Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-01749/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-01749-0/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES ABEL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-09-1749 KJM P

vs.

MIKE MARTEL, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding with counsel. Plaintiff seeks relief

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and has paid the appropriate filing fee. This proceeding was

referred to this court by Local Rule 302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

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). 

In order to avoid dismissal for failure to state a claim a complaint must contain

more than “naked assertions,” “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements

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of a cause of action.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555-57 (2007). In other

words, “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory

statements do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). Furthermore, a

claim upon which the court can grant relief has facial plausibility. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. 

“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to

draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 129

S. Ct. at 1949. When considering whether a complaint states a claim upon which relief can be

granted, the court must accept the allegations as true, Erickson v. Pardus, 127 S. Ct. 2197, 2200

(2007), and construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, see Scheuer v.

Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974). 

Although the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure adopt a flexible pleading policy, a

complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of the claim plainly and succinctly. Jones

v. Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Plaintiff must allege with at

least some degree of particularity overt acts defendants engaged in that support plaintiff's claim. 

Id. The complaint must allege in specific terms how each named defendant is involved. At the

beginning of his original complaint, plaintiff identifies fourteen different defendants, but

thereafter only refers to them collectively. In his amended complaint, plaintiff must identify the

particular defendant or defendants committing each particular act alleged. He may not simply

ascribe all acts to all defendants or all claims to all defendants.

Plaintiff’s complaint must be dismissed. The court will, however, grant leave to

file an amended complaint. If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must

demonstrate how the conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff's

constitutional rights. See Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). In addition, 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

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complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). 

Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no longer serves any function in

the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, each claim and the

involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 

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

1. Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed. 

2. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an

amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the amended complaint must bear the

docket number assigned this case and must be labeled “Amended Complaint”; plaintiff must file

an original and two copies of the amended complaint; failure to file an amended complaint in

accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

DATED: May 25, 2010. 

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abel1749.14(6.24.09)

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