Case Explained: VASQUEZ V. ORTEGA, ET AL.

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Filed: 2026-06-26 Docket: 5:24-cv-01386-PCP The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Isaias Vasquez’s pro se civil rights action alleging harassment by prison employees under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The court reviewed the dismissal de novo and held that the complaint failed to allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief. In its reasoning, the court applied the standard that while pro se pleadings are construed liberally, they must still meet the plausibility threshold established in *Hebbe v. Pliler*. Specifically, the court noted that under Ninth Circuit precedent, verbal harassment generally does not constitute a violation of the Eighth Amendment and that the plaintiff did not provide adequate factual allegations to support claims of supervisory liability. As a result of this affirmation, the judgment dismissing Vasquez’s lawsuit is final, and all pending motions and requests are denied. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.