Samuels v. Ahlin et al

Filing 70

ORDER for Plaintiff to Notify the Court if it Wishes to Substitute Defendant(s) for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors Within Twenty-One (21) Days signed by Magistrate Judge Erica P. Grosjean on 4/26/2017. (Jessen, A)

1
2

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

3

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

4
5

DOUGAL SAMUELS,

6
7
8

Plaintiff,
v.
PAM AHLIN, et al.,

9

Defendants.

10

1:10-cv-00585-DAD-EPG (PC)
ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO NOTIFY
THE COURT IF IT WISHES TO
SUBSTITUTE DEFENDANT(S) FOR
THE FRESNO COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
(ECF. NO. 53)
TWENTY-ONE DAY DEADLINE

11

Dougal Samuels (“Plaintiff”) is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in forma

12

pauperis in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Following the Ninth

13

Circuit’s order holding in part that “Samuels is not barred from bringing suit against the

14

members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in their official capacity,” (ECF No, 22),

15

this case now proceeds on Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint, filed on July 15, 2016. (ECF

16

No. 40).

17

Supervisors” as a defendant, among others.

Plaintiff’s Third Amended Complaint names the “Fresno County Board of

18

On January 20, 2017, Fresno County filed a motion to quash service of process or to

19

dismiss Plaintiff’s action in the alternative (“Motion to Quash”). (ECF No. 53). Fresno County

20

argues that the “Fresno County Board of Supervisors” is not an appropriate defendant in this

21

case because it is neither an individual nor a city or county. (Id. at 2). Additionally, Fresno

22

County moves to quash service because Fresno County itself is not currently a defendant in this

23

case and so should not have been served with the complaint. (Id.).

24

On April 20, 2017, the Court held a hearing on the Motion to Quash. 1 During the

25

hearing, counsel for the County of Fresno argued that the Fresno County Board of Supervisors

26

was merely a subunit of the County of Fresno and thus was not a proper defendant. Counsel

27
28

1

Scott Hawkins personally appeared on behalf of Fresno County. Plaintiff telephonically
appeared on his own behalf.
1

1

for the County of Fresno said that the County of Fresno was the type of city that could be sued

2

under 1983. Moreover, counsel for the County of Fresno argued that any lawsuit against

3

individual members of the Board of Supervisors, even if those individuals were identified and

4

added to the lawsuit, would ultimately be a lawsuit against the County of Fresno itself because

5

the individuals could only be sued in their official capacity.

6

During the hearing, the Court asked Plaintiff if he wished to substitute the County of

7

Fresno (or any other defendants) for the Board of Supervisors. However, the phone connection

8

was not good and it was difficult to understand Plaintiff.

9

Accordingly, the Court orders Plaintiff to notify the Court if it wishes to substitute in

10

the County of Fresno, or any other defendants, for the “Fresno County Board of Supervisors.”

11

Fresno County may respond seven days following Plaintiff’s notification. The Court will issue

12

findings and recommendations on the County of Fresno’s pending motion to quash (ECF No.

13

53) after receiving this additional information.

14

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

15

1. Within thirty (21) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall

16

either:

17

a. File a motion to substitute the County of Fresno, or any other defendants,

18

for the currently named Fresno County Board of Supervisors; or

19

b. File a notice that Plaintiff wants the Court to issue findings and

20

recommendations to the assigned district judge on the record as it stands.

21

2. If Plaintiff opts to file a motion to substitute defendants, within seven (7) after

22

the motion is filed in CM/ECF, Fresno County may file a response to the

23

motion.

24
25
26

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

April 26, 2017

/s/
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

27
28
2