Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-02352/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-02352-1/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 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DONALD M. BIRD, No. 2:16-cv-2352-GEB-CMK

Plaintiff, 

vs. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION

SKILLMAN, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, brings this civil action. Pending before the court is

plaintiff’s complaint (Doc. 1) and a motion to transfer to another judge (Doc. 6). 

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court is also required to screen complaints brought by litigants who have been

granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Under these screening

provisions, the court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or

malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief

from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(A), (B) and

1915A(b)(1), (2). Moreover, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h), this court must

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dismiss an action “[w]henever it appears . . . that the court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter

. . . .” Because plaintiff, who is not a prisoner, has been granted leave to proceed in forma

pauperis, the court will screen the complaint pursuant to § 1915(e)(2). 

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “short and

plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 

This means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne,

84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied

if the complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon

which it rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). “Although a pro se

litigant . . . may be entitled to great leeway when the court construes his pleadings, those

pleadings nonetheless must meet some minimum threshold in providing a defendant with notice

of what it is that it allegedly did wrong.” Brazil v. U.S. Dep’t of Navy, 66 F.3d 193, 199 (9th

Cir. 1995). 

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 sufficient “to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” ” Bell Atlantic Corp.

v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1964 (2007). While “[s]pecific facts are not

necessary; the statement [of facts] need . . . . give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim

is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 127 S. Ct. 2197, 2200

(2007) (internal quotes omitted). In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must

accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, see id., and construe the pleading in

the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974).

I. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS

Plaintiff’s complaint is unclear. It appears plaintiff is attempting to challenge a

citation he received in Tehama County for fishing without a license. Plaintiff alludes to some

type of trial before Judge Skillman, named as a defendant to this action, wherein it appears

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plaintiff was fined $790.00 for fishing without a license, first offense. He also mentions

attempting to challenge the requirement for a California Driver’s License, or the suspension

thereof, for failure to pay the above mentioned fine. 

II. DISCUSSION

Although the complaint is vague, it appears this is plaintiff’s second attempt at

challenging his citation for fishing without a license. In plaintiff’s prior case1

, Bird v. County of

Tehama, et al., case number 2:13-cv-2549-MCE-CKD, the court found the complaint vague and

conclusory, and informed plaintiff that such a complaint was insufficient. That case, which also

appeared to challenge his conviction for unlawful fishing, was dismissed as barred under Heck v.

Humphrey, 512, U.S. 477 (1994). Despite the court’s caution, the complaint filed in this case is

just as vague and conclusory as the complaint filed in plaintiff’s prior action. 

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “short and

plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 

This means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne,

84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied

if the complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon

which it rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). “Although a pro se

litigant . . . may be entitled to great leeway when the court construes his pleadings, those

pleadings nonetheless must meet some minimum threshold in providing a defendant with notice

of what it is that it allegedly did wrong.” Brazil v. U.S. Dep’t of Navy, 66 F.3d 193, 199 (9th

Cir. 1995). 

Here, Plaintiff’s complaint does not include a short and plain statement of the

claim, and is almost unintelligible. The complaint therefore fails to meet the pleading

1 A court may take judicial notice of court records. See MGIC Indem. Co. v.

Weisman, 803 F.2d 500, 504 (9th Cir. 1986); United States v. Wilson, 631 F.2d 118, 119 (9th

Cir. 1980).

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requirements of Rule 8. Plaintiffs’ statements are simply too vague and conclusory for the court

to determine whether this action is frivolous, fails to state a claim for relief, or is barred by res

judicata. 

Two related doctrines of preclusion are grouped under the term “res judicata.” 

See Taylor v. Sturgell, 553 U.S. 880, 128 S. Ct. 2161, 2171 (2008). One of these doctrines –

claim preclusion – forecloses “successive litigation of the very same claim, whether or not

relitigation of the claim raises the same issues as the earlier suit.” Id. Stated another way,

“[c]laim preclusion. . . bars any subsequent suit on claims that were raised or could have been

raised in a prior action.” Cell Therapeutics, Inc. v. Lash Group, Inc., 586 F.3d 1204, 1212 (9th

Cir. 2009). “Newly articulated claims based on the same nucleus of facts are also subject to a

res judicata finding if the claims could have been brought in the earlier action.” Stewart v. U.S.

Bancorp, 297 F.3d 953, 956 (9th Cir. 2002). Thus, claim preclusion prevents a plaintiff from

later presenting any legal theories arising from the “same transactional nucleus of facts.” Hells

Canyon Preservation Council v. U.S. Forest Service, 403 F.3d 683, 686 n.2 (9th Cir. 2005). The

second – issue preclusion – “bars successive litigation of an issue of fact or law actually litigated

and resolved in a valid court determination essential to the prior judgment, even if the issue

recurs in the context of a different claim.” Taylor, 128 S. Ct. at 2171 (internal citation, quotation

omitted). As it appears plaintiff is attempting to challenge the same underlying conviction for

unlawful fishing that he was challenging in his prior case, it would appear this case is likely

barred by res judicata. 

Regardless, the undersigned finds, as was found in plaintiff’s prior case, that his

attempt to challenge his conviction for unlawful fishing in an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is

barred by Heck. In Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), the United States Supreme Court

held that a suit for damages on a civil rights claim concerning an allegedly unconstitutional

conviction or imprisonment cannot be maintained absent proof “that the conviction or sentence

has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state

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tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court’s

issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254.” Heck, 512 U.S. at 486. Under Heck, the

court is required to determine whether a judgment in plaintiff’s favor in this case would

necessarily invalidate his conviction or sentence. Id. If it would, the complaint must be

dismissed unless the plaintiff can show that the conviction or sentence has been invalidated. The

undersigned finds that plaintiff’s action implicates the validity of his conviction for unlawful

fishing and is thus barred by Heck. Plaintiff will be afforded an opportunity to show that the

conviction has been invalidated in his response to these findings and recommendation. 

III. REQUEST TO TRANSFER

Frustrated with the length of time the court has taken to address plaintiff’s

complaint, he has requested the transfer of this action to another judge. Plaintiff offers no

adequate grounds for the removal of the undersigned from this case, such as bias or prejudice

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 144. To the extent plaintiff was attempting to bring a motion to

disqualify the undersigned, the request as filed is insufficient. To be sufficient, such a motion

must state facts which, if true, fairly support the allegation of bias or prejudice which stems from

an extrajudicial source and which may prevent a fair decision. See U.S. v. Azhocar, 581 F.2d

735, 740-41 (1976). The Supreme Court in Berger also held that adverse rulings alone cannot

constitute the necessary showing of bias or prejudice. See Berger v. United States, 255 U.S. 22,

34 (1922). There are simply no grounds on which to grant plaintiff’s request.

IV. CONCLUSION

The undersigned finds this action is likely barred by res judicata and is barred by

Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994) as a judgment in plaintiff’s favor in this case would

implicate the validity of the underlying conviction he is challenging. Plaintiff may be heard on

these issues by filing objections to these findings and recommendation. If plaintiff files

objections to these findings and recommendations, he will also be required to address the lack of

factual allegations sufficient to state a claim if any leave to amend is to be considered. 

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However, it does not appear possible that the deficiencies identified herein can be

cured by amending the complaint. Therefore, plaintiff is not entitled to leave to amend at this

time. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 

Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that this action be

dismissed.

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 14 days

after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written

objections with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of

objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. 

See Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

DATED: February 3, 2017

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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