(PC) Nitkin v. Radu ( 2023 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JOSHUA THOMAS NITKIN, Case No. 2:23-cv-01837-JDP (PC) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER 13 v. 14 D. RADU, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 18 19 20 21 Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks to raise a § 1983 claim against 22 defendants Radu and Rutherford for violation of his First and Eighth Amendment rights. For the 23 reasons stated herein, the complaint states First and Eighth Amendment claims against defendant 24 Radu but fails to state a viable claim against Rutherford. Plaintiff may either proceed only 25 against Radu, or he may delay service and file an amended complaint. I will grant plaintiff’s 26 application to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 2. 27 28 1 Screening Order 2 I. Screening and Pleading Requirements 3 A federal court must screen a prisoner’s complaint that seeks relief against a governmental 4 entity, officer, or employee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The court must identify any cognizable 5 claims and dismiss any portion of the complaint that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a 6 claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is 7 immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b)(1), (2). 8 A complaint must contain a short and plain statement that plaintiff is entitled to relief, 9 Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), and provide “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its 10 face,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The plausibility standard does not 11 require detailed allegations, but legal conclusions do not suffice. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 12 662, 678 (2009). If the allegations “do not permit the court to infer more than the mere 13 possibility of misconduct,” the complaint states no claim. Id. at 679. The complaint need not 14 identify “a precise legal theory.” Kobold v. Good Samaritan Reg’l Med. Ctr., 832 F.3d 1024, 15 1038 (9th Cir. 2016). Instead, what plaintiff must state is a “claim”—a set of “allegations that 16 give rise to an enforceable right to relief.” Nagrampa v. MailCoups, Inc., 469 F.3d 1257, 1264 17 n.2 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc) (citations omitted). 18 The court must construe a pro se litigant’s complaint liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 19 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (per curiam). The court may dismiss a pro se litigant’s complaint “if it 20 appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which 21 would entitle him to relief.” Hayes v. Idaho Corr. Ctr., 849 F.3d 1204, 1208 (9th Cir. 2017). 22 However, “‘a liberal interpretation of a civil rights complaint may not supply essential elements 23 of the claim that were not initially pled.’” Bruns v. Nat’l Credit Union Admin., 122 F.3d 1251, 24 1257 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Ivey v. Bd. of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982)). 25 II. Analysis 26 Plaintiff alleges that, on May 27, 2023, he fought another inmate, and officers approached 27 to intervene. ECF No. 1 at 3. Once he had complied with officers’ orders to get on the floor and 28 was no longer a threat, defendant Radu allegedly struck him repeatedly in the head with an “MEB 1 | stick.” Id. He claims that, when he asked Radu why he was attacking him, the officer indicated 2 | that it was reprisal for a grievance plaintiff had filed against him. /d. at 4. Plaintiff alleges that 3 | Radu failed to summon medical staff after plaintiff was left bleeding and dizzy. Id. at 5. These 4 | allegations are sufficient to state First and Eighth Amendment claims against Radu. 5 As to defendant Rutherford, however, plaintiff alleges only that, some time after the 6 | attack, he informed this officer that he was suffering pain, dizziness, and nausea. Id. at5. He 7 | alleges that he was then taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion. Jd. Nothing in 8 | these allegations indicates that Rutherford violated plaintiff's constitutional rights. 9 As stated above, plaintiff may either proceed with all of his claims against Radu, or he 10 | may delay serving any defendant and file an amended complaint. He is advised that an amended 11 | complaint will supersede the current complaint. See Lacey v. Maricopa County, 693 F. 3d 896, 12 | 907 n.1 (9th Cir. 2012) (en banc). The amended complaint should be titled “First Amended 13 | Complaint” and refer to the appropriate case number. 14 Accordingly, it is ORDERED that: 15 1. Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis, ECF No. 2, is GRANTED. 16 2. Within thirty days from the service of this order, plaintiff may either indicate his intent 17 | to proceed only with his claims against defendant Radu, or he may file an amended complaint. 18 3. The Clerk of Court shall send plaintiff a section 1983 complaint form with this order. 19 20 IT IS SO ORDERED. 21 ( q Sty - Dated: _ November 1, 2023 Q_-——_ 22 JEREMY D. PETERSON 54 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 24 25 26 27 28