(PC) Stobbe v. Gill et al
Filing
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ORDER DENYING 7 Plaintiff's Motion, signed by Magistrate Judge Helena M. Barch-Kuchta on 04/23/2021. (Maldonado, C)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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FORREST STOBBE,
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Plaintiff,
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ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
v.,
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Case No. 1:20-cv-00656-HBK (PC)
(Doc. No. 7)
DR. GILL, in her official capacity; R.
FISHER, Warden; VALLEY STATE
PRISON; CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS; STATE OF
CALIFORNIA,
Defendant.
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Pending before the court is plaintiff’s pleading titled “Petition Pursuant to Government
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Code § 946.6 relieving § 945.4 (Claim Preservation)” filed February 16, 2021. (Doc. No. 7).
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Liberally construed, it appears plaintiff pre-emptively files this pleading as a motion to obtain
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relief for his failure to timely comply with the government tort claims process in California. (Id.
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at 1-4). Attached to the plaintiff’s motion are copies of medical grievances and letters. (Id. at 5-
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10). Plaintiff, a prisoner, and is proceeding pro se on his amended complaint filed under 42
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U.S.C. § 1983 alleging violations of the Eighth Amendment for medical deliberate indifference,
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the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and a state law negligence and/or
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medical malpractice claim. (Doc. No. 5). Plaintiff paid the filing fee to proceed in this action.
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(Receipt No. CAE100045610).
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Plaintiff’s motion sets forth his understanding regarding the exhaustion of administrative
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remedies requirement under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PRLA) and California law related
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to pendent state law tort claims. (Doc. No. 7). Plaintiff acknowledges that the PLRA requires he
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exhaust his administrative remedies before initiating a lawsuit and states that, while he diligently
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pursued his administrative remedies under the PRLA, his governmental tort law claim was
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rejected as untimely. (Id. at 1-3). Plaintiff asks the court to excuse his delay in timely complying
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with the state government claims process because he was availing himself of the administrative
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process required by the PLRA and made an “honest mistake.” (Id. at 3).
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Considering the procedural posture of this case, including the plaintiff’s amended
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complaint has not yet been screened, the court finds plaintiff’s pre-emptive opposition to either an
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exhaustion-based summary judgment motion or motion to dismiss to be premature. To
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adequately state a tort claim for damages, plaintiff bears the burden of alleging compliance with
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the requirements of California’s government tort claims process. See Karim-Panahi v. Los
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Angeles Police Department, 839 F.2d 621 (9th Cir. 1988) (noting that a plaintiff failure to comply
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with claim-filing requirements under California Tort Claims act bars pendent state claims).
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Should this case proceed past the second § 1915A screening, plaintiff may raise any arguments
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asserted herein to oppose a motion to dismiss or for summary judgment concerning his timely
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compliance with California’s government tort claims process.
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Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
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Plaintiff’s pleading (Doc. No. 7), construed as a pre-emptive opposition to an exhaustion-
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based summary judgment motion or motion to dismiss, is DENIED without prejudice as
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premature.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated:
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April 23, 2021
HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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