GREGORY G. HOLLOWS, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceedings pro se. This action was removed by defendants from state court as plaintiff seeks relief pursuant to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the 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).
A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.
A complaint must contain more than a "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;" it must contain factual allegations sufficient to "raise a right to relief above the speculative level."
In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question,
Plaintiff states that he was confined to a wheelchair and because of this disability was denied certain freedoms, property and programs that were provided to other inmates. However, the complaint does not provide details concerning the denial of programs and property and how it was due to plaintiff's disability. Based on plaintiff's exhibits it appears that for approximately three and a half weeks, he was moved from High Desert State Prison to CTC, because at that time he required a wheelchair accessible cell and none were available at High Desert. Plaintiff was then returned to High Desert when his health improved. It appears plaintiff did not receive his property at CTC because he was there less than a month, not due to his disability status. It appears plaintiff may have been denied yard and canteen services, but it is not clear how the denial was related to his disability. Therefore, this complaint is dismissed, but plaintiff may file an amended complaint within 28 days to describe in more detail the services he was denied and how it was related to his disability.
Title II of the ADA "prohibit[s] discrimination on the basis of disability."
In order to state a claim that a public program or service violated Title II of the ADA, a plaintiff must show: (1) he is a "qualified individual with a disability"; (2) he was either excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of a public entity's services, programs, or activities, or was otherwise discriminated against by the public entity; and (3) such exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination was by reason of his disability.
If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff's constitutional rights.
In addition, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make plaintiff's amended complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint.
In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the complaint is dismissed for the reasons discussed above, with leave to file an amended complaint, within twenty-eight days from the date of service of this order. Failure to file an amended complaint will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.