Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01814/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01814-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federal)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SOMSACK THAMMAVONG,

Petitioner,

CASE NO. 13-CV-1814

ORDER:

(1) GRANTING

PETITIONER’S MOTION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA

PAUPERIS; AND 

(2) SCHEDULING ORDER

vs.

AUDREY KING, Director of Coalinga

State Hospital; ERIC HOLDER, U.S.

Attorney General,

Respondents.

Petitioner, proceeding pro se, filed a habeas petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2241 along with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). (Doc. Nos. 1-2). After

reviewing Petitioner’s motion to proceed IFP, the Court grants Petitioner leave to

proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

I. Motion to Proceed IFP

An action may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure to prepay the entire fee only

if the court grants the plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). 

However, “[u]nlike other indigent litigants, prisoners proceeding IFP must pay the full

amount of filing fees in civil actions and appeals pursuant to the PLRA [Prison

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Litigation Reform Act].” Agyeman v. INS, 296 F.3d 871, 886 (9th Cir. 2002). As

defined by the PLRA, a “prisoner” is “any person incarcerated or detained in any

facility who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for,

violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of parole, probation, pretrial

release, or diversionary program.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(h). Petitioner alleges that he is a

citizen of Laos, that he was convicted of several federal felonies, and that he is

therefore subject to deportation following completion of his prison sentence. (Doc. No.

1 at 8.) Petitioner alleges that, following the completion of his prison sentence, rather

than being deported, the State ofCalifornia initiated civil commitment proceedings and

committed Petitioner pursuant to California’s Sexually Violent Predators Act, Cal.

Welf. & Inst. Code §§ 6600, et seq. (the “SVPA”). (Id.) A petitioner “who is civilly

committed pursuant to [the SVPA] . . . is not a “prisoner” within the meaning of the

PLRA.” Page v. Torrey, 201 F.3d 1136 (9th Cir. 2000). Thus, because Petitioner

claims he was civilly detained pursuant to SVPA, and is not a “prisoner” as defined by

28 U.S.C. § 1915(h), the filing fee provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b) may not apply to

him.

Accordingly, the Court has reviewed Petitioner’s affidavit of assets, just as it

would for any other non-prisoner litigant seeking IFP status, see S.D. CAL. CIVLR

3.2(d), finds it is sufficient to show that Petitioner is unable to pay the fees or post

securities required to maintain this action, and grants Petitioner leave to proceed in

forma pauperis. The Court reserves the right to revisit Petitioner’s IFP status should

new facts come to light. 

The Clerk is directed to issue a summons as to Petitioner’s petition (Doc. No. 1)

upon Respondents and forward it to Petitioner along with blank U.S. Marshal Form

285s. In addition, the Clerk is directed to provide Petitioner with a certified copy of

this Order and a certified copy of her complaint and the summons for purposes of

serving Respondents. Upon receipt of this “IFP Package,” Petitioner is directed to

complete the Form 285s as completely and accurately as possible, and to return them

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to the United States Marshal according to the instructions provided by the Clerk in the

letter accompanying the IFP package. Thereafter, the Court orders the U.S. Marshal

to serve a copy of the complaint and summons upon Respondents as directed by

Petitioner on the USM Form 285s. All costs of service are to be advanced by the

United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3). After proper service,

Respondents are ordered to reply to the Petition within the time provided by the

applicable provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a) and this Court’s order.

II. Scheduling Order

The Court also issues the following scheduling order:

(1) The government, through the U.S. Attorney and the Attorney General of the

State of California, must file their response to the petition on or before October 7,

2013;

(2) Petitioner may file an optional reply on or before October 28, 2013; 

(3) Pursuant to the Court’s discretion under Local Rule 7.1(d)(1), the Court

determines this matter is appropriate for resolution without oral argument and submits

the petition on the parties’ papers.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 8, 2013

________________________________

MARILYN L. HUFF, District Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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