Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20120514_0000814.SCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-12-10 18:53:48
Document Index: 167790329

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1914', '§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 1331', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1346', '§ 1346', '§ 1367', '§ 1367', '§ 1915', '§ 1915']

| Anthony Udom, Detainee No. A023503206 v. Corrections Corporation of America; K. Perry; Trick; Iwuaba
Anthony Udom, Detainee No. A023503206 v. Corrections Corporation of America; K. Perry; Trick; Iwuaba
ANTHONY UDOM, DETAINEE NO. A023503206, PLAINTIFF,v.CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA; K. PERRY; TRICK; IWUABA,DEFENDANTS.
Anthony Udom ("Plaintiff"), currently detained at the San Diego Correctional Facility located in San Diego, California, and proceeding pro se, has filed a civil action. Plaintiff has not prepaid the $350 filing fee mandated by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a); instead, he has filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis ("IFP") pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) [ECF No. 2].
As an initial matter, Plaintiff's Complaint violates Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Specifically, Rule 8 provides that in order to state a claim for relief in a pleading it must contain "a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction" and "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." FED.R.CIV.P. 8(a)(1) & (2). Here, Plaintiff's entire Complaint is just two pages and contains no factual allegations. If Plaintiff chooses to file an Amended Complaint, he must comply with Rule 8.
In addition, Plaintiff is in federal custody and seeks to hold purported federal actors liable for alleged civil rights violations. Thus, while the Court notes that while Plaintiff purportedly brings this action under § 1983, the Court will liberally construe his claims to arise under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971) because Plaintiff claims violations of his civil rights by a federal actors. Bivens established that "compensable injury to a constitutionally protected interest [by federal officials alleged to have acted under color of federal law] could be vindicated by a suit for damages invoking the general federal question jurisdiction of the federal courts [pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331]." Butz v. Economou, 438 U.S. 478, 486 (1978). "Actions under § 1983 and those under Bivens are identical save for the replacement of a state actor under § 1983 by a federal actor under Bivens." Van Strum v. Lawn, 940 F.2d 406, 409 (9th Cir. 1991).
Nor does Bivens provide a remedy for alleged wrongs committed by a private entity alleged to have denied Plaintiff's constitutional rights under color of federal law. Correctional Services Corp. v. Malesko, 534 U.S. 61, 69 (2001) ("'[T]he purpose of Bivens is to deter the officer,' not the agency.") (quoting Meyer, 510 U.S. at 485); Malesko, 534 U.S. at 66 n.2 (holding that Meyer "forecloses the extension of Bivens to private entities."). Accordingly, Plaintiff cannot bring claims of civil rights violations against the Corrections Corporation of America.
While not entirely clear, it appears that Plaintiff also seeks to hold Defendants liable for alleged tort violations. If Plaintiff intends to bring this action pursuant to the Federal Torts Claim Act ("FTCA"), he fails to name the United States as a Defendant. The Federal Tort Claims Act ("FTCA"), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b), 2671-2680, provides that the sovereign immunity of the United States is waived for suits resulting from torts "caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government ... under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred." 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). Thus, Plaintiff's FTCA claims fail because the United States is the only proper defendant for an FTCA claim against a federal employee for actions taken within the scope of their employment. See Ward v. Gordon, 999 F.2d 1399, 1401 (9th Cir. 1993).
If Plaintiff is seeking to bring claims under California state law, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over these pendent state claims at this time because Plaintiff cannot identify a violation of federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) ("The district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim under subsection (a) if ... the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction."); United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726 (1966) ("if the federal claims are dismissed before trial, ... the state claims should be dismissed as well."); Acri v. Varian Assoc., Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1000 (9th Cir. 1997) ("[O]nce judicial power exists under § 1367(a), retention of supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims under 1367(c) is discretionary.")
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: 2. Plaintiff's Complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b). However, Plaintiff is GRANTED forty five (45) days leave from the date this Order is filed in which to file a First Amended Complaint which cures the deficiencies of pleading noted above. Plaintiff's Amended Complaint must be complete in itself without reference to the superseded pleading. See S.D. CAL. CIVLR 15.1. Defendants not named and any claim not re-alleged in the Amended Complaint will be considered waived. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). If Plaintiff fails to file an Amended Complaint within 45 days, this case shall remain dismissed for failing to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).