Williams v. Aetna Inc.

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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11 PRINCE PAUL RAYMOND WILLIAMS, Case No. 1:21-cv-01583-JLT-SAB

12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDING DISMISSING

13 v. COMPLAINT FOR FAILURE TO STATE A

CLAIM AND DISMISSING ACTION FOR

14 AETNA, INC., et al., FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COURT

ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

15 Defendants.

(ECF Nos. 1, 10)

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OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN

17 DAYS

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19 I.

20 INTRODUCTION

21 Prince Paul Raymond Williams (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis,

22 filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to a United States

23 magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.

24 On February 18, 2022, the Court issued a screening order finding that Plaintiff had failed

25 to state any cognizable claims in his complaint, and granted Plaintiff thirty (30) days in which to

26 file a first amended complaint. (ECF No. 10.) More than thirty (30) days have passed and

27 Plaintiff has neither filed an amended complaint nor otherwise responded to the Court’s February

18, 2022 order. For the reasons discussed herein, it is recommended that Plaintiff’s complaint be

1 dismissed for failure to state a cognizable claim, and this action be dismissed for failure to

2 comply with the Court’s order, and failure to prosecute.

3 II.

4 SCREENING REQUIREMENT

5 Notwithstanding any filing fee, the court shall dismiss a case if at any time the Court

6 determines that the complaint “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which

7 relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from

8 such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1129 (9th Cir. 2000)

9 (section 1915(e) applies to all in forma pauperis complaints, not just those filed by prisoners);

10 Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (dismissal required of in forma pauperis

11 proceedings which seek monetary relief from immune defendants); Cato v. United States, 70

12 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995) (district court has discretion to dismiss in forma pauperis

13 complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)); Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 1998)

14 (affirming sua sponte dismissal for failure to state a claim). The Court exercised its discretion to

15 screen the plaintiff’s complaint in this action to determine if it “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii)

16 fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a

17 defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).

18 In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim, the Court uses the same

19 pleading standard used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). A complaint must contain “a

20 short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. . . .” Fed. R.

21 Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the

22 elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”

23 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.

24 544, 555 (2007)).

25 In reviewing the pro se complaint, the Court is to liberally construe the pleadings and

26 accept as true all factual allegations contained in the complaint. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89,

27 94 (2007). Although a court must accept as true all factual allegations contained in a complaint,

1 complaint [that] pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant’s liability . . . ‘stops

2 short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.’ ” Id. (quoting

3 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). Therefore, the complaint must contain sufficient factual content for

4 the court to draw the reasonable conclusion that the defendant is liable for the misconduct

5 alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.

6 III.

7 COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS

8 The Court accepts Plaintiff’s allegations in the complaint as true only for the purpose of

9 the sua sponte screening requirement under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

10 Plaintiff brings this action against Defendants Aetna Inc. (“Aetna”), Tiffany Brubeck

11 (“Brubeck”), and J. Vista (“Vista) (collectively “Defendants”), and proffers he is suing these

12 Defendants for violations of his right to be free from deprivation of life, liberty, or property

13 without due process and equal protection of the laws. (Compl. 1-2,1 ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff

14 alleges both federal question jurisdiction, and diversity jurisdiction. (Id. at 2.) Plaintiff alleges

15 upon information and belief, that Aetna is a corporation doing business in California, and that

16 Brubeck and Vista are citizens of the state of California. (Id.) Plaintiff submits the complaint

17 under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United

18 States Constitution, as well as under 15 U.S.C. § 645, 18 U.S.C. § 241, 18 U.S.C. § 242, 18

19 U.S.C. § 245, 31 U.S.C. § 3720D, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Id. at 1-2.)

20 Plaintiff worked for Aetna as a Health Concierge, from approximately August 27, 2018,

21 until November 8, 2019. (Compl. 3.) Plaintiff alleges that Aetna is his former employer, and

22 conspired with Brubeck and Vista to subject Plaintiff to the unlawful employment practice of

23 forcing him, as a condition of employment, to participate in and enforce a work-performance

24 contract through wage garnishments in exchange for his labor, as a means of enrichment for

25 Aetna, and repayment of two separate accounts of det alleged by Brubeck and Vista without due

26 process and equal protection. Plaintiff alleges Aetna unlawfully terminated him in relation for

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1 All references to pagination of specific documents pertain to those as indicated on the upper right corners via the

1 providing Aetna a complaint regarding the garnishment.

2 On or about September 24, 2018, Plaintiff, through his work email, was provided two

3 four-page documents entitled “INCOME WITHHOLDING FOR SUPPORT,” dated September

4 1, 2018. (Compl. 4.) The first document stated the total amount to withhold from his paycheck

5 was $413.00 per month, and the name of the Judge or issuing official was Defendant Brubeck.

6 The second document stated the total amount to withhold was $150.00 per month, and had the

7 name of the Judge or issuing official as J. Vista. Plaintiff emphasizes that neither withholding

8 order contains a signature of the judicial officer, a date of signature, or name of an actual judicial

9 officer, as Plaintiff alleges Brubeck and Vista’s titles are “Child Support Representative,” which

10 makes the documents fraudulent, incomplete, and invalid.

11 Plaintiff alleges Defendants garnished Plaintiff’s wages bi-weekly beginning in

12 September of 2018, until his termination in November of 2019. Plaintiff alleges he was evicted

13 on September 30, 2019, because he could not afford his living expenses as a result of the wages

14 being withheld. Between September 30, 2019, through October 4, 2019, Plaintiff notified Aetna

15 via the “Aetna National Accounts Attendance Line,” of his need to leave from work due to

16 emotional distress. On October 3, 2019, Plaintiff received a call from a supervisor threatening

17 possible termination if he did not return to work (Compl. 5.) On October 7, 2019, Plaintiff

18 provided a complaint to Aetna via email, wherein he described the harmful effects of the

19 garnishment, and “harassment from his immediate supervisor.” On November 8, 2019, Plaintiff

20 was terminated from his employment.

21 On October 19, 2021, Plaintiff provided Defendants with an email which he describes as

22 a notice demanding Aetna, Brubeck, and Vista, return his personal property. (Compl. 5.)

23 Plaintiff did not receive a response, and instituted this action.

24 IV.

25 DISCUSSION

26 After setting forth the specific factual allegations summarized above, Plaintiff then brings

27 eleven individual counts under the constitutional amendments and statutes listed above. These

1 Defendants have violated these amendments or statutes by the actions describe above, by failing

2 to rescind the contracts related to garnishment, and generally averring to violation of his rights of

3 freedom of speech, right to petition the court, and rights to due process and equal protection of

4 the laws.

5 The Court will not address every constitutional amendment and statute that the Plaintiff

6 cites to in his complaint, however, the Court will address the most significant aspects of the

7 complaint’s factual and legal allegations. For the reasons discussed herein, the Court finds

8 Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim for a violation of his federal rights in this action,

9 and recommends the complaint be dismissed.

10 A. Rule 8

11 As set forth above, Rule 8(a) requires “a short and plain statement of the claim showing

12 that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). A complaint must contain

13 “sufficient allegations of underlying facts to give fair notice and to enable the opposing party to

14 defend itself effectively.” Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011). Moreover,

15 Plaintiff must demonstrate that each named defendant personally participated in the deprivation

16 of his rights. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676-77.

17 A court may dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with Rule 8(a) if it is “verbose,

18 confusing and conclusory.” Nevijel v. N. Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 674 (9th Cir. 1981);

19 Brosnahan v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 765 F. App’x 173, 174 (9th Cir. 2019). Additionally, a

20 court may dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with Rule 8(a) if it is “argumentative, prolix,

21 replete with redundancy, and largely irrelevant.” McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th

22 Cir. 1996).

23 The Court finds that Plaintiff’s complaint violates Rule 8(a). The allegations are

24 confusing and unclear, making it difficult for the Court to determine what, if any, cognizable

25 claims are included. Although the Federal Rules employ a flexible pleading policy, Plaintiff

26 must give fair notice to the Defendants and must allege facts that support the elements of the

27 claim plainly and succinctly. It is Plaintiff’s duty to articulate his claims, not the Court’s or the

1 The complaint alleges various issues related to child support and wage and earning

2 withholding orders, contains several legal conclusions regarding the validity of those orders, and

3 cites to a variety federal statutes and constitutional provisions. However, it does not clearly state

4 Plaintiff’s federal claims and many of Plaintiff’s conclusions regarding the validity of the state

5 court orders lack factual support as to how his due process rights or other constitutional or

6 statutory rights were violated, nor in what way they are “false” or “fraudulent,” aside from

7 generally averring a copy of the order did not have a valid signature, without citing to or alleging

8 that this violates any form of California law or regulation applicable to the forms. The

9 requirement of a clear and plain statement of Plaintiff’s claims is especially important in this

10 case because this Court does not serve as an appellate court of state court decisions. If Plaintiff

11 wishes to challenge a decision from a state court regarding child support, he must pursue the

12 appropriate procedures in state court (which may be subject to time limitations and other rules).

13 While Plaintiff claims some form of retaliatory firing, Plaintiff does not explain what laws

14 Defendant Aetna is alleged to have violated by its actions.

15 Plaintiff’s complaint is an example of a shotgun pleading, repeatedly incorporating all

16 preceding paragraphs by reference—which have been found to violate Rule 8. See Weiland v.

17 Palm Beach Cty. Sheriff’s Off., 792 F.3d 1313, 1321 (11th Cir. 2015) (“The most common type

18 [of shotgun pleading]—by a long shot—is a complaint containing multiple counts where each

19 count adopts the allegations of all preceding counts, causing each successive count to carry all

20 that came before and the last count to be a combination of the entire complaint.”); Deerpoint

21 Grp., Inc. v. Agrigenix, LLC, 345 F. Supp. 3d 1207, 1234 n.15 (E.D. Cal. 2018) (“However,

22 incorporating literally all 143 preceding paragraphs, without specific reference to either

23 disparagement or Paragraph 81, does not give Defendants (or the Court) fair notice of the factual

24 bases of the IIPEA claim.” (citing Weiland, 792 F.3d at 1321-23)). In each of the eleven

25 separate counts against the three Defendants, Plaintiff does not sufficiently articulate his claims.

26 The complaint cites a variety of federal statutes and constitutional provisions, and while Plaintiff

27 separately lists each claim, each offers only a “formulaic recitation” of Plaintiff’s proffered cause

1 Further, to the extent that Plaintiff is alleging claims based in fraud, the pleading standard

2 of Rule 9 would apply. Allegations of fraud of subject to the pleading requirement of Rule 9 of

3 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 9 provides that “[i]n alleging fraud or mistake, a

4 party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake.” Fed. R. Civ.

5 P. 9(b). This requires a plaintiff to plead with “more specificity including an account of the time,

6 place, and specific content of the false representations as well as the identities of the parties to

7 the misrepresentations.” Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 764 (9th Cir. 2007) (internal

8 punctuation and citations omitted).

9 Initially, Plaintiff’s allegations are insufficient to plead fraud with particularity as

10 required under Rule 9.

11 To allege fraud with particularity, a plaintiff must set forth more than the neutral

facts necessary to identify the transaction. The plaintiff must set forth what is

12 false or misleading about a statement, and why it is false. In other words, the

plaintiff must set forth an explanation as to why the statement or omission

13 complained of was false or misleading. A plaintiff might do less and still identify

the statement complained of; indeed, the plaintiff might do less and still set forth

14 some of the circumstances of the fraud. But the plaintiff cannot do anything less

and still comply with Rule 9(b)’s mandate to set forth with particularity those

15 circumstances which constitute the fraud.

16 In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 1541, 1548 (9th Cir. 1994).

17 B. Jurisdiction

18 Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and their power to adjudicate is limited to

19 that granted by Congress. U.S. v. Sumner, 226 F.3d 1005, 1009 (9th Cir. 2000). Federal courts

20 are presumptively without jurisdiction over civil actions, and the burden to establish the contrary

21 rests upon the party asserting jurisdiction. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375,

22 377 (1994). Generally, there are two bases for subject matter jurisdiction: federal question

23 jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332. Plaintiff alleges both federal

24 question jurisdiction, and diversity jurisdiction.

25 District courts have original jurisdiction of all civil actions between citizens of different

26 States in which “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of

27 interest and costs.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). This requires complete diversity of citizenship and the

1 court of original diversity jurisdiction over the entire action.” Abrego Abrego v. The Dow

2 Chemical Co., 443 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). Here, Plaintiff alleges that

3 he is a citizen of California. (Compl. 3.) Plaintiff also alleges Defendants Vista and Brubeck are

4 also both citizens of California. (Id.) Since Plaintiff and at least two of the named defendants

5 are all alleged to be citizens of California, diversity of citizenship does not exist in this action.

6 Jurisdiction in this action must therefore be based on a federal question. Pursuant to 28

7 U.S. C. § 1331, federal courts have original jurisdiction over “all civil actions arising under the

8 Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. “A case ‘arises under’ federal law either

9 where federal law creates the cause of action or where the vindication of a right under state law

10 necessarily turns on some construction of federal law.” Republican Party of Guam v. Gutierrez,

11 277 F.3d 1086, 1088 (9th Cir. 2002) (internal punctuation omitted) (quoting Franchise Tax Bd.

12 v. Construction Laborers Vacation Trust, 463 U.S. 1, 8–9 (1983) (citations omitted)). “[T]he

13 presence or absence of federal-question jurisdiction is governed by the ‘well-pleaded complaint

14 rule,’ which provides that federal jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on

15 the face of the plaintiff's properly pleaded complaint.” Republican Party of Guam, 277 F.3d at

16 1089 (citations omitted).

17 As to federal question jurisdiction, although the complaint cites to various federal statutes

18 and constitutional amendments, it is not clear, for the reasons given above, which, if any, of

19 these references are intended to allege a claim against the named Defendants and what the

20 factual bases of those claims may be.

21 C. The Rooker-Feldman Doctrine

22 Under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, a party may not seek appellate review in federal

23 court of a decision made by a state court. See Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co., 263 U.S. 413 (1923);

24 D.C. Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462 (1983). Typically, the Rooker-Feldman

25 doctrine bars federal courts from exercising subject-matter jurisdiction over a proceeding in

26 which a party losing in state court seeks what in substance would be appellate review of the state

27 judgment in a United States district court, based on the losing party’s claim that the state

1 Cir. 2005); see also Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 284 (2005)

2 (the Rooker-Feldman doctrine precludes a district court from appellate review of “cases brought

3 by state-court losers complaining of injuries caused by state-court judgments rendered before the

4 district court proceeding commenced[.]”). Accordingly, the district court lacks jurisdiction over

5 “claims . . . ‘inextricably intertwined’ with the state court’s decision such that the adjudication of

6 the federal claims would undercut the state ruling.” Bianchi v. Rylaarsdam, 334 F.3d 895, 898

7 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Feldman, 460 U.S. at 483, 485); see, e.g., Moore v. County of Butte, 547

8 Fed. Appx. 826, 829 (9th Cir. 2013) (finding a plaintiff's claims challenging the outcome of

9 custody proceedings were properly dismissed); Rucker v. County of Santa Clara, State of

10 California, 2003 WL 21440151, at *2 (N.D. Cal. June 17, 2003) (finding the plaintiff’s claims

11 were “inextricably intertwined” with the state court’s rulings where the plaintiff “challenge[d]

12 his original child support order on jurisdictional grounds, dispute[d] his total child support

13 arrearages, and allege[d] that Santa Clara County’s garnishment order against his disability

14 benefits payments is invalid”); see also Ignacio v. Judges of U.S. Court of Appeals, 453 F.3d

15 1160, 1165-66 (9th Cir. 2006) (affirming the district court’s dismissal of the case “because the

16 complaint is nothing more than another attack on the California superior court’s determination in

17 [the plaintiff’s] domestic case”).

18 To the extent Plaintiff is asking this Court to review the child support and wage and

19 garnishment orders issued by the state court, under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, this Court

20 lacks jurisdiction to review and reverse a state court’s decision. Accordingly, any claim seeking

21 to reverse the state court orders cannot proceed in this Court.

22 D. Due Process

23 “The Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause protects persons against deprivations

24 of life, liberty, or property; and those who seek to invoke its procedural protection must establish

25 that one of these interests is at stake.” Wilkinson v. Austin, 545 U.S. 209, 221 (2005). The due

26 process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects two distinct but related rights: procedural

27 due process and substantive due process. Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 272 (1994).

1 regardless of the fairness of the procedures that are used to implement them. Cty. of Sacramento

2 v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 840 (1998). Therefore, the substantive protections of the due process

3 clause are intended to prevent government officials from abusing their power or employing it as

4 an instrument of oppression. Lewis, 523 U.S. at 846. The Supreme Court has held that “the

5 substantive component of the Due Process Clause is violated by executive action only when it

6 ‘can properly be characterized as arbitrary, or conscience shocking, in a constitutional sense.’ ”

7 Id. at 847. “[O]nly the most egregious official conduct can be said to be arbitrary in a

8 constitutional sense.” Brittain v. Hansen, 451 F.3d 982, 990 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Lewis, 523

9 U.S. at 846).

10 “Substantive due process is ordinarily reserved for those rights that are ‘fundamental.’ ”

11 Brittain, 451 F.3d at 990. “The protections of substantive due process have for the most part

12 been accorded to matters relating to marriage, family, procreation, and the right to bodily

13 integrity[;] and the Supreme Court has been reluctant to expand the concept of substantive due

14 process. Albright, 510 U.S. at 271-72. To state a substantive due process claim, a plaintiff must

15 “show both a deprivation of [his] liberty and conscience shocking behavior by the government.”

16 Brittain, 451 F.3d at 991.

17 “The requirements of procedural due process apply only to the deprivation of interests

18 encompassed by the Fourteenth Amendment’s protection of liberty and property.” Bd. of

19 Regents of State Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569–70 (1972). “[P]rocedural due process

20 claims are resolved by balancing tests, where differing interests can give rise to many differing

21 procedural requirements.” Brittain, 451 F.3d at 1000. “(D)ue process is flexible and calls for

22 such procedural protections as the particular situation demands.” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S.

23 319, 334 (1976) (quoting Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 481 (1972)).

24 Plaintiff asserts vague and speculative deprivation, such as the effect of child support

25 matters from his state case on employment garnishment. There are no facts alleged by which it

26 could reasonably be inferred that Plaintiff is not receiving the process due in his state court case.

27 E. Equal Protection

1 plaintiff to state an equal protection claim. A plaintiff can state a claim for violation of the Equal

2 Protection Clause, by showing “that the defendant acted with an intent or purpose to discriminate

3 against him based upon his membership in a protected class.” Serrano v. Francis, 345 F.3d 1071,

4 1082 (9th Cir. 2003). Intentional in this context means that the defendant acted, at least in part,

5 because of the plaintiff’s membership in a protected class. Serrano, 345 F.3d at 1082.

6 Alternately, the plaintiff can state a claim by alleging that he was intentionally treated differently

7 than similarly situated individuals and there was no rational basis for the difference in treatment.

8 Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1167 (2005); Village of Willowbrook v. Olech,

9 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000).

10 There are no factual allegations that Plaintiff is a member of a protected class or that any

11 named defendant acted with the intent or purpose to discriminate against him due to his

12 membership in that class. Nor is there any allegation that Plaintiff was intentionally treated

13 differently than other similarly situated individuals. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for

14 violations of the Equal Protection Clause.

15 F. Fourth Amendment

16 Plaintiff alleges a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment provides

17 that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against

18 unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” U.S. Const. amend. IV. “[T]he

19 Fourth Amendment is enforceable against the States through the Fourteenth Amendment.”

20 Camara v. Mun. Court of City & Cty. of San Francisco, 387 U.S. 523, 528 (1967). “To establish

21 a viable Fourth Amendment claim, a plaintiff must show not only that there was a search and

22 seizure as contemplated by the Fourth Amendment, but also that said search and seizure was

23 unreasonable and conducted without consent.” Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 143 (1978);

24 United States v. Rubio, 727 F.2d 786, 796–97 (9th Cir. 1983).

25 There are no allegations in the complaint that Plaintiff was seized or that there was a

26 search such to implicate the Fourth Amendment. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for violation

27 of the Fourth Amendment.

1 G. Title 18 of the United States Code

2 Plaintiff also alleges violations, among other statutes, of 18 U.S.C. §§ 242, and 245.

3 “[T]he fact that a federal statute has been violated and some person harmed does not

4 automatically give rise to a private cause of action in favor of that person.” Touche Ross & Co.

5 v. Redington, 442 U.S. 560, 568 (1979) (quoting Cannon v. University of Chicago, 441 U.S.

6 677, 688 (1979). Rather, the court is to consider if Congress intended to create the private right

7 of action in the statute and begins with the language of the statute itself. Touche Ross & Co.,

8 442 U.S. at 568. “Civil causes of action ... do not generally lie under the criminal statutes

9 contained in Title 18 of the United States Code.” Del Elmer; Zachay v. Metzger, 967 F. Supp.

10 398, 403 (S.D. Cal. 1997).

11 Here, the sections cited under Title 18 provide for fines and incarceration for criminal

12 offenses and do not set forth a private cause of action nor is there any language that would imply

13 that a cause of action exists to allow Plaintiff to seek a remedy for these criminal statutes in this

14 action.

15 H. Judicial Immunity

16 Absolute judicial immunity is afforded to judges for acts performed by the judge that

17 relate to the judicial process. In re Castillo, 297 F.3d 940, 947 (9th Cir. 2002), as amended

18 (Sept. 6, 2002). “This immunity reflects the long-standing ‘general principle of the highest

19 importance to the proper administration of justice that a judicial officer, in exercising the

20 authority vested in him, shall be free to act upon his own convictions, without apprehension of

21 personal consequences to himself.’ ” Olsen v. Idaho State Bd. of Med., 363 F.3d 916, 922 (9th

22 Cir. 2004) (quoting Bradley v. Fisher, 13 Wall. 335, 347 (1871)). This judicial immunity

23 insulates judges from suits brought under section 1983. Olsen, 363 F.3d at 923.

24 Absolute judicial immunity insulates the judge from actions for damages due to judicial

25 acts taken within the jurisdiction of the judge’s court. Ashelman v. Pope, 793 F.2d 1072, 1075

26 (9th Cir. 1986). “Judicial immunity applies ‘however erroneous the act may have been, and

27 however injurious in its consequences it may have proved to the plaintiff.’ ” Id. (quoting

1 the clear absence of jurisdiction or for acts that are not judicial in nature. Ashelman, 793 F.2d at

2 1075. Judicial conduct falls within “clear absence of all jurisdiction,” where the judge “acted

3 with clear lack of all subject matter jurisdiction.” Stone v. Baum, 409 F.Supp.2d 1164, 1174 (D.

4 Ariz. 2005).

5 To determine if an act is judicial in nature, the court considers whether (1) the precise act

6 is a normal judicial function; (2) the events occurred in the judge’s chambers; (3) the controversy

7 centered around a case then pending before the judge; and (4) the events at issue arose directly

8 and immediately out of a confrontation with the judge in his or her official capacity. Duvall v.

9 Cty. of Kitsap, 260 F.3d 1124, 1133 (9th Cir. 2001), as amended on denial of reh’g (Oct. 11,

10 2001) (quoting Meek v. County of Riverside, 183 F.3d 962, 967 (9th Cir. 1999)).

11 Here, it appears Plaintiff is bringing suit against judicial officers for actions taken in their

12 judicial capacities over which they have jurisdiction.

13 V.

14 DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

15 Plaintiff has failed to comply with the February 18, 2022 order granting him leave to file

16 an amended complaint. A court may dismiss an action based on a party’s failure to prosecute an

17 action, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Ghazali v.

18 Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik

19 v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an

20 order to file an amended complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988)

21 (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised

22 of address); Malone v. United States Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal

23 for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir.

24 1986) (dismissal for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules).

25 “In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, the district court is

26 required to consider several factors: ‘(1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of

27 litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants;

1 drastic sanctions.’ ” Carey, 856 F.2d at 1440 (quoting Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421,

2 1423 (9th Cir. 1986)). These factors guide a court in deciding what to do, and are not conditions

3 that must be met in order for a court to take action. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products

4 Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).

5 In this instance, the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of the litigation and the

6 Court’s need to manage its docket weigh in favor of dismissal. In re Phenylpropanolamine

7 (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d at 1226. Plaintiff was ordered to file an amended

8 complaint within thirty (30) days of February 18, 2022. Plaintiff has neither filed an amended

9 complaint nor otherwise responded to the Court’s order.

10 Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the orders of the Court hinders the Court’s ability to

11 move this action towards disposition, and indicates that Plaintiff does not intend to diligently

12 litigate this action.

13 Since it appears that Plaintiff does not intend to litigate this action diligently there arises a

14 rebuttable presumption of prejudice to the defendants in this action. In re Eisen, 31 F.3d 1447,

15 1452-53 (9th Cir. 1994). This risk of prejudice may be rebutted if Plaintiff offers an excuse for

16 the delay. In re Eisen, 31 F.3d at 1453. Plaintiff has not responded to the February 18, 2022

17 order so the risk of prejudice to the defendants also weighs in favor of dismissal.

18 The public policy in favor of deciding cases on their merits is outweighed by the factors

19 in favor of dismissal. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to move this action forward. This action can

20 proceed no further without Plaintiff’s cooperation and compliance with the order at issue. There

21 is no operative pleading that states a claim in this matter and the action cannot simply remain

22 idle on the Court’s docket, unprosecuted. In this instance, the fourth factor does not outweigh

23 Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s orders.

24 Finally, monetary sanctions are not available to induce compliance because Plaintiff is

25 proceeding in forma pauperis in this action. Additionally, a court’s warning to a party that their

26 failure to obey the court’s order will result in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of

27 alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson,

1 complaint did not satisfy Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8’s requirement to provide a short and

2 plain statement of the claims made against each defendant; that the complaint was deficient in

3 that it was vague and unclear as to each separate Defendant’s actions; that it improperly makes

4 legal conclusions by alleging a claim without connecting specific factual details to the types of

5 alleged claims; and thus that it did not provide sufficient factual content for the Court to find any

6 claim was plausible as presented. Plaintiff was specifically warned that the failure to file an

7 amended complaint in compliance with the order would result in the recommendation that this

8 action be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to obey a court order, failure to prosecute, and

9 failure to state a claim. (ECF No. 10 at 14.)

10 Accordingly, the Court finds that the balance of the factors weighs in favor of dismissing

11 this action for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the February 18, 2022 order, and failure to

12 prosecute.

13 VI.

14 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

15 Plaintiff has failed to state a cognizable claim for a violation of his federal rights in this

16 action. Further, considering the factors to be evaluated in determining whether to dismiss this

17 action for the failure to comply and failure to prosecute, the Court finds that the factors weigh in

18 favor of dismissal of this action.

19 Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

20 1. Plaintiff’s complaint filed October 27, 2021 (ECF No. 1), be DISMISSED for

21 failure to state a cognizable claim; and

22 2. This matter be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s

23 February 18, 2022 order (ECF No. 10), and failure to prosecute.

24 This findings and recommendations is submitted to the district judge assigned to this

25 action, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this Court’s Local Rule 304. Within fourteen

26 (14) days of service of this recommendation, Plaintiff may file written objections to this findings

27 and recommendations with the court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to

1 | magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).

2 | Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the

3 | waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing

4 | Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).

5

6 IT IS SO ORDERED. DAM Le

7 | Dated: _ March 31, 2022 ;

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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