Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01862/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01862-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Tony Hernandez
Defendant
Christopher S. Rider
Plaintiff
Mark Wayllan
Defendant

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28 Justin James Savage was also listed as a plaintiff on the complaint form. However, Savage did not sign 1

the complaint and is therefore not a party to this action.

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTOPHER S. RIDER,

Plaintiff,

v.

TONY HERNANDEZ, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:07-cv-01862-LJO-SMS PC

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION, WITH

PREJUDICE, FOR FAILURE TO STATE A

CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF MAY BE

GRANTED UNDER SECTION 1983

(Doc. 1)

ORDER THAT THIS DISMISSAL SHALL

COUNT AS A STRIKE PURSUANT TO 28

U.S.C. § 1915(G)

Plaintiff Christopher S. Rider (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action on 1

December 20, 2007. Plaintiff is seeking money damages against inmates TonyHernandez and Mark

Wayllan for physically attacking him and threatening him. Plaintiff also seeks an order mandating

that Hernandez and Wayllan be placed in administrative segregation so ensure the safety of inmates

convicted of sex offenses.

To state a claim under section 1983, a plaintiff must allege that (1) the defendant acted under

color of state law and (2) the defendant deprived him of rights secured by the Constitution or federal

law. Long v. County of Los Angeles, 442 F.3d 1178, 1185 (9th Cir. 2006). Generally, private

parties are not acting under color of state law. Brentwood Academy v. Tennessee Secondary School

Case 1:07-cv-01862-LJO -SMS Document 9 Filed 02/22/08 Page 1 of 2
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Athletic Assoc., 531 U.S. 288, 295, 121 S.Ct. 924, 930 (2001); Single Moms, Inc. v. Montana Power

Co., 331 F.3d 743, 746-47 (9th Cir. 2003); Sutton v. Providence St. Joseph Med. Ctr., 192 F.3d 826,

835 (9th Cir. 1999); Price v. Hawaii, 939 F.2d 702, 707-08 (9th Cir. 1991). 

In this instance, plaintiff is seeking to impose liability against two other inmates for attacking

him. The other inmates were not acting under color of state law and liability may not be imposed

against them under section 1983. While plaintiff may have remedies available to him in state court

stemming from the attack, a section 1983 civil rights action brought in federal court is not an

available remedy.

Pursuant to the Court’s screening authority, this action is HEREBY DISMISSED, with

prejudice, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under section 1983. 28

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). This dismissal SHALLcount as a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 22, 2008 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-01862-LJO -SMS Document 9 Filed 02/22/08 Page 2 of 2