Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03975/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03975-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

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

JOHN PORTIS,

Plaintiff, 

 v.

Deputy G. ARNOLD, 

Defendant. /

No. C 07-3975 WHA (PR) 

DISMISSAL WITH LEAVE TO

AMEND

Plaintiff, an inmate of Pleasant Valley State Prison, has filed a pro se civil rights

complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff also requests leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

DISCUSSION

A. 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). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and dismiss any claims

which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek

monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. Id. at 1915A(b)(1),(2). 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 essential elements: 

(1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2)

Case 3:07-cv-03975-WHA Document 3 Filed 08/14/07 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

that the violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v. Atkins,

487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 

B. Legal claims

Plaintiff’s “Statement of Claim” reads in its entirety: “Expectations without verbal or

written communication was sited i[n] the deputies[’] written report. I was ‘expected’ to return

to my cell. However, I stopped to get a cup of water, prior. [¶] Accusations of using profanity

without validation. Since my arrival at the Santa Rito facility[,] the defendant has made it a

point & verbally stated he was instigating confrontation with me. The defendant has verbally

and physically abused me, which also has caused mental stress.”

The first paragraph does not contain an allegation that anyone – the defendant or anyone

else – actually did anything to plaintiff, so does not allege the violation of a constitutional right.

The second paragraph contains an assertion that defendant “verbally and physically

abused me,” but this is conclusory and thus not sufficient to state a claim. See Bell Atlantic

Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1965 (2007) (to state a claim complaint must contain more

than “conclusions.”). The complaint will be dismissed with leave to amend. 

In amending, plaintiff should bear in mind that while physical abuse, at least when it

amounts to excessive force, is actionable, Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 319 (1986), verbal

abuse does not violate a constitutional right, Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 738 (9th Cir.

1997), and prisoners cannot obtain damages for “mental stress,” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e). He

should also note that while a complaint “does not need detailed factual allegations, . . . a

plaintiff's obligation to provide the 'grounds of his 'entitle[ment] to relief' requires more than

labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not

do. . . . Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative

level.” See Bell Atlantic Corp., 127 S. Ct. at 1964-65. Plaintiff must "proffer enough facts to

state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 1986-87.

CONCLUSION

1. The complaint is DISMISSED with leave to amend, as indicated above, within thirty

days from the date of this order. The amended complaint must include the caption and civil

Case 3:07-cv-03975-WHA Document 3 Filed 08/14/07 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

3

case number used in this order and the words AMENDED COMPLAINT on the first page. 

Because an amended complaint completely replaces the original complaint, plaintiff must

include in it all the claims he wishes to present. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262

(9th Cir. 1992). He may not incorporate material from the original complaint by reference. 

Failure to amend within the designated time will result in the dismissal of these claims.

2. It is the plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the court

informed of any change of address by filing with the clerk a separate paper headed “Notice of

Change of Address.” Papers intended to be filed in this case should be addressed to the clerk

and not to the undersigned. Petitioner also must comply with the Court's orders in a timely

fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 12 , 2007. 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

G:\PRO-SE\WHA\CR.07\PORTIS975.DWLTA.wpd 

Case 3:07-cv-03975-WHA Document 3 Filed 08/14/07 Page 3 of 3