Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01583/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01583-2/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

KEVIN G. GARNER,

Plaintiff,

vs.

AVENAL STATE PRISON, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

1:07-cv-01583-LJO-DLB- (PC)

FIRST INFORMATIONAL ORDER 

IN PRISONER CIVIL RIGHTS CASE

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action . In litigating this

action, the parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P.) and the

Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California (Local Rules). This

order highlights specific rules of which the parties should take particular note. FAILURE TO

COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL RULES, LOCAL RULES, OR A COURT ORDER,

INCLUDING THIS ORDER, WILL BE GROUNDS FOR APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS, UP TO

AND INCLUDING DISMISSAL OF THIS ACTION. Local Rule 11-110; Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).

1. Documents intended to be filed with the court by pro se litigants must be mailed to the

Clerk of the Court, United States District Court, 2500 Tulare Street, Room 1501, Fresno, California

93721. Local Rule 5-133(d)(1). All documents mailed improperly to a judge's chambers will be

Case 1:07-cv-01583-LJO-DLB Document 11 Filed 02/19/08 Page 1 of 5
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 When a document is stricken, it becomes a nullity and is not considered by the court for any purpose.

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stricken.1

2. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature of the filing party

or parties. Local Rule 7-131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). All documents submitted without the required

signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document must be bound separately at the top left

corner. Local Rule 7-130(b). If a document is bound behind another document, it will not be filed

or entered on the court docket. A document requesting a court order must be styled as a motion, not

a letter. Fed. R. Civ. P. 7. Documents submitted to the court may be either typewritten or

handwritten, but must be legible, and writing shall be on one (1) side of the page only. Local Rule 7-

130 (modified). Every document submitted to the court must include your name, address and

prisoner identification number in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Local Rule 7-132.

3. You are not required to send this court copies of your documents submitted for filing.

Local Rule 5-133(d)(2) (modified). If the filing party wishes the court to return a file-stamped copy,

he or she must include one copy for that purpose AND a pre-addressed postage paid envelope. The

court cannot provide copies or mailing service for a party, even for an indigent plaintiff proceeding

in forma pauperis. Copies of documents may be obtained from the court file by contacting

Attorney's Diversified Services at 741 N. Fulton Street, Fresno, California 93728, 800-842-2695.

4. After defendants have appeared in a state civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983

by filing a response to the complaint (i.e., an answer, a motion to dismiss, or a motion for summary

judgment), and are represented by the office of the California State Attorney General, plaintiff is not

required to serve copies of filings on defendants or counsel, as counsel will receive service via the

court's electronic filing system. Any documents filed in a civil rights action in which the defendants

are not represented by the California State Attorney General must include a certificate of service

stating that a copy of the document was served on the opposing party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; Local Rule

5-135 (modified). A document submitted without the required proof of service will be stricken. 

Where a party is represented by private or other government counsel, service on the party’s attorney

of record constitutes effective service. A sample Proof of Service form is attached hereto.

5. All filings must bear the file number assigned to the action, followed by the initials of the

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District Court Judge and the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned and the letters "PC." 

Where plaintiff simultaneously pursues more than one action, he or she must file separate original

documents and the appropriate number of copies in each action to which the document pertains. 

Documents submitted listing more than one case number in the caption will be stricken.

6. The court cannot serve as a repository for the parties’ evidence (i.e., prison or medical

records, witness affidavits, etc.). The parties may not file evidence with the court until the course of

litigation brings the evidence into question (for example, on a motion for summary judgment, at trial,

or when requested by the court). Evidence improperly submitted to the court will be stricken.

7. The Eastern District of California converted to an electronic filing, service, and storage

system, effective January 3, 2005. Pro se litigants are exempt from the electronic filing requirement

and must submit all documents to the court in paper. Local Rule 5-133(b)(2). Paper documents

submitted by pro se litigants for filing will be scanned into the electronic court file by the Clerk’s

Office. After being scanned into the electronic court file, the paper documents will be retained in the

Clerk’s Office for a limited period of time and then discarded. Local Rule 39-138(d). For this

reason, pro se litigants are cautioned not to send original exhibits to the court. When it is appropriate

for pro se litigants to submit exhibits to the court (see paragraph 6), the litigants shall retain their

original exhibits and send photocopies to the court.

8. After an answer is filed, the court will issue an order opening discovery, and setting the

deadlines for completing discovery, amending the pleadings, and filing pre-trial dispositive motions. 

No discovery may be conducted without court permission until an answer is filed and the court

issues the discovery order. Discovery propounded on a party is self-executing, and must be served

directly on the party from whom discovery is sought; parties should not file copies of their discovery

with the court. Local Rules 33-250, 34-250, 36-250. Discovery documents inappropriately

submitted to the court will be stricken. Where the response to discovery is unsatisfactory, the party

seeking discovery may file a motion to compel discovery, including a copy of the discovery

propounded and the response thereto. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37. A motion to compel must be accompanied

by “a certification that the movant has in good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the party

not making the disclosure in an effort to secure the disclosure without court action.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

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37(a)(2)(A). A discovery motion that does not comply with all applicable rules will be stricken and

may result in imposition of sanctions. 

9. Because plaintiff is incarcerated and proceeds pro se, all pre-trial motions will be

submitted without a hearing. Local Rule 78-230(m). The parties are referred to Local Rule 78-

230(m) for the briefing schedule on motions.

10. All court deadlines will be strictly enforced. Requests for time extensions must state the

reason the extension is needed and must be filed with the court before the deadline in question. 

Local Rule 6-144.

11. A pro se plaintiff has an affirmative duty to keep the court and opposing parties apprised

of his or her address. Local Rule 83-182(f). If a plaintiff moves and fails to file a notice of change

of address, service of court orders at plaintiff's prior address shall constitute effective notice. Id. If

mail directed to plaintiff is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable, the court will not

attempt to re-mail it. If the address is not updated within sixty days of the mail being returned, the

action will be dismissed for failure to prosecute. Local Rule 83-183(b). A Notice of Change of

Address Form is attached hereto.

12. The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a

governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The

court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally

“frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek

monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). 

The court will direct the United States Marshal to serve plaintiff’s complaint only after the court has

screened the complaint and determined that it contains cognizable claims for relief against the named

defendants. The court has a large number of prisoner civil rights cases pending before it and will

screen plaintiff’s complaint in due course. The court will notify you as soon as any action is taken in

your case. Due to the large number of civil actions pending before the court, the clerk is unable to

respond in writing to individual inquiries regarding the status of your case. As long as you keep the

court apprised of your current address, you will receive all decisions which might affect the status of

your case.

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As noted, the requirements set forth in Local Rule 5-130, 5-133(d)(2) and 7-135 have been

modified in this order. These modifications apply to civil rights and habeas cases filed in the Fresno

division of the Eastern District of California by prisoners proceeding pro se (without counsel).

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 19, 2008 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3c0hj8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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