Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Mitchell Taebel, Petitioner v. Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of Arizona, et al.
Supreme Court briefSep 6, 2019
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EXHIBIT 1
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
AUG 28 2019
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U S. COURT OF APPEALS
MITCHELL TAEBEL,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
DOUGLAS A. DUCEY, named as AZ
Governor; et al.,
No.
19-16169
D.C. No.
2:19-cv-00323-JAT-CDB
District of Arizona,
Phoenix
ORDER
Defendants-Appellees.
Before: M. SMITH and BENNETT, Circuit Judges.
Appellant’s motions for emergency injunctive relief (Docket Entry Nos. 4, 5,
9) are denied. The court will not entertain any motions for reconsideration,
clarification, or modification .of these denials on an emergency basis.
Briefing remains stayed pending disposition of the June 25, 2019 order to
show cause.
DA/Pro Se
Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page lot 21
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ASH
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
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No. CV 19-00323-JAT(CDB)
Mitch Taebel,
Plaintiff,
ORDER
v.
Douglas A. Ducey, et al.,
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Defendants.
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On or about January 2,2019, Plaintiff Mitch Taebel,1 who is confined in a Maricopa
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County Jail, filed a pro se Complaint in Maricopa County Superior Court. Defendant was
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served shortly thereafter, and, on January 18,2019, timely removed the matter to this Court
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and paid the filing fee. By Order dated January 28, 2019, the Court accepted jurisdiction,
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but dismissed the Complaint for failure to comply with Rule 3.4 of the Local Rules of Civil
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Procedure. The Court gave Plaintiff 30 days to file an amended complaint that cured the
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JDDL
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Plaintiff is a frequent litigant in this Court. In the past year, Plaintiff has filed at
least 14 cases with this court. See Taebel v. Montgomery, case no. 2:18-CV-01354-PHXSRB (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Sonberg, case no. 2:18-CV-00046-PHX-GMS (D.
Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Harder, case no. 2:18-CV-01183-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018);
Taebel v. Stanton, case no. 2:18-CV-01569-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v.
Morton, case no. 2:18-CV-01653-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Maricopa
County Sheriff’s Office, case no. 2:18-CV-01654-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel
v. Haas, case no. 2:18-CV-01655-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Russo, case
no. 2:18-CV-PHX-JAT (CDB) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Stanton, case no. 2:18-01167PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Harder, case no. 2:18-CV-01183-PHX-JAT
(ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, case no. 2:18-CV02496-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Penzone, case no. 2:18-CV-01122PHX-JAT (ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Castillo, case no. 2:18-CV-02576-PHX-JAT
(ESW) (D. Ariz. 2018); Taebel v. Teilborg, case no. 2:19-CV-02594-PHX-JAT (ESW) (D.
Ariz. 2019).
Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 2 of 21
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deficiencies identified in the Order.
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has also filed the following:
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a Motion for Change of Judge (Doc. 6);
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a Motion for Service of Process (Doc. 8);
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a “Motion for Emergency Order Per Rule 65” (Doc. 10);
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a “Motion for Urgent Order Rule 65(b)” (Doc. 11);
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a Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Doc. 12); and
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a Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 13).
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On March 1, 2019, Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint (Doc. 7). Plaintiff
I.
Motion to Change Judge
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Title 28, Section 455(a) provides that a United States judge “shall disqualify”
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himself in any proceeding in which his “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.”
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Section 455(b)(1) provides that a judge must also disqualify himself where he “has a
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personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed
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evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding[.]” Recusal pursuant to § 455(b) is required
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only if the bias or prejudice stems from an extra-judicial source, not from conduct or rulings
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during the course of the proceedings. See Hasbrouckv. Texaco, Inc., 842 F.2d 1034, 1046
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(9th Cir. 1987), aff’d, 496 U.S. 543 (1990); United States v. Studley, 783 F.2d 934, 939
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(9th Cir. 1986) (judge’s prior adverse rulings are insufficient cause for recusal). “[Jjudicial
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rulings alone almost never constitute [a] valid basis for a bias or partiality motion.” Liteky
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v. United States, 114 S. Ct. 1147, 1157 (1994). Adverse rulings should be appealed; they
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do not form the basis for a recusal motion. Further, where the judge forms opinions in the
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courtroom, either in the current proceeding or in a prior proceeding, these opinions “do not
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constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism
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or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.” Id.
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Title 28, Section 144 provides for recusal where a party files a “timely and sufficient
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affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice
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either against him or in favor of any adverse party.” The affidavit must state the facts and
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 3 of 21
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reasons for the belief that the bias or prejudice exists. 28 U.S.C. § 144. If the judge finds
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the affidavit timely and legally sufficient, the judge must proceed no further and another
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judge must be assigned to hear the motion. Id.\ United States v. Sibla, 624 F.2d 864, 867
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(9th Cir. 1980).
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Here, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that recusal pursuant to either §455 or §144 is
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warranted. Plaintiff has not alleged any evidence to support that the undersigned’s
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partiality might reasonably be questioned. Nor has Plaintiff identified any extra-judicial
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source of any bias or prejudice. Further, Plaintiff has failed to provide the affidavit required
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by § 144, or to state the facts and reasons, under oath, for why he believes that the
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undersigned has any bias or prejudice against him. Accordingly, recusal is not appropriate,
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and Plaintiffs Motion will be denied.
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II.
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The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief
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against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity. 28
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U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff
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has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which
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relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from
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such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(l)-{2).
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A pleading must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
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pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8 does
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not demand detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the-
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defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
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(2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere
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Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints
conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id.
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“[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a
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claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,
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550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content
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that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 4 of 21
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JDDL
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misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for
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relief [is]... a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial
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experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Thus, although a plaintiffs specific factual
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allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must assess whether there
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are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id. at 681.
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But as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed, courts
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must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342
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(9th Cir. 2010). A “complaint [filed by a pro se prisoner] ‘must be held to less stringent
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standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.
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U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)).
Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551
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If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other
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facts, a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal
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of the action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).
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Plaintiffs First Amended Complaint will be dismissed for failure to state a claim, but
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because it may possibly be amended to state a claim, the Court will dismiss it with leave
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to amend.
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III.
First Amended Complaint
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In his First Amended Complaint, Plaintiff names 12 different Defendants, including
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the “AZ Governor,” the “AZ Attorney General,” the “Mayor of Phoenix,” and numerous
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“Commanders” at the Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail. In Count One, Plaintiff
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alleges a claim for “unlawful restriction[] on marriage licenses,” which he states is related
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to basic necessities, access to the courts, and the exercise of religion. In Count Two,
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Plaintiff alleges a claim for “unlawful restriction on mail,” which he states is related to
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basic necessities, mail, and access to the courts. In Count Three, Plaintiff alleges a claim
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for “unlawful restriction[] on visitation,” which he states is related to basic necessities, and
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the exercise of religion. In Count Four, Plaintiff alleges a claim related to “the quality of
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the food,” which he states arises under the “privileges and immunities” clause and
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constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment.” In Count Five, Plaintiff alleges a claim of
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 5 of 21
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“inadequate legal resources.”
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“unconstitutional restrictions on access of journalists to defendants.” Plaintiff seeks
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injunctive relief and “one hundred billion USD” in damages.
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IV.
Failure to State a Claim
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To prevail in a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must show that (1) acts by the defendants
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(2) under color of state law (3) deprived him of federal rights, privileges or immunities and
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(4) caused him damage. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1163-64 (9th Cir.
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2005) (quoting Shoshone-Bannock Tribes v. Idaho Fish & Game Comm’n, 42 F.3d 1278,
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1284 (9th Cir. 1994)). In addition, a plaintiff must allege that he suffered a specific injury
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as a result of the conduct of a particular defendant and he must allege an affirmative link
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between the injury and the conduct of that defendant. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-
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72, 377 (1976).
Plaintiff makes no allegations against any named Defendant. Accordingly, the First
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And in Count Six, Plaintiff alleges a claim for
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Amended Complaint will be dismissed.
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V.
Leave to Amend
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Within 30 days, Plaintiff may submit a second amended complaint to cure the
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deficiencies outlined above. The Clerk of Court will mail Plaintiff a court-approved form
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to use for filing a second amended complaint. If Plaintiff fails to use the court-approved
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form, the Court may strike the second amended complaint and dismiss this action without
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further notice to Plaintiff.
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Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is the “Second
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Amended Complaint.” The second amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in its
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entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original
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Complaint or First Amended Complaint by reference. Plaintiff may include only one claim
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per count.
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A second amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint and First Amended
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Complaint. Ferdikv. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v.
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RichardFeiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 6 of 21
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will treat the original Complaint and First Amended Complaint as nonexistent. Ferdik,
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963 F.2d at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in the original Complaint or First
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Amended Complaint and that was voluntarily dismissed or was dismissed without
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prejudice is waived if it is not alleged in a second amended complaint. Lacey v. Maricopa
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County, 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc).
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If Plaintiff files an amended complaint, Plaintiff must write short, plain statements
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telling the Court: (1) the constitutional right Plaintiff believes was violated; (2) the name
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of the Defendant who violated the right; (3) exactly what that Defendant did or failed to
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do; (4) how the action or inaction of that Defendant is connected to the violation of
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Plaintiffs constitutional right; and (5) what specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of
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that Defendant’s conduct. See Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371-72, 377.
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Plaintiff must repeat this process for each person he names as a Defendant. If
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Plaintiff fails to affirmatively link the conduct of each named Defendant with the specific
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injury suffered by Plaintiff, the allegations against that Defendant will be dismissed for
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failure to state a claim.
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Defendants has violated a constitutional right are not acceptable and will be
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dismissed.
Conclusory allegations that a Defendant or group of
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Plaintiff should be aware that the right of meaningful access to the courts prohibits
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officials from actively interfering with inmates’ attempts to prepare or file legal documents.
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Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 350 (1996). The right of access to the courts is only a right
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to bring petitions or complaints to federal court and not a right to discover such claims or
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even to ligate them effectively once filed with a court. Id. at 354. The right “guarantees
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no particular methodology but rather the conferral of a capability-the capability of bringing
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contemplated challenges to sentences or conditions of confinement before the courts.” Id.
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at 356.
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As a matter of standing, for an access-to-courts claim, a plaintiff must show that he
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suffered an “actual injury” with respect to contemplated litigation.. Id. at 349. To show
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actual injury with respect to contemplated litigation, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the
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defendants’ conduct frustrated or impeded him from bringing to court a nonfrivolous claim
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that he wished to present. Id. at 352-53.
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“[T]he injury requirement is not satisfied by just any type of frustrated legal claim.”
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Id. at 354. The right of access to the courts “does not guarantee inmates the wherewithal
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to transform themselves into litigating engines capable of filing everything from
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shareholder derivative actions to slip-and-fall claims.” Id. at 355. The nonfrivolous claim
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must be a direct or collateral attack on the inmate’s sentence or a challenge to the conditions
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of his confinement. Id. “Impairment of any other litigating capacity is simply one of the
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incidental (and perfectly constitutional) consequences of conviction and incarceration.” Id.
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(emphasis in original).
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Further, a pretrial detainee has a right under the Due Process Clause of the
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Fourteenth Amendment to be free from punishment prior to an adjudication of guilt. Bell
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v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 (1979). “Pretrial detainees are entitled to ‘adequate food,
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clothing, shelter, sanitation, medical care, and personal safety.’” Alvarez-Machain v.
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United States, 107 F.3d 696, 701 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoting Hoptowitv. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237,
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1246 (9th Cir. 1982)). To state a claim of unconstitutional conditions of confinement
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against an individual defendant, a pretrial detainee must allege facts that show:
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(i) the defendant made an intentional decision with respect to
the conditions under which the plaintiff was confined;
(ii) those conditions put the plaintiff at substantial risk of
suffering serious harm; (iii) the defendant did not take
reasonable available measures to abate that risk, even though a
reasonable official in the circumstances would have
appreciated the high degree of risk involved—making the
consequences of the defendant’s conduct obvious; and (iv) by
not taking such measures, the defendant caused the plaintiffs
injuries.
Gordon v. County of Orange, 888 F.3d 1118, 1125 (9th Cir. 2018).
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Whether the conditions and conduct rise to the level of a constitutional violation is
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an objective assessment that turns on the facts and circumstances of each particular case.
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Id.\ Hearns v. Terhune, 413 F.3d 1036, 1042 (9th Cir. 2005). However, “a de minimis
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level of imposition” is insufficient. Bell, 441 U.S. at 539 n.21. In addition, the ‘“mere lack
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of due care by a state official’ does not deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property
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under the Fourteenth Amendment.” Castro v. County ofLos Angeles, 833 F.3d 1060,1071
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(9th Cir. 2016) (quoting Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 330-31 (1986)). Thus, a
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plaintiff must “prove more than negligence but less than subjective intent—something akin
6
to reckless disregard.” Id.
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Additionally, prisoners retain the First Amendment right directing that no law shall
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prohibit the free exercise of religion, done v. Estate of Shabazz, 482 U.S. 342, 348
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(1987); Henderson v. Terhune, 379 F.3d 709 (9th Cir.2004). To state a First Amendment,
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free-exercise-of-religion claim, a plaintiff must allege that a defendant burdened the
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practice of plaintiff s religion by preventing him from engaging in a sincerely held religious
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belief and that the defendant did so without any justification reasonably related to
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legitimate penological interests. Shakur v. Schriro, 514 F.3d 878 (9th Cir. 2008).
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Plaintiff should also be aware that prisoners have “a First Amendment right to send
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and receive mail.” Witherow v. Paff 52 F.3d 264, 265 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam) (citing
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Thornburgh v. Abbott, 490 U.S. 401, 407 (1989)).
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regulations which impinge on an inmate’s constitutional rights if those regulations are
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“reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.” Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89
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(1987).
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VI.
Motions
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A.
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Plaintiffs Motion for Service is premature. As noted, the Court is required to screen
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complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or an officer
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or an employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). If and when Plaintiff
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files an amended complaint that sufficiently states a claim against one or more Defendants,
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the Court will direct that service be made. In the meantime, however, Plaintiffs Motion
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will be denied.
Motion for Service
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However, a prison may adopt
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 9 of 21
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B.
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There is no constitutional right to the appointment of counsel in a civil case. See
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Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 269 (9th Cir. 1982). In
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proceedings in forma pauperis, the court may request an attorney to represent any person
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unable to afford one. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C.
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§ 1915(e)(1) is required only when “exceptional circumstances” are present. Terrell v.
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Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991). A determination with respect to exceptional
8
circumstances requires an evaluation of the likelihood of success on the merits as well as
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the ability of Plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal
10
issue involved. Id. “Neither of these factors is dispositive and both must be viewed
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together before reaching a decision.” Id. (quoting Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328,
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1331 (9th Cir. 1986)).
Motion for Counsel
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Having considered both elements, it does not appear at this time that exceptional
14
circumstances are present that would require the appointment of counsel in this case.
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Plaintiff is in no different position than many pro se prisoner litigants. Thus, the Court will
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deny without prejudice Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel.
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C.
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Plaintiff has filed three Motions seeking preliminary injunctive relief (Docs. 10,11,
19
and 12). To obtain a preliminary injunction, the moving party must show “that he is likely
20
to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of
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preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in
22
the public interest.” Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 21
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(2008).
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Environmental Council of Sacramento v. Slater, 184 F. Supp. 2d 1016, 1027 (E.D. Cal.
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2000).
Motions for Injunction
The moving party has the burden of proof on each element of the test.
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Here, because Plaintiff has failed to state a claim in his Complaint, he has
27
necessarily failed to demonstrate that he is likely to succeed on the merits of his claims,
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and is thus not entitled to preliminary injunctive relief. As such, Plaintiffs Motions will
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT-CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 10 of 21
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be denied.
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VII.
Warnings
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A.
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If Plaintiff s address changes, Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of
5
address in accordance with Rule 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff
6
must not include a motion for other relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to
7
comply may result in dismissal of this action.
Address Changes
8
B.
9
If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these
10
warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d
11
at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of
12
the Court).
13
IT IS ORDERED:
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The First Amended Complaint (Doc. 7) is dismissed for failure to state a
(1)
claim. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a second amended
16
complaint in compliance with this Order.
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(2)
Possible Dismissal
If Plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk
18
of Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action with
19
prejudice and deny any pending unrelated motions as moot.
20
(3)
Plaintiffs Motion for Change of Judge (Doc. 6), Motion for Service of
21
Process (Doc. 8), Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. 13), and Motions for
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preliminary injunctive relief (Docs. 10, 11, and 12) are denied.
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Case 2:19-cv-00323-JAT-CDB Document 15 Filed 05/03/19 Page 11 of 21
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(4)
The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a
civil rights complaint by a prisoner.
Dated this 3rd day of May, 2019.
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James A. Teiltwrg
Senior United States District Judge
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Page 1 of 4
i
CASREF,DTE
U.S. District Court
DISTRICT OF ARIZONA (Phoenix Division)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 2:19-cv-00323-JAT~CDB
Taebel v. Ducey
Assigned to: Senior Judge Janies A Teilborg
Referred to: Magistrate Judge Camille D Bibles (PS)
Demand: $1,000,000,000
Related Cases: 2:18-cv-01122-JAT-ESW
2:18-cv-01167-JAT—ESW
2:18-cv-01183-JAT—ESW
2:18-cv-01569-JAT—ESW
2:18-cv-01653-JAT—ESW
2:18-cv-01654-JAT—ESW
Case in other court: Maricopa County Superior Court,
CV2019-000061
Cause: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act
Date Filed: 01/18/2019
Jury Demand: Defendant
Nature of Suit: 555 Prisoner: Prison
Condition
Jurisdiction: Federal Question
Plaintiff
Mitch Taebel
represented by Mitch Taebel
#T430659
PHOENIX-AZ-MCSO-INMATE
LEGAL SERVICES
MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFFS
OFFICE
INMATE LEGAL SERVICES
3250 W LOWER BUCKEYE
PHOENIX, AZ 85009
PRO SE
V.
Defendant
Douglas A Ducey
named as AZ Governor
represented by Byron Jeffords Babione
Office of the Attorney General Phoenix
2005 N Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1592
602-542-7690
Email: byron.babione@azag.gov
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Timothy J Watson
https://ecf.azd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/DktRptpl753145944481769-L_l_0-l
5/21/2019
Page 3 of 4
Mark Bmovich
Arizona Attorney General
Defendant
Paul Penzone
Maricopa County Sheriff
Defendant
William Montgomery
Maricopa County Attorney
Date Filed
#
01/18/2019
1 NOTICE OF REMOVAL from Maricopa County Superior Court, case number
CV2019-000061. Filing fee received: $ 400.00, receipt number 0970-16432063
filed by Douglas A Ducey. (Babione, Byron) (Attachments: # I Civil Cover
Sheet, # 2 Supplemental Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Exhibit A)(MFR) (Entered:
01/18/2019)
01/18/2019
♦♦♦STATE COURT RECORD RECEIVED***SERVICE EXECUTED :
Certificate of Service re: Summons, Civil Complaint-Jury Trial, Certificate of
Compulsory Arbitration, and Plaintiffs Demand for Jury Trial upon Douglas A
Ducey on 1/3/2019 (Original filed in Maricopa County Superior Court on
1/9/2019). (MFR) This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no PDF document
associated with this entry. (Entered: 01/18/2019)
Docket Text
01/18/2019
2 NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT (MFR) (Entered: 01/18/2019)
01/22/2019
3
01/22/2019
4 MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by Douglas A Ducey.
DEFENDANT'S DEMAND for Jury Trial by Douglas A Ducey. (Babione,
Byron) (Entered: 01/22/2019)
(Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Babione, Byron) (Entered:
01/22/2019)
01/28/2019
5 ORDER - IT IS ORDERED: The Complaint (Doc. I -3 at 4-7) is dismissed for
failure to comply with Rule 3.4 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff
has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a first amended complaint in
compliance with this Order. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within
30 days, the Clerk of Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of
dismissal of this action without prejudice and deny any pending unrelated
motions as moot. Defendant's Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to
Complaint (Doc. 4) is denied as moot. (See document for complete details).
Signed by Senior Judge James A Teilborg on 1/28/19. (SLQ) (Entered:
01/28/2019)
02/01/2019
6 MOTION for Change of Judge by Mitch Taebel. (2 pages) (REK) (Entered:
02/04/2019)
03/01/2019
First AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants filed by Mitch Taebel.
(22 pages)(MSA) (Entered: 03/05/2019)
https://ecf.azd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/DktRptpl753145944481769-L_l_0-l
5/21/2019
Case: 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--ESW
Document#: 5-1
Date Filed: 01/28/2019
Page 1 of 14
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ASH
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
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Mitch Taebel,
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No. CV 19-00323-PHX-JAT (ESW)
Plaintiff,
v.
ORDER
Douglas A. Ducey,
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Defendant.
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On or about January 2, 2019, Plaintiff Mitch Taebel, who is confined in a Maricopa
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County Jail, filed a pro se Complaint in Maricopa County Superior Court. Defendant was
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served shortly thereafter, and, on January 18,2019, timely removed the matter to this Court
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and paid the filing fee. Subsequently, Defendant filed a Motion for Extension of Time to
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Respond to Complaint (Doc. 4). The Court will dismiss the Complaint with leave to
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amend, and deny the Motion as moot.
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I.
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A defendant may remove any civil action brought in state court over which the
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federal court would have original jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. §1441 (a). That is, a civil action
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that could have originally been brought in federal court may be removed from state to
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federal court. Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987). A federal court has
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original jurisdiction “of all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of
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the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
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JDDL
Jurisdiction
The Complaint in this case facially supports the existence of federal subject matter
Case: 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--ESW
Document#: 5-1
Date Filed: 01/28/2019
Page 2 of 14
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jurisdiction because Plaintiff alleges violations of his federal constitutional rights. 28
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U.S.C. § 1441(a).
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Accordingly, the Court will accept jurisdiction over this matter.
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II.
Further, the case was timely removed.
28 U.S.C. § 1446(b).
Complaint Not on Court-Approved Form
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Pursuant to Local Rule of Civil Procedure 3.4, Plaintiff is required to use a court-
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approved form when he files a pro se civil rights complaint. Plaintiff’s Complaint is not
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on the court’s approved form. While the Court may, in its discretion, forgo the requirement
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that a plaintiff use a court-approved form, see Local Rule of Civil Procedure 3.4, the Court
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will require Plaintiff to use the court-approved form here because the Complaint does not
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substantially comply with the court-approved form. Accordingly, the Court will dismiss
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the Complaint, with leave to amend, for failure to comply with Local Rule 3.4. i
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III.
Leave to Amend
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Within 30 days, Plaintiff may submit a first amended complaint to cure the
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deficiencies outlined above. The Clerk of Court will mail Plaintiff a court-approved form
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to use for filing a first amended complaint. If Plaintiff fails to use the court-approved form,
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the Court may strike the amended complaint and dismiss this action without further notice
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to Plaintiff.
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Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is the “First
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Amended Complaint.” The first amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in its
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entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of any previous
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complaint by reference. Plaintiff may include only one claim per count.
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A first amended complaint supersedes any previous complaints. Ferdik v. Bonze let,
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963 F.2d 1258,1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d
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1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court will treat any previous complaint
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as nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in a previous
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JDDL
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Because the Court will dismiss the Complaint with leave to amend, the Court will
deny Defendant’s Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint as moot. If
Plaintiff files an amended complaint that sufficiently states a cause of action against
Defendant, the Court will call for an answer and set a briefing schedule at that time.
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Case: 2:19-cv-00323-JAT--ESW
JDDL
Document#: 5-1
Date Filed: 01/28/2019
Page 3 of 14
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complaint and that was voluntarily dismissed or was dismissed without prejudice is waived
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if it is not alleged in a first amended complaint. Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F.3d 896,
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928 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc).
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If Plaintiff files an amended complaint, Plaintiff must write short, plain statements
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telling the Court: (1) the constitutional right Plaintiff believes was violated; (2) the name
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of the Defendant who violated the right; (3) exactly what that Defendant did or failed to
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do; (4) how the action or inaction of that Defendant is connected to the violation of
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Plaintiffs constitutional right; and (5) what specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of
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that Defendant’s conduct. See Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371-72, 377 (1976).
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Plaintiff must repeat this process for each person he names as a Defendant. If
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Plaintiff fails to affirmatively link the conduct of each named Defendant with the specific
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injury suffered by Plaintiff, the allegations against that Defendant will be dismissed for
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failure to state a claim.
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Defendants has violated a constitutional right are not acceptable and will be
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dismissed.
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IV.
Conclusory allegations that a Defendant or group of
Warnings
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A.
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If Plaintiffs address changes, Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of
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address in accordance with Rule 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff
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must not include a motion for other relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to
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comply may result in dismissal of this action.
Address Changes
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B.
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Plaintiff must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See
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LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice
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to Plaintiff.
Copies
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C.
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If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these
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warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d
Possible Dismissal
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Case: 2:19-cv-00323-JAT~ESW
Document #: 5-1
Date Filed: 01/28/2019
Page 4 of 14
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at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of
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the Court).
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IT IS ORDERED:
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(1)
The Complaint (Doc. 1 -3 at 4-7) is dismissed for failure to comply with Rule
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3.4 of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this Order
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is filed to file a first amended complaint in compliance with this Order.
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(2)
If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk of
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Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action without
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prejudice and deny any pending unrelated motions as moot.
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(3)
Defendant’s Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint (Doc.
4) is denied as moot.
(4)
The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a
civil rights complaint by a prisoner.
Dated this 28th day of January, 2019.
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James A. Teilburg
Senior United States District Judge
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JDDL
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Additional material
from this filing is
available in the
Clerk's Office.
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.