“If a plaintiff does 15 take advantage of the opportunity to fix his complaint, a district court may convert the 16 || dismissal of the complaint into dismissal of the entire action.”
How later courts described this case
- “If a plaintiff does 15 take advantage of the opportunity to fix his complaint, a district court may convert the 16 || dismissal of the complaint into dismissal of the entire action.”
- noting that claims dismissed with leave to amend which are not re-alleged in an 9 ||amended pleading may be “considered waived if not repled.”
- “an ‘amended complaint supersedes the original, the latter being treated 6 thereafter as non-existent.’” (internal citation omitted)
- “Not every push or 20 shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of a judge’s chambers, violates 21 a prisoner's constitutional rights”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 RANDY MATTHEW CORDERO, Case No.: 3:21-cv-1609-CAB-MSB
CDCR #T-37551
12
ORDER: (1) GRANTING MOTION
13 TO PROCEED IN FORMA
Plaintiff,
PAUPERIS [Doc. No. 10] AND
14
vs.
15 (2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT
FOR FAILING TO STATE A
16 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
CLAIM PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C.
CORRECTIONS AND
17 § 1915(e)(2)(B) AND § 1915A(b)
REHABILITATION,
18 Defendant.
19
20
21 I. Introduction and Procedural History
22 On September 17, 2021, Randy Matthew Cordero (“Plaintiff” or “Cordero”), a
23 state inmate currently incarcerated at California State Prison, Los Angeles (“LAC”)1 and
24 proceeding pro se, filed a document entitled “Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus By a
25 / / /
26
27
1 At the time of filing, Cordero was an inmate at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility (“RJD”).
28
1 Person in State Custody 28 U.S.C. § 2254” in the United States District Court for the
2 Central District of California. See ECF No. 1 at 1.
3 On April 1, 2021, based on preliminary review by the Court in the Central District,
4 as “Order Regarding Screening” was issued. ECF No. 4. In the Order, the Court stated
5 that the Petition was subject to dismissal for failure to state a cognizable claim for habeas
6 relief. Id. at 2. The Screening Order gave Cordero three options: (1) to convert the
7 Petition to a Civil Rights Complaint, (2) proceed on the Petition, or (3) request voluntary
8 dismissal of the action without prejudice. Id. at 3–5. Cordero did not file a response to the
9 Screening Order.
10 On May 21, 2021, the Court dismissed the petition. ECF No. 5. The Court found
11 that the claims raised by Cordero “solely challenge the condition of his confinement in
12 that the allegations relate to specific conditions at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility.” Id.
13 at 3. The Court further stated that “despite being notified” that he could consent to having
14 the Petition “convert[ed] to a civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983,” Cordero
15 failed to “provide his consent.” Id. at 4.
16 Cordero filed to two “letters” with the Court in response to the dismissal. See ECF
17 Nos. 6 & 7. In them, he stated that he received the May 21, 2021 Dismissal Order but had
18 not received the April 1, 2021 Screening Order providing him with an opportunity to
19 choose an option. See id. Based on the letters, the Court granted Cordero leave to file a
20 response to the Screening Order. See ECF No. 8. On June 17, 2021, Cordero filed a
21 notice stating that he had been transferred from RJD to CSP Sacramento. ECF No. 9.
22 Cordero filed a Request to Proceed In Forma Pauperis on June 29, 2021. ECF No. 10. On
23 July 30, 2021, Cordero filed another letter in which he stated that “I mailed my 42 U.S.C.
24 § 1983 to you on June 17, 2021 because the Court’s Magistrate Judge gave me an order
25 to respond by July 6, 2021.” ECF No. 12 at 1. He filed another letter on August 3, 2021,
26 referring to the “civil rights complaint” that he mailed to the court “on or around June 16,
27 2021,” but that was not on the docket. See ECF No. 13. In that letter, Cordero alleged that
28 on June 16, 2021 a correctional officer refused to process his legal mail as confidential.
1 Id. at 1. As a result, Cordero filed a grievance, after which, he alleges, RJD correctional
2 officers began retaliating against him. Id.
3 On September 14, 2021, the United States District Court for the Central District of
4 California construed Cordero’s July 30, 2021 and August 3, 2021 letters as providing the
5 necessary “informed consent” and converted the habeas action to a civil rights action
6 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. ECF No. 14 at 5. In the same order, the Court concluded
7 that because Cordero’s claims related to events which occurred while he was an inmate at
8 RJD and contained references to correctional officers who appeared to work at RJD,2
9 venue was proper in the Southern District of California and the case was transferred here.
10 Id. at 6.
11 II. Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
12 All parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in a district court of the
13 United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of
14 $402.3 See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). The action may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure to
15 prepay the entire fee only if he is granted leave to proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
16 § 1915(a). See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2007); Rodriguez v.
17 Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). However, the Prison Litigation Reform Act’s
18 (“PLRA”) amendments to § 1915 require that all prisoners who proceed IFP to pay the
19 entire fee in “increments” or “installments,” Bruce v. Samuels, 577 U.S. 82, 83–84
20 (2016); Williams v. Paramo, 775 F.3d 1182, 1185 (9th Cir. 2015), and regardless of
21
22
23
2 In its Order, the District Court for the Central District noted that “although the individuals
24 were not named as defendants, the correctional officers whom [Cordero] identifies in the
Petition work at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility and may reside in the southern District of
25
California. ECF No. 14 at 5.
26
3 In addition to the $350 statutory fee, civil litigants must pay an additional administrative fee of
27 $52. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) (Judicial Conference Schedule of Fees, District Court Misc. Fee
Schedule, § 14 (eff. Dec. 1, 2021)). The additional $52 administrative fee does not apply to
28
1 whether their action is ultimately dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) & (2); Taylor v.
2 Delatoore, 281 F.3d 844, 847 (9th Cir. 2002).
3 Section 1915(a)(2) requires all persons seeking to proceed without full prepayment
4 of fees to file an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets possessed and
5 demonstrates an inability to pay. See Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1234 (9th
6 Cir. 2015). In support of this affidavit, the PLRA also requires prisoners to submit a
7 “certified copy of the trust fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for . . . the
8 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint.” 28 U.S.C.
9 § 1915(a)(2); Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 1113, 1119 (9th Cir. 2005). From the certified
10 trust account statement, the Court assesses an initial payment of 20% of (a) the average
11 monthly deposits in the account for the past six months, or (b) the average monthly
12 balance in the account for the past six months, whichever is greater, unless the prisoner
13 has no assets. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). The institution having
14 custody of the prisoner then collects subsequent payments, assessed at 20% of the
15 preceding month’s income, in any month in which his account exceeds $10, and forwards
16 those payments to the Court until the entire filing fee is paid. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2);
17 Bruce, 577 U.S. at 84.
18 In support of his IFP Motion, Cordero has submitted a copy of his California
19 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) Inmate Statement Report. ECF
20 No. 10. He has failed, however, to include a signed Prison Certificate completed by an
21 accounting officer at the prison in which he is confined. See id. at 4–6; 28 U.S.C.
22 § 1915(a)(2); S.D. Cal. CivLR 3.2; Andrews, 398 F.3d at 1119. Based on the information
23 contained in the trust account statement, Plaintiff’s average monthly deposits for the past
24 six months was $266.67 and the average monthly balance for the past six months was
25 $731.66. See ECF No. 10 at 6. His available balance as of June 16, 2021, was $649.45.
26 See id. Therefore, the Court GRANTS the motion and assesses an initial partial filing
27 fee of $146.53, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The remaining balance of the $350
28 / / /
1 total fee owed in this case must be collected by the agency having custody of the prisoner
2 and forwarded to the Clerk of the Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
3 III. Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) & 1915A(b)
4 A. Standard of Review
5 Because Plaintiff is a prisoner and is proceeding IFP, his Complaint requires a pre-
6 answer screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) and § 1915A(b). Under these
7 statutes, the Court must sua sponte dismiss a prisoner’s IFP complaint, or any portion of
8 it, which is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks damages from defendants
9 who are immune. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126–27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc)
10 (discussing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)); Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir.
11 2010) (discussing 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)). “The purpose of [screening] is ‘to ensure that
12 the targets of frivolous or malicious suits need not bear the expense of responding.’”
13 Nordstrom v. Ryan, 762 F.3d 903, 920 n.1 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Wheeler v. Wexford
14 Health Sources, Inc., 689 F.3d 680, 681 (7th Cir. 2012)).
15 “The standard for determining whether a plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon
16 which relief can be granted under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) is the same as the Federal Rule of
17 Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) standard for failure to state a claim.” Watison v. Carter, 668
18 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012); see also Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th
19 Cir. 2012) (noting that screening pursuant to § 1915A “incorporates the familiar standard
20 applied in the context of failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
21 12(b)(6)”). Rule 12(b)(6) requires a complaint to “contain sufficient factual matter,
22 accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
23 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted).
24 Detailed factual allegations are not required, but “[t]hreadbare recitals of the
25 elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”
26 Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief [is] . . . a context-
27 specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and
28 common sense.” Id. The “mere possibility of misconduct” or “unadorned, the defendant-
1 unlawfully-harmed me accusation[s]” fall short of meeting this plausibility standard. Id.;
2 see also Moss v. U.S. Secret Service, 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009).
3 B. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
4 Cordero names only one Defendant in the caption of his Complaint, the California
5 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”), an agency of the state of
6 California. In general, the Eleventh Amendment prohibits private individuals from
7 bringing suits for money damages against the state. U.S. Const. amend. XI; Seminole
8 Tribe of Fla. v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44, 72–76 (1996): see also Taylor v. Westly, 402 F.3d
9 924, 929 (9th Cir. 2005). A state may waive immunity to such suits, but “[i]n the absence
10 of a waiver by the state or a valid congressional override, under the Eleventh
11 Amendment, agencies of the state are immune from private damage actions or suits for
12 injunctive relief brought in federal court.” Dittman v. California, 191 F.3d 1020, 1025–26
13 (9th Cir. 1999); Pittman v. Oregon, Employment Dept., 509 F.3d 1065, 1071 (9th Cir.
14 2007). Federal courts recognize that States’ Eleventh Amendment immunity were not
15 abrogated when it enacted 42 U.S.C. section 1983 or other provisions within that act. See
16 Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 341 (1979). Indeed, “[the Eleventh Amendment]
17 jurisdictional bar applies regardless of the name of relief sought.” Pennhurst State Sch. &
18 Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100 (1984).
19 Here, Cordero alleges “CDCR headquarters in Sacramento fails to stop abusing
20 prison inmates with serious mental illness.” ECF No. 1 at 5. Regarding prisoner lawsuits
21 against the CDCR, the Ninth Circuit has held that the CDCR is an arm of the state and
22 therefore immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment. Brown v. California Dept.
23 of Corr., 554 F.3d 747, 752 (9th Cir. 2009) (stating the “district court correctly held that
24 the California Department of Corrections and the California Board of Prison Terms were
25 entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity”). While it is unclear what damages Cordero
26 seeks against the CDCR; to the extent he may seek money damages, without a waiver of
27 immunity or Congressional abrogation thereof, he is precluded from bringing suit against
28 the state agency. See Dittman, 191 F.3d at 1025–26; Pittman, 509 F.3d at 1071.
1 C. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8 and 10
2 Plaintiff’s Complaint also fails to comply with Rules 8 and 10 of the Federal Rules
3 of Civil Procedure and therefore fails to state a claim for relief. Rule 10(a) requires a
4 plaintiff to name all defendants in the caption of the complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a)
5 (“Caption; Names of Parties . . .. [T]he title of the complaint must name all the parties”).
6 Rule 8 effectively requires a complaint to clearly convey “who is being sued, for what
7 relief, and on what theory,” McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 1996); see
8 also Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (Rule 8 requires that a
9 complaint contain “‘a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is
10 entitled to relief,’ in order to ‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and
11 the grounds upon which it rests’”) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)).
12 Here, the caption of the Complaint lists only the CDCR. ECF No. 1 at 1. In the
13 body of the Complaint, Cordero refers to several individuals who appear to be RJD
14 correctional officers, but it is impossible for the Court to conclusively discern which of
15 the named individuals he seeks to name as defendants and as to which claims.4 Cordero
16 includes references to five individuals who appear to be RJD staff – F. Camacho, M.
17 Bailey, Kako, Galaviz and Gutierrez. Id. at 5. He also includes allegations against RJD
18 itself. Id. Because Cordero failed to name any individual correctional officers as
19 defendants in the caption and it is unclear which individuals, if any, he seeks to name as
20 to his individual claims, the Court dismisses the Complaint without prejudice. Fed. Civ.
21 Pro. Rule. 10(a). Furthermore, because the Complaint fails to provide the purported
22 defendants with “fair notice” of the particular claims being asserted against them and “the
23 grounds upon which [the claims] rest[ ],” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 & n.3, it is also
24 appropriate to dismiss the Complaint for violation of Rule 8. See Fed. Civ. Pro. Rule 8(a).
25
26
27 4 This is likely due in large part to Cordero using a form intended for filing a writ of habeas
corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C.§2254 instead of a form for civil rights action under 42 U.S.C.
28
1 Nonetheless, the Court will discuss the claims contained in the Complaint to the
2 extent it is able to discern them. See Karim-Panahi v. Los Angeles Police Dept., 839 F.2d
3 621, 623 (9th Cir. 1988) (court must construe civil rights cases filed in pro se liberally
4 “and must afford plaintiff the benefit of any doubt”).
5 D. Excessive Force
6 Construing the allegations contained in the Complaint liberally, it appears Cordero
7 is attempting to allege excessive force was used against him while he was an inmate at
8 RJD. Specifically, he states that Officers F. Camacho, M. Bailey, Kao, Galaviz and
9 Gutierrez engaged in an “unlawful use of force” against him when he was pepper sprayed
10 “3 times” on August 21, 2020. ECF No. 1 at 5. Cordero specifically alleges that Camacho
11 “used unnecessary force by pepper spraying him. Id. at 6. In addition, he states that
12 “while being escorted in mechanical restraints (handcuffs) Officer Galaviz assaulted me
13 when he slammed my head into the wall of the housing unit and told me ‘Fuckin’ piece
14 of shit Cordero, tellin’ on us.’” Id.
15 Where excessive force is alleged, “the core judicial inquiry is . . . whether force
16 was applied in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline, or maliciously and
17 sadistically to cause harm.” Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 7 (1992). However, “not . .
18 . every malevolent touch by a prison guard gives rise to a federal cause of action.” Id. at
19 10 (citing Johnson v. Glick, 481 F.2d 1028, 1033 (2d Cir. 1973) (“Not every push or
20 shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of a judge’s chambers, violates
21 a prisoner's constitutional rights”).) In order to violate the Eighth Amendment, the
22 Defendant must use force which is “unnecessary” and “wanton.” Whitley v. Albers, 475
23 U.S. 312, 319 (1986).
24 In determining whether a defendant has used excessive force in the prison context,
25 the Court considers the following factors: (1) the need for application of force; (2) the
26 relationship between the need and the amount of force used; (3) the extent of the injury
27 inflicted; (4) the threat “reasonably perceived by the responsible officials”; and (5) “any
28 efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response.” Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7 (citing
1 Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321). “From such considerations inferences may be drawn as to
2 whether the use of force could plausibly have been thought necessary, or instead evinced
3 such wantonness with respect to the unjustified infliction of harm as is tantamount to a
4 knowing willingness that it occur.” Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321. Thus, a constitutional
5 violation can only be established if force was used “maliciously and sadistically for the
6 purpose of causing harm.” Id. at 319; see also Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991)
7 (noting claims that an official has inflicted cruel and unusual punishment contain both an
8 objective component as well as a subjective “inquiry into the prison official’s state of
9 mind”).
10 To the extent Cordero seeks to allege excessive force claim against Bailey, Kako
11 and Gutierrez, he has provided no facts regarding their specific conduct. As for Cordero’s
12 allegations that Camacho pepper sprayed him and Galaviz slammed him against a wall,
13 even assuming he had properly named them as defendants, the allegations as pleaded lack
14 sufficient detail as to the relevant factors to state an excessive force claim against them.
15 See Hudson, 503 U.S. at 7.
16 E. Retaliation
17 Next, Cordero also appears to allege that the use of force was retaliation “directly
18 in response to [his] correspondence” with private attorneys regarding staff misconduct.
19 ECF No. 1 at 6. He states that Camacho conducted a search of his cell and “found the
20 correspondence” and became “visibly upset.” Id. At some point Camacho (and possibly
21 other officers, including Bailey, Kako Galaviz and Gutierrez) “used unlawful and
22 unnecessary . . . force by pepper spraying [him and his cellmate] three separate times
23 while they were laying on the ground in the prone position,” in retaliation for
24 communicating with an attorney. Id.
25 “Within the prison context, a viable claim of First Amendment retaliation entails
26 five basic elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action against
27 an inmate (2) because of (3) that prisoner’s protected conduct, and that such action (4)
28 chilled the inmate’s exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not
1 reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 567–68. The
2 prisoner must show that the type of activity he was engaged in was constitutionally
3 protected, that the protected conduct was a substantial or motivating factor for the alleged
4 retaliatory action, and that the retaliatory action advanced no legitimate penological
5 interest. Hines v. Gomez, 108 F.3d 265, 267–68 (9th Cir. 1997) (inferring retaliatory
6 motive from circumstantial evidence).
7 The second element, causation, requires showing that the prison official intended
8 to take the adverse action out of “retaliatory animus” to “silence and to punish” the
9 inmate, as opposed to for some other reason. Shephard v. Quillen, 840 F.3d 686, 689–91
10 (9th Cir. 2016). Evidence probative of retaliatory animus includes proximity in time
11 between the protected speech and the alleged adverse action, the prison official’s
12 expressed opposition to the speech, and the prison official’s proffered reason for the
13 adverse action was false or pretextual. See id. at 690.
14 As discussed above, it is not clear which individuals Cordero seeks to name as
15 defendant(s) as to this claim. As to Bailey, Kako, Galaviz and Gutierrez, Cordero fails to
16 allege they knew of his communications with the attorney. See ECF No. 1 at 5. Thus he
17 has not adequately alleged causation. See Shephard, 840 F.3d at 689–91. To the extent he
18 intended to name Camacho as defendant, Cordero also fails to state a claim. While he
19 alleges that Camacho knew of his communication with an outside attorney, it is unclear
20 when Camacho purportedly learned that information in relation to the subsequent pepper
21 spraying. Mere speculation that defendants acted out of retaliation is not sufficient. Wood
22 v. Yordy, 753 F.3d 899, 904 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing cases) (affirming grant of summary
23 judgment where no evidence that defendants’ disparaging remarks were made in
24 reference to prior lawsuit). Further, Cordero must provide specific facts to adequately
25 allege the use of force by the defendant, whether Camacho or someone else, did “not
26 reasonably advance a legitimate correctional goal.” Rhodes, 408 F.3d at 567–68.
27 / / /
28 / / /
1 F. Access to Courts
2 Finally, Cordero alleges RJD “is deliberately interfering with and obstructing my
3 access to the courts in violation of [his] First Amendment . . . rights.” ECF No. 1 at 6. He
4 states that on January 31, 2021 he attempted to mail his state petition for writ of habeas
5 corpus to the San Diego County Superior Court. Id. He alleges that on February 8, 2021,
6 he received the petition back stamped, “return to sender.” Id. Cordero alleges that the five
7 postal stamps on the envelop had not been “marked over by the meter from the U.S. Post
8 Office [and] this gave me the impression that my state habeas petition never made it out
9 of the prison.” Id.
10 Prisoners have a constitutional right of access to the courts. See Lewis v. Casey,
11 518 U.S. 343, 350 (1996); Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 821 (1977). To establish a
12 claim for any violation of the right of access to the courts, the prisoner must prove that
13 there was an inadequacy in the prison’s legal access program that caused him an actual
14 injury. See Lewis, 518 U.S. at 349–51. To prove an actual injury, the prisoner must show
15 that the inadequacy in the prison’s program hindered his efforts to pursue a non-frivolous
16 claim concerning his conviction or conditions of confinement. See id. at 351, 354–55.
17 Prisoners enjoy a First Amendment right to send and receive mail. See Witherow v.
18 Paff, 52 F.3d 264, 265 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing Thornburgh v. Abbott, 490 U.S. 401, 407
19 (1989)). A prison, however, may adopt regulations or practices which impinge on a
20 prisoner’s First Amendment rights as long as the regulations are “reasonably related to
21 legitimate penological interests.” See Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987). The
22 Turner standard applies to regulations and practices concerning all correspondence
23 between prisoners and to regulations concerning incoming mail received by prisoners
24 from non-prisoners. See Thornburgh, 490 U.S. at 413. Prison officials may institute
25 procedures for inspecting “legal mail,” including mail sent from prisoners to the courts.
26 See Royse v. Superior Court, 779 F.2d 573, 574–75 (9th Cir. 1986) (outgoing mail to
27 court).
28 / / /
1 As with his other claims, it is not clear from the face of the Complaint who
2 Cordero seeks to name as a defendant. To the extent it appears he may be attempting to
3 name RJD as a defendant for “deliberately interfering with and obstructing [his] access to
4 the courts,” he fails to state a claim for money damages. As discussed above, the CDCR
5 and any state prison, like RJD, correctional agency, sub-division, or department under its
6 jurisdiction, are not “persons” subject to suit under § 1983. See Hale v. State of Arizona,
7 993 F.2d 1387, 1398–99 (9th Cir. 1993) (holding that a state department of corrections is
8 an arm of the state, and thus, not a “person” within the meaning of § 1983). And if by
9 naming RJD as a party, Plaintiff seeks to sue the State of California itself, his claims are
10 clearly barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 782
11 (1978) (per curiam) (“There can be no doubt. . .that [a] suit against the State and its
12 Board of Corrections is barred by the Eleventh Amendment, unless [the State] has
13 consented to the filing of such a suit.”).
14 G. Leave to Amend
15 In sum, Cordero has failed to provide a simple, concise, narrative that sets forth all
16 of the injuries attributed to each individual defendant, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), and failed
17 to name all defendants in the caption of the complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a). Even
18 when Plaintiff’s claims are liberally construed, he has failed to provide adequate
19 information for the Court to determine whether the allegations could state cognizable
20 claims for relief against individuals referenced in the Complaint. Accordingly, Plaintiff
21 will be given leave to file an amended complaint in which he clearly names each
22 defendant and links him or her to a specific legal claim and to the alleged injury, or
23 injuries for which that defendant is alleged to be responsible.
24 Plaintiff must demonstrate how the incidents about which he complains resulted in
25 a deprivation of his constitutional rights. See, e.g., West, 487 U.S. at 48. The amended
26 complaint must allege in specific terms how each named defendant is involved. Rizzo v.
27 Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371 (1976). There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
28 unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant’s actions and the
1 claimed deprivation. Id.; May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980). Finally, the
2 amended complaint must be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading.
3 This requirement exists because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the
4 original complaint. See Ramirez v. County of San Bernardino, 806 F.3d 1002, 1008 (9th
5 Cir. 2015) (“an ‘amended complaint supersedes the original, the latter being treated
6 thereafter as non-existent.’” (internal citation omitted)).
7 IV. Conclusion and Order
8 Good cause appearing, the Court:
9 1. DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to update the docket in light of the United
10 States District Court for the Central District’s Order (ECF No. 14) construing Cordero’s
11 “Petition for Habeas Corpus” as a “Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint” filed pursuant to 42
12 U.S.C. § 1983 and update the “Cause” and “Nature of Suit” portions of the docket
13 accordingly;
14 2. GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP (Doc. No. 2) pursuant to 28
15 U.S.C. § 1914(a) and/or 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a);
16 3. DIRECTS the Secretary of the CDCR, or his designee, to collect from
17 Plaintiff’s trust account the $146.53 initial filing fee assessed, if those funds are available
18 at the time this Order is executed, and forward whatever balance remains of the full $350
19 owed in monthly payments in an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the preceding
20 month’s income to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in Plaintiff’s account exceeds
21 $10 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE CLEARLY
22 IDNETIFIED BY THE NAME AND NUMBER ASSIGNED TO HIS ACTION.
23 4. DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to serve a copy of this Order on Kathleen
24 Allison, Secretary, CDCR, P.O. Box 942883, Sacramento, California, 94283-0001.
25 5. DISMISSES this civil action sua sponte based on Plaintiff’s failure to state
26 a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and
27 § 1915A(b)(1).
28 / / /
1 6. GRANTS Plaintiff forty-five (45) days leave from the date of this Order in
2 || which to file an Amended Complaint which cures the deficiencies of pleading noted
3 ||above. The Amended Complaint must be complete by itself without reference to his
4 || original pleading. Defendants not named and any claim not re-alleged in his Amended
5 Complaint will be considered waived. See S.D. Cal. CivLR 15.1; Hal Roach Studios,
6 v. Richard Feiner & Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1989) (“[A]n amended
7 || pleading supersedes the original.”); Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir.
8 2012) (noting that claims dismissed with leave to amend which are not re-alleged in an
9 ||amended pleading may be “considered waived if not repled.”).
10 If Plaintiff fails to file an Amended Complaint within the time provided, the Court
11 || will enter a final Order dismissing this civil action based both on Plaintiff's failure to
12 a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)
13 1915A(b), and his failure to prosecute in compliance with a court order requiring
14 || amendment. See Lira v. Herrera, 427 F.3d 1164, 1169 (9th Cir. 2005) (“If a plaintiff does
15 take advantage of the opportunity to fix his complaint, a district court may convert the
16 || dismissal of the complaint into dismissal of the entire action.”).
17 IT IS SO ORDERED.
18 Dated: November 4, 2021 € Z
19
Hon. Cathy Ann Bencivengo
20 United States District Judge
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