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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Sarah Nathreen Nakanwagi

Plaintiff, 

v. 

Tenet Healthcare Corporation, et al., 

Defendants.

No. CV-15-01596-PHX-JZB

ORDER 

 Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Sarah Nathreen Nakanwagi’s First Amended 

Complaint (FAC). (Doc. 9.) On August 18, 2015, Plaintiff filed her initial Complaint 

and an Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. (Docs. 

1, 2.) On November 16, 2015, the Court granted the Application, screened her 

Complaint, and dismissed it with leave to amend. (Doc. 8.) As detailed below, after 

screening, the Court will dismiss Plaintiff’s FAC for failing to comply with Rule 8 of the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court will grant Plaintiff leave to file a second 

amended complaint.1

 

 

1

 On May 5, 2016, Plaintiff filed a “Suppl[e]ment to Amended Complaint,” which 

appears to assert similar allegations and claims as those in Plaintiff’s FAC. (Doc. 11.) 

The Court construes Plaintiff’s filing as a Second Amended Complaint. However, 

Plaintiff did not comply with the requirements of Rule 15.1 of the Local Rules of Civil 

Procedure. Therefore, the Court will strike Plaintiff’s filing at Doc. 11, and screen only 

Plaintiff’s FAC at Doc. 9. 

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I. Legal Standards 

a. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(e)(2) 

 For cases proceeding in forma pauperis, Congress provided that a district court 

“shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines” that the “allegation of poverty 

is untrue” or that the “action or appeal” is “frivolous or malicious,” “fails to state a claim 

on which relief may be granted,” or “seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is 

immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see also Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 

1122, 1126 n.7 (9th Cir. 2000) (noting that section 1915(e) applies to all in forma 

pauperis complaints, not merely those filed by prisoners). Accordingly, “section 1915(e) 

not only permits but requires a district court to dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint 

that fails to state a claim.” Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1127. 

b. Rule 8 

 Rule 8(a) provides that to state a claim for relief, a complaint must 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.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). A complaint also must contain 

“sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on 

its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. 

Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). 

 A complaint must also provide each defendant with a fair opportunity to frame a 

responsive pleading. McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1176 (9th Cir. 1996). Even where 

a complaint has the factual elements of a cause of action present but scattered throughout 

and not organized into a “short and plain statement of the claim,” the Court may dismiss 

the complaint for failure to satisfy Rule 8. Sparling v. Hoffman Constr. Co., 864 F.2d 

635, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). Dismissal of the complaint is appropriate if it is so “verbose, 

confused and redundant that its true substance, if any, is well disguised.” Gillibeau v. City 

of Richmond, 417 F. 2d 426, 431 (9th Cir. 1969). 

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II. Analysis of Plaintiff’s FAC 

Plaintiff’s FAC appears to assert claims against Tenet Healthcare Corporation 

(Tenet) and Russell K. Pearce (Pearce).2

 As with her initial Complaint, Plaintiff’s FAC 

appears to assert numerous claims against Tenet based on her allegations that a nurse at 

Maryvale Hospital, at the direction of a doctor at the Hospital, intentionally injected 

Plaintiff with “Toradol” without Plaintiff’s consent. (Doc. 9 at 1–4.) Plaintiff asserts 

claims against Pearce based on an alleged statement he made promoting sterilization of 

women on Medicaid. (Id. at 8.) 

a. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Unlike state courts, federal courts only have jurisdiction over a limited number of 

cases, and those cases involve either a controversy between citizens of different states 

(“diversity jurisdiction”) or a question of federal law (“federal question jurisdiction”). See

28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332. The United States Supreme Court has stated that a federal court 

must not disregard or evade the limits on its subject matter jurisdiction. Owen Equip. & 

Erection Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 374 (1978). Thus, the Court is obligated to inquire 

into its subject matter jurisdiction in each case and to dismiss a case when such 

jurisdiction is lacking. See Valdez v. Allstate Ins. Co., 372 F.3d 1115, 1116 (9th Cir. 

2004); Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). 

The United States Code specifies the requirements for federal subject matter 

jurisdiction based on diversity. Namely, “[t]he district courts shall have original 

jurisdiction of all civil actions where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value 

of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between . . . citizens of different 

States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). Diversity jurisdiction requires complete diversity; 

meaning, every plaintiff must be diverse from every defendant. Id. A “natural person’s 

state citizenship is . . . determined by her state of domicile, not her state of residence.” 

 

2

 The Court does not construe Plaintiff’s FAC as naming Doctor John Doe or Nurse Jane 

Doe as Defendants, or asserting any claims directly against either of those individuals. 

Rather, it appears Plaintiff seeks to assert claims against Tenet for the alleged unlawful 

conduct of John and Jane Doe under a theory of vicarious liability.

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Cady v. Am. Family Ins. Co., 771 F. Supp. 2d 1129, 1131 (D. Ariz. 2011) (quoting 

Kanter v. Warner-Lambert Co., 265 F.3d 853, 857 (9th Cir. 2001)). A natural person is 

domiciled in the location in which she has established a fixed habitation or adobe, and 

she has an intention to remain permanently or indefinitely. Owens v. Huntling, 115 F.2d 

160, 162 (9th Cir. 1940) (citations omitted). A corporation is a citizen of the state where 

it is incorporated and the state of its principal place of business. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c); 

Indus. Tectonics v. Aero Alloy, 912 F.2d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir. 1990). 

Here, the Court finds Plaintiff’s FAC lacks a clear statement of the grounds for 

this Court’s subject matter jurisdiction, as required by Rule 8(a). As the basis for 

jurisdiction, Plaintiff asserts that “District courts are the court with the jurisdiction to 

handle and hear cases involving human rights.” (Doc. 9 at 1.) Further, Plaintiff appears 

to plead her claims as all arising under federal law. (Id. at 4-8, 10.) Therefore, it appears 

Plaintiff is asserting federal question jurisdiction. However, as detailed below, Plaintiff 

has failed to state a federal claim for relief. 

Further, it is unclear to the Court whether Plaintiff seeks to assert state law tort 

claims, over which this Court may have diversity jurisdiction.3

 (Id. at 4-7.) Plaintiff does 

not identify her citizenship in her FAC, although her address of record is in Arizona. (See

Doc. 10.) Plaintiff asserts that Tenet is “headquartered” in Texas and operates Maryvale 

Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. (Id. at 1.) However, Plaintiff does not address where 

Tenet is incorporated or its principle place of business. Plaintiff likewise does not 

address of what state Pearce is a citizen. Therefore, even if Plaintiff is attempting to 

assert state law tort claims, it is unclear from the FAC whether the Court has diversity 

jurisdiction over this matter. 

Plaintiff must provide a clear basis for the Court’s jurisdiction. This defect alone is 

cause for the Court to dismiss the FAC. See Watson v. Chessman, 362 F. Supp. 2d 1190, 

1194 (S.D. Cal. 2005). As detailed below, the Court will allow Plaintiff leave to amend 

 

3

 Plaintiff cites to federal authority as the basis for her claims. However, as detailed 

below, Plaintiff references some titles of state law tort causes of action throughout her 

FAC. The Court will grant Plaintiff leave to amend to make her claims clear. 

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to clarify the basis for this Court’s jurisdiction. Below, the Court addresses the specific 

claims Plaintiff asserts in her FAC. 

b. Plaintiff’s Allegations and Claims Against Tenet 

Plaintiff alleges that Tenet “operates Maryvale Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.” 

(Doc. 9 at 1.) Plaintiff asserts that on January 11, 2015, she went to Maryvale Hospital. 

(Id. at 2.) Plaintiff requested and consented to receiving a drug called Diclofenac. (Id.) 

Plaintiff was assured by the nurse that she was receiving Diclofenac. (Id.) Upon 

discharge, Plaintiff learned that she had been given a drug called Toradol, instead of 

Diclofenac. (Id.) Plaintiff asserts she never consented to receiving Toradol. (Id.) 

 Plaintiff further claims she was not given material facts relating to the risks 

involved with receiving Toradol, and that she “never would have accepted being injected 

with Toradol.” (Id. at 2–3.) Plaintiff asserts Nurse Jane Doe injected her with an 

“overdose of Toradol,” and that the hospital staff ignored “material warnings” regarding 

Toradol.4

 (Id.) In February 2015, Plaintiff’s family doctor “placed [Plaintiff] on 

infertility counseling, because [her] fertility was impaired.” (Id. at 2.) Plaintiff also 

claims she suffers from the following injuries as a result of Defendants’ alleged conduct: 

“near blindness, emotional distress, insomnia, forgetfulness, anxiety, acute chest pain, 

and symptom of impaired cardiac function.” (Id. at 4.) 

 On the basis of these alleged facts, Plaintiff asserts the following claims for relief 

against Tenet: battery, fraud and misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional 

distress, invasion of privacy, violation of her religious beliefs, and discrimination. (Id. at 

4–6.) Plaintiff demands a judgment of $500,000,000, plus costs. (Id. at 9.) 

 The Court addresses Plaintiff’s claims below. 

 

4

 For example, Plaintiff alleges she informed the staff at Maryvale Hospital that she was 

allergic to acetaminophen and taking Isoniazid. Plaintiff alleges that “Toradol product 

inserts” indicate that giving Toradol to a patient “who is allergic to acetaminophen, 

and/or who is taking drugs like the prescription Isoniazid . . . [increases] the incidence of 

dangerous and undesirable adverse effects.” (Id. at 3.) 

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i. Battery5

Plaintiff alleges a claim for battery against Tenet. (Doc. 9 at 4.) Plaintiff cites to a 

federal criminal statute6

 and two articles of the United Nations Convention Against 

Torture, none of which provide Plaintiff with a private right of action. Plaintiff also cites 

to 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, which provides that “[n]o person in the United States shall, on the 

ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the 

benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving 

Federal financial assistance.” However, Plaintiff fails to set forth factual allegations to 

state a claim that she suffered discrimination pursuant to § 2000d. Finally, Plaintiff cites 

to 42 U.S.C. § 13981. However, the federal civil remedy provided by 42 U.S.C. § 13981 

is not available to Plaintiff because that statute was held unconstitutional by the Supreme 

Court. U.S. v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598, 627 (2000) (“Congress’ effort in § 13981 to 

provide a federal civil remedy can be sustained neither under the Commerce Clause nor 

under § 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment.”). Plaintiff’s FAC therefore fails to state a 

claim based on the statutes and other authority she cites. 

 To the extent Plaintiff is attempting to assert a state law tort claim for battery, she 

may make her claims clear in a second amended complaint. See Duncan v. Scottsdale 

Med. Imaging, Ltd., 70 P.3d 435, 438 (Ariz. 2003) (“[a]n actor is subject to liability to 

another for battery if the actor intentionally engages in an act that results in harmful or 

offensive contact with the person of another.”). 

ii. Fraud and Misrepresentation 

Plaintiff alleges claims for fraud and misrepresentation against Tenet. (Doc. 9 at 

 

5

 Plaintiff appears to assert all of her claims against Tenet based on a theory of respondeat 

superior, rather than direct liability. “Under respondeat superior, an employer in Arizona 

is vicariously liable for the behavior of an employee only when the employee acts within 

the course and scope of his employment.” Loos v. Lowe’s HIW, Inc., 796 F. Supp. 2d 

1013, 1022 (D. Ariz. 2011) (citing Smith v. Am. Express Travel Related Serv. Co., 876 

P.2d 1166, 1170 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1994)). 

6

 18 U.S.C. § 1116(b)(4). (Doc. 9 at 4.) 

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4.) Plaintiff cites to 18 U.S.C. § 1035, which is a criminal statute that does not provide a 

private right of action. The Court will therefore dismiss these claims. 

 To the extent Plaintiff is attempting to assert state law tort claims for fraud and/or 

negligent misrepresentation against Tenet, she may make her claims clear in a second 

amended complaint. See Echols v. Beauty Built Homes, Inc., 647 P.2d 629, 631 (Ariz. 

1982) (“[a] showing of fraud requires (1) a representation; (2) its falsity; (3) its 

materiality; (4) the speaker’s knowledge of its falsity or ignorance of its truth; (5) the 

speaker’s intent that it be acted upon by the recipient in the manner reasonably 

contemplated; (6) the hearer’s ignorance of its falsity; (7) the hearer’s reliance on its 

truth; (8) the right to rely on it; and (9) his consequent and proximate injury.”); Taeger v. 

Catholic Family & Cmty. Serv., 995 P.2d 721, 730 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1999) (To state a 

claim for negligent misrepresentation, (1) there must be incorrect information given for 

the guidance of others in business dealings; (2) the party giving the false information 

intended, or could reasonably foresee, that the other parties would rely on that 

information; (3) the party giving the false information failed to exercise reasonable care 

in obtaining or communicating that information; (4) the other parties actually relied on 

the incorrect information to their determent and were justified in doing so; and (5) such 

reliance caused their damages.). Plaintiff must plead both claims with particularity. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b); Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1102 (9th Cir. 2003) 

(“Averments of fraud must be accompanied by the ‘who, what, when, where, and how’ of 

the misconduct charged.”). 

iii. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

 Plaintiff alleges a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress against 

Tenet. (Doc. 9 at 5.) Plaintiff relies on a federal criminal statute7

 and one article of the 

United Nations Convention Against Torture, both of which do not provide a private right 

of action. Plaintiff also cites to 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. However, for the same reasons as 

stated above, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. Therefore, 

 

7

 18 U.S.C. § 1116(b)(4). (Doc. 9 at 4.) 

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Plaintiff’s FAC has failed to state a claim for relief under the authority she cites. 

 To the extent Plaintiff is attempting to assert a state law tort claim for intentional 

infliction of emotional distress, she may make her claims clear in a second amended 

complaint. See Day v. LSI Corp., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41446 (D. Ariz. Mar. 28, 2016) 

(citing Citizen Publishing Co. v. Miller, 115 P.3d 107, 111 (Ariz. 2005); Wells Fargo 

Bank v. Ariz. Laborers, Teamsters, and Cement Masons Local No. 395 Pension Trust 

Fund, 38 P.3d 12 (Ariz. 2002)). (“(1) the conduct of defendant was ‘extreme’ and 

‘outrageous,’ (2) defendant intended to cause emotional distress or recklessly disregarded 

the near certainty that such conduct would result from his conduct, and (3) severe 

emotional distress did occur as a result of defendant’s conduct.”); Mintz v. Bell Atl. Sys. 

Leasing Int’l, Inc., 905 P.2d 559, 563 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1995) (quotation omitted) (to state a 

claim, the acts must be “‘so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree, as to go 

beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly 

intolerable in a civilized community.’”). 

iv. Invasion of Privacy 

 Plaintiff alleges a claim for invasion of privacy against Tenet. (Doc. 9 at 5.) 

Plaintiff relies on the Ninth Amendment of the United States Constitution and an article 

of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, both of which do not provide a right 

of action in this case. Plaintiff’s FAC therefore does not state a claim for relief under the 

authority she cites.8

 

v. Violation of Religious Beliefs 

 Plaintiff alleges claims for violation of her religious beliefs against Tenet. (Doc. 9 

at 6.) Plaintiff cites to the Ninth Amendment, and an article of the United Nations 

 

8

 In the separate “Demand” section of her Complaint, Plaintiff generally states that she 

“invoke[s] the Restatement (second) of Torts §§ 652A(1).” (Id. at 10.) However, the 

cited section of the Restatement generally lists all four categories of the common law 

right of privacy, and Plaintiff fails to set forth sufficient factual allegations to state a 

claim under any of the categories. To the extent Plaintiff seeks to assert a state law tort 

claim for invasion of privacy, she may make that claim clear, and set forth sufficient facts 

to state such a claim, in a second amended complaint. 

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Convention Against Torture, both of which do not provide a right of action in this case. 

Plaintiff also cites to 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb. However, the Supreme Court declared the 

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb-2000bb-4, 

unconstitutional as applied to the States. See City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507, 536 

(1997). Congress subsequently enacted the Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons 

Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), which provides, in relevant part, that “[n]o government shall 

impose a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined 

to an institution . . . , even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability,” 

unless the government establishes that the burden furthers “a compelling governmental 

interest” and does so by the “least restrictive means.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1(a). Here, 

Plaintiff has not alleged any state action or other facts sufficient to state a claim. 

Therefore, the Court will dismiss this claim. 

vi. Discrimination 

 Plaintiff alleges claims for discrimination against Tenet. (Id. at 6.) Plaintiff relies 

on an article of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and two articles of the 

International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination, all of which do not 

provide a private right of action. Plaintiff also relies on 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1982, and 

1983, but fails to state a claim for relief under any of these statutes. 

 “To state a claim for relief in an action brought under § 1983, Plaintiff must 

[allege] that [she was] deprived of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the 

United States, and that the alleged deprivation was committed under color of state law.” 

Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 49-50, 1 (1999). Further, the requisite 

elements of a § 1983 claim against a private entity performing a state function are: (1) the 

plaintiff was deprived of a constitutional right; (2) the entity had a policy or custom; (3) 

the policy or custom amounted to a deprivation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights; and (4) 

the policy or custom was the moving force behind the constitutional violation. Mabe v. 

San Bernardino Cnty., Dep’t of Pub. Soc. Servs., 237 F.3d 1101, 1110-11 (9th Cir. 2001) 

(quotation marks and citation omitted). 

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 Here, Plaintiff fails to allege facts sufficient to state a claim against Tenet under 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff does not allege facts to establish that Tenet, a private 

corporation, took any action under color of state law. See Price v. Hawaii, 939 F.2d 702, 

707-08 (9th Cir. 991) (generally, private parties are not acting under color of state law). 

Plaintiff further fails to identify any Tenet policy or custom that denied Plaintiff her 

constitutional rights. Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 

1983. 

 Further, 42 U.S.C. 1981 provides that “[a]ll persons within the jurisdiction of the 

United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to make and enforce 

contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws 

and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens.” 

Here, however, Plaintiff fails to set forth any factual allegations regarding her ability to 

make and enforce contracts. Therefore, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against Tenet 

pursuant to § 1981. 

 Finally, 42 U.S.C. § 1982 provides that “[a]ll citizens of the United States shall 

have the same right, in every State and Territory, as is enjoyed by white citizens thereof 

to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property.” However, 

Plaintiff fails to assert any allegations of race discrimination with regard to her property 

rights. Therefore, she has also failed to state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1982. 

c. Plaintiff’s Allegations and Claims Against Pearce 

 Plaintiff alleges a claim of “incitement of violence against women” against Pearce. 

(Id. at 8.) Plaintiff’s FAC again cites to a statute and other authority that do not provide 

for a private cause of action. Plaintiff also cites to 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3), but she does not 

allege any facts suggesting Pearce conspired with any other party to interfere with 

Plaintiff’s civil rights, or that Pearce was acting under color of state law. See Olsen v. 

Idaho State Bd. of Medicine, 363 F.3d 916, 930 (9th Cir. 2004) (To state a claim for civil 

conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3), “a plaintiff must first have a cognizable claim 

under § 1983.”). Further, Plaintiff does not offer any factual allegations regarding how 

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Pearce’s comments are related to her allegations of “forced sterilization.” Instead, 

Plaintiff merely asserts that she “strongly believe[s] that the forced sterilization [she] was 

subjected to . . . is related to Russell K. Pearce’s comments.” (Id.) Conclusory 

statements are insufficient to meet the pleading requirements set forth above. For all 

these reasons, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for relief against Pearce. 

III. Leave to Amend 

 The Court will give Plaintiff an opportunity, if she so chooses, to amend her FAC 

to make her claims and allegations clear, to set forth the basis for this Court’s jurisdiction 

over her claims, and to otherwise state a claim for relief. See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1127 

(when dismissing for failure to state a claim, “a district court should grant leave to amend 

if no request to amend the pleading was made, unless it determines that the pleading 

could not possibly be cured by the allegation of other facts”) (quoting Doe v. United 

States, 58 F.3d 494, 497 (9th Cir. 1995)). Plaintiff must write out, in short, plain 

statements, (1) the rights she believes were violated, (2) the name of the person or entity 

who violated each right, (3) exactly what that individual or entity did or failed to do, (4) 

how the action or inaction of that person or entity is connected to the violation of each 

right, and (5) what specific injury was suffered because of the other person’s or entity’s 

conduct. 

 Accordingly, 

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint (Doc. 9) is dismissed 

for failure to comply with Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is granted leave to file a second 

amended complaint within 30 days of the date of this Order. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff elects to file a second amended 

complaint, the complaint may not be served until and unless the Court screens the 

amended complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff elects not to file a second amended 

complaint within 30 days of the date of this Order, the Clerk shall dismiss this action 

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without further order from this Court. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s “Suppl[e]ment to Amended 

Complaint” (Doc. 11) is stricken. 

 Dated this 16th day of May, 2016. 

Honorable John Z. Boyle 

United States Magistrate Judge

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