Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-03811/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-03811-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Clarence A. Branch
Plaintiff
United States of America
Defendant

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CLARENCE A. BRANCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

Case No.16-cv-03811-JSC 

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION

Re: Dkt. No. 18

Plaintiff Clarence A. Branch, proceeding pro se, brings this action against the United States of 

America. The Court previously granted Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis and 

reserved to a later time evaluation of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Dkt. No. 3.) The Court 

thereafter issued an Order to Show Cause because mail sent to Plaintiff at his last known address had 

been returned as undeliverable. (Dkt. No. 8.) Plaintiff responded to the Order to Show Cause, provided 

his new address, and consented to the jurisdiction of the undersigned magistrate judge. (Dkt. No. 10.) 

The Court then reviewed the complaint under Section 1915 and dismissed it for failure to state a claim 

because Plaintiff had failed to identify a cognizable legal theory. (Dkt. No. 11.) On the deadline to do 

so, Plaintiff filed a document captioned “Amendment.” (Dkt. No. 14.) The Court construed this filing 

as First Amended Complaint and again dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim under 

Section 1915. (Dkt. No. 15.) Plaintiff had until December 19, 2016 to file a Second Amended 

Complaint. Instead, on December 16, Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal. (Dkt. No. 16.) Plaintiff 

thereafter filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal which the Court denied because the 

dismissal order was not a final appealable order. (Dkt. Nos. 18 & 21.)

Case 3:16-cv-03811-JSC Document 22 Filed 01/17/17 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Given Plaintiff’s failure to timely file an amended complaint, the Court dismisses this 

action without prejudice. Plaintiff may file an appeal of this order, but he must do so within 30 

days. See Fed. R. App. Pro. 4(a)(1)(A).

However, the Court certifies that any appeal of the dismissal of this action is frivolous 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) because Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint presents “no 

cognizable legal theory [and] an absence of sufficient facts alleged to support a cognizable legal 

theory.” Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 622 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2010). 

Further, the Court granted Plaintiff leave to amend to cure these deficiencies, but he failed to do 

so. (Dkt. No. 21.)

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 17, 2017

JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:16-cv-03811-JSC Document 22 Filed 01/17/17 Page 2 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CLARENCE A. BRANCH,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

Case No. 16-cv-03811-JSC 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on January 17, 2017, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by 

placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Clarence A. Branch

391 Ellis Street

General Delivery

San Francisco, CA 94102 

Dated: January 17, 2017

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

Ada Means, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY

Case 3:16-cv-03811-JSC Document 22 Filed 01/17/17 Page 3 of 3