Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03266/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03266-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES PHILLIPS,

Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-09-3266 DAD P

vs.

L. FISHERMAN et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

On November 20, 2009, defendants Fisherman, James, Turner, Gallo, and Bick

removed this action from state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441. Defendants have filed a

motion, asking the court to screen plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and

asking the court for ninety days from the date of the court’s screening order to file a response to

the complaint. Defendants have also paid the filing fee for this action. 

REMOVAL

Title 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) provides that:

any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts

of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by

the defendant or the defendants, to the district court of the United

States for the district and division embracing the place where such

action is pending.

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Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. In his complaint, he alleges that the

defendants have violated his right to receive adequate medical care as guaranteed by the Eighth

Amendment. Because plaintiff alleges a violation of his federal constitutional rights, defendants

have properly removed this action from state court. 

SCREENING REQUIREMENT

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised

claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28

U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) & (2).

A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 

Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28

(9th Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an

indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke,

490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully

pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th

Cir. 1989); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227.

Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and

plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the

defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic

Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47

(1957)). However, in order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must

contain more than “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain

factual allegations sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic,

550 U.S. at 555. In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the

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allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S.

738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all

doubts in the plaintiff’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969).

The Civil Rights Act under which this action was filed provides as follows:

Every person who, under color of [state law] . . . subjects, or causes

to be subjected, any citizen of the United States . . . to the

deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the

Constitution . . . shall be liable to the party injured in an action at

law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress. 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute requires that there be an actual connection or link between the

actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by plaintiff. See

Monell v. Department of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362

(1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the

meaning of § 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts or

omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which

complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).

Moreover, supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the

actions of their employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, therefore, when a named

defendant holds a supervisorial position, the causal link between him and the claimed

constitutional violation must be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862

(9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and conclusory

allegations concerning the involvement of official personnel in civil rights violations are not

sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT

In the present case, plaintiff has identified Dr. Fisherman, Dr. James, Dr. Turner,

Dr. Gallo, Dr. Bick, and “Employees of California Medical Facility” as the defendants in this

action. Plaintiff’s complaint is made up of vague allegations and is difficult to decipher. 

However, plaintiff appears to allege that the defendants transferred him from the Correctional

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Clinical Case Management System (“CCCMS”) to the Enhanced Outpatient Program (“EOP”)

because they believe he suffers from delusions. Plaintiff maintains that he does not suffer from

delusions but rather suffers from insomnia. Plaintiff alleges that the defendants eventually

returned him to CCCMS and the general population. However, plaintiff also alleges that his

insomnia has worsened since returning to CCCMS because he now lives in a noisy twelve-man

dormitory. Plaintiff alleges that he has informed the defendants of his insomnia and has asked

them to prescribe him certain medication and to admit him to a hospital or return him to the EOP

based on his medical condition, but they have denied his requests. Plaintiff claims that the

defendants have violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment and various state regulations. 

In terms of relief, plaintiff requests monetary damages. (Compl. at 1-2 & Attach.)

DISCUSSION

The allegations in plaintiff’s complaint are so vague and conclusory that the court

is unable to determine whether the current action is frivolous or fails to state a claim for relief. 

The complaint does not contain a short and plain statement as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). 

Although the Federal Rules adopt a flexible pleading policy, a complaint must give fair notice to

the defendants and must allege facts that support the elements of the claim plainly and succinctly. 

Jones v. Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Plaintiff must allege

with at least some degree of particularity overt acts which each defendant engaged in that support

his claims. Id. Because plaintiff has failed to comply with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P.

8(a)(2), the complaint must be dismissed. The court will, however, grant leave to file an

amended complaint. 

In any amended complaint, plaintiff must allege facts demonstrating how the

conditions complained of resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s federal constitutional or statutory

rights. See Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). In addition, plaintiff must allege in

specific terms how each named defendant was involved in the deprivation of his rights. There

can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or connection

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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). Vague and conclusory allegations of official participation in civil rights

violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

 If plaintiff elects to pursue this action by filing an amended complaint, he is

advised that all defendants must be identified in the caption of his pleading and that all

defendants must be named, with position and place of employment, in the section of the form

designated for that purpose. In his original complaint, plaintiff names “Employees of California

Medical Facility” as a defendant. Plaintiff is advised that “Employees of California Medical

Facility” is not a proper defendant. Plaintiff is further advised that the court cannot order

additional service of any defendants not actually identified by name in his amended complaint.

Plaintiff is also advised of the following legal standards that appear to govern the

claims he is attempting to present. First, in Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976), the

Supreme Court held that inadequate medical care did not constitute cruel and unusual

punishment cognizable under § 1983 unless the mistreatment rose to the level of “deliberate

indifference to serious medical needs.” In applying this standard, the Ninth Circuit has held that

before it can be said that a prisoner’s civil rights have been abridged, “the indifference to his

medical needs must be substantial. Mere ‘indifference,’ ‘negligence,’ or ‘medical malpractice’

will not support this cause of action.” Broughton v. Cutter Lab., 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir.

1980) (citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06). 

In his original complaint, plaintiff alleges that he disagrees with defendants’

decision to keep him in CCCMS and the general population. He likewise disagrees with

defendants’ decision not to prescribe him certain medication for his insomnia. Plaintiff is

cautioned that such mere differences of opinion between a prisoner and prison medical staff as to

the proper course of treatment for a medical condition do not give rise to a § 1983 claim. See

Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1058 (9th Cir. 2004); Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332

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(9th Cir. 1996); Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin v. Oregon, 662

F.2d 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981). In any amended complaint, plaintiff must allege facts

demonstrating how the defendants’ actions rose to the level of “deliberate indifference.” In this

regard, plaintiff must allege in specific terms how each defendant was involved in the denial of

his medical care. 

Insofar as plaintiff has attempted to assert a claim against defendants under

various state regulations, he is advised that he fails to state a cognizable claim for relief. Section

1983 provides a cause of action only for violations of the United States Constitution and federal

laws. See Sweaney v. Ada County, Idaho, 119 F.3d 1385, 1391 (9th Cir. 1997). “To the extent

that the violation of a state law amounts to the deprivation of a state-created interest that reaches

beyond that guaranteed by the federal Constitution, Section 1983 offers no redress.” Id. 

Plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to

make plaintiff’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 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.

OTHER MATTERS

Plaintiff has filed what appears to be a motion for judicial notice of his opposition

to defendants’ notice of removal filed in the Solano County Superior Court. Plaintiff has also

filed a copy of his opposition in this case. Since plaintiff’s opposition to defendants’ notice of

removal is now a part of the record in this case, the court will deny plaintiff’s motion for judicial

notice as unnecessary. 

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CONCLUSION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed.

2. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an

amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the amended complaint must bear the

docket number assigned to this case and must be labeled “Amended Complaint”; failure to file an

amended complaint in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that this action

be dismissed without prejudice.

3. Defendants’ motion to screen plaintiff’s complaint (Doc. No. 4) is granted.

4. Defendants’ request for a ninety-day extension of time to file a response to

plaintiff’s complaint (Doc. No. 4) is denied as unnecessary. In the event that plaintiff files an

amended complaint and the court determines that it states a cognizable claim for relief, the court

will direct the defendants at that time to file an appropriate response.

5. Plaintiff’s motion for judicial notice (Doc. No. 8) is denied as unnecessary. 

6. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the court’s form for filing a

civil rights action.

DATED: February 18, 2010.

DAD:9

phil3266.14

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