Beamon v. Arizona Department of Corrections et al

Filing 10

ORDER, the First Amended Complaint 8 is dismissed for failure to state a claim; Plaintiff has 30 days to file a second amended complaint in compliance with this Order; f Plaintiff fails to comply with this order, the Clerk 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 Senior Judge Stephen M McNamee on 7/29/14. (REW)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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William Beamon,

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Plaintiff,

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No. CV 13-2570-PHX-SMM (LOA)

vs.

ORDER

Arizona Department of Corrections, et
al.,

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Defendants.

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On December 17, 2013, Plaintiff William Beamon, who is confined in the Arizona

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State Prison Complex-Florence, filed a pro se civil rights Complaint pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 1983 and an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. In an April 17, 2014
Order, the Court granted the Application to Proceed and dismissed the Complaint
because Plaintiff had failed to state a claim. The Court gave Plaintiff 30 days to file an
amended complaint that cured the deficiencies identified in the Order.
On May 20, 2014, Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint (Doc. 8). The

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Court will dismiss the First Amended Complaint with leave to amend.
I.

Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints
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. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff
has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon

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which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is

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immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2).

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A pleading must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the

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pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8

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does not demand detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the-

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defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.”

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(2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere

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conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id.

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678

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“[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a

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claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,

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550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual

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content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable

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for the misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible

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claim for relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw

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on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Thus, although a plaintiff’s

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specific factual allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must

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assess whether there are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id.

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at 681.

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But as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed,

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courts must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338,

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342 (9th Cir. 2010). A “complaint [filed by a pro se prisoner] ‘must be held to less

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stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v.

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Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)).

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If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other

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facts, a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal

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of the action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

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Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint will be dismissed for failure to state a claim, but

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because it may possibly be amended to state a claim, the Court will dismiss it with leave

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to amend.

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II.

First Amended Complaint

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In his three-count First Amended Complaint, Plaintiff names the following

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Defendants: Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles L. Ryan; Deputy

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Warden Smith-Whitson; Trinity Staff Member Matthews; and CO II Fernandez. Plaintiff

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seeks damages.

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In Count One, Plaintiff asserts a threat to safety claim and alleges the following

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facts: On December 1, 2013, Defendant Matthews gave Plaintiff a direct order to place

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“the dead man tray away.” Matthews then unlocked the freezer and allowed Plaintiff to

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enter. Matthews shut the freezer door while Plaintiff was inside and Plaintiff started to

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panic. Plaintiff hit the emergency release, but “due to the padlock [Plaintiff] was not able

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to release” himself and so he hit the panic button again until Matthews released him from

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the freezer. Plaintiff was in the freezer, which was -10 degrees, for a minute and a half.

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Plaintiff asserts that the “padlock was placed on purpose to ensure [he] could not come

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out” and that “this malicious act was suppose[d] to be [] a joke.” Defendant Fernandez

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told Matthews that his actions were inappropriate and against policy, but Fernandez

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failed to report the incident until 9:30 a.m. on December 2, 2013. On December 6, 2013,

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a psychologist diagnosed Plaintiff with PTSD “due to this incident” and placed Plaintiff

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on “Pragosin” (sic). According to Plaintiff, “he admits to locking me in the freezer” in

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report #13-A03-5259.

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rights and alleges the following facts: Defendant Fernandez “compelled” Plaintiff to

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associate with Defendant Matthews “by not reporting the incident.” When Sergeant

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Ddejsi heard that Defendant Matthews had locked Plaintiff in a freezer “he was relieved

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of his duties.” Plaintiff had to work with Defendant Matthews “until the correct action of

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reporting was done by CO II Fernandez.”

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In Count Two, Plaintiff asserts a violation of his First Amendment associational

Plaintiff to associate with Defendant Fernandez “by not respon[d]ing to the grievance

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Defendant Smith-Whitson “compelled”

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process in the allotted time frame[.]” Smith-Whitson also failed to act on the concerns in

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Plaintiff’s grievance “in which CO II Fernandez pulled [Plaintiff] to the side to advise

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[Plaintiff] that he lied on report (13-A03-5529) to protect staff member Mathew[s].”

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Plaintiff voiced his concerns about “being uncomfortable in CO II Fernandez[’s]

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presence,” but Fernandez continued to work Plaintiff’s cluster during graveyard hours,

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which resulted in lost sleep and “high anxiety” for Plaintiff.

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In Count Three, Plaintiff asserts a violation of his Fourteenth Amendment due

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process rights and alleges the following facts: Defendant Ryan “and his subordinates fail

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to reply and uphold their policy in this matter.” Apparently, Defendants have exceeded

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15 working days to respond, presumably to grievances, or do not respond at all to

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complaints. Someone, possibly Plaintiff, submitted an inmate grievance on January 3 or

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8, 2014, and did not receive a response until February 12, 2014. Plaintiff contends that

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“due to this matter they denied [him] access to the courts on finalizing docume[n]tation to

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proceed in this matter.”

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III.

Failure to State a Claim

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To prevail in a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must show that (1) acts by the defendants

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(2) under color of state law (3) deprived him of federal rights, privileges or immunities

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and (4) caused him damage. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1163-64 (9th

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Cir. 2005) (quoting Shoshone-Bannock Tribes v. Idaho Fish & Game Comm’n, 42 F.3d

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1278, 1284 (9th Cir. 1994)). In addition, a plaintiff must allege that he suffered a specific

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injury as a result of the conduct of a particular defendant and he must allege an

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affirmative link between the injury and the conduct of that defendant. Rizzo v. Goode,

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423 U.S. 362, 371-72, 377 (1976).

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520-21 (1972), conclusory and vague allegations will not support a cause of action. Ivey

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v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Further, a

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liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements of the

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Although pro se pleadings are liberally construed, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519,

claim that were not initially pled. Id.

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A.

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To state a claim under § 1983 for a threat to safety or failure to protect, an inmate

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must allege facts to support that he was incarcerated under conditions posing a substantial

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risk of harm and that prison officials were “deliberately indifferent” to those risks.

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Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 832-33 (1994). To adequately allege deliberate

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indifference, a plaintiff must allege facts to support that a defendant knew of, but

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disregarded, an excessive risk to inmate safety. Id. at 837. That is, “the official must

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both [have been] aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a

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substantial risk of serious harm exist[ed], and he must also [have] draw[n] the inference.”

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Id. “A prison official’s ‘deliberate indifference’ to a substantial risk of serious harm to an

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inmate violates the Eighth Amendment.” Id. (citations omitted).

Count One

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Plaintiff fails to state a threat to safety claim. Plaintiff alleges that he was locked

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in a freezer for a minute and a half as a joke by Matthews. Plaintiff’s allegations fail to

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support that Matthews knew of, but disregarded, an excessive risk to Plaintiff’s safety.

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He does not allege that Matthews intended to hurt him or that Matthews drew the

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inference that a substantial risk of serious harm existed.

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Although not so designated, to the extent Plaintiff is alleging a threat to safety

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claim against Defendant Fernandez in either Count One or Count Two, that claim also

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fails. Plaintiff fails to allege that Fernandez knew of but disregarded an excessive risk

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Plaintiff’s safety. Plaintiff alleges that Fernandez told Matthews that his actions were

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inappropriate and against policy, and Fernandez reported the freezer incident the

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following morning.

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substantial risk of serious harm to Plaintiff.

These actions do not amount to deliberate indifference to a

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Two, and Count One will be dismissed. To the extent Plaintiff alleging a threat to safety

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claim in Count Two, the threat to safety claim in Count Two is also dismissed.

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Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a claim for threat to safety in Counts One or

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B.

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Plaintiff alleges a violation of his First Amendment rights in Count Two. Plaintiff

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asserts that he was compelled to associate with Defendant Matthews and Defendant

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Fernandez after the incident.

Count Two

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As explained in the Court’s prior Order, the First Amendment is typically

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implicated when a plaintiff alleges that his right to associate with others has been

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abridged. “A prison inmate retains those first amendment rights that are not inconsistent

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with his status as a prisoner or with the legitimate penological objectives of the

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corrections system.”

Pell v. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 822 (1974).

However, the

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associational rights of prisoners “may be curtailed whenever the institution’s officials, in

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the exercise of their informed discretion, reasonably conclude that such associations . . .

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possess the likelihood of disruption of prison order or stability . . . . ” Jones v. North

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Carolina Prisoners’ Labor Union, Inc., 433 U.S. 119, 132 (1977). Plaintiff’s allegations

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here do not support a First Amendment claim, and Count Two will be dismissed.

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C.

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Plaintiff alleges in Count Three that his Fourteenth Amendment due process rights

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were violated. Plaintiff is apparently trying to allege that someone did not respond to a

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grievance within the timeframes set forth in ADOC policy.

Count Three

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Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567 (9th Cir. 2005), but “[t]here is no legitimate claim of

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entitlement to a grievance procedure,” Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988)

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(citations omitted), and the failure to follow grievance procedures does not give rise to a

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due process claim. See Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (“inmates

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lack a separate constitutional entitlement to a specific prison grievance procedure”)

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(citation omitted); Flournoy v. Fairman, 897 F. Supp. 350, 354 (N.D. Ill. 1995) (jail

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grievance procedures did not create a substantive right enforceable under § 1983);

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Spencer v. Moore, 638 F. Supp. 315, 316 (E.D. Mo. 1986) (violations of grievance

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Prisoners have a First Amendment right to file prison grievances, Rhodes v.

system procedures do not deprive inmates of constitutional rights); Buckley v. Barlow,

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997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir. 1993) (“[N]o constitutional right was violated by the

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defendants’ failure, if any, to process all of the grievances [plaintiff] submitted for

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consideration.”).

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In Count Three, Plaintiff apparently alleges that Defendants either did not respond

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to his grievance(s) or did not timely process his grievance(s). As stated above, the failure

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to follow grievance procedures does not by itself give rise to a constitutional claim. To

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the extent Plaintiff alleges that he was somehow denied access to the courts based on

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Defendants’ failure to follow grievance procedures, he has failed to state a claim upon

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which relief can be granted. As a matter of standing, for an access-to-courts claim, a

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plaintiff must show that he suffered an “actual injury” with respect to contemplated

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litigation. Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349 (1996). To show actual injury with respect

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to contemplated litigation, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendants’ conduct

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frustrated or impeded him from bringing to court a nonfrivolous claim that he wished to

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present. Id. at 352-53. Plaintiff has not alleged that he was prevented from bringing a

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non-frivolous claim in any court.

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Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can

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be granted in Count Three of his First Amended Complaint and Count Three will be

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dismissed.

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IV.

Leave to Amend

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For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint will be dismissed

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for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Within 30 days, Plaintiff

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may submit a second amended complaint to cure the deficiencies outlined above. The

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Clerk of Court will mail Plaintiff a court-approved form to use for filing a second

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amended complaint. If Plaintiff fails to use the court-approved form, the Court may

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strike the second amended complaint and dismiss this action without further notice to

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Plaintiff.

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Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is the “Second
Amended Complaint.” The second amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in

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its entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original

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Complaint or First Amended Complaint by reference. Plaintiff may include only one

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claim per count.

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A second amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint and First

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Amended Complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal

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Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After

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amendment, the Court will treat the original Complaint and First Amended Complaint as

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nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in the

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original complaint or first amended complaint and that was voluntarily dismissed or was

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dismissed without prejudice is waived if it is not alleged in a second amended complaint.

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Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc).

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V.

Warnings

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A.

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Plaintiff must pay the unpaid balance of the filing fee within 120 days of his

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release. Also, within 30 days of his release, he must either (1) notify the Court that he

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intends to pay the balance or (2) show good cause, in writing, why he cannot. Failure to

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comply may result in dismissal of this action.

Release

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B.

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Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with

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Rule 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion

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for other relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in

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dismissal of this action.

Address Changes

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Plaintiff must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See

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LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without further

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notice to Plaintiff.\

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C.

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Copies

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D.

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Because the First Amended Complaint has been dismissed for failure to state a

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claim, if Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint correcting the deficiencies

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identified in this Order, the dismissal may count as a “strike” under the “3-strikes”

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provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Under the 3-strikes provision, a prisoner may not bring

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a civil action or appeal a civil judgment in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 “if the

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prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility,

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brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the

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grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be

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granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28

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U.S.C. § 1915(g).

Possible “Strike”

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E.

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If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including

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these warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963

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F.2d at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any

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order of the Court).

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IT IS ORDERED:

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(1)

Possible Dismissal

The First Amended Complaint (Doc. 8) is dismissed for failure to state a

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claim. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a second amended

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complaint in compliance with this Order.

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(2)

If Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint within 30 days, the

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with prejudice that states that the dismissal may count as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C.

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§ 1915(g).

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Clerk of Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action

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(3)

The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a

civil rights complaint by a prisoner.
DATED this 29th day of July, 2014.

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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

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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.

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