Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00336/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00336-1/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSUE FLORES,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

J. FITTER, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:14-cv-00336-GSA-PC

ORDER IN RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFF’S 

DECLARATION

(Doc. 14.)

ORDER INFORMING PLAINTIFF HE 

HAS LEAVE TO AMEND THE 

COMPLAINT ONCE AS A MATTER OF 

COURSE

THIRTY DAY DEADLINE TO FILE 

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT

ORDER FOR CLERK TO SEND 

COMPLAINT FORM TO PLAINTIFF

I. BACKGROUND

Josue Flores (“Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on March 

10, 2014. (Doc. 1.) 

On July 10, 2014, Plaintiff filed an eleven-page declaration with sixty-seven pages of 

exhibits attached. (Doc. 14.) 

Case 1:14-cv-00336-AWI-GSA Document 15 Filed 07/21/14 Page 1 of 4
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II. LOCAL RULE 220 AND FEDERAL RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 15(a) -

AMENDING THE COMPLAINT

Local Rule 220 provides, in part:

Unless prior approval to the contrary is obtained from the Court, every 

pleading to which an amendment or supplement is permitted as a matter of right 

or has been allowed by court order shall be retyped and filed so that it is 

complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading. No 

pleading shall be deemed amended or supplemented until this Rule has been 

complied with. All changed pleadings shall contain copies of all exhibits 

referred to in the changed pleading.

Plaintiff’s declaration recites allegations that he was denied appropriate medical care for 

leg and back pain from December 2010 through July 2013 while incarcerated. To the extent 

that Plaintiff intends his declaration and its exhibits as an amendment to his Complaint, 

Plaintiff may not amend the Complaint in this manner. Under Rule 220, Plaintiff may not 

amend the Complaint by adding information piecemeal after the Complaint has been filed. To 

add information or correct an error in the Complaint, Plaintiff must file a new First Amended 

Complaint which is complete within itself. 

Under Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure, a party may amend the party=s 

pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served. 

Otherwise, a party may amend only by leave of the court or by written consent of the adverse 

party, and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Here, 

because Plaintiff has not previously amended the complaint and no responsive pleading has 

been served in this action, Plaintiff has leave to file an amended complaint as a matter of 

course. Plaintiff shall be granted thirty days in which to file an amended complaint, making the 

needed changes.

Plaintiff is advised that he must demonstrate in his amended complaint 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). The complaint must allege in specific terms 

how each named defendant is involved. There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. ' 1983 

unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant=s actions and the 

claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 36 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 

(9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 

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As a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux 

v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once an amended complaint is filed, the original 

complaint 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. 

Plaintiff should note that although he has the opportunity to amend, it is not for the 

purpose of adding allegations of events occurring after March 10, 2014. Plaintiff may not 

change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated claims in his amended complaint. 

George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no “buckshot” complaints). In addition, 

Plaintiff should take care to include only those claims that were exhausted prior to the initiation 

of this suit on March 10, 2014. 

With respect to exhibits, while they are permissible, Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c), they are not 

necessary in the federal system of notice pleading, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The Court strongly 

suggests to Plaintiff that they should not be submitted where (1) they serve only to confuse the 

record and burden the Court, or (2) they are intended as future evidence. If this action reaches 

a juncture at which the submission of evidence is appropriate and necessary (e.g., summary 

judgment or trial), Plaintiff will have the opportunity at that time to submit his evidence. 

Plaintiff is cautioned that it is not the duty of the court to look through all of his exhibits to 

determine whether or not he has claims cognizable under ' 1983. Rather, the court looks to the 

factual allegations contained in Plaintiff=s complaint to determine whether or not Plaintiff has 

stated a cognizable claim for relief under ' 1983.

Finally, Plaintiff is reminded that Local Rule 220 requires that an amended complaint 

be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. The First Amended Complaint 

should be clearly and boldly titled AFirst Amended Complaint,@ refer to the appropriate case 

number, and be an original signed under penalty of perjury.

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III. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff is advised that he may not amend the Complaint by the filing of his 

declaration, filed on July 10, 2014;

2. Plaintiff is informed that he has leave to amend the Complaint once as a matter 

of course;

3. Plaintiff is granted thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order to file a 

First Amended Complaint, as instructed by this order, using the court=s form;

4. The First Amended Complaint should be clearly and boldly titled AFirst 

Amended Complaint,@ refer to case number 1:14-cv-00336-AWI-GSA-PC, and 

be an original signed under penalty of perjury;

5. The Clerk of the Court shall send one § 1983 civil rights complaint form to 

Plaintiff; and

6. Plaintiff is warned that his failure to comply with this order will result in the 

dismissal of this action for failure to obey a court order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 18, 2014 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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