United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2020

(PC) Saldana v. Spearman

(PC) Saldana v. Spearman
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California · Decided April 14, 2020
(PC) Saldana v. Spearman

Trial Court Opinion

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAMUEL SALDANA, No. 2:19-cv-0916 CKD P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER AND M.E. SPEARMAN, et al., FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 Defendants.

17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 18 1983. On March 16, 2020, the court screened plaintiff’s amended complaint as the court is required to due under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s amended complaint was dismissed with leave to amend and plaintiff was given instructions as to the contents of his second amended complaint. Plaintiff has filed a second amended complaint which now must be screened.

22 As plaintiff now knows, the court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if a prisoner has raised claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2).

26 Although the facts alleged by plaintiff in claim 1 of his second amended complaint are adequate to state a claim for excessive force under the Eighth Amendment, plaintiff only ///// | identifies the person committing the alleged violation as “John Doe.” The court cannot allow the || case to proceed with only a “John Doe” defendant as the next step in this lawsuit would be to || serve process upon a defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P. 2. As there is no defendant upon whom process | can be served and no discernable method for identifying “John Doe,” this action cannot proceed | further. If, at some point, plaintiff learns the identity of “John Doe” he is free to file a second | action.

7 In all other respects, the second amended complaint does not assert even arguably || actionable claims.

9 In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court | assign a district court judge to this case.

11 IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 12 1. Plaintiff's second amended complaint be dismissed; and 13 2. This case be closed.

14 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within fourteen after | being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written objections with || the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and | Recommendations.” Plaintiff □□ advised that failure to file objections within the specified time || waives the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. | 1991).

21 | Dated: April 14, 2020 Ci dp. f | fe 2 CAROLYN K DELANEY 23 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE | 1 sald09 16.frs

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