Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_79-cv-01630/USCOURTS-cand-3_79-cv-01630-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MAURICE THOMPSON ET AL., on behalf of

themselves and all others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

JAMES E. TILTON, Acting Secretary,

California Department of Corrections and

Rehabilitation, and EDDIE YLST, Acting

Warden, San Quentin State Prison,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 79-01630 WHA

ORDER DENYING SERNA

MOTION TO INTERVENE AND

MISCELLANEOUS REQUESTS

A Death-Row inmate, Herminio Serna, moves pro se for intervention in the aboveentitled civil action. Movant asks to intervene pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24. 

He properly alleged that plaintiffs’ counsel would have a conflict in representing him. He has

not, however, given any reason to believe that intervenor Freddie Fuiava does not adequately

represent his interest. The inadequacy of another party’s representation of one’s interest is a

prerequisite to intervening as of right. FRCP 24(a). Movant suggests that intervenor has failed

to represent the interests of prisoners who are mentally ill. Movant does not, however, suggest

that he is mentally ill. The motion to intervene therefore is DENIED. 

In addition, movant asks to be “given rights and authority as representative of other

class members [sic] interest” and asks for plaintiffs’ counsel Steven Fama and the Prison Law

Office to be disqualified from representing plaintiffs (Br. 3). To be granted the right to

represent class members, a person must be a party to the litigation. Although movant is a

Case 3:79-cv-01630-WHA Document 895 Filed 05/08/06 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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potential class member, this action has not been certified as a class action and movant is not a

party. Movant provides no reason to disqualify Mr. Fama or his law office. The additional

requests therefore are DENIED. 

As noted in a previous order, the Court cannot allow all Death Row inmates to intervene

in this action. Any future motions to intervene will therefore be considered carefully, giving

motions made pro se a liberal construction, and granted only with great care. Potential

intervenors should consider carefully whether intervenor or plaintiffs adequately represent their

interests. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 8, 2006 WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:79-cv-01630-WHA Document 895 Filed 05/08/06 Page 2 of 2