Swygert v. Veal et al

Filing 72

ORDER signed by Senior Judge Arthur L. Alarcon on 1/20/09 ORDERING that Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Kathleen Dickinson shall replace Defendants Martin Veal and Mike Knowles in their official capacity as warden of t he California Medical Facility (CMF); andSwygert's December 31, 2008 motion for judicial notice 67 is GRANTED; and Swygert's December 31, 2008 motion to amend the complaint 67 is GRANTED; Swygert may name (1) Kathleen Dickinson in her o fficial capacity as warden of CMF, (2) Matthew Cate, the secretary of the CDCR, and (3) the CDCR as additional Defendants in the amended complaint; and Swygert's amended complaint shall be filed on or before February 4, 2009; and Pursuant to Rule 15(a)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Defendants' answer to Swygert's amended complaint shall be filed within 10 days after service thereof. (Becknal, R)

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
vs. MARTIN VEAL, et al., Defendants. _______________________/ Plaintiff Curtis Lee Swygert ("Swygert") is a state prisoner proceeding with counsel in this civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Swygert alleges constitutional violations under the First Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc-2000cc-5. On November 26, 2008, this Court issued an order that Mike Knowles replace Martin Veal for all allegations made by Swygert against the warden in his official capacity (Doc. No. 64). On December 11, 2008, Defendants filed a request to modify the November 26th order because Mike Knowles had "left CMF, and Kathleen Dickinson is serving as Acting Warden." (Doc. No. 64.) On December 31, 2008, Swygert filed a motion to amend the complaint and for judicial notice (Doc. No. 67). Swygert asked to add Mike Knowles to replace Martin Veal in his official ORDER IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CURTIS LEE SWYGERT, Plaintiff, Case No. 2:06-cv-00725 ALA (P)

1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

capacity, to add Matthew Cate in his official capacity as the secretary of California Department of Corrections ("CDCR"), and to add CDCR to address attorney's fees and costs under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On January 6, 2009, this Court ordered that Defendants file a response to Swygert's motion (Doc. No. 69). On January 20, 2009, the Defendants filed a response (Doc. No. 71). Defendants responded that they "do not oppose naming CDCR Secretary Cate as the Defendant for Swygert's injunctive relief claims" and that they "do not oppose Swygert's request for judicial notice of facts showing Cate to be the proper Defendant for the injunctive relief claims." There are no other legal arguments or responses provided to Swygert's motion to amend the complaint and for judicial notice. Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Kathleen Dickinson shall replace Defendants Martin Veal and Mike Knowles in their official capacity as warden of the California Medical Facility ("CMF"); and Swygert's December 31, 2008 motion for judicial notice (Doc. No. 67) is GRANTED; and Swygert's December 31, 2008 motion to amend the complaint (Doc. No. 67) is GRANTED; Swygert may name (1) Kathleen Dickinson in her official capacity as warden of CMF, (2) Matthew Cate, the secretary of the CDCR, and (3) the CDCR as additional Defendants in the amended complaint; and Swygert's amended complaint shall be filed on or before February 4, 2009; and Pursuant to Rule 15(a)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Defendants' answer to Swygert's amended complaint shall be filed within 10 days after service thereof.

2. 3.

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
///// 4. 5.

DATED: January 20, 2009 /s/ Arthur L. Alarcón UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE Sitting by Designation

2