Source: https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/arizona/azdce/2:2012cv00092/670098/10
Timestamp: 2017-10-21 09:08:42
Document Index: 540881008

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 2254', '§ 2255', '§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 1997', '§ 1343', '§ 1983', '§ 1331']

ORDER denying without prejudice the 8 Motion for Appointment of Counsel for Timberman v. Arizona Department of Corrections et al :: Justia Dockets & Filings
Justia Dockets & Filings Ninth Circuit Arizona Arizona District Court Timberman v. Arizona Department of Corrections et al Filing 10
ORDER denying without prejudice the 8 Motion for Appointment of Counsel. The First Amended Complaint (Doc. 9) is dismissed for failure to state a claim.Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a second amended complaint in compliance with this Order. If Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk of Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action with prejudice that states that the dismissal may count as a "strike" under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Signed by Judge Robert C Broomfield on 3/16/12.(LAD)
1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) Arizona Department of Corrections, et al.,) ) ) ) Defendants. ) Robert Lee Timberman, No. CV 12-0092-PHX-RCB (DKD) ORDER 15 On January 13, 2012, Plaintiff Robert Lee Timberman, who is confined in the Arizona 16 State Prison Complex-Yuma in San Luis, Arizona, filed a pro se civil rights Complaint 17 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, and a Motion 18 for Appointment of Counsel. In a February 2, 2012 Order, the Court granted the Application 19 to Proceed, denied the Motion for Appointment of Counsel, and dismissed the Complaint 20 because Plaintiff had failed to comply with Local Rule of Civil Procedure 3.4. The Court 21 gave Plaintiff 30 days to file an amended complaint that cured the deficiencies identified in 22 the Order. 23 On February 21, 2012, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 8) 24 and a First Amended Complaint (Doc. 9). The Court will dismiss the First Amended 25 Complaint with leave to amend and will deny the Motion for Appointment of Counsel. 26 I. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints 27 28 JDDL-K The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. 1 § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff has raised 2 claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which relief may 3 be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 4 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). 5 A pleading must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 6 pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8 does not 7 demand detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant- 8 unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). 9 “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 10 statements, do not suffice.” Id. 11 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a 12 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 13 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content 14 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 15 misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for 16 relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial 17 experience and common sense.” Id. at 1950. Thus, although a plaintiff’s specific factual 18 allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must assess whether there 19 are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id. at 1951. 20 But as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed, courts 21 must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th 22 Cir. 2010). A “complaint [filed by a pro se prisoner] ‘must be held to less stringent standards 23 than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 24 94 (2007) (per curiam)). 25 26 a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal of the 27 action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). The Court 28 JDDL-K If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other facts, should not, however, advise the litigant how to cure the defects. This type of advice “would -2- 1 undermine district judges’ role as impartial decisionmakers.” Pliler v. Ford, 542 U.S. 225, 2 231 (2004); see also Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1131 n.13 (declining to decide whether the court was 3 required to inform a litigant of deficiencies). The Court will dismiss Plaintiff’s First 4 Amended Complaint for failure to state a claim, but because the First Amended Complaint 5 may possibly be saved by amendment, will dismiss the First Amended Complaint with leave 6 to amend. 7 II. First Amended Complaint 8 An amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 9 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 10 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court treats the original Complaint as 11 nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Thus, the Court will consider only those claims 12 raised in the First Amended Complaint against only those Defendants named in the First 13 Amended Complaint. 14 In his three-count First Amended Complaint, Plaintiff sues the following Defendants: 15 the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC), the Great Plains Correctional Facility, 16 ADOC Director Charles Ryan, and Warden R. Bock. 17 18 claims that in the course of being transferred by bus from Defendant Great Plains 19 Correctional Facility to Arizona, the corrections officers and transport agents acted with a 20 “w[a]nton and expressed intent to inflict punishment.” Specifically, he alleges that during 21 the 18-20 hour bus ride, he was not provided with adequate drinking water, was unable to use 22 the bathroom facilities because they were full and covered with urine and excrement, became 23 ill due to the heat in the bus and the insufficient amount of water, and was unable to sleep. 24 He also claims that the air conditioner on the bus was broken and the bus smelled of 25 excrement and urine. In addition, he contends that the bus driver would make the bus swerve 26 when inmates were attempting to stand or use the bathroom, which caused the inmates, 27 including Plaintiff, to lose their balance and slam to the floor or into the walls. Plaintiff 28 JDDL-K In Count One, Plaintiff alleges a violation of his Fourteenth Amendment rights. He asserts that the officers laughed when this occurred. -3- 1 In Count Two, Plaintiff alleges a violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. He 2 claims that before he left Defendant Great Plains Correctional Facility, he informed 3 correctional officers that his right handcuff was too tight and requested that they loosen it. 4 He asserts that his requests were denied on three occasions prior to the being loaded onto the 5 bus and that the transportation officers refused to adjust the handcuff after he had been 6 loaded onto the bus. Plaintiff asserts that his arms and legs became swollen from the 7 restriction. He also asserts that during the bus ride, the officers “weaponiz[ed] the bus” by 8 maliciously swerving the bus from side to side, forcing Plaintiff to lose his balance, fall to 9 the floor, slam his face and head against the walls, and suffer “blunt force trauma” to his 10 wrist when he attempted to brace himself. Plaintiff claims that when he or other inmates 11 requested that the officers stop making the bus swerve, the officers laughed and responded 12 with obscenities. 13 In Count Three, Plaintiff alleges a violation of his Eighth Amendment rights because 14 Defendants are responsible for inmate safety, security, and welfare, and failed to protect him 15 from cruel and unusual punishment by their employees. 16 In his Request for Relief, Plaintiff seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, monetary 17 damages, and his costs of suit. 18 III. Failure to State a Claim 19 A. 20 The Arizona Department of Corrections is not a proper Defendant. Under the 21 Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, a state or state agency may not 22 be sued in federal court without its consent. Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 23 U.S. 89, 100 (1984); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). Furthermore, “a 24 state is not a ‘person’ for purposes of section 1983. Likewise ‘arms of the State’ such as the 25 Arizona Department of Corrections are not ‘persons’ under section 1983.” Gilbreath v. 26 Cutter Biological, Inc., 931 F.2d 1320, 1327 (9th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted). Therefore, 27 the Court will dismiss Defendant Arizona Department of Corrections. 28 JDDL-K Improper Defendants–ADOC and Great Plains Correctional Facility In addition, Defendant Great Plains Correctional Facility is not a proper Defendant. -4- 1 Section 1983, 42 U.S.C., imposes liability on any “person” who violates an individual’s 2 federal rights while acting under color of state law. Defendant Great Plains Correctional 3 Facility is a building or collection of buildings, not a person or legally created entity capable 4 of being sued. Therefore, the Court will dismiss Defendant Great Plains Correctional 5 Facility. 6 B. Failure to State a Claim–Defendants Ryan and Bock 7 To state a valid claim under § 1983, plaintiffs must allege that they suffered a specific 8 injury as a result of specific conduct of a defendant and show an affirmative link between the 9 injury and the conduct of that defendant. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-72, 377 10 (1976). There is no respondeat superior liability under § 1983, and therefore, a defendant’s 11 position as the supervisor of persons who allegedly violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights 12 does not impose liability. Monell v. New York City Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 13 658, 691-92 (1978); Hamilton v. Endell, 981 F.2d 1062, 1067 (9th Cir. 1992); Taylor v. List, 14 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). “Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to Bivens 15 and § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the 16 official’s own individual actions, has violated the Constitution.” Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1948. 17 Plaintiff has not alleged that Defendants Ryan and Bock personally participated in a 18 deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, were aware of a deprivation and failed to act, 19 or formed policies that resulted in Plaintiff’s injuries. In Counts One and Two, Plaintiff 20 describes conduct by nonparties. In Count Three, he asserts that Defendants Ryan and Bock 21 are responsible for the actions of their employees. This is insufficient to impose liability on 22 them. See Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1948. Thus, the Court will dismiss without prejudice 23 Defendants Ryan and Bock. 24 IV. Leave to Amend 25 26 failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Within 30 days, Plaintiff may 27 submit a second amended complaint to cure the deficiencies outlined above. The Clerk of 28 JDDL-K For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint will be dismissed for Court will mail Plaintiff a court-approved form to use for filing a second amended complaint. -5- 1 If Plaintiff fails to use the court-approved form, the Court may strike the second amended 2 complaint and dismiss this action without further notice to Plaintiff. 3 Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is the “Second 4 Amended Complaint.” The second amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in its 5 entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original 6 Complaint or First Amended Complaint by reference. Plaintiff may include only one claim 7 per count. 8 If Plaintiff files an amended complaint, Plaintiff must write short, plain statements 9 telling the Court: (1) the constitutional right Plaintiff believes was violated; (2) the name of 10 the Defendant who violated the right; (3) exactly what that Defendant did or failed to do; 11 (4) how the action or inaction of that Defendant is connected to the violation of Plaintiff’s 12 constitutional right; and (5) what specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of that 13 Defendant’s conduct. See Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371-72, 377. 14 Plaintiff must repeat this process for each person he names as a Defendant. If Plaintiff 15 fails to affirmatively link the conduct of each named Defendant with the specific injury 16 suffered by Plaintiff, the allegations against that Defendant will be dismissed for failure to 17 state a claim. Conclusory allegations that a Defendant or group of Defendants have 18 violated a constitutional right are not acceptable and will be dismissed. 19 A second amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint and First Amended 20 Complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. 21 Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court will 22 treat the original Complaint and First Amended Complaint as nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d 23 at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in the original Complaint or First Amended 24 complaint is waived if it is not raised in a second amended complaint. King v. Atiyeh, 814 25 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). 26 V. Motion for Appointment of Counsel 27 28 JDDL-K There is no constitutional right to the appointment of counsel in a civil case. See Ivey v. Board of Regents of the University of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 269 (9th Cir. 1982). In -6- 1 proceedings in forma pauperis, the court may request an attorney to represent any person 2 unable to afford one. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C. 3 § 1915(e)(1) is required only when “exceptional circumstances” are present. Terrell v. 4 Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). A determination with respect to exceptional 5 circumstances requires an evaluation of the likelihood of success on the merits as well as the 6 ability of Plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issue 7 involved. Id. “Neither of these factors is dispositive and both must be viewed together 8 before reaching a decision.” Id. (quoting Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th 9 Cir. 1986)). 10 Having considered both elements, it does not appear at this time that exceptional 11 circumstances are present that would require the appointment of counsel in this case. 12 Plaintiff is in no different position than many pro se prisoner litigants. Thus, the Court will 13 deny without prejudice Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel. 14 VI. Warnings 15 A. Release 16 Plaintiff must pay the unpaid balance of the filing fee within 120 days of his release. 17 Also, within 30 days of his release, he must either (1) notify the Court that he intends to pay 18 the balance or (2) show good cause, in writing, why he cannot. Failure to comply may result 19 in dismissal of this action. 20 B. Address Changes 21 Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule 22 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion for other 23 relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this 24 action. 25 26 Plaintiff must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See 27 LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice 28 JDDL-K C. Copies to Plaintiff. -7- 1 D. 2 Because the First Amended Complaint has been dismissed for failure to state a claim, 3 if Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint correcting the deficiencies identified in 4 this Order, the dismissal may count as a “strike” under the “3-strikes” provision of 28 U.S.C. 5 § 1915(g). Under the 3-strikes provision, a prisoner may not bring a civil action or appeal 6 a civil judgment in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 “if the prisoner has, on 3 or more 7 prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal 8 in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, 9 malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is 10 Possible “Strike” under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 11 E. 12 If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these 13 warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 14 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the 15 Court). 16 IT IS ORDERED: (1) 17 18 Possible Dismissal Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 8) is denied without prejudice. (2) 19 The First Amended Complaint (Doc. 9) is dismissed for failure to state a claim. 20 Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a second amended complaint in 21 compliance with this Order. (3) 22 If Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk 23 24 prejudice that states that the dismissal may count as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 25 .... 26 .... 27 .... 28 JDDL-K of Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action with .... -8- 1 2 3 (4) The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a civil rights complaint by a prisoner. DATED this 16th day of March, 2012. 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 JDDL-K -9- Instructions for a Prisoner Filing a Civil Rights Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona 1. Who May Use This Form. The civil rights complaint form is designed to help incarcerated persons prepare a complaint seeking relief for a violation of their federal civil rights. These complaints typically concern, but are not limited to, conditions of confinement. This form should not be used to challenge your conviction or sentence. If you want to challenge a state conviction or sentence, you should file a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in state custody. If you want to challenge a federal conviction or sentence, you should file a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate sentence in the federal court that entered the judgment. 2. The Form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.4(a) provides that complaints by incarcerated persons must be filed on the court-approved form. The form must be typed or neatly handwritten. The form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. All questions must be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If needed, you may attach additional pages, but no more than fifteen additional pages, of standard letter-sized paper. You must identify which part of the complaint is being continued and number all pages. If you do not fill out the form properly, you will be asked to submit additional or corrected information, which may delay the processing of your action. You do not need to cite law. 3. Your Signature. You must tell the truth and sign the form. If you make a false statement of a material fact, you may be prosecuted for perjury. 4. The Filing Fee. The filing fee for this action is $350.00. If you are unable to immediately pay the filing fee, you may request leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Please review the “Information for Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a (Non-Habeas) Civil Action in Federal Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915” for additional instructions. 5. Original and Judge’s Copy. You must send an original plus one copy of your complaint and of any other documents submitted to the Court. You must send one additional copy to the Court if you wish to have a file-stamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be identical to the original. Copies may be legibly handwritten. 6. Where to File. You should file your complaint in the division where you were confined when your rights were allegedly violated. See LRCiv 5.1(a) and 77.1(a). If you were confined in Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz, or Gila County, file in the Phoenix Division. If you were confined in Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, or Yavapai County, file in the Prescott Division. If you were confined in Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, or Greenlee County, file in the Tucson Division. Mail the original and one copy of the complaint with the $350 filing fee or the application to proceed in forma pauperis to: Revised 3/9/07 1 Phoenix & Prescott Divisions: OR U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. Courthouse, Suite 130 401 West Washington Street, SPC 10 Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119 Tucson Division: U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500 405 West Congress Street Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010 7. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the Court and the defendants in writing of any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the Court of any change in your mailing address may result in the dismissal of your case. 8. Certificate of Service. You must furnish the defendants with a copy of any document you submit to the Court (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis). Each original document (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document stating the date a copy of the document was mailed to the defendants and the address to which it was mailed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a), (d). Any document received by the Court that does not include a certificate of service may be stricken. A certificate of service should be in the following form: I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed this (month, day, year) to: Name: Address: Attorney for Defendant(s) (Signature) 9. Amended Complaint. If you need to change any of the information in the initial complaint, you must file an amended complaint. The amended complaint must be written on the courtapproved civil rights complaint form. You may file one amended complaint without leave (permission) of Court before any defendant has answered your original complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). After any defendant has filed an answer, you must file a motion for leave to amend and lodge (submit) a proposed amended complaint. LRCiv 15.1. In addition, an amended complaint may not incorporate by reference any part of your prior complaint. LRCiv 15.1(a)(2). Any allegations or defendants not included in the amended complaint are considered dismissed. All amended complaints are subject to screening under the Prison Litigation Reform Act; screening your amendment will take additional processing time. 10. Exhibits. You should not submit exhibits with the complaint or amended complaint. Instead, the relevant information should be paraphrased. You should keep the exhibits to use to support or oppose a motion to dismiss, a motion for summary judgment, or at trial. 11. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any judge or the staff of any judge. The only appropriate way to communicate with the Court is by filing a written pleading or motion. 2 12. Completing the Civil Rights Complaint Form. HEADING: 1. Your Name. Print your name, prison or inmate number, and institutional mailing address on the lines provided. 2. Defendants. If there are four or fewer defendants, print the name of each. If you name more than four defendants, print the name of the first defendant on the first line, write the words “and others” on the second line, and attach an additional page listing the names of all of the defendants. Insert the additional page after page 1 and number it “1A” at the bottom. 3. Jury Demand. If you want a jury trial, you must write “JURY TRIAL DEMANDED” in the space below “CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT BY A PRISONER.” Failure to do so may result in the loss of the right to a jury trial. A jury trial is not available if you are seeking only injunctive relief. Part A. JURISDICTION: 1. Nature of Suit. Mark whether you are filing the complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for state, county, or city defendants; “Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents” for federal defendants; or “other.” If you mark “other,” identify the source of that authority. 2. Location. Identify the institution and city where the alleged violation of your rights occurred. 3. Defendants. Print all of the requested information about each of the defendants in the spaces provided. If you are naming more than four defendants, you must provide the necessary information about each additional defendant on separate pages labeled “2-A,” “2-B,” etc., at the bottom. Insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2. Part B. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS: You must identify any other lawsuit you have filed in either state or federal court while you were a prisoner. Print all of the requested information about each lawsuit in the spaces provided. If you have filed more than three lawsuits, you must provide the necessary information about each additional lawsuit on a separate page. Label the page(s) as “2-A,” “2B,” etc., at the bottom of the page and insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2. Part C. CAUSE OF ACTION: You must identify what rights each defendant violated. The form provides space to allege three separate counts (one violation per count). If you are alleging more than three counts, you must provide the necessary information about each additional count on a separate page. Number the additional pages “5-A,” “5-B,” etc., and insert them immediately behind page 5. Remember that you are limited to a total of fifteen additional pages. 3 1. Counts. You must identify which civil right was violated. You may allege the violation of only one civil right per count. 2. Issue Involved. Check the box that most closely identifies the issue involved in your claim. You may check only one box per count. If you check the box marked “Other,” you must identify the specific issue involved. 3. Supporting Facts. After you have identified which civil right was violated, you must state the supporting facts. Be as specific as possible. You must state what each individual defendant did to violate your rights. If there is more than one defendant, you must identify which defendant did what act. You also should state the date(s) on which the act(s) occurred, if possible. 4. Injury. State precisely how you were injured by the alleged violation of your rights. 5. Administrative Remedies. You must exhaust any available administrative remedies before you file a civil rights complaint. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e. Consequently, you should disclose whether you have exhausted the inmate grievance procedures or administrative appeals for each count in your complaint. If the grievance procedures were not available for any of your counts, fully explain why on the lines provided. Part D. REQUEST FOR RELIEF: Print the relief you are seeking in the space provided. SIGNATURE: You must sign your name and print the date you signed the complaint. Failure to sign the complaint will delay the processing of your action. Unless you are an attorney, you may not bring an action on behalf of anyone but yourself. FINAL NOTE You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your complaint being stricken or dismissed. All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and number the pages. 4 Name and Prisoner/Booking Number Place of Confinement Mailing Address City, State, Zip Code (Failure to notify the Court of your change of address may result in dismissal of this action.) IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA (Full Name of Plaintiff) Plaintiff, vs. (1) (Full Name of Defendant) (2) (3) (4) Defendant(s). G Check if there are additional Defendants and attach page 1-A listing them. ) , ) ) ) ) CASE NO. ) (To be supplied by the Clerk) , ) ) , ) CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT ) , ) BY A PRISONER ) , ) G Original Complaint G First Amended Complaint ) ) G Second Amended Complaint A. JURISDICTION 1. 2. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to: G 28 U.S.C. § 1343(a); 42 U.S.C. § 1983 G 28 U.S.C. § 1331; Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). G Other: . Institution/city where violation occurred: . Revised 3/9/07 1 550/555 B. DEFENDANTS 1. Name of first Defendant: at . The first Defendant is employed as: . (Position and Title) 2. (Institution) Name of second Defendant: at . The second Defendant is employed as: . (Position and Title) 3. (Institution) Name of third Defendant: at . The third Defendant is employed as: . (Position and Title) 4. (Institution) Name of fourth Defendant: at . The fourth Defendant is employed as: . (Position and Title) (Institution) If you name more than four Defendants, answer the questions listed above for each additional Defendant on a separate page. C. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS 1. Have you filed any other lawsuits while you were a prisoner? 2. If yes, how many lawsuits have you filed? G Yes G No . Describe the previous lawsuits: a. First prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) . . b. Second prior lawsuit: v. 1. Parties: 2. Court and case number: 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) . . c. Third prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) . . If you filed more than three lawsuits, answer the questions listed above for each additional lawsuit on a separate page. 2 D. CAUSE OF ACTION 1. COUNT I State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: . 2. Count I. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: . 3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count I. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments. . 4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s). . 5. Administrative Remedies: a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available G Yes G No at your institution? b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count I? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count I to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. . 3 1. COUNT II State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: . 2. Count II. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: . 3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count II. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments. . 4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s). . 5. Administrative Remedies. a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count II? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count II to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. . 4 1. COUNT III State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: . 2. Count III. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: . 3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count III. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments. . 4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s). . 5. Administrative Remedies. a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available G Yes G No at your institution? b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count III? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count III to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. . If you assert more than three Counts, answer the questions listed above for each additional Count on a separate page. 5 E. REQUEST FOR RELIEF State the relief you are seeking: . I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on DATE SIGNATURE OF PLAINTIFF (Name and title of paralegal, legal assistant, or other person who helped prepare this complaint) (Signature of attorney, if any) (Attorney’s address & telephone number) ADDITIONAL PAGES All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and number all pages. 6