Opinion
Case No. 1:16-cv-00122-AWI-BAM
02-12-2016
AMANDA C. GOMEZ, Plaintiff, v. THE COUNTY OF FRESNO, et al., Defendants.
SCREENING ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITH LEAVE TO AMEND
THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Amanda C. Gomez ("Plaintiff") is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil action. Plaintiff's complaint, filed on January 26, 2016, is currently before the Court for screening.
A. Screening Requirement
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the Court must dismiss a case if at any time the Court determines that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim, the Court applies the same pleading standard used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). A complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. . . ." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but "[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007)).
"[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). "[A] complaint [that] pleads facts that are 'merely consistent with' a defendant's liability . . . 'stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.'" Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). Further, although a court must accept as true all factual allegations contained in a complaint, a court need not accept a plaintiff's legal conclusions as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
B. Plaintiff's Allegations
Plaintiff brings suit against the County of Fresno, the Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Plaintiff alleges as follows: "In May 2015 me and my husband seperated [sic] due to our mental health conditions and concerns of comanding [sic] voices He would believe and react out violently towards me too." (Doc. 1 at 5). As relief, Plaintiff states the following: "5/29/15 the police were aware he had been abusing me only walking him out the home with one child after complaining he returned 6/4/15 Almost Taking my life from me 8/4/15 I testified in regards to the Incident." (Doc. 1 at 6). Plaintiff attaches a number of exhibits to her complaint, which are comprised of police event reports and court records.
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff's complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiff will be granted leave to amend her claims to the extent she can do so in good faith. To assist Plaintiff, the Court provides the relevant pleading standards.
1. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, a complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). As noted above, detailed factual allegations are not required, but "[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted). Plaintiff must set forth "sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). While factual allegations are accepted as true, legal conclusions are not. Id.; see also Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556-557; Moss, 572 F.3d at 969.
Although Plaintiff's complaint is short, it lacks important details regarding what happened, when it happened and who was involved. Absent this basic factual information, the Court cannot determine whether Plaintiff states a cognizable claim. Further, Plaintiff's complaint fails to provide any information regarding the nature of her claims or the underlying causes of action. In other words, the Court cannot ascertain what legal claims she is attempting to assert against which defendants or even how certain defendants, such as the County of Fresno or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are involved in this action.
2. Linkage Requirement
Although unclear, it appears that Plaintiff may be attempting to pursue civil rights claims. The Civil Rights Act provides:
Every person who, under color of [state law] ... subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States ... to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution ... shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.42 U.S.C. § 1983. The statute plainly requires that there be an actual connection or link between the actions of the defendants and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by Plaintiff. See Monell v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 96 S.Ct. 598, 46 L.Ed.2d 561 (1976). The Ninth Circuit has held that "[a] person 'subjects' another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the meaning of section 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another's affirmative acts, or omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which complaint is made." Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).
Plaintiff fails to specifically link any of the named defendants in this action to her claims. If Plaintiff elects to amend her complaint, she must allege what each defendant did or did not do that resulted in a violation of her constitutional rights.
3. Defendant Fresno Police Department
Plaintiff names the Fresno Police Department. To the extent Plaintiff is attempting to pursue a civil rights claim against the Fresno Police Department, she may not do so. A claim for civil rights violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 requires a "person" acting under color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Local governmental units, such as counties or municipalities, are considered "persons" within the meaning of Section 1983. Will v. Michigan Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 70, (1989). However, municipal departments and sub-units, including police departments, are generally not considered "persons" within the meaning of Section 1983. United States v. Kama, 394 F.3d 1236, 1239 (9th Cir.2005) (Ferguson, J., concurring) (municipal police departments and bureaus are generally not considered "persons" within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 1983); see also Sanders v. Aranas, No. 1:06-CV-1574 AWI SMS, 2008 WL 268972, at *2-3 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2008) (Fresno Police Department not a proper defendant because it is a sub-department of the City of Fresno and is not a person within the meaning of § 1983). The Fresno Police Department is not a proper defendant because it is a subdivision of the municipality.
4. Leave to Amend
"Rule 15(a) is very liberal and leave to amend 'shall be freely given when justice so requires.'" AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Dialysis West, Inc., 465 F.3d 946, 951 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting former Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)). As Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, she will be given an opportunity to amend his claims to cure the identified deficiencies.
CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Plaintiff's complaint fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and fails to state a cognizable claim. As noted above, the Court will provide Plaintiff with the opportunity to file an amended complaint. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000). Plaintiff may not change the nature of this suit by adding new, unrelated claims in her amended complaint. George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007) (no "buckshot" complaints).
In the amended complaint, Plaintiff shall state as briefly as possible the facts of the case, describing how each defendant is involved. For each claim, Plaintiff shall clearly and succinctly state the facts identifying the actions or omissions by each defendant that led to a knowing violation of Plaintiff's federal rights.
Plaintiff's amended complaint should be brief, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a), but it must state what the named defendant did that led to the deprivation of Plaintiffs' constitutional rights, Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678-79, 129 S.Ct. at 1948-49. Although accepted as true, the "[f]actual allegations must be [sufficient] to raise a right to relief above the speculative level. . . ." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). Plaintiff should omit any case law or legal analysis and argument.
Finally, Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 927 (9th Cir. 2012). Therefore, Plaintiff's amended complaint must be "complete in itself without reference to the prior or superseded pleading." Local Rule 220.
Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed for failure to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 and failure to state a cognizable claim;
2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a first amended complaint;
3. If Plaintiff fails to file a first amended complaint in compliance with this order, this action will be dismissed for failure to obey a court order. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: February 12 , 2016
/s/ Barbara A . McAuliffe
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE