Mester v. Dickinson et al
Filing
101
FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 09/06/11 recommending that plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunctive relief 90 be denied. MOTION for PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION 90 filed by Morris Mester referred to Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Objections due within 14 days. (Plummer, M)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
MORRIS MESTER,
11
12
13
14
Plaintiff,
vs.
MILLER AND REED,
Defendants.
15
16
No. 2:09-cv-3307 KJM KJN P
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
/
Plaintiff is a state prisoner, presently housed at Pleasant Valley State Prison,
17
Coalinga, California (“PVSP”), proceeding without counsel. Plaintiff’s tenth motion for
18
preliminary injunctive relief is before the court. (Dkt. No. 90.) As discussed more fully below,
19
plaintiff’s motion for injunctive relief should be denied.
20
Plaintiff again seeks a court order requiring plaintiff to be hospitalized. (See Dkt.
21
No. 69.) Plaintiff complains that the surgeon ordered pain medications that Dr. Chokatos
22
allegedly refuses to order. Plaintiff also alleges that unidentified prison officials are
23
“prolonging” plaintiff’s “treatment.” (Dkt. No. 90.) Plaintiff challenges medical treatment
24
provided at PVSP. (See Dkt. No. 69.)
25
A temporary restraining order is an extraordinary and temporary “fix” that the
26
court may issue without notice to the adverse party if, in an affidavit or verified complaint, the
1
1
movant “clearly show[s] that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the
2
movant before the adverse party can be heard in opposition.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1)(A).
3
The purpose of a temporary restraining order is to preserve the status quo pending a fuller
4
hearing. See generally, Fed. R. Civ. P. 65; see also, E.D. Cal. L. R. (“Local Rule”) 231(a). It is
5
the practice of this district to construe a motion for temporary restraining order as a motion for
6
preliminary injunction.1
7
A preliminary injunction should not issue unless necessary to prevent threatened
8
injury that would impair the court’s ability to grant effective relief in a pending action. Sierra
9
On-Line, Inc. v. Phoenix Software, Inc., 739 F.2d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1984); Gon v. First State
10
Ins. Co., 871 F.2d 863 (9th Cir. 1989). A preliminary injunction represents the exercise of a far
11
reaching power not to be indulged except in a case clearly warranting it. Dymo Indus. v.
12
Tapeprinter, Inc., 326 F.2d 141, 143 (9th Cir. 1964). “The proper legal standard for preliminary
13
injunctive relief requires a party to demonstrate ‘that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he
14
is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of
15
equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.’” Stormans, Inc. v.
16
Selecky, 586 F.3d 1109, 1127 (9th Cir. 2009), quoting Winter v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc,
17
129 S.Ct. 365, 375-76 (2008). In cases brought by prisoners involving conditions of
18
confinement, any preliminary injunction “must be narrowly drawn, extend no further than
19
necessary to correct the harm the court finds requires preliminary relief, and be the least intrusive
20
means necessary to correct the harm.” 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)(2).
21
Initially, the principal purpose of preliminary injunctive relief is to preserve the
22
court’s power to render a meaningful decision after a trial on the merits. See 11A Charles Alan
23
Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 2947 (2d ed. 2010). As noted
24
25
26
1
See, e.g., Aiello v. OneWest Bank, 2010 WL 406092, *1 (E.D. Cal. 2010) (providing
that “[t]emporary restraining orders are governed by the same standard applicable to preliminary
injunctions”) (citations omitted).
2
1
above, in addition to demonstrating that he will suffer irreparable harm if the court fails to grant
2
the preliminary injunction, plaintiff must show a “fair chance of success on the merits” of his
3
claim. Sports Form, Inc. v. United Press International, Inc., 686 F.2d 750, 754 (9th Cir. 1982)
4
(internal citation omitted). Implicit in this required showing is that the relief awarded is only
5
temporary and there will be a full hearing on the merits of the claims raised in the injunction
6
when the action is brought to trial. In addition, as a general rule this court is unable to issue an
7
order against individuals who are not parties to a suit pending before it. Zenith Radio Corp. v.
8
Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 U.S. 100 (1969).
9
This court previously sought confirmation that plaintiff was receiving appropriate
10
medical treatment at PVSP, and defendants provided the declaration of Dr. Duenas opining that
11
plaintiff does not have an emergent medical condition or require immediate hospitalization.
12
(Dkt. No. 82-1.) Accordingly, this court recommended that plaintiff’s last six motions for
13
injunctive relief be denied. (Dkt. No. 88.)
14
Moreover, the instant motion should be denied because it is unrelated to plaintiff’s
15
underlying claims. The instant complaint names defendants, employed at California Medical
16
Facility, who in 2009 and before, allegedly placed a false conviction of forcible rape in plaintiff’s
17
prison record for retaliatory purposes. (Dkt. No. 1.) Plaintiff’s allegations do not concern
18
medical care. (Id.) At the time plaintiff filed the instant complaint he was housed at High Desert
19
State Prison in Susanville, California, and was subsequently transferred to PVSP. Therefore, the
20
claims on which plaintiff’s motion is predicated are not included in the complaint on which this
21
action is proceeding. For that reason, the claims for injunctive relief will not be given a hearing
22
on the merits at trial.
23
Finally, on August 15, 2011, plaintiff filed a notice of change of address advising
24
the court that plaintiff was transferred to R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego,
25
California. Where a prisoner is seeking injunctive relief with respect to conditions of
26
confinement, the prisoner’s transfer to another prison renders the request for injunctive relief
3
1
moot, unless there is some evidence of an expectation of being transferred back. See Prieser v.
2
Newkirk, 422 U.S. 395, 402-03 (1975); Johnson v. Moore, 948 F.2d 517, 519 (9th Cir. 1991)
3
(per curiam). Plaintiff's transfer renders his claims against officials at PVSP moot, as there is no
4
indication that plaintiff will be transferred back to PVSP. See Wiggins v. Rushen, 760 F.2d 1009
5
(9th Cir. 1985) (chance that prisoner might be returned to prison where injury occurred is too
6
speculative to demonstrate reasonable expectation that injury may recur).
7
8
For all of the above reasons, plaintiff’s motion for injunctive relief should be
denied.
9
10
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that plaintiff’s motion for
preliminary injunctive relief (dkt. no. 90) be denied.
11
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District
12
Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen
13
days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
14
objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
15
“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the
16
objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The
17
parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to
18
appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
19
DATED: September 6, 2011
20
21
_____________________________________
KENDALL J. NEWMAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
22
23
mest3307.pi3
24
25
26
4
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?