Parker et al v. Icke et al

Filing 3

ORDER Severing Action. ( Amended Complaint and IFP deadline: 5/12/2009.) signed by Magistrate Judge William M. Wunderlich on 4/8/09. (Attachments: # 1 Amended Complaint, # 2 IFP)(Gil-Garcia, A)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Plaintiffs are state prisoners proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This court has determined that each plaintiff should proceed separately on his own claim. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide "[p]arties may be dropped or added by order of the court on motion of any party or of its own initiative at any stage of the action and on such terms as are just. Any claim against a party may be severed and proceeded with separately." Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. Courts have broad discretion regarding severance. See Davis v. Mason County, 927 F.2d 1473, 1479 (9th Cir. 1991). In the instant action, Plaintiffs are individuals in the custody of the California Department of Corrections, presently confined at Avenal State Prison. In this court's experience, an action brought by multiple inmate plaintiffs proceeding pro se presents procedural problems 1 vs. W. ICKE, Defendant. ORDER SEVERING ACTION IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SEAN PARKER, et al., Plaintiffs, 1:08 CV 1405 WMW PC 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 that cause delay and confusion. Delay often arises from the frequent transfer of inmates to other facilities or institutions, the changes in address that occur when inmates are released to parole, and the difficulties faced by inmates who attempt to communicate with each other and with unincarcerated individuals. Accordingly, the court will order that Plaintiffs' claims be severed. Plaintiff Parker will proceed in this action, while plaintiff Johns will proceed in a civil action to be opened by the Clerk of the Court. Each plaintiff will proceed with his own action and will be solely responsible for his own action. The Clerk of the Court will be directed to assign the new actions to the same district judge and magistrate judge assigned to the instant action. The Clerk of the Court shall make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for this reassignment. Plaintiff Parker has filed a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. However, since the claims will be severed, Plaintiff Johns will be given thirty days to file, in his own action, an amended complaint and a new application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, using the forms provided by the court with this order. Each plaintiff is cautioned that if an individual action proceeds further it is probable that each plaintiff will incur a liability in the amount of the $350.00 filing fee, which amount will be collected from the inmate's prison trust account.1 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. The claims of Plaintiffs Parker are severed from the claims of Plaintiff Johns; //// 2. Plaintiff Parker shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case 1:08 CV 1405 WMW See Information to Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a Civil Action in Federal Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 PC; 3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to: a. Open a separate civil action for Plaintiff Johns; b. Assign each action to the district judge and magistrate judge to whom the instant case is assigned and make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for such assignment; c. File and docket a copy of this order in the case opened for Plaintiff Johns; d. Place a copy of the complaint filed September 19, 2008, in each of the files opened for the Plaintiffs Parker and Johns; e. Send each Plaintiff an endorsed copy of his complaint bearing the amended caption and the case number assigned to his own individual action. 4. Each Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed; 5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send each plaintiff a new form for filing a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and a new Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner; and 6. Each plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an amended complaint and a new application to proceed in forma pauperis, using the forms provided by the court with this order. Each plaintiff's documents must bear the docket number assigned to his own individual case, and each complaint must be labeled "Amended Complaint." Failure to file an amended complaint or a new application to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that the plaintiff's action be dismissed. 3 1 IT IS SO ORDERED. 2 Dated: April 8, 2009 mmkd34 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 4 /s/ William M. Wunderlich UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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