Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-05133/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-05133-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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FILED 

SEP 2 1 2015 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

11 JAMES RICKLEFFS, ) No. C 14-5133 LHK (PR) 

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12 Plaintiff, ) ORDER OF SERVICE; 

) DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO 

13 v. ) FILE DISPOSITIVE MOTION OR 

) NOTICE REGARDING SUCH 

14 SENIOR DEPUTY WARD, ) MOTION 

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15 Defendant. ) 

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__________________________ ) 

Plaintiff, a California state pretrial detainee proceeding prose, filed an amended civil 

rights complaint pursuant to 42 U .S.C. § 1983. For the reasons stated below, the court directs 

the clerk to send a waiver of service to defendant, and directs defendant to file a dispositive 

motion or notice regarding such motion. 

DISCUSSION 

A. Standard of Review 

A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner 

seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 

28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss 

any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or 

seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 

1915A(b)(1), (2). Prose pleadings must, however, be liberally construed. See Balistreri v. 

Order of Service; Directing Defendant to File Dispositive Motion or Notice Regarding Such Motion 

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Case 5:14-cv-05133-LHK Document 7 Filed 09/21/15 Page 1 of 4
Pacifica Police Dep 't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). 

2 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: 

3 (I) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that 

4 the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. West v. 

5 Atkins, 487 U.S. 42,48 (1988). 

6 B. Plaintiff's Claims 

7 According to the amended complaint, on November 16, 2013, defendant Senior Deputy 

8 Ward conducted a search of plaintiff's cell. When plaintiff returned to his cell, plaintiff 

9 discovered that his belongings had been scattered all over the cell, and plaintiff was missing 

10 several confidential legal documents and personal items. The court previously determined that, 

11 to the extent plaintiff was raising a due process claim regarding the loss of his property, it was 

12 DISMISSED with prejudice. 

13 Plaintiff also alleges that defendant served plaintiff with a "Request for Discipline" form, 

14 that alleged that plaintiff violated several jail rules and policies. Plaintiff states that defendant 

15 violated jail policies, and also violated plaintiff's right to due process and a fair hearing. 

16 According to the exhibits attached to plaintiff's amended complaint, plaintiff was found guilty of 

17 two infractions, and suffered temporary disciplinary isolation, loss of commissary, and loss of 

18 visits. Plaintiff also alleges that he was not afforded notice or an opportunity to be heard. 

19 When a pretrial detainee challenges conditions of his confinement, the proper inquiry is 

20 whether the conditions amount to punishment in violation of the Due Process Clause of the 

21 Fourteenth Amendment. See Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 n.16 (1979). "' [T]he State does 

22 not acquire the power to punish with which the Eighth Amendment is concerned until after it has 

23 secured a formal adjudication of guilt in accordance with due process of law. Where the State 

24 seeks to impose punishment without such an adjudication, the pertinent guarantee is the Due 

25 Process Clause ofthe Fourteenth Amendment."' !d. (quoting Ingraham v. Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 

26 671-72 n.40 (1977)). Disciplinary segregation as punishment for violation of jail rules and 

27 regulations cannot be imposed without due process, i.e., without complying with the procedural 

28 requirements of Wo(ffv. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974). See Mitchell v. Dupnik, 75 F.3d 517, 

Order of Service; Directing Defendant to File Dispositive Motion or Notice Regarding Such Motion 

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Case 5:14-cv-05133-LHK Document 7 Filed 09/21/15 Page 2 of 4
523-26 (9th Cir. 1996). 

2 Liberally construed, plaintiff has stated a cognizable claim that defendant violated his 

3 right to due process. 

4 CONCLUSION 

5 For the foregoing reasons, the court hereby orders as follows: 

6 1. The clerk of the court shall mail a Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of 

7 Service of Summons, two copies ofthe Waiver of Service of Summons, a copy ofthe amended 

8 complaint and all attachments thereto, and a copy of this order to Senior Deputy Ward, #2025 

9 at San Francisco County Jail. The clerk of the court shall also mail a courtesy copy of the 

10 amended complaint and a copy of this order to the City Attorney's Office, Litigation, Fox Plaza, 

11 1390 Market Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102-5408. Additionally, the clerk shall 

12 mail a copy of this order to plaintiff. 

13 2. Defendant is cautioned that Rule 4 ofthe Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 

14 requires him to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service ofthe summons and complaint. 

15 Pursuant to Rule 4, if defendant, after being notified of this action and asked by the court, on 

16 behalf of plaintiff, to waive service of the summons, fails to do so, he will be required to bear the 

17 cost of such service unless good cause be shown for his failure to sign and return the waiver 

18 form. If service is waived, this action will proceed as if defendant had been served on the date 

19 that the waiver is filed, and defendant will not be required to serve and file an answer before 

20 sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was sent. Defendant is asked to 

21 read the statement set forth at the bottom ofthe waiver form that more completely describes the 

22 duties of the parties with regard to waiver of service of the summons. If service is waived after 

23 the date provided in the Notice but before defendant has been personally served, the Answer 

24 shall be due sixty (60) days from the date on which the request for waiver was sent or twenty 

25 (20) days from the date the waiver form is filed, whichever is later. 

26 3. No later than sixty (60) days from the date the waivers are sent, defendant shall 

27 file a motion for summary judgment or other dispositive motion with respect to the cognizable 

28 claim in the amended complaint. 

Order of Service; Directing Defendant to File Dispositive Motion or Notice Regarding Such Motion 

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Case 5:14-cv-05133-LHK Document 7 Filed 09/21/15 Page 3 of 4
Any motion for summary judgment shall be supported by adequate factual documentation 

2 and shall conform in all respects to Rule 56 ofthe Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Defendant 

3 is advised that summary judgment cannot be granted, nor qualified immunity found, if 

4 material facts are in dispute. If defendant is of the opinion that this case cannot be 

5 resolved by summary judgment, he shall so inform the court prior to the date the summary 

6 judgment motion is due. 

7 4. Plaintiffs opposition to the dispositive motion shall be filed with the court and 

8 served on defendants no later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date defendant's motion is 

9 filed. Plaintiff is advised to read Rule 56 ofthe Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 

10 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986) (holding party opposing summary judgment must 

11 come forward with evidence showing triable issues of material fact on every essential element of 

12 his claim). 

13 5. Defendant shall file a reply brief no later than fourteen (14) days after plaintiffs 

14 opposition is filed. 

15 6. The motion shall be deemed submitted as ofthe date the reply brief is due. No 

16 hearing will be held on the motion unless the court so orders at a later date. 

17 7. All communications by the plaintiff with the court must be served on defendant or 

18 defendant's counsel, by mailing a true copy of the document to defendant or defendant's 

19 counsel. 

20 8. Discovery may be taken in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

21 No further court order is required before the parties may conduct discovery. 

22 9. It is plaintiffs responsibility to prosecute this case. P1aintiffmust keep the court 

23 and all parties informed of any change of address and must comply with the court's orders in a 

24 timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute 

25 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41 (b). 

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IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: fl/'7/20/J 

United States District Judge 

Order of Service; Directing Defendant to File Dispositive Motion or Notice Regarding Such Motion 

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