Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-02162/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-02162-3/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ONIS CARRABINE POTTER,

Plaintiff,

v.

MAROUN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:23-cv-02162-JDP (PC)

ORDER 

GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND 

DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO 

RANDOMLY ASSIGN A DISTRICT 

JUDGE TO THIS MATTER

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

THAT PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED 

COMPLAINT BE DISMISSED WITHOUT 

LEAVE TO AMEND FOR FAILURE TO 

STATE A CLAIM

ECF No. 5

OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN 

DAYS

Plaintiff, a county inmate, brings this § 1983 action against the California Office of 

Attorney General, the Central California Appellate Program, Sacramento County Superior Court, 

the State of Idaho, and an individual named Jan Bennet. ECF No. 5. The complaint is 

completely devoid of factual allegations, and plaintiff has failed to cure the deficiencies discussed

in the court’s prior screening order. Accordingly, I will recommend that this action be dismissed 

for failure to state a claim. 

Case 2:23-cv-02162-KJM-JDP Document 8 Filed 01/17/24 Page 1 of 4
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Screening and Pleading Requirements

A federal court must screen the complaint of any claimant seeking permission to proceed 

in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). The court must identify any cognizable claims and 

dismiss any portion of the complaint that is frivolous or malicious, 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. 

A complaint must contain a short and plain statement that plaintiff is entitled to relief, 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), and provide “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its 

face,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The plausibility standard does not 

require detailed allegations, but legal conclusions do not suffice. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 

662, 678 (2009). If the allegations “do not permit the court to infer more than the mere 

possibility of misconduct,” the complaint states no claim. Id. at 679. The complaint need not 

identify “a precise legal theory.” Kobold v. Good Samaritan Reg’l Med. Ctr., 832 F.3d 1024, 

1038 (9th Cir. 2016). Instead, what plaintiff must state is a “claim”—a set of “allegations that

give rise to an enforceable right to relief.” Nagrampa v. MailCoups, Inc., 469 F.3d 1257, 1264 

n.2 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc) (citations omitted). 

The court must construe a pro se litigant’s complaint liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 

U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (per curiam). The court may dismiss a pro se litigant’s complaint “if it 

appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which 

would entitle him to relief.” Hayes v. Idaho Corr. Ctr., 849 F.3d 1204, 1208 (9th Cir. 2017). 

However, “‘a liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements 

of the claim that were not initially pled.’” Bruns v. Nat’l Credit Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 

1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982)).

Analysis

The amended complaint contains no factual allegations and consists largely of statements 

of sovereign-citizen ideological principles. See ECF No. 5. For example, plaintiff states, “I am 

not a territorial United States citizen nor a municipal citizen of the United States. I am a living 

woman, standing peacefully in honor on the land and soil jurisdiction.” Id. at 2-3. 

Case 2:23-cv-02162-KJM-JDP Document 8 Filed 01/17/24 Page 2 of 4
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As discussed in the court’s prior screening order, courts have continually and categorically 

rejected as frivolous claims based on sovereign citizen theories. See United States v. Ward, 182 

F.3d 930 (9th Cir. 1999) (noting that contentions based on sovereign citizen arguments are 

“frivolous” and that “courts ordinarily reject similar contentions without extended argument”). 

The allegations fail to identify any actions taken by any defendant that could support a claim for 

relief. See Jones v. Cmty. Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984) (“The plaintiff must 

allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts which defendants engaged in that 

support the plaintiff’s claim.”). 

As the amended complaint did not cure the prior deficiencies, and it contains no factual

basis or allegations of wrongdoing, I find that the complaint should be dismissed without leave to 

amend for failure to state a claim. See Schucker v. Rockwood, 846 F.2d 1202, 1203-04 (9th Cir. 

1988) (per curiam) (“Dismissal of a pro se complaint without leave to amend is proper only if it is

absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be cured by amendment.”) 

(internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is directed to assign a district judge 

to this action.

Further, it is RECOMMENDED that this action be dismissed without leave to amend.

I submit these findings and recommendations to the district judge under 28 U.S.C.

§ 636(b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court,

Eastern District of California. Within 14 days of the service of the findings and

recommendations, any party may file written objections to the findings and recommendations

with the court and serve a copy on all parties. That document should be captioned “Objections to

Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The district judge will review the findings

and recommendations under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). Failure to file objections within the

specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. See Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d

834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014).

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 17, 2024 

JEREMY D. PETERSON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:23-cv-02162-KJM-JDP Document 8 Filed 01/17/24 Page 4 of 4