Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00839/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00839-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 560
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Civil Detainee - Conditions of Confinement
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SCOTT EMERSON FELIX,

Plaintiff,

v.

STEPHANIE CLANDENIN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00839-KES-BAM (PC)

ORDER VACATING FINDINGS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISMISS 

ACTION, WITH PREJUDICE, FOR FAILURE 

TO STATE A CLAIM, FAILURE TO OBEY 

COURT ORDER, AND FAILURE TO 

PROSECUTE

(ECF No. 22)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST 

FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(ECF No. 24)

ORDER GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME

(ECF No. 24)

THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff Scott Emerson Felix (“Plaintiff”) is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in 

forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Individuals detained 

pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code § 6600 et seq. are civil detainees and are not 

prisoners within the meaning of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. Page v. Torrey, 201 F.3d 

1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2000).

I. Procedural Background

On June 14, 2024, the Court issued a screening order granting Plaintiff leave to file a first 

amended complaint or a notice of voluntary dismissal within thirty (30) days. (ECF No. 21.) The 

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Court expressly warned Plaintiff that the failure to comply with the Court’s order would result in 

a recommendation for dismissal of this action, with prejudice. (Id. at 10.) Following Plaintiff’s 

failure to file an amended complaint or otherwise communicate with the Court, on July 31, 2024, 

the Court issued findings and recommendations to dismiss this action, with prejudice, for failure 

to state a claim, failure to obey a court order, and failure to prosecute. (ECF No. 22.) Plaintiff 

was directed to file any objections to the findings and recommendations within fourteen (14) 

days. (Id.)

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for a ninety-day continuance.1 (ECF No. 

24.) Plaintiff states that he requires a ninety-day extension of time to receive specific medical and 

legal documents to submit to the Court in response to the June 13, 20242screening order, to cure 

the deficiencies in the complaint. Plaintiff further requests immediate appointment of counsel. 

The motion is signed and dated July 1, 2024, and includes a proof of service indicating it was 

mailed on July 1, 2024. (Id.)

II. Request for Appointment of Counsel

With respect to Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel, Plaintiff is reminded that he 

does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 

F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), rev’d in part on other grounds, 154 F.3d 952, 954 n.1 (9th Cir. 

1998), and the court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court for the S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). 

However, in certain exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of 

counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the Court will seek 

volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether 

“exceptional circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success on 

1 Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration as to temporary restraining order was also received on August 2, 2024. (ECF 

No. 23.) To the extent Plaintiff seeks reconsideration of the District Judge’s June 10, 2024 order adopting the 

findings and recommendation that Plaintiff’s emergency motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary 

injunction be denied, (ECF No. 20), through his motion for reconsideration or in the instant motion for extension of 

time, those arguments will be addressed by separate order from the District Judge.

2 The screening order was signed on June 13, 2024 and docketed on June 14, 2024. (ECF No. 21.)

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the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the 

complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 

The Court has considered Plaintiff’s request, but does not find the required exceptional 

circumstances. Even if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has 

made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. 

This Court is faced with similar cases filed by prisoners and civil detainees who are proceeding 

pro se in cases which they find complex and exceptional almost daily. These litigants also must 

litigate their cases without the assistance of counsel.

Furthermore, at this stage in the proceedings, the Court cannot make a determination that 

Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits. The complaint has been screened and found not to 

state a cognizable claim, and no defendants have appeared. There is no indication that the 

Plaintiff is likely to succeed on his constitutional claims. Finally, based on a review of the record 

in this case, the Court finds that Plaintiff can adequately articulate his claims.

III. Motion for Extension of Time

Having considered Plaintiff’s motion, it appears that after receiving the Court’s June 14, 

2024 screening order, Plaintiff mailed his request for extension of the deadline to file an amended 

complaint on July 1, 2024. However, the motion was not received until August 2, 2024, after the 

Court issued the July 31, 2024 findings and recommendations to dismiss this action due to 

Plaintiff’s failure to file an amended complaint. Accordingly, the Court finds it appropriate to 

vacate the pending findings and recommendations. Plaintiff’s motion for extension of time to file 

a first amended complaint is granted in part. Under the circumstances, and considering the 

amount of time that has already passed since the filing of Plaintiff’s motion, the Court finds that 

an extension of thirty days, rather than ninety, is appropriate.

Plaintiff’s amended complaint should be brief, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), but it must state what 

each named defendant did that led to the deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, Iqbal, 556 

U.S. at 678-79. Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to raise 

a right to relief above the speculative level . . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). 

Plaintiff’s amended complaint may not exceed twenty-five (25) pages, exclusive of exhibits.

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Additionally, Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated 

claims in his first amended complaint. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no 

“buckshot” complaints). 

Finally, Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. 

Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 F.3d 896, 927 (9th Cir. 2012). Therefore, Plaintiff’s amended 

complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading.” 

Local Rule 220.

IV. Order

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The findings and recommendations issued on July 31, 2024, (ECF No. 22), are 

VACATED;

2. Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel, (ECF No. 24), is DENIED, without 

prejudice;

3. Plaintiff’s motion for extension of time, (ECF No. 24), is GRANTED IN PART;

4. The Clerk’s Office shall send Plaintiff a complaint form;

5. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a first

amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court’s June 14, 2024

screening order (or file a notice of voluntary dismissal);

6. Any amended complaint shall be limited to 25 pages in length, excluding exhibits; and

7. If Plaintiff fails to file a first amended complaint in compliance with this order, this 

action will be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to obey a court order and failure 

to state a claim.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 6, 2024 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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