Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01655/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01655-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner 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

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PATRICK D. SAMPSON,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-1655 LEW GGH P

vs.

C. BARTON, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 1983. On August 30, 2007, the court dismissed plaintiff’s complaint with leave to

amend. Pending before the court is plaintiff’s amended complaint filed September 14, 2007.

Plaintiff alleges that during a cell search, some of his personal property was

harmed. In particular, plaintiff alleges that defendants searching his cell intentionally mixed

cleaning solution with family photographs and legal documents which resulted in the destruction

of the documents and photographs.

/////

/////

/////

/////

Case 2:07-cv-01655-JAM-GGH Document 12 Filed 12/04/07 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

2

Plaintiff’s original complaint contained the same allegations The court construed

the complaint to be alleging a violation of plaintiff’s right to due process. Because plaintiff did

not allege that the destruction of his property was authorized, i.e. pursuant to a policy, the court

dismissed the complaint with leave to amend. Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 533 (1984).

In the amended complaint, plaintiff alleges that defendants’ conduct violated the

Eighth Amendment. To state a claim for cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth

Amendment, plaintiff must allege facts sufficient to show that defendants subjected him to

“unquestioned and serious deprivations of basic needs.” Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347,

101 S.Ct. 2392 (1981). The destruction of plaintiff’s personal property, while seemingly

unprofessional and meanspirited, does not state an Eighth Amendment claim. Accordingly, the

amended complaint is dismissed.

As stated above, plaintiff alleges that defendants destroyed some of his legal

property. Pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment due process clause, inmates have a

“fundamental constitutional right of access to the courts. Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 828,

97 S.Ct. 1491 (1977). To prove a violation of this right, an inmate must demonstrate “actual

injury,” in that there was a specific instance in which he was denied access to the courts. Lewis

v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 348, 116 S.Ct. 2174 (1996). “The injury requirement is not satisfied by

just any type of frustrated legal claim;” the Supreme Court has stated that prisoners have a right

to access to the courts only in relation to direct appeals from the convictions for which they were

incarcerated, habeas petitions or civil rights actions challenging the conditions of their

confinement. Casey, 518 U.S. at 354-55.

 If plaintiff’s ability to access the courts regarding his direct appeal, habeas

petition or a civil rights action was effected by the destruction of his legal property, he may have

a colorable claim for denial of access to the courts. Accordingly, plaintiff is granted thirty days

to file a second amended complaint.

/////

Case 2:07-cv-01655-JAM-GGH Document 12 Filed 12/04/07 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

3

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the amended complaint filed

September 14, 2007, is dismissed with thirty days to file a second amended complaint; if plaintiff

does not file a second amended complaint within that time, the court will recommend dismissal

of this action. 

DATED: 12/4/07

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

sam1655.56

Case 2:07-cv-01655-JAM-GGH Document 12 Filed 12/04/07 Page 3 of 3