Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00947/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00947-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

---

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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD J. MARRAPESE JR., et al.,

Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. 13cv947-LAB (BGS)

ORDER DISMISSING AMENDED

vs. COMPLAINT

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BOARD

OF REGENTS, et al.,

Defendants.

Plaintiff Richard Marrapese, Jr., proceeding pro se, filed his complaint on April 19,

2013, bringing his own claims as well as those of a putative Plaintiff, his deceased father

Richard Marrapese, Sr. Although the complaint mentioned Marrapese, Sr.’s own claims,

neither his estate nor the executor nor administrator of his estate is named as a party. 

Marrapese, Jr. moved to proceed in forma pauperis, and for appointment of counsel,

which the Court denied. The Court also dismissed the complaint, identifying defects in it that

appeared to deprive the Court of jurisdiction, but permitted him to file an amended complaint.

Marrapese, Jr. has now filed his amended complaint, and it appears the Court lacks

jurisdiction over it as well. The Court is obligated to examine its own jurisdiction, regardless

of whether either party raises the issue, and to dismiss the complaint if jurisdiction is lacking.

See Chapman v. Pier 1 Imports (U.S.) Inc., 631 F.3d 939, 954 (9th Cir. 2011) (en banc).

/ / /

- 1 - 13cv947

Case 3:13-cv-00947-LAB-BGS Document 7 Filed 05/23/13 Page 1 of 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

As pointed out in the Court’s order dismissing the original complaint, Marrapese, Jr.

lacks standing to sue on behalf of his deceased father. Furthermore, he cannot represent

his father’s estate in bringing any claims his father’s estate might have had, even assuming

they were not extinguished at his death. See Karras v. Teledyne Indus., Inc., 191 F. Supp.

2d 1161, 1170–73 (S.D.Cal., 2002). Most of the amended complaint’s claims arise under

state law. The parties are obviously not diverse, so the Court’s power to adjudicate the

claims depends on whether the amended complaint includes one or more claims arising

under federal law, and the state-law claims are part of the same case or controversy. See

28 U.S.C. § 1367.

The amended complaint brings three broad claims. Of those, only the first includes

claims brought by Marrapese, Jr. The remainder of the first claim, as well as the second and

third claims, are putatively brought on behalf of Marrapese, Sr. Marrapese, Jr. was kept

from seeing his father, Marrapese, Sr. while the latter was in the hospital receiving treatment.

It concludes that this was done in retaliation for Marrapese, Jr.’s “protesting Sr.’s plight in

non-violent way.” (Am. Compl., 2:9–12.) In order to state a claim, Marrapese, Jr. must plead

facts that, accepted as true, state a plausible claim for relief. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.

662, 678 (2009). A claim is plausible based on pleaded facts, not based on a plaintiff’s own

legal conclusions. Id. 

To state a claim for violation of First Amendment rights based on retaliation, a plaintiff

must show that Defendants acted so as to deter or chill the plaintiff’s speech, and whether

such deterrance was a substantial or motivating factor in their conduct. Lacey v. Maricopa

County, 693 F.3d 896, 916 (9 Cir. 2012). A plaintiff need not show that his speech was th

actually inhibited or suppressed, but rather whether the official’s acts would chill or silence

a person of ordinary firmness. Id. Such a claim would be brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

The Defendants in this case are the University of California Board of Regents, and

the UCSD Medical Center. What either or both of these Defendants did is not alleged in

either the original complaint or the amended complaint. The original complaint alleges that

“UCSD police” and the UCSD Medical Center’s “senior management” removed him from the

- 2 - 13cv947

Case 3:13-cv-00947-LAB-BGS Document 7 Filed 05/23/13 Page 2 of 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

hospital, claiming that he was disrupting his father’s medical treatment. The complaint never

alleges who did these things, nor does it allege facts showing he had any right to be present

in the hospital or authority to direct his father’s medical treatment. It also does not allege

facts showing anyone took actions that would chill or silence a person of ordinary firmness.

There is no respondeat superior liability under § 1983; rather, government officials are

liable only for their own conduct. Maxwell v. County of San Diego, 708 F.3d 1075, 1097 (9th

Cir. 2013). A supervisor may be liable where the supervisor participated in the violation,

however. See id. To state a claim, the complaint must allege facts showing that the

supervisor breached a legal duty to the plaintiff, that the breach was the proximate cause of

the plaintiff’s constitutional injury, and that the supervisor had the required mens rea as

would be required for a direct violation of the plaintiff’s rights. Id. The amended complaint

alleges none of these things, nor are any officials even named as Defendants.

Because it doesn’t appear the Court has jurisdiction over the claims raised in the

amended complaint, it is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. If Marrapese, Jr. thinks he

can correct the defects this order has identified, he may do so by filing a second amended

complaint no later than June 5, 2013. A second amended complaint that does not comply

with this order or does not state a cognizable claim over which this Court can exercise

jurisdiction will be dismissed without leave to amend.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 22, 2013

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

- 3 - 13cv947

Case 3:13-cv-00947-LAB-BGS Document 7 Filed 05/23/13 Page 3 of 3