Wilkins v. Stanislaus County et al

Filing 5

ORDER DISMISSING 1 Complaint WITH LEAVE TO AMEND; Amended Complaint due within Thirty Days signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 5/2/2017. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Complaint Form)(Sant Agata, S)

Name

___________________

Street Address

___________________

City and County

___________________

State and Zip Code ___________________
Telephone Number ___________________

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(Write the full name of each plaintiff who is filing
this complaint. If the names of all the plaintiffs
cannot fit in the space above, please write “see
attached” in the space and attach an additional
page with the full list of names.)
-against_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(Write the full name of each defendant who is
being sued. If the names of all the defendants
cannot fit in the space above, please write “see
attached” in the space and attach an additional
page with the full list of names.)

Complaint for a Civil Case
Case No. _______________________
(to be filled in by the Clerk’s Office)
Jury Trial:

Yes
No
(check one)

I.

The Parties to This Complaint
A.

The Plaintiff(s)
Provide the information below for each plaintiff named in the complaint. Attach
additional pages if needed.
Name
Street Address

__________________________________________

City and County

__________________________________________

State and Zip Code

__________________________________________

Telephone Number

B.

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

The Defendant(s)
Provide the information below for each defendant named in the complaint,
whether the defendant is an individual, a government agency, an organization, or
a corporation. For an individual defendant, include the person’s job or title (if
known). Attach additional pages if needed.
Defendant No. 1
Name

__________________________________________

Job or Title
(if known)

__________________________________________

Street Address

__________________________________________

City and County

__________________________________________

State and Zip Code

__________________________________________

Telephone Number

__________________________________________

Defendant No. 2
Name

__________________________________________

Job or Title
(if known)

__________________________________________

Street Address

__________________________________________

City and County

__________________________________________

State and Zip Code

__________________________________________

Telephone Number

__________________________________________

2

Defendant No. 3
Name

__________________________________________

Job or Title
(if known)

__________________________________________

Street Address

__________________________________________

City and County

__________________________________________

State and Zip Code

__________________________________________

Telephone Number

__________________________________________

Defendant No. 4
Name
Job or Title
(if known)

__________________________________________

Street Address

__________________________________________

City and County

__________________________________________

State and Zip Code

__________________________________________

Telephone Number

II.

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Basis for Jurisdiction
Federal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction (limited power). Generally, only two
types of cases can be heard in Federal Court: cases involving a federal question and cases
involving diversity of citizenship of the parties. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, a case arising
under the United States Constitution or federal laws or treaties is a federal question case.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1332, a case in which a citizen of one state sues a citizen of another
state or nation and the amount at stake is more than $75,000 is a diversity of citizenship
case. In a diversity of citizenship case, no defendant may be a citizen of the same state as
any plaintiff.
What is the basis for Federal Court jurisdiction? (check all that apply)
Federal question

Diversity of citizenship

3

Fill out the paragraphs in this section that apply to this case.
A.

If the Basis for Jurisdiction Is a Federal Question
List the specific federal statutes, federal treaties, and/or provisions of the United
States Constitution that are at issue in this case.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

B.

If the Basis for Jurisdiction Is Diversity of Citizenship
1.

The Plaintiff(s)
a.

If the plaintiff is an individual
The plaintiff, (name) _______________________, is a citizen of
the State of (name) _______________________.

b.

If the plaintiff is a corporation
The plaintiff, (name) _______________________, is incorporated
under the laws of the State of (name) _______________________,
and has its principal place of business in the State of (name)
_______________________.

(If more than one plaintiff is named in the complaint, attach an additional
page providing the same information for each additional plaintiff.)
2.

The Defendant(s)
a.

If the defendant is an individual
The defendant, (name) ______________________, is a citizen of
the State of (name) _______________________. Or is a citizen of
(foreign nation) _______________________.

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b.

If the defendant is a corporation
The defendant, (name) _______________________, is
incorporated under the laws of the State of (name)
_______________________, and has its principal place of
business in the State of (name) _______________________. Or is
incorporated under the laws of (foreign nation)
_______________________, and has its principal place of
business in (name) _______________________.

(If more than one defendant is named in the complaint, attach an
additional page providing the same information for each additional
defendant.)
3.

The Amount in Controversy
The amount in controversy—the amount the plaintiff claims the defendant
owes or the amount at stake—is more than $75,000, not counting interest
and costs of court, because (explain):
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

III.

Statement of Claim
Write a short and plain statement of the claim. Do not make legal arguments. State as
briefly as possible the facts showing that each plaintiff is entitled to the damages or other
relief sought. State how each defendant was involved and what each defendant did that
caused the plaintiff harm or violated the plaintiff’s rights, including the dates and places
of that involvement or conduct. If more than one claim is asserted, number each claim
and write a short and plain statement of each claim in a separate paragraph. Attach
additional pages if needed.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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IV.

Relief
State briefly and precisely what damages or other relief the plaintiff asks the court to
order. Do not make legal arguments. Include any basis for claiming that the wrongs
alleged are continuing at the present time. Include the amounts of any actual damages
claimed for the acts alleged and the basis for these amounts. Include any punitive or
exemplary damages claimed, the amounts, and the reasons you claim you are entitled to
actual or punitive money damages.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

V.

Certification and Closing
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, by signing below, I certify to the best of my
knowledge, information, and belief that this complaint: (1) is not being presented for an
improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the
cost of litigation; (2) is supported by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for
extending, modifying, or reversing existing law; (3) the factual contentions have
evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support
after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and (4) the
complaint otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 11.
I agree to provide the Clerk’s Office with any changes to my address where caserelated papers may be served. I understand that my failure to keep a current
address on file with the Clerk’s Office may result in the dismissal of my case.
Date of signing: __________, 20__.
Signature of Plaintiff
Printed Name of Plaintiff

___________________________________________
___________________________________________

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