Kasadu v. Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedJuly 7, 2025
Docket6:25-cv-00324
StatusUnknown

This text of Kasadu v. Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (Kasadu v. Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kasadu v. Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, (D. Or. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON

EUGENE DIVISION

BLEAUREGARD KASADU Civ. No. 6:25-cv-00324-AA

Plaintiff, OPINION & ORDER v.

MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY,

Defendant. _______________________________________

AIKEN, District Judge.

Self-represented Plaintiff Bleauregard Kasadu seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) in this action. ECF No. 2. Plaintiff has also moved to file an Amended Complaint, a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”); and a Motion for Expedited Hearing. The Court addresses each motion in this opinion. For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiff’s IFP Petition, ECF No. 2, is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s Motion to File an Amended Complaint, ECF No. 11, is GRANTED, however, the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) is DISMISSED without leave to amend, and without service on Defendant. Plaintiff’s Motion for Judicial Notice, ECF No. 12, is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s Motion for TRO, ECF No. 13, is DENIED. Plaintiff’s Motion for an Expedited Hearing, ECF No. 15, is DENIED. BACKGROUND Plaintiff and Defendant reside in Oregon. FAC at 1, ECF No. 11-1. Defendant Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency provides social services to those

facing housing uncertainty or instability. Plaintiff joined Defendant’s program for sheltering services as a client on November 29, 2023. FAC at 82. He was allocated bed 74, four storage containers placed beneath the bed, three meals a day, and case management services. Plaintiff was also provided linens and laundry soap. Additionally, Plaintiff was permitted to use the shelter's facilities during specified hours.

While living at the shelter, Plaintiff gave his gave his female caseworker “a note expressing romantic feelings for her.” FAC ¶ 235. Defendant held a meeting and told him to refrain from that conduct. Nevertheless, Plaintiff gave the caseworker a red rose, a gym bag, a worry stone, and a taco bell sauce packet with the text “I like you” printed on it. FAC at 13. Plaintiff explains that he wanted to have a “romantic” or “friendly” partnership with the case worker. Id. at 5. Plaintiff alleges that the female caseworker was “standoffish, and dismissive, avoiding eye contact and

conversations with him, sometimes projecting she outright dislikes him.” FAC ¶ 238. Defendant met with Plaintiff again and explained that caseworkers were not permitted to form close relationships with their clients for ethical reasons. Defendant asked Plaintiff to sign a “behavioral modification contract” reflecting that he had engaged in sexual harassment of his case manager. Id. Plaintiff states that Defendant determined Plaintiff was not complying with its Code of Conduct, namely “Social Conduct, Section Q, and Article XII, Section B of the Transitional Shelter Program Rules and Expectations.” FAC at 12. Defendant determined that it was “in the best interest of Plaintiff to be removed from Salem Navigation Center,” and he would be

transferred to Arches Lodge, a new shelter, and instructed not to contact his former case manager. FAC at 6, 16. Plaintiff, upset, contacted several of Defendant’s employees, including its executive director, complaining about the policy forbidding him to form a relationship with the caseworker. FAC ¶¶ 267-273. Plaintiff explains that, in the past, he has been subject to stalking orders in the past. FAC ¶ 368. Plaintiff desired to participate in the Marion County Rapid Rehousing

Program, (“rehousing program”) which provides vouchers for permanent housing and offers up to 24 months of rental assistance for an approved dwelling unit. FAC at 84. Plaintiff was eligible for a housing voucher on March 5, 2024. FAC ¶ 212. He asked Defendant if the housing voucher covered pet deposits and pet rent, as well as money for internet services. Defendant let him know those expenses were not eligible for funding under the program. FAC ¶ 213-214. Plaintiff alleges that, in addition to monthly rental assistance, the program

offers a $1,500 benefit in “barrier removal funds,” which include “Amazon gift cards or other funding for furnishing the home, purchasing household items, addressing other needs, and/or removing barriers to housing.” FAC at 85. Plaintiff “was under the impression that he had been part” of the rehousing program and was eligible for its benefits, including the barrier removal funds. FAC at 86. However, Defendant told Plaintiff that those funds were no longer available. FAC ¶ 219. Citing “security concerns about stalkers, Plaintiff ultimately told Defendant “he was not ready to be housed.” FAC ¶ 275. He formally requested a pause on his participation in the rehousing program. FAC ¶ 291. Plaintiff asserts that he notified Defendant that he

still expected to receive funds for rental assistance, despite his lack of participation in the program, stating that his reliance “constituted a lien on the funds.” Id. LEGAL STANDARDS Generally, all parties instituting any civil action in United States District Court must pay a statutory filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). However, the federal IFP statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), provides indigent litigants an opportunity for

meaningful access to federal courts despite their inability to pay the costs and fees associated with that access. To authorize a litigant to proceed IFP, a court must make two determinations. First, a court must determine whether the litigant is unable to pay the costs of commencing the action. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Second, it must assess whether the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune to such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

With regard to the second of these determinations, district courts have the power under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) to screen complaints even before service of the complaint on the defendants and must dismiss a complaint if it fails to state a claim. Courts apply the same standard under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) as when addressing a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012). To survive a motion to dismiss under the federal pleading standards, the complaint must include a short and plain statement of the claim and “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting

Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. The plausibility standard . . . asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. The court is not required to accept legal conclusions, unsupported by alleged facts, as true. Id.

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

Related

Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co.
263 U.S. 413 (Supreme Court, 1924)
Haines v. Kerner
404 U.S. 519 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Lindsey v. Normet
405 U.S. 56 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Houchins v. KQED, Inc.
438 U.S. 1 (Supreme Court, 1978)
Harris v. McRae
448 U.S. 297 (Supreme Court, 1980)
District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman
460 U.S. 462 (Supreme Court, 1983)
Daniels v. Williams
474 U.S. 327 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Board of Trustees of Univ. of Ala. v. Garrett
531 U.S. 356 (Supreme Court, 2001)
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Industries Corp.
544 U.S. 280 (Supreme Court, 2005)
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly
550 U.S. 544 (Supreme Court, 2007)
Ashcroft v. Iqbal
556 U.S. 662 (Supreme Court, 2009)
Raymond Watison v. Mary Carter
668 F.3d 1108 (Ninth Circuit, 2012)
Ahlmeyer v. Nevada System of Higher Education
555 F.3d 1051 (Ninth Circuit, 2009)
Quiroz v. Short
85 F. Supp. 3d 1092 (N.D. California, 2015)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Kasadu v. Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kasadu-v-mid-willamette-valley-community-action-agency-ord-2025.