Martinez v. Davey
Filing
31
ORDER Vacating 29 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS; ORDER Finding no Cognizable Claims and Requiring Plaintiff to Amend or Respond; ORDER Denying 30 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 02/14/2018. Thirty-Day Deadline. (Flores, E)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
RICARDO MARTINEZ,
12
13
14
Plaintiff,
CASE No. 1:16-cv-1658-AWI-MJS (PC)
ORDER VACATING FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
v.
(ECF No. 29)
D. DAVEY, et al.,
16
ORDER FINDING NO COGNIZABLE
CLAIMS AND REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO
AMEND OR RESPOND
17
(ECF No. 23)
18
19
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
20
(ECF No. 30)
21
THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE
15
22
23
24
25
26
27
Defendants.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in a civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has consented to the jurisdiction of a
magistrate judge. (ECF No. 9.)
This action was dismissed on September 29, 2017, without leave to amend due to
Plaintiff’s repeated failure to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20’s joinder
requirement. (ECF No. 27.) On January 10, 2018, the undersigned sua sponte vacated
28
1
1
the dismissal and reopened the action in light of Williams v. King, 875 F.3d 500 (9th Cir.
2
Nov. 9, 2017) (requiring the consent of all named plaintiffs and defendants before
3
jurisdiction may vest in a Magistrate Judge to dispose of a civil case). Simultaneously,
4
the undersigned re-screened Plaintiff’s second amended complaint and issued findings
5
and recommendations to dismiss the action based on misjoinder. (ECF No. 29.) Upon
6
further consideration, the undersigned concludes the findings and recommendations
7
were issued in error. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 21 (“Misjoinder of parties is not a ground for
8
dismissing an action.”)
9
Accordingly, the undersigned will herein vacate the prior findings and
10
recommendations and re-screen Plaintiff’s second amended complaint.
11
I.
Screening Requirement
12
The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief
13
against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28
14
U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner
15
has raised claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon
16
which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is
17
immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). “Notwithstanding any filing fee,
18
or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any
19
time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state a claim upon
20
which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
21
II.
Pleading Standard
22
Section 1983 provides a cause of action against any person who deprives an
23
individual of federally guaranteed rights “under color” of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A
24
complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
25
pleader is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are
26
not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by
27
mere conclusory statements, do not suffice,” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)
28
(citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)), and courts “are not
2
1
required to indulge unwarranted inferences,” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d
2
677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). While factual
3
allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
4
Under section 1983, Plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant personally
5
participated in the deprivation of his rights. Jones v. Williams, 297 F.3d 930, 934 (9th Cir.
6
2002). This requires the presentation of factual allegations sufficient to state a plausible
7
claim for relief. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79; Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962,
8
969 (9th Cir. 2009). Prisoners proceeding pro se in civil rights actions are entitled to
9
have their pleadings liberally construed and to have any doubt resolved in their favor,
10
Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (citations omitted), but nevertheless,
11
the mere possibility of misconduct falls short of meeting the plausibility standard, Iqbal,
12
556 U.S. at 678; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
13
III.
Relevant Procedural Background
14
Plaintiff initiated this action on June 20, 2016, in the Northern District of California
15
asserting claims arising under the First, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments
16
based on conduct occurring at California State Prison (“CSP”) in Corcoran, California.
17
Plaintiff named D. Davey, the CSP Warden; the unidentified Chief Medical Officer at
18
CSP; and approximately 27 Doe Defendants. Upon review of the allegations asserted in
19
the complaint, the case was transferred to this court on November 2, 2016. (ECF No. 7.)
20
On January 4, 2017, Plaintiff’s complaint was dismissed for failure to state a
21
claim. His bare allegations in the complaint were found woefully insufficient under
22
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), and the undersigned declined to review the 150
23
pages of attachments to determine if they included facts giving rise to a cognizable
24
cause of action. (ECF No. 11.) Plaintiff was provided the applicable pleading criteria for
25
what appeared to be his intended Eighth and First Amendment claims and leave to
26
amend.
27
Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint that was shorter and more succinct,
28
totaling thirty-six pages. (ECF No. 17.) That first amended complaint was screened on
3
1
April 7, 2017 and also dismissed, though this time for failure to comply with Federal Rule
2
of Civil Procedure 20’s joinder requirement since it included a number of claims that did
3
not arise from the same or even related transaction. (ECF No. 20.) In addition, Plaintiff’s
4
allegations against Warden Davey, Dr. Lewis, and the Federal Receiver were dismissed
5
for failure to link those Defendants to any deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights. (Id.)
6
Plaintiff then filed his second amended complaint, which is before the Court for
7
screening. (ECF No. 23.)
8
IV.
Plaintiff’s allegations
9
Plaintiff brings suit against D. Davey, the Warden, CSP; Dr. Anthony Enenmoh, a
10
physician at CSP; Dr. Edgar Clark, a physician at CSP; Dr. Scharffenberg, Plaintiff’s
11
PCP at CSATF; Dr. J. Lewis, the Deputy Director of an unspecified department / agency;
12
L.W. Muniz, Warden of Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”) in Soledad, California; E.
13
Gitova, a nurse at SVSP; Dr. Lawrence Gamboa; and the Federal Receiver “who
14
controls the prison’s medical care.”
15
Once again Plaintiff’s allegations are exceptionally lengthy, assert multiple
16
unconnected claims and contain seemingly unrelated exhibits. Many of the allegations
17
are made against unnamed individuals or individuals not named in the caption.
18
19
20
To the best of the Court’s ability, Plaintiff’s allegations are substantively
summarized as follows:
1.
Allegations against Dr. Scharffenberg
21
On December 12, 2015, Dr. Scharffenberg denied Plaintiff an evaluation a
22
neurosurgeon specializing in spinal cord tumors had recommended and also failed or
23
declined to (1) order an MRI of Plaintiff’s cervical spine, (2) perform a second MRI on the
24
lumbar spine, (3) provide a wedge pillow, (4) provide a Tens unit for pain relief, (5)
25
recommend a pulmonary specialist, (6) remove cataracts, (7) provide a wheelchair, and
26
(8) order a CT scan of Plaintiff’s abdomen and pelvis. Plaintiff does not describe his
27
medical conditions or provide any information which might enable evaluation of his need
28
for the denied care.
4
1
2
3
2.
Allegations against Nurse Gitova and John Doe
4
On September 18, 2016, Plaintiff submitted a sick call request to Nurse Gitova for
5
trouble breathing and severe chest pain. He also requested that his sugar levels be
6
checked and “emergency additional medical services.” Instead of treating Plaintiff, Nurse
7
Gitova directed that he be returned to his cell.
8
When Plaintiff was placed in waist restraints, he fainted and fell. John Doe, an
9
individual employed in the medical triage, applied ammonia to the side of Plaintiff’s nose
10
to revive him. This caused a severe burn on the inside and outside of Plaintiff’s nose.
11
Plaintiff was then returned, unresponsive, to his assigned bed.
12
3.
Allegations against Warden Muniz
13
On November 28, 2016, Plaintiff accidentally spilled coffee. After retrieving a
14
towel to clean the spill, he returned to find another inmate cleaning it. Plaintiff alleges his
15
right of access to the courts was denied by Warden Muniz.
16
17
18
In September 2016, October 2016, and January 2017, Plaintiff submitted requests
for an Olsen review of his health records. Warden Muniz failed to provide the records.
4.
Allegations against Doe Defendants
19
Plaintiff informed “health care” he was at risk of falling, but “health care” failed to
20
“provide for, of services and treatments.” On December 26, 2016, he was escorted to the
21
shower by a female correctional officer and he tripped and fell. Plaintiff attributes the fall
22
in part to incorrect placement of waist handcuffs on him.
23
24
25
26
27
At the central triage, the examining doctor declined to provide an x-ray or other
exam to determine the source of Plaintiff’s numbness and severe pain.
5.
Allegations against Dr. Gamboa
On January 30, 2017, Dr. Gamboa denied Plaintiff health care, including an MRI
with contrast of the lumbar spine.
28
5
1
2
6.
Although Dr. Enenmoh and Dr. Clark were made aware of Plaintiff’s risk of falling,
3
4
no safety procedures were implemented to reduce the risk.
5
7.
courts in the context of an administrative appeal that had blue color ink on it.
8
9
Allegations against Warden Davey
Plaintiff accuses Warden Davey of interfering with Plaintiff’s right of access to the
6
7
Allegations against Dr. Edgar Clark and Dr. Enenmoh
Plaintiff seeks unspecified relief.
VI.
Analysis
10
A.
11
Plaintiff’s second amended complaint is 162 pages long and suffers from the
12
Rule 8
same failings as his original complaint.
13
Plaintiff’s claims must be set forth simply, concisely and directly. Fed. R. Civ. P.
14
8(d)(1) (“[e]ach allegation must be simple, concise and direct”); McHenry v. Renne, 84
15
F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[t]he Federal Rules require that averments ‘be simple,
16
concise, and direct’”); see Crawford-El v. Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 597 (1998) (reiterating
17
that “firm application of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is fully warranted” in
18
prisoner cases).
19
The courts do grant leeway to pro se plaintiff’ pleadings. See, e.g., Brazil v. U.S.
20
Dept. of Navy, 66 F.3d 193, 199 (9th Cir. 1995) (“[a]lthough a pro se litigant . . . may be
21
entitled to great leeway when the court construes his pleadings, those pleadings
22
nonetheless must meet some minimum threshold in providing a defendant with notice of
23
what it is that it allegedly did wrong”). The complaint must not force the Court and
24
Defendant to guess at what is being alleged against whom, require the Court to spend
25
its time “preparing the ‘short and plain statement’ which Rule 8 obligated plaintiff to
26
submit,” or require the Court and Defendant to prepare lengthy outlines “to determine
27
who is being sued for what.” McHenry, 84 F.3d at 1179. An excessively long and
28
repetitive pleading, containing much narrative and story-telling, without clear statement
6
1
of which individual did what, very likely will result in delaying the review required by 28
2
U.S.C. § 1915A and, ultimately, may result in an order dismissing Plaintiff’s action
3
pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41, for violation of these instructions. Id.
4
The Court’s original screening order directed Plaintiff to make his amended
5
complaint brief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a).” (ECF No. 11 at 8.) He did not heed this instruction.
6
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (complaint must be “a short and plain statement”);
7
Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 514 (2002) (“Rule 8(a) is the starting point
8
of a simplified pleading system, which was adopted to focus litigation on the merits of a
9
claim”). Plaintiff’s claims must be set forth simply, concisely and directly. Fed. R. Civ. P.
10
8(d)(1) (“[e]ach allegation must be simple, concise and direct”); McHenry v. Renne, 84
11
F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[t]he Federal Rules require that averments ‘be simple,
12
concise, and direct’”); see Crawford-El v. Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 597 (1998) (reiterating
13
that “firm application of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is fully warranted” in
14
prisoner cases).
15
Plaintiff’s second amended complaint is made up of disjointed factual allegations
16
and conclusions interspersed with numerous exhibits, including hand-copied appeals,
17
letters, and affidavits. It would be excessively time-consuming and questionably
18
productive for Defendants or the Court to go through each of these 162 pages and try to
19
determine the specific allegations Plaintiff wishes to make and what facts support, or
20
even relate, to them. It is not the responsibility of the Court or the defense to do that.
21
Here, the Court is unable to conduct the screening required by 28 U.S.C. §
22
1915A, because Plaintiff has failed to comply with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P.
23
8(a)(2) and (d)(1). Plaintiff will be given one last chance to file an amended complaint (a
24
third amended complaint) that is a short and plain statement of what each named
25
Defendant did, and when he did it, that violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights and how
26
doing so harmed Plaintiff. See Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). He should
27
do this in plain, simple English, with a separate paragraph for each claim against each
28
7
1
Defendant. Attaching exhibits rarely helps and in this case has clearly hindered Plaintiff’s
2
ability to state his claims properly. Plaintiff should omit exhibits from his next pleading
3
Although the Court is thus unable to evaluate the substance of Plaintiff’s
4
allegations, it will provide Plaintiff the legal criteria for the types of claims he seems
5
desirous of asserting.
6
B.
7
Plaintiff brings a number of unrelated claims against named and unnamed
8
Joinder
Defendants and other individuals not identified in the caption.
9
Plaintiff was previously informed that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 18(a) allows
10
a party to “join, as independent or alternative claims, as many claims as it has against an
11
opposing party.” However, Rule 20(a)(2) permits a plaintiff to sue multiple defendants in
12
the same action only if “any right to relief is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in
13
the alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or
14
series of transactions or occurrences,” and there is a “question of law or fact common to
15
all defendants.” “Thus multiple claims against a single party are fine, but Claim A against
16
Defendant 1 should not be joined with unrelated Claim B against Defendant 2. Unrelated
17
claims against different defendants belong in different suits ...” George v. Smith, 507
18
F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)).
19
Though Plaintiff’s claims relate, generally, to his medical care, the specific
20
instances referred to do not appear to arise from the same or even related transaction so
21
as to be capable of being brought in a single lawsuit. The fact that all of Plaintiff's
22
allegations relate to medical care does not make them related for purposes of Rule
23
20(a). Claims are related where they are based on the same precipitating event, or a
24
series of related events caused by the same precipitating event. That is not the case
25
here.
26
Plaintiff was previously informed that he must decide which transaction or
27
occurrence he wishes to pursue in this suit. He has not done so. Where a complaint
28
contains improperly joined claims or defendants, the Court may sua sponte dismiss or
8
1
sever such claims. Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. Plaintiff may then undertake to bring such severed
2
claims in separate additional suits. Here, however, the Court is unable to determine
3
which select claims Plaintiff may wish to pursue and is unable to pick and choose on
4
Plaintiff’s behalf.
5
C.
6
7
8
Defendants
1.
Non-parties
Plaintiff makes allegations against numerous non-party individuals not named in
the caption of the complaint.
9
Rule 10(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that each defendant
10
be named in the caption of the complaint. A complaint is subject to dismissal if “one
11
cannot determine from the complaint who is being sued, [and] for what relief. . . .”
12
McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 1996).
13
14
15
2.
Does
Plaintiff’s complaint contains numerous allegations against various Doe
defendants.
16
The use of Doe defendants generally is disfavored. Wakefield v. Thompson, 177
17
F.3d 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999) (quoting Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 E.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir.
18
1980)). Nevertheless, under certain circumstances, Plaintiff may be given the opportunity
19
to identify unknown defendants through discovery. Id. Before Plaintiff may engage in
20
discovery as to the unknown defendants, he first must link each of them to a
21
constitutional violation. He must address each defendant separately, i.e., Doe 1, Doe 2,
22
Doe 3, etc., and must set forth facts describing how any Doe defendant personally
23
participated in the violation of his constitutional rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77
24
Simmons, 609 F.3d a 1020-21; Ewing v. City of Stockton, 588 F.3d 1218, 1235 (9th Cir.
25
2009). Plaintiff may not simply allege liability generally as he has done here. If Plaintiff
26
wishes to bring claims against these individuals he must allege with specificity what
27
individuals caused a constitutional violation and how and when.
28
9
1
2
3
4
3.
Linkage
Many of Plaintiff’s allegations are broad and fail to link an individual Defendant
with a specified deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights.
Section 1983 provides a cause of action for violations of constitutional or other
5
federal rights by persons acting under the color of state law. Wilder, 496 U.S. at 508. To
6
state a claim under Section 1983, the plaintiff must demonstrate that each defendant
7
personally participated in the deprivation of her rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77.
8
Supervisory personnel may only be held liable if they “participated in or directed the
9
violations, or knew of the violations and failed to act to prevent them,” Taylor v. List, 880
10
F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) accord Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1205-08 (9th Cir.
11
2011), cert. denied, 132 S.Ct. 2101 (2012).
12
If Plaintiff wishes to amend and pursue claims in regards to these incidents, he
13
must allege specifically what each Defendant did or did not do and how that action or
14
inaction violated his constitutional rights.
15
D.
Eighth Amendment Denial of Necessary Medical Care
16
Most of Plaintiff’s allegations relate to the denial of medical care. The Eight
17
Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment offers protection for prisoners
18
in such circumstances. Though previously provided to Plaintiff, the Court will once again
19
set out the standard and give Plaintiff one last opportunity to try to meet it.
20
The government has an "obligation to provide medical care for those whom it is
21
punishing by incarceration," and failure to meet that obligation can constitute an Eighth
22
Amendment violation cognizable under § 1983. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 103-105
23
(1976). To establish an Eighth Amendment violation, a prisoner "must satisfy both the
24
objective and subjective components of a two-part test." Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732,
25
744 (9th Cir. 2002) (citation omitted). A prisoner must show (1) a serious medical need
26
by demonstrating that failure to treat a prisoner's condition could result in further
27
significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain, and (2) that the
28
defendant’s response to the need was deliberately indifferent. Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d
10
1
1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1559-1560 (9th
2
Cir. 1991), overruled in part on other grounds by WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d
3
1133 (9th Cir. 1997).
4
The second element, deliberate indifference, is “a high legal standard.” Toguchi v.
5
Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). For a prison official's response to a serious
6
medical need to be deliberately indifferent, the official must "'know[ ] of and disregard[ ]
7
an excessive risk to inmate health.'" Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076, 1082 (9th Cir.
8
2014) (en banc) (quoting Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 128 L.
9
Ed. 2d 811 (1994)). "[T]he official must both be aware of facts from which the inference
10
could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must also draw the
11
inference." Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837.
12
Mere indifference, negligence, or medical malpractice is not sufficient to support
13
the claim. Broughton v. Cutter Labs., 622 F.2d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (citing Estelle,
14
429 U.S. 87 at 105-06). A prisoner can establish deliberate indifference by showing that
15
officials intentionally interfered with his medical treatment for reasons unrelated to the
16
prisoner’s medical needs. See Hamilton v. Endell, 981 F.2d 1062, 1066 (9th Cir. 1992);
17
Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105. Deliberate indifference “may appear when prison officials deny,
18
delay or intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or it may be shown by the way in
19
which prison physicians provide medical care.” Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1122
20
(9th Cir. 2012) (citations and quotations omitted).
21
E.
22
Several of Plaintiff’s allegations suggest his ability to access the court has been
23
Access to Courts
impeded.
24
Plaintiff has a constitutional right of access to the courts, and prison officials may
25
not actively interfere with his right to litigate. Silva v. Di Vittorio, 658 F.3d 1090, 1101-02
26
(9th Cir. 2011). The right is limited to direct criminal appeals, habeas petitions, and civil
27
rights actions. Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 354 (1996). Claims for denial of access to
28
the courts may arise from the frustration or hindrance of “a litigating opportunity yet to be
11
1
gained” (forward-looking access claim) or from the loss of a meritorious suit that cannot
2
now be tried (backward-looking claim). Christopher v. Harbury, 536 U.S. 403, 412-15
3
(2002). A plaintiff must show that he suffered an “actual injury” i.e., prejudice with
4
respect to contemplated or existing litigation, such as the inability to meet a filing
5
deadline or present a non-frivolous claim. Lewis, 518 U.S. at 348-49. An “actual injury” is
6
one that hinders the plaintiff’s ability to pursue a legal claim. Id. at 351.
7
F.
8
Plaintiff makes several allegations regarding the appeal process.
9
“[A prison] grievance procedure is a procedural right only, it does not confer any
10
substantive right upon the inmates.” Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir.
11
1993) (citing Azeez v. DeRobertis, 568 F. Supp. 8, 10 (N.D. Ill. 1982)); see also Ramirez
12
v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003) (no liberty interest in processing of appeals
13
because no entitlement to a specific grievance procedure); Massey v. Helman, 259 F.3d
14
641, 647 (7th Cir. 2001) (existence of grievance procedure confers no liberty interest on
15
prisoner); Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). “Hence, it does not give
16
rise to a protected liberty interest requiring the procedural protections envisioned by the
17
Fourteenth Amendment.” Azeez, 568 F. Supp. at 10.
18
Inmate Appeal Process
Actions in reviewing a prisoner's administrative appeal, without more, are not
19
actionable under section 1983. Buckley, 997 F.2d at 495.
20
VII.
Motion to Appoint Counsel
21
Also before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel. (ECF No. 30.)
22
Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action,
23
Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the Court cannot require an
24
attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(1), Mallard v. United
25
States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In
26
certain exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of
27
counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. However, without a
28
reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the Court will seek volunteer
12
1
counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether
2
exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of
3
success of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in
4
light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Id. (internal quotation marks and
5
citations omitted).
6
In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional
7
circumstances. Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that
8
he has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is
9
not exceptional. This Court is faced with similar cases almost daily. Further, at this early
10
stage in the proceedings, the Court cannot make a determination that Plaintiff is likely to
11
succeed on the merits. To date, his pleadings suggest only that he, and perhaps even
12
other medical practitioners, may disagree with the treatment provided him in response to
13
his complaints and symptoms. He presents nothing to suggest that care was denied him
14
because of a deliberate, intentional disregard for his health. As such, the claims that are
15
discernable reflect a negative likelihood he will succeed on the merits. Granted, the
16
Plaintiff is struggling to properly articulate his claims. However, what he has presented
17
suggests a basic capability to simply and briefly list what each Defendant did to violate
18
his rights. Accordingly his motion for appointment of counsel will be DENIED.
19
In passing, the Court notes that Plaintiff’s motion contains substantial substantive
20
allegations relating to his underlying claims. If he intended this material supplement his
21
complaint, it will not. See Local Rule 220 (noting that a complaint must be “complete in
22
itself”). The allegations contained in the motion to appoint counsel have not been and
23
will not be considered in screening Plaintiff’s complaint. If he wishes to raise such
24
allegations, he may include them in an amended pleading.
25
VIII.
Conclusion
26
Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted. The
27
Court will grant Plaintiff an opportunity to file an amended complaint. Noll v. Carlson, 809
28
F.2d 1446, 1448-49 (9th Cir. 1987). If Plaintiff does not wish to amend, he may instead
13
1
file a notice of voluntary dismissal, and the action then will be terminated by operation of
2
law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i). Alternatively, Plaintiff may forego amendment and
3
notify the Court that he wishes to stand on his complaint. See Edwards v. Marin Park,
4
Inc., 356 F.3d 1058, 1064-65 (9th Cir. 2004) (plaintiff may elect to forego amendment). If
5
the last option is chosen, the undersigned will issue findings and recommendations to
6
dismiss the complaint without leave to amend, Plaintiff will have an opportunity to object,
7
and the matter will be decided by a District Judge. No further opportunity to amend will
8
be given by the undersigned.
9
If Plaintiff opts to amend, he must demonstrate that the alleged acts resulted in a
10
deprivation of his constitutional rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 677-78. Plaintiff must set forth
11
“sufficient factual matter . . . to ‘state a claim that is plausible on its face.’” Id. at 678
12
(quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (2007)). Plaintiff should note that although he has
13
been granted the opportunity to amend his complaint, it is not for the purposes of adding
14
new and unrelated claims. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). Plaintiff
15
should carefully review this screening order and focus his efforts on curing the
16
deficiencies set forth above.
17
Finally, Plaintiff is advised that Local Rule 220 requires that an amended
18
complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. As a general rule,
19
an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d
20
55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once an amended complaint is filed, the original complaint no
21
longer serves a function in the case. Id. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an
22
original complaint, each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be
23
sufficiently alleged. The amended complaint should be clearly titled, in bold font, “First
24
Amended Complaint,” reference the appropriate case number, and be an original signed
25
under penalty of perjury. Plaintiff’s amended complaint should be brief. Fed. R. Civ. P.
26
8(a). Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to raise a
27
right to relief above the speculative level . . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations
28
omitted).
14
1
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
2
1. The Court’s Findings and Recommendations (ECF No. 29) is VACATED
3
2. Plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 30) to appoint counsel is DENIED;
4
3. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff must
5
file either a third amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by
6
the Court in this order, a notice of voluntary dismissal, or a notice of
7
election to stand on the complaint; and
8
4. If Plaintiff fails to file a third amended complaint or notice of voluntary
9
dismissal, the Court will recommend the action be dismissed, with
10
prejudice, for failure to obey a court order and failure to state a claim.
11
12
13
14
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
February 14, 2018
/s/
Michael J. Seng
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
15
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?