Collins v. Traxinger

CourtDistrict Court, D. Alaska
DecidedJanuary 31, 2025
Docket3:24-cv-00196
StatusUnknown

This text of Collins v. Traxinger (Collins v. Traxinger) 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
Collins v. Traxinger, (D. Alaska 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA

KIVEN M. COLLINS, Plaintiff, Case No. 3:24-cv-00196-SLG v. DANIEL TRAXINGER, SIDNEY WOODS, and KATIE FERGUSON, Defendants. SCREENING ORDER

On September 9, 2024, self-represented prisoner Kiven M. Collins (“Plaintiff”) filed a civil complaint, a civil cover sheet, an application to waive prepayment of the filing fee, and three summons forms.1 Plaintiff is serving a life sentence in the custody of the Alaska Department of Corrections (“DOC”). He alleges that on or about December 20, 2009, another prisoner made false accusations against Plaintiff which appears to have resulted in an order requiring

Plaintiff and the other prisoner to be housed separately.2 Plaintiff claims that due to either this separation order or “population management” concerns, he was transferred to the Palmer Correctional Facility on or about February 14, 2024.3 Plaintiff states he had previously been housed at Goose Creek “for the last

1 Dockets 1-4. 2 Docket 1 at 4. 3 Docket 1 at 4. decade.”4 Plaintiff believes his due process rights and equal protection rights were violated, and he is in fear of retaliation for bringing his claims against prison officials.5 For relief, Plaintiff seeks an “adequate/proper investigation” into the

alleged false allegations contained in his DOC file, an order requiring defendants to remove what he believes is “illegally obtained false information” contained in his institutional records, and no less than $1,000,000 in damages.6 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 granted 60 days to file an amended complaint that attempts to correct the deficiencies identified in this order. SCREENING STANDARD

Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, a federal district court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity.7 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;

4 Docket 1 at 7. 5 Docket 1 at 4. 6 Docket 1 at 8-9. 7 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A. Case No. 3:24-cv-00196-SLG, Collins v. Traxinger, et al. (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.8

In conducting its screening review, a district court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint, construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in the plaintiff's favor.9 However, a court is not required to accept as true conclusory allegations, unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions of fact.10 Further, a court cannot act as an attorney for a self-represented litigant, such as by supplying the essential elements of a claim.11 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.12 Such documents that contradict the allegations of a complaint may fatally undermine the complaint's allegations.13

8 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 9Bernhardt v. L.A. County, 339 F.3d 920, 925 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding a court must construe pleadings filed by self-represented litigants liberally and afford the complainant the benefit of any doubt). 10 Doe I v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 572 F.3d 677, 681 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 11 Pliler v. Ford, 542 U.S. 225, 231 (2004); Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). 12 United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 2003). 13 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 Case No. 3:24-cv-00196-SLG, Collins v. Traxinger, et al. 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 amend or otherwise address the problems, unless to do so would be futile.14

Futility exists when “the allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly cure the deficiency.”15 DISCUSSION I. 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 [complainant] is entitled to relief[.]”16 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.17 To determine whether a complaint states a valid claim for relief, a district court considers whether the complaint

contains enough facts that, if accepted as true, “state[s] a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”18 A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual

including ... details contrary to his claims”). 14 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)). 15 Schreiber Distributing Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.2d 1393, 1401 (9th Cir. 1986). 16 Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). 17 Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Bell Atlantic Corp., 550 U.S. at 555). 18 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). In making this determination, a court may consider Case No. 3:24-cv-00196-SLG, Collins v. Traxinger, et al. content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”19 Further, a federal court cannot act as counsel for a self-represented litigant,

such as by supplying the essential elements of a claim,20 and it is not the Court’s responsibility to review filings or exhibits to identify possible claims. A plaintiff must allege that he suffered a specific injury as a result of the conduct of a particular defendant, and he must allege an affirmative link between that specific injury and the conduct of that defendant.21

II. Civil Rights Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Yick Wo v. Hopkins
118 U.S. 356 (Supreme Court, 1886)
United States v. Classic
313 U.S. 299 (Supreme Court, 1941)
Link v. Wabash Railroad
370 U.S. 626 (Supreme Court, 1962)
Rizzo v. Goode
423 U.S. 362 (Supreme Court, 1976)
Hewitt v. Helms
459 U.S. 460 (Supreme Court, 1983)
Olim v. Wakinekona
461 U.S. 238 (Supreme Court, 1983)
West v. Atkins
487 U.S. 42 (Supreme Court, 1988)
Graham v. Connor
490 U.S. 386 (Supreme Court, 1989)
Blessing v. Freestone
520 U.S. 329 (Supreme Court, 1997)
Pliler v. Ford
542 U.S. 225 (Supreme Court, 2004)
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly
550 U.S. 544 (Supreme Court, 2007)
Ashcroft v. Iqbal
556 U.S. 662 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Gordon v. City of Oakland
627 F.3d 1092 (Ninth Circuit, 2010)
United States v. Corinthian Colleges
655 F.3d 984 (Ninth Circuit, 2011)
Ivey v. Board of Regents of University of Alaska
673 F.2d 266 (Second Circuit, 1982)
Michael D. McFarland v. Robert J. Cassady
779 F.2d 1426 (Ninth Circuit, 1986)
James E. Coakley v. Alfred I. Murphy
884 F.2d 1218 (Ninth Circuit, 1989)
United States v. Juvenile Male
670 F.3d 999 (Ninth Circuit, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Collins v. Traxinger, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/collins-v-traxinger-akd-2025.