Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-01452/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-01452-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Teresa Lua
Defendant
Jean Marc Van den Heuvel
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JEAN MARC VAN DEN HEUVEL,

Plaintiff,

v.

TERESA LUA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:21-cv-01452-TLN-JDP (PS)

SCREENING ORDER

ECF No. 1

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTIONS TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS

ECF Nos. 2, 5

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

THAT THIS CASE BE DISMISSED 

OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN 14 DAYS

ORDER

Plaintiff moves to proceed without prepayment of filing fees. ECF Nos. 2, 5. Plaintiff’s 

affidavit satisfies the requirements to proceed in such manner. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Thus, 

the motions, ECF Nos. 2 & 5, are granted.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Having granted plaintiff’s motions to proceed in forma pauperis, the first amended

complaint is now subject to screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). The court must dismiss any 

action filed in forma pauperis that is frivolous, malicious, that fails to state a claim upon which 

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relief may be granted, or that seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from suit. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 

Plaintiff Jean Marc Van Den Heuvel seeks damages related to the loss of his seventeenyear-old emotional support dog, Toby. ECF No. 5 at 6. Defendant Teresa Lua, a dental 

hygienist, hit Toby with her car, killing him. Id. Plaintiff claims that a dentist with whom Lua 

works, Dr. Carl Hillendhal, bears some responsibility; he is named as a second defendant. Id. 

Plaintiff’s circumstances do not give rise to a federal claim. Federal courts have limited 

jurisdiction. United States v. Sumner, 226 F.3d 1005, 1009 (9th Cir. 2000). Here, diversity 

jurisdiction does not exist; all parties are from the state of California. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a);

Abrego Abrego v. The Dow Chemical Co., 443 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2006). And there is no 

federal question jurisdiction because no federal law is identified as applicable. See 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1331; Dennis v. Hart, 724 F.3d 1249, 1252 (9th Cir. 2013). Plaintiff may wish to seek relief in 

state court. Plaintiff attaches a section of the California Penal Code to the complaint, which may 

indicate an attempt to have crimes investigated and criminal charges brought against defendants. 

ECF No. 4 at 13-14. Citizens cannot bring criminal charges or compel a governmental body to 

bring criminal charges. Further, “criminal statutes . . . do not give rise to civil liability.” Allen v. 

Gold Country Casino, 464 F.3d 1044, 1048 (9th Cir. 2006). Thus, the complaint fails to state a 

claim upon which relief can be granted. Leave to amend would be futile. 

Accordingly, it is recommended that plaintiff’s case be dismissed for failure to state a 

claim. 

I submit these findings and recommendations to the district judge under 28 U.S.C. 

§ 636(b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, 

Eastern District of California. Plaintiff may, within 14 days of the service of the findings and 

recommendations, file written objections to the findings and recommendations with the court. 

Such objections should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 

Recommendations.” The district judge will review the findings and recommendations under 28 

U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). 

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 12, 2022 

JEREMY D. PETERSON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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