Lewis v. Contra Costa County

Background

Daronta T. Lewis filed a 54-page complaint against his former jailors at West County Detention Center. The court conducted the required preliminary screening for a prisoner’s claims against a governmental entity or its officers or employees. At screening, the court must dismiss claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim for relief, or seek money from an immune defendant.

Claims and class action

Lewis listed claims involving unclean and unsafe cells, excessive force, denial of access to court, violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, due process and equal protection violations, and medical care. The court ruled that unrelated claims could not be joined in one lawsuit. Claims had to arise from the same transaction or series of transactions and involve a common question of law or fact.

Lewis also sought to proceed as a class action. The court denied permission to do so, explaining that a person proceeding without a lawyer cannot adequately represent a class and may proceed only on claims involving violations of his own individual rights.

Pending motion and disposition

Lewis moved to prevent the West County Detention Facility from tampering with his mail. The court denied that motion as moot because Lewis was no longer housed there.

The court dismissed the complaint with leave to file an amended complaint by February 26, 2021. The amended complaint had to be no longer than 10 pages, use the court’s form, include the specified caption and case number, state “FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT” on the first page, and include all claims and defendants Lewis wished to pursue. The court stated that failure to file a proper amended complaint or follow the instructions could result in dismissal of the action and entry of judgment for the defendants. The order did not decide whether Lewis’s individual claims ultimately would succeed.