Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00517/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00517-2/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

RUDY VEGA,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:06-CV-517-LJO DLB-P

ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT, WITH

LEAVE TO AMEND, FOR FAILURE TO

COMPLY WITH RULE 8

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action.

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 has 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). “Notwithstanding

any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any

time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state a claim upon which relief

may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). 

A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon

which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in

support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. See Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467

U.S. 69, 73 (1984), citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957);see also Palmer v. Roosevelt

Lake Log Owners Ass'n, 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a complaint under this

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standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg.

Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most

favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395

U.S. 411, 421 (1969).

A. Plaintiff’s Complaint

A plaintiff’s complaint must satisfy the requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a),

which calls for a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to

relief.” Rule 8(a) expresses the principle of notice-pleading, whereby the pleader need only give the

opposing party fair notice of a claim. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957). Rule 8(a) does

not require an elaborate recitation of every fact a plaintiff may ultimately rely upon at trial, but only

a statement sufficient to “give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiff's claim is and the

grounds upon which it rests.” Id. at 47. Rule 8(a) also requires that the plaintiff give notice of the

relief which he seeks from the defendants. 

Plaintiff’s complaint does not comply with Rule 8(a). With the exception of stating that this

is a “racial disability” “religious liberties” discrimination action, where defendants violated his civil

rights, plaintiff fails to identify any defendants or claims. Plaintiff’s allegations are vague,

conclusory, and confusing, and fail to place defendants on notice as to the basis of plaintiff’s claims

against them. Plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel and states that his claims are

meritorious. He then continues with difficult to read and rambling statements which are nonsensical

and not in compliance with Rule 8. 

The court will provide plaintiff with one final opportunity to file a complaint that complies

with Rule 8. Although plaintiff’s amended complaint should not be needlessly lengthy or detailed,

plaintiff must allege sufficient facts for the court to ascertain the basis of his claims and whether or

not he states cognizable claims for relief. Plaintiff must, under each separately enumerated claim,

set forth the facts that plaintiff believes give rise to the claim. It is plaintiff’s responsibility to state

his claims in a manner that complies with Rule 8. Plaintiff’s factual allegations must be sufficiently

clear that the court can determine whether or not plaintiff is entitled to proceed on his claims and that

defendants can defend against the claims. 

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Plaintiff is admonished that a claim, or cause of action, is one claim. For each legal claim

plaintiff is pursuing (e.g., an equal protection claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or a denial of access to

the courts claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983), plaintiff shall label the claim and set forth the facts that

he believes give rise to the claim. Plaintiff is informed he must demonstrate in his 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. 362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy,

588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 

Finally, plaintiff is advised that Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended complaint be

complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. 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. 

B. Conclusion

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed, with leave to amend, for failure to comply with

Rule 8;

2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall file an

amended complaint setting forth clearly each of his claims and the factual allegations

in support of each claim; and

3. The failure to file an amended complaint that complies with this order will result in

a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: September 28, 2007 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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