referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)
How later courts described this case
- referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
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8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 TSHAWNA BROWN, also known as No. 2:22-CV-1781-DMC-P
LACRISHA MARTIN,
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Plaintiff,
13 ORDER
v.
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KIM DO, et al.,
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Defendants.
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18 Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to
19 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s original complaint, ECF No. 1.
20 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief
21 against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C.
22 §1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or
23 malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief
24 from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Moreover,
25 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “. . . short and plain
26 statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This
27 means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d
28 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied if the
1 complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon which it
2 rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). Because Plaintiff must allege
3 with at least some degree of particularity overt acts by specific defendants which support the
4 claims, vague and conclusory allegations fail to satisfy this standard. Additionally, it is
5 impossible for the Court to conduct the screening required by law when the allegations are vague
6 and conclusory.
7 Plaintiff names the following as defendants: (1) Kim Do, a doctor at the
8 Sacramento County Jail; (2) Pike, a doctor at the Sacramento County Jail; (3) Lynn, a doctor at
9 the Sacramento County Jail; and (4) Dobolonchik, the Booking Officer at the Sacramento County
10 Jail. See ECF No. 1. Plaintiff claims that, upon arrival at the Sacramento County Jail, she was
11 pregnant but was denied necessary medical care resulting in a miscarriage and loss of her baby.
12 See id.
13 Plaintiff’s complaint suffers a fatal flaw in that she has not linked any of the
14 named defendants to the alleged denial of necessary medical care. To state a claim under 42
15 U.S.C. § 1983, the plaintiff must allege an actual connection or link between the actions of the
16 named defendants and the alleged deprivations. See Monell v. Dep’t of Social Servs., 436 U.S.
17 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the
18 deprivation of a constitutional right, within the meaning of § 1983, if he does an affirmative act,
19 participates in another's affirmative acts, or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to
20 do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743
21 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and conclusory allegations concerning the involvement of official
22 personnel in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266,
23 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Rather, the plaintiff must set forth specific facts as to each individual
24 defendant’s causal role in the alleged constitutional deprivation. See Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d
25 628, 634 (9th Cir. 1988).
26 In this case, Plaintiff outlines the series of events which allegedly took place upon
27 her arrival at the Sacramento County Jail. Plaintiff does not, however, specifically say what any
28 of the named defendants did or failed to do. Plaintiff will be provided an opportunity to amend.
1 Because it is possible that the deficiencies identified in this order may be cured by
2 amending the complaint, Plaintiff is entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of the entire
3 action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). Plaintiff is
4 informed that, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See
5 Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Thus, following dismissal with leave to
6 amend, all claims alleged in the original complaint which are not alleged in the amended
7 complaint are waived. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987). Therefore, if
8 Plaintiff amends the complaint, the Court cannot refer to the prior pleading in order to make
9 Plaintiff's amended complaint complete. See Local Rule 220. An amended complaint must be
10 complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. See id.
11 If Plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, Plaintiff must demonstrate how the
12 conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See
13 Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). The complaint must allege in specific terms how
14 each named defendant is involved, and must set forth some affirmative link or connection
15 between each defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d
16 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).
17 Finally, Plaintiff is warned that failure to file an amended complaint within the
18 time provided in this order may be grounds for dismissal of this action. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at
19 1260-61; see also Local Rule 110. Plaintiff is also warned that a complaint which fails to comply
20 with Rule 8 may, in the Court’s discretion, be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b).
21 See Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1981).
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] Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
2 1. Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed with leave to amend; and
3 2. Plaintiff shall file a first amended complaint within 30 days of the date of
4 | service of this order.
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6 | Dated: November 9, 2022 Svc
7 DENNIS M. COTA
8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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