Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01513/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01513-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DONALD GATHRIGHT,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-06-1513 DFL DAD P

vs.

KEYHEA, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

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Plaintiff, a state prisoner at California State Prison - Sacramento, has filed a handwritten civil rights complaint, but he has not named a proper defendant. In his complaint

plaintiff merely lists the court case, “Keyhea vs. Rushen,” as the defendants. In order to state a

claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plaintiff must allege that: (1) a person was acting under color of

state law at the time the complained of act was committed; and (2) that person's conduct deprived

plaintiff of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United

States. See Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 535 (1981), rev'd on other grounds, Daniels v.

Williams, 474 U.S. 327 (1986). Because plaintiff has failed to comply with these requirements,

the court will dismiss the complaint and order plaintiff to file an amended complaint, using the

form complaint provided by the court if he wishes to pursue this action.

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Plaintiff is advised that in his complaint he must demonstrate 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). Also, 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. 362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir.

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

allegations of official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Board of

Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).

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 15-220 requires that an

amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is

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

Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). 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. 

Plaintiff has not filed an in forma pauperis affidavit or paid the required filing fee. 

See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). Plaintiff will be provided the opportunity either to submit

the appropriate affidavit in support of a request to proceed in forma pauperis or to submit the

appropriate filing fee.

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

1. Plaintiff’s complaint, filed on July 10, 2006, is dismissed without prejudice;

2. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an

amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; plaintiff shall use the form complaint

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provided by the court; the amended complaint must bear the docket number assigned this case;

plaintiff must file an original and two copies of the amended complaint; 

3. Plaintiff shall submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, an affidavit

in support of his request to proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of

Court, or the appropriate filing fee;

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the court’s form for filing a

civil rights action and the Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner; and

5. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation

that this action be dismissed without prejudice.

DATED: September 15, 2006.

DAD:bb/4

gath1513.ncmp+

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