Baker, et al v. Marsh

Filing 3

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on 6/29/10 ORDERING that the claims of plaintiff Wenholz are severed from the claims of plaintiff Baker; Plaintiff Baker shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case No. CIV S-10-1585 KJM P; Clerk o f the Court is directed to open a separate civil action for plaintiff Wenholz; Assign that action to the magistrate judge to whom the instant case is assigned and make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for such ass ignment; File and docket a copy of this order in the action opened for plaintiff Wenholz; Place a copy of the complaint filed 6/23/10 in the action opened for plaintiff Wenholz; Strike from the caption of each plaintiffs complaint the name of the oth er plaintiff; Send each plaintiff an endorsed copy of his complaint bearing the amended caption and the case number assigned to his own individual action. Each plaintiffs complaint is dismissed; 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, a new order regarding consent and a new Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner; and each plaintiff is granted 30 days to file an amended complaint.(Dillon, M)

(PC) Baker, et al v. Marsh

Doc. 3

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. WAYNE WENHOLZ, et al., Defendants. / Plaintiffs are Solano County Jail 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 this court's experience, an action brought by multiple inmate plaintiffs proceeding pro se presents procedural problems that cause delay and confusion. Delay often arises from the transfer of inmates to other facilities or institutions, the changes in address that 1
Dockets.Justia.com

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA JERRY W. BAKER, et al., Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-10-1585 KJM P

ORDER

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occur when inmates are released, 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 Baker will proceed in this action, while plaintiff Wenholz will proceed in a separate 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 action 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. Each plaintiff will be directed to file a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the filing fee within thirty days. Each plaintiff is cautioned that even if he is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, he will incur liability for the $350.00 filing fee which will be collected from his prison trust account either all at once or in installments.1 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. The claims of plaintiff Wenholz are severed from the claims of plaintiff Baker; 2. Plaintiff Baker shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case No. CIV S-10-1585 KJM P; ///// ///// /////

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

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3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to: a. Open a separate civil action for plaintiff Wenholz; b. Assign that action to the 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 action opened for plaintiff Wenholz; d. Place a copy of the complaint filed June 23, 2010 in the action opened for plaintiff Wenholz; e. Strike from the caption of each plaintiff's complaint the name of the other plaintiff; f. 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, a new order regarding consent 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. Each plaintiff shall also file an application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the filing fee within thirty days of service. Each plaintiff's documents must bear the docket number assigned to his own individual case, and each complaint must be labeled "Amended Complaint." Each plaintiff must file an original and two copies of his amended complaint. Failure to file an amended complaint, and either an application to proceed in forma ///// ///// ///// 3

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pauperis or the filing fee in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that the plaintiff's action be dismissed. DATED: June 29, 2010.

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