Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-01481/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-01481-1/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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12 OCT -9 PH 3: '3 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

GERALD LEE MILLER, 

CDCR #C-92075, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

L.S. McEWEN; GJ. JANDA; R. 

LIZARRAGA; DR. RICHARD 

KORNBLUTH; PARAMO; H. AMEZCUA; 

S. HARDMAN; ALVAREZ; T. ALVAREZ; 

B. DOMINGUES; C. VILLALOBOS; 

A. CASTRO; J. FLORES; M. VITELA; 

ZAMORA, 

Defendants. 

Civil No. 12cv1481 BEN (WVG) 

ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL 

ACTION AS FRIVOLOUS 

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915A(b)(1) AND DENYING 

MOTION TO PROCEED 

IN FORMA PAUPERIS 

AS MOOT 

(ECF No.4) 

Gerald Lee Miller ("Plaintiff'), currently incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison located 

in Delano, California, and proceeding pro se, has filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

In addition, Plaintiff has filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis ("IFP") pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(a) (ECF No.4). 

I. Sua Sponte Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b) 

As amended by The Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1915A obligates the Court 

to review complaints filed by anyone "incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of, 

1:\Everyone\_EFILE-PROSEIBENI12cvI481-dup & dny!FP moot.wpd -1- 12cv2333 JLS (WVG) 

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sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations ofcriminal law or the terms or conditions 

of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program," ""as soon as practicable after 

docketing" and regardless ofwhether the prisoner prepays filing fees or moves to proceed IFP. 

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), (c). The Court must sua sponte dismiss prisoner complaints, or any 

portions thereof, which are frivolous, malicious, or fail to state a claim upon which relief may 

be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir. 2010). 

Plaintiffs Complaint is subject to sua sponte dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915A(b)(l) because it is duplicative of a Complaint he has already filed in another civil 

action. Indeed, Plaintiffs Complaint contains identical allegations against the same defendants 

already brought before and considered by United States District Judge Janis Sammartino in 

Miller v. McEwen, et ai., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. llcv2333 JLS (WVG). A court "'may take 

notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if 

those proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue.'" Bias v. Moynihan, S08 F.3d 1212, 

122S (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Bennettv. Medtronic, Inc., 28S F.3d 801,803 n.2 (9th Cir. 2002». 

A prisoner's complaint is considered frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(l) if it 

"merely repeats pending or previously litigated claims." Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 

110S n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (construing former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d» (citations and internal 

quotations omitted). Thus, because Plaintiff has already filed the same Complaint he has filed 

in this action in Miller v. McEwen, et ai., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. l1cv2333 JLS (WVG), the 

Court hereby DISMISSES S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 12cv1481 BEN (WVG) pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. 	§ 1915A(b)(1). See Cato, 70 F.3d at 110S n.2; Rhodes, 621 F.3d at 1004. 

II. 	 Conclusion and Order 

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

(1) Plaintiffs Complaint in Civil Case No. 12cv1481 BEN (WVG) is DISMISSED 

as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(l). 

(2) 	 Plaintiffs Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF No.4) is DENIED as moot. 

/ / / 

/ / / 

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(3) This Court CERTIFIES that no IFP appeal from this Order could be taken "in good 

faith" pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 

(1962); Gardner v. Pogue, 558 F.2d 548,550 (9th Cir. 1977) (indigent appellant is permitted to 

proceed IFP on appeal only if appeal would not be frivolous). 

The Clerk shall close t e file. 

DATED: 

I'iEveryonel_EFlLE-PROSE\BENI12cv1481-dup & dny IFP moot. wpd -3- J2cv2333 JLS (WVG) 

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