Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02478/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02478-2/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

STEVEN GALLOW,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-2478 JAM JFM P

vs.

THE BRANCH MEDICAL STAFF,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a county jail inmate proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a

civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. By order filed May 30, 2008, plaintiff's

complaint was dismissed with leave to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff has now filed an

amended complaint.

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised

claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28

U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). 

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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, therefore, 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); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227.

A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set

of facts in support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. Hishon v. King &

Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957)); 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 in

question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the

pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor,

Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 

Plaintiff claims that his constitutional rights were violated by, inter alia, improper

administration of necessary insulin shots and improper housing with an inmate who had

tuberculosis. Plaintiff’s allegations may be sufficient to state cognizable claims for relief in this

§ 1983 action. However, as with his original complaint plaintiff has named “The Branch

Medical Staff,” as a defendant in this action, as well as “all nurses working M-H-U” and Dr.

Shmidt. As plaintiff was advised in this court’s May 30, 2008 order, in order to proceed with

this action, plaintiff must identify as a defendant one or more individuals whose acts or

omissions caused or contributed to the alleged constitutional violations. In addition, plaintiff

must specify what each named defendant did or failed to do that contributed to the alleged

constitutional violations. Neither “Branch Medi. Staff” nor “all nurses working M-H-U” satisfy

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these requirements. With respect to Dr. Shmidt, the amended complaint contains no allegations

of any act or omission by this defendant. For these reasons, plaintiff’s amended complaint will

be dismissed and plaintiff will be given an opportunity to file a second amended complaint. 

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, 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 second amended complaint must name

specific defendants in both the caption and in section III of the form complaint to be provided

with this order. Plaintiff must allege in specific terms how each named defendant was involved

in the alleged violation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights. 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 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).

In addition, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in

order to make plaintiff’s second amended complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that a

second amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is

because, as a general rule, any amended complaint supersedes prior complaints. See Loux v.

Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once plaintiff files a second amended complaint, prior

pleadings no longer serve any function in the case. Therefore, in a second amended complaint, as

in prior complaints, each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently

alleged. 

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

1. Plaintiff’s amended complaint is dismissed. 

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

attached Notice of Amendment and submit the following documents to the court:

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a. The completed Notice of Amendment; and

b. An original and one copy of the Second Amended Complaint.

Plaintiff’s second amended complaint shall comply with the requirements of the Civil Rights

Act, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the second amended

complaint must bear the docket number assigned this case and must be labeled “Second

Amended Complaint”; failure to file a second amended complaint in accordance with this order

will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff a form complaint for a

prisoner civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

DATED: July 29, 2008.

12

gall2478.14sec

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN GALLOW,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-2478 JAM JFM P

vs.

THE BRANCH MEDICAL STAFF, NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

Defendants.

____________________________________/

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

order filed :

______________ Second Amended Complaint

DATED: 

 

Plaintiff

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