Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02510/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02510-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TONIE L. HARRIS,

Plaintiff,

v.

ROSSI THOMAS, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-02510-JCS 

ORDER VACATING DECEMBER 7,

2015 ORDER AND ORDERING 

SERVICE OF SECOND AMENDED 

COMPLAINT

Re: Dkt. No. 20

This is an employment discrimination and sexual assault action brought by Plaintiff Tonie 

Harris, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis. The Court previously reviewed Harris’s First 

Amended Complaint (―FAC,‖ dkt. 11) and found her claims sufficient for the purpose of 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), except that Harris had not adequately alleged administrative exhaustion of 

her claims under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (―FEHA‖). See generally Nov. 

12, 2015 Order (dkt. 14). The Court granted Harris leave to further amend her complaint to pursue 

those claims no later than December 14, 2015. Id. at 1, 15. On December 1, 2015, Harris filed 

notice that she did not intend to amend to pursue the FEHA claims, and requested that the Court 

order the United States Marshal to serve the FAC on Defendants. Request to Serve First Amended 

Complaint (dkt. 17). The Court granted that request, ordered service of process, and dismissed the 

FEHA claims without leave to amend. Dec. 7, 2015 Order (dkt. 18).

On December 11, 2015, Harris filed a Second Amended Complaint (―SAC,‖ dkt. 20) 

substantially identical to the FAC, except that the SAC alleges that Harris filed an administrative 

complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and obtained a rightto-sue letter from that Department, which is attached to the SAC. See SAC ¶ 8 & ECF p. 18. 

Because Harris filed the SAC before the original deadline to amend, and because the FAC 

has not yet been served, the Court VACATES its December 7, 2015 Order denying leave to 

Case 3:15-cv-02510-WHO Document 21 Filed 12/14/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

amend and ordering service of the FAC. The new allegation and attachment are sufficient to 

address the Court’s concern regarding administrative exhaustion. Moreover, for the same reasons 

discussed in the Court’s November 12, 2015 Order in the context of Harris’s federal Title VII 

claims, Harris’s FEHA claims are sufficient for the purpose of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 

The United States Marshal is therefore instructed to serve the following documents on both 

Defendants: (1) summons; (2) the Second Amended Complaint, dkt. 20; (3) the Court’s Order 

dated November 12, 2015, dkt. 14; (4) the Case Management and Pretrial Order dated November 

17, 2015, dkt. 16; (5) this Order; and (6) the attached Consent or Declination to Magistrate Judge 

Jurisdiction form.

Harris is admonished that the Court and opposing parties are entitled to rely on 

representations that she makes during litigation, and that, depending on circumstances, she may 

not be permitted to reverse her position after making such representations in the future—

particularly if the reversal comes without explanation. 

If Harris is not able to retain an attorney, she is encouraged to consult with the Federal Pro 

Bono Project’s Legal Help Center in either of the Oakland or San Francisco federal courthouses 

for assistance. The San Francisco Legal Help Center office is located in Room 2796 on the 15th 

floor at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. The Oakland office is located in 

Room 470–S on the 4th floor at 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612. Appointments can be 

made by calling (415) 782–8982 or signing up in the appointment book located outside either 

office. Lawyers at the Legal Help Center can provide basic assistance to parties representing 

themselves but cannot provide legal representation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 14, 2015

______________________________________

JOSEPH C. SPERO

Chief Magistrate Judge

Case 3:15-cv-02510-WHO Document 21 Filed 12/14/15 Page 2 of 2