1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 EARON DREVON DAVIS, Case No. 2:23-cv-01230-DAD-JDP (PS) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA 13 v. PAUPERIS AND FINDING THAT PLAINTIFF’S AMENDED COMPLAINT 14 MICHAEL A. JACQUES, et al., FAILS TO STATE A CLAIM 15 Defendants. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PLAINTIFF’S TEMPORARY 16 RESTRAINING ORDER BE DENIED 17 ECF Nos. 2, 4, & 8 18 OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS 19 20 Plaintiff Earon Drevon Davis brings this action against Commissioner Michael A. 21 Jacques, Director of Placer County Child Support Services Laura Van Buskirk, Assistant Director 22 of Child Support Services Tamara Uhler, and the Placer County Department of Child Support 23 Services. The complaint fails to state a cause of action. I will give plaintiff a chance to amend 24 his complaint before recommending dismissal. I will grant his appl ication to proceed in forma 25 pauperis, which makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a)(1). Finally, I will 26 recommend that plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order be denied. 27 28 1 Screening and Pleading Requirements 2 This complaint is subject to screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). That statute requires 3 the court to dismiss any action filed by a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis that is frivolous, 4 malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief 5 against a defendant who is immune from suit. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 6 A complaint must contain a short and plain statement that plaintiff is entitled to relief, 7 Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), and provide “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its 8 face,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The plausibility standard does not 9 require detailed allegations, but legal conclusions do not suffice. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 10 662, 678 (2009). If the allegations “do not permit the court to infer more than the mere 11 possibility of misconduct,” the complaint states no claim. Id. at 679. The complaint need not 12 identify “a precise legal theory.” Kobold v. Good Samaritan Reg’l Med. Ctr., 832 F.3d 1024, 13 1038 (9th Cir. 2016). Instead, what plaintiff must state is a “claim”—a set of “allegations that 14 give rise to an enforceable right to relief.” Nagrampa v. MailCoups, Inc., 469 F.3d 1257, 1264 15 n.2 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc) (citations omitted). 16 The court must construe a pro se litigant’s complaint liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 17 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (per curiam). The court may dismiss a pro se litigant’s complaint “if it 18 appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which 19 would entitle him to relief.” Hayes v. Idaho Corr. Ctr., 849 F.3d 1204, 1208 (9th Cir. 2017). 20 However, “‘a liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements 21 of the claim that were not initially pled.’” Bruns v. Nat’l Credit Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 22 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982)). 23 Analysis 24 The amended complaint alleges in its entirety “I believe that the actions of Placer County 25 Child Support Services and the Commissioner from Superior Court Placer County have violated 26 my rights and, in turn, have caused serious harm to my family. These actions have disrupted the 27 stability and well-being of my family, and I am deeply concerned about the negative impact they 28 1 have had on all members involved.”1 ECF No. 4 at 5. Plaintiff lists as the basis for federal 2 question jurisdiction the Fourth and Sixth Amendments, Due process, 18 U.S.C. § 242, 3 harassment, emotional distress, and conspiracy to violate rights. Id. at 4. Plaintiff has also filed 4 an affidavit.2 ECF No. 5. Therein, he attests that Commissioner Jacques should have recused 5 himself from plaintiff’s family law case since the Commissioner had presided over other cases 6 involving plaintiff. Id. at 1. Plaintiff states that he raised a jurisdictional challenge to the Placer 7 County Superior Court Order of Support but did not receive a ruling on his challenge. Id. at 1-2. 8 Plaintiff claims that his wages have been garnished in violation of the Fourth Amendment and 9 that he was not afforded a public trial as is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Id. at 2-3. He 10 states that court documents were manipulated, and the Commissioner and Child Support Agency 11 deprived him of rights under 18 U.S.C. § 242. Id. at 3. Finally, plaintiff claims that a conflict of 12 interest exists between families and child support payment awards and that he has suffered 13 harassment and emotional distress. Id. at 4. 14 Plaintiff’s complaint does not comport with Rule 8’s requirement that it present a short 15 and plain statement of his claims. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Indeed, the complaint does not identify 16 which defendant allegedly violated his constitutional rights. “The plaintiff must allege with at 17 least some degree of particularity overt acts which defendants engaged in that support the 18 plaintiff’s claim.” See Jones v. Cmty. Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). 19 On a substantive level, the complaint does not state a claim since it appears to challenge a 20 family court determination. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars federal review of state court 21 decisions regarding proceedings in family court. See Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir. 22 2003) (“Under Rooker-Feldman, a federal district court does not have subject matter jurisdiction 23 to hear a direct appeal from the final judgment of a state court.”); Moore v. Cnty. of Butte, 547 F. 24 App’x. 826, 829 (9th Cir. 2013) (finding that the plaintiff’s claims challenging the outcome of 25
1 Before I screened plaintiff’s original complaint, he filed an amended complaint on 26 October 12, 2023, which is now the operative complaint. 27 2 The court has reviewed plaintiff’s affidavit; however, plaintiff is instructed that only facts alleged in the complaint can support his claims. If plaintiff chooses to amend his complaint, 28 he should include all relevant factual allegations in the body of the complaint. 1 custody proceedings were properly dismissed); Rucker v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, State of 2 California, 2003 WL 21440151, at *2 (N.D. Cal.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 EARON DREVON DAVIS, Case No. 2:23-cv-01230-DAD-JDP (PS) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA 13 v. PAUPERIS AND FINDING THAT PLAINTIFF’S AMENDED COMPLAINT 14 MICHAEL A. JACQUES, et al., FAILS TO STATE A CLAIM 15 Defendants. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PLAINTIFF’S TEMPORARY 16 RESTRAINING ORDER BE DENIED 17 ECF Nos. 2, 4, & 8 18 OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS 19 20 Plaintiff Earon Drevon Davis brings this action against Commissioner Michael A. 21 Jacques, Director of Placer County Child Support Services Laura Van Buskirk, Assistant Director 22 of Child Support Services Tamara Uhler, and the Placer County Department of Child Support 23 Services. The complaint fails to state a cause of action. I will give plaintiff a chance to amend 24 his complaint before recommending dismissal. I will grant his appl ication to proceed in forma 25 pauperis, which makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a)(1). Finally, I will 26 recommend that plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order be denied. 27 28 1 Screening and Pleading Requirements 2 This complaint is subject to screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). That statute requires 3 the court to dismiss any action filed by a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis that is frivolous, 4 malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief 5 against a defendant who is immune from suit. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 6 A complaint must contain a short and plain statement that plaintiff is entitled to relief, 7 Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), and provide “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its 8 face,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The plausibility standard does not 9 require detailed allegations, but legal conclusions do not suffice. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 10 662, 678 (2009). If the allegations “do not permit the court to infer more than the mere 11 possibility of misconduct,” the complaint states no claim. Id. at 679. The complaint need not 12 identify “a precise legal theory.” Kobold v. Good Samaritan Reg’l Med. Ctr., 832 F.3d 1024, 13 1038 (9th Cir. 2016). Instead, what plaintiff must state is a “claim”—a set of “allegations that 14 give rise to an enforceable right to relief.” Nagrampa v. MailCoups, Inc., 469 F.3d 1257, 1264 15 n.2 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc) (citations omitted). 16 The court must construe a pro se litigant’s complaint liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 17 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (per curiam). The court may dismiss a pro se litigant’s complaint “if it 18 appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which 19 would entitle him to relief.” Hayes v. Idaho Corr. Ctr., 849 F.3d 1204, 1208 (9th Cir. 2017). 20 However, “‘a liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements 21 of the claim that were not initially pled.’” Bruns v. Nat’l Credit Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 22 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982)). 23 Analysis 24 The amended complaint alleges in its entirety “I believe that the actions of Placer County 25 Child Support Services and the Commissioner from Superior Court Placer County have violated 26 my rights and, in turn, have caused serious harm to my family. These actions have disrupted the 27 stability and well-being of my family, and I am deeply concerned about the negative impact they 28 1 have had on all members involved.”1 ECF No. 4 at 5. Plaintiff lists as the basis for federal 2 question jurisdiction the Fourth and Sixth Amendments, Due process, 18 U.S.C. § 242, 3 harassment, emotional distress, and conspiracy to violate rights. Id. at 4. Plaintiff has also filed 4 an affidavit.2 ECF No. 5. Therein, he attests that Commissioner Jacques should have recused 5 himself from plaintiff’s family law case since the Commissioner had presided over other cases 6 involving plaintiff. Id. at 1. Plaintiff states that he raised a jurisdictional challenge to the Placer 7 County Superior Court Order of Support but did not receive a ruling on his challenge. Id. at 1-2. 8 Plaintiff claims that his wages have been garnished in violation of the Fourth Amendment and 9 that he was not afforded a public trial as is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Id. at 2-3. He 10 states that court documents were manipulated, and the Commissioner and Child Support Agency 11 deprived him of rights under 18 U.S.C. § 242. Id. at 3. Finally, plaintiff claims that a conflict of 12 interest exists between families and child support payment awards and that he has suffered 13 harassment and emotional distress. Id. at 4. 14 Plaintiff’s complaint does not comport with Rule 8’s requirement that it present a short 15 and plain statement of his claims. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). Indeed, the complaint does not identify 16 which defendant allegedly violated his constitutional rights. “The plaintiff must allege with at 17 least some degree of particularity overt acts which defendants engaged in that support the 18 plaintiff’s claim.” See Jones v. Cmty. Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). 19 On a substantive level, the complaint does not state a claim since it appears to challenge a 20 family court determination. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars federal review of state court 21 decisions regarding proceedings in family court. See Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir. 22 2003) (“Under Rooker-Feldman, a federal district court does not have subject matter jurisdiction 23 to hear a direct appeal from the final judgment of a state court.”); Moore v. Cnty. of Butte, 547 F. 24 App’x. 826, 829 (9th Cir. 2013) (finding that the plaintiff’s claims challenging the outcome of 25
1 Before I screened plaintiff’s original complaint, he filed an amended complaint on 26 October 12, 2023, which is now the operative complaint. 27 2 The court has reviewed plaintiff’s affidavit; however, plaintiff is instructed that only facts alleged in the complaint can support his claims. If plaintiff chooses to amend his complaint, 28 he should include all relevant factual allegations in the body of the complaint. 1 custody proceedings were properly dismissed); Rucker v. Cnty. of Santa Clara, State of 2 California, 2003 WL 21440151, at *2 (N.D. Cal. June 17, 2003) (finding that the plaintiff’s 3 claims were “inextricably intertwined” with the state court’s rulings where the plaintiff 4 “challenge[d] his original child support order on jurisdictional grounds, dispute[d] his total child 5 support arrearages, and allege[d] that Santa Clara County’s garnishment order against his 6 disability benefits payments is invalid”). 7 Moreover, Commissioner Jacques is immune based on his actions as a judge. See 8 Gregory v. Thompson, 500 F.2d 59, 62 (9th Cir. 1974) (“The general rule . . . is that judges are 9 immune from suit for judicial acts within and even in excess of their jurisdiction even if those acts 10 were done maliciously or corruptly; the only exception to this sweeping cloak of immunity exists 11 for acts done in ‘the clear absence of all jurisdiction.’”); Franceschi v. Schwartz, 57 F.3d 828, 830 12 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam) (holding that court commissioners performing judge-like functions 13 are entitled to absolute judicial immunity from civil liability for damages). And while 14 municipalities, such as cities and counties, are amenable to suit, departments or bureaus of 15 municipalities—like Placer County Child Support Services—are “not generally considered 16 ‘persons’ within the meaning of Section 1983.” United States v. Kama, 394 F.3d 1236, 1240 (9th 17 Cir. 2005); Lawrie v. Garcia, No. 11cv2237 DMS (BLM), 2011 WL 5036861, at *2 (S.D. Cal. 18 Oct. 24, 2011) (holding that the Department of Child Support Services for the County of San 19 Diego was “not a proper defendant under § 1983”). 20 I will allow plaintiff a chance to amend his complaint before recommending that this 21 action be dismissed. If plaintiff decides to file an amended complaint, the amended complaint 22 will supersede the current complaint. See Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F. 3d 896, 907 n.1 (9th 23 Cir. 2012) (en banc). This means that the amended complaint will need to be complete on its face 24 without reference to the prior pleading. See E.D. Cal. Local Rule 220. Once an amended 25 complaint is filed, the current complaint no longer serves any function. Therefore, in an amended 26 complaint, as in an original complaint, plaintiff will need to assert each claim and allege each 27 defendant’s involvement in sufficient detail. The amended complaint should be titled “Second 28 1 Amended Complaint” and refer to the appropriate case number. If plaintiff does not file an 2 amended complaint, I will recommend that this action be dismissed. 3 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order 4 A party seeking a temporary restraining order must satisfy the same test required for the 5 issuance of a preliminary injunction. See Lockheed Missile & Space Co. v. Hughes Aircraft Co., 6 887 F. Supp. 1320, 1323 (N.D. Cal. 1995). “A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must 7 establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in 8 the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an 9 injunction is in the public interest.” Glossip v. Gross, 576 U.S. 863, 876 (2015) (quoting Winter 10 v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008)). “[P]laintiffs must establish that irreparable 11 harm is likely, not just possible, in order to obtain a preliminary injunction.” All. for the Wild 12 Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131 (9th Cir. 2011). In addition to establishing irreparable 13 harm, the injunctive relief sought must be related to the claims brought in the complaint. See 14 Pac. Radiation Oncology, LLC v. Queen’s Med. Ctr., 810 F.3d 631, 633 (9th Cir. 2015) (“When a 15 plaintiff seeks injunctive relief based on claims not pled in the complaint, the court does not have 16 the authority to issue an injunction.”). 17 Plaintiff argues that a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) is warranted to safeguard his 18 rights pending a full hearing on his claims. ECF No. 6. The motion essentially reiterates 19 plaintiff’s statements in the October 12, 2023 affidavit, in that he argues that several of his rights 20 were violated during the pendency of his family law matter. 21 Plaintiff’s motion for a TRO should be denied. The motion does not address any of the 22 Winter factors, and it is plaintiff’s burden to demonstrate that these factors warrant injunctive 23 relief. See Earth Island Inst. v. Carlton, 626 F.3d 462, 469 (9th Cir. 2010) (“‘An injunction is a 24 matter of equitable discretion’ and is ‘an extraordinary remedy that may only be awarded upon a 25 clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to such relief.’”) (quoting Winter, 555 U.S. at 376, 381). 26 The motion does not show that plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm absent the issuance of a TRO. 27 Finally, since the first amended complaint does not state a claim, I necessarily determine that 28 plaintiff is unlikely to succeed on the merits. 1 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that: 2 1. Plaintiffs request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, ECF No. 2, is granted. 3 2. Within thirty days from the service of this order, plaintiff must either file an 4 | amended complaint or advise the court that he wishes to stand by his current complaint. If he 5 | selects the latter option, I will recommend that this action be dismissed. 6 3. Failure to comply with this order will result in the dismissal of this action. 7 4. The Clerk of Court is directed to send plaintiff a new form complaint. 8 Further, it is hereby RECOMMENDED that plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining 9 | order, ECF No. 6, be denied. 10 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 11 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within fourteen days 12 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 13 | objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 14 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the 15 | objections shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of the objections. The 16 | parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 17 || appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez 18 | v. Vist, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 19 20 IT IS SO ORDERED. 21 ( q Sty - Dated: _ October 23, 2023 Q_-——_ 22 JEREMY D. PETERSON 54 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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