YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS, District Judge.
Plaintiff Denise Stripling ("Stripling") brings this civil action against Defendants Regents of the University of California ("Regents"), University of California San Francisco ("UCSF"), John Plotts, Michael Bade, and Craig Peterson ("individual UCSF defendants") for claims arising generally from her employment with the Regents and ultimate termination. Plaintiff in a pro se capacity alleges twenty-six causes of action and seeks damages.
The Regents have filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds that Stripling has failed to state a claim for myriad reasons, chiefly that the Eleventh Amendment bars plaintiff's claims. (Dkt. No. 11 ("Mot.").) Having carefully considered the papers submitted and the pleadings in this action, and for the reasons set forth below, the Court hereby
Accordingly, defendants' motion to dismiss is
Any Second Amended Complaint shall be filed no later than
The Court notes that the issues presented in this case are complex, and that as a pro se litigant, plaintiff has not had the benefit of legal assistance in drafting her complaint or in responding to defendants' highly technical legal arguments. The Court further notes that as a pro se litigant, plaintiff may seek assistance at the Court's Legal Help Center if she makes an appointment. The Legal Help Center's phone number is (415) 782-8982 and its website is http://cand.uscourts.gov/helpcentersf.
This terminates Docket No. 11.
Separately, defendants take issue with plaintiff's request for punitive damages. Specifically, defendants argue that the Regents cannot be liable for such damages, and that as to the individual defendants, plaintiff has alleged no basis for a punitive damages award. (Mot. at 33.) However, in plaintiff's prayer for relief, such damages are requested only relative to the individual defendants, not the Regents. (FAC ¶ 437.) Because plaintiff has been provided leave to amend as to the allegations and claims against the individual defendants, the Court reserves on the question of whether punitive damages might be available in this case.