Frank Finley v. Baxter Rittenhouse

Appellant was convicted in the Pasadena, California, Muncipal Court of buying and receiving stolen property in violation of section 496 of the California Penal Code.

Ten years later, he brought this civil action for damages under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 , alleging that the appellee, the police officer who arrested him for the above offense, had subjected him to false imprisonment and had unlawfully taken several items from his person, which were later admitted in evidence at his trial.

On two occasions, the trial court dismissed appellant’s complaint and directed him to file an amended complaint setting out the particular facts upon which he based his claim that appellee had violated his civil rights. Appellant failed to allege such specific facts, and the trial court dismissed his action.

Appellant’s conclusory allegations, unsupported by any underlying factual details, were insufficient to state a claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 . Lee v. Wilson, 363 F.2d 824 (9th Cir. 1966); Stiltner v. Rhay, 322 F.2d 314 , 316 n. 4 (9th Cir. 1965). The court clearly had the power under Rule 41(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to dismiss the action for failure to…