Opinion
Case No. 2:14-cv-272-RFB-NJK
09-11-2014
GUY WOODARD, Plaintiff, v. JAMES COX et al., Defendants.
ORDER
I. DISCUSSION
Plaintiff, who was a prisoner in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections ("NDOC") at the time he initiated this case, submitted his original 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint to this Court on February 21, 2014. (ECF No. 1-1). On April 22, 2014, this Court issued a screening order which permitted Counts I, II, and III to proceed and dismissed Count IV with prejudice. (ECF No. 3 at 8-9). This Court stayed the case for 90 days to give the parties an opportunity to settle this case through informal settlement discussions. (ECF No. 3, 5). At the conclusion of the stay, the parties indicated that they thought their case would benefit from an early mediation conference with a neutral evaluator. (ECF No. 13, 17). This Court scheduled a settlement conference for October 28, 2014. (ECF No. 16).
On September 10, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to amend his complaint and states that he had discussed this motion with opposing counsel during the informal settlement discussions. (ECF No. 20). Plaintiff attached his proposed amended civil rights complaint to his motion. (ECF No. 20-1).
Plaintiff is granted leave to file an amended complaint. However, Plaintiff is advised that an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint and, thus, the amended complaint must be complete in itself. See Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., Inc., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1989) (holding that "[t]he fact that a party was named in the original complaint is irrelevant; an amended pleading supersedes the original"); see also Lacey v. Maricopa Cnty., 693 F.3d 896, 928 (9th Cir. 2012) (holding that for claims dismissed with prejudice, a plaintiff is not required to reallege such claims in a subsequent amended complaint to preserve them for appeal). Plaintiff's amended complaint must contain all claims, defendants, and factual allegations that Plaintiff wishes to pursue in this lawsuit.
The Court notes that Plaintiff's original complaint (ECF No. 4) provides more specific factual allegations as to each defendant than does the proposed amended complaint (ECF No. 20-1). The Court notes that the proposed amended complaint only identifies the actions of one defendant, Correctional Officer Richardson. (ECF No. 20-1 at 4). The Court grants Plaintiff 30 days from the date of this order to notify this Court whether: (a) Plaintiff chooses to proceed with the proposed amended complaint (ECF No. 20-1); (b) Plaintiff chooses to withdraw the proposed amended complaint and proceed with the original complaint (ECF No. 4); or (c) Plaintiff chooses to file a proposed second amended complaint. If Plaintiff chooses to file a proposed second amended complaint he must file the second amended complaint within 30 days of the date of this order. Furthermore, if Plaintiff chooses to file a proposed second amended complaint, the Court directs Plaintiff to "[s]tate the facts clearly, in [his] own words, and without citing legal authority or argument . . . [and to be sure to] describe exactly what each specific defendant (by name) did to violate [his] rights."
II. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is ordered that that the motion for leave to file an amended complaint (ECF No. 20) is granted.
It is further ordered that, within 30 days from the date of this order, Plaintiff shall notify this Court whether: (a) Plaintiff chooses to proceed with the proposed amended complaint (ECF No. 20-1); (b) Plaintiff chooses to withdraw the proposed amended complaint and proceed with the original complaint (ECF No. 4); or (c) Plaintiff chooses to file a proposed second amended complaint.
It is further ordered that, if Plaintiff chooses to file a proposed second amended complaint, Plaintiff shall file the complaint within 30 days of the date of this order.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of the Court shall send to Plaintiff the approved form for filing a § 1983 complaint, instructions for the same, and a copy of his original complaint (ECF No. 4). If Plaintiff chooses to file a second amended complaint, he must use the approved form and he shall write the words "Second Amended" above the words "Civil Rights Complaint" in the caption.
DATED THIS 11th day of September, 2014.
/s/_________
NANCY J. KOPPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE