Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01882/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01882-2/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

LONNIE WILLIAMS, 1:09-cv-01882-LJO-GSA-PC

Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO

AMEND COMPLAINT

vs. (Doc. 10.)

EDWARD S. ALAMEIDA, JR., et al., THIRTY DAY DEADLINE TO FILE

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Defendants.

 /

Lonnie Williams ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with

this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the original complaint on

October 27, 2009. (Doc. 1.) On November 16, 2009, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint. (Doc.

5.) On March 1, 2010, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to amend the complaint to add additional

defendants. (Doc. 10.) 

Rule 15 -- Motion to Amend

Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may amend the party’s

pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served. Otherwise, a

party may amend only by leave of the court or by written consent of the adverse party, and leave

shall be freely given when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Because Plaintiff has already

amended the complaint once, Plaintiff's pending motion to amend must be granted by the court

before he can file a Second Amended Complaint.

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“Rule 15(a) is very liberal and leave to amend ‘shall be freely given when justice so

requires.’” AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysis West, Inc., 445 F.3d 1132, 1136 (9th Cir. 2006)

(quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)). However, courts “need not grant leave to amend where the

amendment: (1) prejudices the opposing party; (2) is sought in bad faith; (3) produces an undue

delay in the litigation; or (4) is futile.” Id. The factor of “‘[u]ndue delay by itself . . . is insufficient

to justify denying a motion to amend.’” Owens v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d

708, 712,13 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting Bowles v. Reade, 198 F.3d 752, 757-58 (9th Cir. 1999)). 

Here, Plaintiff's case has been pending since October 27, 2009. The delay in litigation will

be further extended if Plaintiff is given leave to amend. However, given that the complaint has not

been served, and no other party has appeared in the action, amending the complaint will not

prejudice the opposing party. Plaintiff seeks leave to add defendants. Good faith appearing, the

court finds that in the interest of justice, plaintiff's motion to amend the complaint shall be granted.

Plaintiff should note that although he has been given the opportunity to amend, it is not for

the purposes of adding new defendants relating to issues arising after October 27, 2009. In addition,

Plaintiff should take care to include only those claims that have been exhausted prior to the initiation

of this suit on October 27, 2009. Moreover, Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by

adding new, unrelated claims in his amended complaint. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th

Cir. 2007) (no “buckshot” complaints).

Finally, Plaintiff is advised that Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended complaint be

complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. As a general rule, an amended complaint

supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once an

amended complaint is filed, the original complaint 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. The Second Amended Complaint should be clearly and

boldly titled “Second Amended Complaint,” refer to the appropriate case number, and be an original

signed under penalty of perjury. 

///

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Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff's motion to amend the complaint is GRANTED;

2. The Clerk of the Court shall send one civil rights complaint form to Plaintiff;

3. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a

Second Amended Complaint;

4. The Second Amended Complaint shall be clearly and boldly titled “Second Amended

Complaint,” refer to case number 1:09-cv-01882-LJO-GSA-PC, and be an original

signed under penalty of perjury; and

5. Plaintiff is warned that his failure to comply with this order will result in a

recommendation that this action be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: April 30, 2010 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

6i0kij UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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