Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-00310/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-00310-0/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Elijah Muhammad, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

v.

NBC, et al.,

Defendants. 

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No. CV 08-0310-MHM-PHX

ORDER

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff Elijah Muhammad’s (“Plaintiff’) motion to

proceed in forma pauperis. (Dkt. #3). After reviewing the motion, the Court issues the

following order.

Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis demonstrates that Plaintiff does not

possess the means to pay the filing fee in this case. Accordingly, the Court grants Plaintiff’s

application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

However, Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis requires the Court to screen

Plaintiff’s complaint before it may be served in order to determine whether it must be

dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a) and (e)(2). The court will do so in this order.

I. Legal Standards

A. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)

A district court "shall dismiss [an in forma pauperis] case at any time if the court

determines" that the "action or appeal" is "frivolous or malicious," "fails to state a claim on

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which relief may be granted," or "seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune

from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). While much of section 1915 outlines how

prisoners can file proceedings in forma pauperis, section 1915(e) applies to all in forma

pauperis proceedings, not just those filed by prisoners. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127

(9th Cir. 2000) ("section 1915(e) applies to all in forma pauperis complaints"). "It is also

clear that section 1915(e) not only permits but requires a district court to dismiss an in forma

pauperis complaint that fails to state a claim." Id. Therefore, this court must dismiss an in

forma pauperis complaint if it fails to state a claim or if it is frivolous or malicious. 

"[A] complaint, containing both factual allegations and legal conclusions, is frivolous

where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,

325 (1989). Furthermore, "a finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts

alleged rise to the level of the irrational or wholly incredible, whether or not there are

judicially recognized facts available to contradict them." Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25,

33 (1992). "A case is malicious if it was filed with the intention or desire to harm another."

Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2005). 

B. Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

A claim must be stated clearly enough to enable a defendant to frame a responsive

pleading. A complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that

the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). "Each averment of a pleading shall be

simple, concise, and direct." Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(e)(1). A complaint having the factual elements

of a cause of action present but scattered throughout the complaint and not organized into a

"short and plain statement of the claim" may be dismissed for failure to satisfy Rule 8(a).

Sparling v. Hoffman Constr. Co., 864 F.2d 635, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). 

In order to assist litigants to understand the Rule 8(e) requirements that averments "be

simple, concise, and direct," Rule 84 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides

samples in an Appendix of Forms, which are "intended to indicate the simplicity and brevity

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of statement which the rules contemplate." McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir.

1996). An example is Form 9 (Complaint for Negligence): 

1. Allegation of jurisdiction

2. On June 1, 1936, in a public highway called Boylston Street in Boston, 

 Massachusetts, defendant negligently drove a motor vehicle against plaintiff, 

 who was then crossing said highway.

3. As a result plaintiff was thrown down and had his leg broken, and was 

 otherwise injured, was prevented from transacting his business, suffered great 

 pain of body and mind, and incurred expenses for medical attention and 

 hospitalization in the sum of one thousand dollars.

4. Wherefore plaintiff demands judgment against defendant in the sum of ____

 dollars and costs.

Id. “This complaint fully sets forth who is being sued, for what relief, and on what theory,

with enough detail to guide discovery. It can be read in seconds and answered in minutes."

Id. In addition, to satisfy Rule 8, each claim must be stated in a separate count. Buatista v.

Los Angeles, 216 F.3d 837, 840-41 (9th Cir. 2000). 

II. Analysis

A. Plaintiff’s Complaint

Plaintiffs’ complaint falls far short of satisfying the requirements of Rule 8. It does

not provide a "short and plain statement" of any claim. Instead, the complaint alleges only

bare allegations of constitutional violations with no supporting facts, explanation, or even

prayer for relief. Nothing submitted thus far provides any indication of the nature of this suit.

B. Leave to Amend

Plaintiff will be given an opportunity, if he so chooses, to amend his complaint to

make clear his allegations in short, plain statements with each claim for relief identified in

separate sections. In the amended complaint, Plaintiff must write out the rights he believes

were violated, the name of the person who violated the right, exactly what that individual did

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or failed to do, how the action or inaction of that person is connected to the violation of

Plaintiff’s rights, and what specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of the other person's

conduct. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-72, 377 (1976). Each claim of an alleged

violation must be set forth in a separate count. Any amended complaint must conform to the

requirements of Rules 8(a) and (e)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Plaintiff is warned that if he elects to file an amended complaint and fails to comply

with the Court's instructions in this order, the action will be dismissed pursuant to section 28

U.S.C. §1915(e) and/or Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See McHenry,

84 F.3d at 1177 (affirming dismissal with prejudice of verbose, argumentative, and redundant

amended complaint that did not comply with Rule 8(a)); Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co.,

651 F.2d 671, 673-74 (9th Cir. 1981) (affirming dismissal of amended complaint that was

"equally as verbose, confusing, and conclusory as the initial complaint"); Corcoran v. Yorty,

347 F.2d 222, 223 (9th Cir. 1965) (affirming dismissal without leave to amend second

complaint that was "so verbose, confused and redundant that its true substance, if any, [was]

well disguised"). 

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is

GRANTED, without prepayment of costs or fees or the necessity of giving security therefore.

(Dkt. #3). Plaintiff shall be responsible for service by waiver or of the summons and

complaint.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ complaint is dismissed for failure to

comply with Rule 8, with leave to file an amended complaint by May 5, 2008. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiffs elect not to file an amended complaint

by May 5, 2008, the Clerk of the Court shall dismiss this action without further order of the

Court.

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiffs elect to file an amended complaint,

the complaint may not be served until and unless the court screens the amended complaint

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).

DATED this 14th day of April, 2008.

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