1 WO KM 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 Melinda Gabriella Valenzuela, No. CV 19-05045-PHX-MTL (MHB) 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. ORDER 12 Kendall Grey, et al., 13 Defendants.
14 15 On August 27, 2019, Plaintiff Melinda Gabriella Valenzuela,1 who is confined in 16 the Arizona State Prison Complex-Florence, filed a “Motion for Leave to File Pursuant to 17 Court Order” (Doc. 1) and an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and lodged a pro 18 se civil rights Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In a December 4, 2019 Order, 19 Court granted the Motion to File; directed the Clerk of Court file the Complaint; and denied 20 the Application to Proceed with leave to refile. On December 13, 2019, Plaintiff filed a 21 Motion for Status (Doc. 12) and a Motion to Provide Documents Under Seal (Doc. 13). 22 On January 2, 2020, Plaintiff filed a new Application to Proceed In Forma 23 Pauperis (Doc. 15). 24 The Court will grant the Application to Proceed, dismiss the Complaint with leave 25 to amend, grant the Motion for Status to the extent this Order informs Plaintiff of the status 26 of this case, and grant the Motion to Provide Documents Under Seal. 27 28 1 Plaintiff has also filed Complaints under the names Enrique Gabrielle Mendez, Enrique Mendez-Valenzuela, and Quennell Glover. Plaintiff is biologically male, but identifies as female and refers to herself with feminine pronouns. 1 I. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and Filing Fee 2 The Court will grant Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. 28 3 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Plaintiff must pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00. 28 U.S.C. 4 § 1915(b)(1). The Court will assess an initial partial filing fee of $2.66. The remainder of 5 the fee will be collected monthly in payments of 20% of the previous month’s income 6 credited to Plaintiff’s trust account each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00. 7 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The Court will enter a separate Order requiring the appropriate 8 government agency to collect and forward the fees according to the statutory formula. 9 II. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints 10 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief 11 against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity. 28 12 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a plaintiff 13 has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which 14 relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from 15 such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)–(2). 16 A pleading must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 17 pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (emphasis added). While Rule 8 does 18 not demand detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the- 19 defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 20 (2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere 21 conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id. 22 “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a 23 claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Id. (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 24 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is plausible “when the plaintiff pleads factual content 25 that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 26 misconduct alleged.” Id. “Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for 27 relief [is] . . . a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial 28 experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. Thus, although a plaintiff’s specific factual 1 allegations may be consistent with a constitutional claim, a court must assess whether there 2 are other “more likely explanations” for a defendant’s conduct. Id. at 681. 3 But as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has instructed, courts 4 must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 5 (9th Cir. 2010). A “complaint [filed by a pro se prisoner] ‘must be held to less stringent 6 standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 7 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)). 8 If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other 9 facts, a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal 10 of the action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 11 Plaintiff’s Complaint will be dismissed for failure to state a claim, but because it may 12 possibly be amended to state a claim, the Court will dismiss it with leave to amend. 13 III. Complaint 14 Plaintiff names Dr. Kendall Grey, Regional Medical Director Ladele, Nurse 15 Practitioner Joanna Burns, and Medical Director Stewart as Defendants in her two-count 16 Complaint. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages. 17 In Count One, Plaintiff alleges violations of her right to adequate medical care. 18 Plaintiff claims that on May 12, 2019, she “became aware that Corizon Dr. Grey and 19 Dentist [illegible] & Dr. Ladele, Dr. Stewart committed malpractice and deliberately 20 misdiagnosed [her].” Plaintiff claims that after reviewing records “and consulting [with] 21 counsel it [wa]s brought to [her] attention that Dr. Hanson . . . has said there is no way that 22 tooth #31 could cause the damage to [her] face on the right side due to the x-ray he took 23 and where the root of the tooth were and where the paresthesia starts it is caused by a lesion 24 on the base of [her] brain.” Plaintiff asserts she received records from an oral surgeon that 25 say “tooth #31 didn’t cause the damages.” Plaintiff contends she was misdiagnosed, is no 26 longer receiving any treatment, and “the condition is not treated by NP Burns at all.” 27 Plaintiff also argues the response to her grievance “does not have the correct response at 28 all and it’s not about pain medication it’s about the malpractice and negligence deliberately 1 being done.” Plaintiff alleges she is suffering from pain on the right side of her face; 2 numbness on her entire right-side forehead, face and jaw; and emotional and mental 3 anguish. 4 In Count Two, Plaintiff alleges that from April 30, 2019, to present, she has “been 5 denied the proper treatment that she has been on for over a year and approved by Dr. Ladele 6 and determined by Dr. Ladele and Dr. Babich to be medically necessary for her conditions, 7 and she has been on the treatment and it didn’t end [un]til she came to Florence.” Plaintiff 8 claims “she is not being treated at all” and “she needs the stuff to treat her condition and 9 she is deliberately being denied it.” Plaintiff claims when she “came to Florence . . . all 10 her meds stop[ped], [it] is outrageous and not right.” Plaintiff claims “they know she needs 11 this care yet they do nothing deliberately to treat her, they like denying her care and leaving 12 her in pure pain.” Plaintiff asserts she “could die at any time due to this.” 13 IV. Failure to State a Claim 14 To state a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must show that (1) acts by the defendants 15 (2) under color of state law (3) deprived her of federal rights, privileges or immunities and 16 (4) caused her damage. Thornton v. City of St. Helens, 425 F.3d 1158, 1163-64 (9th Cir. 17 2005) (quoting Shoshone-Bannock Tribes v. Idaho Fish & Game Comm’n, 42 F.3d 1278, 18 1284 (9th Cir. 1994)). In addition, a plaintiff must allege that she suffered a specific injury 19 as a result of the conduct of a particular defendant and she must allege an affirmative link 20 between the injury and the conduct of that defendant. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371- 21 72, 377 (1976). 22 Not every claim by a prisoner relating to inadequate medical treatment states a 23 violation of the Eighth Amendment. To state a § 1983 medical claim, a plaintiff must show 24 (1) a “serious medical need” by demonstrating that failure to treat the condition could result 25 in further significant injury or the unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain and (2) the 26 defendant’s response was deliberately indifferent. Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th 27 Cir. 2006). 28 . . . . 1 “Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard.” Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 2 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). To act with deliberate indifference, a prison official must both 3 know of and disregard an excessive risk to inmate health; “the official must both be aware 4 of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm 5 exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). 6 Deliberate indifference in the medical context may be shown by a purposeful act or failure 7 to respond to a prisoner’s pain or possible medical need and harm caused by the 8 indifference. Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. Deliberate indifference may also be shown when a 9 prison official intentionally denies, delays, or interferes with medical treatment or by the 10 way prison doctors respond to the prisoner’s medical needs. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 11 97, 104-05 (1976); Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. 12 Deliberate indifference is a higher standard than negligence or lack of ordinary due 13 care for the prisoner’s safety. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 835. “Neither negligence nor gross 14 negligence will constitute deliberate indifference.” Clement v. California Dep’t of Corr., 15 220 F. Supp. 2d 1098, 1105 (N.D. Cal. 2002); see also Broughton v. Cutter Labs., 622 F.2d 16 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1980) (mere claims of “indifference,” “negligence,” or “medical 17 malpractice” do not support a claim under § 1983). “A difference of opinion does not 18 amount to deliberate indifference to [a plaintiff’s] serious medical needs.” Sanchez v. Vild, 19 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989). A mere delay in medical care, without more, is 20 insufficient to state a claim against prison officials for deliberate indifference. See Shapley 21 v. Nevada Bd. of State Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985). The 22 indifference must be substantial. The action must rise to a level of “unnecessary and 23 wanton infliction of pain.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105. 24 In Count One, Plaintiff alleges Defendants Grey, Ladele, and Stewart “committed 25 malpractice” when they “deliberately” misdiagnosed the pain on the right side of her face, 26 but she alleges no facts to support her assertion that Defendants deliberately misdiagnosed 27 her. To the extent Plaintiff claims Defendants Grey, Ladele, and Stewart committed 28 1 malpractice or negligently misdiagnosed her condition, neither malpractice nor negligence 2 is sufficient to state an Eighth Amendment claim. 3 Plaintiff further alleges “the condition is not treated by NP Burns at all.” This 4 allegation is too vague to state an Eighth Amendment claim. Plaintiff does not describe 5 how or when Defendant Burns was made aware of “the condition,” whether Defendant 6 Burns is responsible for decisions regarding Plaintiff’s medical treatment, or what 7 treatment Defendant Burns should be providing. Accordingly, Plaintiff fails to state a 8 claim in Count One against Defendant Burns. 9 In Count Two, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Ladele and Babich approved medical 10 treatment for her, but she “has been denied her proper treatment that she has been on for 11 over a year.” Plaintiff does not describe the treatment she has been denied and does not 12 allege who was responsible for discontinuing the treatment. Plaintiff’s vague allegation 13 that “they know she needs this care yet they do nothing deliberately to treat her” is 14 insufficient to state an Eighth Amendment claim. See Marcilis v. Township of Redford, 15 693 F.3d 589, 596 (6th Cir. 2012) (upholding dismissal of Bivens complaint that referred 16 to all defendants “generally and categorically” because the plaintiff had failed to “‘allege, 17 with particularity, facts that demonstrate what each defendant did to violate the asserted 18 constitutional right.’” (quoting Lanman v. Hinson, 529 F.3d 673, 684 (6th Cir. 2008))); 19 Robbins v. Oklahoma, 519 F.3d 1242, 1250 (10th Cir. 2008) (“Given the complaint’s use 20 of either the collective term ‘Defendants’ or a list of the defendants named individually but 21 with no distinction as to what acts are attributable to whom, it is impossible for any of these 22 individuals to ascertain what particular unconstitutional acts they are alleged to have 23 committed.”). Plaintiff therefore fails to state a claim in Count Two. 24 V. Leave to Amend 25 For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s Complaint will be dismissed for failure to state 26 a claim upon which relief may be granted. Within 30 days, Plaintiff may submit a first 27 amended complaint to cure the deficiencies outlined above. The Clerk of Court will mail 28 Plaintiff a court-approved form to use for filing a first amended complaint. If Plaintiff fails 1 to use the court-approved form, the Court may strike the amended complaint and dismiss 2 this action without further notice to Plaintiff. 3 Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is the “First 4 Amended Complaint.” The first amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in its 5 entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original 6 Complaint by reference. Plaintiff may include only one claim per count. 7 In each count, Plaintiff must write legible, short, and plain statements telling the 8 Court: (1) the constitutional right Plaintiff believes was violated; (2) the name of the 9 Defendant who violated the right; (3) exactly what that Defendant did or failed to do; 10 (4) how the action or inaction of that Defendant is connected to the violation of Plaintiff’s 11 constitutional right; and (5) what specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of that 12 Defendant’s conduct. See Rizzo, 423 U.S. at 371-72, 377. 13 Plaintiff must repeat this process for each person she names as a Defendant. If 14 Plaintiff fails to affirmatively link the conduct of each named Defendant with the specific 15 injury suffered by Plaintiff, the allegations against that Defendant will be dismissed for 16 failure to state a claim. Conclusory allegations that a Defendant or group of 17 Defendants has violated a constitutional right are not acceptable and will be 18 dismissed. 19 A first amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 20 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 21 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the Court will treat the original Complaint 22 as nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in the 23 original Complaint and that was voluntarily dismissed or was dismissed without prejudice 24 is waived if it is not alleged in a first amended complaint. Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 25 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). 26 VI. Motions 27 The Court will grant Plaintiff’s Motion for Status (Doc. 12) to the extent this order 28 informs Plaintiff of the status of this case. 1 In his Motion to Provide Documents Under Seal (Doc. 13), Plaintiff asks to file 2 various medical records under seal. The Court will grant the Motion and direct the Clerk 3 to file under seal the documents attached to the Motion. 4 VII. Warnings 5 A. Release 6 If Plaintiff is released while this case remains pending, and the filing fee has not 7 been paid in full, Plaintiff must, within 30 days of her release, either (1) notify the Court 8 that she intends to pay the unpaid balance of the filing fee within 120 days of her release 9 or (2) file a non-prisoner application to proceed in forma pauperis. Failure to comply may 10 result in dismissal of this action. 11 B. Address Changes 12 Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule 13 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion for other 14 relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this 15 action. 16 C. Possible “Strike” 17 Because the Complaint has been dismissed for failure to state a claim, if Plaintiff 18 fails to file an amended complaint correcting the deficiencies identified in this Order, the 19 dismissal may count as a “strike” under the “3-strikes” provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 20 Under the 3-strikes provision, a prisoner may not bring a civil action or appeal a civil 21 judgment in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 “if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior 22 occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a 23 court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, 24 or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under 25 imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 26 D. Possible Dismissal 27 If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these 28 warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d 1| at 1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the Court). 3| ITIS ORDERED: 4 (1) Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. 15) is granted. 5 (2) As required by the accompanying Order to the appropriate government 6) agency, Plaintiff must pay the $350.00 filing fee and is assessed an initial partial filing fee 7| of $2.66. 8 (3) | The Complaint (Doc. 10) is dismissed for failure to state a claim. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date this Order is filed to file a first amended complaint in compliance 10 | with this Order. 11 (4) If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk of 12 | Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action with 13 | prejudice that states that the dismissal may count as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) 14| and deny any pending unrelated motions as moot. 15 (5) Plaintiff's December 13, 2019 Motion for Status (Doc. 12) is granted to the 16 | extent that this Order informs Plaintiff of the status of this case. 17 (6) Plaintiff's December 13, 2019 Motion to Provide Documents Under 18 | Seal (Doc. 13) is granted; the Clerk of Court must file under seal the documents lodged at 19 | Document 14. 20 (7) | The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a 21 civil rights complaint by a prisoner. 22 Dated this 10th day of February, 2020. 23
Michael T. Liburdi 26 United States District Judge 27 28
tc
Instructions for a Prisoner Filing a Civil Rights Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
1. Who May Use This Form. The civil rights complaint form is designed to help incarcerated persons prepare a complaint seeking relief for a violation of their federal civil rights. These complaints typically concern, but are not limited to, conditions of confinement. This form should not be used to challenge your conviction or sentence. If you want to challenge a state conviction or sentence, you should file a petition under 28 U.S.C. ' 2254 for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in state custody. If you want to challenge a federal conviction or sentence, you should file a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate sentence in the federal court that entered the judgment.
2. The Form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.4(a) provides that complaints by incarcerated persons must be filed on the court-approved form. The form must be typed or neatly handwritten. The form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. All questions must be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If needed, you may attach additional pages, but no more than fifteen additional pages, of standard letter-sized paper. You must identify which part of the complaint is being continued and number all pages. If you do not fill out the form properly, you will be asked to submit additional or corrected information, which may delay the processing of your action. You do not need to cite law.
3. Your Signature. You must tell the truth and sign the form. If you make a false statement of a material fact, you may be prosecuted for perjury.
4. The Filing and Administrative Fees. The total fees for this action are $400.00 ($350.00 filing fee plus $50.00 administrative fee). If you are unable to immediately pay the fees, you may request leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Please review the “Information for Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a (Non-Habeas) Civil Action in Federal Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915” for additional instructions.
5. Original and Judge=s Copy. You must send an original plus one copy of your complaint and of any other documents submitted to the Court. You must send one additional copy to the Court if you wish to have a file-stamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be identical to the original. Copies may be legibly handwritten. This section does not apply to inmates housed at an Arizona Department of Corrections facility that participates in electronic filing.
6. Where to File. You should file your complaint in the division where you were confined when your rights were allegedly violated. See LRCiv 5.1(a) and 77.1(a). If you were confined in Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz, or Gila County, file in the Phoenix Division. If you were confined in Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, or Yavapai County, file in the Prescott Division. If you were confined in Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, or Greenlee County, file in the Tucson Division. Mail the original and one copy of the complaint with the $400 filing and administrative fees or the application to proceed in forma pauperis to:
Revised 3/11/16 1 Phoenix & Prescott Divisions: OR Tucson Division: U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. District Court Clerk U.S. Courthouse, Suite 130 U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500 401 West Washington Street, SPC 10 405 West Congress Street Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119 Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010
7. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the Court and the defendants in writing of any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the Court of any change in your mailing address may result in the dismissal of your case.
8. Certificate of Service. You must furnish the defendants with a copy of any document you submit to the Court (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis). Each original document (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document stating the date a copy of the document was mailed to the defendants and the address to which it was mailed. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a), (d). Any document received by the Court that does not include a certificate of service may be stricken. This section does not apply to inmates housed at an Arizona Department of Corrections facility that participates in electronic filing. A certificate of service should be in the following form:
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed this (month, day, year) to: Name: Address: Attorney for Defendant(s)
(Signature)
9. Amended Complaint. If you need to change any of the information in the initial complaint, you must file an amended complaint. The amended complaint must be written on the court-approved civil rights complaint form. You may file one amended complaint without leave (permission) of Court within 21 days after serving it or within 21 days after any defendant has filed an answer, whichever is earlier. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a). Thereafter, you must file a motion for leave to amend and lodge (submit) a proposed amended complaint. LRCiv 15.1. In addition, an amended complaint may not incorporate by reference any part of your prior complaint. LRCiv 15.1(a)(2). Any allegations or defendants not included in the amended complaint are considered dismissed. All amended complaints are subject to screening under the Prison Litigation Reform Act; screening your amendment will take additional processing time.
10. Exhibits. You should not submit exhibits with the complaint or amended complaint. Instead, the relevant information should be paraphrased. You should keep the exhibits to use to support or oppose a motion to dismiss, a motion for summary judgment, or at trial.
11. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any judge or the staff of any judge. The only appropriate way to communicate with the Court is by filing a written pleading or motion. 12. Completing the Civil Rights Complaint Form.
HEADING: 1. Your Name. Print your name, prison or inmate number, and institutional mailing address on the lines provided.
2. Defendants. If there are four or fewer defendants, print the name of each. If you name more than four defendants, print the name of the first defendant on the first line, write the words “and others” on the second line, and attach an additional page listing the names of all of the defendants. Insert the additional page after page 1 and number it “1-A” at the bottom.
3. Jury Demand. If you want a jury trial, you must write “JURY TRIAL DEMANDED” in the space below “CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT BY A PRISONER.” Failure to do so may result in the loss of the right to a jury trial. A jury trial is not available if you are seeking only injunctive relief.
Part A. JURISDICTION: 1. Nature of Suit. Mark whether you are filing the complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983 for state, county, or city defendants; “Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents” for federal defendants; or “other.” If you mark “other,” identify the source of that authority.
2. Location. Identify the institution and city where the alleged violation of your rights occurred.
3. Defendants. Print all of the requested information about each of the defendants in the spaces provided. If you are naming more than four defendants, you must provide the necessary information about each additional defendant on separate pages labeled “2-A,” “2-B,” etc., at the bottom. Insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2.
Part B. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS: You must identify any other lawsuit you have filed in either state or federal court while you were a prisoner. Print all of the requested information about each lawsuit in the spaces provided. If you have filed more than three lawsuits, you must provide the necessary information about each additional lawsuit on a separate page. Label the page(s) as “2-A,” “2-B,” etc., at the bottom of the page and insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2.
Part C. CAUSE OF ACTION: You must identify what rights each defendant violated. The form provides space to allege three separate counts (one violation per count). If you are alleging more than three counts, you must provide the necessary information about each additional count on a separate page. Number the additional pages “5-A,” “5-B,” etc., and insert them immediately behind page 5. Remember that you are limited to a total of fifteen additional pages. 1. Counts. You must identify which civil right was violated. You may allege the violation of only one civil right per count.
2. Issue Involved. Check the box that most closely identifies the issue involved in your claim. You may check only one box per count. If you check the box marked “Other,” you must identify the specific issue involved.
3. Supporting Facts. After you have identified which civil right was violated, you must state the supporting facts. Be as specific as possible. You must state what each individual defendant did to violate your rights. If there is more than one defendant, you must identify which defendant did what act. You also should state the date(s) on which the act(s) occurred, if possible.
4. Injury. State precisely how you were injured by the alleged violation of your rights.
5. Administrative Remedies. You must exhaust any available administrative remedies before you file a civil rights complaint. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e. Consequently, you should disclose whether you have exhausted the inmate grievance procedures or administrative appeals for each count in your complaint. If the grievance procedures were not available for any of your counts, fully explain why on the lines provided.
Part D. REQUEST FOR RELIEF: Print the relief you are seeking in the space provided.
SIGNATURE: You must sign your name and print the date you signed the complaint. Failure to sign the complaint will delay the processing of your action. Unless you are an attorney, you may not bring an action on behalf of anyone but yourself.
FINAL NOTE
You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your complaint being stricken or dismissed. All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and number the pages.
4 ___________________________________________ Name and Prisoner/Booking Number ___________________________________________ Place of Confinement ___________________________________________ Mailing Address ___________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code (Failure to notify the Court of your change of address may result in dismissal of this action.)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
_________________________________________ , (Full Name of Plaintiff) ) Plaintiff, v. CASE NO. __________________________________ (To be supplied by the Clerk) (1) _______________________________________ ,
(Full Name of Defendant) CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT (2) _______________________________________ , BY A PRISONER
(3) _______________________________________ , G Original Complaint (4) _______________________________________ , G First Amended Complaint G Second Amended Complaint Defendant(s).
G Check if there are additional Defendants and attach page 1-A listing them.
A. JURISDICTION
1. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to: G 28 U.S.C. § 1343(a); 42 U.S.C. § 1983 G 28 U.S.C. § 1331; Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). G Other: .
2. Institution/city where violation occurred: .
550/555 B. DEFENDANTS
1. Name of first Defendant: . The first Defendant is employed as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
2. Name of second Defendant: . The second Defendant is employed as: as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
3. Name of third Defendant: . The third Defendant is employed as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
4. Name of fourth Defendant: . The fourth Defendant is employed as: ______________________________________________ at_______________________________________. (Position and Title) (Institution)
If you name more than four Defendants, answer the questions listed above for each additional Defendant on a separate page.
C. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS
1. Have you filed any other lawsuits while you were a prisoner? G Yes G No
2. If yes, how many lawsuits have you filed? . Describe the previous lawsuits:
a. First prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: . 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) .
b. Second prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: . 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) .
c. Third prior lawsuit: 1. Parties: v. 2. Court and case number: . 3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?) .
If you filed more than three lawsuits, answer the questions listed above for each additional lawsuit on a separate page. 2 D. CAUSE OF ACTION
COUNT I 1. State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: .
2. Count I. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: .
3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count I. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments.
.
4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).
5. Administrative Remedies: a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count I? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count I to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. . COUNT II 1. State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: .
2. Count II. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: .
3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count II. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments.
4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).
5. Administrative Remedies. a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count II? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count II to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. . COUNT III 1. State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated: .
2. Count III. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts. G Basic necessities G Mail G Access to the court G Medical care G Disciplinary proceedings G Property G Exercise of religion G Retaliation G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other: .
3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count III. Describe exactly what each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without citing legal authority or arguments.
4. Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).
5. Administrative Remedies. a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available at your institution? G Yes G No b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count III? G Yes G No c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count III to the highest level? G Yes G No d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why you did not. .
If you assert more than three Counts, answer the questions listed above for each additional Count on a separate page. E. REQUEST FOR RELIEF
State the relief you are seeking:
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on DATE SIGNATURE OF PLAINTIFF
___________________________________________ (Name and title of paralegal, legal assistant, or other person who helped prepare this complaint)
___________________________________________ (Signature of attorney, if any)
___________________________________________ (Attorney=s address & telephone number)
ADDITIONAL PAGES
All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and number all pages.