Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA
BRYAN WEBB JOHNSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
JOHN BRAINERD, et al.,
Defendants.
Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK
ORDER RE MOTIONS TO DISMISS
On July 6, 2023, Defendant Tamara Axelsson filed a Motion to Dismiss
pursuant 	to 	Rule 	12(b)(6) 	of 	Federal 	Civil 	Procedure.1 	On 	July 	7, 	2023,
Defendants 	Alaska 	Superior 	Court 	Judges 	Douglas 	Blankenship, 	Bethany
Harbison, 	Matthew 	Christian, 	Michael 	MacDonald, 	Michael 	McConahy, 	Earl
Peterson, and Benjamin Seekins filed a Motion to Dismiss.2 	In the interests of
judicial economy, the Court also addresses and rules on Plaintiff’s pending “Motion
for Clarification.”
Plaintiff’s Motion for Clarification
On May 25, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Clarification from the Court.3
Plaintiff requests (1) additional time to serve Defendants; (2) to respond to motions
1 Docket 53.
2 Docket 55.
3 Docket 37.
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 1 of 7

Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK, Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.
Order re Motions to Dismiss
Page 2 of 7
in due time; (3) to “go over the entirety of this case with consideration to all of the
above”; (4) to “provide clarity to the issues/definitions stated above”; (5) to
“calculate the correct date in which Rule 45 began to toll, with regard to BOTH
previous cases,” and (6) “suggest how to move forward on this case in a fair and
just manner.”4
While a court may act with leniency towards a self-represented litigant for
procedural violations, attorneys and self-represented litigants are expected to
follow the same rules and procedures.5 	All Court filings requesting relief or
requesting that the Court make a ruling or take an action of any kind must be in
the form of a pleading or motion, with an appropriate caption designating the name
of the pleading or motion and comply with the Local and Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.6 	In a motion, a party should state specifically and concisely what he
or she wants, so that the Court understands what the party is requesting. Except
for alternative requests for relief or as otherwise provided by rule or order of the
court, each motion must be filed separately.7 The Court also requires that motions
be filed with a proposed order that the Court can issue, if the motion is granted.8
4 Docket 37 at 9.
5 Motoyama v. Hawaii, Dept. of Transp., 864 F. Supp. 2d 965, 976 (2012); see also King v. Atiyeh,
814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987), overruled on other grounds by Lacey v. Maricopa Cty., 693
F.3d 896 (9th Cir. 2012) (establishing self-represented litigants are bound by the same procedural
rules as represented parties).
6 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b) (“A request for a court order must . . . state with particularity the grounds
for seeking the order” and “state the relief sought.”).
7 Local Civil Rule 7.1(e); see also Local Civil Rule 5.1(f)(2).
8 Local Civil Rule 7.1(b).
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 2 of 7

Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK, Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.
Order re Motions to Dismiss
Page 3 of 7
The proposed order helps to clarify what the moving party is asking the Court to
do. 	Further, judges have no obligation to act as counsel or paralegal to self-
represented litigants.9 	It is not the Court’s responsibility to inform or correct
Plaintiff as to proper court procedures. 	The Court acknowledges that some of
Plaintiff’s claims may be subject to a statute of limitations, and he may be unable
to refile his claims. However, this case has been pending since November 2, 2021,
and involves an incident that allegedly occurred on November 6, 2019. The Court
has previously provided sufficient guidance, several extensions of time, and
ordered the U.S. Marshal to assist with service.
Therefore, the Court declines to exercise its discretion to extend the time-
period to complete service yet again. This case shall proceed as explained below,
and the additional arguments and requests contained in Plaintiff’s will not be
considered by the Court. 	For these reasons, Plaintiff’s motion at Docket 37 is
DENIED.
Remaining Defendants
A. Defendants John C. Brainerd, Mary Bullis, Josh Whitman, Steven
Hansen, and Kevin Clarkson
9 In McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 183–84, (1984). See also Martinez v. Court of Appeal of
Cal., Fourth Appellate Dist., 528 U.S. 152, 162 (2000) (“[A] judge is under no duty to provide
personal instruction on courtroom procedure or to perform any legal ‘chores' for the [self-
represented litigant] that counsel would normally carry out”).
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 3 of 7

Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK, Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.
Order re Motions to Dismiss
Page 4 of 7
On May 17, 2023, the Court ordered Plaintiff to complete service within 30
days of that order.10 If a defendant is not timely served, then the Court must—on
motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff—dismiss the action without
prejudice against that defendant, or order that service be made within a specified
time.11 	Despite being given notice, instructions, additional time, and multiple
warnings, 	Plaintiff 	has 	failed 	to 	provide 	proof 	of 	service 	on 	the 	remaining
Defendants. 	Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants John C. Brainerd, Mary Bullis,
Josh Whitman, Steven Hansen, and Kevin Clarkson are DISMISSED without
prejudice for failure to serve under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).
B. Medical Director(s)/Doctor at Fairbanks Correctional Facility
While a state actor sued in an official capacity may be designated by official
title rather than by name, a court may order the officer’s name be added.12 Further,
although courts do not generally favor actions against unknown “Doe” defendants,
a 	plaintiff 	may 	sue 	unnamed 	defendants 	when 	the 	identity 	of 	the 	alleged
defendants may be discoverable later.13 The Court previously advised Plaintiff that
10 Docket 36.
11 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).
12 Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(d).
13 See Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980) (“As a general rule, the use of ‘John
Doe’ to identify a defendant is not favored. However, situations arise . . . where the identity of
alleged defendants will not be known prior to the filing of a complaint. In such circumstances, the
plaintiff should be given an opportunity through discovery to identify the unknown defendants,
unless it is clear that discovery would not uncover the identities, or that the complaint would be
dismissed on other grounds.”) (citations omitted).
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 4 of 7

Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK, Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.
Order re Motions to Dismiss
Page 5 of 7
“unknown persons cannot be served with process until they are identified by their
real names. 	Neither the Marshals nor the Court will perform any investigation as
to the identity or location of a defendant.”14
The Court will allow Plaintiff 90 days in which to discover the actual name
of “Medical Director(s)/Doctors” and to substitute the Defendant’s actual name by
filing a “Notice of Substitution.”15 	Plaintiff is cautioned that any unidentified
defendant(s) will ultimately be dismissed from this action.
Motions to Dismiss
Under Rule 12(b)(6), a defendant may move to dismiss a complaint for
failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. 	Plainly, this means that
a defendant argues that even if everything in the complaint is true, the defendant
did not violate the law. To determine whether a complaint states a valid claim for
relief, courts consider whether the complaint contains sufficient factual matter that,
if accepted as true, “state[s] a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”16 	In
conducting its review, a court must liberally construe a self-represented plaintiff’s
pleading and give the plaintiff the benefit of the doubt.17 	The Court resolves a
14 Docket 36 at 3.
15 See Wakefield v. Thompson, 177 F.3d 1160, 1163 (9th Cir. 1999).
16 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,
570 (2007)). 	In making this determination, a court may consider “materials that are submitted
with and attached to the Complaint.” 	United States v. Corinthian Colleges, 655 F.3d 984, 999
(9th Cir. 2011) (citing Lee v. L.A., 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th Cir. 2001)).
17 See Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Bretz v. Kelman, 773 F.2d 1026,
1027 n.1 (9th Cir. 1985) (en banc)).
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 5 of 7

Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK, Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.
Order re Motions to Dismiss
Page 6 of 7
motion under 12(b)(6) only on the pleadings before it; therefore, no additional
evidence may be submitted to defend those arguments.
Local Civil Rule 7.4 requires that unless otherwise ordered, opposition
memoranda must not exceed 35 pages or 10,000 words. 	Further, a proposed
order does not need to be lodged with any cross-motion for summary judgment
pursuant to Local Civil Rule 7.1(b)(1). Failure to respond to the Motion to Dismiss
could be deemed as an admission that the motion is well-taken, result in a
summary ruling, and end the case.18
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:
1. Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants John C. Brainerd, Mary Bullis, Josh
Whitman, Steven Hansen, and Kevin Clarkson are DISMISSED without
prejudice for failure to serve under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).
2. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate John C. Brainerd, Mary Bullis,
Josh Whitman, Steven Hansen, and Kevin Clarkson as defendants.
3. Plaintiff has 90 days from the date of this order in which to discover, by
subpoena or otherwise, the identity of unnamed Defendants and to file a
“Notice of Substitution.” After 90 days, any unidentified defendant(s) will
be dismissed from this action without further notice to Plaintiff unless
Plaintiff seeks and is granted an extension of time.
18 See generally Local Civil Rule 7.1(h).
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 6 of 7

Case No. 4:21-cv-00027-JMK, Johnson v. John Brainerd, et al.
Order re Motions to Dismiss
Page 7 of 7
4. Plaintiff has until on or before 21 days after the date of this order to
serve and file on Defendants any opposition to Defendants’ Motions to
Dismiss at Dockets 53 and 55.
5. Defendants have 14 days after service of the Plaintiff’s opposition to
serve and file a reply.
DATED this 18th day of July, 2023, at Anchorage, Alaska.
/s/ Joshua M. Kindred
JOSHUA M. KINDRED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Case 4:21-cv-00027-SLG Document 56 Filed 07/18/23 Page 7 of 7