Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-00983/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-00983-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Galina Arlov
Plaintiff
Lake County California
Defendant
Susan Marlowe
Defendant

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GALINA ARLOV,

Plaintiff,

v.

LAKE COUNTY CALIFORNIA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 19-cv-00983-JD 

ORDER RE COMPLAINT AND 

MOTION FOR TRO AND

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

Re: Dkt. Nos. 1, 7

In light of pro se plaintiff Galina Arlov’s request to proceed in forma pauperis, service of

the complaint was deferred pending a review under 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(e)(2), which requires 

dismissal of the action if it “fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted.” Dkt. No. 6. 

Arlov also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. Dkt. No. 7. 

Neither the complaint nor the motion will go forward at this stage. 

The complaint fails to contain a short and plain statement of the claim showing that 

plaintiff is entitled to relief, as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8. A complaint must 

allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim. That means it must contain “enough facts to state 

a claim . . . that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A 

claim is plausible on its face if, accepting all factual allegations as true and construing them in the 

light most favorable to the plaintiff, the Court can reasonably infer that the defendant is liable for 

the misconduct alleged. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). 

The complaint names as a defendant Susan Marlowe, an alleged guardian in Lake County, 

California, who appears to control an apartment in New York City in which Arlov resides with her 

children. Dkt. No. 1 at 2, 5. Arlov takes issue with the guardian’s actions but never alleges any 

legal claim. She alleges “discrimination” and a “violation of civil rights” by Lake County officials

but does not cite any state or federal law, or allege facts showing what Marlowe has done that 

violates the law. Id. at 4-5. She says a Lake County public guardian was “negligent” towards her 

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

mother and “abusive” towards her children but does not provide any facts to support those claims. 

Id. All she proffers is that the guardian is threatening eviction. But eviction-related claims are 

typically heard in state court, and Arlov has not alleged any facts plausibly showing that the 

threatened eviction was unlawful.

Even construed liberally in light of Arlov’s pro se status, Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 

342 (9th Cir. 2010), the complaint cannot go forward under Rule 8. It is unclear based on the 

inchoate allegations what laws were allegedly violated and for what actions Marlowe is called to 

answer. In addition, while not formally named as a defendant, the complaint also appears to target

the “Lake County California Superior Court.” Dkt. No. 1 at 4. But claims against state judicial 

officers and challenges to orders by state courts are generally not cognizable.

Consequently, the complaint is dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff may file an amended 

complaint by May 1, 2019. Failure to amend by that date will result in dismissal with prejudice 

under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

In light of this dismissal, the motion for a TRO is terminated without prejudice. Plaintiff is 

advised that an amended complaint must be filed before any renewed motion for a TRO.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 10, 2019

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

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