Alberto Fernando Manfredi, et al. v. Lakeland Village Owners Association, et al.

• Court: District Court, E.D. California
• Decided: October 24, 2025
• Docket: 2:25-cv-01294
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

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6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ALBERTO FERNANDO MANFREDI, et Case No. 2:25-cv-01294-DC-CSK al., 12 ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ Plaintiffs, MOTIONS AS MOOT 13 v. (ECF Nos. 21, 22) 14 LAKELAND VILLAGE OWNERS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 ASSOCIATION, et al., GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS 16 Defendants. (ECF Nos. 6, 9) 17 18 Pending before the Court are the following four motions: (1) a motion to dismiss 19 the Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) filed by Defendants 20 Vacasa, LLC, Len Cavanaugh, and Annalisa Babich (ECF No. 6); (2) a Rule 12(b)(6) 21 motion to dismiss filed by Defendants Lakeland Village Owners Association, Gary Cerio, 22 J. Michael Benson, Allen Gribnau, Carol Mcinnes, Ron Armijo, Bonnie Boswell, Michael 23 Johnston, Felix Wannenmacher, Stephen, the Helsing Group, Andrew Hay, and Steve 24 Seal (ECF No. 9); (3) a motion to amend the complaint filed by Plaintiffs Alberto 25 Fernando Manfredi and Melissa Leigh Manfredi (ECF No. 21); and (4) a motion to sever 26 and remand filed by Plaintiffs (ECF No. 22). Briefing is closed for all motions. Pursuant to 27 Local Rule 230(g), the Court submitted the motions to dismiss upon the record and briefs 28 1 without argument and vacated the July 8, 2025 hearing. 6/12/2025 Order (ECF No. 13). 2 Pursuant to Local Rule 230(g), the Court also submits Plaintiffs’ motion to amend and 3 motion to sever and remand upon the record and briefs without argument and vacates 4 the November 4, 2025 hearing. For the reasons that follow, the Court recommends 5 GRANTING Defendants’ motions to dismiss the Complaint with leave to amend. The 6 Court ORDERS that Plaintiffs’ motion to amend and motion to sever and remand are 7 DENIED as moot. 8 I. BACKGROUND 9 A. Facts1 10 Plaintiff Alberto Manfredi is a retired veteran and “has been medically retired with 11 a 100% disability rating from the United States military due to” military service-related 12 injuries, including “previous myocardial infarction[,] reliance on an implanted cardiac 13 defibrillator, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)[, and] Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), 14 which can [e]ffect balance.” Compl. ¶ 35 (ECF No. 3-1). Plaintiff Alberto’s “disabilities 15 have caused physical impairments that substantially limit several major life activities.” Id. 16 Plaintiff Melissa Manfredi is Plaintiff Alberto’s caregiver. Id. Plaintiffs appear to bring this 17 action as individuals and “on behalf of others similarly situated.” Id. ¶¶ 173, 176. 18 In 2019, Plaintiffs purchased a condominium in Lakeland Village Property, located 19 at 3535 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96159 (“Subject Property”). 20 Compl. ¶¶ 30, 34. In 2022, Plaintiffs made the Subject Property their full-time residence. 21 Id. ¶¶ 34. The Complaint alleges in February 2024, Defendant Lakeland Village Owners 22 Association (“Lakeland Village”) removed the luggage carts from the lodge parking 23 garage and when asked by Plaintiff Alberto to return the luggage carts as a reasonable 24 accommodation for his disability, Defendant Lakeland Village denied his request. 25

26 1 These facts primarily derive from the Complaint (ECF No. 3-1), which are construed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs as the non-moving parties. Faulkner v. ADT Sec. 27 Servs., 706 F.3d 1017, 1019 (9th Cir. 2013). However, the Court does not assume the truth of any conclusory factual allegations or legal conclusions. Paulsen v. CNF Inc., 559 28 F.3d 1061, 1071 (9th Cir. 2009). 1 Id. ¶ 38. The Complaint further alleges Defendants Vacasa, LLC, Len Cavanaugh, and 2 Annalisa Babich’s (collectively “Vacasa Defendants”) discriminated against “Plaintiff and 3 against other disabled individuals” by refusing access to luggage carts from 2024 to 4 2025. Id. ¶¶ 75, 121-166. The Complaint alleges as a direct result of his request being 5 denied, Plaintiff2 experienced a partially collapsed lung and severe influenza. Id. ¶ 38. 6 The Complaint further generally alleges that Defendant Lakeland Village has 7 committed multiple violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) with “malice 8 and ill intent” as “a pattern of harassment.” Compl. ¶ 45. Plaintiffs allege the pattern of 9 harassment and retaliation began after attempting to make Defendant Lakeland Village 10 aware that the contractors it hired were providing inadequate work on the Subject 11 Property. Compl. ¶ 51. Plaintiffs further allege Defendants have “personally denigrated 12 Plaintiffs in Association meetings,” have advocated for rule changes that adversely affect 13 Plaintiffs, denied “Plaintiff’s request for ADA accommodations,” “selectively enforced 14 rules against Plaintiff, and slandered and libeled Plaintiff in public.” Compl. ¶ 48; see also 15 id. ¶¶ 50, 52, 55-62. Plaintiffs further allege Defendant Lakeland Village has prioritized 16 beautification projects over maintenance or required ADA projects on the Subject 17 Property since 2010. Compl. ¶¶ 63-66, 73-74. 18 The Complaint also alleges Defendants Gary Cerio, J. Michael Benson, Allen 19 Gribnau, Carol Mcinnes, Ron Armijo, Bonnie Boswell, Michael Johnston, Felix 20 Wannenmacher, and Stephen Crinnion (collectively “Lakeland Village Board of 21 Directors”) are jointly and severally liable as each Defendant served as a board member 22 for Defendant Lakeland Village’s Board of Directors during the relevant time period. 23 Compl. ¶¶ 40-43. Plaintiffs allege Defendants Helsing Group, Andrew Hay, and Steve 24 Seal (collectively “Helsing Defendants”) are also jointly and severally liable as property 25 management for Defendant Lakeland Village. Id. ¶¶ 40-42. 26

27 2 The Complaint references throughout “Plaintiff” without identifying the individual Plaintiff. See generally Compl. It is not entirely clear which allegations relate to which 28 Plaintiff. 1 The Complaint raises a myriad of causes of actions that are categorized in the 2 following seventeen (17) categories: (1) denial of “reasonable accommodations in 3 violation of 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a), the Fair Housing 4 Amendments Act of 1988 (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of 5 Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, 6 § 12176, et seq.;” (2) failure to allocate funds for ADA improvements in violation of “[t]he 7 [ADA], Title III, 42 U.S.C.§ 2101 et seq. and [t]he [CDPA] California Civil Code and the 8 2022 California Building Code Section 11B-202.4;” (3) failure “to construct an accessible 9 entrance at the main arrival site of the property in violation of “[the ADA], Title III, 10 42 U.S.C.§ 2101 et seq. and [t]he [CDPA] California Civil Code and the 2022 California 11 Building Code Section 11B-202.4;” (4) failure “to [i]nstall [p]assing [s]paces in a [p]ublic 12 [w]alkway in violation of 42 U.S.C. 12204 and DOJ Standards for Accessible Design 13 Section 403.5.3 and California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq the [ADA]. 14 Title Ill, .42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq and California 's Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civ. § 51, 15 et seq. and the [CDPA] and the California Civil Code § 54, et seq. and the [CDPA], 16 California Civil Code § 55, et seq. and the [FHAA] and 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the 17 California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq.; (5) failure to install adequate 18 ADA parking spaces in violation of “DOJ 2010 ADA Standards in Accessibility and 19 Design, Chapter 2, Section 208 et seq. and the [ADA], Title III, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et 20 seq. and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civ. § 51, et seq. and the [CDPA], 21 California Civil Code § 54, et seq., and the [CDPA] California Civil Code § 55, et [seq.] 22 and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.;” (6) failure to maintain elevators in violation of 23 “DOJ 2010 ADA Standards in Accessibility and Design, Chapter 2, Section 206.6 24 Elevators and the [ADA], Title III, 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq. and California’s Unruh Civil 25 Rights Act, Cal. Civ. § 51, et seq. and the [CDPA], California Civil Code § 54, et seq., 26 and the [CDPA] California Civil Code § 55, et [seq.] and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et 27 seq.;” (7) failure to maintain pools and spas in violation of “DOJ 2010 ADA Standards in 28 Accessibility and Design, Chapter 2, Section 407 et seq. and the [ADA], Title III, 1 42 U.S.C. § 12182 et seq. and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civ. § 51, et seq. 2 and the [CDPA], California Civil Code § 54, et seq., and the [CDPA] California Civil Code 3 § 55, et [seq.] and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.;” (8) “ADA assigned accessible 4 parking space;” (9) failure to grant “Plaintiff’s” request for reasonable accommodations in 5 violation of “ 42 U.S. C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 6 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) 7 and the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq.;” (10) failure to grant 8 “Plaintiff’s” request for reasonable accommodations in violation of “ 42 U.S.C. 9 § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and 10 the Cal. Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the California Code of 11 Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq.;” (11) failure to grant “Plaintiff’s” request for 12 reasonable accommodations in violation of “42 U.S. C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. 13 § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of Regulations, 14 Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et 15 seq.;” (12) failure to grant “Plaintiff’s” request for reasonable accommodations in violation 16 of “42 U.S. C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. 17 § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the 18 California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq.;” (13) failure to grant “Plaintiff’s” 19 request for reasonable accommodations in violation of “42 U.S. C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 20 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of 21 Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, 22 § 12176 et seq.;” (14) failure to grant “Plaintiff’s” request for reasonable accommodations 23 in violation of “42 U.S. C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 24 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) 25 and the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq.;” (15) failure to grant 26 “Plaintiff’s” request for reasonable accommodations in violation of “42 U.S. C. 27 § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and 28 the Cal. Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the California Code of 1 Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et seq.;” (16) failure to grant “Plaintiff’s” request for 2 reasonable accommodations in violation of “42 U.S. C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. 3 § 36.302(a) and the [FHAA], 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq. and the Cal. Code of Regulations, 4 Title 2, Section 12178(a) and the California Code of Regulations, Title 2, § 12176 et 5 seq.;” and (17) harassment, intimidation and retaliation in violation of the California Bane 6 Act pursuant to California Civil Code § 52.1. Compl. ¶¶ 79-171. It is not entirely clear 7 from the review of the Complaint which claims are brought against which Defendants, 8 and which Plaintiff is referenced. See id. For relief, Plaintiffs seek monetary damages, 9 injunctive relief, and other forms of relief. Compl. at 45-46. 10 B. Procedural Posture 11 Plaintiffs initiated this action in El Dorado County Superior Court against 12 Defendants on March 24, 2025. See Compl. On May 5, 2025, Vacasa Defendants 13 removed this action on the basis of federal question. Vacasa Defs. Removal (ECF No. 14 1). On May 12, 2025, Vacasa Defendants filed the pending motion to dismiss, setting it 15 for a June 17, 2025 hearing before the undersigned. Vacasa Defs. Mot. (ECF No. 6.) On 16 May 23, 2025, Defendants Lakeland Village, Lakeland Village Board of Directors, and 17 Helsing Defendants (collectively “Lakeland Defendants”) filed the pending motion to 18 dismiss, setting it for a July 8, 2025 hearing before the undersigned. Lakeland Defs. Mot. 19 (ECF No. 9). Plaintiffs did not respond to the motions. See Docket. 20 On June 2, 2025, the Court issued an order directing Plaintiffs to show cause in 21 writing why the Court should not construe Plaintiffs’ failure to file a timely opposition to 22 Vacasa Defendants’ motion as a non-opposition and why this action should not be 23 dismissed for failure to prosecute. 6/2/2025 Order to Show Cause (ECF No. 11) (citing 24 E.D. Cal. L.R. 110; Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b)). The Court also reset Vacasa Defendants’ 25 motion hearing date to July 8, 2025 so that it may be heard in conjunction with Lakeland 26 Defendants’ motion. Id. Plaintiffs did not respond. See Docket. 27 On June 12, 2025, the Court issued an order directing Plaintiffs to show cause in 28 writing why the Court should not construe Plaintiffs’ failure to file a timely opposition to 1 Lakeland Defendants’ motion as a non-opposition and why this action should not be 2 dismissed for failure to prosecute. 6/12/2025 Order to Show Cause (ECF No. 12) (citing 3 E.D. Cal. L.R. 110; Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b)). Plaintiffs did not respond. See Docket. On the 4 same day, the Court also took Vacasa Defendants’ and Lakeland Defendants’ motions 5 to dismiss under submission on the papers, without oral argument, and vacated the July 6 8, 2025 hearing. 6/12/2025 Order. 7 On June 20, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a response to the Court’s June 12, 2025 Order 8 to Show Cause, an opposition to Defendants’ motions, and three miscellaneous motions 9 for relief, including a motion to continue the hearing on Defendants’ motion, a motion to 10 appear by video conference, and a motion to e-file. See ECF No. 14-18. On June 30, 11 2025, Defendants filed a joint reply to Plaintiffs’ opposition. Defs. Jt. Reply (ECF No. 19). 12 On July 2, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a sur-reply. (ECF No. 20.) 13 On August 27, 2025, the Court discharged its June 2, 2025 and June 12, 2025 14 Orders to Show Cause due to the filing of Plaintiffs’ opposition to the motions. 8/27/2025 15 Order (ECF No. 25). The Court further found briefing on the pending motions was 16 complete based on Defendants’ joint reply to Plaintiffs’ opposition and that no further 17 briefing would be permitted. Id. The Court also denied as moot Plaintiffs’ motions to 18 continue the motions hearing and to appear by video conference. Id. 19 On August 19, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file a first amended 20 complaint and motion to sever and remand their claims.3 (ECF Nos. 21, 22.) On August 21 21, 2025, the Court notified Plaintiffs that their motions were deficiently noticed and must 22 be re-noticed in compliance with Local Rule 230(b). 8/21/2025 Order (ECF No. 24). On 23 September 15, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a notice to reschedule their pending motions for a 24 October 14, 2025 hearing before the undersigned. (ECF No. 29.) On September 18, 25 2025, Defendants Lakeland Village and Lakeland Village Board of Directors filed a 26

27 3 The Court notes that amendment once as a matter of course is not available where Plaintiffs’ proposed amended complaint was filed three months after the first motion to 28 dismiss was filed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1). 1 request to appear remotely at the hearing on Plaintiffs’ motions. (ECF No. 30). On 2 September 23, 2025, the Court issued an order notifying Plaintiffs the hearing date 3 chosen for their pending motions was no longer available and was not in compliance 4 with Local Rule 230(b). 9/23/2025 Order (ECF No. 31). On its own motion, the Court re- 5 set the hearing on Plaintiffs’ motions for November 4, 2025 and granted Defendants 6 Lakeland Village and Lakeland Village Board of Directors’ request to appear remotely. 7 Id. Defendants filed oppositions to Plaintiffs’ pending motions. (ECF Nos. 27, 28.) 8 Plaintiffs did not file a reply. See Docket. Briefing is therefore closed and complete on 9 Plaintiffs’ pending motions. 10 II. LEGAL STANDARDS 11 A. Pro Se Pleadings, Construction and Amendment 12 Pro se pleadings are to be liberally construed and afforded the benefit of any 13 doubt. Chambers v. Herrera, 78 F.4th 1100, 1104 (9th Cir. 2023). Upon dismissal of any 14 claims, the court must tell a pro se plaintiff of a pleading’s deficiencies and provide an 15 opportunity to cure such defects. Garity v. APWU Nat'l Lab. Org., 828 F.3d 848, 854 (9th 16 Cir. 2016). However, if amendment would be futile, no leave to amend need be given. 17 Lathus v. City of Huntington Beach, 56 F.4th 1238, 1243 (9th Cir. 2023). 18 To determine the propriety of a dismissal motion, the court may not consider facts 19 raised outside the complaint (such as in an opposition brief), but it may consider such 20 facts when deciding whether to grant leave to amend. Broam v. Bogan, 320 F.3d 1023, 21 1026 n.2 (9th Cir. 2003). 22 B. Failure to Comply with Rule 8 23 Notice pleading in federal court requires that the complaint “give the defendant 24 fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atlantic v. 25 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal citation and quotations omitted). Pursuant 26 to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), a pleading must contain: “(1) a short and plain 27 statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction…; (2) a short and plain statement of 28 the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief; and (3) a demand for the relief 1 sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” The 2 complaint must clearly and fully set forth “who is being sued, for what relief, and on what 3 theory, with enough detail to guide discovery.” McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1178 4 (9th Cir. 1996). Each allegation must be simple, concise, and direct. Id. Rule 8(d)’s 5 requirement that each averment of a pleading be “‘simple, concise, and direct,’ applies to 6 good claims as well as bad, and is a basis for dismissal independent of Rule 12(b)(6).” 7 Id. at 1179. “The propriety of dismissal for failure to comply with Rule 8 does not depend 8 on whether the complaint is wholly without merit.” Id. 9 C. Failure to State a Claim under Rule 12(b)(6) 10 A claim may be dismissed because of the plaintiff’s “failure to state a claim upon 11 which relief can be granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). A complaint fails to state a claim if 12 it either lacks a cognizable legal theory or sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal 13 theory. Mollett v. Netflix, Inc., 795 F.3d 1062, 1065 (9th Cir. 2015). When considering 14 whether a claim has been stated, the court must accept the well-pleaded factual 15 allegations as true and construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the non- 16 moving party. Id. However, the court is not required to accept as true conclusory factual 17 allegations contradicted by documents referenced in the complaint, or legal conclusions 18 merely because they are cast in the form of factual allegations. Paulsen, 559 F.3d at 19 171. 20 III. DISCUSSION 21 Prior to addressing Defendants’ motions to dismiss, the Court addresses a 22 preliminary issue relating to Plaintiffs’ attempts to represent others in pro se. 23 A. Pro Se Plaintiffs Cannot Represent Other Individuals 24 Although not entirely clear from a review of the Complaint, it appears Plaintiffs are 25 attempting to bring this action “individually and on behalf of others similarly situated[.]” 26 Compl. ¶¶ 173, 176. If Plaintiffs are attempting to bring this action as a class action on 27 behalf of others, this is improper as Plaintiffs are in pro se and cannot represent another 28 individual. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g) (requiring appointment of class counsel); E.D. Cal. 1 Local Rule 183(a) (“Any individual who is representing himself or herself without an 2 attorney must appear personally or by courtesy appearance by an attorney admitted to 3 the Bar of this Court and may not delegate that duty to any other individual, including 4 husband or wife, or any other party on the same side appearing without an attorney.”). 5 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(a) also require that if a party is not represented by an 6 attorney, "[e]very pleading, written motion, and other paper must be signed" by the party 7 personally. As such, the Court will disregard any allegations referencing other individuals 8 not listed as named Plaintiffs in the Complaint. 9 B. Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss 10 Vacasa Defendants move to dismiss the entire Complaint pursuant to Federal 11 Rule for Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. Vacasa Defs. Mot. Lakeland 12 Defendants also move to dismiss the entire Complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) for 13 failure to comply with Rule 8 and for failure to state a claim. Lakeland Defs. Mot. 14 Because the Court finds Plaintiffs’ Complaint fails to meet Rule 8 pleading standards, the 15 Court will not address Defendants’ alternative grounds for dismissal. 16 Defendants argue the Complaint fails to comply with Rule 8 because it does not 17 contain a “short and plaint statement” for each claim and the 89-page long Complaint 18 includes “lengthy, repetitive, and often incoherent allegations” and fails to clearly identify 19 specific legal claims and the factual basis for each claim. Lakeland Defs. Mot. at 6; see 20 also Defs. Jt. Reply at 3-4. Defendants further argue the Complaint contains a laundry 21 list of statutes, conclusory statements, and the “disorganized nature” of the pleadings 22 deprives Defendants of fair notice and imposes an undue burden on Defendants and the 23 Court to determine what claims Plaintiffs are seeking to raise. Lakeland Defs. Mot. at 6- 24 7; see also Defs. Jt. Reply at 3-4. 25 On July 2, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a sur-reply without seeking or receiving leave of 26 court to do so. (ECF No. 20.) Plaintiffs do not have a right to file a sur-reply under the 27 Local Rules or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See E.D. Cal. Local Rule 230(m). In 28 addition, Defendants’ joint reply did not raise any new arguments or evidence that would 1 justify granting a request to file a sur-reply. The Court therefore declines to consider 2 Plaintiffs’ sur-reply. 3 A complaint must give “the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the 4 grounds upon which it rests.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. To comply with Rule 8, a 5 complaint should clearly and fully set forth “who is being sued, for what relief, and on 6 what theory, with enough detail to guide discovery.” McHenry, 84 F.3d at 1177. Here, the 7 Complaint does not provide Defendants with fair notice of the claims and the grounds on 8 which they rest. The allegations in the Complaint are confusing, conclusory and fail to 9 provide sufficient specificity to identify who the claim is raised by and against whom. For 10 example, the Complaint interchangeably uses “Plaintiffs” and “Plaintiff” throughout the 11 pleading, which is confusing and makes unclear which Plaintiff is asserting a claim 12 and/or whether the claim is being asserting on behalf of both Plaintiffs, leading the Court 13 and Defendants to guess which Plaintiff is raising the particular cause of action. See 14 Compl. ¶¶ 48, 58-62, 79, 121-127-131, 149-157, 160-171. The Complaint also alleges 15 violations of a myriad of statutes without providing the basis for each of these claims and 16 therefore fails to put Defendants on notice to allow them to respond intelligently. Even 17 though the Complaint contains some factual elements of a cause of action, the elements 18 are scattered throughout the 89-page long Complaint and are not organized in a “short 19 and plain statement,” making dismissal for failure to comply with Rule 8 proper. See 20 Destfino v. Reiswig, 630 F.3d 952, 958 (9th Cir. 2011) (affirming the dismissal of 21 plaintiff’s second amended complaint for failing to amend their “shotgun pleading to state 22 clearly how each and every defendant is alleged to have violated plaintiffs’ legal rights” 23 and continuing to allege “everyone did everything” allegations.”); see also Culinary 24 Studios, Inc. v. Newsom, 517 F. Supp. 3d 1042, 1074 (E.D. Cal. 2021) (“Broad 25 allegations against numerous defendants are not specific enough to provide the 26 defendants with notice of the plaintiffs’ allegations.”) (internal quotation marks and 27 citation omitted)); Bautista v. Los Angeles Cnty., 216 F.3d 837, 840 (9th Cir. 2000) (“To 28 comply with Rule 8 each plaintiff must plead a short and plain statement of the elements 1 of his or her claim, identifying the transaction or occurrence giving rise to the claim and 2 the elements of the prima facie case.”). Accordingly, the Court recommends Defendants’ 3 motion to dismiss be granted and the Complaint be dismissed. 4 C. Leave to Amend 5 Although the Federal Rules adopt a flexible pleading policy, even a pro se 6 litigant’s complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of a claim plainly and 7 succinctly. Jones v. Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). 8 Leave to amend should be “freely given when justice so requires” absent any declared 9 or apparent reason, “such as undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on the part of the 10 movant, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue 11 prejudice to the opposing party by virtue of allowance of the amendment, [or] futility of 12 amendment[.]” Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 13 15(a)(2). 14 The Court finds it appropriate to grant Plaintiffs an opportunity to amend the 15 Complaint. Plaintiffs’ motion to amend suggests that amendment would not be futile 16 where Plaintiffs have demonstrated the ability to streamline their allegations from an 89- 17 page long Complaint and not raise allegations on behalf of others while Plaintiffs remain 18 unrepresented. See ECF No. 21. Plaintiffs will be provided an opportunity to amend their 19 Complaint to the extent they can allege facts that sufficiently plead their claims. Plaintiffs 20 are warned that conclusory and broad allegations are insufficient to meet Rule 8. 21 Therefore, the Court recommends the Complaint be dismissed with leave to amend. 22 The allegations of the amended complaint must be set forth in sequentially 23 numbered paragraphs, with each paragraph number being one greater than the one 24 before, each paragraph having its own number, and no paragraph number being 25 repeated anywhere in the complaint. Each paragraph should be limited “to a single set of 26 circumstances” where possible. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). Forms are available to help 27 plaintiff organize his complaint in the proper way. They are available at the Clerk's 28 Office, 501 I Street, 4th Floor (Rm. 4-200), Sacramento, CA 95814, or online at 1 www.uscourts.gov/forms/pro-se-forms. The amended complaint filed should be titled 2 “First Amended Complaint.” 3 The amended complaint must not require the Court and the defendant to guess at 4 what is being alleged against whom. See McHenry, 84 F.3d at 1177 (affirming dismissal 5 of a complaint where the district court was “literally guessing as to what facts support the 6 legal claims being asserted against certain defendants”). The amended complaint must 7 not require the Court to spend its time “preparing the ‘short and plain statement’ which 8 Rule 8 obligated plaintiff[] to submit.” Id. at 1180. The amended complaint must not 9 require the Court and defendants to prepare lengthy outlines “to determine who is being 10 sued for what.” Id. at 1179. 11 Plaintiffs are informed that the court cannot refer to a prior complaint or other filing 12 in order to make the amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an 13 amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. As a 14 general rule, an amended complaint supersedes prior complaint(s), and once the 15 amended complaint is filed and served, any previous complaint no longer serves any 16 function in the case. Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 927 (9th Cir. 2012). 17 D. Plaintiffs’ Motions to Amend, Sever, and Remand 18 Because the Court is recommending the Complaint be dismissed with leave to 19 amend, the Court denies as moot Plaintiffs’ motion to amend their complaint and motion 20 to sever and remand. See ECF Nos. 21, 22. 21 IV. CONCLUSION 22 In conclusion, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 23 1. Plaintiffs’ motion to amend (ECF No. 21) is DENIED as moot; and 24 2. Plaintiffs’ motion to sever and remand (ECF No. 22) is DENIED as moot. 25 Further, based upon the findings above, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 26 1. Vacasa Defendants’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 6) be GRANTED; 27 2. Lakeland Defendants’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 9) be GRANTED; and 28 3. Plaintiffs be granted thirty (30) days from any order adopting these findings 1 and recommendations to file a First Amended Complaint consistent with 2 the Court’s order. Failure to timely file an amended complaint will result in a 3 recommendation that this action be dismissed. 4 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 5 || Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 6 | 14 days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file 7 || written objections with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. This document should 8 || be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any 9 | reply to the objections shall be served on all parties and filed with the Court within 14 10 | days after service of the objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time 11 | may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 12 | 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Yist, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991). 13 14 | Dated: October 24, 2025 C ii $ \U 15 CHI SOO KIM 16 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 17 || 4, manti294.25 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 14