Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02328/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02328-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

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 - 10cv2328

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHERLENE LORETTA HENDERSON,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 10 CV 2328 MMA (BGS)

ORDER:

GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO PROCEED IN

FORMA PAUPERIS;

[Doc. No. 2]

DISMISSING COMPLAINT SUA

SPONTE; 

[Doc. No. 1]

DENYING MOTION TO APPOINT

COUNSEL

[Doc. No. 3]

vs.

VALLEY VIEW CASINO; ALLEN E.

LAWSON,

Defendants.

On November 10, 2010, Plaintiff Sherlene Loretta Henderson, proceeding pro se, filed a

civil rights complaint, along with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), and a request for

appointment of counsel. For the reasons discussed below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s request

to proceed IFP [Doc. No. 2], DISMISSES Plaintiff’s complaint for failure to state a claim upon

which relief may be granted and lack of subject matter jurisdiction [Doc. No. 1], and DENIES

Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel [Doc. No. 3]. 

/ / /

Case 3:10-cv-02328-MMA-BGS Document 4 Filed 11/15/10 Page 1 of 6
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 - 10cv2328

I. PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of the United

States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $350. See 28

U.S.C. § 1914(a). The Court, however, may authorize the commencement of an action without the

prepayment of fees if the party submits an affidavit, including statement of assets, showing that

she is unable to pay the requisite filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Here, Plaintiff reports that she is

unemployed. [Doc. No. 2.] Plaintiff indicates she receives $840 per month in social security

payments, and she received a one-time insurance payment of $1,100. [Id.] Plaintiff asserts several

monthly debt obligations including, $382 for rent, $230 for credit card payments, and $15 for

insurance. [Id.] Plaintiff’s IFP application indicates she has checking and savings accounts,

which have a combined balance of $60, and that she owns a car. [Id.] Based on the information

provided, the Court finds Plaintiff has satisfied the requirements of section 1915 and GRANTS

Plaintiff’s motion to proceed IFP. 

II. SUA SPONTE SCREENING PER 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)

The Court is obligated to review a complaint filed IFP sua sponte and must dismiss the

action if it determines that the complaint is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim for relief. 

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (“[T]he

provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not limited to prisoners.”). “[W]hen determining

whether a complaint states a claim, a court must accept as true all allegations of material fact and

must construe those facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d

443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000). In addition, the Court has a duty to liberally construe a pro se’s

pleadings. Id. In giving liberal interpretation to a pro se complaint, however, the court may not

“supply essential elements of claims that were not initially pled.” Ivey v. Board of Regents of the

University of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 

(A) Background

Plaintiff asserts she suffered food poisoning after eating moldy bread at Defendant Valley

View Casino on May 21, 2010. [Doc. No. 1.] According to Plaintiff, she did not realize the bread

was moldy until she had taken three bites of the sandwich, and she noticed a bitter taste and her

Case 3:10-cv-02328-MMA-BGS Document 4 Filed 11/15/10 Page 2 of 6
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 - 10cv2328

eyes began to water and itch. [Id.] Plaintiff alleges she asked people behind the counter for

medicine, such as “ALKA-SALZA or PEPTO,” but was told that they could only provide her

food. [Id.] Plaintiff then requested some vinegar potato chips and ate some pizza, which did not

make her feel any better. [Id.] Plaintiff alleges she had diarrhea for three days and nights, and she

was unable to sleep for a month. [Id.] Plaintiff has visited two doctors for her condition, and

intends to see an eye doctor later this month. [Id.]

Plaintiff asserts she attempted to contact one of Defendant’s managers, Armando Martinez,

multiple times to obtain a claim form to formally notify Defendant of the injuries she suffered and

to receive compensation for her pain and suffering. [Id.] Plaintiff alleges she notified Defendant

Allen E. Lawson, purportedly a chairman at Defendant Valley View Casino, that Mr. Martinez did

not respond to her requests. Thereafter, Plaintiff filed the present civil rights action against Valley

View Casino and Mr. Lawson. [Id.] 

(B) Violation of Civil Rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Section 1983 imposes two essential proof requirements upon a claimant: (1) that a person

acting under color of state law committed the conduct at issue, and (2) that the conduct deprived

the claimant of some right, privilege, or immunity protected by the Constitution or laws of the

United States. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Nelson v. Campbell, 541 U.S. 637 (2004); Haygood v.

Younger, 769 F.2d 1350, 1354 (9th Cir. 1985) (en banc). Plaintiff’s complaint does not allege

either requirement. 

First, Plaintiff asserts she was eating at Valley View Casino when the events in question

occurred. However, she does not allege Valley View Casino is a state entity, nor does she allege

that Mr. Lawson acted under color of state law. Indeed, the complaint is devoid of any allegations

regarding conduct by Mr. Lawson. Although the Court liberally construes the complaint in

Plaintiff’s favor, it may not “supply essential elements of claims that were not initially pled.” Ivey,

673 F.2d at 268.

Second, even if either Defendant is a state actor, Plaintiff has not sufficiently pled conduct

that deprived her of a constitutional right. Plaintiff’s complaint alleges she became ill after eating

moldy bread at the Defendant-establishment. The complaint, however, does not include any

Case 3:10-cv-02328-MMA-BGS Document 4 Filed 11/15/10 Page 3 of 6
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

 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3) permits a district court to dismiss a complaint sua

sponte for lack of jurisdiction.

- 4 - 10cv2328

allegations that suggest Defendants violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Accordingly, because

Plaintiff has failed to allege facts that establish a violation of her civil rights under section 1983,

her complaint is subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 

(C) Subject Matter Jurisdiction

In addition, in the absence of a viable section 1983 claim, this Court lacks subject matter

jurisdiction to adjudicate Plaintiff’s grievances.1 Federal courts have limited jurisdiction, and

therefore, can only hear certain types of claims that the Constitution or Congress has authorized

them to adjudicate. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of America, 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). 

Thus, “[i]t is presumed that a cause lies outside this limited jurisdiction, and the burden of

establishing the contrary rests upon the party asserting jurisdiction. Id. Here, Plaintiff asserts

federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 based on her purported section 1983 claim. 

However, Plaintiff’s brief complaint appears only to allege a state-based tort claim for personal

injuries she received as a result of eating food provided by Defendant. Without more, such

personal injury claims, even if they injury was sustained on an Indian reservation, do not give rise

to federal jurisdiction. See, e.g., Begay v, Kerr-McGee Corp., 499 F. Supp. 1317, 1322 (D. Ariz.

1980). Accordingly, because Plaintiff has not set forth any cognizable ground for this Court to

exercise jurisdiction over her claim, her complaint is also subject to dismissal for lack of subject

matter jurisdiction.

III. REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

Also pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel under the

Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1). [Doc. No. 3.] Although the Court may

utilize section 2000e to appoint an attorney in certain employment actions under “circumstances as

the court may deem just,” section 2000e appears to be of no use to Plaintiff here. See 42 U.S.C. §

2000e-5(f)(1). First, Plaintiff’s complaint purports to state a section 1983 claim for personal

injuries she received after eating moldy bread provided by Defendant; Plaintiff makes no

allegations regarding employment. Second, no Notice-of-Right-to-Sue Letter is attached to the

Case 3:10-cv-02328-MMA-BGS Document 4 Filed 11/15/10 Page 4 of 6
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

- 5 - 10cv2328

complaint. Accordingly, the Court does not have authority under 42 U.S.C. §2000e-5(f)(1) to

appoint Plaintiff counsel. 

Additionally, in civil proceedings such as this one, there is no absolute right to counsel. 

Hedges v. Resolution Trust Corp., 32 F.3d 1360, 1363 (9th Cir. 1994) (citation omitted). Federal

courts do not have the authority to make coercive appointments of counsel. Mallard v. United

States District Court, 490 U.S. 296, 310 (1989). However, “[t]itle 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) permits

the district court, in its discretion, to ‘request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford

counsel.’” Solis v. County of Los Angeles, 514 F.3d 946, 958 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting 28 U.S.C. §

1915(e)(1)); see also Agyeman v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir. 2004). Such

discretion may be exercised upon a showing of exceptional circumstances. See Terrell v. Brewer,

935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Burns v. County of King, 883 F.2d 819, 823 (9th Cir. 1989). 

“To show exceptional circumstances the litigant must demonstrate the likelihood of success and

complexity of the legal issues involved.” Burns, 883 F.2d at 823 (citation omitted); Hedges, 32

F.3d at 1363; Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335 (9th Cir. 1990). Neither the likelihood

of success nor the complexity of the case are dispositive; both must be considered. Terrell, 935

F.2d at 1017; Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986).

Here, Plaintiff’s complaint does not demonstrate any likelihood of success, as it fails to

state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Additionally, as currently pled, the complaint

does not raise complex legal issues because it appears to be based on a standard tort claim for

personal injury. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth herein, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s

request for appointment of counsel without prejudice.

IV. CONCLUSION AND ORDER 

Upon reviewing Plaintiff’s complaint, motion to proceed IFP, and request for appointment

of counsel, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

(1) Plaintiff’s motion to proceed IFP is GRANTED [Doc. No. 2];

(2) Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel is DENIED without prejudice [Doc.

No. 3]; and

/ / /

Case 3:10-cv-02328-MMA-BGS Document 4 Filed 11/15/10 Page 5 of 6
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

- 6 - 10cv2328

(3) Plaintiff’s complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice, pursuant to Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 12(h)(3) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b) [Doc. No. 1]. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November 15, 2010

Hon. Michael M. Anello

United States District Judge

Case 3:10-cv-02328-MMA-BGS Document 4 Filed 11/15/10 Page 6 of 6