Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-02012/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-02012-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

---

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DENNIS GERALD CLAIBORNE,

Plaintiff,

 v.

OFFICER T. J. STEVENS, et al.,

Defendants. ______________________________

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. C 06-2012 CW (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

(Docket no. 7)

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Dennis Gerald Claiborne is a state prisoner who is

currently incarcerated at High Desert State Prison. He filed this

action in the Monterey County Superior Court, Clairborne v.

Stevens, M75009. Plaintiff's original complaint alleged that

Defendant Officer T. J. Stevens was aware of Plaintiff's mobility

impairment and that Defendant Stevens's failure to remove his waist

restraints caused him to lose his balance during a medical

examination. Plaintiff fell and injured his head, neck and right

knee. Plaintiff claims that he still endures pain resulting from

his fall.

On March 16, 2006, Defendant Stevens, who is represented by

the State Attorney General's Office, removed the action to this

Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441(b).

The Court reviewed the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A

and dismissed it with leave to amend upon finding that Plaintiff's

allegations did not support a theory of liability for deliberate

indifference to his serious medical needs against Defendant

Stevens. The Court allowed Plaintiff to file an amended complaint

to cure the pleading deficiency. Plaintiff then filed his amended

Case 4:06-cv-02012-CW Document 10 Filed 09/25/07 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

complaint on January 8, 2007.

Defendant Stevens has filed a motion asking the Court to

screen the amended complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Defendant

Stevens's motion to screen the amended complaint (docket no. 7) is

GRANTED. 

The Court has reviewed the amended complaint and finds that it

does not cure the pleading deficiency identified in the Court's

Order dismissing the complaint with leave to amend. The amended

complaint simply reiterates the same allegations that were stated

in his original complaint. While Plaintiff names two new

Defendants, Sgt. T. J. Morrison and Dr. Isaac Grillo, he alleges 

similar deliberate indifference claims against them based on their

refusal to remove his waist restraints. The Court has already

determined that Plaintiff's allegations in his original complaint

failed to show how Defendant Stevens should have known that the

refusal to remove the waist restraints would cause harm to

Plaintiff. The Court further stated:

Defendant's refusal to remove the waist restraints could

amount to negligence in that Plaintiff alleges that the

presence of the waist restraints caused him to lose his

balance and fall during his medical examination. However,

a claim of negligence is insufficient to make out a

violation of the Eighth Amendment. See Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1060-61 (9th Cir. 2004); Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 744 (9th Cir. 2002); Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 1337, 1344 (9th Cir. 1981); see, e.g., McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (mere negligence in diagnosing or

treating a medical condition, without more, does not

violate a prisoner's Eighth Amendment rights).

(Dec. 28, 2006 Order at 4-5.) Therefore, the Court finds that

Plaintiff's allegations in his amended complaint against all named

Defendants do not state a claim for which relief may be granted. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff's claims against Defendants Stevens,

Case 4:06-cv-02012-CW Document 10 Filed 09/25/07 Page 2 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

P:\PRO-SE\CW\CR.06\Clairborne2012.dismiss.frm 3

Morrison and Grillo are DISMISSED with prejudice and without leave

to amend.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons and good cause shown, the Court

orders as follows:

1. Defendant's request to screen the amended complaint

(docket no. 7) is GRANTED. 

2. Plaintiff's claims against Defendants Stevens, Morrison

and Grillo are DISMISSED with prejudice and without leave to amend.

3. The Clerk of the Court shall terminate all pending

motions and close the file.

4. This Order terminates Docket no. 7.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 9/25/07 

CLAUDIA WILKEN

United States District Judge

Case 4:06-cv-02012-CW Document 10 Filed 09/25/07 Page 3 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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

P:\PRO-SE\CW\CR.06\Clairborne2012.dismiss.frm 4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DENNIS G. CLAIBORNE,

Plaintiff,

 v.

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER STEVENS et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV06-02012 CW 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on September 25, 2007, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle

located in the Clerk's office.

Dennis Gerald Claiborne

E-91198/ Fac. A, Bldg. 1-144L

High Desert State Prison

PO Box 3030

Susanville, CA 96127

Timothy J. McDonough

Deputy Attorney General

Dept. of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000

San Francisco, CA 94102

Dated: September 25, 2007

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: Sheilah Cahill, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:06-cv-02012-CW Document 10 Filed 09/25/07 Page 4 of 4