Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02275/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02275-3/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANTHONY STARKES, 

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-2275 DFL GGH P

vs.

DR. HAILE, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 1983. On April 6, 2006, defendants Haile and Francisca filed an answer to the

complaint. On April 11, 2006, defendant Kofoed filed a motion to dismiss. 

On May 8, 2006, plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint. 

On May 26, 2006, defendants filed a statement of non-opposition to plaintiff’s motion to amend. 

Defendants state that it is unclear whether the document filed May 8, 2006, is intended to be an

amended complaint. Defendants state that if plaintiff files a document labeled “amended

complaint” they will file a response. On July 5, 2006, plaintiff filed an opposition to defendant’s

motion to dismiss. 

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Case 2:05-cv-02275-JAM-GGH Document 32 Filed 07/06/06 Page 1 of 3
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After reviewing plaintiff’s May 8, 2006, motion for leave to amend, it is unclear

whether plaintiff intended this document to be an amended complaint. Accordingly, plaintiff is

granted thirty days from the date of this order to file an amended complaint. If plaintiff does not 

file an amended complaint, the court will deem defendant Kofoed’s motion to dismiss submitted

for decision.

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate 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). Also, the 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. 362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir.

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

allegations of official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board

of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

In addition, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in

order to make plaintiff’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an

amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is

because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v.

Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original

pleading 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.

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Case 2:05-cv-02275-JAM-GGH Document 32 Filed 07/06/06 Page 2 of 3
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s May 8, 2006, motion to

amend is granted; plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of this order to file an amended

complaint; defendants’ response is due thirty days thereafter; if plaintiff does not file an amended

complaint within that time, the court will deem defendant Kofoed’s April 11, 2006, motion to

dismiss submitted for decision.

DATED: 7/6/06

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:bb

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