state law. 

Price v. Hawaii, 939 F.2d 702, 707-08 (9th Cir. 1991). The complaint, therefore, must allege

facts tending to show that the private parties’ conduct has caused a deprivation of federal rights

that may be fairly attributable to the State. Id. at 708 (quoting Jones v. Community

Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984) (holding that conclusionary

allegations of action under color of state law, “unsupported by facts, [will be] rejected as

insufficient to state a 

Case 3:07-cv-03054-JSW Document 43 Filed 09/30/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

claim.”)). A two-part test exists to determine whether private-party action causes a deprivation

that occurs under color of state law. Lugar v. Edmonson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 937 (1982). 

First, the deprivation must be caused by the exercise of some right or privilege created by the

State; by a rule of conduct imposed by the state; or by a person for whom the State is

responsible. Id. Second, the party charged with the deprivation must be a state actor. Id. A

person may become a state actor by performing a public function or being regulated to the point

that the conduct in question is practically compelled by the State. Vincent v. Trend Western

Technical Corp., 828 F.2d 563, 569 (9th Cir. 1987). Conclusory allegations of a conspiracy

between private individual and state actors are insufficient as a matter of law to allege the

requisite state action. Woodrum v. Woodward County, Okl., 866 F.2d 1121, 1126 (9th

Cir.1989).

Accordingly, Plaintiff is HEREBY ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE in writing no later

than October 20, 2008, as to why the Court should not dismiss his Section 1983 claims against

Ms. Jones and Tohler for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

12(b)(6). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 30, 2008 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:07-cv-03054-JSW Document 43 Filed 09/30/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT J. JONES,

Plaintiff,

 v.

NAPA POLICE DEPT. et al,

Defendant.

 /

Case Number: CV07-03054 JSW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S.

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on September 30, 2008, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by

placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter

listed, by depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an

inter-office delivery receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Robert J. Jones

2063 Main St.

Suite 222

Oakley, CA 94561-3302

Dated: September 30, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Jennifer Ottolini, Deputy Clerk

Case 3:07-cv-03054-JSW Document 43 Filed 09/30/08 Page 3 of 3