IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

Civil Action No. 11-cv-02746-BNB

MARTIN PEDRO,

Plaintiff,

v. 

MICHAEL SMITH, and 

SEVERAL UNKNOWN FBOP STAFF MEMBERS, 

Defendants. 

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE AMENDED COMPLAINT

Plaintiff, Martin Pedro, is a prisoner in the custody of the United States Bureau of

Prisons (BOP) who currently is incarcerated at United States Penitentiary,

Administrative Maximum, in Florence, Colorado. Mr. Pedro filed pro se a prisoner

complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He asks for money damages, injunctive relief,

and the appointment of counsel. He has been granted leave to proceed pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1915. 

The Court must construe Mr. Pedro’s filings liberally because he is representing

himself. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972); Hall v. Bellmon, 935

F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991). However, the Court should not be the pro se

litigant’s advocate. Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110. For the reasons stated below, Mr. Pedro

will be directed to file an amended complaint. 

Mr. Pedro appears to allege that on July 20, 2010, BOP officials conducted a

“cell extraction” of a co-inmate housed next door, and the “c. s. gas” used in the process

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caused Mr. Pedro to suffer a severe asthma attack. On the basis of these allegations,

Mr. Pedro contends Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his serious medical

needs. Mr. Pedro makes additional allegations, but the Court is unable to understand

them because his handwriting is nearly undecipherable. 

Rule 10.1 of the Local Rules of Practice for this Court requires that all papers

filed in cases in this Court be double-spaced and legible. See D.C.COLO.LCivR 10.1E.

and G. The amended complaint Mr. Pedro be directed to file, if handwritten, shall be

double-spaced and written legibly, in capital and lower-case letters. 

The amended complaint Mr. Pedro will be directed to file also must comply with

the pleading requirements of Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The twin

purposes of a complaint are to give the opposing parties fair notice of the basis for the

claims against them so that they may respond and to allow the court to conclude that

the allegations, if proven, show that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. See Monument

Builders of Greater Kansas City, Inc. v. American Cemetery Ass’n of Kansas, 891

F.2d 1473, 1480 (10th Cir. 1989). The requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 are designed

to meet these purposes. See TV Communications Network, Inc. v. ESPN, Inc., 767

F. Supp. 1062, 1069 (D. Colo. 1991), aff’d, 964 F.2d 1022 (10th Cir. 1992). 

Specifically, Rule 8(a) requires that a complaint "contain (1) a short and plain

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

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

sought . . . ." The philosophy of Rule 8(a) is reinforced by Rule 8(d)(1), which provides

that "[e]ach allegation must be simple, concise, and direct." Taken together, Rules 8(a)

and (d)(1) underscore the emphasis placed on clarity and brevity by the federal pleading

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rules. Prolix, vague, or unintelligible pleadings violate the requirements of Rule 8. In

order for Mr. Pedro to state a claim in federal court, his "complaint must explain what

each defendant did to him or her; when the defendant did it; how the defendant’s action

harmed him or her; and, what specific legal right the plaintiff believes the defendant

violated." Nasious v. Two Unknown B.I.C.E. Agents, 492 F.3d 1158, 1163 (10th Cir.

2007). 

Mr. Pedro must assert personal participation by each named defendant. See

Bennett v. Passic, 545 F.2d 1260, 1262-63 (10th Cir. 1976). To establish personal

participation, Mr. Pedro must name and show how the named defendants caused a

deprivation of his federal rights. See Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166 (1985). 

There must be an affirmative link between the alleged constitutional violation and each

defendant’s participation, control or direction, or failure to supervise. See Butler v. City

of Norman, 992 F.2d 1053, 1055 (10th Cir. 1993). A defendant may not be held liable

on a theory of respondeat superior merely because of his or her supervisory position. 

See Pembaur v. City of Cincinnati, 475 U.S. 469, 479 (1986); McKee v. Heggy, 703

F.2d 479, 483 (10th Cir. 1983). A supervisor is only liable for constitutional violations

that he or she causes. See Dodds v. Richardson, 614 F.3d 1185, 1211 (10th Cir.

2010). 

Mr. Pedro may use fictitious names, such as “John or Jane Doe,” if he does not

know the real names of the individuals who allegedly violated his rights. However, if Mr.

Pedro uses fictitious names he must provide sufficient information about each

defendant so that he or she can be identified for purposes of service. 

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Mr. Pedro, therefore, will be directed to file an amended complaint on the Courtapproved complaint form that is legible to read, asserts his claims clearly and concisely,

alleges what rights were violated, and provides specific facts demonstrating how each

named defendant personally participated in the asserted constitutional violations. 

Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that Plaintiff, Martin Pedro, file within thirty days from the date of

this order an amended complaint that complies with the directives of this order. It is

 FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. Pedro shall obtain the Court-approved Prisoner

Complaint form (with the assistance of his case manager or the facility’s legal assistant),

along with the applicable instructions, at www.cod.uscourts.gov. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that, if Mr. Pedro fails to file an amended complaint that

complies with this order within the time allowed, the Court will dismiss the complaint and

the action. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that the request for the appointment of counsel is denied

as premature. 

DATED January 17, 2012, at Denver, Colorado.

BY THE COURT:

 s/ Boyd N. Boland 

United States Magistrate Judge

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