Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-01025/USCOURTS-cand-3_17-cv-01025-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARIA THERESA MARTINEZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

THE CITY OF BRISBANE, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 17-cv-01025-MEJ 

ORDER DIRECTING SERVICE

On February 28, 2017, Plaintiff Maria Theresa Martinez (“Plaintiff”) filed a Complaint and 

an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Compl., Dkt. No. 1; Appl., Dkt. No. 3. The Court 

granted Plaintiff’s Application, and indicated it would screen the Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(e)(2) in a separate order. See Order, Dkt. No. 4. The Court now screens the Complaint.

A federal court must engage in a preliminary screening of any complaint filed by a plaintiff 

proceeding in forma pauperis to ensure the complaint is not frivolous, states a claim, and does not 

seek monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 

Pro se pleadings must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 

699 (9th Cir. 1990). Upon review of Plaintiff’s allegations, the Court finds that, liberally 

construed, Plaintiff has asserted a claim that is not frivolous, states a federal claim, and does not 

seek relief against an immune defendant. The Clerk of Court shall issue the summons, and the 

U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of California shall serve, without prepayment of fees, a 

copy of the Complaint, any amendments or attachments, Plaintiff’s affidavit, and this Order upon 

Defendants.

Case 3:17-cv-01025-WHO Document 5 Filed 03/07/17 Page 1 of 3
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

Attached is a letter providing guidance to additional resources for pro se litigants.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 7, 2017

______________________________________

MARIA-ELENA JAMES

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:17-cv-01025-WHO Document 5 Filed 03/07/17 Page 2 of 3
3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

450 Golden Gate Avenue

 San Francisco, CA 94102

www.cand.uscourts.gov

SUSAN Y. SOONG GENERALCOURT NUMBER

CLERK OF COURT 415-522-2000

To: Pro Se Litigant

Re: Representing Yourself Before This Court

Dear Pro Se Litigant:

If you are representing yourself in federal court without representation by an attorney, 

that is called proceeding “pro se.” The Court has free resources to help you find your way 

through the court system and procedures. You may wish to seek assistance from the Legal Help 

Center, a free service of the Volunteer Legal Services Program, by calling 415-782-8982, or by 

signing up for an appointment on the15th Floor of the Federal Courthouse in San Francisco, 450 

Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California. At the Legal Help Center, you will be able to 

speak with an attorney who may be able to provide basic legal help but not representation. 

More information is available at http://cand.uscourts.gov/helpcentersf. 

There are also online resources available on the court’s webpage. The Pro Se

Handbook, found at http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/prosehandbook, has a downloadable version 

of the court’s own publication: Representing Yourself in Federal Court: A Handbook for Pro 

Se Litigants. Pay special attention to the Civil Litigation Packets tab on the left, which 

provides useful fillable forms. The Pro Se Handbook website also has a link to the Court’s

Electronic Case Filing (ECF) website.

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

Case 3:17-cv-01025-WHO Document 5 Filed 03/07/17 Page 3 of 3