AMENDED COMPLAINT

PERSONA

[ENTER ADDRESS]

Plaintiff in Pro Per

 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
PERSONA                             Plaintiff  and PERSONAS                             Defendants	Case No.: _____________ AMENDED COMPLAINT JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

 COMES NOW Plaintiff XYZ name with this complaint against the Defendants, and alleges as follows:

NATURE OF ACTION

Incident Overview

This case involves an incident that took place on January 25, 2020 at a hospital, where the Plaintiff was assaulted by XYZ name, who was a Security Officer at the hospital. After the assault, the local Police Department charged the Plaintiff based on a Police report containing false allegations that the Plaintiff was the one who assaulted the Second Defendant. The case was later dismissed. Plaintiff now files this case to seek redress against the Defendants in that regard.

PARTIES

Plaintiff

Plaintiff, XYZ name, is an individual residing at 123 Generic Street, Anytown, USA 12345.

Defendants

• Defendant XYZ company of address 456 Generic Avenue, Anytown, USA 12346 is the local law enforcement agency of the city. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name.
• Defendant XYZ name of address 789 Generic Lane, Anytown, USA 12347, is the former Police Department Chief. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348, was/is a Sergeant Detective at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 101 Generic Road, Anytown, USA 12349, was a Detective at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues her in both her official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348, was/is a Police Officer at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues her in both her official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348, was/is a Police Officer at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348, was/is a Police Officer at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348, was/is a Police Officer at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348, was/is a Sergeant at the Police Department. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of XYZ name. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 202 Generic Street, Anytown, USA 12350, was/is an Assistant Investigator at the DA’s office. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 303 Generic Avenue, Anytown, USA 12351, was/is a Lead Investigator at the DA’s office. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues her in both her official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 300 Generic Boulevard, Anytown, USA 12352, is the District Attorney. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 300 Generic Boulevard, Anytown, USA 12352, is the Assistant District Attorney. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues him in both his official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 300 Generic Boulevard, Anytown, USA 12352, is the Assistant District Attorney. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues her in both her official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 300 Generic Boulevard, Anytown, USA 12352, is the Assistant District Attorney. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues her in both her official and individual capacity.
• Defendant XYZ name, of address 300 Generic Boulevard, Anytown, USA 12352, is the Assistant District Attorney. This Defendant is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, for the actions and/or inactions of the DA officer(s) responsible for the prosecution of the Plaintiff. Plaintiff sues her in both her official and individual capacity.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

Legal Basis

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 USC § 1331, on the basis of there being a federal question relating to 42 USC § 1983.

Venue

Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 as Plaintiff and the Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this state. Plaintiff and the Defendants live within the jurisdiction of this Court. Besides, a substantial part of the acts and omissions forming the basis of these claims occurred in the district and arose from the actions or inactions of the Defendants.

FACTS

Background

Plaintiff’s mother had been admitted at a hospital. The incident that gave rise to this action took place on January 25, 2020, when the Plaintiff went to visit the mother.

Incident Details

As Plaintiff was checking in at the ER at the said hospital, XYZ name stole Plaintiff’s phone from the ER lobby and pushed the Plaintiff until Plaintiff fell. The police officers arrived. Defendant XYZ name took a police report of the incident. Interestingly, XYZ name gave false information that Plaintiff was the one who punched his face. Accordingly, Plaintiff was charged. As a result of the said fabricated report, the Plaintiff was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s office. She made several attempts to challenge the prosecution. For instance, she wrote letters to Defendant XYZ name at the DA’s main and Regional Office, with a specific request to view the footage of the hospital surveillance to ascertain that the allegations against her in the police report were utterly false. However, no consideration was given to the video footage.

Additional Efforts

During the pendency of the said case, the Plaintiff made formal requests to Police Department Records when XYZ name was Police Chief to obtain XYZ name’s Declaration in Support of Arrest warrant, in a bid to have evidence of XYZ name’s fabricated allegations. The Plaintiff was only given a copy of the report after the case was dismissed. This amounts to a violation of the Plaintiff’s due process rights that are guaranteed under the Constitution.

Case Outcome

Interestingly, the said case was dismissed in June 2020. It is also worth noting that during the trial of the said case, the hospital camera footage that recorded the events of January 25, 2020 was not considered in the prosecution of the case against the Plaintiff.

Impact on Plaintiff

Unfortunately, Plaintiff’s mother died during the pendency of the case against Plaintiff. Further, Plaintiff has been subjected to emotional harm and distress pursuant to the malicious prosecution and the acts and/or inactions of the Defendants.

CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

COUNT 1: VIOLATION OF PLAINTIFF’S 14TH AMENDMENT DUE PROCESS RIGHTS

(Against all Defendants)

The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 28 are re-alleged and incorporated herein by reference. Due process requires that the procedures by which laws are applied must be evenhanded, so that individuals are not subjected to the arbitrary exercise of government power. Accordingly, due process requires, at a minimum: (1) notice; (2) an opportunity to be heard; and (3) an impartial tribunal. Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank (1950). It follows; due process also requires an opportunity for confrontation and cross-examination, and for discovery; that a decision be made based on the record. Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67, 81 (1972).

In the instant action, the Defendants violated Plaintiff’s due process rights when they subjected Plaintiff to prosecution based on false allegations. Defendant XYZ name accepted XYZ name’s false allegations without inviting him to strict proof thereof. Further, Defendant XYZ name failed to consider the video footage of the incident, which shows that the Defendant was innocent. The DA office failed to consider the said footage, and proceeded to prosecute the Plaintiff based on the false allegations in the police report. The Supervisors and Superiors at the Police Department and at the DA’s office are liable for the individual Defendants’ actions and/or inactions under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The Defendants’ actions and/or inactions were so arbitrary and capricious that they completely disregarded the salient constitutional safeguards for fair trial.

As a result of Defendants’ actions and/or inaction, Plaintiff has been subjected to injuries consequential and incidental to the actions and/or inactions as alleged herein. These include emotional harm and distress; harm on Plaintiff’s reputation; loss of employment; medical expenses in seeking psychiatry help; misery, pain, and suffering as a result of losing employment; and the death of her mother.

COUNT 2: VIOLATION OF PLAINTIFF’S 14TH AMENDMENT EQUAL PROTECTION RIGHTS

(Against all Defendants)

The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 37 are re-alleged and incorporated herein by reference. The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides in pertinent part that no State shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1.

In order to establish a violation of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment, the Plaintiffs first must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that (1) the Defendants treated them differently/discriminatorily from other similarly situated individuals, (2) this different/discriminatory treatment impermissibly infringed on the exercise of Plaintiffs’ fundamental right to freedom of speech, and (3) was not necessary to serve a compelling governmental interest. City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985).

In the instant action, the Defendants either directly or indirectly subjected the Plaintiff to prosecution based on false allegations. All attempts by the Plaintiff to have the video surveillance footage examined, was futile. The Plaintiff avers that she was discriminatorily treated when the Defendants refused to consider evidence from the footage. It is clear that the Plaintiff was unfairly treated because no explanation was given as to why the footage could not be relied upon in the dismissed case. As a result of the differential treatment, the Plaintiff was unfairly prosecuted thus violating her rights that are guaranteed under the Constitution. There is no legitimate reason to explain the Defendants’ actions and/or inactions. For this reason, the lack of a compelling government interest in prosecuting the Plaintiff based on false allegations, and failure to consider video evidence, amounts to blatant violation of Plaintiff’s equal protection rights.

As a result of Defendants’ actions and/or inaction, Plaintiff has been subjected to injuries consequential and incidental to the actions and/or inactions as alleged herein. These include emotional harm and distress; harm on Plaintiff’s reputation; loss of employment; medical expenses in seeking psychiatry help; misery, pain, and suffering as a result of losing employment; and the death of her mother.

COUNT 3: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

(Against all Defendants)

The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 44 are re-alleged and incorporated herein by reference. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, every person in the United States shall have the same right in every State and Territory to give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens.

In the instant action, the Plaintiff belongs to a racial minority. Plaintiff, just like any other American, expects to enjoy all the constitutionally guaranteed rights. However, in violation of the Plaintiff’s rights, the Defendants refused to accept and/or consider the evidence of the video footage, which would show that the Plaintiff is innocent, and that the report in the police report was false.

As a result of Defendants’ actions and/or inaction, Plaintiff has been subjected to injuries consequential and incidental to the actions and/or inactions as alleged herein. These include emotional harm and distress; harm on Plaintiff’s reputation; loss of employment; medical expenses in seeking psychiatry help; misery, pain, and suffering as a result of losing employment; and the death of her mother.

COUNT 4: MALICIOUS PROSECUTION

(Against Defendants XYZ name, XYZ name, XYZ name, XYZ name, XYZ name, XYZ name, and XYZ name)

The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 49 are re-alleged and incorporated herein by reference. Malicious prosecution amounts to the filing of a lawsuit for an improper purpose, and without grounds or probable cause. The common law tort of malicious prosecution generally requires four elements: (1) the defendant must have initiated a criminal proceeding; (2) the proceeding must have ended in the plaintiffs favor; (3) the proceeding must have been initiated without probable cause; and (4) the defendant must have acted maliciously in the initiation of the prosecution.’ See Usher v. City of LA., 828 F.2d 556, 562 (9th Cir. 1987); see also RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 653.

In the instant action, the Defendants initiated a criminal proceeding against the Plaintiff. The said case was dismissed. The Defendants initiated the prosecution based on false allegations, and without probable cause. Besides, the Defendants refused to consider the footage from the hospital, which would have shown that the Plaintiff is innocent. Plaintiff avers that a total disregard of contrary evidence is malicious.

As a result of Defendants’ actions and/or inaction, Plaintiff has been subjected to injuries consequential and incidental to the actions and/or inactions as alleged herein. These include emotional harm and distress; harm on Plaintiff’s reputation; loss of employment; medical expenses in seeking psychiatry help; misery, pain, and suffering as a result of losing employment; and the death of her mother.

COUNT 5: VIOLATING PLAINTIFF’S RIGHTS UNDER COLOUR OF LAW

(Against all Defendants)

The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 55 are re-alleged and incorporated herein by reference. The Defendants (the Police Department, the Police Officers, the Detectives, the Officers at the DA’s office), acting under the color of law violated Plaintiff’s due process rights and other rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Without probable cause, the Police erroneously charged the Plaintiff and the DA’s office prosecuted the Plaintiff, in reckless disregard for the truth. As prosecuting attorneys, the DA Defendants were placed under a duty to present all material facts and/or evidence before the Court. It is worth noting that in a criminal case, the corpus delicti must prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that a crime has been committed. However, in contradiction to their expectation, the Defendants failed to consider evidence from the video footage.

The actions and/or inactions of the Defendants violated Plaintiff’s rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution. As a result of Defendants’ actions and/or inaction, Plaintiff has been subjected to injuries consequential and incidental to the actions and/or inactions as alleged herein. These include emotional harm and distress; harm on Plaintiff’s reputation; loss of employment; medical expenses in seeking psychiatry help; misery, pain, and suffering as a result of losing employment; and the death of her mother.

COUNT 6: INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

(Against all Defendants)

The allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 through 60 are re-alleged and incorporated herein by reference. The actions and/or inactions of the Defendants, as set forth above, was extreme, and outrageous. The Defendants ought to have reasonably known that their actions and/or inactions would cause severe harm on Plaintiff. The Defendants failed to consider the adverse effects of their actions and/or inactions on Plaintiff. Notably, they failed to acknowledge the fact that such actions and/or inactions would cause Plaintiff emotional harm and distress.

As a result of Defendants’ actions and/or inaction, Plaintiff has been subjected to injuries consequential and incidental to the actions and/or inactions as alleged herein. These include emotional harm and distress; harm on Plaintiff’s reputation; loss of employment; medical expenses in seeking psychiatry help; misery, pain, and suffering as a result of losing employment; and the death of her mother.

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Plaintiff requests trial by jury on all issues so triable.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff is entitled to damages from the Defendants, and she hereby prays that judgment be entered in her favor and against the Defendants as follows:

• That the Court issues a Declaration that the Defendants violated Plaintiff’s rights.
• That the Court awards Plaintiff special damages for medical expenses incurred in seeking psychiatric help in the sum of $50,000.
• That the Court awards Plaintiff damages for the violation of her 14th Amendment rights in the sum of $50 Million.
• That the Court awards Plaintiff pre and post judgment interests, costs of the suit, and attorney fees as allowed by law.
• That the Court issues any other order and/or relief that this institution deems just.

Respectfully submitted:

Dated: __________

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on July 22, 2025, copies of the foregoing document have been sent to the Defendants in the following addresses:

• 456 Generic Avenue, Anytown, USA 12346
• 789 Generic Lane, Anytown, USA 12347
• 101 Generic Road, Anytown, USA 12349
• 202 Generic Street, Anytown, USA 12350
• 303 Generic Avenue, Anytown, USA 12351
• 1 Generic Plaza, Anytown, USA 12348
• 300 Generic Boulevard, Anytown, USA 12352

DATED: July 22, 2025

 

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