Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01634/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01634-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
County of Fresno
Defendant
Sevan Kayaian
Plaintiff

Document Text:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SEVAN KAYAIAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF FRESNO, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:06-cv01634-LJO-SMS PC

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA

PAUPERIS

(Doc. 2)

ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT FOR

FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, WITH

LEAVE TO FILE AMENDED COMPLAINT

WITHIN THIRTY DAYS

(Doc. 1) 

I. Screening Order

A. Screening Requirement

On November 14, 2006, plaintiff Sevan Kayaian (“plaintiff”) filed what the court construes

to be a civil complaint along with a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiff has

made the requisite showing pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 and his motion for leave to proceed in

forma pauperis shall be granted.

“Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court

shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state

a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). A complaint, or portion

thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted if it

appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim or claims that

Case 1:06-cv-01634-LJO -SMS Document 4 Filed 02/27/07 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

would entitle him to relief. See Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984), citing Conley

v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957); see also Palmer v. Roosevelt Lake Log Owners Ass'n, 651

F.2d 1289, 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept

as true the allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425

U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve

all doubts in the plaintiff's favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969).

Pursuant to Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a complaint “shall contain (1)

a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court’s jurisdiction depends . . , (2) a short

and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and (3) a demand for

judgment for the relief the pleader seeks.” Rule 8(a) expresses the principle of notice-pleading,

whereby the pleader need only give the opposing party fair notice of a claim. Conley v. Gibson, 355

U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957). 

Plaintiff’s complaint consists of one brief page in which plaintiff asserts that “Fresno County

Jail guards don’t believe inmates have rights,” that he spent six hours with no food or water, and that

he was in a restraint chair without a bathroom break, causing him to urinate on himself. Plaintiff’s

brief complaint falls short of satisfying Rule 8(a) notice pleading requirements. Plaintiff fails to

name any defendants, fails to link anyone to events complained of, fails to set forth the basis for the

court’s jurisdiction, and fails to set forth what he relief is seeking. The court will provide plaintiff

an opportunity to file an amended complaint. If plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint, this

action will be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted.

Plaintiff is advised that Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended complaint be complete

in itself without reference to any prior pleading. As a general rule, an amended complaint

supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once

plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no longer serves any function in the case.

Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original complaint, each claim and the involvement

of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged.

///

Case 1:06-cv-01634-LJO -SMS Document 4 Filed 02/27/07 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, filed November 14, 2006,

is GRANTED;

2. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed, with leave to amend, for failure to state a claim

upon which relief may be granted;

3. The Clerk’s Office shall send plaintiff a civil rights complaint form;

4. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall file an

amended complaint; and

5. If plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint in compliance with this order, the court

will recommend that this action be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted.

 IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 26, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-01634-LJO -SMS Document 4 Filed 02/27/07 Page 3 of 3