Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00915/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00915-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

---

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

27

28 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OSCAR HUMBERTO GARCIA-MEJIA, )

)

Plaintiff, )

vs. )

)

CHARLES R. GILKEY, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1:07-cv-0915-OWW-GSA-PC 

 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

CERTIFICATION OF CLASS

(Doc. 4)

On June 22, 2007, plaintiff Oscar Humberto Garcia-Mejia (“plaintiff”), a federal prisoner

proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed this civil rights action pursuant to Bivens vs. Six

Unknown Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), on behalf of himself and more than thirty-five other inmates

who were incarcerated at California City Correctional Center (“CCCC”) at the time the events at issue

took place. All of the named defendants are employees at CCCC. 

On June 22, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion for certification of this litigation as a class action.

Plaintiff, however, is a non-lawyer proceeding without counsel. It is well established that a layperson

cannot ordinarily represent the interests of a class. See McShane v. United States, 366 F.2d 286 (9th Cir.

1966). This rule becomes almost absolute when, as here, the putative class representative is incarcerated

and proceeding pro se. Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir. 1975). In direct terms,

plaintiff cannot “fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class” as required by Fed. R. Civ. P.

23(a)(4). See Martin v. Middendorf, 420 F. Supp. 779 (D.D.C. 1976). This action, therefore, will not

Case 1:07-cv-00915-OWW -GSA Document 20 Filed 03/18/08 Page 1 of 2
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

27

28 2

be construed as a class action and instead will be construed as an individual civil suit brought by

plaintiff.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for certification of the class is

DENIED, and this action shall proceed as an individual civil suit brought by plaintiff, Oscar Humberto

Garcia-Mejia.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 17, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00915-OWW -GSA Document 20 Filed 03/18/08 Page 2 of 2