Smith v. Cruzen et al

Filing 40

Order Referring Cases to Federal Pro Se Program. Signed by Judge Lucy Koh on 11/30/2015. (lhklc2S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/30/2015)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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Plaintiff,
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v.
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JIMMY CRUZEN, et al.,
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Defendants.
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____________________________________)
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AND RELATED CASES.
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ANTHONY BERNARD SMITH, JR.,

No. C 14-4791 LHK (PR)
C 15-1739 LHK (PR)
C 15-1891 LHK (PR)
C 15-2025 LHK (PR)
C 15-2041 LHK (PR)
C 15-2017 LHK (PR)
C 15-2121 LHK (PR)
C 15-2122 LHK (PR)
C 15-2205 LHK (PR)
C 15-2487 LHK (PR)
ORDER REFERRING CASES
TO FEDERAL PRO SE
PROGRAM

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Plaintiffs, state prisoners at San Quentin State Prison proceeding pro se, each filed a civil

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rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The complaints allege the same set of facts, and raise

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the same claims. After a review of the complaints, the court has determined that these cases are

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suitable for early settlement proceedings. The court believes that the parties would be best

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served by having one unified settlement proceeding before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael

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Cousins so that perhaps a global settlement of all the claims of all the plaintiffs against all the

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defendants may be reached.

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Recognizing that this might be a complicated undertaking, the court has determined that

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plaintiffs could likely benefit from the appointment of counsel in the settlement proceeding.

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Thus, these cases are referred to Kevin Knestrick of the Federal Pro Se Program to find counsel.

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Order Referring Cases to Federal Pro Se Program
P:\PRO-SE\LHK\CR.14\Smith791locatecounsel.wpd

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Upon an attorney being located to represent plaintiffs, that attorney shall be appointed as counsel

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for plaintiffs for the limited purpose of representing plaintiffs in connection with the settlement

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proceeding.

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All briefing schedules are vacated. These cases are stayed and administratively closed
until ordered otherwise.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: November 30, 2015
LUCY H. KOH
United States District Judge

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Order Referring Cases to Federal Pro Se Program
P:\PRO-SE\LHK\CR.14\Smith791locatecounsel.wpd

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