Valdez

INTRODUCTION

13 Plaintiff, a pretrial detainee at the Martinez Detention Facility (“MDF”) in Martinez, 14 California, proceeding without representation by an attorney, filed this civil rights case under 42 15 U.S.C. § 1983 against seven Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Deputies at the MDF. (ECF No. 1 at 16 4-7.) He is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis in a separate order. For the reasons 17 discussed below, the Marshal is ordered to serve Defendants, and Plaintiff’s motion for 18 appointment of counsel (ECF No. 3) is denied.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

20 Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners seek 21 redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 22 1915A(a). The Court must identify actionable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of 23 the complaint, if the complaint “is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief 24 may be granted,” or “seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” Id. 25 § 1915A(b). Pleadings filed by self-represented litigants must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. 26 Pacifica Police Dep't,…