Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06364/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06364-23/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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U.S. District Court

 E. D. California 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

)

KEVIN E. FIELDS, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

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RUIZ, et al., )

) 

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

CV F- 03-6364 OWW DLB P 

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTIONS TO FILE FOURTH

AMENDED COMPLAINT 

(DOC 124, 137)

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a civil rights action

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 1983. This action involves allegations that defendants were

deliberately indifferent to plaintiff’s safety and retaliated against plaintiff. On May 23, 2006 and

October 19, 2006, plaintiff filed motions seeking leave to file a fourth amended complaint. Plaintiff

lodged the proposed fourth amended complaint on October 19, 2006. Plaintiff wishes to amend his

complaint to correctly spell the name of defendant Wilbur; “conform to the evidence disclosed and

discovered”; and allege exhaustion through the State Board of Control. 

Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may amend the party’s

pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served. Otherwise, a

party may amend only by leave of the court or by written consent of the adverse party, and leave

Case 1:03-cv-06364-LJO -DLB Document 151 Filed 03/07/07 Page 1 of 2
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U.S. District Court

 E. D. California 2

shall be freely given when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 15(a). In this case, a responsive

pleading has been served. Therefore, plaintiff may not file an amended complaint without leave of

the court.

The changes plaintiff wishes to make to his complaint are unnecessary. Defendant Wilbur

(a.k.a Wilber) has been served with process and has made an appearance in this action. Because

there are no issues surrounding the identity of defendant Wilbur, it is unnecessary for plaintiff to

amend his complaint to correct the spelling of defendant’s name.

It is also unnecessary for plaintiff to amend his complaint to “conform to evidence.” The

Court has reviewed the proposed fourth amended complaint. The added factual detail is unnecessary

in light of the fact that the federal system is one of notice pleading. Galbraith v. County of Santa

Clara, 307 F.3d 1119, 1126 (2002). “Rule 8(a)’s simplified pleading standard applies to all civil

actions, with limited exceptions,” none of which applies to section 1983 actions. Swierkiewicz v.

Sorema N. A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002); Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 8(a). Pursuant to Rule 8(a), a complaint

must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief . .

. .” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 8(a). “Such a statement must simply give the defendant fair notice of what the

plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Swierkiewicz, 534 U.S. at 512. The court

has reviewed plaintiff’s second complaint and it is not unclear or ambiguous. Given that the federal

system is one of notice pleadings, there is no need for plaintiff to add any additional facts in an effort

to clarify his claims.

Finally, it unnecessary for plaintiff to amend his complaint to include allegations of

exhaustion. To the extent defendants challenge this issue, plaintiff may submit evidence of

exhaustion in opposing defendants’ motion for summary judgment. 

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s motions seeking leave to file a fourth amended

complaint, filed May 23, 2006 and October 19, 2006 are HEREBY ORDERED DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 7, 2007 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3c0hj8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:03-cv-06364-LJO -DLB Document 151 Filed 03/07/07 Page 2 of 2