Opinion
No. CV-18-00275-PHX-ESW
02-13-2018
Michele Walker, Plaintiff, v. Gompers Habilitation Center, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Doc. 2). Plaintiff has consented to the exercise of Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction (Doc. 7). The Court finds that Plaintiff does not have sufficient means to pay the Court's fees and will grant the Application (Doc. 2). Upon screening the Complaint (Doc. 1) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the Court finds that Plaintiff has not satisfied the pleading requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and fails to state a cause of action. The Court therefore dismisses the Complaint (Doc. 1) without prejudice and grants Plaintiff leave to file a First Amended Complaint consistent with the findings of the Court set forth herein.
I. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Statutory Screening of In Forma Pauperis Complaint Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)
With respect to in forma pauperis proceedings, the Court shall dismiss such action at any time if it determines that:
(A) the allegation of poverty is untrue; or28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). See also Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 fnt. 7 (9th Cir. 2000) (stating that 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) "applies to all in forma pauperis complaints"). The Court must dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint if it fails to state a claim or if it is frivolous or malicious. Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1127 ("It is also clear that section 1915(e) not only permits but requires a district court to dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint that fails to state a claim."); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1226-27 (9th Cir. 1984).
(B) the action or appeal -
(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.
In order to state a claim for relief, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that a complaint must include: (1) "a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction;" (2) "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief;" and (3) "a demand for the relief sought." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The short and plain statement for relief "need not contain detailed factual allegations; rather, it must plead 'enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Clemens v.DaimlerChrysler Corp., 534 F.3d 1017, 1022 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). Rule 8 "demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation," Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009), and "conclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences are not sufficient," Pareto v. F.D.I.C., 139 F.3d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1998).
Further, "[e]ach allegation must be simple, concise, and direct." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(d)(1). See also Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b) ("A party must state its claims or defenses in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single set of circumstances."). Where a complaint contains the factual elements of a cause, but those elements are scattered throughout the complaint without any meaningful organization, the complaint does not set forth a "short and plain statement of the claim" for purposes of Rule 8. Sparling v. Hoffman Constr. Co., 864 F.2d 635, 640 (9th Cir. 1988). Thus, a complaint may be dismissed where it lacks a cognizable legal theory, lacks sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory, or contains allegations disclosing some absolute defense or bar to recovery. See Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988); Weisbuch v. County of L.A., 119 F.3d 778, 783, n. 1 (9th Cir. 1997).
If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other facts, a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend a complaint before dismissal of the action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). "It is also clear that section 1915(e) not only permits but requires a district court to dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint that fails to state a claim." Id. at 1127.
B. Subject Matter Jurisdiction and Pleading in Federal Court
Unlike state courts, federal courts only have jurisdiction over a limited number of cases, and those cases typically involve either a controversy between citizens of different states ("diversity jurisdiction") or a question of federal law ("federal question jurisdiction"). See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332. The United States Supreme Court has stated that a federal court must not disregard or evade the limits on its subject matter jurisdiction. Owen Equip. & Erections Co. v. Kroger, 437 U.S. 365, 374 (1978). Thus, a federal court is obligated to inquire into its subject matter jurisdiction in each case and to dismiss a case when subject matter jurisdiction is lacking. See Valdez v. Allstate Ins. Co., 372 F.3d 1115, 1116 (9th Cir. 2004); Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
C. Title VII
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., ("Title VII") provides that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer "to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin . . . ." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). The anti-discrimination provision of Title VII seeks to secure a workplace free from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin.
To establish subject-matter jurisdiction over a Title VII claim, a plaintiff must exhaust his or her administrative remedies. B.K.B. v. Maui Police Dep't, 276 F.3d 1091, 1099 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing EEOC v. Farmer Bros. Co., 31 F.3d 891, 899 (9th Cir. 1994)). "Under Title VII, a plaintiff must exhaust her administrative remedies by filing a timely charge with the [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") ], or the appropriate state agency, thereby affording the agency an opportunity to investigate the charge." B.K.B., 276 F.3d at 1099 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(b)). "The administrative charge requirement serves the important purposes of giving the charged party notice of the claim and narrow[ing] the issues for prompt adjudication and decision." Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
A plaintiff must file an administrative claim with the EEOC against his employer within one hundred and eighty days after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5. This administrative claim is a prerequisite to the filing of a civil action against that employer under federal law. Id. Title VII provides that within ninety days after the issuance of a right-to-sue notice, "a civil action may be brought against the respondent." 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1).
In addition, individual employees, including supervisors, are not liable as employers under Title VII. See Miller v. Maxwell's Int'l Inc., 991 F.2d 583 (9th Cir. 1993).
II. DISCUSSION
In her Complaint, Plaintiff states that she was fired for "a charge that happen when I was 19 yrs old I did my time I didn't lie I past a background check but not finger print." (Doc. 1 at 4). In her claim for relief, Plaintiff seeks monetary damages for humiliation, sex discrimination, lost wages, and front pay (Id.). She names Gompers Habilitation Center and two individuals as Defendants (Id. at 2).
The Court finds that the Complaint fails to comply with the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). Plaintiff has failed to state sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal theory. The Court is unable to determine when, where, how, and by whom the Defendants failed to conduct themselves in accordance with the law. Nor does Plaintiff indicate what jurisdictional authority she relies upon in bringing the case. "I past NCIC on my job at Gomper Habilitation Center. I was fired for a 99 year fingerprint. I'm 45 years old" is insufficient jurisdictional authority. (Doc. 1 at 3). The Supreme Court has explained that a court may not "supply essential elements of the claim that were not initially pled." Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Courts must review a complaint as it is pled because the party bringing "suit is master to decide what law he will rely upon." Bogovich v. Sandoval, 189 F.3d 999, 1001 (9th Cir. 1999) (quoting Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 392 n.7 (1987)). The Court will grant Plaintiff leave to file a First Amended Complaint that precisely states the legal cause of action for which she seeks relief, the authority under which the Court has jurisdiction to hear the case, and the factual basis supporting a cognizable legal theory.
If Plaintiff is seeking relief pursuant to Title VII for sexual discrimination, Plaintiff's Complaint fails to allege whether or not Plaintiff has exhausted her administrative remedies. If Plaintiff has not yet filed a timely claim with the EEOC and received a right-to-sue letter, any Title VII claim is subject to dismissal. Plaintiff must indicate when the Notice of Right to Sue Letter was received as required for asserting a Title VII violation, if any. The Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to state a Title VII claim.
In addition, as previously noted, individual employees and supervisors are not liable as employers under Title VII. Plaintiff's Complaint fails to contain sufficient allegations that Defendants Kristi Grisham and Mark Jacoby are "employers" as defined by 42 U.S.C.§ 2000e—5(f)(1), and all claims as to the individual Defendants are therefore subject to dismissal.
III. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing,
IT IS ORDERED granting Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Doc. 2).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that by March 14, 2018, Plaintiff must file a First Amended Complaint that complies with this Order and corrects all deficiencies noted herein. If filed, Plaintiff shall indicate on the pleading that it is a "First Amended Complaint." Failure to timely file a First Amended Complaint may result in the dismissal of this action without further notice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff files a First Amended Complaint, it may not be served until the Court has issued its screening order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
Dated this 13th day of February, 2018.
/s/_________
Eileen S. Willett
United States Magistrate Judge