GREGORY G. HOLLOWS, Magistrate Judge.
This matter is before the undersigned pursuant to Local Rule 302(c)(21). Currently pending before the court are the following motions: (1) plaintiff's motion to remand; (2) defendants City of Sacramento, erroneously sued as Sacramento Police Department, Samuel D. Somers, Jr. ("Officer Somers, Jr."), George Chargin ("Officer Chargin"), erroneously sued as G. Chargin, Jose Yepes ("Officer Yepes"), erroneously sued as J. Yepes, Sameer Sood ("Officer Sood"), erroneously sued as S. Sood, Bobby Daniels ("Officer Daniels"), Jeremy Ratcliffe ("Officer Ratcliffe"), erroneously sued as J. Ratcliffe, and Kevin Patton's ("Officer Patton"), erroneously sued as K. Patton (collectively "the City Defendants") motion to dismiss; (3) defendants County of Sacramento, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Scott Jones ("Sheriff Jones"), Sacramento County District Attorney, Sacramento County Public Defender's Office, Deputy District Attorney Laura West ("D.A. West"), Deputy Public Defender Teresa Huang ("P.D. Huang"), Deputy Public Defender Larry Yee ("P.D. Yee"), and Deputy Hester's (collectively "the County Defendants") motion to dismiss; (4) defendant Helena Gweon's ("Judge Gweon") motion to dismiss; and (5) defendant Garren Bratcher's ("Bratcher") anti-SLAPP motion to strike.
For the reasons discussed below, the court will recommend that plaintiff's motion to remand be denied. The court will also recommend that the defendants' motions to dismiss be granted and Bratcher's motion to strike be granted in part.
Plaintiff filed his complaint in Sacramento Superior Court on February 20, 2015, asserting claims for (1) violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983 (Claim One); (2) violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) (Claim Two); (3) neglect to prevent deprivation of civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1986 (Claim Three); (4) false arrest and false imprisonment under California Government Code § 820.4 (Claim Four); (5) malicious prosecution and abuse of process (Claim Five); (6) denial of civil rights and discrimination under California Civil Code §§ 51, 51.5, 51.7, and 52 (Claim Six); (7) failure to discharge mandatory duty under California Government Code § 815.6 (Claim Seven); (8) negligence under California Government Code § 815.2 (Claim Eight); (9) assault and battery (Claim Nine); (10) conspiracy (Claim Ten); (11) intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress (Claim Eleven); (12) negligent infliction of emotional distress (Claim Twelve); and (13) improper use of internet website under California Penal Code § 290.4 (Claim Thirteen). ECF No. 1-1 at 7, 32-39. Plaintiff asserts each and every claim against each and every defendant.
On March 27, 2015, the City Defendants removed the action to this court based on the existence of a federal question and paid the filing fee. ECF No. 1. On April 3, 2015, the City Defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's claims, arguing that plaintiff failed to allege facts sufficient to support a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). ECF No. 5. On April 20, 2015, plaintiff filed a motion to remand that was not properly noticed for hearing in front of the undersigned and a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF Nos. 6, 7. On April 23, 2015, the County Defendants filed a notice of consent to removal along with a motion to dismiss plaintiff's claims arguing that (1) plaintiff fails to allege facts sufficient to state a federal claim; (2) plaintiff's state law claims fail because his complaint does not allege compliance with the California Tort Claims Act ("Claims Act"); and (3) plaintiff's claims against D.A. West are barred by prosecutorial and statutory immunity. ECF No. 9. On the same day, the City Defendants filed an opposition to plaintiff's motion to remand along with an application to amend their notice of removal requesting to incorporate (1) a consent to removal signed by the County Defendants and Bratcher and (2) proofs of service for every defendant except Judge Gweon, who had yet to be served. ECF Nos. 11, 12.
On April 27, 2015, Bratcher separately filed his notice of consent to removal. ECF No. 13. On April 30, 2015, Bratcher also filed a motion to strike plaintiff's claims pursuant to California's anti-SLAPP statute, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 425.16. ECF No. 15. Finally, Bratcher requests in support of his motion to strike that the court take judicial notice of plaintiff's state court complaint and the City Defendants' notice of removal. ECF No. 16. On May 8, 2015, plaintiff filed another motion to remand as well as an opposition to the City Defendants' and the County Defendants' motions to dismiss. ECF Nos. 17, 18. On May 13, 2015, Judge Gweon filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's claims arguing that (1) they are barred by the doctrine of judicial immunity; (2) plaintiff fails to allege facts sufficient to state a federal claim; and (3) plaintiff's state law claims fail because his complaint does not allege compliance with the Claims Act. ECF Nos. 20, 21. Judge Gweon also filed a request in support of her motion to dismiss for judicial notice of plaintiff's state court complaint. ECF No. 22. On May 22, 2015, the City Defendants and the County Defendants both filed replies to plaintiff's opposition to their motions to dismiss. ECF Nos. 25, 26.
On May 27, 2015, the court vacated the hearing set for the City Defendants' and the County Defendants' motions to dismiss and submitted the motions on the papers. ECF No. 27. On June 4, 2015, plaintiff filed his final motion to remand noticed for hearing on August 6, 2015. ECF No. 28. On June 8, 2015, plaintiff filed an opposition to Bratcher's motion to dismiss. ECF No. 31. On June 10, 2015, the court vacated the hearings set for Bratcher's motion to dismiss, Judge Gweon's motion to dismiss, and plaintiff's motion to remand and ordered these motions to be taken under submission once the time for filing oppositions and replies passed. ECF No. 32. On June 11, 2015, Bratcher filed a reply to plaintiff's opposition. ECF No. 33.
On July 8, 2015, plaintiff filed a motion for leave to amend his complaint as well as a motion to strike defendants' motions to dismiss. ECF Nos. 34, 35. On the same day, plaintiff filed an opposition to Judge Gweon's motion to dismiss. ECF No. 36. On July 30, 2015, Judge Gweon filed a reply to plaintiff's opposition. ECF No. 38. On August 28, 2015, the court vacated the hearings set for plaintiff's motion for leave to amend and motion to strike and submitted them on the papers. ECF No. 49. On October 19, 2015, the court issued an order denying plaintiff's motion for leave to amend, motion to strike, and motion to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 50. The court's order also granted the City Defendants' application to amend their notice of removal and ordered defendants to file an opposition to plaintiff's motion to remand within fourteen days.
Plaintiff was convicted of assault with intent to rape, Cal. Penal Code § 220, in Sacramento Superior Court on December 5, 2002. ECF No. 1-1 at 11. Accordingly, pursuant to California Penal Code § 290, plaintiff was required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Plaintiff alleges his bicycle was stolen on January 20, 2014, but that he then found it in a walkway between a bookstore and Loaves and Fishes Friendship Park ("Friendship Park") shortly thereafter.
Plaintiff claims that during his trial for violation of § 290.011 a number of individuals, including someone who goes unnamed and his public defender (P.D. Huang) "colluded" with the prosecution (D.A. West) to mislead the presiding judge (Judge Gweon).
On May 9, 2014, P.D. Huang visited plaintiff at the Rio Consumes Correction Center with P.D. Yee, to explain to plaintiff that P.D. Yee would be representing him from then on.
A district court may remand to state court a case that has been removed to the district court if at any time it appears that the district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). Federal courts construe removal statutes strictly to limit removal jurisdiction.
Procedures for removal are prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 1446. If a defendant or defendants desire to remove a civil action from state court to federal court, they must file "a notice of removal signed pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and containing a short and plain statement of the grounds for removal, together with a copy of all process, pleadings, and orders served upon such defendant or defendants in such action." 28 U.S.C. § 1446(a). Subdivision (b) of § 1446 specifies the "notice of removal of a civil action or proceeding shall be filed within thirty days after the receipt by the defendant, through service or otherwise, of a copy of the initial pleading setting forth the claim for relief upon which such action or proceeding is based. . . ." 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b). When there is more than one defendant in the action, "[a]ll defendants who have been properly . . . served in the action must join a petition for removal."
Failure to comply with the thirty-day time limitation or the unanimity requirement renders the removal procedurally defective.
Plaintiff seeks remand on two grounds (1) plaintiff's complaint does not contain a federal question, and (2) the County Defendants, Bratcher, and Judge Gweon all failed to join the City Defendants' notice of removal. As the court explained in its October 19, 2015, order, plaintiff's assertion that his complaint does not include a federal question is simply incorrect. ECF No. 50 at 9. Plaintiff's complaint asserts federal claims against defendants for violation of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 1985(3), and 1986. Accordingly, the court has subject matter jurisdiction over plaintiff's complaint.
The court also finds that the City Defendants' removal of this case was not procedurally improper. As the court held in its October 19, 2015, order, the City Defendants' amendment of their notice of removal (ECF No. 12) cured its defectiveness as to every defendant but Judge Gweon. Plaintiff claims in his reply that this holding was erroneous because Bratcher did not file a consent to removal until thirty-one days after the notice of removal was filed,
As to Judge Gweon, the court finds that she was never properly served and accordingly, her deadline for the filing of a consent to removal was never triggered. Defendants claim that Judge Gweon has yet to be properly served and accordingly, it is not necessary that she file a consent to removal. ECF No. 51;
On April 30, 2015 (ECF No. 15), defendant Garren Bratcher filed a motion to dismiss in which he argued that California's anti-SLAPP law had been violated by virtue of being sued by plaintiff herein because Bratcher had phoned the police concerning alleged criminal activity by plaintiff.
California enacted California Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16 to curtail "strategic lawsuits against public participation," known as "SLAPP" actions, finding "a disturbing increase in lawsuits brought primarily to chill the valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for redress of grievances." § 425.16(a). SLAPPs "masquerade as ordinary lawsuits but are brought to deter common citizens from exercising their political or legal rights or to punish them for doing so."
California courts apply a two-step process for analyzing an anti-SLAPP motion.
In federal court, the second prong of California's anti-SLAPP statute is applied somewhat uniquely. "If a defendant makes an anti-SLAPP motion to strike founded on purely legal arguments, then the analysis is made under Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 and 12 standards; if it is a factual challenge, then the motion must be treated as though it were a motion for summary judgment and discovery must be permitted."
Finally, § 425.16 applies in diversity matters, and to state supplemental claims in federal question matters.
The court finds that Bratcher's motion meets both prongs of California's anti-SLAPP test as to plaintiff's state law claims. Accordingly, the court will recommend that Bratcher's motion to strike be granted as to plaintiff's state law claims. In light of the fact that California's anti-SLAPP statute cannot be used to strike federal claims in federal court the court will recommend that defendant's motion be denied as to plaintiff's federal claims. However, the court also finds that plaintiff cannot possibly win relief on his federal claims as pleaded and accordingly, will recommend that they be dismissed sua sponte with leave to amend.
In accordance with the first prong of the anti-SLAPP test Bratcher must establish that the acts that gave rise to plaintiff's claims were done "in furtherance of the right of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue." Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 425.16(b)(1). According to Bratcher, plaintiff's claims arise out of a call he made to the police reporting plaintiff's refusal to leave the premises of Loaves and Fishes, an entity where Bratcher works. ECF No. 15-1 at 5. Defendant argues that such calls are considered protected speech under § 425.16(e)(2), which protects "any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law." Statements to the police are indeed protected by § 425.16.
Plaintiff's opposition argues that the events giving rise to his claims are not protected by § 425.16 for a number of reasons. The court will address each one in turn. First, plaintiff argues that it cannot be correct that Bratcher "has a right to violate the civil rights of all transient patrons of Friendship Park, including plaintiff Terrence Wilburn ("Wilburn"), under an ill-conceived guise of reporting a crime." ECF No. 31 at 3. Plaintiff goes on to argue that defendant's understanding of the law would effectively allow any person to report crimes not actually committed by innocent people with impunity in violation of the constitutional right to privacy.
Plaintiff also argues that his claims are not based on allegations that Bratcher called the police at all, but on allegations of a conspiracy between Bratcher and the Sacramento Police Department. ECF No. 31 at 6. At one point, plaintiff goes as far as to state that "City of Sacramento Defendants is in error in their Motion to Dismiss when Defendants state that Garren Bratcher allegedly called the Sacramento Police Department to report a crime."
First and foremost, plaintiff's assertion that he does not allege Bratcher called the police is simply incorrect. Plaintiff's complaint clearly alleges that Bratcher called to report a crime being committed by plaintiff. ECF No. 1-1 at 16-17. In fact, plaintiff's own opposition repeats this allegation. ECF No. 31 at 7 ("Bratcher called to report a crime being committed by the plaintiff.").
Plaintiff's argument that his claims are based on a larger conspiracy between Bratcher and the police department, not Bratcher's call, is also unconvincing. As to Bratcher, plaintiff alleges the following facts, and only the following facts: (1) Bratcher banned plaintiff from Friendship Park, and (2) Bratcher called the police to report plaintiff for committing a crime, possibly failing to register as a sex offender. ECF No. 1-1 at 12-13, 16-17, 21. Bratcher's call to the police occurred on an unspecified date after he banned plaintiff from Friendship Park.
Plaintiff's conspiracy claim, however, constitutes a legal conclusion not entitled to the presumption of truth at the motion to dismiss stage.
With regards to the second prong of the anti-SLAPP statute, Bratcher argues that plaintiff cannot show a probability of success on his claims because Bratcher is immune from liability under California Civil Code § 47(b). Under California law, "[a]n absolute privilege attaches to publications made `[i]n any (1) legislative or (2) judicial proceeding, or (3) in any other official proceeding authorized by law, or (4) in the initiation or course of any other proceeding authorized by law and reviewable [by a mandate action].'"
Moreover, the court also finds that plaintiff has not shown a probability of success on the merits of those claims to which § 47(b) arguably does not apply: Claim Five (malicious prosecution) and Claim Six (Unruh Civil Rights Act). Plaintiff's opposition does not explicitly discuss his probability of succeeding on any of his claims individually. However, a review of plaintiff's complaint reveals that he fails to allege facts sufficient to state either claims.
"Three elements must be pleaded and proved to establish the tort of malicious prosecution: (1) A lawsuit was commenced by or at the direction of the defendant [which] was pursued to a legal termination in . . . plaintiff's [ ] favor; (2) the prior lawsuit was brought without probable cause; and (3) the prior lawsuit was initiated with malice."
Plaintiff's complaint does not allege facts sufficient to state a claim for violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act because it simply does not allege that he has been discriminated against based on a specified classification.
In addition, plaintiff's complaint utilizes a form of pleading that is both counterproductive and infamous: shotgun pleading. Shotgun pleadings are pleadings that overwhelm defendants with an unclear mass of allegations and make it difficult or impossible for defendants to make informed responses to the plaintiff's allegations. They are unacceptable. Federal pleading standards require that plaintiffs give the defendants a clear statement about what the defendants allegedly did wrong.
Both plaintiff's claims for malicious prosecution and violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, as well as every other claim, utilize this form of shotgun pleading. While it is proper to generally allege in a factual section background facts which will be applicable to all claims, plaintiff's claims incorporate by reference twenty-six pages of factual allegations, regardless of their relevance. ECF No. 1-1 at 32-38. This approach greatly exacerbates the elusive nature of plaintiff's allegations, and especially his claims of conspiracy between each and every defendant.
Accordingly, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to show a probability of success on the merits of his state law claims and will recommend that Bratcher's anti-SLAPP motion to strike be granted as to them.
The court will also recommend that plaintiff's federal claims against Bratcher, Claims One through Three, be dismissed sua sponte because plaintiff cannot possibly win relief as pleaded. "A trial court may dismiss a claim sua sponte under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Such a dismissal may be made without notice where the claimant cannot possibly win relief."
A motion to dismiss brought pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) challenges the sufficiency of the pleadings set forth in the complaint.
In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the court accepts all of the facts alleged in the complaint as true and construes them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.
In ruling on a motion to dismiss filed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the court "may generally consider only allegations contained in the pleadings, exhibits attached to the complaint, and matters properly subject to judicial notice."
The court finds that Judge Gweon is immune from suit based on the complaint's allegations and will accordingly recommend that her motion to dismiss be granted.
Judges are absolutely immune, under the doctrine of judicial immunity, for acts performed in their judicial capacities.
Because the court finds that Judge Gweon is judicially immune from suit it will recommend that her motion to dismiss be granted.
The court finds that plaintiff has failed to state a claim against either the City Defendants or the County Defendants and will accordingly recommend that their motions to dismiss be granted. The court will further recommend that Claims Nine through Twelve be dismissed without leave to amend as to the City of Sacramento, the County of Sacramento, the Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County District Attorney, and Sacramento County Sheriff's Department ("Entity Defendants") and that Claim Thirteen be dismissed without leave to amend as to the City Defendants and the County Defendants.
The court finds that D.A. West is absolutely immune from plaintiff's claims based on the facts alleged. Prosecutors are absolutely immune from suit for actions "intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process," such as the prosecutor's initiation of a prosecution and presentation of the state's case.
However, because the touchstone of prosecutorial immunity is "the nature of the function performed, not the identity of the actor who performed it,"
For reasons that go unstated, neither the City Defendants nor the County Defendants move to dismiss plaintiff's § 1981 claims against them. Regardless however, the court finds that plaintiff's § 1981 claims are appropriate for sua sponte dismissal because plaintiff cannot possibly win relief.
Section 1981 provides:
42 U.S.C. § 1981(a). Section 1981 prohibits discriminatory private conduct as well as such conduct taken under color of state law.
Plaintiff simply does not allege that he is a member of a protected class, or, for that matter, that he attempted to contract for but was denied certain services. Accordingly, the court finds that plaintiff has plainly not stated a claim for violation of § 1981 against either the City Defendants or the County Defendants and will recommend that those claims be dismissed with leave to amend.
The court also finds that plaintiff has failed to allege facts sufficient to state a § 1983 claim against either the City Defendants or the County Defendants.
Section 1983 provides as follows:
Plaintiff must allege "personal participation" in the alleged constitutional violation on the part of an individual to subject that person to individual liability; this is a "personal-capacity" suit under § 1983.
As to plaintiff's personal capacity claims against Officers Daniels, Chargin, Yepes, Sood, Ratcliffe, Patton, and Somers, Jr. ("Individual City Defendants"), plaintiff alleges the following: On or about February 13, 2014, Officer Daniels conducted a "CSAR check" and found that plaintiff had completed his last thirty-day transient update on November 26, 2013. ECF No. 1-1 at 13. Then, on or about February 20, 2014, Officer Sood arrested plaintiff and transported him to the Sacramento County Main Jail.
These facts are simply insufficient to state a claim for violation of § 1983. First, plaintiff's conclusory conspiracy claim, unsupported by any facts, is not entitled to the presumption of truth. Accordingly, it cannot form the basis of a § 1983 claim. As for the facts plaintiff properly alleges, none of them support a claim that his constitutional rights, to due process or otherwise, have been violated. To the extent plaintiff is claiming his Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the arresting officer, Officer Sood, for arresting him without probable cause, the court finds such a claim is unsupported by the facts.
Officer Sood arrested plaintiff on November 26, 2014, for violation of "Penal Code 290.12 felony and Penal Code 290.11 misdemeanor." ECF No. 1-1 at 13. Plaintiff concedes that at the time of his arrest he was not in compliance with Penal Code § 290.011, which requires convicted sex offenders who are transients to update their registration every thirty days.
Plaintiff concedes that he knew of his duty to register. He argues, however, that his failed attempts to register are evidence that his actions were not willful. The actual facts related to his failed attempts are unclear, at some point it seems that the office was closed, and at some point he may have been turned away.
"A police officer may make a warrantless arrest when the `officer has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a felony, whether or not a felony, in fact, has been committed.'"
The court also finds that plaintiff has not alleged facts sufficient to state personal capacity claims against D.A. West, P.D. Huang, P.D. Yee, Deputy Hester, and Sheriff Jones ("the Individual County Defendants"). Plaintiff seems to allege that the Individual County Defendants denied him his due process right to a fair trial. It is unclear, however,
As to the City of Sacramento, the Sacramento Police Department, the County of Sacramento, Sacramento County District Attorney, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, and Sacramento County Public Defender's Office, plaintiff has not stated a claim for violation of § 1983 because he does not allege the existence of a policy or practice that caused a violation of his constitutional rights. A municipality is responsible for a constitutional violation only when an "action [taken] pursuant to [an] official municipal policy of some nature" caused the violation.
Plaintiff has also failed to state a claim for violation of §§ 1985 and 1986. In order to state a claim under § 1985, a plaintiff must show that "some racial, or perhaps otherwise class-based, invidiously discriminatory animus" lay behind the alleged conspirators' action and that the conspiracy was aimed at interfering with protected rights secured by law to all.
Section 1986 provides a cause of action for damages where a valid claim for relief has been stated under § 1985.
The court will also recommend that plaintiff's Claims Nine through Twelve be dismissed without leave to amend as to the Entity Defendants. The Government Claims Act, Cal. Gov't Code § 810 et seq., states that: "Except as otherwise provided by statute: [¶] (a) A public entity is not liable for an injury, whether such injury arises out of an act or omission of the public entity or a public employee or any other person." Cal. Gov't Code § 815. California courts have interpreted § 815 as abolishing common law tort liability for public entities.
Plaintiff's Claim Thirteen is "improper use of internet website," pursuant to Penal Code § 290.4. It is, frankly, unclear what plaintiff's claim is, or is supposed to be, based on. For one, plaintiff specifically refers to Penal Code § 290.4(b)(1) and (A)(2) in his complaint, neither of which exist. ECF No. 1-1 at 38. For another, § 290.4 creates a mechanism by which members of the public can inquire about whether certain people are required to register as sex offenders.
The County Defendants argue that plaintiff's state law claims are barred by the Claims Act because his complaint was filed 184 days after the denial of his tort claim by the County of Sacramento.
California Government Code § 945.6 provides in relevant part that "any suit brought against a public entity on a cause of action for which a claim is required to be presented . . . must be commenced: [¶] (1) If written notice is given . . . not later than six months after the date such notice is personally delivered or deposited in the mail." California courts have interpreted this provision as requiring a plaintiff to file his or her claim within six calendar months or 182 days after the claims rejection notice is mailed, whichever is longer.
The court will recommend that plaintiff's remaining state law claims be dismissed with leave to amend because the organization of the complaint does not comply with Rule 8. As the court explains above, complaints that utilize shotgun pleading do not comply with Rule 8 because they do not include a clear statement about what the defendants allegedly did wrong.
A number of requests for judicial notice are also currently pending before the court, some filed by defendants and one filed by plaintiff. The court will deny defendants requests for judicial notice as unnecessary, and grant plaintiff's request for judicial notice in part.
Under Rule 201 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, a court may take judicial notice of "adjudicative facts" which are not subject to reasonable dispute in that they are either (1) "generally known," or (2) or "capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." When appropriate, a court may take judicial notice of documents without converting a motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment.
The purpose for which a party intends to use evidence can also bear on whether a court can take judicial notice of it. For example, Federal Rule of Evidence 201 does not govern the judicial noticing of legislative facts. Fed. R. Evid. 201(a) ("This rule governs judicial notice of an adjudicative fact only, not a legislative fact."). However, whether a fact is adjudicative or legislative depends upon the purpose for which it is used.
In a series of requests defendants ask the court to judicially notice documents that are already in the record. Specifically, defendants ask the court to judicially notice (1) plaintiff's complaint; (2) the City Defendants' notice of removal; (3) plaintiff's motion to remand; (4) Bratcher's motion to dismiss; (5) plaintiff's opposition to Bratcher's motion to dismiss; and (6) plaintiff's motion to remand. ECF Nos. 16, 22, 43, 46. The court will deny defendants' requests for judicial notice because it is unnecessary to take judicial notice of documents already in the record.
Plaintiff has submitted a request that also asks the court to judicially notice a number of documents, only one of which is appropriate for judicial notice. First, plaintiff asks the court to judicially notice his complaint. ECF No. 56. As the court has already explained, plaintiff's complaint is a document already in the record and accordingly, it is not appropriate for judicial notice. Plaintiff also asks the court to judicially notice 28 U.S.C. § 1446, the statute governing removal procedures.
The only document plaintiff requests judicial notice of that is clearly relevant to a pending motion in this matter is the "Declaration of Melvin Jeanmard: Re Diligence."
Plaintiff is advised that any amended complaint must bear the civil docket number assigned this case and must be labeled "Amended Complaint"; plaintiff must file an original and two copies of the amended complaint. Plaintiff is advised that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make plaintiff's amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior or superseded pleading. This is because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint.
Any amended complaint must allege sufficient facts to support the conclusion that plaintiff's federal constitutional or statutory rights have been violated. Plaintiff must distinguish among defendants and show particular claims against each one. Plaintiff can do this by alleging in specific terms how each named defendant is involved and which claims or causes of action are relevant to which defendant. Defendants may be grouped in meaningful ways, but claims vaguely referring to "defendants" are insufficient.
Plaintiff should also refrain from filing an amended complaint until the presiding district judge has reviewed and ruled on the undersigned's findings and recommendations. Only then will plaintiff know for certain whether he must file an amended complaint and if so, what claims he may include.
In accordance with the foregoing, THE COURT HEREBY ORDERS that:
1. Defendants' requests for judicial notice, ECF Nos. 16, 22, 43, 46, are DENIED; and
2. Plaintiff's request for judicial notice, ECF No. 53, is GRANTED IN PART.
THE COURT FURTHER RECOMMENDS that:
1. Plaintiff's motion to remand, ECF No. 6, be DENIED;
2. Judge Gweon's motion to dismiss, ECF No. 20, be GRANTED without leave to amend;
3. Bratcher's special anti-SLAPP motion to strike, ECF No. 15, be GRANTED;
4. The City Defendants' motion to dismiss, ECF No. 5, be GRANTED per the following:
i. Claims One through Twelve be dismissed with leave to amend as to Officer Somers, Jr., Officer Chargin, Officer Yepes, Officer Sood, Officer Daniels, Officer Ratcliffe, and Officer Patton;
ii. Claims One through Eight be dismissed with leave to amend, and Claims Nine through Twelve without leave to amend, as to the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Police Department; and
iii. Claim Thirteen be dismissed without leave to amend;
5. The County Defendants' motion to dismiss, ECF No. 10, be GRANTED per the following:
i. Claims One through Twelve be dismissed with leave to amend as to Sheriff Jones, D.A. West, P.D. Huang, P.D. Yee, and Deputy Hester;
ii. Claims One through Eight be dismissed with leave to amend, and Claims Nine through Twelve without leave to amend, as to the County of Sacramento, Sacramento County District Attorney, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, and Sacramento County Public Defender's Office; and
6. Claims One through Three be dismissed sua sponte as to Bratcher with leave to amend.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within seven (7) days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order.