Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03975/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03975-1/pdf.json

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

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN PORTIS,

Plaintiff, 

 v.

Deputy G. ARNOLD; Deputy M.

IBARRA; Deputy K.

HENDRICKSEN; Deputy Sergeant

SHAULL;

Defendants. /

No. C 07-3975 WHA (PR) 

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Plaintiff, a California prisoner proceeding pro se, filed this pro se civil rights complaint

under 42 U.S.C. 1983. After the complaint was dismissed with leave to amend, plaintiff filed a

timely amended complaint. 

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).

Plaintiff filed his amended complaint purportedly on behalf of himself and a “class” of

Case 3:07-cv-03975-WHA Document 10 Filed 01/28/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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other individuals who were inmates at the Santa Rita County Jail with plaintiff at the time of the

incidents complained of in the complaint. Plaintiff seeks class certification and to proceed as a

class action on behalf himself and other inmates, claiming that defendants violated their rights

under the state and federal constitutions. Pro se prisoner plaintiffs may not bring class actions. 

They are not qualified to act as class representatives as they are unable to fairly represent and

adequately protect the interests of the class. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a); Oxendine v. Williams,

509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir. 1975); see also Russell v. United States, 308 F.2d 78, 79 (9th Cir.

1962) (holding that “a litigant appearing in propria persona has no authority to represent anyone

other than himself”). 

Accordingly, this case is DISMISSED without prejudice to plaintiff’s filing a new action

solely on his own behalf. 

The clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 28 , 2010. 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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