Fields v. Hill

District Court, E.D. California·Decided July 25, 2025·No. 1:25-cv-00688·Unknown

Opinion

CATHERYN D. FIELDS, Case No. 1:25-cv-00688-SKO

Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION v. THAT THE CASE BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM AND DENIAL OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL JEFF HILL, individually and in his official (Docs. 6, 7) capacity as Deputy District Attorney of Fresno County, et al., TWENTY-ONE DAY DEADLINE Defendants. Clerk to Assign District Judge On June 6, 2025, Plaintiff Catheryn D. Fields (“Plaintiff”), proceeding pro se, filed an action. (Doc. 1.) On that same date, Plaintiff also filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis, (Doc. 2), which was granted on June 10, 2025, (Doc. 4). On June 13, 2025, the undersigned screened the complaint, found that it failed to state any cognizable claims, and granted Plaintiff thirty days leave to file an amended complaint curing the pleading deficiencies identified in the order. (Doc. 5.) Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint on July 21, 2025, (Doc. 6 (“FAC”)), along with a Motion to Appoint Counsel, (Doc. 7). After screening Plaintiff’s amended complaint, the Court finds that despite the explicit recitation of the deficiencies of the original complaint, Plaintiff has still not stated a cognizable claim. Accordingly, the Court will recommend that Plaintiff’s amended complaint be DISMISSED without leave to amend. The undersigned will also deny Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel. In cases where the plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court is required to screen each case and shall dismiss the case at any time if the Court determines that the allegation of poverty is untrue, or that the action or appeal is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). See also Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (dismissal required of in forma pauperis proceedings which seek monetary relief from immune defendants); Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995) (district court has discretion to dismiss in forma pauperis complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)); Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 1998) (affirming sua sponte dismissal for failure to state a claim). If the Court determines that a complaint fails to state a claim, leave to amend may be granted to the extent that the deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim, the Court uses 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 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). A complaint may be dismissed as a matter of law for failure to state a claim for two reasons: (1) lack of a cognizable legal theory; or (2) insufficient facts under a cognizable legal theory. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). Plaintiff must allege a minimum factual and legal basis for each claim that is sufficient to give each defendant fair notice of what the plaintiff’s claims are and the grounds upon which they rest. See, e.g., Brazil v. U.S. Dep’t of the Navy, 66 F.3d 193, 199 (9th Cir. 1995); McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991). In reviewing the pro se complaint, the Court is to liberally construe the pleadings and accept as true all factual allegations contained in the complaint. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). 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. “[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.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557). Plaintiff’s pro se complaint names the following Defendants: “JEFF HILL, EVA PHILLIPS, JUDGE JOHN HENDERSON (Deceased), JUDGE BRIAN HENDERSON, CLINT CRAFT, HAROLD COLLINS, DAVID WILSON, JUDGE BRIAN GREEN, JUDGE GREGORY FITZMAURICE, SHERI BUSTA, CINDY TROMBETTA, JASON DAVIS, STIFFEL NICHOLAS & CO., STACY PERRY, TIM PERRY, CHRISTINE SHIRINIAN, JAMES LEWIS d.b.a CENTER FOR FACTUAL INNOCENCE, COUNTY OF PEND OREILLE, and DOES 1–50 inclusive.” (FAC at 1.) Plaintiff states that subject matter jurisdiction is based on federal 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343 as her claims “arise under the Constitution and laws of the United States, specifically 42 U.S.C. § 1983” and that “Declaratory and injunctive relief is sought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 and 2202.” (Id. at 3). Plaintiff makes factual allegations that she describes through a narrative timeline starting in 2002 and continuing through to the present. (Id. at 3–6). Starting with Plaintiff’s allegations as to events in Oklahoma in 2002, Plaintiff contends she was camping in a “remote area of Corp of Engineer property” when she was forced to “flee the area at 2 a.m. with only her children . . . after being encroached upon by several unknown men and a couple of women.” (Id. at 4). Plaintiff states “instead of investigating the threat,” “Haskell County Oklahoma authorities fabricated a felony abuse claim, permanently removing her children with no reunification services, visitation, or due process.” (Id.). Plaintiff claims she was “isolated and threatened by the sitting Judge John Henderson.” (Id.) Plaintiff further claims that “[i]n 2007/2008 this plaintiff placed information on record as well as the constitutional violations against her by Prosecutor Hill, in Fresno, California, to no avail” and that “[t]he Oklahoma and California courts, both, deemed the Oklahoma case a civil matter, yet maintained criminal-level control over Plaintiff through accusations, future-influenced litigation, and warrants.” (Id.) Plaintiff continues by alleging that “Haskell County initially dismissed the associated child abuse allegations but later in 2024, placed them back onto the record, under active warrant—falsely labeling the matter as a guilty plea without Plaintiff’s consent or lawful adjudication.” (Id.) Plaintiff then alleges that

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

Fields v. Hill, (E.D. Cal. 2025).

Fields v. Hill (Fields v. Hill) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related