Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-00165/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-00165-0/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

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NATHANAEL JAMES CARTER, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

D. MURPHY, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:24-cv-0165 CKD P

ORDER 

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 

1983. This proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 

636(b)(1).

Plaintiff requests leave to proceed in forma pauperis. As plaintiff has submitted a 

declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), his request will be granted. 

Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§ 

1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct the appropriate 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 for monthly payments of twenty percent of the preceding 

month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. These payments will be 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. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

Case 2:24-cv-00165-CKD Document 6 Filed 04/12/24 Page 1 of 4
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

2

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a 

governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 

court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally 

“frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek 

monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). 

Having conducted the required screening, the court finds that plaintiff may proceed on a 

claim for use of excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment against defendant Murphy 

and retaliation for protected conduct in violation of the First Amendment against defendant Rojas.

At this point, plaintiff has two options: proceed on the claims identified above or file an 

amended complaint to attempt to cure deficiencies with respect to the other claims and defendants 

identified in the complaint.

If plaintiff chooses to proceed on the claims described above, the court will construe this 

as a request to voluntarily dismiss the additional claims and defendants pursuant to Rule 

41(a)(1)(i) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

If plaintiff elects to amend, plaintiff is informed that withholding information in the 

manner stated in claim 2 is not a violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth 

Amendment. The Due Process Clause ensures that certain process be associated with a 

deprivation of life, liberty or property. None of those interests are implicated in claim 2. 

Finally, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to 

make plaintiff’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended 

complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a 

general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 

F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) 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 in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 

/////

Case 2:24-cv-00165-CKD Document 6 Filed 04/12/24 Page 2 of 4
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

3

1915(b)(1). All fees shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to the 

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith.

3. Plaintiff has the option to proceed immediately on the claims described herein. In the 

alternative, plaintiff may choose to amend the complaint to fix the deficiencies identified in this 

order with respect to the remaining claims and defendants.

4. Within 21 days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete and return the 

attached Notice of Election form notifying the court whether he wants to proceed on the screened 

complaint or whether he wants time to file a first amended complaint.

5. If plaintiff fails to return the attached Notice of Election within the time provided, the 

court will construe this failure as consent to dismiss the deficient claims and proceed only on the 

cognizable claims identified above. 

Dated: April 12, 2024

1

cart0165.option

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:24-cv-00165-CKD Document 6 Filed 04/12/24 Page 3 of 4
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

4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NATHANAEL JAMES CARTER, JR.,

 Plaintiff,

v.

D. MURPHY, et al.,

 Defendants.

No. 2:24-cv-0165 CKD P

NOTICE OF ELECTION 

Check only one option:

_____ 1. Plaintiff wishes to proceed on a claim for use of excessive force in violation of the 

Eighth Amendment against defendant Murphy and a claim for retaliation for protected conduct in 

violation of the First Amendment against defendant Rojas.

_____ 2. Plaintiff wants time to file a first amended complaint.

DATED: 

____________________ 

Plaintiff 

Case 2:24-cv-00165-CKD Document 6 Filed 04/12/24 Page 4 of 4