1 BGN 2 WO 3 4 5 8 9 Amber Beggs, No. CV-26-01044-PHX-JAT (MTM) 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. ORDER 12 Gerard A. Sheridan, et al., 13 Defendants.
15 Plaintiff Amber Beggs, who is confined in the Estrella Jail, has filed a pro se civil 16 rights Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Doc. 1) and an Application to Proceed In 17 Forma Pauperis (Doc. 2). The Court will grant the Application to proceed and dismiss the 18 Complaint with leave to amend. 19 I. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and Filing Fee 20 The Court will grant Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. 28 21 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Plaintiff must pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00. 28 U.S.C. 22 § 1915(b)(1). The Court will assess an initial partial filing fee of $38.01. The remainder 23 of the fee will be collected monthly in payments of 20% of the previous month’s income 24 credited to Plaintiff’s trust account each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00. 25 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The Court will enter a separate Order requiring the appropriate 26 government agency to collect and forward the fees according to the statutory formula. 27 . . . . 28 . . . . 1 II. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints 2 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief 3 against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity. 28 4 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff 5 has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim upon which 6 relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such 7 relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)–(2). 8 A pleading must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 9 pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8 does 10 not demand detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the- 11 defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 12 (2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 13 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. 14 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a 15 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 16 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content 17 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 18 misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for 19 relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial 20 experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Thus, although a plaintiff’s specific factual 21 allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must assess whether there 22 are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id. at 681. 23 But as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed, courts 24 must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 25 (9th Cir. 2010). A “complaint [filed by a pro se prisoner] ‘must be held to less stringent 26 standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 27 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)). 28 1 If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other 2 facts, a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal 3 of the action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). The 4 Court will dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint for failure to state a claim, but because it may 5 possibly be amended to state a claim, the Court will dismiss it with leave to amend. 6 III. Complaint 7 Plaintiff’s single-count Complaint claims a violation of the First and Fourteenth 8 Amendments, in addition to state-law negligence. Plaintiff names Gerard A. Sheridan, 9 Officer Quiz-Salcido, and Does 1-20 as Defendants. Plaintiff seeks monetary relief and 10 disciplinary action against Defendant Quiz-Salcido.1 11 Plaintiff alleges that on January 8, 2026, Defendant Quiz-Salcido “utilized 12 excessive force” when he grabbed Plaintiff’s arm and “pulled [her] down to the ground 13 from a top bunk” causing a fracture in her left arm. (Doc. 1 at 3.) Plaintiff states she went 14 to “medical” and that she has to wear an “arm cast and arm brace.” (Id.) Plaintiff claims 15 she “did not disobey any order” by Defendant Quiz-Salcido and that the “[sergeant] would 16 not allow [her] to file a [g]rievance.” (Id.) For her injuries, Plaintiff claims a “left arm 17 fracture, several bruises, nightmares, depression, sweats, sadness” and a fear of officers. 18 (Id.) 19 IV. Failure to State a Claim 20 To prevail in a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must show that (1) acts by the defendants 21 (2) under color of state law (3) deprived her of federal rights, privileges or immunities and 22 (4) caused her damage. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1163-64 (9th Cir. 23 2005) (quoting Shoshone-Bannock Tribes v. Idaho Fish & Game Comm’n, 42 F.3d 1278, 24 1284 (9th Cir. 1994)). In addition, a plaintiff must allege that she suffered a specific injury 25 as a result of the conduct of a particular defendant and she must allege an affirmative link
26 1 In addition to her request for monetary relief and disciplinary action, Plaintiff seeks 27 the “[r]ecovery of damages under A.R.S. [§] 12-514.” (Doc. 1 at 6.) Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-514 is for actions “arising from sexual conduct or sexual contact committed 28 against a minor” and does not appear applicable to Plaintiff’s lawsuit based on the facts alleged. 1 between the injury and the conduct of that defendant. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371- 2 72, 377 (1976). 3 A. Defendant Gerard A. Sheridan 4 There is no respondeat superior liability under § 1983, and therefore, a defendant’s 5 position as the supervisor of persons who allegedly violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights 6 does not impose liability. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Hamilton 7 v. Endell, 981 F.2d 1062, 1067 (9th Cir. 1992); Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th 8 Cir. 1989). “Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to . . . § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must 9 plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official’s own individual 10 actions, has violated the Constitution.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676. 11 Plaintiff has not alleged that Defendant Sheridan personally participated in a 12 deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights, was aware of a deprivation and failed to act, 13 or formed policies that resulted in Plaintiff’s injuries. Plaintiff has made no allegations 14 against Defendant Sheridan at all. Plaintiff has therefore failed to state a claim against 15 Defendant Sheridan and the Court will dismiss him. 16 B. Does 1-20 17 Plaintiff fails to allege any facts against Defendant Does 1-20 and accordingly, the 18 Court will dismiss these Defendants. 19 C. Excessive Force 20 The Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause applies to the use of excessive 21 force against pretrial detainees that amounts to punishment. Kingsley v. Hendrickson, 576 22 U.S. 389, 397 (2015); Gibson v. County of Washoe, 290 F.3d 1175, 1197 (9th Cir. 2002). 23 Force is excessive if the officers’ use of force was “objectively unreasonable” in light of 24 the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their mental state. 25 Kingsley, 576 U.S. at 396; see also Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 397 (1989) (applying 26 an objectively unreasonable standard to a Fourth Amendment excessive force claim arising 27 during an investigatory stop). In determining whether the use of force was reasonable, the 28 Court should consider factors including, but not limited to the relationship between the need for the use of force and the 1 amount of force used; the extent of the plaintiff’s injury; any 2 effort made by the officer to temper or to limit the amount of force; the severity of the security problem at issue; the threat 3 reasonably perceived by the officer; and whether the plaintiff 4 was actively resisting. 5 Kingsley, 576 U.S. at 397. 6 Because officers are often forced to make split-second decisions in rapidly evolving 7 situations, the reasonableness of a particular use of force must be made “from the 8 perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, including what the officer knew at the 9 time, not with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” Id. (citing Graham, 490 U.S. at 396). 10 Further, “[n]ot every push or shove, even if it may later seem unnecessary in the peace of 11 a judge’s chambers,” violates the Constitution. Graham, 490 U.S. at 396 (citation omitted). 12 Plaintiff fails to state a claim for excessive force as she does not provide any 13 allegations within the Complaint that the actions of Defendant Quiz-Salcido were 14 objectively unreasonable. Plaintiff does not allege facts concerning the circumstances 15 leading up to the use of force or her own actions towards Defendant Quiz-Salcido. Plaintiff 16 does not address why she was removed from the top bunk. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to 17 state a claim. 18 D. First Amendment 19 Prisoners have a First Amendment right to file prison grievances, Rhodes v. 20 Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567 (9th Cir. 2005), but “[t]here is no legitimate claim of 21 entitlement to a grievance procedure,” Mann v. Adams, 855 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1988), 22 and the failure to follow grievance procedures does not give rise to a due process claim. 23 See Flournoy v. Fairman, 897 F. Supp. 350, 354 (N.D. Ill. 1995) (jail grievance procedures 24 did not create a substantive right enforceable under § 1983); Spencer v. Moore, 638 F. 25 Supp. 315, 316 (E.D. Mo. 1986) (violations of grievance system procedures do not deprive 26 inmates of constitutional rights). “[N]o constitutional right was violated by the defendants’ 27 failure, if any, to process all of the grievances [plaintiff] submitted for consideration.” 28 Buckley v. Barlow, 997 F.2d 494, 495 (8th Cir. 1993). In addition, “[t]he right to petition 1 the government for redress of grievances . . . does not guarantee a favorable response, or 2 indeed any response, from state officials. Moreover, the First Amendment’s right to 3 redress of grievances is satisfied by the availability of a judicial remedy.” Baltoski v. 4 Pretorius, 291 F. Supp. 2d 807, 811 (N.D. Ind. 2003); see also Ashann-Ra v. Virginia, 112 5 F. Supp. 2d 559, 569 (W.D. Va. 2000) (failure to comply with state’s grievance procedure 6 is not actionable under § 1983 and does not compromise an inmate’s right of access to the 7 courts). However, if there is an established grievance procedure, the denial of access to 8 the grievance process may state a constitutional violation. Bradley v. Hall, 64 F.3d 1276, 9 1279 (9th Cir. 1995), abrogated on other grounds by Shaw v. Murphy, 532 U.S. 223 (2001); 10 Valandingham v. Bojorquez, 866 F.2d 1135, 1138 (9th Cir. 1989). 11 Plaintiff’s sole allegation that the “[sergeant] would not allow [her] to file a 12 [g]rievance” is insufficient to state a claim. (Doc. 1 at 3.) Plaintiff does not state facts that 13 evince a constitutional violation—there are no allegations concerning when Plaintiff tried 14 to submit a grievance, what the grievance concerned, or whether she attempted to file a 15 grievance multiple times or with different people. Significantly, Plaintiff has failed to 16 allege that the denial of access to Estrella Jail’s grievance procedure caused her “actual 17 injury” that prejudiced her ability to file a nonfrivolous legal claim. Lewis v. Casey, 518 18 U.S. 343, 349 (1996) (“The requirement that an inmate alleging a violation of Bounds [v. 19 Smith, 430 U.S. 817 (1977)] must show actual injury derives ultimately from the doctrine 20 of standing. . . .”) Therefore, this claim will be dismissed. 21 E. State-Law Negligence 22 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3), if a federal district court has dismissed all claims 23 over which it has original jurisdiction, it may, in its discretion, dismiss without prejudice 24 supplemental state law claims brought in the same action. Although a district court is not 25 required to dismiss the supplemental state law claims, “in the usual case in which all 26 federal-law claims are eliminated before trial, the balance of factors to be considered under 27 the pendent jurisdiction doctrine—judicial economy, fairness, convenience, and comity— 28 will point toward declining to exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims.” 1 Carnegie-Mellon Univ. v. Cohill, 484 U.S. 343, 350 n.7 (1988) superseded by statute on 2 other grounds as stated in Royal Canin U.S.A., Inc. v. Wullschleger, 604 U.S. 22 (2025); 3 see also Les Shockley Racing, Inc. v. Nat’l Hot Rod Ass’n, 884 F.2d 504, 509 (9th Cir. 4 1989). 5 The Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction here because Plaintiff has 6 failed to state a federal claim. See Ove v. Gwinn, 264 F.3d 817, 826 (9th Cir. 2001) (“A 7 court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over related state-law claims once 8 it has ‘dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction.’” (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 9 1367(c)(3))); Gini v. Las Vegas Metro. Police Dep’t, 40 F.3d 1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 1994) 10 (when federal law claims are eliminated before trial, the court generally should decline 11 jurisdiction over state law claims and dismiss them without prejudice). Accordingly, 12 Plaintiff’s state-law negligence claim will be dismissed without prejudice. 13 V. Leave to Amend 14 For the foregoing reasons, the Court will dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint for failure to 15 state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Within 30 days, Plaintiff may submit a 16 first amended complaint to cure the deficiencies outlined above. The Clerk of Court will 17 mail Plaintiff a court-approved form to use for filing a first amended complaint. If Plaintiff 18 fails to use the court-approved form, the Court may strike the amended complaint and 19 dismiss this action without further notice to Plaintiff. 20 Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is the “First 21 Amended Complaint.” The first amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in its 22 entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original 23 Complaint by reference. Plaintiff may include only one claim per count. 24 A first amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 25 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 26 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court will treat the original Complaint 27 as nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in the 28 original Complaint and that was voluntarily dismissed or was dismissed without prejudice 1 is waived if it is not alleged in a first amended complaint. Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 2 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). 3 VI. Warnings 4 A. Release 5 If Plaintiff is released while this case remains pending, and the filing fee has not 6 been paid in full, Plaintiff must, within 30 days of her release, either (1) notify the Court 7 that she intends to pay the unpaid balance of her filing fee within 120 days of her release 8 or (2) file a non-prisoner application to proceed in forma pauperis. Failure to comply may 9 result in dismissal of this action. 10 B. Address Changes 11 Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule 12 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion for other 13 relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this 14 action. 15 C. Possible “Strike” 16 Because the Complaint has been dismissed for failure to state a claim, if Plaintiff 17 fails to file an amended complaint correcting the deficiencies identified in this Order, the 18 dismissal may count as a “strike” under the “3-strikes” provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 19 Under the 3-strikes provision, a prisoner may not bring a civil action or appeal a civil 20 judgment in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 “if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior 21 occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a 22 court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, 23 or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under 24 imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 25 D. Possible Dismissal 26 If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these 27 warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d 28 1 at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of 2 the Court). 3 ITIS ORDERED: 4 (1) Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. 2) is granted. 5 (2) As required by the accompanying Order to the appropriate government 6 agency, Plaintiff must pay the $350.00 filing fee and is assessed an initial partial filing fee 7) of $38.01. 8 (3) |The Complaint (Doc. 1) is dismissed for failure to state a claim. Plaintiff 9 has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a first amended complaint in compliance 10 with this Order. 1] (4) — If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk of 12) Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action with 13 prejudice that states that the dismissal may count as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) 14 and deny any pending unrelated motions as moot. 15 (5) The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a civil rights complaint by a prisoner. 17 Dated this 31st day of July, 2026. 18
20 1 _ James A. Teil Org Senior United States District Judge 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Ic
Instructions for a Prisoner Filing a Civil Rights Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
1. Who May Use This Form. The civil rights complaint form is designed to help incarcerated persons prepare a complaint seeking relief for a violation of their federal civil rights. These complaints typically concern, but are not limited to, conditions of confinement. This form should not be used to challenge your conviction or sentence. If you want to challenge a state conviction or sentence, you should file a petition under 28 U.S.C. ' 2254 for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in state custody. If you want to challenge a federal conviction or sentence, you should file a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate sentence in the federal court that entered the judgment. 2. The Form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.4 provides that complaints by incarcerated persons must be filed on the court-approved form. The form must be typed or neatly handwritten. The form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. All questions must be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If needed, you may attach additional pages, but no more than fifteen additional pages, of standard letter-sized paper. You must identify which part of the complaint is being continued and number all pages. If you do not fill out the form properly, you will be asked to submit additional or corrected information, which may delay the processing of your action. You do not need to cite law. 3. Your Signature. You must tell the truth and sign the form. If you make a false statement of a material fact, you may be prosecuted for perjury. 4. The Filing and Administrative Fees. The total fees for this action are $405.00 ($350.00 filing fee plus $55.00 administrative fee). If you are unable to immediately pay the fees, you may request leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Please review the “Information for Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a (Non-Habeas) Civil Action in Federal Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915” for additional instructions. 5. Original and Judge=s Copy. You must send an original plus one copy of your complaint and of any other documents submitted to the Court. You must send one additional copy to the Court if you wish to have a file-stamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be identical to the original. Copies may be legibly handwritten. This section does not apply to inmates housed at an Arizona Department of Corrections facility that participates in electronic filing. 6. Where to File. You should file your complaint in the division where you were confined when your rights were allegedly violated. See LRCiv 5.1(a) and 77.1(a). If you were confined in Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz, or Gila County, file in the Phoenix Division. If you were confined in Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, or Yavapai County, file in the Prescott Division. If you were confined in Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, or Greenlee County, file in the Tucson Division. Unless you are an inmate housed at an Arizona Department of Corrections facility that participates in electronic filing, mail the original and one copy of the complaint with the $405 filing and administrative fees or the application to proceed in forma pauperis to:
1 Revised 11/6/24 Phoenix & Prescott Divisions: OR Tucson Division: U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. Courthouse, Suite 130 U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500 401 West Washington Street, SPC 10 405 West Congress Street Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119 Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010
7. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the Court and the defendants in writing of any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the Court of any change in your mailing address may result in the dismissal of your case.
8. Certificate of Service. You must furnish the defendants with a copy of any document you submit to the Court (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis). Each original document (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document stating the date a copy of the document was mailed to the defendants and the address to which it was mailed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a), (d). Any document received by the Court that does not include a certificate of service may be stricken. This section does not apply to inmates housed at an Arizona Department of Corrections facility that participates in electronic filing. A certificate of service should be in the following form:
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed this (month, day, year) to: Name: Address: Attorney for Defendant(s)
(Signature)
9. Amended Complaint. If you need to change any of the information in the initial complaint, you must file an amended complaint. The amended complaint must be written on the court- approved civil rights complaint form. You may file one amended complaint without leave (permission) of Court within 21 days after serving it or within 21 days after any defendant has filed an answer, whichever is earlier. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Thereafter, you must file a motion for leave to amend and lodge (submit) a proposed amended complaint. LRCiv 15.1. In addition, an amended complaint may not incorporate by reference any part of your prior complaint. LRCiv 15.1(a)(2). Any allegations or defendants not included in the amended complaint are considered dismissed. All amended complaints are subject to screening under the Prison Litigation Reform Act; screening your amendment will take additional processing time.
10. Exhibits. You should not submit exhibits with the complaint or amended complaint. Instead, the relevant information should be paraphrased. You should keep the exhibits to use to support or oppose a motion to dismiss, a motion for summary judgment, or at trial.
11. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any judge or the staff of any judge. The only appropriate way to communicate with the Court is by filing a written pleading or motion.
2 12. Completing the Civil Rights Complaint Form.
HEADING: 1. Your Name. Print your name, prison or inmate number, and institutional mailing address on the lines provided.
2. Defendants. If there are four or fewer defendants, print the name of each. If you name more than four defendants, print the name of the first defendant on the first line, write the words “and others” on the second line, and attach an additional page listing the names of all of the defendants. Insert the additional page after page 1 and number it “1- A” at the bottom.
3. Jury Demand. If you want a jury trial, you must write “JURY TRIAL DEMANDED” in the space below “CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT BY A PRISONER.” Failure to do so may result in the loss of the right to a jury trial. A jury trial is not available if you are seeking only injunctive relief.
Part A. JURISDICTION: 1. Nature of Suit. Mark whether you are filing the complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983 for state, county, or city defendants; “Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents” for federal defendants; or “other.” If you mark “other,” identify the source of that authority.
2. Location. Identify the institution and city where the alleged violation of your rights occurred.
3. Defendants. Print all of the requested information about each of the defendants in the spaces provided. If you are naming more than four defendants, you must provide the necessary information about each additional defendant on separate pages labeled “2-A,” “2-B,” etc., at the bottom. Insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2.
Part B. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS: You must identify any other lawsuit you have filed in either state or federal court while you were a prisoner. Print all of the requested information about each lawsuit in the spaces provided. If you have filed more than three lawsuits, you must provide the necessary information about each additional lawsuit on a separate page. Label the page(s) as “2-A,” “2-B,” etc., at the bottom of the page and insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2.
Part C. CAUSE OF ACTION: You must identify what rights each defendant violated. The form provides space to allege three separate counts (one violation per count). If you are alleging more than three counts, you must provide the necessary information about each additional count on a separate page. Number the additional pages “5-A,” “5-B,” etc., and insert them immediately behind page 5. Remember that you are limited to a total of fifteen additional pages.
3 1. Counts. You must identify which civil right was violated. You may allege the violation of only one civil right per count.
2. Issue Involved. Check the box that most closely identifies the issue involved in your claim. You may check only one box per count. If you check the box marked “Other,” you must identify the specific issue involved.
3. Supporting Facts. After you have identified which civil right was violated, you must state the supporting facts. Be as specific as possible. You must state what each individual defendant did to violate your rights. If there is more than one defendant, you must identify which defendant did what act. You also should state the date(s) on which the act(s) occurred, if possible.
4. Injury. State precisely how you were injured by the alleged violation of your rights.
5. Administrative Remedies. You must exhaust any available administrative remedies before you file a civil rights complaint. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e. Consequently, you should disclose whether you have exhausted the inmate grievance procedures or administrative appeals for each count in your complaint. If the grievance procedures were not available for any of your counts, fully explain why on the lines provided.
Part D. REQUEST FOR RELIEF: Print the relief you are seeking in the space provided.
SIGNATURE: You must sign your name and print the date you signed the complaint. Failure to sign the complaint will delay the processing of your action. Unless you are an attorney, you may not bring an action on behalf of anyone but yourself.
FINAL NOTE
You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your complaint being stricken or dismissed. All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and number the pages.
4 ___________________________________________ Name and Prisoner/Booking Number ___________________________________________ Place of Confinement ___________________________________________ Mailing Address ___________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code (Failure to notify the Court of your change of address may result in dismissal of this action.)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
_________________________________________ , (Full Name of Plaintiff)
Plaintiff, v. CASE NO. __________________________________ (To be supplied by the Clerk) (1) _______________________________________ , (Full Name of Defendant) CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT (2) _______________________________________ , BY A PRISONER
(3) _______________________________________ , G Original Complaint (4) _______________________________________ , G First Amended Complaint G Second Amended Complaint Defendant(s).
G Check if there are additional Defendants and attach page 1-A listing them.
A. JURISDICTION
1. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to: G 28 U.S.C. § 1343(a); 42 U.S.C. § 1983 G 28 U.S.C. § 1331; Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). G Other: .
2. Institution/city where violation occurred: .
550/555 B. DEFENDANTS
1. Name of first Defendant: . The first Defendant is employed as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
2. Name of second Defendant: . The second Defendant is employed as: as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
3. Name of third Defendant: . The third Defendant is employed as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
4. Name of fourth Defendant: . The fourth Defendant is employed as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
If you name more than four Defendants, answer the questions listed above for each additional Defendant on a separate page.
C. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS
1. Have you filed any other lawsuits while you were a prisoner? G Yes G No
2. If yes, how many lawsuits have you filed? . Describe the previous lawsuits:
a. First prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: . 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) .
b. Second prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: . 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) .
c. Third prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: . 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) .
If you filed more than three lawsuits, answer the questions listed above for each additional lawsuit on a separate page. D. CAUSE OF ACTION
COUNT I 1. State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: .
2. Count I. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: .
3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count I. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments.
.
4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).
.
5. Administrative Remedies: a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count I? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count I to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. .
3 COUNT II 1. State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: .
2. Count II. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: .
3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count II. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments.
.
4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).
.
5. Administrative Remedies. a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count II? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count II to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. .
4 COUNT III 1. State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: .
2. Count III. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: .
3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count III. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments.
.
4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).
.
5. Administrative Remedies. a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count III? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count III to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. .
If you assert more than three Counts, answer the questions listed above for each additional Count on a separate page.
5 E. REQUEST FOR RELIEF
State the relief you are seeking:
.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on DATE SIGNATURE OF PLAINTIFF
___________________________________________ (Name and title of paralegal, legal assistant, or other person who helped prepare this complaint)
___________________________________________ (Signature of attorney, if any)
___________________________________________ (Attorney=s address & telephone number)
ADDITIONAL PAGES
All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and number all pages.