Pro Se 15 (Rev. 12/16) Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights (Non-Prisoner)

 

 

United States District Court

 

for the

 

 

      District of      

 

 

      Division

 

 

     

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

 

Case No.

     

 

(to be filled in by the Clerk’s Office)

Plaintiff(s)

(Write the full name of each plaintiff who is filing this complaint. If the names of all the plaintiffs cannot fit in the space above, please write “see attached” in the space and attach an additional page with the full list of names.)

-v-

 

Jury Trial:  (check one)

Yes

No

 

     

Defendant(s)

(Write the full name of each defendant who is being sued.  If the names of all the defendants cannot fit in the space above, please write “see attached” in the space and attach an additional page with the full list of names.  Do not include addresses here.)

 

 

 

COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

 

(Non-Prisoner Complaint)

 

 

 

NOTICE

 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5.2 addresses the privacy and security concerns resulting from public access to electronic court files.  Under this rule, papers filed with the court should not contain: an individual’s full social security number or full birth date; the full name of a person known to be a minor; or a complete financial account number.  A filing may include only: the last four digits of a social security number; the year of an individual’s birth; a minor’s initials; and the last four digits of a financial account number.

 

Except as noted in this form, plaintiff need not send exhibits, affidavits, grievance or witness statements, or any other materials to the Clerk’s Office with this complaint.

 

In order for your complaint to be filed, it must be accompanied by the filing fee or an application to proceed in forma pauperis.

 

 

 

 

I.          The Parties to This Complaint

           

            A.        The Plaintiff(s)

 

                        Provide the information below for each plaintiff named in the complaint.  Attach additional pages if

                        needed.

                               Name

     

                               Address

 

     

     

 

     

 

     

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

                               County

     

                               Telephone Number

     

                               E-Mail Address

     

           

            B.         The Defendant(s)

 

                        Provide the information below for each defendant named in the complaint, whether the defendant is an

                        individual, a government agency, an organization, or a corporation.  For an individual defendant,

                        include the person’s job or title (if known) and check whether you are bringing this complaint against

                        them in their individual capacity or official capacity, or both.  Attach additional pages if needed.

                       

                        Defendant No. 1

                               Name

     

                               Job or Title (if known)

     

                               Address

 

     

     

 

     

 

     

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

                               County

     

                               Telephone Number

     

                               E-Mail Address (if known)

     

 

 

Individual capacity

Official capacity

 

                        Defendant No. 2

                               Name

     

                               Job or Title (if known)

     

                               Address

     

     

 

     

 

     

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

                               County

     

                               Telephone Number

     

                               E-Mail Address (if known)

     

           

 

Individual capacity

Official capacity

 

                        Defendant No. 3

                               Name

     

                               Job or Title (if known)

     

                               Address

                       

     

     

 

     

 

     

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

                               County

     

                               Telephone Number

     

                               E-Mail Address (if known)

     

 

 

Individual capacity

Official capacity

 

                        Defendant No. 4

                               Name

     

                               Job or Title (if known)

     

                               Address

     

     

 

     

 

     

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

                               County

     

                               Telephone Number

     

                               E-Mail Address (if known)

     

 

 

Individual capacity

Official capacity

 

II.        Basis for Jurisdiction

 

            Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, you may sue state or local officials for the "deprivation of any rights, privileges, or

            immunities secured by the Constitution and [federal laws]."  Under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of

            Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), you may sue federal officials for the violation of certain

            constitutional rights.

 

            A.        Are you bringing suit against (check all that apply):

 

 

Federal officials (a Bivens claim)

 

 

State or local officials (a § 1983 claim)

 

            B.         Section 1983 allows claims alleging the "deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by

                        the Constitution and [federal laws]."  42 U.S.C. § 1983.  If you are suing under section 1983, what

                        federal constitutional or statutory right(s) do you claim is/are being violated by state or local officials?

 

 

     

 

            C.         Plaintiffs suing under Bivens may only recover for the violation of certain constitutional rights.  If you

                        are suing under Bivens, what constitutional right(s) do you claim is/are being violated by federal

                        officials?

 

 

     

 

            D.        Section 1983 allows defendants to be found liable only when they have acted "under color of any

                        statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia." 

                        42 U.S.C. § 1983.  If you are suing under section 1983, explain how each defendant acted under color

                        of state or local law.  If you are suing under Bivens, explain how each defendant acted under color of

                        federal law.  Attach additional pages if needed.

 

 

     

 

III.     Statement of Claim

 

           State as briefly as possible the facts of your case.  Describe how each defendant was personally involved in the

           alleged wrongful action, along with the dates and locations of all relevant events.  You may wish to include

           further details such as the names of other persons involved in the events giving rise to your claims.  Do not cite

           any cases or statutes.  If more than one claim is asserted, number each claim and write a short and plain    

           statement of each claim in a separate paragraph.  Attach additional pages if needed.

 

           A.          Where did the events giving rise to your claim(s) occur?

 

 

     

 

           B.          What date and approximate time did the events giving rise to your claim(s) occur?

 

 

     

 

           C.          What are the facts underlying your claim(s)?  (For example:  What happened to you?  Who did what?

                        Was anyone else involved?  Who else saw what happened?)

 

     

 

IV.     Injuries

 

           If you sustained injuries related to the events alleged above, describe your injuries and state what medical

           treatment, if any, you required and did or did not receive.

 

 

     

 

V.       Relief

 

           State briefly what you want the court to do for you. Make no legal arguments. Do not cite any cases or statutes.

           If requesting money damages, include the amounts of any actual damages and/or punitive damages claimed for

           the acts alleged.  Explain the basis for these claims.

 

 

     

 

VI.     Certification and Closing

 

           Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, by signing below, I certify to the best of my knowledge, information,

           and belief that this complaint: (1) is not being presented for an improper purpose, such as to harass, cause

           unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation; (2) is supported by existing law or by a

           nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law; (3) the factual contentions have

           evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable

           opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and (4) the complaint otherwise complies with the

           requirements of Rule 11.

 

 

 

           A.          For Parties Without an Attorney

 

                        I agree to provide the Clerk’s Office with any changes to my address where case-related papers may be

                        served.  I understand that my failure to keep a current address on file with the Clerk’s Office may result

                        in the dismissal of my case.

 

 

                        Date of signing:

     

 

 

                        Signature of Plaintiff

     

 

                        Printed Name of Plaintiff

     

 

 

           B.          For Attorneys

 

 

                        Date of signing:

     

 

 

                        Signature of Attorney

     

 

                        Printed Name of Attorney

     

 

                        Bar Number

     

 

                        Name of Law Firm

     

 

                        Address

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

 

                        Telephone Number

     

 

                        E-mail Address