Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01021/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01021-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES ARTHUR MOOREHEAD,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

MAGDY MAKSY, M.D., et al.,

 Defendants.

1:14-cv-01021-GSA-PC

ORDER INFORMING PLAINTIFF HE 

HAS LEAVE TO AMEND THE 

COMPLAINT ONCE AS A MATTER OF 

COURSE

(Doc. 6 resolved.)

ORDER STRIKING AMENDMENT TO

COMPLAINT, FOR VIOLATION OF

LOCAL RULES 131 AND 220

(Doc. 7.)

ORDER FOR CLERK TO SEND 

COMPLAINT FORM TO PLAINTIFF

THIRTY DAY DEADLINE TO FILE 

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT

COMPLETE IN ITSELF AND BEARING 

PLAINTIFF’S SIGNATURE

I. BACKGROUND

James Arthur Moorehead (“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 Complaint 

commencing this action on June 30, 2014. (Doc. 1.) 

On July 14, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to amend the Complaint and 

submitted an Amendment to the Complaint. (Docs. 6, 7.)

Case 1:14-cv-01021-GSA Document 8 Filed 07/17/14 Page 1 of 4
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II. LEAVE TO AMEND -- FEDERAL RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 15(a) 

Plaintiff seeks leave to amend the Complaint to identify two Doe Defendants by name. 

Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rule 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). Here, 

because Plaintiff has not previously amended the complaint and no responsive pleading has 

been served in this action, Plaintiff has leave to file an amended complaint as a matter of 

course. However, as discussed below, the Amendment submitted by Plaintiff on July 14, 2014,

violates Local Rules 131 and 220. 

III. LOCAL RULES 131 AND 220

Plaintiff’s Amendment to the Complaint violates Local Rules 131 and 220 and therefore 

shall be stricken from the record, with leave to amend.

Local Rule 131 provides that all filings submitted to the court must bear the signature of 

the filing party. Local Rule 131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). Plaintiff’s Amendment to the 

Complaint lacks Plaintiff’s signature and therefore violates Local Rule 131. 

Local Rule 220 provides, in part:

Unless prior approval to the contrary is obtained from the Court, every 

pleading to which an amendment or supplement is permitted as a matter of right 

or has been allowed by court order shall be retyped and filed so that it is 

complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading. No 

pleading shall be deemed amended or supplemented until this Rule has been 

complied with. All changed pleadings shall contain copies of all exhibits 

referred to in the changed pleading.

Plaintiff’s Amendment to the Complaint consists of four pages merely listing all of the 

defendants. Plaintiff may not amend the Complaint in this manner. Under Rule 220, Plaintiff 

may not amend the Complaint by adding information piecemeal after the Complaint has been 

filed. To add information or correct an error in the Complaint, Plaintiff must file a First 

Amended Complaint which is complete within itself. Therefore, Plaintiff’s Amendment to the 

Complaint violates Local Rule 220 and shall be stricken from the record, with leave to file a 

First Amended Complaint.

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IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s Amendment to the Complaint filed on July 14, 2014, 

shall be stricken from the record for violation of Local Rules 131 and 220, with leave to amend. 

Plaintiff shall be granted thirty days in which to file a First Amended Complaint complete in 

itself, without reference to any prior pleading, and bearing Plaintiff’s signature.

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. In an amended complaint, as in an original 

complaint, each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 

Plaintiff is informed he must demonstrate in his amended complaint how the conditions 

complained of have resulted in a deprivation of Plaintiff=s constitutional rights. See Ellis v. 

Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). The amended complaint must allege in specific terms 

how each named defendant is involved. There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. ' 1983 

unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant=s actions and the 

claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 36 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 

(9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 

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

purpose of adding allegations of events occurring after June 30, 2014. 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). Also, Plaintiff should 

take care to include only those claims that have been exhausted prior to the initiation of this suit 

on June 30, 2014.

The First Amended Complaint should be clearly and boldly titled AFirst Amended 

Complaint,@ refer to the appropriate case number, and be an original signed under penalty of 

perjury.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff is informed that he has leave to amend the Complaint once as a matter 

of course;

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2. This order resolves Plaintiff's motion to amend the complaint, filed on July 14, 

2014;

3. Plaintiff's Amendment to the Complaint, filed on July 14, 2014, is STRICKEN 

from the court’s record for violation of Local Rules 131 and 220, with leave to 

amend;

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

First Amended Complaint complete in itself and bearing Plaintiff’s signature, 

using the court=s form;

5. The First Amended Complaint should be clearly and boldly titled AFirst 

Amended Complaint,@ refer to case number 1:14-cv-01021-GSA-PC, and be an 

original signed under penalty of perjury;

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

and

7. Plaintiff is warned that the failure to comply with this order will result in the 

dismissal of this action for failure to obey a court order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 17, 2014 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01021-GSA Document 8 Filed 07/17/14 Page 4 of 4