Jackson v. St. Andre

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California screened Julius C. Jackson’s amended prisoner civil-rights complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. The court found that he could proceed on an Eighth Amendment claim against defendants Martinez and Valdez, while claims concerning failure to protect and medical care were not actionable as pleaded. The court gave plaintiff 30 days to either proceed on the viable claim and voluntarily dismiss the other claims or seek leave to file a second amended complaint.

Holdings

1. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, claims in a prisoner complaint must be dismissed if they are frivolous or malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from an immune defendant.
2. Claim 1 may proceed at the screening stage because the court found it alleged a potentially actionable Eighth Amendment violation by defendants Martinez and Valdez.
3. Claim 2 was not actionable because plaintiff failed to allege facts showing that the named defendants were deliberately indifferent to specific information that plaintiff might be attacked.
4. Claim 3 was not actionable because plaintiff failed to allege an actionable injury caused by any defendant’s conduct.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the amended complaint survived mandatory prisoner screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
2. Whether claim 1 stated a potentially actionable Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claim.
3. Whether claim 2 adequately alleged deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of attack.
4. Whether claim 3 adequately alleged an Eighth Amendment medical-care claim.

Disposition

other