Branch v. United States of America
Filing
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ORDER DISMISSING ACTION. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley on 1/17/2017. (ahm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/17/2017)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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CLARENCE A. BRANCH,
Plaintiff,
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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v.
Case No.16-cv-03811-JSC
ORDER DISMISSING ACTION
Re: Dkt. No. 18
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.
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Plaintiff Clarence A. Branch, proceeding pro se, brings this action against the United States of
America. The Court previously granted Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis and
reserved to a later time evaluation of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Dkt. No. 3.) The Court
thereafter issued an Order to Show Cause because mail sent to Plaintiff at his last known address had
been returned as undeliverable. (Dkt. No. 8.) Plaintiff responded to the Order to Show Cause, provided
his new address, and consented to the jurisdiction of the undersigned magistrate judge. (Dkt. No. 10.)
The Court then reviewed the complaint under Section 1915 and dismissed it for failure to state a claim
because Plaintiff had failed to identify a cognizable legal theory. (Dkt. No. 11.) On the deadline to do
so, Plaintiff filed a document captioned “Amendment.” (Dkt. No. 14.) The Court construed this filing
as First Amended Complaint and again dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim under
Section 1915. (Dkt. No. 15.) Plaintiff had until December 19, 2016 to file a Second Amended
Complaint. Instead, on December 16, Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal. (Dkt. No. 16.) Plaintiff
thereafter filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal which the Court denied because the
dismissal order was not a final appealable order. (Dkt. Nos. 18 & 21.)
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Given Plaintiff’s failure to timely file an amended complaint, the Court dismisses this
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action without prejudice. Plaintiff may file an appeal of this order, but he must do so within 30
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days. See Fed. R. App. Pro. 4(a)(1)(A).
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However, the Court certifies that any appeal of the dismissal of this action is frivolous
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pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) because Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint presents “no
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cognizable legal theory [and] an absence of sufficient facts alleged to support a cognizable legal
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theory.” Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 622 F.3d 1035, 1041 (9th Cir. 2010).
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Further, the Court granted Plaintiff leave to amend to cure these deficiencies, but he failed to do
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so. (Dkt. No. 21.)
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 17, 2017
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JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY
United States Magistrate Judge
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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CLARENCE A. BRANCH,
Case No. 16-cv-03811-JSC
Plaintiff,
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v.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.
United States District Court
Northern District of California
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I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S.
District Court, Northern District of California.
That on January 17, 2017, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by
placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by
depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery
receptacle located in the Clerk's office.
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Clarence A. Branch
391 Ellis Street
General Delivery
San Francisco, CA 94102
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Dated: January 17, 2017
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Susan Y. Soong
Clerk, United States District Court
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By:________________________
Ada Means, Deputy Clerk to the
Honorable JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY
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