(PS) Deluz v. The Law Office of Frederick S. Cohen, et al, No. 2:2010cv00809 - Document 22 (E.D. Cal. 2011)
Court Description: ORDER and FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd on 2/16/11 ORDERING that the 16 Motion to Proceed IFP is DENIED as moot; RECOMMENDING that the 6 Motion to Dismiss be granted in part; that the 7 Special Motion to Strike be granted in part; that the Complaint be dismissed without leave to amend for failure to state a federal claim; that the Court decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over pltf's state law claims; and that this ation be dismissed with prejudice as to the § 1983 claims and without prejudice as to the state law claims. Motions referred to Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. Objections due within 14 days. (Manzer, C)
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(PS) Deluz v. The Law Office of Frederick S. Cohen, et al Doc. 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 HEATHER DELUZ, 11 Plaintiff, 12 13 No. CIV S-10-0809 GEB DAD PS vs. THE LAW OFFICE OF FREDERICK S. COHEN, et al., ORDER AND 14 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Defendants. 15 / 16 On August 6, 2010, this case came before the court for hearing on the motion to 17 dismiss and special motion to strike filed by defendants Stephanie Stilley and Thomas L. Russell, 18 and on the special motion to strike filed by defendants The Law Office of Fredrick1 S. Cohen and 19 Fredrick S. Cohen individually.2 Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se in this case, appeared on her 20 own behalf. Richard Stone Linkert, Esq. appeared on behalf of defendants Stilley and Russell. 21 ///// 22 1 23 It appears from filings on behalf of the Cohen defendants that the correct spelling of defendant Cohen’s first name is “Fredrick.” The court adopts that spelling in this document except for the caption, which reflects the name of the case as filed by plaintiff. 24 2 25 26 The properly noticed motion first came before the court for hearing on June 18, 2010. Jason J. Sommer, Esq. appeared on behalf of the Cohen defendants, and defendant Cohen was also present. Plaintiff appeared on her own behalf at that time. Due to plaintiff’s failure to file written opposition to the motion, the court continued the hearing to August 6, 2010. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 Jason J. Sommer, Esq. appeared on behalf of the Cohen defendants, and defendant Cohen was 2 also present. After the parties’ arguments were heard, the motions were taken under submission. 3 Upon consideration of the briefs on file, the parties’ arguments in open court, and 4 the entire record, the undersigned now recommends that defendants’ motions to dismiss for 5 failure to state a claim be granted, that plaintiff’s complaint be dismissed without leave to amend, 6 and that the district court decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiff’s state law 7 claims. 8 9 PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT In her “Complaint for Damages,” plaintiff asserts that she has brought this action 10 under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to challenge a deprivation of her rights under the Fourteenth Amendment 11 to the United States Constitution. (Compl. ¶ 1.) 12 Plaintiff alleges the following factual background: the deprivation of plaintiff’s 13 rights occurred in a contested custody proceeding in which plaintiff was accused of parental 14 alienation (Id. ¶¶ 2-3); after the parties to the proceeding were ordered to participate in an 15 evaluation by a Family Court Services mediator, defendant Fredrick S. Cohen was appointed by 16 the Sacramento County Superior Court as counsel for the parties’ two minor children (Id. ¶¶ 4-5); 17 defendant Stephanie Stilley was ordered by the court, on the recommendation of defendant 18 Cohen, to supervise visitation between plaintiff and her children (Id. ¶ 6); defendant Thomas 19 Russell is the supervisor of defendant Stilley (Id. ¶ 7); defendant Cohen did not conduct an 20 investigation, review court record, interview the parties with the minor children, or conduct home 21 inspections, but nonetheless recommended that custody be awarded to the children’s father 22 despite a history of domestic violence in the relationship between the children’s parents, as well 23 as emotional abuse and neglect by the father during visitation (Id. ¶¶ 8-9); defendant Cohen 24 deliberately led the court, court mediators, and plaintiff to believe that he had conducted a 25 thorough investigation, when he had not conducted an in-home investigation and falsified court 26 records which were served on plaintiff’s attorneys (Id. ¶¶ 10-11); the court trusted defendant 2 1 Cohen, as minors’ counsel, to have the children’s best interests in mind and therefore accepted 2 and followed his recommendation to change custody of the children (Id. ¶ 12); since the change 3 of custody, the minor children have been repeatedly physically and emotionally abused by their 4 father (¶ 13); plaintiff has very little visitation time with the children (Id. ¶14); plaintiff was 5 questioned repeatedly by defendant Stilley each time there was a visitation, and plaintiff therefore 6 “trusted Ms. Stilley to write a favorable report in the best interest of the minor children” 7 regarding the abuse described to plaintiff by the children, but defendant Stilley instead used the 8 information against plaintiff in her report (Id. ¶ 15); plaintiff requested that supervised visitation 9 be moved to a new facility because defendant Stilley is incompetent and plays solitaire on her 10 computer during supervised visits, but defendant Cohen refused to allow a change (Id. ¶ 16); 11 defendant Russell has refused to investigate the incompetence of defendant Stilley (Id. ¶ 17); no 12 one knows the “exact whereabouts” of the minor children (Id. ¶ 18); because of the court-ordered 13 placement of plaintiff’s children with their father on the recommendations of the defendants, 14 plaintiff has been deprived of her parental rights and is alienated from her children (Id. ¶ 19). In 15 her statement of jurisdiction, plaintiff further alleges that defendants deprived her of rights 16 guaranteed by the First and Fifth Amendments as well as the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. 17 Constitution. (Id. ¶ 20.) 18 In her first cause of action, brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plaintiff alleges 19 that defendants conspired with each other and with non-defendants to deprive her of “her rights 20 and obligations of parenthood,” citing defendant Cohen’s recommendation that her minor 21 children be placed in the custody of their father, despite plaintiff’s extensive efforts to 22 demonstrate the father’s unsuitability. (Id. ¶¶ 29-51.) Plaintiff alleges four additional causes of 23 action for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, 24 fraud, and defamation of character. (Id. ¶¶ 52-78.) 25 26 Plaintiff seeks general damages for wrongful interference with her parental rights, in an amount to be proven at trial; general damages for fraud and severe emotional distress and 3 1 mental suffering the amount of $20,000,000.00; general damages for defamation of character in 2 the sum of $25,000,000.00 to be proven at trial; medical and related expenses according to proof; 3 costs of suit; and punitive damages in the amount of $2,500,00.00. (Compl. at 17.) 4 5 DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS Defendants Stilley and Russell move to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Federal 6 Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) on the grounds that plaintiff has not stated a cognizable claim 7 against the defendants and because they are immune from § 1983 suits for damages pursuant to 8 quasi-judicial immunity. In the alternative, the defendants seek to strike plaintiff’s supplemental 9 state law claims pursuant to California’s Anti-SLAPP statute. 10 The Cohen defendants also move to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to 11 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) or to strike pursuant to California Code of Civil 12 Procedure § 425.16 on the grounds that: 13 14 15 16 17 (1) plaintiff’s claims are subject to the protections of California’s Anti-SLAPP statute and plaintiff cannot meet her burden of showing a likelihood of prevailing on her claims; (2) plaintiff has not and cannot state a cognizable claim against defendant Cohen because his only contact with her arose out of his representation of plaintiff’s minor children and he owed no duty to plaintiff; and (3) the conduct complained of is absolutely privileged under California Civil Code § 47 and the federal Noerr Pennington doctrine. 18 19 20 21 22 The defendants seek dismissal of all claims against them, without leave to amend. LEGAL STANDARDS I. Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) tests the sufficiency of the 23 complaint. North Star Int’l v. Arizona Corp. Comm’n, 720 F.2d 578, 581 (9th Cir. 1983). 24 Dismissal of the complaint, or any claim within it, “can be based on the lack of a cognizable 25 legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri 26 v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). See Robertson v. Dean Witter 4 1 Reynolds, Inc., 749 F.2d 530, 534 (9th Cir. 1984). Thus, the court may dismiss a complaint or 2 any claim within it as frivolous where the claim is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory 3 or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327 4 (1989). The critical inquiry is whether a claim, even if inartfully pleaded, has an arguable legal 5 and factual basis. Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 6 745 F.2d 1221, 1227 (9th Cir. 1984). As the Supreme Court recently explained, in order to state 7 a claim on which relief may be granted, the plaintiff must allege “enough facts to state a claim to 8 relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). 9 In determining whether a complaint states a claim, the court accepts as true the 10 material allegations in the complaint and construes those allegations, as well as the reasonable 11 inferences that may be drawn from them, in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Hishon v. 12 King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hosp., 425 U.S. 13 738, 740 (1976); Love v. U.S., 915 F.2d 1242, 1245 (9th Cir. 1989). For purposes of a motion to 14 dismiss, the court also resolves doubts in the plaintiff’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 15 411, 421 (1969). 16 Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by lawyers. 17 Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). However, the court may disregard allegations in the 18 complaint that are contradicted by facts established by exhibits attached to the complaint. 19 Durning v. First Boston Corp., 815 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 1987). In addition, the court need 20 not accept as true conclusory allegations, unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions of 21 fact. Western Mining Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981). 22 II. Civil Rights Claims 23 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that 24 [e]very person who, under color of [state law] subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, 25 26 ///// 5 1 shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress . . . . 2 3 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A plaintiff proceeding under this statute must allege and ultimately prove that 4 (1) he or she was deprived of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States and 5 (2) the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. West v. 6 Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). The “under color of state law” requirement is an essential 7 element of a § 1983 case, and it is the plaintiff’s burden to establish that this element exists. Lee 8 v. Katz, 276 F.3d 550, 553-54 (9th Cir. 2002). 9 Section 1983 also requires that there be an actual connection or link between the 10 actions of each defendant and the deprivation alleged to have been suffered by each plaintiff. See 11 Monell v. Department of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658 (1978); Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 12 (1976). “A person ‘subjects’ another to the deprivation of a constitutional right, within the 13 meaning of § 1983, if he does an affirmative act, participates in another’s affirmative acts or 14 omits to perform an act which he is legally required to do that causes the deprivation of which 15 complaint is made.” Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 16 Supervisory personnel are generally not liable under § 1983 for the actions of their 17 employees under a theory of respondeat superior and, therefore, when a named defendant holds a 18 supervisorial position, the causal link between him and the claimed constitutional violation must 19 be specifically alleged. See Fayle v. Stapley, 607 F.2d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 1979); Mosher v. 20 Saalfeld, 589 F.2d 438, 441 (9th Cir. 1978). Vague and conclusory allegations concerning the 21 involvement of official personnel in civil rights violations are not sufficient. See Ivey v. Board 22 of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Rather, a complaint must allege specific facts 23 concerning each defendant’s violation of plaintiff’s rights and must allege facts explaining how 24 any conduct complained of resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s federal rights. See Ellis v. 25 Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless 26 there is an affirmative link or connection between each defendant’s actions and the claimed 6 1 deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 2 1980); Johnson, 588 F.2d at 743. 3 4 ANALYSIS The court turns first to plaintiff’s § 1983 claims because at least one federal claim 5 must be viable against at least one defendant in this action in order to establish federal 6 jurisdiction over this case. 7 I. Section 1983 Claim Against the Cohen Defendants 8 In opposition to plaintiff’s § 1983 claim that defendants deprived her of 9 constitutionally protected parental rights, the Cohen defendants contend that defendant Cohen, as 10 an attorney in private practice, is not a state actor acting under color of state law. Defendants cite 11 the Supreme Court’s determination that “acting under color of state law” means that the 12 defendant exercises power “possessed by virtue of state law and made possible only because the 13 wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of state law.” United States v. Classic, 313 U.S. 299, 14 326 (1941). Relying on the decision in Sutton v. Providence St. Joseph Med. Ctr., 192 F.3d 826, 15 835 (9th Cir. 1999), defendants argue in this regard that the ultimate issue in determining 16 whether a person is subject to suit under § 1983 is whether the alleged infringement of federal 17 rights is fairly attributable to the government. 18 It is well established that private lawyers appointed to serve as public defenders 19 are not operating under color of law for purposes of a § 1983 action when they are performing a 20 lawyer’s traditional functions as counsel to a defendant in a criminal proceeding. Polk County v. 21 Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 325 (1981). Similarly, it has been held that private lawyers appointed to 22 serve as counsel for minors in state juvenile delinquency proceedings or as counsel or guardians 23 ad litem for children or parents in child custody proceedings are not operating under color of law 24 for purposes of a § 1983 action when they are performing a lawyer’s traditional functions as 25 counsel in court proceedings. Kirtley v. Rainey, 326 F.3d 1088, 1093-96 (9th Cir. 2003) 26 (holding that the role of a guardian ad litem appointed to represent a child in a state court custody 7 1 proceeding is analogous to the role of a court-appointed public defender and that § 1983 liability 2 is barred because the attorney does not act under color of state law); Whittington v. Milby, 928 3 F.2d 188, 193 (6th Cir. 1992) (holding that the court-appointed attorney’s representation of a 4 child’s adoptive parents did not constitute state action); Malachowski v. City of Keene, 787 F.2d 5 704, 710 (1st Cir. 1986) (ruling that court appointed attorney for a minor in delinquency 6 proceedings, who had earlier acted as minor’s guardian in abuse and neglect proceedings, did not 7 act under color of state law); Meeker v. Kercher, 782 F.2d 153, 155 (10th Cir. 1986) (holding 8 that a guardian, who has no obligation or duty to the state but undivided loyalty to the minor, 9 does not act under color of state law for § 1983 purposes); Ramirez v. Tsuchiya, No. C 08-4456 10 WHA (PR), 2008 WL 4402911, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 26, 2008) (dismissing with prejudice an 11 inmate’s § 1983 claim against the attorney who represented him in a proceeding for termination 12 of parental rights because the court appointed attorney was not a state actor). 13 Here, defendant Cohen was appointed to represent plaintiff’s children in child 14 custody proceedings. In his role as advocate for the children, he did not act under color of state 15 law and is not subject to suit under § 1983. Pursuant to the authorities set forth above, the Cohen 16 defendants’ motion to dismiss should therefore be granted as to plaintiff’s § 1983 claim on the 17 ground that the claim fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 18 II. Section 1983 Claims Against Defendants Stilley and Russell 19 Defendant Stilley has a Masters in Social Work, is an Associate Clinical Social 20 Worker, and was a registered intern with the State of California at the relevant time, working 21 under the supervision of defendant Russell, who is her employer. Defendant Stilley supervised 22 plaintiff and her two minor children during court-ordered supervised visitation and, pursuant to 23 court order, prepared a report that reflected her observations during the supervised visitation. In 24 opposition to plaintiff’s § 1983 claim that they deprived her of constitutionally protected parental 25 rights, defendants Stilley and Russell contend that they are immune from a § 1983 suit for 26 damages pursuant to quasi-judicial immunity. 8 1 Judges acting within the course and scope of their judicial duties are absolutely 2 immune from liability for damages. Pierson v. Ray, 386 U.S. 547, 553-54 (1967). “[T]he factors 3 determining whether an act by a judge is a ‘judicial’ one relate to the nature of the act itself, i.e., 4 whether it is a function normally performed by a judge, and to the expectations of the parties, i.e., 5 whether they dealt with the judge in his judicial capacity.” Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 6 362 (1978). Judicial immunity “applies ‘however erroneous the act may have been, and however 7 injurious in its consequences it may have proved to the plaintiff.’” Cleavinger v. Saxner, 474 8 U.S. 193, 199-200 (1985) (quoting Bradley v. Fisher, 13 Wall. 335, 347 (1872)). A party 9 dissatisfied with a judge’s rulings may challenge those rulings “only via appeal, not by suing the 10 judges.” In re Thomas, 508 F.3d 1225, 1227 (9th Cir. 2007) (citing Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 11 11-12 (1991)). 12 A quasi-judicial immunity “is extended in appropriate circumstances to non jurists 13 ‘who perform functions closely associated with the judicial process.’” In re Castillo, 297 F.3d 14 940, 948 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Cleavinger, 474 U.S. at 200). Quasi-judicial immunity is 15 available to individuals who perform functions that are judicial in nature or “have a sufficiently 16 close nexus to the adjudicative process.” Id. at 948. The Supreme Court has found that such 17 immunity is available to prosecutors when they are initiating a prosecution and presenting the 18 state’s case, and when they are taking action and making decisions in preparation for the 19 initiation of a prosecution or for trial. Id. Quasi-judicial immunity also applies to administrative 20 law judges and agency hearing officers when they are performing adjudicative functions within a 21 federal agency, to agency officials performing functions analogous to those of a prosecutor, to 22 agency attorneys when arranging for the presentation of evidence in the course of an 23 administrative adjudication, and to individuals who participate in the judicial process when they 24 are acting within the scope of their duties. Id. 25 26 With respect to individuals who participate in the judicial process, federal courts have held that quasi-judicial immunity may extend to persons providing child protective services, 9 1 social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, therapists, and others. See Coverdell v. Dep’t of 2 Social & Health Servs., 834 F.2d 758, 764-65 (9th Cir. 1987) (“The same concerns dictate that a 3 CPS worker be accorded absolute quasi-judicial immunity from liability for damages stemming 4 from the worker’s apprehension of a child pursuant to a valid court order.”); Demoran v. Witt, 5 781 F.2d 155, 156-58 (9th Cir. 1986) (probation officers preparing presentencing reports covered 6 by absolute judicial immunity doctrine); see also Abdouch v. Burger, 426 F.3d 982, 989 (8th Cir. 7 2005) (absolute immunity shielded social workers from liability for initiating and maintaining 8 termination of parental rights proceedings); Brown v. Newberger, 291 F.3d 89, 94-95 (1st Cir. 9 2002) (employees who conducted sexual abuse evaluations and issued reports at the request of 10 the court in connection with child custody proceedings were entitled to absolute quasi-judicial 11 immunity); Kurzawa v. Mueller, 732 F.2d 1456, 1458 (6th Cir. 1984) (social services employees, 12 psychiatrist, psychologist and lawyer involved in proceedings terminating plaintiffs’ parental 13 rights and removing child from plaintiffs’ home were entitled to absolute immunity); Dock v. 14 State of Nevada, No. 2:10-cv-00275-RCJ-LRL, 2010 WL 5441642, at *5-6 (D. Nev. Dec. 28, 15 2010) (holding that child protective service workers have absolute quasi-judicial immunity from 16 suit when they are providing information to the court and engaging in duties that are integral to 17 the court’s decision-making processes); Masoud v. County of San Joaquin, 2006 WL 3251797, at 18 *5 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 8, 2006) (submission of papers and testimony to the court by defendant social 19 workers protected by absolute immunity). 20 Here, plaintiff alleges that defendant Stilley was ordered by the court to supervise 21 plaintiff and her children during the supervised visitation ordered by the court. Plaintiff further 22 alleges that defendant Stilley was ordered by the court to produce a report that would be used in 23 determining custody of her minor children, and defendant Stilley did in fact produce such a 24 report. Plaintiff claims that she does not have custody of her children at this time in part because 25 of the information contained in defendant Stilley’s report, which was presented to the court and 26 ///// 10 1 all parties.3 Defendants Stilley and Russell have demonstrated that they are entitled to quasi- 2 judicial immunity based on the court-ordered functions they performed relative to plaintiff and 3 her children. Defendants’ motion to dismiss should therefore be granted on the ground that 4 plaintiff’s allegations fail to state a § 1983 claim against them upon which relief may be granted. 5 III. Futility of Amendment 6 The undersigned has carefully considered whether there is any possibility that 7 plaintiff may amend her complaint to state a cognizable federal claim that would not be subject 8 to dismissal. “Valid reasons for denying leave to amend include undue delay, bad faith, 9 prejudice, and futility.” California Architectural Bldg. Prod. v. Franciscan Ceramics, 818 F.2d 10 1466, 1472 (9th Cir. 1988). See also Klamath-Lake Pharm. Ass’n v. Klamath Med. Serv. 11 Bureau, 701 F.2d 1276, 1293 (9th Cir. 1983) (holding that, while leave to amend shall be freely 12 given, the court does not have to allow futile amendments). It appears that granting further leave 13 to amend would be futile in this instance given the nature of plaintiff’s complaint and the defects 14 noted above. 15 CONCLUSION 16 Plaintiff’s § 1983 cause of action against all defendants should be dismissed for 17 the reasons set forth above. Plaintiff’s remaining claims are brought under state law for 18 intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, fraud, and 19 defamation of character. A district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over 20 state law claims if the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original 21 jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). The undersigned will recommend that the assigned district 22 judge decline to exercise jurisdiction over plaintiff’s state law claims. 23 24 25 26 3 Plaintiff alleges only that defendant Stilley was “incompetent” and that defendant Russell refused to investigate defendant Stilley’s alleged incompetence. (Compl. ¶¶16-17.) Plaintiff does not allege that defendants Stilley or Russell fabricated evidence. See Beltran v. Santa Clara County, 514 F.3d 906, 908-09 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc) (absolute immunity does not extend to such discretionary investigative decisions by social workers). 11 1 Finally, the docket reflects that plaintiff has filed an application to proceed in 2 forma pauperis “without prepayment of fees.” However, the court notes that plaintiff paid the 3 required filing fees when she filed this case, and no other fees are due. The application to 4 proceed in forma pauperis is unnecessary. 5 6 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s July 9, 2010 application to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. No. 16) is denied as moot; and 7 IT IS RECOMMENDED that: 8 1. The motion to dismiss and, in the alternative, special motion to strike (Doc. 9 No. 6) brought by defendants Stephanie Stilley and Thomas L. Russell be granted in part; 10 11 2. The special motion to strike (Doc. No. 7) brought by defendants Law Office of Fredrick S. Cohen and Fredrick S. Cohen individually be granted in part; 12 13 3. Plaintiff’s complaint be dismissed without leave to amend, for failure to state a federal claim upon which relief may be granted against any defendant; 14 15 4. The court decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiff’s state law claims; and 16 17 5. This action be dismissed with prejudice as to the § 1983 claims and without prejudice as to the state law claims. 18 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States 19 District Judge assigned to this case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 20 fourteen days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file 21 and serve written objections with the court. A document containing objections should be titled 22 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to objections 23 shall be filed and served within seven days after the objections are served. The parties are 24 ///// 25 ///// 26 ///// 12 1 advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may, under certain circumstances, 2 waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. See Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th 3 Cir. 1991). 4 DATED: February 16, 2011. 5 6 7 8 9 DAD:kw Ddad1\orders.prose\deluz0809.oah080610.f&r 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 13
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