Ocampo v. Avila

District Court, E.D. California·Decided November 15, 2024·No. 1:24-cv-01110·Unknown

Opinion

Case No. 1:24-cv-01110-KES-SKO ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO: (1) FILE A SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT, OR ESTEBAN OCAMPO, (2) NOTIFY THE COURT THAT HE WISHES TO STAND ON HIS FIRST Plaintiff, AMENDED COMPLAINT v. ORDER DENYING AS MOOT DEFENDANT SANGHA’S “MOTION TO THE CITY OF FRESNO, et al.,1 DISMISS COMPLAINT; FOR MORE DEFINITIVE STATEMENT; MOTION Defendants. FOR CONCISE STATEMENT AND TO STRIKE PORTIONS OF THE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT” AND PLAINTIFF’S “AMENDED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT” (Docs. 14, 18, 22, 24, 25) TWENTY ONE-DAY DEADLINE Plaintiff Esteban Ocampo is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this action. Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint on October 16, 2024. (Doc. 14). Upon review, the Court concludes that that complaint fails to state any cognizable claims. Plaintiff has the following options regarding how to proceed: Plaintiff may file a second amended complaint which the Court will screen in due course. Alternatively, Plaintiff may file a statement with the Court stating he wants to stand on this amended complaint, and have it reviewed by the presiding district judge, in which case the Court will issue findings and recommendations to the district judge consistent with this order. If Plaintiff does not file anything, the Court will recommend that the case be dismissed.

1 The Court is in receipt of Plaintiff’s “Motion to Amend the Current Case Title,” which seeks to “amend the case title to include additional parties.” (Doc. 24). Because the Court grants Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint, see infra, such motion is denied as moot. Also pending before the Court is Defendant Aaranpreet Sangha’s “Motion to Dismiss Complaint; For More Definitive Statement; Motion for Concise Statement and to Strike Portions of the First Amended Complaint” (Doc. 18) and Plaintiff’s “Amended Motion for Summary Judgment” (Doc. 22),2 both of which will be denied as moot, subject to renewal, if appropriate, on completion of screening. 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

2 On November 13, 2024, Plaintiff filed a “Request” to amend the heading associated with his November 5, 2024 filing (Doc. 22). Because that document, regardless of heading, is ordered denied as moot, the Court likewise denies Plaintiff’s “Request” (Doc. 25) as moot. 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 complaint, which uses the form “Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights (Non- Prisoner),” names as Defendants the City of Fresno, Ofc. Aaranpreet Sangha, Ofc. Gilberto Avila, Ofc. Daniel Saldana, Ofc. Justin Phoolka, and Does 1–6.3 (Doc. 14 at 2–4.) Under a section titled “Basis for Jurisdiction,” Plaintiff indicated that that he was bringing a suit against state or local officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“Section 1983”) and lists violations based on violations of the “4th.14th Amendment of the U. S Const.” (Id. at 2.) In a section “explain[ing] how each defendant acted under color of state or local law,” Plaintiff alleges as follows: Ofc Avila and Ofc Sangha performed a (Terry Stop) Stop-and-Frisk, For Bombs, Guns and Drugs. Ofc. Avila Days later California’s civil code ss 1708.7, then on another date as i was arriving home Ofc Avila California penal code ss 646.9. Ofc. Sangha, Ofc Avila California civil code ss 46 amongst his associates, Ofc. Shin + 1 unknown Ofc(Doe1 )., whit the help of 1 Security guard (Doe2) Brake into Plaintiff Storage. PC ss 487. Ofc. Avila Ofc. Sangha failed to appear in court. Ofc Sanghas’ associate continue to Stalk Plaintiff and his family, (penal codes ss 646 .9 PC)Plaintiff Request a Restraining order on Officers, Ofc Saldana initiated 3 Plaintiff also lists an “Ofc. Shinn” in the caption of his complaint but does not include that officer as a named defendant on pages two through four of his complaint. a stop, locate 2 legally owned pistols without clips inside a sealed backpack in the locked trunk, Ofc. Saldana Ofc Sangha, Ofc Felicia, Ofc. Phoolka Doe 3, with no Warrant Enter and searched Plaintiffs home and vehicles, Mothers home, Brothers Home, Brothers Tenets home. Base on Previous event *Depravation of Rights Under Color Of LAW : 42 U.S.C 1983 (Id. at 8 (“Bases of Jurisdiction (D)”).) As to relief,

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