Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-04077/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-04077-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GYASI ARMSTRONG,

Plaintiff,

v.

MEGAN J. BRENNAN,

Defendant.

Case No.19-cv-04077-JSC 

SECTION 1915 SCREENING OF 

INITIAL COMPLAINT

Re: Dkt. No. 1

Gyasi Armstrong brings this action against Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General of the 

United States Postal Service, for alleged employment discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Dkt. No. 1.) Having granted Ms. Armstrong’s application to proceed 

in forma pauperis, (see Dkt. No. 4), the Court now screens the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1915 and concludes that the complaint is deficient for the reasons stated below. 

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS

Ms. Armstrong’s “Employment Discrimination Complaint” alleges that she was terminated 

as a United States Postal Service employee because of her race and national origin. (Dkt. No. 1 at 

¶¶ 4-5.) The form complaint itself includes no factual allegations and instead references two 

attachments: (1) “Other acts Attachment”; and (2) “Basic Facts of Discrimination Attachment.” 

(See id. at ¶¶ 4(d), 6.) However, neither attachment is included with the complaint or otherwise 

filed on the docket. 

LEGAL STANDARD

The Court has a continuing duty to dismiss any case in which a party is proceeding in 

forma pauperis upon a determination that the case is: (1) frivolous or malicious; (2) fails to state a 

claim on which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is 

immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The standard of review under 28 U.S.C. § 

Case 3:19-cv-04077-JSC Document 5 Filed 08/02/19 Page 1 of 4
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

1915(e)(2) mirrors that of Rule 12(b)(6). Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012) 

(citing Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000)). Thus, the complaint must allege 

“enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 

550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A facial plausibility standard is not a “probability requirement” but 

mandates “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 

556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). To avoid dismissal, a 

complaint must contain more than “naked assertion[s],” “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic 

recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555-57. “A claim has facial 

plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable 

inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. 

When a plaintiff files a complaint without an attorney, the Court must “construe the 

pleadings liberally . . . to afford the petitioner the benefit of any doubt.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 

338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Upon dismissal, selfrepresented plaintiffs proceeding in forma pauperis must be given leave to “to amend their 

complaint unless it is absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be cured by 

amendment.” Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 n.9 (9th Cir. 1984) (internal quotation 

marks and citation omitted).

DISCUSSION

Because the complaint includes no factual allegations and instead references missing 

attachments purporting to contain those allegations, the Court cannot discern a plausible claim for 

relief. In the absence of any allegations, Ms. Armstrong’s complaint fails. 

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, Ms. Armstrong’s complaint fails section 1915 review. Ms. 

Armstrong may file an amended complaint within 30 days; her amended complaint must identify 

her claims and include a plain statement of facts in support. The Court encourages Ms. Armstrong

to seek free assistance from the Northern District’s Legal Help Center, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 

15th Floor, Room 2796, San Francisco, CA 94102. Ms. Armstrong can make an appointment in 

person or by calling (415) 792-8982.

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 2, 2019

JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY

United States Magistrate Judge

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GYASI ARMSTRONG,

Plaintiff,

v.

MEGAN J. BRENNAN,

Defendant.

Case No. 19-cv-04077-JSC 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on August 2, 2019, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing 

said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Gyasi Armstrong

5142 Duluth Court

Denverr, CO 80239 

Dated: August 2, 2019

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

Ada Means, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY

Case 3:19-cv-04077-JSC Document 5 Filed 08/02/19 Page 4 of 4