Chambers v. Gutzman

CourtDistrict Court, D. Alaska
DecidedOctober 6, 2025
Docket4:25-cv-00016
StatusUnknown

This text of Chambers v. Gutzman (Chambers v. Gutzman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Alaska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chambers v. Gutzman, (D. Alaska 2025).

Opinion

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA MARCUSAZIA CHAMBERS, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 4:25-cv-00016-SLG OFFICER GUTZMAN,

Defendant. SCREENING ORDER On May 5, 2025, self-represented prisoner Marcusazia Chambers, also known as Apollo Knight,1 (“Plaintiff”) filed a civil complaint and an application to

waive prepayment of the filing fee.2 Plaintiff’s claims relate to events that allegedly occurred while he was in the custody of the Alaska Department of Corrections (“DOC”).3 Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges that on or about April 30, 2024, he entered into an agreement with Disciplinary Hearing Officer Gutzman (“Defendant”). Liberally construed, Plaintiff claims that he agreed not to appeal a disciplinary

decision, and in exchange, Defendant would restore Plaintiff’s lost good time credits after a one-month period. For relief, Plaintiff seeks restoration of his good time credits and $6,000 in damages.4

1 Plaintiff’s name was legally changed from Marcusazia Chambers to Apollo Anthony Knight in February 2025. In the Matter of: Chambers, Marcusazia New Name: Knight, Apollo Anthony AKW, Case No. 4FA-25-01219CI. 2 Dockets 1-4. 3 Docket 1 at 4. 4 Docket 1 at 5. The Court has now screened Plaintiff’s Complaint in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e) and 1915A. For the reasons discussed in this order, Plaintiff's Complaint fails to adequately state a claim for which relief may be

granted. Therefore, the Complaint is DISMISSED. Although amendment is likely futile, Plaintiff is accorded 60 days to file an amended complaint that attempts to correct the deficiencies identified in this order. Alternatively, Plaintiff may file a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal, in which he elects to close this case. SCREENING STANDARD

Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, a federal district court must screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity.5 In this screening, a district court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that the action: (i) is frivolous or malicious;

(ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.6

In conducting its screening review, a district court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint, construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor.7 However, a court is not

5 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A. 6 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 7Bernhardt v. L.A. County, 339 F.3d 920, 925 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding that a court must construe pleadings filed by self-represented litigants liberally and afford the complainant the Case No. 4:25-cv-00016-SLG, Chambers v. Gutzman required to accept as true conclusory allegations, unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions of fact.8 Although the scope of review generally is limited to the contents of the complaint, a court may also consider documents attached to

the complaint, documents incorporated by reference in the complaint, or matters of judicial notice.9 Such documents that contradict the allegations of a complaint may fatally undermine the complaint's allegations.10 Before a court may dismiss any portion of a complaint, a court must provide a plaintiff with a statement of the deficiencies in the complaint and an opportunity

to file an amended complaint, unless to do so would be futile.11 Futility exists when “the allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly cure the deficiency.”12

benefit of any doubt). 8 Doe I v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 9 United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2003). 10 Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001), amended by 275 F.3d 1187 (2001) (noting that a plaintiff can “plead himself out of a claim by including . . . details contrary to his claims”). 11 Gordon v. City of Oakland, 627 F.3d 1092, 1094 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Albrecht v. Lund, 845 F.2d 193, 195 (9th Cir. 1988)). 12 Schreiber Distributing Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.2d 1393, 1401 (9th Cir. 1986). Case No. 4:25-cv-00016-SLG, Chambers v. Gutzman DISCUSSION I. This Case is deficient because Plaintiff has not paid the Court’s filing fee or filed a completed application to waive prepayment of the filing fee. At Docket 2, Plaintiff filed a motion to waive prepayment of the filing fee on a state court form. Plaintiff’s motion is inadequate, as he does not include a “statement of all assets”13 and fails to include a certified copy of his prison account statement for the six months immediately preceding the filing of the complaint.14 For these reasons, Plaintiff’s motion at Docket 2 is DENIED without prejudice to

filing a completed application that complies with federal law. Federal law only allows prisoners to waive prepayment of the fees associated with civil rights lawsuits.15 Prisoners must pay the filing fee incrementally until paid in full, regardless of the outcome of the action.16 Should Plaintiff proceed with this case, the Court will issue a separate order on the

collection of the filing fee. II. Requirements to State a Claim Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure instructs that a complaint must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the

13 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) (requiring “an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such prisoner possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor”). 14 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). See also Alaska Local Civil Rule 3.1(c)(3) (“Applications to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 must be fully completed and signed before an application to waive prepayment of fees will be considered. Prisoners must include a certified copy of their prison trust account statement, dating back six months.”). 15 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)-(b). 16 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)&(2). Case No. 4:25-cv-00016-SLG, Chambers v. Gutzman [complainant] is entitled to relief[.]”17 While a complaint need not, and should not, contain every factual detail, “unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation[s]” are insufficient to state a claim.18 To determine whether a complaint

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