Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-05618/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-05618-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEVIN BURTON,

Plaintiff,

 v.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF

CORRECTIONS AND

REHABILITATION, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 07-5618 PJH (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Plaintiff, an inmate at the San Diego Central Jail, filed a pro se civil rights complaint

under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of

California. Because the complaint involves events which occurred when plaintiff was

housed at Salinas Valley State Prison, which is in this district, the Southern District

transferred it here. Plaintiff also requests leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

Federal courts must engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners

seek redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 

28 U.S.C § 1915A(a). In its review the court must identify any cognizable claims, and

dismiss any claims which are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. Id. at

1915A(b)(1),(2). Similarly, the court may dismiss on these grounds a case filed in forma

pauperis, whether filed by a prisoner or not. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Pro se pleadings must

be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990).

Case 4:07-cv-05618-PJH Document 3 Filed 11/13/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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B. Analysis

The complaint in this case is a copy of the complaint plaintiff filed to commence case

number C 07-4967 PJH (PR), a case which previously was transferred here from the

Southern District. An in forma pauperis complaint that merely repeats pending or

previously litigated claims may be considered abusive and dismissed under the authority of

section 1915(e). Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995). An in

forma pauperis complaint repeating the same factual allegations asserted in an earlier

case, as here, even if filed against new defendants, is therefore subject to dismissal as

duplicative. See id. The petition therefore will be dismissed. 

CONCLUSION

Leave to proceed in forma pauperis (document 2 on the docket) is DENIED. The

complaint is DISMISSED as duplicative. The clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 13, 2007. 

 PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

G:\PRO-SE\PJH\CR.07\BURTON5618.DSM.wpd

Case 4:07-cv-05618-PJH Document 3 Filed 11/13/07 Page 2 of 2