Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07414/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07414-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Alameda Unified School District
Defendant
Betty P. Elgar
Plaintiff

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BETTY P. ELGAR,

Plaintiff, No. C 06-7414 PJH

v. ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT

AND DENYING REQUEST TO 

ALAMEDA UNIFIED SCHOOL PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

DISTRICT,

Defendant.

_______________________________/

The court has received plaintiff’s complaint and application to proceed in forma

pauperis, both filed in this court on December 4, 2006. Because there is no legal basis for

plaintiff's complaint, the Court denies plaintiff’s application and dismisses the complaint sua

sponte.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), "[a]ny court of the United States may authorize the

commencement . . . of any suit . . . without prepayment of fees and costs or security

therefor, by a person who makes affidavit that he is unable to pay such costs or give

security therefor." In reviewing an application to proceed in forma pauperis, the court may

dismiss a case sua sponte if the court determines that the party applying for in forma

pauperis status has filed a frivolous action. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Jackson v. Arizona,

885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989). For purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915, a frivolous claim is

one that lacks an arguable basis in either law or fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,

325, 109 S. Ct. 1827, 1831-32 (1989). Dismissal on these grounds are often made sua

sponte prior to the issuance of process, so as to spare prospective defendants the

inconvenience and expense of answering such complaints. Id., 490 U.S. at 324, 109 S. Ct.

at 1831. Where a litigant is acting pro se and the court finds the litigant's complaint

Case 4:06-cv-07414-PJH Document 4 Filed 01/08/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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frivolous within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the court must give the litigant

notice of the deficiencies of the complaint and an opportunity to amend before final

dismissal, unless it is absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be

cured by amendment. Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 1987); Eldridge v.

Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1135-37 (9th Cir. 1987).

Plaintiff’s complaint is stated in the form of a letter addressed “To Whom It May

Concern.” See Complaint, p.1. Plaintiff, who alleges that she was involved “with Alameda

Multi-cultural Community Center,” states that she has concerns “about the Alameda Unified

School District.” See id. Specifically, plaintiff alleges that she has “made a difference at

Alameda Unified School District” but that community leaders “never give [her] recognition at

all.” Id. Without stating the nature of her work for the school district or the type of

“recognition” that plaintiff seeks, plaintiff also alleges that she “felt discriminated” against. 

Id. at p. 4. Plaintiff also claims to have “powerful information from Washington, D.C. and

Sacramento, Ca,” as well as certain documents, which she alleges could be worth “100

billion dollars each.” Id. at p. 5.

It is impossible to discern from plaintiff's complaint the legal theories under which

she seeks relief. Plaintiff states no basis for the court’s subject matter jurisdiction, and

does not identify any recognizable causes of action. As such, plaintiff has failed to set forth

"a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief" as

required by Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Accordingly, pursuant to its

authority under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the court hereby DISMISSES plaintiff's complaint,

and plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED.

The court will, however, allow plaintiff an opportunity to file an amended complaint. 

For that amended complaint to be successful, plaintiff must demonstrate a basis for federal

subject matter jurisdiction, must allege separate causes of action, must state a

constitutional or statutory basis for each cause of action, and must allege facts showing

each defendant’s personal involvement in the wrongful act alleged in each cause of action,

Case 4:06-cv-07414-PJH Document 4 Filed 01/08/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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as well as plaintiff’s harm or injury. Any amended complaint must be filed no later than

February 5, 2007. If no timely amended complaint is filed, the case will be dismissed with

prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 8, 2007 ______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:06-cv-07414-PJH Document 4 Filed 01/08/07 Page 3 of 3