Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-01153/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-01153-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1981 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 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JAMES KARIM MUHAMMAD, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

NORTH RICHMOND SENIOR HOUSING, 

et al., 

Defendants. 

Case No. 16-cv-01153-EDL 

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 

TO DISMISS WITH LEAVE TO 

AMEND; ORDER REASSIGNING CASE 

On March 9, 2016, Plaintiff James Karim Muhammad filed a complaint and sought leave 

to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). On March 16, 2016, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, this 

Court granted Plaintiff’s IFP request, and indicated that it would separately determine compliance 

with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), which requires the court to “dismiss the case at any time if the court 

determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . is frivolous.” See also Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 

1221, 1227 (9th Cir. 1984) (“courts may dismiss frivolous actions filed in forma pauperis”). 

Dismissal on these grounds is often made sua sponte prior to the issuance of process, so as to spare 

prospective defendants the inconvenience and expense of answering such complaints. Neitzke v. 

Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324 (1989). 

Here, Plaintiff purports to assert a “class of one” equal protection claim based on 

allegations that his rent was increased without proper notice and disproportionately in comparison 

to other renters. However, a “class of one” claim is not stated on these allegations and Plaintiff 

alleges no other illegal basis on which he was discriminated. See Vill. of Willowbrook v. Olech, 

528 U.S. 562, 565 (2000) (Breyer, J., concurring) (noting “concern lest we interpret the Equal 

Protection Clause . . . in a way that would transform many ordinary violations of city or state law 

into violations of the Constitution”); Enquist v. Oregon Dep’t. of Agric., 478 F.3d 985, 992 (9th 

Cir. 2007) (recognizing that courts “have ‘struggled to define the contours of class-of-one cases’ 

Case 3:16-cv-01153-WHO Document 9 Filed 04/21/16 Page 1 of 2
2 

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 

Northern District of Californi

a

because, unless constrained, the class-of-one theory of equal protection claim could provide a 

federal cause of action for review of almost every executive or administrative government 

decision” (quoting Jennings v. City of Stillwater, 383 F.3d 1199, 1210-11 (10th Cir. 2004))). 

Accordingly, the Court recommends that the case be dismissed. As Plaintiff is proceeding 

pro se, the Court recommends giving him an opportunity to amend his complaint. Any party may 

serve and file specific written objections to this recommendation within fourteen (14) days after 

being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(c); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b); Civil Local Rule 

72-3. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 

Court’s order. 

 Plaintiff may wish to seek assistance from the Legal Help Center, a free service of the 

Volunteer Legal Services Program, by calling (415) 782-8982 or signing up for an appointment on 

the 15th Floor of the Courthouse, Room 2796. At the Legal Help Center, Plaintiffs may speak with 

an attorney who may be able to provide basic legal help, but not legal representation. The Court 

also urges Plaintiffs to obtain a copy of the Pro Se Handbook, available free of charge from the 

Court's website (www.cand.uscourts.gov) or in the Clerk's Office on the 16th Floor, 450 Golden 

Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA. 

IT IS SO RECOMMENDED. 

Dated: April 21, 2016 

 

ELIZABETH D. LAPORTE 

United States Magistrate Judge 

Case 3:16-cv-01153-WHO Document 9 Filed 04/21/16 Page 2 of 2