Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00916/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00916-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FELIPE POLANCO DIAZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

JEFF LYNCH, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:21-cv-0916 KJN P

ORDER

Introduction

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding pro se. Plaintiff seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

§ 1983, and requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. This 

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

Plaintiff submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.1

Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. 

§§ 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By this order, plaintiff is assessed an initial partial filing fee in 

accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct 

1

 Plaintiff appended a motion seeking the court’s intervention in obtaining the documents 

necessary to support his request to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 1 at 12-15.) However, 

because the court received the necessary documents and granted plaintiff’s request, the motion is 

denied as moot. 

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the appropriate agency to collect the initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and 

forward it to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, plaintiff is obligated to make monthly payments 

of twenty percent of the preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s trust account. These 

payments will be forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time the 

amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(b)(2).

Screening Standards

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 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). 

A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 

Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th 

Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous when it is based on an 

indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 

490 U.S. at 327. The critical inquiry is whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully 

pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th 

Cir. 1989), superseded by statute as stated in Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 (9th Cir. 

2000) (“[A] judge may dismiss [in forma pauperis] claims which are based on indisputably 

meritless legal theories or whose factual contentions are clearly baseless.”); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 

1227.

Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “requires only ‘a short and plain 

statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the 

defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic 

Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 

In order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more than “a 

formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;” it must contain factual allegations 

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sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic, 550 U.S. at 555. 

However, “[s]pecific facts are not necessary; the statement [of facts] need only ‘give the 

defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Erickson v. 

Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (quoting Bell Atlantic, 550 U.S. at 555, citations and internal 

quotations marks omitted). In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as 

true the allegations of the complaint in question, Erickson, 551 U.S. at 93, and construe the 

pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 

(1974), overruled on other grounds, Davis v. Scherer, 468 U.S. 183 (1984).

Plaintiff’s Complaint

Plaintiff alleges that he was falsely accused of indecent exposure resulting in his loss of 

time credits.2 In his first claim, labeled “Due Process,” plaintiff alleges the violation of the First 

Amendment redress of grievances based on the false charges; Double Jeopardy in violation of the 

Fifth Amendment, based on defendant Torcedo charging plaintiff for threatening staff and I.E.X.; 

Sixth Amendment right to “impartial jury, compulsory process in favor,” and Fourteenth 

Amendment due process rights to unbiased hearing officer due to Torcedo’s “staff acquaintances 

and well-known relations to high officials,” and video footage and inmate witnesses were 

ignored. (ECF No. 1 at 5.) In his second claim, “Libelous Charges,” plaintiff alleges Fifth 

Amendment violation of oath and affirmation by Torcedo’s false charges against plaintiff; and 

Ninth Amendment based on Torcedo’s abuse of power and libelous report. (ECF No. 1 at 5-6.) 

(ECF No 1 at 6.) In his third claim as to defendant Torcedo, “deliberate corruption,” plaintiff lists

various constitutional violations based on the violation of plaintiff’s right to free speech under the 

First Amendment; the right to be secure in his person, housing and papers in violation of the 

Fourth Amendment; subjected to double jeopardy in violation of the Fifth Amendment; failure to 

provide an impartial jury in violation of the Sixth Amendment; violation of his right not to be 

disparaged by others in violation of the Ninth Amendment; and deprivation of life, liberty and 

property, including use of the toilet, in violation of the fourteenth Amendment. (ECF No. 1 at 7.) 

2

 Plaintiff refers to the charge as “I.E.X.” He provided a copy of the first page of the rules

violation report confirming he was charged with indecent exposure. (ECF No. 1 at 26.)

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Plaintiff further alleges that defendants Crisostomo, Nackord, Shroeder, and Lynch “participated 

and orchestrated the guilty charade.” (ECF No. 1 at 8.) Plaintiff alleges that defendant 

Crisostomo “rubber stamped” a mental health report that was tainted, stating plaintiff had no 

mental health issues, was not on medication, and was in perfect mental condition. (Id.) 

Defendant Lt. Nackord was the hearing official who denied plaintiff due process by not reviewing 

defense evidence and finding plaintiff guilty as charged. Defendant Sgt. Shroeder was the 

investigative employee who violated “due process and impartial witnessing,” “deliberately 

abusing his authority with corruption.” (ECF No. 1 at 8.) Warden Jeff Lynch allowed his 

subordinates to do as they wish, corrupting due process of law, and “is legally responsible for his 

employees supervision and actions.” (Id.) 

Plaintiff seeks to have the decision dismissed, and seeks money damages for false 

testimony and damage to his reputation, and loss of property. (ECF No. 1 at 10.) 

Discussion

The Civil Rights Act

To prevail on a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) the violation of a 

federal constitutional or statutory right; and (2) that the violation was committed by a person 

acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988); Jones v. 

Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir. 2002). An individual defendant is not liable on a civil 

rights claim unless the facts establish the defendant’s personal involvement in the constitutional 

deprivation or a causal connection between the defendant’s wrongful conduct and the alleged 

constitutional deprivation. See Hansen v. Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989); Johnson v. 

Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743-44 (9th Cir. 1978). That is, plaintiff may not sue any official on the 

theory that the official is liable for the unconstitutional conduct of his or her subordinates. 

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). In sum, plaintiff must identify the particular person 

or persons who violated his rights, and set forth specific factual allegations as to how such person 

violated plaintiff’s rights.

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Favorable Termination Rule

Under the Supreme Court's decision in Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), a 

plaintiff cannot bring a § 1983 claim arising out of alleged unconstitutional activities that resulted 

in his criminal conviction unless the conviction is first reversed, expunged, set aside, or otherwise 

called into question. Heck, 512 U.S. at 486–87. If a plaintiff convicted of a crime seeks damages 

in a § 1983 suit, the district court must therefore “consider whether a judgment in favor of the 

plaintiff would necessarily imply the invalidity of [her] conviction or sentence; if it would, the 

complaint must be dismissed.” Heck, 512 U.S. at 487. This “favorable termination” rule also 

applies to prison disciplinary proceedings, if those proceedings resulted in the loss of good-time 

or behavior credits. Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641, 646-48 (1997).

Here, plaintiff challenges a prison disciplinary for indecent exposure that resulted in a loss 

of good time credits (90 days). (ECF No. 1 at 52, 79.) Because reversal of the rules violation 

report finding would necessarily result in a restoration of good time credits, it would also 

necessarily affect the duration of plaintiff’s confinement. Therefore, the challenge to the rules 

violation report for indecent exposure is not cognizable in a section 1983 action.3

False Rules Violation Report

The filing of a false rules violation report by a prison official against a prisoner is not a 

per se violation of the prisoner’s constitutional rights. See Muhammad v. Rubia, 2010 WL 

1260425, at *3 (N.D. Cal., Mar. 29, 2010) (“[A] prisoner has no constitutionally guaranteed 

immunity from being falsely or wrongly accused of conduct which may result in the deprivation 

of a protected liberty interest. As long as a prisoner is afforded procedural due process in the 

disciplinary hearing, allegations of a fabricated charge fail to state a claim under § 1983.”) 

(citations omitted), aff’d, 453 F. App’x 751 (9th Cir. 2011); Harper v. Costa, 2009 WL 1684599, 

at *2-3 (E.D. Cal., June 16, 2009) (“Although the Ninth Circuit has not directly addressed this 

3

 Plaintiff also appended rules violation report, Log No. 7041352, received for breaking a cell 

window and resulting in a credit loss of 60 days. (ECF No. 1 at 28-34.) The hearing official was 

Lt. J. Bullard. (ECF No. 1 at 34.) It is unclear why plaintiff provided such exhibit, but any due 

process challenge related to such hearing must be brought in a separate civil rights action. Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 20(a). 

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issue in a published opinion, district courts throughout California . . . have determined that a 

prisoner’s allegation that prison officials issued a false disciplinary charge against him fails to 

state a cognizable claim for relief under § 1983.”), aff’d, 393 F. App’x 488 (9th Cir. 2010). 

Although the filing of a false disciplinary action against an inmate is not a per se civil 

rights violation, there are two ways that allegations that an inmate has been subjected to a false 

claim may potentially state a cognizable civil rights claim. The first is when the inmate alleges 

that the false report was made in retaliation for the exercise of a constitutionally-protected right 

under the First Amendment. See Hines v. Gomez, 108 F.3d 265 (9th Cir. 1997) (retaliation claim 

must rest on proof that defendant filed disciplinary action in retaliation for inmate’s exercise of 

his constitutional rights and that the retaliatory action advanced no legitimate penological 

interest). For example, “[p]risoners have a First Amendment right to file grievances against 

prison officials and to be free from retaliation for doing so.” Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 

1114 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing Brodheim v. Cry, 584 F.3d 1262, 1269 (9th Cir. 2009)).4

The second is when the prisoner alleges that he was not afforded procedural due process 

in a disciplinary proceeding concerning the false report. See Hines v. Gomez, 108 F.3d 265, 269 

(9th Cir. 1997) (“[T]his court has reaffirmed that prisoners may still base retaliation claims on 

harms that would not raise due process concerns.”); Hanrahan v. Lane, 747 F.2d 1137, 1140-41 

(7th Cir. 1984) (“[A]n allegation that a prison guard planted false evidence which implicates an 

inmate in a disciplinary infraction fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted where the 

procedural due process protections as required in Wolff v. McDonnell[, 418 U.S. 539 (1974)] are 

provided.”).

“Prison disciplinary proceedings are not part of a criminal prosecution, and the full 

panoply of rights due a defendant in such proceedings does not apply.” Wolff, 418 U.S. at 556. 

Rather, for disciplinary proceedings that include the loss of good time credits, Wolff established 

4

 A viable retaliation claim in the prison context has five elements: “(1) An assertion that a state 

actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s protected 

conduct, and that such action (4) chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and 

(5) the action did not reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes v. Robinson, 

408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 2005).

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that an inmate must receive (1) twenty-four-hour advanced written notice of the charges against 

him, id. at 563-64; (2) “a written statement by the factfinders as to the evidence relied on and 

reasons for the disciplinary action,” id. at 564 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); (3) 

an opportunity to call witnesses and present documentary evidence where doing so “will not be 

unduly hazardous to institutional safety or correctional goals,” id. at 566; (4) assistance at the 

hearing if he is illiterate or if the matter is complex, id. at 570; and (5) a sufficiently impartial fact 

finder, id. at 570-71. As long as the five minimum Wolff requirements are met in a prison 

disciplinary proceeding, due process has been satisfied. Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1420 

(9th Cir. 1994), overruled on other grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 483-84 (1995).

Here, plaintiff alleges the allegations were false, but does not allege that such false

charges were made in retaliation for plaintiff’s protected conduct. Rather, plaintiff claims his due 

process rights were violated during the prison disciplinary hearing on the rules violation report 

Log No. 7034860. Defendant T. Nackord was the hearing official. (ECF No. 1 at 82.) However, 

based on plaintiff’s vague allegations, it is unclear whether plaintiff can state a cognizable due 

process claim under Wolff. 

Plaintiff alleges that defendant Shroeder participated as an investigative employee, 

violated due process and was not an impartial witness. However, Wolff does not require the 

services of an investigative employee. California prison regulations provide for investigative 

employees, but this is not a requirement of due process. An investigative employee is responsible 

for gathering information for a senior hearing officer or disciplinary hearing committee by 

interviewing charged inmates, questioning all staff and inmates with relevant information, and 

screening prospective witnesses. Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3318(a). An investigative employee 

is assigned to assist the hearing officer or disciplinary committee, not the charged inmate. Id. 

Thus, plaintiff fails to state a cognizable claim as to defendant Shroeder. Moreover, inasmuch as 

defendant Nackord was the decision-maker at plaintiff’s hearing, any allegations of bias as to 

defendant Shroeder or any other defendants fail to implicate due process. See Wolff, 418 U.S. at 

571 (requiring impartial decision-maker at hearing). 

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However, in an abundance of caution, plaintiff is granted leave to amend to raise any 

alleged due process violations as identified in Wolff. In other words, plaintiff must allege facts 

demonstrating that he was not provided one of the five minimum Wolff requirements. Id.

Free Speech

Plaintiff’s claim that his First Amendment right to free speech was violated is unclear. A

prisoner’s right to free speech is more limited than the right of a non-prisoner. Indeed, courts 

have repeatedly held that not all speech by prisoners is protected by the First Amendment. See, 

e.g., West v. Dizon, 2014 WL 794335, at *5-*6 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 27, 2014) (protected speech 

includes a prisoner’s verbal expression of an intent to submit a formal written grievance); Uribe 

v. McKesson, 2011 WL 9640, at *12 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2011) (prisoner’s attempt to report a 

prison official’s misconduct, either “verbally or in writing, constitutes speech or conduct entitled 

to First Amendment protection”); see also McElroy v. Lopac, 403 F.3d 855, 858 (7th Cir. 2005) 

(to support a retaliation claim, a prisoner’s speech “must relate to a public concern and not just a 

personal matter to receive First Amendment protection”). A prisoner can even be punished if 

their speech interferes with a legitimate penological interest. See, e.g., Griffin v. Berghuis, 563 F. 

App’x 411, 416 (6th Cir. 2014) (speech may be punished if it “is made in a manner incompatible 

with the institution’s legitimate penological objectives”); Caffey v. Maue, 679 F. App’x 487, 490 

(7th Cir. 2017) (“Insubordinate, verbal remarks to prison staff are inconsistent with the status of a 

prisoner”).

In his first claim marked “due process,” plaintiff refers to a free speech right to redress 

grievances. Plaintiff has no protected liberty interest in the processing of his appeal, because 

inmates lack a constitutional entitlement to any specific prison grievance procedure. Ramirez v. 

Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 

1988)). Moreover, plaintiff provided a copy of his grievance SAC SC 20000124 filed in 

connection with his challenge to the indecent exposure charges, and on April 9, 2021, he was 

provided a third level response to such grievance. (ECF No. 1 at 49-54, 84-87.)

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Verbal Harassment

Allegations of harassment and embarrassment are not cognizable under section 1983. 

Rutledge v. Arizona Bd. of Regents, 660 F.2d 1345, 1353 (9th Cir. 1981), aff’d sub nom. Kush v. 

Rutledge, 460 U.S. 719 (1983); see also Franklin v. Oregon, 662 F.2d 1337, 1344 (9th Cir.1982) 

(allegations of harassment with regards to medical problems not cognizable); Ellingburg v. Lucas, 

518 F.2d 1196, 1197 (8th Cir. 1975) (Arkansas state prisoner does not have cause of action under 

§ 1983 for being called obscene name by prison employee); Batton v. North Carolina, 501 

F.Supp. 1173, 1180 (E.D. N.C. 1980) (mere verbal abuse by prison officials does not state claim 

under § 1983). Thus, to the extent plaintiff alleges defendant Torcedo subjected plaintiff to 

verbal harassment, such allegations fail to state a cognizable civil rights claim.

Defamation/Libel

A federal civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 “is not itself a source of substantive

rights,” but rather provides “a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.” Baker

v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144, n.3 (1979). In other words, plaintiffs must specifically allege the

constitutional right that was violated. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 394 (1989); Baker, 443

U.S. at 140. Therefore, to the extent plaintiff attempts to raise a defamation or libel claim, such 

claim alone does not rise to the level of a federal constitutional violation. See Williams v. 

Gorton, 529 F.2d 668, 670 (9th Cir. 1976) (stating defamation itself does not establish cause of 

action under Section 1983; it is deprivation of constitutional rights for which Civil Rights Act 

creates remedy). “To establish a civil rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must assert 

more than a violation of state tort law -- he must show that the defendant deprived him of an 

interest protected by the Constitution or federal law.” Weiner v. San Diego Cty., 210 F.3d 1025, 

1032 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 712 (1976)); Hernandez v. Johnson, 833 

F.2d 1316, 1319 (9th Cir. 1987) (libel and slander claims precluded by Paul); Sadler v. Dutton, 

2017 WL 3217119, at *6 (D. Mont. June 1, 2017), adopted, 2017 WL 3219479 (D. Mont. July 28, 

2017). Specifically, plaintiff must join his defamation or libel claim to a recognizable Section 

1983 wrong. See Buckey v. Cty. of Los Angeles, 968 F.2d 791, 795 (9th Cir. 1992). For these 

reasons plaintiff’s defamation or libel claim fails.

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Other Alleged Constitutional Amendments

In his second claim, plaintiff states that the false claim of indecent exposure violated the 

Fourth and Ninth Amendments. (ECF No. 1 at 6.) In his third claim, plaintiff alleges “deliberate 

corruption,” and then lists a series of constitutional amendments he claims were violated.5 (ECF 

No. 1 at 7.) However, most of the amendments listed by plaintiff do not apply to the 

circumstances alleged in his complaint.

For example, there was no search or seizure under the Fourth Amendment that would have 

required an oath or affirmation. Moreover, prisoners have no “reasonable expectation of privacy” 

in their living quarters. Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517 (1984).

In addition, the Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy Clause protects against “multiple 

criminal punishments for the same offense.” Monge v. California, 524 U.S. 721, 727-28 (1998). 

“A state may punish separate offenses arising out of the same transaction without violating the 

double jeopardy clause.” Walker v. Endell, 850 F.2d 470, 476 (9th Cir. 1987) (citing Albernaz v. 

United States, 450 U.S. 333 (1981)). The test that determines whether convictions violate double 

jeopardy is “whether there are two offenses or only one,” which is demonstrated by evaluating 

“whether each provision requires proof of a fact which the other does not.” Blockburger v. 

United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932) (citation omitted); see also Dowling v. United States, 

493 U.S. 342, 355 (1990) (citing Blockburger, 284 U.S. at 304) (“Two offenses are considered 

the ‘same offense’ for double jeopardy purposes unless each offense requires proof of a fact that 

the other does not.”). Such “analysis focuses on the statutory elements of the offenses.” United 

States v. Overton, 573 F.3d 679, 691 (9th Cir. 2009) (citation omitted); see also Rhoden v. 

Rowland, 10 F.3d 1457, 1461-62 (9th Cir. 1993) (holding that there was no violation of the 

Double Jeopardy Clause where sentences were imposed for distinct crimes). Here, plaintiff 

alleges no facts suggesting a violation of the Double Jeopardy Clause. 

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5

 Despite his reference to “corruption,” all of his allegations focus on his claim that defendant 

Torcedo falsely charged plaintiff with indecent exposure.

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As noted above, plaintiff is not entitled to all of the rights he would be entitled to in a 

criminal prosecution. Wolff, 418 U.S. at 556. The undersigned finds that plaintiff alleges no 

facts demonstrating violations of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth or Ninth Amendments.

Warden Lynch

Plaintiff alleges that defendant Lynch allowed his “subordinates to do as they wish,” 

claiming that Lynch is “legally responsible for his employee’s supervision and actions.” (ECF 

No. 1 at 8.) However, as discussed above, plaintiff cannot state a cognizable civil rights claim 

against defendant Lynch based solely on his supervisorial role. Rather, plaintiff must allege facts 

demonstrating Lynch’s personal involvement in the constitutional deprivation or a causal 

connection between Lynch’s wrongful conduct and the alleged constitutional deprivation. 

Leave to Amend

For all of the above reasons, the court finds the allegations in plaintiff’s complaint so 

vague and conclusory that it is unable to determine whether the current action is frivolous or fails 

to state a claim for relief, and the complaint must be dismissed. The court, however, grants leave 

to file an amended complaint.

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the conditions 

about which he complains resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See e.g., 

West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). Also, the complaint must allege in specific terms how 

each named defendant is involved. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371 (1976). 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, 423 U.S. at 371; May v. Enomoto, 633 

F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980). Furthermore, vague and conclusory allegations of official 

participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 

268 (9th Cir. 1982).

A plaintiff may properly assert multiple claims against a single defendant. Fed. Rule Civ. 

P. 18. In addition, a plaintiff may join multiple defendants in one action where “any right to relief 

is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of the 

same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions and occurrences” and “any question of law 

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or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). Unrelated 

claims against different defendants must be pursued in separate lawsuits. See George v. Smith, 

507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). This rule is intended “not only to prevent the sort of morass [a 

multiple claim, multiple defendant] suit produce[s], but also to ensure that prisoners pay the 

required filing fees -- for the Prison Litigation Reform Act limits to 3 the number of frivolous 

suits or appeals that any prisoner may file without prepayment of the required fees. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(g).” George, 507 F.3d at 607. 

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 requirement exists 

because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Ramirez 

v. County of San Bernardino, 806 F.3d 1002, 1008 (9th Cir. 2015) (“an ‘amended complaint 

supersedes the original, the latter being treated thereafter as non-existent.’” (internal citation 

omitted)). 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.6

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

1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.

2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. Plaintiff 

is assessed an initial partial filing fee in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(b)(1). All fees shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to the 

Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed concurrently 

herewith.

3. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed. 

4. Within thirty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete the attached 

Notice of Amendment and submit the following documents to the court:

6

 Rather than re-file exhibits, plaintiff may ask the court to append exhibits from the original 

complaint to his amended complaint.

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a. The completed Notice of Amendment; and

b. An original of the Amended Complaint.

Plaintiff’s amended complaint shall comply with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice. The amended complaint must 

also bear the docket number assigned to this case and must be labeled “Amended Complaint.” 

Failure to file an amended complaint in accordance with this order may result in the dismissal of 

this action.

5. Plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 1 at 12-15) is denied as moot.

Dated: October 6, 2021

/diaz0916.14

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FELIPE POLANCO DIAZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

JEFF LYNCH, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:21-cv-0916 KJN P

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

Plaintiff hereby submits the following document in compliance with the court’s order

filed______________.

_____________ Amended Complaint

DATED: 

________________________________

Plaintiff

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