Opinion ID: 501771
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Claims under 42 U.S.C. Secs. 1985 and 1986

Text: 24 Section 1985 proscribes conspiracies to interfere with certain civil rights. A claim under this section must allege facts to support the allegation that defendants conspired together. A mere allegation of conspiracy without factual specificity is insufficient. Jaco v. Bloechle, 739 F.2d 239, 245 (6th Cir.1984); Burnett v. Short, 441 F.2d 405, 406 (5th Cir.1971). The amended complaint contains legal conclusions but no specification of any facts to support the claim of conspiracy. The district court should have advised Karim-Panahi of this deficiency. We cannot say that with such instruction Karim-Panahi will be unable to amend his complaint again to state a cause of action under section 1985. See Amended Complaint p 30; Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 641 (9th Cir.1980) (where pro se civil rights complaint under section 1985(3) failed to allege conspiracy or class-based animus but did allege that plaintiff was denied medical and health needs at ten different holding facilities, and that he was a black prisoner, deficiencies in complaint could possibly be overcome by amendment). 25 Section 1986 imposes liability on every person who knows of an impending violation of section 1985 but neglects or refuses to prevent the violation. A claim can be stated under section 1986 only if the complaint contains a valid claim under section 1985. Trerice v. Pedersen, 769 F.2d 1398, 1403 (9th Cir.1985). Since Karim-Panahi must be given an opportunity to amend his claims under section 1985, we cannot now determine whether his claim under section 1986 is valid. Therefore, the dismissal of the section 1986 claim must also be reversed.