Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00713/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00713-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Eric Arnold
Defendant
C.D.C.R.
Defendant
J. Lewis
Defendant
Pfile
Defendant
Kelvin Sims
Plaintiff
Smith
Defendant
Win
Defendant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KELVIN SIMS, No. 2:15-CV-0713-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER

CDCR, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 636(c) and no other party has been served or appeared in the action. Pending before the court

is plaintiff’s first amended complaint (Doc. 13).

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or

malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief

from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Moreover,

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “. . . short and plain

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statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). 

This means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne,

84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied

if the complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon

which it rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). Because plaintiff must

allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts by specific defendants which support

the claims, vague and conclusory allegations fail to satisfy this standard. Additionally, it is

impossible for the court to conduct the screening required by law when the allegations are vague

and conclusory. 

I. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS

Plaintiff names the following as defendants: (1) California Department of

Corrections and Rehabilitation (2) John Doe; (3) Smith; (4) Eric Arnold; (5) Dr. Win; (6) Dr.

Pfile; (7) J. Lewis; (8) H.K. Johnson; and (9) McComas. Plaintiff alleges that, from October

2013 through March 2015, defendant California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

“demonstrated deliberate indifference via negligent implementation of policies, regulations, etc.” 

Plaintiff claims that the result was denial of medical care to inmates at Ironwood State Prison and

Solano State Prison. 

Next, plaintiff asserts that defendant John Doe, the warden at Ironwood State

Prison, violated his rights by “negligently instituting” polices which resulted in the denial of

health care. Plaintiff similarly alleges with respect to defendants Smith, a correctional counselor

at Ironwood State Prison, and Eric Arnold, the warden at Solano State Prison. 

Next, plaintiff claims that defendants Drs. Win and Pfile violated his rights by

“following Solano Prison’s protocol” which resulted in the denial of plaintiff’s medical appeal. 

Plaintiff adds that Dr. Pfile is Dr. Win’s supervisor. 

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Next, plaintiff claims that defendant J. Lewis violated his rights by “following

Solano’s protocol” which resulted in the “erroneous denial” of his medical appeals. 

Next, plaintiff claims that defendant H.K. Johnson refused to provide “adequate

assistance” in processing plaintiff’s emergency request for a prison transfer.

Finally, plaintiff claims that defendant McComas misrepresented his statements in

a report prepared for plaintiff’s medical appeal. Specifically, plaintiff alleges that defendant

McComas omitted plaintiff’s statement: “My medical necessity for an emergency transfer is

perpetually being ignored and needs to be addressed.” 

II. DISCUSSION

The court finds that plaintiff’s amended complaint fails to state a claim as against

any named defendant. 

Defendant California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is immune

from suit. The Eleventh Amendment prohibits federal courts from hearing suits brought against

a state both by its own citizens, as well as by citizens of other states. See Brooks v. Sulphur

Springs Valley Elec. Coop., 951 F.2d 1050, 1053 (9th Cir. 1991). This prohibition extends to

suits against states themselves, and to suits against state agencies. See Lucas v. Dep’t of Corr.,

66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir.

1989). A state’s agency responsible for incarceration and correction of prisoners is a state

agency for purposes of the Eleventh Amendment. See Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 782

(1978) (per curiam); Hale v. Arizona, 993 F.2d 1387, 1398-99 (9th cir. 1993) (en banc).

As to all remaining defendants, plaintiff’s allegations are conclusory legal

statements unsupported by any specific factual allegations. In particular, plaintiff’s amended

complaint does nothing to inform the court what allegedly happened, when, and by whom. 

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III. CONCLUSION

Because it is possible that the deficiencies identified in this order may be cured by

amending the complaint, plaintiff is entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of the entire

action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). Plaintiff is

informed that, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See

Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Thus, following dismissal with leave to

amend, all claims alleged in the original complaint which are not alleged in the amended

complaint are waived. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). Therefore, if

plaintiff amends the complaint, the court cannot refer to the prior pleading in order to make

plaintiff's amended complaint complete. See Local Rule 220. An amended complaint must be

complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. See id. 

If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff 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). The complaint must allege in specific terms how

each named defendant is involved, and must set forth some affirmative link or connection

between each defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See 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 warned that failure to file an amended complaint within the

time provided in this order may be grounds for dismissal of this action. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 

1260-61; see also Local Rule 110. Plaintiff is also warned that a complaint which fails to comply

with Rule 8 may, in the court’s discretion, be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b). 

See Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1981). 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Defendant California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is

dismissed;

2. Plaintiff’s first amended complaint is dismissed with leave to amend; and

3. Plaintiff shall file a second amended complaint within 30 days of the date

of service of this order.

DATED: February 10, 2017

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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