Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00187/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00187-0/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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 The filing fee is now $350.00. The present action was filed prior to April 10, 2006, the 1

effective date of the new filing fee amount.

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES T. FREELAND,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-06-0187 LKK DAD P

vs.

SACRAMENTO CITY POLICE

DEPARTMENT, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. Plaintiff seeks relief under 42

U.S.C. § 1983 and has requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915. This proceeding was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge in accordance with

Local Rule 72-302 and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 

Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis application makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(a). Accordingly, plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis will be

granted.

Plaintiff is required by statute to pay the $250.00 filing fee in installments when

funds are available. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a) & 1915(b)(1). An initial partial filing fee of 1

Case 2:06-cv-00187-DAD Document 4 Filed 04/26/06 Page 1 of 5
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$1.63 will be assessed by this order. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court

will direct the appropriate agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s prison

trust account and forward it to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated to

make monthly payments of twenty percent of the preceding month’s income credited to his

prison trust account. These payments will be collected and forwarded by the appropriate agency

to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the

filing fee is paid in full. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

Plaintiff is currently confined in a state prison in Kern County. He alleges claims

arising from his arrest and confinement in Sacramento County in 2005. Plaintiff identifies the

defendants as the Sacramento City Police Department, Sacramento Police Officer Does 1-4, the

Chief of Police, the City of Sacramento, the County of Sacramento, the Sacramento Sheriff’s

Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff, Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Does 1-10, the

Sacramento County Main Jail, the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, the Chief Medical Officer,

Nurse/MTA Does 1-10, Doctor Does 1-2, and California Department of Corrections Parole

Officer Does 1-2.

District courts are required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking

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

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, claims that

fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, and claims that seek monetary relief from

a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) and (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 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);

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Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those

drafted by lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972).

A claim should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted unless it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts that would

entitle him to relief on that claim. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Palmer v.

Roosevelt Lake Log Owners Ass’n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a

complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint. See

Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976). The court must also

construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and resolve doubts in the

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

Plaintiff’s complaint, liberally construed appears to state cognizable claims for

relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). However, the defendants

identified by fictitious names cannot be served with process. If plaintiff discovers the name of

any such defendant, he must promptly seek leave to amend his complaint to name the defendant. 

At this time, the court will authorize of the complaint on the City of Sacramento, the County of

Sacramento, Sacramento City Police Chief Albert Najera, Sacramento County Sheriff Lou

Blanas, and the Chief Medical Officer of the Sacramento County Main Jail. If the allegations of

the complaint are proven, plaintiff has a reasonable opportunity to prevail on the merits of this

action.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s January 27, 2006 application to proceed in forma pauperis is

granted.

2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $250.00 for this action. 

Plaintiff is assessed an initial partial filing fee of $1.63. All fees shall be collected and paid in

accordance with this court’s order to the Director of the California Department of Corrections

and Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith.

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3. Service is appropriate for defendants City of Sacramento, County of

Sacramento, Sacramento City Police Chief Albert Najera, Sacramento County Sheriff Lou

Blanas, and the Chief Medical Officer of the Sacramento County Main Jail.

4. The Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff five USM-285 forms, one summons,

an instruction sheet, and a copy of the complaint filed January 27, 2006.

5. Within thirty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete the

attached Notice of Submission of Documents and submit all of the following documents to the

court at the same time:

a. The completed Notice of Submission of Documents;

b. One completed summons;

c. One completed USM-285 form for each defendant listed in number 3

above; and

d. Six copies of the endorsed complaint filed January 27, 2006. 

6. Plaintiff shall not attempt service of a complaint and summons on any

defendant or request a waiver of service of summons. Upon receipt of the above-described

documents, the court will direct the United States Marshal to serve the above-named defendants

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 without payment of costs.

DATED: April 25, 2006.

DAD:13

free0187.1

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES T. FREELAND,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-06-0187 LKK DAD P 

vs.

SACRAMENTO CITY POLICE

DEPARTMENT, et al., NOTICE OF SUBMISSION

Defendants. OF DOCUMENTS

 /

Plaintiff hereby submits the following documents in compliance with the court’s

order filed :

 one completed summons form;

 five completed USM-285 forms; and

 six true and exact copies of the complaint filed January 27, 2006.

DATED: .

 

Plaintiff

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