The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 CANDACE SMITH, Case No. 1:24-cv-00538-BAM
12 Plaintiff, SCREENING ORDER GRANTING
PLAINTIFF LEAVE TO AMEND
13 v.
(Doc. 1)
14 MERCY AYODALE, et al.,
15 Defendants.
16
17 Plaintiff Candace Smith (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, initiated
18 this civil action on May 6, 2024. (Doc. 1.) Plaintiff’s complaint is currently before the Court for
19 screening.
20 I. Screening Requirement and Standard
21 The Court screens complaints brought by persons proceeding in pro se and in forma
22 pauperis. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to
23 dismissal if it is frivolous or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be
24 granted, or if it seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28
25 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
26 A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
27 pleader is entitled to relief . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not
28 required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
1 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell
2 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). While a plaintiff’s allegations are taken as
3 true, courts “are not required to indulge unwarranted inferences.” Doe I v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
4 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
5 To survive screening, Plaintiff’s claims must be facially plausible, which requires
6 sufficient factual detail to allow the Court to reasonably infer that each named defendant is liable
7 for the misconduct alleged. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss v. U.S. Secret
8 Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009). The sheer possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully
9 is not sufficient, and mere consistency with liability falls short of satisfying the plausibility
10 standard. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quotation marks omitted); Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
11 II. Summary of Plaintiff’s Allegations
12 Plaintiff names the following defendants: (1) Mercy Ayodele; (2) Uyi Igbinosun; and (3)
13 Monica Carew. (Doc. 1 at 2-3.)
14 Plaintiff utilized this Court’s complaint form. In the statement of claim section of the
15 form, Plaintiff has not only written on the lines provided, but also in the margins above, below,
16 and next to those lines. The allegations and statements are disjointed and unclear. The Court
17 quotes the unedited complaint as follows:
18 Upon such illegal constitutes commit a robbery ongoing robbery. Stole all music
& personal items sold them to amazon & mayor stairs. Commence a violate
19 attack and home invasion. Uyi Igbinosun & Mercy Ayodele formulated a fake
marriage to decieve and upon such Mercy used Uyi to rape & decieve me in order
20 to gain access to my home. She came in robbed my home home invaded & stole
writings & Monica & Mercy sold writings of [illegible] Uyi robed me of 20,000
21 in course of action.
22 (Doc. 1 at 5) (unedited text).
23 Plaintiff further alleges:
24 Mercy Ayodele came in hotel University Inn following me & drugging.
Trespassing room & drugging drinks & food March 13, 2024. Stalking &
25 following around. Having sex in front of me & screaming yelling making weird
sounds w/c Bobby Johnson She has Bobby following me around and trying to
26 rape me. She is spreading HIV & drugging and murder her victims.
27 (Doc. 1 at 6) (unedited text).
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1 Plaintiff also variously alleges:
2 Mercy has been in affair with Bobby Johnson + Kathy Davis & Margret Mims all
commiting acts of violene towards me due after w/c estanged boyfriend. Attack
3 & stole all items out home. [¶] Mercy using nurse friends to drug us & family.
Mercy murder & robbed our disabled mother.
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5 (Doc. 1 at 5) (unedited text).
6 Additionally, Plaintiff asserts:
7 (1) setup kidnapp kids w/c Uyi Igbinosun
(2) Uyi Igbinosun filing false restraining orders
8 (3) Mecy Ayodele drugging children & murdering others.
9 (Doc. 1 at 5) (unedited text).
10 III. Discussion
11 Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to
12 establish this Court’s jurisdiction. As Plaintiff is proceeding in pro se, the Court will allow
13 Plaintiff an opportunity to amend her complaint to the extent she can do so in good faith.
14 A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8
15 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, a complaint must contain “a short and
16 plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a).
17 Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause
18 of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678
19 (citation omitted). Plaintiff must set forth “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a
20 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S.
21 at 570, 127 S.Ct. at 1974). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are
22 not. Id.; see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556–557.
23 Plaintiff’s complaint is not a plain statement of her claims. While short, Plaintiff’s
24 complaint does not clearly state what happened. As indicated, Plaintiff’s allegations are
25 disjointed, unclear, and partially written in the margins. Plaintiff does not provide clear factual
26 allegations. Without basic, clear information concerning what happened, the Court cannot
27 determine if she states a cognizable claim for relief. If Plaintiff files an amended complaint, it
28 should be a short and plain statement of her claims and it must include factual allegations related
1 to her claims that identify what happened, when it happened, and who was involved. Fed. R.
2 Civ. P. 8.
3 B. Federal Court Jurisdiction
4 Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and may adjudicate only those cases
5 authorized by the Unites States Constitution and Congress. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co.,
6 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). “Federal courts are presumed to lack jurisdiction, ‘unless the contrary
7 appears affirmatively from the record.’” Casey v. Lewis, 4 F.3d 1516, 1519 (9th Cir. 1993)
8 (quoting Bender v. Williamsport Area Sch. Dist., 475 U.S. 534, 546 (1986)). Without jurisdiction,
9 the district court must dismiss the case. See Morongo Band of Mission Indians v. California State
10 Bd. of Equalization, 858 F.2d 1376, 1380 (9th Cir. 1988). Generally, there are two bases for
11 subject matter jurisdiction: (1) diversity jurisdiction; and (2) federal question jurisdiction. 28
12 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332. As pled, the complaint fails to allege this Court’s subject matter
13 jurisdiction.
14 1. Diversity Jurisdiction
15 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, federal district courts have diversity jurisdiction over civil
16 actions “where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000,” and where the
17 matter is between “citizens of different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1).
18 Although the form complaint indicates that the basis for Federal Court jurisdiction is
19 diversity of citizenship, Plaintiff does not establish such diversity. First, Plaintiff does not allege
20 that the parties’ citizenship is completely diverse. According to the complaint, Plaintiff and
21 Defendants all reside in California. (Doc. 1 at 2- 3.) Second, Plaintiff does not allege that the
22 amount in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000. Plaintiff indicates in the section for
23 relief only as follows: “Upon such emotion distress/monetary & punitive.” Thus, Plaintiff's
24 complaint does not establish diversity jurisdiction.
25 2. Federal Question Jurisdiction
26 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, federal district courts have jurisdiction over “all civil
27 actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” “A case ‘arises
28 under’ federal law either where federal law creates the cause of action or ‘where the vindication
1 of a right under state law necessarily turn[s] on some construction of federal law.’” Republican
2 Party of Guam v. Gutierrez, 277 F.3d 1086, 1088–89 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Franchise Tax Bd.
3 v. Construction Laborers Vacation Trust, 463 U.S. 1, 8–9 (1983)). The presence or absence of
4 federal-question jurisdiction is governed by the “well-pleaded complaint rule.” Caterpillar, Inc. v.
5 Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987). Under the well-pleaded complaint rule, “federal jurisdiction
6 exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of the plaintiff's properly pleaded
7 complaint.” Id.
8 Plaintiff does not allege any violation arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of
9 the United States. Indeed, Plaintiff does not cite any particular federal statute or constitutional
10 provision that would be applicable to the allegations in her complaint. Thus, Plaintiff's complaint
11 does not establish federal question jurisdiction.
12 IV. Conclusion and Order
13 Plaintiff’s complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to
14 establish this Court’s jurisdiction. As Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court will grant Plaintiff
15 an opportunity to amend her complaint to cure these deficiencies to the extent she is able to do so
16 in good faith. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000).
17 Plaintiff’s amended complaint should be brief, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), but it must state what
18 each named defendant did that led to the deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, Iqbal,
19 556 U.S. at 678-79. Although accepted as true, the “[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to
20 raise a right to relief above the speculative level . . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations
21 omitted). Additionally, Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated
22 claims in her first amended complaint. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no
23 “buckshot” complaints).
24 Finally, Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint.
25 Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693 F.3d 896, 927 (9th Cir. 2012). Therefore, Plaintiff’s amended
26 complaint must be “complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading.”
27 Local Rule 220.
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1 Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
2 1. The Clerk’s Office shall send Plaintiff a complaint form;
3 2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a
4 first amended complaint curing the deficiencies identified by the Court in this order or file a
5 notice of voluntary dismissal; and
6 3. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint in compliance with this order, then
7 the Court will recommend dismissal of this action for failure to obey a court order and for lack of
8 jurisdiction.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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11 Dated: May 22, 2024 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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