Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-00893/USCOURTS-caed-1_22-cv-00893-2/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM VERA, aka Memo Vera,

Plaintiff,

v.

WARDEN, et al.,

Defendants.

1:22-cv-00893-DAD-BAK (SKO) (PC)

ORDER RE PLAINTIFF’S LETTER TO 

THE COURT FILED AUGUST 8, 2022 

Plaintiff William Vera, also known as Memo Vera, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in 

a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

I. RELEVANT BACKGROUND

Plaintiff initiated this action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of 

California by filing correspondence with that Court on July 20, 2021. (Doc. 1.) On that same date, 

the Court directed Plaintiff to “submit a completed complaint ... on the proper form ... within 28 

DAYS....” (Doc. 3.) 

On August 20, 2021, Plaintiff filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. (Doc. 8.) 

On September 17, 2021, District Judge Edward M. Chen issued an Order Extending Time 

to File Complaint, granting Plaintiff an extension to and including November 5, 2021, within 

which to file “a complaint on the appropriate form.” (Doc. 11.) On November 5, 2021, Plaintiff 

was granted a further extension of time to and including January 4, 2022. (Doc. 13.) 

On January 5, 2022, Plaintiff filed his complaint. (Doc. 14.) On January 21, 2022, Plaintiff 

filed a document titled “Supplemental Evidentiary Documentation in Support of Defendant S. 

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Villegas Claims.” (Doc. 15.) 

On July 19, 2022, District Judge Chen issued an Order of Dismissal in Part and Transfer 

in Part. (Doc. 19.) The Court dismissed the claims Plaintiff asserted against three correctional 

officers employed at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) (id. at 3-4), and the claims against SVSP 

interpreter Luna and SVSP social worker Leffler (id. at 4). All claims against SVSP defendants 

were dismissed without leave to amend (id. at 5). The remaining claims concerning events 

occurring at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) or the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility at 

Corcoran (SATF) were transferred to this Court because venue is proper in the Eastern District of 

California. (Id. at 5.) 

Following transfer of the action from the Northern District to the Eastern District of 

California, on July 26, 2022, this Court issued its Order to Submit Application to Proceed In 

Forma Pauperis or Pay Filing Fee Within 45 Days. (Doc. 24.) 

On August 8, 2022, Plaintiff filed correspondence dated August 3, 2022, with this Court. 

(Doc. 25.) Plaintiff states his legal name is “G. Memo Vera” and that the California Department 

of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) “records are wrong.” (Id.) Plaintiff acknowledges 

receipt of “an In Forma Pauperis application,” but states “it shall be duly noted that one has been 

filed with the Northern Dist Court” and asks whether an application is “still necessary.” (Id.) 

Plaintiff asks the Court to “provide [him] with a copy of the Court Docket.” (Id.) 

II. DISCUSSION

A. Plaintiff’s Name

Plaintiff advises his “legal name” is “G. Memo Vera” and that the CDCR “records are 

wrong.” To the extent Plaintiff’s correspondence can be understood as a request to change the 

caption of this action, his request is denied. 

Plaintiff has provided this Court with no evidence his legal name is “G. Memo Vera.” 

While a review of the docket when the action was pending before the Northern District and in this 

District reveals that Plaintiff signs correspondence (see e.g., Doc. 1) and pleadings as “G. Memo 

Vera” (see e.g., Doc. 8; Doc. 12; Doc. 14; Doc. 18), the documentation that Plaintiff appends as 

exhibits to these various filings identify him as William Vera (see e.g., Doc. 1 at 6-8 [Letter to 

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“VERA, WILLIAM (K73387)” from the California Correctional Health Care Services dated 

6/7/21]; Doc. 8 at 3-5 [inmate statement report for William Vera]; Doc. 14-2 at 2 [California 

Correctional Health Care Services form for “VERA, WILLIAM” dated 2/26/21], 11 [same, dated 

9/7/21], 17-20 [same, dated 9/17/21], 26 [“ADA/Effective Communication Patient Summary” for 

“VERA, WILLIAM” dated 4/5/21]). 

The Court may take judicial notice of public information stored on the CDCR inmate 

locator website. See In re Yahoo Mail Litig., 7 F.Supp.3d 1016, 1024 (N.D. Cal. 2014) (court may 

take judicial notice of information on “publicly accessible websites” not subject to reasonable 

dispute); Louis v. McCormick & Schmick Restaurant Corp., 460 F.Supp.2d 1153, 1155 n.4 (C.D. 

Cal. 2006) (court may take judicial notice of state agency records). 

A search conducted via CDCR’s inmate locator function using CDCR number K73387 

reveals Plaintiff’s name as “VERA, WILLIAM.”1 www.inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov. The caption 

presently identifies Plaintiff as “WILLIAM VERA also known as Memo Vera,” and will remain

as such. 

B. IFP Application Status

Plaintiff advises this Court a previous IFP application had been submitted to the Northern 

District. That application was filed nearly one year ago and was not ruled upon while the action 

was pending in the Northern District. The information contained in the application is out of date; 

for example, the Inmate State Report is dated July 12, 2021. 

This Court will not consider whether IFP status is warranted based upon outdated 

information. Plaintiff shall submit a current IFP application—as previously ordered to do on July 

26, 2022. (See Doc. 24.) By no later than September 9, 2022,2 Plaintiff shall submit a completed 

IFP application using the form provided to him with this Court’s July 26, 2022 Order.

C. Copy of Docket Request

Plaintiff has requested “a copy of the Court Docket.” Plaintiff is advised that, generally, 

the Clerk’s Office will provide copies for Plaintiff at a cost of $0.50 per page. Under the 

1 No inmate records were identified using the name “G. Memo Vera” or “Memo Vera.”

2 7/26/22 + 45 days = 9/9/22. 

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circumstances, the Court will make a one-time exception and will direct the Clerk’s Office to 

provide a copy of docket sheet in this action to Plaintiff, at no charge. Plaintiff is advised that he 

will need to pay for any further copies and that it is his responsibility to maintain copies of all 

documents submitted to the Court for filing. 

D. Miscellaneous Advisements

Plaintiff is advised this Court will not address letters or correspondence from Plaintiff in 

the future. In the event Plaintiff is seeking an action on behalf of the Court, he shall follow the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and this Court’s Local Rules concerning motions and/or

requests to the Court and their proper format. 

Plaintiff is further advised that this Court will screen his complaint as required by 28 

U.S.C. § 1915A(a). As noted in the Relevant Background section, the Northern District did not 

address or screen the claims asserted against the KVSP or SATF defendants in its Order of 

Dismissal in Part and Transfer in Part. Those claims must therefore be assessed by this Court to 

determine whether Plaintiff has stated a cognizable claim against any named KVSP or SATF 

defendant. 

This Court is one of the busiest district courts in the nation. There are hundreds of pro se

prisoner complaints awaiting screening and delays are inevitable. Plaintiff’s complaint will be 

screened in due course.

III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

For the reasons stated above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request to change his name in the caption of this action from “William 

Vera” to “G. Memo Vera” is DENIED;

2. Plaintiff SHALL submit a completed IFP application, using the application form 

previously provided, no later than September 9, 2022; and

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3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to send Plaintiff a copy of the docket sheet in 

this action as a one-time courtesy. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 10, 2022 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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