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5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 JOSHUA WAYNE STRICKLAND , 9 Plaintiff, CASE NO. 3:24-cv-05487-JCC-BAT 10 v. ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND COMPLAINT 11 MIGUEL BALDERAMA, AND DIRECTING SERVICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT 12 Defendant.
13 This is a civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is proceeding 14 with this action pro se and in forma pauperis (IFP). On June 20, 2024, plaintiff filed a proposed 15 civil rights complaint. Dkt. 1. Plaintiff was notified that he had failed to file a proper IFP 16 application and was provided an opportunity to cure that deficiency. Dkts. 3, 5. On August 12, 17 2024, plaintiff cured the deficiencies in his IFP application and also filed a motion seeking leave 18 to file an amended complaint. Dkts. 7, 8, 9. The Court has granted plaintiff leave to proceed IFP 19 by separate order. 20 MOTION TO AMEND 21 “[L]eave to amend ‘shall be freely given when justice so requires.’” AmerisourceBergen 22 Corp. v. Dialysis West, Inc., 445 F.3d 1132, 1136 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)). 23 “In determining whether leave to amend is appropriate, the district court considers ‘the presence ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 of any of four factors: bad faith, undue delay, prejudice to the opposing party, and/or futility.” 2 Owens v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 712 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting 3 Griggs v. Pace Am. Group, Inc., 170 F.3d 877, 880 (9th Cir. 1999). At this early stage of the 4 litigation, and having reviewed the proposed amended complaint, the Court finds none of these
5 factors are present. 6 Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion to amend (Dkt. 9) is GRANTED. The Clerk is directed to 7 docket plaintiff’s proposed amended complaint (Dkt. 9) as the amended complaint. 8 SERVICE 9 The Court, having reviewed plaintiff’s amended complaint (Dkt. 9), hereby ORDERS as 10 follows: 11 (1) Service by Clerk 12 The Clerk is directed to send the following to Defendants Miguel Balderama (Medical 13 Director, Pierce County Jail), Naphcare, Inc., and Johnathan Slothower (Health Services 14 Administrator, NaphCare, Inc.). by first class mail: a copy of plaintiff’s complaint, a copy of this
15 Order, two copies of the notice of lawsuit and request for waiver of service of summons, a 16 waiver of service of summons, and a return envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the Clerk’s 17 Office. 18 (2) Response Required 19 Defendant(s) shall have thirty (30) days within which to return the enclosed waiver of 20 service of summons. A defendant who timely returns the signed waiver shall have sixty (60) 21 days after the date designated on the notice of lawsuit to file and serve an answer to the 22 complaint or a motion permitted under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 23
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 A defendant who fails to timely return the signed waiver will be personally served with a 2 summons and complaint, and may be required to pay the full costs of such service, pursuant to 3 Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 4 (3) Filing and Service by Parties, Generally
5 All attorneys admitted to practice before this Court are required to file documents 6 electronically via the Court’s CM/ECF system. Counsel are directed to the Court’s website, 7 www.wawd.uscourts.gov, for a detailed description of the requirements for filing via CM/ECF. 8 All non-attorneys, such as pro se parties and/or prisoners, may continue to file a paper original 9 with the Clerk. All filings, whether filed electronically or in traditional paper format, must 10 indicate in the upper right hand corner the name of the magistrate judge to whom the document 11 is directed. 12 For any party filing electronically, when the total of all pages of a filing exceeds fifty 13 (50) pages in length, a paper copy of the document (with tabs or other organizing aids as 14 necessary) shall be delivered to the Clerk’s Office for chambers. The chambers copy must be
15 clearly marked with the words “Courtesy Copy of Electronic Filing for Chambers.” 16 Any document filed with the Court must be accompanied by proof that it has been served 17 upon all parties that have entered a notice of appearance in the underlying matter. 18 (4) Motions, Generally 19 Any request for court action shall be set forth in a motion, properly filed and served. 20 Pursuant to LCR 7(b), any argument being offered in support of a motion shall be submitted as a 21 part of the motion itself and not in a separate document. The motion shall include in its caption 22 (immediately below the title of the motion) a designation of the date the motion is to be noted for 23 consideration upon the Court’s motion calendar.
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 The motion shall be noted in accordance with LCR 7(d). Motions including stipulated 2 and agreed motions, motions to file over-length motions or briefs, motions for reconsideration, 3 joint submissions pursuant to the optional procedure established in LCR 37(a)(2), motions for 4 default, requests for the clerk to enter default judgment, ex parte motions, motions to recuse, and
5 motions for a temporary restraining order shall be noted for consideration on the day they are 6 filed. LCR 7(d)(1). Other non-dispositive motions shall be noted for consideration no earlier 7 than 21 days from the date of filing. LCR 7(d)(3). All dispositive motions, and motions such as 8 a motion seeking a preliminary injunction or a motion directed toward changing the forum, shall 9 be noted for consideration no earlier than 28 days after filing. LCR 7(d)(4). 10 For electronic filers, any opposition to a non-dispositive motion shall be filed and 11 received by the moving party no later than 15 days after the filing date of the motion, and any 12 reply shall be filed and received by the opposing party no later than 21 days after the filing date 13 of the motion. LCR 7(d)(3). Any opposition to a dispositive motion by an electronic filer shall 14 be filed and received by the moving party no later than 21 days after the filing date of the motion
15 and any reply shall be filed and received by the opposing party no later than 28 days after the 16 filing date of the motion. LCR 7(d)(4). 17 If a party (i.e. a pro se litigant and/or prisoner) serves an opposition by mail, the deadline 18 for filing and serving such opposition shall be 3 days earlier than the deadlines provided in LCR 19 7(d)(3) and 7(d)(4). 20 (5) Motions to Dismiss and Motions for Summary Judgment 21 Parties filing motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil 22 Procedure and motions for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil 23
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 Procedure should acquaint themselves with those rules. As noted above, these motions shall be 2 noted for consideration no earlier than 28 days after filing and service of the motion. 3 Defendants filing motions to dismiss or motions for summary judge are advised that they 4 MUST serve Rand and Wyatt notices concurrently with motions to dismiss and motions for
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5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 JOSHUA WAYNE STRICKLAND , 9 Plaintiff, CASE NO. 3:24-cv-05487-JCC-BAT 10 v. ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO AMEND COMPLAINT 11 MIGUEL BALDERAMA, AND DIRECTING SERVICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT 12 Defendant.
13 This is a civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is proceeding 14 with this action pro se and in forma pauperis (IFP). On June 20, 2024, plaintiff filed a proposed 15 civil rights complaint. Dkt. 1. Plaintiff was notified that he had failed to file a proper IFP 16 application and was provided an opportunity to cure that deficiency. Dkts. 3, 5. On August 12, 17 2024, plaintiff cured the deficiencies in his IFP application and also filed a motion seeking leave 18 to file an amended complaint. Dkts. 7, 8, 9. The Court has granted plaintiff leave to proceed IFP 19 by separate order. 20 MOTION TO AMEND 21 “[L]eave to amend ‘shall be freely given when justice so requires.’” AmerisourceBergen 22 Corp. v. Dialysis West, Inc., 445 F.3d 1132, 1136 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)). 23 “In determining whether leave to amend is appropriate, the district court considers ‘the presence ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 of any of four factors: bad faith, undue delay, prejudice to the opposing party, and/or futility.” 2 Owens v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 712 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting 3 Griggs v. Pace Am. Group, Inc., 170 F.3d 877, 880 (9th Cir. 1999). At this early stage of the 4 litigation, and having reviewed the proposed amended complaint, the Court finds none of these
5 factors are present. 6 Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion to amend (Dkt. 9) is GRANTED. The Clerk is directed to 7 docket plaintiff’s proposed amended complaint (Dkt. 9) as the amended complaint. 8 SERVICE 9 The Court, having reviewed plaintiff’s amended complaint (Dkt. 9), hereby ORDERS as 10 follows: 11 (1) Service by Clerk 12 The Clerk is directed to send the following to Defendants Miguel Balderama (Medical 13 Director, Pierce County Jail), Naphcare, Inc., and Johnathan Slothower (Health Services 14 Administrator, NaphCare, Inc.). by first class mail: a copy of plaintiff’s complaint, a copy of this
15 Order, two copies of the notice of lawsuit and request for waiver of service of summons, a 16 waiver of service of summons, and a return envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the Clerk’s 17 Office. 18 (2) Response Required 19 Defendant(s) shall have thirty (30) days within which to return the enclosed waiver of 20 service of summons. A defendant who timely returns the signed waiver shall have sixty (60) 21 days after the date designated on the notice of lawsuit to file and serve an answer to the 22 complaint or a motion permitted under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 23
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 A defendant who fails to timely return the signed waiver will be personally served with a 2 summons and complaint, and may be required to pay the full costs of such service, pursuant to 3 Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 4 (3) Filing and Service by Parties, Generally
5 All attorneys admitted to practice before this Court are required to file documents 6 electronically via the Court’s CM/ECF system. Counsel are directed to the Court’s website, 7 www.wawd.uscourts.gov, for a detailed description of the requirements for filing via CM/ECF. 8 All non-attorneys, such as pro se parties and/or prisoners, may continue to file a paper original 9 with the Clerk. All filings, whether filed electronically or in traditional paper format, must 10 indicate in the upper right hand corner the name of the magistrate judge to whom the document 11 is directed. 12 For any party filing electronically, when the total of all pages of a filing exceeds fifty 13 (50) pages in length, a paper copy of the document (with tabs or other organizing aids as 14 necessary) shall be delivered to the Clerk’s Office for chambers. The chambers copy must be
15 clearly marked with the words “Courtesy Copy of Electronic Filing for Chambers.” 16 Any document filed with the Court must be accompanied by proof that it has been served 17 upon all parties that have entered a notice of appearance in the underlying matter. 18 (4) Motions, Generally 19 Any request for court action shall be set forth in a motion, properly filed and served. 20 Pursuant to LCR 7(b), any argument being offered in support of a motion shall be submitted as a 21 part of the motion itself and not in a separate document. The motion shall include in its caption 22 (immediately below the title of the motion) a designation of the date the motion is to be noted for 23 consideration upon the Court’s motion calendar.
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 The motion shall be noted in accordance with LCR 7(d). Motions including stipulated 2 and agreed motions, motions to file over-length motions or briefs, motions for reconsideration, 3 joint submissions pursuant to the optional procedure established in LCR 37(a)(2), motions for 4 default, requests for the clerk to enter default judgment, ex parte motions, motions to recuse, and
5 motions for a temporary restraining order shall be noted for consideration on the day they are 6 filed. LCR 7(d)(1). Other non-dispositive motions shall be noted for consideration no earlier 7 than 21 days from the date of filing. LCR 7(d)(3). All dispositive motions, and motions such as 8 a motion seeking a preliminary injunction or a motion directed toward changing the forum, shall 9 be noted for consideration no earlier than 28 days after filing. LCR 7(d)(4). 10 For electronic filers, any opposition to a non-dispositive motion shall be filed and 11 received by the moving party no later than 15 days after the filing date of the motion, and any 12 reply shall be filed and received by the opposing party no later than 21 days after the filing date 13 of the motion. LCR 7(d)(3). Any opposition to a dispositive motion by an electronic filer shall 14 be filed and received by the moving party no later than 21 days after the filing date of the motion
15 and any reply shall be filed and received by the opposing party no later than 28 days after the 16 filing date of the motion. LCR 7(d)(4). 17 If a party (i.e. a pro se litigant and/or prisoner) serves an opposition by mail, the deadline 18 for filing and serving such opposition shall be 3 days earlier than the deadlines provided in LCR 19 7(d)(3) and 7(d)(4). 20 (5) Motions to Dismiss and Motions for Summary Judgment 21 Parties filing motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil 22 Procedure and motions for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil 23
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 Procedure should acquaint themselves with those rules. As noted above, these motions shall be 2 noted for consideration no earlier than 28 days after filing and service of the motion. 3 Defendants filing motions to dismiss or motions for summary judge are advised that they 4 MUST serve Rand and Wyatt notices concurrently with motions to dismiss and motions for
5 summary judgment so that pro se prisoner plaintiffs will have fair, timely and adequate notice of 6 what is required of them in order to oppose those motions. Woods v. Carey, 684 F.3d 934, 941 7 (9th Cir. 2012). The Ninth Circuit has set forth model language for such notices: 8 A motion for summary judgment under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will, if granted, end your case. 9 Rule 56 tells you what you must do in order to oppose a motion for summary 10 judgment. Generally, summary judgment must be granted when there is no genuine issue of material fact – that is, if there is no real dispute about any fact that would 11 affect the result of your case, the party who asked for summary judgment is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, which will end your case. When a party you are 12 suing makes a motion for summary judgment that is properly supported by declarations (or other sworn testimony), you cannot simply rely on what your 13 complaint says. Instead, you must set out specific facts in declarations, depositions, answers to interrogatories, or authenticated documents, as 14 provided in Rule 56(e), that contradict the facts shown in the defendant’s declarations and documents and show that there is a genuine issue of material 15 fact for trial. If you do not submit your own evidence in opposition, summary judgment, if appropriate, may be entered against you. If summary judgment 16 is granted, your case will be dismissed and there will be no trial.
17 Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d 952, 963 (9th Cir. 1998) (emphasis added); see Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 18 F.3d 1108, 1120 n.14 (9th Cir. 2003) (extending the fair notice requirement to motions to dismiss 19 for failure to exhaust administrative remedies). 20 Defendants who fail to file and serve the required Rand and Wyatt notices on plaintiff 21 may have their motion stricken from the Court’s calendar with leave to re-file. 22 (6) Direct Communications with District Judge or Magistrate Judge 23 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE 1 No direct communication is to take place with the District Judge or Magistrate Judge with 2 regard to this case. All relevant information and papers are to be directed to the Clerk. 3 (7) The Clerk is directed to send copies of this Order and the Court’s pro se 4 instruction sheet to plaintiff. The Clerk is further directed send a copy of this Order and a
5 courtesy copy of plaintiff’s complaint to the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office, by first-class 6 mail. 7 DATED this 16th day of August, 2024. 8 A 9 BRIAN A. TSUCHIDA United States Magistrate Judge 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE