Ruth v. Lousiana Pacific Paper Pulp Company/Mill

— 1 — — 2 — — 3 — 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA — 6 — 7 EBER G. RUTH, Case No. 24-cv-06673-TLT 8 Plaintiff, ORDER OF DISMISSAL v. — 9 — 10 LOUSIANA PACIFIC PAPER PULP COMPANY/MILL, — 11 — Defendant. — 12 — 13 INTRODUCTION 14 Plaintiff, a California state prisoner, filed this action. His complaint is now before the 15 Court for screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 1915A. The complaint will be dismissed for 16 failure to state a claim. 17 Plaintiff’s application to proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP) will be granted by separate 18 order. 19 DISCUSSION 20 A. Standard of Review 21 A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks 22 redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. 23 § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims 24 that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek 25 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), 26 (2). Pro se pleadings must, however, be liberally construed. See United States v. Qazi, 975 F.3d 27 989, 993 (9th Cir. 2020). 1 claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “Specific facts are not 2 necessary; the statement need only “‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the 3 grounds upon which it rests.’” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (citations omitted). 4 “[A] plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more 5 than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not 6 do. . .. Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” 7 Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (citations omitted). A complaint must 8 proffer “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. at 570 . All or part 9 of a complaint filed by a prisoner may be dismissed sua sponte if the prisoner’s claims lack an 10 arguable basis in either law or in fact. 11 To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 , a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) 12 that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the 13 alleged violation was committed by a person acting under the color of state law. See West v. 14 Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). 15 In other cases in which the plaintiff does not seek relief from a state actor but is proceeding 16 in forma pauperis, the Court is required to screen each case, and shall dismiss the case at any time 17 if the Court determines that the allegation of poverty is untrue, or the action or appeal is frivolous 18 or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief 19 against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (e)(2). 20 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. Neitzke 21 v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221 , 1227–28 (9th Cir. 22 1984). The Court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably 23 meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 24 327; see also Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2005) (defining frivolous as “of 25 little weight or importance: having no basis in law or fact”). An action is malicious if it was filed 26 with the “intention or desire to harm another.” Andrews, 398 F.3d at 1121 (9th Cir. 2005). 27 If a court dismisses a complaint for failure to state a claim, it should “freely give 1 deny leave to amend due to “undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on the part of the movant, 2 || repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendment previously allowed undue prejudice to the 3 opposing party by virtue of allowance of the amendment, [and] futility of amendment.” 4 Leadsinger, Inc. v. BMG Music Pub., 512 F.3d 522, 532 (9th Cir. 2008). 5 B. Analysis 6 Plaintiff has not stated a cognizable claim. Defendant is not a state actor, and plaintiff has 7 || not alleged any violations of the Constitution or federal law. See Gomez v. Toledo, 446 U.S. 635 , 8 640 (1980) (a private individual does not act under color of state law, an essential element of a § 9 1983 action). Title 15 of the United States Code, section 15, which plaintiff lists on the header of 10 || his case, addresses a private right of action for violations of federal antitrust law and is not related 11 to asbestos. While 15 United States Code section 2601 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act 12 (TSCA) of 1976, allows for a private right of action in 15 U.S.C. section 2619 , “the citizen suit 13 || provision of TSCA is not intended for personal injury claims.” Bowling v. United States, 93 Fed. 14 || Cl. 551, 559 (2010). 3 15 Although federal jurisdiction is available where the parties are citizens of different states a 16 and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, pursuant to 28 United States Code section 1332 , 3 17 plaintiff has not adequately alleged the elements of diversity jurisdiction. Nor has plaintiff alleged 18 || any state-law claims against defendant. 19 CONCLUSION 20 For the foregoing reasons, the case is dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which 21 relief may be granted. The Clerk shall enter judgment and close the file. 22 IT IS SO ORDERED. 23 Dated: January 24, 2025 — 24 — TRINA L: PSON 26 United States District Judge — 27 — — 28 —