Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03368/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03368-1/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALEXIOS ALEXANDER,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-09-3368 DAD P

vs.

SEAN FITZGERALD et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is an El Dorado County Jail inmate proceeding pro se. Plaintiff seeks

relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In accordance with the court’s December 11, 2009 order,

plaintiff has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. This

proceeding was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge in accordance with Local Rule 302

and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

Plaintiff has submitted an in forma pauperis application that makes the showing

required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Accordingly, plaintiff will be granted leave to proceed in forma

pauperis.

Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. See

28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a) & 1915(b)(1). An initial partial filing fee of $19.33 will be assessed by this

order. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct the appropriate

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 Plaintiff has mistakenly indicated throughout his complaint that the Fifth, Eighth and 1

Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution govern his constitutional claims. In fact, it

appears that the Fourth Amendment is applicable to the excessive use of force claims he has

presented and that the Fourteenth Amendment governs his inadequate medical care claims. See

Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395 (1989) (a claim that a law enforcement officer used

excessive force during the course of an arrest is analyzed under the Fourth Amendment and an

objective reasonableness standard); Conn v. City of Reno, 591 F.3d 1081, 1094 (9th Cir. 2010)

(the Eighth Amendment protects prison inmates from the denial of medical care while the

Fourteenth Amendment protects pretrial detainees).

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agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and forward it to the

Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated to make monthly payments of twenty

percent of the preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s trust account. These payments

will be collected and forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time the

amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(b)(2).

In his complaint, plaintiff has identified El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputies

Sean Fitzgerald and Richard Strasser, as well as the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department as

the defendants in this action. Plaintiff claims that defendant Fitzgerald used excessive force

against plaintiff during the course of his arrest. Plaintiff also alleges that defendant Strasser

failed to provide him with adequate medical care following his arrest. Finally, plaintiff alleges

that defendant El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department has knowingly created an atmosphere of

lawlessness where superiors condone and justify unconstitutional behavior on the part of

deputies. In terms of relief, plaintiff requests monetary damages and any further relief the court

deems necessary and proper. (Compl. Attach. 1-13.)

Liberally construed, plaintiff’s complaint appears to state cognizable claims for

relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). If the allegations of the

complaint are proven, plaintiff has a reasonable opportunity to prevail on the merits of this

action.1

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3

Also pending before the court is plaintiff’s motion for leave to file with the court a

digital versatile disc or a “dvd,” which purportedly proves the allegations in his complaint. 

Plaintiff is advised that he should retain his dvd at this time. In the event that the instant action

reaches the summary judgment stage or proceeds to trial, he may submit the dvd as evidence with

the admission of such evidence governed by the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. Nos. 2 & 8) is

granted.

2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 

Plaintiff is assessed an initial partial filing fee of $19.33. All fees shall be collected and paid in

accordance with this court’s order to the Director of the California Department of Corrections

and Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith.

3. Service of the complaint is appropriate for the following defendants: 

Fitzgerald, Strasser, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department.

4. The Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff three USM-285 forms, one

summons, an instruction sheet, and a copy of the complaint filed December 3, 2009.

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

attached Notice of Submission of Documents and submit all of the following documents to the

court at the same time:

a. The completed, signed Notice of Submission of Documents;

b. One completed summons;

c. One completed USM-285 form for each defendant listed in number 3

above; and

d. Four copies of the endorsed complaint, including the exhibits attached

thereto, filed December 3, 2009.

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6. Plaintiff shall not attempt to effect service of the complaint on defendants or

request a waiver of service of summons from any defendant. Upon receipt of the abovedescribed documents, the court will direct the United States Marshal to serve the above-named

defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 without payment of costs. 

7. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file with the court a digital versatile disc or a

“dvd” (Doc. No. 7) is denied. 

DATED: February 19, 2010.

DAD:9

alex3368.1

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALEXIOS ALEXANDER,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-09-3368 DAD P

vs.

SEAN FITZGERALD et al., NOTICE OF SUBMISSION

Defendants. OF DOCUMENTS

 /

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

order filed :

 one completed summons form;

 three completed USM-285 forms; and

 ____ four true and exact copies of the complaint, including the exhibits attached

thereto, filed December 3, 2009.

DATED: .

 

Plaintiff

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