Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00313/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00313-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALBERT CRUZ, JR.,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-0313 FCD DAD P

vs.

LOU BLANAS, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff, a former inmate of the Sacramento County Jail who is proceeding pro se,

has filed a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has used the form complaint

and in the section for his statement of claim, he writes, “See attached.” However, plaintiff has

failed to attach his statement of claim to the complaint. The court will order plaintiff to file an

amended complaint which properly sets forth his claims and plaintiff must complete all sections

of the form complaint. 

In addition, 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

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 Plaintiff is cautioned that any document filed in this case must contain only the

assigned case file number. A document containing multiple case filing numbers will be

disregarded by the court.

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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. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266,

268 (9th Cir. 1982).

Plaintiff has also filed an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis;

however, the certificate was not signed by an authorized official and no certified copy of the trust

account statement was provided. Therefore, plaintiff will be granted leave to file a new

application. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). 

On February 23, 2005, plaintiff filed a letter requesting the appointment of

counsel. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require

counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court,

490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the

voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d

1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In

the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s

request for the appointment of counsel will therefore be denied.

On October 25, 2005, plaintiff requested copies of his complaint.1 Plaintiff is

informed that if the court determines that plaintiff has stated cognizable claims in his complaint

filed with the court, plaintiff will be ordered to complete and submit certain documents for

service on defendants. At that time the court will provide plaintiff an endorsed copy of the

complaint. Therefore, plaintiff’s request will be denied at this time as premature.

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

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1. Plaintiff’s complaint, filed on February 16, 2005, 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 this case and must be labeled “Amended Complaint”; plaintiff must use

the form complaint provided by the Clerk of the Court; plaintiff must file an original and two

copies of the amended complaint;

2. Within thirty days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall file a

new application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of

Court, and a certified copy of his prison trust account statement for the six month period

immediately preceding the filing of the complaint;

3. Plaintiff’s February 23, 2005 request for the appointment of counsel is denied;

4. Plaintiff’s October 25, 2005 motion for copies of his complaint is denied as

premature;

5. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation

that this action be dismissed; and

6. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff a new Application to

Proceed In Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner, and the court’s form complaint for a § 1983 action.

DATED: October 26, 2005.

DAD:4

cruz0313.14

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