Glaude v. Landrum et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
ROYAL GLAUDE,
Plaintiff,
v.
WILLIAM LANDRUM, et al.,
Defendants.
Case No. 26-cv-09066-AGT
SCREENING ORDER
Re: Dkt. No. 1
Having granted Royal Glaude’s in forma pauperis application, the undersigned now
screens Glaude’s complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and concludes that the com-
plaint is deficient for the reasons identified below.
Glaude’s complaint alleges that Defendants helped him obtain a federal housing sub-
sidy intended for veterans (a HUD-VASH voucher). Id. at 3. In addition to that voucher, he
alleges that Defendants separately enrolled him in the more generally available Housing
Choice Voucher program. Id. at 4. Therefore, Glaude alleges that Defendants enrolled him
in two duplicative subsidy programs, which is generally prohibited by the U.S. Department
of Housing & Urban Development’s regulations. Id. at 5. Although Glaude doesn’t con-
cretely allege what harm he suffered because of this dual enrollment, his pleadings suggest
that his housing assistance has since been cut off. Id. at 7.
While the Court generally understands the grievance that Glaude wishes to pursue in
this case, his complaint doesn’t currently state a legal claim. Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of
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Civil Procedure requires that a plaintiff make “a short and plain statement of the claim show-
ing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). To state a claim, a plaintiff
can’t only recite the facts at issue in their case. They must also state the specific laws the
defendant has violated and the harm they have suffered from those violations. Here, while
Glaude refers to laws and general legal principles within his complaint, he doesn’t state the
exact legal claims he wishes to pursue in his case. Where his complaint form directs him to
“[n]ame the law or right violated,” he has repeatedly written one Defendant’s name. See,
e.g., Dkt. 1 at 4. Without reference to specific legal provisions and claims for relief, the
Court can’t understand what legal claims Glaude wants to pursue. See 28 U.S.C. §
1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) (requiring that courts screen in forma pauperis actions for ability to state
a claim).
Glaude may file an amended complaint on or before November 3, 2026. If he doesn’t
do so, or if he files an amended complaint that fails to state a claim for relief, the undersigned
will recommend that a district judge dismiss his case.
The Court refers Glaude to the Northern District of California’s Legal Help Center,
where lawyers provide free basic legal assistance to those representing themselves in federal
court. Although Legal Help Center lawyers don’t represent parties, they can explain court
procedures, provide limited legal advice, and help prepare simple court filings. There are
two Legal Help Center locations: one is at the San Francisco courthouse at 450 Golden Gate
Avenue, and the other is at the Oakland courthouse at 1301 Clay Street. Glaude can schedule
an appointment by calling 415-782-8982 or emailing FedPro@sfbar.org. Appointments are
available in-person, by Zoom, or by telephone. More information can be found at
https://cand.uscourts.gov/representing-yourself/free-legal-help-people-without-lawyers.
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The Court also has a free guide, “Representing Yourself in Federal Court: A Hand-
book for Pro Se Litigants,” which provides instructions on how to proceed at every stage of
a case. Glaude can access it online (https://cand.uscourts.gov/representing-yourself/pro-se-
handbook) or in hard copy free of charge from the Clerk’s Office.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 9, 2026
______________________________
Alex G. Tse
United States Magistrate Judge
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